morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-06-05
From: Trail Tentsite

To: Iron Mansion
Miles today: 11.9

Half Way!!We heard the loud rumble of thunder around 6 am. Because we were camping on our own in our tents, we thought it best to quickly pack up and get going in case the skies opened up. We were on the trail by 6:45--the earliest ever. It never did rain on us, but we later heard there was a brief but totally drenching rain at the shelter two miles further north. In just over nine miles, we were there--the half way point. Although our guide book said there was no official sign, there was, in fact, a large elaborate sign--erected on April 9, 2011, just in time for us. I had a moment of that tingling, I could almost start to cry feeling. We have hiked over 1000 miles and our half way to Maine. It's a wonderful feeling, as is knowing that we get to do this for another 12 weeks or so. A couple of miles after the sign, we got to Pine Grove Furnace State Park, the home of the half gallon ice cream challenge. We waited until the group of thruhikers we knew were behind us arrived before eating our ice cream. Although the challenge involves one person eating a half gallon, we decided to team up and have one half gallon between the two of us. That was plenty of ice cream and totally fun to do. We spent the rest of the day hanging out at the park, chatting, talking to and emailing folks back home, and enjoying the warm weather and a slow day. Tomorrow morning we get a waffle breakfast at the hostel and then it's back on the trail for the second half of our fantastic adventure.
Date: 2011-06-06
From: Iron Mansion

To: Backpackers Campsite at Boiling Springs
Miles today: 19.1

Pennsylvania Pleasures--And NotSometimes hostels are disappointing. The Iron Mansion promised a spaghetti dinner and a waffle breakfast as part of the hiker rate. We were hoping for something more than a mound of frozen spaghetti we had to microwave for dinner and frozen Eggo waffles for breakfast. However, we have been eating well, so we managed. We were then treated with more delightful Pennsylvania hiking. We know that, at some point, we will encounter the dreaded Pennsylvania rocks, but right now, the trail is mostly gentle, smooth and shaded. We did have a short but steep climb in the afternoon--up to the rock maze. It's a big jumble of very large boulders. There are many ways one could get around the boulders. We think the trail makers decided to have fun with the hikers, so they painted the blazes on the rocks in such a way as to maximize the climbing and squeezing through required to get through. And, in fact, it was kind of fun. We were moving faster than we anticipated, so we decided to skip the shelter and go on to Boiling Springs, where the guide book said there was a free backpacker's campground. We had passed one earlier in Maryland, and had a vision of a similar place--wooded, picnic tables, flat sites and a high quality privy. What we found was a small, buggy grassy clearing with a port-o-potty--right by the train tracks and with no water source. We set up our tents and walked into town to find water. That's when we saw Caffe 101--a small coffee shop with great salads and sandwiches. We love our pizza, but real food--real, fresh fruits and vegetables--are absolutely wonderful. We had a fabulous dinner and are looking forward to a fabulous breakfast. As we walked back to our campsite, we decided it wasn't so bad after all.
Date: 2011-06-07
From: Backpackers Campsite at Boiling Springs

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

Flat-liningThe contour line for the first twelve miles today were as flat as anything we have seen, so we were very interested in seeing what that would be like in reality. And, in fact, the trail was amazingly flat. At times we were walking on the edge of corn fields, but mostly we were in a narrow wooded corridor between the fields. More than other time, it really was walking through a green tunnel. Although it can be very relaxing and delightful to walk through this kind of terrain, it is also good to climb. So I was happy when, at the end of the day, we went up over 700 feet, giving us our first Pennsylvania view--and a reminder that we are, indeed, thruhikers.
Date: 2011-06-08
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

A Little of EverythingWe knew this would be a short day, as we were going into Duncannon for shower, laundry, resupply and a night in town. The shelter last night was full, with several early risers. That meant that all of us were up and moving around by six. An early start to a short day meant we were in town by eleven. On the way, we encountered all kinds of terrain. Perhaps most impressive was the time we spent making our way through tall grass--up to our waists, and sometimes even chest high. When we are not hiking, we spend a lot of time checking for ticks. Back in the woods, we had a short, steep, Pennsylvania climb. Then we entered a stretch described by the guide as very rocky. There were definite rocky sections, but it didn't feel much different from earlier parts of the trails. After a descent that included a great view from a rock outcropping, we reached Duncannon. We read--and heard--it is a hiker tradition to stay at the Doyle Hotel and, since we are hikers, we thought we best stay here. There is a bar restaurant there serves cheap beer and surprisingly good food. Otherwise, this is probably the worst hotel I have ever stayed at. There are eight rooms on each of two floors, with one shared bathroom per floor. There are holes in the walls, floors and ceilings. You really can feel the springs in the mattress. I would be very surprised if there is a cleaning crew. And it is full of thruhikers hanging out and having a good time. It is exactly where I want to be tonight.
Date: 2011-06-09
From: Duncannon

To: Peters Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Haircuts!One thing we knew we wanted to do in Duncannon was get haircuts--our first on the trail. We asked the folks at The Doyle and learned we had three choices, all within two blocks. Bert was our first stop. The $15.00 price looked good. However her daughter had just had a baby (only an hour or two earlier) and Bert was on her cell phone, completely engaged with talking with her daughter. Next up was Bill. He charged $10.00, but it didn't matter. When we asked if he could cut our hair, he looked at us sadly, saying he wished be could, but he couldn't. I don't know why. Last was Joelyn. She didn't post her prices, but when she said she could do it, we said go ahead. She gave the fastest hair cuts ever--about 10 minutes for each of us. The price was $9.00. I had no idea you could get your hair cut anywhere for that price. Because of the distances between shelters and the lack of places to camp near water, we had another short day today. (The alternative would have been a 28 mile day--something we never considered.). Given the heat, stopping early was not a bad thing to do. Being at the shelter for so long gave us a chance to do something we have not done before. We learned to play spades. Once again, life on the trail is full of the unexpected.
Date: 2011-06-10
From: Peters Mountain Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Not Always as PromisedAlthough the shelter we stayed at last night was listed as having a 12 person capacity, it easily could have held 16. It was relatively new, had both a ground floor and loft level, a covered picnic table and a large deck. It was very, very nice. Today was another delightful Pennsylvania hike. We were in the woods all day with mostly flat terrain and one longer, but still gentle, climb. We also had some trail magic at a road crossing--cold Gatorade and cookies, a wonderful mid-morning snack. The 18 miles went quickly and we got to the shelter around 3:30. Described in the book as another 12 person shelter, we were expecting something like last night's shelter. It was definitely not the case. The shelter was, at best, a six person shelter, without any picnic table--nevermind a covered one. (A covered table makes it much easier to cook in the rain and not get wet). The journal entries from other hikers made frequent mention of mosquitoes and other bugs. Indeed, someone had left a large bed-sized mosquito net in the shelter.We soon experienced the attacking bugs. Clutch's tent without the fly is basically just mosquito netting, and she was able to tie it up to the shelter ceiling. I did the same with the netting left in the shelter. We put our sleeping pads and bags in the netting and crawled in. At least we got into the shelter--something we definitely appreciated when it started to rain. It had quickly filled up and, as other hikers came, they all said the same thing--this does not look like a 12 person shelter. There are now five of us in the shelter--each of us surrounded by mosquito netting. At least the water source is right at the shelter. That's one positive thing.
Date: 2011-06-11
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: moderate rain

I Think that I Will Never See...Last night's shelter may have been small and buggy, but when the rain and lightening and thunder started in the middle of the night, we were so happy to be there. The rain pounded down through the night. The lightening was almost continuous, completely illuminating the area in front of the shelter. Similarly, the roar and rumble of thunder was non-stop. Everyone in the shelter was awake, watching the spectacle in front of us. By morning, all was quiet. And although we expected more rain during the day, it did not come (until this evening, when we are once again dry in a shelter). In addition to the plants and the flowers and the creatures I have seen on the trail, I have been awed by the trees. It's not that all trees inspire awe, but there is so much to see when going through the forest. Because most of the eastern US was cleared at one time or another, there are far too few really big trees. So when we do see one, it is a moment to stop in wonderment. Then there are the trees that, for reasons mysterious to me, take amazing twists and turns as they reach toward the sky. Particularly on fallen trees, where the bark has fallen off, it is possible to see the twists and whorls the grain of a tree might exhibit. And then there are the growths--another mystery and something else to wonder at. I am learning many things on this hike. Learning to stop and look around may be one of the most important.
Date: 2011-06-12
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Poison Ivy and Rocks and Rain--Oh My! More rain last night, but once again it had stopped by morning, although it was still damp and misty and threatening to rain again. I had left-over pizza for breakfast, as the shelter was close enough to the road that the local pizza place delivered to the shelter. Just a couple of miles from the shelter, the trail started to get rockier--and rockier. Soon we were going through a boulder field, something that is challenging enough as it is. When the rocks are wet and slippery, our pace completely slows down as we have to carefully choose each place we put our feet. The boulder field ended, but the trail continued to have many rocky sections. While focusing on the ground, I couldn't help but notice all of the poison ivy along the trail. I felt that I could try to avoid the poison ivy leaves hanging into the trail, ready to rub against my legs, or I could focus on the rocks and step in the most stable place, but I wasn't sure I could do both. A fellow thruhiker just walked into the shelter, getting here late, having slipped on a rock and fallen into a patch of poison ivy. I was able to stay on my feet today, although it's still too early to know if I have any poison ivy rash. Six more days in Pennsylvania and we hear the rocks get worse. However we are also hearing the weathe
Date: 2011-06-13
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Hamburg PA
Miles today: 9.3

Too MuchAfter four nights on the trail and sleeping out, it was time for another trip to town to resupply, shower and do a laundry, so we are spending the night in Hamburg. We got here around noon, after a shortish hike over the increasingly rocky trails of Pennsylvania. Although Hamburg has everything we need--an outfitter, a Walmart for resupply, a Baskin-Robbins for ice cream and any number of fast food restaurants--everything is geared for cars. Walking is a bit of an adventure, as we climb over guard rails, through ditches and across a busy highway to get to these various places. Out first stop was the outfitter--Cabellas. My phone was in the room charging, so I couldn't take a picture. We walked into their superstore and were immediately overwhelmed by the size and the excess. In the middle of the store is a huge, two story artificial mountain, populated by all manner of wild animals--deer, elk, mountain goats, black bears, polar bears, wolves and more. As we got closer, we saw that on the ground next to each animal was a plaque with the data that particular animal was killed and who the hunter was.We then went from there to the Walmart to resupply. At least the food is concentrated in one (very large) area. Going through the store looking for pencils and shoe laces was a much greater challenge. It was all just too much. We got our ice cream on the way home, and then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening in our motel. Tomorrow we will be back on the trail--and that is a very good thing.
Date: 2011-06-14
From: Hamburg PA

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

Unexpected PleasuresClutch and I admitted to each other that we had both been kind of dreading the hike today. We would be hiking north of Port Clinton, where the rocks were supposed to be worse. Instead, we had a great day. It started with a climb out of Hamburg/Port Clinton--one that was not too steep, over quickly and brought us to the top of the ridge. There were some boulder fields to hop through on the ridge and some sections of rocky trail, but mostly it was just great hiking through the woods--plenty of time to look around at the trees and to listen to the bird conversations. The trail today took us to the Pulpit and the Pinnacle--both places with fabulous views. One thruhiker who is from Pennsylvania told us the Pinnacle has the best view in the state. The Pinnacle also had something else--lots of rattlesnakes and copper heads in the crevasses between the rock ledges. Clutch and I did not see them at first. We were getting ready to have lunch on one of the ledges when a couple of guys up there said--come look. Here's a rattlesnake. We saw the rattler--the first poisonous snake we had seen--and then he called us over to another crevasse to see the copper heads--and then to see more rattlers. At that point, Clutch and I decided to pack up and eat lunch someplace else. But it was cool to see the snakes. The afternoon consisted of more gentle, relatively rock-free hiking until we got to the shelter-- one of the rare, enclosed shelters with bunks and, even rarer, a privy with a flush toilet (it's near a road and there is a caretaker house, so there is some running water). We know there are still rocky sections ahead of us--maybe even tomorrow--but we are grateful for the gift of today.
Date: 2011-06-15
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: few clouds

On the EdgeOnce again, we started off not knowing what the trail would be like? Would we finally really encounter the dreaded Pennsylvania rocks? We knew we would be going through something called the Knife Edge, which had a somewhat ominous sound. As we hiked, we shares our pre-hike Pennsylvania fantasies. It turns out we both had similar images--that we would be hiking on bare, rocky ridges with no trees or other plant life--just piles of rocks There are definitely rocks in Pennsylvania--but not like we imagined. Sometimes the trail has lots of small rocks poking through the dirt and we have to pay attention to step on dirt instead of rock--but there is plenty of dirt to walk on. Sometimes we are going through boulder fields where we have to go from rock to rock, trying to choose the rocks that seem most stable and are at an angle we can actually step on. And sometimes the trail is wide and smooth and easy going. The one exception was today's Knife Edge, which came the closest to our fantasy. We were at the top of the ridge, scrambling over large boulders and slabs of rock. The views from up there were great and the scrambling, although slow going, was a lot of fun. The rocks may be the same the rest of our time in Pennsylvania, or they be may harder or more constant. But we decided today that we are thruhikers and we can handle anything the trails sends our way.
Date: 2011-06-16
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Little Gap/Filbert B&B
Miles today: 12.8

Short and SweetThe shelter where we stopped last night was particularly small, dark and uninviting, so instead we put our tents up in the one flat space near the shelter. As more hikers arrived, they made the same decision as we did, so we had a small tent city with six tents pitched in the small space. Water is scarce in this section of Pennsylvania and, since shelters are located near a water source, most people stay at or near a shelter. Not that the water source was that near this shelter--the spring was about a half mile away, down a steep trail. At least there was still water flowing. Our hike today was similar to the last few days--periods of rocky trail, periods of rock hopping across boulder fields and periods of relatively smooth trail--with one dramatic exception. The climb out of Lehigh Gap is about a 900 foot gain in under a mile. That makes for some steep climbing. The first part of the climb is a steep trail climb. Maybe half way up, we hit the boulders. Then it is time to pull yourself up the boulders and across the rock fields to get to the top of the ridge. It took about forty five minutes--and we both agreed it was a fun climb up. We also agreed that we were much happier going up then going down. The top of the ridge is a super fund site that is deforested due to zinc mining that ended in 1980. The trunks of dead trees stick up in the air, looking like tombstones in a cemetery. It is a sad, desolate vista--one we were all too happy to leave behind as we headed back into the forest.
Date: 2011-06-17
From: Little Gap/Filbert B&B

To: Wind Gap
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: moderate rain

Luxurious but not ComfortableAlthough we had not really wanted to stay at a B&B last night, it was the best choice for us in order to avoid having a 20+ mile day. And the B&B was certainly quite lovely. The owner picked us up from the trail and, as soon as we got into the car, she gave us each a glass of fresh lemonade. On the way there, she stopped at the ice cream store because, as we said to her, we needed ice cream. When we arrived, she had fresh baked brownies for us as well as pasta and red sauce heating in the crock pot, just in case we were hungry and wanted a snack. Then she took our dirty clothes so that she could wash and dry them. It was all quite luxurious. Tonight we are at the Travel Inn in Wind Gap, having hitched into town from the trail. We walked through the Burger King parking lot to get to the Food Giant Supermarket for our resupply. Then we walked along the highway to JR's Smokehouse for dinner. We'll have breakfast at the Gap Diner tomorrow morning and then hitch back to the trail. We both agreed that we like tonight much better than last night. Staying at the B&B did not feel like the right trail experience. But a cheap motel with a peeling ceiling at the intersection of two highways--now that is a true thruhiker experience.
Date: 2011-06-18
From: Wind Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

The New England AdvantageWe are at the Church of the Mountain in Delaware Water Gap, two tenths of a mile from the New Jersey border. We got the last two bunks in the hostel, which means we are both on top bunks. I'm pretty sure I haven't slept in an upper bunk since I was a kid and I have my sleeping pad right next to the wall to minimize the chance of rolling off. Now that we are done with Pennsylvania, I feel ready to reflect on the experience. We both agree the whole rock thing is way over-hyped. Each day we kept thinking--is this day we get to the really bad rocks. But it never happened. Certainly large parts of the trail, especially as we got further north, were very rocky. But they didn't seem that different from a typical trail in New Hampshire's White Mountains. I think that's where being New Englanders who hike extensively in the Whites really helps. We expect rocky trails and have been delighted with all of the smooth trails we have gotten to walk on. The biggest problem with Pennsylvania is that it is just too flat. I have certainly come to appreciate the pleasure of walking a flat trail and being able to focus on all that surrounds me. But I also like the variety of ascents and descents--and there just haven't been enough. We will see what we find on this next phase of our journey, as we enter the land of the short states--at least in terms of AT miles. And for a thruhiker, that's the only thing that counts.
Date: 2011-06-19
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

New State--New JerseyKnowing we were only hiking ten miles today, we did not hurry out of Delaware Gap. We would have lingered no matter what, but Clutch had to get a shuttle ride back to Wind Gap to retrieve the rain jacket she had left in the motel closet. That still left us plenty of time to have breakfast at the diner, chat with other hikers and sit at the picnic table at the Village Farmer Market and watch the world go by. We left shortly before noon and were soon crossing the Delaware River into New Jersey. Even though it is completely arbitrary, there is still something energizing about being in a new state. And we had a great first day in New Jersey. The trail left from the Delaware Gap National Recreation Area--a very heavily used place. The trail goes by Sunfish Pond, a very beautiful--and very popular--destination for people out to enjoy a day hike on a warm and sunny day. It is somewhat surreal to be hiking with our full backpacks, using our trekking poles, and passing day hikers, including a number of families with young kids, who are carrying almost nothing. Our progress was somewhat slowed as people would ask us where we were going or where we were coming from. Learning we were thruhikers led to more questions--but we also got some fresh fruit and homemade muffins from a trio of women impressed by our journey. After leaving the quite scenic Sunfish Fish Pond, we hiked a few more miles to the top of Kittatinny Mountain. It's bare summit gave us our first New Jersey view, including watching gliders, circling on the air currents in concert with the hawks that were also soaring on the wind. We are staying in a bunkhouse at the Mohegan Outdoor Center. It is operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club--the first time we have seen an AMC facility on this hike. And another sign that we are moving north.