morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-07-27
To: Blue Mountain Lakes Road
Miles today: 32.3

Hooray, I got up earlish today and was actually hiking by 6.30am which on my past record is early. N.J. continued to be very easy to make up miles and although I was taking it easy I had nearly 20 miles done by 1pm. I got chatting to 2 hikers at the shelter who were 'Newly Weds' and doing a thru-hike for their honeymoon. Talk about make or break, but what a way to spend your honeymoon. They told me that a letter had been left at the trail head for me about 3 miles away. I had a huge smile on my face as I had a good idea who it was from. I pounded down that trail as fast as I could excited to read the letter. Sure enough I found an envelope with "SQUEAKY" written on it and quickly sat down to read it. It was indeed from Molly and it brightened up my day until I read the part that cleared up the 'North Star' debate, proving Molly to be absolutely right.....Dam!!!! I know I am going to cop some stick from my Dad for this but it really cheered me up as I was actually missing Molly. (What a soppy twat)!!! On to the bakery and after a 2 hour pit stop of cakes and sandwiches I was back on my way, I decided even though it was getting late to head for a water pump by a road, some 11 miles away. It started to drizzle with rain and the odd rumble of thunder could be heard, but I managed to get down to the water pump before dark. I dont't know who designed the pump but I am sure an Octupus would have struggled to use it, it was definately a 2 man job, but I managed anyway and got into the tent before dark and just before the rain rally got started. I had nothing to hang my food bag with, but not to worry, I had a secret weapon up my sleeve...... MY SOCKS!!!!   My feet actually smell just like horse s*** at the moment so I put my socks and shoes over the food bag. I don't care how sensitive bears noses are for food, there is no way they could smell the food over those socks!!! (They really are that bad!!!)
Date: 2003-07-28
To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

Holy S*** am I glad to be alive still. There was some serious lightening last night and I was near sure the tree I camped under was going to get struck at any moment. (Maybe I am just over reacting, but it makes for interesting reading!!!) I lay in bed for ages before eventually getting up so I was late on the trail again. The Mohican Outdoor Centre was only 7 or so miles away so i headed there for a quick lunch. I ended up staying around for about 6 hours. I had about a week of diary entries to catch up on that I kept putting off. I eventually got away and back to the trail just before 5pm. and decided to head for the church hostel at the Delaware Water Gap about 11 or so miles away. I was playing with some future plans in my head as the trail gives you alot of time to thin like that . All I can say is watch this space!!! The foot bridge going over the river is a little hairy to say the least. I t is right on the side of Route 80 and it gets a little scary when 18 wheelers are heading towards you and passing 6 feet away. But not to worry there is a 3 foot high concrete wall to protect you!!! The church hostel is pretty neat and offers showers,bunks etc and 'LAZY BOY' chairs. Damn there comfortable. I really enjoyed scoffing a 14"pizza in the comfort of that fully reclined Lazy Boy!!! Time to catch up on a few ZZZZZ'ssssss
Date: 2003-07-29
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I decided to hang around for the morning and get a few things sorted out in town. After sending some mail home I headed down to the diner and had one hell of a 'big breakfast', 3 pancakes, bacon, sausage, 2 eggs and ham. What better way to start the day. Then after a quick visit to 'Stroudsbourg' for groceries it was time to get "back on the trail again". It was after 12pm and it was turning out ot be a really hot day. I was looking forward to seeing what the rocks where like in Pa., as every NOBO that passed me was bitching about them. As usual believe nothing of what you hear! Its just a case of keeping a positive attitude and stomping all over them. The last part of the day flew by and I was surprised when I saw the sign for the shelter. I went straight to bed after dinner as I was planning on getting up when the alarm went off !!!! (honest).
Date: 2003-07-30
From: Leroy A. Smith Shelter

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 40.9
Weather: broken clouds

I don't know what possessed me this morning, but the alarm went off and I got up !!!!!! I was on the trail just after 5am and got a good steady pace going that I planned to keep up all day. I had to use my head-lamp for the first 30 minutes or so until the sun got up high enough. It was looking like being another beautiful day with-out a cloud insight anywhere. I was told about a place just before 'Palmerton' where there was some sort of copper or zinc mining that went wrong somehow and had desolated plant life on the top of the mountain. Sure enough when I got up there, there was only a few living trees in the midst of a very barron landscape of rocks and old tree trunks for miles around. It had its own strange beauty about it though. There was a really fun section of rock scrambling down into Palmerton. It sums the whole AT up as you just don't know what is waiting for you around the next corner. I had about 3 miles of total flat, then all of a sudden it was a steep downhill rock scramble !!! Its this sort of variety of challenges that keeps me 'hooked'!!!! I really don't know why 99% of all the NOBO's bitched so much about the rocks. They're not bad at all and half the time is spent walking on totally flat dirt roads. The rest of the day went by without a hitch and soon enough I was at the turn-off for the shelter. As I was walking down the road to the shelter I saw my first 'Rattle Snake' on the road. It wasn't rattling, so being the stupid idiot I can be some-times I decided to piss it off and sure enough it curled up and started rattling away !!! I know it was a stupid thing to do and I knew it was stupid at the time, but I wanted to hear it rattle!!!!! The shelter is in some guys garden and is a pretty cool set-up. It has a shower, a proper toilet and a bunk house. It also has a fridge full of ice-cream and soda which I set about in a big way, so as I was chilling out with a soda I had a quick 'tick' inspection and to my horror found two on my leg. Oh F*** !!! I was totally S******* my pants at the thought of getting 'Lyme disease' until I read a leaflet and found out that the 'two ticks' on my leg where actually 'Wood ticks' and not 'Deer ticks' and the chances of them having 'Lyme disease' is far less .....   I really hope they are right!!!!! Oh Well life is tough, nobody gets out alive. Early to bed to see if I can keep up these miles or not.
Date: 2003-07-31
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

The plan was good in theory ..... early to bed, early to rise. But what I didn't allow for was just how well 'Grandmother Bear' could snoar !!!! Snoaring is one thing I hate the most, so I am glad to be heading in the opposite direction as that sweet old lady. Needless to say 'I had hardly any sleep' so I hung around at the shelter eating ice-cream and cookies for most of the day. I finally headed back to the trail at 3.30pm and planned just to head to the next shelter about 10 miles away, but along the way I heard from a NOBO that 'Wheel' another SOBO was at 'Port Clinton', so decided to hike the extra couple of miles and see how his friend was gettin on. 'Wheel's' friend 'Bojangles' had taken ill a couple of days previous and was in hospital with quite a 'fever'. I got into 'Port Clinton' around 8 ish and tried to find an A.T.M, Now instead of having it in the bar, which is the last place to close at night, Port Clinton thinks its a good idea to keep it in the .... pea-nut shop!!!! Was I pissed or what. I had heard great stories of cheese burger and french fries portions that where a match to any man. I was left to dream instead. Down at the Pavillion in town, which is the shelter, I met 'Wheel' who told me that his friend had caught 'West Nile Virus' a rare but nasty fever transmitted by mosquitos. Unfortunately he might be off the trail for a while, but all the vey best to him and hopefully he can be back on the trail in notime.
Date: 2003-08-01
From: Port Clinton

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

I slept on a sofa last night that was just too comfortable to get up from, well any excuse for an extra hour in bed, well maybe closer to an extra six!!!! But I was on the trail by 10.30am. After my disappointment of last night, I was on a drive for the 501 Shelter as they deliver pizza there, providing someone has a cell phone, of course. I was at the shelter around 6pm and as luck would have it nobody had a phone. There is a house 50 feet away but there is a sign saying 'not to bother them unless it is an emergency', I thought me needing pizza was an emergency but I thought some-how they might have a different opinion. So I had to hitch into town, order my pizza and get the delivery man to drive me back with my food. So finally I sat down with a 14" pizza and a 12" sub and began the feast. It was far too much food for one sitting so the left-overs where for breakfast.
Date: 2003-08-02
From: 501 Shelter

To: Rauch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

MMMM...... cold pizza for breakfast!!!! After a hearty breakfast like that there was no limit to how far I could hike today.... wrong!!!!! I just couldn't get out of first gear all day and made real hard work of some very easy terrain, but that is all part of hiking the trail, some days can be a real drag and others there is no limit to how far you can hike. I had planned to get as close to or even into Duncannon today but could manage 18 sorry ass miles before calling it a day. I decided to get an early night and get up in the early hours of the morning for some night hiking to make it into Duncannon at a reasonable time.
Date: 2003-08-03
From: Rauch Gap Shelter

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 28.8
Weather: broken clouds

I managed to get away by 5 ish and had some great fun navagating the trail with my head lamp. The trail is surprisingly easy to follow in the dark, or maybe it is because you have to pay so much more attention to avoid getting lost, but anyhow it adds a whole new dimension to the trail. The day went by without any real drama's, I could have done without the brief spell of rain though as it made the rocks very slippery. Oh yeah and I saw two big snakes, both of which where longer than my hiking poles, which are set at 120cm. They were not Rattle snakes so there was no need to annoy them !!!! Coming down the mountain before town I met a section hiker who was out getting some experience on the trail before his future thru-hike. He asked alot of questions and I answered him as best I could but told him to keep an open mind and stick to what works best for him. He was carrying 6 litres of water though which made me cringe at all that unneccessary weight. Finally after what seemed like an eternity I got to Duncannon and got straight to work on the laundry before I upset too many people with the smell!!!!! Dinner was supposed to be anything but pizza, so pizza it was !!!! and I was defenately going to bed early........   Soooo out I staggered from the bar at 2am, Well they where serving 22oz Coors Light for a dollar, which didn't excuse the tequilla, but hey I was already in a mess by that point anyway!!!!!
Date: 2003-08-04
From: Duncannon

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light rain

AAAAAAHHHHHH...... my head !!! Its hang-overs like this that makes me wish I was at home, as the only possible cure is a home made breakfast by my Mother, but I had to settle for the next best thing available...... The Appalachian Breakfast at the 'Doyle Hotel'. It wasn't a scratch on what my Mum wold have knocked up but it did soak up some of the Coors Light that was floating around inside. By the time I was in any fit state to get back on the trail the time was after 1pm and the sun was very hot. But not to worry because I was realiably informed that the trail out of Duncannon was very flat and so easy ...... F*** me NOBO's really are so full of S***, that 1,000 foot climb must have slipped their mind!!!!!!   I was sweating buckets but actually felt very good, until I came out of the trees and felt the force of the sun which drained my hang-over body in an instant. I decided to call it a day at the shelter to sleep off the hang-over ready for a fresh ass whooping start in the morning.
Date: 2003-08-05
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 43.7
Weather: light rain

Not the early start I had in mind but on the trail at 5.30 ish is still in good time to have a real good go at the day. The mornings are really starting to draw in now as I needed the head lamp on until around 6ish when it is light enough to get into the swing of things. Now I was in the 'Cumberland Valley' that the NOBO had told me about and was starting to get some good miles in early. I had to stop from time to time to laugh uncontrolably about a story 'Wheel' told me in Duncannon. Apparently there was a NOBO who's goal the whole of his trip was to get to Monsoon, stay at Shaws Guest House and prove his claimed 'All you can eat' breakfast, was not 'All you can eat', This guy is a legend in my opinion , he had 6 around 3 times, which means 18 PANCAKES!!!!! 18 EGGS!!!!!! and 18 STRIPS OF BACON !!!!!!! he ended up on the floor having convulsions and an ambulance had to be called out to pump his stomach!!!! I will never tire of this story. I just hope its true !!   After a Hot-Dog stop in Boiling Springs I was back out into the farm fields again and looking forward to reaching the half way marker. I dont't think it is officially half way but it sure felt good to know that I had hiked half of the trail. I had my mind set on reaching Birch Run Shelter so I decided to pass up on the half gallon ice-cream challenge as I knew there would be no more hiking today if I had eaten all that ice-cream. I caught up to 'Wheel' at the next shelter and congratulated him on his half gallon challenge. He had had his eye on it for the whole trip but unfortunately couldn't break the 9 minute record. I made it to Birch Run and still felt surprisingly fresh and was pleased with how easy I could hike 44 odd miles.
Date: 2003-08-06
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: Deer Lick Shelter
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: few clouds

After a by now customary late start to the day I still planned to get in 38 miles to leave an easy day into Harpers Ferry. I met a couple on the trail, father and daughter who told me that the A.T.C. where hikers sign in at Harpers Ferry shut at 5pm, So I thought a few plans out about how best to get there in time and decided to stop at Deer Lick around 4pm, go straight to bed and get up at midnight and hike the 47 miles straight to Harpers Ferry.
Date: 2003-08-07
From: Deer Lick Shelter

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 45.9
Weather: haze

I was out on the trail just before midnight and really excited about my first proper nighthike. I knew it would be tough going to get to 'Harpers Ferry' in time as I didn't get alot of, if any sleep, so it was almost the 68 miles straight hike, but it seemed like a good challenge. I got down to the Mason Dixon Line (Pa / Md) and over into Pen Mar Park, and there glowing in the dark and to my utter most delight was a soda machine, lucky I had some change, so I guzzled down some soda and made my way back into the woods for some more midnight toe-stubbing on the rocks. The rest of the night seemed to pass by quite fast and soon enough the sun was rising and I could finally get the headlamp off my head. Its only a small PETZEL L.E.D light, but it actually starts to hurt after 6 hours of wearing it. I was looking forward to passing Turners Gap as in the guide book it lists meals on the A.T. I had great visions of a huge Hot Dog/ Burger van and planned to eat a whole lot of them, It turned out to be a bar/restaurant which was closed. I sat down dissapointed and ate a whole bunch of little debbies choc chip bars instead. I still had over 18 miles to go and it was 9.45am. I got some great news further up the trail about another park with a vending machine. Was this to be another pack of lies from a NOBO ? To my delight there was a soda machine, to my horror I realised I didn't have much change left, but I found enough for 2 powerade drinks, which really hit the spot. Now only 10 to go and I was really stomping along even finding some energy for running at times. The hardest part of the day was funny enough on the easiest terrain , a 2 and a half mile stretch on the LGO Canal Tow Path. I can't seem to judge my speed on flat roads like this and although I was 'movin' it felt like I wasn't getting anywhere. Soon enough I was in Harpers Ferry and getting my photo taken for the album. I was the first SOBO of 2003 to start from Katadyn and reach Harpers Ferry., which was nice, but I was not happy with how long it had taken. I plan on doing the next half in under 4 weeks. I know I can cover the miles no problem as 40 mile days feel easy for me to hike, but I feel the biggest challenge will be to get in and out of town and get resuppled all in that time scale. I decided to stay in town at the American Youth Hostel, as I had alot of things to get sorted out, like new shoes,socks food etc.
Date: 2003-08-08
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Keys Gap
Miles today: 5.8

I had a great breakfast to start the day off. All you could eat pancakes, cereal, fruit, fruit juice and I didn't leave until my belly was bursting!!!! I had alot to sort out today like finding a new pair of shoes and get some groceries. Just across the road from the hostel lives a guy by the name of John who shuttles anyone to anywhere very cheaply. He picked me up by the gas station and took me over to 'Fredrick' to get some running shoes. The back of his car is littered with all sorts of 'aluminium cans' that he collects. If he sees one at the side of the road, any road, busy roads he slams on the brakes and reaches out with a litter picking stick and picks it up and carry's on. Nothing like getting wiped out by an 18 wheeler for an empty soda can !!!! John was quite an old guy and needed crutches to walk with, he reminded me of a Gorilla the way he walked hunched over his walking sticks. The day turned out to be alot of fun as John was quite a character, with a great live and let live attitude, and always a story to tell. He ended up taking me all over 'Fredrick' to find the right shoes, then over to get groceries and finally to 'Harpers Ferry'. The day was full of times when I thought.... "What the f*** is going on here!!!", which made it one interesting day !!!!   I popped back into the A.T.C. and bumped into 'Wheel', he could not believe that I had hiked from 'Deer Lick' the previous day. Unfortunately he is getting off the trail to wait for his friend to catch back up, which is a shame because he was quite funny and shared the same views on bitching NOBO'S as I do. Finally I got back to the trail by 6pm, this is going to be the hardest part of finishing in under 4 weeks. I know I can hike the miles no problem in that time frame but it is all the messing about getting to towns that eats up so much time, alot like this dairy entry, which is starting to boar me to tears, so I will end it without any further a do!!!!
Date: 2003-08-09
From: Keys Gap

To: Bear Den Hostel
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Not much to write about today - Late start, early finish. There was a wedding going on at Bears Den Hostel, so without any further ado I had to go up and check it out. After all weddings mean bridesmaids and usually drunk ones !!! (I am starting to forget what women look like without hair!! some even have better beards than me out here on the trail.) The hostel was very nice and I decided what the f*** I would stay the night. The wedding party had left and told us to help our-selves to the left over food, which was music to the ears of this hiker. An early night is called for as I need to get up early and attack this next section known as the 'Rollercoaster' as there is 7 or 8 mountains in 10 miles with an elevation change of over 5,000 ft, I can't wait to get back into the climbs to really work up a sweat.
Date: 2003-08-10
From: Bear Den Hostel

To: Turtle Station Hostel
Miles today: 37.8

Yippee I managed to get up at 4am and I was ready to go...... o.k. I will just lie down for 5 mins......, 4 hours later I actually got to the trail to tackle the infamous 'Rollercoaster' section. Rollercoaster ??? I have had bigger ups and downs on a see-saw !!! I plugged away for the rest fo the day aiming to get at least to the 'Shenandoah National Park'. As I was walking along in a sort of day dream phase I nearly stepped on a 'Black King Snake' that was resting up on the trail. Lucky they are not poisonous, but it was over 4 ft long and gave me a little startle !!! Further down the trail and in another day-dream state, something caught my eye on the trail and I could hear quite a loud squeaking noise. It was a baby mouse! It was so small and defenceless, I could not leave it there. I believe whole heartedly in survival of the fittest, but the poor little thing didn't stand a chance, he couldn't walk and his eyes where still closed over. I made a make-shift house for him out of an empty camera film case and tissue paper.. When I got up to the Hostel the lady there made up some milk and egg-yolk and me and another hiker 'Two Dogged' fed him. I had called him 'Squeaks Two' after all if he was coming along on the trail he had to get a name !!! 'Squeaks Two' is only the size of the top part of my thumb so it was hard to feed him, but he seemed to guzzle down the milk. I put my new hiking buddy to bed and called it a night my-self.
Date: 2003-08-11
From: Turtle Station Hostel

To: Elkwallow Gap
Miles today: 16.3

I checked up on 'Squeaks Two', he was curled up fast asleep. I woke him up and gave him his morning feed. He even yawned, it was the cutest thing !!! After getting 'Squeaks Two' fixed up, I got the shuttle service into town to get some groceries. I have forgotten the ladies name who was looking after the hostel, but she was very friendly and couldn't do enough for you. Back at the hostel she told us to relax and take our time which makes a change from the hostels which can't wait to take your money and kick you out a 9am sharp. I was finally ready to get going at around 1pm and eager to get into the 'Shenandoahs' to get a start on all the easy miles I heard it has to offer. I checked up on 'Squeaks Two' from time to time and he was always curled up and sound asleep. At Elkwallow Gap I showed some day trippers 'Squeaks Two' as I was not sure what he was. My first thought was that he was a baby squirrel, one old guy said, " you know it could be a bear", I was about to laugh at his joke when I realised he was being serious!!!! Words cannot describe that sort of stupidity !!! He then said, "Oh maybe its to small to be a bear", Yeah no S****, It is half the size of my thumb. I decided to camp at the picnic grounds at Elkwallow Gap. As I was in using the little boys room I thought it best to keep my food in the wash basin in the toilets as I thought there could be bears in the area because fo the amount of trash bins around. As soon as I stepped out of the toilets, there about 30 feet away was a black bear, I had hiked about 1200 miles and finally I saw my first bear. I was so happy to finally see one, and so close aswell. I was so pleased !!!! But the thought did occur to me that I had 10 pounds of food in my pack, but after staring at me for about 10 seconds it took of into the woods,, Which was a smart move, it would have been a sorry bear that tried to mess with my 'little debbies bars'!!! After all the excitement of my first bear encounter I got tented up, gave 'Squeaks Two' his feed and got my head down for the night.