morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-17
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Pass Mountian Hut
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

It was a cold morning and I left camp at 10:30 AM. I only hiked 14 miles but it felt like forever. I hiked alone most of the day. Found some delicious strawberries trailside. There were crazy rock cliffs overlooking nothing, interesting. I ran into a young 5 point buck with velvet antlers. Beautiful climb up to the Pinnacle. The summit was a jumble of sherbet-tinted grey boulders tangled with sycamore roots and thick ferns, foamflowers. We took the side trail to the top of Mary¢s Rock, a towering adobe-pink stone edifice reflecting the sunset. The summit was laurel-covered and windy, cold. It was almost like being on the prow of a ship. This is my favorite spot in the Shennies. The climb down was fun at first, skipping form rock to rock down the red-spotted path but the descent dragged on and on. Even though you could see Skyline Drive it never seemed to get any closer. I began to get cranky. By the time I finally did reach the road crossing, I really didn¢t want to hike any farther. Then I noticed that someone had left some cans of cola at the crossing. I had a delicious V8 which fueled my run to the Shelter. Sunny & Share, Slayer & Ularu and Double D were already there along with Chaco & Toesocks. We had a merry evening. Just before we fell asleep, Half Elvis came walking in to camp. We haven¢t seen him in over a month, so we spent some time catching up. Slept wrapped in my blanket, Tyvek and our tarp. I was somewhat warm for a change and got a bit of sleep.
Date: 2008-06-18
From: Pass Mountian Hut

To: Tom Floyd Wayside
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I am up at a decent hour.   It is a bit overcast, cold but not a bad hike. Going over a boulder field, I startled a decently-sized black bear. He went bounding off into the woods. I met up with Oats at Elk Wallow Wayside. Chaco and Toesocks bought breakfast for us and Half Elvis. Long climb up a fern-covered mountain, sunlight streaming through the trees. My feet were bugging me and I wasn¢t sure I wanted to keep going but Oats was ready to go so I kept on.   Sunny & Share were stopped and pointed out a big momma bear digging for roots off amongst the ferns. The spring we were relying on to be 3 miles away wasn¢t there. We had to hike 3 12 more miles. It was getting bad, I was getting dehydrated but the thirst motivated me to keep hiking. The terrain leveled out a bit and we finally heard running water.   We both took wonderful drinks of cold spring water and it rejuvenated us so much that we ran the last 4 miles. We were glad to be out of the Park. The trail went straight down a rocky cliff. We got to Tom Floyd Wayside. Sunny & Share were the only thru¢s there but the Boy Scouts were taking up all the tent sites. We made a fire, cooked hot dogs then a rain storm rolled in. Sunny & Share pitched their tent on the porch with Double D, two sectioners. Ravon was in the shelter. Slayer & Ularu arrived halfway through the deluge. They were soaked and were packed into the shelter. This was the coldest, most miserable, sleepless night in a long time.
Date: 2008-06-19
From: Tom Floyd Wayside

To: Front Royal/Pioneer Motel
Miles today: 2.9
Weather: light rain

I¢m up early and feeling gross and filthier than usual. We booked it for Front Royal through thick plants and vines which were overhanging the trail. I found some delicious white mulberries. It took only a little while to get a hitch from a man in a pickup whose bed was full but he managed to cram 5 of us into his cab. It was a hot morning in the concrete town. We hit the grocery for resupply and the Goodwill for some ¢stylish¢ flannel PJ¢s to keep us from freezing so much at night. That¢s what we get for sending our sleeping bags home! At 10:30 sharp (opening time) we hit Tops Chinese Buffet. They had a great spread¢¦everything from Broccoli & Beef to fresh fruit to Sushi to 6 kinds of ice cream. I ate 5 bowls of ice cream on top of 6 plates of food. I had the biggest, most horrifying food baby of all time. We left our packs in Slayer & Ularu¢s hotel room at the rather shady, Pioneer Motel. We walked downtown and saw great Civil War-era buildings and a used book store. We stopped to say hi to the outfitter, got fuel, and used the ¢Net. We showered and did sink laundry back at the hotel, watched food shows on TV. We were going to hike out but an insane thunderstorm with pea-sized hail blew in. The ice was bouncing into the room¢s open door, so much that we had to close it. We decided to stay, slept comfortably though the room was very hot.
Date: 2008-06-20
From: Front Royal/Pioneer Motel

To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Today is Slayer¢s birthday. We got an easy hitch out of town. It is wonderfully level terrain with abundant black raspberries growing trailside. Thick vines are the underbrush again and there are no views all day and we are walking through a claustrophobic nightmare of vegetation. We took a break at the Jim & Molly Denton shelter. It is a huge place, complete with solar showers. The heat is back and we dragged on through a sweaty afternoon. We spent the night at Dick¢s Dome, a dodecahedron shelter. Its many sides make it hard to fit more than 5 people into it. The Boy Scouts had again, commandeered the tent sites, so we had a tough time scouring for places to pitch our tent. We crammed 6 in the shelter and actually slept warm and soundly.
Date: 2008-06-21
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Bear's Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: clear sky

It¢s Hike Naked Day, though no one did. They trail was a jungle of blooming columbine, wild pink roses, and honeysuckle perfume. I passed more section/day hikers than I¢ve seen the entire rest of the trip. The trail was crowded. I didn¢t stop much. Saw a small black snake with a yellow-banded neck. We hit the infamous, ¢roller coaster¢, which had some strenuous but short climbs. By the time I got sick of going up, the trail began to go down. There was lots of water in the gaps. It was hot. I found the first wild blueberries. The underbrush thinned out some into hot pine forests. We got to Bear¢s Den Hostel by 5 PM ¢ 19 miles! What a beautiful place ¢ almost a castle, a big stone building, well kept and clean with a big kitchen, free ¢Net and phone. $25 got us a pint of ice cream, a whole pizza, a cola and free run of the garden. I made a huge salad, green peas & herbs. I actually relaxed. We¢d packed a cake mix from town and I baked it for Slayer. I had a fantastic shower, my clothes smell like a day hiker¢s. The caretakers are former thru¢s ¢ Red Wing & Hopeful and their 1 year old, Lydia (or Hikelet). The trees were thick with mulberries. Delicious! We stayed up late talking with Daisy & Ularu. This is the most comfortable bed I¢ve slept in for a long time. I slept soundly. I had been beginning to get the¢VA Blues¢ and the hostel was a much needed respite.
Date: 2008-06-22
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: Blackburn Trail Center 
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: few clouds

Daisy, Oats & I hung out talking until almost noon than began hiking. Bear¢s Den Rocks were interesting, slate colored cubes of granite. 3 more huge climbs which were the last of the ¢roller coaster¢. The fuel bottle leaked and lost about 2/3rds of the alcohol and my pack was soaked. Feeling ill, hot and clammy I didn¢t want to hike. I don¢t know why it is so hard right now. The terrain has leveled out as I followed a low, flattish ridgeline. There are limited options for water and I had to hike straight downhill 14 of a mile to Blackburn Trail Center for water. The caretaker, Tina (AT ¢07) gave me a Pop Ice and a Ginger Ale and invited us to spend the night at the free hostel. We¢d only hiked 8 miles but I was discouraged and ready to stop hiking, so I talked Oats into staying. We chatted with a sectioner from Holland, Todd? And the trail maintainer, Trail Boss, for a bit then helped Tina cook dinner. We had spaghetti, salad with anchovy dressing and my cornbread with sweet potato pie for dessert. The Professor joined us for dinner and the evening rainstorm blew in as we ate. After dinner, we took in the sunset from the screened in porch, the clouds all bruise-purple and mauve. Everyone else slept on the porch so I had the bunkhouse to myself. I slept soundly and warm.
Date: 2008-06-24
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: few clouds

I awoke to find the Professor, Sunny & Share, Babu and Cookie Monster sharing the shelter with us. I had a good time joking with everyone and listening to music on cookie¢s speakers. A humid but well-graded 4 miles to Gathland State Park, where an eccentric journalist had built an enormous estate complete with an elaborate mausoleum and the huge, gaudy ¢War Correspondents Arch¢. The place was also the site of a pivotal Civil War battle) Long Mtn. Campaign). It is utterly fascinating to set foot in these places. We hiked a few more easy miles to Dahlgren Backpacker¢s Camp, where we had lunch and to free hot showers. Man, are we getting SPOILED!! We found the most delicious wild cherries I¢ve ever taste from 5 trees simply laden with fruit. Oats shimmed up and pulled the trees down so I could grab them then we harvested the fruit. We picked a full 2 lbs worth! We stopped briefly at the original Washington Monument, a bottle-shaped tower with a winding staircase. We ate delicious mulberries before hiking on. I saw another small black snake with yellow banded neck and lots of chipmunks. Near the bridge over the freeway, a local had setout some Doritos and Peanuts for hikers. Yum!! It was a q quick jaunt Pine Knob Shelter ¢ the terrain here is easy but my legs are killing me. I started a fire to cook dinner. A bit of dump, this place. At about 8 Babu & Cookie Monster rolled in a 12 of Pabts in tow! We had a few beers, ate cherries and stayed up talking late into the night.
Date: 2008-06-25
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: PenMar State Park
Miles today: 17.9

I should have gone to bed earlier. I am dragging today. I got out of camp around 10:30, and it is already muggy and I¢m moving slowly. A lot of easy ridge running. There was a huge black snake sunning itself on a branch 12 feet up in a tree across from the shelter. There is the thick smell of summer-blooming Milkweed in the air. There are wild rock outcroppings layered like a birthday cake and the trail is littered with small translucent white stones. I took a long break with Babu at the shelter, and then headed off. Experienced the worst rock scramble so far, tripping over boulders left and right. My poor feet! It was a long miserable climb with panting and stumbling up to High Rocks. It was a disappointing overlook¢¦the rocks were all covered in graffiti. An equally hellacious climb downhill ¢ it seems they crammed all the rocks in the state into this one area. We reached PenMar Park with Babu. We felt triumphant to have knocked out the entire state of MD in just over 2 days. We cooked mashed potatoes and sat round on the park benches reading and enjoying the expansive view of the patchwork of farmer¢s fields in the golden evening light. An older lady picnicking came and asked us questions about the trail and gave us half a chicken, some sourdough bread and potato salad. Well-fed, we hiked across the railroad tracks to stealth camp. We found some luscious black raspberries, which made a wonderful dessert. Quiet Riot and Strange Habit are camped with us tonight. I¢m quite sore and the bugs are pesky.
Date: 2008-06-26
From: PenMar State Park

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: overcast clouds

It began to sprinkle around 8 AM, so we packed up quickly and forge into PA. It was overcast and a bit rocky, the gray stones encrusted in pillow-like emerald green moss. There were Pigeonberry plants carpeting the forest floor, Indian Pipes beginning to push up through the dirt. I met up with Chaco & Toesocks and hiked with them a ways. We found trail magic ¢ hard candies in a bag. The knees were screaming in pain all day, the pack is too heavy. I was clambering over wild boulder piles, towers of rock like city buildings near the trail. It was humid as all get out! I was eating wintergreen berries and found the mother of all blueberry patches with delicious ripe fruit which I ate in the hot afternoon. I took a bit of a break at Caledonia State Park, cooked dinner then hit a steep climb up to Quarry Gap Shelter. It is a beautiful site with a crystal-clear spring surrounded by laurels. The shelter has two sections, hanging flower baskets, a covered deck with a skylight¢¦it is one of the nicest shelters so far.
Date: 2008-06-27
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: James Fry (Tagg Run) Shelter
Miles today: 24.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I found a salamander in the water source. The blooming rhododendrons and Medusa-tentacled roots sprawled across the ground, the hot pine-needled sweetness on the air made it slow going this morning. We kept stopping to fill our mouths with the uncomparable sweetness of ripe blueberries. It was hard to walk with all this fresh fruit. I tired to ignore the inviting deep blue fruit to no avail. The terrain was mostly flat and when we did hike we made great time. We stopped to watch a skunk watching us. We plowed on down the trail after a brief break at Tom¢s Run Shelter. This section is the only part of the AT I¢d hiked before this year. It¢s kind of neat to have come full circle. It began to rain a bit and we barreled down the trail, hungry, to Pine Grove Furnace Park. I¢d decided to take part in the ¢half gallon challenge¢ and picked out a box of Moose Tracks Ice Cream. Two hours later, I¢d read 3 National Geographics and finished the box. It wasn¢t pretty. And the last few bites of fudge swirl were almost unbearably sweet but I triumphed over the ice cream!!! Oats wasn¢t so foolish, she only got a cone. After I¢d let my stomach settle a bit, we headed off but only made it as far as the lake, whose cool, clear tourmaline waters looked too good to pass up. We dropped our packs and plunged in. Nice evening swim before taking up our packs again. I was belching like crazy. Stupid ice cream! It was a beautiful creek side walk with tall pines and thickly algae¢d swamps and water lilies. Saw a box turtle. It was an easy climb up to the Pole Steeple side trail. There was just enough light to have a good view of misty mountains from the craggy vantage point. We decided to do some night hiking since I was on a bit of sugar high. It was a bit tricky what with all the rocks to stumble over and Oat¢s shoe soles are falling off but we made it all the way to James Fry shelter (Tagg Run). There was unexpected trail magic from Red who put out a cooler of sodas and Rice Crispy treats. We snuck into the shelter, got a bunk space and crashed. Heard owls hooting in the cold night.
Date: 2008-06-28
From: James Fry (Tagg Run) Shelter

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up, talked a bit to the sectioners we¢d shared the shelter with last night, had some breakfast and then went back to bed. I was out of camp by noon-ish, feeling run down. I started my period today which will make for a fun week. My feet are swelling and my boots don¢t fit right anymore. It's painful. It is an easy first few miles, the fields are full of purple vetch, tiger lilies. There is then a steep boulder climb and the trail is marked with crazy arrows every which way through this funhouse of unbelievable boulders. There were a few tricky climbs which left me shaking my head thinking, ¢They expect us to do this with a full pack?!!!¢ I took a long lunch break at Whiskey Springs. There was crazy cicada-whine which was overwhelming and dead cicada¢s wings litter the ground mixed with the obnoxious, chlorophyll-scented leaf litter from the gypsy moth¢s destruction of the tree canopy. It was two miles to Alec Kennedy Shelter. Rookie, Longboard, and sectioners, Grizzly & TBone were there. Crows flocked there en masse. I had hummus for dinner and am illogically tired. There was a crazy ground-shaking thunderstorm and I was glad to be dry.
Date: 2008-06-29
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Off to an easy, late start. The overcast sky kept the temps down. Began hiking through crop fields after a few miles. The corn-leaf green, the glow of the sunlight through the ripe wheat, the exceptional beauty of acres of grain was beautiful. Ripe black raspberries were in abundance. I rolled into Boiling Springs just as it began to rain. There was crystal-green water in the town lake, like Rock Springs in Florida. Beautiful stonework houses, circa 1800's. Stopped on the porch of the ATC office, had some tuna and doughnuts from the hiker box. The sun came out, got terribly hot, sticky, skin feeling like melting plastic, hiking for miles through open fields of wheat and corn and hay, thickets of mullberry trees. Gorged ourselves upon the fruit. Boardwalk across a swampy area by the Condiguet River, then a pump, the only water source in twelve miles. Everything's pretty dry. After 17 miles of relative flatness, our day ended with a decent climb, fueled by Tom Waits and trail magic Mountain Dew from Thoughtfoot's mom. Slightly was at the shelter with a friend of his, and it was good to catch up. Wildflowers showed up while we were all eating dinner. It began pouring rain, hard. Wildflowers waited out the deluge in the privy. After dark, Space Dots rolled in to camp, woke us all up.
Date: 2008-06-30
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

On the trail early, feeling fairly out of it. Hot morning fields, a steep climb up to a ridge so rocky that it's no wonder that PA has such a lousy reputation on the trail. The descent into Duncannon was insanely steep, just one misstep away from a rockslide. Hiked into town with Micro, stopped at the Doyle first thing for a pint and some fries. Chatted with Vicki for awhile before heading over to Trail Angel Mary's apartment. We helped her begin preparations for the weekend's hiker feed. I was hit with a wall of fever/headache midevening, and lay on the couch sweating whilst Oats cooked cornbread and cookies.
Date: 2008-07-02
From: Duncannon

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke to diarrhea and vomiting, in no shape to hike. Went to the Doyle and got a room. Great crazy flophouse of a hotel, one bathroom per floor, running to it at least once an hour...not fun. Cold sweats and misery. Buckeye, Babu, Cookie Monster and Matthewski are all checked in, too....people running in and out of the rooms, pure pandemonium. Slept most of the day, venturing out now and then to sit in someone else's room.
Date: 2008-07-03
From: Duncannon

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Slept a good part of the morning. Daisy, Slayer and Ularu finally got in to town, Daisy wearing the bra that Oats had left for him. We hung out in Slayer and Ularu's room, reading trashy magazines and talking, until Jim arrived, and we all headed down to the bar, where Tank, Bobcat, and all the hiker trash were hanging out. Another night at the Doyle.
Date: 2008-07-04
From: Duncannon

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Up early. Julie had arrived much earlier, with Oats in tow. We went to the park to make pancakes and pitch camp. In the kitchen all day, helping cook. Made shrimp shishkabobs, beef stew, a giant rubermaid bin full of salad, fruit salad. It rained a bit, so no fireworks. Slept on the ground for a change. Jack arrived with the Dude late at night.
Date: 2008-07-05
From: Duncannon

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Pancakes for breakfast. Baltimore Jack was there, so I managed to stay out of the kitchen. It was a big reunion, hikers I haven't seen in a long time: BurrAss, Forge, Keychain.....long day just hanging out. Whole smoked pig for lunch, one of the most delicious pigs I've ever eaten, along with deserts cooked by Jester's mom, more salad. I made chili for dinner, which got rave reviews, along with grilled pizzas. After the grill had cooled down, we said our goodbyes and drove to Jim's parents' house, watching the light fade on the Susquehana River. Saw distant fireworks all along the way. The healthy smell of cow manure. Took a late night dip in the pool, slept in great comfort.
Date: 2008-07-06
From: Duncannon

To: Clark's Ferry Shelter
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: light rain

Slept in. Jim's parents made a huge spread for breakfast: corn beef hash, toast with homemade strawberry jam, fresh fruit, hard boiled eggs. Ate and talked, finally headed back to the trail around 2:30. Dropped Oats at the 501 shelter, then drove back to Duncannon. The hike out of the valley was torturous...I was still somewhat sick, sweating profusely, dizzy, blurring vision. A long and solitary four miles. Stopped at the first shelter out of town. Was alone, until MacGuyver and Lemur came in, late.
Date: 2008-07-07
From: Clark's Ferry Shelter

To: Campsite
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

Left camp in a steady drizzle, glasses fogging, toads and hissing box turtles in the trail, startling white and orange mushrooms, tiny discs, foamflowers, ripening gooseberries. Passed Whitetail Trail, which is marked with pink blazes...in hiker slang, "pink blazing" refers to those who chase girls up the trail. The rain stopped, BurrAss came hiking down the trail and we hiked together to a campsite by a lovely little spring. Watched a rat snake climb a tree. Mosquitos are driving me mad, and I still feel a bit sick. Can¢t wait until I feel normal again.
Date: 2008-07-08
From: Campsite

To: Campsite 
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Up early, leaving BurrAss behind and heading up the trail to Clark¢s Creek, blooming white rhodedendrons, mist rising from the water, morning light shining through dew-covered spiderwebs. Slayer and Ularu had camped on the banks after a four mile day. Ularu¢s foot was hurting pretty badly. We set off together, climbing another seemingly endless mountain, following a smooth, well-graded old roadbed uphill for about three miles, hot and clammy with sweat. Stopped often to catch our breaths. The ridgeline was rocky, arid, dotted with clumps of rhodedendron and rock outcroppings. The forest was scattered with ruins of old settlements, stone foundations, rock walls, all encrusted with moss, crumbling, old slag piles from the coal mining that used to take place. Took a break at Rausch Gap to wash off the sweat in the rushing, boulder-filled river. Cool water, laced with an odd orangish scum. Hemlock groves, high stone walls flanking the river, remnants from the unprofitable coal mining industry. Old cemetary in the forest, the woods evening-calm. Screaming knees, final mountain summit reached, white rocks and sparse blueberries, dipping back down into the valley, crossing fields lavished with bloom, purple thistles, yellow buttercups, butterflies and bees buzzing. Camped by a little stream with Slayer and Ularu, built a small fire and watched the evening fall, a chipmunk eating a gypsy moth, dragonflies with wings like Chinese box kites. After dark, lights from cars on the nearby road cut like beacons through the fog, drawing their lines across our campsite. Green glitter of fireflies.