morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2022-04-24
From: Raven Rock Shelter

To: PenMar Park
Miles today: 4.6
Weather: clear sky

Short hiking day due to need for resupply. The photo is the group of scouts and two of their leaders from Raven Rock Shelter last night. As you can see from the sign, I¢m not quite to the AT halfway point. One of the scout masters gave me a lift from PenMar Park to a small hotel just outside Waynesboro, PA.  There¢s a WalMart next door, which is paradise for backpacking resupply. Food, stove fuel, clothing, you name it. Plus it had all the bizarre sights typically associated with a rural Walmart.  Since it was too early to check into my hotel room and shower, I¢m sure I smelled worse than anyone there.
Date: 2022-04-25
From: Pen Mar Park

To: Rocky Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

Today reminded how different everyone¢s pace is. It¢s rare that I hike with anyone, but over a given day I meet the same general group for lunch or at the end of the day.  Started this long day with Ash, Updog, Sweetfoot, and Gila Monster. Ended the day with Gila Monster.  Also crossed the Mason-Dixon Line today. Maryland was nice, with extremely varied terrain. But now it¢s on to Rocksylvania.
Date: 2022-04-26
From: Rocky Mountain Shelter 

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The story on the trail is that there¢s a friendly competition between the shelter caretakers to have the most ¢best¢shelter.  For example, the Tumbling Run Shelter site has two shelters, one labeled snoring and one labeled non-snoring. But I think the Quarry Gap Shelter wins the competition hands down with a porch swing, selection of games, magazines, and a babbling brook.
Date: 2022-04-27
From: Birch Run Shelters 

To: Ironmasters Mansion Hostel 
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: clear sky

Crossed the midpoint of the 2022 AT today.  At least it¢s the midpoint for hikers that started at one end or the other.  The midpoint is adjusted a few miles each year due to trail re-routes to control erosion, accommodate forest management activities, etc. Tonight will be my first stay in a hiker hostel, the Ironmasters Mansion Hostel. So far it¢s given me some time to catch up on journal entries.  Played a game of Yahtzee with Taps, Pyro, and Maybe.
Date: 2022-04-28
From: Ironmasters Mansion Hostel 

To: Mt. Holly Springs
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: clear sky

Spent the day hiking from Ironmasters Hostel to Mt. Holly Spring, PA with Taps and Pyro. Took Uber to Mountain Creek Tavern, which is actually a cheep hotel. Had a huge dinner at a local cafe.  Taps is hiking the trail as a fund raiser for the Wounded Warrior Project.  He carries a bugle and plays taps at sunset every evening. Tomorrow I go into Boiling Springs to pick up my bounce box and resupply for the two days it takes to get into Duncannon, PA.
Date: 2022-04-29
From: Mt. Holly Springs, PA

To: Boiling Springs
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: clear sky

Relatively short hiking day into the quaint little town of Boiling Springs.  Picked up my bounce box at the post office and replenished a few items such as hand sanitizer, toothpaste, and vitamins.  Then forwarded the box a couple weeks down the trail to Delaware Water Gap.  Stayed at Lisa¢s Hostel with Gila Monster and a few NOBOs (north-bounders) that started in GA. These guys have been on the trail since early February, so they were a great resource.
Date: 2022-04-30
From: Boiling Springs

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: clear sky

The first 12 miles or so of this day was gentle trail through farm pastures and forests in the Cumberland Valley, so I was able to move along quickly.  Had to carry extra water over the stretch due to lack of springs and farm/highway runoff into streams.  Then back to the hills and rocks, so the hiking slowed considerably.  Managed nearly 22 miles over about 10 hrs on the trail. Red efts are a frequent sight on the trail. After a rain there are so many that you have to avoid stepping on them.
Date: 2022-05-01
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Short day into Duncannon, home of the iconic Doyle Hostel, for a NERO (a near-ZERO day) and resupply.  Starting to recognize more hikers along the trail as we cross paths every few days. I chose to stay in the bunkhouse at Kind of Outdoorsy hiker hostel. Fallout passed through town and we went to the pizza shop. Tomorrow I¢ll start out with 5 days of food to get me 70 miles down the trail to Port Clinton.
Date: 2022-05-02
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Campsite at mile 1165.9
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Left Duncannon around 8:00 am. It¢s an old town without much going on. A big sled factory used to be here. There¢s a train station but the train doesn¢t stop any longer.  Many of the buildings along the Main Street are empty.  There¢s a few restaurants, a convenience store, a laundromat, and two hiker hostels.  The photo is the Susquehanna River that you cross when leaving Duncannon. This guy was just drifting down the river in his fishing boat.
Date: 2022-05-03
From: Campsite at mile 1165.9

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: clear sky

Rausch Gap Shelter was unique in that a piped spring flowed right in front of it. Closest you¢ll get to running water at a shelter. Plus it had a fire pit with a thick metal plate behind it that reflected heat towards the shelter. This was the first time I¢ve built a campfire on the trip. Stayed there with Fallout and Terrapin.
Date: 2022-05-04
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: moderate rain

The 501 shelter had a previous life as a potters studio.  Now it¢s a bunkhouse for AT hikers. Because the shelter is close to a parking lot on highway 501 just outside Pine Grove, PA, it¢s a special place. A local Italian restaurant can deliver pizza. Or spaghetti. Or sub sandwiches. The photo, taken by Fallout, shows the delivery guy holding off a pack of hungry backpackers.
Date: 2022-05-05
From: 501 Shelter

To: EagleÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Nest Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

When the trail isn¢t taking you over a rocky ridge or forested area, it¢s taking you through bottom land or a swamp. I¢m surprised at the number of beaver dams. Sometimes the trail goes right across the dam and you have to balance on logs to avoid dunking your feet.
Date: 2022-05-06
From: EagleÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Nest Shelter

To: Port Clinton 
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: broken clouds

The descent into Port Clinton was steep, following a staircase the trail builders made from huge stones. Hikers emerge from the woods to a busy rail yard, and then scramble across six sets of tracks.  Fallout, Terrapin, and I went to the Port Clinton Hotel and had a hamburger and beer for lunch. The basket of fries was big enough for a family of six.  Fallout¢s dad, Steve, met us there.  Fallout invited me to his parents home in Lancaster, PA, for the night to resupply and clean up.
Date: 2022-05-07
From: Port Clinton 

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

Fallout delivered me back to the trail the next morning, while he was going back to Lancaster to spend Mother¢s Day at his parents house. It had been raining for 24 hours already and was forecast to rain all day today with temperatures dropping into the mid 40s. When I got to the climb up Pulpit Rock, gusty winds forced me to put my umbrella away and cinch down my rain parka hood. The trail was a flowing stream on the hills and a pond on flat sections. I came across Straps at a shelter. He was waiting out the rain in his hammock. I put on a fleece under my rain jacket to keep my core warm. By the end of the day I was having difficulties opening my water bottles because of cold hands, even though I was wearing rain mitts.  The rain stopped shortly after I reached Eckville Shelter.
Date: 2022-05-08
From: Eckville Shelter

To: PA309
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Where the trail crosses PA 309 is the Thunderhead Lodge. We couldn¢t remember the name of the place, so it kept changing to Thunderbolt, Thunderbird, Thunderstorm, and finally we settled on Thunderdome. Terrapin got there ahead of me and went to a hostel ¢steps away¢ from the trail. I went inside and had a beer and a snack with Keystone and another hiker whose name I can¢t recall. My ride came to deliver me to the Shanty at Blue Mountain B&B.  Great place. For $60 it included pu/do from trail, shuttle into town to get carry out, laundry, shower, and a very nice room.
Date: 2022-05-10
From: Little Gap (Danielsville, PA)

To: Wind Gap, PA
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

The Gateway Motel has mixed reviews in Guthooks. Some other hikers warned that if you stay there be sure to see the room before paying. And avoid room numbers 1 and 5. The elderly gentleman from India is said to be hiker friendly.  And he was. When I arrived, Mr Satish immediately handed me a bottle of cold water and invited me to sit in a comfy chair in the cramped office area. Terrapin showed up and got the same treatment.  ¢You pee water, you pee water¢ he asked pointing to the restroom.  ¢No thanks, Satish, I¢m fine.¢ Then he handed me a book The Mother - Prayers and Meditations. I was told to open the book to a random page and take a photo of the prayer on that page. That was to be the prayer that would help down the rest of the trail.  Then Satish took me to see my room. Apparently he¢s asked to do this so often that it¢s become automatic.  Room #1. Oops.  The only problem was that I had to put toilet paper in the trash can to avoid clogging the drain. I¢d been using privies and cat holes up to this time, so no problem. Terrapin got room #3 with fully functional plumbing.
Date: 2022-05-11
From: Wind Gap, PA

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

The end of Pennsylvania, that is.  Or Rocksylvania as hikers call it. Delaware Water Gap is where the trail crosses into New Jersey and the relentless rocks come to an end. I don¢t mean the piles of car and house sized boulders that you get to climb over; those are sort of fun. I mean the smaller rocks that cover the trail with sharp jagged edges sticking out of the ground at all angles. They bruise your feet and eat your shoes. And they can go on for miles and miles. The photo shows one of the boulder walks for the day.
Date: 2022-05-12
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Took my first zero in Delaware Water Gap to rest and resupply.  Stayed at the Deer Head Inn, which happens to be one of the most famous jazz venues in the country. After running errands all day for resupply and replacing my shoes at a store in nearby Stroudsburg (eaten by the Pennsylvania rocks), I had dinner and enjoyed the first set of music.
Date: 2022-05-15
From: High Point Shelter 

To: NJ 94 to Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

Beautiful morning walk through forest trail with sun filtering through the trees and across rolling grassy pastures.  Took a side trip about 0.4 miles into Unionville for an Italian sub at Horler¢s.  Terrapin, High Road, Lost Man, and Big Easy were there for the same reason.  They planned to stay at the Sola hostel but I had a room booked in Vernon.  About 30 minutes outside of town I encountered my first bear.  Actually just its butt since it was running away from me.  Approaching NJ 94 is a 2-mile boardwalk across a swampy grassland. It¢s a popular walk for locals. Lots of birds.
Date: 2022-05-16
From: Vernon, NJ

To: NJ 17A to Greenwood Lake, NY
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: broken clouds

Got a late start out of Vernon, which was unfortunate since storms were forecast for the afternoon. Yesterday I saw my first bear just outside Unionville. Today I came upon a group of four bears. They ran off as soon as they saw me. The afternoon was a long rock scramble. Throw your hiking poles up on a ledge and climb up to them. And a rebar ladder up a rock face. It stormed mid afternoon making the rocks slick and progress was very slow. When the rain stopped the gnats were thick. Overall a very exciting day.
Date: 2022-04-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Appalachian Trail - IntroOn 27 April, I¢ll be starting my attempt to hike all 2194 miles of the Appalachian Trail (the AT) in the USA.In 1921, Benton Mackaye a utopian socialist, set out a vision for a continuous wilderness trail with rural  community retreats. Whilst the trail got made and is maintained by hiking clubs along the trail, there are no rural community retreats for frazzled east coast workers as Mackaye hoped. But there is a network of more than 300 three sided wooden shelters along the trail, to support people to backpack and camp out. This is what makes the trail unique for a brit like me, as hikers on the AT are actively encouraged to wild camp and supported to do so at shelters, that are often close to water sources and sometimes have the luxury of composting loos.Wild camping away from the shelters is also allowed on most parts of the trail, and this is called ¢stealth camping¢.  My plan is to camp most nights, carrying 3/4 days food with me and checking into a hostel or campground with showers about once a week to freshen up. Walking the entire trail in less than twelve months is called a thru hike and those that attempt it are known as thru-hikers.  I am beginning my thru-hike from Harpers Ferry in West Virginia, roughly in the middle of the AT and walking north for just under 1200 miles to Mount Katahdin in Maine.   If all goes to plan, I¢ll return to Harpers Ferry and walk south for 1000 miles or so to Springer Mountain in Georgia to complete my thru hike.  Starting in the middle of the AT and walking north and then retuning to walk south is known as a Flip Flop thru hike, so I will soon be an AT Thru Hike Flip Flopper Class of 2022!!!There are a few big benefits to flip flop hiking the AT: potentially kinder weather; a relatively easy first few hundred miles; and avoiding the northbound ¢bubble¢ of thru hikers who start in Georgia in March/April.The down sides to flip flopping are mainly psychological - I will not be walking north in one continuous line towards my goal, and the earliest starting and/or fastest hiking north bounders (nobos) will pass me more than half way through their thru hike when I have barely started mine. I hope to complete the AT within 6 months, walking an average of 15 miles a day for 150 days and taking up to 30 rest/travel days.  That¢s the strategic plan, but I have absolutely no day to day plans. I¢ll just start walking and take it from there¢¦
Date: 2022-04-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hiking the AT - Hopes and FearsI¢m walking the AT simply because it exists and I can afford the time. I enjoy hiking and it¢s great physical and mental exercise.  I love the simplicity of the daily routine of walk, set up camp, sleep, pack up camp, walk, set up camp etc.  It¢s a flow activity that allows me to completely tune out from the demands and complexities of modern life, which feels like the ultimate luxury. I¢ve also started to take great enjoyment from feeling like (a tiny inconsequential) part of the chaotically beautiful natural world.  And I hope spending 6 months in the wilderness might help me further along this mentally peaceful and relaxing path. Long distance hiking has a particular appeal for me in that - whilst let¢s be honest, it is just walking - it tests psychological resilience  and provides a tough challenge but one that is in theory achievable for someone of my age and health.  It¢s something to do, and a lovely rest from having to answer questions about purposeful or productive activity. I am walking, and tomorrow I am walking and the next day and the next¢¦My hopes for my AT adventure are to: enjoy going with the flow and not making plans beyond the simple goal of walking 2194 milesbe grateful for everything the trail provides and take pleasure in getting through the rough stuff I know it will throw at me. (I have a wry smile ready and waiting.)Be a good role model for my two adult sons: to live freely, independently and to choose their own paths; and being aware that the best achievements in life bringing the most joy also require resilience and hard work; and that this makes the joy even brighter.  (Family perhaps being the best example of this!) I also have some fears:I lack the physical or mental strength to walk 2194 milesI start over-planning and getting anxious about making it to town, buying food, having a shower etc and don¢t just enjoy the joy of plodding along in the wild. I get bitten by a snake or eaten by a bear!Mainly, I¢m desperate to start walking as my anxieties get worse every day now. It¢s been good to get away for this week to Crete with Fi, my wife. Otherwise, I¢d have been packing and unpacking my backpack 5-10 times a day or sleeping in my tiny tent in the garden¢¦
Date: 2022-04-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Thanks for checking out my AT Trail Journal.  I start hiking in 5 days time. There's 3 ways to follow my AT adventure:1) Here at trailjournals.com/fulhamgray.  I would really appreciate it if you'd take the time to sign my guestbook, and also sign up for a free READER account on trail journals with just your name and email address. Once you've signed up as a trail journals READER then all my entries will have a little envelopes icon in top right corner.  Hit this to subscribe.  (On a mobile, there's a little menu top right on my journal entries that gives links to view and sign my guest book. On a laptop, there's a menu in left margin.)As a subscriber, you'll get an email whenever I update my journal.  I can't promise bear and rattlesnake encounters every day but I will try to make my entries short, interesting and/or funny.  Otherwise, keep quiet, right?  I'm expecting some big highs and lows over the next 6 months so it'll be great to have some of you along for the journey.  I may need a few words of encouragement every now and then.2) On Instagram where I'll post the odd photo or video - same username, fulhamgray3) For map nerds, there's also the FarOutGuides App which I will be using for navigation and information along the trail.  If you download the app and set up a free account then you can follow my progress on a map of the trail.  The app also has a social check in feature that allows you to see any short updates or 'location check ins'.  Again, I'm Fulhamgray if you want to follow me.
Date: 2022-04-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Morning drive up to London Gatwick Airport for a COVID test which USA requires to be taken within 24 hours of flying. Used the trip to drop my younger son off at the airport station and say goodbye for 6 months.  Missing my wife and boys is going to be one of the hardest parts of my trip.  My wife has plans to come spend 3 weeks with me in August and hoping each of my sons  will join me in September/October as I near the end, if I get that far. I got my test results as I drove home. Negative - so I¢ll be back at Gatwick tomorrow to fly to DC. Seems like the dream I¢ve had for a few years now is about to become true.
Date: 2022-04-27
From: Harpers Ferry 

To: Dahlgreen state campground 
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: clear sky

Out of the blocksI was so anxious to start I had a flashback memory to 11 years old standing on the start line of a 1500m. That was only 5 minutes of hell in front of me but this hike is going to be 6 months. That said, I do only have to walk every day and how hard can that be?I had to wait until 9 for the ATC office to open to pick up my thru hiker tag - I¢m 120 of this year¢s flip floppers.  The tag identifies me as a thru hiker even though I¢m yet to walk a mile!What would have been a dull flat walk was enlivened by terrapins, orioles and some small yellow and black birds that kept me company. A climb up to the ridge gave me my first taste of real AT hiking in the woods. It¢s a great time to start as trees are budding their first soft green leaves and wild violets are everywhere. After 10 miles I stopped for lunch by Gaitland State Park rest rooms. There was also a bench and electric sockets.  A couple of other flip floppers come thru but they were keen to push on. I ate my lunch and treated myself to a tumeric tea. One of the hikers who passed me looked familiar - someone called Steve who I¢d chatted to online. I know he is 66 so I was shocked to see him swiftly stride across the meadow and uphill at great pace, like a Gazelle.  As I have got to know Steve a bit I suggested this as his trail name and after some reflection he accepted it. I caught Steve up later in the afternoon whilst he was taking a break. And we walked together to the camp ground.  It had flat pitches and showers. Shame the rest room had no heat as it was cold as hell when I got out of my shower.  And don¢t get me started on my paper thin ultralight towel, that would fail any trade description case.  Cold first night about 34F but my bag kept me warm. 17 miles in my legs.
Date: 2022-04-28
From: Dahlgreen state campground 

To: Raven Rock Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: broken clouds

It was bitterly cold when I woke up about 6am.  So I decided to go make my morning coffee in the camp restrooms. Not heated but a few degrees warmer than outside. Only 3 men in tents at the site so I thought the ladies restroom would be a good hideaway.  Surprised by a mystery woman who was just leaving - who explained that she had slept on the floor in the loo all night rather than brave her tent!Options for the day were shelters at 14 or 19 miles.  I decided to make my mind up depending on what time I got to the first shelter and how I was feeling. Early on I walked with Steve/Gazelle and we took in the  original Washington monument together.  After about 9 miles I stopped by a spring to collect water and eat lunch while Gazelle pushed on. I had a great late morning/early afternoon for the next 5 miles or so. Saw (and got some video of) some white tailed deer, more Orioles, and some big colourful butterflies. There¢s a white wild flower with a tiny yellow centre which is coming out in abundance all along the trail here. Mixed with lots of wild violets and the occasional early vivid pink rhododendron it was every thing I¢d hoped from the trail, a wild woodland idyll.  I got to the shelter at 14 miles after a sharp and rocky up and down that sapped my legs and spirit.  It was only 2.30pm so I decided to push on.  But not before I took a 30 minute nap!  Steve was at the shelter when I got there and he hiked on while I napped. It was a tough last 5 miles, with lots of rocky sections both up and down that slowed me down to a careful plod.  No water at the shelter I was heading for meant I had to pick up 2 litres in my bladder from the cascade spring about .7 mile downhill from the shelter.  Carrying the bladder and my backpack meant that the .7mile took me an age at crawling pace, a struggle to put one foot over another on a steep rocky climb.  It was worth the effort as the shelter was sociable with plenty of grim humour about the impending cold night. And I spent my first night in a 3 sided AT shelter, lying on the wooden floor in my sleeping bag on my foam pad with 4 other hikers. A very cold 29F/-1C night was bearable though getting up to take a pee it two was no fun!A big (for me) 19 mile day. Another great day on the AT.