morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-31
From: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter

To: Wilson Gap
Miles today: 35.5

Today started off almost flat. I've been having trouble sleeping lately for some reason. Usually while I'm out here I sleep like a baby. So I got up at the crack of dawn and started walking. It was flat for a while and there was lots of poison ivy on either side of the trail. Hope I don't get it!There was a sign that read, "Welcome to The Rollercoaster. We'll see you in 10 miles if you survive! Signed: Trailboss and his band of merry volunteers". Someone had scrawled underneath it in magic marker a sighting of a rabid raccoon that tried to bite the guy about 10 days ago.The Rollercoaster was a big time, well-deserved name. Lots of small ups and downs and short flat sections. Getting near the end of it, I started to run out of water and came to the sign for the Bears Den Hostel, .2 from the trail. "Some other hostel, I'll just run in and out and grab some water." Turned out to be a lot cooler than I thought. Queen Diva, the manager of the ATC-owned hostel, does a ministry for hikers that includes a free dinner for everyone, regardless of whether you stay. It was a great dinner too, every kind of breakfast food you could want and tons of it. The hostel is a beautiful mansion. It was cool to hang out with some of the hikers too, especially Vapor, who might be doing the IAT.After dinner, I stumbled a few more miles and collapsed, sleeping under the stars. Tomorrow I'll have some time to hang out at Harpers Ferry.
Date: 2005-06-01
From: Wilson Gap

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: clear sky

Since last night I collapsed right on the trail, I picked myself up quickly and got moving by 6:00. Another night of not-so-good sleep and I'm not sure why. I actually hallucinated a bit today because I was so exhausted, thinking for a moment that I was seeing little flying light bugs in the ATC bathroom. The 10 miles or so into town were quite flat but I kept stubbing my feet on the many rocks. At Keys Gap, I decided to get off and grab some Gatorade. A guy gave me a ride into town and his car was the dirtiest I'd ever seen, piles of trash so high there was nowhere to put my feet but I sure ain't complaining.At Harpers Ferry, I stumbled around until I hit the ATC HQ. I walked in, hung out a bit, and got my picture taken. The thru-hikers are so routine for these guys but they're friendly anyhow. It was cool to see photos of other hikers ahead. My shoes were supposed to be here from REI but they aren't; I called REI and they said that they will come tomorrow; this is a dilemma for me, basically means no four state challenge. I think I'm alright with this though.I got a ride to Wal-Mart and bought a radio. Now I have an iPod and a radio! Guess who I saw at Wal-Mart...none other than Red Hat! And she has made the decision to get back on the trail. Way cool, I think. Her husband decided that since she is obsessed with it, she needs to get back to it.I made my way back to the bridge under the Shenandoah River to find a place to stealth camp. As I was sitting eating some fried chicken I'd bought at Wal-Mart, Vapor passed on the bridge overhead, waved, and came on down. I gave him some fried chicken and we talked for a couple hours. He is an authentic guy, no BS. After a while, this old man with a long beard came up. He said that he thought the AT would be neat before walking on it but he doesn't like it because you can smell everyone's shoes on the trail. Smell everyone's shoes, you say? Then the guy went on to tell us that he sometimes digs up little alien creatures. So..anyway, Vapor is going into DC tomorrow with some other guys. Very tempting but I think I'll pick up my shoes and head on. I'll probably see these guys up the trail.
Date: 2005-06-03
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Ensign Cowall Shelter
Miles today: 31.8
Weather: mist

Yesterday I ended up having to take a zero day since my new shoes didn't end up arriving until almost 5:00 in the afternoon. In fact, I was already walking down the trail out of Harpers Ferry when the FedEx truck delivered them and the kind folks at the ATC HQ sent someone to hunt me down. Then, this morning I discovered that the shock absorption system in one of my new Leki poles had busted and I brought it to the outfitters in town, where they replaced the part quickly. I finally made it out of town at around 10:30 in what was a gloomy, drizzly day. We've had such nice weather lately though that I am certainly not complaining about one lousy day. Getting to the first shelter around noon, I met the ridge runner Dave. It was a pretty amusing interaction. He asked me when I started and when I told him April 2nd, he said "So you've been taking a lot of zero days I take it?" I said that yeah, lately I had been because of an injury and when I asked him how me knew that, our erudite ridge runner responded, "Most people I've been meeting started in mid-March." Smart guy, you say ;-). I gave him some crap for this and also ribbed him a bit for apparently not doing much as a ridge runner, according to what he said, he just walks from one shelter to the next each day and occasionally reads someone the Leave No Trace principles from a card he carries in his wallet. Pretty funny, I told him. He said he doesn't get paid much, but it sounds like doesn't do much either!I had to do some night walking in the fog and could only see a few feet ahead of me. Some of these rocks are not too much fun...I bet it gets worse! When I finally got to the shelter, Montana was awake and offered me some water. I curled up on the encloed wooden floor in front and slept like a baby.
Date: 2005-06-04
From: Ensign Cowall Shelter

To: Rocky Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 24.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Hello north! Goodbye south! Today I crossed the Mason Dixon line and entered the state of Pennsylvania. I was in good spirits all day but my feet started to hurt after 18 miles or so...It was unbelievably humid today and I stayed wet the entire time. Next to the dead cow in Florida, I saw the most disgusting thing of the entire trip today, a dead deer that was literally a pile of maggots. I mean, the whole deer was being consumed by maggots and you could see the off-white mess squirming from several feet away. The smell was horrendous too.There are lots of little parks and stuff in PA. The terrain has started to get a lot more rocky and rather flat but I'm sure these rocks don't compare to what's in store.I've been hiking around similar people for several days now, some of them being Swan & Buck, Hike-hu, Doc Chicacadee, Tomcat, Numtum, Zeke, and Montana. I caught up to August West today. Tomorrow is the halfway, half-gallon ice cream challenge: to eat a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting at the halfway point is the goal.Hike-hu is playing his camp guitar and August is accompanying with the harmonica in the twilight.
Date: 2005-06-05
From: Rocky Mountain Shelter

To: PA 94 (stealth camped)
Miles today: 33.6

I always thought the half gallon halfway challenge was a joke, not really a challenge at all; for some reason, the prospect of eating half a gallon of ice cream did not seem that difficult to me in principle. I overestimated myself. It ended up being one of the hardest things I've done so far; by the time I'd eaten a third of the carton, I was ready to stop. After half the carton was downed, I started to get nauseous. I felt more and more like I was going to puke with every spoonful, especially as it became more soupy. The last five spoonfuls were the toughest, and as soon as I finished, I rose from the table and ran out to the grass, prepared to regurgitate the whole half gallon. Fortunately, I only gagged and choked a bit and it all stayed down, even through the next 10 miles. The half gallon challenge is a long-standing tradition among AT thru-hikers, taking place at the camp store at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, the approximate halfway point.I met Hellboy today at the half gallon challenge. He's hiking with his little brother now and will be doing shorter days. It's too bad, because we could have hiked together and pushed each other. He's probably the fastest hiker on the trail that I've met. By way of Hellboy, I learned the unfortunate news that Tom of Tom & Mateo have gotten off the trail, apparently because he was sick of the trees and wanted to do his motorcycle trip. I was sad and really shocked to hear this, I thought he would finish for sure. I hope Mateo is still on. I have no way of getting in touch with Tom so if you know, send me an email.I wasn't planning to go as far as I did today. I somehow missed the shelter a few miles back! I read the sign I saw as "2 miles to Tagg Run shelter" but I think it really was a blue-blazed trail indicating .2 miles to the shelter! Oh well, a night under the stars by myself is not too bad.
Date: 2005-06-06
From: PA 94 (stealth camped)

To: US 11 (Appalachian Inn)
Miles today: 16.8

This morning I was so dehydrated all my muscles were tweaking. It took a lot of energy to pull myself up the hills. It's been 90 degrees and super humid lately. I chugged as much water as I could at the nearest spring but this wasn't enough. As I was approaching Boiling Springs walking through wheat fields, I felt like I was about to pass out. I went to the Italian restaurant in town, and in addition to a great stromboni, I drank almost three large pitchers of water, probably about 1.5 gallons. After goofing off for a couple hours at the ATC Mid-Atlantic office in Boiling Springs, I continued on. Red, Pacha, and Throw 'n Fetch were getting a room about 8 miles up. Throw 'n Fetch is a quietly inspiring man. He has advanced melanoma and doctors told him he should have died over a year ago. Instead, he's thru-hiking the AT, as painful as it is.Anyhow, the next 8 miles were easy terrain but there was a severe thunderstorm and a lot of walking was through exposed farm land. The lightning was close and scary. I got to the hotel finally and showered and did laundry. It was only $11/person including laundry so I felt like it was a good deal. Dinner was good. Now for some sleep.
Date: 2005-06-07
From: US 11 (Appalachian Inn)

To: Peters Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 29.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today started off slow. Red came back to the room around 8:30 and told me how great breakfast at the diner was. I shouldn't have passed it up, I decided afterward.Today's hike was as hot as yesterday's, at some points upwards of 90 degrees, but I was better prepared, having chugged water last night and this morning. I ended up taking an old route into Duncannon; for the life of me I couldn't find where the recent reroute branched off. During the hike between U.S. 11 and Duncannon, I ran into Red Rover who seemed to be quite proud of her 16 minute 59 second time at downing the half gallon of ice cream; it's the year's best time so far. "I don't do walking challenges but I love eating challenges," she told me.Of course I had to hit up the Doyle in Duncannon, as it's almost an AT staple. I don't agree that it's "sketchy," it's actually pretty nice and has an authentically classic flavor. The food's great, big portions, and affordably priced.I met up with RZA and Method Man a few miles out and walked and talked with Method Man the rest of the way to the shelter. They are nice guys. These guys were super athletes in college and before and don't feel that great if they do more than 20 miles a day. I was a couch potato in college and before and can walk 30 miles and feel great the next day - does this kinda thing make any sense?This shelter is one of the classiest on the trail. It is on the top of a mountain and the water source is at the bottom of that mountain, an elevation change of about 800 feet with almost no switchbacks. I was in good spirits though so didn't mind the steep walk up.
Date: 2005-06-08
From: Peters Mountain Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 34.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Another swelteringly hot day. I passed few other hikers and mostly had the trail to myself. I took a long lunch break near a creek, soaking my feet, and these three mountain bikers passed in the opposite direction. I thought that bikes were prohibited but hadn't seen a sign specifically stating such and so could only say, "I didn't know this part of the AT was dual use." They left tire marks all down the trail for several miles.The famous PA rocks (big boulder fields) are starting in little sections but I know it doesn't get really bad until after Port Clinton. This shelter is more like a hostel bunkhouse; it's an enclosed building with a table and bunks. You can even order pizza...so I did!This evening I got to talking at the shelter with a hiker in his 50s who is doing a flip-flop thru-hike. He was saying how the AT class of 2005 has a bad reputation in town and how numerous hostel owners, outfitters, etc., have told him that this group is especially obnoxious. I've met a few obnoxious people, but most that I've met have been really neat. "I'll be glad when my hike is finished," he said. This got me thinking about how I'll feel when my hike is over with. There's a part of that is pretty damn sick of the whole thing, my whole day spent walking, over and over again. But this part doesn't usually win out and even though I've been extremely bored rather frequently lately, I do extract a great deal of enjoyment from the activity. Whether I choose to do the entire ECT or just end at Katahdin, I think I will be very sad when my trip is over. I've been going for five months now, and hiking is now my lifestyle, a large part of my identity. No doubt when I finish it will be as if I lost a large part of who I am.
Date: 2005-06-09
From: 501 Shelter

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: few clouds

Hats off to Mr. Youngblood and all the folks who care for the 501 shelter, it's neat to have a palacial shelter once in a while.Today I was almost attacked by three creatures, a dog, a person, and a rattlesnake. Not to mention the sharp rocks. I'd call today my most dangerous day on the AT so far. To summarize, a vicious dog jumped out at me barking and as I yelled back at it, the owner told me not to yell, for even though the dog barks bloodthirstily, "he doesn't bite". When I told him pointedly to put a leash on his dog, he told me he'd put a leash on me and that "there are no rules out here". I kept walking and he yelled for me to come back so he could "rebuke me". Right, I was going to wait for that. I pick my fights well, this guy was about 6'3" and quite well built :-). My adrenaline was pumping througout the incident because I got pretty angry when the dog threatened me...but I feel quite justified in the way I handled it. I'm not sure what else I could have done while defending myself against the dog, saying what I felt needed to be said, and walking away. The whole thing was bizarre and one ! of the tensest moments I've had on my trail experience.It's ironic that another tense moment should occur within an hour of this one. The conflict with the guy and his damn dog still occupying my thoughts, I am walking along when I hear a sharp hiss. I jump back and as I do so, a massive rattlesnake coils back into striking position. I had stepped within four inches of its lounging in the sun, stretched out. I backed off several feet, contemplating how to get around it safely. I think of cutting through the woods but the brush is really thick, almost impassable. So from a safe distance, I launch small rocks and sticks in the snake's vicinity, hoping to scare it away. It is slow to move, but finally after 15 minutes or so, slithers on and I go on.Today was very challenging. The heat was in the upper 80s and there was little water. At one point I walked about 400 feet down a steep hill to get water, only to find the spring dry.Finally hitting Port Clinton, I enter the first facility I can find to get water. It turned out to be a bar run by the local volunteer fire company. I drank a few beers, ate some microwave pizza which tasted great, and made some friends who drove me to the grocery a few miles away. Sleep in the picnic pavilion and after a gallon of water down the hatch, times are good. I hear the "rocks of hell" commence tomorrow. To quote that silly cowboy, I say "bring 'em on!".
Date: 2005-06-11
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: broken clouds

Some people have said that people are not friendly in the trail towns of the north, but so far this hasn't been the case; the people of Palmerton, PA stop hikers on the street and ask them if they know where to go, offer rides, and at the grocery store they give a free apple to each hiker that comes in.The climb coming out of Lehigh Gap was my kind of mountain. Rocky, exposed, and a barely visible trail made for a challenging and exciting ascent. A day hiker told me that this was an hor d'ouevre to the Whites. If so, I'm glad for it. The rest of the hike had stubby little rocks good for stubbing my toes. Some day hikers hooked me up with water and a bottle of Gatorade. Water certainly becomes a more valuable commodity when it is scarce.Weekenders had trekked an astonishing 0.7 miles to get to the shelter and left no space. Captain Crunch and Coronel Forbin graciously let me stay under their tarp.
Date: 2005-06-12
From: Leroy A. Smith Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I have one thing to say about the "terrible Pennsylvania rocks". They're way overrated. You only have to deal with them really for the northern 70 miles of PA and they ain't that bad. The flatter trail compensates for whatever troubles the rocks may cause.When I got into Delaware Water Gap, I went and had some pizza at the local pizzeria. Finn, Airbus, & T-Brig stopped in and gave me a piece of stromboli. T-Brig and Airbus are Brits and T-Brig wants to be the first Brit up Katahdin this year. He went to Costa Rica for some zero days and got all his gear stolen. A friend of mine, Dave Korba, lives in Delaware Water Gap and so I had a place to stay and a good time seeing Dave. We went out to a great Indian restaurant and I crashed on his futon. Even got my laundry done.
Date: 2005-06-20
From: RPH Shelter (stealth camped)

To: N.Y. 22 (McConaghy house)
Miles today: 19.7

To my loyal readers: I am sorry to say that for the past week I have slacked off in writing my journal and I hope not to let this happen again. I can't really pass the buck but to say that I have been hiking with a couple other guys, AirBus and Finn, and that the social walking inspired me to become lazy and walk less and also stop writing in my journal for a while. I enjoyed the company on the trail a great deal, things had been getting somewhat monotonous by myself. Finn and AirBus cracked me up, we just joked around all day. It's too bad that Tea Break, a real character, didn't catch up. Today AirBus had to leave the country for a few days in order to renew his visa and so took a train up to Canada. If I go to the UK in the next year, it will be cool to hang out with him. I think I'll be soloing it for most of the rest of the time if I wish to get up to Katahdin before the last day in July.There are a lot of people to thank in the last week: the two Daves, Dave Korba and Rosner, for opening up their houses to me. Each of them shared a great deal of generosity and I enjoyed the time I spent with them. I thank Finn & AirBus for the good times. And also I thank Rob McConaghy for taking me in and blessing me with his encouragement about what I'm doing.There is a lot more that I could write about the last week, such as a commentary on Finn's dirty flatulence, Tea Break's slacking, or my sending my sleeping bag home the day before the temperature dipped. No doubt there will be more adventures ahead. I'm looking forward to New England and the challenge it will bring.
Date: 2005-06-21
From: N.Y. 22 (McConaghy house)

To: Near Conn 4 (stealth camped)
Miles today: 30.1

Rob McConaghy dropped me off around 8:30 after a good conversation about careers and networking. The seven miles to the Connecticut state line flew by. The only other hiker I saw during this time was this little old Japanese guy who didn't speak much English.The day was bright and sunny, the longest of the year and the path ran parallel to the Hoosatonic River as I made my way into CT. As I passed the Algo Shelter without taking the blue blaze in, I heard what at first I thought was the voice of God, a deep, booming voice from far off: "WANDERING BULL" "WANDERING BULL". "Yes?" I shouted back. "And who are you?" It turned out to be Bamboo Bob. I was glad to see him after our many email correspondences. He gave me a great deal of useful advice on the Florida Trail and is now doing an AT section hike. We talked for a while and along came a trail angel who brought us beer, a microbrew called "Long Trail Ale". Good stuff at a great price.As the afternoon bore on with its many steep climbs, a thought dawned on me: the mountains have returned. And so it appears that gone are the miles and miles of ridge walked that characterized the Mid-Atlantic states and I'll actually need to pull my butt up and down hills, many of them in fact, and they ain't getting easier.
Date: 2005-06-22
From: Near Conn 4 (stealth camped)

To: Laurel Ridge campsite
Miles today: 30.6
Weather: moderate rain

Sending my sleeping bag was one of the stupidest things I've ever done. A silk liner just doesn't do anything in terms of keeping me warm..it ws like a cruel trick, as soon as I bought the liner and sent the bag home, the weather got cold again. So no sleep last night and Grumpy Bull in the morning.The terrain is picking up, the hills are becoming more and more impressive. I'm trying to prepare myself mentally for the challenge of the upcoming sections. I can't believe there was a part of me that thought I had it in the bag a few days ago.Aside from the new hills, Connecticut is a nice state with roaring streams, decent views, and lush vegetation.I stopped at Mountainside Cafe to eat a great burger. I asked for a brownie for dessert, they brought me a wole sundae instead and when they put it on my bill, I mentioned it and got the whole thing free. Trail magic!I was mad at myself for a while because I had lost my Trail Drop clock; it hangs from my pack and simply fell off. Finn to save the day in more ways than one. He found it on the trail, caught up with me to give it to me and then pulled my exhuausted body up the remaining mountains going fast. How I walked 30 miles today on no sleep at all is beyond me.
Date: 2005-06-23
From: Laurel Ridge campsite

To: Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 30.3
Weather: few clouds

"They're going to sell you into chattle slavery," Finn said casually to me in his sleep. Hmph. Last night was cold again but I did manage to get some sleep and wake up feeling pretty refreshed.I enjoyed the rock wall ascent up to Mt. Everett this morning and the view along the ridge is fabulous. I passed through an area today known as the "mosquito breeding ground". It is as horrible as its name implies. About 15 mosquitoes were biting me at any given time. At one point in this section, the strap for my camera pouch broke and as the camera fell, I jumped out of the way as not to step on it and...snap! I stepped on one of my new Leki poles and broke it in half. I was pretty upset at this point.I went into Sheffield to try to find a way to replace my pole. The guy at the outfitters is really nice and let me use the phone to get in touch with Leki. The replacement piece is being shipped to EMS in the Berkshire Mall near Dalton. I ate sushi and a caesar salad for lunch, yum!Back on the trail, it was gentle and rolling with only a few steep climbs. I didn't see many thru-hikers today and I don't know any of the people ahead of me so I'll have to make new friends.