morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-07-04
From: Pogo Memorial Campsite

To: Deer Lick Shelters
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, I said goodbye to everyone this morning, packed up my food and my next food drop for Allen to leave at the hostel and was back on the trail by one. I was not at all sure I would make it to this shelter, but the trail wasn't bad and the rest yesterday must have done me good. So, here I am, a little late, but the shelter is actually two small shelters, one occupied by two hikers and the other empty, but for me. Most of the thru-hikers decided to stay about 5 miles back at Pen-Mar Park to watch the fireworks, so the shelters are not crowded. I can hear the fireworks from here, but, alas, can't see them at all. They are pretty loud. I don't think there is any chance of sleeping until they are done. I'm just as happy to be farther away from them. I've never liked the noise, and some of these are so loud the walls of the shelter are shaking 5 miles away!It was great to have everyone to hike with the last couple of days. It felt like a real celebration of my first 1000 miles. Now the party is over and its back to discipline and focus, so it's good they're not around anymore, because I'm easily distracted. The next couple of days are relatively easy ones, since I have to stay at the hostel in Pine Grove Furnace State Park to pick up my next food drop. It's a pleasure to be carrying only a couple of days of food. I hope I have carried the last of those massive food drops which are so demoralizing leaving town.The wildlife today had a slapstick comedy tinge. First, I startled a chipmunk on the trail, who didn't look where he was going when he was running away from me and ran straight into a sapling and knocked himself over. He got up, shook his head in a dazed sort of way, and staggered off to disappear under the nrearest rock. Then I heard a huge racket in the woods, which I thought must at least be a bear, but it turned out to be two squirrels, one chasing the other and growling loudly. I have never heard a squirrel growl before. It's quite a noise! All in all, between the wildlife comedy and the handfuls of black raspeberries I ate, it was an entertaining day.
Date: 2005-07-05
From: Deer Lick Shelters

To: Quarry Gap Shelters
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

I'm enjoying my easy relaxed hiking days. I don't feel guilty about the mileage because I have to stop at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, and I couldn't make it in one day, so I can relax and enjoy myself for a couple of days. It rained off and on today, but not enough to be unpleasant and it cooled things off a little. Today's hike included another state park, with a concession stand, so I had another filling meal of junk food, hanging out with a couple of other hikers, and then it was an easy 2 mile stroll to the shelter.And what a shelter it is! It is two little shelters with a covered breezeway with a cooking area in between. They have a covered walkway joining them in the front. The corners have hanging baskets of flowers, and there are candle lanterns beside the shelter doors. The stream in front is landscaped and lined with rocks and flowers, and there is a beautiful spring filled with sodas by some wonderful trail angel. To add to its charms the privy doesn't even smell! I got here before 5, and have been hanging out chatting and eating a leisurely dinner.Now I am really glad I'm in a shelter because a thunderstorm just hit, with a deluge of rain and thunder and lightning. Boy, am I happy to be in here and not out in a tent or, worse, trying to walk! Let's hope this is a front coming through and the heat and humidity will lift after this.Today I saw a beautiful little fawn, still with its spots, running through the woods near the trail, and, when we were eating dinner at the shelter, someone pointed out a snake poking its head out between the foundation stones of the other shelter. Everyone assures me it is a non-poisonous snake, and its on their side not mine so I've decided not to worry about it. At least there won't be any mice in the shelter, and, if it goes on raining like this, no bugs either.I picked up a book to read at the last shelter, a sci-fi by Orson Scott Card, and its getting chilly now that its raining, so it's into my sleeping bag with a book. Tommorrow is another easy day, but I'd like to get going early, so it's bedtime. What a luxury to read in bed!
Date: 2005-07-06
From: Quarry Gap Shelters

To: Ironmasters Mansion, Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: broken clouds

I am feeling a little guilty today. The 17+ miles I did only took me until 3:15, even with several long breaks. The trail was so fast and easy I did almost 3 miles an hour even without trying! I couldn't pick up my mail drop until after 5 when the hostel opened, so it made no sense to go any further today, since I had to sort it out and repack it. So I hung out and talked to other thru-hikers and ate junk food until it opened. It's great when a 17 mile day becomes a short day. Let's hope all of PA is as easy!PA has been really nice to hike in. There are some really nice shelters here, and the woods are a pretty mix of pine and hardwoods, with ferns and blueberries growing underneath. Except for brief sections that are rocky, so far the trail has been soft underfoot and generally an easy grade. There are a lot of road crossings, up to 10 a day, and some road walking, which is fast but not fun. And so far every day there has been a new state park with food and drinks! I think I'm gaining weight.I'm staying tonight in a hostel in an historic building, which has seen better days. There are still some beautiful old fireplaces, including the biggest walk-in fireplace I've ever seen. You could roast an ox in it. There is also a hidden room beneath a closet, because the house was on the underground railroad for many years, which we were shown by the hostel manager. It was a pretty dank dark place to spend your days, which is apparently what the escaped slaves did, coming out only at night when it was safe. I have my own room, one of the family rooms, mercifully, because the women bunk room is full of high school girls. Not much sleep to be had there!Two big events today! First, I passed the official half way point. It's all downhill from here! Ha! And second, I saw my second rattlesnake on the path to the water source at Birch Run Shelter where I stopped for second breakfast. It was an alarming experience, since I didn't see it again until I was abot 4 ft away. It didn't even rattle, though, just slowly slithered down the trail towards the spring. About an hour later I saw a huge black snake, so, with the one last night in the shelter that makes 3 in 24 hours. Let's hope that's my quota for PA.Tomorrow it's back to work, with an almost 20 mile day, although if it is as fast as today I should be done by 5 or so. That would be great!
Date: 2005-07-07
From: Ironmasters Mansion, Pine Grove Furnace State Park

To: Garmanhaus B&B, Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 19.4

The day did not start out well. I was so tired even after my morning cup of tea that I just wanted to go back to the hostel and sleep. By some miracle, by around 10 I began to feel pretty good and the rest of the day went fast. I even enjoyed about a half mile of climbing over and around huge rocks. The last few miles of the day were through and around fields of corn and potatoes. I got caught by a thunderstorm about a half mile outside of Boiling Springs in the middle of a potato field and sprinted for the woods. The rain felt good, and it quickly cooled down what had been a hot humid day.Boiling Springs is a pretty town with a manmade lake in the center of it and lots of 19th century brick houses. The trail comes into town right along the lake, which was full of ducks and geese and swans. When I came by there was a mother duck all hunkered down against the rain with about a dozen little ducklings sheltering under her. I got too close apparently, so they all took to the water, one after the other. Very cute.I'm staying at a very nice B&B. The owner is very friendly, but not exactly hiker friendly. He made me leave my pack out in the shed and shoes by the door, and insisted that I shower and wash my clothes before I did anything else. He does have a very nice house, with a lot of white lace and bedspreads,so I can understand his concern, but it's inconvenient not to have my pack, aparticularly since I want to get going early tomorrow.The rain that came in is apparently the beginning of a tropical storm which will be here through tomorrow afternoon. I had hoped to do 26+ tomorrow into Duncannon, but the weather may slow me down. If so I'll stop at one of the shelters before town and go in in the morning.
Date: 2005-07-08
From: Garmanhaus B&B, Boiling Springs, PA

To: Doyle Hotel Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 25.6
Weather: broken clouds

Cornfields, cow pastures, woodlots, bunny rabbits and interstates; that's what today was like. There was a small mountain in there too. At least that's what they call it. It was pretty short. It was a nice change to walk through fields and have open views. It rained (the remnants of a tropical storm) until around 10:30. My new rain gear(from Gossamer Gear) worked great. I stayed dry and almost as cool as if I wasn't wearing it. It is truly breathable. Except for the wet feet hiking in the rain was a pleasure. The first 13 miles were almost level and very fast. Even with breaks I was in Duncannon before 7 and checking into the historic Doyle Hotel. I figured the mileage wrong and thought I would be doing over 26 today, a marathon distance. I realized at lunch that I was off by .6, so when I got here I walked around town for at least that much. Now I've done a marathon, I just have to work on speed. (a lot on speed!)The historic Doyle, where most of the famous through hikers have stayed, is supposed to be being renovated. If this is renovation, I shudder to think what it was like before. It's a very nice pre-war building (built in 1900 by Anheuser-Busch), with beautiful woodwork and original plaster walls and tin ceilings. One of the two bathrooms for the 3rd floor has an original clawfoot tub. But..there is only one electrical outlet in my room, in the ceiling light, which does not work, so I am using my headlamp. There is a 1x2ft hole in the ceiling over the bed covered with duct tape, and everything is damaged by old paint and water stains. However, there don't seem to be any bugs, and the sheets seem clean. I have a corner room with two windows and good air circulation, and, since its supposed to rain tonight, it's a lot better than a tent or shelter.I am getting eager to get to the Delaware Water Gap and see Martha, and get a rest with friends in a familiar place. I am hoping I can push hard and be there by the 15th, but it will mean some more long days. We'll see how it goes.
Date: 2005-07-09
From: Doyle Hotel Duncannon, PA

To: Campsite by Rattling Run
Miles today: 21.5

Today was a lousy day that turned out better than I could have posibly expected. I started out late because I was so tired from yesterday's Duncannonthon, and was slow and clumsy. I was so clumsy I slipped and fell on some rocks and banged up my shin. That didn't improve my mood any. And then, as I was walking along, minding my own business, I was stung twice by wasps that came out of nowhere. God, does that hurt! Luckily, there was no one else around so I could moan and wail all I wanted to without embarassing myself. The one on my arm wasn't so bad, but my left ear is still swollen and sore. I met a section hiker later who had also been stung the same way. I still had 13 or 14 miles to do, and all I wanted to do was sit down and sulk. But I walked instead. I was a little worried about the last 4 miles or so, because it was mostly uphill and I got there late in the day. I stopped at spring to get water before the uphill and that when the day began to change. A trail angel had left soda in a pool fed by the spring. There was one left, and it was full of caffeine! Just what I needed to get up the 1000ft hill ahead of me. Wonderful trail angel!So, I zipped up the hill in record time and found a lovely campsite back under a blooming rhododendron, next to a creek. I can hear the creek gurgling next to me, and the campsite is set well back from the trail and is very private and peaceful. Now, if I can just get to sleep after all the caffeine I had, all will be well.
Date: 2005-07-10
From: Campsite by Rattling Run

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: clear sky

Today was a great day, except for about 2 hours between 4 and 6, which were miserable, as usual. I thought I'd be tired after the last few days of big miles, but actually I had more energy today, The trail was generally really smooth and fast, and half way through I encountered some great trail magic; kindly people with food and drink at a trail head.I worked pretty hard for the last few miles, but I was at the shelter by around 7:30, just in time to order a salad and soda from the take out pizza place near by, and take a (cold) shower before dinner. Some other hikers were here, Pumpkin and the Mafia, and a former thru-hiker who offered to shuttle our packs into Port Clinton tomorrow. It looks like that may work out, which is cool, because it means I get to slack pack the 23+ miles, and get a ride to a motel about 3 miles away with Chipmunk's friend. Compared to the last few days this should be a picnic! It means getting up and out early, though, so to bed now!
Date: 2005-07-11
From: 501 Shelter

To: Union House B&B,Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: overcast clouds

The slack pack today went well, until around 4, when I finally got a signal on my cell phone and reached the motel where my pack was only to find out they had no more rooms. Bummer! One of the other slack packers was in the same predicament so we agreed to share a room at a B&B near the trail. The friend who was going to drive us all to the motel, kindly drove there and back to get our packs, and we are in a very nice room with air conditioning. The B&B has a restaurant, with the food prepared by the proprietor. The food was absolutely delicious, but incredibly slow in coming. We both almost fell asleep before dinner. Hermie (the owner) is not very efficient, but he worked hard to give us a great meal. His antipasto was the best thing I've had since I started the trail. So, I'm fed, clean and ready for bed.I have made several decisions today. One is to slow down for the rest of PA, partly because of the rocks, but also because the string of 20+ milers is taking a toll. I'm eager to get to the DWG and see Martha, and take a break, but if I don't slow down there'll be nothing left of me to take a break. I really have enjoyed the people I shared the shelter with last night and wouldn't mind seeing some more of them, and, if I move a little more slowly I can do that as well. I have also decided not to repeat the 200 miles I have already done in NJ, NY and CT. There is no need, just some sort of obsessive desire to do a continuos hike, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I want the miles I did in the Spring to count as part of my through hike. I have as many memories from that as other parts of the trail, snow shoeing in High point State Park with Martha, for example. I'm sorry that I wasn't as conscientious about my journal as I have been since GA, but it definitely is a part of the hike for me.These two decisions take a lot of pressure off of me. I'm looking forward to being home for a few days and then enjoying hiking New England.
Date: 2005-07-12
From: Union House B&B,Port Clinton, PA

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

This was a good day for a short day. Except for a some short sections of rock the trail was fairly easy and fast, with 5 miles of easy walking on a dirt road at the end of the day. For once I was in the shelter early, by 3:15, in time to get a bunk in a small very popular shelter. There are now at least 15 people here, most camping across the street, as the shelter holds only 6. The shelter is in an old garage, and smells a little musty (and that was before all the thru-hiker gear came in!), but it has neat padded bunks, and, best of all, a refrigerator with sodas and ice cream!It was 95 degrees when I got here, and I drank three (one iced tea and two juices). There is also the best solar shower I have used on the trail. It started off hot and quickly tapered to a refreshing lukewarm. I hung out on the lawn for awhile and rested, which was hard. I kept jumping up to do things. I'm not used to being still for so long.I slept really well last night, and that seems to make more difference to my hiking than the previous day's mileage. The air conditioning helped a lot. Unfortunately, the shelter doesn't run to air conditioning, so it may not be such a great night.There are some section hikers here who know this section of trail really well, and were very helpful. They say there is a long section of serious rocks on the schedule tomorrow, so that will slow me down some and tire me out. The short plan for tomorrow is to go to the shelter 17.4 miles away. It is right after the rocky section, so if I poop out it's handy. Otherwise I will go another 6+ to the next shelter. If I do I could still maybe make it to the DWG by Fri. As you can tell, I'm already getting bored with this short day stuff. I'm still impatient to get to the DWG and see Martha and go home. It has been so hot it's been hard to eat on the trail, and hard to sleep. I'm losing weight, which at this point is probably not good, and I'm tired a lot. I'm looking forward to hopping up the 200 miles to New England where it will, I hope, be cooler. Also I'm looking forward to a few days of good food, friends, air conditioning and reliable hot water. I can't wait to eat good fruits and vegetables, and drink good water. Only a few more days and I'll be done with PA!
Date: 2005-07-13
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Outerbridge shelter
Miles today: 24.2
Weather: broken clouds

So much for slowing down! I hate Pennsylvania! Today was one of the most stressful, least enjoyable hikes I have had.Reasons to hate PA:1. There was no water and no notification ahead of time that there was no water at the shelter where I planned to stay. So I had to walk 7 more miles, starting at 5 in a thunderstorm to the next shelter, which was the next water source.2. I was stung by wasps. (That was several days ago, but the memory is still fresh.)3. There are too many nasty rocks.4. I fell twice on the rocks.(see above)5. Much of the trail is underblazed or poorly blazed. I got lost on a poorly blazed rerouting on the rocks in a thunderstorm (see above).6. The services and the people have left a lot to be desired as well.7. Where there are rocks there are snakes, and there are too many in PA for my peace of mind. In all fairness, there have been some terrific shelters in PA (this is not one of them), and I particularly appreciate that the ones close to road crossings have caretakers which makes them much safer and more pleasant. There has also been some great trail magic. All in all, though, I am sticking to my position. I can't wait to get out of PA.The good thing to come out of today is that, with the extra 7 miles, I should have no trouble being in the DWG on Fri afternoon! Can't wait!
Date: 2005-07-14
From: Outerbridge shelter

To: Gateway Motel, Wind Gap, PA
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: broken clouds

This day has had its ups and downs, more emotionally than physically. The best part of the hike was the climb out of Lehigh Gap this morning. It was about 1000 ft in less than a mile, over huge piled up rocks, jumbled every which way. The trail was blazed, but in many spots you had to work out your own way up. It was hands and feet, and lots of fun. It was early in the morning and overcast so it wasn't too hot, although I was certainly still dripping sweat by the end. The only worry was putting my hand on a rattlesnake, but I was lucky and didn't see one until later in the day.After that the trail followed an old road for about 2-3 miles through the most devastated area I've ever seen. It is an EPA Superfund site, the results of a zinc smelting operation, and it looks like something that got to near to Chernobyl, or some other nuclear disaster. I was afraid to breathe too deeply, which preseents a problem when you are hiking briskly! Very depressing, but fascinating in a dire sort of way.The problem with water continued, but this time I was prepared and carried enough to last me. The one spring in 17 miles was in the Super Fund zone, aptly named Metallica Spring, and we were advised not to drink it.Never believe trail advice from a section hiker! They use different criteria than thru-hikers (although I'm not sure what their criteria are). A SOBO section hiker at the shelter last night told me the trail was "easy" from Smith Gap to wind Gap. Ha! It was certainly without much elevation change, but it had the most hellish rocks, which have given me a blister on the instep of my right foot, and generally achy tired feet and brain fatigue. You can't look away from the trail for a minute or you twist an ankle or fall over. The rocks are all sizes and all over the trail, so you can't avoid them, and an amazing number of them have sharp points. On top of the that the little black bugs were terrible, so I spent a ot of time picking bugs out of my eyes. Arghhh!But I made it to Wind Gap, and to a very nice motel, with kind and helpful people, hot water and a local restaurant that not only delivers, but has chocolate mousse on the menu. I'm clean (good thing too or Martha might not have let me in her car. I smelled so bad by the end of today even I couldn't stand it), and fed and ready for bed. I have only about 15 more miles of rocks to go tomorrow to get to the Delaware Water Gap to meet Martha and start my zero days. I am more than ready!
Date: 2005-07-15
From: Gateway Motel, Wind Gap, PA

To: Delaware Water Gap NRA Information Center
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: broken clouds

I am finished with PA! I am tucked into bed in my friend Martha's house, having had two great meals and another shower(two in two days!) since I met her in DWG this afternoon. It's so nice to be in a home again, and able to really rest. I will be taking zeros for the next few days, getting things done like a haircut and visiting family and friends. I will be back on the trail on the 20th, rested and ready to go on to Maine!
Date: 2005-07-18
From: Delaware Water Gap NRA Information Center

To:  US 41 Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 204.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I've been meaning to put this entry in for a long time. As you know if you have read my journal, I walked the 200+ miles from the PA/NJ border to Salisbury CT over weekends and midweek hikes between February and April of 2005 before I went down to GA. Although I had considered repeating the miles, I ultimately decided to include them in my thru hike as they seemed to belong there. I have many good memories of this section, hiking with my friend Martha and with my husband Allen, including some incredible hikes in ice and snow, and one very memorable snow shoe hike over High Point. Although I kept a written log of the sections and distances, and always started out exactly where I left off ( even on the same side of the road on the same patch of ground!), I did not start journaling until GA, so much of the detail is lost, which I regret. I had postponed entering these miles in part in the hopes of restoring the detail, but it seems impractical. Nonetheless, I do want to include the complete mileage, as I did, in fact, thru hike the whole trail and that has not been clear as the journal stands.