morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-16
From: Stealth camp a couple miles south of Elkwallow Gap

To: Compton Gap Trail
Miles today: 17.5

start: Stealth camp a couple miles south of Elkwallow Gapfinish: Compton Gap Trail miles: 17.5day: 70I must have slept very sound last night.  Apparently we had a massive storm - I didn't notice a thing.  I made tea, ate a small breakfast, packed up and started walking to breakfast number two at Elkwallow Gap.  Goldilocks and Tea Break were moving slowly, and I felt like hiking at my own pace.They showed up at Elkwallow after I'd been there a while, and we bought breakfast sandwiches and fries.  Ripoff prices, though.  I'll be happy to be done with this park.  Goldilocks felt like causing trouble and hid a small 1/2 lb. can of corn in Tea Break's pack.  As if he doesn't already have enough crap in there.  Tea Break found out, and in his typical stubborn fashion decided to not eat the corn, but instead carry it - all the way to Katahdin.  Oh boy.Later in the day I mentioned something about Flyin' Brian's Triple Crown hike and Tea Break was very interested when he found out that no one else had ever done it in one year.  After a few moments deliberation he declared "I accept the challenge!".  Supposedly in 2007 he will attempt the Triple Crown in one year himself.  He seems to be taking this pretty seriously.  Hmmm...We met up with Kodak at the end of the day near the Terrapin Station Hostel where we're spending the night.  I finally got a shower - I think it's been 10 days.  Feels good.  Did some real laundry, too.  Mike, the hostel owner, is leaving early tomorrow and can't do the usual morning shuttle, which we'd all been counting on.  We agreed that I'll drive the van in the morning and just slide the key under the door when we're done in town.So, drifting off to sleep.  Would prefer sleeping alone in the woods, though.
Date: 2005-05-19
From: Bears Den 

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

start: Bears Den Hostelfinish: Bears Den Hostel miles: 0.0day: 73A true zero today. Not even any town chores, as there's no town here. Just this lovely stone hostel. Sitting around Queen Diva's kitchen table, Iceman and I peeled potatoes for dinner's potato salad. We peeled every one we could find. Then I made a second cup of tea and whipped up a marinade for the pork chops using whatever I could find in the fridge: mustard, rosemary, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and orange juice. Gotta remember this recipe when I get home. Oh yeah, Queen Diva made the mistake of asking us what we wanted for dinner, and we said it all sounded good, so we're having a cookout: burgers, grilled pork chops, chicken, potato salad, green salad, deviled eggs, and homemade chocolate chip cookies (with walnuts!).Tea Break and Kodak finally left for the trail just around noon. Goldilocks, Iceman and I were getting hungry so Queen Diva offered us the use of her truck to go to the Horseshoe Curve Restaurant. Very cool place, good food. On the way we passed Tea Break and Kodak hiking at a road crossing. They'd only gone 0.3 miles. We offered them a ride to the restaurant. Of course they accepted. They came pretty close to returning to the hostel with us when they started thinking about the dinner we were going to have, but they showed amazing resolve and went back to the trail. On the way back to the hostel we saw Cotton Joe - he also hit the trail, but missed the lunch.The day went by pretty fast doing nothing. I decided to bunk inside tonight since severe thunderstorms are predicted, but I haven't seen them yet as of 9:00 pm. Heidi and Maruch showed up in time for dinner. I cooked all the meat on the gas grill, while others prepared the rest. There were 11 of us gathered around the round kitchen table in Queen Diva's living quarters. Good food, good conversation.Except when I tried to explain to Queen Diva that her dog needs a toy to play with. She said the dog's 9 years old - too old to play. The poor dog. She (Hannah) has no toys at all! Somehow I thought it would be a meaningful analogy to compare this to Queen Diva herself being too old for telling jokes to, for instance. Well, I didn't get this half out of my mouth and it all went to hell. Then Pipesmoke craftily suggested that she (Queen Diva) perhaps wasn't too old to enjoy a squeaky toy. Good, now she's not mad at just me.A southbounder named Jeremy came in the middle of dinner and joined us. He looks familiar but I'm not sure where I've run into him before.It sure is gonna be tough to leave this place tomorrow. Too sleepy, good night...
Date: 2005-05-20
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: moderate rain

start: Bears Denfinish: Bears Den miles: 14.1day: 74Is anyone really surprised that we're still here?It poured rain last night, and was raining hard this morning as we prepared to leave this wonderful hostel.  Today is the first time I'm trying out my new rain kilt (made out of a cut off trash bag).  It's really stylin'.  But it's cold and very wet out there, and I don't really wanna go.  Waah...Goldilocks and I hiked pretty fast just to keep warm for an hour or so, and then what do we encounter?  Kodak and Tea Break camped in a very wet tent.  It turns out Kodak wasn't feeling well yesterday and is still feeling and looking like crap.  And her sleeping bag, etc. is all wet.  We sort of decide for her that she should be inside tonight.  The plan is to hike just 10 more miles to Keys Gap and hitch from there.  But Kodak is feeling horrible and moving quite slowly.  By the time we get to Keys Gap it's after 6:00 pm.  I call Queen Diva to find out how best to hitch back and she offers right away to come pick us up.  So we all end up going back to Bears Den (thanks David, for picking us up in the rain).  Kodak gets a private room so she can rest and the remainder of us join in at the dinner table.After dinner Goldilocks and Handlebars jam on guitars and it sounds real good.  I meet Whitee and Senator for the first time.There are some snoring section hikers in the dorm and I use my earplugs for the first time.  Tomorrow we have to get hiking in a timely fashion so we can make the PO by noon.
Date: 2005-05-23
From: Stealth camp just north of Ensign Cowall Shelter

To: Stealth camp 1 mile north of Chimney Rocks
Miles today: 19.6

start: Stealth camp half a mile north of Ensign Cowall Shelterfinish: Stealth camp 1 mile north of Chimney Rocksmiles: 19.6day: 77It rained last night, steady and gentle, and the temperature dropped a bit.  Good sleeping weather, with the exception that everything feels a little clammy.I was so full from yesterday's buffet that I skipped dinner (amazing!), but I woke during the night feeling hungry.  But too sleepy to do anything about it.  I didn't really have any breakfast-type food and didn't feel like cooking a dinner this morning, so I hiked the 12 miles into town on an empty stomach.  No problem.It rained a bit several times today, and was overcast all day.  About halfway to town (Waynesboro, PA) we ran into some trail magic - cans of soda in a stream.  Birch beer, can you believe it?  You can tell we're nearing the Mason-Dixon line.  Fantastic.  Thanks, whoever put it there.  Shortly after this we actually cross the Mason-Dixon into Pennsylvania.  Bye-bye South, I am surprised at how much I've come to like you.  For me the South means vast mountainous hardwood forests,  sweet springs, dogwood and apple trees blooming, lots of undeveloped space, and friendly people.  I will be back.Goldilocks' magic thumb snags a ride on the second car and we're whisked into town.  We choose the Golden Corral buffet over the Post Office.  This is a very good buffet, and only $6.00.  By the time we're done we can't think straight.  We're entering calorie-induced comas.  And we have to walk another bunch of miles today!I call the Post Office and ask them to forward our food drop to Boiling Springs, as we don't need it here.  We haven't been eating our own cooking much lately.  Then we buy just a few groceries for another couple of days.We walk back out to the road in a drizzle expecting a difficult hitch to the trail, but a woman in a van offers us a ride.  She and her husband are local Trail Angels.  They have their information available for hikers at the local motel.Late in the day we have an 1100 foot climb.  We haven't had one of these in a while.  It feels good.  On top of the ridge I find some good camping.  It's an hour before our usual stopping time but I don't want to get stuck trying to camp down low near a road.  Also, Goldilocks may want to camp here, as he has seemed tired this afternoon.  Tea Break says goodbye (again) and hikes on, trying to make Duncannon in two days.  It's 70 miles, so he is pushing a bit.  I'm sure he'll make it.  We probably won't see him again until he returns from Costa Rica and catches up to us - probably around the time we reach our house in CT.  We're all looking forward to relaxing there.Goldilocks does come by and decided to camp here.  I don't hear any noise from his tarp, so I think he went right to sleep.  It's drizzling again.  I hope tomorrow's sunny so I can dry and fluff up my sleeping bag.
Date: 2005-05-24
From: Stealth camp 1 mile north of Chimney Rocks

To: Pine Grove Furnace
Miles today: 27.3
Weather: light rain

start: Stealth camp 1 mile north of Chimney Rocksfinish: Pine Grove Furnace miles: 27.3day: 78We passed the halfway point today!  Yay!It rained a bit last night and most of the day today.  Mostly just a gentle rain with no wind.  I was hoping to lay my sleeping bag and other stuff out in the sun to dry thoroughly, but the sun never showed itself.I wasn't motivated to start extremely early and just lay in bed dozing.  Eventually I woke up, made a cup of tea and had cherry turnovers for breakfast.  Also a pound of fresh Bing cherries instead of my usual apple.  I saw Seeker hike past while I was still in bed.  I finally got hiking at 8:15 am.  Goldilocks was still sound asleep when I left.I felt strong, enjoying the quiet drizzly morning, moving along pretty fast.  Everything was very green and lots of birds were chirping.  I passed Seeker in 4 miles, near Rocky Run Shelter.I ran into some trail magic and ate a homemade egg salad sandwich - thank you whoever you are!  Moving on, I did the 10 miles to Quarry Gap Shelter by 11:40, where I took a break.  What a great shelter.  It has the comforts of home, including hanging plants on the porch!  I saw in the register that Tea Break wasn't far ahead, so I decided to catch him just for fun.  It only took 7 miles.  I walked into the next shelter and there he was, looking very despondent that I had caught him so easily.  Hah, gotcha!We hung out there for about an hour, and Goldilocks finally came strolling in.  He hadn't started walking until an hour after I left this morning.  Over 17 miles by 3:00, including some long breaks.  This was shaping up to be a nice easy high mileage day.But the rain picked up and by the time we got to Ironmaster's Hostel we were ready for something dry.Goldilocks and Tea Break wanted to do the half gallon challenge, where you eat a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting.  But the store that sells the ice cream was closed.  We checked into the hostel and shortly after a guy named Chris checked in, and he had a car.  We all ordered pizza and he drove to pick it up.  He also picked up ice cream for the guys.  So Goldilocks and Tea Break ate at least half a pizza each, then started in on the ice cream.  It wasn't pretty.  First, they got cold and went into the bunk room, coming back out with blankets over their shoulders.  Then the moaning started.  Goldilocks ate all but about two bites, but just couldn't eat any more and put it in the freezer.  He came back for it later, completing the challenge in about 1-1/2 hours.  Poor Tea Break.  He may never eat ice cream again.  I snapped a picture of him lying on the floor in his blanket, moaning "where's my mummy?"All in all a good day on the trail.
Date: 2005-05-26
From: Boiling Springs

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 25.6
Weather: scattered clouds

start: Boiling Springsfinish: Duncannon miles: 25.6day: 80You missed it. All of you. Goldilocks jammin' at The Doyle. Pat is the owner of the dilapidated old once-grand hotel. Sue, a friend of his, is a blues/Dead virtuoso and performs in the bar Thursdays and Saturdays. She plays a beautiful Gibson electric-acoustic and has a wonderful bluesy voice. Ours was a small crowd this Thursday, but very appreciative, as she belted out tons of songs, among them our requests for Loser and Cassidy, and a sweet Bird Song. Around 11:30 Goldilocks got his guitar and started jamming with her. They played Jackstraw and Jack-a-Roe, then Sue sang Peggy-O while Goldilocks played the Gibson. They closed with a ripping Eyes of the World. Finally Sue finished off with We Bid You Goodnight. Wow, who woulda thought? (for my non-Deadhead friends out there, it's a Dead thing, you wouldn't understand ).But I'm getting ahead of myself. Today was crystal clear. We started walking at 8:15 along the edges of farm fields. Very flat down here in the Cumberland Valley. Yesterday we came down off a ridge into flatness. Today we continue crossing this perhaps 15 mile wide valley, climb the opposite ridge, go right over it, cross another smaller valley floor and climb to a second ridge where we run into the infamous Pennsylvania rocks.Along the way we stopped and talked with an artist - an oil painter out on the edge of a field with his easel and paints. He was about finished with a beautiful pastoral landscape.At the 8 mile mark we walked down Rt. 11 a few tenths to the Middlesex Diner where I had a wonderful late breakfast of roast pork, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, and lima beans. Awesome. I love Pennsylvania Dutch country, with the hearty simple food and the rolling swales of well tended farms rich in topsoil.At one point, we had climbed up to a rocky ridge where someone had made a crescent shaped wall of rock and built in stone bench facing a view. Of course we sat for a while.We eventually arrived at The Doyle and checked in at the bar. The place has a certain "bar sleaze" appeal that I wasn't sure I'd care for. But the people were all so friendly I soon forgot about that, and I had a great evening listening to the music, eating a good steak dinner. The food is cooked by a guy named Shrek, who hiked in 2002-2003. He has the perfect trailname. From the wide set eyes and hulking figure, to the mild mannered lovable nature, he is Shrek.It's late, time for this hiker to be asleep.
Date: 2005-05-28
From: Stealth camp near Rt. 325

To: Stealth camp 1 mile north of Rt. 81
Miles today: 19.2

start: Stealth camp near rt. 325finish: Stealth camp 1 mile north of rt. 81 miles: 19.2day: 82Well, it rained a bit last night. I felt the drops and hastily threw up my tarp - and then it stopped. My tarp looked pretty crazy in the morning - I must've been half asleep putting it up.We got started around 8:00. Underpants is a fast hiker with a light pack, and we averaged over 3 MPH. We were only shooting for 20 miles today, though, because we're meeting Honey Boy tomorrow for lunch, and we figured to give Underpants a break - although he thru-hiked in 2003, this is his first time out this year.It rained lightly on us mid day, then developed into a pretty heavy drenching. We did our miles by 4:00 and set up camp. I've never been in camp so early! I get to catch up on my journal, return some emails, eat most of the stuff in my food bag, drink tea, and generally stay off my feet. Pretty nice - almost like a day off. Almost.The rain has stopped now, in the evening, and there's a light breeze which I hope will dry everything out by morning. Falling asleep to the distant sounds of I-81.
Date: 2005-05-29
From: Stealth camp 1 mile north of Rt. 81

To: Rt. 501
Miles today: 10.0

start: Stealth camp 1 mile north of rt. 81finish: Rt. 501 miles: 10.0day: 83We woke to a clear, cool morning, still a bit wet from yesterday's rain. A nice light breeze was blowing, which had dried out most of my gear.We started out hiking very fast to complete 10 miles in time - started at 9:00, arrived at 501 Shelter by 12:45. Honey Boy wasn't there yet, but arrived shortly.Honey Boy is a friend we met in 2003 in Stratton, Maine. He was hiking a large section of Maine with Carolina Scout. He just started hiking on the AT about seven years ago, and now in his seventies has hiked around 800 miles. He and his wife Dee live near 501 Shelter and had graciously invited us to their home when we passed through on our thru-hike.Honey Boy whisked us home and within minutes we were sitting on the deck admiring the wonderful view of the farms in the valley 1000 feet below, sipping iced tea. We hikers got showered and started some laundry, and by then Honey Boy, Dee, and their grand-niece Chantal had prepared a super Pennsylvania Dutch style lunch of sausages, mashed potatoes, fresh asparagus, salad, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Folks, hiking doesn't get any better than this. After stuffing ourselves it was soon time to leave for the evening's entertainment - an outdoor concert. The band was really good, but unfortunately the rain, which had come and gone earlier in the day, came back, and the show closed quickly and early.It was probably just as well for me, as all this luxury had tired me out. I was feeling sleepy and it was only 9:00 pm. We turned out all the lights in the main living room so we could see all the colored lights twinkling down in the valley below. What a spectacular view.After another snack of watermelon and pie I went upstairs - I had an important appointment with a big, soft mattress.
Date: 2005-05-30
From: Rt. 501

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: scattered clouds

start: Rt. 501finish: Port Clinton miles: 23.7day: 84Boy, I slept really good last night at Honey Boy's hostel. And when I woke up, they had already made breakfast for me! This place might be the best-ever hostel on the whole trail, but unfortunately I'm forbidden to reveal the exact location. We had to get a too-early start today because we're hiking with Underpants, and forcing him to do lots of miles on his holiday weekend. We needed to hike almost 24 miles over the PA rocks by 4:30 today so he could meet his girlfriend to drive him back to his car.So, after breakfast we took some pictures and said our thank yous and goodbyes. Words really can't express how nice some folks are, and how much we appreciate being welcomed into Honey Boy and Dee's home on short notice. Smelly, hungry hikers - showering, doing laundry, eating all the food in sight. Thank you, thank you, thank you!Initially the hiking was easy today. I felt as if we were just strolling along. The trail here is almost completely flat, on top of long ridges. But midway through the day we ran into a higher concentration of nasty Pennsylvania rocks and the going got slower and more tiring. We still made pretty good time into Port Clinton, but my feet were pretty sore by the end of the day.As we walked, all I could think about was Tea Break. If you've read my guest book, you know that he got mugged and had all his hiking gear stolen in Costa Rica. Goldilocks and I are ready to loan him some gear, but we want to talk to him and see what he needs and where he wants it sent.We got into town to discover that the Port Clinton Hotel, with it's great burgers, is closed for the holiday. Now Goldilocks and I are chilling out at the hiker pavilion at the edge of town, waiting for Underpants to return in his truck and take us to food, resupply, and a payphone.
Date: 2005-06-02
From: Palmerton

To: Stealth camp 2 miles north of Leroy Smith Shelter
Miles today: 17.7

start: Palmertonfinish: Stealth campsite 2 miles north of Leroy Smith Sheltermiles: 17.7day: 87Slept wonderfully last night on that mattress.  Oh, right, where did I leave off yesterday?  Turns out the moaning ghosts were Underpants and Tea Break.  They were coming from the airport where Tea Break had just returned from Costa Rica.  He only has this little day pack he bought for $4.00, and not much in it.  Turns out he wasn't mugged as he'd said, but his stuff was stolen while he was laying in a hammock looking at the sunset.  I wonder if there isn't a monkey down there, dressed like Tea Break, including the flip flops, screeching and grinning while playing with the whoopee cushion.We went over his needs and plans.  He'll be back on the trail late tonight, hiking to Duncannon tomorrow.  Mrs. Moosie is shipping some of our extra gear for Tea Break to Honey Boy's.I spent an hour on the phone this morning putting all this together.  Finally Goldilocks and I went across the street for breakfast, then to the IGA.  There was a nice fellow there who asked the usual "hiking the trail?", "when did you start?", and "how far you going?" (I'm thinking about making up a T-shirt with printed facts).  This was followed by "seen any bear? seen any snakes?".  He asked about the snakes a couple more times.  He had a gleam in his eye, like he really wanted to hear about how we nearly lost our lives or something.We went to the Post Office where we had lots of stuff.  Including a nice box of treats from Adam Heisler at work.  I love Jujyfruits!  Thanks Adam!  A lady was leaving the PO and offered us a ride to the trail.  A very friendly town, Palmerton.We finally hit the trail at 1:00 pm.  Ahead of us was a very steep climb up a 1000+ foot rockpile.  All the vegetation was killed here in the early 20th century due to a zinc smelting operation, and today it looks like the moon.  There's no shade, so it's best to avoid this area in the heat of the day.  Oh well.Once on the ridge, it was pleasant, although the pointy rocks worsened a bit further on.  Our first water source was 15 miles away, and 1/2 mile down a side trail.  But the spring was a good one, full of clear, cold water.Tonight we're camped in a pipeline clearing on the ridge.  It is so humid that everything feels wet.  I think we may have rain moving in, as the wind has picked up after dark and a mackerel cloud layer has formed in a once-clear sky.
Date: 2005-06-03
From: Stealth camp 2 miles north of Leroy Smith Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: light rain

start: Stealth campsite 2 miles north of Leroy Smith Shelterfinish: Delaware Water Gap miles: 18.5day: 88Last night's mackerel sky turned into a steady rain in  the wee hours.  It continued all day.  The trash bag rain kilt works really well - kept my shorts dry the whole time.We started with a 3 mile walk to the Wind Gap road crossing.  We were in no real hurry, as we had under 20 miles to do.  So we hitched in for an early lunch at Wendy's.  It was a difficult hitch, taking over an hour.  Why didn't we just give up and hike on?  Because there's a Rita's Water Ice in this town.  We were freezing, sitting on a little bench under a tiny overhang, eating cherry flavored ice, in the rain.Back on the trail, we hit steady rocks for most of the way, including some boulder piles later on.  Tricky in the rain.Not much else to say about this interval, except that my feet hurt and I don't like rocks.  I got bit by at least one deer tick three days ago and I was trying to decide if it felt like I had Lyme.  I think not, I was just sufffering from rain-and-rockitis.We got into Delaware Water Gap and there were lots of folks at the hostel.  I don't care for crowded hostels in the best of times and tonight I was really ready for some comfort.  So I checked into the Ramada, negotiating a pretty decent hiker rate, given that it's a weekend.Now I've got stuff draped all over the room to dry, and the bathroom's all steamy.  Hikers sure trash up a room quickly.  Aah.  Goldilocks is staying at the hostel as he preferred socialization over comfort.  I'll see him in the morning.