morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-05-27
From: Big Meadow Campsite

To: Byrd's Nest # 3 Shelter
Miles today: 14.0

Crack! Boom! We have all learned to count the timing between lightning and thunder to estimate how far the lightning is from you. The rule is one second for each mile of distance away from your location. The lightning was immediately above me. Fortunately, I had just arrived at a park pavilion and was able to get under shelter relatively quickly. I anxiously awaited the arrival of my trail friends. They made it but were soaked and cold. A family that was picnicking there built a fire in the shelter and allowed my friends to use it to warm up. As soon as the rain let up a little, we made a break for the next shelter which was some 2 1/2 miles away. When we arrived there was room for four; so put up my tent outside so the two couples could use the shelter. The people in the shelter were anxious when I arrived because there was a large male bear just down the trail who would not leave. This was our second bear sighting of the day. The first one was a mother and two yearlings that were just below the trail as we left Big Meadows this morning. We also saw several deer.  Shenandoah has proven to be by far the best place to see wildlife. We popped out of the woods long enough to have lunch at Skyland Resort. About a mile down the trail I heard a distinctive rattle. I knew immediately what it was. I stopped and looked around until I spotted the rattlesnake. It was about 2 feet from the trail next to a rock. I saw several couples with small children coming up the trail. They were clearly tourists, given the proximity to the parking lot. I warned them to navigate around the snake. I doubt that they would¢ve even seen it if I wasn¢t there to warn them. It is amazing what some people see in the woods and others seemingly just walk past. As I lay in my tent warm and dry tonight, it is clear that another storm front is heading our way. Tomorrow will be another rainy day. As they say, --- no rain, no pain, no Maine.
Date: 2018-05-28
From: Byrd's Nest # 3 Shelter

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Papa Dale and his girlfriend decided they would hike to Elkwallow Wayside and then go to town so they could slack pack. So I headed down the trail hoping to get to my Hut early and avoid some of the rain. I ran into Laugh about two miles down the trail. He is a Canadian and has hiked extensively In Canada and parts of the US. I enjoyed hearing his stories and his pace was brisk and challenging. I quickly fell into a nice rhythm and the miles flew by. They flew by so much so that when I started to get hungry around noon I looked at the Guthook¢s App (a commonly used guide of the trail that uses GPS) on my phone and I was two miles past the Wayside (a series of road side stores in SNP) where I planned to get lunch and pick up enough supplies to get to Front Royal, the next town on the trail. Oh no! I had to backtrack 2 miles down the trail. Worse yet, it had been mostly uphill and I was going to have to repeat the climb. At the Wayside several bears had tried to enter a the parking lot. The rangers were sounding air horns to encourage the bears back into the forest. I heard a ranger giving a talk on bears. He stated that this area was mostly farm land before it became a national park and at that time there were less than 10 bears living here. The area was reforested and now the bears are abundant. After I corrected my earlier mistake, I was still one of the first to reach the Hut and I was able to set up my tent and eat dinner before it rained again. I am warm and dry in my tent tonight but the tropical storm is coming through the area and there is a 90% chance of rain for the next 3 days. It looks like I am going to get wet again.
Date: 2018-05-29
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Front Royal
Miles today: 13.0

We have seen younger groups on the trail lately. One group calls themselves the Doctors but none of them were in camp last night. There were also some section hikers in the shelter. This makes for an interesting mix to say the least. I broke camp early and made my way to Mary¢s Rock. I noticed Earl Grey's trekking poles leaning on the post so I walked up there to see the valley below. Earl Grey and Purple Haze wanted their picture taken so it was good timing that I was there. The younger hikers had town in their sights so they came streaming past me on the trail one by one. We had just officially ended the Shenandoah section and everyone was eager to get to town to clean up, dry our gear and get supplies. I caught the young guys at the trail head. There was a shuttle available but nobody wanted to wait an hour for it to arrive. They had eight people in their group so they had to break into smaller groups to hitch hike into town. After three of them caught a ride, I walked across the road to try my luck. After about 10 minutes, one of the younger guys named Berry had hitched a ride and called me over to join them. Whew! I was excited to get to town. I needed some things from the outfitter. You guessed it, the outfitter was closed on Tuesday. I hope I can make it to Harpers Ferry with what I have. I am very low on gas for my stove.
Date: 2018-05-30
From: US 522 - Mile 971 on the trail

To: Whisky Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 15.0

I have received several inquiries from my friends and relatives back home wondering if tropical storm Aberto has impacted us. Well, it rained some yesterday morning but then turned into a pretty nice day. Today was the exact opposite. It began nice out but by 10: 00 am we were walking in a steady rain. I didn¢t mind too much because I just came from town and my gear was still dry. It was coming down pretty hard as we ducked into Manassas Shelter for lunch. The rain eased up for a while so I tried to get to Whiskey Hollow Shelter early to grab a spot. I usually prefer my tent and I have only used the shelters twice so far but this seemed like a good opportunity to stay dry. I was all set in the shelter but the bugs kept biting me. So, I surrendered and put up my tent. It has been pouring rain for the past two hours. I guess I¢ll get to carry wet gear again. Tomorrow we are heading to Bears Den Hostel which is owned by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. It sounds pretty nice. They have a special that includes pizza, ice cream and an all you can eat pancake breakfast in the morning. The best thing will be that I will get to get a break from the rain. We have to hike 19 miles to get there including the famous roller coaster stretch of the AT which is 13.5 miles of constant ascents and descents. Not a good time to have developed a sore knee. Stay tuned.
Date: 2018-05-31
From: Whisky Hollow Shelter

To: Bear Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.0

I ultimately decided to tent last night to hide behind the netting from the bugs. It started raining as soon as I entered my tent. I have a single wall tent which has a tendency to get condensation on the inside if you don¢t leave a door open. I chose the condensation over the rain last night. I thought I had made a big mistake in deciding to stay in my tent until I heard the people who slept in the shelter complaining about their bug bites this morning. We were set to hike though the Roller Coaster section of the trail this morning. It has ten climbs and decents in 13 miles. Just as I arrived, I received a text from my wife who was concerned about a storm on the radar and flash flooding. I replied that I was alright and the weather was clear. I kind of laughed to myself that I was climbing a mountain and how could a flood effect me? Well, about an hour later the thunder and lightning started again. I only had four miles to go before I reached the safety of the hostel. Could I out run the storm? No! I was soaked in minutes. I must be turning into a thru hiker though, because I didn¢t even think about getting out my rain gear. I just started walking right down the center of the trail through 3-4 inch deep puddles. One way or another you're going to get wet out here when it rains. The only thing I was concerned about was the lightning. My wife¢s instincts were spot on. We will finish the last few miles of the Roller Coaster tomorrow. Oh, and thanks to 20-6 thru hiker, Homeward, for driving back to the trail to provide trail magic right in the middle of the Roller Coaster.Random thought of the day: Do you know what horseflies, mosquitoes and gnats have in common? They use your eyes, ears and nostrils for target practice.
Date: 2018-06-01
From: Bear Den Hostel

To: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Miles today: 20.0

Fortunately, I¢m an early riser. I was one of the first hikers in the Bears Den Hostel kitchen to take advantage of the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. Wheat was kind enough to play chef. After eating and saying goodbye to the other hikers, I departed for the trail. The first task of the day was to complete the Roller Coaster. It wasn¢t all that easy but I sure enjoyed it more than I did the day when I finished up in a thunderstorm with several inches of water running down the trail. With that obstacle in the rear view mirror, I was off to Harpers Ferry to register at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy at the ¢spiritual halfway mark¢ on the trail. (It is not quite halfway but that¢s where you register because the headquarters is located there.) I was clearly fatigued and going slower than usual. Around 2:00 pm, a young lady blew past me and said, "Only 9 miles to go! We can still make it in time to register today." I did the math in my head as I lost sight of her effortlessly flying down the trail. I put the hammer down and gave it everything I was worth even though I knew it was a stretch for me. I arrived at 5:15 pm. I was whipped, soaking wet and disappointed. I didn¢t make it in time. I googled the local hotels. I haven¢t had a full day off the trail since Daleville some 250 miles ago. It is time to recharge my batteries. On a positive note, I completed the Virginia section of the trail which is 525 miles or 25% of the trail. Onward!
Date: 2018-06-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I registered at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) in Harpers Ferry today. I arrived 15 minuets late yesterday. I was the 479th hiker to make it this far. I was the 748th hiker to start the trail this year so I am holding my own. The rest of the day I spent looking around Harpers Ferry and resting up. I haven¢t been here since I was on vacation in my youth. It was interesting to see it again and comforting to know I wasn¢t hiking in the rain again.
Date: 2018-06-03
From: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

To: Ensign Cowell Shelter
Miles today: 31.0

I started to walk across the bridge over the Potomac River to leave Harpers Ferry. It was raining again and the river was raging, the wind was blowing so hard there were white caps. I thought better of it and turned around and had a cup of coffee. Then I wandered down the street and had lunch. Eventually I made my way out of town well behind the rest of my group. It was raining but at least it was cool enough that I could wear my raincoat without sweating. I eventually ran into my group at the Washington Monument. No, not the one in Washington DC. This is the original one. It's about 40 feet tall. It was originally built in 1827 by the people of Boonsboro. Over the years it has been rebuilt several times. The last time was in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Maryland Park Service maintains it today.We walked through the area that led up to the battle of Antietam. There I talked briefly to the ranger about it. After a group picture at the Monument we started back down the trail. We had a quick lunch at a shelter and then went to Annapolis Cliffs. We dried out our gear and our shoes and enjoyed some rare sunshine. We ran into an Outward Bound Group with ropes set up to rappel down the cliff. The rest of the day we spent hiking to the shelter. There are a limited number of tent spots here and it is close to a road so I can hear the road noise. That is very unusual, not the typical backcountry experience we know and love.
Date: 2018-06-05
From: Ensign Cowell Shelter

To: Deer Lick Shelter
Miles today: 15.4

I have been fighting knee pain for a few days so I am trimming down the mileage for awhile. Hopefully it will continue to get better. Yesterday I was almost sure I would need to get off the trail. This morning I felt much better but it¢s still bothering me. We encountered some serious rock scrambles this morning. In the past three days we crossed West Virginia, Maryland and then into Pennsylvania today. Also we have crossed the Mason/Dixon Line. The other hikers in our group all needed supplies so we hitched into Waynesboro, PA. I didn¢t really need to go to town for supplies but a lunch other than tuna on a tortilla, which I had packed in my food bag, sounded really good. So.... out went the thumbs. The second car we saw picked us up. Ten minutes later we were in Applebee¢s ordering lunch! Next, we walked to Walmart to resupply. Since I didn't need to buy much, I offered to watch everyone's packs while they shopped. I decided it was a good time to call my wife. While we were talking, people kept coming by and asking me about being a thru hiker. An older gentleman came out and even asked if we wanted a ride back to the trail. Bingo! This was the easiest trip to town yet. Once back on the trail we only had about five miles to hike to reach our campsite. We set up our tents and were able to cook dinner before a thunderstorm popped up. We have been pinned down in our tents for about two hours now with no end in sight to the rain but at least I am warm and dry.Thanks again to everyone who has signed the guest book and for the words of encouragement. They have been very helpful. I wish I could reply but it is not possible from my cell phone. I just want you all to know that I do appreciate the support.
Date: 2018-06-06
From: Deer Lick Shelter

To: Caledonia State Park
Miles today: 13.6

Papa Dale, Earl Grey and Purple Haze and I all camped near the shelter. After the storms rolled through the prior evening, it rained steadily throughout the night. Naturally, all of our gear was wet again. Fortunately, my wife was coming to visit and we knew we would be able to dry it out later in the day. The hike was fairly uneventful. The four of us gathered together for lunch. Afterward, Papa Dale and I decided to hike on to Caledonia State Park where we planned to meet my wife. We arrived there early enough to lay out some of our things to dry while we waited for her to arrive. We even had time to brew some coffee and tea for Earl Grey and Purple Haze when they arrived. It was a pretty day to rest in the park. Before long we were joined by Wheat and Cannonball so and we all hung out for a while until my wife arrived. Earl Grey and Purple Haze hiked on to the next shelter. We took Wheat and Cannonball to a diner down the road for dinner. Papa Dale, my wife and I drove into Gettysburg, PA. We had dinner at the Dobbin House which is a nice historical restaurant that once was a home to people who hid runaway slaves who were traveling on the underground railroad. It was so enjoyable to have some time with my wife and to sleep in a hotel and take a nice long shower.
Date: 2018-06-07
From: Caledonia State Park

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 19.9

The goal of the day was to reach Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The state park is famous for the half gallon challenge. Hikers are challenged to eat 1/2 gallon of ice cream in one sitting. The reward is a small wooden spoon. Not being a huge fan of ice cream, I had already selected to sit this one out. However, I was looking forward to seeing my friends partake. It was a long hike for Papa Dale and I. The others were waiting patiently or should I say impatiently for us to arrive so they could do the challenge together. They all started to eat their ice cream. Cannonball decided to speed up the process so he just picked up the carton and began eating straight out of the carton (no spoon needed.) He finished the entire half gallon in just over 17 minutes and topped it off with a large cheeseburger for dessert!  In the end Earl Grey, Purple Haze, Cannonball, Wheat and Papa Dale all survived the challenge. Some of the younger hikers admitted that they did not have the same level of success. They were all hanging out and enjoying some time in the sun at the beach in the park. Apparently it is spring fed lake created from a hole that was dug when they made iron in the old days. After the challenge, Papa Dale joined my wife and I for a short trip back to Gettysburg. Some of our friends who travel the country in their RV were in the area and were able to join us for dinner. We had a nice time catching up. We were fortunate that they were in the area and we were able to connect. They asked a lot of questions about the trail. I enjoyed relaying the information because my friend is a backpacker too.
Date: 2018-06-07
From: Caledonia State Park

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 0.0

This milestone deserves its own page.Today we reached the official total trail halfway point. Yes, I have walked 1,090.5 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia. This is certainly a happy moment to know that I have made it to the halfway point. On the other hand, I am also fully aware that it is only halfway. I have another 1,090.5 hard miles to walk to reach my goal of Mt. Katahdin in northern Maine. The adage of "No rain, no pain, no Maine" is very real to me at this moment.
Date: 2018-06-08
From: Pine Grove Furnace State Park

To: Green Mountain Store
Miles today: 8.1

Since my wife was in town we stayed in Gettysburg, PA. We love the ambience of the town and the historical significance of Gettysburg. Papa Dale had not been there before so we all decided to take a guided personal car tour of the battlefield. We went to the visitor center and hired a guide who took us around the battlefield on a two hour tour.  He explained the total flow of the three day battle and the ramifications of the decisions many of the generals made. My wife and I have taken this tour a number of times but each time we find it fascinating and learn something new every time. The battle that was fought here was the turning point of the Civil War. It's astounding the significance this small community and the battle had on our country. After the tour Papa Dale and I returned to the trail for an afternoon of hiking. We resumed our hike at Pinegrove Furnace State Park and made a short hike to the Green Mountain General Store. We only walked 8.1 miles but it seemed much farther. I guess I was impatient to see my wife again. In the evening we enjoyed a nice dinner and a few laughs with Papa Dale. It was a good day.
Date: 2018-06-09
From: Green Mountain Store

To: US Route 11, Carlisile, PA
Miles today: 18.6

My wife dropped us off at the Green Mountain General Store. The first 8 miles of the hike were filled with steep up and downs. They were particularly long, but also interesting. There were lots of rock scramble¢s with large boulders. I always find these kind of fun and interesting to climb over. I love the challenge. Then we proceeded through several farm fields. Shortly after noon, we arrived in the town of Boiling Springs. It is a quaint little town with a nice pond and river flowing through it. We stopped by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Regional Office and were surprised with some trail magic. It is always unexpected and greatly appreciated. We stopped by one of the local eateries for lunch. Rumor on the trail is that the Boiling Springs Tavern is not particularly welcoming to hikers. They require you to hide your pack in the bushes behind the building and have even denied service to some hikers who were showered and presentable. After lunch we hit the trail again. The trail was fairly flat and went through a lot more farmland. As I understand it some of the farmland is managed by the ATC. We exited the trail at Route 11 and went out for another enjoyable dinner with my wife. We had a great visit.
Date: 2018-06-10
From: US Route 11, Carlisile, PA

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: overcast clouds

It was the day that my wife was to drive back home. She let us out of the car back at the trail where we got off yesterday. The rain started as soon as we got out of the car. We have had so much rain. It started to rain pretty hard just before lunch so we ducked into Darlington Shelter to eat. We thought about staying there for the day but we started to get chilled so we had some coffee and pushed on to the next Shelter. The rain let up a little until after we arrived at Cove Mountain Shelter and got camp set up. It was welcome break from the rain. We are short of our original goal of reaching Duncannon but given the conditions we had a pretty good day on the trail. The only bad part was that my wife had to go home. Our visit was awesome.
Date: 2018-06-11
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Peters Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

Cove Mountain Shelter is famous for being visited by porcupines but we didn¢t see any. Perhaps they don¢t like the rain either. It was only my fourth time staying in a shelter but it poured rain all night so I was glad to be in a dry shelter. I got there early enough to get a side bunk so I had plenty of space. We had a short five mile hike into Duncannon where we hoped to get a second breakfast and see the famous hiker hotel, Doyle. Nothing was open on Monday and even the Doyle Hotel didn¢t open until 11. So we walked about 3/4 mile to the Mitzabaugh Grocery Store and bought supplies. Several local retirees were there in the coffee area. We had a nice chat with them and one of them gave us a ride back to the trail. We have been yo-yoing with Wheat and Cannonball the past several days. We met them several times again throughout the day and had lunch with them at a shelter. We all wanted to go farther today but settled for a shelter 15 miles down the trail because none of us could find our rhythm today. The next shelter is 18 miles further and the tent sites were too far or didn¢t have easy access to water. At this shelter the water was 300 rock steps down a steep hill. I must say that capped a tough day on the knees. There are six of us at the shelter tonight. Three of us are from Indiana including Cannonball and a 77 year old working on his fourth thru hike. Now that is what I call tenacity.  It¢s only 7:10 pm and only two of us are still up. I guess that¢s some indication of the day we experienced. We are all warm, safe and even dry tonight. I am thankful.