morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-05-27
From: Rocky Mountain Shelter

To: James Fry Shelter
Miles today: 30.1

Last night was the first night without a sleeping bag, to cut weight because it's warmer out. Euan was in the same boast, since he left his behind too, but my influence. We both had just liners, Caleb was the only one who got adaquate sleep. Finally by early dawn I sugested wrapping up in our tarps, but it was to late. We made a fire to cook up the rest of the bacon. The guys went to get water, down a steep slope. The guys wanted to do a 30 mile day. SO we did. For lunch Euan made a fire to cook his food. I tried to persuade the guys not to do 30, but wanted to get to the half way point at the same time. Carby was all for the 30 miles until he heard we had obly done 13 miles by lunch, then he was a bit concerned. At the half gallon challenge, we shared the half gallon between the three of us. I was upset that you didn't get the icecream for free if you finished, so my Aunt Alice had given me money for the icecream, but there was no way i would be able to hike had I eatten the whole thing, plus I'd probably puke. It poured as we sat there enjoying our treat. The rain slowed once we started walking again. There were toads all over the trail, Carby said he though I stept on one in the dark. We night hiked until 10:30ish. Euan has an insanly bright headlamp that weighs a pound. I was a bit unhappy, mine had dimmed a buch from being on all day acidently. My belly ached a bit and my knee hurt, but Carby gave a great modivational speech. "My dear friends you've both done so well, I am proud of you. We have come far, and have gone through a lot. Now we just have a little bit more to go." Went the speech it surpized me how much it helped. The shelter was filled with people, one was snoring, but we all found room.
Date: 2011-05-28
From: James Fry Shelter

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: light rain

i slept warm, I made sure by putting on everything I owned. In the morning I thought the one man sleeping was Scavenger, but turned out being another person. We didn't leave until after 10, Euan hurt, and I was not going to push. We played some cards, before the 8 miles. We all hurt miserably, my knees hurt, Carby was sore but Euan was the worst, plus his shoes were not dry. The worst was when Euan would stub his little toe, and he'd bend over in pain clenching his teeth. This happened several times since his shoes are the ones with toes. So he stubs his toes individually. I lead. I guessed they knowticed I tend to go faster when leading. Plus they werent quite as spunky as before. I took IB profin for my knee, Euan was like drugs are bad for you and said itd take my body longer to fix the problem. Euan said hiking today's 8 miles was harder then yesterday's 30. At the shelter is a wife and husband team they have a dog. The dog was gentle. There where two guys who joined them they played scrabble together. When I introduced myself they said they had heard of me. Three things I remember they said: I carry uncooked bacon- I caught a mouse in an nalgene bottle - last was that I started off on springer with just a sleeping bag. So that was weird. They got on the trail at front royal. The couple had hiked up till them years back when they attempted a thru-hike. They had taken time off at a friends house days turned into weeks and their hike was over, as they lost their motivation and got sucked into society.
Date: 2011-05-29
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter

To: Cove mountain shelter
Miles today: 25.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I remember in a documentary that I had watched there being fields we'd go through in pennsilvania. It came to be today. We left the mountains and plodded across the muddy fields, trying to keep our feet dry. Early on Euan retired his five fingers and hiked barefoot. He gloat his new found freedom when crossing the saturated trail, but I got my laughs as he yelped his way across the blacktop. We were meeting my mother for lunch. We had a lofty 15 miles to do. Not surprisingly we were late, Donald my cousin ran up in his white tee-shirt and gave me a running hug. Dan my brother and mom where not far behind. I was exhausted carby got Dan to carry my Pack a mile or two. We dangled our feet off a bridge eating strawberries, carrots, cantaloup, and egg salad sandwich. It was hard to see them go. Mom and Carby kissed both gave me a kiss and spat out from the sweat. I didn't mine the walking until I got to shoulder high grasses, that itched my legs and stinky mud my shoes got emerged in. Next I had a rocky section tripped up and fell and scrapped my knee. I was tired and mopped along to the shelter. At the shelter a man had his tent set up in the shelter, since the bugs were bad. They were bad on the trail too. I hate the fat flies that just circle round and round and never leave. Anyhow the man woke up and asked me if I wanted him to move for room. There was Plenty of room. They told me there were porcupines in the area and to not eat in the shelter and to hang up all my things since porcupines like salt and are known to eat backpacks. The sleepy man I his tent jumped up suddenly when I introduced himself. He was overly excited. It was fat Jim. He asked me so many questions. We talked about rainfly and how he got off at Harper's Ferry like he had planned. I set my hamick in the shelter.
Date: 2011-05-30
From: Cove mountain shelter

To: Angela's home
Miles today: 12.0

Last night a porcupine came in the shelter, it ran off once we shone our headlamps upon it. I was the last one out. It was mostly all downhill in to the town of Duncannon. Jim met me in town. He thought he was lost but really we were on the trail. He wanted to resupply and eat a burger he said he'd buy me a burger, but the place was closed. He said he just wanted to go where ever I went so he never did resupply. We crossed the bridge and back in the woods. We ate lunch on top the mountain with a view of the highway. We went by a shelter with a what seemed a homeless man with all his clothes laid out to dry. Fat Jim was kinda scaring me but telling me I'm some kind of legion. Since people seem to know who I am and apparently people make stories about me. But I'm not a legion and he kept on insisting. Near supper time I was hoping we'd pass some sort of grill out since it was memorial day. Low and behold we passed a sign directing us to a party with food galore. I joined a bunch of ladies playing cards. I met Angela. She took me home after being feeler out by me being with Jim. We passed fallen trees driving home. They Angela and Cheryl said there had been half a dozen tornados in the area last thursday. The damage was insane. We would just keep pointing out "wow look at that tree, it just so missed the house" or "look that tree ripped up the side walk" or "look that house got damage, see they put a tarp over their roof". We ate and watched a movie. They gave me my own room with a queen size bed. They ate obviously lovely people and love Jesus with all their heart.
Date: 2011-05-31
From: Angela's home

To: Angela's home
Miles today: 0.0

I woke around 10 in the morning. we ate omelets by noon. Cheryl went to find a job. While Angela and i conversed in the hottub. We had dinner when she came back from finding a job, lucky her. There was a bit of house cleaning, I vacuum a bit, was nice to give a little. We had a girly night of watching romantic movies and soaking some more in the hot tub. Got to be passed 2. These two ladies are so sweet and they love Jesus they both had shipwrecked marriages, but are now Christians. They are a bit passed middle aged, but both wondering if they'll marry again. I like asking questions about their past, and they are eager to lend me their advise, and share their mistakes. Angela was telling me how she was taught that if you kiss a guy you should marry him too, turns out she did just that and neither were in love, and the man was in love with another. Cheryl was left with two kids to raise by herself, and she did without any government help. She is a strong woman.
Date: 2011-06-01
From: Angela's home

To: peter's mountain shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up at 10 again, just fabulous. We shared music and funny youtube videos with each other. after Cheryl got background papers fro her new job at the police station we went out to eat. we shared two pizzas the spinach and artichoke pizza was mouth watering. Mother showed up at 7:30 to hike with me, her twin sister, my aunt Eunice is joining as well. Carby drove them. my mother was all flustered about directions. I was just happy they could meet one another. We got hiking around 8:30, it got dark quick, we saw two porcupines. One climbed a tree. Hiking with the twins it funny, mom stresses and Eunice whines. They are great fun. Its a hot night, i'd do well with just a liner.
Date: 2011-06-02
From: peter's mountain shelter

To: Rausch Gap shetler
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: few clouds

In the morning I recognized legion and Steady and tortoise at the shelter. Tortoise made coffee for the twins, but he needed water, I was a bit nervous to give up, since I didn't want to go down the steep steps down to the water again. But I gave up a portion. Then the water boiled over and spilled all over me, lucky i wasn't burn. He says "oh it's fine, I just need a bit more water." I was a bit ecstatic, but gave him the water. Things turned out well, two people actually gave me some water. Hiking was fun, we took a nap at lunch. For supper I cooked. Eunice says I'm a slave driver, She said she'd play cards. But when it was a good time to play cards she wouldn't play. I said just play one hand, she didn't even finish one hand. The shelter is said to fit 12, but only fits half of that, so the twins are on the ground, and i'm in the air. Eunice is a bit jealous of me, I gave her my sleeping pad, so she should be plenty comfortable with two sleeping pads.
Date: 2011-06-03
From: Rausch Gap shetler

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: clear sky

This morning while I was getting my stove together to boil some water for Eunice's coffee. Eunice was asking for water to swallow her pills, I was too busy to be of assistance, regrettably when I came upon her spitting, and sputtering. Then mother laughed and I joined, Eunice had drank my fuel. Eunice left soon after that all by herself. Her hubby met her on a road, she gave me a hug, and told me she had such a horrible time and couldn't wait to join me again to have another terrible time, we laughed. So it was Mom and I, she makes a good hiking partner. At the 501, Alice my Aunt came with food, tacos, and cheesecake. I love cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake is the best. There was enough food to feed the other hikers, but they had ordered pizzas. Though several showed up later and some took a taco or two. It was Legions Birthday 2 days ago, so I put a two candles on a slice of cheesecake and we sang happy birthday. Alice had brought her three nieces and Donald who is now going to hike with me. The three girls think i'm ridiculous to hike for so long. the one said "I'd rather sit on a couch watch TV and snack." That sounded good to me too. We walked a close by view, before they departed. My mother left with them. It was sad to say goodbye, but easier since Donald is with me. Thank you Alice you are awesome!!!!1
Date: 2011-06-04
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Donald is interesting to hike with. The rocks were brutal on him today. There was a time a fly was bothering him terribly, he took off running when he could take it no further. He wants to go home. It was funny how nonchalant he was about peeing, I would notice he stopped, and turn around, then turn back and trudge ahead a bit. he had trouble with his backpack, it hung on him awkwardly to the side. Perhaps it had to do with his sleeping bag hanging off of it. Soon Donald was hurting, he got blisters, I taped them up. It was a long 15 miles. Donald texted his mom. "I hate this" his mom text back "I hate it too, I wish i was there hating it with you."At the shelter the conversations where boring, I'd rather stare at a wall, then listen to them. So i got out my cards and we played for the rest of the night. Legion played Bearbag with me, I call the game palace. We later played BS, and scum, we had 5 people playing at one time. Donald was getting a ride situated, and it took him a long tine to finally join in.I met pondhopper he's a British guy, I don't know why but British guys seem feminine to me. We talked a bunch, he's doing to work at a summer camp, after he finishes PA.
Date: 2011-06-05
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Donald got off 2 miels in. last i saw him he was waling down a dirt raod with a dead cell phone. I spent the day listening to Julia Andrews Bio. I had to space it out because my battery was dieing. I bumped into Spartan and bluemoon, we got to see a dog and a man reunite after the dog was lost in the woods a week. It was emotional, I want a dog. Teh dog was jumping up and down barking happily. I was thinking about doing a 30, but got tired, and sore. And I couldn't resist the shower. I was good even though it was just a single stream of bone chilling water. At camp, there's the group i met before, when with Carby and Euan, they have the dog, and told me strange things they heard about me. Well, they were shouting at each other. The group got separated, and the one guy got in front of the others without them seeing each other, and the dog, followed the other guy, and the other two searched for the dog all over. So the two are saying the one guy blue blazed, and he's angry they'd say such a thing, and their mad they had to search and stress out over the dog. ugh, at least, the dog is fine. Hopefully they can forgive each other and not put their marriage in jeopardy. I told the one guy it wasn't worth fighting over, he said "Sorry Amish, but it is"
Date: 2011-06-06
From: Eckville Shelter

To: George w. outerbridge shelter
Miles today: 24.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I hurried through the day. the rocks got real bad, I saw three snakes the one I almost stepped on. the misquotes are bad, one spot, I stopped to put on bug spray, after i got sick of slapping myself and they swarmed. I bathed myself in the bug spray, and the vampire bugs kept their distance. Though they did bit my back. At camp I made Quinoa, but not until my skillet dumped several times, the one guy came over and helped me out. Mousetrap asked if my mother hates him. I stared at him confused. "huh?" I said "when we were celebrating Scavengers Birthday" he explained. I though it was funny he was so concerned. I didn't even know he was there that night.
Date: 2011-06-07
From: George w. outerbridge shelter

To: stealth camping.
Miles today: 20.0

20 miles stealth camping. Got a move on at 6:30. I climbed daunt's inferno in the early morning. I was told it'd take me two hours, took about half that. But they were section hikes. I sped along. Got a text from skippy telling me he was in deleware water gap. Just a 37 mile day away. I only let myself take breaks when I was overly fatigued. The knats and flies were pretty bad. The knats would buzz around my face and I'd place my hiking pole in my other hand and would swat them with the free hand. Soon I got tired of swatting so I decided to ignore them. That worked until one went in my eye. That was painful. Took a lot of blinking and had to stop and take my contact out. Why would a knat commit suicide like that?!I met a trail runner. I complained so much about running out of water and being thirsty he gave me a half liter of his. He would stop and move brush off the trail. He even broke out his hand saw, very similar to the one I had. He encouraged me. I later met up with him and he gave me vitamin water, passion fruit flavor. I liked that it had vitamin b's in it. Course it has 13 grams of sugar. I later learned that John the ridge runner was a thru hiker in '07, which changes things. We discussed funny people we met on the trail. He told me how lovely Maine is and how it's his favorite part of the trail. He told me about moose mooing in the night. One even walked around the shelter, he said he thought it was a person at first, with a large pack and heavy boots. Tomorrows suppose to be hot hot hot. So I'm heading to hamick early and hopefully will get an early start.
Date: 2011-06-08
From: stealth camping.

To:  Church hostel in deleware water gap. 
Miles today: 17.0

I got up and left at 4 in the dark but it didnt stay dark for long. I hiked quite steadily till I got to the shelter which was 10 miles of rocks away. John says it's his least favorite part of the trail. I met John at the shelter as well as a lady, who had attempted to thru hike. She came out to meet thru hikers, and said she hadn't seen any and was getting off the trail today. She told me the story of Nature boy. Nature boy, is a shy kid who was attempting to beat the unsupported speed record. he was doing very well. But for some reason, people were very rude, and did mean things to him. I heard that people had taken his shoes and made him walk barefoot, for a mile down the trail to get his shoes. But nothing as bad as the night he camped near a road in a national park. People threw little stones at his tent, calling him "hey nature boy!, come out here." "Nature boy" "hey nature boy" he told them to leave, but instead they unzipped his tent, he peeked his head out to see what was happening. they knocked him unconscious. He woke up outside his tent. He tried to hike, but had terrible head aches, and people said he was not himself. Unfortunately he is off the trail.It really bothers me that people would do such a thing. It is now be investigated, and since it was on government property its a federal crime.I stayed at that shelter for the hot part of the day. i talked with John the trail runner. We discussed all sorts of things and laughed at the nuances of the trail and the funny things people do. he told me more about Maine. After he left, I soon left, to got to the church. The hostel was great, nice and cool, shower was warm. I went to a market and got pumpernickel bread, and pumpkin spread, I almost got a whole cheesecake. Two other guys stayed at the hostel, and the one guy said Jim was looking for me. I slept on the couch.
Date: 2011-06-09
From:  Church hostel in deleware water gap. 

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 25.2
Weather: clear sky

Got out early with kayak, he had picked up my long sleeve shirt I had dropped the other day. We crossed the bridge over the Delaware river. he was long legged, and I lost him when he kicked into high gear, leaving me in the dust. I got hot so i took a soak in crawfish pond, later I found out there was a no swimming sign. I later spotted Jim, sitting in the sun away from the misquotes. He was happy to see me and gave me a bunch of food. We hiked together, took a soak in a stream. We hiked in the dark and got wet in the thunderstorm, but what was the worst was at the shelter, must have been the breading ground for mosquitoes, was terrible. It was too hot to sleep inside my sleeping bag, but with out my sleeping bag I had little protection from the bugs. It was hard to sleep. Perhaps the worst night on the trail.
Date: 2011-06-11
From: the not so secret shelter

To: wawayanda shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: light rain

In the morning I got to meet the other two people in the shelter. The tattooed guy and his girl friend. I say tattooed guy because when I asked people if they had seen scavenger they'd ask if he had tattoos. The vampire bugs were fierce good thing I had spray. When I got to the shelter that scavenger was supposedly at I took break and tattoo man and the girl showed up. I could see the bugs swarming on them. They were going crazy. Slapping their arms and legs and trying to get food ready to eat. Finally my compassionate side kicked in and I let them use my spray. They were so incredible grateful. Course I didn't have so much left. Later I ran Into a man who drives down on Saturdays to hike little sections he said it's taken him months to get as far as he has in new jersey. That section was a wildlife preservation I guess they don't want the Mosquitos to go extinct. There were also swans ducks and geese swimming in the marsh/ponds. I later ran into a lady who had three other friends giving he company on one of her sections. They sprayed me down. I was very thankful for that. I was planning to go to a library, but the library closed at 5 and I though I was closer. My feet felt as though I was wearing shoes two sizes to small, and my mental state was of a person who has worked double shift multiple days in a row. So when I got to the road which happened to be the wrong road, I got very upset, and cried a bit. I could see people in their cars looking concerned at me, it would have been nice if they pulled over and gave me a home to sleep eat and shower. But like expected I trudged on, the rain started up again. I stopped for the day at a early four thirty. The man in the shelter here named wild light, he hiked up to the deleware river gap thirty three years ago and is out to finish the hike. Wild light is a very sweet man. He made me hot chocolate let me cook on his stove. He shared his water with me, put my food in the bear box and even gave me some peanut m&ms. So I'm spoiled once again.