morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-15
From: Thornton Gap

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 27.7
Weather: scattered clouds

¢Good to be out of SNP. Maybe I can get away from eardrum bursting motorcycles and deer that run up to people for food . . .- Southern Boy, from Tom Floyd Wayside RegisterA long way to go today, luckily the walking is nicely graded on easy to moderate terrain. So it¢s up at 5 a.m., taking the shuttle to Thornton Gap, and on the trail by 5:40 a.m. What I can¢t believe is that I make it through the Shanies without spotting a Black Bear ¢ this is historically, after New Jersey, the most active area for bear spotting. Plenty of other hikers have been them ¢ I guess it wasn¢t my turn this time. I did spot nearly 3 dozen White-Tailed Deer.I don¢t run into other hikers until I get to Elkwallow Wayside where Caterpillar, Tom, Machine, and Waterloo are waiting for the Wayside to open. We all want to make it in to Front Royal today. I spot a black snake making its way across Skyline Drive ¢ it¢s starting to get unseasonably warm again ¢ snake weather.Today, unlike the last few days with Ian and Norma, it¢s back to walking with a purpose, focused on the destination and taking few and short breaks. There aren¢t any side trails or views I¢ll pursue. I do spot a red fox, twice, near the 522 road crossing by the National Zoological holding pens. The fox (or foxes) is relatively small, but quite agile and furtive ¢ the moment it spots me it darts into the thick understory.I¢m able to get a hitch into town within 5 minutes ¢ a neat feat given the speed traffic whizzes by on this road. Also in town are: Waterloo, Machine, Hawk, and Quest who is celebrating his birthday tonight. I¢m absolutely exhausted after only 2 hours sleep last night and a long day today. Tomorrow, the start of my least favorite section of the trail.
Date: 2004-06-16
From: Front Royal, VA

To: Ashby Gap
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: light rain

¢. . . Good news is: Harper¢s Ferry draws near, and I hear we get to ride a roller coaster soon . . . ¢- Caterpillar, from Denton Shelter RegisterI have to be honest: the next 53 miles are my least favorite miles on the trail. Parts of northern New Jersey are a close second. This is my fourth time coming through here, and it¢s invariably muddy, buggy, and muggy ¢ it¢s always so hot here, in 2002, we had two 100 degree days through here. I just don¢t enjoy this viewless, rocky, muddy, PUD (pointless ups and downs) filled section.About 5 miles in, at Denton Shelter, I run into Tom who¢s only 2 days away from finishing his section for the year. He¢s not enjoying finishing his hike in a heat wave. Five miles later, at Manassas Gap Shelter, I spot my first venomous snake of the hike ¢ a 2 foot long Copperhead coiled up about 30 feet in front of the shelter.The 90 degree weather with humidity in the 90¢s equals a heat index in the triple digits. While hydrating and panting in the shelter like dogs, Hans and Saltlick show up, and they¢re also starting to wilt in the weather. This is the type of day that has to be endured ¢ there is absolutely nothing fun, or healthy, about being out in this weather.The Cicadas, which were out by the millions, are starting to die out ¢ fry might be a better term. At least the water sources are flowing well. At Ashby Gap, Tom and I decide to try heading into Doc¢s Bar-B-Que, 0.8 miles west of the trail. It closed. What a day!
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Ashby Gap

To: Bear's Den Hostel
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: broken clouds

¢ . . . I may stay if I don¢t perk up. Conditions are brutal out there with the high humidity . . . ¢- Ghost, from Sam Moore Shelter RegisterAt 6:30 a.m. it¢s 72 degrees, and the dew point is 72, which equals 100% humidity. And it¢s not raining, but it is very uncomfortable. Within minutes I¢m drenched as if I had walked out of a pool. And the high will be over 90 today. Again today, it¢s muddy, buggy, and muggy. The plan today is to tackle the ¢roller coaster¢ ¢ 10 PUDS (pointless ups and downs, as hikers call them, usually because they¢re viewless and tedious) ¢ and get to the Blackburn Center. If nothing else it¢ll be a test of my ability to stay hydrated in wilting condition.There are literally hundreds of Cicada carcasses strewn about the trail, obviously they are past their peak period. The trees seem to be buzzing, loudly, as these critters get around to doing their business ¢ it¢s as if thousands of buzzing fire alarms were going off.I do get an ¢excellent-good¢ surprise in the middle of the roller coaster ¢ I come across a foot long Hognose Snake. This is the first time I¢ve ever spotted one. These snakes are very cool ¢ they mimic a Rattlesnake by making a noise that sounds like rattling, and they distend something like a hood around their heard, making them resemble something of a yellow and brown sharp nosed Cobra ¢ very cool! Later, I also spotted a two foot long Grass Snake. This is definitely snake weather.The combination of the overwhelming weather and the numerous ascents and descents take their toll; by the time I get to Moore Shelter I¢m thoroughly enervated. It takes 2 liters of Gatorade before I feel up to moving again ¢ I¢m broiling. Over the next 3 miles I devise a plan to take another 2 hour break at Bears Den Hostel and then do some night hiking in the cooler weather.While I¢m waiting at the hostel, Lint, Hans, and Saltlick show up, and we all agree it¢s miserable out. As I wait a thunderstorm rolls through, and when I check the forecast it calls for severe storms from 9 p.m. to midnight. So I decide to call it a day, and stay at the hostel. I plan to wake up early, around 4 a.m., and start hiking in order to beat some of the heat and humidity.
Date: 2004-06-18
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: broken clouds

¢Congratulations 1000 miles.¢- Graffito on Trail Rock near Lesser ShelterAnother hellish day weather wise. The Forecast was for temperatures in the low 90¢s and humidity in the mid 90% range ¢ the third consecutive day of this insufferable, misery inducing weather. On the positive side, it¢s an ¢excellent-good¢ way to test my ability to remain hydrated and out of the hospital again. So I set my alarm for 3:55 a.m. and hit the trail by 4:30 a.m. in order to get a jumpstart on the heat.And I did get a jumpstart on the heat, but not the humidity. It was so humid the rocks that pockmark the trail in this section were sweating, and within half an hour of hiking with a dim headlamp, I took a couple of nasty spills. At least I was done with the tenth peak of the roller coaster by 6:30 a.m., and I got a nice payoff with a spectacular view of the cloud shrouded Shenandoah Valley below me from Crescent River.But admittedly, on an oppressive weather day like today, hiking is not enjoyable but a physical endeavor that must be endured so you can get where you want to go. Add miles of mud, incessant swarms of gnats that follow you like a cloud over your head, and nasty horseflies . . . boy, do I wish I was hanging out at a contemporary art museum. Any amount of misery I might try to relay to you would be a desperate understatement.I do spot a couple of deer and a tortoise, but I¢m singly focused on getting to Harper¢s Ferry, and meeting Pattie in D.C. this weekend. Later I find that the heat index was over 100 ¢ it felt like it was over 100 degrees ¢ oh joy!I barely make it in upright to the Appalachian Trail Conference office. It¢s good to see Caterpillar ¢ he¢s taking 5 day break at home in Baltimore ¢ and Hot Rock, Polar, and Pilot. It¢s also great to see the photos of my former hiking buddies, many which are a week ahead now, in the ATC photo album. I literally chill out in the ATC office for a couple of hours. I am somewhat bummed out though because all of the protein shakes and bars that the doctor recommended I have when I was in the hospital have apparently caused me to gain some weight ¢ so now my net loss is only at 35 pounds. Well, I have 1200 more miles to work on that.Anyway, it¢s great to be in state #5 ¢ West Virginia!
Date: 2004-06-19
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

¢. . . Train No. 30 is scheduled to depart Harper¢s Ferry at 10:35 a.m. (though it is often up to 2 hours late) . . . ¢- From the Thru-Hikers¢ CompanionMy train into Washington, D.C. was delayed 5 hours. I finally arrived in D.C. around 6 p.m. for a much needed break away from the trail with Pattie.
Date: 2004-06-21
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Great BreakThe visit with Pattie in D.C. was ¢excellent-good¢ ¢ just what I needed. I decided, finally, to forgo the fall semester in graduate school, but since I¢m well acquainted with how quickly things can turn on the trail (it¢s impossible to be certain that one will make it through without incident) I¢m staying enrolled until the last week of August, and if all is going well then, I¢ll withdraw and open up a space for another student. If things turn badly for me on the trail, then classes start September 7th.By taking the clock out of the equation, I can now be less stressed about mileage, and I¢m especially looking forward to slowing down in the Northeast and hiking with colleagues from work at REI Boston. I¢ve even slowed down today ¢ I was going to leave town early, but as my train was delayed coming in, I¢ll be staying in Harpers Ferry tonight and leaving first thing tomorrow. I¢m staying at the Hilltop House tonight.
Date: 2004-06-22
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: light rain

¢. . . Back on the trail after major attitude improvement (hiked with wife). On to PA, on to Katahdin.¢- Now or Never, from Garvey Shelter RegisterEven though I intended on an earlier start, I started walking at 9:37 a.m. The miles came easily on this relatively easy section of West Virginia and Maryland (state #6!). There was a great view back to Harpers Ferry from Weaverton Cliffs. I also ran into Quest, Hawk, and Catdog at Gathland State Park where they had ¢yogied¢ chicken, barbecue pork, coleslaw, and fruit ¢ good stuff!Maryland, while not very scenic, does have some the gentlest (and flattest) walking, and many historic sites on the trail. Today I spotted a number of turtles sunning themselves in the C&O Canal, a couple of White Tailed Deer, and an Eastern Cottontail Hare. Also on the trial today we walked by the original Washington monument (1827), which resembles a stone milk bottle about 40 feet tall. I¢m tenting near the shelter by 20 boy scouts ¢ Bones, Lonesome Dove, and John and Mary are staying in the shelter.
Date: 2004-06-23
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Antietam Shelter
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: broken clouds

¢Endless hills and lots of bugs. Oh, how I love the wilderness!¢- Donnie A., from Ensign Cowall Shelter RegisterI spotted my first skunk today, just north of Pogo Memorial Campsite. I heard skunks have poor eyesight, and true to form, it ran down the trail toward me, making me back up a few yards, but once it sensed me it ran off the trail. There¢s also a new reroute just north of Ensign Cowall Shelter that takes us through farmland and nice looking Maryland countryside.The only plan I had today was to get to Pen Mar Park, and try to get food delivered to the park from Rocky¢s Pizza in Cascade, MD. Well, that and walking into State #7, Pennsylvania, and being officially in the North again by crossing the Mason-Dixon line. But before all that I took a short blue-blazed loop to High Rock ¢ a spectacular rock outcropping from which hang gliders take off with commanding views of Ringgold Valley and into Pennsylvania.After my Italian food at Pen Mar Park, I took an hour nap, and then talked to curious locals about the trail. I felt energized and decided to head into Pennsylvania at 8 p.m., intending only to do a couple of miles. But I felt supercharged, and after the obligatory photos at the state line, I kept walking until 10:50 p.m. I slept atop a picnic table at Old Forge Park, near Antietam Shelter ¢ I didn¢t want to wake anyone.
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Antietam Shelter

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: clear sky

¢What a fantastic day! Excellent trail, beautiful rocks,, crappy but plentiful food at the park . . . the promise of trail magic up ahead! Let¢s go!¢- Lint, from Quarry Gap Shelter RegisterEarly start ¢ 6:13 a.m. ¢ because I plan on taking long breaks today. I heard about the trail magic 17 miles ahead at Milesburn Cabin, but more importantly, Caledonia State Park and Italian food beckons again. The walking is moderate, with a bit of rockiness, but generally quick. Hikers traditionally like to use the Caledonia Park pool on a warm day like today and hit the concession stand, but I have my sights set on Taormina¢s Italian Restaurant - 0.3 miles west of the trail at US 30 and worth every step.Back at Caledonia I run into Dreamcatcher, Meanderthal, Joe and Mary, Lonesome Dove, and Tapeworm, who are using the pool. Again, I take an hour nap before heading north. All told, 3 hours and 15 minutes in Caledonia. Further north at Quarry Gap Shelter, Meanderthal, Dreamcatcher, 65 & Alive, and Pipesmoke verify the trail magic 5 miles ahead, and after an hour break I¢m gone. Hermes, No Name, and Wonka pass me en route.At Milesburn Cabin I meet Aaron and Matt who work at Blue Ridge Summit Outfitters in Virginia Beach, VA. This is the second year they¢ve trekked out here for 3 days to do trail magic ¢ basically feed hikers and offer them gear repair. These guys are ¢excellent-good!¢ They cook up hot dogs, grilled cheese, burgers, pancakes, and offer fruit and gear. While I¢m there Lonesome Dove, Tapeworm, Hermes, No Name, and Wonka have their fill.We eventually roll into Birch Run Shelter where the aforementioned, including Little Tree, The Walking Stomach, Rocket, and Joe & Mary are staying. I¢m stuffed, and I didn¢t even open by food bag up after breakfast.
Date: 2004-06-25
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: Pinegrove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

¢Gosh it feels great to have a hot shower! Not to mention being halfway. Keep on keeping on to Katahdin.¢- Little Tree, from Ironmasters Mansion Hostel RegisterNot much walking today, just 4 hours. Thought today would be a good day to take it easy and contemplate what has been and what¢s to come on the trail at, appropriately enough, the midway point on the trail. The midway point happens to be at one of the neatest hostels on the trail ¢ Ironmasters Mansion Hostel. Right on the porch there is a marker that reads: Georgia 1087 miles ¢ Maine 1087 miles.Most of the afternoon is spent watching Tapeworm, Lonesome Dove, 65 & Alive, Wonka, Hermes, and Mad Hatter downing half gallons of ice cream doing the midway point half gallon challenge. I¢m a proud member of the half gallon club from 2000, and I didn¢t want to get sick again, so I just watched.Little Tree, The Walking Stomach, Dreamcatcher, Meanderthal, Mad Hatter, et al. Are also staying at the hostel tonight.
Date: 2004-06-26
From: Pinegrove Furnace State Park

To: U.S. 11; Carlisle, PA
Miles today: 27.4

¢Halfway! It¢s all downhill from here!¢- Walkabout, from Midway Point Marker RegisterI wasn¢t quite sure where I wanted to walk to today, but I knew that I wanted a motel stay so I could wake up tomorrow ¢ my birthday ¢ and have a casual morning reading the Sunday paper. This is my way of giving myself a birthday present, but since it¢s quite difficult to get a room at a B&B in Boiling Springs, 19 miles away, I had a feeling I¢d end up in Carlisle, PA, a bit further north.The miles come easily in Southern Pennsylvania, where much of the walking is on ridges and through farmlands - this area is south of the dreaded ¢Pennsylvania rocks.¢ It¢s also quite easy to stay well fed in this area, between the park concession stands, Italian restaurants, and delis near the trail, one hardly has to open one¢s food bag if you¢re so inclined. Anyway, by now ¢hiker hunger¢ is in full effect ¢ and we¢ve tried every possible permutation of camp food (which we¢re quite tired of by now) ¢ so non-camp food is quite welcome. I hit Green Mountain Groceries for lunch ¢ they have an ¢excellent-good¢ deli, and Anile¢s Italian Restaurant in Boiling Springs for an early dinner. Note how by this time food has become a great consideration.I see Dreamcatcher, 65 & Alive, and Dharma & Greg on the trail, but it¢s mostly quick and solitary walking today. In Boiling Springs I meet Mike and Cuba Libre; they¢re section hiking in PA for the next few weeks. Cuba Libre hiked from Springer Mountain, GA, to Pine Grove Furnace last year ¢ half of the trail. The most interesting thing is that, like me, she is a Cuban-American, only the second I¢ve met on the trail in 6,000 miles, so we instantly have a connection ¢ we¢re part of a micro-subculture within a subculture. So instead of spending 40 minutes in town, I spend 2 hours, mostly at Anile¢s Restaurant with Cuba Libre, Mike, Meanderthal, Pipesmoke, Luna, and Tapeworm.When I tell them I¢m pushing on to Carlisle for a motel room, Pipesmoke, Meanderthal, Luna, and Tapeworm decide to push on also. It¢s amazing how quickly the miles come in these rolling farmlands ¢ I leave Boiling Springs at 7 p.m. and by 9 p.m. I¢m in Carlisle ¢ 8 miles in 2 hours! And I get the added bonus of spotting 3 groundhogs, nearly a dozen Cottontail Rabbits, a White-Tailed Deer, and a red fox ¢ they all seem to thrive in the midst of these cornfields, wheat fields, and hedgerows. By 8:45 p.m., hundreds of fireflies resemble lazy whirling meteorites lighting up the forest ahead ¢ nature¢s spectacular twinkling light show!
Date: 2004-06-27
From: U.S. 11; Carlisle, PA

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: broken clouds

¢Happy Birthday! Breakfast on us. Room 1083.¢- Note from Pipesmoke, Meanderthal, Luna and TapewormWhen I heard knocking on my door at 8 a.m. this morning I thought the housekeeping staff was insanely early ¢ instead I found the above mentioned note and Pipesmoke, Meanderthal, Luna, and Tapeworm at Middlesex Diner with a birthday breakfast treat for me. Thanks guys. So this is what it feels like to be on the other side of 40!I was casual, not checking out until noon ¢ hey, I make the rules on my birthday! Half of the day was spent walking through farms and hedgerows, and the other half on rocky ridges that are a preview of the dreaded rocks to come. It was a great weather day ¢ breezy with a high in the mid-70¢s. I leap frogged Luna and Tapeworm straight into Duncannon, and for the fourth year I¢m happy to say I¢ve avoided The Doyle Hotel, which is a vortex for unsuspecting hikers. Tomorrow, mail and re-supply, and onward!
Date: 2004-06-28
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Near the Horseshoe Trail
Miles today: 20.6

¢Something to take the edge off your stay at the Doyle . . . ¢Billville, from Cooler Graffiti/Trail MagicToday I had low energy and really didn¢t feel like walking ¢ but that¢s not an option. I successfully avoided the Doyle Hotel for the fourth time, but I had an awful breakfast at the truck stop on the edge of town. The trail was rocky, and I felt funky. Trail magic from Spam near the great new pedestrian bridge over PA 225, and Billville at PA 325 helped lift my spirits. But honestly, today I was wishing I was in Boston or New York City ¢ we just have to endure days like this.I¢m tented on the ridge over the Indiantown Military Reservation, and I¢m hearing machine gun fire in the distance. I¢m also tired ¢ I¢m out!
Date: 2004-06-29
From: Near the Horseshoe Trail

To: William Penn Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: scattered clouds

¢. . . Typical Penn. Day with cold rain, rocks, mud, riverbeds, and Poison Ivy. Yeah!¢- Coming & Going, from Rausch Gap Shelter RegisterIt rained heavily last night, and it cooled down considerably ¢ into the low 50¢s; and like any other hiker I sure hate packing a muddy waterlogged tent. Most of the morning while heading up Stony Mountain, I hear fighter jets taking target practice at Fort Indiantown military reservation ¢ a bit disquieting among these nice looking pine forests.Sometime after noon I come across a short side trail with a sign that reads: cemetery; naturally I take it and am surprised to find a small burial ground of some of Rausch Gap¢s original homesteaders. In this area the plots belonged to a one year old child, and John Proud and Allen Anderson,natives of England, and all three passed away in 1854. Rausch Gap was a coal mining community that proved unsuccessful. Some of the trail here is still pockmarked with excavation holes and mounds.The footpath is quite muddy from last night¢s rain, and already starting to get rockier in more extended patches. At PA 443, I stop for 45 minutes to dry out my tent and all my wet stuff. While I¢m waiting John and Mary, and 65 and alive pass by en route to William Penn Shelter on a 31 mile day. The area around Swatara Gap has been relocated, and this is a work in progress, as it is the third detour route around the Swatara Bridge that I¢ve taken in three hikes through here.The first 8 miles of the nearly 40 mile long ridge called Blue Mountain are the ugliest, Poison Ivy and week choked, thickly understoried, overgrown and poorly maintained section on the trial. Actually this section and the first 30 miles north of Front Royal, VA are the worst. Tonight at William Penn Shelter John & Mary, and 65 and Alive are here with me.I¢ve also developed quite a bad chafing on my upper thighs and ¢manly area¢ ¢ it¢s all quite raw and painful with every stride. I¢m considering not doing the 27 miles into Port Clinton tomorrow, and instead going into Pine Grove and trying to heal up. We¢ll see.
Date: 2004-06-30
From: William Penn Shelter

To: PA 501: Pine Grove, PA
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: scattered clouds

¢You will find great contentment in the daily, routine activities.¢- Fortune cookie fortuneI found no ¢great contentment¢ in walking today. I was on the trail early, 6:15 a.m., ready for the 27 mile walk into Port Clinton, but after half an hour my chafing was raging red and raw. No amount of Gold Bond was going to make it better, much less 27 miles. When I arrived at PA 501, I saw 65 and Alive hitching into Pine Grove. I decided instantly, impetuously, to go into town and try to heal. At least try to find some Desenex or Vaseline.I was going to have to take a short day at some point in the next week anyway, as the post office in Delaware Water Gap is going to be closed Monday for the July 4th weekend ¢ so today will be the short day now. Anyway, we get a hitch into town within minutes. I¢m ensconced in a hotel room by 9 a.m., shower, and start treating the chafing. Hopefully, I¢ll be good to do the 34 miles into Port Clinton tomorrow.
Date: 2004-07-01
From: PA 501: Pine Grove, PA

To: PA 501; Pine Grove, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Zero DayI¢m taking a day off to heal the chafing. I¢ll be trying a new set of shorts in hopes of ¢remedying¢ the situation ¢ it¢s already started to scab over. I really don¢t want to take a zero day so soon, but I¢ve got to get this ¢situation¢ healed.