morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-06-10
From: Rod Hollow Shelter (tent) 

To: David Lessor Memorial Shelter (tent) 
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 86 Out of camp at 6:30am. I am completely soaked in sweat by 6:30am. Today we hike the famous roller coaster section so keep your hands inside the car at all times. I¢m hopped up on the steroids for my poison ivy and am roaring to go. We hike to the Sam Moore Shelter with Ole man. His leg was bugging him, but he only had 3 more miles to go. He was staying at the Bear¢s Den Hostel. We cross a couple of roads and hang a left down to the Horseshoe Curve restaurant. Bullfoon and I were headed there in ¢99 when we heard they didn¢t take credit cards and turned around. This year we are packing cash. It¢s a 3rd generation pub and they are serving Guinness. I also had bacon, potato & cheese chowder, grilled chicken sandwich & fries. This is where things get weird. I don¢t know why, but they always do. This guy enters and asks to use the bathroom. He looks a lot like my friend Big Daddy only really out of shape. He comes out then starts pacing around in the parking lot. He leaves only to come back and pace some more. The owner goes out. Apparently he threw his cigarette butt out and came back as he feared he¢d burn down the parking area. I think I¢ve heard of that happening. Anyway they ask him to leave. Rabbit is out chatting with him. Just happy not to see him at the trailhead. From there it¢s a long 9 miles to the David Lessor Memorial Shelter. It's still entirely to hot. Over 1000 miles today. The day went up and down. On most of the downs we waved our arms in the air and screamed. I may have even skipped once or twice, but will deny it. Lot¢s of rock on the trail. In the end a long day of 21 miles. At the shelter Muleskin and his wife, Quiet Paul and 5 section hikers are there. The water was down quite possibly the longest side trail I have walked. It pretty much went down to the valley. The water was cold though.
Date: 2005-06-12
From: Hilltop House Harpers Ferry

To: Hilltop House Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Day #88 I'm off to find the coffee house at the happy hour of 8am. Like all good coffee houses it's not open. In fact most of the stores have yet to open and none have hours posted. They seem to open whenever.   The bottom half of the town is a museum. So why the stores are sporatically opening up i stroll through the museum educating myself. On my back up the street i spot a samoyed. I run a half block and startle the owners. My parents have two back in wisconsin. Those of you that haven't seen one, they are about 90lbs of fluffy white fur. This one of course was quiet and behaved, nothing like ours. I eventually got my rasberry-chocolate mocha and am quite happy. I tag along with rabbit, gazelle & her mom to walmart. Bonzo (trail Angel) and his dog rio are giving us a ride. He has miss janets old van and all the hikers sign the ceiling. Rabbit and spend the rest of the afternoon wandering through the shops & museums. I learn all sorts of stuff but history was in yesterdays journal. Too much you all would think you were in school. Rabbit & i enjoy an over priced so-so lunch. We return to the hotel for a nap. Around 5pm sowega, rabbit & myself head to the armory pub for some live music & guinness on tap. If i haven't mentioned it before i love small towns. In fact this maybe it, i may never leave. The atmosphere is great. The thought eventually occurs to me that perhaps i shouldn't be pouring the pints down with the steroids and blodd pressure pills. I feel warm and fuzzy with the air on high. nite nite
Date: 2005-06-13
From: Hilltop House Harpers Ferry

To: Comfort Inn Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Day #89 Yes, i'm fully aware that this is my 10th zero day since Pearisburg. Between rabbit's feet and my poison ivy our hike has grinded to a hault. I'm actually surprised we haven't gone backwards. The real reason for todays day off is like the rest of america we were on the edge of our seats waiting to hear the Micheal Jackson verdict. How could we even think of hiking. Yeh or neh? Lucky for us the verdict indeed did come today. I must say i was quite pleased, but don't get me wrong. I think we should lock him up for his freakness factor alone. The parents of the kid should be charged with extortion, cause that is what it was. The very least they should be jailed for stupidity. Who would leave their kids with him after all that has happen? I don't have any kids, but if i did i sure as hell wouldn't leave them with him. My head is starting to hurt. This is not to down play child predators. Hell if there was half the media for each child molester trail we probably wouldn't have any. We are in no hurry this fine morning. The breakfast buffet was absolutely delicious. It's already in the mid 90's. Fearing we may melt i try to extend our stay. The angry guy at the front desk says no, then walks away. We reluctantly pack up and head over to the ATC. The problem with us is when we get it into our heads we are staying it's very hard to leave. Sowega unlike us is doing something productive with his day off. He is volunteering at the ATC's warehouse. We flounder around town and end up at the post office. We have to pass the comfort inn on our way out of town. We haggle with them and snag one of last remaining rooms. Not long after we checked in black clouds appeared, thunders started rumbling and a whole pile of rain came. The hotel does our laundry and we lay around watching tv. I can't help but think with 3 nights in harpers ferry we could of done something more. i know rabbit had wanted to visit DC, But i being low on money have avoided it. Sowega has found us at the inn. He seems quite happy until you mention folding shirt. Oh my god did we order a lot of food. Hoping for a big day tomorrow.
Date: 2005-06-16
From: Deer Lick Shelters (tent)

To: Birch Run Shelter (tent)
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: broken clouds

Day #92 Hiking by 7:30am. When i first woke up it was raining. Oddly, when i packed up my tent it was dry and rabbits was wet. It was definately cooler today. The sun would shine for a while then not. I wandered most of the day bymyself. I arrived at caledonia state park after 1pm. The park has a pool and consession stand. In 1999 we spent quite a bit of the day in the pool. This year i just stayed for lunch. Rabbit, bluelight, & bootz were eating lunch. Box of fun, Anj, & light bright were leaving as i arrived. I ate my own lunch after hearing stores of over priced bad food. Waiting for the two workers to stop making out i did order a blackberry shake & chocolate cone for dessert. I left rabbit laying in the sunshine and headed up the hill after the park. Rabbit caught up with me by quarry gap shelters. They are some of the best maintain shelters on the AT. They even had flowers in hanging baskets. Never one to stay in shelters and being to early to stop i move on. In & out of sprinkles for 7 miles. I probably would of stopped, as there were many campsites along the trail, but no water. When i get to birch run shelter bootz, bluelight, box of fun, Anj, light bright, bayou & turtle speed were already there. The latter two out for a couple day section hike. Rabbit decided to shelter it tonight, since his tent was still wet. Me, i'm outside. Dinner was entertaining with box of fun & Anj aka... "the laugh factory". One has a laugh that is just too good to be true. Can be heard for miles i hear. They had many fun stories and it was good to be around some fun people. Bayou & turtle speed were from new orleans & minnesota i believe. I crawled over to ny tent and went to sleep.
Date: 2005-06-18
From: Tagg run shelter (tent)

To: Super 8 (US11)
Miles today: 20.2

Day #94 Have my pack on and travelling by 6:30am as i need to go 12miles by noon to pick up my package. When you are trying to get somewhere quickly, it almost always means that the AT will crawl up, over, under, through, and sometimes around in circles any boulders(really big rocks) and other obstacles it can find. Still i manage to get into town by 11am. Once i was over center point knob it was all down hill. A quick mile or two through farm fields i find myself in town, I stop and leave my pack at the regional ATC center and cross the street to pick up my maildrop. There is only a volunteer on weekends at the center, but she had donuts, oj, and lots of questions. Boiling Springs is a quiet little picturesque town that looks too perfect to be true. As i hiked in the entire town seemed to be fishing. So i asked if it was tournament? One of the locals replied "nope just the weekend". I packed up my food drop under the prying eyes of strangers. After a 3 hour break & resupply i slowly follow bootz & blue light out of town. The trail traverses a mixture of woods, farm pastures, and cultivated fields. There are many berry trees blocking my way. I am smack in the middle of an 18 mile no camping zone. I figure i can just eat berries all night, which is technically not camping. When the AT aquired the right to use the mostly private lands to get the trail off the roads, it came with one condition and that was no camping. The one exception is a campsite just on the southern outskirts of boiling springs. There has been much crying and whinning about its proximity to railroad tracks, keeping weary hikers up all night. I say suck it up! Be happy the ATC found you a spot. Would you rather have the trail back on the busy roads with no camping? Sometimes there is just no pleasing people. Anyway, the weather is absolutely beautiful with blue skies, white poofy simpson clouds, and a gentle breeze. I run into bootz & bluelight sitting in the middle of the trail. Blue light needs new shoe's. they are discussing where to get them. Her mother knows someone in carlise Pa. I suggest they get off at US11 and spend the night in a hotel with me Carlise is close by. Some would say i'm dragging these poor kids into town just for me. My rebuttle: is that i only put the option out there (plant the seed). They in the end make the final decision, i love free will. The three of us get off the trail at US 11. We check in the super 8 across from the middle sex dinor. Bluelights friend comes and picks her up shortly there after. When she returns with footwear in tow, we head acroos the street for dinner. I can't recommend the middle sex dinor enough. It was extremly busy, and the food was great. I enjoyed my stay with bootz & blue light. We did a respectable 20.2 miles today.
Date: 2005-06-19
From: Super 8 (US11)

To: Doyle hotel duncannon PA
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day #95 Started hiking from the Super 8 shortly after 9am. Another beautiful day for hiking. Overcast and cool. This will be the lesser known super 8 to doyle hotel crawl. Through the fields and over the hills to where the yuengling flows though the hallways and all you do is dip your nalgene. Ran across quite a lot of people out for the day. A large group out for the afternoon gave me a turkey sandwich shortly after lunch. Not being one to turn down food i ate with them. Michigan is back on the trail after a three week rest. 17 miles of fields, roads, rocks and hills. Rabbit came up from behind me on a crazy 26 mile day. Bootz & blue light got to town first. There was a cooler full of lemonade left by trail angel mary. An interesting walk through dismal duncannon. Home tonight will be the historic doyle hotel. Legendary in thruhiker folklore. It's 100 years old and looks every bit of it. It was closed in 1999, but is once again open to serve thru-hikers. There are no tv's, no air conditioning, and sadly on sundays (today) no bar 17.50 a night it's hard to complain. I went to the pub down the street and par took in a guinness. Rabbit, chuck, jersey jones, waist deep, bootz, bluelight & trail angel mary were all there. Trail angel mary insisted that we go upstairs and eat with her. The pub was closing even though it was only 7pm. So up we go. She had chicken, baked potaoes, trout cakes, stuffed noodles, corn cake & water melon. Jersey fresh, waistdeep, jersey jones, chuck, rabbit, clockwork orange, hemlock, birdy, and 2 section hikers. Great times had by all. I'd like to thank trail angel mary for all of us. It was a great surprise and was above and beyond what she should do. The food was mighty tasty. I used her internet then crossed the street to the pizza shop/bar to join all the hikers. i call it an early night and head back to the doyle
Date: 2005-06-20
From: Doyle Hotel Duncannon

To: Doyle Hotel Duncannon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day #96 Breakfast today is across the street, while i wait for the post office to open. I have my boots on and everything. I'm ready to hike. I still have my boots on during happy hour. The place is full and hikers are still pouring in. Draggin' & sowega amoung them. Sadly, i got here yesterday to find the bar closed. Something about it being sunday. i think they have burned down bars in wisconsin for less. Yuengling doesn't flow freely down the halls, much too my disappointment. It is however only 75cents a draft during happy hour. I have a few, but there are far too many hikers in the bar for me. I retreat to the balcony with bootz & rocket. I eventually order pizza, big surprise. Early night for me. Chuck & rabbit are hiking out tonight. Earlier today i made a honest, but weak attempt to leave. Blue light & bootz are even staying. I think waist deep & jersey jones are living here. The room was only $17.50 (they might be over charging). Crazy little crowd. This was on trail angel mary's card so i borrowed it:"i think it pisses god off, if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it" -Alice Walker
Date: 2005-06-22
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: Econolodge Pine Grove, PA
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Day #98 Slept in again today. My feet are very sore. I had hoped to make it past the 501 shelter today. The weather is warm and breezy. The hike was mostly a ridge walk covered in rocks at times. We had a our first official detour today through I-81 construction. We also waded though waist high poison ivy, my favorite. I have decided to hitch into pine grove and stay at the econolodge a couple nights. Some believe i do this just to watch adult swim on the cartoon network. Today a better guess would these lumps on the end of my legs. I also need to ponder my future on the trail. My funds are at an alarming level, which is too be expected. Rabbit & chuck are somewhere behind me i think. The same goes for bootz & blue light. I hitch into town with montana lush and another hiker. We got picked up by a logger who passed us by dropped off his brother then came back up. Can't thank him enough. I'm now at the econolodge with entirely too much mcdonalds and my feet up. Think i'll take tomorrow off.
Date: 2005-06-23
From: Econolodge Pine Grove, PA

To: Econolodge Pine Grove, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Day #99 Not much too say today. I layed with my foot up most of the day. It seems to be getting better. I tried the arby's, mcdonalds, and pizza shop today. I think tomorrow i will hike to Port Clinton, then on to delaware water gap. What i do from there i have yet to decide. Watched a lot of tv. Finally caught part two of empire falls on HBO. I'd like to take this chance to say i can't thank bullfoon enough for posting my journals. This takes an incredible amount of time and effort.
Date: 2005-06-24
From: Econolodge Pine Grove, PA

To: Eagles nest shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Day #100 100 days on the trail or possibly in hotels. I got a ride out of town by one of the hotel housekeepers. She drives to Pittsburgh once every other week to pick up her daughter. It seems from Pittsburgh would be a lot easier to get to wisconsin. I have decided to hike and another beautiful day out. The last 5 miles i hike with waistdeep. I have been running into him here & there since mid-virginia. He always seems to be surprised to see me. He's from cleveland ohio. One of his sons brews beer in montanna. His brother is coming to meet him in Port Clinton. We set up camp on the side trail to eaglesnest shelter. The shelter is a ways down. The water is on the way to the shelter. there are two section hiking ladies from vermont going south i believe. I went down to take a picture of the sunset from a view point complete with sign. I don't know really what the view was? all i saw was tree's On my way back i run into rabbit as it is getting dark. Turns out chuck & rabbit were at the same econolodge i was at last night. They had to walk out of town to the trail. I have decided to take my hike day by day. I couldn't find anyone to go to dave matthews at hersey park with me. Worry not my brother tells me he'll be at red rocks for 3 nights in september.
Date: 2005-06-25
From: Eagles nest shelter

To: Port Clinton Hotel
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: broken clouds

Day #101 Rabbit and i broke camp and are headed for the bustling town of Port Clinton PA. It's very hot out here. I lost my watch altimeter do-hicky thing. I started to back track and found it in the middle of the trail a 1'4 mile back The trail literally drops into town. I never want to hike south out of here. We got to the Post Office with 20 minutes to spare. it closes for some reason at 11am instead of noon. Miss cranky pants was behind the counter. I have never seen anyone as unhappy as here. sad really, how hard can your little job be. This is to take nothing from postal workers. In fact they have been some of the most happy people we talk to in town. I scored the last room in the hotel. I use the word hotel lightly. Its another one of those bars with rooms above. They have 8 rooms in all and 4 are occupied by permanent residents. The room was decent with cable tv and air conditioning. If i plugged my phone in to charge it knock all the power out. I forgot how small this little town actually was. There isn't even a pay phone here. We caught the free shuttle for a 2 mile ride to the cabella's super store. The world's largest they tell me. Lots of stuffed dead animals about, including a whole flock of geese. Even a restruant with a buffet. It like being dropped off at the mall. "driving in on this highway, all these cars end up on the sidewalk People in every direction, no words exchanged, no time to exchange them when all the little ants are marching" sorry once in a while i break into song. Not much else to say. We head back to Port Clinton. The food at the bar is still top notch. Hard to find a bigger side of fries. The owners didn't seem all that thrilled to see us. We finnished dinner and watched some tv. Chuck & rabbit are crashed on the floor. We also saw box of fun, anj, freeheal, motorin' and his mom i think. Waist deep also came in.
Date: 2005-06-26
From: Port Clinton Hotel

To: Port Clinton Pavillion (tent)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Day #102 Woke up, sang a bit of hollaback girl and packed up. Still bloody hot outside. We sat out front of the port clinton hotel. Chuck has to wait until tomorrow for the post office. Rabbit has decided he needs a new pack. You can only load a golite so much before you break. We have to carry far too much water lately. So we shuttle back to the worlds biggest cabella's. 4 hours of my life sucked away. Rabbit found a new pack and now is very happy. I found a most cumfy hooded sweatshirt so i bought it. Will mail home then probably have to move to alaska so i can where it all the time. We dined at the inhouse restaurant. When we finally come back to the swealtering pavillion bag of tricks is there. A trail angel of sorts. I believe he was there the last time i wandered through. A bit cranky though, ranting here and there. Lots of stories too tell. one of which is about a hiker who remain nameless used a poison ivy leaf much like one would a fig leaf on hike naked day. I don't think i need to dwell on that story anymore. I set up my tent across from the pavillion. Mainac & OC1 are tented near by. Chuck, rabbit and a church group are scattered about the pavillion itself. The fire fly show was spetacular. Hard to put in words. The whole forest was blinking. Very cool! Occupied me for hours, but then blinking lights usually do.
Date: 2005-06-27
From: Port Clinton Pavillion (tent)

To: Ecville Shelter (tent)
Miles today: 15.2

Day #103 We all left Port Clinton today, even though it was still crazy hot & humid. Ran into OC1 at pulpit rock. It wasn't too hazy yet so there was a view. I reached the pinnacle which also sported good views. Lots of eagle, hawk, buzzards, big type birds soaring about. The trail followed and old woods road for 5 miles and my feets are screaming. The rocks have yet too appear. I seem to remember it being worse in '99. I got to the Ecville shelter which is enclosed with flush toilet & sun shower. There are also cold beverages and ice cream for a donation. It was 2pm and i was waiting out the rain. it wasn't raining yet, but i was pretty sure. Rabbit and chuck stopped in and decided to stay the night. Maniac left for the next shelter and the rain came down. Thunder & rocket wandered in late. I hear chubster & vision quest are just a bit behind. I set up my tent across the street. Everyone else is back at the shelter. Chuck came over and chatted for a bit. More fire flys tonight and light sprinkle of rain. Trying to make it to wind gap in a couple days. Monifa(monika) who i hiked with in 1999 is going to pick me up and take me into New Jersey for a few days.
Date: 2005-06-29
From: Parkside Inn, Palmerton PA 

To: New Jersey
Miles today: 0.0

Day # 105   The plan today was to walk 20 miles to wind gap and have Monika(monifa'99) come get me for a few days off in New Jersey. I still haven't completely recovered from yesterday. The weather outside looks frightful. So i call up monika to see if she would come and get me here rather than wind gap. She says yes, but first she has to call in sick. I walk down to the bar to wait and there sits Chuck. Chuck took a spill yesterday on the rocks and has decided to take the rest of the day off today. I'm glad too see him. We have lunch and get his room. He hiked into town instead of hitching. i was in disbelief as there was no shoulder. He said it was a little crazy. It wasn't even an option for me. Monika shows up before 2pm and i'm whisked away to New Jersey. I feel bad about leaving chuck in town by himself, but he is meeting his aunt in delaware water gap in a couple of days. I hiked with monika in '99 on and off during my '99 thru-hike. She has since given up her hiking boots for high heels & the corporate world. Probably not a bad deal as she drives a happy little beemer, while i can barely keep my rusty jeep out of the shop long enough to drive. It was only an hour drive, but yet i felt far from the trail. Dinner was at TGI Friday's. I love chain restruants Living in central wisconsin i have been deprived of this american right. We always seem to get the knock offs that no one has ever heard of accept for applebee's, but that doesn't really count. She had real key lime pie brought back from Key West. I watched Life Aquatic and went to sleep.