morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-21
From: Sam Moore Shelter

To: Stealth camping at Keys Gap
Miles today: 17.1

May 21Start Sam Moore ShelterDestination Stealth Camping Keys Gap, 17.1 milesMy clothes were still wet from yesterday and now I only have one pair of shorts plus my running shorts. I was going to put on the wet clothes, but it was just too cold so I put on the running shorts and my other tee shirt.I made it through my fourth state and the longest section of trail, the 535 miles of VA. I didn't get the ¢Virginia blues¢ everyone talks about. I figured the trail doesn't know where it is why should I care where it is. It¢s just my daily walk in the woods. I am now in West Virginia headed for Harpers Ferry, headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conference. This is deemed to be the psychological halfway point for most thru-hikers. You are greeted by staff members here and they take your picture for the thru hiker photo album. After you register you can see what number thru hiker you are registered as passing thru Harpers Ferry. I'll let you know tomorrow. I was going to take a zero day there but I think I'll continue on. It¢s supposed to be easy hiking until Duncannon, PA. I would like to make it there as quick as I can.I saw a woman hiker talking on her cell phone. Storm is a section hiker and offered me the phone to call home. She said she has unlimited weekend minutes. I didn't even realize it was the weekend. I stood facing the right direction in the right place to get reception and called home. I talked a few minutes and let Yvonne know where I was. I promised to call when I got to Harpers Ferry tomorrow. I haven't talked to anyone in along time and miss them all. The kids will be over there tomorrow so I should catch everyone over at the house.I definitely jinxed myself. When I left the last shelter today I said I would stealth camp since there was no chance of rain. As I started looking for an area to camp in, it started to sprinkle. I just got the tent up when the rain started. I can hear thunder but with the mountains I can't tell if it¢s getting closer or going away. It¢s sprinkling off and on while I type this. I hope I don't have to hike in rain tomorrow. I saw some scouts and they said no rain. The weekend was supposed to be nice. So much for mountain weather.Time to turn in.
Date: 2005-05-23
From: Blue Blaze Trail Hostel

To: Rocky Run Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: broken clouds

I'm still jinxed. Last night I did not camp and got a bunk at the hostel instead. The forecast called for rain, so I played it safe and headed for a roof over my head. It was overcast and I was sure it was going to rain. Well, it didn¢t so I wasted time and money staying at the hostel for no reason. We hiked out in the morning and eventually got to Gathland State Park. As I sat and ate my lunch, I was surprised that Senator and Wing It weren¢t around. I figured they went on ahead. Just as I was getting ready to leave they walked down the trail. They had waited at a shelter for me. We headed to the Dahlgren Campgrounds to set up camp for the night. It was free and offered hot showers. However, about an hour into the walk it started to rain. On went the rain gear as the rain increased. We all headed to the nearest shelter still 2 miles away. The three of us decided to stay and assumed no one else would show up. We had just finished eating when Marion showed up. He tented at a shelter I stayed at two nights ago, but I did not meet him. A little while later a couple of other hikers showed up. All 6 of us are in a four person shelter. At least that what the book says it is. We all decided you could get eight in here if you had to. I may be asleep by 8:00 tonight since it¢s still a little chilly and everyone but Senator is already in their sleeping bag. I could use a good long night¢s sleep.
Date: 2005-05-25
From: Esign Cowell Shelter

To: Deer Lick Shelters
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

There are two shelters here at Deer Lick. They say one is for snorers the other is for non-snorers. We didn't follow the rules and Wing It, Senator and I are in one. There are two section hikers in the other one.I woke to light rain this morning which soon stopped after I started hiking. The overcast skies have made for real pleasant hiking the last couple of days. The nights are cool enough that I'm glad I still have my 15 degree bag. Some of the people have changed to 40 degree summer bags and are wearing everything they have to stay warm at night. The wet conditions make it very slippery and I took another fall today. It was my first fall in over a month. I fell backwards and my pack took the brunt of it so I hardly felt a thing, The three of us went into Waynesboro, PA to an AYCE. Again we did not wait long for a hitch. A lady picked us up and we all hopped into the truck bed. We told her the name of the restaurant and she took us right there. She said her father and brother had thru hiked so she knew we needed a ride. After an hour and half, and numerous trips to the buffet, they brought us the bill. A sure sign that they think you have eaten enough. The food was very good and the dessert bar had twenty different pies to choose from. I had three pieces of pie for dessert. As much as ate I could do it all over again four hours later. As we were leaving Bones walked in, he had got about four days ahead of us at one time. He took some time off to visit family and will be passing us again in a couple of days when he starts back. He also said he saw Doc and he is a day behind us now.We are taking some short days now so we can be in Pine Grove Furnace State Park on Saturday. The park is named for the historic furnace used to smelt iron during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. This time of year the Pine Grove Furnace Store is only open on weekends until June. It is home to the Half Gallon Club. This is the official half way point in the hike. Anyone who has hiked here from ME or GA may joint this thru hiker tradition. All you have to do is buy a half-gallon of ice cream as soon as you arrive and eat it as fast as you can. You are permitted to wash it down with coffee or soda if you have the stomach for it. That seems like a lot of ice cream so we¢ll see how hungry I am when I get there. I may just go for two pints. Senator says he is going to take a run at the record which is 7.5 minutes, we'll see. Wing It is also going to try the half-gallon. I think she can do it seeing as she's eaten a large pizza already.I made it thru my 6th state today and am now in PA.
Date: 2005-05-26
From: Deer Lick Shelters

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was surprisingly easy hiking for Pennsylvania, but I know it will not continue. I just looked and saw that Monday is Memorial Day so I can not get my mail drop until Tuesday. I will have to change my plans and take a zero day. I am going to try and get into town Monday afternoon get what I need done and pick up the shoes Tuesday before I hike out.Today I went into town for some supplies for the next three days. I caught a ride within five minutes, he waited while I went to the pharmacy and then took me somewhere to get food. Not only that, he waited for me while I resupplied and then took me back to the trail head. I was all done within 30 minutes including a sandwich to go.Pennsylvania has not been very pleasant so far. Twice I have hiked across old dirt roads and found deer carcasses all over the place. Several of them, just laying there rotting and in some places, right next to streams. There have been a lot of notes in the guidebook not to drink from some of the streams. The water sources have been far apart, but the shelters have all had springs so I have been getting my water there.I will be getting into Pine Grove tomorrow, and will try the half gallon challenge. I don't expect to finish the ice cream but all the calories will be helpful.Time to turn in.
Date: 2005-05-27
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park 
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: scattered clouds

The easy hiking continued today. It could have been a 25 mile day without any problem. We took a long mid morning break and another long lunch break and made it to the camp grounds by 3:00pm.Because of the holiday weekend, the camp store was open. We all tried the half-gallon challenge except Doc. I'm sorry to say I was the only one not to make it. The best I could do was 3\4 of my ice cream. I even scooped out the middle and added Root Beer but still could not finish it. It took me about an hour of lying down afterwards to recover. Bones did his in about 14 minutes, Senator-- 20 minutes, and Wing It -- 1 hr 43 minutes. She finished hers after laying down for about a half hour. They all have wooden spoons that say they are members of the half gallon club. I just have the fun of trying.None of us felt like hiking out afterwards so we are splitting a 16 dollar campsite. Senator went to the store and brought back hot dogs and buns. I got cokes for everyone. That was dinner for the night. We are close to water so the mosquitoes are out. As a result, I'm in the tent early. I think I will be able to sleep in just my liner tonight with no bag, we'll see.We have passed the official half way point but still have a long ways to go. Tomorrow we will pass the midpoint marker and sign the register. The actual midpoint changes each year due to trail changes. They leave the Midpoint marker where it is since they can not pick it up and move it each year. The easy hiking should continue until Duncannon. Soon after the infamous Pennsylvania rocks will start and 15 miles will be a long day. I just hope for no rain. I don't want to take any falls in the rocks with a 35 lbs pack on my back.I don't think there should be any rain, so I'm sleeping without my rain fly tonight. Senator did say if it starts raining I would hear him laughing as I tried to get my rain fly on. Bones who is next to me with a tarp tent said he would watch and time me. I do have it next to me just incase. It sounds funny hearing all the people at the other sites, seeing car lights going thru the woods, camp fires and the smell of cooking. By this time at the shelters we usually are in the bags and going to sleep. So it is.
Date: 2005-05-28
From: Pine Grove Furnace State Park 

To: Boiling Springs
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: light rain

I camped with no rain fly last night because of clear skies. I woke up and could not see the stars and thought I should get up and put the rain fly on but fell back asleep. Around 1:30am it was raining. I set a new record and got the fly on in less then a minute. Nothing got real wet since it was not raining hard. I learned my lesson for the time being.I hiked all day after a late start (9:15) this morning. I got breakfast at the campgrounds and had a chance to send my journals. Everyone started earlier and I wanted to catch them so I could have my picture taken at the Mid-point marker. I didn't catch them but Senator and Wing It waited there for me. I thought that was nice of them.The skies were grey and it finally started raining about 1:30. The hitch face wasn't with me today, and we couldn¢t get a ride into town for lunch so we just continued along on the trail. The climb today was not hard, however I got a sample of things to come. At one point, there was a difficult rock scramble along the ridge. In places we had to rock climb hand over hand. Senator helped pull me up at one point by grabbing my hand. The temperature was about 52 degrees and with the rain it felt even colder. When the rain stopped it got up to around 74 degrees. Even then I was still cold and wet. Even with the rain jacket you end up just as wet, due to the perspiration you expel as you hike. (Editors note: If my dad wouldn¢t have gotten a cheap rain jacket, he wouldn¢t be having this problem. Hint hint)The hike tomorrow will be much different then anything yet. It¢s 18 miles from one side of the valley to the other. It is flat plowed farm fields with different crops planted along the fields. It will be very boring. There is also no water or shelter the whole way. To top it off the first shelter was taken down and the new one is still under construction. As a result, it will be another tenting night.Boiling Springs is the ATC Mid-Atlantic Regional Office and you would think it would be hiker friendly. The office it right next to a big park and there is another park up the road. However, there is no place thru hikers can camp in the city. There is one B&B that lets you pay a dollar and tent in their back yard. However, when we all got there no one was home. We had to turn around and hike back out of town to a designed area for hikers. It¢s next to a rail road track. We did get dinner in town and asked our waitress about how many trains we might expect. She said only one or two a week come through. In all seven trains came throughout the night and woke you up each time. It was not much fun.Doc saw a rattle snake today and from what I've heard we will have to keep our eyes open. They have a lot of them in the rock fields after Duncannon.I need to study the guide book for awhile and see where I can have my cousin meet me. He is coming to hike with me from June 14 through July 3rd.
Date: 2005-05-29
From: Boiling Springs

To: Stealth Camp
Miles today: 18.0

Things did not start out well today. I planned on breakfast at the restaurant in town today. When Senator, Wing It and I got there the sign said ¢Closed.¢ I checked and they open at 7:00am everyday but Sunday. No hot breakfast today. I walked across the street to the gas station and had frosted flakes, a honey bun, and a coke. Not what I was counting on.I didn't feel too bad about it because when you take the crosswalk over US11 there is a truck stop dinner. Since I was hungry I started planning on what I would have when I got there. It included a milk shake, apple pie, and some kind of lunch depending on what they had. When we got to US11 we were all still together and set off for the truck stop. We did have to take care of a tradition here before going for lunch. It seems there is a full moon over the highway here at all times of the day if you know what I mean. We got to where the dinner should have been. However, Wingfoot's guide was a bit off as it was torn down over a year ago. So no big lunch. The gas station wasn't much better. The only hot thing I could get was a hot dog. I had the dog and some food from my lunch sack.The walk across the valley wasn't as bad as expected. The trail kept you in the woods between fields most of the time. The ridge that looked so far away earlier was finally reached and we headed back north into the rocks. The Darlington Shelter is the one under construction. When Senator and I reached it we walked up to see what was there. It had nothing but a mail box. As we started back it started it¢s daily afternoon shower. If the shelter had been there we would not have gotten wet. We did not want to go as far as the next shelter which would have made it a 24 mile day. We stopped by a stream and set up camp. After eating my dinner of Lipton Noodles, we got a fire going and dried out our clothes. While we were eating we hung up our tents over the trees and bushes to dry out from the night before. On to Doyle for a traditional stay and drink in the bar tomorrow.
Date: 2005-05-30
From: Stealth Camp

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: broken clouds

We had trail magic more than once today. ¢Trail Angel Mary¢ left candy in a field a couple of miles from the site we camped at last night. Closer to town today there was a cooler with drinks in it. They were cold and tasted great. It really lifts your spirits when someone is kind enough to do that.The Doyle Hotel was the next tradition I wanted to follow. It is a hotel built in 1905 by Anheuser-Bush. Many early thru-hikers stayed here and many a hiking tale has been told around the ground floor bar. We added to the tradition. It would be called a dive by today¢s standards, with no electric outlets in the rooms and two shared bathrooms on each floor. Compared to what we've stayed in at shelters and some of the other hostel it was luxury. I shared a room with Senator and Wing It slept on the floor with us.The coolers that we found on the trail today had a number to call if you needed a ride or to use a computer to get on the internet. Senator wanted to see the new Star Wars movie and use the internet so he called the number. Mary told him she lived in an apartment above here in town and told us to come over, her boyfriend would let us in. She was going out but would be back. Senator asked how much it would be to get a ride to Harrisburg to see the movie and she said she would take us. Senator offered to pay for her ticket to see it with us. Because of the holiday the Doyle was full Saturday and Sunday. When we got to Mary's we found Bones there talking to Mary's boyfriend. They had put up five hikers Saturday and Sunday because the hotel was full. Bones is a chef by trade and while we used the internet he was cooking dinner for everyone that night. Now I know you never trust a skinny chef which is what Bones is now that he has loss 40 lbs. Once he gets that 6'5" frame moving you can never catch him. The only reason we had caught up with him was he lives in Maryland and took fiver days to get through the state.We all went to the movie and Bone's stayed and cooked dinner. The dinner was great; it was a creamy spaghetti sauce with sausage, green peas and other stuff. I asked what it was and he said if he knew and named it, it would have to cost us $35.00 a plate. I bought an apple pie for dessert and we pretty much ate everything. Trail magic dinner, ride to see the movie and the internet, thanks Mary and Bones!I'm glad we are here; this town was much friendlier than Boiling Spring. I would recommend that if you have the chance, stay here at the Doyle.
Date: 2005-05-31
From: Duncannon

To: Peters Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: few clouds

I woke up this morning and had breakfast before the post office opened. Got to the post office and picked up my bounce boxes. The one I needed most had my shoes and travel checks. My Brook's trail runners carried me 1,133 miles not including side trips, time spent going the wrong way, and zero days. Not bad for just running shoes. Doc had bought new boots in Damascus and blew them out within 200 miles. I've seen others with boots and trail shoes that did not last half as long as I got out of my Brooks. The toe protector started to come off, plus I tore the sole loose way back before Pearisburg and glued them together so I could reach the PO to get another pair. The glue job held and I kept bouncing the new shoes to the next PO. After gluing them I got another 510 miles out of them. The shoes were at the point I could feel ever pebble and twig in the trail so it was time to change out. The new shoes felt great today but I don't expect to get that much mileage out of this pair, PA rocks will take care of that.I got a hair cut and had the bearded trimmed. With a bath, cut and trim I looked and felt like a new person, except the same old shirt had to go back on. It had been washed so that wasn't too bad.Senator, Doc, Wing It and I had lunch in town and set out at 1:00 PM. We reached the shelter a little before 7pm and ate. The water was 800 feet away straight down hill. Pumping water and walking back up took over a half hour.The shelter is a nice shelter and there are six people on the lower level and three of us on the top. I'm in a shelter with my tent pitched. Everyone had turned in and some were reading or writing journals. I keep seeing these large black ants crawling all over. I asked if anyone else was having that problem. Everyone with a light on said yes, other also checked and said the same thing. I check the rafters, and ceiling of the shelter and it was crawling with ants. The three of us on top had room to pitch our tents to keep them out, so that¢s what we did.I had a couple of nice views today and saw another black snake.
Date: 2005-06-01
From: Peters Mountain Shelter

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

No good views today but the hiking was much better then expected. We are all still together Doc, Wing It, Senator and have picked up a new thru-hiker for awhile, Street Fighter.When I got to the PA 325 parking area today there was a fire truck and an EMS truck. Everyone else was there ahead of me just starting to eat lunch. I asked what was going on and they said there was a lost hiker. While we ate a TV crew showed up also. It seems three hikers were out section hiking and one got lost. They got spread out between the shelters. And two of them ended up at the next shelter but the female in the group never arrived. They waited most of the morning and she still did not show. One brother continued looking and the other went to town and reported her missing. All turned out well as she had taken the wrong trail and finally made it back to the shelter OK. It¢s been strange at the shelters the last two days. When I got here today I did not see anyone I was hiking with. There was a mother and daughter doing a long section hike there. They were not inside the shelter but sitting outside. They said the black flies were so bad inside everyone had gone to the camping site. They were considering waiting until the sun went down, they were told the flies would clear out then. I headed to the camp site and found everyone and pitched my tent. A few minutes later the mom and daughter showed up and did the same. Later we walked down to the shelter to get some fire wood, and there were some hikers in the shelter now and no problem with the flies.The shelter we are staying at tomorrow has pizza delivery. You'll also find out if I get rained on tonight. I do know that two of us will be dry in our tents. Street Fighter has the same tent I have. It was rated one of the driest tents by one of the hiking magazines.Later in the evening Wing It went to throw out her dirty water after cleaning her pot after dinner. As she was throwing out the water from it when the pot slipped and went flying down the side of the mountain. We could hear it banging off the rocks as it kept going down before stopping. Fortunetly she was able to get down and get it without to much trouble. No one else wanted to see if they could match her throw.
Date: 2005-06-02
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

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

Not much to report today. The hiking has still been pretty good without any long rock fields yet. I talked to a southbound hiker today and he said it will be slow going soon. He only did 10 to 12 mile days.I hitched a ride into Pine Grove when I got here. I had missed everyone else going to town since I walked ten minutes past the side trail to the shelter. I didn't know if they were eating in town or what so I opted to go to a restaurant to eat. It was the best I have done hitching. I walked out to the road and a couple pulled into the parking area to change drivers. I asked for a ride and they said sure and took me to the restaurant. After leaving the restaurant the first car pulling out of a gas station next to the restaurant gave me a ride back to the 501 intersection. At the intersection a truck picked me up. He said he knew I was a hiker because I still had on my gators. He was also an ultra runner and had just won a 40 mile race the week before.We have a large group of hikers here. A group of three that calls themselves Team Vanity is here. They also have individual names. They hike fast and go long distances, we just caught up with them here because they took some time out to go to NYC. We had a good time around the camp fire telling stores.Everyone that went into town went to the Minute Food Store and got resupplied at discount rates. A lot of food was passed around because some of the people got more then they needed. They had not eaten in town so everyone ordered pizza. Shades of Blue, Senator and I split a large pizza.No rain last night. The forecast for today calls for showers stating later tonight. At least tonight I'm in a shelter.