morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-05-29
From: Paris, VA

To: Harpers Ferry,WV
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Rain began during the night. I broke down my tent and packed my backpack in a lite drizzle. Everything in my pack was pretty well wet. I am lite on food and I believe I made a logistical mistake by not having gone into Front Royal,VA to resupply. The weather report for today called for rain all day and tonight. At Ashby Gap ( VA HWY 50) after having walked 9.4 miles, I made a decision to stop for the day and seek food and shelter rather than to press on another 13 miles thru the roller coaster (a 13 mile stretch of continuous ups and downs) to the Bears Den Hostel. A good decision it was. Despite first walking almost a mile the wrong direction on HWY 50, walking back uphill, walking another mile into Paris,VA, all the while almost getting run over by cars and trucks flying by on HWY 50 (there is not much space along America's highways for a walker. I had to jump over in the ditch several times to avoid getting hit), I found the Ashby Inn and what a find. They took in a wet, dirty,smelly, and tired hiker and gave me shelter (at a good rate I might add). Before checking in, they directed me over to their restaurant next door where I had a delicious lunch which included a lamb burger with feta cheese, French fries, two loafs of homemade bread (brought in from a Tribeca bakery in New York City), and chocolate cake with beet ice cream (can't say I have ever had beet ice cream). I even treated myself to a glass of 12 year old VanWinkle (almost impossible to get the 20 year old Pappy VanWinkle). I spent my time in the afternoon drying out my stuff, washing my cloths in the bathroom sink, watching it rain, and taking a good long nap. Man oh man life was good to me today. I can't put into words my feeling of good fortune today. My spirits have been lifted. A little about the Ashby Inn: part of the Inn was built in 1829 by Manley Pierce with the rest of the building being constructed in stages throughout the Civil War. It was on the original front porch that General Stonewall Jackson slept on his way with his troops to the First Battle of Manassas on the night of June 17,1861. My room tonight is upstairs above the front porch. Tomorrow morning (Friday) I hit the trail again with the hope of reaching Harpers Ferry,WV by mid-day on Saturday, May. 31. I need to walk roughly 32 miles in the next day and a half to get there on Saturday. Piece of cake.
Date: 2014-05-30
From: Wilson Gap mile 1005.9

To: Harpers Ferry,WV
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: light rain

Milestones: I went over 1000 miles walked, I made it out of Virginia (wahoo. It took me a month to walk Virginia from stem to stern. Virginia is a beautiful state and for the record it is a hilly state (at least the parts I walked ), I finished walking the Roller Coaster (a 13 mile stretch of continuous ups and downs), and I am within spitting distance of Harpers Ferry, WV. I got a late start from the Ashby Inn, Paris, VA (where I spent the night) this morning because they didn't serve breakfast until 8:30am. At around 9:30am I finally got back to the trail. I immediately ran into Mike and we walked and talked together for a couple of hours. At around 4:00pm I got to the Bears Den Hostel (an old stone summer home built years ago in the mountains by a Doctor now a hostel run by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy) where I hoped to buy some food snacks. The sign at the hostel camp store said the store would open at 5pm. I sat around over an hour talking with Mobius who planned to spend the night at the hostel. At 5:10pm the camp store had not yet opened and I pushed on hoping to make it to the Blackburn AT Center for the evening. I stopped at the Horseshoe Curve Restaurant. near Snickers Gap (HWY 7 and 679. Another one of those four lane roads with people going 1,000 miles per hour in their noisy vehicles and you have to run like a stray dog to get across otherwise they will run over you. Where are people going in such a hurry?)I walked until around 9 pm and had not made it to the Blackburn AT Center. It was getting too dark to see the trail so I pitched my tent just off the trail and am tenting alone at Wilson Gap, mile 1005.9. Thus ends a sketchy recap of Day. 77.
Date: 2014-05-31
From: Harpers Ferry,WV

To: MT Katahdin
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: broken clouds

This afternoon, May 31, I arrived in Harpers Ferry,WV, immediately went to the Appalachian Trail Conservatory (ATC) to register as a thru hiker, and had my sweaty, 78 day old beard, photo taken for the 2014 photo album. I was #333 thru hiker to register so far this year at the ATC. Harpers Ferry seemed to be just a dream when I stepped off with hope and trepidation from Springer Mountain Georgia on the Saturday afternoon of March 15. Now I will leave Harpers Ferry with the same hope and dream of making it to Maine. I am going to hate to see this experience ever end. Another great day in this journey. I packed up from where I was tenting beside the trail and walked in the early morning sunrise to the Blackburn Trail Center (operated by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy) where a gentleman named "Trail Boss" (from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club) brewed me the best cup of coffee I have had since I started my walk. I left the Blackburn Trail Center and walked to Ray's Gap (West Virginia HWY 9. Sure feels good to type West Virginia instead of Virginia) and went to The Sweet Springs Country Store Gas Station where I got a bologna sandwich, potato chips, a quart of cold milk, and I sat under a shade tree by a pond next to the store and had a great picnic. After lunch I made it into the psychological half way point of Harpers Ferry. I am going to rest for a day or so here in Harpers Ferry then it's off into Maryland ( my fifth State) heading north.
Date: 2014-06-01
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Maryland
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Just a restful Sunday in Harpers Ferry, WV. A lot of history in this tiny town. I learned walking around the old part of Harpers Ferry today that in 1803 Merriweather Lewis came to Harpers Ferry to obtain weapons and a collapsible boat for his and William Clark's Corps of Discovery Expedition. After a visit to the post office tomorrow morning to mail some stuff home I am out of here and pressing on northward into Maryland. After about 24 hours in town I feel the need to take a walk. Got my sights set on the Mason- Dixon Line.
Date: 2014-06-02
From: Dahlgren Backpack Campground

To: Pennsylvania
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I visited the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC ) again this morning and re-took my photo for the 2014 ATC hiker log. I wanted my backpack to be in the photo. After leaving the ATC, I walked by the Jefferson Rock named after Thomas Jefferson. From the Jefferson Rock is a view of the confluence of the Shenandoah River and the Potomac River. Jefferson said that the scene of the two rivers coming together at Harpers Ferry was "worth a voyage across the Atlantic." Around 10am I walked out of Harpers Ferry,WV and into Maryland (my sixth state). I walked for several miles along the former tow path for the old Chesapeake and Ohio canal. My afternoon walk in Maryland took me thru Gathland State Park where there is a War Correspondents Museum. The afternoon's trail was very rocky and hard on my feet. I am tented for the night at the Dahlgren Backpack Campground near Boonsboro, MD. The campground is very nice with picnic tables and a restroom with Showers (with hot water). When I walked into the campground Caveman and his wife, Light Foot, offered me some pizza they had brought from town. Tenting nearby at the campground are 50/50, JoHawk, and several other section hikers.
Date: 2014-06-03
From: Raven Rock Shelter

To: Pennsylvania
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Photo opportunity of the day was the original Washington Monument (see photo to the left ), Boonsboro ,MD. On July. 4, 1827 the monument was started by the citizens of Boonsboro to honor George Washington, the Father of this country we live in. I walked 18.8 miles over very rocky trail. Good preparation for Pennsylvania I suppose. Tenting near the new Raven Rock Shelter. Nice two story log shelter. I don't like sleeping in shelters and I sleep better in the privacy and personal space of my tent. The weather is good tonight. I do enjoy the conversation and fellowship around the picnic table outside the shelter before I go to bed. Staying in the shelter are Jo Hawk, Mandol, XC, Big Spoon, and Toast. I am tired and that is about all I have for today.
Date: 2014-06-04
From: Tumbling Run Shelters

To: Boiling Springs,PA
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

Photo Op of the day, leaving Maryland and Crossing The Mason-Dixon Line ( see photo to the left). Per the AWOL Trail Guide: Surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon "were commissioned to set the northern Maryland border on a line of latitude 15 miles south of the southernmost home in Philadelphia at the time of the survey." Before crossing into Pennsylvania this morning, Jo Hawk (from Kansas) and I shared a shuttle into Waynesboro,PA where we went to Martins Grocery store for food resupply and we ate at the all you can eat lunch buffet at the Golden Coral Restaurant. We got our monies worth. After lunch I got back on the trail and walked eight miles to the Tumbling Rocks Shelters where I am tenting for the night. I will likely be in Pennsylvania for the next two weeks. The last half of Pennsylvania is known for a section of trail which is very rocky. Hence, Pennsylvania is sometimes referred to as Rocksylvania. Sometimes the rocks of Pennsylvania end a thru hikers journey due to the toll they take on the feet/ankles/knees. I hope these legs make it thru the rocks. I am tenting tonight and it is suppose to rain throughout the night. Great for sleeping but it will be a soggy breakdown in the morning.
Date: 2014-06-05
From: mile 1089.7

To: Boiling Springs,PA
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: light rain

Took the photo of the sign to the left today on South Mountain, PA. The sign reads: "Timber Rattle Snakes Protected on South Mountain. It is unlawful for a person to hunt, take, catch, or kill timber rattle snakes." For the record I am okay with leaving the timber rattle snakes alone on South Mountain. I hope the feeling is mutual. After the rain lifted this morning the day became very pleasant with a nice cool breeze. Stopped mid-day at Caledonia State Park for lunch. Tomorrow I reach the geographical half way point after which time the remaining miles to MT Katahdin, Maine will be less than the miles I have walked. The rocks of Pennsylvania loom on the horizon. <
Date: 2014-06-06
From: Deer Run Campground

To: Boiling Springs ,PA
Miles today: 19.3

It truly was an enjoyable day. So many things happened today. First I went over the half way point in the trail (see photo left). Next I did the half gallon ice cream challenge at the Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The half gallon ice cream challenge is to eat a half gallon of ice cream at the Pine Grove Furnace State Park General Store in observance of crossing the half way point. I downed a half gallon of Black Cherry ice cream in an even 20 minutes. Next I went over 1100 miles walked. The weather was great today, nice and cool with low humidity. To cap off the day, I am staying in a cabin at the Deer Run Campground with Jo Hawk, Crocs, Tatiana, and Lyons. The campground has showers, laundry, and we got Italian food delivered to the campground for Supper. Just a great day as I continue to be able to move north and closer to home.
Date: 2014-06-07
From: Boiling Springs ,PA

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: broken clouds

Short day. Pacing my feet and my legs thru Pennsylvania. I have been walking in trail runner shoes since Harpers Ferry and they are just not providing enough support for my feet in the rocky sections of the trail that I have been walking and the trail that I will soon be walking. I have had the boots that I started this hike with mail dropped to the Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, Pa and I will get to Duncannon in a couple of days. Hopefully my old boots will be better for my feet as I proceed thru Pennsylvania. I am spending the night in Boiling Springs,PA at the Allenberry Resort Inn and Playhouse. The Allenberry Inn is located on several acres. There are several lodging buildings and a theater playhouse is located on the Inn property. The Allenberry is a peaceful place to take a rest break. I am up and back at it tomorrow morning. Not much else to report for Day 85.
Date: 2014-06-08
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 21.8
Weather: overcast clouds

This day began with a great breakfast buffet at the Allenberry Resort and Inn, Boiling Springs, PA. I had breakfast with Mike. The Luxes (a husband and wife from Luxembourg who are thru hiking) were also at breakfast. The Allenberry's speciality is their sticky buns. They bake a large pan of sticky buns (a pan about two feet by one foot or more) of sticky buns for all their buffets. All you can eat sticky buns. The sticky buns alone are worth a stay at the Allenberry. After breakfast, I got back on the trail this bright sunshiny Sunday morning. My morning walking was in the farm fields of the Pennsylvania Cumberland Valley. I enjoyed the break from the rocks, enjoyed the flatness of the trail, and enjoyed seeing the Pennsylvania farm fields newly planted in corn and soy beans. At one point in the afternoon I walked on a bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Late afternoon took me back to walking on rocky trail. Around. 6pm it began to rain lightly. I walked in the drizzle until about 7pm and made it to Cove Mountain Shelter. Unbelievably I am the only one at the shelter. At about 8 pm it began to rain hard. I am enjoying having the shelter to myself, enjoying being in out of the hard rain, and enjoying hearing the rain fall on the shelter roof. After 21.8 miles I am physically tired and will sleep well on this rainy night.
Date: 2014-06-09
From: mile 1147.7

To: New Jersey
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: overcast clouds

My Day: Got into Duncannon,PA around 9:30am. Ate breakfast at Goodies Restaurant. Did laundry at the Sonny Daze laundromat. Went to the Doyle Hotel (owned by Vickie and Pat. See photo left) to pick up my mail drop of the boots I started with which I had previously mailed home. Ate a cheeseburger and fries at the Doyle Hotel (if you haven't noticed there's an eating theme here). Bought some groceries at the Quick Mart (more food). Walked to the Post Office and mailed home the trail runner shoes I have been using since Harpers Ferry, WV which have about crippled me in the rocky trail of Pennsylvania. Around 2pm walked out of Duncannon. Didn't make a lot of progress so I decided to quit walking around 5:30pm. Tenting alone at approximately mile point 1147.7. Planning on putting in some longer walking days the rest of the week now that I have footwear more suited to the rocky trail. If all goes well I am aiming to exit Pennsylvania by the middle of next week. Rocks are beautiful but another week of them will be sufficient. Time to get it on for a few days.
Date: 2014-06-10
From: Spring Camp Site mile 1172

To: New Jersey
Miles today: 24.3
Weather: few clouds

Highlight of the day was seeing Time To Eat bringing the Trail Magic to Pennsylvania at HWY 325. Time To Eat and I started this adventure bright eyed and several pounds heavier on March 15 from Springer Mountain Georgia. Time To Eat has a job back in the world and was on leave from his job for 90 days. His goal was to hike to Harpers Ferry, WV before his leave ran out. He made it to Harpers Ferry on June 2. The first hundred miles Time To Eat and I hiked together every day. After the first hundred miles we hiked at different paces and our paths occasionally crossed. Time To Eat always told me that when he got off at Harpers Ferry he was going to do trail magic in Pennsylvania. Right on time he was waiting today at HWY 325 with cold sodas and Little Debbie Snack Cakes. The rest of the day was grind em out miles. I walked 24.3 miles today with a gimpy left ankle. I sprained/strained my left ankle last Saturday (6/7). With a dietary supplement of Vitamin I (ibuprofen) I have been able to keep on walking. I let my ankle know today that I wasn't paying attention to the pain. I am going to keep on walking anyway. At about 8pm I quit walking and set up my tent by a large stream. Around dark Speedy G, who I haven't seem since Hot Springs, NC, Texting, and Mayonnaise Pocket, both of whom I first saw in the Smokies, caught up to me at the camp site. Funny how that happens out here. I am going to sleep well with the sound of this stream as background music. Back at it with Day 89 tomorrow.
Date: 2014-06-11
From: Pine Grove,PA

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: light rain

997.7, that's how many miles I have to go. Sounds so much better than 2,000 miles or 1,500 miles to go. Still a long way to go but less than 1000 miles to go. Usually the birds wake me up around 5am chirping at the top of their lungs. This morning around 5am a thunderstorm woke me up then the rain put me back to sleep. I waited for the thunderstorm to pass then I packed up my soggy gear. I finally got to walking at about 7:30am. That's later than I normally get started. I walked all day under overcast, gray, gloomy, rain threatening skies. The weather doesn't really matter in Pennsylvania. I spend all my time looking down at the trail trying to figure out how to sidestep rocks or how to step on a rock without falling. I have only slipped and fallen twice so far in Pennsylvania but it's early yet. Not much time for daydreaming or looking around at the scenery in Pennsylvania. This sore left ankle I have is not helping negotiate the rocks any easier. This is the first problem I have had with my feet or legs. I believe it was caused by the new footwear I began using at Harpers Ferry, WV. I have switched back to the boots I started with and this seems to be helping. I may have to take a day off to give my ankle a rest. At 4 pm I got a shuttle into Pine Grove, PA where I am drying out and resupplying. My plan is to get back at it tomorrow morning but that may change.
Date: 2014-06-12
From: Pine Grove, PA

To: Port Clinton , PA
Miles today: 0.0

Zero miles. Zero day spent in Pine Grove ,PA. I had to give my ankle and feet a day off. Minus a visit to the Dollar General Store next to the Motel and a visit to an Arby's Restaurant next to the motel I pretty much stayed in a prone position the rest of the day. The Comfort Inn in Pine Grove, PA was a good place to zero. There are a couple of restaurants and a Dollar General Store within a couple of hundred yards of the motel. I did my laundry at the Pilot Truck Stop about a quarter mile up the road. The Pilot Truck Stop has a Subway and a Dairy Queen inside the store. If one needs a shower the Pilot Truck Stop also has showers at the store. Overall a pretty convenient zero location and not far from the trail. I am getting ansy to get moving forward but the rest was needed. The shuttle driver is picking me up tomorrow morning and my focus now is on completing my journey out of Pennsylvania next week. I need to put Pennsylvania behind me.
Date: 2014-06-13
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Port Clinton,PA and beyond
Miles today: 17.1

Keynote of the day: I am over. 1200 miles walked. At 8 am, the shuttle driver, Joyce, picked me up at the motel. Turned out another hiker named Grey Ghost was at the motel and was also being picked up by Joyce. I have known Grey Ghost from before I started this walk. He also lives in the Atlanta, GA area and one February day we met at a Starbucks Coffee Shop in Woodstock,GA to talk about our hopes, our dreams, and our plans for this venture we are currently undertaking. Grey Ghost is an engineer so he showed up to our meeting with a detailed plan of his whole hike. I showed up with my hands in my pockets and no plans. Yet we have arrived at the same location today. For the past three months our paths have crossed several places as we make our way north. Grey Ghost fell more than 50 feet down an embankment off the trail in Harpers Ferry,WV. If not for a tree stopping his fall he could have tumbled further. As result of his fall he was taken to the Hospital in Charlestown,WV. Obviously falling down a mountain was not discussed at our hopes, dreams, and plans pre-hike meeting. Grey Ghost has recovered, is still upright, and headed north. At 8:15am Grey Ghost and myself got dropped off at PA HWY 645 by the shuttle driver. Grey Ghost and I hiked together all day. The trail today was either rocky or was full of standing water from the recent rains. My feet quickly became soaked and will remain that way for several days until I get my boots dried out. I walked my way for 17.1 hard earned miles today. Around 5:30 pm I quit walking and am tenting with Grey Ghost near the Eagles Nest Shelter. Not much else to report from Pennsylvania. Not even much to take photos of today. Just walking and concentrating on difficult footing. On to day 92.
Date: 2014-06-14
From: mile 1222.8

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 18.1

It was a fun day. It's always fun to go into town. By 6:20am I was on the trail walking. At 10:45am, after a steep decent, I made it into Port Clinton, PA. The Appalachian Trail runs right through Port Clinton. My first stop was the Peanut Shop, a nut/candy store, where I loaded up with about five pounds of candy. Interesting that the only store in Port Clinton is a nut/candy store. Next, I went to the town pavilion where I set up my tent and laid out my wet socks, clothes, and boots to dry in the sun. I then put on my "cleanest" clothes and went to the Port Clinton Hotel Bar where I had a Philly Cheese Steak and a "small" order of fries. Glad I didn't order a large order of fries. The small order of fries was an enormous basket of fries. There must have been two pounds or more of fries in the basket. After lunch I went back to the town pavilion where I got back into some good old dirty hiking clothes, put my wet boots back on, packed up my gear, and headed out of town. On the way out of town I met a young hiker sitting on the side of the street with his shoes off and nursing his feet. He said he had also resupplied at the Peanut Shop. After walking a short distance, while going up the hill out of Port Clinton, the young man passed me walking very fast. After a little while I came upon the young man again at a spring getting water. He told me his name is Joey Camps, trail name Flash (photo left). He is attempting to set the record for the fastest unsupported thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. I believe he told me he started on May 15 and is averaging 45 miles per day. I could be off on the average miles per day. He might have said 35 miles per day? In any event he is moving right along. He said at his current pace he will break the record easily. He plans to finish on July 6. Interesting young man. The blog for his hike is at joeycamps.blogspot.com. I wrapped up the day walking a total of 18.1 Pennsylvania miles. I am becoming used to the rocky trail in PA. Rocky trail has become the new normal for me. I am stealth camping alone at mile 1222.7. I hope I am not camping in a no camping zone. Too late. I have already set up my tent and am ready for bed.