morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-09-04
From: Fingerboard Shelter

To: Rt. 17AVernon, NJ
Miles today: 16.0

Sunday, September 4Day 65. Fingerboard Shelter ¢ Rt. 17A/Vernon, NJ (16 mi.) For some reason the 20 yesterday really tired us out and we were quite sore this morning. So even with the relatively easy terrain we were moving slowly, which wasn¢t looking good for our planned 26 mi. day. 16 miles into it though, we came to a road where we met a guy who offered us ice cream from the creamery not far down the road, as well as a ride into Vernon to the local church/hiker hostel. This guy was real nice and real cool ¢ an ex-marine, ex-SWAT, and ex-DEA officer ¢ and he told us some crazy stories on the ride into town that we gratefully accepted.
Date: 2005-09-05
From: Rt. 17AVernon, NJ

To: Old Liberty Rd.
Miles today: 22.0

Monday, September 5Day 66 (Labor Day). Rt. 17A ¢ Old Liberty Rd. (22 mi.) Our friend from yesterday offered to ¢slack-pack¢ us, which meant that he¢d drop us off at the road we came off of and then pick us up at the end of the day to bring us back to town. This meant we could empty our packs and leave anything we didn¢t need for the day at the church. It was a nice day with great terrain, great views and great weather. We walked along the famous (at least on the Trail) NJ Boardwalk which ran through some wetlands. We also got to stop in at a farmstand where I ate the best peach of my life.
Date: 2005-09-06
From: Old Liberty Rd.

To: Mashipcong Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: clear sky

Tuesday, September 6Day 67. Old Liberty Rd. ¢ Mashipcong Shelter (19 mi.) We got back to the road early because our new buddy Bill had to be at work. So to kill some time and rest up, the four of us (Bouie, Rooster, Steiner and I) played Hearts for 2 hours. Later on Bouie and I also played Frisbee in a field. About 5 miles before the Shelter, we met a NJ trail angel, ¢Jersey Dan,¢ who gave us water and offered to slack-pack us the last 5 mi. because there¢s a road right before the shelter. So we threw our packs in his van and got to hike with nothing but our own body weight.
Date: 2005-09-07
From: Mashipcong Shelter

To: Rattlesnake Mt.
Miles today: 16.0

Wednesday, September 7Day 68. Mashipcong Shelter ¢ Rattlesnake Mt. (16 mi.) We played another 2 hr. session of Hearts this morning, so we got a late start. There were some more great NJ views including one from a fire tower. I also saw my first (wild) bear of the Trail on Sunrise Mt. At one road crossing there was a tavern not far from the Trail. So we walked down, got some food, played some music on the jukebox, and played more Hearts. Right now we¢re in an area where water and shelter are scarce, so we decided to camp up on Rattlesnake Mt. where there¢s a spring .5 mi. away and some great views. 23 miles tomorrow into Delaware Water Gap and a Sobo NFL season opener party.
Date: 2005-09-08
From: Rattlesnake Mt.

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Thursday, September 8Day 69. Rattlesnake Mt. ¢ Delaware Water Gap (23 mi.) The infamous rocks of PA introduced themselves to us today as we finished up NJ, our 7th state. Apparently, we just got a taste of what the first 40 mi. of PA are like. But other than that, it was a very smooth and relaxed 23 miles that ended in Delaware Water Gap, PA, where we met up with a whole pack of Sobos at the church/hostel in town.
Date: 2005-09-09
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: DWG
Miles today: 0.0

Friday, September 9Day 70. Delaware Water Gap (0 mi.)   A Zero today, most of which was spent in the mall of a nearby town, eating, listening to sample clips of songs, and playing video games. All of this was to kill time as we waited for the movie theatre to open up for the matinee showing of ¢40 Year Old Virgin.¢
Date: 2005-09-10
From: DWG, PA

To: Wind Gap
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Saturday, September 10Day 71. Wind Gap ¢ Delaware Water Gap (16 mi.) Us Sobos went Nobo for a day. We left our stuff at the church hostel and got a ride 16 mi. south to hike back to the church. When we were done, my parents and 10 yr. old brother Conner were waiting there to greet us. (This was not a surprise, but a rendezvous planned during the past few days.) So we went to dinner with Steiner, Rooster and Bouie. Then I spent the night with my family at the motel. Mmmm¢¦a bed.
Date: 2005-09-11
From: Wind Gap - DWG

To: Palmerton
Miles today: 20.0

Sunday, September 11Day 72. Wind Gap ¢ Palmerton (20 mi.) Not much to say. Did some hiking, mostly flat. Did some resting. The end of the day was in an area of the ridge we¢d been hiking on where almost all the plant life had been killed. So it was very open and barren with some great views of the valley below.
Date: 2005-09-12
From: Palmerton

To: Allenville Shelter
Miles today: 18.0

Monday, September 12Day 73. Palmerton ¢ Allenville Shelter (18 mi.) Night hiking! Actually it all started with a lazy morning¢¦which started turning into a lazy afternoon. By 12 though, we were hiking rather in a rush because we were doing 18 miles. The ¢we¢ now is a group of 8 Sobos. Needless to say, we got in late, but it still managed to keep our average up.
Date: 2005-09-13
From: Allenville Shelter

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: clear sky

Tuesday, September 13Day 74. Allenville Shelter ¢ Port Clinton (21 mi.) I started off early today (8 am) to avoid some past mistakes (yesterday). Or at least to earn some longer breaks while I¢d wait for the rest of the group. So I took a couple of naps without anyone showing up. This made me question what I was missing behind me that would slow everyone down. But it was nice hiking alone for a day (and getting in before dark). It turned out i missed one of the best shelters on the trail. It was a cabin with a fridge filled with soda and snacks (both of which would of been amazing to have). The day was capped off nicely though with one of my biggest meal since the Whitehouse Landing at a hotel in Port Clinton, PA, salad, loaf of bread, apple sauce, fries, chicken quesadilla, and a Steak.
Date: 2005-09-14
From: Port Clinton

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Wednesday, September 14Day 75. Port Clinton (zero)   Another one of those days with a progression toward a zero. First we were planning a 10 mi. day so we figured we could take it easy in the morning with a ride to a neighboring town which had the world¢s biggest Cabela (an outdoor store ¢ mostly hunting stuff) and a Cracker Barrel (a southern-style restaurant chain) which I¢d never been to, being from NY. So the day went on like this, and back in Port Clinton the Sobo Hobos (two very fun Sobos who know how to take a zero) showed up.
Date: 2005-09-15
From: Port Clinton

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: light rain

Thursday, September 15Day 76. Port Clinton ¢ 501 Shelter (24 mi.) Time to start making up miles again. Too bad all but one water source was dried up (the one being 19 miles into the day). So at our lunch break, at a road, a few of us hitched into town to get some water (and snacks, of course). Highlight of the day though was getting into the shelter just before headlamps were necessary and then being able to order pizza since the shelter (a cabin actually) was close to the highway. (Rt. 501, incidentally enough.)
Date: 2005-09-16
From: 501 Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

Friday, September 16Day 77. 501 Shelter ¢ Rausch Gap Shelter (17 mi.) 1000 miles today! Unfortunately there was no sign or plaque or anything. So once we decided we definitely passed the 1000 mi. mark we (8 of us now) made our own sign and taped it to a tree. This also marked the time when Rooster would (and did) leave us. He had made the decision to stop after the 1000 mi. point a little over a week ago, and despite my many attempts to change his mind, he left. Earlier in the day ¢Barrel Roll,¢ one of the 8, found a cell phone and when we called ¢home¢ we not only found someone who could come and get it and bring root beer, but also bring Rooster to the Harrisburg train station.
Date: 2005-09-17
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 29.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Saturday, September 17Day 78. Rausch Gap Shelter ¢ Duncannon (29 mi.) Original plan: 24 mi. today and then nero into Duncannon where we can stay at the famous Trail hotel/restaurant/bar, The Doyle. New plan: just hike all the way in one day ¢ 29 miles. So that¢s what Bouie, Steiner and I did. My longest day of hiking on the Trail so far.
Date: 2005-09-19
From: Duncannon

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Monday, September 19Day 80. Duncannon. (0 mi.)   An unplanned zero that will be deserved in the future. As with past zeros, we were originally planning to do 11 mi., but after hanging around until 2 and thinking about watching the season premiere of ¢Arrested Development¢ and ¢Monday Night Football¢¢¦. We also found a free place to stay and someone who would slackpack us 26 mi. tomorrow. So it all worked out, so far. The group now is at 7 hikers: Bouie, Steiner, Frogger and Barrel Roll (the Sobo Hobos), Funky Spruceter, Moose Charmer and me.
Date: 2005-09-20
From: Duncannon

To: Boiling Springs
Miles today: 26.0
Weather: light rain

Tuesday, September 20Day 81. Boiling Springs ¢ Duncannon (26 mi.) A northbound slackpack today. ¢Sedentary Steve,¢ the guy who took us in, was taking great care of us. He set us up in his ¢treehouse,¢ which was an extension on his garage, and he treated us to snacks and drinks. Oh yeah, he drove us an hour south to Boiling Springs so we could hike 26 mi. north back to Duncannon. We met Steve at a bar in town. He took us back to his house and had a barbecue for us.
Date: 2005-09-21
From: Boiling Springs

To: Tagg Run Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Wednesday, September 21Day 82. Boiling Springs ¢ Tagg Run Shelter (13 mi.) There are a few stores within a few miles of the actual half-way point of the AT. At these stores you can buy 12 gallon boxes of ice cream to celebrate the half-way point. So the ¢Sedentary Seven¢ (that¢s what we call ourselves) stopped in at a store 1.5 miles from a shelter and got our ice cream (I got chocolate). Now I thought I could eat a lot, but eating large quantities of ice cream is very different from eating large quantities of regular food. Even at that point where every spoonful makes you sick you realize you¢re not full. The worst part is the end, eating the warm melted stuff. That¢s just torture. But I finished, and it only took 1.5 hours. Bouie, Barrel Roll and Moose Charmer also finished, so we got more than half of the group. Afterwards, I was shivering and nauseous, so I got into my sleeping bag before we night-hiked the last 1.5 miles to the shelter.
Date: 2005-09-22
From: Tagg Run Shelter

To: Birch Runs Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Wednesday, September 21Day 82. Boiling Springs ¢ Tagg Run Shelter (13 mi.) There are a few stores within a few miles of the actual half-way point of the AT. At these stores you can buy 12 gallon boxes of ice cream to celebrate the half-way point. So the ¢Sedentary Seven¢ (that¢s what we call ourselves) stopped in at a store 1.5 miles from a shelter and got our ice cream (I got chocolate). Now I thought I could eat a lot, but eating large quantities of ice cream is very different from eating large quantities of regular food. Even at that point where every spoonful makes you sick you realize you¢re not full. The worst part is the end, eating the warm melted stuff. That¢s just torture. But I finished, and it only took 1.5 hours. Bouie, Barrel Roll and Moose Charmer also finished, so we got more than half of the group. Afterwards, I was shivering and nauseous, so I got into my sleeping bag before we night-hiked the last 1.5 miles to the shelter.
Date: 2005-09-23
From: Birch Runs Shelter

To: Deer Licks Shelter
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Friday, September 23Day 84. Birch Runs Shelter ¢ Deer Licks Shelter (24 mi.) Great night¢s sleep last night in a nice shelter with wooden bunks. Long day planned so Barrel Roll and I got an early start and got to Caledonia State Park 10 mi. in early. This was a section that I¢d done before and so I knew that there was a pizzeria nearby. (This was a pizzeria where I called off a practice hike because I was out of shape and had hiked in 37 degree weather with rain all day.) So we left a note at the park telling everyone to wait there and went to get pizza. So after a long break we finished our 24 mi. day.
Date: 2005-09-24
From: Deer Licks Shelter

To: Ensign Cowall Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Saturday, September 24Day 85. Deer Licks Shelter ¢ Ensign Cowall Shelter (14 mi.) Another early start for Barrel Roll and me for a planned 22 mi. day. We crossed the border into Maryland and then stopped at Penmar Park (where we played in the playground). When we got to the shelter where we planned to take a lunch break at 2:20, we noticed that there was a pizza place that delivered to the road 0.2 mi. down the Trail. So¢¦ naturally we ordered food. This caused a very long break at the very nice shelter (and some weekend hikers built a very good fire on a very cold day). So we stayed. 31 mi. day tomorrow!
Date: 2005-09-25
From: Ensign Cowall Shelter

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 31.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 86- This was the first time that a 30 mile day was planned ahead of time. The other two were just "good ideas" that came to me in the middle of the day. Today we had to make up for having a great time yesterday. Having a 31.5 mile day planned has it's perks though. When you know ahead of time that you'll be doing a big day you can wake up early. Barrel Roll and I were awak at 4:50 and out before 6 in the morning. We planned out the day really efficiently to earn some good breaks. One included mooning a highway on an overpass. We finished our first 14 miles by 11 at The old mountain Inn which was just off of the trail on a road. So barrel roll and I stopped in and got a big all you can eat brunch at this fancy inn. As we were sitting their eating i saw Steiner and Moosecharmer walk by followed by two dogs. It turns out that these dogs had been following them for two miles from this park we'd walked through. We found a number on one of their collars called and they got picked up. We had a big up hill right after our brunch which was a little uncomfortable on a full stomach. The hike was pretty smooth from there until the last 3 miles which at the end of a 30 mile day is always hard. The end was on an old Canal Towpath and eventhough it was very flat, it was very exhausting and seemed to drag on forever. We ended in the historic town of Harpers Ferry, WV (we crossed the Maryland West Virginia border). Where we all plopped down in a hotel room for the night. 20 miles tomorrow...?
Date: 2005-09-26
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Keys Gap
Miles today: 5.5

Day 87- Today we were supposed to do 20 miles to Snickers Gap where we would get picked up by Steiner's mom so we could take a day off at her house outside of DC. Well there were a few things that we had to do before leaving for our 20 miles. First we had to pick up mail, all of us had a mail drop to pick up. We also had to stop by ATC (Appalachian Trail Conference) headquarters where we could get our pictures in their records as thru-hikers that made it this far and also look at all the people ahead of us. After this was all done we didn't get going until 11. Then after the first 1.5 we discovered that Bouie was having problems with his Achilles. So we just hiked 4 more miles to the next road so we could hitch back into Harpers Ferry where Steiners mom could pick us up. Frogger and I got to the road first and got a hitch from a crazy driver in a truck who was going at least 65 mph in 30 mph areas on these back country roads. I actually came off the bed of truck at one point cause he was going so fast. Luckily though I came back down inside the truck. So after spending some more time in Harpers Ferry we got picked up and we all went to a Japanese buffet where i ate so much i couldn't stand up straight anymore. Then we all went to Steiner's family's house and played Donkey Konga 2 until 3 in the morning.
Date: 2005-09-28
From: Keys Gap

To: Snickers Gap
Miles today: 14.0

Day 89- We had to drive back to the trail from DC today, which was a little over an hour drive. Barrel Roll had been in contact with this guy Lee that we met on the trail around Port Clinton. He was doing some section hiking, only out on the trail for a few days and he offered to take us in to his house when we were in the area. So Barrel Roll talked to him and organized to get picked up at Snickers Gap. So after hiking the 14 miles, we piled into his truck and he took us to his house. He lived in this very remote part of Virginia (we crossed into Virginia today, the state with a quarter of the AT in it, more than any other state). Lee took very good care of us, let us shower, cooked us burgers, and let us in his hot tub. He also had a tivo which I had a lot of fun watching.
Date: 2005-09-29
From: Snickers Gap

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: broken clouds

Day 90- We woke up a little late this morning to a home cooked pancake breakfast courtesy of Lee followed by more tv courtesy of Tivo. Lee then took us back to the trail and walked the first half mile of trail with us to this great hostel ontop of a mountain, a hostel with soda. We spent a while there. It was here that I decided that I needed to see a doctor for my foot because since Duncannon over a week ago probably due to the rocks. It worried me that the pain was persisting even after a nights rest now, even the half-mile up to the hostel hurt a bit. But before that we finished the planned 10 miles to the shelter. We went over what is known as the roller coaster today too. The roller coaster is a 13 mile section of the trail where we go up and down 10 different times. We hiked the first 2.5 miles at the end of yesterday and finished it up today. It turned out that the name made it seem a lot worse than it was. Just some ascents and descents, nothing much else.
Date: 2005-09-30
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: clear sky

ay 91- Had to make it to Front Royal today to get to the hospital and get an x-ray, but it meant 24 miles. Besides some of the foot pain it was no big deal. Frogger, Barrel Roll, and Moose Charmer stopped after 19 miles at a very nice shelter but Bouie and Steiner offered to come in with me. We had a real easy hitch into town but we spent 3 hours in the Emergency Room just so some random doctor could tell me that he couldn't see anything in the X-Ray but i should take a few days off. I wasn't planning on taking three days off just yet though so I just nodded my head and went on my way. The only thing that got accomplished was i got to watch the first half of Gladiator. Oh yeah, then we gorged on pizza.
Date: 2005-10-01
From: DC

To: DC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 92- Steiner's mom had planned to meet us one last time before we were out of range so she came and picked Steiner, Bouie, and I at the motel and took us back to the trail head where we met up with Frogger, Barrel Roll, and Moose Charmer and then ate all the food that she brought us. At this point we had to decide whether to take some time off or keep going (due to the foot pain I'd been experiencing). We were on the verge of entering the Shanendoas and if there was something wrong with my foot, I wouldn't really be able to get off the trail for about a week. So after talking to my mom about what to do, I decided it would be best to take time off for a few days rather than make my foot any worse. The rest of the group didn't mind taking time off too so we all headed off back to Steiners house outside DC.So we spent time watching tv and movies, we got to see the monuments in DC, and I got to see a chiropracter who decided that I had tendinitis. So it's been nice taking time off. Hopefully my foot is better though because it's going to be nice to get back on the trail again.
Date: 2005-10-06
From: DC

To: Tom Floyd Wayside
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: light rain

Thursday, October 6Day 97. Rte. 522 ¢ Tom Floyd Wayside (3 mi.) The goal for today was just to get back on the Trail. This we accomplished, but we left the house a little late to go 13 miles to the next shelter. Today was good though as a warm-up and now we can get an early start for a big day tomorrow. After 5 days of rest, my foot is feeling a little better. There¢s still some pain but not as much and not right away. All I know is that it¢s nice to be back on the Trail, about to enter the Shenandoahs, and finish the last 1,000 miles.
Date: 2005-10-07
From: Tom Floyd Wayside

To: Pass Mt. Hut
Miles today: 23.5

Friday, October 7Day 98. Tom Floyd Wayside ¢ Pass Mt. Hut ( mi.) Last night, since we were able to get in early, we all took a 3 hour nap, woke up when it started raining, then 4 hours later went back to sleep. This morning it was still raining, this afternoon it was still raining, and this evening it was still raining. It was hard to leave this morning in the rain, but I knew we were doing a big day, so I left at 7:30, even if everyone else was still asleep. I didn¢t really stop walking until 10.5 mi. later at a shelter. I was pretty miserable at this point ¢ wet, cold, and tired. I started thinking about bringing up the idea of staying there for the night once everyone caught up. So I waited for over 2 hours. I even got my sleeping bag and took a nap. After 2 hrs. though, I thought there was no way they couldn¢t have caught up by then, so I grumpily packed everything to catch up to them, since they must have passed by the trail to the shelter and kept going. 6 miles later I got to Elk Wallow Wayside. In the Shenandoahs there is a system of ¢waysides¢ which are convenience stores/restaurants. This was the first one which was twice as exciting since on a day like today it¢s nice to get in a warm building and get a burger. I thought I¢d find the rest of the group taking a break here but there was no one. So at this pt. I figured that they had either decided to stay at the shelter we were at (which wasn¢t an option for me since the roof was leaking on me all night) or stop at the shelter 10 mi. away. Either way, I¢m on my own for a while.
Date: 2005-10-08
From: Pass Mt. Hut

To: Rocks Spring Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Saturday, October 8Day 99. Pass Mt. Hut ¢ Rocks Spring Hut (15 mi.)   Well, it was raining again today ¢ all day ¢ but it made it a little easier that I wasn¢t hiking 24 miles. I¢m gunna try and keep the miles down for a couple of days so the group can catch up with me. I got some great trail magic at a picnic pavilion. There was a sort of family reunion going on and they fed me until I was full and asked me all sorts of questions about the Trail. I¢m hoping that tomorrow the sun can come out and I can get a better look at the Shenandoahs.
Date: 2005-10-09
From: Rocks Spring Hut

To: Bearfence Hut
Miles today: 11.5

Sunday, October 9Day 100. Rocks Spring Hut ¢ Bearfence Hut (11.5 mi.) It wasn¢t raining this morning which was a good start. This was an exciting day also because there was a little resort/wayside only 3.5 mi. away where I could do laundry and shower. So I made it there and spent 3.5 hours cleaning up and eating. So I finished off the day like a new man - or an 18 yr. old young adult ¢ all dry and clean, although it did drizzle a little at the end.
Date: 2005-10-10
From: Bearfence Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

Monday, October 10Day 101. Bearfence Hut ¢ Hightop Hut (12.5 mi.) Today I saw something wonderful: blue sky. The whole morning there was sky. This gave me the chance to walk a little bit and buy some groceries at a campground. When I got back on the Trail it was still clear, but then fog started rolling in and soon I couldn¢t see 50 ft. in front of me. This¢ll be my last short day in the Shenandoahs. I got in early after only 12.5 mi. and still waiting for Bouie, Steiner, Frogger and Barrel Roll. Tonight will be my 1st night alone on the A.T. (if the others don¢t show up) because the past few nights I¢ve spent with section hikers and weekend hikers.