morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-07
From: Stealth site 3.5 miles before Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Bear's Den Hostel
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: few clouds

I got up and packed up before anyone came along! On the way to Rod Hollow Shelter, I saw a freshly dead fawn along the side of the trail with its neck bent up. I have no idea what caused its death.The trail was quite mucky and I wondered if the sidetrail to the shelter was worth all of the extra effort and time in trying to avoid getting my feet even more wet and muddy then they were. However, I was curious to see if there were any leftover drinks from the trail magic the night before. A section hiking father and daughter were on their way out, leaving an empty shelter for me. There were no drinks left. However, I did read a long story in the shelter registry written by the author of the snake-stabbing cartoon- just one day later. It was a true account of the intrusion and subsequent chasing and attack of a rabid skunk, ending in its death by the hiking pole stabbings of a fellow hiker! A premonition come to life?    When I got back on the trail, I began the Roller Coaster. Up and down, I climbed over each of the mountains in the heat and humidity. The climbing itself was not too difficult, but the temperature made the day much harder. A couple of southbounders struggled up the opposite side. I took a break at the Sam Moore Shelter, leaving three miles left to get to Bears Den.   When I saw the sign at the top of the rocky mountain, I could not have been more happy. The hostel did not open until 5 pm, so I made my way to the back, where we could wait in the bunkroom. Red Leg was sitting on the couch, thumbing through his guidebook. I found a pair of jeans and a shirt in the chest of drawers to wear after my shower, while I did my laundry. The upstairs opened soon after I showered and we went to pay and get our frozen pizza and pint of Ben and Jerry's. I ate in the dining room with a table of people who were eating a home cooked meal, and wished I could have been eating that... This was the third time on the trail that I had had a frozen Tombstone pizza, and I hope it will be my last!   I needed to write, but was also expected to socialize. I wished I could have just sequestered myself away. I jotted down a couple of notes while Leif E, McBride, and Stud the Dud watched a movie and everyone went to bed sometime after 11.
Date: 2009-06-09
From: Blackburn Center

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

Today, I would reach my third big milestone in this short stretch of trail- Harper's Ferry- the psychological halfway point of the AT!   Brian made us coffee around 8 am and I cooked some of my oatmeal to go with it. I was the first of the group to leave and made good time for the first several miles. I put my iPod on to help me along even more. It was a good time to celebrate. The day would grow increasingly hot and humid, and I could not keep the same pace for all 11 miles. Leif E and McBride both eventually passed me. I was drenched in sweat and my pack was chafing my back. It hurt, but I kept going. I had no guidebook pages with me for this section, so I was really happy when I came to the sign reading "1.9 miles to Harpers Ferry." Really? As I descended into town along the long, steep path, I felt very emotional (as usual when I reach milestones on this journey). I missed my brother a lot and wished he was still here. I felt anger and sadness at the fact that my father wants no connection to me and does not care what I do in life. And I felt very proud that I just walked over 1000 miles, all by myself, to get to this important place on the AT. Today was a special day.   Erik was driving from Durham to meet me and go to Washington DC the following day. I kept calling him to tell him that I was almost there- and how cool the sights were that I was seeing as I neared town. I thought the huge river that I was walking across was the Potomac- the same one that goes to DC. I came to the sidepath leading to the ATC, where everyone gets their pictures taken. As I climbed the steep steps, a bird chirped in phrases I had not heard before. It sounded like he was cheering me on! I walked farther than I expected on this sidepath, through Storer College and beyond. I got a little lost and needed help in finding the ATC. Finally, I arrived- hot and tired. It turns out that it was 90 degrees with humidity making it feel like 94. A whole area of skin around my backbone had rubbed off. It was a good thing there was a bathroom that I could fluff myself up in before getting my picture taken! I found a surprise package from Charlie and Dorinda, along with my maildrop, which was really fun to receive. I thumbed through the hiker pictures from previous years, waiting to look at this year's photos, and then Erik arrived! We drove to the hostel, parked illegally, and were told we had to move it to the real spot (faraway) just as a huge storm hit! With borrowed umbrellas, we ran screaming (well, I did), to the car as the rain drenched us and lightening struck nearby. We waited out the worst of the storm in the car, got dinner, and then walked around Harpers Ferry to look at the historical sites before the sun set. I tried to organize my resupplies, but was too wiped out, so I showered and went to bed. We would have to wake up early so I could organize in the morning and still catch the 6:55 am train to DC (the second and last train of the morning!).
Date: 2009-06-11
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I decided that I was going to spend another day in Harper's Ferry so I could write. Single Speed got up fairly early and headed back out on the trail, still not feeling very happy. He was planning about 16 miles that day.      I had two rounds of breakfasts while I labeled my pictures, and then talked to the owner, Karen, about staying another night. Unfortunately, all of the bunks were booked. I packed up, made a stop at the Outfitters, where I purchased a thermarest, and then headed to the ATC headquarters to hang out for awhile. A whole new crowd of hikers had come in, which always makes me feel nervous about being behind... While I was on the computer, another hiker came in and said "hi". When I turned around, I saw it was Single Speed! It took me a second to realize that he was supposed to be ahead on the trail. "What happened?", I asked. He said he was done. He had walked to the first shelter, and said that after having a snack and thinking about the hike, the pilot light had gone out. He wanted to go home. He called his girlfriend, made arrangements for her to come out on the weekend, and walked back to the ATC. I was really sad. I don't like it when people quit, and I was sad that one of the few people in my vicinity with whom I got along well was now leaving. He said that he might return next year, but he was definitely done for this year. He offered up his giant foodbag for grabs, and it was claimed and sequestered before I could even blink my eyes! I told Single Speed I wanted to take his picture outside by the ATC sign, as I tried to hold back my tears. After the picture, I couldn't contain them anymore. I don't think he wanted to see that, so he quickly made his way down the street to his hotel and I went back inside to feel my sadness. I still didn't have a place to stay that night, and was feeling out of sorts...   A little while later, a southbound hiker asked if any of us were interested in sharing a room at The Comfort Inn. Both Stud the Dud and I were interested. I had to walk back to the Outfitter because I had forgotten to buy more denatured alcohol. The humidity in the air was about 1000%. It was gross! I made my way to the hotel room, turned on the air conditioner and started writing. Dancing Wolf went out and brought us all back pizza. They didn't make a small size, and I could only manage to eat a couple of slices. The guys (who were very nice to me and let me have my own bed!) were excited about watching the basketball game. What started out to be a rocky day turned out all right in the end.
Date: 2009-06-16
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: James Fry (Tagg Run) Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I had 10 miles to get to the official halfway point of the AT. They were easy miles. I wasn't even trying to go fast and was doing 3 mph. I think they were the easiest miles of the trail! Yesterday, I told Erik that I was thinking about celebrating the halfway point with a half gallon of ice cream... By the time I got to Pine Grove Furnace State Park, however, I was in no mood to eat ice cream. I was feeling a little blue, didn't feel like eating anything at all, and felt out of place with the hikers that were there. It was a cold, overcast day, so I layered up, sat at my own table, and labeled my pictures. I went into the store to see what flavors of ice cream they had and could not believe they had only one half gallon of ice cream in the whole place- and it was vanilla! There was no way I was eating that. I went over to the hostel and found it locked. I had to wait until 5 pm for it to open so I could pick up my maildrop. Back at the table, my fingernails were turning purple, so I went inside the store and ordered a burger and coffee. After I started to journal, Yak showed up and sat down at my table. We chatted while waiting for the ice cream truck to show up. I was told it would arrive at 1:30, but it did not get there until after 3. Finally, there were different flavors to choose from! Yak bought Moosetracks and dug in. I started to at least feel part of this tradition, watching someone else try it, even if I did not do it myself. Hulk arrived next and bought Cookies and Cream. He finished first and claimed his wooden spoon prize. Meanwhile, I decided to be moderate and buy two scoops of ice cream. I didn't want to get sick or feel like I never wanted to eat that flavor of ice cream again. I think it was a smart thing to do. I have been eating well and not suffering from a lack of calories, lately. (I was much more lean in the Smokies). Maybe when I get to Maine, I'll try the challenge...   I got my maildrop, along with four little packets of organic peanut butter that Thom sent me, and packed everything up. The next shelter was over 7 miles away, and I wasn't sure I could make it all the way there, leaving so late, so I planned on camping somewhere along the way. However, I ended up making it to the shelter before dark. It turned out to be the same group that was at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. It was a bit difficult for me, given some of the behavior, but one person detected my unease and made efforts to make things nicer for me, which I appreciated. I ended up taking a bunk as it was quicker than setting up my hammock.
Date: 2009-06-18
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: light rain

I was the first one out of the shelter and the first into Duncannon! Everything was still damp in the morning and once again, it was foggy with no views for the first part of the day. I bypassed taking a break at Cove Mtn. Shelter in favor of getting to Duncannon sooner. When I emerged from the trail onto the road, and across the bridge spanning Sherman Creek, the light was very glary through the clouds, and once again, my eyes were having a tough time. I walked along the highway roads and beneath the underpass, and into Duncannon. I had no idea how far the Doyle was, but I recognized it when I saw the "Welcome Hikers" banner. As I stepped inside, I was overwhelmed with the smoky smell in the bar and wasn't sure I wanted to stay there. I wanted to ask if I could see the room first. Vicky checked me in, took my picture (she wouldn't let me shower first), and gave me the spiel. I was really tired and just wanted to get clean and rest. I knew from trail journal pictures what to expect as far as the rooms go, but nothing prepares you for the real life experience... What I saw first was a bright orange construction electrical cord running across the entire width of the floor, connected to a floor fan. Next, I saw a big white, plastic bucket, serving as a trash can. The carpet looked as though vaccuum cleaners had never been invented, and the window panes were all broken and glued back together. Since the bathroom on the third floor was occupied, I had to use the one on the fourth floor, which contained the single washer and dryer for the building. While jumping in and out of the scalding water (from any flushing toilet, the kitchen sink, or washing machine use), I had to endure the pounding on the door from hikers who wanted to retrieve their clothes that moment! I finally had to unlatch the door and let them in while I was still in the shower!   I went down to the bar after my clothes were laundered, for my first meal. By this time, I realized I was very dehydrated, and that was why I was feeling so exhausted. I ordered a salad, a pulled pork sandwich, and a cranberry juice. I then returned to my room for a nap!   Live music was advertised for the evening, but it turned out that they had switched the nights to Friday and Saturday, instead of Thursday. So, I ate another meal (a burger and another cranberry juice) and headed back to my room to peck on my iPhone for awhile before hitting the sack.   About 3 am, I was suddenly awakened by a blaring siren outside my window. It was a scarier sound than I had ever heard on the trail!
Date: 2009-06-19
From: Duncannon

To: Clarks Ferry Shelter 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Once again, I did not get up as early as I wanted to. I went across the street for breakfast, where I found Hulk and T-Suds and joined them. I had a western omelette and toast and then T-Suds and I shared an order of French toast. I wanted to get a little writing done, so I was in no hurry to leave. I managed to pack up all of my belongings and get out of my room by the stroke of 11 (before I could get charged for another night!). I sat out on the balcony and wrote for awhile and when I got hungry again, went down to the bar for another salad, pulled pork sandwich, and cranberry juice. I sat amongst Ewok, Minnesota IPA, Pusher, and the newly named McLovin' ("It's a great name... Somebody's got to have it," said IPA.) I was more comfortable with these guys than the people that were around the day before. The mood was pretty quiet, though. Ewok mentioned that we are almost at the triple digit point in terms of miles to go and that we better slow down and stretch this thing out! I wholeheartedly agreed.      Pat (the co- owner) asked if I was staying another night. They were going to have live music. I was torn. I wanted to hear the music, I wouldn't have minded hanging out with these guys, and more rest never hurts, but I also felt compelled to get going again... How do you ever know what to do? It was 2:30 when I filled up my platypus and said goodbye to Vicky and Pat (good people). I wanted to stop and get ice cream on the way out. I ended up getting a sundae with peanut butter sauce after talking to some local women who were interested in my hike. Then Zipper came along and we chatted while we ate. I was going to hit the trail much later than I had expected... I wanted to get to Peters Mountain Shelter (over 11 miles away), but the pace I was going wasn't going to allow me to get there. I knew it was going to be crowded with hikers anyway. So, after crossing the Juniata River and then the Susquehanna, crossing over the train tracks and then climbing back up into the woods, I decided that I would do something different upon reaching the first shelter. I would stop hiking before 6 and just hang out! I had the place to myself. It was an old shelter, filled with cobwebs and cocoons. After collecting water and making my dinner on the steps, I sat and enjoyed some solitude. A man came down to collect some water, but did not stay. Before dark, I set out my sleeping pad and bag on one of the two raised bunk boards and tried to settle it. My mind was fearful about who might come into the shelter and what bugs would come out and crawl on my bed. This was the first night that I was completely alone in a shelter, and it was much scarier than being tucked inside my hammock. I managed to stay calm and get some sleep, but the early start I hoped for was erased by the downpour of rain that began at 5 am.
Date: 2009-06-20
From: Clarks Ferry Shelter

To: campsite by spring 
Miles today: 12.9

The rain came down in sheets all morning. I got up to go to the bathroom at one point and then climbed back on the old wooden platform and into my sleeping bag for some more rest. I finally got up around 10, cooked my breakfast, and started packing up. A couple came down to the shelter to collect some water, fully covered in their raingear, but without their spirits dampened. I felt somewhat like a wuss... How could they be so happy walking on the rain, and I did not even want to venture out? I decided to adopt their attitude and head out. I asked them about the terrain ahead, thinking that the PA rocks were about to start... So far, there was nothing to warrant such talk. Southern PA was gentle and soft. It was rather delightful. The other states had far more rocks than Pennyslvania. The couple told me that the terrain ahead was not bad. Before I left, a couple of boyscout leaders and scouts came in- not dressed appropriately for either hiking or rain. The leaders told me they were renting a cabin and that I was welcome to stop by for a jambalaya dinner. I asked them how far away it was, hoping it was around 14 or 15 miles. It was only 3-4 miles away, however... Oh, well.      I went on my way and came across an animal I had not yet seen- a painted box turtle! It was so pretty!      I did not intend to stop at the cabin, as I had no need, but when I passed it and saw it through the trees, I figured I might as well... I knocked on the door and told the other leader and scouts inside that I was invited over by the rest of the group. I asked them if I could charge my phone, and munched on some trailmix and tuna from my pack. I only got offered water or cool-aid. The leader asked me what animals I had seen on my hike and that was it... I decided to get moving. Only minutes after I left, the rain commenced again. The timing was not good! I came across 'Zipper' and hiked with her for a bit. Then the rain came down harder and I picked up the pace, trying to make it to Peters Mountain Shelter faster. When I arrived, I found a group of five male section hikers, and four thru-hikers that I had never met before- Early Bear, L'il Dipper, Billy Hoot, and Nutmeg. They were zeroing in the shelter due to the rain. I read through the registery, snacked a little, had a cup of tea, and got ready to go as the group from the Doyle started filtering in. (They had gotten kicked out!). The shelter was about to get very crowded! Luckily, the sun had started to come out, so moving on was made easier for me. I walked six more miles, came to a sidepath leading to a spring, decided to get some water, and saw some nice camping spots off to the sides. It was seven o'clock, and I decided to stop there! It was a perfect place for me. The mosquitoes were rampant, so I had to walk around while I ate my dinner and did my chores, but all was well.
Date: 2009-06-21
From: campsite by spring 

To: William Penn Shelter 
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: broken clouds

June 21- Summer Solstice and Hike Naked Day. I was, however, 'in a pocket of isolation', as I call it. I saw no northbound hikers, no thru-hikers, and no naked people. The only people I saw all day were a few southbound weekend or section hikers. I did come across a bit of trailmagic soon after I started my hike- some packets of peanut butter crackers and little gingerbread cookies in a cooler! It helped me supplement my food for the day, as I was running on the low side. But mostly, it was just a lonely day. I had to ford my first river on this trip, which I almost couldn't believe! I didn't expect anything like this until Maine (and least of all in PA)! But a boyscout troop was in the middle of the process, making their way across to the side I was on. So off came the trailrunners, which I tied to my pack, and on went the crocs! There was an underpass several feet away, so I made my way over to the concrete, where I took a little break to dry out my feet and snack on some crackers. My guidebook said that I-81 was only 0.4 miles away from PA 72, which I was just about to cross. I only had 7.5 miles to get to the shelter! But oh how wrong my guidebook was! I-81 was really at least 1.5 miles away!! Several times, the distances in my guidebook have been off and it really messes with your mind. I wasn't very pleased... I finally came to the iron bridge crossing, made my way down 'woods road' and then on to the last big climb of the day. A southbound couple headed toward me but were not interested in exchanging pleasantries, so no energy was gained from that interaction. I had to take a break halfway up the climb for some electrolyte mix and a snack. My energy was running really low and I still had 5 more miles to go. The only landmark between where I was and the shelter was an oil pipeline. I never saw that, but I did come across a huge patch of mud having the consistency of oil, and there really was no way to step around it. My shoes and socks got soaked right through! Yuck! At 8:01 pm, I finally reached the sign for the shelter! The privy and shelter were on one side and the water and campsites were on a sidepath on the opposite side. I took the latter path due to the late hour and would check out the shelter in the morning. I dropped my pack near a tree, made my way down to the water source, collected water, set up my hammock, cooked dinner, and got ready for bed as darkness overtook the woods.