morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-05-16
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Tumbling Run Shelters
Miles today: 25.9
Weather: light rain

Wettest day yet. Found out I was in the shelter with Justin (one of the "Drunken Guy" duo; the other one dropped) and Hairless Joe. Hairless got his name because he has so much hair. Rained hard al night w/o pause. Slept in until 10 AM to try again, futilely, to wait out the rain. As I left the shelter, Hairless Joe was singing "I got a devil's haircut in my mind." He had on 2 baseball caps (one on top of the other) and a plastic 7 Eleven shopping bag on top of them, presumably to keep them dry. The trail was the wettest yet, which is to say in most places it had turned into a stream. Literally. The streams had turned into rivers. Some SOBO section hikers advised me to take the highway around some impassible rapidas. I of course decided to ford them. There were 2 or 3 waist deep, fast moving, rain swollen streams to cross. Hearkening to my experience in younger years, I chose the widest point where the water was slowest to cross. No problemo. Especially as wading through couldn't possibly make me any wetter. Finally crossed the Mason-Dixon line1! Now maybe folks will stop calling me a yank. Goodbye Maryland, hello Pennsylvania! Left the waist belt buckle I got for Lucky in a shelter with a note. Passed Poptart, Moxie & 2 other guys. Said they were shooting for this shelter but it's after dark and there's no sign of them. Only other person in the shelter with me is Moose Killer, so named because he was attacked by a moose in Maine. He's retired and walking the International AT (goes another 500 miles into Quebec). He's been section hiking for 6 years and has a list of trail maladies as long as Hairless Joe's hair: attacked by a moose who thought he was afterthe moose's female, knee infection, kidney stones (9 of 'em), foot infection, etc. He kept talking about cricks and showers, which I finally figured out (he's a little hard of hearing) were creeks and thelters. Have the emergency balanket over my sleeping bag but am still shivering a bit.
Date: 2013-05-27
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kay Wood Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

After 5 days of overcast skies and rain, the sun came out of hiding and it was a beautiful day in the woods. Cool enough in the morning To start with my fleece but i was soon down to tee shirt and shorts. Early on crossed i-90 which leads to my old hometown of cleveland, oh. Just over i-90. Heard a noise ahead on the trail and looked and briefly saw a very large black shape ambling away through the underbrush. Probly a bear but couldn't swear to it. Still an exciting sighting! Trail still pretty wet but begining to dry a bit. Walked 17.6 mi today. Feeling tired from 3 days of sloging in the wet so reserved room for 2 nights in williamstown. Traversed around pretty finerty pond and had distant view of mt greylock from warner hill. In kay wood shelter for night. Hikers mud mixer and chili-mac are here.Day 20. Total AT Miles: 1562.80
Date: 2003-05-17
From: Tumbling Run Shelters

To: Toms Run Shelters
Miles today: 25.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Alone all day hiking in the mud. Lost my now famous skull & crossbones hat; pretty bummed about that. Met a Boy Scout troop and some weekenders at Birch Run Shelters but still no sign of another thru hiker. Another BSA troop was at Toms Run Shelters and I slept in the shelter with the adults. Got in early and was thinking about going on to the next shelter except that I want to do the half gallon challenge- at a store at the approximate halfway point a thru hiker wolfs down a half gallon of ice cream as quickly as possible. It is only about 3 miles further but the Boy Scout leaders tell me it is closed already. Early rise tomorrow then a half gallon down the hatch!
Date: 2013-05-28
From: Kay Wood Shelter

To: Mark Noepel Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

Another nice day in the woods. Up at 5am. Make rice dinner and filter water. Away from shelter 7:15am. Sunny and cool morning but am able tm start in shorts and tee shirt. Hear and then see hen turkey close about 15 ft away. 200 dt climb over day mtn. Descend and then road walk thru pretty mass town of dalton. Say hi to hikers point man and debone on porch of hostel. Dam, falls, and old mill on river at center of dalton. After dalton 1000 ft climb of north mtn. Pass pretty gore pond with beaver lodge and dams. Have nice view of mt greylock from marble outcrop called the cobbles. Descend and road walk thru nice mass town of cheshire. Just north of cheshire heard branches snap off trail to my right. Turned and about 100 ft away was facing a young bear. Could clearly see big round ears and yellow snout. I made a couple clicking noises and it ran about 10 ft and turned to face me again. I kept moving and soon it was gone. Climbed 1900 ft onto mt greylock massif. Am at mark noepel shelter. Hiker point man and others here. Walked 16. 9 mi today.Day 21. Total AT Miles: 1579.70
Date: 2003-05-18
From: Toms Run Shelters

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 37.4
Weather: overcast clouds

37 miles! That's a new long for me, which is pretty good considering that I didn't really start until 10:30 AM. Did the 3 miles to the half gallon challenge (passing the official half way marker) and was there by 8 AM. The store didn't open until 10 so I waited and read a few more chapters of "The Hobbit" (for the hundred and eleventh time). I took out my spoon and chose my foe... chocolate chip cookie dough. I took it to the counter and laid my credit card on top of it. "Sorry, sir, we don't take credit cards." It was as if he had taken my spoon and plunged it into my still beating heart. No cash except for 79 cents in change. I walked away, crestfallen, and walked and walked and walked. I walked past the 18 mile shelter so I could make a call from Boiling Springs to tell my family how I had let down the family honor and was thinking of taking my spoon and falling on it, like a sword with its hilt stuck in the ground in a Shakespearean historical drama, or plunging it manfully into my gut like the Japanese hori kori. Yet I digress- because I walked on, and that is the main thing. I walked through trackless swamped cow pastures in the dark and over unseen streams, but always in the mud. I arrived at the shelter and, not wanting to disturb the people in it, threw my safety blanket and sleeping bag under the picnic table and fell asleep there.
Date: 2013-05-29
From: Mark Noepel Shelter

To: Williamstown Mass
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: broken clouds

Started raining during night. Mostly drizzle with periods of light rain. Seemed to go on for a long time. Wet but not actively drizzling in morning. Up at 5am. Walking at 6:30am. About 650 ft climb to summit mt greylock. On top 8am. Totally in clouds. No one else is out. Greylock is a tourist mtn with paved summit road, hotel lodge and tall masonry tower. See a few small patches of snow from recent cold. Shortly down from top see a small porcupine padding down trail. It quickly moves off the trail and down the mtn. From 9:30 to 11:30 drizzles as i descend 2800 ft to williamstown, mass. where i will spend two nights at the Williamstown Motel. On way down to valley i pass 600 mi to go mark. Walked 9.6 mi today. Take shower, do laundry, buy a few things to eat. Sitting down sure feels good!Day 22. Total AT Miles: 1589.30
Date: 2003-05-19
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

Woke up under the picnic table and found out Flick was in the shelter. Walked the 11 with no water into Duncannon where I am to meet my friend Munko at the Doyle Hotel. A bit about the Doyle: A hulking single stairway building, solidly made, built about 1900 by Anheuiser Busch. Since then it has fallen on hard times (catering largely to AT hikers and long-term local tenants) and garnered a famous and infamous reputation- famous for the 75 cent Yeungling beers and the hiker friendly atmosphere, infamous for its general filth (there used to be a single tub on each floor which, by the end of the night, resembled thru-hiker funk soup). The Doyle also has an air of legend about it. People who should know told me that once, a thru hiker named Baltimore Jack found a dead body in one of the rooms. It had been there for days. Apparrently nobody had noticed the smell with all the hiker funk in the air. Anyways, I rolled in to find Flick, A-Train, Grunt and Sub Man at the bar eating a hefty lunch and washing it down with tall beers. They were all heading out but I'm here until tomorrow when Munko arrives. My room has a sheet over the window, kept up with tacks, and a radio with its antenna broken off, but the sheets are clean and there is now a more sanitary shower on each floor. I'm surprisingly not feeling the long day yesterday as much as I thought I would.
Date: 2013-05-30
From: Williamstown Mass

To: Williamstown Mass
Miles today: 0.0

I am taking a zero day here in williamstown, mass. I need it. The week just passed was challenging. Of the 6 days we had rain on 4 and sun on 2. Even on the 2 good days the trail was still very wet. The rain overlapped my last stop in salisibury so we had 5 days in a row with no sun. When the sun finally came back on memorial day monday it was joyous! Even with the wet, careful walking and my umbrella kept my feet and me reasonably dry. The main issue for me was the cold, esp the first 2 nights out. Due to wet had 2 minor foot issues - hot spot on ankle fixed with nu-skin and sore tendon fixed with boot lace adjustment. Due to some act of indiscretion - poss eating unwashed gift apple with unwashed hands - i got grumbly-in-the-tumbly a couple mornings ago. Had to dash off trail and squat just after dalton and just before cheshire, then again yesterday on way up to greylock. Felt better at motel but over-did-it on subway, soda, chips, cookies, mixed fruit, yogurt. So i am in relapse. Now on water. Later will try banana and imodium.Because of the wet and cold weather I turned into a shelter rat this passed week. All 5 nights were in shelters. For the 6 days of walking i did 13.4, 19.7, 15.8, 17.6, 16.9, 9.6 miles each day. Daily milages determined by shelter locations. Total for the week, 93.0 miles. Total for trip to date, 336.4 miles. For 21 days with walking am averaging 16.0 miles per day. So have covered about 1/3 of milage programmed for this year. And this will be the easiest one-third. The next 3 states, VT, NH, ME, will have tougher terrain and tremendously more elevation gain.Day 23. Total AT Miles: 1589.30
Date: 2003-05-20
From: Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, PA

To: Clarks Ferry Shelter
Miles today: 4.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Munko met me at the Doyle at half past 6 PM, driven by his friend Lauren- thanks! I thought it'd be interesting to put up his journals for a while, since we're hiking together and many of you are surely getting tired of the same old voice.[From Munko's journal] So I graduated BC yesterday. What a day; my grandparents, parents, uncle and brother came. I was so tired since I stayed up all night except one hour. We watched the sun come up that morning and it was amazing. After graduation, I went home to get ready for teh hike. Today I left home 8:30 AM and got grandma to go meet Laruen in Boston. From there we were driving together to PA. She was going to Pittsburg and I met Brady in Duncannon, PA at the Doyle Hotel. We showed up around 6:30 PM and took a picture of the three fo us. Brady and I then got food and left before nightfall. That is when the adventure started. About and hour in, I ask Brady, "Are there snakes out here?" And he says, "Of course, but only during the sunlight hours." Twenty minutes later I almost stepped ona Timber rattler. It was yourng and had just shed its skin, so it was shiny. Teh rest of the night was a difficult hike. Every twig seemed like a snake and I very carefully chose each step. Today we stayed in Clarks Ferry Shelter w/ Pop Tart, Lyme and Buzzsaw. More great adventures to come.
Date: 2013-05-31
From: Williamstown Mass

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

Trail notes 5/31. Walked 14.1 mi today. Had two sustained climbs of 1700 ft and 1000 ft. So did over 2700 ft of elev gain today. Sunny, hazy, hot, and humid day. Near record temps in the high 80's. I was hot on the climbs so stopped every 30 min to suck on the water bottle. Four miles in from williamstown crossed state line from MA into VT. Also crossed 1600 miles completed mark. Entered Green Mtn National Forest. Many miles of the AT in VT are in the GMNF. Town noises have mostly melted away - planes, cars, lawn mowers. The woods feel wilder and the country-side looks much prettier to me. Mostly in the green tunnel today. Did have nice views at a couple beaver ponds. Thought i saw a couple moose tracks in the mud in the trail. Seemed much too big for deer or elk. Arrived at congdon shelter about 2:30pm. No one else here so far at 6pm. Shelter near strong stream. So nice rushing water sound.Day 24. Total AT Miles: 1603.40
Date: 2003-05-21
From: Clarks Ferry Shelter

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

[from Munko's journal] Today was my first full day and it was a tough one, but productive. I came into the trail with a lot of confidence, but I quickly learned how difficult it really was. Today we hiked 24.3 miles, quite a bit for the first day. The miles seem to go much slower when out in the woods and with a pack on. Tonight we are staying in Rausch Gap Shelter with Pop Tart adn an older geltlemen who was just hiking for a week.
Date: 2013-06-01
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: clear sky

Walked 18.7 mi. I did have Congdon Shelter all to myself. Up at 4am. Walking at 5:20am to beat some of the heat. Forecast is for mid-80's. Especially on the ascents it felt that hot. First mile of day trail is very wet, after that is pretty dry for rest of day. Ascend 400 ft and then drop steeply 1000 ft to cross hi-way east of Bennington, VT and rushing, boulder strewn Waloomsac River on ped. bridge. Next 4-1/2 hours spent on rolling ascent of 3748 ft high glastenbury mtn with 2900 ft elev gain. Then rolling 1000 ft descent over 4 miles to kid gore shelter for the night. Just before arriving at shelter at 3:30pm met 2 southbound section hikers. The only people i met today. The woods are cut away in front of the shelter so there is a nice panoramic view over the valley below.Day 25. Total AT Miles: 1622.10
Date: 2003-05-22
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

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

Another day in PA. It was a tough one because of the long miles and rocky condidtions. We ended up tenting tonight at the Hertlein Campsite. Before that we ate dinner in 501 shelter right off the highway. Hope the rains hold up for tonight. We could get soaked.
Date: 2013-06-02
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: William B Douglas Shelter
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Walked 19.9 mi. Had Kid Gore Shelter all to myself. Up at 4am. Pee, poo, pack and change into trail clothes, filter water and go. Walking at 5:30am. Another hot, sultry day. Predicted highs low 80's. Black flies have been bad with this 3 day heat wave. Climb 500 ft then drop 1200 ft over 7 mi. Then big 1700 ft climb of day on Stratton Mtn. Chicken me ascends only 2 flights of stairs on fire tower to take pics. Then 1200 ft drop to Stratton Pond Shelter where I planned to spend night. Peeved water is down trail from shelter i decide to move on even though thunderstorms predicted and thunder rumbling in distance. Soon it is raining. Trail soon flooded Pause 3 times to wait for cloudbursts to subside. Just as I arrive at William B Douglas Shelter at 4:30pm skies open again and it pours hard on and off for the next hour. Unpack, wash, change into nite clothes, hang food, journal.Day 26. Total AT Miles: 1642.00
Date: 2003-05-23
From: Hertlein Campsite

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

[from Munko's journal] Today was by far my toughest day so far. After two days of over 20 miles my legs were really tired and the bottoms of my feet hurt from all the rocks. Unlike yesterday, today we started at the crack of sun light. By lunch time we had hiked approximately 12 miles. After lunch we hiked into Port Clinton, PA where Mark and I had a great spaghetti dinner. We also went to the bathroom and washed up a little. Then we got food for the next two days at the Appalacian Outfitters. Then we went to the town's post office and sent home some stuff I didn't really need such as a hat, cup and my glasses. And then as the rain started to fall we decided to stay in the town's pavillion. It is a realy small town with approximately 400 people. We got here around 3:00 PM, so we have much of the day to rest. I'm hoping to get a pretty good slleep tonight . I need the rest! Hopefully I will feel pretty good tomorrow.
Date: 2013-06-03
From: William B Douglas Shelter

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Walked 15.9 mi. Did total 3000 elev gain today with big 1400 ft climb Bromley Mtn. Half way up mtn stopped at Bromley Shelter to make rice dinner, first time this week. Hadn't done previous due to heat and tummy trouble. Tummy is better. Have been off imodium for 2 days. Walked along ski run at top of Bromley Mtn. Descend and then steeper 900 ft climb Styles Peak with nice view at top. Traverse spruce-fir treed ridge to Peru Peak then down to Peru Peak Shelter where I am for the nite.Day 27. Total AT Miles: 1657.90
Date: 2003-05-24
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: light rain

[from Munko's journal] Today we got up pretty early after a great night's sleep and went to breakfast at the 3C's. I had a nice big mushroom omlet, home fries, and pancakes. Good way to start off the day. Throughout the night it rained, and it continued throughout the day; heavy at some times. Today I felt pretty strong besided the bottoms of my feet. Teh rocks are starting to take their toll on my feet. They are really starting to hurt, especially the bottoms. Tonihgt we stayed in Allentown Hiking Club Shelter. It was a good stay out of the rain. There were three town guys that were funny and anohter section hiker coming from the north. They kept on telling their South Park jokes and singing the songs from the show. Then they said, "Mortal, you fight like elbow macaroni." "That's what mushrooms do to you!" Ha, ha, ha......
Date: 2013-06-04
From: Peru Peak Shelter

To: Greenwall shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Cold last nite. Wore all my clothes and slept ok. Chilly morning with sun and clouds racing by on the wind. Wear jacket most of morning. Pass pretty griffith lake. Then short but dramatic climb of inclined and open to the sky flaky quarts ridge on baker peak. great views adjacent mtn across valley. Also see white cliffs below, poss marble quarry. Vt known for this stone. Stopped at shelter at pretty little rock pond to make rice dinner. Met and talked with section hikers lynn n jason there. Before lunch walked 2 mi upstream along musically babbling little black brook. After lunch climbed white rocks mtn with dramatic valley views from white rocks cliffs. Then met 5th thru hiker named sabre. At greenwall shelter for the nite. Walked 14.5 mi today. Only 1350 ft elev gain on day. A great day on the trail!Day 28. Total AT Miles: 1672.40
Date: 2003-05-26
To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 29.6
Weather: moderate rain

[from Munko's journal] So many things to write about in today's journal. To start, last night we had a horrible sleep because we couldn't find the off switch for the lights in teh Jailhouse. After leaving town and hiking 2 miles on the road before we got to the trail, we proceeded to pull our longest hike yet. The hike started with a climb that was pretty steep and then some pictures overlooking the town. Although my foot hurt teh whole trip, we did make it, but not until after dark. Today we saw 2 deer (one right on teh trail who didn't move), a salamander (orange), and got Fig Newton "trail magic." The hike was a painful one but we got here. It seemed like it would never end, but I enjoyed it the whole time. Especially the great singing of Brady. He did a good job amusing me. Looking forward to a good night's sleep and the 7 miles to town tomorrow at Delaware Water Gap. Tonight we stayed in Kirkridge shelter.
Date: 2013-06-06
From: Gov Clement Shelter

To: Inn at Long Trail 
Miles today: 12.5

Another cold night last night. The weather has been whack again this week. Had 3 very hot days then followed by 3 very cold nights. Day is cool, mostly high overcast, but with some sun coming thru. So 3rd good dry day in a row. Immediately from shelter on 2000 ft continuous climb to summit of 4235 ft high Killington Peak, highest pt on AT in VT. Good views from top. Electrician working on telecom tower takes pics of me. They drove to top thru adjacent ski area. I made the 4 mi walk with 2000 ft climb in 2 hrs and 20 min. Pretty good for me. Then in next 7 mi descend 2000 ft to hiway crossing. Gain addl 500 ft before taking 0.5 mi side trail back to hiway and Inn At Long Trail where i will spend the next 2 nights. Check-in, shower, eat at co-located pub, do laundry, call girlfriend, Cindy and hiking friend trail name Phoenix, who is driving here to visit me tomorrow. At 8pm patter of raindrops against my window begins. I love it when it rains at the hotel! Walked 12.5 mi today.Day 30. Total AT Miles: 1699.50
Date: 2003-05-27
From: Kirkridge Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: broken clouds

[from Munko's journal] Today was a really easy day, but also very painful. My rihgt ankle has been experiencing some awful pain. So today after a 7 mile hike into the Delaware Water Gap we just took a break. We are staying at the Presbyterian Church of the Mountain. It is a really nice place behind the church. It has couches, hot showers, and nice bunks. Also the town is great with a wonderful bakery. I got a Boston creme filled donut for $2.50. It was worth every penny. Also tonight I alternated ice and heat on my ankle. I did it about 4 times. I'm hoping to feel better by tomorrow. I wanted to also set some goals as of tonight, seeing as I have a deadline to start work by July 21st. I'll shoot for July 10th as the ending point, but I will have to be off the trail no later than July 17th. As of tonight we have 894 miles left and 44 days to do it: NJ, NY, CT & MA are approximately 300 miles. If we could hike it in 14 days (June 10th) that would give us 30 days or 1 month to do VT, NH & ME or 590 miles. It will be a tough goal to accomplish, but I think we can do it. Guess we will have to see.
Date: 2013-06-07
From: Inn at Long Trail 

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 0.0

Am having a most fortunate zero day here at Inn At Long Trail in VT. Frontal rain that started last nite will continue thru day today. Overnite tonight remnants of hurricane andrea will bring more rain. Clearing tomorrow in pm. So i will go back to trail tomorrow as planned. In the trail week just passed i walked 110.2 mi. For trip to date i have walked 446.6 mi in 28 days averaging 15.95 mi/day. Today is only my 3rd zero day. Two days ago i passed the 500 mi TO GO mark. Two days out from here i will have done 1/2 the miles that remained when i came back to the trail this year. Tomorrow is also my one-month anniv on the trail this year. Early tomorrow i will cross the 1700 mi mark walked from GA. Enough numbers. I have been managing a potentially serious issue with skin loss bottom of 2 toes with anti-fungal cream and airing feet 2 or 3 times during day. Will try to get new socks and footbeds today when my friend Phoenix visits me here. In the game room here they have a Big Indian pinball game! WOW!Day 31. Total AT Miles: 1699.50