morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-09-20
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

At about 3:00 AM last night, the wind picked up, and there was a noticeable drop in temperature. The day today was clear and cool¢low relative humidity with a light breeze¢perfect hiking weather!I could still see the High Point tower from Rattlesnake Mountain.I walked 14 miles today to the AMC Mohican Outdoor Center. Solar Body and I are both here tonight. Interesting place¢hot showers, but no towels! One would think that, for $33.00/night, you would get a towel!I talked to my wife Becky this morning before I started hiking. She asked about a ¢Cindy Ross¢ who had signed the AT Chaplain Facebook page. Cindy Ross is a well-known author who has written several books about the long trails. So I got her phone number and contacted her. I¢m supposed to meet her at the Eckville Shelter next Saturday! I had a chance to meet her in ¢04 and didn¢t do it¢probably the worst mistake that I made on that hike. I have since learned that people are more important than big miles.
Date: 2015-09-21
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Delaware Water Gap, Presbyterian Church of the Mou
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

Lots of day hikers today! It was a short day. About halfway through the hike, we went past the famous Sunfish Pond. Then down to the highway and across the Delaware River and into town. About halfway across the bridge over the Delaware River (mile 895.5), we left New Jersey and entered Pennsylvania. Another state completed!Solar body and I had a big lunch¢which also served as dinner: prime rib and a big salad. Then we visited the bakery on the way back to the hostel.We went to the outfitter store, but they closed at 5:00 PM, and it was 5:04 PM. They open at 10:00 AM in the morning.We have a shuttle scheduled to take us to Wal-Mart at 8:30 in the morning.
Date: 2015-09-22
From: Delaware Water Gap, Presbyterian Church of the Mou

To: Campsite at mile 905.6
Miles today: 9.8

I got up early and walked down to the diner with Melons. It was supposed to open at 6:00 AM but obviously did not. We got coffee at a convenience store.Solar Body and I got our shuttle to Wal-Mart and resupplied. Then I went back to the diner for breakfast. Then we went to the outfitter store for new carbide tips for Solar Body¢s trekking poles. The store was supposed to open at 1000 AM, but now had a sign on the door saying that they were closed today.So we got on the trail at about 10:30 AM. First we had a nice 1,00-foot climb up Mt. Minsi. Then we walked on rocks for most of the rest of the day. We had lunch and got water at the Kirkridge Shelter. We are told that there is no water until the next shelter (14 miles). Two miles after the shelter, we climbed Wolf Rocks.Gonzo, Solar Body and I are camping out tonight at mile 905.6. So not only are we now in Pennsylvania, but we have passed the 900-mile mark!I showed the boys how to hang a bear bag. Solar Body had never done it before. I called John Stempa and made reservations to stay at his hostel tomorrow night.
Date: 2015-09-23
From: Campsite at mile 905.6

To: Smith Gap Road, Stempa Hostel
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: broken clouds

When Solar body and I left the campsite, Gonzo was still in his sleeping bag. No problem¢he has long, strong legs and can catch up with us.I tripped on a rock and sprained my right elbow. At least I can still walk!I got off the trail at Wind Gap and hiked into town to get water. It¢s very scarce on the trail. The guy who filled my water bottles gave me an extra 2-liter Coke bottle full of water. I took it, but really didn¢t want to carry the extra weight. I thought that maybe Gonzo would need it if and when I met him.I stopped at Leroy A. Smith Shelter. Solar Body was already there. He had run out of water before the shelter, but had already resupplied at the spring.We waited for Gonzo and called John Stempa. John will meet us at Smith Gap Road at 5:30 PM.John drove us down to his house. The hostel is his garage. Hot showers! Then he drove us to Kunkletown where we visited the general store, then went to the Kunkletown Pub for dinner. It was awesome, and very reasonably priced!We visited some more with John, then went to bed on the floor of his garage.
Date: 2015-09-24
From: Smith Gap Road, Stempa Hostel

To: George W. Outerbridge Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: clear sky

John Stempa shuttled us back up to the trail at 9:00 AM. Thanks, John!We all carried plenty of water today. The second half of the day is through a Super Fund site. The trail has been rerouted since 2004. It now actually goes around the Super Fund site and is on green grass and in the shade¢much nicer than before.Then we got to go down the rocks at Lehigh Gap! There was a cooler with trail magic at the bottom of the mountain. I got an orange soda and a cupcake.I crossed the Lehigh River, then climbed 0.7 miles to the George W. Outerbridge Shelter. Gonzo and Solar Body had a fire going by the time I got to the shelter.Phlatlander and Tao caught up with us at the shelter tonight. They had both been off trail for a few days to visit friends. It¢s good to have them back! Burn and Optimistic Dreamer were also at the shelter.
Date: 2015-09-25
From: George W. Outerbridge Shelter

To: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: light rain

I received a text message last night from Maps/Carol Kluchinsli. She was asking where I would be today. I was with her and her husband and two daughters for several nights at shelters in Vermont in August.After I had walked about six miles, I met a trail runner headed north. He said, ¢Maps is on the trail!¢ when he passed me. I met Maps about a half-hour later, and we had lunch together at the Bake Oven Knob Shelter. She brought me a half-gallon of ruby red grapefruit juice. We drank most of it!After lunch we walked back together to her car at Bake Oven Knob Road. She suggested that she slackpack me for the next seven miles to Fort Franklin Road. I carried only a bottle of water; and, without the backpack, fairly flew over the rocks!While I was walking, Maps went shopping for our dinner. I met her at Fort Franklin Road, and we loaded the food into our backpacks. Not only was she providing dinner, but she planned to camp out with me at the Allentown Hiking Club Shelter. We carried the food and a gallon of water to the shelter. Dinner was a great salad, which she made, fresh French bread¢still warm when she purchased it¢with butter, and fried chicken. Thank you, Maps! Awesome trail magic!Something very strange happened to us at the shelter. Maps and I were planning to stay in the shelter. When we arrived, I asked if there was room for two more in the shelter. There was only a man and a woman and a dog (St. Bernard) in the shelter. They said, ¢She¢s not friendly¢she doesn¢t like people.¢ So they ¢dominated¢ the shelter, and six of us tented! Usually people with unfriendly dogs leave them at home and usually backpackers with dogs camp out in tents.Other than the dog incident, it was a great night. Maps is my new favorite trail angel!
Date: 2015-09-26
From: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter

To: Eckville Shelter, Cindy RossÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ house
Miles today: 7.4

Cindy Ross, author of several books about backpacking on the AT, PCT and CDT, signed my Facebook page last week. My wife asked me about Cindy Ross; so we contacted her, and I¢m staying with her and her husband, Todd Gladfeter, at their place tonight! Cindy hiked the AT in 1978 and fractured a foot. She completed the trail the following year. Todd did the AT in 1980.I called Cindy as soon as I arrived at the Eckville Shelter, and she came to the shelter and shuttled me back to her house.Cindy and Todd have a beautiful log house that they built themselves. There is a separate two-story log guesthouse, complete with privy and solar shower.Cindy and Todd are great people, and this was another awesome trail experience!
Date: 2015-09-27
From: Eckville Shelter, Cindy RossÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ house

To: Port Clinton Pavilion
Miles today: 14.8

I woke up at 6:00 AM and packed my backpack. When I went up to the big house at 7:00 AM, Todd already had coffee ready. Todd prepared a great breakfast of eggs scrambled with mushrooms, onions and cheese, with toast.Cindy took me back to the trail at 8:00 AM. Phlatlander had already left the shelter and was ahead of me on the trail. I never saw her all day, but saw a note in the shelter register that she was ¢headed for Wal-Mart¢ to resupply.It was a nice day for hiking, and there were lots of day hikers on the trail.I stopped briefly at the Pinnacle and at Pulpit Rock. I had a quick lunch break at Windsor Furnace Shelter and headed on to Port Clinton. I got to Port Clinton at 4:30 PM.I went to the pavilion where hikers can stay for free. Burn, Optimistic Dreamer and Spider were at the pavilion. There is not laundry in town unless you stay at the hotel, so I rinsed the salt out of my shirt and shorts.The post office doesn¢t open until 12:30 PM on Monday, so I¢ll do the Wal-Mart run in the morning while I¢m waiting for the post office to open.
Date: 2015-09-28
From: Port Clinton Pavilion

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

We woke up and walked up to Frank¢s Barber Shop for coffee. The post office doesn¢t open until 12:30 PM. Cabella¢s doesn¢t open until 9:00 AM. Cabella¢s is actually located in the next town, Hamburg. They offer free shuttles to thru-hikers from Port Clinton to and from their store. Once you get to Cabella¢s, it¢s only one-half mile to Walk-Mart. At 9:00 AM I called Cabella¢s for a shuttle.I bought a blaze orange buff headband, a new Lexan spoon and a pair of shoelaces at Cabella¢s. Then I walked over to Wal-Mart to re-supply. After completing my shopping, I took the Cabella¢s shuttle back to Port Clinton.Frank trimmed my beard while I waited for the post office to open.At 12:30 PM I picked up my box at the post office. I¢m switching from Lowa Tempest Lo shoes to Scarpa boots for the rest of Pennsylvania. The Scarpas have a longer, stiffer shank in the sole, and therefore offer more protection from the sharp, pointed rocks.Once I finished up at the post office, I did the steep 900-foot climb out of Port Clinton and walked nine miles to the Eagles Nest Shelter. Gonzo and Solar Body are also at the shelter.
Date: 2015-09-29
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: moderate rain

It¢s 15.1 miles to the next shelter, the 501 Shelter. Black Swatara Spring was dried up. Fortunately, the next spring at 6.5 miles was flowing. I got a quart of the clear, cold water to get me through the afternoon.Sometime during the afternoon I caught the toe of my left boot on a rock. This caused the sole of the boot to start coming loose at the toe.About two miles from the 501 Shelter, it began to rain. Fortunately, I had my umbrella! It was raining hard by the time I arrived at the shelter.Margie It¢s 15.1 miles to the next shelter, the 501 Shelter. Black Swatara Spring was dried up. Fortunately, the next spring at 6.5 miles was flowing. I got a quart of the clear, cold water to get me through the afternoon.Sometime during the afternoon I caught the toe of my left boot on a rock. This caused the sole of the boot to start coming lose at the toe.About two miles from the 501 Shelter, it began to rain. Fortunately, I had my umbrella! It was raining hard by the time I arrived at the shelter.Margie Marino¢a section hiker that Solar Body and I had met earlier in New Jersey¢had sent me a text last night. She wants to take me out to dinner! I told her that the 501 would be a good place to meet, because it is only 0.1 miles from the highway.Margie lives in a small town near Redding. She took me to her favorite restaurant, where I had a great salad and some prime rib. After dinner, she invited me to her house, so that I could do laundry and take a shower. Port Clinton doesn¢t have laundry and showers unless you stay at the ort Clinton Hotel. It was a great evening after a long day Thank you, Margie.that Solar Body and I had met earlier in New Jersey¢had sent me a text last night. She wants to take me out to dinner! I told her that the 501 would be a good place to meet, because it is only 0.1 miles from the highway.Margie lives in a small town near Redding. She took me to her favorite restaurant, where I had a great salad and some prime rib. After dinner, she invited me to her house, so that I could do laundry and take a shower. Port Clinton doesn¢t have laundry and showers unless you stay at the Port Clinton Hotel. It was a great evening after a long day. Thank you, Margie.
Date: 2015-09-30
From: 501 Shelter

To: William Penn Shelter
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained all night long! Margie and I got up at 6:00 AM. She fixed me a big breakfast of scrambled eggs w/cheese, sausage, and a variety of fresh baked muffins, bagels, etc. Also grapefruit juice and coffee.I repaired the toe of my left boot as best I could with seam grip (which I had in my pack) and duct tape. I need to make it hold together for a couple more days until I reach Duncannon and get the Shoe Goo that my wife is sending to me.Margie took me back to the 501 Shelter at 8:00 AM, where Gonzo was waiting for the cigarette tobacco that I had bought for him in town.We spent the morning at the shelter waiting for the glue on my boot to dry. Several people came by the shelter: two section hikers, two ladies from Jehovah¢s Witness who left religious tracts for backpackers, and a young guy from Iceland. The guy from Iceland gave us eight cans of Montauk Driftwood Ale. No alcohol is allowed at the 501, so we had to take it with us!At 1:00 PM we decided that the glue was as dry as it was going to get, so we hiked on to the William Penn Shelter. It was only four miles, but it¢s another 14 miles to the next shelter, Rausch Gap Shelter.
Date: 2015-10-01
From: William Penn Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: moderate rain

Well, my boots held together yesterday! William Penn Shelter had a good piped spring, and we had a good fire. MacLemore, another SOBO (flip-flopper) joined us last night at the shelter.Today we passed the 1,000-mile mark! We also walked under I-81. Other than that, the most exciting thing that happened was when a hornet stung me on the balls! Little bastard crawled up my leg under my shorts and got me good. It hurt like hell!It started to rain about a mile before the shelter. Then it poured after I got there, but that¢s okay. Maybe it will let up before I start hiking.So, I¢m here at the Rausch Gap Shelter by myself tonight. Gonzo went on ahead to test his new tarp. I hope that he¢s enjoying himself in the rain!The next shelter, Peters Mountain, is 18 miles¢big day tomorrow. Then 11 miles to Duncannon. The post office closes at 12:30 PM. We¢ll see how that works out!
Date: 2015-10-02
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: Peters Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

The rain let up during the night. There was a light mist this morning. Most of this settled on the tree leaves overhead. There were a few rocky areas, but overall pretty decent trail. The trail descended about 700 feet approaching PA 325, so of course, I had to climb on the other side of the road. It began raining hard enough to put up my umbrella at PA 325, and I used it all afternoon. I reached Peters Mountain Shelter at 5:00 PM.After reaching the shelter, I had a cup of Chai tea latte and a cup of cream of chicken soup to warm up. Gonzo sent me a text message saying that he had reached the Doyle in Duncannon.So I¢m alone again tonight. This is a nice, big shelter. But it¢s the worst of all shelters on the AT for getting water¢0.2 miles down (and back up!)¢300 stone steps.I got some water and fixed dinner. I need to get an early start in the morning to reach the Duncannon post office before it closes at 12:30 PM.
Date: 2015-10-03
From: Peters Mountain Shelter

To: Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 11.0

I met two deer hunters today¢it¢s archery season in PA! Time to wear my blaze orange costume.My original plan for today was to get up early and hike eleven miles to Duncannon to be at the post office and pick up my packages before 12:30 PM closing time. But when I woke up at 5:00 AM and it was raining hard, the plan changed! I went back to sleep and later had a leisurely coffee and oatmeal breakfast and began hiking after the rain let up.For the last three days, I¢ve heard lots of geese overhead, flying south. Probably a good idea¢head south to where it¢s warm.I arrived in Duncannon at about 2:30 PM and checked into the famous Doyle Hotel. Other hikers here tonight are Topsy-Turvy and Torch, and Professor Budda and Yogi. Burn, Optimistic Dreamer and Spider are also in town, but are staying at trail angel Mary¢s place two blocks down the street. Toad and Frog¢SOBOs from Memphis¢are at another motel. Gonzo is eleven miles down the trail at the Darlington Shelter¢in the cold and the rain!I warmed up, dried out, and resupplied. I had dinner at the Doyle with Topsy-Turvy and Torch.At least my Scarpa boots held together until I reached Duncannon! I¢m supposed to have a new pair of shoes at the post office when it opens on Monday morning.
Date: 2015-10-04
From: Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, PA

To: Melinda HoweÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs house, Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I slept surprisingly well at the Doyle last night! I woke up and went across the street to Goodie¢s Restaurant for coffee and breakfast. I had breakfast with Topsy-Turvy and Torch. Toad and Frog and Pink Hat were also there.Then I went down the street and visited with trail angel Mary for an hour or so. I first met her eleven years ago on my ¢04 NOBO At thru-hike. Yogi was doing the boys¢ nails; I chose not to participate!Melinda Howe picked me up in Duncannon after lunch. We drove to her house near Pine Grove Furnace. She and I visited about backpacking. She has done a lot of section hiking and is considering a thru-hike.Melinda washed my dirty clothes and fixed dinner for me. I met her husband Mike and their two sons. Before I knew it, it was way past hiker midnight and time to go to bed.
Date: 2015-10-05
From: Melinda HoweÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs house, Duncannon, PA

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

We got up and had breakfast. Mike and the boys went to work and to school. Melinda took me back to Duncannon. I went to the post office and picked up my packages. I got some new Lowa Renegade Los to replace the Scarpas, which were close to losing their soles.I headed south and climbed up to Hawk Rock and over to Cove Mountain Shelter. The spring was dry there. After seven miles, I stopped at a stream to get five quarts of water to carry up to Darlington.Pink Hat, Burn and Optimistic Dreamer are staying with me at Darlington Shelter tonight. Going to Boiling Springs in the morning.
Date: 2015-10-06
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Boiling Springs, Allenberry Lodge
Miles today: 14.3

Optimistic Dreamer, Burn and I left the Darlington Shelter and hiked down the hill to the Cumberland Valley. The valley is fairly flat, and the trail goes through pastures, farms and fields. We went by lots of cornfields and soybean fields.The boys took a side trip into Carlisle; I kept on hiking. I arrived at the road to Boiling Springs (PA 174) thirty minutes sooner than expected. I planned to stay at the Allenberry Lodge, just outside of town. I walked over there and checked in. I was outside talking on the phone when Dreamer and Burn arrived. We did laundry and took showers. The shower felt great. The restaurant at the lodge wasn¢t open, so we cooked our own hiker dinners.
Date: 2015-10-07
From: Boiling Springs, Allenberry Lodge

To: James Fry Shelter
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: broken clouds

By the time I woke up and got out of bed, Dreamer had fixed a pot of coffee in the coffeemaker.I packed up and walked into Boiling Springs for breakfast at the Caffe 101. Then I did a quick resupply at the convenience store.I left town at 10:00 AM and hiked through more fields. I met Shelob in the middle of one of the fields. She was NOBO, but not in a rush like most NOBOs. She was just planning to walk north for as long as the weather permitted. While Shelob and I were visiting, Yogi walked up and joined us.Two days ago I heard that Yogi was thinking of getting off the trail. So I was glad to see her still on the trail, hiking south. She has decided to stay on, but to go at a slower pace.Yogi and I ended up hiking together for the rest of the day. When we arrived at the James Fry Shelter, Burn already had a fire going. Yogi was pleased to learn that our group enjoys fires every night.There was a new hiker at the shelter: Wood Nymph. She had a pet rat at the shelter. That was a new experience for me!
Date: 2015-10-08
From: James Fry Shelter

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Iron Masters Hostel
Miles today: 7.3

The big event planned for today was the famous half-gallon challenge at the Pine Grove Furnace State Park general store. Then Yogi and I have made reservations to stay at the equally famous Iron Masters Mansion Hostel.It was a pretty easy day¢only 7.3 miles with a lot of downhill going into the park. When we left the James Fry Shelter, the boys were still playing with the fire, which had burned all night. Wood Nymph was playing with her pet rat. The three of them are planning to hitch a ride to the ALDA Gathering in Shippensburg this weekend. Yogi and I decided to skip the Gathering and to continue hiking.Yogi and I arrived at Pine Grove Furnace State Park at about 1:00 PM. You can imagine our disappointment to discover that the general store is now closed except for Saturday and Sunday! (Today is Thursday.) We had been planning all morning to have lunch at the store. We can¢t check into the hostel until 5:00 PM.So we went to the AT museum (free) to kill time. The manager offered to drive us to the Green Mountain general store six miles away, to get ice cream (for me) and sandwiches (for Yogi, who is lactose intolerant) when the museum closed at 4:00 PM. It was a nice museum with good exhibits about Earl Shaffer and Grandma Gatewood and an excellent selection of AT books. I purchased a signed copy of Thru, which my friend Northern Harrier (AT ¢04) had recommended and which I had been unable to find at our library. The AT museum offered to ship the book to my home for free since it is too heavy for a self-respecting backpacker to carry for 1,000 miles. Deal!On the drive to the store, Joe explained to me that the modern half gallon of ice cream the stores sell today actually contain three pints and that I would need an extra pint of ice cream to be ¢legal.¢Whatever! We returned to the hostel and ate our lunches on the front porch. Fortunately, Mike (the hostel manager) had an extra pint of ice cream on hand to make me legal. It took me 36 minutes to eat the half-gallon.After we finished our lunches, Yogi and I checked in to the hostel and had pizzas for dinner. Then we took our showers and did our laundry.In addition to showers, laundry and breakfast, the hostel also offered free Internet access on their computer. They also offered free wifi, but Pine Grove Furnace has no Verizon phone signal! Oh, well!The mansion was built in 1828 and has 7,000 square feet. Two stories with a full basement (including the ¢secret¢ room.) English Tudor brick house made of bricks manufactured on site. Very nice!In 2004 when I was NOBO, I had planned to stay at the hostel, but was unable to do so because some groups of civilians (not AT thru-hikers) had booked the entire facility for the whole weekend. Tonight Yogi and I are the only people staying here. Yogi has the entire women¢s dorm (upstairs) all to herself, and I have the entire men¢s dorm (downstairs) all to myself. At bedtime she started worrying about ghosts. She slept with the lights on¢just to be safe!