morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-07-20
From: PA 944

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: light rain

20 July 12010, Duncannon   It rained for about 1/2 the day today as I was walking into Duncannon. It poured and I got soaked to the bone. I thought I was turning into a prune.   I checked into the Doyle and later on in the day Mr Smee checked in. I also ran into Utah.   After catching a nap I went to visit Trail Angle Mary. To my surprise I ran into City Slicker, Grizzly, Hazzard, Turtle and Squatch. I was really shocked to see City Slicker. I thought she was at least a couple of weeks ahead of me. She told me that Sockeye and River, and Superman were off the trail. Turtle had cut all her long hair off since I had last seen her. She also had a white streak died into it down the middle that she said she just did. She said it was a white blaze. I thought it made her look like a skunk.   The Doyle is a landmark place to stay at and it is like a step back in time. I had one issue with the place though. That issue was the heat. It was hot and humid yesterday and the room was just as hot with no air running through it and it never cooled off during the night, even with the fan on. Other hikers complained that there was no TV or AC and the rooms were a dump. Personally the rooms were not that bad and I could live without the TV. I just wanted it to be cooler. For the price you get what you pay for.
Date: 2010-07-21
From: Duncannon

To: PA 325
Miles today: 16.0

21 July 2010, PA 325   To start the morning off we had to walk around a train that was parked in front of the trailhead. The climb up Peters Mountain was fairly easy but the day was very humid. I was sweating like a stuffed pig.    When I was almost to the top of Peters Mountain I stopped so she could go check out a rock outcropping to see if there is a view. While she is checking Squatch catches up to us. He walks ahead and I catch him later when he stops for a break to wait for the rest of his group. I ran into the ridge runner that was heading southbound and was shooting the breeze with him when Utah walked by. After a little conversation I was able to get the ridge runner to tell me how much he gets paid.   When I got to Clarks Ferry Shelter Utah was there. We talked for about 15 and then Utah went down to the pipe spring to get water. While Utah was gone Squatch arrived. Utah came back and the three of us chatted for a bit and Utah moved on. Squatch was waiting for his group to arrive because they never showed up when he stopped and waited the last time I saw him. He group consisted of Hazzard, Grizzly, Turtle, and City Slicker. Squatch hiked in 2009, he had started a southbound but got hurt. This year started northbound. I chatted with him for about another half hour and then I had to move on. I never saw any of them for the rest of the day.   I ran into Utah again at PA 225 and never saw him again today.
Date: 2010-07-22
From: PA 325

To: I-81
Miles today: 17.4

22 July 2010, I-81   I had to take a sleeping pill last night because I have been having trouble sleeping and today was going to be another big mile day. I wanted to make sure I was well rested.   The trail was easy hiking all day today. Most of the trail was old resupply roads for the coal mining towns that have long gone away. I wanted to check out Yellow Springs Village which has the ruins of one of those towns but I missed it. I must have blinked or it was all grown over.   I stopped off at Rausch Gap Shelter that was 0.3 off the trail. The trail to the shelter was long, wide and straight all the way down to the shelter. I think this also part of an old road at one point. This shelter was different than any I have seen before. This shelter was built into a stone wall and the front area was set into the ground. To get to the shelter there is a set of stone steps that lead down into it. I found this interesting and would like to come back and spend the night here sometime.   I passed by some remains that looked like the collection or staging areas for coal because there was still piles of coal remains. I also passed by a cemetery with three stones. One of the stones read, Andrew Allen who was a native of England who met his death by accident at Gold Mine Gap.   At one crossing on Rte 443 there was a metal bridge of metal construction that looked like it used to be a vehicle bridge at one time but there to no way for any vehicles to get to it now because it is blocked off for only for foot traffic now. I am surprised they still maintain it for the AT to cross. I could find any plaques saying anything about it or if it had any historical significance.
Date: 2010-07-23
From: I-81

To: PA 183
Miles today: 20.3

PA 183, 20.3   Did not see anyone all morning until I got to 501 shelter. When I got there I ran into Vegan and his Lady who had just gotten the pizza they had delivered. I told him with a name like Vegan that it better be a vegan pizza and he said it was. After talking he said he was thru hiking north and his Lady was only out for a week with him.   As I left the shelter and was heading back to the trail a lady was walking to the shelter in a hurry. I ask if she was thru hiking and she said she was. I ask her trail name and she said Nuthatch. She said she left her shirt there the day before because she had to go to Port Clinton for boots.   Vegan and I were talking about how everyone has always complained about the rocks in PA and we both have not seen any real major rock issues. Soon after I left the shelter the rocks started and lasted for almsot two miles but after that they did clear up.   About two miles north of the shelter I ran into a group of boys with packs on heading sobo. There first question to me was was there water ahead. I told them them it was about one half mile behind me. They asked if I could see it and I told them no and I did not go to it but there was a sign on the trail that said spring. As the group passed several of the other boys ask the same question. My guess was that they ran out of water. About 10 minutes behind the boys four men were walking with packs. I ask if they were with the boys and they confirmed it. I told them about the boys concerns about water and they sold me the last water source north was dry.   Those were the only people I saw all day. I stopped at the Fort Dietrich Snyder Marker to take a picture. In reality it was no fort, but merely a settler¢s log house used as a lookout station.
Date: 2010-07-24
From: PA 183

To: Windsor Furnace
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: broken clouds

Windsor Furnace, 20.5   It was a really hot day today. It was the hottest day on the AT for me so far. You could stand and sweet without moving. I hope this hot streak does not last long.   Coming into Port Clinton they was a very large chunk of coal on display along the railroad tracks. The coal was about the size of a volkswagon bug. I also took a small detour today in Port Clinton and went to check out the pavilion.   When I got to Windsor Furnace Shelter I ran into Biscut and Frisbee and there dog. I have not seen them since Hot Springs. It was great seeing them and knowing they were still on the trail.   I am not looking forward to tomorrow at all. It is not suppose to be as hot as today but it is still going to be pretty darn hot. I would like to do more than a 20 tomorrow but I am not sure. I will see how I feel towards the end of the day. I need to set it up so I am climbing out of Lehigh Gap early in the morning and right now it is not going to work that way so I have to start doing some small changes now so I do not lose and time or days. I still need to be in DWG on the 28th. Sooner would be better.   I got a call from Bismarck tonight and he told me he and Bluesky were in DWG tonight and may take a zero day tomorrow.
Date: 2010-07-25
From: Windsor Furnace

To: Baker Oven Knob Road
Miles today: 25.5

Baker Oven Knob Shelter, 26.7   I have been counting my blessings to long I think. The PA rocks were out today until I got past the Allentown Shelter and then they started petering out and the trail turned into the remnants of and old road of some type.   I stopped in at the Allentown Shelter for a break and to refill my water. The guidebooks said the spring was 0.2 from the shelter. I walked to the spring and I can say it is a lot more then 0.2 from the shelter. It is probably 0.3 or more. The sad thing and what ticked me off was that after walking that far the spring was dry.   I was also counting my blessings today because I have been able to avoid getting caught in any bad rain since I started. Well, that all ended today. It first started a a light rain. Then about a mile past Allentown Shelter the skies opened up and let its furry come down. The thunder was so loud at times that it thought it was right over my head. It rained so heavy that the trail literally turned into a stream. I did not even bother trying to avoid walking around the puddles or the stream because my feet were soaked. I just walked right through it.
Date: 2010-07-26
From: Baker Oven Knob Shelter

To: Leroy Smith Shelter
Miles today: 24.6
Weather: clear sky

Leroy Smith Shelter, 24.6   The climb out of Lehigh Gap today was easy. There was however one spot that gave me a scare. I had to go hand over hand for a very short distance. That area a very steep drop right below it. I held onto the rocks real good needless to say.   Rocks, rocks, rocks. Tomorrow I am out of PA and I also hope I am out of the rocks. The rocks did not start becoming a pain for me until the last two days.   Another issue that plagued me today we're the ticks. I never had a problem with ticks like others have had in the past. That was until today. I picked five ticks off me just today.   Lehigh Gap is actually the climb Blue Mountain. On the back side of Blue Mountain is the Superfun site. This side of the mountain for two miles of walking is the discharge remains of zinc processing. It is in the processes of rejuvenation. What was once dead is now growing grass, trees, and also supporting wildlife again.   The AT has a sign at the top of Blue Mountain stating that it has been temporarily been relocated due to the superfun site. I know that this relocation has been over three years old. I was wondering while walking today how long a temporary relocation is in effect before it should become permanent.
Date: 2010-07-28
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

East Stroudeburg, 0.0   I took a zero today waiting to hook up with my step brother who I have not seen in over 34 years. I spent the morning going getting resupplied. First on the agenda was to get my mail at the post office. I was surprised to find a box pull of gatorade and some slim jims from a fellow geocacher in Maine. Sometimes I am amazed by the kindness people show.   Next stop was the outfitters. The lady at the outfitters was not very friendly and personable. We got what we needed and left.   Did a run to the store for some powdered drink mix and the resupplying was done for the day.   I got a call from my step brother with some bad news. He could not hook up with me tonight or tomorrow morning. I was bummed about it and he was too but things in life get in the way sometimes. He got a call to work tonight.   I was looking at trailjournals tonight and it says Two of a Kind are in DWG today. I am hoping they leave town tomorrow and that I run into them on they trail. The last time I saw them was in Pearisburg.
Date: 2010-07-29
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Blue Mountain Lakes Road
Miles today: 17.8

Blue Mountain Lakes Road, 17.8    The hike out of Delaware Water Gap was not as bad as I expected, however the humidity was hiking with me this morning. It cooled off once I got back on top of the mountain at Sunfish Pond. Sunfish pond had an abundance of frogs all around the edge of the pond. The sky started to get real dark and spitting rain so I put my pack on and got ready to start moving on. As soon as I put my pack on the rain stopped and the skies started to clear. When I arrive at Catfish fire tower it had been invaded by boy scouts from the local boy scout camp. They were only letting eight members of their troop up the tower at a time. They were nice enough to let me get to the top and look without waiting for all of them to get done. I would have had to wait all afternoon if that would have happened. There were 35 of them not counting the leaders.   I thought the rocks ended in PA. They did not end. I hiked in rocks most of the day today off and on. The only difference I noticed was that the rocks in New Jersey are not as pointed. I am hoping the rocks end tomorrow.    I have not mentioned my heel problem in my journals here for a little while now. The heel pain has gone away. The problem now is that the pain has moved into my arch area, it hurts on the back part of my arch. It seems to hurt more walking on flat ground more right now. I have orthotics in too.   Another problem I had in the past that I mentioned but never followed up with here in my journal was my lower body rash. I had my kilt sent form home to try that out. At first I did not think the kilt would do the trick and help me out because the rash seemed to linger around. However after a few days it did start to clear up and go away.  I did not see Two of a Kind today. I did not see any other thru hikers today. I did run into one section hiker that has been on a three year plan to section hike the AT. This is his last year. He is going to Maine this year. His name was Gus.
Date: 2010-07-30
From: Blue Mountain Lakes Road

To: NJ 23
Miles today: 24.9

NJ 23, 24.9   Culvers firetower was just about identical to the Catfish fire tower with the exception of the paint job on it. The was only one other person there when I arrived. It was someone outsection hiking. He left and I climbed the tower.   I made it to the shelter in a very quick time. The section hiker was there. I signed the register and moved on. I left the section hiker behind. I continued to make very good time. That was until I made a good trip on these damn New Jersey Rocks and went flying. In the process of the trip I tried to corect my fall and overstretch the arch of my left foot. It is th®Te arch that has been bothering me. I lost all my foreard momentum, my left arch was in a lot of pain. I sucked it up and kept walking but it was painful.   This morning start out like a fall hike in Maine. The temps were like fall temps in Maine.   One thing that really agravates me about hiking with a partner that has a dog is the limitations of places you can stay at in trail towns. This is getting really old.   I was contacted by a friend down south that offered me a job after my thru hike. The hours are not that great but it is a job with all expences paid except food. Time off is the only thing holding me back because I only get one day off a week. I will have to think this over.
Date: 2010-07-31
From: NJ 23

To: Iron Mountain Road Bridge
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: light rain

Iron Mountain Road Bridge, 24.8   I have verigo issues that bother me every once and a while. It has been years since I have had it occur. Yesterday I start having mild vertigo problems. Today it started bothering me bad but bad enough not to hike. Climbing up inside High Point monument really got me. I did not make it all the way to the top. It was 291 steps to the top.                     When I got to the secret shelter today the owner Jim Murry pulled in with his truck and had his lunch with him. He sat and ate his lunch. I talked with for a bit and thanked him for supporting the AT hiking community.   After leaving leaving the Secret Shelter the walk north was almost 1/2 mile of plank walking threw a bog. The bridging was very well put together.   I got a text message from Bkuesky and Bismarck today that said they stayed at Prospect Rock yesterday. That means they are only one day ahead of me. It would be nice if I could catch them before Bear Mountain Bridge. This way we could walk accross it together.
Date: 2010-08-01
From: Iron Mountain Road Bridge

To: Arden Road
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Arden Rd, 23.2   I think I am caught up to the general area where I was before I had to go back and make up the section of the AT I missed. The reason I say this is because today I caught up to four people that were in the same vicinity that I was on the trail when I left. Today I caught up to Pepper, Chilli, Dancing Wind, Indiana. I was tickled pink to run into Pepper and Chilli at Mountain Lakes Road. We chatted for over a 1/2 hour before we got ready to moved. Then when we were ready to move on a very large motorcycle group came down the road. They had a police escort leading them. It must have been for some cause because all the riders had orange and yellow wrist bands on. It took over 20 minutes for all the motorcycles to go by.   When I got to Fitzgerald Fall I was expecting to take some pictures but they were all dried up, bummer. Over the past week I have noticed that there are areas in the woods that looked to be small ponds that were all dried up.   The temperatures for walking today were really nice. It starting to feel like fall. I am afraid to say that because now tomorrow will probably change to hot and humid again.   I ran into a group of three thru hikers on top of Mombasha High Point today that I had not met before. The only one name out of the three that I remember was Groundhog.   Bismarck called me earlier and he said he was at West Mountain Shelter and he was going to most likely go over Bear Mountain Bridge and come back to Fort Montgomery tonight. I told him to call me when he got here and we could probably hook up this evening.   I ended up hooking up with Bismarck and Bluesky for dinner. We talked and caught up on many things. Bluesky also asked if I knew they were now a couple. I told them I had suspected it for a while now. They told me that while they had been had of me they kept asking each other "do you think Troll knows". I thought that was funny.
Date: 2010-08-02
From: Arden Road

To: Bear Mountain Bridge
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: clear sky

Bear Mountain Bridge, 18.2   Today was a great day for walking in the woods. It felt like fall weather. I took my time and took in all the scenery. I loved hiking the section from Arden Road north. The tops of the mountains were not littered with trees or rock. There were out groppings of rocks and there were also trees. The thing that I likes was that the rocks or trees were not fighting for there space but there was plenty of space and large areas around the trees and rocks with grass growing. I was very surprised that the grass was not high at all. It was very peaceful and beautiful walking today. I walked all day by myself. I wondered while walking if other hikers were also apreciating this beauty today.   When I was leaving Fingerboard Shelter there was a doe graving off to the side. She did not seem to be bothered by me. I got within 30 yards of her and took a picture. I met my first southbounder by the name of Slim today at Bear Mountain today. I am sure there were more ahead of him but he is the first one that I actually talked to and realized he was a southbounder. After talking to him I found out he was also from Maine. He is from China, Maine. I ask Slim if he ran into Bismark and Bluesky going accross the bridge. He said he rain into a couple named Two of a Kind. I was surprised when he told me that because I have been doing 25 mile days since DWG. They left the same day as me or I thought they did. Now they are a whole day in front of me.   Coming down off Bear Mountain today I got stung by a bee on the back of the right leg. I did not actually see the bee but I am sure it was a bee. I know that feeling. I did not have anything to put on the sting so I took one of my Ibuprophen pills and got it wet and smeared it on the sting. That seemed to help.   I went through the Bear Mountain Inn area and then through the trail side zoo.   Bismarck and Bluesky called me before I got to Bear Mountain today around noon and asked where I was. If I was close enough to the bridge they were going to wait for me. I was still hours away. I hope to catch them tomorrow but do not have high hopes in catching up to them. The terrian is not a flat as it was so I can not do the mileage I have been doing. The big miles that I have been doing have finally taken a toll on me. I need to slow down and take it easy on my left foot arch that has been screaming at me.
Date: 2010-08-03
From: Bear Mountain Bridge

To: NY 301
Miles today: 18.2

NY 301, 18.2   Cross Bear Mountain Bridge. It was not a long as it looked to be, to me. It was very humid this morning. I expected to run into other hikers crossing the bridge but I had it all to myself.   I made the side trip to Graymoor and ran into Slightly Inapropriate. He was just getting back on the trail today after getting off to go to Long Island to visit family.   I got off the trail today and got a ride to RPH Shelter to see if Bizmark and Bluesky had signed the register to see how far I was behind. As I was walking to the Shelter Bluesky walked in fromn the trail. I sat and talk to them and everyone else there for about one hour before moving on.   I am tired of feeling the way I feel. I have felt light headed off and on for a few weeks now. I feel so tire 1/2 of the time. I have had vertigo issues the last couple of days but that seems to have passed now. I still feel light headed and have mild nausea flashed even though the vertigo has passed. I also feel week some of the time. I will give this a little more time and see if it passes. I have been using bug dope on me that is 99% deet for a while now. I am wondering if that may be what is causing this issue with me.
Date: 2010-08-04
From: NY 301

To: NY 52
Miles today: 12.1

NY 52, 12.1   Today was a depressing day for me. I cannot pinpoint why, I was just not in a good mood and really did not want to be on the trail today. I really don't want to go back on the trail tomorrow either. I hope this passes.   Not really much to write about hiking wise today. It was humid but not really bothersome until you started climbing. But the slightest little climb made me sweat profusely.   Slightly Inapropriate walked up on me just before the Shenadoah Tenting area and we talked and caught up on things until we got to the side trail. We both went and he got water from the hand pump and I went just to check it out.   When I got to NY 52 there was coolers and containers with food and soda for trail magic. It was a very pleasent surprise. I have not had trail magic in a long time.   Came into Stormville tonight and made a trip to WalMart where Bluesky bought a comb and sissors. She trimmed my beard and hair tonight. She had her own hair buisness before she got on the trail. I am very happy with the job she did on my beard.