morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-06-06
From: Crampton Gap Shelter

To: Raven Rock Shelter
Miles today: 25.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today i hiked 25.5 miles. It was rocky. I am tired. Also I walked 2 miles to get some tasty, tasty ice cream at a local creamery. So worth it. There's a snorer in the shelter so its time to set up my tent and pass out.
Date: 2012-06-19
From: Raven Rock Shelter

To: Trailside Tentsite
Miles today: 51.5

6-19-2012 Tentsite Mile 1111.2. First off apologies for the lack of posts for the last week. My parents brought me home for a week after I reached halfway and unfortunately the journal was forgotten. Today was my first day back on trail since the 10th. And frankly it wasn't at all what I was hoping for. My feet and legs got tired fast and my hips and butt are tender from where my pack was sitting. Plus my right ankle has been hurting for most of the day. I was hoping to camp just before Boiling Springs but after a long internal debate I knew it was a bad idea. It was hard for me to stop at 5, especially with such flat, easy terrain but it had to happen. I've been resting my ankle and hoping it will feel better tomorrow. It was hot all day and cloudy and damp this morning but it cleared this afternoon. The nice weather didn't help my mood much though. Between how out of shape I got and the lack of other hikers I was less than thrilled to be back. Looking at the registers I think the trail is emptier than when I got off. The good news though is that between the registers and a couple section hikers I think SOHO and Pedestrian are only a day or 2 ahead. But if my ankle keeps up I won't catch them for a while. I spent almost all of today listening to The Game of Thrones on the ipod which definitely helped, although I felt my mood temporarily get worse a few times when there were unfavorable plot twists. My favorite characters are Arya and John. Something tells me the books will be a big part of my hike for a while, feel free to make comments on the series in the guestbook but NO SPOILERS. That reminds me, its come to my attention that there a number of people following my journal that I don't know. I'd like to say thank you for your interest and if you have any questions put them in the guestbook and I'll try to answer them as soon as possible. And staying with the positive tone, I'm as comfortable as can be in this awful heat listening to the murmur of the stream ready for a good nights sleep.
Date: 2012-06-20
From: Trailside Tentsite

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: scattered clouds

6-20-2012 Darlington Shelter. As I've come to expect on the trail bad days are usually followed by good ones. Despite the intense heat (95 degrees and 90% humidity) and the larger than preferable amount of farmland I had a good day. While enjoying my Slushie in Boiling Springs I saw One Speed and hiked with him and Boots and Melodie for a while. Around 2:30 I came to a trail work center that had a picnic table in the shade and a water spigot so I stayed there for almost 3 hours to wait for it to cool down a bit. I got to the shelter around 6:30 and promptly started eating. Boots and Melodie were here too and we talked and ate for 2 hours. They are an awesome Swiss couple and we shared stories and talked about various aspects of trail life. It was dark by the time I got into my tent but still hot. I'm lying on top of my bag liner shirtless and still warmer than I'd like. Unfortunately its supposed to be this hot through Friday so I'm hoping to get up early tomorrow and wait out the afternoon sweatstorm in town then head on when its cooled off.
Date: 2012-06-21
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Clarks Ferry Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: scattered clouds

6-21-2012 Clarks Ferry Shelter. Today somehow managed to be hotter than yesterday. I got moving at 7, though, so I made it into Duncannon before 1 and waited out the heat for a while. I paid $3.50 for the special thruhiker tentspot at a campground that turned out to be rather sketchy. The bathrooms were dirty and dingy so I only took my shirt off for my shower. While I airdried I realized that trains passed by the campground constantly and that was the tipping point. I packed up and left by 3:30. It was scorching as I crossed the long bridge out of town and the shade of the trees was spectacular. I did the sweaty 2.5 miles to here in more time than I would have liked but the spring was nice and cold. Pants on Fire was already here and Daystar and Cribley showed up while I was getting water. They've known each other for a while and having just met them I'm lost on a lot of their jokes or stories. But they're pretty cool and rather nice and good company is always nice at the end of a long day. I was lazy today so I'm getting ready to duke it out w/ the mice.
Date: 2012-06-22
From: Clarks Ferry Shelter

To: Yellow Spring Tentsite
Miles today: 20.1

6-22-2012 Yellow Spring Tentsite. I slept in til almost 7 today and didn't get moving til 8. It was overcast for a while and sprinkled on and off. It was still hot but not as unbearable as it has been. This afternoon it cleared but it didn't get hotter and there was a breeze which helped immensely. It's been getting rockier but nothing horrible...Yet. I listened to Game of Thrones almost all day. The plot twists are constant and intense but Jon and Aria are still my favorites and largely staying on top of things. I didn't make it as far as I wanted today but my goal of making it to the 501 shelter for tomorrow night is still doable. This area is swarming with mosquitoes and as soon as my dinner was ready I got everything, myself included, into my tent. I left the fly off but it's at the ready. A side note from yesterday, I saw another rattlesnake (for a total of 4) and got stung by a bee for no reason. But for now I'm warm, sweaty and smelly lying in my tent waiting to get sleepy, hoping the mosquitoes don't group up and carry me off in the night.
Date: 2012-06-23
From: Yellow Spring Tentsite

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: scattered clouds

6-23-2012 501 Shelter. It was a long trying day, but the weather was great, I got 22 miles and the company at the shelter has been great. I only listened to the book for a bit but that left quite some time to let my mind wander which was nice. This afternoon I hit a milestone, I am now less than 1000 miles from Katahdin. I have decided that I will no longer celebrate every 100 miles I've hiked but instead every 100 less I have left. We got pizza delivered to the shelter as it's fairly close to the road. But it's completely enclosed so we can't hear the traffic. In fact it's as nice as some of the hostels I've stayed at, it even has a solar shower and a massive skylight. Cribley, Tater Tot and Daystar are here and over pizza I met Basil, Bucket, Squatch and Peach. We talked and laughed for hours. Hiker discussions are hysterical and cover many topics, many of which are considered inappropriate or embarrassing in normal company but we don't care. I think I'm taking a zero tomorrow but I'm not sure. Either way I'm ready to pass out on my bunk.
Date: 2012-06-24
From: 501 Shelter

To: Trailside Tentsite
Miles today: 14.6

6-24-2012 Trailside Tentsite (.5ish before eagles nest shelter). Today when I talked to the caretaker at the 501 Shelter my plans to zero there went out the window. The theater only had 2 kids movies and the hitch back would be hard to get. Plus everyone had been talking about a big hiker feed 9 miles up. I took my time and took advantage of the (cold) solar shower. I got moving around noon and got to the hiker feed around 3:45. Definitely some of the best trail magic so far, there were 3 tents with chairs and food and drinks. I stayed for over 2 hours but some hikers were there for much longer. From there I hustled with the intent to reach the shelter with enough light to set up (so focused on my audiobook I almost walked into a massive blowdown filling the trail) but Daystar, Pants on Fire and Tater Tot found an awesome spot to tent so I joined them. I set up and had some snacks for dinner, too hot to want to cook. For now I'm in my tent safe from the bugs ready for a good nights sleep.
Date: 2012-06-25
From: Trailside Tentsite

To: Pavilion Tenting, Port Clinton
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: scattered clouds

6-25-2012 Pavilion Tenting in Port Clinton. I woke up around 6 this morning as it started sprinkling. It rained until 7:30 when it stopped long enough for me to pack up and I got moving just after 8. It rained from then til about 10. There was lots of thunder, some pretty loud, but only a few flashes. It cleared up nicely by the time I got to town. I did have to wait for a long coal train to go by though. I walked the mile and change down to the Five Guys and Walmart with my thumb out but didn't get a ride. The burger and resupply was worth it though. My luck didn't improve on the way back and I walked all the way here. Supa Star, Cheeks, Atlas and Snagglefoot were all here already. Aside from yesterday (I forgot to mention it, oops) I hadn't seen Star, Cheeks or Atlas since I got ahead of the Wolfpack in Erwin, almost 1000 miles ago. Atlas broke out his guitar (that he's carried the whole way) and jammed for a while. We had pizza delivered and hung out and chatted for hours it was great. For now I'm cozy in my tent looking forward to a cool night for a change.
Date: 2012-06-26
From: Pavilion Tenting, Port Clinton

To: Allentown Shelter
Miles today: 22.2

6-26-2012 Allentown Shelter. I'm completely exhausted but I'd kick myself for not doing an entry. It was clear, mild and breezy today, great hiking weather. The first half of the day was mostly flat and smooth and flew by. The only problem was that I started my second audio book in the series and it skips. At the Pinnacle, an awesome overlook, me Snagglefoot, Supa Star, Atlas and Cheeks hung out for 2 hours exploring a cave, eating and lying in the sun. It was definitely the high point of the day. I stopped at a shelter with a cold solar shower then kept moving. The low point of the day came when we went .5 down the wrong blue blaze for water then had 4 miles of rough rocks to the shelter. On the bright side we did find the water and we made it to the shelter just before dark. We're planning a really big day tomorrow but I don't know if that will happen. For now I'm sitting by the fire enjoying the company but ready for bed.
Date: 2012-06-27
From: Allentown Shelter

To: Trailside Tentsite
Miles today: 22.5

6-27-2012 Trailside Tentsite (Mile 1256.4). Another long day on the rocks. It was warm, clear and windy again which I can't complain about. But I was dragging tail all day. This morning I went over Knifes Edge, a huge rock ridge/boulder field, the views were nice and it was a fun scramble. But after that things went downhill. There were half mile boulder fields and long sections of small jumbled pointy rocks. The trail was overgrown in places, as well as it has been for the past few days, I know its volunteer work and I hate to complain about it but the trail maintenance has been awful. Then this afternoon I had a 900 foot climb in .9 miles. It was probably the hardest section of trail so far. The steepness itself wasn't too bad but it was boulder field and loose rock and poorly blazed with quite a few tough scrambles. From there it was a few scenic miles along a ridge/plateau to where I was supposed to camp with everybody. But I couldn't find the side trail and ended up tenting here. As I was starting dinner Supastar showed up and said he, Cheeks and Atlas stopped at a b&b for a break and they stopped at the last shelter. Snagglefoot is somewhere ahead but we don't know. I'm planning on sleeping in tomorrow but for now I'm in my tent, sans fly, getting sick of the whiporwills up the hill.
Date: 2012-06-28
From: Trailside Tentsite

To: Blue Mt Diner, Danielsville, PA
Miles today: 0.0

6-28-2012 Blue Mt Diner Danielsville, PA. I slept in til 8 today which was fantastic after a rocky 23 yesterday. Snagglefoot showed up a bit later and told us about his night, turns out he camped 200 yards down the trail at the road crossing. He said there was an awesome diner 1.5 miles down the road. So we walked down to eat and wait for Cheeks and Atlas to catch up. When we got to the diner we saw a massive jet black bear across the road, it was at least 600 pounds and bigger than a Smartcar. When they came down too we hung out for a while to let our feet rest before doing the 11 to the next shelter. As time passed and we didn't move we decided to take a zero. The kind owners of the diner let us tent out back in a field with a pavilion. We hung out for a while and ate dinner at the diner. My mind wanted to keep hiking but my feet enjoyed the break from the rocks. While hanging out I figured out that only the prologue of the second book skips so I will resume that tomorrow. But for now I'm warmer than I'd like in my tent watching the numerous fireflies.
Date: 2012-07-05
From: Blue Mt Diner, Danielsville, PA

To: Zip's House
Miles today: 42.3

7-5-2012 Zip's House. First off, apologies for the rather extended lapse in entries. The past week (which feels like it's been 3 days) has been a hectic but fantastic blur and my usual routine has been thrown so far off I either forget or don't have the time. Friday I was going to get as close to DWG (Delaware Water Gap) as I could but the rocks were taking their toll. I did the 15 to Wind Gap and went into town with everyone else. We went to this cool bar called the Beer Stein and the owner let us tent in the nice little side yard. So after a few pitchers and 2 rounds of shots we had an adventure in setting up our tents. In the morning Kerry, the owner, gave us free run of the kitchen while he got ready to reopen. We made a spectacular breakfast and thanked him almost excessively before hitting the trail again. The breakfast was so good we all did the 15 to DWG in about 6 hours and barely ate anything until dinner. We zeroed in DWG, hanging out in the Church Hostel and did some bucket laundry after taking nice hot showers the night before. Monday morning I got up and went to the post office expecting my replacement pack from Osprey to be there. It wasn't so I had to get hiking and deal with it later. I had to get moving because 11 miles north at a road crossing Zip, aka Papa Wolf, was waiting for me. He picked all of us up along with Damn Yankee, Hobo Joe, Ragweed, Rocket, Walk n Eat and 30 Pack in another car. We drove the 5 hours up to Zip's house in the Adirondacks. He has graciously hosted a spectacular Independence Day/Wolfpack reunion. It has been loads of fun. There is a bar in the barn, plenty of space to tent, a huge fire pit and a spring fed pond. Last night we had fireworks, some of which tipped over and started shooting everywhere. There were a few close calls but no one was hit, although there was a fire in the bushes by the swamp and we had to form a bucket brigade to put in out. After that, Zip's friend Julia broke out a guitar and sang by the fire, she was phenomenal. By then I was pretty tired so I went for a short canoe on the pond under the full moon. The water was smooth as glass and the reflection was perfect, it was one of the most serene moments of the trip. I ended up cowboy camping under the clear sky on the dock/pier and woke up this morning to 2 deer 10 feet away on the beach looking at me. We spent today hanging out and watching movies. I'm in my tent, earlier than the past few days tonight because some of us (myself included) are leaving tomorrow. It will be quite bittersweet because it has been great fun here and I probably won't be seeing a lot of the Wolfpack again, but the trail is calling and I am excited to get hiking again. But for now I'm comfy in my tent ready for sleep.
Date: 2012-07-06
From: Zip's House

To: Tentsite 1.5 North of MOC
Miles today: 1.5

7-6-2012 Tentsite 1.5 North of MOC. This morning we ate, showered and did laundry before saying goodbyes and packing up. Snagglefoot had to get off trail to get ready for grad school and everyone else is getting back on at different places or times. We left around noon and Zip drove me, Superstar and Rocket to the Mohican Outdoor Center. We said our goodbyes and got hiking around 7:30 (there were several breaks and delays). We did a few miles and found an awesome viewpoint with space to tent so we set up. We hung a bear bag because the bears in NJ are supposed to be overly friendly, so to speak. It's supposed to be hot tomorrow so we're trying for an early start and I'm hoping for a nice sunrise over the valley. But for now I'm quite warm in my tent with a half fly that Snagglefoot taught me.
Date: 2012-07-07
From: Tentsite 1.5 North of MOC

To: Trailside Tentsite Mile 1317
Miles today: 17.1

7-7-2012 Trailside Tentsite Mile 1317. We got up at 5:30 this morning, packed up with an awesome view of the sunrise and got moving by 6:30. We wanted to get as many miles in before it got too hot. We got to and awesome lake just before 10 and jumped in. As Rocket was changing into her swimsuit she saw a bear coming up through the trees to make a move on our unguarded packs and had to scare it off. We stayed until 2:15 but a bit before we left a big group of dayhikers showed up and gave us lots of fruit it was so delicious. It was a hot rocky 5 miles to the next shelter where we got water and ate dinner. We left around 5:30 and stopped at the road crossing. Rocket went into a restaurant to get ice cream and a soda, me and Star decided against it as it was pricey. When we were about to leave I went over to the gas station next door to throw out some stuff and a lady pulled up and said she was planning a thruhike and wanted to take me out to eat but didn't have time so she gave me $20 and I thanked her profusely. When I got back to the others I told them and the 3 of us went in for soda and ice cream. It was awesome. We left there around 8 and kept an eye out for tentsites until we found this one. We could hear live music coming up from the valley and hung our bear bags as it got dark. Then 2 fireworks shows started, I would have sat out and watched through the trees but the mosquitoes are ridiculous. For now I'm lying in my tent on top of my bag liner in just my underwear and still sweating, at least I get to fall asleep to the distant live music.
Date: 2012-07-08
From: Trailside Tentsite Mile 1317

To: Murray Property
Miles today: 20.4

7-8-2012 Murray Property. We got a late start today after sleeping in til almost 7. Today marks the 100th day since I started and I decided to go commando to mix things up, the airflow was quite pleasant. It was fairly rocky for the first 15 miles or so. And fairly uneventful. We stopped at a state park hq around 4 and hung out for a bit and we each got a free soda. We did 2 to the next shelter and stopped for first dinner and talked to the ridgerunner for a bit. Then we cranked through the last 5.5 miles in under 2 hours with the lower temp and smoother terrain. We got in around 8:20. I immediately took a shower. It was probably the best shower on trail. It's heated but outside on the side of a building and completely open, and as I was enjoying the perfect temperature water I watched hundreds of fireflies light up the field. After that, I ate and chatted with the dozen or so other hikers here then set up my tent sans fly as it started getting dark. For now I'm nice and cool in my tent trying to figure out what I want for dessert before passing out.
Date: 2012-07-09
From: Murray Property

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: few clouds

7-9-2012 Wawayanda Shelter. Despite getting up at 6:15 this morning I didn't get moving til almost 8. It was in the 80's today and very humid and it looks like it will be the same for a while. It's rather frustrating because we can't do as many miles because the heat just drains your energy. Around 1:30 I got to the semi famous boardwalk. I've seen pictures of it before and I've been wondering when I'd get to it. It's a mile of 2 to 4 foot high boardwalk through a huge marsh. Some of the grass was so tall I couldn't see over it standing 4 feet above the ground. Around 2:30 me, Skinny Rambo (formerly Superstar) and Rocket got to a farmstand just off trail and pigged out on fresh fruit milkshakes and chips and salsa. We didn't get going again til after 5. We had a mile long steep climb then a few more miles to here. We're all exhausted and the bugs got bad quick so we just set up, ate and went to bed. For now I'm about to pass out in my tent to the irritating drone of mosquitoes outside the mesh.
Date: 2012-07-10
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Trailside Tentsite Mile 1370.5
Miles today: 14.6

7-10-2012 Trailside Tentsite Mile 1370.5. We started the day getting water at a park entrance station, it tasted quite strongly of copper and chlorine so we all added various flavor mixes. We did a quick 4 miles to the NY border where the trail promptly turned into a ridgerun of rolling slabs of bedrock. I was delighted and quite enjoyed the next few miles to town. In town we got pizza and went to the PO where my replacement pack from Osprey was supposed to be. It turns out there was an issue with the deposit. So my pack will be in Kent, CT. We hung out in the a/c at Subway for a while then finally got moving again around 4. The heat has been unbearable. We hiked some more when me and S.R. got to a stream by a road crossing for some water. A sketchy young woman in boots and a bikini stopped and told us about how she was camping around the corner when she was assaulted and then her boyfriend took off in her car, then she walked off. We waited for Rocket then promptly left the area as we heard voices by the road. I haven't been that sketched out yet while on the trail. We went a little ways further to make sure we were well away from whatever was going on by the road and found a decent campsite. It had started sprinkling as we were walking so we set up quickly and a bit later it started raining in earnest so the 3 of us retreated to our tents to call it a night. For now I'm hot but dry in my tent ready to pass out.
Date: 2012-07-11
From: Trailside Tentsite Mile 1370.5

To: Fingerboard Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

7-11-2012 Fingerboard Shelter. At about 11:30 last night I woke up to lightning at least once a minute and mostly 1 to 2 miles away with loud rumbles of thunder. I stayed up for half an hour watching the flashes light up my tent and listening to the thunder echo over the mountains. In the morning all 3 of us ignored the alarms we set for 5 hoping to hike before it got hot. We ended up sleeping in til 7 and not moving til 8. The trail was rather inconsistent for most of the day with flat spots, near vertical scrambles, rocks big and small, and some swampy bits. One thing every hiker I've talked to agrees on is that the water sources suck. Most of the sources in the book are dry or stagnant and the only reason it wasn't a big problem for everyone is that trail angels have been leaving lots of water at some road crossings. This afternoon a dayhiker took me and S.R. in to a deli and we got subs for us and Rocket. We hiked them out a bit and ate and took a nap on a big rock. A quarter mile later we got to a nice swimming spot just off trail and spent a half hour in the almost warm lake. From there it was only a couple miles to here and I was listening to my audio book so it went quick. When we got here me, S.R., Rocket and Raindancer decided to walk down a blueblaze to the road where we thought a beach and vending machines and water would be. We ended up walking over a mile down the road and the beach was closed for the day. Disappointed, we walked back to the shelter to find a bunch of other thruhikers there. We made dinner and talked and complained about the heat and lack of water and everyone felt better after food and a good gripe session. I went to my tent soon after eating as I was tired and we're planning an early start tomorrow to beat the heat. For now I'm in my tent sans fly listening to the hikers just up the hill in the shelter.