morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-06-02
From: mile 1068.8

To: mile 1093.6
Miles today: 24.8

The highlight today was reaching and passing the mid-point of this years AT hike at mile marker 1092.6 and completing almost 25 miles not including an extra mile to visit Taormina's Italian Restaurant on Route 30. After anticipating a great meal all morning, you can imagine my disappointment to find the restaurant is closed on Mondays! So I headed back to the trail and had lunch with two section hikers from South Carolina, one of whom was doctoring blisters on his feet. We noticed a large group of young hikers (in their 20s) decked out in matching jerseys. They turned out to be sailors, marine, and army personnel headed south on the trail. Part of today was crossing sections of Pennsylvania rocks, but in late afternoon I entered a pine forest and it was like walking on carpet on a trail covered with soft pine needles. I reached my stopping point around 8 pm, pitched my tent alongside the trail and had dinner.
Date: 2014-06-03
From: mile 1093.6

To: Mile 1113.6
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I had an early start and arrived at Pine Grove Furnace State Park by 9 am. after walking 5 or 6 miles. There is a small general store there which provides hikers with what is known as the half-gallon ice-cream challenge. Anyone who finishes the challenge in 30 minutes has his name engraved on a wooden spoon and it is put up on the wall. I decided to leave the challenge to younger folks. Instead I had a cheeseburger sub with lettuce, tomato, and mustard, a pint of ice cream and a large coke - all this at 9 am! I stopped at the Ironmaster's Mansion Hostel only to find it closed on Tuesdays. However, when I knocked on the door a lady answered and I asked her if I could purchase a shower. She kindly gave me a wash cloth and a towel and let me have my first shower in a couple of days and did so for free. I also stopped at the AT Museum and had a tour of items on display. One of these was dedicated to Gene Espy, the second person to complete the AT and who I'd met during Trail Days. It was noon by the time I resumed my hike, but I managed to complete my third straight day of 20+ miles. Each day I target a destination, usually based on the terrain and weather etc. Today we were supposed to have thunderstorms so I got to the Alec Kennedy Shelter, pitched my tent and had dinner just as a good hard rain began to fall. Although I didn't meet any thru-hikers on the trail, two hikers I'd met off and on since North Carolina are also here (Grasshopper and Roundabout).
Date: 2014-06-04
From: Mile 1113.6

To: Boiling Spring
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night there were thunderstorms and heavy rain. I'm glad to say my tent held up well. I didn't set out until 9:30 am to give my tent a chance to somewhat dry. I met Pastor Allan in Boiling Spring to begin my journey back to Tennessee. Tonight I'll stay in Bland and then tomorrow Pastor Bob will drive me to Knoxville. Next week I'll attend the Holston Annual Conference as a lay delegate and in my role as the Holston Conference AT chaplain. I arrived in Boiling Spring early, so stopped by a lake where people were trout fishing. Got the chance to chat with a PA patrolman who had just finished a sixteen hour shift that required subduing a man high on drugs. He had to use a taser gun and handcuff him. It made me think how much I take this type of work for granted. Although I'll be off trail most of next week I plan to send a couple of reports from the Holston Conference.
Date: 2014-06-13
From: Boiling Spring

To: Boiling Spring
Miles today: 0.0

I'm wrapping up my ten day window off the trail. I was able to attend the Holston Annual Conference and make a report to the Conference on the 2014 AT Chaplaincy hike. I also had a medical stress test and am glad to report I passed with flying colors. On my way back to Boling Spring to resume my hike, I revisited Pine Grove Furnace State Park with my wife and she was able to see and enjoy the AT Museum, the Ironmaster's Mansion Hostel, and the little store with the ice cream challenge. Resuming the hike I'll have to get my trail legs back. It takes weeks to get them but only a few days to lose them.
Date: 2014-06-14
From: Boiling Spring

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Back on the trail at Boling Spring this morning to resume my hike. This (the Cumberland Plateau) is the most level part of the PA section although I encountered quite a bit of floodwater on the trail due to earlier heavy rains. I met few thru hikers, experienced no Trail Magic, but did meet many section hikers. I had to cross three major highways; the Pennsylvania Turnpike, US Route 11, and Interstate 81 (for the third time). Towards the end of the Cumberland Valley area I climbed a 500' hill and when I came down the other side I spotted an old Oldsmobile, upside down and wrapped around a tree. I arrived at the shelter around 2:30 pm and the number of hikers has grown steadily from about eight to around twenty-four. I guess I'm part of a new thru hiker bubble.
Date: 2014-06-15
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Clarks Ferry Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Up early, breakfast, and back to climbing over rocks. My goal was to reach Duncannon and the Doyle Hotel in time for lunch. I got there ten minutes before the hotel opened at noon. Built in the early 1900s by Anheuser-Busch, the hotel was sold to the Doyle family when Prohibition became a reality. In the early days of the Appalachian Trail, the Doyle was the place to stay, but it has fallen on hard times and is no longer a hotel. It serves as a hiker hostel with food service for hikers and the community. I enjoyed a half-pound hamburger and fries before resuming my rock climbing, only now on a too full stomach. I crossed over the Susquehanna River via the Clarks Ferry Bridge and continued hiking over rocks until I reached the Clarks Ferry shelter where I spent an enjoyable, casual evening meeting and having fellowship with new people.
Date: 2014-06-16
From: Clarks Ferry Shelter

To: Mile 1167.5
Miles today: 20.1

With the longest day of the year almost upon us, the early sunrise and late setting sun allows for long hikes. Today I covered 20 miles, mainly ridge walking but over lots of rocks which force hikers to pay attention over an area that most hikers find relatively boring. I stopped for a break at the beautiful Peters Mountain shelter, but the water source requires descending 300 steps which means a climb of 300 steps to get back on the trail! I've been hiking with a young man from Louisiana since getting back to hiking this week. His legs go faster than mine so he is usually ahead of me. I was surprised to catch up with him today as he sat by a stream. He told me he felt as if he was losing muscle control in his face. He couldn't smile so I called 911 and the paramedics came and took him to hospital. Tonight I received an email from his father saying that my friend has Lyme disease, is being treated with antibiotics, and will be back on the trail soon. So I guess life goes on for even hikers as they face the challenges of the trail. One of those is mosquitos and they were so bad tonight I had to cook in my tent. As I go to sleep we are having a real good electrical storm so the tent will be wet when I get up.
Date: 2014-06-17
From: Mile 1167.5

To: Days Inn, Jonestown
Miles today: 10.7

Woke up to the challenges of packing a wet, muddy tent after a night of thunderstorms. Some nights there are as many as 25 campers, but last night I was the only one at the campsite. I only met one hiker today on the trail, someone I'd met previously, and he was struggling with dehydration and the heat. So he is with me at the Days Inn. When I got to the road crossing that leads into Jonestown, I decided to try my hand at hitch hiking and immediately got a ride right to where I'm staying. I had a shower for the first time in four days, dinner at a pizzeria, a Blizzard at the Dairy Queen, and got my laundry done. Met two soldiers, one at the pizzeria and one while doing my laundry (the latter a colonel who I thought was a sergeant! Then I found my cell phone is dying. It won't keep a charge so the vendor will send me another one in a couple of days.
Date: 2014-06-18
From: Days Inn, Jonestown

To: 501 shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke refreshed, ready to hitchhike the two mile back to the trailhead. Had to wait quite a while before a young man went out of his way to give me a ride. Today was more of the same on the trail - straight line ridge walking with rocks and more rocks. Two miles from the 501 shelter I met a 2004 thru hiker who was providing Trail Magic - Gatorade, coke, cookies, snicker bars, apples and bananas, all good food for hikers. I stayed there for about three hours and visited with about twenty hikers who were all headed for the 501 shelter. The shelter is enclosed and has a large octagonal skylight which lit up during a night of heavy thunderstorms. I met a hiker (AZ) who I'd originally met in Maine in 2012 and then at the New Hope Church breakfast in Virginia in May this year. Two other hikers I'd also met at the New Hope Church were also at the 501 shelter and everyone was talking about that New Hope Church breakfast. It was quite a reunion. Because we were close to a phone we ordered in pizzas. What a sight to see the delivery man arrive with about 20 pizzas.
Date: 2014-06-19
From: 501 shelter

To: Mile 1204.7
Miles today: 15.1

After a night of heavy thunderstorms the trail was wet and muddy, and although it did not resume raining until mid-morning, the raindrops from the overhead foliage created the impression of steady rain. Fortunately there was not a lot of ups and downs today, so even wearing raingear there was little perspiration. I met a lady from Louisiana, Dallas, who had been tent camping and we walked together. At one point, descending what looked like a stone staircase, we noticed we were following blue blazes instead of white blazes and realized we were on an alternate trail. We climbed back up the staircase to get on the correct trail and reached our camp by mid-afternoon. There was a good size group at the camp including the young man who had the emergency due to lyme disease. I enjoyed walking and talking with Dallas as we shared similar careers. Arriving at camp early, allowed for a nice relaxing evening. Notwithstanding the rain, every day in the woods is a good day!
Date: 2014-06-20
From: Mile 1204.7

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 9.0

This was another short day as Dallas had a resupply at the post office in Port Clinton which closed at noon. I also had a resupply which had been delivered to a motel where I planned to stay. Unfortunately there was no room at the inn. We got started around 6 am and arrived at the post office before 10 am. It was a sunny day. The plants and trail had largely dried out and, although we had some confusion following the blazes, we didn't get lost. I replaced my cell phone and booked in at an old hotel which reminds me of the boarding house my grandparents used to own - a hallway upstairs with ten rooms off it and one bathroom at the end of the hallway.
Date: 2014-06-21
From: Port Clinton

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter Campground 
Miles today: 5.7

Although this is the first day of summer and the longest day, I had a short hike so I can meet three people tomorrow and hike about six miles with them. They have been following my blog and will do a loop hike, including the Pinnacle and the Pulpit, two rocky areas with great views. Today is known as "hike naked day" but I resisted the temptation to participate. I did see one participant and it wasn't a pleasant sight! Today was sunny, about 60 degrees when I started rising to 75 degrees in the afternoon. Climbed about 900' over rocks but the climb was easy. In the afternoon I put up my tent for protection from the bugs, had a longish nap before dinner and then had a pleasant evening socializing with other campers.
Date: 2014-06-22
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter Campground 

To: Eckville shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: broken clouds

I met the three gentlemen from Philadelphia (Terry, Joe, and Rob) who were told about my hike by a Methodist pastor and who have been following my experiences through my journal. We climbed to the Pulpit and the Pinnacle and together experienced the beautiful views of the Pennsylvania valleys. I was also able to better explain the purpose of my journey. From there I walked with three thru hikers and we saw three copperheads sheltering among the rocks. We reached the Eckville shelter and I quickly realized I had stayed here two years ago. It has an enclosed bunkroom, shower, and flush toilets - everything a hiker appreciates. I met approximately five new thru hikers today as well as Dallas and a couple of hikers I'd met before. I set up my tent and enjoyed some much appreciated Trail Magic.
Date: 2014-06-23
From: Eckville shelter

To: Mile 1248.4
Miles today: 19.9

I've mentioned the rocks ever since I reached Pennsylvania, but today we really battled these rocks and boulders from start to finish, sometimes balancing precariously on 30 - 50 ' high boulders. Six of us started together and one dropped out at midday to get medical attention. The other five of us kept going and amazingly we covered almost 20 miles today. Just before two of us stopped for the day at an unofficial camp site, we came upon a large garbage bag hanging from a tree. It was filled with jugs of water and a container with hiker food. After dinner, we saw a man who waved to us. He turned out to be the person who maintains this Trail Magic and he told us he had just filled it up with fresh fruit. We went back to get some for breakfast tomorrow morning. What a blessing this individual provides, for sometimes hikers can travel 10 miles without finding a water supply.
Date: 2014-06-24
From: Mile 1248.4

To: Mile 1265.9
Miles today: 17.5

To get an early start we packed up and left without breakfast, knowing there was a shelter 3-4 miles from the trailhead that had picnic tables. While there we met the young Korean couple I'd met first in Georgia and then in North Carolina. Tentmaker (the man) and A (the woman) were headed south as part of a mission trip for their church. It was so good to meet them again. We then climbed through Lehigh Gap, a 900' climb up a rock face which required hand over hand boulder climbing. It is good to have company, a helping hand, when tackling these parts of the trail. We got to the top and felt energized by our accomplishment. The trail then scouted a EPA superfund site for the clean up of the residue of zinc mining. We got a new appreciation for those trail angels who leave water for hikers, for many of the springs have dried up and it is possible to go 10-15 mile without a water source. These angels leave 8-10 gallon jugs at crossroads and they are a life saver when walking in these warm temperatures. At our destination, a local resident picked us up and brought us to his house. We were able to have a shower. He then took us to a local pub so we could get dinner and to a general store for ice-cream. He then drove us back to his house and we had a good nights sleep on his garage floor.
Date: 2014-06-25
From: Mile 1265.9

To: 1274.0
Miles today: 8.1

Today started out beautiful. We got a ride to the trailhead and pretty much ridge walked until around lunch - a rare day in Pennsylvania without steep rock climbs. We stopped at a camp where I met the hiker who had developed lyme disease. I'm glad to report that he is doing well and hikes according to his daily energy reserves. As we approached Win Gap, we got off the trail for lunch and my hiker friend had to pick up supplies. We learned that the forecast was for thunderstorms and decided to have a short day. We booked into a motel, did laundry and got ready to resume the trail in the morning.
Date: 2014-06-26
From: 1274.0

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Today's hike began with wet rocks and trails, but the sun came out and we reached the final stage of our walk through Pennsylvania. Tomorrow we will cross the Delaware river and enter New Jersey. The highlight today was spending the evening at the Presbyterian Church Hiker Hostel which is in the basement of the Presbyterian Church of the Mountains. It opened in 1977 and is the longest running hostel on the AT. Each Thursday they have a hiker feed, so tonight 16 or so hikers met with 25-30 church members for fellowship and a feast of hot dogs, chicken, potatoes, salads, and deserts. I spoke with the minister who was there when the hostel opened. This is an experience I'll long remember. I'm staying in a motel room as the Church Hiker hostel is full. One other neat experience today was walking for a mile in the woods with two sisters who live locally and were out for a walk. I was able to share information on our hike thus far.
Date: 2014-06-27
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Mile 1306.1
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: scattered clouds

The day began walking about a mile along I-80 within 6' of speeding interstate traffic before we crossed the bridge over the Delaware River and back into the beautiful quiet of the woods. Although there are rocks, they are not anything like the rocks of Pennsylvania. We arrived at a pond or lake created by a glacier, the southernmost glacier pond in the USA. We walked around half of it before going back to ridge walking with beautiful scenery - to the left, the Delaware River, to the right, farmland and lakes. After about 10 miles we had a great lunch at the Mohican Outdoor Center, a facility owned by the Appalachian Mountain Club which maintains the trails in the White Mountains into Maine. Some hikers jokingly refer to it as the Appalachian Money Club, for the facilities are quite expensive to use, but I guess you get what you pay for! In my case this was a hot sandwich, chips, a drink, black bean soup, and pretzels. Just before we got to the Center, I met a husband and wife who were taking a break. As we chatted, we had a good conversation about the purpose and ministry of my walk. They are people of faith, so before we parted they asked if we could pray for my ministry and my welfare on the remainder of the hike. It is so good to have new prayer warriors. Tonight I'm sleeping under the stars in my tent. There are four other hikers at the campsite.
Date: 2014-06-28
From: Mile 1306.1

To: Mile 1326.8
Miles today: 20.7

As I discovered during my previous AT hike, New Jersey is the state that is most surprising to me. Instead of industrial buildings and chimney stacks, the view from the trail is one of lakes, mountains, and valleys. Last night, our campsite did not have a water source so much of today was spent looking for water. About two miles down the trail there was a water pump, but it was inoperable. Other sources were dry or poor quality backwater. We hiked eight miles without water before getting a resupply at a shelter. While there we met a troop of ten boy scouts and their three leaders and had a good visit with them. From my previous hikes, I remembered a steakhouse where we could get lunch. On our way there I met a lady who told me that her husband was part of the trail maintenance crew. Shortly after this I met her husband who was returning from installing new trail steps, a very heavy intensive labor job. How fortunate we hikers are to have people spend time to make the AT possible. After a salad and blueberry cobbler and a one hour rest, we climbed back on the ridge. We got to our campsite around 7 pm and had dinner and headed to bed. Being a Saturday, we met around twenty weekend or day hikers on the trail today.
Date: 2014-06-29
From: Mile 1326.8

To: Murray Cabin
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I had planned a short walk so I could stay at the Murray Cabin. Jim Murray had been a thru-hiker and built this shelter only for thru-hikers as a way of giving back to the AT. It sleeps four people, is enclosed, and has well water and a shower. But when I arrived at the shelter the well was dry, so I decided to hike another 2 miles to Unionville, New York which coincidently I'd arranged as one of my resupply points. Instead of a cabin, I slept in my tent in the City park behind the municipal building. The hike itself today was fascinating because of the people I met. I was tempted to title my hike, "Out of the mouth of babes" for I met this family and a little boy told me with pride that he had graduated. . . from pre-kindergarten. Then he asked me, "How old are you?" which reminded me of the time two years ago when I met a third grade class on the AT and someone asked me if I was the oldest person to walk the AT! At High Point State Park, I received a free soda for signing the visitor book, and them a man asked me if I wanted a drink and he proceeded to fill two one-liter bottles with Gatorade. At the highest point in New Jersey there is a monument to our veterans and I had a delightful visit with four young people on the observation deck. I explained that I was on a hike of five million steps and each step required care. When I was leaving them, one of the girls gave me a beautiful farewell wish. She said, "may you not make a misstep." What a great day.
Date: 2014-06-30
From: Murray Cabin

To: Mile 1352.9
Miles today: 11.8

Today I was exposed to lots of Trail Magic. This began early morning when two strangers, Pam and her husband, brought me a food box at the request of last years AT chaplain. Pam's husband and one of her daughters have thru-hiked the trail. Then at a road crossing that goes into Vernon, N.J. two high school teachers had set up a Trail Magic station. I stayed for a long time with about ten hikers just enjoying this hospitality. They then shuttled us into town to an Episcopal Church which provided us with showers and laundry services. So it was a day of trail magic from beginning to end. One of the neat experiences today also was going over a raised wooden walkway that takes the hiker through a swamp.
Date: 2014-07-01
From: Mile 1352.9

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: broken clouds

After a good nights rest at the Episcopal Church, I hitchhiked the two miles to the trailhead. Today was one of climbing steep rocks and boulders, sometimes with a drop-off on either side of around 30'. One place was so steep someone had provided a 10' ladder to assist with the climb. There were few water sources, but in late afternoon after crossing from New Jersey into New York, I stopped at the NY 17A crossing and purchased two hot dogs with cheese and a drink. Then I visited a creamery for one of those banana splits you would die for. The Creamery also had a well and I was able to refill my water bottles. Two miles further on I arrived at the Wildcat Shelter. There were mosquitos everywhere, so apart from placing my food in a bear box (i.e. I didn't have to hang it from a tree), I pitched my tent and stayed inside - even when cooking my evening meal!
Date: 2014-07-02
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Southville, New York
Miles today: 9.9

When I got up the mosquitos were alive and well. I put on my bug jacket but still managed to get bites on my knees. The mountains in New York State do not go higher than 1300' but the trail provides lots of difficult climbs. Water is still in short supply. A roaring waterfall I remembered from two years ago had just a trickle of water today and I encountered many dry water beds and brooks and mud holes. Thankfully, trail angels left gallon jugs of water at road crossings and some provided coolers with Gatorade and trail mix. I got off the trail hoping to catch a ride into town, but ended up having to walk an additional two miles to my motel. Fortunately, I got there before the onset of bad weather.
Date: 2014-07-04
From: Southville, New York

To: Southville, New York
Miles today: 0.0

I waited out the remnants of Hurricane Arthur. It rained consistently to mid-afternoon, so I have had another zero day. These things happen. By evening the parking lot was drying out and I was able to celebrate July 4 by watching a firework display on the television. Hopefully the rain will improve access to water when I get back on the trail.