morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-19
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well, here I am at the (in)famous Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, PA. I'd set it up so I'd only have a short day into town, but whaddya know? The Doyle doesn't open until 11a! So the three of us stood in front of the door, mouths agape, not sure what to do, when Traveller poked his head over the railing upstairs and told us to come on up. Which we did. Walked down to the PO and got our drops, Chill went to work on the banks trying to get his situation squared away, and we sat and chatted. I mean, what else? Oh, walked across the street and had some breakfast at Goody's (great breakfasts, not-so-great lunches).At 11 sharp Joel and I were downstairs in front of the door, waiting like a couple of cats to get in. Vicky let us in and started to register us ("Bedouin? You're not arabic, are you?"). Joel lost both bouts at Rochambeau, so I got the room with the ceiling fan, and first dibs on the shower. Good sport that he is, he spotted me quarters for laundry at the 'mat down the street. (Note to other hikers: do your laundry in the Doyle's machines. They're cheaper, and they'll give you quarters for your dollars down in the bar. The laundrymat down the street gives you 95 cents on the dollar, it costs two dollars to wash, and the payphone was broken!) Checked out the hiker boxes¢score! Three large ziplocs filled with snacks, a pair of new Columbia women's shorts, and a Columbia rain jacket. Yoink!I finally got to meet Highpockets, who got the last room in the hotel. Brownie and Soulman came through and kept going to the campground outside of town...then came back into town, saying the campground was 1) full of broken glass and trash, and 2) right next to the railroad tracks. Since the hotel was out of rooms I said they could crash on my floor.The Doyle is the most Mexican of hotels I've seen since, well, Mexico. It's clean, but very, very run down. Perfect for hikers, though I can't imagine who stays here when the hikers aren't coming through. The bar downstairs seems to do a pretty brisk business, and I hear their portions are huge. Again, lots of local brews on tap; I am loving that about Pennsylvania, because in so much of small-town Nevada, say, microbrew means Killian's Red. So three cheers for the beers of Pennsylvania!
Date: 2006-06-20
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Peters Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Strolled out of town at 10:15, after a visit to the post office¢got so much stuff out of the hiker boxes at the Doyle that I need to bounce it along to Port Clinton¢and a breakfast at Goody's. Oh, and one more shower. Because I can.The trail's been pretty dry. I don't know if it's just this year, or typical for June, but a lot of springs aren't flowing. I've just resigned myself to tanking up in towns and shelters instead of counting on water sources listed in the databook. So when I got to PA 225 mid-afternoon and saw a cooler of water courtesy of Trail Angel Mary Perry of Duncannon, I was pretty happy. I drank the rest of my water, ate a Snickers, then filled my bottles and continued on to Peter's Mountain.Heh! So the shelter is quite nice, but the climb down to the water source and back is epic. Over 500 stone steps! Mystic said at least the trail there was nice. Fortunately, I had a pack full of Trail Angel Mary water and didn't have to go! It's kind of an early day for me, 4pm, but I don't mind. Highpockets, Joel, and Snickers are here; Mystic moved on, as did a group of other hikers who'd I'd last seen whizzing by as they did the four-state challenge. We whiled away the evening as Highpockets regaled us with travel tales.
Date: 2006-06-21
From: Peters Mountain Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I did not hike naked today.Today was one of those days: I was bored. Ridges, rocks, trees; repeat. Though the heard-but-unseen jet-fighters zooming by and the sounds of firing this afternoon did liven things up a bit.Got to Rausch Gap Shelter early, about 3:30p, but I kind of like it here so I'm gonna stay. Besides, something's telling me that being under a roof tonight is a good idea. The shelter's a third of a mile off the trail, but it's a level, well-groomed third of a mile, and the water source is a piped spring right in front of the shelter, quite nice. Makes up for the fact that I am cooking over wood tonight, as I forgot to buy another bottle of HEET in Duncannon. Who the heck forgets alcohol in Duncannon? Sheesh.It's me and Maple Leaf and Joel and Highpockets in the shelter tonight. Snickers and Strider-60 are camped back at a mighty fine tenting area just before the shelter. (This really is a nice spot for a shelter/tenting, I must say.)So, Joel and Highpockets, who started in Virginia this year, are getting off at the Delaware Water Gap. That's good; maybe social pressure will keep me on til there, too, instead of letting me bail at Port Clinton. That just seems too...oh, I don't know, easy. Delaware Water Gap and the state line seem so much better as an ending point.I really wish I hadn't missed those four hiking days being sick. And I wish I was hiking with Steama, too.
Date: 2006-06-22
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Highpocket's alarm went off at 5:30a. The thunder started shortly thereafter, then the rain. And, boy, did it pour! Poor Snickers and Strider-60. It's 6:40 now and still raining, though not hard. No one is in a rush to leave the shelter.Got out by about 7:15, and the rain wasn't bad at all; didn't even put my raingear on. That profusion of leaves comes in handy sometimes. Then the sun came out...oh, my, it was humid. Make that Humid with a capital H.By 4pm I'd reached 501 Shelter, the first of our little group to do so. Funny, for a shelter practically on the highway, I can't hear any traffic noise. The shelter is more like a converted garage than a typical trail-side shelter, with loads of bunks, a couple of picnic tables in the middle, electricity, even a solar shower out back. Threw my pack down on the bunk under the kitty picture, grabbed some dry clothes and took a cold shower. Brrr! But refreshing. Then sat down to read and wait for Highpockets to get here, as he's the one toting a cell phone, a very important piece of gear at this shelter.Oh, yes, 501 Shelter is one of those sweet spots where you can have pizza delivered to you on the trail. With minimal wrangling the five of us (Snickers, Joel, Highpockets, Maple Leaf, and myself) ordered three large combos, and the guys¢with the exception of Snickers¢ordered two-liter bottles of soda. Each. Then a sobo hiker named Wide Load showed up and showered us with tiny towels. It was pretty quiet while we snarfed down the pizza. Toward the end of our feed, a past thru-hiker, Ripper of the PA Dutchmen, showed up with a gallon of milk and a big bag of potato chips...okay! He also mentioned Saturday's Port Clinton pig roast, which we'd all heard about from the ATC message board in Boiling Springs. Oh, we'll be there, we assured him.
Date: 2006-06-23
From: 501 Shelter

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Oh, tired feet! Left 501 Shelter at 5:45a and pulled into Port Clinton at 5:45p. The worst part? Hurtling down that last half mile of, well, I wouldn't call it trail, more like steep dirt chute, instead of hiking down the old forest road looping along, repeatedly crossing the chute¢and ending up at the same place anyway. Thanks, trail club!I was too tired to explore the very interesting-looking depot, just dragged into town toward relief. Asked directions to the hotel. It looks a lot like the Doyle, though it's almost three times the price. But I have a room (even a tv), and a shower down the hall, laundry out back, and dinner in the bar waiting for me when I'm a bit more presentable.I don't know what it is about town meals, but with a menu of choices what do I do but order pasta¢the same thing I've been eating every day. Go figure! At least this was no ordinary plate of pasta. First, it was a platter, holding what must have been an entire package of angel hair pasta, and four baseball-sized meatballs. Enormous. Oh, and garlic-cheese bread and a cute little side salad. Did a respectable job on it, had a couple of beers, then gave up my seat in the crowded bar to Joel and Highpockets while I did some laundry. Maple Leaf strolled through for a bit; he's staying at the Union House, which offers a bed but no breakfast for about the same price as the hotel.(I hear later that the hotel offers showers and laundry for a small fee for those not staying there, but I was too tired to deal. So it goes.)My feet are developing cracks around the calluses, and my room smells like mothballs, but it's nice to be horizontal and mindlessly watching Comedy Central.
Date: 2006-06-24
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Huh. Boiling Springs may not have had in-town camping or public facilities, but it had services. Port Clinton has a post office, the hiker pavillion, the hotel/bar, and a candy shop with an ATM. It does not have a pay phone, convenience store, or gas station. So I'm not buying any HEET in town. I ask at the BMW motorcycle dealership and the fire station; nada. Bummer.There's supposedly a breakfast joint in town, though I don't know where. Fortunately, this Saturday is the town's community yard sale, and the Historical Society has a little tent set up where they're selling coffee, hot dogs, and cake/brownies, so I get a light breakfast. Frankly, I don't even need that after Pasta Fest the night before, and Pig Roast coming up in a couple of hours. I buy some candy for my grub bag, take some pictures, and stroll down to the hiker pavillion.Wow, the pavillion's hopping. Amazing how the offer of plentiful free food brings hikers out of the woodwork. I got half a bottle of HEET off another hiker, one of the speedsters, and there were enough people around offering rides into town that I could've resupplied no problem. I'm starting to warm up to Port Clinton. Ripper's here with many of his churchmates, and in addition to the very large grill they have a deep fryer, several coolers, and picnic tables covered in baked goods, condiments, buns, and fresh veggies and fruit. Sweet! I gorge on fresh-roasted pig, carrot and celery sticks, fresh clean water. For dessert, a piece of chocolate cake with peanut butter icing.Added my fleece pants and beefier rain jacket to my bounce box and sent it home. Waddled up the trail six whole miles to Windsor Furnace shelter. All I need now is a cup of hot tea and maybe a laxative. Thank you, Ripper and Co.!
Date: 2006-06-25
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: moderate rain

Oh, my tummy is still so full! Didn't want to get up today, but I finally hit the trail about 7a. And it promptly started to rain. Put my raingear on and trudged on. It rained hard, and continually. Needless to say, no views over the Pulpet or the Pinnacle today. At least I wasn't thinking about the rocky trail. No bugs, either.As the rain continued, the trail started to turn into standing puddles and streams, so I was very glad to be wearing Chacos. At one point, a pond overflowed onto the trail and hundreds of little black polliwogs were swimming along me on the AT.I decided to take the small detour and stop at Eckville Shelter¢in a guy's backyard¢for a hot lunch. Nothing like warm food to fortify me for hiking in the rain. I got there and was the only one in the shelter so, after a few minutes thinking about it, changed into dry clothes and pretty much guaranteeing that I'd be there for the day. I mean, who's gonna change back into wet clothes and continue slogging through the rain? Not me, my friends.Joel and Highpockets came through, had some chow (and didn't change), then moved on toward Allentown shelter. A trio of overnight hikers came in heading south and called someone on their cell phone to come pick them up. A dad and two young teens came in, everything sopping wet, including their bags. The place was starting to get...funky. Snickers came in, picked a bunk.The caretaker, Mick, kept popping his head in, checking on all of us. I know hikers were/are disappointed because his ice-cream-vending fridge is gone, but even better in my book, he let me and the day/sons trio use his dryer! What a treat!8:30 that evening Mick came by to report 4 inches of rain so far in the gauge in his yard. (Before we called it a night, he said it was up to 5.1 inches).It's still raining.
Date: 2006-06-26
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Philadelphia, PA
Miles today: 0.0

The rain continued through the night and into the morning. Another 3.9 inches in the rain gauge. I had breakfast and packed up in case it broke and I could make a run for it, even if it was only to the next shelter 7 miles up the trail. Read every National Geographic in the shelter, all the wilderness pamphlets, and the very large shelter register."5/5/06, I skipped school today to go hiking with my daddy, brother, and Mr. Brownhill. We hiked 12 miles. I am 12 years old. We had fun. The creek was the best because it was freezing and we soaked our feet for ever. My name is Mary yes I am a girl. Well happy trails."Around 9a I thought I could see some blue clouds, so I grabbed my pack and bid adieu. I got back to where the trail crosses the road, and oh, what a lousy time to run out of film! The trail headed south, where there's an AT sign, is no longer a trail but a small creek. Would've made an awesome shot. Turned north and the trail was shortly under water in most places. Mick had warned me that there might be a lot of water on the trail before the bridge; he wasn't kidding. I did a fair amount of slogging through knee-deep water before I even got to the bridge...and it looked like a lot more of the same on the other side. The bridge was just a little island in the rushing water; no bank in sight. I saw blazes on the trees further on, but couldn't of course see any trail under all that water. I started picking my way across, and lost my footing. So much for the dry clothes! I picked myself up out of the water, then noticed the blood running down my leg from a cut on the shin. Crap! I started picking my way across the water again, then realized it wasn't so much a cut on my leg as a hole. Hmm, what to do, what to do? Soaked and in pain, I decided to turn around and head back to Eckville Shelter rather that forge ahead to the next town, so I turned around and carefully, slowly, picked my way through the water and back to the road.I certainly got a lot of surprised looks when folks saw me walking back into the shelter, and then when they saw my leg. I grabbed a couple of butterfly bandages out of my first-aid kit and pulled the hole closed as much as I could, put some iodine on it (eww, floodwater!), and covered it with a gauze pad. Fortunately, the dad with the two teens was still there and let me use his cell phone to once again call Patch in Philadelphia to come get me. After that, I changed once again into dry things, and laid down to wait while the shelter slowly emptied of hikers.
Date: 2003-05-28
From: Fish Hatchery Road,Montebello VA

To: SNP
Miles today: 56.0

I had big plans in 2003 hoping to do 180 miles over the course of 2 weeks, the first week with my friend Doug and the second week with my oldest son Tarheel. This proved to be overly optimisitic as I developed deep heel bruises on both heels coming down off the back side of the Priest the second day out forcing me to get off at Waynesboro for 4 days allowing my feet to heal and complete the second leg of my hike when my son joined me. I later determined my Montrails were two small not allowing my feet sufficient room on downhills.
Date: 2001-07-01
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Wolfsville Rd
Miles today: 50.0

2001 - My first section hike on the AT was taking the older members of my Boy Scout troop from NW Ohio on a 50 mile outing. After many evenings of dreaming,planning,talking and taking many practice hikes we spent a great memorable week northbound which included spending a zero day in Harpers Ferry. I confirmed by the end of the week I was hooked on the AT and would be back.
Date: 2002-06-01
From: Wolfsville Rd

To: Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 70.0

While getting hooked onto the AT in 2001 with my Scout troop I also became very much aware of how much more enjoyable I found hiking with only a couple friends or even just myself as opposed to a larger group of 8-10. 2002 saw me and my son Jared (Tar Heel) continuing our journey northbound covering 70 miles in 6 days.Day 1 Wolfsville to Devils Racecourse ShelterDay 2 Devils Racecourse to Antietam Shelter - our first exposure to rocks (as we come from flat farm ground in NW Ohio, Pen Mar was a welcome sight! Took a short nap at Deer Lick SheltersDay 3 Antietam to Caledonia SP - great finish to the day by spending time in the pool, met several thruhikers who immediately befriended us and gave us some tips and encouragement Day 4 Caledonia S.P. to Birch RunDay 5 Birch Run to just past Pine Grove (stopping for ice cream)Day 6 Campsite to Boiling Springs, PA.
Date: 2005-07-16
From: Bearwallow Gap

To: Fish Hatchery Road
Miles today: 72.0

I hiked northbound with friends Dave and Doug. Dave's son (Adam) and my son (Jared) were hiking the same section southbound. It was their first time on the AT by themselves. Both are Eagle Scouts, just graduated from high school and are experienced hikers. The plan was for us to meet at Matt's Creek Shelter and then rejoin for a post hike celebration in Waynesboro at the end of the week.
Date: 2006-06-03
From: State Line Trail NY/NJ

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 9.3

Parked Brian's van at the State Line trailhead around 10:00, was pouring rain. Headed up the mountain accessing the AT in just over 1 hour. Rained off and on all day, trail very muddy. Stopped for lunch at Wawayanda Shelter to escape the rain. Crossed NJ 94 mid afternoon and immediately got a hitch into Vernon. Pitched our tents at the Fire House and ate dinner across the street at the pizza house. A good first day out for 2006!
Date: 2003-02-07
To: update
Miles today: 0.0

Hello Readers! I have kept a little list by my computer of things to keep you informed of my progress preparing for my hike. I have changed my start date from April 1st to March 29th so that my son, who will be on spring break, can see me off at Springer mountain. It will be so cool to introduce him to a little taste of the great views and the great hiker-people I will be experiencing along the trail. I'm going to miss him to pieces, but it's only 5-6 months of our lives, and he will be sooo proud of me when I return! Top things I'll miss:lil' glennCorneliusour petsflush toiletswarm watertaking glenn to churchSuper Wal-MartpaychecksAlthea, Dorothy, Howard, Mary, Nettie, Olive, Charles, Gloria, Kenneth, Alyce, Dr. K, Dr. J, Rachel, and Mr. S.Top six things I WON'T miss:trafficthe phonedogpoopthe mediacommercialslooong hours at workI have had some long overdue dental work this month (bye-bye tax refund check). I've traded in my trusty Sierra Designs Clip CD tent for a Eureka! Solitaire bivy. I like it - it's just awkward climbing in feet-first and trying to roll up my ThermaRest pad in it. Otherwise, it has a vestibule, and my pack fits inside (snugly) while I'm lying down in it. Oh, and it weighs half as much - 3# 13oz including groundsheet, stakes, and poles. I took my pack to the post office this afternoon and weighed in - right at 35# without food/water. I have also been climbing the stairs 15-20 minutes a day whenever I can. It is convenient - my building is three floors high so I make about 15 rounds of up & down. Last year I was walking over 4 miles a day. It was great for breaking in the boots, but it didn't really prepare my heart and lungs for climbing. I strongly suggest some sort of stair/stepper/jogging before starting out on the AT. It seems like all you do all day is go up the mountain, go down the mountain, three or four mountains a day on the trail. Otherwise I just need to play with my new PocketMail until I figure it out. I bought it used on eBay ($20 canubelieveit) but it didn't come with instructions. If I get frustrated I can always have the company send me a user guide. Another quote to share with you: I would rather be ashes than dust!I would rather that my spark burn out in a brilliant blazethan it should be stifled by dryrot.I would rather be a superb meteor,every atom of me in magnificent glow,than a sleepy and permanent planet.The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.I shall use my time. ~Jack London, "Credo"Memo to self: always copy my TrailJournals entry before clicking "ok".
Date: 2003-02-17
To: I feel the luv
Miles today: 0.0

Sheesh, I find it hard to believe that over 800 people have read my Journal, and it'll be more than a month before I start hiking! Of course, I've read hundreds of other people's journals myself. My heart goes out to those lucky ones leaving in just a couple weeks. I can feel their excitement! If I didn't hate snow so much, I might be leaving with them, too. Instead I'll be here salivating over their journals until my day comes! So many people have e-mailed and signed my guestbook and told me such kind things - I think the trail magic has begun already! Thanx so much to everyone for the advice, kudos, and encouragement. Someone even told me where to download a copy of the PocketMail User Guide. That's the only project hanging over my head right now - figuring that gadget out. I'm too cheap to sign up already - I bought 6 months' worth of service and don't want it to expire in Maine (Lord Willing). At my hiking speed, I'd better wait until the last minute to activate my service. My maildrops are mostly put together - just need to toss in half-rolls of TP as they become available (maybe we should eat more Taco Bell). My outfitter doesn't have a very big backpacking section - I may run over to Orlando to pick up an Ursack. Not necessarily for bears, but for themdamnmice. One ran right over my head at Whitley Gap shelter. Otherwise, I'm ready to hit the trail! I've already noticed my attitude changing (for the worse) at work. You know, when you're leaving someplace within a month or so, you just don't giveadamn about the politics anymore. Not that I got into it much before - I avoided it like the plaque by working weekends and nights - but now I don't even want to be bothered with hearing about it. There is a new group trickling in from another facility and they are all hi-ho let's go gung-ho about stuff and I'm just ~yawn~ circling dates on all the calendars. They must all think I have a thyroid deficiency or something... This week I will work on getting my MailDrops and TownStops listed here. I'm not listing any dates - that would require using a calculator and stuff. Also I may transcribe the journal from my 2002 hike onto TrailJournals, if I can figure out how to get the entries to show up in the 2002 group.Thanx again to all of you reading my journal. You will be an inspiration to me when I am feeling lonely on the trail!
Date: 2003-02-18
To: FYI
Miles today: 0.0

Just wanted to let you know that I have transcribed my 2002 hiking journal onto TrailJournals. Watch the dates as you read along - it could get confusing. I have no idea how to make them show up under 2002. I was kinda hoping it would happen automatically by date; instead it is just tacked onto the 2003 entries.I have also listed all my maildrops and townstops here. Only the maildrop towns have addresses listed. In towns where I don't plan on going to the post office, there is no address listed. Hope this clears up any confusion I've caused! I hope you'll enjoy reading the 2002 journal and see why I left the trail after two weeks of slow progress last year. Take care!