morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-06-01
From: Hightop Hut

To: Lewis Mountain Campground 
Miles today: 11.6

Most of the day was clear and bright. The air felt a little dryer but the ground is still soaked from the torrential rains. I¢m not in touch with the news but somebody must be getting slammed down river, so much water. The main road in and out of this area (Rt. 33?) is closed due to landslides. I felt good this morning and got an early start. The bruised leg was hardly noticeable, knee was good, energy level high. I hit the trail with a vigor I hadn¢t felt in a few weeks. About an hour in there was a big boulder on my right with water trickling down the side...¢Hey, that looks just like the boulder I saw yesterd...oh no...I¢m going the wrong way!!!¢ GPS confirmed that I was indeed headed back to Georgia. Dejected, I turned around and trudged two, now familiar, miles back to where I began. When I got there I treated myself to a snack and a packet of jello mixed with water. The sugar didn¢t improve my mood but it did keep the energy up. I soon arrived at a stream where I loaded up on water and washed my now sweaty shirt. As I was leaving a former thru hiker turned ATC Ridge Runner Ridge Runner walked up. I told him what happened and we laughed. He asked me when I had started my hike and I embarrassingly told him February 20. He said: ¢Tortise wins every time, you¢re doing fine¢. He was telling me what I already know but having him reinforce it meant a lot. We talked a while and as I was preparing to leave another thru hiker came up. I told her may tale of woe and she said I was the second person she saw today who had made the same mistake. Now I felt better. I bid them both farewell and continued NOBO with a spring in my step as she and Ridge Runner conversed. No doubt he had some magic words for her too. I saw another bear. It ran away as I surprised it coming around a bend. Again, no picture. I also saw a few deer. Curiously they didn¢t run away, one actually followed me for a few hundred feet. What¢s with that?I¢m in another ¢official¢ campground tonight. Again, I arrived, registered, and set up just before heavy rains began. A recurring theme, it seems. There¢s a camp store so I¢ll be stocked up for the next few days. On we go...
Date: 2018-06-02
From: Lewis Mountain Campground 

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Horray! More rain! Once you¢re wet, you¢re wet though so it¢s only uncomfortable once a day. I really, really look forward to putting on wet socks every morning. Maybe I¢ll keep a wet pair bedside at home when I¢m done with this just to reminisce. Good times. I stopped for lunch and supplies at Big Meadows wayside. The restaurant menu lists the caloric value of each item so I scanned for the highest numbers and ordered over 2000 calories. Hey, it was mostly uphill all afternoon!The mud has slowed everyone down so I¢ve been seeing the same people each night for the last several days. One of the things that picks me up is hearing people talking through the trees as I approach a shelter after a long day. It¢s also nice to see a familiar face or two upon arrival. I suppose we all feel the same way. One more rainy day tomorrow then it¢s supposed to clear. It¢ll be nice to see some of the world famous Shenandoah views before I leave the park.
Date: 2018-06-03
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: ByrdÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Nest #3 Hut
Miles today: 10.9

Hard, steady rain continued through the night and into this morning. It would¢ve been impossible to get packed up without getting my sleeping gear wet so I slept in. I peered out from under the tarp and saw that the others were doing the same. By 9:00 the rain had lessened enough for me to venture out and retrieve my food from the provided ¢bear pole¢ where it had hung overnight. To my dismay critters had somehow climbed up the 12ft steel pole, chewed a hole in the bag, and helped themselves to some oatmeal. They didn¢t take much but water had spread sticky Maple & Brown Sugar flavor throughout the bag. I dumped everything out onto the picnic table outside the shelter and wiped it down as best I could as the downpour resumed and made a sticky mess of it all. Yuck. By 11:00 I was ready and hiked off into the rain leaving behind several hikers who had decided to spend the day at the shelter. After a few hours in the tempest I began to wish I¢d done the same. Rivers of water ran off the hillsides turning sections of hiking trail into a route more suited for kayaking. The dirt and gravel had washed away in many spots leaving a jumble of sharp rocks and slippery roots. By 4:00 the rain began to lighten up and I sloshed into a picnic area with covered tables to prepare a hot meal. Soaked and chilly but reenergized I continued 2 more miles to where I am now. The rain stopped long enough for me to set up and hang my food...again on the bear pole. If, as I suspect, Noah is building somewhere nearby I have to accept the possibility that critters might be foraging, two by two, in order to provision his ark. There¢s more oatmeal in the bag if you need it. But could you take the Apples and Cinnamon flavor this time? The Maple is my favorite.
Date: 2018-06-04
From: ByrdÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Nest #3 Hut

To: Pass mountain Hut
Miles today: 4.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Sometime before dawn the clouds moved on and allowed the sun to rise unobstructed. Eventually the trees stopped dripping and a cool northerly breeze began to dry the landscape. I had to spend much of the day drying out my stuff; everything I have was damp or soaked and leaving it packed would invite mildew. A parade of hikers passed by my clotheslines: lots of day-hikers, some of the crew who took a zero at the shelter yesterday, and some NOBEers I hadn¢t seen in a month; Skywater among them. It was early afternoon by the time I donned dry socks and hit the trail for the short hike to this shelter area. I saw a huge bear shortly before I got here, too big to stop for a picture. Another hiker saw it too. A Ridge Runner stopped by to remind everyone to use the bear box despite the presence of two bear poles. I put my entire pack in there.Back in Smoky Mountain National Park hikers were required to stay at the shelter areas and I didn¢t like it. Here in Shenandoah you¢re allowed to camp anywhere (within certain guidelines) but because there are so many bears around I feel better staying where I can easily store my stuff out of their reach. When I get out of ¢bear country¢ I hope to get back into the routine of camping between shelters. That flexibility will allow me to put in a few more miles each day. Till tomorrow...
Date: 2018-06-05
From: Pass mountain Hut

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: clear sky

Another pleasant day, mostly sunny and breezy with lots of picturesque views. Unfortunately after days of wetness the camera lens on my IPhone is fogged up so photos aren¢t coming out well. Maybe it¢ll clear up. There are lots of deer around here. They¢re very tame and sometimes follow me for looking for a handout, a sure sign that people have been feeding them. That¢s against the rules! I hope they¢re not feeding bears, signs are posted all around this shelter about a ¢problem bear¢ that comes foraging for people food. Tomorrow I¢m getting picked up my Uncle Phil and Aunt Ellen for a zero. Phone service is bad here but we talked a few days ago about where and when to meet. Hopefully I¢ll be able to contact them tomorrow to confirm.*Success, I was able to confirm pick up and post this in the morning.
Date: 2018-06-07
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: VA Rt. 522
Miles today: 13.3

A pleasant hike on Wednesday with nice weather and easy terrain. Made it to the pick up spot right on time after meeting Aunt Ellen who had hiked in a bit to meet me. Uncle Phil kindly offered cookies and beverages to two NOBO thru hikers who I had seen earlier. Bear (from New Zealand) and Crazy Legs were looking for a ride to the Front Royal Library to research Bears injured knee. Packs and all were squeezed into the Subaru and they were Magically transported to the library before we headed to Lincoln. Traditional Daley family hospitality included: fine food, resupply, a garden tour, lawn tractor repair, phone calls home, NBA and NHL finals (yay Caps, finally!), and a trip to the Verizon store to deal with my waterlogged phone. It¢s back to the trail in the morning...
Date: 2018-06-20
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Rocky Run Shelter 
Miles today: 15.6

Left Harpers Ferry under cloudy skies. The trail passes through the historic area so I lingered there a bit. The trail leaves town on a railroad bridge. On the other side was Maryland. The first few miles followed the the old C&O Canal towpath which has been made into a bike path....very flat and smooth.  The well worn trail soon turned away from the canal and up into the mountains. It rained briefly as if to welcome me back. My legs were a bit stiff as I neglected to do my daily stretches during the break...take a note on that. My knees are also bothering me, the rest seems to have made them worse. I'm using my new, slightly bigger pack now. It'll take a while to get the fit and load balance dialed in. One of the frame pieces broke already, that's disappointing but I can still use it until they send a new part.I arrived at this shelter just as rain began to fall. Mule is here, I haven't seen him in a long time. If the terrain remains as nice as it was today I should be able to pick up the mileage quite a bit. We'll see.
Date: 2018-06-21
From: Rocky Run Shelter 

To: Ensign Cowell Shelter
Miles today: 15.8

It rained this morning but the rest of the day was fine. This piece of trail is very popular and there are lots of day hikers and others out for a few days. I passed the first Washington Monument (built 50 years before the one in DC) and skirted an area called Annapolis Rocks.I was determined to cover at least 15 miles and the trail was rugged and slick for much of the way so extra attention to footing was in order. So much attention that I missed an obvious turn and ended up walking 30 minutes down a side trail before noticing. Arrggg!!!Nonetheless, I did the miles. I'm hoping to go farther each day now that the terrain is flatter. We'll see how my knee feels about that. On we go!!!
Date: 2018-06-22
From: Ensign Cowell Shelter

To: Deer Lick Shelters
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

Rain all day today, but what else is new. This afternoon I crossed the Mason Dixon Line and entered Pennsylvania. Goodbye south, I enjoyed you but it's time to move on. The trail is here very rugged. Trail maintainers joke about going out to "sharpen the rocks" and hikers call it "Rocksylvania". I've also heard that many hikers go home from here with foot injuries, more reason to continue to watch every step. Its mentally exhausting keeping up that level of attention hour after hour, especially in the rain, but I'm certain it's helped me avoid injuries so far. Steady rain is predicted for tomorrow but Sunday should be better.
Date: 2018-06-23
From: Deer Lick Shelters

To: Quarry Gap Shelters 
Miles today: 15.8

Pouring rain this morning made sure everything was good and muddy before the weather turned nice. As it is Saturday and there are a few state parks in the area I passed a whole bunch of people headed in both directions. Dozens of scouts, some families, section hikers, and 2 SOBO thru hikers. One of them, Rambling Wraith, clued me in on an excellent burger joint called Timbers, just off the trail on US Rt 30. I gorged on a huge burger, bacon cheese fries, several Mountain Dews, and a Strawberry shake. They love filthy hikers, 5 Stars!! Here at the shelter this evening the conversation was getting deep, turning to religion and politics (in a non-confrontational way). I avoided chiming in until section hiker Mary, a fellow hammocker, saved me by asking some questions about my set up. We chatted hammocks and hiking for a spell, it was nice. Monk, a friend of friend Bob Hein, is also hiking NOBO and catching up to me quickly. I checked out his Facebook page and he's absolutely flying up the trail. I expect he'll overtake me in the next couple of days so I sent him a message describing myself. Maybe he'll slow down long enough for a picture.I'm trying to make 15 miles a day the new "normal" but my knee doesn't like and is hurting pretty bad tonight. If I'm unable to bump up the daily distance I might not get to Maine before cold weather closes Mt. Kahtahdin (the finish line). If I have to I'll skip up to Maine and hike SOBO to where I skipped from to complete the trail but my heart is really set on finishing at Kahtahdin. Please, if you have a moment, direct positive thoughts to my left knee. Forging on regardless...
Date: 2018-06-24
From: Quarry Gap Shelters 

To: Toms Run Shelter 
Miles today: 13.6

Horray! I passed the halfway point this afternoon...four months, feels like forever. The weather is great, only a brief thunderstorm this evening, wouldn't want the mud to dry out now, would we?The trail here looks a lot like the Jersey Pine Barrens except there are small hills with long, gentle grades. Nice, easy hiking for a change. There is some excellent weather in store for this week. I've got 2 days of food left, just enough to get to Carlisle for resupply if I can keep up this pace while stepping gently to save the knee. Tomorrow I'll pass through a state park where the guide says there's a snack bar. I hope it's open so I can score a burger!Let's continue...
Date: 2018-06-25
From: Toms Run Shelter 

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter 
Miles today: 19.0

Good weather + good terrain + light food bag = easy miles. Today's 19 were the most I've done in one day so far. In contrast to Saturday there have been very few people on the trail the past 2 days. Come to think of it NOBOs are getting scarce. Venus and her husband (no trail name as he's just joining her for a week) have been at the shelters the last 2 nights but no others. Maybe the bubble has finished passing me now? We'll see. This morning I timed my arrival at Pine Grove State Park for when the snack bar opened. It's where thru hikers traditionally celebrate the halfway point by attempting the "Half Gallon Challenge" - eat a half gallon of ice cream in an hour. That's a pretty big dairy bomb for 9am, especially with a long day on the trail ahead! I skipped it in favor of a big breakfast sandwich, yogurt, 2 bananas, Gatoraid, a Monster energy drink, and (couldn't help it) 3 scoops of carmel vanilla. As I dragged my stuffed self out of the park I came across a man from the local trail club giving out watermelon. There's always room for watermelon, especially when it's magic!It's an easy day into Carlisle tomorrow for resupply, laundry, and a much needed shower. One day at a time...
Date: 2018-06-26
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter 

To: Carlisle, PA
Miles today: 11.8

Yet another beautiful day as I entered Cumberland Valley farm country. The still swampy trail took me from dark woods to sunny cornfields and back several times with the nice village of Boiling Springs in the middle.I passed a ridge runner and a man mowing trailside brush. Someone left a cooler full of Magic sandwiches near a stream crossing and as there were few people on the trail I ate four of them. As I was feasting I heard something big splashing in the water just upstream accompanied by the alarmed quacking of ducks. The brush was too thick to see what it was but shortly after the commotion stopped the clear stream water turned muddy. Ummmm...time to go, I think, and leave the mystery creature be. I got to Carlisle by 4:00: check-in, shower, laundry, diner dinner, then pack inventory. There is no grocery store nearby but I've got enough calories in the bag to get to a grocery store just off the trail in Duncannon 11 miles away. My cousin Stacey lives nearby and I had hoped to get in a short visit but she's also on a big adventure: in Alaska! Good for you Cuz! Let's continue...
Date: 2018-06-27
From: Carlisle, PA

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 17.3

A cloudy cool day through more farmland and some rocky hills. I was very hungry after big miles and had a hearty dinner courtesy of the Duncannon Christ Lutheran Church who kindly feed hikers for free every Wednesday. Tonight I'm staying at the historic Doyle Hotel. I was reluctant to stop here after reading some reviews of the place but after being basically homeless for 4 months how bad could it be? Turns out It is the most awesome dump imaginable. Built around 1900 in the once thriving town of Duncannon the well worn Doyle, as far as I can see, has never been remodeled, renovated, updated, or modernized. It's in a time warp...I feel like I arrived here on a steam locomotive or maybe a stagecoach. There's a bar and small kitchen downstairs where rough men likely once played poker while a piano played raucous tunes. A staircase runs up the center of the four story building to my $25 third floor room with white plaster walls, a small bed, and a vintage dresser. All of the woodwork is finished with dark cracked varnish. A torn and water stained linen curtain hangs over the huge double hung window and there is a tiny closet. The only "modern" luxury is a fan powered through an extension cord running down from the 11ft high ceiling where an single ironic compact flourescent light bulb is operated via pull chain. Across the hall is a bathroom with a somewhat newer (1950s?) shower that puts out out Niagra volumes of piping hot water. Owners Vicky and her husband Pat have been operating on a shoestring for many years and hikers are their primary source of income. They are awesome people so stop for a burger if you're in the area but don't stay here - its charms can't be truly appreciated unless you just hiked a thousand miles. On we go.
Date: 2018-06-28
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Peters Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 11.4

I had a big cafe breakfast with the obligatory side of scrapple then went food shopping so I didn't get on the trail till almost 10 this morning. The trail crossed the mighty Susquehanna River on a highway bridge then ascended quickly and followed a rocky ridge line most of the day. It started getting hotter today and will be in the high 90s this weekend. Oh boy! I'm gonna try to get an early start in the morning so I can take a mid-day break to cool down. Tomorrow's goal is 18 miles.
Date: 2018-06-29
From: Peters Mountain Shelter 

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

Whew! 18 miles, that's a lot for me and my knees are complaining about it. Most of the thru hikers I'm meeting now, having started in April and May, are going further than that every day - Taco left camp this morning planning to cover 30 miles. I'm told there's a big bubble of hikers a week or two back and gaining fast just to keep me company. The weather was cooler than predicted and the forecast has moderated a bit, calling for around 90 down in the valley, likely much cooler up here. There's still lots of mud to slog through. Fresh erosion and piles of gravel and sticks indicate that it rained very hard here the night I was in Duncannon. Glad I wasn't on the trail for that. I'm sleeping close to a military facility tonight. Big helicopters keep flying low over the woods but they won't keep me up, I'm very tired. On we go...
Date: 2018-06-30
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: William Penn Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

Hot today but tolerable because the trail is generously shaded. Still lots of mud. One section was flooded almost knee deep and there were signs of serious flash flooding from Wednesday nights rain. One trail side campsite was swept clean: the rushing water had scattered the fire ring rocks and left 3ft piles of uprooted brush against the trees. Yikes! Glad I wasn't camped there! I happened across Magic twice. Once at a trail side parking area where a former thru hiker was set up with cold sodas and assorted goodies. A couple of miles later there was a cooler filled with sodas tucked under an elevated highway overpass (Rt 81?).Tonight as I write this I can hear several fireworks shows going off in the valley below. I hope I'm in a spot to see a good show on the 4th!
Date: 2018-07-01
From: William Penn Shelter

To: Eagle's Nest Shelter
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: clear sky

It was hot today but I was too busy hiking to really notice. The trail mostly follows the ridge line through here meaning gentle ups and downs. Where it's not muddy the surface is studded with sharp rocks making foot placement difficult. Every now and then there are markers along the trail explaining the history of the area. Yesterday I went through the site of an abandoned village where there was a coal mine and railroad repair facility and today I passed the site of a 1755 French & Indian War Fort. Nature has completely erased every trace of both. I think I broke my one day mileage record - 19.3. It didn't seem too hard but tonight I'm really tired and my feet are sore. It's a a 7 mike hike into Port Clinton tomorrow and I'm considering staying the night there to rest the bones. On we go...*DA-DA-DA-DA!!!*"1200 miles" is the last number that really works with the song so I'll give it a rest until 2000, if I ever get that far.
Date: 2018-07-03
From: Eagle's Nest Shelter

To: Hamburg, PA
Miles today: 8.7

Yesterday I checked in to a hotel in Hamburg, PA to get cleaned up buy food. The recent heat has not felt uncomfortable but it's clearly taken a toll. I woke this morning feeling very fatigued and my feet are sore from stepping on rocks all day every day. Recuperation is in order so I'll stay here another night. There are plenty restaurants nearby for healthy meals and I can catch some World Cup action while I rest. Weather should be cooler tomorrow for the climb back into the mountains.
Date: 2018-07-04
From: Hamburg, PA

To: Mile 1231.0
Miles today: 11.8

Lots of day hikers on the trail this hot July 4th. I saw one thru hiker, Taco, slack packing SOBO with people who I think may have been her family. I was trying to get to a shelter where there might be some holiday Magic but about 5:00 some very close lightning strikes prompted me to get off the ridge line a few miles short. It rained some but has stopped now and I can hear multiple fireworks shows in the distance. In my haste to get out of the rain I sat incorrectly in my hammock and slid out the back side onto the ground ripping the attached bug net from its zipper. This is not good. I got it sorta tied back on but it's not something I'll be able to fix well enough to rely on. Hopefully the company that made it is open tomorrow and can send me a new one ASAP. I miss being home in Bay Head this July 4th, the Shore is no doubt lit up right now with hundreds of public and private firework shows. Too bad I couldn't get to a spot to see what I'm hearing in the valley right now. There goes the big finally...BA-BA-BABOOOM!!!
Date: 2018-07-05
From: Mile 1231.0

To: Mile 1245.7
Miles today: 14.7

Another hot day over rocky terrain. I really thought I'd be able to do 18 miles or so today but all the stepping on, over, and around the rocks really slows things down. I hiked for a bit with Max (NOBO). He's having a run of bad luck. He got caught in an overnight flash flood last week and lost most of his gear as water swept everything, including him, downstream. Yikes! He's got replacement stuff now but had the misfortune to have his wallet and phone stolen at a crowded shelter last night. There were a lot of people there who hiked in just for one night to celebrate the 4th. I had intended to camp there last night, glad I didn't  I was able to get online and order a new hammock to replace my damaged one. Safety pins are all that's between me and the hordes of bugs; not a good situation as every raindrop that's fallen lately will soon be a mosquito. A cold front tonight will bring more rain but cooler temps tomorrow, that'll be nice...keep walking!