morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-02
From: Harpers Ferry,WV

To: Rocky Run Shelter
Miles today: 12.5

Free pizza made the hostel a great place but a breakfast of eggs and blueberry pancakes made it that much better. The breakfast was so good that it made us have yet another later start which is something that I need to stop doing.   The weather has been brutal here the last few days and has made hiking bit the funniest of activities but can't hide from the summer. It was definitely slow going for a good portion of the morning with many breaks for food and especially water. The energy gets zapped out of you so quickly that it hard to maintain a decent pace and luckily midday we hiked through Gatland State Park. They had an air conditioned building with an exhibit about George Townsend so we learned about the man while being cooled down,it was a great educational experience.   We hiked out of the park and soon after the sky darkened up and the thunder rumbled and we knew we were in for quite a storm. Well it delivered and out of nowhere the rain poured and the wind picked up, I was actually worried for a bit about the storm but there was no place to hide out so all we could do was hike on and hope to get to a shelter in time but we didn't get to the shelter until after the storm passed.    We opted to cut the day short and relax at the shelter and get up early and do some big mileage. It shows that some days can't be planned out and sometimes you have to roll with the punches and make up the miles down the road.
Date: 2014-07-03
From: Rocky Run Shelter

To: Raven Rock Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Since we stopped short yesterday we decided to pull out a twenty miler and make up some lost time. We continued our tour of American history and visited the graves of a Confederate and Union generals which were near a battlefield and then we were off to the good stuff-the original Washington Memorial. The trail in Maryland is sandwiched between roads and parks so you lose the wilderness aspect but at the same time you walk through these state park which are filled with information so it makes up for it.    Along the way up to the Washington Memorial they have signs with important events in George Washingtons' life and then around a curve is a replica of the first Washington Memorial-simply out it looks like a milk bottle made of stones but it was perched high up and provided views of the land below and Pennsylvania was to our right which was the next state to hike in.   We left the monument and walked across and an overpass and then underneath a bridge, the Appalachian Trail isn't just a trail in the woods,it takes you through a lot of odd places. We took a lunch break at Pine Knob Shelter which was small and had some funny lot entries about a snake scaring some mice which dropped on a hikers head while he was sleeping. We hiked on and too a stop at Annapolis Rocks which nice rock outcrop with nice views.   The rest of the hike was quiet and easy until Raven Rock which was a tiring uphill climb at the end of the day but when we arrived the shelter it was worth it because the shelter was gorgeous. It was a sixteen person shelter with a big window overlooking the forest,I would have lived in this place if I could. The only downfall of this shelter was the water was .3 on a steep downhill so I sucked it up and took everyone's water container and filled them up,only got a few scratches from the bushes for the effort.   Tomorrow is a big day-Fourth of July and we cross over the Mason-Dixon Line, this is so much patriotism I'm not sure I'll be able to handle it but I'll try possibly with some hot dogs and beer and hopefully fireworks.
Date: 2014-07-04
From: Raven Rock Shelter

To: Tumbling Run Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Happy Fourth of July everyone! I hope the weather is as beautiful where you are as it is here. So we had a busy day where the mission was to acquire hot dogs and beer and hike them out into the trail and hopefully find a spot where we could see some fireworks, we all accepted the mission and we were off.   We hiked into Pen Mar County Park in the morning and it was a beautiful park but it was a little too early for festivities to be happening so it was quiet, we hoping we could possibly get a ride into down but didn't work out that was so we walked the two miles into Waynesboro,PA. Right before we left, we crossed the amazon-Dixon line and are officially in the North. It's a bittersweet moment as the South was good to me and that chapter of the trip is closed. Hiking in states I'm familiar with especially the one I grew up in is going to be cool. This part of the trip is going to go quick as most of the mid-Atlantic states are shorter in mileage so before you know it,we'll be in the New England states and things get serious. Back to the mission at hand,it was a downhill walk along a street liens with houses but no sidewalks so it got a little precarious at points. At one point some girl yelled at us from a pickup truck while recording us on her phone. This has happened a few times and with this case I'll just assume she was complimenting us on our good looks and wanted to take picture.   We got into town and were starving so we went to China buffet, it doesn't get anymore American than that. The problem was that the China Buffet in Waynesboro, VA set such a high bar with their food than this experience wasn't as enjoyable as we hoped. We then headed to the Walmart for the food and I took the opportunity to buy an American flag bandana to celebrate the holiday. They had an awesome American flag t shirt but in had extra large and above, it's hard to be skinny in this county sometimes.   The thing with Pennsylvania is you can buy beer at a gas station or convenience store but you can buy them from a beer depot or even a bar,state laws are weird. We stopped in at a place called Blondie's which turned out to be a biker bar but only a few stares were given and everyone returned to their drinks, I think it was my awesome American flag bandana that saved us. We had a few pints and a shot and bought a twelve pack for later and we were off. Luckily for us we got a ride back to the trail because it would have been an annoying two mile hike uphill.   We hiked to the shelter which was an extremely impressive campground with two shelters,one for snorers and one for non snorers and an immaculate and well organized tenting area. We are getting spoiled with these shelters. We ate our dogs and drank some beer but we didn't have a view of fireworks but we heard them and that was enough for us. The adventure we had today was a fun and eventful one and fireworks would have been the cherry on top but this time the cherry wasn't needed. Another state down and another to conquer, Pennsylvania here we come.
Date: 2014-07-05
From: Tumbling Run Shelter

To: Birch Run Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Pretty quiet day, passed through Caledonia State Park which was heavenly despite the stares from people. They had a snack bar so I got some chicken fingers and a soda, it was a good snack midway through the day. We got to the shelter that was full of section hikers which was cool with me as they had s'mores and making them for us. I stayed in my tent by the stream and enjoyed the sounds of the water.
Date: 2014-07-06
From: Tumbling Run Shelter

To: James Fry Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: broken clouds

Today we had a full day of milestones and activities that it made the morning more refreshing. We would hit the halfway mark of the trail, go to the AT museum and attempt the half gallon challenge if anyone was up for it.    After about six miles we crossed the official halfway point of the trail. It was a rather sad looking sign to commemorate the achievement. It was a laminated piece of paper taped on the a small piece of wood with zebra print duct tape. There's a nice sign further down the trail that once marked the halfway point but with all the changes to the trail it's no longer accurate. Can't believe it's the halfway point already,where did the time go? Halfway through the trip I feeling physically well, equipment is holding up for the most part and mentally I'm feeling great,just keeping positive. The mid Atlantic states are quick to get through so before I know it, we'll be at the final big three states.    A little later we were at the Pine Grove Furnace State Park where the AT museum is and the general store which has the Half Gallon Challenge which means you have to eat a half gallon of ice cream in a half hour. I didn't doing for two reasons, first one being that they charge six bucks for a half gallon and secondly their freezer was broken and all the ice cream was soup. So we ate and headed down the road to the museum which was small but had some interesting items. We left there and passed a lake where a lot of people were and this Spanish guy with a family asked us a bunch of questions and translated the answers, it was funny to see their reactions, they were super nice and made us feel good about what we were doing.   Once we were back in the woods, I hiked in front and got into a groove and arrived first. There was only one section hiker there so I stayed in the shelter. Tomorrow we were waking up early to do a long day since the terrain was going to be extremely flat. Early to bed,early to rise.
Date: 2014-07-07
From: James Fry Shelter

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 26.3
Weather: broken clouds

We were up early today because we would be hiking a marathon today. First off would be a stop in Boiling Springs,PA so Delaware could get her maildrop and we were also going of get lunch, there was an Italian restaurant and I was in the mood for a chicken parm hero. We got into town relatively early and it's was nice small town with a lake in the middle of town that was fed by hundreds of mountain springs.he water was so crystal clear and very cold as we found out later when soaking our feet. Delaware got her package and when she opened it we found out that she made gifts for all of us-personalized bandanas which was such a sweet gesture. Since it's white, I didn't want to wear it and ruined it so I have it saved in a ziploc bag and take a picture with it at Katahdin. Afterwards we had lunch at the Italian place and the chicken parm was okay, I've been spoiled with the great Italian food of New York.Eventually we left town and embarked on the fifteen miles we had left,a we were starting at one thirty so we should have plenty of time,this was the flattest and easiest terrain for a long time. We all separated and I was first and soon was far ahead. Even though it was flat terrain, the landscapes changed drastically.We went from next to a river, to walking through the forest on a elevated boardwalk to walking through farm fields with wheat on one side and corn on the other to fields with farmers bailing hay that was just recently cut, it was beautiful and amazing. Right at the end was a ascent up a mountain which was steeper than thought. I ate some Sour Patch Kids and hauled up that mountain. Another thru hiker came up to me later and said he just stood there and watched me fly up the mountain and dubbed me Sonic the Sheahog, just going to add it to the list of nicknames I have.In the guide book they called the outhouse the Taj Mahal and that definitely peaked my interest but was disappointing as it was just an oversized privy with two toilets which seemed weird to me. This was the longest. Tomorrow we head into Duncannon where the famous Doyle Hotel,famous among they hikers that is and tomorrow is probably the day I split from the group so I can make it to the Delaware Water in time to meet up with my friend and his family
Date: 2014-07-08
From: Darlington Shelter

To: The Doyle
Miles today: 11.3

The plan for today was to hike into Duncannon, have some food and beers at the Doyle Hotel. The girls would hear to the next shelter and I was going to go further, Gadget is over a week behind us still. Funny how things don't work out as planned. The descent into town turned real rocky the last few miles and was the start of a different kind of trail,the one Pennsylvanian is known for. Once we for into the Doyle we were hot and thirsty and than pretty much was all we needed as convincing to stay the night plus there was a storm coming in. So the Doyle is a bar and hotel that is famous for cheap beer, good food and nasty rooms. It's an old building and they haven't put too much money into anything it seems but the lure of the place brings thru hikers there every year. The room had work out carpet with holes in it, cobwebs in the corners and a really shady ceiling fan that wobbled quite a bit could fly off anytime and probably behead you,it was rustic. The only thing it had going for it was a nice cross breeze and that couldn't make up for all that was wrong with the place.   We ended up going to an Italian restaurant that had a full bar and had dinner there. I had another chicken parm which wasn't much better than the one I had in Boiling Springs. Not too long after we got there the sky exploded and let loose a torrential downpour so the recession to stay in town wasn't a horrible one.    It was definitely an experience at the Doyle and I can say I was there, I don't think I'll be back anytime soon.
Date: 2014-07-09
From: The Doyle

To: Campsite Near PA 325
Miles today: 17.4

Well my plan to hike ahead of the group to get to the Delaware Water Gap early has hit a minor bump. I was planning in going another 11 miles past Duncannon but that didn't work out the way I thought it would and I didn't get up early today to try to make up the miles, instead we woke up and went to the diner across the street and got some breakfast. Check out at the Doyle was ten which I didn't really understand because it's not like they needed extra time for the maids to come in and clean.   We left the "hotel" around 10:15ish and headed down the trail which took us through town which was pretty cool. It took us through the side streets of the town and the locals were real friendly saying hello to us as we passed by. We walked in the town and across some bridges which is always an interesting experience, I always wonder what the drivers are thinking when they see hikers walking across the bridge or along a highway.    After a few miles, we were done with the road walking and hit the woods and surprise surprise we started with an uphill which was a bit rough especially with it being hot out. This stretch was going to be a rough one as water wasn't abundant so we had to load up at the first shelter and hike on with a heavier pack but such is life on the trail. We loaded up on water at the first shelter we stopped at which was the Clarks Ferry Shelter. We headed on soon after, the scenery wasn't anything special and before we knew it we were at the second shelter which was the Peters Mountain Shelter. It was a beautiful sixteen person shelter but there were so many flies it was absurd, lady in Duncannon said the flies were bad this year and she wasn't lying, we couldn't stay there to long. While there wee heard about a thru hiker north of us who fell off a cliff and sustained some serious injuries, the full story wasn't known but it shows that this trail is serious business and not just a simple walk in the woods.   Our goal for the day was to camp at a campsite but since it was hot out and we depleted our water, we had to take a chance and hike to the spring further down the trail and hope they're were some sort of campsites there or we would have to hike on and set up camp near a parking lot which I try to not do. Thankfully there was a real nice campsite next to the spring and Atlas and I set up camp like the old days. I collected the firewood, set up the bear line and got water while she spent some time getting the fire going. Its been awhile since we made a fire or put up a bear line, it comes back to you right away and is second nature and before you know, you have a organized campsite with a nice fire and time to relax and enjoy a meal.   Tomorrow begins Operation Delaware Water Gap which is me doing some solo hiking and trying to get there by the 16th or 17th to hang out with a good friend and his family. I haven't hiked solo yet on this trip so I'm looking forward to it, I'm a little bit nervous but I'm up for the challenge. Waking up real early so I can get some big miles, hoping to do my first 30 mile day, lets see what happens.
Date: 2014-07-11
From: 501 Shelter

To: Port Clinton Hotel
Miles today: 24.1

The body felt good this morning with no big aches and pains so I was planning on another big day. I was hoping to do as many thirty mile days as possible but logistically it wasn't possible so I got as close as I could to it. The 501 shelter has bunk beds so it was like Mission Impossible getting down from the top bunk and packing up without waking people up. There is no such thing as quiet camping gear, from loud zippers to the crinkling of the bags, it's not easy being quiet in the morning. James was up early so we hiked out together.    We got to a campground about miles into the day and we took a break and soon after everyone who stayed at the shelter trickled on down the mountain and before you knew it there was a good sized crowd. I can't take long breaks, I get too antsy and rather be hiking and get to where I have to get to so I separated from James and would meet him at Port Clinton. The trail got significantly rockier as the day went on, it would go from little sharp rocks embedded in dirt which your feet would bounce off like a pinball in a pinball machine to large boulders where you're hopping from one to another. Besides the bouncing off and hopping of the rocks, there is also stepping right on these rocks and having your ankles bend in ways they shouldn't and the constant tripping over the rocks, fun times in Pennsylvania!   Eventually I made it into Port Clinton and met James at the Port Clinton Hotel where we enjoyed some cheaply priced Yuenglings and conversed with the locals about the trail and trekking poles. We opted to stay at the hotel and split a room which was a step from the Doyle in every way with the exception of the shower which was built for people who are no taller than five foot seven. Being almost six foot, this led to an interesting shower to say the least. Port Clinton is definitely a hiker friendly town and they hooked me up at the bar with some free drinks. It may not have the amenities that Hamburg has which is three miles away but they make it up with great people and hospitality.
Date: 2014-07-14
From: Leroy A Smith Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 20.2

Well Operation Delaware Water Gap is finally complete and I couldn't be happier, it was a hellish five days but I'm real proud for sticking with it and finishing ahead of schedule. In the end I hiked 130 miles in five days and I'll never do that again. I was out of camp early and was going to aim for the Delaware Water Gap and if I couldn't I would stay at the shelter and do six miles tomorrow. I've been thinking about the DWG for awhile and staying with my friend and his family. I've known them almost my whole life and they have invited me to their vacation home for years and I wasn't going to allow a 2,186 mile hike get in the way. I was also looking forward to getting off the trail for a few days and wait for the group to catch up, my body and especially my feet were hurting, when I took my shoes home after getting to the DWG, my feet looked real bad, my friend and his brother were shocked at what they were looking at.   First thing I did was throw my sneakers into the garbage as the Pennsylvania rocks chewed them up and they smelled like death, luckily there's an outlet mall nearby we're going to so I can new ones. So now I sit here showered and wearing clothes made of denim and cotton which is an odd experience but comfortable. The group is about four days behind me so looks like I'm going to be sending some quality time at the DWG enjoying good company, cleaning and fixing my gear and just eating whatever I can to put some weight back on. Time to relax!
Date: 2014-07-19
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.8

Well after a relaxing five days off, it was time to go back to work and hit the trail. It was nice relaxing and let letting the body recover but I was getting the itch and wanted be back out there. It felt odd putting everything back on especially with it all being so clean and smelling so good but soon enough it would all be dirty and smelly. I must have eaten real well because I didn't have to use the notch on the belt that I made when I was losing weight,definitely got spooked the last five days.   We got back on the trail around noon and were hiking about eleven miles to the Mohican Outdoor Center where Delaware's parents were going to pick us up. It worked out perfectly that after staying at the DWG, Delaware's parents rented a cabin not to far away so we were going to stay there and slackpack a few days. I didn't think I was going to stay for five days at the DWG but I did and now I'm going to sleep in a bed for a few days more,I'm forgetting what my tents looks like at this point. My feet are still a bit messed up after the five days of big mileage so not having to hike with a full pack will help out plus I got new shoes so it'll be nice to break them in.   The day was beautiful and it was a weekend so there were a lot of people out on the trail which was a bit overwhelming but once the steepness started,the numbers began to dwindle. We hiked along the shores of Sunfish Pond which is one of New Jerseys Seven Natural Wonders which was interesting. It was a nice pond and all but that's a prestigious list and it worries me if a pond is one of those seven, c'mon Jersey,you must have better to offer. We hung out there for awhile and built cairns with the loose rocks and then hiked onwards where we had some spectacular views from the ridge,already New Jersey is giving us better views than Pennsylvania.    We got to the parking lot where Delaware's father was and we crossed the 1,300 mile mark which was awesome. Standing next to Delaware's dad was James! Apparently they ran into him in town and invited him back to stay at the cabin so it's going to be a good night with good company. Before I know it, we'll be out of Jersey and onto my home state of New York which I can't wait to visit the NYC. That's my last zero day planned for the trip,it's crazy to think we're less than nine hundred miles away from the end. Where did the time go?
Date: 2014-07-20
From: Cabin

To: Cabin
Miles today: 0.0

Well we took a zero today. Don't start yelling at me for taking all these zero days, while I had five days off, the girls didn't have one yet so I stayed with them and let my feet heal up some more. James headed out this morning after breakfast so he'll be a few days ahead and I feel I can catch up to him,he's from New Hampshire and is real edited to get to that part of the trail and I want to hike with him while we go through his home state,think it would be exciting.   Delaware went out with her mom and Atlas and I relaxed at the cabin with Mr Delaware and caught up on our trailjournals and laundry. The cabin has a nice screen back porch so we hung out there for most of the day. It's weird being back in the real world for so many days lately and how quickly it is to fall back into the routines. It scared me on how easy it is to fall back into old ways and have everything so accessible. Three months on the trail slowly gets eroded away the longer you stay away from the trail and that is something I don't want to happen. Two conflicting lifestyles are now clashing and the one that I've known for much longer than three months is starting to pull on front. Instead of hiking .3 miles to water, I turn on a faucet, instead of boiling work water for my ramen, I hit a button and a microwave turns on, instead of being ignorant to world evens, my phone rings with updates about what's going on. I love the simple life of hiking from point A to B and setting up camp, I don't love the monotony of my old life of watching tv and looking at my phone constantly. Simply put, I can't wait to be back on the trail.