morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-05
From: Pine Grove Furnace State Park

To: Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 19.4

Started:Pine Grove Furnace State ParkFinished:Boiling Springs ATC         Mid. Atlantic OfficeSleeping:HouseMiles:19.4Total Miles:1107.6We dropped Model T and Ranger Dawg off at Boilings Springs and headed to Pine Grove. We met up with McKenzie (Hitch) and Breeze, stowed their gear in Rod's car and joined them on the hike to Boiling Springs. Ezra took the lead as Breeze dissapeared up ahead. Tne walk was a long one, but Ezra did GREAT! McKenzie had to deal with bad foot pain, but kept on putting one foot in front of the other. Amazing.Rod showed up at Boiling Springs aroun 5:15 pm for the pick up. Kentucky joined us and we headed for Pine Grove to get Lonestar. Rod had plenty of cold drinks in his ice chest for everybody!!!We got to Pine Grove Furnace and ran into Jersey, Black Snake, Natty Boh, Mayor Turtle, Wolf Paw, and FRED!!!! We found Fred...again! We scooped up Lonestar after watching Mayor Turtle and Breeze play a game of Chess or (as Hitch calls it) The Big Ass Chess Set. It measures about 16'x16' and you have to walk to, pick up with both hands, and place your piece. Good fun. Off we went the grocery store then back to the Dillsburg Homestead to eat and sleep.Bluebird
Date: 2006-07-06
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: PA 850
Miles today: 16.6

Started:Boiling Springs ATC         Mid. Atlantic OfficeFinished:PA 850Sleeping:HouseMiles:16.6Total Miles:1124.2A be-a-utiful day! Sunshine, blue sky and a breeeeeeeeeze! My buddy Ezra (The Wandering Jew) blew me off and started hiking at his pace. Ohhhhh it does not take long. Hitch and I had a hard time hiking. The RED RASPBERRIES have arrived and we just had the worst time trying to hike. We were feeding our faces constantly for first half of the day. We stained our fingers purple. Breeze decided to eat the heads of wheat instead of the berries. How bvery strange.The walk took all of us through the Cumberland Valley it was really a sight to behold. Wheat fields against oat fields against corn fields with barns and frame houses, cows and small children running through green yards in their bare feet.Rod picks us up and it was off to Walmart to get Hitch some shoes that didn't torture her feet. I stocked up on cliff bars for my trip north when the slack pack marathon is over. Now it's home for Rod's famous meatloaf and a nice cold gin and tonic...I WILL BE TOTALLY SPOILED.
Date: 2006-07-07
From: PA 850

To: Doyle Hotel, Duncannon PA
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Started:PA 850Finished:Duncannon, Doyle HotelSleeping:HouseMiles:9.0Total Miles:1133.2Well it was supposed to be another laid back Walk in the Woods kinda day. I thought I would meet Diane at the trail head and we would all walk to the Doyle Hotel for a burger and a beer, strolling down the quite streets of old Duncannon... but noooooooo...family, friends, even fellow hikers did me wrong...oh so wrong..I was deceived! As we approached the lower end of our final descent I saw the biggest out pouring of trail magic I had seen since GA. I was so excited I began shouting "Trail magic, trail magic!" I started clicking my poles together, chanting, "I do believe in magic, I do believe in magic, I do I do I do believe in magic!" Breeze, Hitch and Wandering Jew were already diving in...but they blocked my path as I heard Diane shreiking my name from the trail head. My hiker buddies?? block my path insisting I head toward the road in answer to Diane's call. I said okay, but I'm coming back!As I walked down the path I see and hear a Duncannon firehouse Utility Vehicle setting off its siren, a TV camera and Diane Witcoski snapping pictures. All I could think was...Huh! It seems Diane Witcoski (old Hershey High School buddy of my sister Kathy) decided to help promote the cause of CMN and got Channel 21, out of HBG., PA to come to Duncannon to do some footage on my hike and the CMN fund raiser. She had brought along Barbra Van Horn, who is 75 years old and will be walking for Habbitat for Humanity in the near future (one mile for every year of her age) The fun went further. She had managed to get the local bank, firehouse, and other businesses to post a "Welcome Bluebird" on their billboards, all over town. Almost every store front had a sign in their window. To add wonderful insult to injury...the Duncannon Fire House Utility Vehicle formed the shortest motorcade in history. We all walked down the road to the Dolye Hotel, holding up traffic all the way. It was a blast!As we approached the Doyle Hotel I see my old hiking buddy Melatonin standing in the door! Wahooooo!We all settled into the tavern for a few cold ones and a GREAT burger!What a day! How tweet is WAS!
Date: 2006-07-08
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Started:0 DayFinished:0 DaySleeping:HouseMiles:0Total Miles:1133.2Today we held a picnic at Rod's home. We e-invited friends and family, who have supported me on my hike, to feed on hotdogs, hamburgers and potluck casseroles. It was great to see folks I have only been able to talk to by phone or email the past three months.The trail has been good to me physically. Everybody kept remarking how strong and healthy I looked. I kept thinking, "What did I look like before I left for the AT in March"??? I must have appeared to have one foot in the grave!!! These remarks have only convinced me of the importance of maintaining my love for hiking by HIKING!My journal transcriber arrived 10:30 am. We had a little time to talk before the other guest showed. I feel so priviledged to have someone like "Journey" helping me with my journal and my hike. Her experience in 2003 has been a great plus during my 2006 trek. Other hikers should be so lucky.I have not had such an out pouring of good will from so many people, at one time, in years! What a shot in the arm. I am so excited about the 2nd half of my hike...I could flap my wings and FLY to Katahdin!!! Life is good! How tweet it is!
Date: 2006-07-09
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Started:O DayFinished:0 DaySleeping:HouseMiles:0Total Miles:1133.2Journey(Diane), Blue Eyes(Rod), The Wandering Jew(Ezra) and I woke to another great PA day. Rod made breakfast and we all ate out on the deck. We took Journey for a tour of the area before she headed home, then, after lunch, We took a short canoe trip down the Yellow Breeches.The creek was rather swollen and we managed to get ourselves swamped at a point in the river we normally zip through. We all got a little banged up, but were non the worst for wear. We did notice, however, that one paddle had managed to enter the Yellow Breeches black hole. We headed home, cleaned up and went to the movies. First movie I've seen in over 3 months...I'd rather be hiking.Tomorrow is a busy day before heading out on the trail. I look forward to what's ahead.
Date: 2006-07-10
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Started:Finished:Sleeping:HouseMiles:0Total Miles:1133.2Took care of PA business today. I visited my podiatist, Dr. Grossman. He checked my feet and make some adjustments to my, as he put it, TOTALLY SHOT orthodics. I also had blood taken to determine my cholesterol levels without medication. We hit Wildware (outfitter) to look for maps. I took the opportunity to discuss the problems I've been having with my Sweetwater filter (leakage). I heard some disturbing news about pretreatment of water before filtering, that I had never heard before. Store clerk feels I was sold old stock and might be able to get my money back or a new filter. Long story short, I'm going back tomorow with my filter to contact MSR to discuss issues. Rod also had a few errands. After a short nap Rod and I went to visit good friends the Moffitts. I'm beginning to think that life off the trail is more exhausting than life on the trail. Tomorrow is my last slack pack before heading north with a full pack. This should be fun. (comment made dripping with sarcasm.)Rod has been beyond helpful in PA. His generousity has gone beynd my needs, to the needs of others on the trail. I am sure his angel activity has earned him a big set of wings!
Date: 2006-07-11
From: PA Route 325, Clarks Valley

To: Duncannon, PA ...The Doyle Hotel
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Started:PA 325, Clarks Valley (south)Finished:Duncannon, The Doyle HotelSleeping:HouseMiles:17.1Total Miles:1150.3Hot, Muggy, Oppressive Heat...another wonderful day on the AT. Love this slacking stuff, but know it's going to end soon. Whaaaaaaaaa!I saw 3 black snakes today. The one had to be at least 5 ft. long! Also took a picture of a strange bug that Rod has identified as a Stone Fly. This is a VERY BIG BUG, to say the least.I met Rod at the Doyle. Vicki & Pat (owners) were there and bought me a beer for my work with CMN. Sweet!Wildware (outfitter) came through and got me credit for my defective Sweetwater Filter. I opted to change from a pump filter to a SteriPEN. It works with ultra vilet rays to purify water. I also have a Aqua Mira chemial treatment backup. We'll see how this goes and I'll follow up with a "Bluebird Reports". Finaly got my MTA bladder attachment with mouth piece, so now I can carry 4 liters of water instead of two, during the the heat wave (Editor's Note: For those of you that aren't hikers....this sounds a little gross, but a bladder is actually a plastic container for water. They come in 1,2 3,4 liter sizes)and fit down into your backpack. Then there's a plastic tube about 2 feet long with a mouth piece attached to it that runs from the bottom of the bladder, out the pack, and attaches to your shoulder strap. You can drink without even stopping. Unfortunately, this time of year the water is body temperature from riding on your back in the sun for hours! Of course the alternative is to just stay home.......but that's no fun!)
Date: 2006-07-12
From: Old State Road, I -81 Underpass

To: Clarks Valley
Miles today: 0.0

Started:Old State Road, I-81 underpassFinished:325, Clarks Valley Sleeping:HouseMiles:18.2Total Miles:1168.5IN SIX MILES I WILL BE LESS THAN 1000 miles from KATAHDIN!!Okay I got that out of my system.How would I discribe todays hike.1. Hot2. Humid3. Buggy (knats in your eyes, things in your ears...grrrrrrr4. Rocky, rocky, rocks, rocks, rocks 5. FRUSTRATING6. Glad it's over.But, I am still excited!!!
Date: 2006-07-13
From: Old State Road, I -81 Underpass

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Started:Old State Road, I-81 underpassFinished:501 ShelterSleeping:ShelterMiles:11.0Total Miles:1179.5Miles till Katahdin:995.1Oh my goodness, if poison ivy were gold I'd be a millionaire. If rocks were money, I'd be richer than Rick Gates. Pennsylvania has been good to me, but he tide has turned. I am not alone. All thru hikers have become frustrated to the point of whining non stop. We have all been put on rattlesnake alert. Hiking north on rocks facing north is prime for a sighting. I saw three black snakes yesterday, one was huge! Repeat after me...Snakes are our friends!Bug alert:The misquitos are out for blood!!!! That is all.Bluebird Reports: To all those wondering, I have left my Hennessey Hammock behind and gone back to my MSR Huba tent. The hammock was comfortable & I got it to work in the rain, but I always felt cold in the middle of the night. There was also the issue of where to put my gear and if I could find trees to attach it to at any given site. Toooo much to worry about!Saw another Scarlet Tananger! That makes six.
Date: 2006-07-14
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: few clouds

Started:501 ShelterFinished:Eagles Nest ShelterSleeping:TentMiles:15.1Total Miles:1194.6Miles till Katahdin:980.0The foot pounding continues...I feel, as a native Pennsylvanian, the need to apologize to my fellow thru hikers for the waves of rocks they continue to encounter. It's probably because I am a middle aged woman who is a cronic enabler. Be it as it may, the rocks continue to slow progress and leave the feet bruised and battered. This is some sort of masocism. People are actually starting to say they love the rocks and embrace the pain. Sounds like self inflicted mind washing to me...weird!A bright spot today! We came down yet another rock slide to a underground fed stream. It was a Godsend on a hot and oppressive Friday afternoon. Cold water to drink, cold water to soak your bloodied-to-the-bone feet and cold water to pour over your head. Heaven.. Sleeping in my tent IN the shelter tonight. Only way to ward off the misquitos. Sharing the shelter with Green Wolf. 18 year old thru hiker who just graduated from High School, in Fishers, Indiana. He started in Harpers Ferry and is heading north to Katahdin, then he will flip back to Harpers Ferry and head to Springer.I just realized I forgot my fleece jacket, left it in Dillsburg. I'll just have Rod send it with the warm gear when I get to the whites.Up early to get to the post office in Port Clinton before it closes. I will have to leave the shelter by 5:00am...so, goodnight!
Date: 2006-07-15
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: moderate rain

Started:Eagles Nest ShelterFinished:Port ClintonSleeping:BedMiles:8.6Total Miles:1203.2Miles till Katahdin:971.4Oh, I could complain, but I won't, because I AM a 2006 AT thru hiker!!!Yesser and I live for the pain. Pain is my friend...it reminds me to thank God each day for my battered feet. Without them I would be sitting somewhere just dreaming about hiking the AT, but because of these howling puppies, I'm here looking out of my tent up at the stars.I am the Bluebird of happiness tonight. Tweet dreams and thanks for the ride to bed, bath, dinner and breakfast. You know who you are!
Date: 2006-07-17
From: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter

To: Jail House Hostel
Miles today: 17.8

Started:Allentown Hiking Club ShelterFinished:The Jail House B&B Sleeping:HostelMiles:17.8Total Miles:1243.6Miles till Katahdin:931.2I want to blank out today...Sweet heaven, the temperature was 98 degrees with a heat index of 105!!!!The Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club oversees this section of trail and I swear they have it out for hikers. I should have brought my climbing belt, carabiner clips and ropes. Footpath from GA to ME, my flip side!This section of trail is treacherous to say the least. I would have felt better walking the 'knifes edge' witout a pack and poles. It was a bloody balancing act, to say the least. Be warned...nothing in Wingfoot's book or the Thru Hikers Companion prepares or warns you about what you face in 'them there hills' of PA! The biggest issue I face is my ability to plan my hike. Miles take hours you can't calculate, because there is nothing documented as to the amount or types of rocks you will encounter. FYI: I love a challenge, but I was really unprepared for what I experienced today. I did it, but I am truely amazed that I got through it unscathed.All I can do is thank God and keep drinking lots of water.Another thing about this section. It seems someone had the bright idea to mark state game land with (you guesed it) WHITE PAINT. Granted they aren't painted 2"wide by 4"long, but neither are the the white AT blazes. I was actually frustrated to tears.All this coupled with exteme humidity, no breeze, misquitos, flies, knats and other insects biting and buzzing about your head, gettng in your eyes and ears, would tempt to drive the most sane person, mad.I am STILL excited...hot, but still excited! On to Delaware gap. Hugeclimbing challenge tomorow...can't wait to whine about it Bluebird
Date: 2006-07-18
From: Little Gap

To: Palmerton. PA
Miles today: 5.0

Started:Little GapFinished:PalmertonSleeping:B&BMiles:5Total Miles:1248.5Miles till Katahdin:926.1I am thinking of opening a vineyard in the North Pennsylvania mountains. Here I will grow grapes and make fine WHINE!!!!My feet feel like they have been caned! Friction Writer and I got lucky today. Duane shuttled us north, with full packs, to Little Gap instead of our intended start point, Smith Gap. God and His angels must have been watching over us, because today has to have been the hottest and hardest hike yet on the AT.The ridge we walked was stark. A result of a zinc factorie's emissions. Laid completely barren it had an haunting beauty, white rock landscapes with dead fallen trees the color of Paynes Grey paint.The wind was blowing strong which gave some ease from the heat. It was like walking on a desert. There were scrubby new growth of bushes and trees in spots, made possible by the efforts of the zinc factory to reclaim the moutain.We had no idea what lay ahead. We had decided to attack the climb out of Palmerton by heading south to nortj and doing it as a downhill. Mistake...oh what a mistake. It took us forever to get down to the road and it was nothing but loose rocks and bolders, with shear drops. We had to throw poles ahead and crawl and slid down the rock faces. I stood at one point wishing it was over, knowing we had so much more to endure. I will compare this, in years to come, to THIRD stage labor, in childbirth. "Oh God make it stop. Oh please, I just want to go home...can't I do this later! Cry!!! My whole body is stiff. I'm not looking forward to trying to get up when I'm done journaling. It will be one of those, I-can't-get-up moments. Glad to know none of you will be here to see the atempt.We decided not to return to Little Gap and hike another eleven miles to the shelter. Go figure...We looked like melted sticks of butter!I spoke with Val, the B&B operator, after our ordeal and she said people have been hurt badly, even died on that mountain. Ohhhh! It made me feel so much better to know that I'd survived.The temp has dropped some since a thunderstorm passed through and is settling in at around 86 degrees. Hope it holds through tomorrow! We will see.
Date: 2006-07-19
To: Journey (AT 2003)
Miles today: 0.0

Weekend at ¢The Nest¢Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend the weekend with Bluebird and Rod at Rod¢s home in central PA. I met some of Bluebird¢s family and a number of their close friends. I was amazed at the amount of talent in this one family¢¦.... actors, singers and writers abound. After spending time with the Momma Bird, it¢s easy to see from where Bluebird gets her sense of adventure and love of life. They took me in and treated me as if I was one of the family, and for that I am so grateful. Rod was the perfect host, cooking for us, cleaning up after us and always questioning if there was anything we needed.I stayed in the ¢Elk Room¢ where a stuffed head the size of Montana resides along with a stuffed albino squirrel, and a stuffed deer head. I think Rod likes to hunt! The bucolic setting of the house, in the woods among the towering trees, with guinea hens and numerous chickens scratching for their feed, and an abundance of bird feeders hanging from the tree-house-like deck, is the perfect place to rest your weary bones, and that¢s just what Bluebird did for over a week¢¦..while being shuttled to the trailhead every morning to add miles to her hike.It was great to see Bluebird again and feel her enthusiasm for finishing half of her hike and her anticipation for beginning the second half of her thru-hike. She is an amazing, talented woman with the gumption and guts to walk all the way to Maine.Many years ago Terry lost an infant son, Aaron, to Biliary Atresia. It is because of this loss that Bluebird is hiking to raise funds for the Hershey Company¢s Children¢s Miracle Network. As her fundraising began, it was centered on her family, friends, and at Hershey Company where Terry worked for many years. As time went on, more and more people asked how they could donate to this very worthwhile cause and so I¢m offering this information for those of you who would like to donate to the Children¢s Miracle Network in Terry¢s name and Aaron¢s memory. Please contact: Rick Gates or Mary Lou Smith                        Hershey Company                        14 East Chocolate Avenue                        Hershey, PA                        717-534-4209                                 or                        mlsmith@hersheys.com~Journey (AT 2003)
Date: 2006-07-19
From: Little Gap

To: Wind Gap
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: light rain

Started:Little GapFinished:Wind GapSleeping:MotelMiles:15.4Total Miles:1263.9Miles till Katahdin:910.7BREAK IN THE WEATHER!!!!Yep, we even had a breeze! I walked with Friction Writer all day and we both felt that yesterday's experience made today a hike from heaven. The cold front that came through yesterday made a huge difference. The breeze kept bugs to a minimum and I didn't mind the rocks nearly as much.My feet continue to raise a flag of rebellion throughout the day, so I've taken to resting them more often. If I start earlier I can go slower and still get the miles in that I need to keep on schedule.I felt a little frustration today and pushed it aside to focus on the rocks underfoot. I also felt tears on their way and little things threatened to trigger an episode. When we stopped at the Leroy A. Smith Shelter I was reading a poem written by a woman who saw her first Scarlet Tananger on the trail. Well, I lost it. It happens out here. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by things in my outside world. (outside my hiking world that is) They press in on my experience in the woods and I feel resentment. Things are so much more simple out here. I don't have time anymore to let things upset me the way they used to. The trail changes you. When you venture off it, you can see the stress in the faces of people you love as they say things to you like, "My God, you look radient, wonderful, so relaxed. You sound fabulous, happy!" I don't want to go back to being the person I was before the trail. I like me much better now, thank you!So, Happy trails to all and to all a goodnight!Love you and you too,Bluebird
Date: 2006-07-20
From: Wind Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Started:Wind GapFinished:Delaware Water GapSleeping:B&BMiles:15.6Total Miles:1279.5Miles till Katahdin:894.1It has been great fun hiking with Friction Writer the last few days. We had a great revelation while facing the miles (along with the other obstacles in Pa.) We both come from families who love to sing together. Fact is, we have songs in common that we learned as children and have spent the last few days singing together as we walk. We both taught each other a chldhood song the other didn't know and belted them out at the top of our lungs, taking our minds off our sore feet and passing the time away. It has been GREAT!! I have loved hiking with Friction. She's a fantastic individual!I can say, along with alot of other hikers on the AT, that leaving the rocks (that are so prevelent in northen PA) behind...will give reason to celebrate. We hike across the Delaware River tomorrow, into the fair state of NJ. Another state behind us. Is it possible?Once again the news of old friends leaving the trail has reached us. We all stop for a moment and express our grief, saing good bye to yet another person or persons, from our small 2006 AT community that, along with us in Springer, GA so aspired to reach the summit of Katahdin. More will leave. We all know this. We look into each others faces and we wonder...will it be you, will it be me? The trail continues to take it's toll and folks have done all they can to stay inspired, focused. We begin to admit that it's getting harder to stay excited. The physical beating our bodies take have sent folks to hospitals, homes, hotels, etc. for one, two and three day periods of R&R before returning to the trail.I personally look forward to cooler days. I do not like the heat and have done my share of getting off the trail at the end of the day to find a shower and air conditioning. This is a luxury not every hiker can afford, so you remember to be considerate of them and not to talk about it too much when you're back on the trail.This has been simply, the most eye opening experience of my life. I am so blessed to have beemn given the opportunity to walk this walk.