morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-26
From: Niday Shelter

To: Catawba Creek
Miles today: 18.5

   Did 18.5 miles today, my feet have been hurting all day long. I don't know how much more I can go on unless my feet improve. My boots are ripping apart, the right one inside seam tear is 3 inches long now, and the left one is starting to tear as well.   Saw a bear this morning about 9:30. I stopped to pee and he took off like a shot, I only saw him for a second or so. It looked pretty small, but was hard to tell.   Dragon's Tooth was cool - nice rock scramble up and a great view. Then a thunderstorm hit just as I was on my way down - hail and all, lightning struck really close by.    My back is hurting today too.    I set up camp in a field next to the stream. I doubt Shar will catch me tonight because I had to hike pretty late to get here. The alternative, 0.9 miles back, was a campsite filled with cow patties, next to a stream with cow sh*& floating down. Nice.   My water is having issues today - it gets all cloudy after I add the iodine. Must be something odd in the water causing that. I'm a bit nervous about drinking it, but don't have a choice.   Saw a turkey walking through the field while cooking dinner. Pretty neat, I don't think he ever saw me. Also had 4 nice-sized deer in the same field a bit later on.
Date: 2008-06-27
From: Catawba Creek

To: Lambert's Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: broken clouds

   I saw 2 bears today! The first was early in the morning as I came up the ridge, it was climbing down a tree as quick as it could. At first I thought it was a cub going up the tree and I was worried about Mama coming chasing me, but then I realized it was on its way down. It crashed off through the brush as quick as it could once out of the tree. I didn't get a picture as I only saw it for about 2 seconds or so.   The second was just 1/4 mile from the shelter. It was much bigger than the first. It too was running off, but the forest wasn't as thick so I could see it for longer. It was maybe 75 yards away. Shar was with me, in fact she's the one that spotted it. It crossed a ravine and then slowed down, it was neat as we saw it for maybe a minute or so. When we got to the shelter we saw in the journal that lots of others had seen the same one, must be a "local".   So to me that's pretty odd - I go 700 miles and don't see a bear, and then see them 2 days in a row, and 2 in one day! So far the spottings have been the way they should be - the bears scared of me, rather than the other way around.   So we originally had hopes of getting to US220 today and having Frank pick us up late. It would have been 24 miles for me. I hiked with Shar just about all day so we could decide where/when/if to stop together. We took a dinner break at Lambert's Meadow shelter, only 14.6 from where we started the day, and decided to call it a day. My feet were killing me - it felt like there was a golf ball stuffed under the skin between the ball of my foot and toes. There's definitely swelling there. I need to do something about that. I'm also getting blisters on both heels. Odd, it's been 700 miles without hardly a blister, and now I start to get them?!
Date: 2008-06-28
From: Lambert's Meadow shelter

To: US220
Miles today: 9.4

   We only had 9.4 miles to go today - down to US220 where Frank picked us up. We were there by 11:30, Frank was sitting waiting. We drove to the house, showered, did laundry and ate a huge lunch. Frank had picked up some lunch meats/cheeses and some buns. I ate two huge sandwiches, a Dr. Pepper and some chips. When I was done I weighed myself on the scale, I went from 182 before lunch to 187.5 after!    After lunch we went out shopping. First stop was Walmart, I picked up a daypack for our slackpacking days ($9.88, woo-hoo!) and some snacks, along with two ankle braces. My plan for my sore feet is to change over to trail runners, but use ankle braces to add some ankle support.    We went to the outfitters and after trying on about 8 different shoes I decided on the Montrail Continental Divide trail runners. I hope they work, my feet need it.   We had a good dinner at the Italian restaurant in town - I ordered an additional extra large pizza to go with my meal and polished off 1/2 of it. I weighed myself after we got back home and I had gone up to 192, only 3 pounds off my starting weight! I gained 10 lbs just today via lunch and dinner - now that's some good eating!!
Date: 2008-06-29
From: US220

To:  Blue Ridge Parkway - Mills Gap Overlook
Miles today: 19.9

   We slackpacked and covered 19.9 miles today. It only took 9 hours total - and that includes an hour long lunch break. It's amazing how easy and fast the hiking is without the pack. My new shoes were a success so far, no blisters and no sprained ankles, and the bottom of my feet are feeling much better. Tomorrow will be another slackpacking day.At lunch today I saw the coolest thing. We're sitting at the picnic table at the Wilson Creek shelter and I notice that there aren't many little black flies around. Then I see a bumble-bee looking bug land on the table (it wasn't a bumble-bee, I don't know what exactly it was). A little black fly makes the mistake of flying too close to the bee thing - it jumps up, grabs the fly and flies off! I've never seen one bug grab another out of the air like that before, it was really neat. Maybe that explains why there weren't many black flies around?! If so, I need to get some of them to travel with me - they are light and if they keep the black flies away it would be worth the constant buzzing!!
Date: 2008-06-30
From: Blue Ridge Parkway - Mills Gap Overlook

To: Parker's Gap, USFS Road 812
Miles today: 19.6

   Another day of slackpacking, I'm getting spoiled! I've been trying to think up ways I can finish the trail without carrying my 35 lb pack, so far no luck on that one.   We covered 19.6 miles today, I finished in about 8.5 hours. With my pack on that would have taken all day. I feel like I've hardly done anything. My new shoes are working out great so far - no blisters, and the foot soreness seems to be easing. But, I haven't had the weight on my back, so that will be the real test I guess. All this comfortable sleeping and eating good food is making me completely spoiled!
Date: 2008-07-04
From: Fish Hatchery Road

To: Three Ridges Summit
Miles today: 15.4

   Frank dropped me off at the bottom of the hill shortly after 8, I slogged through the 1.6 miles back to the trail, and was back on the AT (with a full pack this time) by 8:45 AM. My plan for the day was to cover 15-18 miles, and camp on or near an overlook in hopes of seeing some fireworks off in the distance, to get a bit of a taste of Independence Day. The hiking was tough - first I went up over 1000 ft to the summit of the "The Priest". Then the trail descended 3000 ft and crossed a road and stream. And you guessed it, it then went back up another 3000 ft to the Three Ridges summit. I found the overlook after a bit of looking around and set up camp nearby. It wasn't exactly what I had envisioned for an overlook, but the next one was 1/2 a mile away and downhill. I figured that with it on the downhill, chances of a campsite nearby weren't very good.   I set up camp and gathered wood for a fire. A previous hiker had left a fire starter log (Thanks!), so getting the fire going was easy and I had a roaring one going in no time. The only problem was that the good log to sit on was right down wind of the fire pit, so the smoke kept blowing into my face. I ate a good dinner of freeze-dried lasagna and cookies, then walked over to the overlook to look for fireworks. When I got there I realized that I probably hadn't chosen the best one, as for as far as I could see, I think I counted about 5 lights visible. Not quite the population center I had hoped for. Oh well, I hung out for about 15 minutes, decided there was no way I was going to stay up till 9:15 or so to find out for sure, and so went back to camp and to bed.
Date: 2008-07-10
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Skyline Drive - mile 92.4
Miles today: 13.4

Amber dropped me off back at Rockfish Gap, I was back on the trail by 2:15 PM. I stopped for dinner at Calf Mountain shelter, then continued hiking for a couple of hours. I picked a campsite at 8:45 PM just as darkness was setting in. I was sad to say good-bye to Amber, we had a good visit, and it was a good break from trail life. I got off the trail today, first time so far that I've lost the blazes! I probably went about a 1/2 mile or so on a parallel trail, I never even noticed the cutoff. Eventually I guessed where AT must be, bushwacked down the hill and found it. I was kinda in a stupor I guess.
Date: 2008-07-11
From: Skyline Drive - mile 92.4

To: Hightop Mtn. 
Miles today: 28.6

It was another 2 bear day! The first was early this morning, hardly 30 minutes from camp. He came down out of a tree about 15 ft from the trail and took off like a rocket through the underbrush, it was a pretty small one.The second was just after one of the many Skyline drive road crossings. There were 3 other hikers sitting at the road/trail intersection as I came up, they warned me that they had seen a bear cross the road and go into the woods where the trail goes. I saw it about 200 yards in. It was a lot bigger than the others I've seen, and not at all scared of me. It was maybe 50-75 yards away. I took a picture and the flash went off, that set him running, all of 15 ft or so. He stopped, then kinda meandered back towards the trail. I didn't like this, it was a first in my bear encounters, and so rather than wait around and see what he had planned I continued on hiking.One thing I've learned about the bears, the bigger the bear the less easily they scare off.It was a long day of hiking, I had lunch at the Loft Mountain store (but my own stuff, they didn't have a restaurant), then dinner at Hightop Hut, then hiked till 8:30 or so. I covered 28.6 miles in all, and felt pretty good considering. At lunch another hiker gave me a Yoo-hoo, nice trail magic! I've never had one before, it was good. I met up with Solo again at dinner, probably won't see him again. I also met up with Jeff, they guy in the red Phillies hat from a month or so ago. His father had joined him on the trail for a section.Got a voicemail from Shar, she's at Big Meadows tongith, about a day ahead of me. I should catch her in a few days.
Date: 2008-07-12
From: Hightop Mtn. 

To: Trail to Hawksbill
Miles today: 23.6

   Today was a 4 bear day! The first was your typical spook him as I approached. The second set, a Mama bear and 2 cubs, was anything but. It was shortly after the Big Meadows campground trail. I was just hiking along in a daze, when I see a small bear scrambling out of a tree about 15 ft away on my right. I look to my left and there's another, looked to be going up a tree. Then I look a bit further left, and there's Mama, coming my way and not looking happy - I was right between her and the cub on my right! I quickly retreated (not running though) down the trail the way I had come and back out of sight. That sure gets your blood pumping. I waited a bit, then went back, and they were still there, maybe 15 ft off the trail. It looked as though she had gotten both cubs back with her. I waited some more, then checked again, and they were still there. It was about 25 minutes or so after I first saw them, and they didn't seem to be going anywhere in any hurry. I couldn't wait all day, so I did a big loop off-trail around them.    I resupplied and had an early dinner at the Big Meadows Wayside. $30 for 2 days of food, not too bad given the convenience and location. I had a good cheeseburger, fries and Dr. Pepper for dinner, it was nice not having to eat trail food for a meal.   I passed by the Big Meadows campground (just before the 3 bear sighting) and recognized one of the short sections of trail I had been on before, years ago when I lived in DC and came out camping with Ken. It was neat to be back all these years later.   I did 23.6 miles today, ended earlier than usual as my feet were showing signs of 2 long days and complaining a bit. Nothing like before I got the trail runners, but enough to cut my day 30 minutes or so short.
Date: 2008-07-13
From: Trail to Hawksbill

To: Trail to Sugarloaf
Miles today: 24.1

   I saw 6 bears today, the same as the number of deer. The first was your standard spook. The next set was a Mama and 2 cubs. I was closer than yesterday, but not between the Mama and the cubs, so she didn't really seem to mind my presence. I watched them for a bit, then they wandered far enough away that I could get past on the trail and so I continued on. The fifth was another spooked one, but I did get a picture. He was nice enough to stop about 50 yards away and climb up on a big rock for me. The sixth I saw before he saw me. I watched him for a long time, I think he knew I was there but didn't seem to care. I had a chance to get some movies with my camera of him.   I got stuck in 2 thunderstorms today, the first was fine, I just got wet, but warmed back up once it stopped. The second was later in the day and I was really getting pretty cold. I made it to the Elkwallow wayside shortly after it stopped raining. I walked in all soaking wet (and probably pretty smelly) and ordered dinner - 2 cheeseburgers, fries and a chocolate shake. It was a great dinner. I looked kinda funny eating it in the sheltered area near the gas pumps, I was just sitting on the ground with my food spread out. Oh well, better than sitting out in the rain to eat.   I did 24.1 miles today, ended shortly past the trail to the Sugarload mtn summit. I didn't have cell phone coverage all day, so I don't know where Shar is, and I didn't get a chance to talk to Amber.
Date: 2008-07-14
From: Trail to Sugarloaf

To: Chester Gap (Front Royal)
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: few clouds

   Today I saw more bears than deer (5 of them), and while I was on the trail, than hikers. I saw all of them before 9:00 AM this morning. The first was first thing this morning, it was different in that either he didn't care that I was there or had really bad eyesight, he just kept doing his thing. He slowly wandered off out of sight.    The next was a Mama and 2 cubs. These were the smallest cubs I've seen so far, very cute, almost like little teddy bears. Mama sent them up a tree as I came into view, then she scurried off and they quickly followed.    The last was just your standard spook him, and he ran off.   I ran into 2 sets of hikers, both of which had a message from Shar. They said I was only a few miles back. Her phone isn't working (dead battery), so she hadn't gotten my message. She also left me a note on the trail telling me she'd be in Front Royal early this afternoon.   I had a good lunch (real cheese and crakcers was the main dish) and hiked pretty fast. As I was about 10 minutes from the road to Front Royal Shar called, she had just gotten into the hotel in Front Royal. I got to the gap and hitched into town (it only took about 10 cars or so before one stopped to pick me up).
Date: 2008-07-15
From: Chester Gap (Front Royal)

To: 2nd stream passed Ashby Gap
Miles today: 21.4

My original plan was to head off on my own today, but after talking to Amber last night I decided to stay with Shar for one more leg, to Harper's Ferry. So I slept in a bit, got up after she was done in the shower, showered and we headed out. We had a good breakfast at McDonald's, then stopped by the grocery store again so I could add some more food. We decided to skip the outfitters since they didn't open till 10.The hitch back to the trail was easy, and on we went. The hiking was fairly easy, not too steep. I spooked a bear, only saw his hind end for a split second as he scooted away as fast as he could. As I neared Big Meadows state park, the trail was not very well maintained or marked, and the surrounding forest was really thick with undergrowth. It was a bit liking bushwacking through the jungle!My plan was to find a campsite near our 18 mile mark, which was just before the state park. At about mile 16.5, I entered the state park and there was a sign saying no camping in the park! Since the surrounding forest was a jungle without any good camping sites, I was kinda stuck, and so decided to head on through the state park (another 3-4 miles) to find a campsite. I called Shar and left a message, then headed on. I found a crappy spot about a mile past Route 50 (the northern border of the park), called Shar, then cooked and ate dinner. Shar eventually called me back to say she wasn't going to make it, so since the site I was in sucked, and I had daylight left, I headed on to find a better site. It got dark on me before I found a level spot for my tent. I finally just made my own site in the first decent level area I came to since dinner, it was in the shrubbery 20 ft off the trail. It was 9:15 by the time I was in my tent and to bed for the night.
Date: 2008-07-28
From: Just before Allentown Hiking Club Shelter

To: Slatington, PA
Miles today: 19.0

Saw a bear today, just after lunch. Pretty odd coincidence - a truck pulls up and a family starts getting out. The 12 year old boy asks "Mom, what if we see a bear?". She jokingly responds, pointing at me - "He'll protect us!". I laugh and tell them how the bears always run off, and continue on, with them about 50 ft behind me. I swear, not 50 yards up the trail I see a bear running off! I motion for them to come up and look, but by the time they catch up he's out of sight. I think they believed me?!I made it to Lehigh Gap, and stayed in Slatington at "Fine Lodging". The guy running it is really nice, he even did my laundry for me!I had dinner at "The Shack", a plate of 10 wings, burger and chips, pizza and 4 Labbatt's. Played a game of darts with the locals, they were all curious about thru-hikers, I guess they had never talked to any before. The guy couldn't believe that I'd spend the night in the woods by myself and not have a weapon. "What about all that stuff you see on TV about things in the woods", he asked.
Date: 2008-07-29
From: Slatington, PA

To: Lookout Rocks
Miles today: 20.0

The climb out of Lehigh Gap sucked, but not as bad as I had imagined based on the hiker's I met the other day. Good views too.I passed Metallica spring on accident, then had to go till after 2 PM without water as I had only started with 2 quarts. The spring was a long way down, just about at the base of the ridge. I sat by the spring and drank 3 quarts, then took 3 quarts back up to my pack to carry with me. By the time I was on the trail again it had taken 1:20, just to get water.The trail sukcs today, probably 75% is rocky.There was a sign up threatening trail angels that leave coolers of goodies out for the hikers with fines/jail if they were caught putting the cooler out. "And we monitor it daily, so you WILL be caught" the sign said. What a$$holes, threatening people just trying to be nice to the hikers like that. If they are having problems with litter or animals, why not just put out a sign giving advice for how to do "trail magic" right? Seems like a more kind approach to me. Not to mention that the trail is very dry right now, a jug of water would be great.I saw 2 copperhead snakes today, stepped right over them. They were curled up together, all intertwined, down in a rock crevice. It was pretty cool, they slithered away under the rock as soon as I stopped and started taking pictures of them. They are completely unlike the rattlesnakes that I've seen, which wouldn't move off the trail for a mack truck!
Date: 2008-07-30
From: Lookout Rocks

To: Backpacker Campsite
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I passed out of PA and into NJ today! I resupplied, showered and had dinner in Delaware Water Gap, which was really nice. It only took just over 2 hours. I found 2 mini-marts to do my resupply shopping at, which saved a trip to Stroudsville and lots of time. The guidebook should mention those mini-marts - it says there are no stores in DWG to do resupply shopping at. I had a good burger and salad for dinner, and another 2 Labbatts.The morning hike really sucked, probably 90% of it was extremely rocky trail. It gets really tiring having to step from rock to rock for miles on end.I got a new stove fuel and Aqua Mira at the outfitters in town.It's been 750 miles on my trail runners, definitely time for new ones, I had only planned on going about 500 miles, but it crept up on me really quickly. The outfitters didn't have them.I saw a beaver in teh Delaware river as I was crossing on the bridge, the first of the trip.
Date: 2008-07-31
From: Backpacker Campsite

To: Viewpoint on AT, vista
Miles today: 22.4

What a day for wildlife - I saw 4 bears and 3 rattlesnakes.The first rattlesnake was just a few feet off the trail, wouldn't you know it, between rattlesnake swamp and rattlesnake spring. I watched her for a bit, took some pictures and movies, then continued on.Shortly after that I spooked bear #1. He ran towards the ridge edge, then stopped and we looked at each other for a bit, then he dropped over the ridge out of sight.I saw the next bear while atop a fire tower. He was about 20 yards or so off the trail, he never knew I was there. I was worried he'd go after my backpack that I left at the base of the tower, but he went the other way, away from the tower.The final two rattlesnakes were a big shocker to me. I just about stepped on the first, he was laying with his head across the trail and I stepped not 2 feet from it before seeing it. I was about to go around to the left as there were pricker bushes to the right, but before I did I decided to get it to rattle at me first, so I tossed a pebble at it. It rattled, and then from it's back end, off to the left side of the trail, slithered the biggest rattlesnake I've ever seen - it must've been 6 ft long and as big around as my upper arm, if not bigger. If I had gone around to the left like I originally planned I would have stepped right on it! I picked up a 10 ft long branch and tried to get the first to leave the trail, but it wouldn't budge, it kept striking at the stick. Finally I decided to go around them both to the left, but like 75 ft away from them. The third bear spooked about 75 yards away. He ran parallel to the trail, so I could still see him as I continued on. As I was walking and watching him, to my other side went another one! Pretty crazy, 2 right near each other like that.I've been meaning to do this for a long time. Here's what I had to eat today:Breakfast:1 banana nut muffin 600 calories 5 oz1 cinnamon roll 440 calories 4 oz1/2 quart of waterMorning snacks:1 oat and honey granola bar 180 calories 1.5 oz1 snickers 280 calories 2.07 oz2.5 quarts of waterLunch:1/2 bag of combos 455 calories 3.5 oz1/2 bag of beef jerky 120 calories 1.75 oz2 cheddar cheese sticks 400 calories 4 ozstack of club crakcers 200 calories 3 ozRice Krispies Treat 170 calories 1.3 oz1 quart of waterAfternoon snacks:1 peanut butter granola bar 180 calories 1.5 oz1 fruit granola bar 140 calories 1.2 oz1 snickers 280 calories 2.07 oz2 quarts of water Dinner:Cheese crakcers 190 calories 1.38 ozMtn House Spaghetti 560 calories 4.51 ozNutter Butter cookies 410 calories 3 oz1.5 quarts of waterTotal: 4605 calories 38 oz