morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-04-30
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

4/30At The Doyle in Duncannon PA11.3 milesI slept well but I woke up with the ground leaching the heat out of my butt. I need to sort out my sleeping pad problem. Fix it, get a new one, or put padding under it. Something. The slow leak does act as an alarm, but not a fun one.  I don't really want a new one  because I modified my old one to make it shorter and I can't do that on the trail. Maybe I should try a different brand when I eventually reach an outfitter. I didn't die in a fire so the sacrifice of my water last night was worth it. Still annoying but worth it. I started the day short on water of course. Luckily we ran into trail magic of water today. Convenient!I had remembered the rocks before Duncannon as being brutal. They weren't that bad, although I do have an ouchy spot on my right foot that was aggravated. Maybe a little sprain. Maybe a stress fracture. Hopefully the sprain option. I had completely blocked out the stairs coming down from Hawk Rock, however. They went on and on, and when I tried to rest, mosquitoes would attack. I bet they're super fun for southbounders. In town I joined Neon and others at the Doyle. We had time for a beer and then Robert from Trail of Hope hostel in Fayetteville came to shuttle her back to her car there. I'll miss her. With luck she'll be back next month. This morning she lent me a concoction of citronella and cedar oils that actually worked to keep bugs off me. It wore off in 1:45. I enjoyed being bug free for that time but the stuff had a powerful smell, so I put my head mesh back on. I'm of two minds about the stuff. I said I didn't want to keep it, but then I think about how nice it was to hike without gnats in my face. But the smell...
Date: 2017-05-01
From: Duncannon

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

5/1Zero at the DoyleI couldn't sleep in but I could be super lazy. A danish and coffee from the Quick Mart accompanied me back to bed. I surfed the net and generally did nothing useful as the morning passed. Eventually my odious ways reasserted themselves and I found myself busy. I looked for the hole in my mattress. I found it, perhaps. I put a patch on the spot and we'll see. I experimented with pad and sleeping bag and found a way to attach them so maybe I'll have fewer drafts on cold nights. I sorted my food, trimmed my nails, tried and failed to make a good hanger out of rope for my water bag, and sorted my dirty clothes out for washing. When I judged it likely that the bar would be open, I stopped in to grab the sensitive skin laundry detergent that Vicky had mentioned, and went off to the laundromat. With clean clothes I returned to the bar for beer battered shrimp and hush puppies. Oh lord, hush puppies. The Marylander in me sang a silent song of praise. After lunch I strolled down to the ice cream place for a "small" soft serve come the size of my head. On the way back I decided to go sit by the river, but when I got there the wind blew fiercely. I was actually afraid for a few moments as projectiles flew by and I cowered against a wall. Indoors seemed like a good idea so I moseyed back to the motel. I had noticed an old favorite novel in the hiker box area, so I took it back to my room to revisit the well loved tale. (Second Queen's Own book by Mercedes Lackey, FYI. )Around dinner time I went down to enjoy Pat's cooking again. Vicky heard my request differently than I did, so my buffalo sandwich came out plain. After some good natured bitching she took it back and returned it to me slathered in buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing. Mmmm I love me some buffalo. Dinner was made somber by the news that a hiker had had a heart attack on the hill north of town. The Duncannon Fire Department had retrieved the body. No news yet as to who the hiker was - and I haven't confirmed with a second source yet. But it made me think of all the male hikers I had met and hope that none of them had lost their life.
Date: 2017-05-02
From: Duncannon

To: Peters MountainShelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

5/2Peters Mountain Shelter11 milesMet Huffer and Puffer at Clarks Ferry Shelter during water break. AT 98. Paula was there too. No trail name. It was only 1:30 when I left so I encouraged her to move on with me, but at 7 I haven't seen her yet. The trail was steepish getting up to the ridge but for much of the day was fairly level. It was perfect hiking weather, with blue blue skies and fluffy white clouds. Only problem was the number of dead trees and widowmakers I saw. The wind yesterday knocked down a lot, and there is more ready to go. I really wanted to stay in a structure due to that factor. I met a young man at a road crossing who made me uneasy. He said he planned to go to the shelter too. Luckily when I got there, he had moved on and there were three normal people here instead. Trail Snail noted she was hiking ahead to tent. Hopefully she has no problem with him. I think my hiker hunger might be kicking in. I certainly demolished my snacks today. I wasn't carrying a specific dinner but I wouldn't have said no to one. It's supposed to be in the 30s Thursday night. That's a bit cold for my gear so I'm planning to go to a hostel or motel. If I have to tent I'll survive but I don't think it would be a fun night. Between my rain gear and pack liner I can form a vapor barrier liner to use inside my bag. It works quite well but I don't enjoy the dampness factor.
Date: 2017-05-03
From: Peters MountainShelter

To: One mile south of Rausch Gap
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

5/3Tented one mile before Rausch Gap16.9 milesThe word for the morning was borborygmi. My stomach started growling loudly at five. Then my bladder started up. "I have needs too!"On the trail at 7:05. At 7:15, the morning "Is that my heart or a ruffed grouse?" check. I walked along Peters Mountain in perfect weather this morning. As I came down to Clarks Creek, it turned a little cloudy for a few hours. I walked in good humor, seeing no one. Mid afternoon I startled a porcupine who was southbound on the Appalachian Trail. I think his nose told him I was there, not his eyes. After a few moments of indecision he stepped up onto a big rock at the side of the trail and then scuttled up a pine tree. I found myself apologizing to him for the inconvenience. I reached the Yellow Springs Village tent site at 3:30. It was a little early to stop, but it was a really lovely site. As I sat on a log, pondering, the first and so far only hiker I've seen today stopped by to sign the register. I decided to walk on. I could get water a mile after the tent site and decide what to do after that. Once I had water, I decided to walk until 5 and then look for a place to camp. I found a sweet little spot, with a fire already laid in a fire pit. I don't know if I'll start it, but it's nice to have. GPS says I'm a mile from the next shelter, but I find that I prefer the idea of some privacy. On the other hand there is something scuttling under my tent so my privacy might not be as complete as I like. That reminds me. Digging in my pouch for a snack today, I found some granola bar crumbs that I had missed when emptying it yesterday. Looking more closely, I found mouse poop. I don't begrudge crumbs but do they have to poop everywhere?
Date: 2017-05-04
From: One mile south of Rausch Gap

To: William Penn shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

5/4William Penn Shelter14.5 milesI woke up when it started getting light, turned over, and went back to sleep. Finally I opened my eyes to broad daylight and decided to get up. In the process of sitting up I found out that my abdomen was very painful. There were many possible explanations so I noted it and moved on to more important details like peeing and retrieving my food bag. Since I slept late I decided to try to get on the trail by 8 rather than 7. I checked my watch. 7:48. Bueno. I breezed by the shelter a mile away and enjoyed for the third time the environs of the failed mining village in the area. Failed, but very very scenic. Around lunch time I was near the Swatara Gap footbridge. I had thought to eat there but some dayhikers were being a little unfriendly so I moved on. I found log benches where I-81 passed overhead, so I ate lunch and filtered water sitting under the road. And my transition to hiker trash was complete. Immediately after lunch my gut pain ratcheted up. Hiking uphill with a painful abdomen is just the worst. I had to completely unhook my hip belt, move my fanny pack up my torso, and unbutton my pants. Still I was gasping in pain. Finally I found a large rock not covered in poison ivy and could sit down. A few minutes semireclining against my pack made a huge difference. I'm not sure what happens with the pain and bloating or why lying down helps, but it does. Afterward I was able to refasten my hip belt and hike at a near normal pace. Note to self: research mesenteric artery. I passed a site where DeLee and I and Just Blue Skies had camped, which made me smile. Then I came upon a rock garden I had forgotten about. I think I'm finally getting the hang of rocks. No cussing involved. Due to forecast rain and my tummy issues, I really wanted to be at a shelter for the night, so I passed several pretty campsites and arrived at the shelter at 5 to discover an under construction privy. I was not best pleased, but the next shelter is 4 miles away, which would make an 18+ mile day. And I wouldn't get there until at least 7. Knowing that that shelter is fully enclosed, gets pizza delivery, and most likely has a functioning privy did not cheer me up about my decision to stay here. Tomorrow I hope to go to the Rock and Sole hostel. I need to recharge my electronics, get a little food, etc. It will mean another 14 mile day and I'm not sure how long it will take me. But my other options aren't spectacular. I'll try to get going early tomorrow so I can get there as early as possible. Then I think it's yet another 14 mile day plus the need for a ride to Hamburg. I don't know, with all that going on, I might take yet another day off. My feet sure wouldn't mind.
Date: 2017-05-05
From: William Penn shelter

To: Rock'n'Sole hostel
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: light rain

5/5Rock'n'Sole hostel4.1 milesAs expected it was raining this morning. I suited up and headed out. I can handle rain. I can handle wind. But put them together and its hypothermia city. When I got to the 501 shelter I wasn't sure what I was going to do but I knew I was done hiking for the day. My original plan had been to hike to route 183 and then go to the Rock'n'Sole hostel. I had the options of getting a shuttle to a motel, staying at the shelter (where I could order pizza at dinner time) or getting shuttled to the hostel. The hostel offers dinner and breakfast, and the motel isn't near a grocery store. And the shelter was cold and deafeningly loud from rain on the metal roof. So I opted for the hostel, where I could get hot food and supplies. Craig came pretty quickly to come get me. Back at the hostel I put on borrowed sweats and climbed into a warm bunk. Spending the day doing nothing much seems nice right now. As long as I'm warm and dry it's all good. There's an outdoor shower I'll probably use in a bit. The rain has let up some. When I arrived cold and wet I had no desire to be naked outdoors for any reason, but a hot shower is sounding better all the time. Tomorrow there is predicted rain in the morning, clearing in the afternoon. Right now I'm thinking of slackpacking the ten miles from the 501 to here. My daily mileage average is plummeting. :)Actually my daily mileage has been pretty impressive, for me at least. Except on uphills or tricky rocks, my pace is a pretty consistent two miles an hour or a little better. Still not sure why but I like it. Since I'm going literally twice as fast as I used to, it feels like the miles are flying by. I guess eventually the novelty will wear off.
Date: 2017-05-06
From: 501 Shelter

To: Rock'n'Sole hostel
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: light rain

5/6Slacking 501 to 183At Rock'n'Sole hostel9.3 milesAfter a good night's sleep and a delicious breakfast of French toast casserole and sausage, Jody dropped me off at the 501 shelter to walk back to the hostel. The day went quickly. Slackpacking PA is genius! With no pack my balance was great on rocks. The were actually kind of fun. I stopped for lunch at the Hertlein campsite. I think there are more established sites there now, and no sign of a picnic table. Hiking back up the mountain, I encountered flooded trail. At times it was up to my shins - and icy cold. There were sometimes impromptu trails on the sides, which were also flooded. I estimate I sloshed through it for a mile and a half to two miles. For much of that time there were no blazes. Not the trail's finest maintenance. Craig picked me up at the road around 1:30. Back at the hostel, new hikers had arrived - One Way, One More, And Grumpy. We all went to the store and to a microbrewery in a guy's garage that Craig knew of. Three of us split a growler of ESB. Mmmm, beer. Jody served pulled pork and some really tasty sides for dinner. I talked to One More about physics for a while and then passed quickly into sleep.
Date: 2017-05-08
From: Hamburg

To: Hamburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

5/8Zero day at the Hamburg MicrotelIt's a zero day but as usual I walked miles to get to the Cabela's and Walmart. They look so close but of course they aren't. Especially not when you're forced to follow roads rather than walk in a straight line. I ate breakfast at the motel, then waited for things to open. At 8:40 I started walking to Cabela's. But I was already hungry again. So first I stopped at Dunkin Donuts. At Cabela's I searched the entire store looking for things I needed. A sleeping bag liner and some form of long johns, and a new fanny pack. I kinda wish I had gone to Walmart first, because the fanny pack I finally settled on turned out to be quite uncomfortable after I wore it a couple of hours. It rests squarely on my bladder. On the way to Walmart I stopped at Five Guys for a little snackerooni. Then I had to climb a steep hill and a traffic barrier to get to Walmart. They did not design the shopping area with pedestrians in mind. A lady saw me walking up to the store from the back of the parking lot and asked if I had parked all the way out. No, I parked quite a long way away from here. In Walmart I nearly panicked when I couldn't find kinesiotape, but they had it in the camping section. I seriously don't know if I could hike without it. I also found a $5 fanny pack that seems like it might work. And a variety of other objects. I once again bought six rolls of toilet paper so I could have one. That's getting old fast. At dinner I found out that French onion soup and Buffalo wings do not go together. Tonight I'm texting two numbers for locals that I hear do shuttling. If I don't get a response I'll try voice tomorrow. I dislike talking on the phone a great deal, but slightly less than I dislike a long walk back to the trail.
Date: 2017-05-09
From: Hamburg

To: Eckville shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: scattered clouds

5/9Tented at Eckville shelter14.5 milesWill, trailname Dad, is a former thruhiker local to the Hamburg area. He gave me a $5 shuttle to the trailhead for which I was grateful. I got his contact info from the Facebook flip flopper group. On the way up the trail I crossed paths with flip floppers Luna and Hootie. We introduced ourselves at Windsor Furnace Shelter where we all stopped for lunch. On the hike up to Pulpit Rock I met Tada going southbound. He's friends with my friends Birdy and Turtle. He was specifically on the lookout for me. He took a picture and asked how I was doing. It was nice to chat for a second before I headed back up hill, and also nice to able to reply honestly that I am very, very happy. I had forgotten how much of today involved easy woods road walking. I was able to walk quickly most of the afternoon, which got me to camp before five but also left me tired. I was eyeing some nice campsites a mile before the shelter but roughed it out to get here. My various parts request that I actually apply that kinesiotape that I bought yesterday rather than just carrying it. The shelter was fairly full but on a beautiful night like this I would rather tent anyway. The shelter held zero appeal. I set up my tent at the lovely site across the road. I started making my dinner - cheese pasta things that I got at the hostel. Then Hootie hollered my name and said the caretaker had made a pot of really good soup. I chose to stick with my dinner, as it looked good and I've carried food uneaten far too many times. Also here tonight are Grumpy, Discount, Furby, and One Way, as well as others I don't know. Everybody else is up at the shelter, chatting or tucked in to their bunk. I, however, am enjoying stretching out in my tent. I'm looking forward to a warm night with my new silk liner, silk bottoms, and fleece top. I recall from 2010 that the rocks seemed to get very bad right after this shelter. We'll see if my perception is the same this year. Things have generally seemed easier this year, despite the longer miles I've been doing. Lyme had really kicked my butt last time. I think I mostly kept going on determination and willpower.
Date: 2017-05-10
From: Eckville shelter

To: New Tripoli campsite
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: scattered clouds

5/10Tented at power lines near New Tripoli13.3 milesI woke up at 4:45 and persuaded myself back to sleep until 5:30, then got up. It was nice to use the flush toilet available at Eckville. Nobody in the shelter was up yet so I crept in as quiet as I could and grabbed my food bag. Returning to my tent, I breakfasted on Cap'n Crunch from the hiker box at Rock'n'Sole as well as a caffeinated Crystal Light. It was a warm morning so packing up was pleasant. I got more water and was on my way by 7:10. The walk up the mountain had me fountaining sweat. Up at Dan's Pulpit I signed the register and turned to face my doom: tough rocks which I knew went on for hours. They were hard on the feet but my attitude was unimpaired as I already knew the score and was prepared for it. It took five hours to go seven miles. I was ever so ready to get to the Allentown Hiking Club Shelter for a full on boots-off lunch. My hiker hunger has definitely kicked in. I ate a tortilla with a lot of cheese and pepperoni in it. It was delicious. I added a little birthday cake in the form of a Devil Dog, some dried pineapple, and some Combos. Mmm. The weather news looked a little grim when another hiker checked it. An inch of rain on Saturday. At least it isn't the day I climb Lehigh Gap. I think my plan will be to find a ride into Wind Gap to a motel. I'll need groceries anyway. The afternoon's walking was much easier, mainly along old woods roads. But I was tired from the morning. I got water from the outside tap at Blue Mountain Summit and was ready to camp. One Way was there getting water too. We leapfrogged down the trail. I had thought to stop just before the Knife Edge but we found a pretty site a little earlier. It's a windy site, as it turns out. I hope I sleep okay with my tent flapping.
Date: 2017-05-11
From: New Tripoli campsite

To: Lehigh Gap
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: broken clouds

5/11At Nina and Sue Leopold's house / Lehigh Gap11.4 milesIt dawned pink and pretty and cold. I got our food bags down and marveled at how One Way's had three days of food but was a third the size of mine with in theory one day of food. And once again realized how ludicrous I am about hiking food. The Knife Edge was easier this time around. The lack of thunderstorms helped. I spent a portion of the day wondering how to handle the predicted torrential rain this weekend - up to three inches over two days. I decided to get enough food and fuel to be able to spend a zero in the woods, as I won't be close enough to anywhere to bail out. A day in my sleeping bag is neither fun nor very comfortable, but I can do it. If circumstances change I can go to a motel after all with no harm done. Mid afternoon I met a man sitting next to the trail surrounded by goodies. Trail Angel Stan offered me a cold soda and a variety of snacks. What a treat! We chatted for a few moments, then my tired feet and I moved on. At the end of the day an old online friend, Nina Leopold, came and picked me up and took me back to her house. After I showered she drove me hither and yon for the aforementioned food and fuel, and also a very good pizza. She and I and Sue ate and chatted and had a fine time. And then I retreated to the guest room because it was way past hiker midnight. I shall be asleep presently.
Date: 2017-05-12
From: Lehigh Gap

To: Leroy Smith Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: clear sky

5/12Leroy Smith Shelter15.6 milesTime passes differently on the trail. You have so many experiences every day that you actually seem to live more. Every day is chock full from sun up to sun down. Every day here feels like a week to me. Life back at home feels remote.  The news, for a wonder, feels distant. I really only care about the weather forecast. Nina and Sue dropped me off at the Palmerton trailhead around 7:45 and I headed up the mountain. The trail up is legendary. There is one place, same as last time, where I needed to take off my pack to get myself up a rock face. Mostly it was just hard work, not difficult. Of course my freshly resupplied pack was bobbing around, pulling me off balance. But it was fine. Sweaty, but fine. The damage to the environment from zinc smelting is healing nicely. There is a pleasant young forest once you get to the top. Some of the grasses still look stressed, but it's a huge change from the former moonscape. The day passed smoothly. I saw few hikers. Mostly the trail followed a ridge line. There were lots of toe grabbers and ankle twisters among the rocks though. At my first possible stop, the Delp Trail campsite, it was mid afternoon and I still had energy. I pressed on to the shelter. With bad weather coming I had already planned a zero for tomorrow, and I'd rather do it somewhere with room to move around. And a privy. And a water source. And company. I got to the shelter around 6:30 to find one other occupant. Jimmy is a section hiker who has done a lot of the trail. He made good company for the evening. I walked down the hill to get lots of water rather than do that task in the rain tomorrow. I was too tired to eat a real dinner. I munched on some dried fruit so I could take my meds and called it good. I have plenty of food to make up the difference tomorrow, and cooking will give me something to do. I read in the register that a porcupine frequently visits to chew on the shelter steps. He showed up very shortly after dark. He ran off when I went to look, but came back shortly after I got back in my bag. Jimmy got up and hit him with a shovel, and he left for good (for the night). I feel bad for the porcupine but they're very destructive and I don't know how else you dissuade one from eating the structure you're in.