morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-21
From: Dahlgren Back Pack Campground

To: Devil's Racecourse Shelter
Miles today: 18.4

Happy Summer Solstice! Happy Nude Hikers' Day! Did I Take that opportunity? Does the world really want to know if a near-geezer bared all? Who wants to get burned in places that rarely see the light of day, let alone full sunlight. But still...awwww,why not?Once again, the trail passed through areas full of Civil War history. As I read the sign at one place, I looked up at the hillside running down to it and saw a tiny dead fawn, untouched. Abandoned by its mom as it wandered into a public spot? Met the ridge runner for the Maryland AT, all 33 miles of it. Ridge Runners are hired by the ATC to go up and down the trail, meeting hikers, solving problems, and instructing all in leave-no-trace hiking. They have no law enforcement powers, but use tact and persuasion to make things happen. He's a young man form Duncannon, PA, where the trail will lead us a few weeks ahead.Hiker overpass, I-70 Also, was overtaken by "Pony Express", a student at the College of William and Mary who is attempting a thru hike during his summer break. He got his name because he often brought things up the trail to people who'd left them behind, as well as messages. He was really cranking.The original Washington MonumentView from base of monument Rested at Annapolis Rocks, which had a great view below. Many, many rocks today, and slow going. Our poor feet. I hiked solo today but am tenting tonight near Southernman. Another hiker, "Ole Man," is staying in the shelter down below. It's a real hole, and we preferred to stay out in the open up here on the breezy ridge. A dry night predicted. Time for a foot rub, then to bed.G'nite!Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-22
From: Devil's Racecourse Shelter

To: Tumbling Run SHelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

13.2 miles in 8 hrs. including town stop. Slept really well in my tarp tent on the soft, leafy forest floor. Southernman left just ahead of me at 6:30 AM. He's hiking on behalf of his mother, who died last year of a rare, progressive inflammation of the peripheral nervous system. The organization is the Peripheral Neuropathy Association. First stop was Pen-Mar Park, a several-acre park with mowed lawns, big oaks, and a dance pavillion, big gazebo, rest rooms, concession stands, and a fine view west over Maryland. The weather turned close and humid again, taking some of the spring out of our step.It wasn't long before we crossed over the Mason-Dixon line into Pennsylvania. We posed at the signs. Suddenly I feel back in familiar territory and a lot closer to home. By mid-morning Southernman and I reached a road and hitched two miles in to Blue Ridge Summit. There we feasted on a huge breakfast, starting with a giant stack of pancakes that a sympathetic couple gave us. Their little daughter had only managed a little mouse-bite out of it and they knew we could use it.Southernman on Pen-Mar pavilion Restored, we had an easy walk to this shelter. Actually it was two shelters, one marked "Snoring," the other "Non-Snoring." Had a fine bath in the stream and rinsed off my clothes. For dinner I added Lipton's Spicy Thai Soup Mix to my instant mashed potatoes, along with the usual powdered mild, olive oil, and vienna sausages. Hiker cuisine reached new heights today! Head music: Mozart's Rondo alla Turcica, "Gimme That Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger, and tunes from "Fiddler on the Roof," inspired by a PBS interview with the writers. As for music performance, my poor bass-playing fingers must really be out of shape. I flex my muscle-memory all I can by going through the left hand motions. With us at camp this evening: Krispy Kritter, Luna, Salt Lick, and Ole Man. Eelz (short for Eli, a speedy young electrician from Bath, NH), stopped briefly at our dinner before speeding on. A brief cloudburst followed by sun and a nice breeze, toward dusk. Perfect sleeping weather. Feeling clean and well-fed, so now to bed. G'nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-23
From: Tumbling Run SHelter

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

19.6 mi. in 10 hrs. Another early waking and early start, off by 6:30. Overcast with a light drizzle which lifted in an hour or so. Hiked out with Southernman. After an initial fairly steep climb, we cruised a long ridge, too grown-over for any good views. We made over ten miles by noon, which is a goal of mine to assure getting to destinations at a reasonable time, say 5 PM, even if it's twenty miles total. We hit a big public park, Caledonia, by 11 AM and had cheeseburgers, ice cream, and a rest before heading on. Salt Lick, Luna, Cuppa Joe, Eelz, and Ole Man came in soon after, also for goodies, but some stayed to swim in the big public pool there. More easy hiking followed, with mostly gentle grades and a soft trail surface easy on our feet. Then came major trail magic: Blue Ridge Outfitters from Virginia Beach, VA had rented a cabin along the trail, with employees Matt and Aaron serving up grilled goodies, fruit and sodas. Fresh ripe peaches...Aaaahhh! Both guys knew Ned "Typhoon" Kuhns wll as a frequent customer and AT trail maintainer. I met Ned last fall on the 100-mile wilderness section in Maine and have stayed in touch since then. I sent him my greetings through them. Thanks for everything, Matt and Aaron. I'm kicking myself for not looking into their hiker box, which contained new store items like socks and dehydrated trail dinners.It's a sunny, quiet early evening here. The shelter is clean and refurbished. I'll make a small supper at the porch table, then pitch the tent near the stream in front. Just around dinner, a section hiker named Sean came in. He grew up only a few miles from here. Turns out two women hikers were shot by a disturbed local man on the trail only a few miles back, in 1988. He's now serving a life sentence, and was interviewed by Sean's college professor at Dickinson U. G'nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

10 mi. in 3 hrs. Another quiet night and a 6 AM start for Southernman and me. The trail was nearly flat with only a few rocky hills, so we flew to our destination. It's a restored ironworks dating back to the Revolution. The Ironmaster's brick mansion has been turned into a fine hostel, equal to Bear's Den back in the Shenendoahs.It's also the unofficial halfway point on the hike. Hikers are invited to the "Half-Gallon Challenge" at the camp store. If they can gulp down that much ice cream, they get to autograph a little wooden spoon as a keepsake. Five of our number stepped up to the table and did it: Salt Lick, Luna, Krispy Kritter, Lint, and Strangelove. We others marvelled at the scene and took pictures. I was quite content with a pint of mint chocolate chip.Half-Gallon challengers: Saltlick, Luna, Krispy Kritter, Lint, Strangelove p> We had the afternoon free, so Garcia, a former hiker now supporter of Southernman, offered to take us to Gettysburg for a tour of the battlefield.Scene of Pickett's charge, Gettysburg N.P. What a trip! We were amazed at large scale of the battlefield and how empty it was of any development. It looked as it must have in 1863. The road wound past one troop position after another, with markers for each regiment. The site that had the biggest impact on me was Little Round Top, where Gen. Joshua Chamberlain's Mainers held off a Confederate assault that could have lost the battle for the north. What a steep, nasty boulder-strewn excresence, something no one would want to hike up, let alone charge up into a hail of bullets and cannon fire.i> Little Round Top, Gettysburg N.P. Back to the hostel by dinner time. Had fun sitting on the huge front porch watching three nestfuls of barn swallows. Two young ones flew out this afternooon. Congratulations and good luck! Write home soon!Barn swallow nestlings, about to fly Showers, laundry, several-course dinner followed by more ice cream, calls home, then...bed! Southernman is tenting outside. He detests hostels, fearing the bad hygeine and the risk for catching anything from Giardia to cooties. Maybe he's right! A long hike to Boiling Springs coming up tomorrow. G'Nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-25
From: Pine Grove Furnace State Park

To: Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 19.4

19.4 mi. in 9 hrs.My hostel bunk had a terrible tilt but that didn't stop a good sleep. Out by 6 AM with Southernman. He complains a lot and tends to look on the dark side of any situation, but he's a strong hiker. We've helped each other in different ways.Our first waypoint was a totem-pole-like structure in the woods marking the half-way point on the AT. Of course, the true point varies yearly as trail sections are shifted. We tore off 13 miles by noon on flat easy trails, including a side trip to a convenience store at a road crossing. Just as we were feeling proud of ourselves, along came a succession of rockpiles which left our feet crying for mercy. Then the trail relented, and descended from the long rocky wooded ridge into and through cornfields until we reached Boiling Springs. It's a little village of old brick and Victorian wood framed houses built around a duckpond and park, but with few hiker amenities.Most hikers are camping in a a cornfield next to some railroad tracks and will have a noisy night. A local Bed and Breakfast offered us a tent site in its back yard for a dollar, so we took it. Southernman crossing fields on way to Boiling SpringsEntering Boiling Springs. We spent most of the afternoon hanging out on the porch of the regional ATC office, in a pretty setting facing the duckpond, in the company of Cuppa Joe, Strangelove, Shepherd, Machine and Waterloo (the California couple I'd met way back at Max Patch), Salt Lick, Ole Man, Krispy Kritter, and Lint (A cheerful rugged young guy with a spectacular multicolored tattoo display on his arms and torso, and a liking for the bar scene).On the ATC HQ front porch, Boiling Springs After a big tasty dinner at the local Italian restaurant, we strolled around the pond then to the Boiling Springs, which were a gush of clear cool water welling up in a large walled-in gravel-bottomed pond flowing into the duckpond. Some hikers noted major sinkholes along the trail that day, indicating underground caverns and watercourses which likely feed these "boiling springs." Now, off to pitch camp in the B&B back yard. Cuppa Joe, Ole Man, Lint and some others got antsy and decided to hike on a lot farther toward the next shelter. Hope they make it before the thunderstorms hit. It'll make it a high-20 mile day for them. Too much of a push for me to make. Tomorrow we'll trudge 13 more miles across the Cumberand valley farmlands, then back up a new ridge system into Duncannon, 25 miles away.G'nite!AT from Boiling Springs, PA to High Point State Park, NJNow or Never
Date: 2004-06-26
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: overcast clouds

21.6 mi. in 10 hrs.No rain since last night's thunderstorm around 9 PM. Awoke in a damp, clammy mist to the sounds of the swans and ducks waking up in the pond across the street.Off by 6:30 AM, hiking with Southernman and soon joined by Ole Man. The trail led through muddy woods and muddy paths through fields of corn and wheat. The haze lifted over the morning and by noon it was clear, sunny and windy. We were hiking across the Cumberland Valley from one ridge system to another. No water or store stops along the way, so everyone just had to keep walking.Corny shot I felt lucky to be intact. Southernman experienced a multiple-compound fracture in a car crash 30 years ago which left one leg and inch shorter and in need of a lift in one shoe. Ole Man has a quite mangled but healed leg with unusual-looking footwear. He'd stepped on a land mine back in the Vietnam days and was barely able to walk for a long time. He's always in pain but never complains. He started the hike with his wife, until she broke her leg. Now she meets him every week or so along the trail. Nice guy. I try never to moan about aching feet to these guys Trail companion We made twelve miles by noon, then were climbing the ridge by 1 PM, first Blue Mountain, then Cove Mountain to the shelter.Climbing out of the valleyOn the way we met Wander Lost, a delightful, witty man in his 80's but very frail and subject to numerous falls and injuries. Just about every possible trail mishap has befallen him since he started out from Georgia, but he's still hiking. Full of instant mashed, reinforced with many goodies. To bed, then on to Duncannon and beyond tomorrow.G'nite!Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-27
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Peters Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: broken clouds

15.4 mi. in 10 hrs. (including 3-hr. town stop)Up and out by 6:30 AM for the 4-mile hike off the ridge into Duncannon. Southernman and I passed by several exposed outcroppings giving a fine view of Duncannon far below, in a bend of the Susuquehanna River. We reached town by 7:30, when it was still asleep. We visited hiker frineds on the balcony of the famous (notorious?) Doyle Hotel, then made our way up to an early-opening supermarket for reprovisioning. On our way out of town, we crossed the wide Susquehanna River, then stopped in at a fine breakfast buffet at a truckstop. We were the objects of curiosity for a number of customers and answered many questions willingly.Crossing the Susquehanna RiverThen it was back up onto the ridge, Peters Mountain, where we caught still more fine views from outlooks along the way. The weather has held wonderfully clear and dry. We met Heidi, the ridge runner for this segment of the AT. Her job is to range up and down the trail, meeting and talking to hikers, gently reminding them of leave-no-trace practices, and reporting any problems. She is a recent graduate of Haverford in peace studies, managed a farm for three years, and is now trying this out. Almost all the ridge runners we've met are in their early 20's.We're tenting near this huge shelter, a double decker said to sleep 30. We'll have a good moon out for once.Fellow hikers: Badger and Papa Bear, Poler and Pilot, Eelz (back from a weekend hiking with his girlfriend), and Cuppa Joe. Others have shot through: Machine and Waterloo, and Shepherd. We had a good book discussion, then turned in at dusk. It's never a problem turning in early or falling asleep!G'nite!Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-28
From: Peters Mountain Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: broken clouds

17.5 mi. in 8 hrs.Up at 5 with the wood thrushes. My "owl muse" has gone silent over the past month. I miss the hooting. Off with Southernman by 6 AM along a level ridgetop trail with relatively few rocky stretches. Still, our feet got sore early in the day and our energy level was low. After a stop and a spring and a few other rest stops, we reached our shelter by 2 PM. Great, we needed the afternoon to rest up. Since this is the only reachable shelter from the last one, the same gang showed up. We've come into coal country, and it appears we're tenting on a massive pile of coal fragments, all graded and grown over. New pests are turning out to greet us: mosquitoes and deer flies. The "eye-gnats" are as annoying as ever. I picked a dog tick off my leg yesterday. It's a crummy old shelter but at least mouse-free, thanks to a timber rattlesnake that lives in and around it. Some hikers gently shepherded it away into the woods yesterday. I'm sure it can find its way home. Full of dinner, time for bed!G'nite!Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-29
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

17.0 mi. in 8 hrs.Off with Southernamn at 6:30, followed by Badger and Papa Bear, Cuppa Joe, Then later, Pilot and Poler. Badger is a retired schoolteacher from Wisconsin who enjoyed his 31 year career. Papa Bear is a retired carpenter. The two make an odd hiking couple, since Papa Bear has a huge loping stride which forces Badger to almost jog to keep up. But they've been together almost since the start of the trail. The trail passed through the site of Rausch Gap, a major coal mining center in the 1800's, now devoid of any sign of habitiation. We saw a stream which was passing through a huge cistern containing limestone, to eliminate the acid the stream carried out of an old coal imine. Not much of great interest the rest of the day. Mostly ridge-walking and catching good views of populated flatlands far below. We'd had a big thunderstorm last night (packing a wet tent...yuck!) so the air was clearer and dryer today. The trail doesn't hold as much wonder for us these days. Are we getting jaded, or merely obsessing on the next immediate destination, Port Clinton? The shelter tonight is more like a hostel: a former potting studio, enclosed, with bunks all all around, a central table, a huge skylight, and a solar shower out back. We ordered out for Italian dinners. Showered, fed, grungy clothes rinsed out...sweet!The same cast of characters tonight, because of the way shelters are spaced. Continuing to the next would make it a 30-mile day. Rocket came in late after taking a week off in D.C. He's now hiking "big miles" to catch up with his group. A clear night and a good sleep ahead. More ridgewalking tomorrow, then on to Port Clinton the following day early.G'nite!Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-30
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagle's Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: scattered clouds

15.1 mi. in 7.5 hrs. Up and out by the usual 6:30 AM. Southernman and I hiked a long ridge most of the day, with a few road crossings but no trail magic.The trail had many rocky stretches, a foretaste of a totally rocky stretch just before NJ, so the trail lore has it. Our feet complained enough to call it a day here rather than press on the extra eight miles to Port Clinton.Cuppa Joe stayed back at 501 shelter with a painful ankle he hopes to have exmined in town today. Hope it doesn't keep him back too long.Had time for a good nap, then a leisurely dinner in front of a campfire.Raspberries! Those present: Pilot and Poler, John and Mary (newlyweds from Ohio), and the Pokey Puppies (older retired couple from Richmond, VA). Badger and Papa Bear hiked on through to Port Clinton. I'm eager to get out of PA and into surroundings closer to home. My brother Allen will meet me in Delaware Water Gap for a 3-day section together. I might have a short trail-magic session in Tuxedo Park, NY, where friends of my sister Sally are helping out hikers. The woods, around here anyway, have lost some of their fascination. No critters to report. Oh yeah. I've figured out how to stymie these pesky eye-gnats: shades! There they are, dancing in swarms right before my face, and I can almost hear them banging against the lenses. They don't know how to "go behind." I can almost see the cartoon Gary Larson would draw about that scene: (whack) "dang" (whack) "dang", etc. etc. Now I can hike without waving my hands around my face like a windmill Full of bad hiker food and ready for bed. I can make cell phone contact by standing on a nearby stump. All's well with the world.G'nite!Now or Never
Date: 2004-07-01
From: Eagle's Nest Shelter

To: Port Clinton (hotel)
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: clear sky

8.6 mi. in 4 hrs. Just a short hop for Southernman and me into town, but bad patches of rocks lay waiting for us. Our feet started complaining and our legs grew heavy. Our bodies needed a town stop, having little since Harpers Ferry. We descended into town on a near-vertical slope through a park area with boulder-sized chunks of anthracite coal on display. The town is tattered and nondescript, maybe the same size as Norridgewock, wiith a noisy highway running through it. We went first to the Port Clinton Hotel, an old frame building with old house trailers for outbuildings, filled mainly with long-term roomers. We were lucky to get the only transient room in the house, by arriving so early in the morning. The room is big enough for two but has only one old metal-frame single bed. Southernman opted to sleep on the floor. We picked up our mail drops from the Post Office nearby, showered and did laundry, then put up our weary legs most of the afternoon.This is a town without a gas station, convenience store, or bank branch, but it has a well-stocked outfitter. I found a sleeping bag warmer than my meager fleece sleep sack. Lately I've had to pile on clothing including raingear against the damp chill in the wee hours. Guess I "sleep cold," in hiker lingo. It's a compact down-filled bag, good down into the 30's. I can unzip it on really hot nights. It may well take me all the way to Katahdin. This rundown hotel has a fine bar/restaurant on the ground floor, popular with locals, hikers, and motorcyclists visiting the BMW cycle dealer down the street. Good food in enormous portions, and Yuengling beer...Yum!Bar scene at the Port Clinton Hotel: Southernman, Badger and Papa Bear Next to the hotel is a shop that is every kid's dream. It's The Peanut Store, really a candy store crammed with every type of candy imaginable. I feasted my eyes on it all, bought a few items to sample, and took Pat the owner's picture. Tomorrow brings a short steep hike back up onto the ridges. Once again we're in sweltering, muggy midsummer weather. Delaware Water Gap seems far away at 76 miles when we contemplate the rocky patches ahead. But don't pity us; we're having a great time! Now or Never
Date: 2004-07-03
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: few clouds

17.4 miles in 10.5 hrs. Up and out by 6 AM and glad to leave. The caretaker had the surly, demeaning attitude of a staff NCO in the military, with rude responses to any questions hikers asked. Toward evening we heard him berate someone who wanted to drop off an item for an incoming hiker. Goodbye and good riddance to Eckville Shelter. Today sent us up several rockpiles with stunning views: Dan's Pulpit, The Cliffs, Bear Rocks, and Bake Oven Knob. We met a party of teens hauling gear up the trail in a coaster wagon, mainly beer and fireworks. They plan a display off Bear Rocks tonight. Crossing all the jumbled, jagged boulders in all the rockslides and rockpiles made for the toughest going we've experienced so far. But just as we were beginning to feel sorry for our feet and ourselves, we hit a good stretch of trail. Better yet, the trail crossed a road at Blue Mountain Summit, where we found a roadside restaurant and had fine lunch, then made calls home. Such is the usual pattern: The misery is cancelled by the good. We arrived at the shelter quite thirsty and footsore. It's a real dump, dating back to the 30's and sitting in a tiny clearing choked with weeds. After fetching water from far downhill we found excellent campsites on the ridge top a short distance north along the trail. There's a fire going in the pit and a gentle breeze blowing. We invited Badger and Papa Bear over to sit on the logs around the fire to make their dinners. They brought firewood and Altoid mints as visiting presents. No rain predicted. My new warm sleeping bag awaits. Listening to Prairie Home Companion. Is this roughing it or what? Tomorrow brings a short hike down into Palmerton, whose former jail serves as a hostel. We can shower, do light resupply, and enjoy whatever the town may have planned for the 4th. G'nite!Now or Never