morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-06-24
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Relax Inn, Adkins
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

7:15am Partnership ShelterWhat a great day yesterday! Daddy will be happy. I am near enough to Marion that today could be my last day. I don't know what I am going to do. I feel really strong. I have developed my rhythm and know it will be a long time before I come again.11:25pm Adkins, Relax Inn   Had another great day. I tried hard to keep a steady pace. I have to say I did a good job. The ups are hard no matter how small. Joe and Mark and I decided to hike together today. we walked through beautiful Virginia, trying to get to Adkins to have the hiker burger. On the way, we passed the 1890 Settler's Museum. I drank straight from the pump. We tried to graze on all the berries but they are not ripe yet. When we got to Adkins the Barn was closed but the Exxon station across the street was giving away everything. We just walked in and took as much as we could drink and eat. Most everything was gone. I ate two pushup pops, a cotton candy ice cream, 3 orange sodas and have 2 energy drink for tomorrow. we then got a room at the relax Inn and shot the bull for a few hours. I ate a pizza by myself! So much is running in my mind. I am sitting in my room with all of my gear spread around. The room stinks more than all of my stuff and the bathtub now looks beyond disgusting. When it comes down to it, a hiker can ignore the shower stall just to get a week's worth of dirt off. I have reached my goal. I did skip 30 miles, but not because I gave up, but because I needed food!
Date: 2012-06-29
From: Providence Baptist Church

To: Lower Little River, near Columbia, Mississippi
Miles today: 0.0

Oh, Black WaterOh Black Water   tell me your secrets   bring me some peace   as you glide on byWhisper the story   in ways I can hear you   tell me how   those three people diedAlligator sitting   here last Sunday   did you hear them   when they criedOld dried up snake skin      draped on a stick      with a Bud can nearbyCan you shed me a story      a secret of this water      on the day      the children watched them and criedOh, lady bug   sitting on my shoulder   did you warn that mother   of the danger   the river holds insideOh, Black Water   passing so peacefully   underneath me   will you please share your stories   as we sit here and cry.
Date: 2012-06-30
From: Lower Little River, near Columbia, Mississippi

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

June 29th, I thinkThe days are running together. I cleaned Walter's trailer, sorted clothes, staged re-entry. The kids came home. While Walter was on the phone, Eli told me about the Black Water....He seemed relieved we had been there and seen the place.... He is scared, so very scared. Sam was scared, so very scared.
Date: 2012-07-03
From: Ruth, Mississippi

To: Springville, Alabama
Miles today: 0.0

I am writing with the purple pen again, dammit. What a day!Left out with Budweiser the cat this morning. He made the decision for me. we had a great ride-other than getting pooped on while driving down the interstate...the poor kitty didn't know what the box was....until Springville Alabama. Spending 9 hours in a McDonalds parking lot was not in the plans today, however persistence pays off and the cat came out of the woods once it was quiet. I could NOT leave him there after promising Eli he would not die. People must have thought I was crazy. I just couldn't stop calling for him. his name is now, Buddy. It just seemed so wrong to be calling BUDWEISER at the top of my lungs!Thank you Great Spirit. I don't know why, but I don't need to ask.
Date: 2012-07-06
To: Rocky Knob Campsite
Miles today: 0.0

So, here I am at Rocky Knob campground, free to create a new pathway for the rest of the summer. Buddy and I are going to Chateau Morrisette for a band. I always come too early to enjoy these summer treats. The cat is tolerating travel. I think it likes the frontpack better than the leash. It was really weird when the fog lifted right at the Marion exit. I knew everything would be new. I stopped by Wood's Hole to find the guys but no luck. Hoping to get in touch tomorrow.
Date: 2012-11-18
To: Filling in the Gaps
Miles today: 0.0

It has taken me many months to come to terms with this summer and all that the days held for me. I know now that I was in a state of shock and it would take weeks for me to come back to reality. The day I found out that the tragedy occurred was like any awesome day that the trail could hold. We woke up, washed clothes, checked out and went for our long awaited hiker burgers at the Barn. Joining us across the street at the abandoned Exxon Station was Indian Brave. While shooting the breeze, enjoying a warm Coors as only a hiker can, contemplating the fate of Napoleon, I noticed my phone had a number from Mississippi that had been trying to reach me. I couldn't get my phone to call out. Joe loaned me his phone and I called the number. My little sister answered. I started talking about hiking and free beer when I noticed she wasn't laughing with me. She said she had bad news. I could have never been prepared to hear that my sister in law and baby nephew had drowned in a small river along with another man. I fell to the pavement, I stared up at the Virginia blue sky. Joe, Mark, and Indian Brave stayed with me as I waited for the shuttle. Mark had a Lima Rita for me before I got back to the bench. When only moments before I had called the shuttle people talking about the best days of my life, I was now calling them, asking them to go pick up my car so I could leave right away. There are dashes of memories, as I made my way south. Tears that wouldn't stop falling. I knew I would be speaking. It is my gift. I posted the words spoken for Samantha and Waylon because they are just as much apart of my summer as the trail, as the mountains, as the sadness. I will return to the Appalachian Trail. I will gather a few more miles under my boots. I will make new friends and pick up more stories. When I sleep at night, I will be under the same stars that have sheltered me for so long. I have relived these sparkling trail moments many times during the last five months, shining past the vision of the River, the horror, the tragic grief that gripped me so tightly. I don't know what I would do without this hike! My many thanks to those who became a part of my story and helped me a long the way. Some of it's magic, Some of it's tragic,but it was a good hike all the same.
Date: 2012-06-11
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Ed Garvey Shelter
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we drove from Smithfield to Harpers Ferry, WV. Rodney, Roger, Bryan, Porter and I eagerly ate lunch at the local sub shop. After we ate we met Jody and robert stevens they hiked the first 3 miles with us. They are helping us shuttle the old men back to the car after 100 miles and decided to meet us. Within the first mile I found out that my camera was broken. Lens error. Oh well. After jody and robert left we hiked the remaining 3 miles to the Ed Garvey Shelter.
Date: 2012-06-13
From: Pine knob shelter

To: Raven Rock Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was a day for getting used to walking and adjusting gear. We stopped around lunch time and dried out our gear from the rain yesterday. Today is also dad and rogers birthday! Happy Birthday Dad! Today when we were crossing a field a large swarm of bees went right in between us all it was very cool I've never seen anything like that before. It was like a huge cloud of dust. Then minutes later dad spooked a baby white tail deer that was bedded down. We stayed in a nice shelter that we shared with the lady name scholar she was on the trail interviewing thru hikers to do some research for school.
Date: 2012-06-14
From: Raven Rock Shelter

To: camp site
Miles today: 20.0

We woke up early and I get 8 miles with scholar ate an early lunch 11 o'clock. Then we hiked to an over look and took a nap. after that we hiked down from there and came across the road we walked down the road a little bit and into a camp. we weren't sure what it was but we we're looking for a soda machine once we got inside we found out that it was a juvenile delinquency camp. Then we decided it was time to leave. After that roger and I went to head up the trail brian and dad went down the road in search of sodas. Roger porter and I hiked to the campsite and dad and brian arrived an hour later with sodas and chips. Dinner and bed.
Date: 2012-06-15
From: camp site

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 26.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we woke up early and by lunch time we had lost roger. We waited for him and he came along an hour later. We left him at the last shelter while he was napping oops. We thought he had gotten hurt. After that we crossed the Mason Dixon Line and hiked into PA.   Then hiked into Pine Grove Furnace State Park and ate a half gallon of ice creme a piece! (Except Porter) A small resupply and a shower. Then hiked just outside the state park and camped.
Date: 2012-06-17
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: Field Camp Site
Miles today: 16.0

Woke up and hiked into town. Hiking turned into fields. Got to town there was a neat spring fed lake. We traded the outfitters, it was for fishing. Then ate pizza. Nice. After that me and Bryan walked to grocery store. Got picked up by a trail angle on the way but had to walk back. Jody and Robert picked up dad, Roger, and Porter. Bryan and I hiked on. We saw a weird animal on the railroad tracks and didn't know what it was so we called it chupracabra. Talked to some cute runner girls. Nice campsite beside a cow field. Moooooo.
Date: 2012-06-18
From: Field Camp Site

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Hiked through rolling fields in the rain all morning. The terrain has been pretty flat so far. Then into Duncannon. The first thing we did was get a 2 liter and 2 hotdogs. Then rented a room at the Doyle Hotel. This was one of the origional Bush Beer hotels built over 100 years ago. I think the mattresses were origional. We did some laundry and ate dinner in the hotel.
Date: 2012-06-19
From: Duncannon, PA

To: campsite
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We woke up at 6 and ate brekfast at a local joint. Bacon egg and cheese biscuits. We saw 5 snakes today.Bryan almost stepped on a timber rattler. Close call. It was also 95 today. Hot! Found a nice campsite right down by a stream.
Date: 2012-06-20
From: campsite

To: campsite
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Hot last night! Slept until 8am down by the creek for some good trail magic. Had turkey club pasta salad, rice crispy treats, and deviled eggs with a soda. Then we hiked until lunch. Tuna bagels. Found a creekand took a quick dip. Very cold! Spiderman showed a Timber Rattelsnake. This thing looked mean! Met mad scientist. Hiked till dark found a campsite by a creek. Fire then bed.
Date: 2012-06-21
From: campsite

To: campsite
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was a long and hot hike. 95 with a heat index of 105 heat index. The day was mostly non eventful except near the end where we had some nice views and came across a cool shelter. 501 shelter. This thing had a full time care taker and a skylite. A group went to town for some Mac Donald. We opted to hike on. The terrain was very rocky and it was the hottest point of the day. This part sucked. When we got to camp there was a huge swimming hole with a rope swing. The water was so cold that me or Bryan couldn't stay in it for more than 12 seconds. It felt so good after the hottest day yet. Parents coming to pick up Bryan tomorrow. Last full daywith my brother .
Date: 2012-06-22
From: campsite

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today bryan and I decided to hike into town rather than camp on the edge of town. The walk was mostly uneventful. We did hike the last few miles with Hotshot. Port Clinton was a nice small town with a river and a railroad. No more than 200 peoplecould have lived here. There was one restaurant hotel bar in the town and that is where we stayed. This place was a strange hotel. We had to put down a 10 dollar deposit for the key the deposit would be mailed to us if we returnedthe key. We had to put our own window ac unit in and the small double bed slept both bryan and I pretty well. Considering the bed was pretty much broken in half. We hitched a ride into town and got a nasty amount of mac donalds and then some doritos. Then back to the hotel and watched Iron Man. Tommrow morning bryan is going home.
Date: 2012-06-23
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: few clouds

Bryan and I woke up and ate doritos and honey buns for breakfast. Then we picked up my first mail drop and I got a letter from Monica!! After that my parents came and it was great. to see them! We grabbed a burger and then they set me off. I hiked what seemed like forever. It was my first hike alone. I missed my brother and family. Arrived at the shelter around dark.
Date: 2012-06-24
From: Eckville Shelter

To: lee high gap
Miles today: 24.8

Out early and hiked through rocks and boulders all day with Hot Shot. He is a 36 year old from georgia who I met last week. The day was a long one but included some of the best views I have seen so far. We hiked into the gap and got picked up bathe hostel owner in a sweet 80s panned van. Then got to the hostel and tried to do some much over do laundry, closed. Will tae care of it tommrow. Ate food met some locals. Walked like old men back to our hostel and bed time whew long day. Tommrow we tackle the hardest terrain south of Vermont.
Date: 2012-06-25
From: lee high gap

To: lee high gap
Miles today: 0.0

Took a day off with Hot Shot to try and rest this pulled muscle in my leg. A nice lady who was very enthusiastic about nascar gave us a ride back from the grocery store today. She was very excited that I lived in the same state as Dale Earhart Jr and told us about the time she met Terry Labonte. This has been my favorite town so far. Tommrow ROCKS!
Date: 2012-06-26
From: lee high gap

To: leroy a smith shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we left lee high gap and did the most fun climb so far. Got to do some scrambling, the closest thing I have done to rock climbing in 2 months. Then hiked along a bald mountain with 60 mph constant winds. There was also not a cloud in the skyand 75 degrees. the rest of the day was spent on flat trail in the shade. Got scared to death by a 5 foot black racer snake not paying atention today. Shelter by 4pm relaxing now and sitting by the fire.   My life is a camping trip..awesome.
Date: 2012-06-27
From: leroy a smith shelter

To: deleware gap
Miles today: 20.0

Today was like a flash. The neatest part was going into town and getting new socks and in-soles for my shoes. 250 miles in and the pensylvania rocks are already doing a number on my shoes. There was also a local farmers market where i got a fresh baked brownie cupcake that was almost too rich to finish. I made some new friends today too. I met hippidy hop, sticks, and metric. There was a local hostal set up by a small church. It provided a bunkroom that smelled like hikers and camping gear as well as a shower and a common room with leather couches. Hot Shot finally got his new shoes and i am glad i dont have to hear him complain about his feet hurting every 20 minutes. Even though i did feel bad for him. Tommrow we cross into New Jersey!
Date: 2012-06-28
From: deleware gap

To: brink shelter
Miles today: 24.6
Weather: clear sky

I was a little sad leaving this small town in the morning but that quickly faded while Hot Shot and i crosssed the deleware river into NJ. The morning was cool and crisp. The day flew by wih a beauiful sunny hike through bald mountains and thickets of blueberry bushes. We are finally getting to some hills. We also found out that there is 1 bear for every square mile of NJ. My feet felt like they were on cruise control until about mile 20. We missed the trail for a swimming hole called crader lake that we were looking forward to all day. The next 4 miles seemed longer than the first 20. Our feet began to hurt while the evening sun was baking us. We hiked over a few rocky peaks with steep climbs over grown with bolders and briar patches. We finally got to the shelter to find about 15 people in tents and in the shelter. The nice thing was that our day was over and the water source was only a short walk away. The last few nights it has been almost a mile round trip to get water. The mosquitoes came in by flocks right at sundown and ran us into our tents. Now i am laying here satisfied with a day well done, full belly, and protection from the bugs. When you have a long day like that it makes getting into your tent that evening sweeter than a slice of apple pie. This is the life
Date: 2012-06-29
From: brink shelter

To: high point shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: clear sky

Today was a mother scorcher, around the high 90s. We spent more time in the woods so the sun exposure was not as bad. My new shoe insoles are making my feet feel better. The trail passed right by a coffee shop this morning. Score. At the end of the day we stopped at high point state park and swarm in the spring fed pond. Score. Then dinner at the snack bar. And winning. Tommrow we find somewhere to resupply need food. Hope tommrow is cooler. Been hiking with trip and hippity hop, who are a banker and an architect.
Date: 2012-06-30
From: high point shelter

To: vernon, nj
Miles today: 19.0

Today was flat and beautiful. We walked through fields and over a mile of board walks. We were finished by 3 pm. In the morning when i was having my morning bathroom break a deer came so close to me he licked my camera after i took a photo of him. We both went our seperate ways after that it was kind of weird. Saw 5 snakes today too they were all small and black with white and yellow sripes. At the end of the day there was a farmers market that means fresh fruit and milk shakes. Then hitch hike into vernon, nj. We stayed in a hostel in the basment of a church ate chineese food and went grocery shopping. Met some more folks too. Great day.
Date: 2012-07-01
From: vernon, nj

To: wild cat shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Hictched back to the trail head and did a difficult climb in the morning. We passed the NY state line at lunch and walked on rocks for the rest of the day. It was hot again and my pack felt heavy because of the resupply. I hiked wih a group of 6 today. The new people to me are Neif, Blue Skies, and Oak. Cool folks. What to do for the 4th? Hm.
Date: 2012-07-02
From: wild cat shelter

To: william brien shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Was the first person out of camp today and in he first 30 minues saw a bear. It was a female that weighed around 200 lbs. She ran as soon as she saw me. There was a lot of elevation change today. It was like a roller coaster and made for a tough day. I hiked with the same group and the woods changed today. As i go further north it seems like the woods are different. The end of the day had a bunch of flat slabby stone and the undergrowth was all knee high green grass with hardwoods spaced far apart provided light shade. It was very beautiful and was not as hot today. I had some delicious blueberrys after lunch right off the bush. The water here is few and far in between. There were several water caches today that voulenteers put out. Life savers. Tonight staying at a shelter built by the CCC. I miss my friends, family and Monica Rose but am having a blast. Thanks for reading!
Date: 2012-07-03
From: william brien shelter

To: The Greymoor Spiriual Life Center (monestary)
Miles today: 16.0

Today was a day of vending machines. In the morning we went down to a visitors center on the road and grabbed a soda from the vending machine. This morning we also saw the NYC skyline from an overlook. We were given an apple by a friendly lady. She was curious about our journey. After that we hiked on into bear mountain state park. The first part of the park had a musem. (Vending machine) The AT runs right through zoo here. (Vending machine) We saw bears, foxes, otters, snakes, frogs and many other animals. We also hiked some of the best maintained trails I have ever seen here. Lots of voulenteer work. Then we hiked across the hudson river on a huge suspension bridge. Then onward to the monestary where we spent the night on their baseball field. There was also an open air cold shower by the field. Nice. The clock tower up the hill played hymnals around 8 pm and that was our lullaby as we fell asleep before dark.
Date: 2012-07-04
From: The Greymoor Spiriual Life Center (monestary)

To: NY 301 
Miles today: 11.6

Happy 4th! The rain woke us up. We left the monestary and hiked through the muggy air to a road and had a hiking stick fight while passing cars watched. Neif almost stepped on a black snake that was about 6 feet long. He jumped it like a professional hurdle runner. Then hit some trail magic~ red white and blue budwisers and a red apple. AMERICAAAAA! Then basically ran he last 2 miles to meet blue skies' aunt. We had been lolly gagging his morning. She took us into town for pizzas and resupply.
Date: 2012-07-05
From: NY 301 

To: morgan sewart shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: few clouds

It rained all night last night but i slept inside on the couch. Blue skies aunt and uncle fed us and drove us around for errands. We resupplied at the grocery store and went to a buddast temple to look around. Inside was the largest buddah statue outside of asia! Our hike was mainly unevenful. We met a guy at the shelter named smiles that had been skydiving that morning. I stayed up late reading and around 11 pm a pack of wild cayotes came by howling and fighting. They hung around the outskirts of camp being very loud for almost 10 minutes. The sounds were frightning a first but then began to sound playful. I could imagine them playing in the woods as my dogs at home play in the yard. For the rest of the night the campsite was livley with animal activity. We could hear sicks breaking and leaves rusling. We were all too tired to care.
Date: 2012-07-06
From: morgan sewart shelter

To: bulls bridge area
Miles today: 24.0

I am sill hiking with kneif, blue skies, and jonny rocket. Todays hiking was nice. At first we hiked through low duch country. There were old grain mills and sweet smelling pastures with ancient oaks 30 feet around. Then up into higer country with great tree cover and a nice breeze. All day we hiked across old stone walls that once seperated private property and farming land. At one road crossing there was a 5 gallon cooler with ice water. It was great. Then down to a river for the best swimming yet. It was a nice big stream about 4 feet deep. Then hiked .4 miles to a gas station for 2 gatorades 2 muffins, a snickers bar, and a deli sandwedge. Then we climbed about 1000 feet from the river to a grassy campsite on the ridge. Good long day.
Date: 2012-07-07
From: bulls bridge area

To: stewart hallow shelter
Miles today: 12.0

We hiked into kent, CT , a hiker "unfriendly" town for errands. I bought more purification drops for water. Then on to the coffee shop for iced coffee and then the post office. I got my second resupply box here. The shoes I shipped to myself were a size and a half too small. My feet have swollen up a lot. I am also about 5 days ahead of schedule so I got the box that justin and Monica sent me bumped ahead a few towns. It had not yet arrived. Then bought a new book at an open air book market. Finished the one jody and Robert gave me. Thanks! Then swimming by the river and to the shelter. As we shared a bottle of grandmas fire water I realized I had left my phone at the cafe plugged into the wall 7 miles back. I could ford the river and hitch into town or hike the 14 miles round trip. Now what? To be continued..