morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-10-04
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter, PA

To: Eagles Nest Shelter, PA
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: light rain

Woke up to rain this morning. It started raining about 3 or 4am and I ended up walking in the rain for a few hours this morning before it finally stopped.I was the only one in the shelter area last night, so I walked up to the shelter in my skivies and packed up under the shelter and out of the rain.I was walking along and came up to a bow hunter who had set his tree stand in a tree and was hanging over the Trail. When I walked up to him, he asked if I would hand him his quiver of arrows that he had dropped and didn¢t want to go through the trouble of getting back down that tree to pick them up.I walked into Port Clinton, mailed a couple things, then went to The Port Clinton Hotel and ate lunch. I stopped by the outfitter, then walked out of town. I was glad to have a good climb because it was cold out. I ran into an older lady that I had run into last year on the Trail. She has been sectioning the Trail and said she has less than 400 miles left.I don¢t know why, but when I got to the shelter, I set up inside. I don¢t like sleeping in shelters, but I guess I was just being lazy. I saw three deer today.I was sleeping in the shelter and some hikers showed up at 10pm. I don¢t like sleeping around other people, so I ended up finding a flat spot and setting up my tent. I got a good night¢s sleep after that.
Date: 2003-10-05
From: Eagles Nest Shelter, PA

To: 501 Shelter, PA
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

I had coffee and breakfast before I got out of my tent.I packed up and hiked to Fort Dietrich Snyder Marker and walked off trail and found the spring.   I got water and sat down and ate a snack.I hiked on and after another couple hours, I ran into the section hiker again. She had just figured out she had been walking in the wrong direction, turned and was heading the right way again.She gave me an apple and an orange. She was heading back to work soon and told me if I needed anything, I could call and ask for her at REI in Farmington, MA. She plans on finishing the Trail in 2005 by walking into Damascus for Trail Days.I hiked on to 501 Shelter and hitched a ride into town, re-supplied, ate lunch and hitched back to 501 Shelter.Hippie showed up and had her truck, so we went to a gas station so she could make some phone calls.I was sound asleep in 501 Shelter and a guy walked in with his headlamp on at 10pm and started going through the stuff on the table. I yelled at the guy and he left. I found out the next morning that it was the caretaker and didn¢t realize anyone was staying in the shelter that night.
Date: 2003-10-06
From: 501 Shelter, PA

To: Rausch Gap Shelter, PA
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Since Hippie had her truck parked close by, we went to Red Lion for breakfast.We got back to the Trail and started walking. We found a nice overlook that was out of the wind and in the sun, so we stopped and took a nice break. There was a lot of frost around this morning, so that warm sun felt great.We hiked on to William Penn Shelter and took another break. We ate again too.We walked on. We passed by the area where I saw a huge bear last year. He wasn¢t around¢¦at least I didn¢t see him.We crossed the old iron bridge at Swatara Gap. It was closed last year and was being painted, so it was nice to walk across it this year.I was glad to get to Rausch Gap Shelter. I was tired, so I set up my tent and went to bed early.
Date: 2003-10-07
From: Rausch Gap Shelter, PA

To: RT 225, PA
Miles today: 20.9

It was 32 degrees when I woke up this morning. I woke up and walked over to the shelter and had coffee and breakfast with Hippie Longstockings. We didn¢t get started walking until 9am. I walked south and Hippie walked north to head back and get her truck.I hiked a little faster than 3mph today. I got to RT 325, then walked a little farther and stopped at a spring where I ate lunch. Then I hiked on to Peter¢s Mtn Shelter where Hippie was already there waiting on me with a Coke and a jelly donut.We hiked on and got to her truck which was parked at RT 225. She had left the lights on and we were able to get the truck jumped by another guy that was parked at the trail head.We drove back to Swatara Gap and picked up John Galt, Sage and Meander. We stopped and picked up some bear and pizza, then went back to 501 Shelter and sat in there and drank some beer and ate pizza till about 10pm.
Date: 2003-10-08
From: RT 225, PA

To: Cove Mountain Shelter, PA
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

I woke up at 501 Shelter with Hippie, John Galt, Sage and Meander. We all piled into Hippie¢s truck and headed to Port Clinton, stopping at 3C¢s for breakfast, then headed to Pottsville, PA and took the Yeungling Brewery tour¢¦.and had a couple free beers. I prefer their lager.I bought a blaze orange Yeungling Brewery hat because it¢s hunting season here in PA now.Hippie dropped me off at the trailhead at RT 225 at 1:50pm and I started walking south. It was slow going though because there were tons of blow-downs along the ridge walk. That hurricane really did a job on blowing down trees in this area.I stopped at Clarks Ferry Shelter for a few minutes, then hiked down to Duncannon, PA. I stopped just long enough to have a Coke, then hiked on out of town. I hiked up to Hawk Rock where there¢s a good view looking back at Duncannon and the Susquehanna River.I walked on to Cove Mountain Shelter and set up my tent for the night. Another great day!!
Date: 2003-10-09
From: Cove Mountain Shelter, PA

To: Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 24.5

I got started a little earlier than usual this morning after I had breakfast and coffee. I had to walk down a long hill to get water before I started walking south at 7:30am.I hiked to Darlington Shelter and took a break. I ate a snack, then hiked on to RT 11 and walked to the truckstop, but the restaurant was closed. I walked to the Hess gas station across the street and found something to eat there, then made a few phone calls.Frogcaller has my truck at her home here in PA and she is picking me up tomorrow so I can take a couple zero days. I¢m ready for a break.I hiked into Boiling Springs and stopped by the ATC office, then went to Anile¢s Restaurant and ate dinner. I had lasagna.I stopped by the ATC office again and got water, then walked to the Backpacker¢s Campsite just outside of town.I saw a guy fishing when I was walking out of town. I sat there and watched him catch four rainbow trout and I also got to see a snake.I set up my tent at the Backpacker¢s Campsite. I saw a railroad track about 20 feet away from the tenting area, but thought there was no way anyone would put a campsite next to an active railroad.I WAS WRONG!!! Read tomorrow¢s entry¢¦.
Date: 2003-10-10
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: Pinegrove Furnace State Park, PA
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: broken clouds

Today¢s walk actually started out last night¢¦in the middle of the night. That WAS an active railroad track right next to the Backpacker¢s Campsite in Boiling Springs. There had been close to ten trains come roaring by my tent, so by 10pm I had taken all I could. I packed up!!My tent was already completely soaked with dew from setting up in the open and on grass. I got packed up and was walking south at 10pm.I climbed the mountain out of Boiling Springs and got to Alex Kennedy Shelter at midnight. I figured if there was anyone there, I would keep on walking so I wouldn¢t disturb them, but got lucky and there was no one around.I set up in the shelter. It took me a while before I fell off to sleep because I was wide awake by then.I woke up at 7:30am and drank a Coke I had packed out of town. I hiked on to Green Mountain General Store and had a hoagie. I talked to an older lady by the name of Slim while I sat there and found out that she had already hiked the entire AT.I hiked on and came up to Frogcaller walking north on the Trail to meet me. It was GREAT seeing her!! We hiked back to Pinegrove Furnace State Park where her car was parked. We passed the half way marker for the AT on the way.We headed to her home in Hanover, PA where Lew was waiting on us.They brought my truck down here to PA from their cabin in Maine where I had left it when I started this hike.I spent time talking to them, then spent a lot of time on the computer after they went to bed.
Date: 2003-10-11
From: Pinegrove Furnace State Park, PA

To: Pinegrove Furnace State Park, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up at 7:30am and had cereal and coffee. We all got ready and Lew drove us to Baltimore, MD so I could find some much needed new shoes.   Most of my clothes and my old shoes look like rags. It was fun getting new stuff!!We stopped at REI and got a balaclava, bandana, silk top and bottoms, midweight zip tip, hip belt buckle, .9 liter titanium pot and a platypus, then we went to a road runner¢s shoe store and I bought a new pair of running shoes and more ultra light weight socks and new Superfeet.We stopped by Friendly Farm Restaurant and had a really good chicken dinner.We headed back to their home and I spent the evening going through my backpack, got everything organized, then spent time going through the upcoming maps and data book.Frogcaller sewed up the hole in the crotch of my hiking shorts and I got to talk to mom and dad on the phone before I went to bed for the night.
Date: 2003-10-12
From: Pinegrove Furnace State Park, PA

To: Tom's Run Shelters, PA
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up and ate breakfast and had coffee that Frogcaller made. She asked if I wanted to walk up to church with her¢¦I said sure.We walked about a mile to get there. It was nice.We went to WalMart and I re-supplied after we got back from church.Frogcaller made stuffed peppers for lunch¢¦they were great!!Hippie called and wanted to meet up and spot her truck at Harpers Ferry, WV, then she would walk with me.Hippie and I didn¢t get started till late. It was midnight before we got back to the Trail.It felt strange today because it¢s the first time I¢ve driven a vehicle in over three months.Frogcaller and Lew were wonderful hosts and Trail angels¢¦.thanks!!!
Date: 2003-10-13
From: Tom's Run Shelters, PA

To: Rocky Mountain Shelter, PA
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: clear sky

Got up and had breakfast and coffee very late¢¦.10am. I was still sitting around at 11am and finally started hiking at 11:30am. We went to Quarry Gap Shelters and took a break, then hiked past RT 30, where we had planned on stopping at an Italian restaurant, but they are closed on Mondays.I was kind of dragging butt today, but we still got in some good miles by the time it got dark out.I cooked dinner after dark. I got to use my new titanium pot for the first time tonight.John Galt is using my radio to listen to the Yankees/Red Sox playoffs.I saw two deer today.
Date: 2003-10-14
From: Rocky Mountain Shelter, PA

To: Near PA/MD Border, PA
Miles today: 15.3

Got up and had my coffee and breakfast, then started walking shortly after 9am. I¢ve been getting later starts since I¢ve been walking with Hippie Longstockings and John Galt. I saw one deer today.We hiked to Joe¢s truck and he took us back to South Mountain, PA so John Galt could get his mail. We went to a buffet in Blue Ridge Summit, PA.Joe and Hippie dropped John Galt and me off at RT 16 and we walked the 2 12 miles to just before the PA/MD border. They picked us up there and took us back to Tumbling Run Shelters where we spent the night. Tumbling Run Shelters are close enough to the road from where we parked. It¢s raining out.We¢re going to start early tomorrow because John Galt, Hippie Longstockings and me are walking the Maryland Challenge¢¦.about 42 miles.
Date: 2003-10-15
From: Near PA/MD Border, PA

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 41.2
Weather: clear sky

I hiked farther today than I ever have before. I ate breakfast and then Hippie, John Galt and I started hiking from just north of the PA/MD border. We started at 1:30am.I lead the way and they followed. The Trail was hard to follow when we started the rocky climb in Maryland. We got off Trail a few times and had to walk around those rocks in the dark looking for white blazes.We needed our headlamps all the way till 7am.The first ten miles were pretty rough with rocks and climbing, but it got easier as the day went on. We took three breaks and a one hour lunch break. It was very windy and cool out with some of the gusts getting close to 50mph.We walked into Harpers Ferry, WV at 6pm and got someone to take a picture of the three of us.Hippie drove me back to my truck in Pinegrove Furnace State Park where I crawled into the back of my truck and was sound asleep in about ten seconds.
Date: 2003-10-16
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

I woke up in the back of my truck in Pinegrove State Park. It was 34 degrees out. I drove to a local restaurant and had breakfast, then drove to Harpers Ferry, WV.I went to the ATC office and got my picture taken and put it in the hiker photos book. I was the 73rd sobo that made it to Harpers Ferry.I went to the library and checked email, then went back to the ATC office to see if John Galt stopped in yet.I called the Turf Motel and got a room for $42.00. I¢ve been in my room all afternoon and went all through my backpack. That took about three hours to re-organize everything.I made some phone calls and just chillin¢. I made arrangements to leave my truck in Harpers Ferry at the state park parking area.
Date: 2003-10-17
From: Harpers Ferry

To: David Lesser Memorial Shelter, WV
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up in the motel. I¢m not used to sleeping in soft beds and my back hurt for a while.I went to the Turf Restaurant and had breakfast, then took another shower and headed back to the ATC office to see what other hikers have come through.There were no new entries, so I went back to the library and answered some emails. Roadkill came walking in while I was there. We went to Golden Coral Buffet, then took the truck to the state park and locked it up, caught a bus ride back to the Trail and started hiking again.I hiked out of town, over Shenandoah River and up the mountain to Louden Heights.It started raining about an hour before I got to the shelter. I ate dinner after I got there, then went down the hill and found a flat spot to set up my tent. It¢s still raining.
Date: 2003-10-18
From: David Lesser Memorial Shelter, WV

To: Rod Hollow Shelter, VA
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: clear sky

It rained until about midnight last night.I got up early and had breakfast and coffee, then started hiking at 8:30am. I hiked 10 12 miles to Snicker¢s Gap and ate lunch at The Horseshoe Curve Pub. Roadkill came walking in while I was eating.Liz started talking to us and asking questions about what we were doing. I hiked on and ran into Moose and Popsicle¢¦the girl that had the run in with Fubar down at Four Pines Hostel.I went to Sam Moore Shelter where I had planned on staying, but ended up walking another seven miles to Rod Hollow Shelter. I got to walk the area called the Roller Coaster today. It¢s not really that hard, but gets it¢s name because there are a lot of small ups and downs. I think about 5,000 feet of elevation change in all.I saw one deer today and am laying in my tent listening to an owl right now.
Date: 2003-10-19
From: Rod Hollow Shelter, VA

To: Near Tom Sealock Spring, VA
Miles today: 21.7

Had breakfast and coffee, then packed up and was hiking by 8am. I hiked on to Dick¢s Dome Shelter and ate an early lunch, then hiked on to Manassas Gap Shelter and took a break and signed the register. I then hiked on to Jim and Molly Denton Shelter and ate dinner.I ran into Sarge, a 71 year old black hiker who thru hiked in ¢97. We started talking to some day hikers and they ended up giving Sarge and me a bottle of wine to share.Sarge said he¢s driving shuttles for Winton down at Neel Gap starting next March through May.I wanted to get a little closer to Front Royal tonight, so I hiked on. I found a nice little stealth tent site and set up for the night. That leaves only about three miles to Front Royal in the morning.Sarge told me that he saw a hunter cleaning a bear he had shot earlier in the day.
Date: 2003-10-20
From: Near Tom Sealock Spring, VA

To: Gravel Springs Hut, VA
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: clear sky

I got up early, packed up and walked I the dark for about 30 minutes. I got to RT 522 and hitched a ride into Front Royal and had breakfast.I then went to the library and checked email after they opened.I ate lunch and re-supplied, then hitched back out to the trailhead and started walking south.I decided not to stay in town tonight and I¢m glad I did because Sarge was at the trailhead when I got back and told me John Galt had walked in about an hour ago. I caught up to John Galt at Tom Floyd Wayside and we hiked on together.We got into Gravel Springs Hut about 12 an hour after dark. I ate dinner and drank a beer, then set up my tent nearby.I saw 18 deer today including two bucks.
Date: 2003-10-21
From: Gravel Springs Hut, VA

To: South of Pinnacles Picnic Area, VA
Miles today: 20.8

I woke up and walked down by the shelter and ate breakfast there. I started walking at 8:50am.Just before I got to Elkwallow Wayside, I heard a crack above me in a tree. I looked up and saw a momma bear sliding quickly down the tree and three cubs above her in the tree.I backed up about 50 feet and stood there watching. I was hoping John Galt would catch up so he could see all this. She got down to the ground and looked at me, then one cub came down, then another and she turned and walked away with the two cubs. The third cub slid down the tree and ran off after his momma. The neatest part of this whole thing was while I stood there watching them walk away, they disappeared behind some bushes about 70 yards away¢¦I was still standing there thinking about how cool what I just witnessed was, when the momma bear came back around the bushes to see if I was following her.I saw five deer today too.John Galt and I stopped at Elkwallow Wayside and was eating lunch on the picnic table. There were lots of tourists all around. A Shenandoah ranger by the name of Tony Lutz drove by, saw us and turned around and checked our permits. He was a real pita. He checked John Galt¢s permit first and asked him a few questions about where he was staying at. John Galt didn¢t have it exactly right on the permit where he planned to stay each night¢¦.but I doubt many thru hikers do.He then checked out my permit and proceededto lecture about filling out a place for each night in the park¢¦even if you weren¢t going to be there.   I said that I had no idea where I was even going to stay tonight. He then told me that if someone needed to find me, they could check registers to see where I was. Hummm¢¦wonder how that works since they don¢t have a clue what my trail name is and no one on the Trail has a clue what my real name is. Beurocrats!!!John Galt and I walked on, passing by Thornton Gap, ate some junk food, then climbed Mary¢s Rock and walked by the Pinnacles. We found a good stealth tent site right at dark and set up our tents.
Date: 2003-10-22
From: South of Pinnacles Picnic Area, VA

To: Bearfence Mountain Hut, VA
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up this morning, packed up and walked a couple miles to Skyland, went inside the restaurant and ate two breakfasts.John Galt and I walked on another eight miles to Big Meadows. We stopped there and I had a chicken pot pie and a good Greek salad at the restaurant there.I checked my email in the basement, then we walked on at 2:30pm. We started getting some snow pellets coming down on us. It stayed cold all day with on and off sprinkles.We saw three deer today. We hiked on another eight miles to Bearfence Mountain Hut.Some section hikers staying here gave me some snacks.The hiking in this area is lots of ups and downs, but the grade is easy walking. There¢s not much in the way of rocks in the Trail either.I¢m sleeping in my tent and wearing those silk underwear for the first time.
Date: 2003-10-23
From: Bearfence Mountain Hut, VA

To: Pinefield Hut, VA
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: overcast clouds

It was in the low 20¢s when I woke up this morning. My sleeping bag hood was covering my eyes and I didn¢t realize it was light out. I didn¢t wake up till 8am. John Galt and I got ready and walked to Lewis Mountain Campground where I had coffee and some sandwiches.We hiked out of there at 10am and hiked to Hightop Hut and took about an hour lunch.We hiked on to Pinefield Hut and I ate a hot dinner. I don¢t eat many hot dinners, so this tasted pretty good.I saw ten deer today and one of those was a nice six point buck.A guy here tonight gave me half his beer and some apple cider.It only got up to 40 degrees today and is supposed to be in the low 20¢s again tonight.
Date: 2003-10-24
From: Pinefield Hut, VA

To: Blackrock Hut, VA
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

Got up, had my coffee and breakfast, then was hiking by 9am. It was in the low 20¢s this morning and it felt good to get moving. We hiked on to Loft Mountain Campground and ate lunch. I bought hotdogs and buns and ate half of them there.Today was a short day, so I bought a six pack of Yeungling and John Galt and I had them tonight.I had plenty of time to get some things done because we stopped walking at 3pm. I washed my socks and even had enough time for the to dry.I cooked the rest of the hotdogs I packed out along with some chili and had chili dogs for dinner.I¢m in my tent and it¢s cooling down quickly. I saw one deer today.John Galt and I are trying to figure out what to do when Hippie shows up. I have to get my truck out of Harpers Ferry. They only allow a vehicle to be parked there for a couple weeks.I saw in the register that some ¢02 friends, Mov¢n and Birch were here in July.
Date: 2003-10-25
From: Blackrock Hut, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up late again. I had breakfast and coffee and was packed and hiking at 9am.John Galt and I were walking along at a pretty good clip today. We walked past Jarman Gap, which means I¢m out of Shenandoah National Park now. I¢m always glad to get out of over-regulated areas. We hiked over Calf Mountain, then over Bears Den Mountain and on down to Rockfish Gap.A guy I passed on the Trail showed up at the parking area while I was waiting on John Galt to show up. That guy gave us a lift into Waynesboro and even gave us each a beer. That¢s trail magic!!I got a room at the Quality Inn and John Galt decided to stay for free at the YMCA We met later and went to the Chinese buffet together.I called Hippie Longstockings and then my father-in-law when I got back to the room.
Date: 2003-10-26
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

John Galt called me up this morning and I met him down at Weasie¢s Restaurant for breakfast.I basicly took the day off today and just laid around the motel room all day and watched TV. At about 2pm, John Galt and I walked down to the Chinese buffet again. I stopped next door at Krogers after dinner and re-supplied with enough food to get me through one day on the Trail. Hippie is meeting John Galt and me at Reeds Gap tomorrow night, then we¢re going to a friend of hers for dinner.John Galt walked back down to his tent at the YMCA just before dark. I watched more TV and made a few phone calls. I felt like I needed a good zero day to let my muscles have a break.