morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-06-13
From: Bears Den Hostel, VA

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: clear sky

This will be a big day. Several milestones will be marked along the way. I am away from hostel 6 am. It is a misty morning. Scanning the sky I eventually see a few breaks in the clouds. At about 7 am local time I come to a small sign on a tree announcing the Virginia - West Virginia state line. I get a little choked up. I gently touch the sign. I have completed the monster, Virginia, 535 miles, about one-quarter of the entire AT. Nearby there is an overlook, but I'm not really sure if the view is of Virginia or West Virginia. The state line also marks the 1000 mile point from my start in Georgia. About a mile beyond the state line I come to the end of the Roller Coaster. Have nice trail at mid-morning but then am back on the rocks. The sky clears and the sun comes out. There is a blustery breeze and the humidity is mercifully lower too. Cross the Shenandoah River on a bridge and enter historic Harpers Ferry, WV about 2 pm. Check in at Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) visitor center. I'm the 457th hiker to register this year. ATC staff take my picture for the photo album. Fill out an information card to go with my picture. Send email update to friends and family from visitor center. An ATC Ridge Runner trail name Junker gives me a lift from the visitor center to the Teahorse Hostel where I will spend the night. At hostel check-in with owner Laurel, who is very kind and gracious. Meet other hikers staying at hostel: Spirit, Oak, Johnny Rocket. Cook my rice dinner in hostel kitchen. Pass my laundry to Laurel and her son for washing. Shower. Will cross the Potomac River in the morning and enter Maryland. So far we have only been in five states: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Including Maryland there are nine states and about 1200 miles to go.
Date: 2012-06-14
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Dahlgren Backpack Campground, MD
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Leave hostel 6 am. Laurel is disappointed I will not stay for their breakfast feast. Take about an hour to walk thru Harpers Ferry, WV, taking many pictures of town, railway bridges and Potomac River. Meet up with hiker Jersey at Fire Engine Building that John Brown occupied in his infamous 1859 raid on the Federal Arsenal there. Use pedestrian walkway at side of railroad bridge to cross Potomac River to enter the state of Maryland. Take pics of Chesapeake and Ohio Canal lock. Trail coincides with canal towpath for a couple miles downstream on the Potomac River. Trail leaves river and ascends to viewpoint on Weaverton Cliffs. Get pic of me there. Traverse South Mountain. Get water, use restroom and take pics at Gathland State Park. Continue traverse of South Mountain. See Superstar and Walk-and-Eat near Rocky Run Shelter. Take pics of Civil War era Reno Monument at Fox Gap. Arrive at Dahlgren Backpack Campground. This interesting State of Maryland campground is exclusively for walk-in-walk-out campers (no car campers). I am the first to stop for the night and for awhile have the place to myself. Walk over to Old South Mountain Inn to eat but the place is closed until 5 pm. I could have saved myself the walk if only I had consulted my AWOL AT Guide. Walk back to campground. Setup my tent and eat my rice dinner. Superstar and Walk-and-Eat stop to visit, but then continue on. Juggles stops to visit, but then continues on. Hotshot comes in for the night. He just stopped for a resupply, so his pack is bulging. Hotshot cleans up and walks over to the Old South Mountain Inn where he treats himself to a feast. Later, a long distance cyclist named Popcorn rides in and sets up his tent for the night.
Date: 2012-06-15
From: Dahlgren Backpack Campground, MD

To: Raven Rock Shelter, MD
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: broken clouds

Away from campground with Hotshot at 6:40 am. Stop for pics at Washington Monument State Park stone tower. See Hotshot at the Monument. This is the last time I will see him as he leaves me in the dust. As I am walking downhill away from the Monument I pass a troop of Girl Scouts heading uphill towards it. Stop to cook my rice dinner at the Ensign Cowall Shelter. Get water at spring near shelter and use privy at shelter. Get water again at stream just before Warner Gap Rd. Meet up with Jersey at newly constructed Raven Rock Shelter. I decide to setup my tent on one of several constructed tent pads surrounding the shelter, but a few hundred yards away from the shelter itself. Walk-and-Eat and Superstar stop to visit with Jersey and me before moving on. Next morning Jersey tells me I made the right decision to tent because the overactive young son of a father and son duo spent the evening bouncing off the walls of the shelter.
Date: 2012-06-16
From: Raven Rock Shelter, MD

To: Waynesboro, PA
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Nice night on tent pad. Up at 5:15 am. Away from shelter with Jersey at 6:30 am. Walk and talk with Jersey for a bit and then he moves on ahead of me. Catch up to Jersey and Impulse at Pen Mar County Park. Take pics at park. Meet father and two sons at Pen Mar who are on a 50 mile backpack. I talk with them about hiking the A.T. Come to some old trolley tracks in the woods which mark the Maryland - Pennsylvania state line (also the Mason - Dixon line). Pick and eat nice ripe blackberries at Pen Mar Rd. Hike over Mount Dunlop and down to PA S.R. 16. Had some very rocky sections again today on my walk here. Drop my pack and stick out my thumb. There is heavy traffic on the road and in about 5 minutes a local stops to pick me up. He drives me to the Days Inn in Waynesboro, PA. Shower. Eat. Do laundry at nearby laundromat. Nap. Cindy arrives about 5:30 pm. She had flown into D.C. earlier in the day. Got a rental car and drove out to meet me here. We chat into the evening.
Date: 2012-06-17
From: Waynesboro, PA

To: Washington, DC
Miles today: 0.0

Cindy and I get hotel breakfast at Days Inn, Waynesboro, PA. Drive to Front Royal, VA to get my boxes. Make reservation Quality Inn, College Park, MD. Drive to hotel and check in. Drive to Baltimore. Visit National Pinball Museum and meet David Silverman. See tall ships visiting in Baltimore Inner Harbor. Drive back to hotel. Dinner at Platos Diner next to hotel.
Date: 2012-06-18
From: Washington, DC

To: Washington, DC
Miles today: 0.0

Cindy and I get breakfast at Platos Diner. Drizzle and rain coming down until after breakfast. Drive to Metro Light Rail station. Take train from College Park Station to Capitol Station. Walk around US Capitol Building. Walk past Botanic Gardens looking at flowers. Spend most of morning at Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Have chili cheese dog, drink and cookie at Smithsonian Castle. Visit American History Museum where we see Doroty's Ruby Slippers, Bell Phone and Edison Light Bulb, Star Spangled Banner and Jefferson's Bible. Rest on chairs. Visit Transportation Exhibit and Electricity Exhibit. Take Metro from Mall area back to College Park, MD. Get groceries at Shoppers grocery store. Back at Quality Inn for the night.
Date: 2012-06-19
From: Washington, DC

To: Washington, DC
Miles today: 0.0

Cindy and I get breakfast at Platos Diner. Shop at College Park REI and Laurel Walmart. Mail food box to Duncannon, PA at Post Office. Take Metro light rail from College Park to area near White House. It is very hot outside. See bee hive behind White House near vegetable garden. Visit Renwick Gallery to see decorative glass and quilts. Get dinner at Ruby Tuesday near Convention Center. Take train to area near Lincoln Memorial. See fire flies on walk to Lincoln Memorial. Visit Lincoln Memorial after dark. Many people are there. Read Second Inaugural Address and Gettysburg Address. Walk around Washington Monument to Metro station at Smithsonian. Take Metro light rail back to College Park. Back at Quality Inn for the night.
Date: 2012-06-20
From: Washington, DC

To: Waynesboro, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Cindy and I drive to REI south-central D.C. area. Get foam sit pad to make shoulder pads. Drive to Waynesboro, PA. Stop for lunch at Double T Diner, Fredrick, MD on the way. Very hot day. Check in at Quality Inn, Waynesboro, PA. In late afternoon spray trail shirt, trail shorts, wool sock tops, pack bottom, tent floor skirt and gaiters with permethrin and dry all in hot sun. Buffet dinner at Waynesboro, PA area restaurant. Night at Quality Inn, Waynesboro, PA.
Date: 2012-06-21
From: Waynesboro, PA

To: Waynesboro, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Cindy and I get buffet breakfast at Quality Inn, Waynesboro, PA. Look up Gettysburg on web on hotel PC. Drive to Gettysburg, PA. At Visitor Center see orientation movie and Cyclorama. Get burger lunch in Visitor Center cafeteria. Walk thru museum at Visitor Center. Buy post cards at gift shop. Back in car drive to High Water Mark on Driving Tour. This is site of the Copse of Trees and Angle and High Point of Picket's Charge. It is very hot outside. Drive to National Military Cemetery. See Gettysburg Address Monument. Walk loop around civil war soldier graves. See big trees, many labeled: red oak, american hornbeam, hemlock, holly. Drive from Gettysburg, PA back to Waynesboro, PA. On way back to hotel, stop at local family restaurant in Blue Ridge Summit, PA. Stop at Walmart for TV dinners and snacks. I decide to stay at hotel the following night and speak to hotel staff to extend reservation for the additional day. Hotel give me name and phone number of local who can shuttle me back to trail. Call the local and arrange for shuttle ride back to trail. Night at Quality Inn, Waynesboro, PA. Snuggle in evening.
Date: 2012-06-23
From: Waynesboro, PA

To: Quarry Gap Shelter, PA
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Up at Quality Inn, Waynesboro, PA at 5:30 am. Pack. Have waffle at hotel breakfast buffet. Local Dennis picks me up at 7:15 am. At trail 7:30 am. Call Cindy and chat for a bit. The early morning air is stagnant. Start getting some breeze mid-morning. Get water from tap at Old Forge picnic area. Make rice dinner on big boulders along trail about mid-day. Stop for soda at Trail Magic event hosted by 2010 NOBO King Krawler at Caledonia State Park campground. Meet several other hikers at Trail Magic event. Continue to Quarry Gap Shelters. On way there am passed by Tree Hugger, Chedda and Rocket. Pitch tent on wood platform at Quarry Gap Shelter. Trade text messages with Cindy.
Date: 2012-06-24
From: Quarry Gap Shelter, PA

To: Ironmasters Mansion Hostel, PA
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: broken clouds

Away from shelter 6:15 am. Early in the day it is already warm and sticky. Little breeze. Day starts with 500 ft climb then more or less level with two other small climbs. Filter water to fill bottle at Milesburn Cabin. Just before Toms Run Shelter pass physical A.T. midpoint - 1092 miles. Stop for lunch at Toms Run Shelter. See Rocket, Tree Hugger, Chedda and Kevin there. Mostly clear sky. Can feel sun's heat. Woods about 25% open. Cross many gravel roads in Michaux State Forest. Then mostly downhill to Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The Appalachian Trail Museum is located at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Today they are hosting an A.T. hike story telling event. In conjunction with the event there is a big feed. I get lemonade, sloppy joe sandwich and cup cakes. See Mr Breeze and Reichert (AKA Rhino) there. Have to wait until Ironmaster Mansion Hostel opens at 5 pm to check in and get a bunk. Shower and settle in for the night. All the men are in a big room on the ground floor and the women have a separate room on the second floor. Bit of drizzle in the evening. No real rain.
Date: 2012-06-25
From: Ironmasters Mansion Hostel, PA

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter, PA
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Hot and stuffy night at Ironmasters Mansion Hostel as no one opens any windows. Fans are blowing in the room, but the noise disturbs my sleep. Manage to sleep a bit later in morning. Away from hostel about 7:40 am. Fairly still air early. Nice breeze by mid-morning. Get pic at railroad crossing at S.R. 34. Get texts from Carolyn and Cindy. Reply to both of them. Rhino Reinhard stops to chat. Call Mom. Uncle Vic is gravely ill and non-responsive. Get two cans of Sprite at Trail Magic just over S.R. 34. See Rocket about three times during the morning. Have lunch on rocks at high point above S.R. 34. Start of rock maze. Fill water bottle at stream at S.R. 94, supposed Whiskey Spring. Meet and talk with A.T. Ridge Runner trail name Coach at turnoff for Alec Kennedy shelter. Walk on to shelter for the evening. I am the first one here. Decide to setup tent. Find nice flat spot somewhat removed from shelter. Later on others come in and occupy shelter. There are 20 others here, including Bobby, who stayed at Ironmasters Mansion Hostel last night. A hiker with a hammock sets up opposite from me. Later in the evening there is noise emanates from the shelter. Glad I setup my tent away from the commotion.
Date: 2012-06-26
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter, PA

To: Cove Mountain Shelter, PA
Miles today: 25.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Nice night in tent at Alec Kennedy Shelter. Away from shelter 6 am. Pass corn and wheat fields before Boiling Springs, PA. At edge of town cross railroad tracks. Stop at colonial era bog iron furnace. Walk beside nice town lake. Stop at ATC regional office for water and snacks from hiker box. At ATC office meet up with hiker Socks from Germany. She is just returning to trail after several days in hotel recovering from nasty infection. She got infection by scratching an itch with dirt under her fingernails. Scratching evidently broke skin allowing infection. Moral of the story: Don't scratch that itch! After Boiling Springs, PA pass more corn fields and then alfalfa fields and soybean fields. Cross I-76 and S.R. 11 on bridges. See dairy farm. At I-81 get root beer at Trail Magic with Socks and Rocket. Stop to cook rice dinner on picnic table at ATC Scott Farm Trail Work Center. Socks, Rocket and Reinhard pass thru while I am there. Rocket lounges on grass reading a paperback book. Inwardly I cringe at the thought of what ticks she might be picking up, but say nothing. What's the point of alarming her. At this point she must be aware of the risk. Just before I depart a visitor drives in and gifts me a bottle of Gatorade! While crossing Blue Mountain pass Darlington Shelter near the height of land. As I have already walked 18.2 miles today, thought about spending the night here, but since I am feeling good I continue on. Drop down in to valley and cross S.R. 850. Climb up onto Cove Mountain. Trail is insanely rocky before reaching Cove Mountain Shelter. There are a couple people at shelter, which looks a little tired. Am told about porcupine coming in the night to chew shelter woodwork for hiker salts. Woods around shelter are open enough that there is a thick growth of nasty Stinging Nettle covering the ground. Decide to setup tent on woods road near shelter. Does not appear that road is commonly used. No vehicles come thru in evening or overnight. Thank goodness.
Date: 2012-06-27
From: Cove Mountain Shelter, PA

To: Peters Mountain Shelter, PA
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

Away from camp 6 am. Drop down off of Cove Mountain and walk into the town of Duncannon, PA. Am happy to be in town early to pickup my food box so that I can cross open area at Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers before it gets hot later in the morning. Arrive in town at 8 am. Learn to my immense dismay that Doyle Hotel, which is holding my food box, does not open until 11 am. Go to Post Office, which ironically IS open, and mail old maps home. Go to Goodies Restaurant across street from Doyle Hotel for breakfast. Rocket comes in and ignores me. After she leaves a hiker named Pickwick comes in and joins me. Later Socks and Reinhard come in and join us. Go to Doyle Hotel at 11 am. Get my packages and buy denatured alcohol to fill my fuel bottle. Repack all into my backpack, which is now bulging. Get single rice dinner and fruit drink at nearby convenience store. With my umbrella up to deflect some of the sun from the mid-day heat walk thru town and across both the Juniata and Susquehanna rivers and climb 1000 ft up onto Peters Mountain. Talk with hiker Miles at parking area where trail crosses S.R. 225. It is a warm sunny day but with a nice stiff breeze. Arrive at Peters Mountain Shelter about 6 pm. Miles and Pace Car are there. The three of us tent in a group near the shelter.
Date: 2012-06-28
From: Peters Mountain Shelter, PA

To: JCT Near Rausch Gap Shelter, PA
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Up at 4 am. Away by 5:30 am. Make good progress over top of Peters Mountain. Get pics at Kinter View. See Pacecar there and get text messages from Cindy. Get water from nice spring just before S.R. 325. In Clark Valley get water at Trail Magic at Clark Creek. Climb 1000 ft onto Stony Mountain. Follow old road along top most of afternoon. Call Cindy at A.T. junction with Horseshoe Trail at Commemorative Plaque. Text Cindy details of next mail drop. Make and eat rice dinner at junction. Pass site of Yellow Springs an 1850 coal mining town. Get water at nice spring past town site. Meet section hiker Made It at campsite at turnoff for Rausch Gap Shelter and privy. Walk woods road to shelter. Shelter is under construction and privy is full almost to seat. Ugh. Walk back up woods road to trail junction and campsite. There is an extensive area here of disturbed ground. Appears to be overused camping area that was recently cleaned up. Setup my tent here for the night. There is a strongly flowing spring emanating from the ground here. It is stained with rusty iron deposits. I filter water here and experience no ill effects from drinking it. Am woken up several times during the night by nearby "fireworks". Finally remember seeing Indiantown Gap Military Reservation on map. Must be war games there with booming shells and helicopters thumping the sky.
Date: 2012-06-29
From: JCT Near Rausch Gap Shelter, PA

To: Pine Grove, PA
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: clear sky

Much cloud to cloud lightning and some thunder at 3 am. Light rain till about 4 am. In the mid to late 1800's there was a great deal of primitive coal mining in this area. All around the place where I am camped there are deep pits in the ground and huge piles of rubble. Since the coal was so near the surface simple pick and shovel methods were sufficient to extract the coal. The result is the kind of moonscape I find myself in. Small chips of coal are liberally scattered over the surface of the ground. Away from camp about 6:30 am. Come to an Acid Mine Drainage treatment facility on Rausch Creek. This plant uses pebble limestone to neutralize acid mine drainage and an aeration system to oxidize iron from the water. It is a very humid morning due to the overnight rain. Cross old iron bridge at Swatara Gap and walk underneath new I-81 bridges. Have a hot climb up onto Blue Mountain. The top of Blue Mountain is very rocky. The trail is brushed in. Because the woods are relatively thin the trail is in much sun and there is almost no breeze. Stop to fill water bottles at William Penn Shelter. Decide to get off the trail. Call and make reservation at Comfort Inn on I-81 near Pine Grove, PA. Call local and leave message requesting shuttle. Arrive at S.R. 645. Stick out my thumb and get ride from a local passing over the ridge to a Turkey Hill Mini-Mart in Pine Grove, PA and then onto Comfort Inn. Call shuttle driver to cancel. Call Cindy. Rinse trail clothes. Shower.
Date: 2012-07-02
From: Pine Grove, PA

To: Eagles Nest Shelter, PA
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: few clouds

Breakfast at Comfort Inn. Stuff pack. Shuttle from local Joyce to S.R. 645 at 8 am. Pleasant to start. Cool with breeze. Recognize Day Glow as he goes by. We hike and talk. Get his pic. Get pics at overlook near S.R. 501. At Hertlein Campsite meet hiker Machine. He is 19 and doing the trail in 100 days. Fill water bottles. See second rattler in trail just after lunch at Shubert Gap. It is 3 ft long and 2-1/2 in wide and coils up in the middle of the trail. Get many texts from Cindy. Trail rocky in AM and also in PM. Sunny and warmer in PM. Arrive at Eagles Nest Shelter at 6 pm. In area before shelter large group of hikers is camped including Reinhard. Hiker Machine is setup inside shelter. I setup my tent on flat ground somewhat away from shelter. The mosquitoes are pretty bad. Have my usual nightly sponge bath and rinse my trail clothes. There is a family group tenting nearby. They have a smoky fire, but fortunately the smoke drifts away from me.
Date: 2012-07-03
From: Eagles Nest Shelter, PA

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

Depart shelter about 6 am. Good progress to Auburn Overlook. Take break and call Cindy. Hiker Machine arrives at overlook as I'm leaving. Trail descends steeply to Port Clinton. At bottom cross railroad tracks near old railroad depot. Hiker Machine catches up to me here. Machine takes pics of me. Take some pics passing thru Port Clinton. Machine goes on. Walk along Schuylkill River and climb 1000 ft back onto Blue Mountain. Catch up with Machine at Pocahontas Spring and get water there. After crossing reservoir area arrive at Windsor Furnace Shelter at 2 pm. Hikers Eli and Tyvek are there. It is hot and humid and there is no breeze at shelter. Decide to move on. Hot 800 ft climb to Pulpit Rock. Meet local hikers and cook my rice dinner here. Very rocky trail to The Pinnacle. There is a big rock pile there. Trail doubles back to west on old road. Few blazes. Descend to Eckville Shelter where I will spend the night. This is a private shelter built behind a private house. Get water at spigot behind house. Shower in trailer adjacent to shelter. Machine is there. Get Trail Magic from visitor at shelter trail name Glow Worm. Padre Bill Squire Jr there with son the 3rd and grandson the 4th. Tom and Will there as well.