morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-16
From: Quarry Gap Shelters

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: light rain

WOW...what a difference a day can make. It is cold and foggy this morning. Way below seasonal norms and probably 30-40 degrees cooler than yesterday, I was able to choke down a small packet of tuna (of all things) this morning. By the time I got to the next shelter I was really chilled so I changed in to dry clothes and crawled in my sleeping bag and was still shivering some. Other hikers stopped in, ate a snack and hiked on, and I noticed they weren't having the same troubles with the temps. I knew part of the problem was that my body wasn't burning fuel and creating its own heat. I needed to eat. I decided to just call it a day and do my best to rest up enough to be able to eat a good meal. And actually I think the cold temperatures helped in that process. I kept going through my food bag looking for something I thought I could e3at, but nothing was sounding appetizing at all. Finally another hiker (Hulk) offered me a fresh orange and that really sounded good. I ate that with no problem at all and it acted like a primer. Within half an hour some chicken broth and noodles sounded good. I made half a bag and finished it off without too much effort. Within an hour I made the other half and ate that. As the afternoon wore on more hikers showed up and started cooking their supper. For the first time the smell of their food cooking was making me hungry, so I dug out some instant mashed potatoes and made3 a half a bag of those. Well...let's just say...I think that might have been the end of my poor appetite. I was pretty confident it was just a matter of time until my body came out of shock from the exertions of trail life and wanted food. I also figured out an adjustment I needed to make on my pack. It was causing me more shoulder and neck pain than it should and I realized the back support needed to be adjusted. Feels much better now!
Date: 2009-06-17
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: James Fry Shelter
Miles today: 17.1

What a difference a day can make! My energy levels were MUCH better today! Just needed to eat! I had potatoes and salmon for breakfast and stopped at about the 3 hour point for a snicker bar. Since I was feeling so much better and had so much more energy I was actually able to think about things some while I hiked today. My mind wandered all over the map but I couldn't help but think about the pain and suffering of the last few days (I know...self-inflicted) and how paltry that was compared to what others have gone through for our nation or for Christ and how all that combined still pales in comparison to what Christ Himself did for us. The only perfect man to ever walk the face of this earth took all our sins on His shoulders to provide us a way back to God. The actual act of the crucifixion is just mind-boggling to me, but Him taking our sins upon His sinless self is just unimaginable to me. I am so thankful for the sacrifice Christ made for me. Then my mind wandered to my Pappaw (Grandpa on my Mom's side) and Stanley (my oldest brother). Stanley died of Leukemia when he was about 6 years old. I think I remember him, but I might be remembering looking at pictures we were in together and talking about him with family. I like to think I actually remember playing with him. We have one great professional photo of all four of us boys that I love. Stanley was clearly the most handsome of the four of us, I was a real close second of course. I just really started missing him for some reason as I was hiking today. My Pappaw also died when I was pretty young, but I know I was old enough to remember being with him. He frequently had a scruffy face and I remember it scratching me when he hugged me. I remember setting on his lap in the kitchen and he'd put Philadelphia Cream Cheese on saltine crackers and we'd eat them together. I'm sure that was the first time I ever ate that and it was the best thing in the world, mostly because I was eating it with my Pappaw. I still remember how easy he was to find, especially when he was outdoors, because he was the most beautiful whistler I think I have ever heard and he was always whistling. I don't know why my mind was drawn to Pappaw and Stanley today but I'm glad it was. I actually found myself bawling like a little baby as I was hiking (not recommended for many reasons) partly because I missed them so much, but mostly out of joy for the hope I have in Jesus Christ to be reunited with them one day. ¢I Can Only Imagine¢
Date: 2009-06-18
From: James Fry Shelter

To: Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 12.2

Okay! The appetite and energy are back. The most difficult part of a day for me now is the steep uphill climbs. I think I remember saying the last time that if I ever did this again I'd practice on a stair-stepper or some real stairs with my pack on for a couple of months before I hit the trail. Oops! Bad time to remember that. The good news is that if I hold true to form from the last outing I'll get a little stronger each day and will be bounding up those mountains non-stop within a few weeks (okay maybe six weeks). I had a lot to look forward to today. I had made arrangements to meet some people in Boiling Springs I hadn't seen in almost 30 years when we were in the Air Force together. They are going to put me up for a few nights and help me slack pack some for a few days. This might be a good time to explain one of the differences between my 2007 and my 2009 hikes. My 2007 hike was near the ¢purist¢ end of the scale. I wouldn't take ¢blue blazed¢ (usually shorter) side trails and I always carried a full pack. This time I'll take alternate routes some times (usually more scenic, sometimes gentler) and I'll carry just a day pack if I know someone will be picking me up at the end of the day. That's called slack packing. As a matter of fact, I'd like to do as much of this as possible, so if you have friends, family, etc along the trail who'd swap trail stories for a place to stay for a night or two, I have lots of trail stories. Just let me know. As I get closer to their area we could get in touch via cell phone and make arrangements to meet up somewhere. If it worked out, Great!, if not, well that's OK too. Anyhow...lit was so nice to meet up with Nick & Brenda again tonight. I'll spend three nights with them. I'll slack pack tomorrow and Saturday, then go to church with them Sunday and after church they'll take me back up the trail and I'll head north again. What an awesome day!
Date: 2009-06-19
From: Duncannon, PA

To: US-11 Footbridge (SOBO Slack)
Miles today: 17.7

Nick made me a great breakfast this morning. Scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage, tortillas and salsa. Man that was good. He then ran me up to Duncannon and I picked a package up at the Post Office then hit the trail back toward Boiling Springs. The hike out of Duncannon was really steep and I have another climb about like it when I leave Duncannon going the other direction. Once you get to the top in this area though, you can expect some fairly level hiking for a while. I moved pretty quickly today and got to the US-11 Footbridge (17.7 miles) by mid-afternoon. I hiked 12 mile down the road to a restaurant and ordered chicken quesadillas and a root beer. When I finished, I called Nick to get picked up and sat outside waiting for him. That evening he grilled ribeye steaks and vegetables. He cuts his own ribeyes and he had one on the grill that was nearly 2 inches thick. I thought he was making it for himself. Turns out it was mine. I didn't think I'd be able to finish it, but I did. No more trouble with the appetite!
Date: 2009-06-20
From: US-11 Footbridge (SOBO Slack)

To: Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 8.0

I got up about 6 because I heard rain and I had left my shoes outside last night. I ran and got them, then laid back down until about 7. Felt good to lay in a cozy bed and hear the driving rain outside. I ate a few leftovers, packed a day-bag and had Nick run me back to the trail where I had finished up yesterday. I hit the trail for a short 8 mile hike at 9:30 and was done by a little after 11:30. I could hardly believe it, because I wasn't trying to hike really fast. The trails were really sloppy in some spots from the heavy rain last night and this morning. When I got in to Boiling Springs I grabbed a sausage and a drink and waited for my ride. While I was waiting, I met a man and a woman who were from the Czek Republic and Germany respectively. I've met a lot of international hikers in my first week or so on the trail.
Date: 2009-06-21
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Peters Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I went to church with Nick & Brenda this morning. I loved their church and the message. It was a great talk on giving up the ¢high places¢ in your life. Relinquishing that last 5% to God and trusting Him 100% with every area of your life. We had leftover beans, rice, ribs & tortillas for lunch then headed for Duncannon. I hit the trail at about 1:15 and was at my shelter by about 5:30. I felt really strong all day after some rest and recuperation with Nick and Brenda. Quite a few people here tonight. Think I'll have the ear plugs at the ready.
Date: 2009-06-22
From: Peters Mtn Shelter

To: Rauch gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: few clouds

Another good day today! Woke up early to other hikers preparing to leave. Got up myself and ate some cold breakfast, used the privy & hit the trsail at 7:15 or so. Gentle hiking the vast majority of the day. Got trail magic (cherry-filled brownies, chex mix, soda, cookies) that was put there by Snack Break. I hiked with her some in 2007. I also met four day hikers preparing for a trip to the huts in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. They'll be there this coming weekend and back again the first weekend in August. It would be neat to run in to them up there...lone man's trail name was pacemaker because he has one. I asked them to check out my web site and see if I'd be anywhere near them on their second visit to the Whites. I got to my shelter by 3 even with lots of breaks during the day. I really need to start using more of the hiking day since they are so long right now. I had potatoes and cheese for supper...good and filling. Bugs look like they will be bad so I'll probably be in my bag early tonight.
Date: 2009-06-23
From: Rauch gap Shelter

To: Hertlein campsite
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I got started before 7:30 today. It was a beautiful morning & stayed that way all day long. Probably a high in the low 80s and low humidity plus a cool breeze every now and then. Perfect hiking weather. I got trail magic just a couple of hours into the hike. Found a cooler of sodas by a stream. I had one even though it wasn't even 9 AM yet. You an tell it has been a wet spring around here. I didn't have to ford any streams in PA in 2007 and had to ford one today. The bugs (especially mosquitoes) are much worse here this year too. I got to my target shelter (the 501) at 2:30 so I ordered a pizza and had it delivered to a road crossing nearby. I also called Kim just to check in with her. I was ready to hike again by 4:30 with lots of daylight left so I took off for an additional 6 miles to a campsite. That made for my longest day yet at 23 miles. I'm here with a couple of younger guys and a Brit across the creek. I met him at a shelter earlier today and he seemed all stoved up. He told me he had taken a bad spill the day before and really hurt his shoulder. He left the shelter before me and when I took off I cam upon him laying in the middle of the trail. He had fallen again and gashed his left cheek and ear pretty deeply. I helped him get his pack off and get up. Once he got reorganize3d I helped him on with his pack and I followed him for quite a while. I hope he heals up OK and doesn't take any more spills. Well, it is almost 8:30 and time for me to crawl into my sleeping bag. I'm cowboy camping on a picnic table tonight.
Date: 2009-06-24
From: Hertlein campsite

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter
Miles today: 24.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Another great day! On the trail by 7 and felt strong all day. No spectacular views or events, just a good day of hiking. I hit several rocky spots but they didn't last too long. I was wondering how my shoes vs boots would work out on the rocks of PA. So far, I'm liking them. I find I have a better ability to place my feet in smaller areas (e.g. between rocks) with these shoes than I could with the boots I wore last time. I got to Port Clinton by about 2 and got a hamburger at the hotel and called Kim to check in. I was back on the trail by 4 and headed for Windsor Furnace Shelter. I was in by 6 or 6:30 and had all evening to get ready for the night. I got water, washed up some and put my other clothes on just to get out of my sweat soaked hiking garb for a while. I cooked supper and chatted with several other hikers for a while and turned in at a little after 9. A good day all around.
Date: 2009-06-25
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Miles today: 26.5
Weather: broken clouds

Another great day! I'm feeling great and I think I've got my trail legs under me now. The weakest part of my hike right now is the steep climb. Fortunately I haven't seen a lot of it yet and I'm getting stronger at it each day. I saw a fawn while I was still in camp this morning, then saw several more deer and another fawn later in the day. I left camp before 7 this morning. Steps ( a long section hiker) had left earlier in the morning. I had a pretty steep climb right off the bat to Pulpit Rock, but fairly gentle hiking from there for about 9 miles to the next shelter. The Eckville Shelter is actually a garage behind a caretakers house. They have a porcelain privy, electricity, running water and a solar shower. I ate a snicker, a packet of tuna, some jerky, a couple of granola bars and polished off my supply of Tang. From there, I I hit a really long, steady, stiff climb within an hour. It really tested me but I made it OK. The rocks are getting more challenging, but not as bad as I remember. I think they may have diverted some of the trail to old logging roads. Great walking! I stopped again about 8 miles later for another break. I let the tootsies air out a bit and ate some more snacks. Three guys were there about to pack up and move on. I saw Tang strapped to the outside of one of their packs. Well, when I took off a little3 later I found it laying in the middle of the trail. I picked it up and gave it back to them when I caught up with them later in the day. I stopped at a restaurant at route 309 later in the day and had a half-pound hamburger, fries, root beer and piece of key lime pie. All very good and great for keeping up the energy level. I called Kim and talked to her a bit while I was there. I tried both the girls but no luck with them today. I hiked out of there for a leisurely hike to Bake Oven Knob Shelter. I love these long summer days and plan to take full advantage of them as long as my body holds up OK. I cooked and ate supper and its after 8 as I prepare for bed.
Date: 2009-06-26
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Bear! A BIG one! I saw it about 45 minutes after I left camp. It was in no hurry to relinquish the trail to me so I backed up some and rattled my hiking stick on the rocks. He eventually grunted a couple of times and moved off the trail. I was a little rattled by his size and that he didn't run when he realized I was there. I ran in to a barefoot hiker today. It was his second day on the trail and he was planning to hike barefoot to Maine. His dad was out hiking with him too. When I got to Lehigh Gap I thought for a minute about hitching a ride into town for a bite to eat, but hiked on instead. Today really drug on because I got in to the PA rock section that I disliked so much in 2007. Still, I got to my shelter by 4 and got everything done before a big storm hit. I ran low on water once today but went to a spring and watered up. The shelter is full tonight.
Date: 2009-06-27
From: Leroy A. Smith Shelter

To: Deleware Water Gap Church Hostel, PA
Miles today: 20.2

Had an interesting night last night. Carpenter fell off the step of the shelter and appears to have broken a toe. He was gone before I got up this morning so I'm not sure how he was doing, but someone said they saw him leave and he was hobbling pretty badly. Most folks were up early so I got up too and got on the trail by 6:45. It was a pretty uneventful day. I did see a deer and a turkey today. There were a fair amount of rocky sections that tested my patience but, in general, PA has not been nearly as bad asI remember it the last time. I've been really making some good time, averaging 23 or 24 miles per day for the last 5 or 6 days. I got into Deleware Water Gap by 2 PM so I had plenty of time to do what I needed to do before I leave tomorrow morning. I ate and got enough supplies to get me to the next resupply point. There is no laundry in town so I hand washed my socks, shorts and shirt and dried threm as best I could. I bought a couple of pies at a bakery (coconut cream and pumpkin) and took them back to the hostel for all the hikers there. They were well received. Now I need to get my gear all together so I can get out of here in the morning. I can't believe all the foul language these guys are using here in the basement of this church. And after the pastor and the congregation consistently go out of their way to be kind and gracious to hikers.
Date: 2009-06-28
From: Deleware Water Gap Church Hostel, PA

To: Brink Road Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 24.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up early and went to Water Gap Diner for breakfast.. Waited outside about ten minutes til they opened the doors at 6. I had eggs, sausage and pancakes for breakfast with a couple of cups of coffee. I got back to the hostel and got packed up and was on the trail by 7:30. I saw a huge bear in the trail again just before descending in to the Mohican Outdoor Center. Once again he didn't seem to be too concerned about getting out of my way. I made some noise with my hiking stick and he finally ambled on. I had to wait about half an hour at the MOC until they started serving sandwiches. I wound up staying almost 2 hours before it was all said and done. I saw a lot of hikers on this Sunday. I can already see the pattern of increased activity on the weekends. It was a perfect day to be outside. I had miscalculated miles somewhere during the day and I thought I was closer to my shelter than I really was. That kind of made the afternoon wear on. As I got near the shelter I started feeling like I was inside the bear display at a zoo. There seemed to be bears everywhere...and they were watching me. It was kind of eerie. I saw a Momma bear with a couple of cubs and 5 minutes later I saw a huge male bear. Both just stood off to the side of the trail and watched me as I walked by. No running away like two years ago. Then I felt like I was being watched all the time for the rest of the day. When I got to my shelter I got water and made my supper and did all my evening chores. It is almost 9 now and we have a full shelter plus a dog. I don't mind having a dog in here with all the bears I saw around here today. I think I'll be able to get a shower tomorrow before I go to bed at the Jim Murray cabin. Sounds very appealing. Milestone: I passed the 10% point of my hike. Wow...only 90% to go!
Date: 2009-06-29
From: Brink Road Shelter, NJ

To: Jim Murray property, NJ
Miles today: 24.9

I hit the trail pretty early and hiked about 3.5 miles to Culver's Gap for a breakfast sandwich at a deli near the trail. What a great way to start a strenuous hiking day. I ran in to an Outward Bound group, some section hikers and quite a few day hikers today. It was another great day to be outside. I went to the swimming area (and concession) at NJ's High Point State Park. I spoke with the manager there for a good bit. Her husband and son are both deployed with the military. One is in Iraq and the other is in Afghanistan. I ate well, made some phone calls, then headed for the Jim Murray property. Turns out he no longer offers showers, nor does he let hikers sleep in his cabin. I got water there and slept on the porch of one of his out-buildings. I was too tired and it was too late to move on. I was really looking forward to that shower.
Date: 2009-06-30
From: Jim Murray property, NJ

To: Wawayanda Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: light rain

I got going before 7 and hiked about 3 miles to another deli for another breakfast sandwich and a couple of OJs. I got cash from the ATM and the owner let me use his office computer to check my email. Really nice guy! Elevation changes are getting more severe and frequent. I had a couple of stiff climbs at Pochuck Mtn and Wawayanda Mtn today. Just before I got to the second big climb I stopped for ice cream and fruit at a little roadside farmer's market near the trail. This was my afternoon rest period I like to have to rest my feet and let the hottest part of the day pass. While there, thunderstorms built and some very severe weather hit the mountain I needed to climb. I waitesit out and once the skies cleared over the mountain I started climbing. Little did I know the clouds were building again on the other side of the mountain. I was less that half way up when another severe thunderstorm hit. I hunkered down on the trail to wait until the lightning pass because to continue hiking was to gain elevation and increase my odds of being near a lightning strike. It took a while, but the lightning storm eventually moved on, but the rain stayed. When I got to the shelter, one other person (Yucci from Japan) was there and I was soaked from head to toe. I stripped off my wet clothes, toweled down as best I could and put on my dry stuff. I made mashed potatoes for supper and had a bagel and some fig newtons. Although it was a shorter day (18.7 miles) it was very tiring and I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open at 6:50 PM.