morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-01
From: Zero Days - West Virginia

To: Crampton Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

It was a sad departure from Harpers Ferry today saying goodbye to my Mom and cousin Cindy as I returned to the trail. I was very emotional to walk away knowing that I have three more months on my own on the trail. Being with my extended family these past few days makes you realize how important family is in your life and the trail enlightens this by separating you from your family. It is kind of like you really cannot appreciate something until it is gone. The hike today was not very tough except the fact that I had a newly supplied pack that is very heavy. Three days off the trail made me forget how heavy my pack really is. Even though I shook down my pack and sent many things home I still have a heavy pack. One highlight today was a hawk sighting. There were at least four hawks flying above the Potomac River and I was up at a view on Riverton Cliffs and could see them so well. I even got a picture a hawk as it soared on a wind current, very cool!A special thank you to ¢Monday Man¢ for the four pack of Moxie that was left in the refrigerator at the AT Conservancy for me. That was a very nice surprise and will give me a little extra motivation to make it all the way to Katahdin. Thank you!
Date: 2013-06-02
From: Crampton Gap Shelter

To: Pogo Campsite
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: moderate rain

I woke up early this morning because I knew the day was going to filled with many stops. The trail in Maryland intersects with the civil war trails and I was able to see many small memorials to those who fought in the Civil War. I actually walked across a battlefield of the South Mountain. This is also very close to the battle of Antietam. From the George Washington Memorial, which is the first monument built to honor George Washington, you can see the Antietam battlefield. This monument was built by citizens of Maryland in 1827. The trail then leads you right over the I-70 interstate. Some trucks honk as I was crossing. I am staying at a memorial campsite, looks like I'm the only one here. Kind of scary but I try not to think about it and enjoy the cool Flintstone fireplace with high back chairs made with rocks all around the fireplace.
Date: 2013-06-03
From: Pogo Campsite

To: Falls Creek Campsite
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: few clouds

Today I entered my seventh state: Pennsylvania. Although Maryland and West Virginia were very quick states to get through they will be very memorable. Maryland was one of the nicer kinder trail states with well groomed trails that were very easy on my feet. The exception to that was Raven Rock area before Penmar Park which was a crash course on bouldering. I guess the trail came pretty close to Camp David. I talked to some of the locals and they told me several stories about close encounters with the Marines who guard this area. When I arrived at Penmar Park, which in 1890's was an amusement park and summer village for the well to do from Washington, I decided to go ahead and order a pizza. According to my guide book the pizza place delivered to the park. Well it took over an hour to get my pizza but it was very good and I had some time to spare anyway. I spent the hour sitting on a park bench chatting with an old retired guy who just so happens to be trail angel who shuttle hikers. I ended my day crossing the Mason-Dixon Line. Wow, my journey has led me out of the South. I wonder what amazing things await me in the North.
Date: 2013-06-04
From: Falls Creek Campsite

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: scattered clouds

I planned my twenty mile hike today to make up for miles I missed on my first day back on the trail after Harpers Ferry break. I also wanted to set up for tomorrows hike so I will get into Pine Grove in the early afternoon so I can do the half gallon challenge. This is a tradition for thru hikers to eat a half gallon of ice cream at the halfway point on the trail. I also want to stay at the Ironmaster's Mansion hostel tomorrow, they open at 5PM. The hostel is supposed to be pretty nice so I want to get in early. Doing twenty miles today gives me a sixteen mile day tomorrow. I was glad today was such a nice day to do so many miles. The hike took me about ten hours to cover the twenty miles including breaks and lunch. Today I have advanced my hiking skills to a new level; maybe I am learning how to be a true thru hiker. Around my fifteen mile marker I started to get really hungry, so much so I couldn't go another mile without eating. I tried to get to the next shelter to make myself something to eat, but then when I got to the shelter sign it said three tenths of a mile to the shelter. Not wanting to do this and already on my long day, I just sat down on the trail and brought out my cook stove and made my rice and tuna dinner. I cooked, eat, and cleaned up twenty minutes flat. I was refueled and back on the trail to finish up my day. The long hike was worth the effort because this shelter is one of the nicest I've seen. The shelter has flower pots and tent platforms; very well maintained shelter and definitely worth the extra miles to get to.
Date: 2003-07-09
From: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

To: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Miles today: 44.1
Weather: few clouds

Day 76 -----Four states done. Well, I've now made it to the psycological halfway point, although there is still another 60 or 70 miles to go until the real halfway marker. Had my picture taken for the A.T. scrapbook and signed in at # 651. Things are going well. Had a great time last week having family and friends come out to hike through the Shenandoah's. Had my first encounter with a bear, four of them actually, which was pretty exciting. I was walking down the trail and about 100 yards in front of me a mother bear with her three cubs were crossing the AT. When they saw me coming the three cubs ran up a tree right on the trail and the mother just sat there, eyeing me from behind some bushes. Naturally, I did the first thing any wilderness tourist would do, I took out my camera. Now I don't like to think I'm much of a coward, but there was no way in hell I was going to try and walk pass that tree by myself. Knowing my Dad and a few others were right behind me, I waited. When they came along we walked down the trail and the mother bear ran off into the foilage about 10 or 15 yards giving out a few grunts as we walked by. I took a few pictures in passing so hopefully they'll turn out. Well, that about sums up my highlights of last week. Till next time.
Date: 2013-06-05
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Pine Grove Furnace Station Campsite
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: scattered clouds

My original plan today was to get to Pine Grove Furnace Station to celebrate my halfway mark by doing the half gallon challenge. Somehow it has become a tradition of thru hikers to eat an entire half gallon of ice cream at Pine Grove General Store. Some try to do it fast and time themselves with some hikers eating their half gallon of ice cream in less than twenty five minutes. When I reached the little store where they sell the ice cream, I see a group of my friends who had just finished their go at the challenge. Only one guy, "Pumpkin Head", did not finish. He sheepishly informed us that he was lactose intolerant; very brave to try. I finished my Mouse Tracks 1.75 quart container plus one pint of ice cream, butter pecan, to make a true half gallon in fifty one minutes. My body temperature dropped so low my lips turn blue. The plan after this huge dessert was to mosey over to the Ironmaster's Mansion hostel for rest with my full tummy. But we find out they are now closed on Wednesday so that means I have another four miles to hike to the next campground. Oh, that was not what I wanted to do. We wanted a couple of hours and headed out. I pitched my tent around 8PM without needing to eat anything else for the day.
Date: 2013-06-06
From: Pine Grove Furnace Station Campsite

To: Boiling Springs - Allenberry Resort Hostel
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Since my stay at the Ironmaster's hostel did not turn out I decided the best plan for today was to go to a place called Allenberry Resort and Inn. The Inn has a hiker rate of forty dollars and a restaurant on the grounds. The hike today was pretty good till about noon when a light drizzle continued the rest of the day. It is amazing how when walking thru the forest as it is drizzling you really don't get very wet. I did not have to put my rain jacket on until I walked out of the forest onto a large corn field for the last three miles of my day. When checking in at the resort, the lady behind the counter was a little annoyed with me as I stood there dripping water all over here counter. As I was checking in a couple of ladies walked in and immediately started asking questions about my hike. Turns out they're here to attend a 1983 thru hikers¢ reunion. Paula's Mom hiked the trail at the age of sixty one and made it most of the way the first year. Then finish from New Hampshire to Maine the next year when Tish joined her hike. We had dinner and they were kind enough to treat me with some trail magic by paying my tab. We enjoyed the night of trail talk with "Hawkeye" and "Trucker" and "Cybil".
Date: 2003-07-13
From: Harper's Ferry, West Virginia

To: Caledonia State Park, Pennsylvania
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: clear sky

Day 80 -----This past week we went through Maryland so now have thru hiked Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Every now and then you need to step away from grinding out a bunch of miles everyday and take it easy for a little while. Today was definitely one of those days. A fellow hiker was getting off the trail so a bunch of us gathered at Caledonia for a barbecue. We had plenty of food and even plenty more beer. Needless to say several of us were a little thrashed when the sun was going down. About 6 of us stumbled in the dark about 2.5 miles to the next shelter. I really don't recommend a drunken night hike. We did make it to the shelter although I'm not really sure what the YMCA Group that was already there thought about us. Oh well, we had a lot of fun that day. As I've heard people say, "It's about the smiles, not the miles."
Date: 2003-07-17
From: Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania

To: Duncannon, Pennsylvania
Miles today: 65.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 84 -----Well, here I am at one of the most infamous hotels on the trail, the Doyle Hotel. It truly is a hiker's paradise. We got here yesterday and I've decided to take it easy today and have even thought about staying tomorrow. I've done pretty well not getting sucked into a lot of these towns, but I'm slowly starting to cave. Brian hit his destination point so he's taking off on Saturday leaving just the army of one. From what I hear Penn. has a lot of rocks making it home to a lot of rattlesnakes. Haven't seen one yet, but I've got my camera ready. Well," here I go again on my own, going down the only road I've ever known." I know that sounds stupid, but I've had that song stuck in my head the past few days.
Date: 2013-06-08
From: Boiling Springs - Allenberry Resort Hostel

To: Zreo Day - Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

When I arrived at Allenberry yesterday my plan was to hike twenty six miles to Duncannon to meet my cousin Ann and spend one day with her and then return to the trail. But the weather report was dismal due to a hurricane off the coast of Florida. I adjusted for Ann to pick me up in Boiling Springs instead and I would stay two days to avoid the rain. While the weather was not as bad as predicted, my time visiting Ann, Barry, and Ashley was wonderful. I haven't seen them for eleven years. I also got to go to Baltimore to visit Ann's sister, my cousin Donna, and Dave her husband. I really should not let so much time go by without visiting family. I am very much looking forward to our family reunion next summer at my cousin's Cindy's house.
Date: 2003-07-22
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Port Clinton, Pennsylvania
Miles today: 69.9
Weather: heavy intensity rain

This was quite a maildrop that I picked up in Port Clinton. I got a new tent, replacing the 7 pound bohemath that I'd recently been using as a pillow. Other than that this just shows what it looks like when you get way too much stuff in your maildrop. Oh well. You know what I always say, "GO HEAVY!"
Date: 2013-06-09
From: Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania 

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: light rain

Ann dropped me off at the trailhead at Boiling Springs around 9:30AM. I'm happy to be back on the trail and wonder who I might meet up with considering I've been gone two days. Wow, what a day. It could not have been more than thirty minutes on the trail and a man walking towards me asked if I'm Moxie. I say yes wondering how he knows. He tells me he reads my trail journals and he recognized me. He also asked if I would like to slack pack because he is slacking some other hikers. Since I was trying to get in the twenty miles this is definitely great timing and a little Moxie magic in the works. I walk with him to his truck and wait for the other hikers. When the other hikers walk up I recognized one of the girls. She recognized my right away too. She is the girl from Maine that I met on the third day at the start of my hike at Lance Creek Campground. She had the "Moxie" t-shirt on, unbelievable! Her name is "B-Rocket" now. Off we go for a great day of slack packing. "Iceman", the man driving us was wonderful. He stopped at all the road crossings with water and soda. He even took us to McDonalds for lunch. We did not make it all the way to Duncannon but we did go twenty one miles. The last five miles we had our packs back on but the time went quickly and "B-Rocket" and I talked the whole way. This next event I should warn you is pretty gross. Once again this shows my true thru hikers¢ skills. As we are all sitting around the picnic table eating in the dark with our headlamps on. A flying beetle, huge bug, flies into my pot of chicken fettuccine with tuna. I tried to spoon the beetle out but somehow it kept going deeper into my pot, ugh! I could not find it but I didn't what to throw out my whole dinner so I kept looking for it and eventually found the bug. SO GROSS! I picked the bug out and then I continued to eat. I just tried not to think about it. I know I would never do that in any other circumstance.
Date: 2003-07-27
From: Leroy A. Smith Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania
Miles today: 76.3
Weather: broken clouds

Day 94 -----Arrived in Delaware Water Gap late Sunday afternoon just in time for the free weekly jazz concert. It was quite a show for this small town but I didn't sit through the whole thing since I was in dire need of getting some food in my stomach. It's a great feeling, knowing that once I cross the Delaware River, I'll be out of Penn. People hyped up the rocks from day one but they didn't seem to get to me that much. Had another bear sighting a couple days ago. A few of us were picking some blueberries when a big one came walking out of the woods. It was a great sight to see since he seemed rather lethargic. Roughly a 10 second staring contest transpired between us and the bear before he decided to be on his way and slowly walked back into the woods. Also saw my first rattlesnake that same day. Didn't try to mess with him but got some great pictures, I hope.
Date: 2013-06-10
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Duncannon Pennsylvania
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: light rain

The Doyle Hotel is a famous stop on the AT. The hotel is a hundred year old building, even though it is in need of much repair, the hotel is charming. The hotel is four stories high with a beautiful staircase that leads you up to the rooms. There is a bar and a restaurant which serves wonderful food. I had a haddock sub with hand cut fries for lunch. The owner, Vickie, gave us a hard time but really was very friendly. When we asked Vickie if we could get a room for the night she promptly reminded me that this hotel has no stars, not even one half, and she meant it. There were holes in the ceiling of the bathroom and the room looked like they have not been painted in years. The price was right because the three of us girls shared a room for thirteen dollars each. I'm hanging out with "B-Rocket", "Medic", "Techie", and "Chin Music" for a few days. B-Rocket's mom is going to visit from Maine and slack pack us on Thursday. We seem to have the same mileage goals, I'll see if it works out. I'm enjoying their company and "B-Rocket", "Medic", and I all seem to think a lot alike about the trail. It is really amazing how when you hike solo for a while the trail seems to find you some friends eventually.
Date: 2003-08-17
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Dalton, Massachusetts
Miles today: 111.6
Weather: light rain

Walked into Dalton late yesterday afternoon in the rain. It's raining again today but I'm rather enjoying it since I'm sitting inside watching TV thinking to myself, "Glad I'm not the chump who's hiking in this mess right now." I'm currently staying at Rob's house, a local who takes in hikers and is yet another example of the individuals you meet who go out of their way to help strange looking, smelly hikers. I even got to go out last night and watch his band play at the VFW. We danced up a storm but I was having a tough time trying to keep up with the regulars there. They may have been a little older, but after hiking 1,500 miles they certainly had the quicker step. Looking forward to doing a whole lot of nothing today and will try to get myself psyched up for heading out tomorrow.
Date: 2013-06-14
From: 501 Shelter

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 24.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Another day of slack packing, B-Rocket's mom dropped us off at the trail around 10 o'clock with twenty four miles on the agenda. We really did have to make good time to avoid walking in the dark. We were able to average three mile per hour although Pennsylvania is infamous for roots but the flat terrain makes them bearable. We are also very happy that the big storm missed this area, we had mostly blue skies all day. The trail runs pretty close to civilization here, we cross roads pretty frequently. Jamie met us at a road crossing for lunch and we enjoyed a bounty of goods she discovered at an Amish grocery. They had cherries and all kinds of salad garnishes and the prices were very good. A big bag of cherries were only $2.50. The forest is in full bloom now, each day we are walking in blooms of flowering trees and lush green seas of ferns. Much different than the dead brown forest of the cold winter. The seventeen year cicadas are alive a well. Today we walked through an area where they were on every branch. These bugs make a loud whirring sound. They say when the cicadas are done mating they all just start dying and come falling from the trees in big swarms. I just hope it is not on me. We are camping at the Pavilion in Port Clinton. This is a railroad town famous for the Reading Railroad just like in the game Monopoly.
Date: 2003-08-24
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Manchester Center, Vermont
Miles today: 81.8
Weather: clear sky

Day 122 -----Hiked a whopping 3 miles into Manchester Center yesterday. Messed around town picking up my maildrop and doing some laundry. Even got a bite to eat at Friendly's, which was somewhat nostalgic, seeing that I haven't been to one in about 8 years. Took off from town today on what has probably been the clearest day I've had out on the trail. I got some spectacular views of the Green Mountains and from one peak you could even make out the White Mountains looming in the distance. I think we were able to see roughly 70 to 80 miles out as the crow flies. I hope that I'll get more days like this hiking through the Whites, but if it's anything like the majority of the hike has been, I'm banking that it'll most likely be blizard-like conditions. I'll take what I can get though. The hike through the north thus far has been amazing. You definitely get that northernly feeling when you're out walking through the forest. The air is brisk, the trees flush with green, and everything seems a bit more enclosed. I know that's not as profound or descriptive as Thoreau might be but it's the best I can do at the moment. Well, only two more states to go.
Date: 2013-06-15
From: Port Clinton

To: Reservoir Road
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: broken clouds

Every year in Port Clinton a group of former thru hikers hosts a picnic at the Pavilion. We are very lucky to be here on the day they are having the reunion. The picnic starts at eleven so we decide to go and run some errands at the local Wal-Mart and Cabelas before the picnic. We still want to get some miles in but after yesterday twenty four miles it is hard to get motivated. We are back from town after twelve and have time to eat and enjoy the other hikers company. The former hikers hiked the trail in 2000. They had a really nice scrapbook that had many pictures of places that I have seen on the first half of the trail. I am very interested in the second half and seeing some of the places ahead of me. It is very exciting as I am looking forward to seeing them. After the picnic we finally pull on the boots and get moving. We only do 5.7 miles but it felt good to get the legs moving. The trail was easy and we were done quite early. The trail in Pennsylvania is known for its rocks; so far they are not as bad as expected. A special treat today was to go to see a movie in Hamburg; we saw Star Trek. The theater was a nostalgic theater from the 1930's and they still use the reel to show the film.
Date: 2013-06-17
From: Bake Oven Knob Road

To: Palmerton Pennsylvania
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: moderate rain

The trail as seem to have taken a severe turn into urbanism. We seem to be hitting so much civilization I almost feel like I am not hiking a trail but taking a time machine trip to small town America. The towns are small and quaint and very different from where I grew up and also where I live now in Colorado. There are so many old houses and town building. Today I went into the oldest brewery in the U.S., Yuengling Brewery, established in 1829. The history of this brewery was very interesting. The brewery is family owned for many generations; I think they said eight generations. The first time I had this beer was in Philadelphia last year when I was on a church teacher trip with my friend Christine. I loved it from the first glass; sadly they do not sell it in the West. The end of our day landed us in jail. No we did not get arrested; the city of Palmerton lets thru hikers use their basement of the courthouse as a hostel. We get showers but most importantly we have electricity to change phones.
Date: 2003-09-11
From: Gorham, New Hampshire

To: Gorham, New Hampshire
Miles today: 25.9
Weather: clear sky

I now have less than a month left out on the trail. It's hard to believe that in a few days I'll be in Maine. The time is going by way too fast. This past week I've been hiking through the White Mountain National Forest. It's been some of the most scenic hiking I've done this entire trip. There were a lot of steep ups and downs with part of the hiking being done above treeline which was a unique experience. As it turned out I ended up hiking up Mt. Washington when it was fogged in with 40 mph wind gusts. I remember from the base of the mountain it looked like Mt. Doom off in the distance. That day I stopped about 1.5 miles and 1,000 feet below the summit and stayed at one of the parks several huts. The next morning the sky was crystal clear and the view from top of Mt. Washington was spectacular. You could even see the ocean off on the horizon. Since then the weather has been great and I'm hoping that this trend will continue, at least until I get off the trail. Well, now my sights are set on Katahdin. The countdown is on.