morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-07-04
To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I know it has been a while since I last wrote of my adventures.   It has been an exciting month.   The road trip back from southern Cali was awesome. Tons of stories to write about.   I have now been to all of the lower 48 states.   I also got to see my first Dead Show at Red Rocks in Colorado.   And not to worry I took tons of pictures to share with you all. I'm just going to have to save some of those stories when I have a little more time to write.I am currently in Front Royal. I arrived on Saturday morning to meet Stumpknocker.   Tripod came down a couple days earlier and started slacking Coughdrop and me.   I hiked Shenandoah with Coughdrop.   We were trying to haul ass to make it to Front Royal for the holiday weekend.   I think we were both happy to have Tripod slacking us.   The plan is to see how long it will take to walk PA.   Coughdrop started me thinking about maybe hiking between 20-25 miles everyday in PA.   Yeah I think she might be as crazy as me sometimes.   Ok maybe not that crazy, but close.   And we both are allowing ourselves a short day to tour the Yuengling Factory in Port Clinton, PA.   It is after all, All About the BEER!   Then hopefully we might even get a day or 2 off to take in the New Jersey Shore when we get through PA.   We are hoping to make it through PA in 2 weeks.   I hope we don't break anything while trying. OK enough about my hiking plans.... I have to thank Mr. Mull and Phyllis!   I got both mail drops in Waynesboro.   Phyl I LOVED the tye die shirt.   It has all the great colors (ALL OF THEM) and it says "ME Crazy".   Fits me perfect!   And Mr. Mull thank you so much for the goodies.   The Mtn. House dinners were great. No more mess to clean after dinner!   I haven't gotten the chance to check out the website for the shirt but I will when I get home to NJ. Thank you!I will try to write again soon. At least tell you a few stories from our cross country trip.   I just got to figure out how to tell all of the stories!   I hope everyone is having a great holiday.   Now get off the computer and go enjoy the summer!
Date: 2004-07-05
From: Front Royal, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I've been slack packing the last couple of days on the trail. It's a good thing too with all this heat I wouldn't want to carry my pack.   I can't believe how hot it is.   Well it's hot enough that I have decided to take a few days off and head back home to see the family this weekend. I know, after just taking 6 weeks off and now I'm taking more time.   When am I ever going to finish this trail?   I'm actually thinking about finishing PA and heading up north to meet Stumpknocker and hike southbound to finish.   Still haven't decided yet. Coughdrop left this morning for a cross country trip to Washington State.   I guess everyone is catching the cross country bug.   I think it's great. She will have so much fun.   She keeps telling me she'll pull high mileage days to catch up when she gets back. We'll see what happens. So now it looks like I'll be hiking PA and high mileage days alone. Maybe it's better that way. I always move my ass a lot faster when I'm alone.   I'm looking forward to hiking into New Jersey.   I can't wait to get home.I started losing those ten pounds I put on during my cross country trip.   For all you non-backpackers 10lbs on the hips is like 10lbs in the backpack. I don't like carrying a 35lb pack it's just too much weight. So now I'm actually looking forward to losing some weight. Not to worry once I lose these ten pounds I'll be eating everything in sight to keep my weight up.   Not that I'm eating any less now I just don't eat any more then I normally would. Now that's what I call fun...Walk walk walk, lose weight and eat A LOT!   I love this kind of diet. All that low carb stuff you can keep. I like my jelly doughnuts in the morning and my pasta for dinner.   Damn I'm getting hungry.
Date: 2004-07-13
From: Road Trip from the West Coast

To: heading back to the trail
Miles today: 0.0

Well another week of zero days.   Damn I think when I finally get done with this trail I will have as many days off as I have on the trail. He he!It was nice to have the time back at home. I got to see Aunt Bea who is back in the hospital.   I got to hang out with the parents, something I don't do enough of.   I got to sleep over Yuppie Chics house and go to the beach the next day.   I got to see shitty bartender and try and make her laugh again. And Teresa arrived back just in time to go out and have a fun night together.   It was a great trip home.I have to say my real reason for coming home was to go to the beach. I knew Yuppie chic wanted a day to relax on the nj sand and I was up for anything.   I did manage to give her dog Riley a new trail name. I'm calling him the hippie hating tie dye eatter! Sorry Mar!   Anyway, the 2 of us spent the entire day at the shore working on the tan. I went swimming once and decided not to do that again.   The ocean didn't even taste like salt. That's not good!   I think I'll stick to flying to another country or the west coast when I want to go swimming. I'm planning on being back in the area in another 2 weeks. The yuppie chic wants to go to the beach one more time this season with me.   I'm actually planning on flipping up to Maine once I reach NJ.   Coughdrop emailed me that she too was flipping. So in another 2 weeks I will be a southbounder. I can't wait. oh yeah and we going to stalk Stumpknocker again this season.   It will be fun to chase him south bound again. This time he has a 2 week head start.   Look out Stumpy here we come. Go S-L-O-W!!!!!!!Well it's time for me to return to the trail.   I hope I at least made sense a little in the entry.
Date: 2004-07-14
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Blackburn Trail Center
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: scattered clouds

It figures I return to the trail in hot weather. Even better is now I get to go through the roller coaster during that heat. I know I shouldn't complain back in 2001 it was in the high 90's and low 100's when I aqua blazed this section.   I only had to deal with low to mid 90's all day. I got up early enough to start before 7:30am. Then I sat around camp waitting for someone else to leave first and break all the spider webs. I hate being first one out of camp in the morning. All those spider webs that you have to walk through. I hate the really big ones that are at face level for me.   Talk about freaking you out a face full of web with the spider still in it. Yuk! Yeah yeah i sound like a girl but hey I am a girl so it's ok!I ended up started my day at 10:00 instead of 7:00.   Good way to start the race back to New Jersey. The roller coaster isn't that bad if you have cooler weather. The heat just makes you sweat and I really mean sweat.   I only managed to drink about 6 liters of water through out my day.   I am really bad at drinking water, I never drink enough.   The middle of the day and every half mile I was either walking up 500 feet or walking down 500 feet.   That doesn't sound like a lot unless maybe you just spent the last 10 miles doing that.   Up and Down all day long. I hate roller coasters!I walked all day long. I was hoping to press on to David Lesser Shelter but I called it a day at Blackburn Trail Center.   Actually the day ended on me at the Trail Center.   I arrived in just at dark. I'm still not good at hiking alone at night.   I am getting better. I didn't panic this time. I actually was pretty calm getting it at dark.   The caretaker offered me dinner and a soda. I had plenty of food so I just took the soda.   I normally don't care for soda but out here I Love the stuff, Especially Mtn. Dew!!!!!!!!!!   Now that stuff is jet fuel to me.   Some of my highest mileage was on days I drank 3 or 4 mtn dews.   On my last thru hike I filled my 2 liter water bag with 2 liters of Mtn. Dew to hike up to Mtn. Washington.   I even hiked 2 liters into the 100 mile wilderness with me.   Yeah I'm nuts about the stuff especially on those long days.I tried some Whey pasta for dinner. Yeah not a fan of whey pasta. It was like rubber. So now that's 2 dinners I won't eat out of my food bag. Lucky for me the caretaker offered to take our garbage so I got rid of that dinner the easy way. I didn't get to eat finally until about 10:30. Mac and cheese always works when hungry.   I'll have to get a couple of dinners at Harpers Ferry tomorrow.   And Ice Cream!
Date: 2004-07-15
From: Blackburn Trail Center

To: Rocky Run Shelter
Miles today: 28.1
Weather: scattered clouds

I got an early start today. I didn't care about the spider webs I had miles to cover.   I'm planning on a 30 miler today. I hope I can make it.   I have to make up those miles I didn't do yesterday.   Damn I hate schedules I never actually keep them.   It just isn't me. Well not at least out here.   I got into Harpers Ferry for lunch. All I can think about is Rasberry icecream and a waffle cone.   Damn I hate when I can't stop thinking about food.   I had to go to the post office and A.T.C. office first.   I got my picture taken at the A.T.C. for the class of 2004 thru hikers.   If you are passing through stop in and see my picture. I took it myself! It's all my cheesy smile!!   After the photo is was of to the P.O. to send out postcards to some of my friends.I stopped into the outfitters to pick up a dinner and some gator ade.   Then I got my icecream.   I was so happy to have that cone I enhauled it!   Problem was that wasn't enough food so I stopped and got a burger to eat while I walked out of town.   That was perfect to end lunch with. And I know ice cream before the meal?   I am an adult now, they let me vote and drive, I can eat my desert before my meal.   I ran out of daylight before I made it to camp. I ended up bailing out at Rocky Run Shelter just after dark. I thought I could handle walking in the dark by myself but it didn't work.   But yet again I did not panic. I stayed calm the whole time, that is a good sign. Maybe one day soon I'll be able to night hike alone.   I got into the shelter and everyone was in bed. I cooked dinner away from the shelter. Although I woke everyone up when I had to climb into the shelter to set up my bed.   Sorry guys.It was a good day. I still managed to do more then 22 miles.   28 miles is a good day maybe it wasn't 30 but it still was plenty of miles to walk.
Date: 2004-07-16
From: Rocky Run Shelter

To: Ensign Corwall Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: broken clouds

I didn't get a really early start.   I still managed to leave around 8:30am.   I was trying for 30 again today. I am feeling a little tired.   I made it 2 miles and I stopped by Dahlgren Campsite.   There I met Free Bird and Katz.   I should have stayed away. I ended up sitting there bsing with those 2 guys for an hour and a half. They were too funny to leave.   That blew away my schedule for the day.   I finally escaped and tried hauling butt up the trail to make up time.   This did not work. I'm not sure if it's the heat or I'm just really tired but I couldn't hardly move. I almost felt as if I was dreaming and I couldn't move my legs. You know those dreams where it's as if you're running and you can't move your legs. I kept sitting down and taking breaks every hour.   This is not a good sign when you're trying to hike 30 miles.   I got 2 cans of Mtn. Dew at the Washington Monument for lunch.   I drank them and ate my peanut butter bagel (thanks Mother for the bagels) for lunch.   It was a hot day.   I went into the bathroom and washed up in the sink.   That felt good to be clean and unsalty.   When Freebird and Katz showed up I made my escape again.   I gave up trying to make the 30 at Ensign Cowall Shelter around 5:00.   Tex and me hitched into town for sodas, a sub for my dinner and beer for the group.   It took us about 20 minuted to walk to the road, get a ride down to the store, get everything and then get back down to camp.   Everyone was happy!   I even got another Yuengling can stove out of it.   That one I think I'll let Teresa use when she joins us in Sept. It was a short day. I didn't make my mileage. Oh well maybe tomorrow.   But it was a great night in camp.   See why I'm not good at sticky to a schedule out here. Besides my body didn't want to go anymore.   I had no choice.
Date: 2004-07-18
From: Rocky Mtn. Shelter

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: light rain

Another early start. I was tired. It took a little while for me to wake up. About half the bottle of mtn dew I opened right after I opened my eyes. I don't think it's good that the first thing I do is grab a bottle of Mtn. Dew to start my day. I stopped drinking tea in the morning now that I keep getting mtn. dews.   The soda has more caffine and sugar!I started my day shortly after finishing the bottle of soda. The couple in the next shelter wasn't even up yet.   I was looking forward to Caledonia State park and the restroom to clean up. I was in need of washing my socks.   I hauled butt to get there early.   I got a little trail magic when I hit route 30 it was juice box's and lots of snacks. I had enough for the day so I only took a juice box.   It hit the spot. I made it to Caledonia. I made a couple of phone calls.   I found out Tripod was heading down that afternoon.   Cool I'm getting Yuengling in camp tonight. That was great and almost as great as washing up in the restroom and clean socks.   I must have spent 40 minutes in there washing one piece of clothing at a time.   So what if I had to put my clothes back on wet. I get wet when i walk in the rain and it was supposed to rain today.   At the very least I was clean!   This is always a good thing.Pretty boring day. Not many people on the trail.   The trail is pretty easy with little rolling hills.   Almost seemed flat.   I ran into a whole bunch of older kids.   I'm guessing they were around maybe 19 to 20.   I talked with them for about 20 minutes and then moved on.   That was about it for people on the trail.   I saw a turtle and raced him down a hill.   I won!   My foot was starting to hurt I was lookig forward to camp.I arrived in camp around 6:00.   I took of my shoe to find a bister on the bottom of my little toe. I guess I know why my foot hurt so much.   I decided that when tripod got here I was going to hike back out to the truck with him and stay at Pine Grove Furnance for the night.   And that's extactly what we did. I got to slack the last 2 miles in my Teva's.   They felt great at the end of a long day.   Only 14 1/2 miles scheduled for tomorrow. I can't wait for the short day.
Date: 2004-07-19
From: Pine Grove Furnace State Park

To: U.S. 11 Carlisle, PA
Miles today: 27.4

I got a late start to the day. I only had 14 miles to walk that was nothing.   I wanted to take my time and enjoy my morning.   I started about 12:30 and then took a long break at the half way marker about 1 mile into my day.   I made it half way to Maine!! WOW!   This was going to be a good day.   I headed of to the first shelter about 6 miles into my day.   Looks like Poptart spent the night there last night.   He wrote he was going to do a 25 miler today.   Then he wrote he bet I couldn't catch him.   I started only 5 days ago and he was 4 days ahead of me. I caught up in those 5 days and he thinks I can't catch him. I bet I can!!So now I have just turned my nice 14 1/4 mile day into a 27 1/2 miler in my sandals since my toe is killing me.   Tripod stuck around for the day and slack me to Route 11.   Somewhere just before boiling Springs Tripod meet me at a road crossing and drops off Poptart. He has only made it into Boiling Springs for the day. Poptart rehikes the last mile into boiling springs with me and continues along to Route 11.   He decided to press on now that he was being slacked.   See I told you I would catch him.   One thing I have learned is that when I want to haul ass and do REALLY big miles quickly I can.   I just have to want to bad enough.   It was cooler now that the sun was starting to set.   It looks like we were doing about 6 miles in the dark.   I'm glad I had someone to hike with. Tripod joined us about 2 miles outside of Boiling springs.   It was the 3 of us and night hiking through farmers fields.   I was excited to have the open fields to hike through in the dark. Watching the bats fly around hunting bugs.   Somewhere about 3/4 mile south of route 11 we were walking on the edge of a corn field with trees on our left.   All of a sudden as we were talking we heard this noise like a huge flock of birds were taking off from the trees next to us.   Then we realized that is was maybe thousands of bats flying around the trees next to us. I was real happy to not be in there with those bats.   Then the trail turned into the trees a few hundred feet up. As we walked and talked we heard it again but this time it was over our heads.   We raced through this section of the trail trying to get away from all the bats flying over head.   The area smelt bad like a hamsters cage.   and the bats were pooping on us. It was gross and a little scary.   We had to walk so far with the bats flying over head. I never knew so many bats could live like that in the trees. I thought they would find like a cave or something to live in if there are that many.   We finally made it to the road clearing at Route 11 alittle after 11:00.   Walking over the foot bridge made me happy. I only had a bagel and about 8 mtn dews all day. I was hungry.   And I was looking forward to a hotel room, shower and a real bed.   Tomorrow at least 20 miles and a town visit.   Can't wait after 27 1/2 miles in my teva's.
Date: 2004-07-20
From: U.S. 11 Carlisle, PA

To: The Doyle Duncannon, Pa
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I did not have an early start today. My body was hurting after yesterdays push.   I have to remember not to do those kinds of things to my body.   It's another hot one again today.   A lot more fields and open areas to walk through. The sun is going to kill me.   I loaded up my water bag with lots of ice.   cold water might help today.Hiking with poptart I realize why I like to hike alone.   Just easier to hike at my own pace.   Not sure why that is.   It wasn't that exciting of a day.   a lot of flat then some short climbs.   I know at 2:00 I'm not going to make it into town in time for my post office drop.   I guess it's a night at the Doyle Hotel. Every hikers should stay at the Doyle.   It's just one of the trail things you should do at least once.We headed into town to try and beat the rain.   We made it just in time.   Got to the Doyle around 6:00 and just before the storm.   I stayed at the Doyle for the $2.10 22oz drafts of Yuengling and a Doyle Burger. Poptart headed out to get pizza.   I stayed down at the bar the rest of the night.   There were a few other hikers that made it in.   Mtn Goat, Sardine, Utah Mike and Maybe and Chicago Rob.   Staying above a bar with cheap yuengling on drafts and having other hikers around always ends up to have a lot of stories. But not this night everyone seemed to be too tired.   I even headed up to the room before I got myself into too much yuengling.   I crashed as soon as I hit the bed. Somewhere alittle after midnight the fire department set off their siren.   Now for anyone that has ever lived in the midwest would know that siren sounds just like a tornado siren.   And when you are asleep it will scare the shit out of you.   I heard the siren go off and leaped out of bed and started my panic.   I woke up poptart and told him to get ready something was happening.   And then I just stood there while I thought about what was really happening.   Yeah I figured it was only the fire department and not a tornado.   I told Poptart I was sorry for freaking out and then went back to sleep. he he. Poor Poptart has to deal with me freaking out in the middle of the night.   All over nothing.
Date: 2004-07-21
From: The Doyle Duncannon, Pa

To: Clarks Ferry Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up and headed out to the post office first thing.   I came back to the Doyle and used the computer while I waitted for Poptart to wake up.   He came down shortly after I got back. We were all talking about the siren from the night before.   Utah Mike said he had his hands around Maybe's mouth so he wouldn't bark.   I do remember hearing a lot of noise coming from above when I heard the siren.   It was mike trying to keep the god quite.   He had the room above us.Sardine had an early start with the tall yuenglings.   Kind of set us all with beer for breakfast. This can't be good. We decided to have lunch there and then head out together for Peter's Mtn Shelter for our hiker party that night. Utah and Mtn. Goat had a 12 of Yuengling and Poptart and me picked up another 12.   This should be good we only had about 10 miles to hike that afternoon.   I got a great shot of all of everyone at the bar that day.After a couple group shots sardine went to take a nap, utan and maybe, mtn. goat and myself headed out of town.   Poptart headed to the post office and was going to meet us outside of town.   The road walk through Duncannon was hot!   This is where we decided beer for breakfast was bad.   It took us forever to leave that town.   We all just wanted to jump into the Susquehanna River. If it wasn't so muddy I might have just done that.   It was too hot to be without tree cover. I couldn't wait to be back in the woods.We crossed over the railroad tracks just in time for a train to come by. That was neat.   Then we started our climb.   We made it a quarter mile and took a hour and half break.   Lazy hikers I tell you!   Looks like we are only hiking 4 miles to the first shelter and making camp there.   You don't get much lazier then that. Well I have to say Mtn. Goat was injuried so he had a good excuse.   The rest of us were just being lazy.   boy did it feel good. Besides we had a really cold spring and a case of yuengling we didn't need to walk anymore that day.We were all suprised to see Sardine arrive into camp.   We all had fun sitting around emptying yuengling cans to make stove with.   What a great way to spend your evening in the woods.