morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-12
From: Wolfsville Rd

To: Tumbling Run Shelters, PENNSYLVANIA 
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: clear sky

Cell marginalOG notesThere were many people who asked us how we would survive six months of hiking together. Most people felt hiking like this could ruin a relationship. We have had our ups and downs as we progressed down the trail, some times more severe than others. The rainy weather has put a dynamic in that we didn't forsee. I think it all started on our third night on the trail. We still had our Tarptent and we had to camp in a downpour. C6 kept feeling water hit her as the big raindrops hit the tent. I'm not certain if the rain penetrated the tent or the condensation that built up on the inside of the tent was being liberated by the raindrops hitting the outside.We bought a new tent the next day and sent the Tarptent home. We've had decent success with the new tent, a Big Agnes Seedhouse 2 tent. While we had our winter sleeping bags we filled the entire space inside and pushed on the outer wall. That caused condensation on our sleeping bags so we were reluctant to use the tent during rain and cold temperatures.Our reluctance to use the tent put us in a pattern of rushing to a shelter in order to be inside during the rain. We are slower hikers than the younger crowd so we started early each day and pushed as hard as we could. This pushing would cause anxiety in us (mostly in C6) and we would soon start down a not so good emotional road. We would sometimes start snapping at each other due to the tension the hike was creating.Today we had an argument where I did not allow C6 to air her hurt. I cut her off and did not allow the situation to be vented. Now she is so mad at me she will not talk to me and tells me to go away. We will resolve this in due time.Old Goat & Check Six
Date: 2009-06-15
From: Pine Grove Furnace, PA 

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter, PA 
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Cell noneOG notesWe had a very relaxing evening inside the Ironmasters Mansion Hostel. The hostel is in a huge house that was built by the ironmaster to the Pine Grove Furnace Company. The furnace was used to make iron during the revolutionary war. This area had a huge smelting furnace where they melted down iron ore to make steel. Today the area is a Pennsylvenia State park, the centerpiece to the park is a small section of the chimney from the furnace. There are pictures of what the smelting plant looked like back in the day.Today we hiked past the chimney so we spent a few minutes being tourist. We then walked past the lake with the swimming area. We then had a mile of walking along the river that fed the lake before we took a right turn and headed up the first mountain of the day. About a half mile up the hill we came across the cerimoniial halfway sign. This is the permanent sign where every thru-hiker stops for a picture. That is the last of the halfway designators, we now have less to go than we've already done. It's now the second and final half of our hike.   C6 notesWe had full use of the hostel kitchen, so we bought pancake mix at the park store yesterday and OG made pancakes for us and "Stats," (the only other thru-hiker who stayed at the hostel last night). It was nice to have the opportunity to get to know Stats. We've been seeing him often over the past week or so, but this was the first time we actually had the time to get to know him. Great guy!The hostel disappointed us because they were having a problem with their sewer system, so we couldn't use the washer and dryer to wash clothes. They have nice bathrooms with showers, but we didn't have any shampoo or soap. So with nothing to clean ourselves, and no way to clean our clothes, we just used the beds and kitchen. They have a computer for guests, but it has all kinds of problems so we couldn't get the internet to work. Stats works with computers, so he got it to work last evening and entered his Trail Journal. When Stats finished with the computer last evening a young guest got on it. We thought we'd be able to use it this morning, but the computer didn't cooperate. So we wait until we next are somewhere that has a computer that isn't messed up to check our guest messages, etc. Oh well, such is the way it goes on the trail.Old Goat & Check Six
Date: 2009-06-16
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter, PA 

To: Darlington Shelter, PA 
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Cell goodOG notesToday we hiked most of the day in the Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania. The terrain was relatively flat most of the time so we were able make decent speed. This section does not allow any camping for 17 miles except in a Backpackers Campground which is right next to a busy railroad track and it is noisy all night. Our options were to stay at a B&B in Boiling Springs or a Motel on Route 11. We decided to go straight through the valley because we'll be in a hotel tomorrow. The shelter here was built in 2005 to replace an older one that was here. This one is pretty big with 2 double wide bunks and 2 single bunks. There is also plenty of floor space for additional hikers. The shelter sits on top of the mountain so there are plenty of flat spots for tenting. We've been enjoying sleeping in our tent lately so we found a level spot and set up our tent.The privy here is different than any other one I've ever seen. It has a sign over the door that says "Taj Mahal". It is nice but it is not the nicest one on the AT, that honor goes to the one at Antlers Campsite in Maine. C6 notesSome times I'm so aware of God's hand in our lives, and other times I'm oblivious to His hand. Today I was so aware of being watched over. We walked in a LOT of pastures and farmlands (crops often on either side of us). If today was a hot sunny day, it would have been an extremely difficult hike. We were blessed to have an overcast day with moderate temperature and a breeze most of the time. I got cold every time we stopped for any length of time. It's been quite a while since that's happened.We stopped at the ATC office in Boiling Springs today and found the Post Office and a bank (with an ATM) across the street. So we got the cash we needed and mailed a box of items I'm finally ready to send home. They were items I've been holding onto for fear of being cold. I felt confident sending them home until we stopped at this shelter for the day and now I'm getting cold. Mr. Ed and Lightweight started a campfire, so I'm warm enough right now. The box of items I mailed home weighed 3.4 pounds...yay! That much less weight in my backpack. 3 pounds doesn't sound like much, but every pound off helps.Nice group here tonight: Red Leg, Dixie Dawg, Mike, a father and son section hikers, a mother and son section hikers, Mr. Ed, Lightweight, and Veggie Steve.Old Goat & Check Six
Date: 2009-06-18
From: Duncannon, PA 

To: Peters Mtn Shelter, PA
Miles today: 11.3

Cell goodOG notesWe finally have had the Doyle experience under our belt. The building is very old and really shows it. I doubt with this economy it will ever get any better. I would have been very uncomfortable there if it wasn't filled with AT hikers. We knew almost everybody there and our friends knew the others.We are definitly in Rocksylvania. We had a ridge walk where we were hiking on rocks sticking up. It was dificult to follow the trail because when you are on rocks you can't see where others have stepped. I shouldn't complain a lot because part of the hike was on a flat road like surface. C6 was dissapointed with our progress today but we actually made good time as we hiked. Some days are better than others and today was just an average day.We had a great conversation with a thru-hiker who had a heart transplant 7 years ago. He is a great example of how you can do anything if you make your mind up to do it. There are many people who go through life thinking they can't do something. The only thing stopping many of them is their own mind. I thought of the little engine "I think I can, I think I can, I know I can, I KNOW I can!" As Yogi Berra once said "This game is 90% mental and the other half is physical." Some of the biggest hurdles are our own fears. Not every heart transplant patient can hike 2000 miles, but if he can do it a lot of other people can. Don't let your fear stop you from trying. C6 notesStaying at the Doyle Hotel was fun. Not a place to stay under other circumstances, but for hiking the AT it's a fun place to stay. We heard a lot of rain throughout the night last night, and woke up to rain and everything very wet. Ugh! As we hiked today, however, the rain eventually stopped. We just got back up the hill from getting our been positioned as steps. Rock steps like these are so hard because they aren't consistent in height. Some are very high steps and quite a challenge to step up or go down. With the water being so far away and so hard to get to, we filled all our containers so there will be no need to get any more water while we're at this shelter.This shelter is large and quite nice. It has a large covered area with a picnic table and a ledge we can sit on. The book says it can sleep 20...we could fit at least 10-15 more people here if needed. I doubt that will be needed, but people are just starting to filter in now.I found myself lacking energy today as we hiked. We kept up a decent pace, but I didn't feel energetic. It's strange how I have so much energy some days and so little on other days. This is a day by day endeavor. Each day is different.Old Goat & Check Six
Date: 2009-06-19
From: Peters Mtn Shelter, PA

To: Rausch Gap Shelter, PA 
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Cell noneOG notesToday is our 100th day since we started this hike. We're still going strong and heading north. Tomorrow we will pass the 1178 mile mark, that means we'll have less than 1000 miles to go. As we hiked today we were treated to some trail magic. It happened just as we were going to stop for lunch. As we were hiking we came upon a plastic bin with a note that said "For thru-hikers and section hikers." In it there was iced up soda in the bottom layer then two bins with cookies, chips, and lots of goodies. Thank you "Snackattack 07" for the much appreciated magic.We hiked almost 18 miles today to get here and that was only shelter to shelter. Tomorrow we'll go to the second shelter which is known for the pizza that can be ordered there. Pizza is a staple food for hikers, ice cream is the other staple, Snickers is a necessity. We need as many calories as possible and we have to get them any way we can. So much for tomorrow I'll report on it then.C6 notesThe trail magic was a nice treat we didn't expect today, and the timing was perfect. Of course "Snack Attack 07" didn't plan the timing...we just happened upon the goodies when we were planning to stop for lunch. I've been writing about how emotional I've been from time to time. I want to make sure to clarify something about my emotions. I am an extremely sensitive person, and I have a hard time putting things out of my mind. I carry a lot of emotional baggage by how deeply I feel things. This is not new to me, nor has anthing changed regarding how I handle things since we started hiking the trail. Posey Picker (a multi time thru-hiker and friend) wisely says, "It's about the smiles, not the miles." He's absolutely right, and I want to make sure no one thinks my sensitive emotional state comes from disliking what we're doing. There are aspects of this that I don't like (e.g., bad weather), but overall this is a wonderful experience and I love many things about it.What's making me write this is that yesterday I read a shelter log entry from someone who is going home because he has reached a point where he hates the trail. We haven't met this person, but some women who were at the shelter last night know him and feel sad that he feels that way. I want to make sure it's clear that I'm not ready to go home. I've had two or three brief thoughts of wanting to go home, but they were fleeting and were gone as soon as the situation changed. Right now we're in our tent (because of the bugs), the birds are singing, it's a very comfortable temperature, and a wonderful ending to a very good day. Tomorrow evening we have plans to meet friends for dinner, and I'm excited about that. Life on the trail is good!Old Goat & Check Six
Date: 2009-06-20
From: Rausch Gap Shelter, PA 

To: Swarta Gap, PA
Miles today: 6.0

Cell goodOG notesC6 has done a good job describing our day today I really can't say anything more so goodnight.C6 notesIt's important to be flexible on the trail. We got up at 5am today so we could get to the 501 Shelter early enough to meet our friends. Our friends were driving here to meet us for dinner, and we were looking forward to that. As we started packing we heard thunder in the distance. I thought I had heard the weather was supposed to be nice this weekend, so I was surprised to hear the thunder. Within about 30 minutes it began to rain. We were happy to have been able to pack everything dry. As we started hiking the rain came down hard. It poured for three hours! At one point we came to a creek that we couldn't cross. After exploring our options, we finally decided to go back to the last road we crossed and hope we could walk down the road to where the AT crossed it again. We were right, and were able to connect back with the AT not far down the road (and not far from the other side of the creek). By now we were soaked and our boots were sloshing. OG has been having a lot of trouble with his feet since we changed to these boots, so having the boots be soaking wet is not a good thing. We talked about our options and decided to comletely change our plans for today. At the next road we turned! right down the road and walked about 2 miles to a Days Inn Motel. We are dry and we're doing what we can to dry our boots. Stuffing boots with newspapers absorbs water and dries out the inside of boots. So we have them stuffed with newspaper and will change out the newspapers throughout the night.Happily, our friends are still meeting us for dinner. Since they have a car, a few more miles is not a problem for them. We're looking forward to seeing them.What was going to be a 17.4 mile day turned into a 6 mile day. That's frustrating, but it was a wise decision, and we're thoroughly enjoying being out of the rain. It's much later now and we thorougly enjoyed the evening with you, Jim and Deb. We're so glad it worked out for us to get together this evening. Old Goat & Check Six
Date: 2009-06-27
From: Little Gap, PA 

To: Little Gap, PA
Miles today: 0.0

Cell goodOG notesToday was such a non trail day that I'm not going to add much. Today I drove on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 80. It is different to travel at 70 mph instead of 2 mph. We look at distances differently off trail than we do on trail. On trail every mile is earned you have to plan it and exicute it. One thing they do have in common is it takes a lot of work to go uphill. My little 4 cylinder Vibe was really struggling to stay up with my brother's car when we went up a big hill, I struggle going uphill too. We arrived at Penn State University and the panic started. We had very little time to switch from hiker trash to respectable uncle and aunt of the bride. So much to do in so little time. I'll spare you the details but we were successful and made it to the church on time.We're in the lap of luxury right now in the Nittany Lion Inn. We attended the reception this evening and now we're switching back to hikers. Even this switch back to hiker mode is stressful. Our daughter has brought some gear (new boots) here for us to swap out. Tomorrow we'll drive back to little gap and hike once again.C6 notesWe had a fabulous evening and morning with Chris and Theresa. We can't thank you enough for your hospitality, wonderful dinner and breakfast, and for having the opportunity to get to know you. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For everything!!!!OG's brother, Phil, picked us up at Chris' house this morning and we're on our way to the wedding now. I'm excited about the wedding and having some time with family today and tomorrow.Not long after we got on the road we drove through Lehigh Gap and were able to show OG's dad (who is in the car with us) and brother (and his family, who are in another car - cell phones are so useful!) what we hiked down and up yesterday. Lehigh Gap is impressive from the ground because you can see how steep the descent into, and ascent out of, the gap is. Plus you can see the rock scramble side of the gap quite well. Cool!I wrote my entry in the car on the way to the wedding. I'll write more about today in tomorrow's entry...not enough time to write more right now.Old Goat & Check Six
Date: 2009-06-29
From: Delps Spring, PA 

To: Kirkridge Shelter, PA
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Cell goodOG notesWe had a very nice night last night. We were alone and it was nice and quiet.I just read C6s entry and have to say the rocks were tough. C6s fall was a real scare. When she got up and put her hand to her head she had blood on her hand. I was afraid for her. We have been watching for signs of concussion and thankfully we have not seen any. As we hiked on she reminded me of Natasha Richardson and how she died of a concussion earlier this year. We don't believe C6 hit the rock hard enough to cause a concussion because her hand took a lot of the impact. We're not discounting anything and we'll keep watching for the next few days.C6 notesBefore I write about today, I want to thank Phil, Diane, Lori, and Dad for helping us get to/from the wedding. Thank you so much!! We love you!Today's hike was awful. Most of PA has been quite nice...but not today. This has been an incredibly hard to hike 20 miles today because of all the rocks!! Big boulders aren't bad, and can actually be kind of fun. We had a very small stretch of big boulders today. Most of the rest were small rocks in/on the ground that stick up. They are incredibly difficult to walk on, and cause one to trip easily (and often). I fell today in the middle of one of those areas. I hit my head on a small pointed rock, and the fingers on my left hand bent way back...way more than fingers should go. My head bled some, but I don't think I sustained any serious head injury. We've been watching for signs of a concussion...headache, dizziness, nausea. I had none of those signs while we were walking. I did have some dizziness after we arrived at the shelter, but none of the other signs. We decided to push on to this shelter after the fall because it's near a road (in case I needed medical help). Since I'm not having any of the symptoms, we feel I'll be fine.My hand hurts a lot, but I'm pretty sure I didn't break anything. And since I'm right-handed (and it's my left hand that's hurt), I'm not too limited in what I can do. I'm thankful that I wasn't hurt more than I am. We'll be finished with these rocks in 2 or 3 days (according to OG). I'm looking forward to that!!Old Goat & Check Six
Date: 2009-07-01
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Cell goodOG notesWe are still in Delaware Water Gap, PA tonight. C6 had a bout with dizziness again this mornning and we decided it was more prudent to take another day of rest. We've spent the day taking it easy. The most strenuous thing we did was clean the hostel at the church. We wanted to give back to an organization that does so much for hikers. Almost all of the hikers who stayed there last night had hit the trail and tonight's crowd hadn't arrived yet. It felt good to do something for the trail community.We then spent the afternoon sitting in our room resting. I listened to the radio and C6 read her book.My nephew, his girlfriend, and my sister dropped by this evening. We had a great evening showing them the AT, the content in our packs, the hostel, and our luxury room. We then went out for dinner and had a wonderful time talking and eating. Thank you Tim, Robyn, and Terry. It was great seeing you and spending the time with you.I don't know what tomorrow will be like. C6's health comes first, if she isn't well we will not hike. It is really terrific to be hiking with the woman I love but I worry about her after this incident. Safety first still applies out here.C6 notesI had another challenging night last night. I felt fine when we went to bed, but had one bout of extreme dizziness when I turned on my back. It went away quickly. Early this morning I found the bouts of dizziness returning...as if it had something to do with my lying down. It wasn't as bad as the night before, but it was bad enough that I ended up sitting up from about 6am on. (I plan to try sleeping mostly sitting up tonight.)We expected to get back on the trail today, but when we went to a local restaurant to eat breakfast I found I didn't feel steady enough to hike today. I needed the reassurance of holding OG's hand as we walked down the hill to the restaurant. As we ate breakfast we decided that we needed to stay here today and give me another day. I felt "off" all morning, but less "off" as the day went on. It's best to take a zero (no hiking) day than risk hiking when things aren't just right. OG's nephew and his girlfriend had made plans to come meet us this evening. We called Tim this morning and changed the location to here instead of the camp we had planned to hike to today. They came and surprised us by bringing OG's sister, Terry (Tim's mom), with them. We had a lovely evening with them! They actually hiked a small portion of the AT with us. It happened to be all on pavement and sidewalks (the AT cuts through this town), but that's perfect for Terry. :-) We loved being with you this evening, Terry, Tim, and Robyn. It was great to see you and to be able to share some of our experience with you. Thanks for coming! We love you!Old Goat & Check Six