morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Pass Mtn Hut

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: moderate rain

Last night the wind blew and the rain poured down so my wet clothes didn't have a chance. When I woke up it was snowing. It was wet snow mixed with rain just barely coating the grass. I deciddd to stay in my sleeping bag and see if the weather would clear up. The shelter had some very bold and determined mice. I had hung my food bag from a rafter for the night and a mouse chewed a hole through the bag and through a zip-lock bag to get to my trail mix. There were 4 other people in the shelter and none of them hung their food yet the mice wanted mine. So, I laid around in my sleeping bag reading, dozing, and chatting with the others all the while fighting off mice.By 12:30 the rain had pretty much stopped and I was getting tired of lying around. I was also cold. It was only 40 degrees so I decided to move on to the next shelter 13 miles away. I figured I would warm up a little by walking and I would at least get some miles in.I put on my cold wet socks and shoes and started north. About an hour into walking it began raining again. This was not a soaking rain just sprinkles but the wind picked up again. I had my fleece gloves on since my hands were cold and they got pretty wet. I am beginning to think there are forces of nature conspiring against me.I got to the shelter and found three other guys there none of whom I had met before. One guy had a vicious dog with him. It looked like a German Shepard. It barked and bared its teeth at me when I got to the shelter. Her owner said he didn't think his dog would attack me. I told him I hoped not since the shelters were for hikers and not dogs. He told me there had been some complaints about the dog last year when he was out on the trail. Should be an interesting evening.One guy in the shelter had a radio and I heard that this is one of the wettest springs on record. I guess that explains why I think it has been raining so much.
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: clear sky

Today was nice. The sun was out for a change and the temperatures were in the low 70's.I left Shenandoah National Park today and I'm happy that it's behind me. After leaving the park I passed a large fenced in enclosure (a couple thousand acres I'm told) owned in part by the INS/Customs/border patrol for doing K-9 training and in part by the National Zoological Sociey. The trail went along side the tall fence for what seemed like several miles.The shelter here is one of the nicest ones I've seen. There is a large front porch with an Adirondack chair/bench on which I am currently sitting. There is also a shower here made from some system where spring water is pumped to a tank over a little stall. Apparently you stand in the stall, open a valve, and let gravity and water get you clean. Of course, the water is very cold (I plan to stay dirty today) but I suppose on a really hot day it might feel good.I think all the people at the shelter I stayed with last night went to the town of Front Royal today. The guy with the ferocious dog ended up leaving since more and more people showed up at the shelter.
Date: 2008-05-14
From: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning I woke up to birds singing. I love waking up that way. All my clothes and everything else dried in the sun yesterday afternoon, but it wasn't long today before my feet were pretty wet again. With all the recent rain there are large sections of the trail that are literally under water. At times the trail was a stream and for about 100 yards I had to walk along in ankle deep water. All the streams are over their banks and the rocks that are usually used as stepping stones are under water so wet feet is the status quo. I have heard more rain is on the way for tomorrow.The trail (besides being wet) had some nice spots today. There were several areas of old forest with the remains of stone walls scattered throughout the woods. It looked like these forests have remained untouched for the past couple hundred years. I went through a part of Sky Meadows State Park that had some nice meadows to walk through. I crossed under highway 66 and then Rt. 50 at Ashby Gap. Tonight I'm sharing the shelter with two section hikers.
Date: 2008-05-15
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Blackburn Trail Center
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: light rain

I need to quit doing my journal so early in the evening since more stuff happens in the evening. Last night I was sharing the shelter with two older men who were section hiking. After we had eaten dinner one of the guys asked what was our entertainment for the evening. I told him I had a book to keep me company. Just then a man and his 15 year old son came up to the shelter. The boy was carrying a banjo which he played all evening. He was incredible. He doesn't read music and never really took lessons, but boy could he play! So we had entainment after all.Today was a pretty good day. I exited the state of Virginia finally. I stopped at a beautiful hostel for lunch then stopped at the Blackburn center for the night. This is a place for trail maintainers but there is a bunkhouse for hikers. The better place to sleep is a screened-in porch which is where I'm camped out for the night. The benefit of being here is the maintainer makes a dinner and whoever is there gets to eat. I had lasagna, bread, and carrots. All they request is a donation. There is also a solar shower but I had only cold water and without a towel I dried myself with my dirty clothes which I put back on.Tomorrow I will go into Harpers Ferry and I will find a hostel since I need to do laundry and I could use a real shower.
Date: 2008-05-16
From: Blackburn Trail Center

To:  Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning I woke to rain and fog. I wasn't too concerned though because I knew it was a short walk to Harpers Ferry and I was planning a hotel stay to dry off and do laundry. I had gone 100 miles and 6 days since my last shower/laundry.I crossed the 1000 mile mark today on my way to Harpers Ferry. This is a nice town with a lot of history here. I went to the ATC (Appalachian Trail Conservancy) headquarters and had my picture taken which is a tradition. I had a box of food sent there to keep me well fed for the next 6 days and I picked that up. When I first started I was the 156th to begin the trail this year. Today I found out I was the 82nd hiker to come through. That means I have passed quite a few hikers along the way.I'm sharing a room with a hiker named Sleepwalker. His brother and mom came up to visit him and we all went out to dinner together which was very nice.Tomorrow I will cross out of West Virginia and into Maryland..
Date: 2008-05-17
From:  Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: clear sky

As usual, leaving town today I felt strong. The trail started out with a beautiful walk through the historic part of Harpers Ferry. It then went along the Potomac River and the C and O Canal. After 15-20 minutes of walking I was out of West Virginia and into Maryland. Now I'm half-way through that state. I passed Gathland State Park which has some Civil War era buildings and monuments. I also went through Washington Monument State Park. It's not THE Washington Monument, but there is a stone tower on top of a hill in honor of George. The shelter where I stopped is just past where I crossed over I-70. Overall it has been a pretty good day.
Date: 2008-05-18
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: The Free State Hostel, Smithsburg, MD 
Miles today: 8.0

Last night after I went to bed it began raining. It rained all night long and it was still raining when I got up. Since I don't particularly care for walking in the rain, I stopped in to this hostel after 8 miles. I had been wanting to visit here since I heard Ken and Jennel Berry created this place. Ken is a fellow PA who hiked the trail in 2005. When I was reading his journals while he was hiking I realized we had quite a lot in common. This has been a relaxing day. For dinner I ordered a large pizza and ate all. but two slices. I'll eat those for breakfast. I'm here with Sleepwalker and another guy named Breezer. Tomorrow is supposed to be a nice day. Yesterday was the first day I hiked in dry shoes in over a week. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a dry shoe day though the rest of the week doesn't look so good.
Date: 2008-05-19
From: The Free State Hostel, Smithsburg, MD 

To: Tumbling Run Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning, after eating my remaining pizza from last night, I passed through the rest of Maryland. There was no sign or marker, but I also crossed the Mason-Dixon line which divided the North and South. I am now in Pennsylvania.The trail recently has gone by several nice parks that have picnic tables, running water, and other amenities. On this section of trail I am not as remote as in other parts. It seems like I cross a road every couple of miles. I have been able to plan my lunch breaks to be at a park in the past few days and today was no exception.For some reason, in this state there are frequently two small shelters adjacent to each other rather than one large one. Where I am tonight that is the case. There was a shelter maintainer here this evening cleaning the privy (outhouse) and generally tidying up the place. He obviously takes a lot of pride in this little area and I appreciate that.
Date: 2008-05-21
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 25.4
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning the temperature was 35 degrees, but at least it was sunny. I pulled on my still wet (and cold) socks and shoes and started off.I passed the official half-way point today. It is a tradition for hikers to eat a half gallon of icecream at Pine Grove Furnace State Park where the half way mark is. I had been looking forward to that ice cream for a long time. I didn't see the snackbar and there was a lot of construction going on so I asked some people. They told me the snackbar was closed and wouldn't open until Memorial Day. Later I found out the snackbar was in fact open. I was so disappointed.This afternoon I came to a road crossing where I knew there was a hotel. I debated whether to go there and get some icecream and a room.   The shelters are spaced out in a difficult way along this stretch. So, since it was only 3:30 and the weather was good, I decided to push on to the next shelter. A couple miles later it began raining. Needless to say, I was not a happy hiker.With all the rain, the trail is a mess. I am constantly walking in mud and water. My feet have been wet every day now for probably a week and a half. When I got to the shelter this evening it was nearly full, but I managed to get a spot. There is an 18 mile stretch between this shelter and the next one with camping prohibited between shelters, so everyone here tonight will also be at the shelter tomorrow night.
Date: 2009-06-13
To: A year later
Miles today: 0.0

How to start...I got off the trail one year ago. At the time I was miserable and homesick. For a long time afterwards I questioned my decision and even yearned to be back on the trail (except on rainy days) even though I thoroughly enjoyed my family and work. Well, I decided to take two weeks of vacation and start where I left off in Pennsylvania and head North on the trail once again. I drove up to Carlisle PA today and checked into the same motel I stayed in a year ago. The Super 8 here agreed to let me leave my car on their lot for the next two weeks while I hike. I ate at a diner across the street and am relaxing in a motel room tonight. Tomorrow I will take advantage of the free breakfast then walk about 1/2 mile to get onto the trail.The plan is for my parents to pick me up in 2 weeks and take me back here to my car and then I'll drive home. I'll keep you posted on how the next two weeks go. If I get homesick or if it rains every day it's OK since it's only two weeks. Assuming there is a cell signal, I'll send an update tomorrow and every day I'm out here.
Date: 2009-06-14
From: Rt. 11

To: Cove Mtn shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: clear sky

I didn't sleep well last night for some reason. I woke at 6 and had some cereal at the motel before checking out.The trail this morning was beautiful. There are so many flowers in bloom and the woods smell wonderful. Most of the day was spent walking along a pretty level valley. I walked alongside a river and through several farms. There were some nice boardwalks built over marshes as well.I stopped for a break at the first shelter I came across. That was at 10:30. I then had a bit of a climb followed by several miles of rocks until I got to this shelter. My plan was to stay here and I stuck to that despite arriving here at 2:00. My feet were a little sore and I don't have my "hiking legs" yet. A few more days on the trail will solve that problem.This shelter is only 3 miles from the town of Duncannon, a popular hiker stop so I anticipate having the place to myself tonight. There also signs warning of a nuisance porcupine that apparently crawls up into the shelter to chew on sweaty hiker gear. I've hung up all my stuff and have my camera ready though my main concern right now is how not to get sucked dry by the millions of mosquitos that are bothering me.I just know that as soon as I finish this journal entry some interesting person will show up here or something will happen and I'll have to wait til tomorrow to tell about it, but that's the way it goes.I'm really happy to be out here. And speaking of happy, happy birthday Darcy.Hardbound
Date: 2009-06-15
From: Cove Mtn shelter

To: Peters Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, I had the shelter to myself last PM and no porcupines showed up to keep me company.I walked thru the town of Duncannon this AM as the trail goes right thru it. I guess that sounds a little redundant. After the town the trail went alongside a busy highway for a ways in order to cross a couple of rivers. I was glad to get back in the woods after that since it was so loud and the cars were racing by so close.The trail in Pennsylvania is known for its rocks and it definitely lives up to its reputation. Most of the trail followed a rocky ridgeline. The shelter here is huge and there are lots of people here tenting around the shelter and staying in it. The guide book states there are 300 well crafted steps down to the water source. I didn't count them, but I don't doubt the accuracy of that number. I figured I wouldn't want to make that trek twice so when I went to get water, I also took a "shower" and felt a lot better afterwards. Basically my shower consisted of pouring cold water over myself and it was cold!The weather has been very pleasant thus far for which I am very grateful.
Date: 2009-06-16
From: Peters Mtn Shelter

To: Cove Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

On my drive up here I listened to a tape of bird songs with a narrator explaining which bird sings which song. I thought it would be a good idea for me to get to know my feathered friends better. Now I realize the futility of that as I hear a song, recognize it as one I heard on the tape, but can't remember which bird sings which song. I guess I'll need to listen to that tape several more times for it to be of any use to me.There was one tough climb today, but otherwise it was just the usual rocky trail. It has looked like rain all day, but fortunately it has only looked that way. There is only one other guy in the shelter with me tonight though others have stopped in to get water. Tomorrow it looks like there is a convenient place to get off the trail so I'll probably do that. Four days of sweating like crazy and I'm probably a little stinky (I wouldn't know).
Date: 2008-05-04
From: montebello, VA

To: wanesburo,VA
Miles today: 39.0

the entry trail on fish hatchery road made this day a 40.1 mile hike and I did it without hikeing at night. I started at 6 am and hiked the first 20 by 12:15 had a 45 min lunch then hiked the last 20.1 by 7:45
Date: 2008-04-27
To: Less than a week
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I've got less than a week to go until a leave. My apartment looks like an REI store with all of this gear, and my roommate probably hates me. I don't think it's really set in yet that I'm about to pretty much leave the world for five months, but I still can't wait to get started. I've gotten all of my mail drops together and scheduled to go. I'm getting my bounce box together, and starting to group gear together to go into my pack. I guess I'll update again closer to departure time.
Date: 2008-04-28
To: Gear
Miles today: 0.0

I had a little bit of trouble recently with getting my pack from REI, but they ended up being really great in bending over backwards to fix the problem for me. I ordered a Granite Gear Vapor Trail pack in size Men's Short. It should've come with a Men's Small hipbelt, but showed up on my door with a Women's Medium hipbelt instead. So, I called REI and had them ship me a replacement pack. Two days later: another package, another pack with a Women's Medium hipbelt. So I call REI to again explain the problem. They are very helpful and tell me they will give a much closer inspection to the pack before they ship another one. Today I get a call from REI to tell me that all of the Vapor Trail size Short packs come with Women's Medium hipbelts (contrary to the website's info.) However, REI admits that they have made a mistake and ask me what they can do to make it right. In the end, we end up deciding to have a hipbelt shipped to me straight from Granite Gear - free of charge. As Granite Gear is out of hipbelts for this pack, they are actually shipping a prototype hipbelt that has not even been released yet. So, I guess in October I'll be able to give them a full review of field testing. Although it was initially a setback, it ended up being okay in the end. It's not too often you get such great customer service and understanding, much less an actual phonecall from a larger company like REI. Anyways, only a few more days to go.
Date: 2008-05-01
To: Time to Leave
Miles today: 0.0

Today is my last day in Starkville since we leave for Gerogia tomorrow morning. We finally finished moving out of our apartment. I don't ever want to live in a house with more than one story again. I finished exams and now am tying up a million loose ends before I leave the world for five months. I love the reaction people give me when I tell them I'll be back in October. My roommate will be driving me to the trailhead and hiking in to the first shelter with me. Then the next day I will set out on my own. Sadly, Iron Man comes out in theaters tomorrow, so hopefully I will be able to catch that sometime tomorrow before I leave. Unfortunately there was another screw up with gear orders that were supposed to be here today. So, I don't have a hydration bladder, but it shouldn't be too hard to find one in Birmingham on the way to Georgia. Now I'm just trying to decide my last meal before I leave. I think steak is going to win.
Date: 2008-05-02
To: Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today we spent the day turning a 5 hour drive to Gerogia into a 9 hour drive. This morning we took care of some last minute stuff in Starkville before heading out. My Suunto watch broke so I'm going to have to send it in to be repaired. But, I bought a sweet $7.87 watch at Wal-Mart tonight. We stayed at the Hiker Hostel, which is a really nice place. The Hostel shares the driveway with a residence, which we accidentally went to first. We realized it was not the place we were looking for when we noticed the people in side were having a cocktail party. Luckily we did not barge in on the party in our tshirts and jeans. Since we got in late I ended up having some Wendy's for my last meal before the trail. Although it's no steak, a double stack cheeseburger with fries and a sprite comes in a close second. Well, I'll be starting in the morning, and I don't know when I'll be able to write again. I can't wait to get started. Until then...
Date: 2008-05-03
From: Amicalola Falls State Park

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: light rain

Well, it was a pretty rough first day as expected. You can spend all the time you want on the stairmaster, but getting out on the real thing always beats you up the first day. The climb up to Springer Mountain (which is 8.8 miles and where the AT actually starts) was pretty much uphill the whole way. I signed the thru-hiker register and weighed in at the Amicalola Falls visitors center, and my pack came in at 31 pounds with 3 and a half liters of water and 4 days of food. I was pretty happy with this. It was sprinkling all morning, and it made for a nice, cool hike. Wayne and I came up with trailnames on the way up there, I am the Hiphopopotamus and Wayne is the Rhymenocerous. The names come from one of my favorite TV shows, The Flight of the Conchords, which is about two New Zealand folk comedy singers who bill themselves as "Formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo." When Wayne and I stopped in Birmingham to eat lunch and grab last minute gear, I told him I had to stop in Starbucks and download the Flight of the Conchords CD to have on my iPod. Since the internet was being ridiculously slow, it took forever to leave Bham, causing us to get to the hostel late (sorry Leigh!). Hence, we christened ourselves after the song "Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros." But I digress. So, we get to the top of Springer Mountain which has some beautiful views, but is a little cloudy to see them well. There is an old man on top of the mountain who signs in all of the thru hikers to keep records. He thru hiked when he was 69, and he is about 74ish now. It seems like a great retirement job to sit on top of the mountain reading a book and meeting all of the new hikers. We arrived at the shelter at about 4:00 and set up camp and cooked some freeze dried sweet and sour pork. It was a pretty exhausting day, but that was quickly cured with some Vitamin I and a night in a hammock.