morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-05-18
From: Pogo Memorial Campsite

To: Tumbling Run Shelters
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: light rain

Well today had its ups and downs but overall it was way better than yesterday. Started hiking by 8:30am and made it to Pen-Mar park by 2pm. I was able to meet up with my old buddy, Matt Sargent. It was so cool to see him again. It was also great to hear about how God had been using him since he left our church. He appologized to me for that but it wasn't necessary. It was all in God's plan. Everything worked out wonderfully in the end.So Matt also brought me some goodies which rocked hardcore. We were suppose to do lunch but he had a small group meeting he had to go to. Regardless, it was such a blessing to see a familiar face again - especially after a day like yesterday.So I moved on to the shelter I thought I was going to stay at, but I met a couple of NOBOs that were going a bit further so I decided to join them. I was so sick of being along. I pushed on and made it to the shelter just in time to meet the shelter crew who hooked us all up with some cokes.I got to hang out with Seur Hawk and 007, they are a ton of fun. Seur Hawk asked me why it took me so long to get through college so I told him and that led me into sharring a bit of what I'm seeking after out here. I told him that I am trying to find a purpose out here, the purpose of what life is all about, and if God exists then he'll show himself to me as I seek after him. As Joe McNett would say, I think I dropped a golden nugget of truth in his lap. And it was a huge step for me opening up like that. It truly was the grace of God helping me along. Or rather, I emptied myself in order to let God use me.gorp---hot dog x2, doritoes, cookies, gatorade, snack cakes - Matt Sargent---oriental ramen noodles x2
Date: 2006-05-19
From: Tumbling Run Shelters

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

Every day it seems I get going later and later. Today I was hiking by 9am. The weather is really starting to piss me off. It was another day of grey clouds and random rain. Not fun. Blue sky, what's that? I thought it might have cleared up today due to it raining all last night, but I was indeed wrong.Hiking wasn't too hard today. I did, however, have to climb through some boulder fields which was pretty difficult with all the rocks being slick. At lunch today I talked with Seur Hawk and 007 about pack weight. They both have theirs in the mid 20's. What I wouldn't give to have mine that low. I'd like to aim for low 30's but that will be hard to do with my Gregory Palisade. The pack alone weighs 6lbs 7oz.I've been reading "The Magnificient Defeat" and though I haven't enjoyed it thus far, the author did make a good point in the last chapter I read. In the days after Jesus was crucified the Pharisees wanted guards put in front of the tome so that the disciples wouldn't steal the body and claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. The author then describes another fear that the Pharisees might have had: that Jesus would actually rise on His own. Then the connection is made to the modern day reader. How we as Christians put guards in front of the tome and keep Jesus in there because we fear that if we actually let him out in our lives then we will indeed feel the overwhelming need to "feed His sheep", and that is something that goes against our selfish nature. Though I don't think the Pharisees thought or feared Jesus rising from the dead, I do think that the author made an excellent point on the behavior of the modern Christian.So I finished hiking at 5pm when I got to the shelter. Dang it was cold today. Tomorrow will be exciting though. I will finally reach the half-way point. And I might even eat the traditional half gallon of ice cream at the half way point.blueberry oatmeal---tuna on tortilla x4---oriental ramen noodle x2
Date: 2006-05-21
From: James Fry (Tagg Run) Shelter

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 26.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I awoke this morning to Seur Hawk pounding at my bunk, waking me up at 6am. But I was down with it all because we were going to do about 26 miles today. So we were hiking by 7:30am. But this morning I was hit hard with chaffing. I don't know what it is. I can't lose this problem. I ended up hiking in only my boxer briefs for a while, trying to get more air flow. I shocked some people doing it too. There was a group out doing a program where they take inner city kids out to the woods and I had to pass right by them. That was funny. Especially since there were about 10 girls in the group. I've been praying recently about this chaffing. Something has to give.We made it to Boiling Springs and hung out there for a bit before moving on. The last 14 miles was cake, but I can't say my feet weren't hurting. We got to go through a lot of corn fields so that was just a nice change for once.I got to thinking about how I was going to lose pack weight once I change out my pack. It's going to be great. I might actually start to enjoy the hiking part.I rolled in to the shelter around 7:10pm, which is awesome considering how many miles we did. Tomorrow is still up in the air about what we're gonna do, maybe the Doyle. Oh, saw my first flying squirl today. And I think I also saw a muskrat or ground hog.cinnamin buns x2---tuna on tortilla x4, snickers bar---chicken and rice - mountain houseraspberry crumble - mountain houseapple cinnamin oatmeal
Date: 2006-05-22
From: Darlington Shelter

To: The Doyle Hotel
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: broken clouds

The plan originally was to hike 20 miles and then get a shuttle back to Duncannon so we could split a room at the Doyle. The plan sounded good but my feet had a mind of their own. The mixture of walking in new boots and on hard surfaces yesterday resulted in me developing a blister on the bottom of my left foot. Not fun, very not fun, if I can say that. It hurt so much to walk on. It felt like two separate layers of tough tissue grinding against each other as I would plant my foot. I was getting so mad and frustrated. At one point I just stopped and yelled as loud as I could. But God is always watching me. As I opened my eyes and looked down I saw a blue bin laying on the trail. Trail magic. I raced down to check it out. It was a nice moral boost. It had nerds and sweet tarts in it left by Trail Angel Mary. I then went down a bit further and found a second box with juices in it. This brought my moral upenough to get me to the Doyle Hotel.When I got there I told the guys that I was in pretty bad shape and that I was going to have to take a zero day tomorrow in order to heal up. They understood and decided to call it quits today and just relax for the rest of the time.The Doyle hotel is really like a big hostel. It's an old Anheiser-Busch hotel that is over 100 years old. The rooms are small the and building is in bad shape. But, you don't stay there for the luxury reasons.So we all washed up and went out to eat. I'd been praying on how I could be a light to my new friends and paying for their meal seemed like a good way to do that. I always like it when someone pays for my meal or treats me in some way. So dinner was on me. Afterwards, we went back to the hotel and just hung out for a while. I had a beer and just relaxed. I need God to heal me and I prayed today for His blessing. So we all hit the sack and just didn't do much the rest of the night. I was sleeping on the floor tonight because I only paid $7.00 dollars for the room, they paid $14.00 dollars each.cinnamin rolls x2---crunchy peanut butter---stromboli - pizza joint
Date: 2006-05-23
From: The Doyle Hotel

To: The Doyle Hotel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The morning conversation was all geared around pack weight. Seur Hawk and 007 are sick in the head. They just ordered new packs that don't even weigh a pound and are constantly find new ways to lower their pack weight, and I'm talking sometimes they are cutting grams. I mean, all their stuff combined their packs only weigh 20lbs each, and that's with 3 days of food. Both their packs together weigh what mine currently weighs. That's sick.So I headed down to the post office and mailed about 4lbs 4oz of things I didn't need anymore. After that we all headed over to Goodies for some milkshakes paid for by Seur Hawk. They were soooo good too. After that we all headed back to the Doyle to say goodbye, I was taking a zero day and they were moving on.Yesterday I prayed for God's blessing but I didn't know it would show up like this. Right as we were saying goodbye, Seur Hawk gives me $100.00 dollars towards the down vest I wanted but really couldn't afford. He said I had to take the money and couldn't argue with him and to consider it a graduation present. Wow! Are you kidding me?! I was shocked. Slapped stupid even. I thanked him and gave him a hugand then said goodbye to them both. God truly blessed me, I do not deserve this. I feel like I should be crumbled on the ground in worship but I'm so overwhelmed I feel like I've gone numb to such emotions. I hope it hits me hard later when I can digest it all.The rest of the day consisted of writing a letter to Keri, going into town with Trail Angel Mary for some supplies and to get my new stove, some internet, and then off to bed. And of course I talked to Keri all throughout the day. She sounds so cute when she describes to me all that she is learning and experiencing.strombolli leftovers---catfish dinner - The Doyle---pizza
Date: 2006-05-24
From: The Doyle Hotel

To: Clarks Ferry Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: broken clouds

That was the best night's sleep I've had in a while. I didn't toss or turn. I didn't wake up due to being uncomfortable. And I didn't wake up because I had to pee. It was awesome. So the first thing I did was head over to Goodies for some breakfast and to also get started on catching up on my journals, I was a day behind. After that I went back to the hotel and picked up my things and then headed out. I stopped in downstairs one last time and said goodbye to the people that run the place. I then called Moosejaw and ordered my poncho tarp. It weighs 10oz and is going to replace my pack cover, tarp, and maybe rain jacket if I ever feel that comfortable with it.Next I went down the block to this place that gamers go to to play video games and are charged by the hour. It actually was a pretty cool gig. It had all these computers set up and also had about 10 xbox 360s on that many TVs. The guys in there were typical high school gaming tech geeks. I can say that because I was once almost on of the. Almost. They were consumed with "Your momma" jokes and telling each other that if they were to play such-and-such game then they would destroy everyone. It was a mad house. That is until two girls walked in, then you could hear a pin drop. It was so funny to see. Anyways, the reason why I was there was to use the internet. I ordered a Western Mountaineering flash vest, which is a down feather vest, compliments of Seour Hawk, and also a Granite Gear Vapor Trail backpack. My journey to "Ultra-lite" backpacking is nearly complete. Now all I have to do is make the switch once I get the goods. After I made my orders I updated all my trailjournals and did some emails. After some pizza across the street I headed out.It was rather late, about 6:30pm when I left. I was going to go 11 miles to the second shelter, but I really don't like night hiking and prayed that if it would be better for me to go 5 miles and stay at the first shelter then that God would lead me there or give me a sign to stay there. And He did. My book said tha the shelter was 100 yards down a blue blaze trail. So, thinking I'd just stop in for a second for a rest before moving on to the second shelter, I saw the blue blaze and went down it, for 10 minutes, far too long. It turned out to be the wrong trail and the correct blue blaze trail was another 5 minutes past this one. Take about being pissed off. Many bad things were said. I repented. So that was my sign. I surely wasn't going to go another 7 miles after I went a half mile down the wrong trail right while night's darkness was setting in. And God knew what He was doing, because after I eventually pulled in to the first shelter, it started raining. I hate rain and night hiking. God is good.pancakes x3, eggs x2, toast x2, home fries - Goodies---gorp---medium pepperoni pizza - pizza place
Date: 2006-05-25
From: Clarks Ferry Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 24.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I had the shelter all to myself last night. I didn't mind at all or even feel lonely, mostly because I had originally been too mad at going 1/2 mile down the wrong trail. This morning was almost warm enough to be considered warm. I didn't freeze my butt off which is a first in a very long time. I was hiking by 8:30am.Today it was mostly flat but very rocky most of the time. The blister on the bottom of my foot didn't like that very much. Today I planeed on doing about 24 miles so I tried not to take very many breaks becaise I wanted to get to the shelter before dark.I got to listen to a couple of Don Miller sermons, the author of "Blue Like Jazz", that I downloaded on my MP3 player andman is he a better speaker than he is a writer. I'm going to have to listen to them again before I can comment on them, there is just so much packed in there.I did however come across a verse in the book I've been reading that struck me stupid. It's the passage where Jesus is talking about the Kingdom of Heaven. How it's like a field a man is walking in and comes across hidden treasure in the field, then runs and sells everything he has to buy that field. I got to thinking about that. How important is God and His Kingdom to me? Basically what that passage is saying is that it is so precious and valuable that you need to grab on to it as fast as you can and make sure nothing is holding you back. Wow. We are to put all our eggs into one basket. What a foreign thought. That's exactly what the world tells us not to do. I mean sure, I guess I could say I'm putting the Kingdom first because I put my life on hold for 6 months in order to seek a deeper relationship with God, but am I always really seeking? Am I really open to change? Am I just sticking my toe in the water to see if it's hot or cold when in all actuallity there are already people swimming in the water, telling me how awesome it is and what I really need to do is take 5 steps back, take off in a sprint, and then do a cannon ball in to the middle of this pool of water, the wellspring of life? And what will I do when this hike is over? I hope I come to such an understanding of God that I can't help but tell people about Him. From disciple to apostal, that kind of change. God, make me wiser for your Kingdom.So I rolled into the shelter around 7:30pm. I love getting in before dark. Honu came in later. I asked him what I should do about my blister and he gave me directions on how to care for it, which included popping it. I hope it heals quickly, this blister isn't making this fun. Tomorrow is about 18 miles to the shelter and I think you can order pizza from it.apple pie x2---crunchy peanut butter, gorp, party mix---mexican rice and beans with veggie protein - mountain house
Date: 2006-05-26
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: light rain

Boy, it's so much easier to get going in the morning when it isn't so cold out. Huno helped me out with wrapping up my blister. Boy was he an answer to prayer. Today my goal was to get to the PA 501 shelter early so I could order some pizza. The terrain wasn't steep at all, it actually was pretty much flat. The only problems I had were the rocks and the weather. I tell ya, you don't have a deep appreciation for the sun until you have to walk in darkness all day for many days. And yes, you can turn what I just said into any kind of Christian analogy that you wish. It has been dark and overcast forever it seems. And today I got rained on for half the day, just to spice things up. That rain made the rocks soooo slick! By the grace of God I didn't dislocate my knee two separate times when I slipped.But eventually I made it to my destination, and in good time. It was 4:30pm when I rolled in. And when I opened up the shelter door, it was completely enclosed, who do I find hanging out in the shelter? Peacemaker! I hadn't seen him since he got off the trail in NC. Root was also there who turns out to be the Mom of Zama. So we all ordered food from the pizza place and just enjoyed conversation along with our hot meal.Recently I've been listening to Don Miller sermons on my MP3 player and I started to understand a bit more clearly a passage of scripture that I hadn't been able to grasp. In scripture, Jesus says that come the day of judgement there will be people that preached the name of God and cast out demons in the name of God but Christ will say to some of them, "I never knew you, depart from me." I used to wonder how that was possible but I think I understand a bit better now. Many people can understand the concepts of the Christian faith and have deep knowledge of His word but not call themselves Christians. Or, some people might adhere to the doctrines of the faith and call themselves Christians, almost like a life philosophy, but God knows they aren't Christians at all. But why, you ask? Because "I never knew you." It isn't just a concept you believe in but rather a relationship you enter in to. God wants a relationship, He wants to KNOW you. All in the new testament we can see this in how God describes Himself to us: Father and children, Bridegroom and bride, Shephard and sheep. It is the doctrine of the faith that forms the skeleton, but it is the relationship that makes up the muscles that animate the body. Without the muscles all you have is a dead skeleton.apple pie---crunchy peanut butter, gorp, party mix---large strombolli - pizza place
Date: 2006-05-27
From: 501 Shelter

To: Port Clinton Pavillion
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: few clouds

Glad I was in a shelter last night. It rained so hard. This shelter was pretty neat, it had a huge skylight in the middle of the room which enabled the lightning flashes to illuminate the interior of the shelter. Pretty cool!Hiking today was rocky as ever. I'm really starting to hate the rocks. But, I will take them any day over climbing up hills for long periods of time. A couple guys with a dog were just hanging out by a creek and I decided to take a break and shoot the breeze with them. They were just so into my hike and just encouraged me to keep going. They even gave me cookies.I then pulled up to the shelter I was going to have lunch at and there were a few people already there, done for the day of their section hike. The girl that was with them hiked the trail last year so we talked for a while. She told me to get the fries at the Port Clinton Hotel tonight, she said they were huge. Before I left she gave me a tangerine so that was cool.So eventually I made it to Port Clinton and found the hotel with the famous fries. I took a shower that cost me $5.00 bucks which was a huge rip off. The water went from burning hot to freezing cold at random times. There was no middle ground. But I had to shower. I find that it helps the chafing.So I ordered dinner and did laundry while I waited. I got fries and a burger. The fries were piled soooo high. It was crazy! But I ate it all. And the Lord said it was good. Just kidding.So after dinner I gathered my things and headed down to the hiker pavillion where I would put up for the night. Rocky and Bollwinkle and their dog Trucker came in later, but that was only after "Bag of Tricks" showed up.First I thought this huge, shadowy figure was just some dude that liked hikers and enjoyed non stop conversation with them at late hours of the night and I was getting rather annoyed because he kept talking and I was trying to sleep. But then he said he was "Bag of Tricks", the person trailangel Mary said lived in Port Clinton, and all was well. So after a banana and gatorade supplied by Tricks, we all went to sleep.left over strombolli---salmon in a packet, apple pie, tangerine---Jack Daniel's Burger, large fry - Port Clinton Hotel
Date: 2006-05-28
From: Port Clinton Pavillion

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up early due to "Bag of Tricks" waking us all up so he could take us down to 3'Cs for breakfast. So we all left our things at the pavillion and went and had breakfast. Afterwards, Tricks took us back and I finished packing up. Tricks then took me to the grocery store so I could resupply and then took me back to the trail. I tried to tip him but he wouldn't take my money, but he did accept the Resee's Big Cup though.So the hiking was rather easy today. And it was even warm out. Dare I say it was an awesome day today? There were a lot of day hikers out, mostly at the two overlooks, the Pulpit and the Pinnacle. At both of them is hwere I realized I was a Rock Star. Well, maybe some people thought it was cool I was hiking the A.T., a little different than I Rock Star I suppose.A huge family was at the Pulpit overlook and were extremely nice to me. They went by the family name "L-Unit". Some of the kids shook my hand and one even called me his hero. Yeah, I'll admit, it put a smile on my face. They were very kind while I hung out with them, giving me a hotdog and some water. When I left, some of the kids, 3 of them, made me their General Commander and I led them to just before the Pinnacle overlook where they took a side trail down to their campsite and rejoined their family. Great family. "L-Unit, unite!"On my way to the blue blaze path to the Pinnacle a guy stopped me and just chatted for a while and gave me two beers for the road. On top of the Pinnacle overlook a nice couple asked about the trail and also gave me some water. Rock on. The rest of the way to the shelter was cake but was highlited by seeing my first rattle snake. It even did its little rattle thingy for me. Tomorrow, I have no clue where I'm going as of yet, but I'm sure it involves hiking.eggs x2, bacon x2, sausage x2, pancakes x2 - 3'Cs---tuna, hotdog---chicken teriyaki with veggie protein added - Mountain Housemac and cheese