morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-06-09
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter 

To: AmericaÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Best Inn 
Miles today: 11.9

Up early and we are off and running to Boiling Springs. There is almost a bounce in our step. The knob is among the easiest we¢ve done, then it¢s just a couple of fields. Blazer is pretty proud of himself as he just yoggied a Cliff bar off a biker in the middle of a race. I had a wonderful white chocolate mocha and a good breakfast sandwich at a great little caf©.        We hung around the ATC office, but it never opened. It would seem to me that the ATC could afford to keep the office open on Saturday. The can throw millions around fighting everything from land owners to wind farms. I realize its volunteer, but I have to think it would only benefit them to be open at least on Saturdays. I¢ll shut up now.        The next 8 miles were wonderfully flat. We are crossing the Cumberland valley. The trail travels along farm fields and by berry trees. Another week, there would have been a feast. Our destination is US 11, a truck haven next to the toll way. We went with American Best Inn, which caters to truckers. It was clean and had laundry facilities. It was also right next to the Middlesex Diner. When we could pry ourselves away from the TV and the Paris Hilton debacle, we would eat. I for one will not be able to sleep until she gets out.
Date: 2007-06-10
From: AmericaÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Best Inn 

To: Doyle Hotel 
Miles today: 17.7

They tell you not to fight the trail, you won¢t win. I decided to scrap with it anyway. The trail won. It beat the hell out of me.        By noon, I had already turned my ankle 3 times, was attacked my hoards of flies, and the poison ivy was growing everywhere. Pennsylvania has a huge gypsy moth problem. The problem is they are eating all the trees. The paper had an article that said they like long picnics in the summer. They have literally stripped the trees bare. At night it sounds like rain, that just the moths sh*tting and leaves falling.        The trail wasn¢t bad today, which doesn¢t explain why I was having a bad day. We had done 8 miles by 10:30 and feeling pretty good about ourselves when 2 guys come by. They had done 16 miles already. Ahh¢¦ but did they have breakfast at a diner?        Sublime is still sleeping in the shelter at 10:30. We wake him and find out he broke the half gallon challenge record back at Pine Grove. He ate a half gallon of chocolate ice cream in 3 minutes 48 seconds. Whew-wee!        The rest of the day was long, with piles of rocks. The trail literally drops into Duncannon. Blazer thought his knees would explode. Just before the trail gets to town, it turns around and goes straight up. A reliable source has told us that the house at the bottom of the hill threatened to shoot the next hiker that walked by, so they re-routed it up again. Can you feel the love out here?        I believe Duncannon has seen better days. I have not idea what people do here, but they seem friendly enough. We walk through town and we can see the glow of the Doyle¢s neon open sign. A smile comes across our faces. We had been led to believe it was closed on Sundays. It¢s 5pm and we get a deluxe room. It has new windows complete with screens. The ceiling fans and lights no longer hang by wires. Still, the average person would probably say, you stayed there?        Down to the bar as the food stops in an hour. After which Wing Heart¢s wife takes us up to the grocery store. When we get back, we have an hour to drink before the bar closes. Hikers are pouring in and they decide to stay open till 10pm, instead of 8pm. We were then obligated to drink until 10, as it would have been rude not to, or that is how Blazer explained it to me.        This is a slightly impaired list of the hikers at the Doyle: Chill out, Backyard Boogie, Wing Heart, Flick, Golden boy, Bush Whacker, Focus, Mr. Peterman, Sandwich, Diesel, Guerilla, Pogue, Ziola, and some (at least 4) I didn¢t know, plus a section hiker. A local or two show up as news travels fast in a small town that the bar is open.        In case you¢re wondering, I think it¢s an unwritten law that if one is hiking the AT, you are required to stay at least one night at the Doyle. It¢s an institution.
Date: 2007-06-12
From: Harrisburg, PA

To: PA 325 Clark's Valley 
Miles today: 9.4

Coffee, donuts, and a quick shower. We are off to the outfitter to fit Blazer with a new pack. Kathy knows her stuff, and before long, they are molding Blazer¢s new Osprey belt. His pack is pretty light and in a wonderful Canadian orange. I am jealous and contemplate getting one myself. Sadly, I have a mystery ranch (the works) and it is far superior to anything else. We also welcomed Blazer to the 21st century as he purchased a 3 liter Camelback bladder for his pack. Gary also dragged me to a Target, which I am very grateful for. I dare say I miss capitalism, shiny Targets, I am a poor excuse for a woodsy person. Lucky, Blazer is there to drag me back into the woods. He says I haven¢t suffered enough, he is mean. I have lost 17.5 pounds in a little over a month. So I supposed a couple more months won¢t hurt.        Gary drops us off at PA 225 after swinging by McDonalds for us. We thank him for everything. He truly went above and beyond what he had to do. It¢s people like him that make the trail what it is. The walk to the shelter is short and we take a break. A thunder storm roars through while we are there. For some reason we leave when it clears up. At this point might I ask you all to put in a thunderstorm CD, I know you have them. It will set the mood for the rest of the day, which I have entitled, ¢Rocks, Rattlesnakes, and Lightning¢.        Backyard Boogie, Diesel, Blazer, and I set off for PA 325 and Clark¢s Creek 6.5 miles away. The rumbling started not too long after. The rain quickly followed. The trail was up on a ridge, but for the most part stayed in the trees. It did however, go over a rocky section called Shikellimy Rocks. I highly recommend it in the rain.        Boogie and Diesel stop on the rock as a rattlesnake is making a whole bunch of noise. I decide I am going, as I would rather get bit by a snake, than hit by lightning. My theory was that the snake bite wouldn¢t kill me, where as there is always the chance the lightning would. I stopped when the second rattlesnake chimed in. I am re-evaluating my theory as Diesel thinks the odds of being hit by lightning are slim, where as the odds of being chomped on by a snake increase. No matter, we do eventually go past.        It gets really dark out, and the thunder rambles on the rest of the way down. PA 325 will be home for the night. I am not crazy about camping here as it is on a road and a favorite for locals. It is Tuesday and raining out, so we should be okay!        During dinner, a local guy came by and offered to take us to his house, but he was leaving early in the morning. We thanked him anyway, and declined as our tents were already up and wet as it really started to rain. Focus and his wife are sleeping in the parking lot in one of those VW campers. Our food is hanging about 4 feet off the ground, to keep the rodent and small woodland creatures away.
Date: 2007-06-13
From: PA 325 Clark's Valley 

To: Rausch Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: moderate rain

Feeling a little damp this morning. It¢s cool and the air is thick. Blazer broke his shoe lace this morning. I think I may have to cut him loose. First his pack, now his boots, he¢s becoming a liability.        I guess a ranger visited last night. Seems when a sign says no camping within 500 feet of a stream, it means us as well. It¢s good to be a thru-hiker, he left us alone.        We all started the long climb up from Clark¢s Valley. Walking in and out of a cloud as we follow what looks like an old road. Yesterday, we had thunder in the background, today we have A-10 Warthogs roaring above our heads firing 40mm guns and mini-guns. When they first fired, I thought Backyard Boogie would need help getting up. They zoomed around our heads for hours. Indiantown Gap Military Reservation is to our right. The map says entry prohibited, for once we decide it¢s best to stay on the trail.        Tried to dry out gear at lunch. Not much to say about the trail today. It followed an old stage coach trail. We stopped after 11 miles. I objected, but no one could hear me over the thunder. Got camp set up before the rain, and had dinner down at the shelter with Fire Marshall. He started in Duncannon and is headed for Maine. He did a 17 mile day, today is only his third day.         In 2005, I got here in one day, what has taken us 3 days this year. Though we have had a broken pack and two days of thunder storms.
Date: 2007-06-14
From: Rausch Gap Shelter 

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

I fell asleep to hovering helicopters and small arms fire. I was happy to wake up. It¢s overcast and cool. I am the last to leave as usual.        The first 7 miles go pretty quickly. The next 7 miles not so quickly. A pretty good climb out of Swatara Gap. Once on top, we had to wade through 4 miles of poison ivy. Then the rocks start up. Still, we push an extra 4 miles to the 501 shelter.        We ran into Ron, who had fresh apples for us. While I crossed route 501, I could feel myself being pulled towards Pine Grove. It was almost more than I could bear. There¢s a new Hampton Inn there, it¢s not even in the book. The good thing about the 501 shelter is you can order pizza. I am full and too lazy to set up my tent. This rarely happens. I bless the kids with my presence in the shelter.       The Microtel is sold out on Saturday. We will have to come up with something when we get to Port Clinton. If not, we will be at the pavilion. Tonight our company is Diesel, Fire Marshall, Breadless Horseman, Backyard Boogie, and a south bounder. Breadless Horseman is hiking for people who can¢t eat glutton (which I believe is wheat). Find out more or even make a donation at: gmjhiker.blogspot.com.
Date: 2007-06-15
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I hate sleeping on wooden bunks in hostels or shelters. I never sleep as well as I do in a tent. Today was cool and overcast. I could still feel the pull of the Hampton Inn, fortunately, Blazer was between me and town.        The trail in this section is runner up for the most boring trail section on the AT. You are up on a ridge here, with no views and more than its share of rocks. That was my day. 15 miles and I am very tired. The camping around Eagles Nest shelter is next to horrible. It is also right in the middle of a control burn. After further investigation, we found pieces of charred tent. Maybe it wasn¢t as controlled as we thought. I am sleeping before 7pm.
Date: 2007-06-16
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Microtel (Port Clinton)
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Blazer apparently had a premonition last night, or maybe a bad dream. When I woke up, he was packing up his breakfast. Before I had breakfast, he had his pack on and was running down the trail. Backyard Boogie chased after him 20 minutes later. I¢m in no hurry, and think I will wander in before 11am. The privy at the shelter is full. I don¢t know how that happens, but the woods are my privy. So after contributing to the cycle of life, I head out.        Stomping through the woods towards Port Clinton, the trail had its usual rocks that make Pennsylvania famous. Somewhere in the middle, the trail goes up as one can go. You cross several dirt roads. The last one you walk on, though I still don¢t know which way. I took a left as it was towards town. I had a nagging feeling that I should have gone right. I wander along mumbling to myself about the lack of blazes.         The obvious explanation would be I was going the wrong way. After consulting my trusty map, I see that the dirt road I am traveling on runs along the AT until it ends at a pipeline clearing. My thinkin¢ is that the road goes towards town and as an added bonus, has no rocks. After a bit, you start thinking, ¢I can¢t believe I am getting lost 2 miles from town¢.        So I call the Microtel in hopes someone cancelled a reservation. My hopes are answered and they have one room. I happily skip down the road, which eventually must end. I find the AT crossing the pipeline, just as shown on the map. Now feeling that I am a bit mightier than the AT, the last mile went by quickly. It helps that the trail drops a 1000 feet in little over an eighth of a mile.       Not much to Port Clinton. A post office, bar, and candy shop. If you go down the highway a mile, there is a Cabela¢s superstore, 250000 square feet, the nation¢s largest. A Microtel, Cracker Barrel, Taco bell, Wendy¢s, and what Blazer would have you believe the most important, Dunkin Donuts. It¢s a lot easier to get there when Monkey and Cocco rent a car.        Our Microtel has a Poppy T¢s lounge that has Guinness on tap. Plus there is a Golden-Tee machine in the lobby. I may never leave. Dinner was at Cracker Barrel, where I had a salad, broccoli, chicken, carrots, green beans, and strawberry shortcake.
Date: 2007-06-17
From: Microtel (Port Clinton)

To: Microtel (Port Clinton)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Happy Father¢s Day! Its day two of the siege. Noworries (me) is firmly entrenched in the Microtel, and has not intentions of leaving anytime soon.        Today is a zero day. A real live honest to goodness zero day. No laundry, no post office, no nothing. Today I will walk down to the lounge, unless I can find someone to carry me. I will drink Guinness and play that trivia game.        I visited Cabela¢s one more time. Anyone hiking into Port Clinton and wants a killer stealth camp, may I suggest the tents on Cabela¢s front lawn. I¢m sure it¢s highly illegal and punishable by an outrageous fine and/or a free night in the lockup. What¢s a stealth camp? Its questionable camping practices done under the cover of darkness.         I also talked to Tracy, which I only know from myspace. She has offered to drive us to Yuengling tomorrow. If I can get a hold of Big Daddy, we may even stay in her town at a Holiday Inn Express. Frackville has to be more exciting than Port Clinton, doesn¢t it? We may just stay here another night as well. Too many decisions.
Date: 2007-06-19
From: Microtel (Port Clinton) Beero

To: Blue Rocks Campground 
Miles today: 9.5

Blazer dragged me from town kicking and screaming. Beach Bum, Boogie, and Fire Marshal went a la slack pack. We thought we would load ours up for the warmest day of the week. There was a slight temptation as the weather was supposed to be thunder storms, severe at times with hail.        Beach Bum¢s first wife is taking us to the trail and post office. I can only assume the trail is his second wife. Like all other Pennsylvania towns, you have to climb a hill to get out. I think it¢s kind of a punishment for enjoying town.       Besides the climb, the trail is rather enjoyable today. Which is why it is odd that Blazer is struggling so much. We passed Pocahontas¢s Spring, but she wasn¢t there. I carry Blazer in to the Windsor Furnace Shelter. He is really not feeling well. He wasn¢t feeling well yesterday and struggled through the brewery tour. He said he almost suggested we should stay one more day. My god man, like I would pass that up. We talked about taking the road by the shelter, but finally decided to try to make it to Blue Rock¢s campground. If he is still feeling icky tomorrow, we shall find our way off. Ok, so physically I didn¢t carry him, but emotionally I tell you.      Blue Rocks is a family campground a mile or so off the AT. It has a pool, store, pond, 200 campsites, and showers. Did I mention the skeet-ball? If Blazer lives, we hope to be in Delaware Water Gap by Sunday and into NJ on Monday. It¢s 7:30pm and the storms have arrived. They have been building for a half hour or so, and sound a lot like a train. Blazer just got the severe warning. I should of stayed at the hotel. Instead I am praying in my little tent.
Date: 2007-06-20
From: Blue Rocks Campground 

To: Microtel (Port Clinton) 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Well this place looks familiar. Blazer is still feeling a tad ill, so Mrs. Beach Bum came to the rescue and brought us back to town. We offer a thousand thanks. I don¢t know why I can never get stuck in one of them all inclusive resorts, or at least one, one with a pool.       I should be happy that I¢m alive after last night¢s storms. They were both strong and severe. When I say they, that means more than one. The first was the strongest I¢d seen in a while. It huffed, it puffed, it pretty near blew my tent down. This little hiker was curled up in a ball whimpering. The tent shook, the rain came down hard, and the lightning was way too close. It poured all night with another storm rolling through at midnight. The lightning in this lit up my world. I could of read my book for a half hour by it.      When morning came, my tent was soaked and covered in mud. The people camped down the way abandoned ship somewhere in the middle of the night, it¢s good to have a car. Their screen tent was blown into a pile and stretched across the campsite.       Not much to say about today. Blazer is getting his rest. We had lunch at Cracker Barrel, and dried out the tents. If he is still not feeling well in the morning, I will have to find him a way to a clinic. Me, I seem to be doing fine. A little antsy sitting in a hotel on such a beautiful day. Wait, maybe there is something wrong with me. I watched 5 straight hours of SG1 on Sci-Fi channel. I don¢t know how I feel about that.
Date: 2007-06-21
From: Microtel (Port Clinton) 

To: Allentown Shelter 
Miles today: 15.5

Blazer wakes up and announces he¢s ready to hike. He is wearing nothing but a fig leaf, and his pack. That can only mean one thing, it¢s finally hike naked day. The obvious question is where does one find a fig leaf at a Microtel?        The outfitter drops us back at the camp ground. We shared a ride with Toe Socks one and two. When we dropped them off, there was a section hiker with a gun big enough to shoot buffalo, strapped to his shoulder. You don¢t see a whole lot of buffalo on the trail these days.        We hoofed a respectable 15.5 miles today. Blazer would like everyone to know that doesn¢t count the 1.5 side trail straight up a mountain to get back on the AT. We had good views from both the pulpit and pinnacle today.        We did lunch at the Eckville Shelter. They no longer offer cold soda and ice cream. I couldn¢t even begin to write about the disappointment. We met Tarapin, Granite, Barry Manilow, GG, and Roto. The caretaker said there was a slight chance of showers today.        We hiked up a 1000 feet up to Dan¢s pulpit, and the all too familiar sound of thunder starts to rumble in the background. We move along as the thunder gets louder. Blazer says, ¢That¢s stranger, the wind stopped¢. I respond that¢s because the storm found us. The rocks have also found us. They were wet, the trail was overgrown, and the gnats and assorted bugs were thick. I was tired so it made an enjoyable two hours.        The shelter had a guy with four kids and a dog, and he cooked BBQ chicken. There is just no love for thru-hikers or at least no chicken.
Date: 2007-06-22
From: Allentown Shelter 

To: George W Outbridge 
Miles today: 16.8

Is that the smell of bacon and eggs? Damn locals! I had my oatmeal with brown sugar and craisins. It¢s hard to believe people question whether I am roughing it.      A splendid day for hiking. 70 degrees with glorious wind. Blue skies with happy poofy clouds.         The hike started out on a logging road, so it was easy on the feet as well. The trail then goes up what they call the knife¢s edge. The trail goes up a big pile of rocks, then follows them along top. It¢s a balancing act between an enjoyable trip, or dying, according to Blazer. Blazer doesn¢t think too much of this section of the trail. I can¢t repeat what he said, but he used words I didn¢t even know. I of course loved it, and bounced happily along. Most hikers hate PA and its rocks. Blazer says, and I quote; ¢they are as advertised¢, the rocks that is. I wouldn¢t say I enjoy them, though sometimes I do.        Lunch today, we take at Bear Rocks. Bear Rocks is a voluntary rock scramble to a view. To make a long story short, it¢s a big pile of rocks that they let you climb. Apteryx guilted me into doing it in 1999. I have been through here three times and have scurried up each time.        Today would be a solo trek, as Blazer gave me one of those not a chance in hell looks. Bake Oven Knob as a boulder field crawl. After that, the day was highly enjoyable. The trail was exposed for miles.        The rocks do take a toll over the day and tire you out. I chatted with an Aussie, who I believe is named Jerry. We poked fun at Americans for their poor excuse for chocolate. Someone dropped off beer, water, and cookies.
Date: 2007-06-24
From: Smith Gap Road (garage) 

To: Travel Inn (Wind Gap) 
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: overcast clouds

We wake up in the garage. Always good when that was where you went to sleep. The Crayon Lady dropped us at the trailhead. 3 or so hours of stepping over rocks and we stumble into Wind Gap.         My years of experience on the trail have taught me this little town is best for resupply. Palmerton is friendly, but the stores are small. Delaware Water Gap has no laundry, no grocery, but is friendly. Wind Gap has it all; big grocery, Kmart, Rita¢s, Dunkin, every fast food, Chinese, and two places they call hotels. Sadly, Golf-o-rama is closed. Sunday must be National Laundry day. We patiently waited for washers to open. Passing the time with Rita¢s gelati while watching Bedazzled. Trail life is non-stop action.        We are spending the night at the Travel Inn. The Hilton it is not, but I was in a garage yesterday, so it¢s hard to be picky. The ¢giant¢ grocery store is one of the best on the trail. Early night as we have all our stuff done. I am very disappointed, as Monifa, whom I hiked with in 1999 and lived in NJ, has moved to sunny California. This is unacceptable behavior, selfish even. I hope she burns her toes on the sand at the beach. She did hook me up in 2005, so I¢ll stop whining. Looks like I may actually have to hike for a few days now.
Date: 2007-06-25
From: Travel Inn (Wind Gap) 

To: Pocano Inn (Delaware Water Gap) 
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: broken clouds

We caught our free shuttle to the trail after a quick breakfast at the diner. We have been hearing it is brutal between Wind Gap and Delaware Gap. I wonder where I hiked the last two times I came through here, as it wasn¢t bad. In fact, after the shelter, I dare say was easy.        It was supposed to be 90 degrees today and sunny. It was overcast and 70, not that I am complaining. There were rocks, but not worse than what we have seen. We saw no other thru-hikers today and are wondering if maybe it¢s us. The hike down into Delaware Water Gap is steep and long. The Delaware River looks as though it is full of Nestle Quick.      We are walking through Delaware Water Gap at 5pm, 8 hours after leaving Wind Gap. We check into the former Ramada for $50. Split for those of you not gifted at math, is $25 each. I will now strongly suggest if you are a vegetarian, you¢ll want to skip to the next day.        Blazer and I ate at the Sycamore Grille. Very upscale, fine dining. I started with, and this is my favorite, grilled ostrich. Before you start calling me bad names, the heart and cancer associations approve. Besides, if they didn¢t stick their heads in the sand, they¢d be harder to hunt! I then had a wonderful salad, filet mignon, washed it down with a Guinness, and finished off with a piece of cheese cake. Hands down the best meal of the trip.        We hurry back so we could catch this week¢s episode of ¢Age of Love¢. If you are looking for us, chances are we will be in front of a TV on Monday nights.