morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-03
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

After averaging 19.7 miles per day for the past 6 days, Linda and I took a 3-day rest. We loaded our camping gear into the truck and parked it in the National Park lot. We had Amtrak tickets; train was 3 hours late in departing. Met Ron, the lounge car attendant (which is where we rode) -- a very nice guy. He explained that since Amtrak does not own the rails, it's movement is dependant upon freight train traffic which has priority. Also met a couple from Chicago; discussed the need for more public transportation. I'd like goog rail service between San Antonio and Dallas / Houston. We finally arrived at Union Station in Washington, D.C. I helped "rescue" a lady on the train station escalator whose shoe got caught and I caught her as she fell backwards. A nearaby group of luggage car workers quickly hit the "emergency stop" on the escalator, and an Amtrak official also quickly was on the scene. All turned out well.We walked the 1.2 miles from Union Station to our hotel. Warm day, but not too bad considering the walking I have been doing! All the way on the walk to our hotel I felt the handle of the rolling suitcase vibrating; I thought it was picking up something in the airwaves. By the time we arrived in our room, I realized that the vibration was coming from inside the suitcase....my electric shaver had turned on! We have a nice room at the Marriott Marquis hotel -- very new, just opened about a month earlier.At the recommendation of the hotel concierge, we went to dinner at "Bobby Van's Grill". Had a very nice meal, in very nice atmosphere.
Date: 2014-07-04
From: Washington, D.C.

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

A very enjoyable day in our nation's capital. We slept in and then had brunch at the hotel restaurant, Anthem. Afterwards, we did a lot of walking around. The weather was good...not too hot and a cool breeze was blowing all day long. We went down toward the Mall and caught the tail end of the July 4th parade; crowds of people everywhere. There was a folklife festival going on along the Mall. Many roads are shut down for the parade and also in preparation of the fireworks display to take place later tonight.It has been 36 years since we were in Washington, D.C. (I was in my senior year of undergraduate college work and spent that semester at American University in D.C.; Linda had come to visit me during spring break of '78). Linda and I wanted to visit the WWII and Vietnam memorials while we are here. Very impressive; somber. We located the name of Ronald Summers (the older brother of a Lytle schoolmate) who was killed in Vietnam in 1968. We also walked to visit the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials; lots and lots of people everywhere. We had to go through several security checkpoints on our way to these sites. We tried to walk past the White House, but the roads around it were all closed.We also went into the Museum of American History to see the "Star Spangled Banner", the flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the song that would later become our national anthem.We went to dinner on our walk back to the hotel -- at Cuba Libre. Had a very tasty meal, complete with tapas (starters), and dessert. We decided to not walk back down to watch the fireworks at 9:00 p.m., but instead turned off the lights in our room, drew back the curtains, and watched from our hotel room. Saw enough to please us, without the crowds!
Date: 2014-07-05
From: Washington, D.C.

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Checked out at noon, after again having brunch in the hotel restaurant. Spent a little time in the hotel lobby afterwards, taking advantage of the wireless internet before walking back to Union Station to catch our 4:05 p.m. train to Harpers Ferry.Train on time for the return trip! About 1 hour, 20 minutes later we are back in Harpers Ferry. Had made contact with On Purpose, so found him in lower town part of Harpers Ferry -- eating ice cream from the Swiss Miss cafe. On Purpose doing well; looks great and in high spirits. He had his full pack; was heading over to camp overnight along the river. Have not seen Chivo. Also ran into "Griz". Said our good-byes and went to get the shuttle bus to the national park where our truck is parked.Made the hour-long drive to Waynesboro, PA, to the Days Inn where we have a 2-night reservation. Ginger and LeRoy enroute and will arrive tomorrow. Had dinner at the Keystone Family Restaurant....not that great as we arrived late at the very end of the "seafood spectacular" buffet. Not very spectacular!
Date: 2014-07-06
From: Pen Mar Road

To: Washington Monument State Park, MD
Miles today: 21.9

Tried to get breakfast at a local cafe, but it was closed. Instead, settled for fast-food breakfast at Hardee's. Also picked up a breakfast sandwich there to have for my lunch later. We are expecting my sister, Ginger, and her husband, LeRoy later today. I decided to hike southbound again today, in order to allow for an earlier start tomorrow morning. Encountered a tough rock field not too far from the state park; hard to find the trail. I met a bunch of folks heading north; they gave me a hard time about going the "wrong way". I met Emily and Pierre close to the park; Emily says hiking the AT is on her bucket list. I advised her to do it while she is still young! I also saw Raven on the trail; he was with a friend who first got him interested in hiking. Raven is meeting Willow in Waynesboro...the romance continues!Linda met me on the trail heading northbound and hiked the last mile or so with me back to the park. We stopped off briefly to see the Washington Monument--the first one honoring George Washington. It was originally constructed on July 4th, 1827, by the people of Boonsboro, PA. We met 4 people up on the monument--grandparents and their grandson, and a local man. Talked about the AT and about the Civil War history in the area. With binoculars can see Antietam Battlefield from the monument.We are staying in Waynesboro, PA, so the Pen Mar Road drop-off gave me an earlier start. Ginger and LeRoy arrived at the Days Inn while Linda was picking me up. It is good to see them and makes me feel good that they have driven so far to participate in my AT journey.My back is still bothering me....I asked Linda to apply some light pressure to adjust the spine...popped a couple of times.
Date: 2014-07-07
From: Pen Mar Road

To: US 30, east of Fayetteville, PA
Miles today: 17.8

 At the Old Forge picnic area, I was trying to figure out which way to go when I saw a young man running across the field toward me. It was Snuggles. His mother was here and had "a ton of food"! He gave me an apple and some apple juice. The comradarie among most Thru Hikers is amazing. Met Linda at the road; back to meet up with Ginger and LeRoy.
Date: 2014-07-08
From: US 30, east of Fayetteville, PA

To: AT Museum, Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was an exciting Day! I am officially past the 2014 Half-Way mark!   It feels good to have made it this far and now "it's all downhill" (Ha!). I passed the Quarry Gap Shelters -- one shelter for snorers and the other for non-snorers. Apparently the shelter caretaker comes up every day. There are flower pots of pansies hanging on the corners of the shelters. And...toilet paper provided in the privy! First time I have seen that. Very nice. (I heard that the ATC does not like the caretaker providing the nice touches; but we hikers really appreciate the nice touches.)The mid-point of the hike was reached today: 1,092.65 miles. That many more still to go. Aquaman took my photo at the halfway mark. 45 minutes from Pine Grove Furnace State Park, about 1.5 miles from the end of today's hike, a terrific storm blew in. Wind really picked up and it started to rain. Small branches were falling out of the trees--a small branch about the diameter of my thumb and a foot long fell near me. I thought to myself, "That would have hurt!" Five minutes later, I heard a "crack". Looking ahead on the trail I see a huge tree fall across the AT about 30 yards before me. It fell in slow motion, bringing four or five smaller trees down with it. There was a continuing soundtrack of cracks until they all fall across the trail.  Scared the heck out of me. I am so lucky to be here to tell about it! If I had been just a little faster, I would have been crushed like a bug. I no longer want to hike in any storms. When I got to the blowdown, the big tree looked good on the outside, but it was rotten on the inside. I had to crawl over the tree; straddling it, my legs did not even go halfway around it. I had to slide off of it, scraping the back of my legs in the process. The rain continued, with wind blowing, and then the storm subsided. I met a troop of young Boy Scouts. One of them was soaked except for the frong of his shirt. I asked him about it and he said that part stayed dry because he was hiking bent over at the waist; he then demonstrated the style. The troop decided to return to their base camp. I told them about the blowdown and how it scared me more than a snake. Another 10 minutes down the trail and I run across a 4 foot black snake. I about jumped out of my skin!By the time I got to the park and general store where Linda, Ginger, and LeRoy were waiting, I was drenched. The power was out and the store was closed. This store is the site of the Half-Gallon Challenge (eating a half gallon of ice cream). I am out of luck on that, but I did not feel like eating that much ice cream anyway.
Date: 2014-07-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Zero Day. We are staying in Carlisle, PA. Linda is headed home to Texas. I hate to see her go; she has been so supportive on this trip. Ginger and LeRoy will be here another week, so I still have some slack-packing time.We go to a sports store and I buy a new Sawyer water filter. (The one I have been using was not cleaned properly last Fall after a backpacking trip at Enchanted Rock SNA near Fredericksburg, Texas, so water from it now has a funky taste.)Ginger, LeRoy, and I return to the Pine Grove Furnace State Park to go the the AT Museum. I talked with a museum volunteer for some time; she and her husband are trekking across Ireland at the end of this month. The AT Museum has displays of an old shelter, and trail measuring devices. Also a lot of history on the planning and constructing of the trail, and about early pioneers of the AT. Very interesting.
Date: 2014-07-10
From: AT Museum, Pine Grove Furnace State Park

To: Bucher Hill Road, Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Ginger and LeRoy dropped me off at Pine Grove; I met Sassafrass and his hiking partner. When I tell them the story of the blowdown in the storm, Sassafrass tells me, "Casper, it is a sign from God that you are hiking at just the right speed." I like that.I met a couple of trail runners today. One guy is very friendly and tells me that the trail just south of Boiling Springs is relatively flat and goes through several farm fields. I also met Tesla and Chewbacca today; we take an hour for lunch. I got caught up in the conversation with these kids. Tesla is from Scotland and Chewbacca is 22 or younger. He has already served a tour in Afghanistan as a Marine rifleman. These things I could not be: a Teacher, a Policeman, or a Marine rifleman. But I am so very grateful for the people who volunteer and choose these occupations.Beautiful trail into Boiling Springs; Ginger and LeRoy are waiting for me as I roll in.
Date: 2014-07-11
From: Bucher Hill Road, Boiling Springs, PA

To: PA 850
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

Very nice terrain today. A lady at the Post Office offers me a ride to the trailhead. I thank her but decide I can walk the 0.7 mile. Not that lazy yet! Today I met Jane, a trail maintainer. She is a registered nurse who works at a nursing home; she tells me that she likes helping the older folks. I meet ladies near a cornfield who are looking for car keys that one of their dogs has managed to lose. Trail Magic is next: Bill's Tractor City group. Mary is the lady in charge and she asks me if I am a thru-hiker. When I say "yes" she asks me "Where is your pack?" I respond that I am slack-packing with the help of Ginger and LeRoy. And she says, "You are Freedom Hiking. Free from the tyranny of that heavy pack." I tell her I will start using that term now...Freedom Hiking! The Bill's Tractor City group started several years ago when a thru hiker was looking for a town shirt -- that is, a shirt to wear in town while washing his hiking clothes. He went to a yard sale and found the Tractor City shirt with Bill's name on it. After showing it to his friends, who all like it, he returned to the sale and bought all of the Tractor City shirts. Then they walked in the Trail Day parade in Damascus, VA, wearing the shirts. The group is born! Now they offer Trail Magic. Today their Trail Magic was eggs, bacon, pancakes, and tortillas.
Date: 2014-07-12
From: PA 850

To: PA 225
Miles today: 17.2

Pennsylvania rocks start showing up today! I met a group of trail runners who are running the entire AT -- one state every summer. This summer is Pennsylvania -- very rocky!On the descent into Duncannon, I met a group of day hikers. One young man is obviously not in shape, but he knows a lot about the AT. His mother asks him how he knows so much and he says he has been interested in hiking the trail for several years. I encourage him to keep working at it. He says he is overweight; I tell him to keep working at it. Do it while he is still young.I ate lunch today at the Veterans' Park in Duncannon. 3 miles of street walking. My back is killing me. There are big rocks near the end of the hike today, and a good climb out of Duncannon. Ginger and LeRoy are waiting for me; tomorrow, my good friend Tony is flying in from Texas to hike with me for a week. I am excited. We have been friends since childhood, and have grown closer over the years. We go to dinner at Applebee's and then top it off with a banana split from DQ in Carlisle. Tomorrow I'll take a Zero Day; we are changing our base of lodging and are going to pick up Tony at the Harrisburg airport.
Date: 2014-07-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

What a day! I wake up to a pain in my back. I think I just have to use the restroom and I will be okay. Wrong. Pain is like a cramping. I lie back down. I don't feel like eating breakfast. The pain is bad. I am useless in getting stuff ready to move to new hotel. Ginger asks the hotel front desk people about the nearest emergency room. It is just around the corner. But, I decide that we should move on to the next hotel -- in Midway, Bethel, PA. I try to sleep on the drive over; still in pain. I had taken a couple of Ibuprofen. Ginger and LeRoy get everything moved into the new hotel room. Rain is coming. I tell them that I will try to go to the airport with them to pick up Tony, but when the time comes to leave I am not feeling good at all. So they go to the airport, and I start vomiting.Tony's flight is delayed for hours. I have talked with Linda and my youngest son, Daniel. It is a family decision -- I need to go to the ER.Waiting for Ginger and LeRoy to return from airport with Tony, I spend the time sitting in a chair bent over with my head on the bed. Cannot keep anything down. When they arrive, I ask them to take me to the ER at Penn State Hershey.At the hospital I am given medications for nausea and pain and I start feeling better right away. The docs said that I presented a classic case of kidney stones. This diagnosis is confirmed after a CT scan. I was given additional medication, and the docs believe that I will pass the stone in a day or two. They said that if I have any trouble to come back. They were are very interested in me as a thru-hiker. I was treated very well.
Date: 2014-07-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Another Zero Day. By 5:00 pm, my pain and nausea have increased and the pain medication is not strong enough to stop the pain. We make another trip to the Penn State hospital. This time, urologists are called in, and two more CT scans are ordered. It is decided that the stone will have to be removed.I spent the entire night in the ER -- one of the most uncomfortable nights ever! (A lady vomiting in the next bed. Another lady having convulsions. Some guy who just doesn't want to leave the ER.)
Date: 2014-07-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

At about 9:45 am I am moved to "make ready". At about 10:45 am I am moved to the operating room. One of the nurses is from Austin, TX. All of the staff present are introduced to me, and then the next thing I know I am in recovery. My first nurse is Jessica -- very helpful, smart, and cute. I am kept overnight.Of course, Ginger has kept Linda informed during this ordeal all week. Tony, Ginger and LeRoy all need to go home tomorrow so Linda will be flying back out here to "take over".
Date: 2014-07-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I stay in the recovery ward until about 9:30 am. The docs have released me. A little humor: They could not find me at first because I was listed under "thoracic surgery". And, while in recovery I received meals with two other persons' names. I'm sure it was just misspelling, and I certainly did not send it back!We have moved to a new hotel -- a Days Inn in Harrisburg. Tony has gone to the airport; he never even hiked one step on the AT. What a great friend he has been through all of this. Linda arrives at about 2:00 pm, and so Ginger and LeRoy begin their drive back to Texas shortly thereafter.Linda is stuck with me (what else is new?).
Date: 2014-07-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We go shopping for a new pair of glasses for me. My old ones are so scratched up that I can't see very well. Back at the hotel I "pull the string" as instructed to remove the stent. Not a very pleasant feeling, but it is done. (Would you like to see the pictures?) Just remembering...the urologist in charge received some of his training at BAMC in San Antonio.
Date: 2014-07-22
From: PA 225

To: Peters Mountain Shelter and Return
Miles today: 5.8

Back out on the trail for a short walk after recovering from the kidney stone. I feel a bit like when I was a kid after having a bicycle wreck. Afraid to get on. Linda and I did a "round trip" hike from the parking lot at PA 225 to the Peters Mountain Shelter and return. Nice weather, and an easy walk. I felt pretty good, so am encouraged that perhaps my ailment is behind me now. We stopped off briefly at Table Rock for the view; only crossed paths with a couple of hikers. Met Firefox at the parking lot upon our return. We gave him our remaining water (about 2 liters) since he was heading on to the next shelter and was low on water.
Date: 2014-07-23
From: PA 325, Clarks Creek

To: South toward Shikelimy Trail and return
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: broken clouds

Took another short hike with Linda, preparing myself to hit the trail with full pack tomorrow. Linda is returning home tomorrow, so hopefully I am recovered enough to start making up for lost miles.....We met some hikers -- the 4 S's: Spider, Superman, Sunshine, and Sherlock. We give them our Gatorade and snacks we did not consume on our short hike. Then we take 3 of them to re-supply at a little store/deli in a nearby community; then take them back to the trailhead.
Date: 2014-07-26
From: William Penn Shelter

To: Near Black Swatara Spring
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: broken clouds

I hiked alone again today. I saw several southbound thru-hikers. I am into the really rocky part of Pennsylvania. I met a day hiker who suggested that I just hike a gravel road to the next shelter; I don't. The trail is not well-maintained in this part. Plants crowd the trail, obscure the rocks, and slap you in the face.I arrive in camp late. I am carrying and drinking a lot of water after the kidney stone experience. The doctors told me that most kidney stones are caused by dehydration.
Date: 2014-07-27
From: Near Black Swatara Spring

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 13.4

Two things of note today:(1) I am starting to chafe.(2) I decide to stop on a relatively clear, sunny part of the trail. I jab my trekking poles into the ground and I hear a rattle. A 4 foot black rattlesnake...he has started to go into the brush, but decides to get defensive. I wait a few minutes and try to get around him but he coils into big loops and rattles. I stop. He coils tighter and sticks his rattle inside of his coils. A beautiful sight. I start to walk again and he gives me a little rattle. I go on by. Do you know what the cure for chafing is? Rattlesnakes. At Sand Springs I met a group of day hikers. We discuss the bad condition of the trail in this part. It is so rocky that the trail maintainers won't go on the trails. One of the hikers tells me that the trail gets better from here to the state line. I want to believe him.I stayed the night at the Port Clinton Hotel because rain was expected. And it did rain. Firefox is also here. Check-out time is 9:00 am; I spoke with some local people--very nice. The AT goes right through Port Clinton.
Date: 2014-07-28
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: light rain

I needed new batteries for my headlamp so I asked the hotel housekeepers where I could buy some. They gave me 3 batteries from the bar supplies; mother and daughter. They have a son/brother who lives in Pflugerville, TX and works for Verizon.Nice uphill out of Port Clinton. The trail is overgrown and I got soaked by the rain left on the plants. I had bought a sandwich at the hotel; I ate half for breakfast and half for lunch. While eating lunch, I met a man, Dave Landis, and his two sons. Dave is a prison preacher from Georgia; he grew up in Pennsylvania. He is on a sabbatical from his job. A little later down the trail Dave and his sons point out a fat copperhead in the rocks at Pulpit Rock. Also a black snake in a tree. (I had told them about my rattlesnake encounter.)A brief rainstorm comes and I get all wet. But, make it to the shelter, which is a tool shed behind a house. There is a solar heated shower and flush toilet. Firefox and Hermes are also at the shelter, as well as south-bounders Spoons and Toesy.
Date: 2014-07-30
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 8.0

Short hike day today. I have to hike 1.5 miles off the AT in order to get to Palmerton to re-supply. I stayed in the City of Palmerton hostel in the basement of the city annex. It's an old building from the 1930s, I would guess. An old gymnasium; the City orchestra held their practices in the gym.I went to the local store to re-supply; asked for summer sausage. They don't know what that is.....At the local fruit stand I bought a bunch of plums and they are delicious! The stand also had the cheapest Snickers bars I have found on the trail.Firefox and I do our laundry. I had taken a bunch of towels to wash for the hostel. For supper, we went to the local tavern. Palmerton is a Superfund site; zinc pollution from mining. It is a very nice town full of friendly people. I am told that the City may close the hostel because a male hiker was watching a female hiker shower. I hope they don't let one bad apple spoil everything.
Date: 2014-07-31
From: Palmerton, PA

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I hiked the 1.5 miles back to the AT. Today was a steep and rocky trek; I had to throw my trekking poles ahead of me a couple of times in order to use my hands. Scary.I ate blackberries and raspberries on the AT; probably got a lifetime dose of zinc. I had to hike a half mile down a steep trail to get water for camp. I camped with another couple. It is very warm and humid. I will try to get out of Pennsylvania tomorrow!