morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-06-06
From: Sam Moore shelter

To: Blackburn AT Center
Miles today: 11.0

RW MEANS Rollercoaster Wisdom Walk because we solved the world's problems while hiking the rollercoaster. At the Blackburn AT Center mile 1007.1 and hiked 11 miles today. Last night the temperature fell and it got a little cold. I woke up at 5:30 and packed up my tent.   We left camp at 7:30 and hiked hard to get to the Bears Den Hostel before 9 o'clock so we could eat because they close at 9. It was only 3 miles but it was 3 miles of the Rollercoaster, all rocks and steep climbs.   Isn't Black and Bear Bag rushed ahead and Spirit Hawk and I lagged behind and just barely made it.At the hostel, we all ordered pizza, ice cream and coke for breakfast. We ran into Forester Gump at the hostel. We ate and hung around till 11:30. Isn't Black and Bear Bag decided to go to a winery for a wine tasting close to the trail. I wasn't interested and so I joined Spirit Hawk and Forester Gump and we hiked to the Blackburn AT Center.   We crossed the 1000 mile mark today and entered West Virginia.  We completed the Virginia rollercoaster section of the trail and spent our time hiking solving the problems of the world. The time passed quickly and by 4 o'clock we were at the Center.   It is free to stay at the Center but the accommodations are very limited. It is a beautiful place. As the day progressed Listener joined us.   As you may recall I hiked with Listener near Erwin, Tennessee during an ice and snow storm. Forester Gump educated us all day by discussing the trees and forest.   He is a Forester in the upper peninsula of Michigan.As the evening progressed more thru-hikers arrived; Freeman, Scuffy, Meo and Buzz and Tandem.   I hiked with Buzz and Tandem for a long time before my injury.   They were far ahead of me and then I stopped seeing their names in the shelter log books.   It turns out that Buzz had serious shin problems and they went to a hospital in Atlanta for treatment.   They were off the trail for nearly 2 weeks while he recovered. During dinner Bear Bag brought out a bottle of wine that he had purchased at the winery to celebrate the 1000 mile mark.   He shared the wine with everyone.   Very generous of him.The center has a large telescope and we all enjoyed looking at the moon. Later that night we learned Isn't Black had lost his camp shoes after the winery.   In the past 2 days he has lost most of his spare clothing. He is unhappy about losing a lot of important items 2 days in a row. He also arrived late because of the winery stop and didn't get a bed nor tent site.   He had to sleep on the porch.
Date: 2014-06-09
From: Appalachian Trail Conservancy

To: Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Miles today: 0.0

RW Means: Reshaping WaistISN'T BLACK'S BLOG: http://northbounder.blogspot.com BEAR BAG'S BLOG: www.bearbaggear.com  CURIOUS GEORGE'S BLOG: www.secondjourneys.com The trail magic both today and last night was just incredible. Last night, a trail maintainer named Shellie Moubray left a message on my guest book saying she thought she found Isn't Black's clothing which he lost several days ago. Isn't Black contacted her and confirmed she had indeed found some of his clothing. She'll mail the clothing to him at Pine Grove, Pennsylvania. Amazing! The trail takes and gives back. The missing clothing was likely taken by other thru-hikers who had a need for them. Isn't Black provided trail magic to them. THANK YOU SHELLIE MOUBRAY for your dedicated trail work! You are truly a trail angel and an ambassador for the A.T. and America. Today my wife contacted Merrill to let them know I had repaired my boots and to cancel my replacement boot order. Instead, Merrill promised to give me credit for the cost of the boots which can be used to purchase another pair at a later date. Amazing!I broke the tip of my Black Diamond Trekking Pole a few days ago on the trail. After calling Black Diamond today, they agreed to send me a replacement for the entire lower part of the trekking pole, at cost plus shipping. Amazing again.My wife's longtime friend, Maryglenn, and her husband,Bob, drove from their home in Clear Spring, MD to meet me for lunch in Harpers Ferry. I introduced them to Isn't Black and Bear Bag. We had a wonderful time and the visit was much too short. Adding to all of the highlights mentioned above, their visit was the cherry on the Sundae, making it a perfect zero day.Bear Bag has decided to get better shoes, but he finds it difficult to get the correct shoe size, like most of us now on the trail. So he ordered 10 pairs of shoes from Zapatos, which should arrive tomorrow. Isn't Black and I are heading out tomorrow. After Bear Bag finds a pair of shoes that fit, he'll send the remaining shoes back and catch-up to us at our rendezvous site.
Date: 2014-06-10
From: Appalachian Trail Conservancy

To: Dahlgren Backpack Campground
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Wolf pack 5 family Swiss family Robinson 4RW MEANS Recap WonderWe are at Dahlgren Backpack Campground at 1036.8 and hiked 17.8.   The daily miles above is higher in an attempt to reconcile the guide with the computer calculated miles.   I think I made math errors some.Isn't Black and I left about 8. Bear Bag stayed behind waiting for his new hiking shoes to arrive.   He will catch up to us.   We soon crossed the Potomac River and entered Maryland. Another new state, 5 down.   I was disappointed entering Maryland because there was no sign announcing that we were entering Maryland. We hike along the C & O Canal for several miles before turning into the mountains.   We were sandwiched between railroad tracks, the canal, and the Potomac river.It was both noisy as the trains went by and beautiful walking alongside the Potomac river.   Once on the trail it proved to be very rocky and eroded.   The rocks and erosion tortured my Achilles tendon today.   The forest here is again different from the forest in other states. The trees are younger and shorter. As we walked there was daylight many times over our head. We could see the sky and the clouds numerous times; the green tunnel of Virginia is behind us. But there are very few flowers, only scattered patches of Mountain Laurel are blooming.   The trail is a monotonous green with very few views. Also the morning was quite foggy until 10 o'clock in the morning. It has rained for days and it rained on us again in the morning. The shelters and campgrounds are wonderful. Today we learned that Curious George has permanently left the trail. His heel is still very sore and now his knees are hurting.      Today we met a group of 9 people consisting of 2 families. Each family started individually and then met each other and now they joined up. They left on March 20th. They skipped 400 miles and are now here. They intend to leap frog ahead on the trail and then come back and complete the sections that they leapfrog over.   They hope to complete the whole trail by the end of November. They are on trail journals.com as SKAGR. The children are young teenagers and doing well. The parents have taken their kids out of school for a long time to do this trial.
Date: 2014-06-11
From: Dahlgren Backpack Campground

To: Raven Rock Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: mist

RW MEANS Raven Weather                                             Mile 1055.6 at Raven Rock shelter, an 18.8 mile day.               It stormed hard last night and water pooled under my tent. I still stayed dry but had to pack the tent away wet.   I got up at 6 after the rain stopped. We hiked for awhile and Bear Bag caught up to us at 9. We hiked all day and I am tired.   It has rained 4 days straight and the trail and forest is saturated with water.   I was wet all day again.   My feet look like blistery prunes.   Very painful. We arrived at the shelter about 5.   Beautiful shelter but drinkable water is .6 miles down a steep hill.   I could just scream. At 7 it started to rain again very hard. It thundered and water came down in buckets. I get cell phone service here and we are in a tornado warning area. At 9 a hiker named Trix came in. She was soaked. Glad to sleep in the shelter tonight.I am very tired today because the humidity was just crushing.
Date: 2014-06-12
From: Raven Rock Shelter

To: Rocky Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: light rain

RW MEANS: Rocky-mountain WonderActual miles 1075.4Not many views today because of the thick fog and rain. Within 2 miles of the shelter the sky really opened up and I felt like I was drowning as I hiked. Every thing is wet. I arrived at the shelter at 5:30 and changed into dry clothes. There are 8 of us at the shelter. I know everyone. Soon a trail and shelter maintainer named Jim stopped by. We had a great conversation with him. He said we could get a pizza delivered to this shelter. We tried to order pizza but couldn't get through. Jim walked 0.5 miles then drove and bought us 4 large pizzas and 2 liters of pop, then hiked the 0.5 miles back to the shelter. He then said we didn't owe him for the pizza. What great trail magic and what a great guy! As a result we don't need to go to town to resupply tomorrow. We now have enough food to get to the next hostel.
Date: 2014-06-13
From: Rocky Mountain Shelter

To: Caledonia State Park
Miles today: 3.4

RW MEANS Rough walk Actual miles 1078.8 according to the Guide. This Friday the 13th turned out to be a real disaster for me. Last night the weather continued to be terrible and it stormed most of the night. Even though I hung my clothes up to dry last night, this morning I had to ring them out and put them on dripping wet. Also last night I was thirsty and ended up spilling a lot of water onto my sleeping bag. So I slept wet and damp part of the night.This morning we all left early, about 7, and I was the last to leave. I don't know what happened, but leaving the shelter I hiked South instead of North. I hiked South about 1.7 miles or a half an hour before I realized I was hiking the wrong way and all downhill. When I discovered my error I was frustrated and astounded at my mistake. By the time I got back to the shelter it was clear that Bear Bag and Isn't Black were at least an hour and a half ahead of me.I decided to hike slow because my feet were so sore and blistered. Because of my mistake in the morning and because I spilled a lot of my water during the night I ran out of water before I got to the next water source and hiked for about 45 minutes without water. When I got to Caledonia State Park I stopped for water and took a break. I had been hiking for over 2 hours hard and traveled 6.8 miles just to go 3.4 miles, and I felt really down and out of momentum. This is the lowest that I have felt on the whole trail.Today we intended to hike nearly 22 miles and make the halfway point. It was clear to me that I could not do that and did not have the desire any more to do it either.After my break I went and talked to two couples, mid-60's, who were sitting nearby in SUVs. I asked both couples individually if they would drive me the three miles to the motel and they both said no because it was out of their way. I explained again my situation and that my feet were very sore and that I was a thru-hiker but they still refused and drove off. I called a shuttle driver who took me to the motel and I checked in. I'm staying at the Scottish Inn in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania. After I washed my clothes in the sink, I went to a restaurant next to the motel and had a good meal. While drying my clothes, a guest at the motel drove me to the Dollar General. His name is Mike and a true Trail Angel. There I bought some medical stuff for my feet and an ice cream. Mike has agreed to take me back to the trail tomorrow morning. It is my hope to hike tomorrow to the halfway point and there is a hostel there. I will spend the night and continue to rest my feet. I will also pick up my mail and the replacement parts for my trekking poles. It is not raining now but thunderstorms are predicted for tonight. I expect the trail to be soaking wet again. At least I will start with dry clothes and dry socks. I will be hiking alone. I don't expect Bear Bag and Isn't Black to wait for me, and it would be unfair to them for them to wait for me. With this Post I wish Bear Bag and Isn't Black the best and I hope to see you again sometime, although I doubt I will ever catch you.
Date: 2014-06-14
From: Caledonia State Park

To: AT Museum
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: scattered clouds

RW MEANS: Reverse brain Wave   Actual miles 1097.9 I have no cell phone connection here and will upload photos when I can.Today is 180 degrees from yesterday. The text messages, emails, and journal entries from friends, family, Trail Angels, and others are overwhelming. I couldn't have hiked today without all of your prayers, praise, and encouragement. You know, yesterday and today couldn't have been more different. My feet still hurt, but the support of so many is carrying me when I didn't think I could go on. I find it difficult to express how I feel. Let me tell you a short story about how much YOU are contributing to making my dream come true. Yesterday a man named Iceman offered to help me slackpack today. I didn't take the offer. Iceman, David Martin, a regular section hiker who lives in Pennsylvania, drove to the trail where he guessed I would hike today and then hiked South hoping to run into me. He did find me at Birch Run Shelter. We talked for a while and he hiked with me and we shared a precious moment that only true Angels can give to thru-hikers.   He has extended extraordinary generosity to help me through Pennsylvania. I never met this person before today and didn't have any idea he read my journals. I may take him up on his offer later in Pennsylvania, but for now the response to yesterday and Iceman's touching generosity recharged me emotionally and re-instilled my determination. I have never had such a thing happen to me or felt such strength from this passionate outpouring. I hope I am worthy. Today the weather was perfect, the sky beautiful, and the trail amazingly kind to me. The trail was dry and soft with very few rocks all day. The forest is thinning and daylight penetrates the forest all the way to the forest floor in large patches. The green tunnel is ending.I left the motel with a man named AZ Cruiser, a very strong hiker who accompanied me even though I slowed him down. We crossed the mid-point at about 1:45 PM. I am now more than halfway done. We talked all day and he inspired me to make it all the way to Pine Grove Furnace State Park, farther than I believed I could hike today. We went to the AT Museum, and discussed trying the Half-gallon challenge. The Half-gallon challenge is to eat a half-gallon of ice cream. We decided not to accept the challenge.At the end of the day, Bear Bag and Isn't Black arrived at the hostel where I am staying, the Ironmasters Mansion Hostel. They are 20 miles ahead, but decided to come back to this hostel because it is so nice. I am glad to see them and we shared dinner together. I am flabbergasted.   They will jump ahead 20 miles tomorrow where they got off the trail today.
Date: 2014-06-15
From: AT Museum

To: Boiling Springs, PA Allenberry Resort
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: scattered clouds

RW Means Rock Maze90 days, unbelievable, three months. I am averaging about 12.2 miles per day. check out my stats. page.Last night was cold and I was glad I was in the hostel, which is great and I highly recommend it. Cuz, AZ cruiser, Isn't Black, Bear Bag, Blue Jay (the only woman), and I stayed at this wonderful historic building. After breakfast Cuz gave me a bandana as a gift to replace the AT bandana I lost on Friday, which I didn't mention earlier. Trail magic to start the day. Wonderful.AZ Cruiser and I left at 7:30, and soon passed the 1,100 mile mark. the trail was smooth and flat most of the day and we made great time arriving in Boiling Springs at 3:30. We checked into the Allenberry Resort Inn and Playhouse. It is normally expensive but they gave us a hiker rate of only $20 per person for double room. No play tonight, which would have been an extra treat.We saw some interesting rock formations named the Maze. It is a large pile of giant broken boulders. The trail weaves through, under, and over them.   It was fun.At the end of the day the green tunnel came to an abrupt end at a farm field. The last few miles we hiked through the fields with the mountains at our back, receding with every step forward. All I can see in front of me is open farm land. Other hikers tell me we will now hike through farm fields for a long time.When we got to town we ran into Iceman who again provided trail magic by driving us around town. Boiling Springs is a beautiful town and good place to spend some time. I may come back one day just to sightsee. My feet still hurt so I plan to do only a few miles the next several days. Plus, it is suppose to get hot, in the 90s. AZ Cruiser is planning a 26 miler to get to Duncannon in one day. Many of the hikers are going to push 26 miles so they don't have to carry food and get to the next town.   I will take two days, then buy food for the 70 miles before the next food stop. AZ and I said our goodbyes.
Date: 2014-06-17
From: PA 850

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 9.1

RW means: Rules by WhoZero day. Forecast calls for isolated thunderstorms 9 of the next 10 days.Today is going slow; I'm just soaking my feet today. While sitting in the bar at the Doyle I saw an article about the place in The Burg 06/14 edition, Harrisburg, PA. The Doyle was originally a three-story wooden hotel built in the 1770s. It burned down in 1903 and was replaced by the current four-story brick building. In 1880, Adolphus Busch purchased the property, and later it was owned by the Budweiser Company, who then sold it during the Prohibition era. In 1944 it became the Doyle Hotel after Jim Doyle won $444,444.44 in the Irish lottery and purchased the hotel with some of his winnings. Current owners, Pat and Vicky Kelly bought it in 2001. According to the article, the famous author Charles Dickens, once stayed here. The hotel/hostel has great food. Pat Kelly masterfully prepares a Southern-inspired menu, including handmade one-third and one-half pound pub burgers. His wife, Vicky, is a Mississippi native and goes by the trail name Q.B. (Queen Bit*?). She is great and adds real personality and color to the hotel. This bare bones, worn down building is worth the overnight stop, just for the great food and unbelievable atmosphere in a very tired, but historic building.During the morning I met Lambchap, a woman with a strong Australian accent who moved to the States nine years ago. This is her second AT attempt. Her first attempt ended early because of seriously injured Achilles Tendons. She said it took her over a year to recover from the injury.I will use the Doyle's free shuttle to go to the grocery store today and do some other needed chores before hiking tomorrow.
Date: 2014-06-18
From: Duncannon

To: 1159.2
Miles today: 16.1

RW MEANS rocky woods At mile 1159.2.   3 months on the trail. After a poor night's sleep in the Doyle due to the heat, I left Duncannon about 8am with Left Turn.   Nothing remarkable about the trail. In the trees all day and rocky.   As usual my feet hurt.   Water is difficult to find and located down steep hills and far between. I hiked heavy with 4 days of food and lots of water.   About 85 degrees today and humid. Camping in a small clearing next to the trail for the night.   No water here and it is sprinkling.   Penguin man, Gone Walking, Left Turn, and I are camping here because the ground is flat and we are all too tired to hike to the next shelter. Penguin man is concerned about his knee which is swollen and Left Turn is chafed badly today. Everyone here is over 50 years old and three of us are hurting.   No healthy young hikers allowed in this spot tonight!
Date: 2014-06-19
From: 1159.2

To: Swatara Gap
Miles today: 19.0

RW MEANS Ragged wrapped feet. Take a look at the sign in the picture and figure out what is wrong.Last night was amazing. There was an incredible lightning storm and of course it rained. Everything I carried stayed dry except for my tent. I didn't hear of anybody complaining about getting wet in the rain storm.We got up this morning and most everybody was on the trail by 7:30. It seems to be getting normal to leave in heavy fog and it was very foggy again this morning. At 8:30 Left Turn and I met Iceman at an intersection so that we could slack pack the rest of the day. As usual Iceman was incredible. We had texted him that I needed some socks and Left Turn needed a headlamp and a few other items. All of which he got for us and then lent us two daypacks so we could slack pack.So far this part of Pennsylvania has been my favorite part of the trail. The trails are well-maintained and the shelters are nice and the people are friendly. This particular section of the trail is exceptional. The trail maintainers have done a very good job in managing water, which was readily available for us today. Water was abundant most of the day with far more sources than listed in the trail guide.At about 10:30 it started to rain and continued to rain steadily until nearly 3 o'clock. While the trail remained in fairly good condition throughout the storm we still got very wet. I got some new blisters today. The rain was cold. Whenever we slowed down or stopped for a rest we'd get a chill. It's one reason we hiked so many miles today.After getting wet and chilled we decided it was time to get off the trail for the night and check into a motel. We weren't alone in this decision because there are several other thru-hikers at the motel. This gave us a chance to wash our clothes, clean up, and rest up for tomorrow.I hope my feet heal soon. New socks today improved my comfort level tremendously. Shoes and insoles and socks are the most important thing on the trail. I am forever experimenting with new ways to protect my feet but every time I arrive at a solution the trail or the weather or something changes and I need to find a new formula.