morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-02
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Ed Garvey Shelter
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: few clouds

Up at 7am, on the trail at noon. Overnight lows in the mid 60s, highs today in the upper 70s with sunshine and some humidity all day.Had breakfast at little cafe in Boliver, picked up some things at the 7-11 and then headed for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) to pickup my backpack and gear that I had sent ahead. While repacking Mudflap walked in. It was at this time that I discovered that I had lost my camera. I made some calls and discovered I had left it at the hostel. The owner brought it up to the ATC HQ. It never ceases to amaze me how most of the hiker community looks out for each other.The big question of the day is how my shin is going to hold up. The first 3.5 miles out of Harpers Ferry right after you cross the railroad bridge into Maryland are flat as the trail runs along the Potomac River. Then there is a 500' climb over a mile. This would be the acid test. As it turned out the shin felt fine...a little tight, but no pain. I didn't set any land speed records as I arrived at the shelter at 4:30pm.My biggest concern now is getting my trail legs back after being off the trail for 3-and-a-half weeks. Tomorrow.....double figure milage.
Date: 2009-06-03
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Dahlgren Backpack Campground
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: few clouds

Up at 5:45am, on the trail at 7:30. Overnight lows in the upper 60s, afternoon highs around 80. It was mostly cloudy and humid all day.Fast moving thundershower moved through at midnight. Just enough to get everything damp. Now that I'm back on the trail there are two things I noticed that are different from when I went on the disabled list. First, everything is really, really green. It's got to be from all the rain that has hit the SE US this spring. Second....bugs. There are these tiny little guys just one step larger than no-see-ums that love to swarm in your face whenever you stop moving. Also I'm seeing the occasional mosquito now. Certainly nothing like northern Minnesota, but they're still here.The section of the trail I hiked today has numerous Civil War monuments with placards describing the battles that took place here....very impressive.I arrived at the Backpackers Campground at 3pm. Mudflap and Loon (who had passed me earlier in the day) were already there. This place had a large grassy area for backpackers to tent plus a shower/restroom building....all free. Shin is fine and this is the last time I will mention it.
Date: 2009-06-04
From: Dahlgren Backpack Campground

To: Free State Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 13.7

Up at 6am, on the trail at 7:30. Overnight lows in the mid 50s, highs today in the upper 60s. It rained a couple of times overnight and then rained pretty much all day after I got on the trail.Several more Civil War sites on the trail plus the original Washington Monument. Yes, there was one that preceded the one we all know in DC....and it is right on the AT. It started raining at about 10am and during the few times it let up it still seems to be raining due to the water dripping off the trees. Still, I was making what I thought was pretty good time for my third day back on the trail. I was even entertaining thoughts of pressing on to the Raven Rock shelter, which would make it a nearly 19 mile day. And then I hit the rocks. Around 3pm I came upon a long section of the trail (mile or so long) that is all rock. Big rocks, small rocks, round rocks, sharp rocks. And with all the rain lots of slippery rocks. My quick pace dropped to a crawl. Forget Raven Rock. I have a sneaking suspicion that this is just a little preview on what I will see in a large part of Pennsylvania. When I got to Wolfesville Road (Hiway 17) I had to make a choice. I could go .2 miles straight ahead to the Ensign Cowell shelter which might have room and irregardless will be cool and damp overnight with my wet gear or....go left .3 miles to the Free State Hiker Hostel with a bed, a shower, a laundry and a warm place to dry out all my stuff. Hmmmmm, decisions, decisions.(My mama didn't raise no stupid kids.)
Date: 2009-06-05
From: Free State Hiker Hostel

To: Devils Racecourse Shelter
Miles today: 5.1

Up at 7am, on the trail at 10. Overnight lows in the mid 50s, afternoon highs near 70. Lots of rain.It was raining when I went to bed and it was still raining when I got up. I took the opportunity in the dry hostel to layout my maps and do some long range planning. Was only on the trail for a brief period before I ran into Ducky and her dog, Madison at the Pine Knob Shelter. Hiked for awhile, then decided to take a break at the Devils Racecourse Shelter. That was a mistake. The map says it is a little ways off the trail. What I failed to note was that there was about a 600 foot drop to get there. Had lunch with Ducky, then decided not to fight the climb back out in the rain and stay put. After about 30 straight hours the rain stopped late in the afternoon.
Date: 2009-06-06
From: Devils Racecourse Shelter

To: Tumbling Run Shelters
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

Up at 5am, on the trail at 6:30. Overnight lows near 60, afternoon highs in the mid 70s. No rain today.Made the climb out of the hole that was Devils Racecourse and did 7.5 miles to Penn Mar. Then I hitched a ride into Waynesboro for resupply. While having a snack at Sheetz (think an upscale 7-11) met an older couple who were amazed at what I was doing. They even took pics of me. Later I walked over to Walmart and met an older European woman who was amazed that anyone was walking from one place to another. She thought everyone drove. Caught another ride back to the trail and hiked to the Tumbling Run shelters, arriving at 2:30pm. First time I've seen two shelters at one site. There is one distinguishing difference between the two....see my pics.
Date: 2009-06-07
From: Tumbling Run Shelters

To: Quarry Gap Shelters
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Up at 5am, on the trail at 6:45. Overnight lows in the lo 50s, afternoon highs in the mid 80s with sunshine all day.Shortly after getting on the trail I began to experience the infamous Pennsylvania rocks that everyone is warned about. Sometimes the trail goes across the side of a hill through nothing but scree.This morning I tried to tune in a decent radio station to help take my mind off the rocks. The only station on the entire FM band that I could receive (and that just barely) was a classical public radio station, WETA out of DC. And wouldn't you know that just when I get tuned in to a listenable signal they decide to play all 21 of Brahm's Hungarian dances...uninterrupted...back-to-back. I swear I thought I was listening to the soundtracks of some old Warner Bros. Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd cartoons. When that was over I half expected them to segue into some Wagner. ("Kill da wabbit, kill da wabbit....")Arrived at the Caladonia St. Park, wandered over to the grill by the pool and partook of burgers, fries, root beer, ice cream and a nap in the shade.Hit the trail again at 1pm and arrived at the nicest shelter I have seen so far at around 2:30pm. Just check out the pics. When I walked up to the outhouse I was wondering if there would be some guy in there with towels and mints. After some serious soul searching I decided to crash here.
Date: 2009-06-08
From: Quarry Gap Shelters

To: Ironmasters Mansion Hostel
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: few clouds

Up at 5am, on the trail at 6:30. Overnight lows around 60, afternoon highs in the mid 80s. It was partly cloudy and humid all day.Got out early knowing it was going to be a warm day. But at the end of the day there was to be something special.I arrived at the Pine Grove Furnace store around 3:30pm. Once there I relaxed a bit and then decided to take, "The Half Gallon Challenge". Hikers for years have been stopping into this store, buying a 1/2 gallon of ice cream and consuming it in one sitting. Many a technicolor yawn has been displayed by those who have attempted this. When I got there the choice of flavors was a bit limited. Fortunately there was one carton of mint chocolate chip left in the freezer. Forty-five minutes later I was sitting in front of an empty carton trying not to join the list of those who couldn't keep it down. I succeeded. I also had the company of Rawhide and Loudspeaker (formerly Knuckles).After letting my stomach settle a bit I walked up to the hostel to recuperate.
Date: 2009-06-09
From: Ironmasters Mansion Hostel

To: Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 19.4

Up at 6am, on the trail at 7:45. Overnight lows in the mid 60s, afternoon highs in the mid 80s. Partly cloudy in the morning, thundershowers in the afternoon.A warm and muggy day hiking, although the thundershowers in the afternoon were actually a welcome relief. I think I will take this opportunity to muse a bit on the radio coverage on the AT: IT SUCKS! I guess because the trail doesn't go through any sizable population centers there are actually times when there is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING on the FM dial. And on the AM dial it's either all news or all Rush...or one of his many clones.I was very beat when I arrived in Boiling Springs after my first near 20 mile day. Decided to pamper myself at the Galinas Manor Bed & Breakfast.
Date: 2009-06-10
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Up at 7am, on the trail at 9:30. Overnight lows in the upper 60s, afternoon highs in the mid 80s. Partly cloudy to cloudy all day with threatening thunderstorms/showers.After a breakfast of eggs florentine I made a brief visit to the ATC Regional HQ and then headed out. This was the longest sections of relatively flat terrain I have seen so far...over 12 miles through the cornfields, other farmlands and small forests of the Cumberland Valley. Then an 800' climb over 1.5 miles to the shelter. Hiked all day with Rawhide and Skittles.
Date: 2009-06-11
From: Darlington Shelter

To: The Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: light rain

Up at 5:30pm, on the trail at 7:30. Cloudy with light drizzle most of the day.Big thunderstorm overnight left everything a bit damp, which delayed getting back onto the trail. I was totally soaked by the drizzle when I arrived in Duncannon.When I got to the edge of town I saw that the white blazes went to the left down a paved road. However there were sticks arranged in an arrow right before me pointing to the right. As I pondered this contradiction I heard cheering and singing and spotted several unfamiliar women racing down the road from the right towards me. I was serenaded and hugged and praised and congratulated, etc. Turns out these were mostly relatives of Skittles who had come out to meet her...and anyone else who happened along. I was led to a soft chair where I was feted with hot dogs, sodas, chips, cookies and sticky buns. Now that's trail magic.After several hours of this I thanked them all and headed for The Doyle. The Doyle is this old, four story building in downtown Duncannon. It was built a long time ago to house railroad workers. It's old, it's dingy, it's a bit rundown...it's perfect. I decided to take a zero day here tomorrow.
Date: 2009-06-12
From: The Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, PA

To: The Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Up at 7am and had breakfast at Goodie's across the street. Spent the day updating this journal, picking up my package from home, picking up some extra supplies, drying out some gear and generally just kicking back and planning my attack of the next section of the trail. The timing for this zero day is perfect as I will be able to sit here in the bar at The Doyle and watch game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals between Pittsburgh and Detroit. While lazing around today it is amazing the number of people I have run into.Here's a list:LoonHot SauceRolling Stone and Coal (dog)MoonwalkerNo NailsSkittlesSiestaThe TravelerMudflapRailroadCritterWags (interesting story behind her name)GangstaBunionBag O' Tricks (new acquaintance)Anyway I'm all packed and ready to hit the trail again early tomorrow morning. Bring on the rocks.
Date: 2009-06-13
From: The Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, PA

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

(This is not an easy entry to make.)Up at 7:30am, on the trail at 9am. Lots of rain overnight with lows in the upper 60s, highs today in the mildly muggy mid 80s under partly cloudy skies.I packed the night before at The Doyle so I had a quick breakfast at Goodies across the street and then hit the trail. The entire way to the Clarks Ferry Shelter my feet (not my shin splints) were killing me. This was very surprising considering I had taken a zero day yesterday. As I was hobbling along I was doing a lot of soul searching re: this trek. I've known since I got back on the the trail in Harpers Ferry that because of my three-and-a-half week hiatus to heal up my shin splints I would have to average some serious daily miles to finish and be back to work as promised August 31st. Frankly, I didn't see any way I could do the miles necessary. But I came back out anyway to give it a shot, put in some miles and basically have fun. Today was not fun.And for the first time since I began in March I found myself actually hating what I was doing. When I got to the shelter I sat down and pondered whether I really wanted to continue. And the answer was, "No." And it was at that point that I officially became an AT section hiker.So I limped back down Peters Mountain to The Doyle and made arrangements to come home. Many thanks to Trail Angel Mary for the ride to the airport.I believe I will go back someday. It won't be next year as I already have a commitment next summer. But I will be back.(This is NOT my last entry.)
Date: 2009-07-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I've been home for about a month. I've spent some time resting up, visited my son, daughter-in-law and my grand daughter (several times), attended a Twins game and went to an Elvis Costello concert among other things. Even checked in at MPR to see if I still had a job waiting for me. My security card still works and they haven't given away my parking space so I think I'm still employed. But I still have the itch to get out on the trail. So next week I am flying out to Roanoke, VA where I will take a cab to the Daleville Howard Johnson's-Express. From there I will hike up to the Fullhardt Knob Shelter and begin again in an attempt to fill in the hole I created earlier between Daleville, VA and Harpers Ferry, WV. This part of the AT will include the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park.
Date: 2009-07-22
From: Fullhardt Knob Shelter

To: Wilson Creek Shel;er
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Up at 5:45am, on the trail at 7:30. Weather mostly cloudy all day with lows last night around 60 and highs today around 80.Nice cool breeze all night made sleeping very comfortable. Unfortunately the cistern behind the shelter wasn't working so I had just enough water to make dinner last night. I did the first 3.6 miles this morning without any water until I got to Curry Creek. While "camelling up" I met Hillbilly who, when he learned I worked in public radio immediately wanted to get into a debate on health care reform. This is not what I wanted on my first day back on the trail.Stopped at Wilson Creek Shelter as I am still getting my "trail legs". Should be able to double that tomorrow.
Date: 2009-07-23
From: Wilson Creek Shel;er

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Up at 6am, on the trail at 8:30. Weather overnight was mostly cloudy with rain and lows in the upper 60s. It was partly cloudy, humid day with highs in the mid 80s.There was a light rain last night that started around 10pm which progressed to a downpour until 2am. In the middle of the storm one of the straps for my hammock snapped dumping me to the ground. There followed a mad dash back and forth as I threw everything into the shelter and spent the rest of the night there. Fortunately the shelter was empty so I didn't disturb anyone. My hammock wasn't hung very high so the only thing that was bruised was my dignity.It was a warm, muggy day for hiking. The trail zigs and zags across the Blue Ridge Parkway. While taking a break at one of the parkway spots where people in their cars can pull over to enjoy the view a couple pulled up and asked me if I was hiking the AT. After a short conversation they offered me a pair of double-chocolate muffins and ice cold can of Coke. Gotta love that trail magic.Water through this section of the trail is a bit scarce. I wound up filtering and treating water from a shallow ditch filled with rain water from last night's storm. I already knew from my trail guide book that there was no water at the Cove Mountain Shelter. This would be the only time this summer I found a shelter with no water within a reasonable distance.Got to the shelter in plenty of time to hang and dry out all my stuff that got wet the previous night. Around 8pm I was lying in my hammock when a deer walked right into my campsite...and me with my camera hanging on my backpack.
Date: 2009-07-24
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Up at 6:30am, on the trail at 8am. Clear skies overnight and all day today with lows in the mid 60s and highs in the mid 80s.Gorgeous night last night and a lot less humid today. Good thing as there were a few decent climbs and descents today. Started out with a 3 mile descent to Jennings Creek then a 3 mile up and down over Fork Mountain. Stopped at the Bryant Ridge shelter for lunch...and a nap. Bryant Ridge Shelter has to be on e of the most swank shelters on the entire AT. I found out later that it had been designed and built by some engineering students as part of a class project. While there four young people came by looking for the waterfall. After digging out my map and showing them where they were we came to the conclusion that they had taken the wrong trail and gone nine miles the wrong way...with no water or food. Their only recourse was to backtrack.I followed them out for 4 miles which included a 2200' ascent to the top of Floyd Mountain before a 500' descent to the shelter. Arrived at 6pm.One thing I am noticing is that there are not many people on this section of the trail at this time of the year. All the NOBOs are well past here and the SOBOs haven't gotten this far south yet.
Date: 2009-07-25
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: James River Footbridge
Miles today: 19.7

Up at 6am, on the trail at 7:30. Clear overnight with lows around 60. Partly cloudy and hot during the day with highs nearing 90.Today I did one of those "bust your butt" days so I could get to my maildrop and to a campsite. I was willing to do this because I planned on taking a zero day tomorrow...which happens to be my birthday. It was hot but as long as I kept drinking water and snacking I was able to do it. When I got to the highway after crossing the James River footbridge I caught a ride to the store holding my maildrop and then caught another ride to the Wildwood campground. Once there I rented a "primitive" campsite. I had planned on staying there tomorrow but got pissed off when they charged me for a site that didn't even have a picnic table.So tomorrow I'm catching a ride to a motel in Buena Vista.
Date: 2009-07-27
From: James River Footbridge

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: broken clouds

Up at 6:30am, on the trail at 8:30am. Partly cloudy all day with previous nights lows in the mid 60s and afternoon highs around 80.It rained a lot last night but I didn't care since I was snug in my motel bed on my b-day night. My prearranged ride showed up and took me to the trail. Right away I had a serious climb of about 2300' over 3 plus miles over Big Rocky Row. From there I stayed at this higher elevation to Bluff mountain. There I found the monument to Ottie Cline Powell. Then I continued on to the Punchbowl Shelter. The shelter was next to a pond which meant I would be serenaded by a lot of frogs tonight.As I always do at the shelters I checked out its ledger. Almost every shelter on the AT has a ledger/log where hikers can weigh in with opinions, observations or just plain "howdys". In reading some of the previous entries I learned that the local lore says this shelter is haunted by little Ottie Cline Powell's ghost. There was one entry from several nights earlier (the night my hammock strap broke) that caught my eye. Rather than paraphrase I instead give you Billy "Packman" Royell's entry verbatim:   "I had a 'Little Ottie' experience here last night and it's kind of freaked me out.   I heard what sounded like crying about 10pm. Okay, probably an animal. However, when I woke up later during a thunderstorm I saw a little boy huddled in the corner of the shelter. Two flashes of lightning clearly illuminated the kid, who was very young. After i got my flashlight, though, he/it was gone.   You might think I dreamed this, but here's the kicker. When I woke up this morning (and it took some doing to go back to sleep after my spectral vision) the clothes in my pack had been taken out and folded into little squares. Also, there was a small pile of dried-out chestnuts on my pile of clothes.   I'm not the kind of person to believe in spooks, but I'm going to be glad to hike out of here now.   Peace to all, living and dead (or both)."As for me, Ottie can have the shelter, I'm sleeping in my hammock. It's going to be a calm night. Hopefully Ottie only comes out during t-storms.
Date: 2009-07-28
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Cow Camp Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Up at 6am, on the trail at 7:30. Clear overnight with lows in the upper 60s. During the day the clouds rolled in, it became very humid and there was a threat of t-storms with highs in the upper 80s.There was no sign of Ottie last night. There were 3 hikers in the shelter so maybe they scared him off. They certainly didn't scare off the frogs in the pond. Man, they were noisy.Hike mostly a gradual descent in the morning. But after lunch there was a monster climb over Bald Knob...about 3500' over 4.5 miles. Arrived at the shelter around 5:30pm. Went to bed with the very distant sound of thunder.
Date: 2009-07-29
From: Cow Camp Gap Shelter

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Up at 6:30am, on the trail at 8:15. Day started out with clouds, then fog, then light rain, then a downpour 'til about 4pm...then sunshine. Temps were in the 60s all day.No really strenuous ups or downs today. After yesterdays climb decided to go slow and take it easy.The last two days I've been sharing campsites with Mountain City and his Brother-in-law, Bob. I arrived at Seeley-Woodworth around 2pm during the driving rain and decided to wait it out. An hour later it was still pouring when in walks Mountain...without Bob. Yesterday's hot, muggy hike over Bald Knob did a number on Bob and he decided to go back down the mountain and catch a ride home. Mountain and I got to talking and decided we would hike together to Rockfish Gap. His car is there and he offered to drop me off in Waynesboro (my next maildrop) before he heads home.
Date: 2009-07-30
From: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter

To: Harpers Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: broken clouds

Up at 6:30am, on the trail at 8:15. Mostly cloudy all day with rain in the afternoon and evening. Overnight lows in the upper 60s, highs today were in the mid 80s.First half of the day was fairly easy with just a couple of 500' climbs. After lunch at the Priest Shelter there was a 4 mile, 300' descent to the Tye River, then a 100' ascent over 1.5 miles to the shelter. While on that climb the clouds opened up and I got drenched...again. I was so hot I didn't bother putting on my rain gear. It was very refreshing. At the shelter I told Mountain that instead of continuing on with him I was going to stop at Rusty's Hard Time Hollow. Rusty's hostel has been in operation since 1982...and apparently hasn't changed much since the day it opened. Should be interesting.