morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-21
From: Pine Knob Shelter, Maryland

To: Devil's Racecourse Shelter, Maryland
Miles today: 13.1

Today my daughter, Marianne, turns 26: happy birthday, Marianne! It's 51 degrees and sunny at start of day. Within a couple of hours, clouds dominate and the breeze picks up. It poured about 30 minutes before we reach this shelter--golly, this stuff happens way too often! By now we're super efficient at slapping on the pack covers and donning our ponchos. Finally quit raining for a spell halfway up the steep slope, so before we got all sweaty, off went the ponchos. Arrived at Devil's Racrcourse Shelter to find Ben, a University of Arizona optical engineering student who's northbound from Harpers Ferry . This is Ben's third hiking day. Talking with him we found out that he has his hiking "act" together: his pack/gear is just right and weighs a decent weight(many hikers start way too "heavy". Ben's just here for lunch, then hiking on. He hopes to reach Mt. Katadin in the two months he has available. Good luck, Ben! Terrain today varied between smooth trail surface to rockslide scramblin, with a few more steep ups than we've encountered this past wk. We had about 5 streams to cross today and made it across with our feet and shoes staying dry--woohoo! It's 3:30 p.m. now and it's raining off and on. What a bummer! Will there ever be a full day with no rain worries> Oh well. We're looking forward to resupplying Friday. There's a road crossing near Fayetteville, PA with a grocery store within less than a mile of the AT. Can't wait to get some more wholesome foods than what the Harper's Ferry 7-11 offered. Highlight of day: walked next to four foot long black snake snoozing on a rock. It was so chilly it only moved its head a bit instead of slithering off. Take It Easy says that cold snakes are less mobile and are vulnerable. Cold snakes suit me fine. Chipmunks and squirrels are all over in the woods. Rained til bedtime. We're still traipsing through acres of poison oak, ivy and sumac that extend over the trail edges. So far I've only gotten a few "dots" of it breaking out on my neck and a quarter-sized spot on my clavicle. It's starting to clear up some now. And my hand, wrist and arm are a smidgen less swollen than yesterday--super! Now it's after 6p.m. and it's thunderstorming now. There can't possibly be any more rain heading our way tomorrow! Rat Sandwich, Longstep and Handyman, and Jake are here for the night. Jake gathered sassafras leaves to make tea. Jake brewed it, but says it doesn't taste quite right. It would be nice to taste it if it were fine. Guys made a fire in the rain. Watching Jake and Rat Sandwich gather kindling was tonight's entertainment.
Date: 2008-05-22
From: Devil's Racecourse Shelter, Maryland

To: Rocky Mountain Shelter, Pennsylvania
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: broken clouds

Yes, we made it to Pennsylvania! It did NOT rain today! 51 degreees and sunny at breakfast. Soon clouds started rolling in and we didn't see much of the sun til after 2 p.m. Wind blew noisily and gustily, 15-20 mph all day. It made casual conversation difficult; had to practically yell to each other. It was thrilling to stay dry all day! Take It Easy feet felt so good we passed up 3 shelters. We felt like doing BIG miles today while the weather is so fine. Some "rockslide" hiking, both up and down, but mostly decent ups and downs through deciduous forests as well as sweet, crisp-smelling conifer woods. Talked to many day/short-term hikers(2 groups of teenagers and their counselors). Also met another ridgerunner on his first day on his new job. He, too, works 10 days on trail, 4 days off, just like the Shenandoah ridgerunner. Had second sighting of the sparrrow-sized bright red/orange bird with all black wings. As we approached the crest of this shelter's mountain we heard loud, clear birdsong. Take It Easy spotted the singing bird. Its mate answered him repeatedlyu from acroos the wilderness. To our surprise, we found Ben at the shelter. Actually this shelter is 2 small shelters, built side by side, each holding 4-5 hikers. We're glad this one has an entrance that handles today's average height person. Many of the shelters were circa 1939-1950 and we all have to duck to enter and keep crouched to move around inside the shelters--aggravatingly impossible to remember to do, so everyone hits his head more than once. Ben built a fire and talked with us some while we ate. Then another hiker arrived. He didn't speak, kinda ignored us completely. Looks like he's sleeping in Ben's shelter. At 10:05 p.m. Crow, formerly trailnamed "Leprechaun" hiked into our shelter. Crow, wearing 2 tall bird feathers in his headlamp band, hiked 30 miles today. He'll d the same tomorrow, having to reach the post office in Boiling Springs, PA before it's noon closing on Saturday. If Crow doesn't make it on time, he'll have to take 2 zero days(no miles hiked), hanging out til the post office opens on Tuesday morning. Crow settled in fast and we all went to sleep, seranaded by a howling nearby coyote.
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Tom's Run Shelter(s), Pennsylvania

To: Deer Run Campsite, Mt.Holly Springs, PA
Miles today: 14.3

Amazing day! Woke up to discover Boy Scouts and 2 leaders came to the other shelter building here during the night around 10 p.m. Watched chipmunks play around the fire ring before breakfast. Then off to Pine Grove Furnace St. Park's general store. Take It Easy and I shared our half gallon of Hershey Peanut Butter Swirl at a table while Hike Farm at his Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream at the table with us. It was a bright, sunny day ALL DAY LONG! Temps warmed up too. Great trail. Met Trailrunner Ray. He thru-hiked in 2005. We saw a dead squirrel on the trail; looked healthy, but dead. Found trail magic hanging from a bag on a tree and in the stream underneath: cans of Pepsi and lots of packaged snacks, puddings, and a sack of oranges! All this on a day after downing 1/2 gallon of ice cream at 9:45! Disappointed to discover during our phone call to the Mt. Holly Inn and Restaurant that they had no rooms. So we walked to Deer Run Campsite which the Inn's staff recommended--the only other option in town. After checking in at the office, we got a $10 AT hiker rate for our campsite for the night: fantastic! Leaving the store, the owner/manager man asked a couple with a pickup truck if they'd give us a ride to our campsite area(it's a huge complex). John & Sharon gave us the ride and sold us 6 beers& gave us 2 extra's ! Uncle Mike, our neighbor here, introduced himself by fixing us up plates of macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, corn, and apples and bringing them over to us! Then...Jodie and Brad, our campsite neighbors across from us brought over peanut butter fudge Jodie made, 4 pieces of fried chicken, corn, and sliced cooked potatoes! A band is playing on the stage near our section of the capsite. We showered in the large restrooms/showers here, and did our laundry in the laundromat that's located within 50 yds of our tent. It was the largest capacity washing machine and dryers we've found/and used on the Trail and the least expensive. Staff here and campers here are a friendly bunch. When we checked in, the staffer gave us a take-out menu from a local Italian restaurant that delivers. Looks like we won't have to call the Italian restaurant for a meal after all. We're stuffed! Now we're sitting around in our clean clothes, with clean bodies, listening to the bluegrass band. Stars are visible tonight. Highlight of this trail magic-filled day(besides the marvelous trail magic): having our picture taken on the trail by a man who's going to use it to prove to his wife that there are couples hiking together on the AT.
Date: 2008-05-27
From: Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, Pennsylvania

To: home: Newport News, Virginia 
Miles today: 0.0

Woke before 6. Went to Uni-Mart for breakfast but no doughnuts or anything good. TIE got coffee. Then we moseyed over to Goodie's, THE breakfast joint in town across the street from the Doyle. TIE got the egg sandwich(2 fried eggs on toasted bread) and I devoured a huge dinner-plate sized blueberry pancake with dozens of big, juicy blueberries and a fried egg(s) sandwich. MMMMM...all for an inexpensive price, too! B Rad and New Day and her husband(B RAd's dad who's a 2006 thru hiker) talked with us during our meal. Dad is visiting them; they've been "out" 5 days now and he misses them. Also we had the nearby table company of Traveler(retired oncologist) and Dutch. Dutch gets off the Trail at Port Clinton where his wife will meet him and they'll do a few wks of hiking and camping, then return home across the Atlantic. Went to Trail Angle Mary's place; ran into Rat Sandwich coming out her door. Inside were 3 other hikers sleeping on her living room floor and couch. Mary's quite a hospitable lady toward hikers. After using a Magic Marker to add our trailnames to her car roof, she whisked us off to the airport. Some of the hikers at her home had done "work for stay" by stapling AT Guide map sections to the interiour roof to decorate it(the fabric liner was gone). Windows down, the map sections worked loose, one by one, flapping merrily! Mary pointed out the longest stone arch bridge in the world as we drove past and the small Statue of Liberty on an island in the river. She told us about the ATC cracking down on trailmagic coolers, which really affects her. She always has a cooler with drinks on the trail near Duncannon. At the airport, she took our picture and we took hers. She drove off to return to her home ful of waking hikers as we return to our home. We had a great time hiking 625 miles this year. It was work at times. Other times it was strolling. Always beautiful no matter what the surrounding natural setting. We met so many upbeat, positive thinking, considerate hikers and townspeople. Being part of the hiking community was quite an enriching experience. Happy trails to all!
Date: 2008-05-28
From: home: Newport News, Virginia 

To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

No, this isn't my last journal entry. That'll come soon once I've gathered my thoughts and am ready to reflect and expound upon this year's hike. Hopefully it won't put you to sleep! Right now I just want to let you know that I've straightened out all of those duplicate and abrupt entries from May 6-14th that were due to the poorly operating computer in Front Royal. So take a look at those dates and you can now read a fuller picture of what went on then. Also, once Take It Easy gets home from golfing this evening(sure hope his first round since getting back from our hike goes well for him--his buddies need to be put back in their place!! ha, ha!) I'll get to the rest of the pictures posted. If not tonight, tomorrow for sure. I know, I know, I need to get a grip. I need to slow down and prioritize now I'm back home. For the past 2 months life's list of activities was so much simpler: wake up to spend a full day with all senses operating at peak awareness, eat&drink, put on cold damp clothes, hike, eat&drink, hike more, eat&drink, change into warm dry clothes, eat & drink, jump into sleeping bag, dream of eating&drinking somewhere warm while surrounded by woodsy sights, sounds and smells, wake up and enjoy the next day to its fullest. Hmmmm...Okay, now I've convinced myself to ignore the layers of dust around me, and to go play in my garden. Outdoors, here I come!
Date: 2008-06-08
From: home

To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Here's the latest news: Take It Easy contracted Lyme Disease on the Trail! When we got home from the AT, he noticed a red dot, surrounded by pink skin, with a strong red outer ring on his left waist/pelvic area, where his backpack hip belt would rest. We watched it for several days as it grew from baseball size to dinner plate size. Turns out it's the classic Lyme disease "rash" called erythema migrans. You know, during our hike we each pulled off or squished unattached ticks from our bodies. So we guess an infected tick must have spent a little time attached, but been dislodged by his hipbelt without him ever even knowing it had been there. Now he's taking the antibiotic and eventually will be fine and dandy. Thank goodness the rash showed up. We learned it only comes up in 50% of cases, so many people suffer horrible symptoms, go to a dr and have to be subjected to a gamut of tests before discovering it's Lyme disease(it's symptoms are shared by numerous other illnesses). Take It Easy is lucky, in that respect. Well, now I'm gonna fix up a bowl of ice cream for him. Ice cream is good for everything, right?
Date: 2008-02-16
From: amicolola falls

To: stover creek shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Started hiking today. Did the Approach Trail to see Amicolola Falls (highest east of Mississippi). Lots of trail maintainers out. The hiking wasn't too hard, which is promising because the Approach Trail is supposedly steeper than the AT. It was 60 some degrees and sunny :-) . Had to throw that in there for all you Michiganders. That is really warm for this time of the year, but it supposed to be warm for a while according to the forecast. Was almost too warm...Lots of people on the trail (president's day weekend) and a group of guys and two thru-hikers at the shelter tonight. Everyone is really nice, I may be hiking the same pace as the other thru-hikers.Already getting hungry, finished an entire hamburger helper for dinner (big C should be proud). Was getting a little tired as the day wore on, but recovered quickly at the shelter with food.Generally, I'm feeling good and I'm gaining some confidence in my ability to really do this. Should be lots of fun (at least until the 10 degree temps start).
Date: 2008-02-17
From: stover creek shelter

To: gooch mt. shelter
Miles today: 12.3

Well, today's weather can adequately describe the day: high 48, rain started at 10, storm started just as I arrived in camp at 3:40, rained into the night. Really foggy and windy, so no views on the mountains which was kinda disappointing, but the fog was blowing through the trees, and the trees were groaning in the wind which made for an eerily cool day. Rain gear worked pretty good with the exception of rain gloves. Sitting in camp in my sleeping bag dry as a bone with 8 other thru-hikers and a couple section hikers.I survived the cold, windy, rainy day just fine, should be some good views and nice weather for the next few days.
Date: 2008-02-18
From: gooch mt. shelter

To: wood's hole shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: overcast clouds

A bit chillier today, started off with some wet gear from yesterday, but it dried while I was hiking (as it should). Breezy day but mostly clear, so had some far views off Big Cedar.The hiking itself wasn't all that challenging, though I was getting pretty tired at the end of the day. The trail is in very good shape, and nicely switchbacked. The GATC is doing a great job.Camped at the foot of Blood Mountain with Dartman, Ringo, and Flutter (all thrus). Dartman has already done a thru-hike, so I'm talking with him a lot for advice, etc.This should be the first night below freezing :-) At bed-time (for hikers when the sun is down, so 7pm) we heard a pack of coyotes howling very close to the camp seemingly surrounding it. Didn't see any though.I picked out my trail name today, Yeti (hikers use a pseudonym while hiking on the AT). I was hiking yesterday and a hiker coming from the opposite direction froze when he was 10ft from me and after a couple seconds, he said, "woah, I thought you were a Yeti." I think it fits in a couple ways, so I picked it instead of someone else doing the honor.
Date: 2008-02-19
From: wood's hole shelter

To: neel's gap hostel
Miles today: 3.7

Did Blood Mountain today. It looked taller than most mountains in the area, and it offered amazing views of the surrounding mountains (one of my favorite things about hiking).The climb was fairly steep, but I got up it pretty quick, only stopping a few times for a few seconds. Could be because my food bag is getting lighter and I was carrying less water, but I prefer to think I'm getting in shape :-P I'm at the Neel's Gap hostel for the night. I hadn't wanted to use hostels much (or at all) but I'm considering it a birthday present to myself. How many of you wished for a hot shower and clean cloths for your birthday?The first few days I did more miles than I was expecting, so I also wanted to take an easy day so I didn't develop any injuries.Dartman, Ringo and Flutter are also here, and I got a warmer bag from the store. The people here are great, and I would recommend stopping by the hostel if you are on your way through.
Date: 2008-02-20
From: neel's gap hostel

To: low gap shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

The hostel provided breakfast too, so I pigged out and left shortly there after. I had resupplied at the store, so my pack weight was up, but the climb out of the gap wasn't very bad.Today had lots of ridge walking, which meant lots of amazing views. It was windy as always, and there was no water till the shelter. Even though my pack was now heavier, the day went well (flatter than usual) and the pack weight didn't bother me too much. Temps started in the morning just above freezing, and may approach 60 before the day is over. Overall, the temps seem to be 50's for a high and around freezing for a low.May get rain tomorrow and the next day.Today was great, some awesome trail for my birthday!Got to the shelter, and first thing I see is my letters prominently graffiti'd onto the wall.....
Date: 2008-02-21
From: low gap shelter

To: tray mountain shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, I wanted to make a big push today for two reasons: the first shelter was too close, and I wanted to go to a shelter because it was supposed to rain (it definitely did, a lot).The first leg to Blue mountain was relatively flat, and I cruised through it, 8 miles or so by 11:00. On the way I saw a large group of wild pigs rutting for food on the trail. This explained all those marks in the area. I got a couple pictures before they ran off. Startled me at first because I only saw one and I thought it was a baby black bear (bad news).Heading down blue to Unicoi gap my knee started to hurt a little. Then there was a 1000' climb and decent up Rocky Mountain and a 1500' ascent up Tray Mountain. Those were really rough and I was really glad to see the shelter.It started raining going down blue and got foggy and windy (it was about 40 degrees). No views from the mountains made me sad :-(Spent the night at /tray mountain shelter with Flutter and Ringo once again. It was foggy and windy and rainy all night, and everything was damp even if it wasn't in the rain. Pretty dreary day.
Date: 2008-02-22
From: tray mountain shelter

To: cloud9 hostel
Miles today: 11.0

Woke up today and it was still raining...about 40 degrees again. I later found out there was an inch and a half of rain. It was tough getting going in the morning, and I had my latest start yet - a little after eight. It rained for most of the day and was foggy. The terrain wasn't that hard, but it is more difficult to be motivated in the cold, rain, fog, and wind. Different aches and pains came and went, but in the end, I made it to the cloud9 hostel. I'm staying here because most of my stuff was wet and I needed to go into town for a small resupply anyways.This place is pretty sweet, shower, laundry, Jacuzzi, the works. I made plans for my next resupply.I am almost done with Georgia! I may be able to make it to the GA/NC boarder to camp tomorrow.
Date: 2008-02-23
From: cloud9 hostel

To: bly gap
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a much more leisurely start today, got up at the normal time and had pancakes and farm fresh eggs. Got to the trail and my goal for the day was less ambitious than previous days.My right knee has been bothering me, so I want to take it easy for the next few days. The obvious goal was Bly Gap. This gap is just inside the North Carolina boarder.There were a couple moderate climbs, but overall I lowered my pace, and had a much more relaxing day, though there were few views. My knee was still bothering me, I'll just have to take it one day at a time and see what happens.I got to the boarder at about 3 and took some pictures with the sign, I may even post one here if it works. As of right now, I'm in North Carolina, Georgia is DONE.Got foggy toward the end of the day which creates this like light rain from the fog condensing on the trees, I'm guessing. Tent should keep me dry regardless.
Date: 2008-02-24
From: bly gap

To: standian indian shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: overcast clouds

It went below freezing last night outside, but it was about 40 in my tent, and I'm dry. Luckily the fog rolled out and the wind dried my tent. Took me a bit longer to get going with the tent.The start of the day was 2 really steep climbs, they were really hard, and I'm glad I left them for this morning instead of trying to make the shelter last night.The second climb had one of the most incredible views I've ever seen I was pretty high, and I could see multiple "layers" of mountains in the distance. There was some haze in the distance, so the far mountains looked blue and it looked as if the peaks were jutting above a cloud layer like pictures from the summit of Everest. Hard to describe...The rest of the day was relatively easy, some rolling hills with good switchbacks. It looks like the trail won't go below 4000 feet till my next resupply in Franklin.I did another somewhat easy day and decided to stop at Standing Indian Shelter. I had wanted to camp on the summit of Standing Indian, but the weather was iffy, and it probably wouldn't have been a good idea...it's over a mile high.I'm generally higher now than I was in Georgia, so it will probably be a little cooler. It was sleeting already today, so it should go a bit below freezing tonight.Lots of warnings about bears. Apparently I'm in a bear sanctuary or something. Shouldn't be a big deal, I always hang my food.
Date: 2008-02-25
From: standian indian shelter

To: big spring shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

Today was all over the place. The day started a little chilly, but slightly above freezing. As I climbed Standing Indian, fresh snow gradually appeared until there was about an inch on the summit. It was getting warm fast though so the snow was rapidly melting.Standing indian is around 5500 feet, so once I found a look out point, the view was incredible. It was taller than most of the close peaks, and there were clouds in the valleys around the other peaks, so they were jutting out of the clouds as if from nowhere. Pic is attached.By ten, I was down to shorts and a T-shirt for the rest of the day :-) The sun was out, there weren't any clouds, and it was just a beautiful day. The temp prolly got around 65 or so. There was some ridgewalking, and some more great views. I saw some hawks circling below me.I was a little apprehensive approaching Albert Mt. But the climb was challenging and enjoyable. I had to put away my hiking poles for a while. It was pretty intense. There was a watchtower on top, and I got a 360 degree view of the surrounding area from ~5300 feet. Incredible.The shelter was shortly after Albert, so I'm there for the night.My right knee has been bothering me for the past 5 days. It is not constant, it is not swollen, and seems to hurt the most when it is bent with weight on it AKA climbing inclines. It died down towards the end of today, but I can't keep hiking if it keeps giving me problems. Please sign my guestbook with any suggestions. Don't just say vitamin I :-P