morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-20
From: Rock Spring Hut 8:45 am

To: Pass Mtn Hut 
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

We still had 1/2 dozen eggs left over to eat for breakfast and they were gone in seconds. We woke early to try and make it to the Skyland Resturant for breakfast. (breakfast#2 :-) ed)We arrived around 10:15 and they stopped serving at 10:30. It is funny that on the trail one will wake up early and walk 8 miles in the rain just for breakfast. At home we find it tough to wake up and make it to McDonalds before they stop serving.We both had the $5 Bavarian Waffle w/ blackberry syrup. Good, but pricy. We made our phone calls and then left towards the shelter for the night. We took a small side trail to the top of Stony Man Mtn. It was supposed to be good views, but when we made it to the rock bluff we saw nothing but white in front of us. No views today - just rain and clouds. Once we got to the shelter Wildcat and Dharma were already there as well as four section hikers. Two of them were older and very overweight. They had sold everything they owned after retiring and set off to see the world. Alabama showed up right before the sun went down. He cooked some hot dogs and ate broccoli with a block of cheddar. (he had the same for breakfast). Alabama has already hiked south from Penn and has to finish the Shendoahs. We will probably see him again in Penn.
Date: 2004-05-21
From: Pass Mtn Hut 8:30 am

To: Tom Floyd Wayside 9 pm
Miles today: 23.6

Today was a LONG LONG day and when it was over we had walked over 30 miles! We stopped at the wayside and bought some pnut butter, chips, and bread to make our own lunch. We got to the first shelter (Gravel Spring Hut)and there were two girls hiking the park - one from Virginia and the other from Vermont. We set out again for somewhere further.We decided to take a different trail around the two Marshall Mtns. BIG MISTAKE! When we wern't picking ticks out of our socks we were scratching our legs because of some wierd plants that had a very strong defense mechanism for animals. If you even so much as brushed against them your skin would slowly start to burn until you couldn't stand it anymore and just started scratching to lessen the pain.To top it all, the trail ended up being almost two miles longer !! After we finally made it to Tom Flyd it was getting dark. TWT ran to get some water and I stayed to talk to the people at the shelter. Two girls who were sisters and section hiking and a kid named Butthead who started the trail in March and had to get off after Damascus because of knee problems. Butthead's parents had just purchased a house in Front Royal and he invited whoever wanted to hike the three miles down to his truck a ride to his house to spend the night. After already doing 27 miles and not getting any trail magic throughout the Shenandoahs, I said SURE!. TWT came back after what seemed to be one of the most terrible downhill treks to get water, and we both agreed that a nice shower, clean clothes, and food Glorious food sounded worth the walk!We started to night hike towards his car, leaving the girls to contend with the bears. We got about a mile down the road when out of the blue a tremendous thunderstorm blew in. It didn't rain much but was very windy and the sky was lit up by lightening.When we got to Butthead's his mom had company over, but still treated us like guests and gave us all we could eat! Never did I imagine all of this. Feels good to be out of the Shenandoahs. I don't see what all of the hoopla is about - of course all I really saw was rainy days.WHAT A DAY!!!
Date: 2004-05-22
From: Front Royal

To: Manassas Gap Shelter 7pm
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: scattered clouds

When I opened my eyes this morning it wasn't the sound of birds that woke me, just the coffee maker. The sky was clear and everything was nice. Just as we exit the park everything is nice.Butthead's mom cooked us eggs and bacon MMMmmm MMMMmmm. I also had a moosecake and a fruit tart, OJ and two cups of coffee. We went into town to pick up 3 days worth of food foir the run into Harper's Ferry and then went to eat lunch. We ate at the Royal Dairy. Both of us had the hamburger and fires and for dessert Raspberry Ice cream. Butthead kicked us out of his house and dropped us at the trail around 2 pm.At the first shelter we saw Dharma and Wildcat again and a lady named Smurf. This shelter was nice with a spring shower, a water spigot, and a front porch with a bench. It even had a covered picnic table. We got some water and read the trail register. RedDog had put in an entry that wasn't like most of his entries. Early in the morning about a 1/4 mile down the trail away from the road RedDog had found a guy who had committed suicide. He said that he was around his age and for some reason decided to take his own life . . .We decided to head to the next shelter - got there around 7 pm. It is full of section hikers so we tented out and cooked our polish sausages.
Date: 2004-05-23
From: Manassas Gap Shelter 

To: Campsite at ruins mile 983
Miles today: 18.3

We awoke to the sounds of millions of fire engine sirens going off all around us constantly. Ah yes, it is the year of the Cicada. Amazing little creatures - bury themselves underground for 17 yrs and plan to take over the forrest. They do a pretty good job of it too. All day long as you walk along you hear zzZZZWaaWAA - zzZZZWaaWAA - zzZZZWaaWAA - say that 5 times as loud as you can and you might begin to get a small glimpse of what we were going through. It is enough to drive you mad! We camped out at the site of old cellar ruins about two miles short of Sam Moor Shelter. Nice day but dreadfullly HOT!
Date: 2004-05-24
From: Campsite at ruins mile 983

To: 1000 mile -David Lesser Mem Shelter
Miles today: 17.0

We ate breakfast at the first shelter and read the log book. Then it was back on the roller coaster. The roller coaster is a grouping of small hills that go up and down, Up and Down, UP & DOWN . . . for about 13 miles and have about 13 PUDS in that span. We arrived at the Bear's Den and went in to check it out. Had a coke and made some calls and then we were off again. Nice views at Bear's Den Rocks. We made a pit stop near Devil's Race Course ( not sure whay they call it that or even what it is exactly). Cooked up some Ramen for lunch and then back to the trail.We made the trip .3 downhill to the Blackburn Center and were greeted by a young woman and her little daughter. They gave us a Mountain Dew and a Popsicle - very nice after a hot day like today! We filled our water bottles and then headed towards the shelter.The shelter was amazing - a large front porch, nice bench chair to sit, a covered picnic table, and also a swing. Couldn't have asked for anything more. A nice place to sleep after traveling 999.8 miles on foot!!
Date: 2004-05-25
From: David Lesser Mem Shelter 8:30 am

To: Harper's Ferry - Hilltop House
Miles today: 9.4

It was a nice morning to wake up to.As we crossed Key Gap we decided to go .3 mi to the convenience store and get some breakfast. Everything was pricy and there was not much to choose from. We settled for 1/2 gallon of Cookies and Cream Ice cream and a bottle of Sobe and set off.Once we came to the overpass to Harper's Ferry you could see everything. Haper's Ferry was rested atop a hill between the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers - quite a site. When we got into town we visited the ATC center and got our picture in the log book.We got a room at the Hilltop House - a nice place overlooking the Potomac and a large rock face. The room had two double beds and a bath with shower/bath.We went to King's Italian Rest. and got a spinach and sausage pizza 16". That was the best pizza we have had the whole trip (and we have eaten a lot of pizza). It was soooo goooood that we went back and got a cheese pizza for dinner. We walked to the 7-11 and picked up some donuts for breakfast and a giant Gatorade drink (2 liters or 64 oz). Spent the rest of the evening calling people on the phone and relaxing. Around 6 pm a nasty hailstorm blew in and we were glad to be inside and dry. Sorry, Chief and Jethro - I know you're out there somewhere.
Date: 2004-05-26
From: Harper's Ferry - Hilltop House

To: Rocky Run Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We packed up our things and got out of HF around 1 pm after spending a few minutes talking to tourists and reading historical markers. The first shelter we came (Ed Garvey) to was awesome. It was a huge log cabin. The only kicker was that water was 1/2 mile from it - downhill. We pushed on to Rocky Run and were glad we did. It had a beautiful spring, nice campsites, a front porch w table and chairs, and a separate porch for cooking. The shelter on the other hand was built in 1940 and looked it. The inside was raised up and had a small door under it for storage. There was a trailrunner there Megan (Swiss Miss) who didn't know what they kept in it. We met a new hiker named Nick from Alabama - presently living in Virginia. Tortise was there also. We haven't seen him since the snow day. We made dinner while Nick played guitar and enjoyed the cool night air.
Date: 2004-05-27
From: Rocky Run Shelter 9:30 am

To: Devil's Racecourse Shelter
Miles today: 20.2

Pancakes for b'fast are always a delight. However they take so long to fix. It was hard to leave this shelter, but it was a nice day and we had 20 miles to cover.There was a backpacker campground about 5 miles from the shelter. It has running water and you can even take a warm shower. The next spot we came to was George Washington Monument - a stone tower that you can walk up and get a 360 view. We stopped at the next shelter (Pine Knob) and took a luch break. Stu (Fozzy) had written in the log that he saw a group of nudist hikers - pretty funny. All he could say to help from laughing was " nice day for nude hiking"We made it to Devil's Racecourse Shelter before dark. Jethro and Chief were already there and had cooked dinner for us - not really. This shelter is .3 mile down hill and when I say downhill -it was about a 500 foot descent (or felt like one). There was a nice spring though and sounds from passing cars near by, so it wasn't all in vain.Nick showed up a little later on, but no guitar tonight - bummer.
Date: 2004-05-28
From: Devil's Racecourse Shelter 8:30am

To: Rocky Mtn Shelter 7 pm
Miles today: 19.8

Today we passed the Maryland/ Penn state line. It always feels good to cross over into another state - even if it was the Mason-Dixon line. Goodbye South Hello North.Penmar Park was very nice, but there were no people in it - just maintenance guys taking long breaks. We passed three shelters today all within about a mile of each other. Kinda weird if you ask me.Some of the shelters in PA have two separate shelters - each small. I guess no one told them they could build one large one.We stopped for luch at a park .2 mile past Antietam Shelter. Nice park with also no one to be found. On the mountain top after the next shelterpast Chimney Rocks we could hear loud cheers and thought it was some outdoor game going on. As we got closer to the bottom they continued to get louder and sounded like drill sergeants giving orders and groups of troops shouting orders back at them. After crossing a road we saw large groups of African Americans kids marching towards and assembly of some sort. You see all sorts of strcnge things out here.When we arrived at the shelter (or should I say shelters) it was another .3 mi downhill - and then .2 to water! We could also hear passing cars here. A trail runner met us and brought three cheese burgers, so we had a nice night!! Temperature dropped and it was cold!
Date: 2004-05-29
From: Rocky Mtn Shelter 8 am

To: Birch Run Shelters 6pm
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

When we woke up this am it was very chilly out , but we had to make it to the P.O. at Fayetteville before it closed so up and out.We got a hitch from two younger people on their way to Lowe's. They said that they have hiked Maryland and WV (the easy stuff) but we were nice and told them to keep it up. Somehow the only people who give us rides now are hikers or crazy rednecks!We ate lunch at the Falmingo - a nice diner. I had a Big Boy Hoagie and TWT had the Gyro Club. Mine was only $3, so I ordered home fries as well. When the plate came out it was huge - always a good sight. This was one of the best places we have eaten lunch on the trail. The best places are alwys the cheapest from some reason.After picking up our food drop we got back on the trail. The first shelter (Quarry Gap) was like something out of a storybook. It looked like it was built with giant licoln logs. It had two shelters with a covered picnic table area between them and potted flowers and a babbling brook running right by.We also passed a PATC cabin with about 17 coolers in front, but no one was around so, disappointed, we moved on. The next shelter was also nice so this time we decided to stay. There was a large grassy area in front so me and TWT threw the frisbee around for awhile. Later Chief, Jethrow, Wildcat, MockingBird, and Country showed up. What a night and a full house.
Date: 2004-05-30
From: Birch Run Shelters 9am

To: James Frye Shelter 5:45pm
Miles today: 17.2

When we woke up this morning I had three huge bowls of cereal and it didn't even put a dent in the giant bag of cereal that we have. We atrted walking and stumbled upon Pooner and his parents who graciuosly gave us some Watermelon and slack packed us to Furnace State Park.We got to the park which was crowded with people out to enjoy this wonderful weekend and Memorial Day. We all met at the campstore where TWT, Wildcat, and I attempted the 1/2 gallon ice cream challenge. Wildcat with vanilla came in first, followed shortly by TWT w/ Moosetracks and I just couldn't give in to the gluttony so I decided to share with Chief and Jethro. It was nice but too much chocolate -should have chosen vanilla.We crossed the actual 1/2 way point today and took some pictures. With full bellies we waddled into the next shelter and only pulled off 17 miles despite the slacking. Ah, well. You win some and you lose some.
Date: 2004-05-31
From: James Frye Shelter 9 am

To: underpass near Carlisle
Miles today: 20.2

Well, what a day - let me tell you. It sprinkled all day long except when we were walking on flat ground for 14 miles in a valley. We set off in the morning with 3 large bowls of cereal in our belly and made our way through the misting rain. We said our goodbyes to Wildcat who was leaving for a few days to go to his son's medical school graduation in San Diego, CAThere was one section of the trail w/ huge boulders that you had to climb around and on top of. For some reason they pick the tightest squeezes to go through and we are wearing backpacks for pete's sake.We made it to the next shelter (Alec Kennedy) around lunch and there were two people there still asleep! We ate our lkuch w/ Chief and Jehtro and quickly headed on our way. There was a trail register on the next mtn and it had milky way bars in it left by Pooner as he was slack packing on by. This was our first trail magic of PA - left by another AT hiker. We stopped at the ATC building in Boiling Springs for a break froim the rain. There was a nice pond fed by a spring that was full of trout and people by the stream trying to fish them out. We headed towards US 11 where we knew of a place to grab a good meal. Sometimes hiking through fields is not as fun as it would seem, especially when its raining out.We had a great dinner at the Middlesex Diner. I had meatloaf w/ mashed potatoesand gravy a baked potatoe, and buttered rolls. Jehtro had a bacon and cheese omelet. Chief had a T Bone and baked potatoe and green beans and TWT had a cheeseburger and fries.We headed back down the trailand made it to a wierd AT Barn w/ water and a bathroom. It started to rain again and was also starting to get darker. We met a thru hiker (Cinge)that was going to staelth camp. This sounded like a good idea because the next shelter was reportedly full so we would have to camp anyway.As we were sitting there pondering where we might stay we realized that there was a bridge nearby with an overpass and a nice creek. I decided to go check it out and sure enough there was a nice flat spot out of the rain under the bridge. We all spread our stuff out and now we are going to have a nice shelter in a no camping zone! Who says you can't bend the rules just a little - I am sure glad we did!
Date: 2004-06-01
From: underpass near Carlisle 7:30 am

To: Duncannon (Doyle Hotel) 1:30 pm
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I don't ever want to live like I did last night. Under a bridge is no place for anyone to be. It's wet, muddy, and loud! I really feel bad for those people you see crwling out from under bridges to beg for a bite to eat - that is no way for a human to survive.We set off early so hopefully no one would see us under there. We arrived at the shelter shortly afterwards, and come to find out a guy named Bramble had passed through during the night around 2 o'clock and told everyone at the shelter our sleeping arrangements. Bramble is a high strung kind of guy who told a story of people getting bitten by copperheads under bridges like that. He thought we were nuts and we looked at him quite the same.He had caught a black racer earlier in the trip and cooked it up during one of his meat crazed hiking weeks. He was hiking to raise money for Breast Cancer in memory of his aunt, and was an ex-Army Ranger.On the way into Duncannon me and TWT ran into Dead Man Walking and his wife Love Bug. Both have thru hiked 2 times. Wea lso met Country. We hiked with them until we stumbled upon some trail magic left by a lady Mary who lives in Duncannon. She was a trail angel and left directions for how to in touch with her if you need something. We got some juice and then headed to town.Duncannon is a very hiker friendly town. We stayed at the Doyle Hotel. It dates back to the pre civil war era and looks it, too. The owners, who just bought it, are renovating it as of now. We did our laundry and the owner took a group of us to get groceries. After that me and TWT got twp very large pizzas for $10.99 and enjoyed a pizza to ourselves.There were a lot of hikers staying here tonight. Dead Man Walking, Love Bug, Cinge, Footloose, Country, Bramble, Nick, Jethro, Chief, TWT and myself were among them. The storms were pretty amazing today and we were glad we were here and warm and dry.
Date: 2004-06-02
From: Duncannon (Doyle Hotel) 2:30 pm

To: Peters Mtn Shelter 7 pm
Miles today: 11.4

We packed up our stuff and checked out of the hotel. Had to run to the PO and bounce our box to NY. The lady at the PO was the only unfriendly person we had met in town. We headed for the Presbyterian Church in town that offered hikers free internet services along with juice and snacks. I checked my emails - one from Greg, Megan and Emily. The one from Greg was about him moving to Chicago with John R - another friend. He was discouraged because he couldn't find a job. I told him to come hike with us 'cause that would be funner than Chicago. Megan talked about how she was going to be in Maine around the same time as us and wanted to meet up! Best news I have heard so far. Emily was gallavanting about the world on one of her journeys. We left Duncannon after TWT got his package with the Chinaman's Hat (Kavu Chillba - ed.). We crossed rivers and made it to the Peters Mtn Shelter shortly afterwards. When we got to the sheltere there were many people there, but no fret because it was a huge shelter. Two story like Pee Wee's Playhouse. We cooked hot dogs over the fire after my mile walk down 800' to get water. Ah - the things we do to survive in the wilderness!
Date: 2004-06-03
From: Peters Mtn Shelter 9am

To: Rausch Shelter 5pm
Miles today: 17.5

We figured out that we would have to do 25 miles for the next two days to make it to Port Clinton before the PO closed. Not too long after we left I started to feel like I was coming down with the flu. Aching muscles and all that good stuff. Don't think we'll be doing 25 miles today. When I woke up I also had a crick in my neck, so today already started off on the wrong foot. We had a good day - only a couple of climbs and pretty much flat for the rest. I took a short nap and felt a little better. We stopped for a break at Yellow Springs Village (or what was left of it - one mailbox with a trail register inside. Dead Man, Love Bug and Country were there, too. As we made our way towards the shelter we saw huge mounds of tailings from mining. They were composed of antracite - a metamorphic coal that is really hard.The shelter was full so we tented near a spring in a nice place. We had a large serving of chili from Debbies kitchen (mom) and mixed rice and chees with it.Early in the day for about 2 miles we could smell horse manure that was so bad it made your stomach turn. Another stretch were we were walking along some rocks, a lizard ran and jumped head first into a crack in the rock. It was a most hilarious site - I don't really know why.
Date: 2004-06-04
From: Rausch Shelter 10:15

To: 501 Shelter 
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

When I woke up I was still feeling bad. TWT fixed some pancakes - they were great. I tried to get some more sleep and that didn't work, so we packed and left. As soon as we got to the iron bridge over Swatora Creek I felt terrible so we decided to walk an old wodds road to Pine Grove where I could get some medicine.After we picked up some flu medicine and got some donuts we went to the store to use the phone. Bramble started to walk by, so we yelled at him to come over. He was like, "how did you guys get ahead of me - you Yellow Blazers". I told him I was sick and he said "suck it up". (as it turned out the tick had done just that-ed.)We hiked up the mountain to the shelter. When we got to the top there some people in a van from Murphreesboro, TN were there. We went on to the shelter and met up with Country, Mtn Man, Dead Man, Love Bug, Sorcerer, Wolfwind, PaceCar. Later Mouth, Bramble, and Tarzan showed up and left to go to a campsite further down. Cheif and Jethro shortly after to give us a fulll house. This shelter is rad! It has a geodesic dome skylight and windows. It is almost like a hostel. It was Pace Car's 2000 mile day so he ordered pizzas for everyone. I am glad we made it here. I am feeling a little better.
Date: 2004-06-05
From: 501 Shelter 

To: 501 - ZERO Day - SICK!
Miles today: 0.0

The pitter patter of rain started halfway through the night. There is a tin roof on the shelter so every little drop is like pebbles being dropped on top. What?! One good thing is it cuts out the sounds of people. However I feel bad so it doesn't do anything to help. It is like a jackhammer in my brain!! It is so weird. Almost like a roller coaster ride - one minute I will be fine and the next minute I feel like I am walking a thin line between life and death. With a fever ever climbing and me wearing everything I can to stay warm. You feel so alone when you are the only one sick on the trail. Like there is nothing anyone can do to make you feel better. It is times like this that make you mis your loved ones the most. It is hard to put into words just how bad I feel. It is like something is squeezing the life out of me. Nobody knows the trouble I see, Nobody knows but me. . .