morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-20
From: Towns Inn Hostel

To: Towns Inn Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

For the past several days I have been mulling over whether to go home for a few days. The primary purpose was to be with Susan and celebrate our 30th anniversary. In earlier conversations, we had decided to hold off celebrating; my hiking and her job and travel would make the logistics very difficult. Her assumption is that she would drive to see me. I decided to go ahead and fly home; I certainly had more flexibility in my schedule than she did, and I also had very little "on my plate". My "plate" is basically a path and basically I just have to get up (most days), turn the right way (usually North) and walk for several miles. Pretty easy decision. So it is back to Glen Ellyn.Being on the Trail and wanting to go somewhere else can take a bit of juggling and the help of several people. That is what happened and it just illustrates the generousity of folks. So I began to formulate a way to get home. In talking with my brother Peter and sister Lisa, it appeared that getting to DC was my best option for a flight back to Chicago.And part of that plan meant getting PenMar County Park..about a little over 40 miles away and I had 2 days to that. Piece of cake.Of course after getting to PenMar, I needed to connect the dots for a few more miles. The first contact I called on the shuttle list was Bill Reinke; he and his wife are very supportive of hikers as Bill is a thru hiker. Bill suggested picking me up at Pen Mar, I would stay with him and his family, and the next day he would shuttle me to Frederick. From there I would take the train to DC.Because of the commuter train schedule, I would need to stay in DC for a night. Son Vincent's friend, Chris Connally, opened the doors of his house in DC and offered to drive me to Dulles. Another link done.The flight would get me to Chicago.From Midway, friend Alex D'Angelo would get me to Glen Ellyn.Looks pretty good, and there would be no white blazes to miss.
Date: 2008-05-21
From: Towns Inn Hostel

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: broken clouds

So plans for heading home came togther pretty well. The first step was to meet Bill R. tomorrow afternoon at PenMar Park, just about two tenths of a mile from the Pa. border. I would stay with his family that night and then catch the commuter train to DC. I would need to take another zero day in DC due to the train schedule. I would have time to explore the nation's capitol.So I am out fo the shelter around 7:00.A great day of hiking due to easy terrain and great weather. The terrain actualy had several climbs, though they were short, less than 600'. The sun was out all day and a constant breeze eased any heat build-up.Around midday i ran into Crow (Kelly). He and I hiked together for the balance of the day. We took several breaks along the way, including visiting the original Wahington Monument.Got to the shelter around 4:30.
Date: 2008-05-22
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Pen Mar Park
Miles today: 18.1

Myb focus is pretty much on getting to Pen Mar and meeting Bill.PemnMar is a large community park right on the border of Maryland and Pennsylvainia. The park has several picnic areas, a phenominal overlook into the valley below, and this awesome band shell/dance pavillion. They featurea weekly concert during the usmmer andthe music themes change weekly to represent various styles and periods of music.Got into PenMar around 4 and met up with Bill at 4:30.Headed to his house where I met his family and enjoyed some great homecooking and fmaily warmth. It is probably hard for non-hikers to understand this idea 9of trail magic. Evne though I wasa paying Bill to shuttle me, there was no talk of staying at his home nor any talk of cost. H ehad only talked to me on the phone and yet he was trusting enough to let me stay in his home. There is this feeling of trust with hikers and trail agels and Bill and his wife Amy reprent the best on the trail angels. There would be other situations with this part of hiking the AT.
Date: 2008-05-24
From: DC

To: Glen Ellyn
Miles today: 0.0

Got into Chicago earlier than expected and got over to Phil and Liz's where Susan was expecting to have dinner with them, thier daughter Gwynne and nobody else. When I came in, she seemed to be totally surpised and happy to see me (I hoped she would be happy to see me). So a mini-reunion would happen for the next few days with both boys being home. Very relaxing, except Susan did observe that it seemed I was also anxious to get back on Trail and was focused on finishing.
Date: 2008-05-28
From: Bill and Amy's home

To: Rocky Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

There is not much better when on Trail than a home-cooked breakfast and a leisurely start to the day. That is what Amy and Bill provided as my last morning before staring my hike. We all enjoyed a great breakfast, then lounged around the table, drinking coffee and gabbing..a really great start.Bill shuttled me back to PenMar where I headed North.There are several milestones coming up..2 tents of a mile to Pa., another 48 miles to 1,100, and another 45 to the half-wsay point. I was feeling like I was starting the second half of my journey. It seemed as if I was almost in disbelief that I could be this close to half way. So it is around 11am and I am headed to Rocky Mountain Shelter. For the first time in what seemed like several weeks, I hiked by myself, kind of erie. Though I saw a few people during the day, they were section hikers. For the last several weeks, it seemed as if I had been hiking with somebody and/or encountered other thruhikers during the day. Now today, it was like when I first started and was hiking solo for all day. I think I actually missed seeing some of the many of the hikers I have come to know.The weather and terrain helped make up for the loneliness. The weather was perfect hiking weather..sunny, temps in the 60's and a mild breeze. The terrain was also different, though I did have a hard time trying to "see" the differences between this and what I had been hking. Again my main mission is to keep track of those white blazes and to always walk northbound.However I was able to see the following: the ridges seemed to be much more broad than the others and the climbs were milder..not as steep nor as long. Other changes included having more shelters inthe early part of Pa; there were 4 shelters within 15 miles. The shelters were smaller, sleeping 4 hikers which meant there were 2 shelters per location. At one location, the shleters were marked "Snoring" and the other marked "Non-snoring". That was a brillian move, provided hikers are honest about whether they snore or not. The privies at these locations were excetionally clean and one even came stocked wtih toilet paper. Just like Holiday Inn.So my first day back ended with being back in a shelter on the AT.
Date: 2008-05-29
From: Rocky Mountain Shelter

To: Birch Run Shelters
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: few clouds

Up and on Trail by 6:30; I had to hitch to Fayetville to pick up a new top container for my pack being shipped to me by Grainte Gear. Of course I would also be able to grab a town breakfast while there. Got my errands run, then got back on Trail around 11.I had only 10 miles to go; that sounds so strange when in the beginning, 13 miles would have been a day long hike, now I am considering an afternon hike.My pace wass easy going and I took several breaks during the day, shooting some pictures, visitng with locals Dave, Jen, Scott and Carol, at one of the shelters.This hike was also anohter example of a different area. The wooded area contained very old, tall coniferous trees, and the path at times was wide and smooth with few rocks. Other times the path was coated with old pine needles,very comfortable to walk on.Got to the shleter around 5 and had a leisurely eveing.
Date: 2008-05-30
From: Birch Run Shelters

To: James Fry Shelter
Miles today: 17.3

Up and on the Trail around 6:30 headed to the second shelter up.It was the day of hitting 1100 and getting to the half way point. Along the way I stopped at thr first shelter fora break and met a mother/daughter pair section hiking. Real nice folks who would hike 5-8 miels a day and enjoy the sights. Talk abrou the right idea.The path continued to change with seve4al ups anddowns, but generally easy. Sometimes the path was almost overcrowdedwith the Mountain Laurel that was comimng into bloom. It is a very pretty, almost delicate looking flower.As planned, just before 11 I reached Furnace State Park, which is the site of an old iron furncae used to make firearms during the Revolutionary War. The park is also the site of where hikers can attempt to eat a half galon of ice cream in one setting. As I came around the bend to the store I saw several hikers I recognized..Root, BigUn and Night Terro. I also met Toots and Burples for the first time.After about a 2 hor break for eating and visiting, I took off for the shelter and to officially start the second half. About 30 minutes later I found the sign that was erected several years aog indicating half-way.In reality half-way changes year to year as the tTrail is changed slightly each year.However I was there. For a while I was feeling pretty heady..I had hiked nearly 1,100 miles. I did get to take credit for that, however it takes so much more than the hiking. I reflected on all the e-mails, log book sign-ins,and phone calls from relatives, friends, former co-workers. It has been said that hiking the AT is mostly mental and at this point I couldn't agree more. So many times I have gotten into camp tired, hungry, dirty cold, wet, or whatever. Not necessarily discouraged, but certainly not overly excited about doing the same thing tomorrow. Then I check e-mail, or get a phone call and am immediately picked up by what I read/hear. So many people are out there offering me encouragement, humor, help, etc. It is unsettling to think how I would feel or where I would be without their support.I am so grateful for all the support; I hoe they know how much those emails and phone call are appreciated AND needed.
Date: 2008-05-31
From: James Fry Shelter

To: Hotel..Boiling Springs
Miles today: 13.2

I was up and out around 6:30 in hopes of evading/missing the predicted rain and possible thunderstorms. I came close as they didn't start until around 11. The day was to start off with 4 hills to climb, then about 15 miles of flat land. The hills were more taxing than I expected; seems that I loss part of my Trail legs while off, which mean tthe climbing sand descending was more taxing tha n before.Then the rains came and I really felt sapped of energy. Getting into Boiling Springs around 1 had me pretty tired and of course hungry. After eating, I ended up staying at a hotel in town.
Date: 2008-06-01
From: Hotel..Boiling Springs

To: The Doyle
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Another hotel...THE HOTEL. My destination for today is The Doyle Hotel, which is well known on the Trail. Brother-in-law Lenny and I had stayed there last year, and thoroughly enjoyed the food. The hotel is one of the original Budweiser Hotels and caters to hikers. I was on Trail by 7and hiked through several cow fields, hay fields, etc. Then into the wooded areas. The weather was just perfect, with sunny skies an decent temps. Taking a few breaks, it was an enjoyable hike, though I still felt a little rusty from being off Trail. Ran into Toots and Burples around mid day then again later in the afternoon. I think I may have broken my own record for stumbles after tripping on the proverbial rock on the trail. As I started to catch myself from falling, my stick slipped. Of course then it was an issue of not fallig down the side of the mountain. I felt like I stumbled a good 8 or 9 steps before finally righting myself. It must have looked hilarious from a viewer as I tried to not fall. Afterwords I wondered if it would have been less trouble to just fall down Either way, I did survive with a bit of a sore thigh, but nothing too serious (I hope).Arrived at the Doyle and ordered food and drink, which left me wanting to just sleep right there in the bar. However, I checked into my room, took a shower, then had an easy evening. Toots, Burples and I went to the store for dessert; we each ordered a quart of our favorite ice cream, then called it a night.A great end to a good day.
Date: 2008-06-03
From: Clarks Ferry Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 24.6
Weather: broken clouds

I'm up and out around 7 and am feeling kind of "back in action ", meaning my trail legs feel good and I have plenty of energy in my system. My Mother would say I was full of "piss and vinegar"; good old Irish humor.The terrain looked to be pretty mild, though the rocks were there a good part of the day. Pennsylvania is known as "Rocksylvania" in hiker circles because of the rocks. They can be the size of pebbles and go to the size of a car. Just hard to imagine; hopefully the pictures will help. But I don't have the luxury of looking at the rocks, I have to walk over, around, on top of them AND avoid falling on them and/or tripping over them. So when I start climbing rocks there are 2 things to do: 1) look over the next 15-20 feet to get somewhat of an idea of where I am going in relation to the next white blaze; 2) do my absolute best to also look ahead and see if there are any rattle snakes sunning themselves, which they like to do on the rocks. So far, I have managed to avoid falling off the rocks or stepping on snakes. One other unique aspect of hiking on the rocks is that the legs, knees, ankles, and feet get an entirely different workout thatn just "strolling" along on the "regular" Trail. I feel so blessed that most of leg and assorted body parts have fared pretty well. My brother Flip, an extraordinary tennis player (as well as family man, firefighter and brother) gave me an exercise during my training that helped strengthen my ankles, that has paid off> If my toes could speak, they would say that hiking on the rocks has added years to their life, or is it "taken years from their life"?So I am headed to another shelter Lenny and I were at last year. It is easily remembered as it is a little over a quarter mile off the trail and it is where I lost (read that "left") my first piece of Trail equipment..a water bottle. The other thing I remember is that this shelter has water right next to the shelter; that means no additional hiking for water after a long day of hiking.Speaking of which..another personal best 24.6 miles. That almost sounds funny..saying I hiked that many miles with a back pack on. So I pull into the shelter around 4. Also there is as couple, Honeymoon and Shortstick as well as Daisy, a young girl from England. They are all easy to be around and we have an easy dinner before turning in. A storm started to come in and pretty soon the buckets of rain came; it seemed to continue for most of the night.I was just about asleep when I noticed a light coming from outside the shelter. Looking out I could see a hiker coming in from the Trail in the middle of this storm. He was completely drenched and happy to get in.
Date: 2008-06-04
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

So we all have been talking about 501 since last night; 501 is the shelter w/ few "amenities": solar sower, built-in buck beds, large bunk house that has 12 built-in buck beds, a sky light and picnic table in the middle as well a plenty of room, as well as a solar shower. Oh yea, you can have pizza delivered from the local pizzaria...yes, this shelter is worth heading towards.The only thing extra I need to do is to make a side trip to Green Point Pa; my help towards the other hiker left me without cash for pizza. So I hopped off at hiway 443 to hitch a ride 3 miles down the road, hoping I wouldn't have to add to my mileage. A local guy picked me up within 12' and took me right into town. so hit the atm and pick up a few times. I go out to the curb next to the building to organize my pack; a few feet way a lady and a guy were transferring boxes from one pickup to another. She closed the tail gate and walked up to me; "You're a thru-hiker?"..combination statement/question. I replied yes and she slips a bill into my..$10 bill..just like that. I didn't yogi, beg, or even acknowledge her before she came up to me; her act of Trail Magic really caught me off guard. She listened to my story of giving the guy campsite and food money and that I really didn't need her offer, but I would be glad to pass it on. She was insistent I keep the $10. She just wanted to help a thruhiker. Just amazing.So I hitchhike back; I got picked up by a guy who did a u-turn. When he dropped me off, I offered the $10 to him for gas money. He was VERY insistent I keep it; all he asked is that I read a church pamphlet he gave me. Again the kindness of strangers towards strangers.So I load up my pack and head down the Trail towards the bridge and I am almost stunned by what I see on the side of the bridge road: a large offering of water, gatorade, soda, and various snacks like boxes of raisens, cookies, and granola bars. They were put there by some unknown Trail Angel who was just trying to make our trek a little brighter.Now, this many acts of Trail Magic in one "setting" is pretty unusual, but Trail Magic seems to happen on a pretty consistent basis. Just the kindness of strangers to strangers.So I move on and get to 501 around 4. the shelter would end up being pretty crowded with a few folks sleeping on the floor. I used the solar shower, which was wonderful. the day of hiking got me pretty sweaty and grimy. After cleaning up I ordered pizza, large with 3 toppings. The mood in the shelter was pretty relaxing after all the hikers had eaten. Bedtime was about 9, with an average day planned for tomorrow.
Date: 2008-06-05
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagle's Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

Departing the shelter around 8, I hiked on and off during the day with Hearts, Daisy, Shortstick and Honeymoon. The day of hiking was pretty easy; I arrived at the shelter around 3:30. This was the first shelter Lenny and I had stayed at last year. Between that and having less than a 1000 miles to go greatly increased my confidence in being able to make it to Katahdin. I knew an accident or illness could change things pretty quickly. My confidence was mostly feeling like I was in pretty good shape and had survived some trying days, terrain, weather etc. My chances of finishing seem to have greatly increased. Getting to the shelter early let me set up my tent and have a leisurely afternoon and evening. That was a good thing as the next few days would be real challenging. Hot weather was forecasted as well as some serious rocks and additional climbing.
Date: 2008-06-06
From: Eagle's Nest Shelter

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Most nights I sleep reasonably well; last night was certainly the exception. Probably got 3 hours of sleep. So I take off at 6 and need to get into Cabelas's. My lost pack cover was making it impossible to keep my clothes and everything dry during rainstorms. the lack of sleep didn't seem to be a problem. The path was pretty good, though the rocks continued. The tough part was the climb down to Pt. Clinton. It wasn't a big surprise as it was my first climb last year. Very steep ascent last year and now it would be a very steep descent. So I get into Pt. Clinton and hitch a ride to Cabela's, get a cover, hitch back to the Pt. Clinton where I saw other hikers before starting the ascent north. Again very steep which made me a sweaty, grimy hiker.The others arrived within a couple of hours. Later that night about 10 other hikers showed up: Treat, Bunz and Roses, Night Terror, Spock, and Twiggy.I had not seen Bunz and Roses in over a month; they are a great couple to be around.So a little party was held in the camp site and I was up much later than I expected. That wasn't good with the next few days looking to be hot with major rocks and a few climbs.I ended up staying in my tent after Bunz noticed this mammoth spider on the wall near my sleeping spot. Of course several folks assured me it was not harmful, but I wasn't going to find out.
Date: 2008-06-07
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: Allentown Shelter
Miles today: 16.9

When I am asked about my toughest day on the Trail, the climb to Roan Mtn. (3/31) is my response. To this day, I am not sure if I was crying by the time I reached the top of Roan. I just know that it was a 2000' climb at the end of a 13 mile day, it was cold and rainy. A Roan has several "false" peaks; just when I thought I was at the top, ther would be another peak to go up. Then it took what seemed like forever to find the shelter. And it was early in my hike.From now on, when asked, my response will be the day I hiked Blue Mountain from Windsor Furnace shelter to allentown Shelter. It consisted of : 1) very steep ascent of 700', 2) long downhill of 1000', 3) 1000' uphill, 4) incredible rocks to hike over and around,5) the start of the heat wave..temps in the 90's.Though I am not a big time athlete or small time for that matter, I have ridden my bicycle 55 miles in one stretch, and run one half marathon. My jobs in my life have included grave digging (with a pick and shovel). None of those activities matched the physical workout that I got today. It was so good to know I managed to hike the rocks with out tripping and falling and I was grateful for advice from Susan to be sure to drink plenty of liquids and take plenty of breaks. About 10 miles into the day, I took a short side trip to Eckville Shelter for solar shower. The cool water helped cool me down, which was VERY refreshing along with getting rid of the grime. After about an hour break I headed back tothe trail.My pace was slowed by the heat as well as common sense. It was critical that I take ample breaks and not get overheated. Heat exhaustion is as dangerous as hypothermia. I got into the shelter around 4 where I ate, got water, and tried to mentally prepare for tomorrow.The heat was predicted to increase to mid 90's, though the terrain was supposed to ease up. My plan was to get to the Palmerton, PA borough hall where a hostel was located.So on reflection, Roan tested me emotionally and physically and I was pretty new at this hiking gig. The stretch I did today was much more difficult rom a physical perspective.So I get into the Allentown Shelter and set up my sleeping bag and have dinner. The shelter had severa scouts and a family on a weekend outing. AS they were tent camping, there was plenty of room at the shelter. I turned in around 8 and slept very well.