morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-19
From: Front Royal

To: Manassas Gap
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day One Hundred and Three - Front Royal to Manassas Gap ShelterI woke up and headed for the free breakfast in the hotel lobby and Sondriven was there and Hobo had beaten me to breakfast. We all chatted away while we devoured our breakfasts and then I returned to my room to pack and get ready for the shuttle. We hadn't got very far on the trail when it started pouring down rain and soon we were hiking in a muddy stream. I was so happy when I got to the next shelter. It was awesome! It had a separate covered pavilion with a picnic table, a shelter with a huge deck complete with benches and chairs. Right away I put my dry clothes on and got my food bag and down quilts out. I wanted to stay but Hobo was determined to get closer to Harper's Ferry. He actually got up and left without us, leaving us little choice but to follow behind. Putting the wet clothes back on wasn't that bad (better than frozen clothes) but my afternoon was miserable! I fell in the mud and am covered in it and of course there were some slippery rock sections. I actually passed up two different coolers with trail magic without even checking them, that's how miserable I was. When we finally caught up to Hobo (he was waiting under a bridge like a hobo) we continued on without hitching the mile to the pork BBQ place everyone talks about. We started up the next big hill and it was discouraging. I kept stopping to take breaks even though it really wasn't that steep. Finally the trail to the shelter was in sight and even though this shelter wasn't nearly as nice as the last one, this was where I was staying. For Now and Seventeen were there and after I relaxed a bit, we had a nice night. For Now even read for us and Hobo gave me a hot dog that I was drooling over. Normally I think hot dogs are gross but I honestly can't eat enough out here. Hobo's Hiker Jokes:How can you tell if a thruhiker is a purist?      They will tell you!Trouble
Date: 2013-06-20
From: Manassas Gap

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 16.6

Day One Hundred and Four - (16.6) Manassas Gap Shelter to Bears Den HostelLast night I woke up several times to the smell of bear nearby. I couldn't see them or hear them but I knew they were there. This morning we all got up at the same time and packed up, we ended up waiting for Hobo because he takes longer and all he could say was "I don't know why you guys got up so early." We headed up the trail and had quickly knocked out the five miles to the next shelter. We stopped for a food break and then continued to make miles. The trail was really nice and had an Alice in Wonderland feel to it. At one point I was following a squirrel up the trail, and later it was a butterfly. Normally animals cross the trail or scoot away when they see me but today they were guiding me through their section of the forest. There was a bench along the trail so we had to sit on it (and eat)! We were making good time but we had to keep waiting for Hobo. Hobo has a more steady pace than Matt or I and can keep going all day whereas Matt and I are faster in the morning and get slower as the day goes by. By the end of the day I am struggling to keep up to Hobo's pace.   We kept stopping for breaks and by the time we arrived at the roller coaster I already had a slow tired crawl. The roller coaster is a section of trail that is basically five hundred up and then down and then repeat that eight times in a row. To make things worse it is rocky and muddy. Hikers refer to the repeated ups and downs as PUDS (pointless ups and downs). By the time we had finished two of the eight hills we knew that we would never make our destination in time for food so we looked at the guide and came up with an escape plan. There was a gravel road half way up the third hill and we would try to hitchhike from that road to Bears Den Hostel. When we got to the road there was an older couple with their grand kids who had just finished a hike and offered to drive is to the hostel! Awesome! Thank you! The hostel is amazing! It looks like a castle complete with a stone wall around the property. It is absolutely beautiful here and inside the stay comes with a large pizza per hiker, a pop and a pint of ice cream. After the large pizza I was too full for the ice cream so guess what I'm going to have for breakfast! The only thing that isn't so great about this place is that they don't have wifi (just a computer but I can't upload my journals from my phone that way) and Melkie has to stay outside. So even though everyone else gets to sleep in the castle, I am still outside in my hammock with Melkie. I bet I sleep better than them anyway. Trouble
Date: 2013-06-21
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Blackburn Visitor Center
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: light rain

Day One Hundred and Five - (14.1) Bears Den Hostel to Blackburn CenterLast day in Virginia, a pint of Ben & Jerry's for breakfast and one thousand miles! The roller coaster was brutal, it wasn't just the ups that were bad. The entire trail was either rocks or mud I couldn't wait for it to end. When we hiked back to the Bears Den we took a long break, so long that I had a nap on the lawn. As we walked away from the castle we met some day hikers at a lookout spot and chatted with them briefly before heading to the stream that indicated we had walked one thousand miles! Of course we took silly pictures! The next point of interest was the Virginia/West Virginia border. It felt so good to get to the next state (Virginia was 535 miles). I enjoyed Virginia and met so many cool people but honestly I felt like mooning the welcome to Virginia sign when I turned around and saw it. Within minutes of being in a new state we arrived a a beautiful rock cliff on the edge of the mountain. We sat down and ate and were serenaded by a couple who had brought a guitar. We still had miles to go and luckily the terrain got easier (except for the rocks). We saw several deer as we hurried along trying to race the sun. We reluctantly took the side trail that led down a steep hill that led to the Blackburn Center and Hostel. The hostel was full and we went to inquire about sleeping on the enclosed wrap around veranda of the Center. We met Chris and Caroline who are the caretakers here and immediately Caroline offered us a soda and a rice krispy square. She said we could stay on the veranda an there are outlets to charge our phones. There is even a cot for me to sleep on! Thank you so much! Trouble
Date: 2013-06-22
From: Blackburn Visitor Center

To: Hostelling International
Miles today: 15.4

Day One Hundred and Six - Blackburn Visitor Center to Hostelling InternationalI think I would have slept better in my hammock last night but it made it easier to get up and move right away this morning. I planned on leaving first so that I wouldn't be slowing down Hobo today. Except for all the rocks I think the trail was perfect today. I made good time and still stopped and ate something every hour. On one of the stops Melkie growled at something in a nearby tree and instantly the tree shook and I could smell bear. It's hard to see a bear when Melkie scares them all away. I was too excited to be upset about it though, I was on my way to Harpers Ferry! It's not really the halfway point but its the psychological one. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is there and they take your picture and keep it on file. The whiteblazes were scarce as I came to the bridge crossing the Potomac River but I found my way to the ATC and celebrated with a coke. While I waited for Hobo and Hat Trick (Matt's trail name) I looked at the pictures of all the thruhikers who had arrived before me and chatted with the other hikers. Today was Naked Hiker day, I hadn't seen any naked hikers on the trail but a couple of guys said that they were naked until they reached the bridge. When I couldn't wait any longer I had my picture taken, I am the 647th person to pass through this year, the number is a little deceptive in that it includes section hikers as well. Hobo arrived within minutes of me finishing filling out the info for my picture and was number 648. Jim a local trail angel, trail maintainer and future thruhiker was there waiting to take us out for lunch. He is planning a thruhike next year but honestly he helped us out way more than we did him. He also drove me to the next town to resupply and then back to the ATC. He has read hundreds of trailjournals and keeps track of his favourite hikers. Thank you so much for lunch and helping me resupply Jim! All I had left to do was download the AT Guide on my phone and it turns out that the hostel five miles up the trail has wifi so off I went. Unfortunately the side trail to the hostel is unmarked because they don't want hikers crossing the railroad tracks and I hiked right past it. When I came to the canal and realized I had missed it there was nothing I could do but continue north. I came across a parking lot and Dan and his daughter offered me a ride to the hostel. Thank you! The hostel was great but again I am camping outside because of the no pet policy. Everything else about this place was great, after a shower and laundry I bought dinner and more coke and even a roll of toilet paper for the trail. I mended my shorts yet again and charged up my phone, and even more important downloaded the AT Guide! I'm glad I made it here! It's very late and I still haven't uploaded any journals. Good night world!Trouble
Date: 2013-06-23
From: Hostelling International

To: Dahlglen Backpack Campground
Miles today: 14.3

Day One Hundred and Seven-(14.3) Hostelling International to Dahlglen Backpack CanpgroundI had planned on waking up early and hiking out but I just wanted to sleep in plus I hadn't uploaded any journals yet. I didn't end up leaving until after ten and had to hike a mile that I had already hiked yesterday. It was hot and I was so slow! I decided to that I would stop and take a long break when I came to the next shelter. Then I saw Two Sticks he was slackpacking but had carried in a beer to share at the shelter, when we got there someone else had left a case of beer as trail magic! When Two Sticks left he packed out my garbage an gave me his water! Thanks! After relaxing for awhile it was time to try hiking again. It was still unbearably hot but I kept moving. Water sources are starting to get scarce so when a day hiker offered me some water I took it. The day really dragged on but finally around five it started to cool down and hiking became more bearable and I could pick up the pace. I finally rolled into Dahlglen Campground and set up my hammock from the bear pole to a tree that another hammock hanger was using as well. There were more hammocks here than tents and right away a trail maintainer who was staying here invited me over for food and then offered to drive me unto town for whatever I needed. Thanks! As I was going to bed for the night three more thruhikers came in but I did t recognize them. It's been a long day and I just want sleep. Good night world!Trouble
Date: 2013-06-24
From: Dahlglen Backpack Campground

To: Raven Rock Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: clear sky

Day One Hundred and Eight - (18.8)Dahlglen Campground to Raven Rock Shelter I woke up early to try to beat the heat but it was already hot and muggy. I started out slow moving and even contemplated just setting up camp on the trail and going back to sleep. I'm glad I didn't because within an hour there was a breeze and it was cooler. I skipped the short side trail to the Washington Monument, I have seen it before anyway and continued to the next shelter to collect more water. I met a few section hikers there and while we were talking Mash arrived. He was one of the hikers who had shown up at the campground last night as I was going to bed. We talked for a bit and then it was time to move on. I divided the day into five mile increments and took breaks every two hours. It worked great until I climbed a killer hill that required a break every few minutes. At the top there was a beautiful shelter. I had only meant to stop for dinner but there was a trail maintainer here who talked me into staying. Soon others arrived with steak, corn in the cob, potatoes, wine and beer. Oh and a guitar and a drum. I was definitely staying! I set up my hammock and sat by the fire talking to the other locals that were here. There was an Outward Bound group and a Boy Scout group camped around the shelter as well. Dinner was awesome! Thank you so much! Supposedly I am camping on top of the underground Pentagon, I thought that was near Bears Den but the trail maintainer swears it is here. Anyway, I had a really nice night and now I can hardly keep my eyes open. Good night world!Trouble
Date: 2013-06-25
From: Raven Rock Shelter

To: Tumbling Run Shelter
Miles today: 13.2

Day One Hundred and Nine -(13.2) Raven Rock Shelter to Tumbling Run SheltersI didn't get up as early as I wanted to and struggled through most of the day. It was too hot! I stopped at the next shelter and fell asleep on top of the picnic table until Tabasco arrived. After he left I slowly got ready to hike some more. As I left I could hear thunder but I knew that the next shelter was only an hour away. It just started raining as I arrived at the next shelter and again I fell asleep for an hour until the rain stopped. This shelter was strange, there was no sign and no register to sign. Again I moved on, there was another shelter only half an hour away this time and it turned out to be an amazing place. There were actually two shelters, one for the snorers and one for the non-snorers. In between the two was a covered pavilion and picnic tables. The privy had toilet paper and hand sanitizer in it (items that some hostels don't even supply) and when I read the register several hikers mentioned swimming in the stream. I should really put in a few more miles today but how can I not stay here! Melkie is happy for the break and I have the place to myself! I am kind I surprised that no one else is here but it is nice to just relax! There is even reading material here! After a dip in the really cold stream and several hours of reading I am starting to feel a little guilty for not hiking on. It's getting too late now to pack up and there is a thousand foot climb next and I'm not looking forward to. It will have to wait for the morning. Good night world!Trouble
Date: 2013-06-26
From: Tumbling Run Shelter

To: Freeman's Cabin
Miles today: 10.0

Day One Hundred and Ten - (10)Tumbling Run Shelters to Freeman's CabinI woke up at 5:30 I had wanted to wake up even earlier to beat the heat but I was on the trail by 6 and had the big hill out of the way by 7. It should have been easy sailing from there but there were just too many rocks. I had to pay more attention to where I was going to put my feet than anything else. I almost missed seeing Bambi but when he started moving Melkie made sure I saw him. I met two separate section hikers this morning one who offered to help me when I get near her in Massachusetts. Thanks! Finally I made it to Caledonia State Park but then had to wait half an hour for the pool and concession stands to open. When it opened I discovered that they don't accept credit cards. I couldn't believe how rude the rangers were, the closest ATM was half a mile up the road and when I said that I was a thruhiker and on foot his response was "I am not a taxi service". What an asshole! At the park office where they do accept credit cards they weren't as rude but still wouldn't do the transaction so that I could eat. I ended up calling a shuttler and when she picked me up she said that she had a cabin in her backyard that I could stay at. Sweet!   I am glad I'm not going back to the park today! Her husband is a ridge runner and will slack pack me twenty miles tomorrow. I don't even feel guilty about my short day today knowing that I'm going to do a big one tomorrow. I am clean, my clothes are clean and I had a chance to resupply. Purple Pants who I am sharing the cabin with asked the Freeman's if we could use the car to go into town. Guess what! We got the car! We went to McDonalds first for the free wifi (and food) and then to resupply. After safely returning the vehicle we sat around in the cabin and talked until way too late. I read some of the posts that I just uploaded for the last few days and can't believe all of ,the stuff I've left out. I am done with West Virginia and Maryland now and in Pennsylvania. I've crossed the Mason-Dixon Line and I'm not in the South anymore. Tomorrow I will pass the actual halfway point of the trail. Good night world!Trouble
Date: 2013-06-27
From: Freeman's Cabin

To: Freeman's Cabin
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: light rain

Day One Hundred and Eleven - (19.1) Freeman's CabinThis morning Mr. Freeman drove us to PA233 so that we could hike the trail back to Caledonia State Park. We started off with a gradual up and right away spotted a deer. Purple Pants and I stayed together for a little while this morning and met part of a Boy Scout group out hiking. Purple Pants found a turtle and moved him safely off the trail and shortly after we split up to hike at our own pace. The terrain today was great, a trail with only gradual elevation changes and hardly any rocks. At one point it was covered with pine needles an felt great on the feet. I crossed paths with most of the Tribe today and saw the trail maintainer that had been so nice at the shelter the other day. He was out with a weed eater clearing the path for us. Thanks! I started to slow down in the afternoon but I wasn't worried because I knew that Purple Pants was behind me. I stopped to take a few breaks in hopes that he would catch up but ended up back at the trailhead waiting at the car for him. When he arrived we went back to the Freeman's cleaned up and borrowed the car again to grab more food. I also borrowed the phone as well as a needle and thread for yet another mending job. The Freeman's have been so helpful and provided such a nice laid back atmosphere that it will be hard to leave tomorrow. Thank you!Trouble
Date: 2013-06-28
From: Freeman's Cabin

To: Carlisle
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: few clouds

Day One Hundred a Twelve - (19.6)Freeman's Cabin to CarlisleI was all packed and ready to go when Mr. Freeman said that it was time. We loaded into the van and soon we were at the same spot I started south from yesterday. After saying goodbye I was off! It felt great to be on the trail and the first ten miles just flew by. Pennsylvania is gorgeous! I walked by ponds and my favourite pine forests with moss covered floors. Everything was perfect except for the bugs that kept trying to eat me. I couldn't stop or I was stormed. There was a huge thunderstorm forecasted for this afternoon so I was trying to beat that and also rush to make it to the post office in time. Normally my pace slows in the afternoon especially when ups are involved but I kept up the pace and was only an hour away when the rain started. I was almost in town and the trail went through a couple of flat fields, I felt like a lightning magnet as I walked through with my metal poles watching as the lightning kept getting closer. I finally made it to Boiling Springs and to another ATC office. I raced over to the post office and picked up my package before returning to the ATC to talk to Sondriven, Disciple and Lucky. While I was there Candy Pants arrived, she just couldn't resist the town call! Bruce who shuttles hikers gave me a ride to the closest hotel that allows pets and that turned out to be seven miles up the trail at a place called Carlisle. I wasn't happy about being that far away from where I would need to be in the morning, it would mean I would have to wait for a shuttle and not get an early start. Bruce said the trail is flat here and suggested I just walk it back. Awesome idea! After I cleaned up and dried off I crossed the street and went to the diner and then returned to my room and had another shower. Pretty bad when showering feels like a luxury! Good night world!Trouble
Date: 2013-06-29
From: Carlisle

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 25.6

Day One Hundred and Thirteen - Carlisle to Duncannon (25.6)I wanted to get up at 4:30am but I slept in until 5am. I started out behind! My goal was to hike the nine miles between here and Boiling Springs and have Bruce drive me back before he had to go to work but I started late. It really was the flattest part of the trail so far and I had left everything in the hotel room so the going was easy. I was worried about how I would get back to the hotel but I should know by now that everything always works out. I made it back to the road in front of the ATC and wasn't even there for a minute when someone stopped and asked where I was headed. Thank you so much for the ride! Once back in the hotel room I crashed for a few hours before heading out again. It was so hot! I hiked for a few hours without seeing anyone but then came across Tabasco sitting in the grass. For the rest of the day we hiked together and we seem to have similar paces. We both ran out of water and were running on fumes when we arrived in town. Our first stop was for something to drink and then we went to the Doyle. The Doyle is a famous hiker stop, it's a hundred year old hotel that is in total disrepair but has the friendliest people and the best food. It is perfectly suited for hiker trash (people refer to us as hiker trash because we smell so bad and by now our clothes are beginning to look threadbare). I wasn't sure I wanted to stay here but when I arrived and saw all my hiker friends I couldn't leave. I caught up to Sparky and Orange Peel, Magic Scout, Canadian Bacon & Zenmaster, Bluegrass, Salsa and Coach. I'm sure I am forgetting a lot of people, I keep getting surprised when I see people I think are a hundred miles ahead.Trouble
Date: 2013-06-30
From: Duncannon

To: Stealth camp passed PA325
Miles today: 18.3

Day One Hundred and Fourteen - (18.3)Duncannon to Stealth camp passed PA325I slept awesome last night! The Doyle was great! The building might have been in bad shape but it had comfy beds, clean sheets and the shower was clean and hot! Anyway I was up, ready and seated at the restaurant across the street at 6am. After one last decent meal and a quick stop for more snacks I was off. It seemed strange to hike a few miles through town but as soon as we were out of town there was a big hill and I was wishing for the sidewalks again. The views from the top were awesome and the river looked like it was made of chocolate from the top. I stopped for a break at Peters Mountain Shelter and soon everyone behind me had caught up and passed me. For the rest of the day I hiked with Tabasco again and as soon as we left the shelter he spotted a big black snake. The day was pretty uneventful, most of the day we were hiking on top of a ridge. We stopped when we found everyone stealth camped at a stream. Sparky had put the two beers he had carried for the past three days in the stream to cool off and it turns out someone stole them! I'm pretty sure it wasn't a thruhiker because we share everything! It's just after 8pm here and almost everyone is already in their tents only the hammock hangers are still up and I'm about to change that! Good night world!Trouble