morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-07-22
From: Duncannon, PA/Doyle Hotel

To: Clarks Ferry Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Started hiking @ 4pm, finished @ 6:30pmSo today was a really great day, Low miles, but out of town w/9 a 0! It's also my 4 month anniversary on trail! I woke up @ 5:30, 6 & 7 and finally 8 to stay up and get breakfast with the guys. We went to a diner across the street! Baba was very kind and treated me!! Thanks again Baba! Then back I went to nap until checkout @ 11! Up again @ 10:30 and packed up and headed downstairs. I knew I could hang there until I was ready to go. After checking the weather and no chance of rain I decided to wait until 4 when the head died down since I already made the choice to hike only 4 mi! Baba and I played some pool which was a lot of fun, then I decided to eat again. Pat's famous BBQ this time, which was excellent! About that time Watermelon and CT arrived so it was nice to catch up w/them, Watermelon just recovered from lyme disease! I warned him I found my first tick today-while sitting outside the Doyle! Leave the woods and I find more bugs then in the woods! HA! So I had fun just relaxing and talking to folds. I also talked to Lowrider and pondered our options for hiking some together in CT! Of course I am really looking forward to that! I hit the rocks, I mean trail and was set up, sippin a dew I hiked out and working on a fire by 7! My burgers about warm and the sun almost down. I hope to get an early start and have a great day w/at least 16 miles! We'll see!
Date: 2010-07-23
From: Clarks Ferry Shelter

To: Stoney Mountain campsite
Miles today: 17.0

Started @ 7:15, finished @ 6Puck, Watermelon, CT and Big R showed up just as I was finishing my journal last night so I visited with them briefly before heading back up to my camp for bed. Big R set up here also but the rest stayed .1 or .2 down at the shelter. I woke up @ 5:30 and got up to get my water which was downhill past the shelter. Then I laid back down in my tent for 15 min. before starting my day. I hit the trail @ 7:15 ready for whatever she may offer! I can't believe some of this really was flat and a lot w/o many rocks! I cruised thru my 1st 10 mi by 12:15 then stopped for lunch. My energy was still low due to a lite lunch I suppose. I'll fix that when I resupply. Once again I timed a big climb for 3:00, the hottest part of the day! I also had to carry much water due to 2 sources for the whole day. I knew I wouldn't make 24 mi to the next shelter (there was another but landed there @ 10:30 and the water was down 270 steep rock stairs-no thank you! ) So I took myself up the 2 mi climb slow and steady and made it once again! Shortly after I found a nice campsite a top Stoney MTn, the problem was that it was only 6pm! Do I stay and get to bed real early or hike on for an hour or so and get another 2-3 miles in? All the bee's were telling me to go but after a good break I decided to call it a day. After all, 16 is the min to get me to Maine on time and I'd done 17! I got all set up, hung my clothes and started dinner. It wasn't long before I started hearing thunder! Ahh-the sign I requested to help w/ my stay or go decision arrived! I'm so glad I stayed! I got everything put up and dinner made just before the rain! That, my friends, is HUGE out here! For the 2nd time since March I am eating in my tent! Last time was the very 1st night and I spilled it! I am being very careful this time!!I feel good and am ready for the boulders that ARE my future! Tomorrow? Don't know-but soon! My head is in a great place and for that I am so grateful!!I'm camped alone for now at least. Watermelon, Big R, Puck & CT are behind me and are late hikers. We'll see if they call it early with the rain or keep on coming!It's 8 and I'm almost done eating, I hope to be aseep by 9-9:30 & lokd forward to an early start and some good miles!
Date: 2010-07-24
From: Stoney Mountain campsite

To: Stealth camp on Trout Creek
Miles today: 12.4

Extreme heat advisory today, the locals informed Ripple, so she stopped a little early. Water is at a premium now and Ripple has to be careful with water timing and location. HOT HOT HOT! but she's still has a GREAT attitude!**********NEW***********Started @ 7:15, finished @ 1:15Today started off great-although it was already hot and humid @ 6-7am! PA has been like a jungle sauna with wet rocks! I stayed moving pretty well for a couple hours on the flat terrain but the heat started getting to me early. LT texted last night and said it was 105 degree heat index at home so I knew what was coming at me and then about noon I saw some locals and they said there was a heat warning in effect until 9pm! I had already been reviewing the miles and possible option to Port Clinton so that convinced me to take a nero on trail. I'd done 12 when I found this creek and to move on meant 8 more miles w/the climb at the peak heat of the day! No thanks! Did that the last 2 days with a ton of water in tow and it was awful. I figure I can still get into PC on Monday, it would just be later and since there's a pavilion we can stay at for free as we enter town on trail I would just stay there. I will get a room Tues AM and still possibly 0 on Wed since I will be doing all my chores on Tues. Once I arrived here I sat, waded in the creek and ate lunch. Perhaps a mistake as there is NO breeze and when I tried to nap (at peak heat!) I woke up soaked. It's 5:30 now and my feet are in the creek. I think it's cooling down?! I'm going to try for bed super early tonight so that I can get more miles out of the way before noon. Its really flat, although rocky, I'm sure, once I get the morning climbs done. Thank goodness the temp is dropping Monday! 98 to 85ish! It will be a big treat! Those locals today were very nice! A group out repairing an acid reducing limestone well on a creek SEVERAL miles from here. They gave me water and some cookies! The trail also provided some magic on Thurs. Atop the climb out of Duncannon I fund an unopened much needed travel size toothpaste! Crazy things happen out here-I tell ya! I guess Ill get to dinner. I'm not cooking though-it's just too hot! Snacks I suppose maybe some applesauce roll up or carnation! I'm also dealing with my 2nd round of poison ivy. The 1st VERY minor, on my finder. This time on my thumb but is many little blisters! While it itches something awful, I'm not complaining! Life is hot, but GOOD!!
Date: 2010-07-25
From: Stealth camp on Trout Creek

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: light rain

Another great day! Up & out early! Ran into Watermelon, Puck & Big R about 3 mi out, we chatted and I finished the climb. I moved well & quickly on a mission for 18! I would stop @ the 501 for lunch (pizza delivery was available since the shelter was in a backyard!) I enjoyed a great overlook just before arriving-NICE break! It was early & beautiful & easy to do 18. A light storm had passed and the sky clear and blue! I got to the 501, ate my lunch to lighten the pack and save $! The shelter was enclosed and had an awesome, big skylight in the center. It must have been 6¢ in diameter! Great for viewing the 2nd storm that came in! Piece by piece my dry clothes starting coming out! CT Bob was so excited the delivery service was about to start & could chow down! I was convinced to join in! Now Watermelon was here and in too! The sun came out as we went to fetch the food and I started having regrets for killing so much time. The road was only .1 or .2 on a shelter side trail and just as we arrived, they closed the road! There was an awful accident at the bottom of the hill! Crap, how much time will this take? Puck, Big R and Bluegrass arrived and shortly their plans began to change too! I was done for-count me in-I give! I¢ll get n early start tomorrow and I can make it up¢¦ I could roll into Port Clinton Tues AM & only loose 3 hours of town time I had a great time with the guys-they¢re all really great folks! Add pizza and Mtn Dew and I couldn¢t ask for more! We wound down fairly early about 10. (ok-for me & my 18-20 tomorrow, but late for them as they plan on 24 to town!)
Date: 2010-07-26
From: 501 Shelter

To: Community Shelter Port Clinton,PA
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: scattered clouds

The day started late as we didn¢t start moving until 7-7:30 which was nice! I woke up early twice to go to the bathroom after all that Dew but with everyone crashed it was easy to crawl back in my bag!!The day was a really long one, but great none the less! I wound up hitting the trail at 9:00! My watch died again so it¢s back to the camera to tell time I was off! The terrain had finally really flattened out; too bad it¢s just covered with rocks! Flat is awesome though-no matter how you serve it! We have discussed the potential damage its doing to our hiker legs though. The big miles should help though-at least we are keeping everything movin¢! So I planned a late lunch and water refill at the spring @ mile 16. I passed 2 springs trying to keep the load light-big mistake! Thanks goodness I¢d been leap frogging with the boys and CT Bob had an extra liter to spare! I chomped on some snacks and made the call to go the remaining 8 mi to town and guaranteed water. I¢d hoped to save 4-5 miles for the AM but not so much w/such little water. I could do it! It was 4:45, the terrain was doable (with a side of rocks of course!) and it would only mean a little night hiking, although the 1000¢ decent in 1 mi would be tricky. I would arrive in town in 4hrs + breaks and its light out until almost 9. It went very quick and painlessly! SWEET! I saw 2 snake skeletons right on trail! Very cool! Puck & I took 2 quick breaks-1 of which was at Auburn lookout as the sun was starting to sink! W/3 mi left we¢d be fine. I moved like mad and only needed the headlamp for the last 14 mi on the STEEP gravel descent. Big steps-24¢ maybe down to the road and bad trail blazing (all day really) made for a slow finish into town Never the less I found blazes after crossing the Reading Railroad Station and made way thru town and down to the community pavilion they allow hikers to camp in and at. The whole gang was there + Patch & Nevin (SOBO¢s.) Turtle and a couple others were already asleep. It was 9:30. I set up across the street and eventually wound down and turned in. I laid & listened to some Buffett & looked over the next leg on the profiles. I did it-I pushed 24 miles and made it to PC on Mon (my original goal!) and it feels GOOD!!
Date: 2010-07-27
From: Community Shelter Port Clinton,PA

To: Port Clinton Hotel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

-woke up @ 6 and LAID-back over to pavilion to visit bout 7-decided on and walked .3 to 3c¢s for breakfast with the gang-finished packing and headed to the motel-checked in and settled, ran to PO, came back to shower-Watermelon, CT Bob & I got ride from Fred (the hotel restaurants bartender¢s dad) to Cabela¢s-took bus to Redner¢s grocery (minus CT Bob,) hitched a ride back with Buddy-visited in the bar with new arrivals: Gypcigirl, Spoon, Joker, Severance and Zambonie-up to room, hung all my stuff to dry-back to bar for dinner which was FABULOUS! Tasted great and MONSTER portions!! This hotel is cool with a bar downstairs and a 2nd door w/stairway to rooms. There¢s a great porch w/benches & lights across the railing along the front. There¢s room for 1 row of curb parking & then a very busy state highway! It¢s very loud and shakes when semi¢s go by but it¢s been very thought provoking and maybe even therapeutic! Across the street is the next mtn I will dance with! That is after a crazy steep 1-2 mi climb up it! It¢s beautiful from down here! I¢m excited I get to go in there and return to my world deep in the woods!I got sad news today that Peach and Bam Bam had to go back to the real world and I¢m very sad. I will miss them terribly and hate their journey has been cut so short! Those are 2 very special people!! I hope the universe continues to support them as their next journey begins!
Date: 2010-07-29
From: Port Clinton Hotel

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: broken clouds

What a day! I wish the terrain could be like this every day! But let me backup. Woke up but dozed off until 6:20. I got up and showered one last time, packed up my pack, bounce box and box home, ate, then was able to watch tv and lay from 8:30-9, I checked out and sat on the porch to talk to mom as it started raining! Then off to the PO! I was glad to see the rain stop but did not welcome the humidity that followed. Luckily it wasn¢t supposed to reach the 90¢s! The climb out was pretty steep but not too bad. The climbs that followed were tough as I was back in the rocks! I made it the 6 mi up to the pulpit and had lunch in a grassy/shaded spot of an observatory! Next was the Pinnacle in 2 mi. I¢d heard it was hard; luckily I was there before I knew it! I saw the famous pile of rocks which was cool and took a break at the overlook. Turkey vultures were everywhere! Flying right overhead! Then off for a mile or 2 of CRAZY rocks! No climbing them yet but they were awful. Not enough big ones to bounce across yet not enough space between to walk the trail! Fortunately it ended and I walked a country/gravel road for the next 5-6 miles!! It was awesome! I pondered moving beyond the shelter I¢d planned to stay at¢¦we¢ll see¢¦I made it to Hawk Mtn road and the shelter was .2 down it. I went ahead and headed that way. It¢s in a backyard (butting up against the forest.) Another caretaker situation! (This means there is a home and volunteer lives there caring for the shelter.) The shelter is enclosed with doors and windows! Bunks w/carpet padding, an actual toilet in the privy, picnic tables, clothesline¢¦the works! Then Lazee, the caretaker, came out and visited! He offered me a hot shower! You bet! That¢s not normal, but if there¢s only 1 or 2 he does sometimes! Then 3 very kind folks stopped by (Barbara, Lisa & Milton) looking to talk w/hikers and do a little trail magic. Watermelon!! Not the hiker¢¦the actual fruit! Sweet!! We chatted and they let me get to my dinner. What a great dessert! Thx so much you guys! I called LT since Lazee would let me charge my phone. I also learned Shags was here 3 12 days ago! Maybe I¢ll catch him yet! With no tent tonight and bunking it in the shelter, I should make a quick get away in the am! I¢m shooting for at least 18 tomorrow, maybe 20¢¦we¢ll see!
Date: 2010-07-30
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Stealh 1mi N of Bake Oven Knob shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: broken clouds

Today was¢¦well guess.. another fantastic day on the AT! SO many things happen every day; I wish I could write about them all! I got started and on trail @ 6:45! This means I started movin and shaking @ 5:30! I wake up about 5 most days! HA! It usually takes me 1 12 hrs to hit the trail if I MAKE breakfast. This week I¢m givin cereal a break & found some Enteman¢s Iced Honeybuns @ 600+ cal! Anyway, once again started the day w/climbs & big rocks! Got to see a deer and a great view tho-all the PA farmlands and country homes, sometimes a city off in the distance¢¦I passed a water source @ noon w/ 12 a liter left and the source I planned for was dry! (I should have left the shelter w/more) so I checked my books and there was a B&B and restaurant in 1 12 miles less than .1 from the trail! Problem solved! They let us use a spigot in the back! I decided a cold soda would be lovely I did fail however @ lightening my pack by eating my lunch but I couldn¢t resist the temptation of REAL food! The place and 2 owners were super nice and the cheeseburger and fries¢¦fantastic! Off I went for the remaining 6-13 miles of my day w/gusto! Heavier pack now w.2 12 liters (5 addl #¢s.) Just before Knife Edge a day hiker caught up w/me. Bart, a really great local out getting some fun exercise! Once across the ¢knife¢ we enjoyed some conversation as we hiked! He wound up giving me his extra water when we parted! 2+ liters! Wonderful! I didn¢t know if the shelter¢s spring would be flowing so I was set now! Tonights water, dinner and some to start tomorrow with! I am so grateful he shared! Thanks again Bart! Sure had a nice time hiking w/ya! We also acme across some trail magic! Someone left 5-gal of water by a tree on trail, near a road! There was a 12 gal left, yeah!! I¢ve seen a gal or 2 before but they¢re always empty! I drank a bit and left some for the next guys. So, at the shelter¢¦yep-spring was way dry! I sat for a good break debating whether or not to move on. It was only 5:30! I had 18 in but¢¦it was 5:30! The next 7 had some rocky patches according to Bart and would put me at the next shelter @ 9:30. That was too much so I decided I¢ve seen enough local sites, I will find one or at least a flat spot to stealth in the next 1-3 miles. I found a couple right away but pushed on for a few more boulder dances when I came to home for tonight. It was only about a mile later but it was 6:30 now and I didn¢t want to risk the approaching decent being covered in boulders.
Date: 2010-07-31
From: Stealh 1mi N of Bake Oven Knob shelter

To: Stealth 1mi N of Little Gap
Miles today: 12.4

ROCKS, BOULDERS!!!!Today was a real test! It started off late as my feet were throbbing when I woke up so I opted to sleep and lay a bit. Finally going at 8:30 it started off ok. Rocky, but ok! I went about 3 mi when I looked up and saw a deer staring at me-he was right on trail! I think I got a great shot! Then down to the next shelter where I found the spring was flowing well! Thank goodness because the next source was over 15 mi! It was about time for Lehigh Gap¢¦it look like this: / and it is ALL rocks! I knew it¢d be tough and now it was 1:00-nice and toasty! The mtn is almost bald due to the zinc plant in town. They¢re trying to rehab but will take a long time! So, I started prepping mentally for the 1 mi climb. It¢ll be over and behind me in 30-60 min, I¢m strong and will conquer like every other before¢¦everyone does it, I¢ll make it. WOW!! I¢m officially a rock climber!! Worse though was the next 4-5 miles! SO MANY rocks!! My feet feel like they¢ve been tenderized! Short on water and the next source still 10 mi I had to be careful. Then I met Pete and his friend coming S. He thru¢ed in 2004! Had my same boots! I was excited to hear they really do have 2200 miles in them! They were great guys and really lifted my spirits! His friend gave me some great trail magic too!! Thanks a million guys!! They also saw a ton of gal jugs w/water by the road! SWEET! I didn¢t have another 10mi in me to the next source so I will be set! Then off I went! I also came across red raspberries!! YUM! YUM! I came to the road and all the jugs were empty! I still had about 2 liters so I¢d conserve and stop at the next campsite I find. I wound up going another mi and wa BEAT¢¦nothing but boulder filled trail, fields and piles of them that of course the trail went right over! I set up and ate with a quickness¢¦I want bed! NOW! I¢ve only got 30 mi to NJ and I want to be there now!! Its 8:30 now and I hope to get an early start. 10 mi to water and I have 20 oz¢s. I should be fine. The mornings are very cool lately! It reminds me of March and that it¢ll be cold in the mtns before I know it! Even today¢¦.I practice treasuring every moment!
Date: 2010-08-01
From: Stealth 1mi N of Little Gap

To: Stealth 4mi N of Wind Gap
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: broken clouds

Today was an absolutely fabulous day! Mentally, physically, terrain, weather and people!Today I enjoyed every step! Even the tough ones! I hope I can do that every day until Katahdin! Tomorrow means shower & laundry at the Delaware Water Gap church hostel and New freaking Jersey!! So I woke up at 6:30! Perfect! I sprung up and got right to it! Mtn Hse Dinner + 9 12 hrs sleep! I had 20 oz of water and 16 oz of Koolaid! After the 1st 12 mi it flattened out! (Of course! I probably could have done 2-3 more mi yesterday!) but then I cruised! 1st 5-done, and I only killed the koolaid! Now with 5-8 oz of water the next best source is in 5 miles, but is .6 off the trail! After another 5 there is a motel .1 off trail who shares their spigot AND sells soda! Could I pull it off? It was cool and possibly going to rain?! Another 4 mi down and I handled them just fine. Killed moat of my water and had only 5 more mi! It rained for this last leg but not much got through the tunnel! PERFECT! I arrived and they were SO nice! The Mrs. told me cokes were $1 and I had $3! SOLD! She let me sit on the porch and told me where the spigot was! She said 1-2 hours was not too long if I wanted to take my time¢¦What a time! Cokes, water ,a chair, an outlet and a trash can! The rain had died down and I had a ball! Talked to Lowrider-he was out hiking! He¢ll join Ups & SW¢s in a week for a week! Reunion! I¢ll get to see him later a little farther up! Ups is doing nice medium days so I may catch her yet! So-off I went 2 hrs later hoping to get a minimum of 5 more miles. It was early, belly was full and I was all jacked up on coke! Bring it on!! Just after the 1 mi steep climb I met a Mid-Atlantic ATC Ridgerunner, Calmwater, and had a nice trail talk/visit! He¢s also thru¢ed in 07 I believe. Then off I went! I stayed slow and steady all day-almost all on rocks but they were kinder. I actually walked on the ground quite a bit! They¢re fading slowly but will never really go away! I wound up stopping @ 6-probably could have gone on but it had been thundering and it would mean early to bed. 60 min later w/everything all set¢¦the rain came! I¢m so blessed! Thank you Universe!
Date: 2010-08-02
From: Stealth 4mi N of Wind Gap

To: Church of the Mountain Hostel/Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Today, on trail, was rough. It started out great but the rocks just kept on coming! I finally made it to town and the hostel where I found and reunited with Grizzly (last seen on his birthday-Apr 2!) Hazzard (last seen N of Front Royal, VA!) Miles J Squatch, Mr. Smee and Turtle! Also met City Slicker, Irish and the kid (or Kcuf.) Great reunion!! Then I made my grocery list and headed down the hill to eat, get socks @ the outfitter and resupply at the gas station!Since City Slicker had to leave trail they all went out to the bar-I stayed and packed up, checked in with LT & mom and got ready to get out early. I also showered and washed some clothes in the sink and recharged everything! PA did NOT take me off this trail! .3 to NJ!!
Date: 2010-08-03
From: Church of the Mountain Hostel/Delaware Water Gap

To: Stealth Camp at Buttermilk Falls
Miles today: 20.8

Awesome day! Weather-perfect! Did 1st 6 mi in 2 hrs! I started NJ today! Too bad the rocks didn¢t stop at the border! They¢re not as bad but definitely present! I leap frogged with Squatch, Mr. Smee & Alex. After arriving at the campsite I wanted to push on another 4 to the shelter but wouldn¢t have rolled in until 8-8:30 and bed @ 10-10:30-too late. Mr. Smee and Alex decided to cut short too and we had a great little camp! Turns out it was her birthday!! I just happen to have some freeze dried ice cream so we sat after dinner and celebrated!I experienced all emotions today! Getting much better at handling the tough stuff! And better at enjoying every step! Another precious day! I also got word Shags is only 7 mi¢s ahead so I should catch him tomorrow or Thurs for sure!