morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-05-22
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.0

On 5/22, I had planned on doing only 15 to a shelter, but theforcast of rain on 5/23 encouraged me to push to Bear's DenHostel 3 miles farther, making the biggest day I'd had sinceWaynesboro. About halfway through the day, I entered "therollarcoaster," which went up and down some mountians witha higher than average frequency. I was unimpressed. Even withmy busted up knees, the 'coaster was more annoying than challenging. A coulple miles into it, I got some nice trailmagic, though. I made it to the shelter I'd intended to stayat, and stopped in for a break and to sign the register. As Iread through it, many dark clouds appeared in the sky, and a fewspritz of drizzle came on. I wrote in the register about how quickly the weather had come in, and that I was headed on toBears den for the night. In the 3 miles to Bear's Den, the stormreally came in. The rain wasn't too bad, though I was quite wetby the time I got in, but the thunder was rather concerning. Iam not usually overconcerned by thunder, but I had just writtenabout how quickly the weather had moved in, so I had surelu jynxedmyself.I got to the hostel, and got the hiker special, which was all thenormal hostel accomodations, but with added pizza and ice cream.The staff was very friendly, but a bit preoccupied by the large college group that was staying there.
Date: 2013-05-23
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 11.0

On 5/23, I tried to beat the rain out, but got caught in itanyway that morning. I crossed the 1000 mile mark in the drizzle,and took a quick picture. It had cleared up by the time I got toBlackburn Hostel, a free hiker hostel maintained by the PATC.It was basically a shelter with a caretaker. I took a break on the porch, and got some soda and cookies offered by the caretakers. I stuck around for a few hours while the sun shownbrightly, then left just as the clouds came back in. I got somemore rain in the few more miles to the last shelter before Harpers,but made it there just the same. The shelter was quite nice, havinga separate eating area with attached porchswing, but the water was far away downhill. I also didn't understand why they didn'textend the roof over the spacious porch, or add a second sleepingdeck, since, for such a large and elaborate shelter, it hadquite a limited sleeping capacity.I reunited with Mr Frodo there, who was back from his break, and met NBC, who was another one of those fast German guys. Ialso met a gay couple, who were doing a big sobo section, fromHarpers to Springer. As I talked with them, I gradually figuredout that they had no idea what they were doing. I hoped theywould make it, and gave them all the advice I could, but itseems unlikely that they will finish their section as intended,since they couldn't spare the cash for a much needed break at bear's den the next day.
Date: 2013-05-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 19.0

On 5/24, I got out pretty early and made about 10 miles toHarpers over some rather rocky terrain, a precursor to the trailI would hike farther north. I hit the ATC, did the obligatoryphoto shoot, and enjoyed the building, which had the nicestAT map I'd seen yet, being a clay diorama which showed the elevationsof the mountains in a way I'd not seen before. I hit the post office to mail home my oh-so-warm winter bag, as my summer quilthad arrived at the ATC. I was planning to do a small resupplyat the outfitter, but it turned ou smaller than I'd expected,when I ran into some trail magic near the ATC, which basicallyhad a bunch of resupply foods in a picnic basket. I pushed out oftown, eager to get back on the trail and into a new state. Imade it to the first shelter in Maryland, where I'd intended tostay, but then pushed at the insistance of Splinter, since (a)the next shelter was only 4 more miles over flat terrain away, (b) I was almost out of water, and the water at the currentshelter was a steep .4 downhill. I never made it to that shelter,since, by the time I made it to the shelter side trail, Hiccup,Forge, and Splinter were already setting up tents closer to thetrail, informing me that the shelter was shitty and far away anyway.That night, the temperature dropped down into the 30s or so,something my nice, new 40 degree quilt was not prepared for. Idonned all my clothes, and slept through most of the night.
Date: 2013-05-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.0

On 5/25, I'd intended to do a short day to keep myself frompushing, since the 19 I'd pulled the day before was the longest I'd done since Waynesboro. I got to the Washington monument,which had good veiws, but was rather busy with people. I tooka nap in the sunny, grassy field the monument was in for the first time in too long. I noticed that I was seeing a lot of BoyScouts out. Then I noticed that it was memorial day weekend.Halfway through the day, I decided to make it a bit fartherto Pogo campsite, but by the time I got there, and it was fullof Boy Scouts, I decided to just push the 20 to the next shelteranyway, since it was flat. I was coming up to the shelter when Iheard some voices. I assumed the shelter must be quite close.It was not nearly as close as I had thought: the voices were someScouts talking near their tents, which were put up fairly faraway from the shelter, if only because the space in between wasfilled with more tents. I do believe that on that day, I sawmore tents in a backcountry setting than I'd ever seen before.There were at least 50 tangled up about the trees behind and around the shelter. I thought that surely there was no room inside,but to my surprise, there was a fair amount of space. I'd somehow caught Roadrunner, who I'd not seen since Cherry GapShelter back in TN. He was now hiking with his girlfriend, whohad come to join him from Germany. I can only assume she slowedhim down as she got her trail legs.
Date: 2013-05-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.0

On 5/26, I crossed the Mason-Dixon. I got a family to take a quick shot of me at the sign, and crossed into The North,where I almost immediately resupplied in Waynesboro, PA. Got tosay, the Walmart there was top notch, or at least the grocerysection was. I found everything I needed quickly, and got somefree samples. The guy giving them out even knew I was a hiker, and invited me to take more if I wanted. I hit the chinese buffetnext door, where I'm pretty sure I heard the staff arguing aboutletting hikers in. I was quite satisfied leaving town, which might explain how, with just 2 more miles to the shelter, I managed to pack in a few extra bonus miles when I started walkingdown a forest road instead of the trail for 45 minutes. OnceI'd corrected myself and made the shelter, I met Tin Cup justbefore I crashed from too much buffet.
Date: 2013-05-27
To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

On 5/27, memorial day, I kept to a reasonable number of miles.I was still recovering, and I ran into the 1st long, rocky dayof PA. Towards the end of the day, I went through a state park'spicnic area, where I must have passed at least 100 people, alleating their hamburgers, potato salad, and chips. I becameacutely aware of the fact that not one of them offered me any,or even tried to talk to me. I attributed this to the fact thatI was now in the north.Quarry Gap Shelter wins so far in the nicest shelter competition.In addition to the quite average construction, "The Innkeeper"had made many of his own improvements, including potted flowers hanging from the eaves, a stone edged stream running right in front of the shelter where one could fill up water, and a sundialmounted on a pillar of stone and conctrete that the Innkeeperhad hauled up himself. Push-Up and NBC were staying too, and I heard someone come in late, after everyone had gone to sleep.
Date: 2013-05-28
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Patch of Dirt beside Trail
Miles today: 19.0

On 5/28, I learned that the latecomer from last night was a girl named Belay. She had started last fall going SoBo, buthad tired of the rocks and snow, and so had taken an extendedbreak, and was just now getting back on the trail to finishher hike. It was rainy, but the trail was flat and smooth. I raninto Hoosier, who I'd not seen for a time, and we took eachother'spictures at the post marking the halfway point, which was bynow about 1/2 mile out of place.I made it to the store where everyone does the 1/2 gallon challenge,and I did it. A half gallon isn't what it used to be, however,so I got 2 tubs and did the 3/4 gallon challenge instead. When Iread "Then the Hail Came", the author had mentioned that, fora place that is home to such a famous challenge, and which getsso much hiker business, the place didn't seem too friendly. 30years later, I'd have to agree. The ice cream flavors that camein "half gallons" were very limited (I got a vanilla which I added2 cans of peaches to, and a chocolate which I added a banana to).The prices were high, they didn't take cards, and the staff seemedto hardly know what a thru hiker was. In addition, the registeroutside was full of complaints from hikers, when they found thestore inexplicably closed time after time.I made a few more miles and stealthed right next to the trail.I'd wanted to camp with Hoosier, who'd said he was doing the same,but as it got darker and he did not appear, I just found a flatspot and set up.
Date: 2013-05-29
From: Patch of Dirt beside Trail

To: Boiling Springs Campground
Miles today: 0.0

On 5/29, I made some easy miles for the 1st part of the day. By the time it got hot,however, the terrain had also steepened.I went through the "rock maze", which involved a lot of zigzaggingbetween and over large boulders on the ridgeline. In the maze,for the first time on the trail, I saw a chalked up rock. I'dbeen stopping to look at boulder problems the whole trip as Ihiked, but this was only the second time I'd seen any evidence ofother climbers coming to the trail (the 1st was just north ofchestnut ridge in VA, where I'd seen some bolts drilled in tomake an anchor at the top of a trailside veiwpoint).I must have been dehydrated, since, for the 1st time on the trail,my strength was being zapped by the heat. The day finished up witha 2 mile section of trail that gave the whole Shenandoahs a run for its money as worst section on the trail. I'd seen the elevationprofile and thought the 2 miles of pure flat would be wonderful.Turns out, walking through barren corn feilds is not so wonderful.It is very, very boring, since there are no markers that you aremaking any progress until you come upon a sudden 90 degree turn,then start walking you long, straight line once more.In the Boiling Springs campsite, I saw Streach and Barking Spider,who I'd not seen since Daleville, Mr Frodo, and Wild Rain. Ialso met a new Timber, who was doing the trail in 3 secions over3 years; Eabo who was the youngest independent thru hiker I've met, at 17; and Lost&Found. A few of us who'd gotten in early went down to the river in town, and had a swim, before returning to camp.
Date: 2013-05-30
From: Boiling Springs Campground

To: Cove Mt Shelter
Miles today: 22.0

On 5/30, I got an early start, waking at 4 and packing quickly.I had 13 more miles of cornfeild to hike through, and I wanted todo it before it got hot. In the feilds, I ran into Waldo, whoI'd been following in the registers for a while. I got toCove Mt Shelter quite early in the day, despite the long distance,and passed the time cleaning up the trashed shelter, chattingwith Waldo, and killing the bees that infested the shelter.Apparently, the shelter was abound with problems. According to the register, porcupines had been chewing up the wood inside,so the trial club had removed the stairs and put some aluminumon the edge of the deck so the couldn't get in. Also accordingto the register, they could still get in by climbing up the backside of the shelter and crawling in threough the holes betweenthe roof and wall. Waldo left for Duncannon, and everyone elsehad apparently been happy with 14 miles, so I went to bed alonethat night.
Date: 2013-05-31
From: Cove Mt. Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.0

On 5/31, I planned on waking up a bit early, heading into Duncannon, doing a quick resupply, and finishing up an easy15 mile day getting 2 shelters out of town. My plan changed ataround 1:30 when I was awakened by the porcupines that the shelter register had warned of. I knew they could make it into the shelter despite the preventitive measures the trail club hademplaced. Not wanting to awake with a porcupine in my face, followed by a face full of quills, I packed up my gear and hiked into the night. After about 2 miles, I stopped at hawk rockoverlook and looked at the city lights of Duncannon for a whilebefore napping a few hours until some sunlight started shining in the air. I went 2 more miles into Duncannon, but I had to waita while before anything really opened. It took forever to resupply and print some AWOL pages at the library, but I enjoyedthe day hanging out with Waldo, Shepherd, and a few people Ihadn't met staying at The Doyle: Bag of Tricks and Pack Man. Pack Man was on his first ever hike, and was planning on goingas far as he could. His massive pack lost, among other things, a hatchet, a machete, and 24 dozen powdered eggs, at the suggestion of Bag of Tricks. I finally got out of town in the middle of the afternoon heat. Unfortunately, my short day had turned into me constantly running around town, and as I climbed thehill out of town, my right knee started to act up, to thepoint where it was hurting every step no matter how I streached it out. I decided not to push it and just stay at the first shelter out. I was joined by Roadrunner and his girlfriend, Eabo, Fiddlehead, Tin Man, and Wild Rain, while Wild Wes and Crip hiked out in the late afternoon to avoid the heat.
Date: 2013-06-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 6.7

On 6/1, I stuck to my plan to recover from the previous day'shurtin', and did very few miles. The terrain wasn't bad, but the veiws left something to be desired. Table Rock was somewhatuninspired. I got to the shelter early, where Wild Wes and Cripwere taking a siesta before their late afternoon/ night hike.It was a hotish day, so their strategy seemed sound.The shelter was nice, but the only water was straight down 300rock steps. After I got my hard won water, I set about resting.Many more people came in, and I met Jersey Shore breifly, butmy low mileage had me feeling down, so I mostly just laid on the shelter floor half asleep and hot until dusk, when I actuallywent to sleep.
Date: 2013-06-02
To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

On 6/2, I got back on track and did some reasonable miles. Therain that was supposed to come never came, which made for a pleasant day. The terrain was also very nice, with many long flat streaches with no rocks. Even the boulder feilds weren't bad, as the SATC had been hard at work turning boulders aroundto make flat stepping stones through the feild. Rausch Gap Shelterwas quite good. It was halfway dug into the ground, and had beenrebuilt just last fall. It also had an excellent water source:a spring not 20 feet in front of the shelter's open wall. Timber, Lost&Found, Jersey Shore, Easy, and Tin Cup showed up.
Date: 2013-06-04
From: 501 Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.1

On 6/4 I woke up and split a shuttle with Timber to town, dida quick resupply, the first time I'd paid for a ride into town. The hiking was pretty easy and pretty short, but I was feeling too good, so I went too fast, and my knees were hurting a bit for the last 2 miles.
Date: 2013-06-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.7

6/5 was a short day, but I moved too fast. I resupplied in Hamberg,and hit the Cabela's there to replace myworn down Oboz. I packedout the makings for burritos 6 miles to the shelter, though myknees were hurting on the way up the hill, and cooked them over a fire Jersey Shore had made. I met Beacon on the trail out of town.
Date: 2013-06-06
To: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

On 6/6, I hit the pulpit and the pinnicle, which both had prettydecent veiws, before it started raining. It wasn't much more thana light rain most of the day, but it was enough to make for bad hiking. By the time I got to the shelter, it was already packed,so I cooked dinner under the eves with Lost&Found and Jersey Shore,and set up my tent.
Date: 2013-06-07
From: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter

To: Jailhouse Hostel
Miles today: 17.8

It rained all day today, which wouldn't have been so bad if I didn't have to traverse several boulder piles of class 3 terrain.Bake Oven Knob, and the similarly named shelter, were trashed when I got there. Spray painted grafitti on the rocks, trasheverywhere, and, according to the register, a minefeild of pooin the tenting area near the shelter. I was happy to jump in the shelter to escape the rain for a few minutes, but just as happythat I was not staying the night there. 8 more miles through therain and a quick hitch put me in Palmerton.The Jailhouse hostel, which was wonderfully free, was nice, butnothing to write home about. It had bunks, a shower, and a boilerroom that was convenient to dry things out in. I said a quick goodbye to Jersey Shore, who was finishing his section here,and went to the diner across the street with Lost and Found, Beacon, Eabo, and Mr Frodo for dinner. As the sun went down, thehostel filled up, with people pushing miles to get out of therain; so I had a nice smelly night's sleep.
Date: 2013-06-08
From: Jailhouse Hostel

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: light rain

On 6/8, I left the Jailhouse and used Lost & Found's girl skillsto catch a ride back out to the trail. The first mile was straightup on rocks, with a few scrambles, which were fun, since it wasnot raining. I took a bunch of prolonged breaks along the trail,causing me to miss some good trail magic and get into the sheltera bit late. I tented to avoid the bugs, with Fiddlehead, Lost&Found,and Jungle Juice.
Date: 2013-06-09
From: Leroy A. Smith Shelter

To: Church of the Mountain Hostel
Miles today: 20.2

On 6/9, I got out of camp fairly early. It was 20 miles toDelaware Water Gap and a free hostel, and I wanted to take it slow, since my knees hadn't been feeling the best the past few days. Even on flat ground, the rocks were brutal, with sharkfinsand toe trappers galore. I got into town reasonably early, andhad $0.45 wings at a bar with Tin Cup, Lost&Found, Beacon, andEleven. I'd met Eleven on the trail that day, to my surprise, since she'd been weeks ahead of me in the registers for ages. Apparently, she'd taken a few weeks off. The hostel was packed that night, with myself, those I'd eaten with at the bar, Mr Frodo,Jungle Juice, Not It, and many others whose names I didn't know.
Date: 2013-06-10
From: Church of the Mountain Hostel

To: Church of the Mountain Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

On 6/10, I zeroed because it was raining, and getting things atthe outfitter took forever. I met So-Way, who is apparentlycrazy. I won't bother trying to describe him, since the internetis probably already full of his stories, and apparently he hashis own hiking blog anyway. Suffice to say, he is yoyoing, andtrying to break the unsupported speed record on his sobo leg.
Date: 2013-06-11
From: Church of the Mountain Hostel

To: Unnamed Campsite
Miles today: 22.2

On 6/11, in spite of, or perhaps because of, the 0 I'd just taken,I was hurting for a good bit of the day. This was tempered by thefact that (a) I was no longer in PA, and (b) Jersey has excellent,consistent veiws. I ended up pushing a bit farther than I originally intended, and I camped in a partially flooded campsitenear a stream with Not It, Who's Askin, and Mr Frodo, among others.
Date: 2013-06-12
From: Unnamed Campsite

To: Rutherford Shelter
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: few clouds

On 6/12, I woke sort of early, and made about 6 miles beforeEbo, Beacon, Not It, Who's Askin, and Mr Frodo caught me, justbefore Joe To Go, the first deli to hit in NJ. We got some foodthere, then some beer at the tavern down the road, where we all relaxed on their back porch next to a lake for several hours.After I left, I was hiking along when I finally saw a bear. It must've heard me first, because all I really saw was a sprintingbear shaped shadow as it crashed through the woods away from me.I also saw my first Joisians. I was a bit more surpised by theneon green camo pants and electric blue shoes than by the bear.
Date: 2013-06-13
From: Rutherford Shelter

To: Murray Secret Shelter
Miles today: 9.7

On 6/13, I did a short one, since it was rainy and cold out,and I was hurtin. I got through the rain alright, but it turnedparts of the trail into muddy swamps. Though no mud more than ankle deep, it was getting there. I got to the Murrey property,where Mr Frodo, Beacon, and Ebo were holed up. 4 solid wallsand an electrical outlet were much appreciated on such a day.
Date: 2013-06-14
From: Murray Secret Shelter

To: Pochuck Mt Shelter
Miles today: 7.0

On 6/14, I spent the morning updating this journal, since I finallyhad some electricity. I got out around noon, hiked into Unionville,got a sub, and finished luch just in time to catch the afternoon thunderstorms. I walked through some cool swamps on the planks ofwood put there by the trail club, and finished up another shortday at the 1st shelter out. I stayed with Lost&Found, Forge, and Hiccup. Later in the day, a couple of locals showed up and cooked us hot dogs and steak. Awesome trail magic.
Date: 2013-06-15
From: Pochuck Mt Shelter

To: Furnace Brook
Miles today: 16.9

On 6/15, I crossed the famouw boardwalk in NJ, after having alreaxy gone through so many swamps on simple planks of wood. Imade it just over the NY line, and was treated to some veiws of Greenwood lake from the highest point in NY before I set up camp at Furnace Brook. I camped alone. I was tired of the mosqitos, which had spent all the night before biting me in the shelter, so I barricaded myself in my tent for the night, opening the zipper only enough to reach out a few feet to cook my dinner.
Date: 2013-06-16
From: Furnace Brook

To: Island Pond Mt
Miles today: 18.3

On 6/16, I hiked a few miles into Greenwood lake, and had a nicebreakfastn at the cafe in town. I hitched out, yellowblazing afew miles, and hiked on to island pond, where I camped alone witha great veiw of the lake from inside my tent, while I laughedat the mosquitoes trying to get in.
Date: 2013-06-17
From: Island Pond Mt

To: Hemlock Springs Campsite
Miles today: 20.3

On 6/17, the terrain was rough, but beautuful. I got caught in a short thunderstorm before deciding to stealth on top of Bear Mt.Unfortunately, Bear Mt was much more developed and tourist friendlythan I had anticipated, so I did 5 more miles than I wanted to make a camp just across the Hudson. I camped alone again.
Date: 2013-06-18
From: Hemlock Springs Campsite

To: Chapman Rd
Miles today: 6.9

On 6/18,I did 5 miles to the deli just off the trail for lunch.I saw Zook and Lost&Found there, and met Foxtrot a bit later.As I hiked out, I did a few miles before my knee started to hurtand the rain started coming in. I decided to cut my miles shortfor the day and threw jp my tent as soon as I could fill up water,and spent the rest of the day in my tent, laughing at the rain and bugs outside.
Date: 2013-06-20
From: RPH shelter

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

On 6/20, I did a few miles, hit a deli, and did a few more. Towards the end of the day, I saw my 1st wild beaver. It frozewhen I came upon it, then munched on some grass and scurried into nuclear lake. When I got to telephone shelter, I found onlyZook inside, hiding from the bugs in his tent he had set up inside.