morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-07
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Not a lot of miles today but it was really bad weather. The weather is cold and wet weather not so much raining like in drops but a cloudy mist. Everything is wet and dripping. When I got here about lunch, I just unpacked and crawled in my sleeping bag. I was chilled to the bone. I just took a long nap and had some Swiss Miss hot chocolate. It's still foggy and misty. I hoe the weather will be better tomorrow. It's really weird because the drops are hitting the tin roof like its raining but it's just dripping off the trees. Still no rain drops its just a foggy cold mist...everything is real wet and soggy. The Shenandoah National Park has several Waysides (bar/grill/snack bars)along the trail but it looks like I'm too early in the season. They don't open until the end of the month. See ya!
Date: 2008-04-08
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Rock Springs Hut
Miles today: 32.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The sun came out today and burnt away that thick wet fog. The trail is really smooth but I fell twice today. I guess I'm moving to fast. I had already done 28 miles by 4:00. I stopped at big meadows wayside and had a veggie burger, fries, blackberry sundae and coffee....mmmmmhhhhmmm. They also have a camp store so I resupplied. A SOBO named Turtle is here at the shelter and he said I have a chance to get breakfast in the morning at Skyland Restaurant. This shelter overlooks a town in the valley... it's really neat looking at the twinkling lights below. There are lots of deer in Shenandoah National Park. They seem to be used to hikers b/c they will just barely move off the trail when you walk by. Today at the wayside a tourist asked me if I was skiing (seriously). I told him I was on the AT Georgia to Maine. It blew him away. We talked for several minutes. He had some of the same questions everybody asks: Where do you sleep? What do you eat? Don't you get cold? Where do you bathe? I'm still having the time of my LIFE! See ya!
Date: 2008-04-09
From: Rocksprings Hut

To: Gravel Spring Hut
Miles today: 28.4
Weather: broken clouds

What a great day! I started off at Skyland Resort for breakfast. I had a veggie omelet, biscuit, and hash browns. This is a really nice place my guide book says it was originally a 19th-century mountain summer resort owned by George Freeman Pollack, who pushed hart to evict surrounding small landholders and create a national park and then, ironically, was forced to sell and give up management of the resort when the park took over.The weather was great and I saw 2 bears. They were beautiful! I think that was probably the most awesome moment of the trip so far. I heard something crashing through the woods and out popped the first one...20 feet in front of me. He stopped, looked and kept going. I was trying to get my camera out when the next one came out. I got a picture of him I am at the shelter with 3 Canadian thru-hikers, 2 of which don't speak any english. They started in January and showed me all their snowy cold pictures. I am going to Front Royal Va tomorrow. See ya!
Date: 2008-04-10
From: Gravel Spring Hut

To: Rod Hollow Shelters
Miles today: 36.9
Weather: few clouds

I went into Front Royal, VA. It's a hiker town and I was able to get a ride into and out of town no problem. I went to Burger King and had 2 garden burger meals. I'm at the shelter with several section hikers. They have a big fire going.See ya!
Date: 2008-04-11
From: Rod Hollow Shelters

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 29.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Half way there to Kahtahdin! Today was tough, Virginia gave me one last whoopin before I left her. The best part of the day was when I topped the last mountain nd saw the Shenandoah River. It's big and beautiful. I went to the ATC headquarters to sign in with the class of 2008 thru-hikers but they were closed. So I'll go back in the morning before I leave town. I went to Kings Pizza and ate a whole veggie pizza. They were impressed with my appetite. Hey, I just found out that the microwave is good for drying clothes. I washed them in the bathtub.See ya!
Date: 2008-04-12
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up this morning and had a big continental breakfast. Then went and signed in at the ATC. From there I went to the post office and my mail drop was not there yet...UUUGGGHHH! No problem though, I just went back to the ATC and purchased the 2008 trail guide. The one that was in the mail drop was an 07 and I got some resupply from the outfitter: 8 snickers and 8 granola that should get me into PA. While at the outfitter, I got a new pair of shoes Vasque trail runners they are lighter than my boots... I think I will like them better! My boots had had it. I also had to get me another filter for my water purifier (48.00) but that's just stuff ya gotta have. A new pair of socks and a new journal too. Whew, I spent a lot of money today.There is a drag strip down in the valley. I can't see it but I can hear it...sounds like some real fast cars down there. I went by the first Washington Monument today and got my picture taken. People around here are picking up on my Southern drawl. They say you are from Georgia, aren't you? I'm at the shelter with a SOBO section hiker named Jackalope. He has thru-hiked the AT and the PCT,Pacific Crest Trail, the sister to the AT on the west coast. I was planning on doing the Maryland challenge-thats crossing Maryland in 1 day but I didn't cross the Potomac over into Maryland til after lunch and I'm not sitting around til in the morning but 22 miles for a 1/2 day isn't that bad.See ya!
Date: 2008-04-13
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Antietam Shelter PA
Miles today: 24.1
Weather: light rain

I fell today in one of Maryland's wonderful Boulder gardens and skint my knee. I guess she wanted to get a good lick in before I left her behind. When I crossed the Mason-Dixon line, I didn't even know it...somebody has taken the sign! That's one of the places everyone gets a picture. I had to walk all the way to Rouzerville for resupply and couldn't find a hitch and back to the trail (4 miles). That really cut into my trail miles for today. I ate at a Chinese buffet, man those crab legs were tempting but I am a veggie so I left them alone. Veggie has been working out good so I'm not gonna mess that up.Here at the shelter is some trail magic, 3 cans of potato soup, 1 can baked beans and swiss miss. I just bathed in the stream in front of the shelter. A trout fisherman walked up and saw me naked and turned around. Seems like you are never to far from somebody out here. Well I think I am gonna build a fire and have some soup! I am tearing out in the pages of my new guide book of GA, NC, TN, and Va and looking at them and remembering all the people I have met along the way so far. WOW, this has been a great journey! Bad Rock- at Muskrat shelter where it snowed on us; Bear Father- at Over Mountain Shelter were we thought the wind was gonna blow the barn down; Red- at Lost Mountain Shelter just to name a few...I wonder if they are still on the trail...See ya!
Date: 2008-04-14
From: Antietam Shelter PA

To: Tagg Run Shelter
Miles today: 37.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a beautiful day, chilly but sunny. I passed 6 thru hikers. I haven't seen any in a week. At the ATC, I was only number 11, so I am almost in front of everybody. I know it's not a race but I am more of a trekker than a hiker.Today I passed the Totem pole, which is the halfway point. So far the trail in PA has been good. SOBO's are tellimg me it's gonna get rocky tomorrow. Tomorrow I am heading to Boiling Springs, PA. I hope my mail drop is there. I bounced it from Harpers Ferry. If it's not, I'll just bounce it again farther north. Big supper tonight: 6 packs of oatmeal, 2 packs of mash potatoes, 2 packs of Swiss Miss. My guide book says it's a tradition to stop at this Deli just north of here and eat a half-gallon of ice cream to celebrate the 1/2 way mark called joining the half-gallon club. It's gonna be to cold for that in the morning maybe I'll get mine in Boiling Springs.Well, I'm in Boiling Springs and I beat my mail drop here so I'll just bounce it on to Port Clinton. Just had a pizza for lunch. Fixin to head out of town!See ya!
Date: 2008-04-15
From: Tagg Run Shelter

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 33.8
Weather: clear sky

Today I walked through the valleys, cornfields, and dairy farms of southern PA. This is beautiful countryside up here and dairy barns are huge. They look to be real old. All of them are 3 stories high, I guess all of the milk must go to Hershey, PA for chocolate. It's cold up here. I'm at the shelter with Stick and Turtle.See ya!
Date: 2008-04-16
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Peter's Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

Not many miles today, but I went into town for resupply and stopped at a truck stop and had a shower. While there, I had brunch: 3 pancakes, omelet, toast, and hash browns. The omelet was named A Long Haul like for a trucker but I'm on a different kind of long haul. I washed my clothes in the shower again but this time I got to use the dryer. So it was after lunch before I got out of town. I got to this shelter about 4:00 but the next shelter is 17.3 miles. But there is good company here Stick, Turtle, and Chipmunk. I built a big fire and cooked supper on it 2 packs of hot chocolate. Today is National Walking day. I guess I did my part! I walked over the Sasquahana River today. This is a big river, even the power company is named Sasquahana Power. See ya!
Date: 2008-04-17
From: Peter's Mountain Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 34.8
Weather: clear sky

This is a nice shelter...it's more like a free hostel. It's enclosed and has a big skylight, bunks, and a picnic table. But check this out...You can call and have a pizza delivered. SO I DID! I got 2 large cheese pizzas. Today when I got to William Penn Shelter there was a Polaris ranger on the trail. This is on top of the ridge, a long way from the road. I went to the spring to get some water and a state trooper and a detective walked up. They took my name and address and asked me where I came from. I asked them what was going on. They said there was a dead body in the shelter. When I got here, Dozier and Blazing Socks found him. He hung himself from the rafters. They said he just parked his car at the bottom of the mountain, walked up, and hung himself. Last week in the Shenandoah somebody jumped off a cliff and killed theirself. I think people should go somewhere else to do that. The AT is a happy place, not a place to come kill yourself.Another hiker named Stealth, asked on of the detectives in a suit "Are you hiking today?" He said, "NO!" Funny seeing somebody on the AT with a suit and tie on.See ya!
Date: 2008-04-18
From: Port Clinton

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter
Miles today: 29.8
Weather: clear sky

Question: Who is faster than the U.S. Mail? Answer: Brer Rabbit When I got to Port Clinton my mail drop still wasn't there...so i bounced it on to Delaware Water Gap. There was a nice lady in the post office, she took me to town for resupply. I went to Cabelas, they have canoes there, it makes me miss going out on my canoes. But I know, just one adventure at a time. Everybody was walking around in there cackling like turkeys with their new turkey calls. I got some strange looks. Don't know why. I'm the real outdoors man not them...They had a buffet but it didn't look that good: BBQ animal, mac & cheese, and cornbread-no thanks! I went to Taco Bell and got 4 cheese, bean, and rice burritos. I ate two then and now I am warming the other 2 by the fire 4 supper. I switched to Payday from Snickers because it was hot and my Snickers melted today. I even got a ride back to the trail. Everybody up here is really nice!The trail is really rocky though. You don't see any day hikers on this section because of all of the sharp rocks. I hope they don't blow my new boots out.See ya!
Date: 2008-04-19
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Miles today: 26.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I met some turkey hunters on the trail today. You would think there would be better places to hunt than a hiker trail. My mileage is about 6 miles shorter than I wanted but Northern PA is tough. HUGE ROCKS! Blue Jay and Long Arm at the shelter told me this area is harder than the White Mountains. They said I did real good for today. When I went over Blue Mountain, there is a bar and grill right there so I went and got a veggie burger and fries...mmmmhhhhmmmm good. The bugs are really bad, I don't have bug spray yet. I also saw 2 snakes today but warm weather is better than cold. Not a lot of water on the ridge either. I'm gonna to use my big Platypus bottle tomorrow. I haven't even used it the whole trip. I've just been using my small Platypus and my small Gatorade bottle. Blue Jay is a SOBO coming from Vermont. We went through my guidebook and he showed me all the best places to go. It's good having help like that. New England seems so far away but it'll be there in a few weeks. My shoes are showing wear from all the rocks. Blue jay says they are melting from the friction of going so fast! HAHAHASee ya!
Date: 2008-04-21
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap Presbyterian Church Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

When I got into town about 8:00, no one was at the church so I had planned to got to the Post Office, get breakfast, and head out. First stop was the Post Office, my mail drop made it. Lots of energy bars, these are better than snickers, pop tarts because they stick with you. Don't make you crash and burn. They are just so expensive if you buy them at the outfitters. When I got downtown DWG, there was a farmers market and bakery. I ordered a whole fresh baked hot apple pie and coffee. It was the best pie I have ever had. It ate all but 2 pieces. Then I went to the outfitter the pretty lady in there saw me looking at a pair of shoes so she made me try them on. They felt so good but I need to get to New England on these 9 day old blown out Vasque but 300 miles over 2 rocky states isn't that bad though. They were Go-lite trail fly, that's what I am getting next time. On my way out of town, I stopped back by the church. I wasn't gonna stay just shower and wash my clothes. After that, I went and gto me some lunch (Veggie stromboli...mmmhhhmmm). Looking at my guide, the next shelter is 25 miles away. I could make it but I'm just gonna hit it hard in the morning. The New Jersey Section is a national park and they have all kinds of rules and regulations and rangers so I'll just make a big day tomorrow. Plus New Jersey has 1 bear per square mile. Hitchhiking is illegal in N.J. and N.Y. but it looks like there are alot of towns close to the trail. I thought it was going to rail last night so I just slept in my bivy sack. I had everything packed up ready to go. My plan was if it started raining, I was just heading on here because my book says they have a lean to in the back. I've got shelter but when and if it gets wet its heavy and hard to dry. But when the scouts are there you don't have much choice. I usually see them on Friday-Saturday never on Sunday-Thursday. They were rolling 15-18 deep with several scout masters. I'm always running into big herds of them. You are supposed to limit your group size to 8 but for them it must not matter. I weighed this morning and I am 160. That was after I ate that pie too. I was 180 when I left, I thought that I had gained weight. I was looking at myself in the store windows and I do look dried up. My legs are huge though.See ya!
Date: 2008-04-22
From: Delaware Water Gap Presbyterian Church Hostel

To: Green Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 31.0
Weather: clear sky

Beautiful day today! I saw 3 snakes and lots of bugs, mosquitoes and gnats. I walked upon a huge gobbler and I saw a furry brown animal, I don't even know what it was. There are warning signs everywhere about the bears and the shelters have big steel boxes to put your food in overnight. This afternoon I crossed a big road and there was a saloon right there. So I went in and got a grilled cheese on rye, french fries, and something else but I forgot hte name of it but it was like potatoes and cheese deep fried in dough. The bartender told me I was her first thru hiker of the year. There is a ban on campfires in N.J. and they still have fire towers up on the mountain with people walking on them. I passed a lot of fire towers on the way up here from Georgia but they weren't operating. I figured with new technology is was no need for them... I guess i was wrong.See ya!
Date: 2008-04-23
From: Unionville, NY

To: Mayors House Unionville, NY
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a great day for a hike. A cool breeze was blowing and sunny. I came into Unionville for resupply. Went to the Deli and ordered a veggie sub...man that was good. It has 5 different kinds of cheese. I was sitting out back talking with a man named Jim Murray. He lives close to the trail and lets hikers fill water bottles and he also has a free cabin for hikers. I had just went to his house earlier to fill up when this guy pulls up in a dump truck. He said come with me to my bosses house- his boss is the mayor of the town. Supper, breakfast, shower, bunk all for free, just send a pic when you summit Katahdin was all that was asked. I had been writing that the people up here are nice but this is great! The mayor even steamed some veggies when he found out I was a Veggie. They had sausage and peppers. After supper Butch, the mayors assistant, took me on a tour of the countryside. Orange County, New York-anybody ever heard of this place(Orange County Choppers). This is really beautiful country up here.Oh yeah... I did my half gallon challenge today! Butch took a pic. He said I was the first hiker ever to do the challenge in Unionville, better late than never right! Damascus VA says they are the friendliest town on the trail. Unionville is gonna give them a run for their money. I had heard stories of this town but didn't even know I was here. When I heard people speak of Unionville, NY it seemed so far away and I thought what are the chances of me getting picked up and and brought here to the mayors house. But if you walk through here with a pack, you will be scooped right up. I'm still in NJ on the trail, I won't be in NY until tomorrow.See ya!
Date: 2008-04-24
From: Mayors House Unionville, NY

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 30.0
Weather: clear sky

Got up this morning and the mayor scrambled me some eggs, even had grits. He said he read the directions and he hoped it wouldn't be a fiasco. I told them about My Cousin Vinny and "Whats' a grit" being filmed in Eatonton. They said get outa heeerrreee...Today I crossed a road and there was a place that sold ice cream and baked goods. I ate a whole apple pie and a milkshake. They were impressed. After that, I had to climb Wawayanda Mountain. This was a big climb straight up! I was soo full I wanted to lay down and sleep. But you can't get to ME laying around. I am on a ridge above the Hudson River. I guess this is the Hudson River Valley. It's really beautiful. The river is so big that boats going up it look like little toys.See ya!
Date: 2008-04-25
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: West Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: overcast clouds

This shelter has a beautiful view. It's on a ridge overlooking the Hudson River. Big ships and barges are going by. The mountains got big today...thats why my miles are so low. Straight up and down and lots of boulder jumping. I split my shorts doing that! I just got through flossing them back together. People in NY drive fast. When you cross a road up here you have to be in sprint position and run across as fast as you can.About 1 mile from the shelter, I walked up on a yellow ribbon that said Police Line Do Not Cross. In the middle of the woods blocking the AT. I stood there a while, there were helicopters flying over. I thought it was a man hunt. Finally I decided to go for it. When I got to the top of the mountain, there had been a fire. Two park rangers were up there finishing putting out the fire. I thought I would be in trouble for crossing the line. I smiled and spoke and asked what was going on. A campfire had gotten away last night. Burned the whole top of the mountain. The shelter was open so they let me pass on thru. They even let me take a picture of them. When I got to the shelter, some other hikers told me the helicopters were dropping water. I couldn't see that when I was in the valley.See ya!
Date: 2008-04-27
From: West Point, NY Econo Lodge

To: RPH Shelter, NY
Miles today: 25.2
Weather: overcast clouds

This shelter is awesome. It is a block building with carpet, bunks, a desk, glass windows, and a covered porch. I told everybody I called yesterday t pray that my shoulder would stop hurting. Guess what: It stopped hurting. The power of prayer is amazing. I needed a good day of rest anyway. All I did was eat, lay in the bathtub, and talked on the phone. In everyday like we take a lot of simple things for granted. It¢s good to have some modern conveniences especially when you haven¢t had them in a while. I met several day hikers today. They all could look at me and tell I was a long distance hiker. My beard is getting big, guess that¢s why. I met a SOBO thru-hiker today, he was a older guy. He didn¢t even have a guide book. He just got on the trail in ME and stared heading to GA. His hat said Vietnam Vet so he is tough as hell anyway but without the guide it¢s hard to tell where to resupply. He has already been thru New England, they say that¢s hard. So he will probably make it to GA. Earl Schaffer didn¢t have a guide book either and he made it on Gas station maps. (Earl¢s the first thru hiker.)See ya!
Date: 2008-04-28
From: RPH Shelter, NY

To: Ralph's Peak Hiker Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Today is my first day 0 day of the whole trip. I have a good bit of food and it has rained all day so I just decided this would be the best place to stay. It¢s cold too, not freezing just damp cold. I¢ve been in my sleeping bag all day just looking out the window watching the rain. I¢m moving on tomorrow even if it¢s still raining. The next shelter isn¢t far but I hope it stops raining and I can put in a big long day to make up for today and Saturday.
Date: 2008-04-29
From: Ralph's Peak Hiker Shelter

To: Wiley Shelter, NY
Miles today: 25.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up this morning at 5:30, my usual time and it was still raining hard. I knew I had to move today so I went on and packed up and got ready to go. Finally about 8:00 it stared to slow down to a drizzle, so I took off. When I got to the firs shelter it was still not raining too hard, so I went to the next. I stopped at a deli and got a veggie sub. It was great! The lady at the deli said ¢So where are you from?¢. I said with a big smile ¢Jawga¢. This is how they think we say GA up here, so I poured the slang on good. She was real nice though. A guy walked in and said to her ¢When did you become so friendly?¢.Then I went through this neighborhood. I could see the blazes on the telephone poles but the were faded out. I kept walking a while and saw a man on his porch and I asked him ¢Is this the AT?¢. He said ¢Yeah it used to be but they moved it .¢ He said hop in the car and I¢ll take you back down there¢. I said thanks anyway since I was wet and muddy, I didn¢t want to get in his car like that. So I turned around and walked back sure enough where he said was the reroute. Sometimes it¢s hard to tell. I think if they were going to reroute the trail they should paint the white blazes black or something. The man said it happens all the time. I am about 1 mile from the CT state line. I¢ll be in Kent tomorrow for lunch, hopefully. They have a shower at the laundry mat, too.See ya!