morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-07-02
From: Rocky Mountain Shelter

To: Tentsite near Milesburn Cabin
Miles today: 10.6

"While you were out, life called. You're late."--ad for Fidelity Mutual FundsWe had an easy day of hiking today. We hit Caledonia State Park at about 10:00 and waited an hour for the pool to open. We took hot showers, swam, then lazed by the pool. We ate pizza and ice cream from the snackbar for lunch, and four hours later we were rested and ready to hike on. We thought we deserved the rest, as we've hiked 112.4 miles this past week...We LIKE hiking like this, with showers and pizza!Just a couple of miles past Caledonia, we came to the most amazing shelter on the AT, Quarry Gap Shelters. The shelters were new and clean, connected by a covered breezeway with picnic table and flowering plants. The stream was bounded by solar lighting and landscaping. It was so nice we were tempted to stay, but we decided to move on a ways. We found a nice campsite just north of a cute cabin, pitched our tent and settled in to sleep just as the rain started. Lucky again!
Date: 2003-07-03
From: Tentsite near Milesburn Cabin

To: Tagg Run Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

"There is more to life than increasing its speed."--GandhiOur plan had been to take another easy day into Pine Grove Furnace State Park and spend the night at the Ironmasters Mansion Hostel there. But after an easy hike in and cheeseburger lunch, we felt lazy just sitting around, so we decided to hike on. The plan was to do enough miles to put us within striking distance of Boiling Springs, PA for the 4th of July festivities tomorrow.Hoover passed on the 1/2 gallon challenge at PGSP. This is the 1/2 way point for AT hikers (those who DIDN'T skip most of Viriginia, anyway!) and the campstore offers free 1/2 gallon of ice cream to anyone who can eat it in a single sitting. Hoover opted for the cheeseburger, fries, and an icecream cone instead.We have a great group at this shelter tonight. Svensaw, Loony, Loser, and Green Turtle. Turtle put on a show for all of us when he accidently set his pants (his ONLY pants) on fire while extinguishing his stove. No injury, only a small hole in the crotch (or so I'm told--I refused to look)--and a new trail name for Turtle (Hot Pants). Loser played his guitar and sang for us, whike Svensaw played the harmonica. A lot of fun...
Date: 2003-07-04
From: Tagg Run Shelter

To: Backpackers Ghetto, Boiling Springs PA
Miles today: 11.8

"People get ready, there's a train a-coming" We hiked in to Boiling Springs this morning and found the ONLY place in town where camping is permitted. It's in a field near the train tracks. No water, no tables, no campfires permitted. A porta-john is the only luxury. We set up our tent just in time to get inside for the early-afternoon thunderstorm. Svensaw and Loony, Loser, and Hot Pants Turtle are also camping here.We went into town to the pool where we got a shower and washed out our clothes in the sink. No laundromat in Boiling Springs By the time we got ourselves clean and walked into town, everything had closed down for the day except a single pizza parlor (no beer served). We ate with Loser and heard his story about why he is hiking the AT (he sees it as a mission field, an opportunity to share his faith through music and testimony). On the way back to the campsite we hung out on the porch swing at the ATC regional headquarters. Loser bought some fireworks at the GettyMart. When we got back to the campsite, we found Loony and Sven who had hitched into nearby Carlisle and bought beer for everyone. We drank the beer, and the mosquitos feasted on us. Loser put on his fireworks display. We listened to the trains roll through. I don't know if you've ever tried to sleep fifty feet from train tracks with freight trains rolling through every 90 minutes, but it is an experience. Loser sang the Jeff Beck/Rod Stewart song "People get ready, there's a train a-comin'" and we all made up funny lyrics about camping by the tracks. We made the best of it, and planned to sleep-walk to Darlington Shelter tomorrow...
Date: 2003-07-05
From: Backpackers Ghetto, Boiling Springs PA

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the tings you didn't do than by the ones you did. So...Explore,. Dream."--Mark TwainToday's walk was relatively flat and took us through Pennsylvania farm lands. This was the first day that we spent a lot of time out in the sunshine, and it was a cooker! We hiked with Jimmy, Andrea (now named "The Elves" because of their red and green nylon packs) and Andrea's sister, Sarah. Jimmy is a Wildlife management graduate, so he was able to identify some of the wildflowers we've been seeing. He also told me the name of my favorite bird, the red-eyed varios. It has such a beautiful call, I'm glad to know its name.Just short of the shelter we found a beautiful rock bench built into the hill next to the trail. It offered a great view of the valley below, and a nice place to shoot the breeze while recovering from the climb up the mountain. We got to the shelter just in time to set up our tent before the afternoon thundershowers hit. We waited out the storms reading a three day-old newspaper and working the crossword. This shelter is dumpy--it looks like someone's lawn-tractor shed (painted red and white?!) and sleeps maybe four people. There are about twenty hikers here tonight, mostly tenting. Sven & Loony, Loser (and some of his friends from church who are spending one night on the trail with us), Blink-Blink, Hot Pants Turtle, Pup and Pops, among others. Loser and friends will treat us to a concert tonight. We love the music and the time together with other hikers around the campfire.
Date: 2003-07-06
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

"if you know you're going to look back on today and laugh, you might as well start laughing now."--AnonymousOur friends, Miracle Mike and Cam, told us early on that hiking the AT will lower our IQ. Their theory was that hikers make so few decisions (which pair of dirty socks is the cleanest? shall we eat macaroni and cheese or ramen noodles tonight? should we sleep in a tent or in the shelter?) that their IQs plummet. May be there's some truth in that.What no one told me is that my cleanliness standards would also plummet. I started hiking the trail with the best of intentions, but, well, reality intervenes. I admit it. I stink most of the time. I smell okay after a shower and laundry, but that situation lasts hours at best. Lets face it, a sponge bath on the trail can only do so much. And, as another hiker friend told us, putting deodorant on a hiker is like putting perfume on dog poop. We try, but I'm afraid it's a lost cause.So, you ask, why am I sharing this with you? I guess it's the Hotel Doyle in Duncannon that's done it to me. I'm a broken woman. I was actually happy to get a room here. And it is, to put a kind spin on things, a DIVE. In my pre-hike days I wouldn't have been caught dead here. Our mattress is sprung. The lighting is a bare bulb. There's no AC, and the room fan rattles and wheezes. The ceiling is water stained. The bathroom is down the hall. And the kicker is--we're considering staying here another night. I have sunk to a low that I never imagined possible, and it's actually liberating. We just laugh and deal with it. After you've hiked for four days, sweating, without a shower, slapping at gnats and mosquitos, anyplace with running water is a step up.Pray for me, friends. The Hotel Doyle actually looks good to me...
Date: 2003-07-09
From: Campsite 1.0 miles S of PA 325

To: PA 325
Miles today: 1.0

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."--Dr. SeussHoover was pretty much stunned when I told him this morning that I didn¢t want to go on to Delaware Water Gap. Poor guy¢yesterday morning I had been talking confidently about completing the entire AT, and today I¢m headed home. But he is a true partner, and he committed to getting me home safely, then resuming his own hike. We packed up and left the campground behind us. The mile walk to PA 325 seemed like ten to me. My foot ached horribly, but my heart ache was deeper. While I knew the decision to quit was right for me, it was still unbearably hard for me to leave the trail. I boo-hooed all of the way to the road, and the tears continued while we were waiting for a hitch. We had just given up on getting a ride and started walking towards town when a car stopped for us.Our ride was a biology teacher from the community college in Harrisburg, on her way to work. What were the odds? Harrisburg is where we needed to go to rent a car. We¢d decided to rent a car in Harrisburg, drive down to Front Royal, VA to pick up our Jeep, and then decide what to do. By five p.m. we were back in Harrisburg with our Jeep and had returned the rental. Hoover¢s heel was bothering him a lot, so rather than taking him straight back to the trail, we stayed overnight in Harrisburg to consider our options. We finally decided to drive back to Arkansas together. He would see his regular physician about his heel and ankle swelling. He would also be able to see our grandsons before heading back to the trail.
Date: 2003-01-16
To: Kicking Into High Gear
Miles today: 0.0

Kicking Into High GearThe past month has been a blur. Let¢s see, what happened¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦Well, the holidays were great with our sons here and also my sister Karen with her son, Jake.We watched movies, ate out, played in the snow and just enjoyed each other¢s company.On New Year¢s Eve our friends Mark and Mary Anne joined us along with their son, Justin and his friend, for an evening of sharing good conversation in front of a warm fire. Mary Anne told us that there¢s an Irish tradition where if a dark haired man is the first to come in your door in the New Year it is good luck, so we sent 3 of the fellows out into the cold only to turn around and come in again. Wow, we should have very good luck this year!I was able to find a transcriber with the help of Trail Journals, a fellow from Maine by the name of Bob Farrell; Farmer Bob is his trail name. Bob and I have e-mailed several times and he promises to do a great job for me. I have no doubts at all Bob, none. My 0o Puma bag has arrived and I can¢t wait to use it this weekend. The temps will be in the single digits tonight, with highs in the 20s for the next week, so it will be a good test of my bag and hiking clothes. My hiking companions are coming to the cottage for a 4-day immersion into hiker mania. For the first time all four of us will be together and we will finally get to meet the elusive Clair. On my walk in the woods with the dogs today I felt as if my feet had wings and I could walk forever. It was so beautiful with the snow coming down and the hushed sounds. I realized that I wasn¢t wearing my 3.5 lb. Vasques, but a pair of 22 oz boots. Wow, what a difference. Now I¢m really concerned. It was a big difference. I mean a BIG difference. If I was that aware of it during a 1-mile walk, what would the difference be after a 10-mile day? It was so important to me to have the protection and warmth of the Vasque¢s starting out since there¢s a good chance of snow in the higher elevations. I like warm, dry feet.I¢m sure I¢ll be doing this right up until I walk off into the woods at Springer. Do I have the right boots, food, clothes, etc? I¢ll just tell myself to hang in there; I can get anything I need in about 30 miles at Walasi-Yi!My excitement for this adventure is at times overwhelming. It calls forth feelings of monumental physical and emotional strength only to be followed by that sinking feeling in my gut that something has gone very wrong. I feel lost, yet comfortingly found at the same time. Let's get this show on the road........the suspence is killing me!
Date: 2003-02-08
To: As The Time Flies By..................
Miles today: 0.0

p>January came to a close quickly and quietly. We went to Jersey to celebrate my 50th birthday with family. It still feels like Mom should be there when we arrive even though she¢s been gone almost 2 years.I got to see my brother, sisters, nieces and nephew for the last time before my trip. What I had of my mail drop things were handed over to my brother and will be sent to me when summoned later in the year; summer bag, trail shoes, tevas, food, etc, all waiting patiently until it¢s their turn on the Appalachian Trail.The Composer has arrived. It¢s my pocket mail device that will be used to keep in touch with family and friends, along with sending my journals to Farmer Bob in Maine who has graciously offered to put them onto trailjournals.com for all of you to read.I finally slept in my Puma 0o bag, and with my Patagonia Expedition Weight Long Johns, was too warm on the 30o night. I think I¢ll trade the 14 oz long johns for a mid weight pair.Aaron is coming this morning for a 6 mile or so hike; another test of our fortitude as the temps are only supposed to be in the teens today and we have a slight wind. This time we will be more careful about choosing a good place to eat lunch, in the sun and out of the wind.Since our last outing where I had trouble with my matches and Toby had trouble with his Bic, I have purchased a Brunton Helios Storm Trooper Lighter. This little bugger only weighs 1.8 ounces and can withstand a 70-80 mph wind, is water proof and sounds like a rocket when fired up! I¢ll still carry a few waterproof matches as a back up.The only thing that I still have to get is a Patagonia Fleece and a few more light weight stuff sacks. I may get a compression sack for my sleeping bag too.My winter backpacking class starts on Tuesday night and I¢m really looking forward to it. Two classes at Expedition Outfitters and then we¢re off to the Laurel Highlands for a weekend later in the month. This really helps to pass the time while I wait for my departure date to arrive.I¢ve purchased a homeopathic kit to carry with me on the trip. I think it will be worth the weight. I¢ve been busy reading my Encyclopedia of Homeopathy and only wish that I could carry the reading material with me.I instant messaged with Bear Kat this morning and can feel the excitement and anticipation for his departure from Springer in just a few weeks. Seeing and meeting all of the hikers that I¢ve e-mailed with on trail journals this past year will be so fulfilling and rewarding for me. I¢ve gotten so much support and knowledge about backpacking from these special people.Aaron has arrived and we¢re off to the woods¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦.
Date: 2003-02-09
To: Another Great Hike
Miles today: 0.0

Sorry about the "Updated Today" slip up on my journal yesterday! I had the button set to NO for "Display in Journal". I had 3 entries that were missing, but Zipdrive set me straight. Oh, and thanks Leif and Zip for the magic that sizes my photos correctly now!Aaron ( !Twofiddy ) arrived yesterday and since I was already on instant message with Toby, he got on the computer and I took the dogs out "to go" before we got on the road. I'm so lucky to have a magnificent park in which to train just 4 miles from our home. We started out at 11:10AM and didn't break for lunch until 2 hours later. It was a gorgeous day with the temperature topping off at 16o and the elusive western Pennsylvania winter sun shinging brightly in a gloriously blue sky. We couldn't have asked for a better hiking day. I carried 20 lbs. for the first time and it was very comfortable. I will probably be right at 23 lbs. with food and water for my AT hike.Lunch for me was a chicken and noodle Mountain House meal, some trail mix, and a piece of energy bar that Aaron's Grandma had made for him that was very tasty.I used my esbit stove for the first time and since my MSR t-pot still hasn't arrived, I used a can to heat my water. Aaron enjoyed a chicken and stuffing meal he had dehydrated himself that smelled delicious. After an hour we headed back onto the trail.We both fell several times during the day on ice that was hidden under the snow. We have many springs here that come out of the side of a hill and the ice builds up across a trail or even along it so that you're walking on ice for 50-100 feet sometimes. Once it's snow covered, you just don't know when you are going to come across it and it makes the hike that much more exciting. I kept my hands out of the straps on my hiking poles because of Two Scoops shoulder injury last winter!I was surprised not to see any deer this time out; last time we saw several dozen. We did see plenty of people though. Most asked about where we were headed with our full packs and winter gear. One older fellow told us about a book that he's reading called Four Blind Mice where people on the Appalachian Trail get killed. We thanked him for sharing and chuckled as we walked away.An hour later we were back at the trail head, stretching tired muscles and loading up the Jeep for the short ride home. The only thing that I would have changed was wearing my blaclava instead of the sherpa hat. The hat kept my head toasty warm but I like my cheeks covered when it's that cold.Aaron took a short nap and endured Sooner's licks while I signed up for my pocketmail service on the computer. I was able to get the address I wanted: Journey@pocketmail.com so I think I'm at the point where all systems are go.
Date: 2003-02-10
To: Off to Katahdin, A Poem
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Off To KatahdinOne, two lift that shoeIt¢s over the hill I go.Three, four hit the tent floorTo awaken strong and renewed.Five, six ignore the clicksThat happen in my knees and such.Seven, eight isn¢t it greatNever done ANYTHING that I loved so much.Nine, ten do it againI¢m one-day closer and soWith a happy heart and open armsIt¢s off to Katahdin I go!
Date: 2003-02-14
To: Happy Valentine's Day
Miles today: 0.0

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! The older that I get the more I realize that Love is the most important thing in our lives. I don't just mean romantic Love but also the Love that grows between family and friends. With Love in our lives we can weather the bad times, dream about the good times and make the world a better place for everyone around us. Not just today, but every day I wish you all Love........ Namaste
Date: 2003-02-14
To: Transcriber Intro.
Miles today: 0.0

Hello, my name is Farmer Bob (Bob Farrell) and I'll be transcribing Journey's (Diane Manning) AT thru-hike.I am an avid hiker and I hike up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire whenever I can. I am currently working on becoming a member of the AMC's Four Thousand Footers Club of the White Mountains. To become a member, I must climb 48 mountains in the White Mountains that are over 4000'. I have climbed 23 of them so far. I also have a website for hikers that are working towards membership into the Four Thousand Footers Club. The websites name is "4000'ers Journals of the White Mountains" at http://www.4kjournals.20m.comI started winter hiking in the White Mountains last year and I love it. I am also working on the Winter 4000 Footers list and I have hiked two mountains so far. I have hiked for over 12 years. I have hiked sections of the A.T. in New York, New Jersey, and New Hampshire. I hope someday to be able to hike the entire A.T. I also hike with my wife and 5 year old son. My wife Jenifer carries our 1 year old daughter on her back with a Kelty Kid Carrier. It's fun getting out with the whole family.I am very happy to be able to transcribe Journey's journals on Trail Journals. I day dream quite a bit about thru hiking the AT and I think that transcribing for a thru-hiker will be the next best thing. I plan on doing the best job possible and it should be fun. Good luck on your thru-hike Journey and we'll hear from you on the trail.Happy hiking, Farmer Bob
Date: 2003-02-15
To: Passing Time
Miles today: 0.0

Well, now that you have all met Bob, my transcriber, there's nothing left to do but count the hours until I start my adventure. Let's see............I usually count on Toby for this detailed information but if my calculations are correct, it should be 25 days, 22.5 hours until we leave for Georgia, and 28 days, 1/2 hour until we put our feet on Springer Mt. for the first time. Now I'm exhausted from all that math.Yesterday I stopped by Smith's Meats to get some steaks for Valentine's Day dinner and the mountain of freshly packed beef jerky in the meat case caught my eye. After tasting a sample I bought 6 packs of the most delicious jerky I have ever had. Having gone without lunch and being quite hungry, I tore open a package of the jerky with my teeth (Sorry Drs Larry and Steve--the Leatherman was at home) and ate every piece on the ride to work. Craig and Bruce, I'll think of you every time I open a package of it on the trail. The first week of March I'll put in an order for more jerky and also some of their beef sticks. These will be great bargaining tools on the trail! "I'll trade you 2 beef sticks for a litre of FILTERED water".I have now sent and received messages on the pocketmail. I'll probably be carrying the booklet for the first month on the trail--this device does so much and I can't seem to find the time to sit still to learn all about it. Try it out: Journey@pocketmail.comI'm in the process of sealing my tent and have made 2 small repairs in the corners where the handles from the hiking poles rest. I'm doing this in the living room and have found the cats in it on several occasions, so I hope I don't find any more little holes. p>For the last 4 days the weathermen had been talking about the huge storm that they were expecting to dump 10" of snow on us this weekend. I was stocked with chocolate milk, popcorn, and all of the other essentials for a big storm. Last night before bed I checked in on weather.com to see the latest update for the Beaver Falls area. Our severe winter storm warning had been changed; the storm was going to be passing south of us. We're getting nothing. Nada. Zip. I feel cheated big time!
Date: 2003-03-09
To: Pocketmail and Transcribers
Miles today: 0.0

One week from yesterday, I will stand on top of Springer Mountain for the first timeand after many hugs, last minute thoughts and tearful goodbyes, embark on my adventure of a lifetime.Today I'll pick up a fresh batch of beef sticks and jerky from Smith's Meats,add them to the 3 boxes that will be sent to my brother who is in charge of mymail drops, and head out to the post office.My pack has been packed, weighed, unpacked, packed, weighed and unpacked moretimes than you can imagine, unless of course you are one of those readers thathas already done this or are about to. Oh well, it does help me to pass time.Nathan, a computer wiz co-worker has agreed to let me send my digital cameradisks to him while I'm on the trail. He will put them on CDs, put severalon my website, and return the empty disk to wherever I will be. Thanks Nate fortaking over this responsibility for me.This is the first entry that I have composed on my pocket mail device and sentto Farmer Bob for transcribing. Good luck Bob, and if you find any mis-spelledwords, go ahead and correct them. Boy do I miss my Word spell check!