morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-06-27
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Whereabouts Unknown
Miles today: 4.0

They don¢t call that place the vortex for nothing. I escaped in the late afternoon (barely), but quite a few folks never made it. The last I saw Coyote and Lady Sherpa, they had packs on and were just going into the Doyle for water.I saw Torch on the bridge on the way out of town. He¢s getting off for about a week, so it¢ll be a while before I see him again.On the way up the hill, Ruffles and Lumiere caught me. I wanted to get a little farther, but they forced me to stay here. It¢s a good spot, but it means I have to do almost 25 miles tomorrow. I¢m nervous, but also excited about a new high.
Date: 2011-07-06
From: Whereabouts Unknown

To: Whereabouts Unknown
Miles today: 0.0

So, just back from a week off. I was planning on 24.5 miles last Tuesday, which would have been my biggest day. I started feeling bad at lunch and it got worse quick. I made 20, but I felt like I couldn¢t take another step. The next day, I felt just as bad, so I bailed for town at my first opportunity, which was about 9 miles.Erica wound up coming out in the middle of that, which was great. I was going to get back on Monday when she left, but my back has been killing me, so it was today.My back was so-so hiking today, but my feet were murder. I actually wanted to go farther, but they were killing me. I got here early, and there were some others, so I decided to build a fire. A couple I met at the hotel, BC and Eugene, joined early, then Pink Floyd, Still Steve, PC, and Seven. We sat up till about 10:00, which was nice.
Date: 2011-07-07
From: Whereabouts Unknown

To: Black Sawasa (?) Campsite
Miles today: 14.0

What a ridiculous day. My left foot is really, really bothering me, all down the big toe. I had that in my right foot for the beginning of the trip, but it mostly went away. This is similar, but much worse. I stopped by the 501 Shelter this morning, but managed to escape without ordering food. I had a late lunch with PC. She has the same water filter as I do and gave me some pointers. When I got going, I had some bad chafing on my thigh, which was really irritating. I couldn¢t adjust it away, and right as I decided to change shorts, PC came up. The woods were flat and pretty open with pines and ferns, so I got very far off trail to change. Normally when I get off trail, I¢m careful to note some stuff. I was really irritated today, though, and didn¢t. And the woods were really uniform. That¢s right, I got good and lost. I wandered around for better than an hour and could not find the trail.I finally gave up and started heading for a road I could hear in the distance. Which is of course when I stumbled on the trail. So stupid.Anyway, I was hoping for 19 miles today, but was cutting it close before all that, so I stopped here. Town tomorrow for my drop box if I can beat the post office hours.
Date: 2011-07-12
From: Black Sawasa (?) Campsite

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: broken clouds

Another layoff, this time four days in Hamburg, PA. My foot was horrible on Friday. That¢s about 50 miles in two weeks. Awesome. My foot has been hurting at the base of the big toe. I was going to get wide shoes when I replaced them last time, but no one carries them in stock. This time I ordered them online from town, and I was stuck there until today waiting for the delivery. I can¢t tell yet if they¢re helping.The one good thing is that I ran into Torch in Cabela¢s. His friend from home, Jim, drove us around and took us to dinner, which was really nice.I did 3 road miles and a little over 5 on trail to here. My feet were really sore, but not super acute. I¢m going to force low miles for the next couple of days. I really hope to see improvement on this. Oh, at about 10:00, the Hawk Mountain Ranger School came through. Like 30 young guys in reflective vests, orange helmets, camo, and packs. Singing. Hilarious.
Date: 2011-07-13
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: Campsite at 1225
Miles today: 10.0

Short one today, which was nice. My stupid toe was hurting again. Rainbow had told me of a similar problem he had just after Damascus[, VA] and that his doctor had given him a small orthotic for just behind the ball of his foot. When I was in town, I bought some gel inserts, so I stopped today and cut one up to make the same thing. It seemed to help pretty well.While I was doing that, who should come out of the woods but young Velvet, who I hadn¢t seen since Erwin. He was slacking with Team Indecision, except Rainbow, who¢d messed up his knee again. He was actually getting his MRI results today just before picking them up. Anyway, Velvet and I talked for about an hour, which was great. I saw those guys again at the spring for lunch, but just for a minute. Right after they left, another huge group from Hawk Mountain Ranger School came up and stopped. They were really funny. A lot of them were pretty young, but they yell at them like the military. The CO came over to talk to me and said they wouldn¢t bother me. Meanwhile, I¢d spread out pretty good, so they all had to crowd in to avoid my crap.I passed another group of them after that going the other way. About half of them yelled, ¢Good evening, sir!¢ as we passed. When I got to the road, a car was just leaving and there was one still there. The lady there said, ¢That¢s a nice hat.¢ It was Miss Janet! I was so happy to see her and thank her in person for rescuing it. She gave me a Coke, and we talked for a bit. The other car was Rainbow, and his MRI results were bad news, unfortunately.I walked down to the Eckville Shelter, which was neat, but I pushed on to here. Miss Janet had warned me there was a dad out with three young girls, and sure enough they¢re here. They were loud but went to bed early.She also said the trail north is no joke. I¢d like to do 17 miles tomorrow, but we¢ll see. I¢m going to try to get out early so I can take it leisurely. That was nice today.
Date: 2011-07-14
From: Campsite at 1225

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Rockiest day yet, easy. And it was everything from huge boulders to just tons of the little, pointy stuff. Plus it¢s really dry. What few springs there are are often dried up.I hit up Blue Mountain Summit restaurant for lunch and water, which was fantastic. And it was only 100 yards or so off the trail. I met the two guys who¢d stayed at Eckville last night, Diamond Dave and Caveman.The trail hit some real boulder scrambling not long after. I am terrible on that stuff. There was plenty of hand-over-hand and all that. After smoothing out, it kicked up one more time, which was a little much for me. I was glad to get here, but set a new record for water distance, I think. It was nuts. And steep and rocky. Anyway, town tomorrow. When depends on these rocks.
Date: 2011-07-16
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Off trail
Miles today: 13.0

Stayed in Palmerton last night, in the old jail house hostel. I got laundry, food, and some drinks. They had huge fans, which drowned out any snoring from the eight or so others. [Ed. note: Here's another fun Palmerton fact I stumbled on.]I asked another hiker, Happy Feet, very loudly in the post office how to get back to the trail, and a lady who overheard offered us a ride.We hiked up the crazy rocky climb and a little farther together. I carried a ton of water out and got more at some great trail magic. This section is sure dry. We also stopped a couple of times for raspberries.
Date: 2011-07-17
From: Off trail

To: Off trail
Miles today: 14.0

I decided to hike into Wind Gap for lunch today. When I was a couple miles out, that couple from the jail, Slider and Stroller, came by. They were doing the same, but going for the movies. Harry Potter started very soon. They invited me, but I said they were too fast and that maybe I would see them there.I wound up having to walk into town. I was hoping for a lunch place, but made it all the way to the theatre without seeing anything open. I pushed on to a natural-foods looking place without much hope, but it was great. I got a huge ¢chicken¢ salad sandwich, chips, root beers, and a pint of cookie avalanche ice cream. I was worried I¢d gotten too much, but I managed to put it all down.I met a guy, Adam, there, and we hiked out together. He¢s my age and from Frederick. He started in Port Clinton about a week ago and is going to Maine. He¢s faster than me, so we made good time. We started to camp near horrible water, but pushed on to a nicer spot and had a fire.
Date: 2011-07-18
From: Off trail

To: State Campsite [descriptive!]
Miles today: 13.0

Hit Delaware Water Gap for a resupply this afternoon. I was finally able to replace my busted hydration bladder, too. I ran into Adam, who¢s stopping there for a couple days with his girlfriend. We ate, then I headed out in a reasonable time, happy that I was escaping the clutches of town. I stopped in an old-fashioned soda fountain on the edge of town for water, then wound up getting a huge Italian ice. Stroller and Slider and others rolled in as I was leaving.Right after was the bridge over the Delaware River and a happy "see you later" to Pennsylvania. It wasn¢t far to the campsite here, but it started raining. At the trail for water, the book was very poorly marked. I wasted a good 20 minutes before thinking to check The Companion, which was clear. As I got to the spring, the sky totally opened up. That really muddied the water, so instead of filtering the water up there, I had to carry a gallon up the hill so it could settle.It was well after dark when I got here and I couldn¢t make heads or tails of the sites. It took me forever to get settled and hung out to dry. I¢m sure I woke half the place up.
Date: 2011-07-19
From: State Campsite [descriptive!]

To: Off trail
Miles today: 15.0

Crappy start today, but a good finish. Not much of note happened. I was overlapping some kids a lot of the day. I jumped off to a little camp store for lunch and met Steady and Pickwick. The kids came in after that and got in the world¢s longest argument about soda.At the end of the day, I finally saw some NJ bears, two who both ran from me right away. I saw Pickwick right after. I was going to get water at the road after that and camp. I filled up my gallon, but there was no camping down there, so I walked back to Pickwick¢s site.I got interrupted at dinner by a very bold raccoon. He soon realized my rock throwing was a bluff, so I had to poke him with a stick.
Date: 2011-07-20
From: Off trail

To: Whereabouts unknown
Miles today: 0.0

I hit a road crossing this afternoon and saw some stores. The first two places were closed, but a little bar was open. Pickwick, Slider, Stroller, Nate Dog, and Molasses were all there. I got a couple sodas, fried mushrooms, a pretzel, and a phone charge. We left separately, but met up again at the fire tower about a mile before the shelter. There were a million YMCA girls all camped up there. Slider and Nate Dog spent about an hour teaching them euchre [ed. note: I love euchre!], which was pretty funny to watch.Sweet Tea, who¢s just 18, came up and unloaded all the trail magic in the world, then told us about getting a swim and $20! I could barely get a refill in that town.We all hiked together to the shelter. Slider had a trivia book on his Kindle, so he read us all questions during dinner.
Date: 2011-07-21
From: Whereabouts unknown

To: Jim Murray Property
Miles today: 18.0

Tough, hot day. There was no water for a bit early on. The first shelter was supposed to have magic, but it was all empty jugs. I saw Slider, Stroller, and Nate Dog at a road crossing. They were hitching, so Nate gave me a quart of his water. It wasn¢t filtered, so I poured it into mine. Then spilled almost all of it. I was really dry leading up to the next shelter. All the springs were either dry or just tiny cesspools. I was going to stop, but the trail there was long, straight down, and the water source was listed as unreliable. I rationed out my last pint and really struggled over the next few miles to the park visitor center. Next stop was the lake concession stand. It took forever to get down there, but was good, if crazy crowded. I saw Sweet Tea and met Little Drummer Boy.A couple miles later, I surprised a mother bear and three cubs. She ran up to the trail and made some noise, so I went back south for a bit and they moved on.The last couple miles were tough, but worth it. This place is beautiful. There are several small outbuildings on a grassy hill with little stands of trees. There¢s a shelter with outlets, a nice pump, and an outdoor shower. I also met my first south-bounder, Jason, a very nice guy. I¢m sleeping with no tarp for the first time this trip.
Date: 2011-07-22
From: Jim Murray Property

To: Church hostel in Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 14.0

Today killed me. It was over 100 degrees, and a lot of it was out in the open. Lots of long boardwalks over swamps and a very long walk around a marsh.I got going at 7:15, which is a new record, and it was already uncomfortably hot and humid.I had a tough time getting a hitch and had given up when a woman in a pick-up offered me a ride. We couldn¢t find the hostel and wound up driving all around. She sent me into the Dunkin Donuts for directions, and I got her a half-dozen and a soda for her trouble. We finally had to go to the police station. They told us, and neither of us could figure out how we¢d missed it once we got here.Swamp Dog, Ray Pan, and Torch were already here. We went for Italian at a place with ridiculous portions, but no free refills. They¢re all going to zero tomorrow, but I¢m going to try to push on.
Date: 2011-07-24
From: Church hostel in Vernon, NJ

To: Greenwood Lake, NY
Miles today: 15.0

Funny night tonight. We got a ride into town from an older couple in a nice Maxima. Torch didn¢t even believe it. They dropped us at a pricy motel, so we walked back to town. While I was staring at the map there, a big guy asked in a very think NY accent if we needed help. I told him we were looking for a motel, and he waved us over. ¢I¢ll hook you up.¢ He had a massive Great Dane, Admiral, in his truck. He took us to a bar, but the owner wouldn¢t let people camp out back any more. So our guy, Jimmy, took us down to the lake to his friend Walter¢s, and they set us up on some grass near the water.The day itself was tough. We got a good start, but ended up at the garden center talking about poker and eating Italian ice. It rained briefly, which wasn¢t bad, but it got all the rock wet, and there was a lot of it. The going was pretty bad because it was so slippery. Torch had a bad fall that luckily didn¢t result in an injury.
Date: 2011-07-25
From: Greenwood Lake, NY

To: Southfield, NY
Miles today: 12.0

Pretty crappy day today. It rained all day, so we decided to bail to town again. We had lunch under my tarp and called them up.It took a long while to hitch, and this time a Volvo got us. We¢re at a little motel that charges for ice. The Chinese delivery is helping, but spirits are low. With all of the wet rock scrambling, it¢s impossible not to think forward to the big stuff ahead. If it¢s like this, I¢m doomed.
Date: 2011-07-26
From: Southfield, MA

To: William Brier Shelter
Miles today: 10.0

Better day today. We took some time to dry stuff out this morning, so we didn¢t get on trail until about noon. It was really nice out, though. We stopped at a nice lake with a beach and picnic area for lunch. They had vending machines and bathrooms. It looked like it was going to storm like crazy, but it missed us. We¢d waited a bit there, so of course it landed on us again when we left. We got lucky and only had a few drops though.There were some really obnoxious south-bounders at the shelter, so everyone camped. Steady and Sweet Tea are both here, along with some section hikers.
Date: 2011-07-27
From: William Brier Shelter

To: Hemlock Springs Campground
Miles today: 11.0

Short miles today but a full day. I had a drop at Fort Montgomery, so we stopped in there for lunch. It¢s right near the Bear Mountain Bridge over the Hudson River, so we¢d also stopped at a park before, then gone through the zoo. Which was incredibly depressing. Zoos bum me out enough normally, but seeing dirty bears in a crappy one after seeing so many in the wild is horrible.I got my drop and realized I¢d only forwarded one package from Vernon instead of two, because I¢m a dummy. I¢ll have to call about that.We got lunch from a weird little pizza and sushi place that had no sushi. We crossed the bridge and then climbed up here. There are a bunch of folks camped out and a really good spring.
Date: 2011-07-28
From: Hemlock Springs Campground

To: Fahnestock State Park
Miles today: 16.0

Ugh. Our day started fast and ended slow. We hit yet another deli first thing and stopped to eat. Yoga Boy and Red Stripe and a few others came through.The rest of the day went fine and we were on a good pace to get our 16 miles in before sunset. But when we were up on a pine ridge at the very end of the day, I saw smoke in a half-assed fire ring in all this pine duff. We poured water on it, but it was under the ground wider than the ring. We tried to dig it up with rocks, but that wasn¢t really working, so Torch called 911. Who asked us to stay. We weren¢t too far from a road, so when I heard the sirens, I ran back down to meet them. We¢d told them two guys with picks and shovels could do it in no time, but there were a ton of them. They were complaining about the trail right away and kept asking if we were there yet, but they were being funny about it. All told, there were probably ten of them up there, including the chief. He told us the hour of work tonight was better than the month it would take if it had spread, which had happened near there recently.We lost easily an hour and a half, so we got to this place well after dark. I¢d used all my water on the fire, and the water from the spigot here is far and away the worst of the trip.
Date: 2011-07-30
From: Fahnestock State Park

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 2.0
Weather: clear sky

Nero [ed. note: "near zero" miles] yesterday and today to see Erica in Fishkill. [We saw Harry Potter!] I left Torch yesterday after just a few miles. We¢d stopped at the lake concession in the rain for an early lunch. The side trail to it was rough. We saw an older guy and asked him if there was an easier way back to the AT. He told us the AT was out in the middle of the lake.Anyway, I had to walk forever, but finally got a hitch the whole way from a landscaper.Erica dropped me off tonight, and we left a bunch of Gatorade trail magic. And Nor¢easter came right out of the woods! I couldn¢t believe it. I also met So Far, Jaws, Dirt Nap, and Rock Dancer. They¢re up at the shelter with a million other people, so I came back down to the river to camp.
Date: 2011-07-31
From: RPH Shelter

To: Telephone Pioneer Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Good day today. I got a late start, but the weather was perfect, there was a deli five miles in, and I hiked with a lot of really nice people.I hiked a lot with Rock Dancer, who thru-hiked in 1997 and is doing a long section now. He knows a ton about the Whites, which was really helpful.As we were coming into the shelter, the spring was dry, and I was really bummed. But when we got up here, Dirt Nap had carried up these huge jugs of water from the road. It was awesome. Birch was here, and Jaws and someone else came in shortly. We all ate together, which is rare for me. I wasn¢t even the last one to bed.Anyway, really good day today. I hope for half as much tomorrow.
Date: 2011-08-01
From: Telephone Pioneer Shelter

To: Campsite at mile 1,455
Miles today: 18.0

Man, August. Today saw the end of New York and the two-thirds mark.The only people I saw today were So Far and Bluefoot, both at lunch. I was considering hitting a deli a bit after, but it was getting a little late and starting to storm. The rain never really got going, but the last mile really dragged, so it¢s good I didn¢t stop.There¢s a big stream here, but there are only some very small pools actually going. There¢s also no one else here, which is surprising. There¢s some thunder and lightening but no rain, and the radio just said it¢ll be clear tonight and tomorrow.
Date: 2011-08-03
From: Campsite at mile 1,455

To: Better Campsite
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

I did 15 miles into Cornwall Bridge yesterday, and I never seem to write from town. I missed the post office, so I got a room. Which turned out for the best because the drop I¢d forwarded didn¢t arrive until this morning. I felt like crap from minute one yesterday. I don¢t know if it was the miles the days before or the ups and downs or what. I got out a little late today, but not bad. I definitely felt better. Not much of note happened. I met Fish and his wife, Lemon, just before the last shelter, then saw them again at the shelter. It looked like it was going to rain like hell, but I pushed on to here, which was my minimum goal for the day. On the way, I saw a section hiker, Snow, who lives here. He said the rain wouldn¢t amount to much, if anything, and he was right. It didn¢t really get going until dinner.Rock Dancer came down just before and set up near me. It was good to see him again.
Date: 2011-08-04
From: Better Campsite

To: Sages Ravine Campsite
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

Good day today. The weather cleared about midday and was very nice.I wasn¢t going to go to Salisbury, but broke down of course. I flew down the trail before it. I had lunch at The Country Bistro, where I ran into Bluefoot. I¢d texted Torch, who¢s taking a nero there, but didn¢t hear back until I was gone. I checked out the grocery after lunch. I finally got a nice piece of bread, After Eights mint chocolates, lemon sorbet, and I couldn¢t resist carrying out sushi for dinner. I made good time out of town then met some folks on Lion¢s Rest Mountain who gave me a beer. After that was Bear Mountain, which I remember from 2003. [Ed note: I think he means 2005.] That was a long climb and a very steep descent. At the top I met a 2005 thru-hiker, Chainsaw, who told me he¢d just left a 30-pack of High Life in the creek by the campsite. So, more free beer. I left Connecticut right after and met the campsite caretaker, Lauren. I set up over the tent platform and had an incredible dinner accompanied by a screech owl just about on top of me.
Date: 2011-08-05
From: Sages Ravine Campsite

To: Motel in Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

Sitting in the laundromat and making sandwiches. Friday night on the trail.I got up so late today. It was a town day and pretty easy, but I hate getting in late. I got a hitch right away, but got dropped off in kind of a dumb place. I called Tom for some Google-ing and wound up in a motel not super far from the laundry and grocery. I was overlapping Fish, Lemon, their friend whose name I keep forgetting, Yoga Boy, Red Stripe, and Snow. They¢re all staying at the Doll hostel. There were two climbs today; the second, Mount Everett, was really steep. On the downhill, someone had left a ton of ice water, which was heaven. I¢d gone up dry to save weight. I had lunch there and hiked out with a ridge runner. It was all downhill to town, but a lot was steep rock. I guess I should get used to that. I really hammered toward the end when it got flat again. I was flying, but burned out hard before the last mile and a half.