morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-05-19
From: Tagg Run Shelter

To: Day 7
Miles today: 12.0

SUCCESS! After one week and one hundred miles, we finally made it to Boiling Springs, PA. The trail didn't let us out of the woods easily though. We hiked through more freezing cold rain, up and down slippery rocky mountains, through calf-deep puddles, and shit-smelling cow pastures. Still no sun. No sun at all. None of this mattered when we finally got to town however.   Oh, and for future reference, there are absolutely no hiker-friendly hostels in Boiling Springs. Apparently the owner of one hostel died recently and the owner of the other hostel recently decided that he does't like hikers anymore. I actually found and subsequently broke into a seemingly abandoned house and was getting ready to set up camp for the night. But my pals aren't quite and comfortable with breaking-and-entering as I am so they overruled my idea. So instead we got free coffee and pastries from a nice coffee shop owner, and were directed to the ATC regional office in town. We hung out there until the office closed and took our time reorganizing our packs.   We walked across the street and picked up a 6 pack from this snooty little local tavern and had pretty much decided to just sleep out on the porch of the ATC. Then one of their employees stopped by after hours and offered to give us a ride up the road to some hotel that offered discounted hiker rates. We accepted. Kyle was even nice enough to pay for the room. This place is no ordinary hotel. The Allenberry Resort Inn and Playhouse is a huge golfcourse-like complex of fancy hotels and restaurants. It is pretty impressive to say the least. It's so nice to have a bed to sleep in, a hot shower, dry clothes (especially socks,) and Babylonian food to eat (the sticky buns here are to die for.) All is well now after this much-needed pit stop. Thanks Kyle!
Date: 2011-05-20
From: Allenberry Inn

To: Day 8
Miles today: 5.0

So it took us a while to get out of Boiling Springs today for obvious reasons... We slept in late, had an amazing breakfast at the Allenberry, and spent some time meandering around town. Poor Omar had been carrying like 20 pounds of useless tools, knives, and other assorted weaponry in his pack so we decided to head to the post office to mail all that crap back. Me and Kyle also picked up our mail drops, which was very exciting because I still wasn't too sure how easy it was going to be to get food mailed to me. It worked out without a hitch. After picking up my mail drop and doing some shopping, my pack weighed 50 lbs with food, fuel, and water. This is after I mailed a bunch of stuff home. So I still desperately need to shed some weight, my shoulders and my back can't take much more of this...    Very encumbered, we only hiked 5 miles today until the sunset forced us to stop. We wound up somewhere in the middle of this flat, muddy Cumberland Valley. There is really no shelter, very little water, and nowhere to camp. Nothing but flat cow pastures, snake-infested tall grass, and shit-stink rivers. Wow Pennsylvania. We had to stealth-camp on the outskirts of this farm field. Pretty sure this is private property so we're gonna get up early and sneak out of here in the morning before we run into any angry central-Pennsylvanian farmer types...
Date: 2011-05-21
From: Sketchy Farm Field

To: Day 9
Miles today: 16.6

So we got up before sunrise today and got the hell out of the sketchy farm field. In fact, we kept up a pretty decent pace all morning just to get out of the Cumberland Valley. Don't get me wrong, the valley was beautiful enough in its own right. But it's kind of a tease to be stuck in this flat muddy valley with a gorgeous panoramic view the pristine mountains. I guess I might be whistling a different tune when I actually have to climb those mountains soon...   We did a quick 16 miles today and I'm happy to be out of the valley and up to the Cove Mountain Shelter. This place has a real nice cozy log cabin type feel. And, for once, it's not raining outside! It didn't rain on us last night either when we had to stealth camp. We got a short afternoon shower when we were climbing out of the valley but today has been the driest day by far since we left Harper's Ferry. It sure is a welcomed change to actually feel the sun on my face.Tomorrow, Duncannon!9:45 PMPS: Our trail-jambalaya was God damned delicious tonight.
Date: 2011-05-22
From: Cove Mountain

To: Day 10
Miles today: 9.1

Pretty fair day today. Yeah! We only did 9.1 miles today but we got to spend the afternoon in Duncannon, PA. Nice little town, much more accommodating than Boiling Springs. But just like in BS the trail literally goes right through the middle of town. We spent most of our time in the Doyle, the infamous hotel that used to be the 5-star gem of Duncannon but has since become neglected, dilapidated, and overrun with hikers. Talk about a sight for sore eyes, pealing plaster and exposed electrical wiring and all. $25 will get you a room in the hotel and $5 will get you a super high gravity local beer served up by their very own "Beer Nazi." They also had decent bar food, fuel for sale, and free internet. This little stop more than made up for the fact that the public library was closed (which is rumored to give thru-hikers free massages.) With a full belly and a healthy buzz, we marched out into the rain and made it about 3 blocks down the road until this couple felt sorry for us and picked us up in their van. They drove us a few miles down the road and dropped us off at this little ice cream shop at the end of town. We spent some time eating ice cream and flirting with the little townie girls behind the counter. The experience made me think a lot about Belle. This whole long-term separation thing has got to be so much harder for her than it is for me. I'm out here living in the woods with my two best friends while she's back in our college town undoubtedly getting relentlessly hit on by my old buddies. It's gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out. I'm beginning to realize that this experience is going to be less about wilderness survival and more about discipline and self control. I think that goes for her as well as myself. If fact, I'm beginning to have some interesting revelations regarding why the hell I'm out here in the 1st place. But alas, I'm tired, kind of hungover, and it's cold and rainy outside. Now worries though, I'll have plenty of time out here. It's time to zip up my sleeping bag.10:01 PM
Date: 2011-05-23
From: Wet Hammock

To: Day 11
Miles today: 11.8

Another pretty good today. No terrible inclines or declines. PA is rocky as hell though man. It's been getting worse and worse ever since we climbed out of the valley. My ankles and knees definitely ache with every waking moment. So much so that I've started to follow Kyle's lead and take Ibuprofen (vitamin I) regularly throughout the day. We got more rain today but it didn't last all day. And, by this point, mentioning the rain feels almost cliche. We're gonna hop off-trail and take our first 0 day at Kyle's aunt's house the day after tomorrow. So that will be a nice opportunity to rest my joints and repair my gear. It's funny what 11 days of rain will do to 'waterproof' material.    I'm really missing Belle a whole lot right now too, I just couldn't get her out of my head today. That lil' mamma is gonna have one hell of a summer raging summer festival tour without me. Can't wait till we're together again. Maybe I'm coping with the fact that this experience is going to be so much different than I had anticipated. I decided to do this seemingly spontaneously years ago and went about making preparations almost on auto-pilot, driven by the unlikely but strong belief that the world is going to change drastically in 2012. I wanted to learn how to survive. Really survive on my own. I wanted to learn how to provide for myself and live off of the fat of the land. I wanted to rid myself of physical and material addictions; addictions to drugs, sex, food, comfort and complacency, social status, ego, and other worldly vices. I wanted to give myself a chance to slow down, breathe, clear my thoughts, and prepare myself for intense meditative scrutiny. But I'm doing none of those things now that I'm out here. I'm relying on mail drops, replacement water filters, outdoors gear from Babylon, financial support, etc... Given the fact that I wake up early every morning, hike until I'm exhausted every day, and struggle to get through dinner before I pass out every night, the stillness contemplation and insight that I've been seeking has thus-far eluded me as well. The real, resounding, fundamental reason why I came out here is still fragmented in my mind and I'm having trouble articulating it. But hopefully soon...
Date: 2011-05-24
From: Damp Hammock

To: Day 12
Miles today: 17.6

A new record today: 17.6 miles! My body can really feel those miles though... I'm beginning to feel the first indications of deep and serious joint pain that goes beyond the typical aches and pains of exercise. The tendons in my neck and lower back and the joints in my ankles and knees are hurting more and more with every mile. I desperately need to lighten my load before my 50 lb pack crushes me to death. On a positive note, however, Kyle's aunt is on her way to pick us up from the side of the highway right now. Tomorrow will be our first 0-day. I really wanted to go a bit longer before taking a 0 but this was just a convenient opportunity and a little R&R is sorely needed at this point. I'm also looking forward to repairing some of my gear that hasn't fared too well out here so far. Tomorrow, I'm teaching myself how to sew. Sleeping in a bed for 2 nights in a row is going to be straight-up amazing at this point too. I'm never gonna take the real world for granted ever again. By the time I pick up this journal again my gear, my body, and my spirits will have been returned to working order.
Date: 2011-05-25
From: Bed

To: Day 13
Miles today: 0.0

Our first 0 day was pretty amazing and sorely needed. We did some shopping and Omar actually has boots, rain gear, and a dry-bag now! That means that he hiked almost 20 miles through the mud completely barefoot and then over 100 over rocks wearing nothing but crocs. Not to mention the ridiculous amount steel weaponry that he was lugging around and the fact that he stubbed his foot and lost a toenail before we even started hiking. We also made a brief stop in Hershey, PA to check out the famous chocolate factory and acquire some zuzu's. My muscles and tendons do feel markedly better, but I'm starting to get pretty worried about my knee; it just won;t stop hurting. If I was wiser and more responsible, I would probably just keep resting until it gets better. But, instead, I'm'a hike out tomorrow and just try to go easy on it and hope for the best. it feels good to be clean, have clean clothes, and repaired/freshly waterproofed gear. I also mailed back a few more items like my extra knife, sunscreen, and bug spray. Prolly managed to lose a little over a pound all in all. These next 120 miles will be easier, rain or rain. This makes me excited. I'm also very excited for my gal. She just did Hangout; now she's doing Wakarusa and Bonnaroo back-to-back. Good stuff. I sure miss her. In fact, I miss all of my friends a lot. It was pretty easy and painless for me to shed all of my material possessions, but my personal relationships will be with me for as long as I live. I'm thankful for that. All of this is just reinforcing my belief that that which is intangible has the capacity to be so much more important and valuable that anything one can see or touch.
Date: 2011-05-26
From: Bed

To: Day 14
Miles today: 6.9

Back in the green tunnel. After our customary late start, we did a little 6.9 mile jaunt to William Penn Shelter, just in time to beat a customary rainstorm. This was definitely the fiercest rainstorm we've seen yet. It was rainin' sideways! It was so cool to be warm, dry, and fresh out of town, snuggled safely in a 3-walled shelter, watching all hell break loose outside. It was almost eerily comfortable. Those first few miles really killed me though. I was out of energy from the get go. I had the shits the whole time. I think I ate too much chocolate at aunt candy's house. Maybe I'm dehydrated. I don;t know what it is. Hopefully I snap back in to thru-hiker mode tomorrow.
Date: 2011-05-27
From: William Penn Shelter

To: Day 15
Miles today: 19.2

What a way to start week 3. We did our 1st 20-mile day today (including side trails!) It was tough on the body for sure but actually a really good day to do big miles. The rain actually held out, but the rain clouds kept the sun at bay and made it nice and cool even in the middle of the afternoon. The terrain was flat for the most part and peppered with little views and rocky outcroppings that made for great spots to take a break. Good shit. We missed the 501 shelter, which everyone talks about, and wound up at the Eagle's Nest Shelter for the night. Tomorrow hold the promise of hot food and beer so I have a feeling the next few miles are going to fly by.
Date: 2011-05-28
From: Eagle's Nest Shelter

To: Day 16
Miles today: 9.0

So we started the day off by hiking 9 quick miles into this little town called Port Clinton. The town wasn't much more than a neighborhood and a candy store so we dropped our packs off and walked another 2 miles to Hamburg, PA. We spent a couple of hours between Walmart, Wendy's and the bar/liquor store. Hamburg offered us the typical Babylonian essentials, but when we got back to Port Clinton we were greeted with something different and unique: a sense of community. You see, the reason why Port Clinton is a trail town is that there is that big pavilion about .5 miles off-trail that has literally everything a hiker could ever want: shelter, boxes of free food, running water, an outhouse, dry wood, entertainment, company, acceptance, etc... It it kind of like a hub for people stopping off to rest or to get on/off trail. I can't even count how many people I met throughout the day coming and going. Some of the more interesting folks were Snorkel, this girl with an 8-pound pack who is trying to break the womens' record for fastest unassisted thru-hike, High Life, this kilted Jew who has already hiked the AT 1.5 times and is going for his 2nd full thru-hike, and the fabled Samurai, a kilted Irishmen who packs a 4-pound Samurai sword everywhere he goes. There are some straight-up character who live out here in the woods I tell ya... But the superstar of the day was this gentlemen named Bag of Tricks. He is a bad ass motherfucker of a trail angel, the first specimen I've ever encountered of an entirely different breed of human, one who devotes his/her entire life to the trail and to helping out hikers. Some people literally just create trail magic all day every day. Bog of Tricks was just camping there for the weekend handing out food and drinks, giving advice, and telling stories. How cool.   For the first time since I've been out here I got a real taste of the trail community tonight and trail people. I'd like to think that I'm out here alone in the wilderness but the truth of the matter is that there are thousands of people out here right now sharing this space. And a huge network of hostels, trail workers, and trail angels has sprung up to support all of us. Pretty incredible. I can't quite figure out why, but a dinky pavilion, a campfire, and a little bit of company raised my spirits a lot more than it should have.   Most of the folks staying overnight in the pavilion went to bed early, but Kyle, Omar, Samurai, Bag of Tricks, and I stayed up by the campfire getting wasted for a few hours. Samurai introduced me to two very tasty alternatives to Reisling wine: Moscato and Gew14rztraminer. Then he gave Kyle a trail name that just might stick: Belgian Chocolate. Then he got belligerent, puked, and passed out half in and half out of his tent. As a matter of fact, the first thing he ever said to me was quite literally "Dude, I am way too belligerent to be held accountable for my actions right now." So me and Omar and Belgian Chocolate sat by the fire and listened to Bag of Tricks tell awful jokes until well after midnight and then passed out drunk in the pavilion.
Date: 2011-05-29
From: Port Clinton Pavilion 

To: Day 17
Miles today: 16.1

Today was another solid day on the AT. We left Port Clinton at 11:00 (after making a mandatory stop by the candy store) and hiked 10 miles up to this spot called The Pinnacle. It was like 1,700 feet up in the air and had a 270 degree panoramic view of PA. It was by far the most beautiful view and most beautiful day we've had in a long while. We took a nice long break up there and explored the big cave that was rumored to be up there and chilled with a bunch of Amish folks. Then we hiked another couple of miles down to the Eckville Shelter. The shelter seemed nice on paper because it has a caretaker, a solar shower, and a flushing toilet (it's behind a house where the trail skirts the back of some neighborhood.) But now that I'm here shelter is a little bit sketchy. The caretaker has literally gone crazy from years of taking care of hikers and waging war with mice. The shelter is 4-walled and spacious enough to sleep 6. It's equipped with board games, maps, information about hiking and the local flora and fauna, even a solar powered night light. But the shelter is poorly built and full of bugs, mice, and stinky hikers. This is for sure not going to be my best night of sleep.On the bright side, I'm happy to report that my body is getting back in order. The shits are gone ; ) my muscles ache less, the miles are going by faster and faster. 17 more miles tomorrow.
Date: 2011-05-30
From: Eckville Shelter 

To: Day 18
Miles today: 14.0

Today felt like my 1st real day on the Appalachian Trail. Woke up tired, didn't sleep well in that crazy shelter, and stayed tired all day. I didn't have much room for enthusiasm. The highlight of the day is that we officially decided to name Omar Toe Jam due to the fact that he jammed his toe and lost his toenail before he even set foot on trail. I feel like that initial burst of excitement that I got from coming out here has all but disappeared. It's not like I didn't expect all of this. I'm really getting used to a whole new lifestyle out here. Life in the woods is becoming less and less of a novelty and just becoming life. Thankfully, the day was punctuated by a really beautiful campsite. We are somewhere near the Knife's Edge and Bear Rock overlooks, just south of the Easy Bake Over Shelter. We did something like 15 miles that felt something like 20. This had something to do with a 1-hour detour that we took to walk to a restaurant that turned out to be closed. Nevertheless, we had plenty of time to set up a nice campsite and build a fire.My blackbird, my bear bag, and my jolly roger are swingin' in the trees.10:05 PM
Date: 2011-05-31
From: campsite

To: Day 19
Miles today: 15.0

What a day! We finally left camp early (9:30) and hiked right over a 3-foot-wide cliff called the Knife's edge. Then we scrambled our way through Bear Rocks. Then climbed up and over the Bake Oven Knob. Then had a pretty easy, albeit slow, hike another 7 miles up to the George Outerbridge Shelter. This is the southern terminus of what we have deemed "no man's land." Immediately after the shelter there is a 600' descent, a river crossing, then a 1000' climb u the sheer cliff face of a mountain. After that, there is a 17-mile stretch with no shelters, very little cover, and water that is so tainted that is in undrinkable. The story is that the area used to be an Zinc mine up until 1980, when the EPA realized that heavy metals happen to be extremely poisonous to carbon-based lifeforms. The area has since been declared a Superfund site. Now government protection, a thin layer of grass, and an Appalachian Trail corridor make up for decades of abuse to this particular mountain.   The place is not without it's beauty though. The climb up the cliff was the closest thing I've ever done to rock scrambling and by far the toughest climb yet. This may have had something to do with the fact that we literally sprinted up the cliff so that we could catch the sunset on the other side. There is this cool american flag painted on a rock up there near the summit so, naturally, I had to go conquer it with my jolly roger. Then we dawned our headlamps and tried as far as we could into the 17-mile no man's land. We were rather deterred, however, by an ungodly number of red ticks. Each one of us would stop every hundred or so paces, look down, and pick off about a dozed or so ticks. I'm not kidding. To make matters worse, the ridge that we are stuck on is in plain view of what I think is Palmerton, PA. So I'm stuck up here hiking at night, covered in ticks, desperately trying to get to the next water source which is still over 15 miles away. All the while I can plainly see fast food joints, restaurants, and gas stations just a few miles down the mountain 'as the crow flies' in this piece of shit little mining town. We hiked until 11:00 and collapsed in the first little thicket of trees that we had seen in a while. This once-beautiful mountain was raped, ravaged, and left barren by mining companies. And I'm stuck here in the middle of it. I can't wait to get out of here...
Date: 2011-06-01
From: No Mans Land

To: Day 20
Miles today: 16.5

Another "real" day on the AT today. We got off to a bad start. We woke up with very little water and an untold number of miles left to hike, so we couldn't make coffee. Toe Jam had run out of tobacco so he was on edge. Then I realized that I had lost our entire week's allotment of hash yesterday when we were smoking with this dready dude at the last water source before No Mans Land. Tired, thirsty, frustrated, and sober, we hiked something like 6 or 7 rocky miles to the northern side of No Mans Land. We skipped lunch and cruised right down to a road crossing, hid our packs in the woods, and walked a mile into Wind Gap, PA. We walked straight to a laundromat and put or clothes in. Then, wearing our rain gear, we went to a Chinese take-out place (that was supposed to be an AYCE buffet according to my guide book. grumble grumble.) We straight-up gorged ourselves on Chinese-style calories and made it back to the laundromat just after they had closed... Thankfully the lady who owned the place had finished doing our laundry for us, sorted and folded it all, and waited for us to get back just to offer us a ride back to the trail head. Wow. Trail Angels come out of nowhere I tell ya. We were in to much of a food coma to even make it out of the parking lot so we just threw our sleeping bags down right there on the ground and cowboy camped on the gravel. The night was not without it's entertainment, however, because we witnessed a couple get in a fight in the trailer park across the street. They seem so foreign, stuck in their little trailer, screaming about some arbitrary issues in their day-to-day lives, completely oblivious of the thousands of miles of wilderness just sitting in their front yard. I've only got 17 more rocky miles to go until I get to the Delaware Water Gap and my next mail drop. Hopefully they are easier than the last 17.