morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-11
From: Blackrock Hut, VA

To: Day 54: High Top Hut, VA
Miles today: 21.4

In an attempt to beat some of the heat, I got up at 4:15 a.m. on AT Day 54 and hit the trail by 6:15 a.m., but it was already humid and 60-degrees on its way to over 80-degrees once again. I felt exceptionally tired all day, hopefully this was just my reaction to the weather and that as my summer conditioning kicked in I would be able to do better. The scenery highlight for the day was definitely watching the sunrise behind all the rocks that formed the summit of Blackrock Mountain ¢ got some nice pictures. I also got nice picture of a big black snake that appeared to be guarding the trail before I stopped off at the 13.2-mile point at the Pinefield Hut for lunch and additional water. Just as I was finishing, a couple of day hikers happened by and asked to take a picture of me sitting at the picnic table. I suppose by now that my ever-lengthening white beard, dirty clothes, etc. fit their self-image of a through hiker¢¦One of the claims to fame for the SNP portion of the AT is the relative ease of gaining access to re-supply stores at the park campgrounds. Well, around the 8-mile point for today¢s hike I was able to take advantage of this close proximity (as an aside, it is said that the AT used to cover the route now taken by the Skyline Drive and that the famed CCC relocated the trail back in the 30¢s) and buy a cold root beer at the Loft Mountain Campground store. While I was thoroughly enjoying this drink in the shade of the store (they wouldn¢t let me sit in the air-conditioned store with my valuable backpack), I was approached by a 30-40 year old male camper who simply wanted to talk to me about my experiences. It was a nice to take this short break and enjoy my celebrity status. As was true the day before, this day¢s hike was relatively boring with little variety in the scenery, no real hill challenges and unpleasant heat and humidity. At the 21.1-mile point I reached my preplanned target for the evening, the Hightop Hut, where I stayed in the shelter once again (with a SOBO section hiker from Atlanta) because of the threatening thunder storms ¢ besides I knew I would need a very early start the next day since I was planning on a 24-mile hike.
Date: 2004-05-12
From: High Top Hut, VA

To: Day 55: Rock Spring Hut, VA
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: few clouds

With an exceptionally long hike on tap for AT Day 55, I got up at 3:50 a.m. and hit the trail by 5:50 a.m. at which time it was already over 60-degrees and humid. Luckily the temperature never got above 75-degrees and it never rained. At the 12.4-mile point I stopped off at the Bearfence Mountain Hut for lunch and water and I met three new-to-me NOBO AT through hikers (a husband/wife team and a long-time friend of the wife) who had all hiked together since leaving Springer Mountain in mid-March. All three were resting in the shelter where they told me they were going to stay for another hour or so in an attempt to avoid the worst of the day¢s heat. I was tempted to join them in this goal, but with an additional 12 miles to go, I couldn¢t take the chance of not meeting my mileage target.With very sore feet, I got to the Rock Spring Hut shelter around 7:00 p.m. and found it to be occupied by five other hikers (all SOBO section hikers), and since the weather was clear, I pitched my tent near-by. One of the advantages, besides the guarantee of a water source, of camping near the shelters (called huts) in the SNP is that they all have bear-poles from which hikers can hang their food bags. Unfortunately, completing this task is not easy since the lifting rod is heavy and the hooks are far too big.The water source at the Rock Spring Hut was also somewhat exceptional in that it was loaded with mosquitoes ¢ lucky for me, they did not seem to be particularly hungry. This curious coincidence was especially gratifying since the ear-biting gnats were feasting all day. It was very instructive learning how to pitch and break camp without letting any bugs into my tent ¢ a goal that I am sorry to say I have yet to achieve completely.One final note, as was true for the two previous nights, with my early start and late finishes this week, I have only able to be in (or actually on) my sleeping bag for barely six hours a night so I knew it was important for me to go directly to bed without taking any time to read my novel or listen to the radio. This unexpected problem of sleep deprivation has in fact started to be quite noticeable during my daily hikes, especially during my periodic breaks when I have to be careful otherwise I will nod off ¢ one more reason to look forward to my upcoming zero days in our recreational trailer.
Date: 2004-05-16
From: US 522 near Front Royal, VA

To: Seg 13: ATC Headquarters, Harpers Ferry, WVA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

AT Segment 13: May 17-19, 2004Starting point = US 522 near Front Royal, VAEnding point = ATC Headquarters, Harpers Ferry, WVATotal miles for this segment = 54.2 (3 days @ 18.1 miles/day)Total miles to date = 1014.7 (60 days @ 16.9 miles/day) The highlights for this AT hiking segment were the weather (mud, rain, thunderstorms and heat), injuries (re-injuring my left knee and sore/swollen feet), sleep deprivation and finally finishing the VA portion of the AT as I entered WVA to visit the AT Conference headquarters in historic Harpers Ferry, WVA. My original plan for this segment had been to hike all the way to the MD/PA border, but the injuries brought on by the ¢roller coaster¢ hills and the bad weather, plus the promise of even more heavy rain, forced me to terminate the hike after only two and half days on the trail. Since my wife, Hot Chocolate had parked our recreational trailer at my son¢s house in Hagerstown, MD, I spent the break recuperating (ice and warm Epson salt soaks, and lots of vitamin I) in his new home ¢ hardly a backcountry experience, but why not take advantage of the situation? Despite my injuries, my spirits are still high and I am anxious to get back on the trail to finish off WVA, MD and start the long trek through PA.
Date: 2004-05-22
From: ATC Headquarters @ Harpers Ferry WVA

To: Seg 14: Pen Mar Park, MD
Miles today: 0.0

AT Segment 14: May 22-24, 2004Starting point = ATC Headquarters, Harpers Ferry, WVAEnding point = Pen Mar Park, MDTotal miles for this segment = 40.9 (3 days @ 13.6 miles/day)Total miles to date = 1055.6 (63 days @ 16.8 miles/day) The highlights for this short AT hiking segment (actually a completion of the injury-shorted previous segment) were the lingering effects of my knee injury, the rockiness of the trail (perhaps heralding even worse conditions to come in PA), and finishing my hikes in both WVA and MD. Unfortunately, despite my taking time during the previous two-day break to ice my knee and soak my feet in warm Epson salts and in ice water, they both still hurt even with the every 3-4 hours vitamin I regimen. Given this condition, I swallowed my pride and took it easy, allowing anyone who wanted to pass. Even with these injuries and the continuing difficulties of the trail¢s terrain and the weather, I am still having a great time!
Date: 2004-05-24
From: Ensign Cowall Shelter, MD

To: Day 63: Pen Mar County State Park, MD
Miles today: 9.2

With the promise of a meeting my wife for a fast food lunch (Burger King¢s tender crisp sandwich, french fries, chili and a large soft drink), I got up around 4:20 a.m. on AT Day 63 so I could make it the 9.2 miles to the Pen Mar County Park in plenty of time. I was delayed a bit at the start since I had to re-hike about 0.3 miles south on the trail to refill my water bladder since it had leaked (no holes, just not properly sealed), and then I found the traveling to be especially slow (and painful) in places since the terrain looked more like a linear (with ups and downs) rock climb than a trail. I sure hope the latter doesn¢t represent a true preview of the infamous rocky portions of the AT we will face in PA.About two miles from Pen Mar, I stopped for a snack but I still made it to the park by 11:15 a.m. where I found many of my new and old AT through hiking friends getting ready for a group lunch break using the park¢s picnic tables, ice-cold soda machines, warm and cold water sources for drinking and cleaning, flush toilets, etc. It¢s very clear that the State of Maryland and the people who maintain this county park are proud of the fact that the AT crosses through here at near it¢s half-way point. When I got to the park, I called my wife on our cell phone and confirmed that she would be there in about 15 minutes, leaving me just enough time to use the wonderfully modern bathroom facilities to clean up before we went to lunch ¢ perfect timing on a near perfect day. Now all I need is for my swollen feet and aching knee to get better with vitamin I, ice and warm Epson salt treatment during my day and half of rest in Hagerstown. One way or the other, next week I take on the famed rocks of PA.
Date: 2004-05-26
From: Pen Mar County Park, MD

To: Seg 15: US 11 north of Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 0.0

AT Segment 15: May 26-28, 2004Starting point = Pen Mar County Park, MDEnding point = US 11 north of Boiling Springs, PATotal miles for segment = 65.5 (3 days @ 21.8 miles/day)Total miles to date = 1121.1 (66 days @ 17.0 miles/day) The highlights for this AT hiking segment were the lingering effects of my knee injury (no improvement) and the mud, occasional rockiness and big boulders to climb as I begin my hike through PA. So far my knee injury has not been a big problem in flat PA (other than slowing me down), but if it doesn¢t improve soon, I am worried how I will do when I have to deal with the notoriously rocky portions of the AT north of Duncannon, PA ¢ or worse yet when the AT returns to difficult mountain terrain. To gain more time to treat my injury, and to see my lovely and increasingly lonely wife more often, after my Memorial Day weekend break, I will try a schedule of three days of hiking, followed by a zero day ¢ that¢s two nights on the trail followed by two nights with Hot Chocolate ¢ sounds great to me!
Date: 2004-05-31
From: US 11 north of Boiling Springs, PA

To: Seg 16: Swatara Gap & Creek @ PA 7
Miles today: 0.0

AT Segment 16: May 31 ¢ June 2, 2004Starting point = US 11 north of Boiling Springs, PAEnding point = Swatara Gap & Creek @ PA 72Total miles for this segment = 52.5 (3 days @ 17.5 miles/day)Total miles to date = 1173.6 (69 days @ 17.0 miles/day) The highlights for this AT hiking segment were (once again!) the lingering effects of my knee injury (sloooow improvement) and the mud, daily rain, occasional rockiness and lots of logs to cross ¢ Oh yes, and a large RATTLESNAKE on the trail ¢ as I continue my hike through PA. Given the daily rain, the rocks on the trail and those I had to climb were often slippery so my knee injury was a constant worry and it did get twisted several times a day ¢ scary and painful reminders to be even more careful. In spite of these challenges I continue to have lots of fun and I look forward to each new hiking segment (and to each new break with Hot Chocolate!).
Date: 2004-06-03
From: Swatara Gap & Creek @ PA 72

To: Seg 17: Hawk Mountain Road near Eckville, PA
Miles today: 0.0

AT Segment 17: June 4 ¢ June 6, 2004Starting point = Swatara Gap & Creek @ PA 72Ending point = Hawk Mountain Road near Eckville, PATotal miles for this segment = 50.3 (3 days @ 16.8 miles/day)Total miles to date = 1223.9 (72 days @ 17.0 miles/day) The highlights for this AT hiking segment were my steadily improving knee injury, heavy rain on one day (and the linked concerns over hypothermia) and ¢ at last ¢ the appearance of the extremely rocky trail for which the PA AT is famous. Camping and decamping in a continuous rainstorm was not much fun, but traversing (and in some cases, climbing) the rocky terrain was.
Date: 2004-06-04
From: Swatara Gap & Creek @ PA 72

To: Day 70: Hertlein Campsite, PA
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

On AT Day 70 Hot Chocolate and I got up at 4:00 a.m., ate a pancake breakfast and drove from our Hickory Run State Park campsite to the Swatara Gap trailhead in time for me to start hiking by 8:45 a.m. The weather was beautiful, with temperatures in the 60¢s and lots of sun and a few clouds ¢ boy would this change by nightfall¢¦ The hike began with a short detour under I-81 where a work crew was constructing a new concrete bridge, pretty interesting as the trail went right between the big cranes and other equipment. The work crew was quick to furnish directions to keep us hikers from getting lost, or getting into trouble, and they wished us luck in our long journey. After returning to the original trail, the terrain changed dramatically and it was clear that at long last I was finally going to be challenged by PA¢s (in)famous rocks ¢ a condition that was to continue for at least the next two days (probably more, but I will have to wait and see).I had my morning snack along the trail and soon thereafter I was passed by two, new-to-me NOBO AT through hikers, Socrates and Bramble. As usual, both of the guys were much younger so I was not surprised by their relative speed. Bramble was particularly interesting as he was 40-something brute of a man who hiked without a shirt and who told me at William Penn Shelter where I stopped for lunch that he was a fireman doing this hike to raise money for breast cancer and as such he had to get to CT by mid-June for some sort of event. His motivation and energy was enviable and invigorating.I had my afternoon snack along the trail and I reached the 17.0-mile mark and the Hertlein Campsite by 6:30 p.m. Socrates and Bramble were not at this beautiful campsite as both had planned on stopping at the 501 Shelter where, as the name implies, it was possible to order in pizza. I passed by this roadside shelter without even checking it out ¢ or subjecting myself to the temptation of stopping for a pizza pig out. When I got to the Hertlein Campsite all of the sites near the trail were already occupied with three section hikers and two large dogs and I was forced to walk a short distance down a side trail to another site. After I pitched my tent, got water from one of the near-by streams and made my dinner, another group of at least eight young section hikers arrived and marched right past me to another and much bigger campsite further down the hill. It turns out that this other campsite has an area to swim, but as it started to rain shortly after I finished my dinner, and it continued to do so for the next day and half, I doubt any of these youngsters were brave enough to give it a try.
Date: 2004-06-06
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Day 72: Hawk Mtn Rd near Eckville, PA
Miles today: 15.2

On AT Day 72 I got up at 4:00 a.m. and was greeted by another cold rainy day. Since it was in the mid-40¢s and I didn¢t have any thermal underwear (or even some dry pants or a long-sleeved shirt), I did as much as possible to get ready while I was still in my sleeping bag, a practice that works but takes longer, so I wasn¢t ready to leave until 6:30 a.m. By this time, the rain had largely stopped, but since water was still dripping down from the trees and since I figured the rain could just as easily start again, I left the pavilion dressed in my wet raingear.It takes about 15 minutes to get from the Port Clinton pavilion to the AT trailhead and after that the trail quickly starts a rather serious 1000-foot climb up Blue Mountain. Upon reaching the summit, I was quite warm and wet from sweat, but I still elected to keep on my raingear. During the next couple of miles the AT passes the Pocahontas and Minnehaha Springs and then descends 600-feet or so to the former site of the Windsor Furnace. By this time, the sky was giving hints of clearing (it never did), so I got out of my raingear and was relieved to once again be hiking in my quick-drying running shorts and shirt. As I was changing, I met several groups of day hikers and trail runners at the furnace site. One of them tried to convince me to take a shortcut to Eckville, but I assured him that I was going to ¢White Blaze¢ it all the way to Maine (with my full pack) and as such I would rather go the longer and much more difficult, but scenic route. Brave words from someone who has no idea of what was to come¢¦From the Windsor Furnace site, the AT climbs about 700-feet to reach a particularly striking rock formation known as Pulpit Rock. The trail leading to this site is one long bolder climb ¢ great fun! On the way I passed and was passed by several groups of day hikers, clearly this is a popular weekend hiking spot. From Pulpit Rock, the AT continues to be a maze of large rocks and boulders for the next couple of miles until you reach another popular view point known as The Pinnacle. I ate my lunch amongst the boulders and watched the groups of young people come and go.Leaving The Pinnacle, the AT takes on a very different character as much of the 5.3-miles and 1000-foot decent from there to Eckville is fairly well graded dirt roads. Even with the rocks, mud and water puddles, this last portion of my 15.2-mile hike went very quickly and I got to my pick-up spot on Hawk Mountain Road by 2:30 p.m. Arriving this early I thought for sure that I would be in for a long wait for my wife. But no, there she was waiting by the roadside with warm dry clothes ¢ a perfect ending to a particularly interesting hiking segment.
Date: 2004-06-07
From: Hawk Mountain Road near Eckville, PA

To: Seg 18: PA 611 at Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

AT Segment 18: June 8 ¢ June 10, 2004Starting point = Hawk Mountain Road near Eckville, PAEnding point = PA 611 at Delaware Water Gap, PATotal miles for this segment = 61.1 (3 days @ 20.4 miles/day)Total miles to date = 1285.0 (75 days @ 17.1 miles/day) The highlights for this AT hiking segment were the rocks ¢ ROCKS ¢ ROCKS ¢ ROCKS, the devastation of the EPA Superfund Site, and the HEAT. The injury to my left knee continues to improve, but on the second day I injured my right knee ¢ luckily it was OK by the morning of the third day. The biggest physical challenge I continue to face is the stone bruises and crimped calluses I get carrying a heavy pack on the rocky trail. Clearly with this old body I¢ve got to be careful if I expect to survive all the way to the summit of Baxter Peak on Mt Katahdin in MA.
Date: 2004-06-08
From: Hawk Mtn Road near Ecksville, PA

To: Day 73: Bake Oven Knob Shelter, PA
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: few clouds

On AT Day 73 Hot Chocolate and I got up at 4:00 a.m., ate our now traditional pre-hike pancake breakfast and drove from our Hickory Run State Park campsite to the Hawk Mountain Road trailhead in Eckville in time for me to start the AT by 7:50 a.m. The weather was clear and warm (70¢s in morning and low 80¢s in afternoon). To help pass the time, I once again listened to a recorded book (Vertical Coffin) on my MP3 recorder. As was the case during my last AT hiking segment, the trail was very rocky. At times I was essentially climbing and thus my linear ground covering pace was very slow. By the end of the day I had painful stone bruises on the balls of both feet and a crimped (or pinched) callus on the inside of my right big toe. I¢m glad I changed to a new pair of boots or I think these nuisance injuries would have been worse.At the 6.1-mile point I made the mistake of taking a Blue Blaze to check out the Tri-County Corner, only to discover that after climbing a huge pile of boulders the reward is a concrete marker designating the border junction of three counties. A little over a mile later I came to the Allentown Hiking Club Shelter where I stopped to sign the register and gobble down my raison cinnamon bagel smeared with peanut butter. At about three and five hours later I took brief breaks along the trail to eat the two Power Bar I carried. Near the end of today¢s 17.4-mile hike, between miles 13-15, I climbed The Cliffs and Bear Rocks. The first was on the White Blazed AT and consisted of a knife edged ridge formed by huge exposed boulders, whereas the second was a huge pile of large boulders on a Blue Blaze. I arrived at the Bake Oven Knob Shelter around 6:30 p.m. This shelter was built in 1937 and was one of the first in PA, but despite its age it was quite nice. Given that I was alone and that I wanted to have a very early start in the morning, I chose to sleep in the shelter.
Date: 2004-06-13
From: PA 611 at Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Seg 19: Quarry Rd NJ near Unionville, NY
Miles today: 0.0

AT Segment 19: June 13 ¢ June 15, 2004Starting point = PA 611 at Delaware Water Gap, PAEnding point = Quarry Rd in NJ near Unionville, NYTotal miles for this segment = 50.6 (3 days @ 16.6 miles/day)Total miles to date = 1335.6 (78 days @ 17.1 miles/day) The highlights for this AT hiking segment were the continuation of the dreaded ROCKS, heat and humidity, my first water moccasin, the unexpected beauty of the Delaware Water Gap, and the unpleasant consequences of forgetting to bring any vitamin I ¢ oh yes, and the triumph of surviving my 60th birthday! The chronic injury to my left knee continues to improve and the temporary injury to my right knee seems to be entirely healed. Unfortunately, on the second day I somehow injured my right ankle; an injury that made my travel even slower due to the added care needed to negotiate the sometimes-slippery rocks. The biggest physical challenge I continue to face, however, is the stone bruises on the balls of both feet and the crimped callus on my right big toe. These foot injuries, plus the headaches I got from dehydration and no vitamin I to treat anything caused me to terminate my hike earlier than I wanted. This foot problem is taking all the fun out of this wonderful hike.