morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-07-21
From: Toms Run Shelter PA

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter PA
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Happy, Happy , Joy , Joy !I awoke last night with a very upset stomach. My first thought Giardia , bad water ! Barely got out of the shelter before I spewed everywhere ! Stayed outside and puked awhile. Felt much better. Pretty sure it's not Giardia. I think it was something I ate.Got moving, easy walk to Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Met a fellow mowing the grass at his cabin, says he has property down at Cape Hatteras NC.Got to the famous Half-Gallon Challenge store. No half gallon for me, but I will join the one (1) pint club.The hostel is beside the store, very, very old building. While eating a fellow from the hostel comes over, he's a thru-hiker. Goes by the name "Free Bird". says I need to check out the hostel.That hostel used to be part of the "under-ground railroad". Run away slaves on their way north were given a place to hide there. I go in, the caretaker shows me a trap-door in the closet, we go down into the hiding places, amazing and sad to think what went on here.I get some free food the "Moose" left there and move on. Go back to the store and read the Half Gallon Club register.One entry read ....I lost the challange and haven't been this disgusted since I (xxxx) pooped my pant's three years ago.Another said .. Although I passed the challenge, I'll have chocolate chips falling out of my butt for a week.Another guy said ... I passed the challenge, but all I could do was lay around the next day and moan.Alabama said " This Alabama Red Neck passed the test" Alabama wears a kilt.I move on, pass by the lake. Lots of people swimming. Start climbing again. Get to the official half-way point (the real one) !!I guess I was expecting live bands and fireworks, but there was a wooden plaque and a register, I sign and move on. Want to be able to do big miles today because of the store distraction.Fairly flat walk, whiskey springs road trail climbs up ridge and follows massive boulders.I'd like to get my hands on the guy that decided to run the trail through the boulders, what a wise ass. I'm simply exhausted, it seems as if the temp has risen 10 degrees in ten minutes. Gonna try to make it to Alec Kennedy Shelter. I've got zero energy ! Walking almost in a daze, that's not safe in this terrain.Finally I get to Alec Kennedy Shelter, no one else is here. Fire up my stove and fall asleep waiting for water to boil. Can barely hold my eyes open.On another note: my socks are wicked, my under wear has turned evil ! Only 19 miles today. That isn't good enough !Sometimes people write in the registers:" It's not the miles, but it's the smiles" Yeah, Right, tell that to someone who is trying to beat the weather to Katadin ......To be continued when Slimer mails in the next part of his journal, which we understand is on the way now.We will keep posting under Gather also until we catch up with Slimer's written journal. We have a tape recorder hooked in-line with the phone system. We record Slimer and Gather's conversation's so we can transcribe it into the journals.Good luck and Godspeed to the both of them on their journey north.......
Date: 2004-07-22
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter PA

To: Carlisle PA
Miles today: 11.6

Wake late at Toms Run Shelter. Push hard on to Boiling Springs PA. I really look forward to towns that the A/T runs through, makes things much more easier for us.lots of flat land, lots of walking through corn fields. Close to town I cross Yellow Britches creek, see lots of fly fisherman there. Pass by the community lake, crystal clear water. Geese and ducks everywhere.Yeah, I can already feel it, I'm going to like this place.Today is very hot nad humid. Stagger into the ATC office at Boiling Springs, and look over the information about the town. Free Bird soon arrives. I walk to a local cafe and eat a heavenly "Wrap" sandwich, share a table with a local fellow. It's tempting to stay the night here, but I push on around 2:30 pm.Storm is brewing, why do I always time things this way ? There is no camping within the next 12 miles. Also no water, I fill up here. pack is too heavy. I stop many times along the way to pick blackberries. I probably would be in Vermont by now had it not been for the blackberry / raspberry bushes!Lots of flat farmland walking. Storm blew in, get dumped on big time. had planned on walking through the night but the slick rocks changed that.get to RT 11, Carlisle PA, busy area, lots of trucking industry here. Walk in Appalachian Motor Lodge, man say's no rooms available due to bike show in town. Super 8 Motel is across the street, but I assume they are full also. I dread going out into the woods tonight in this rain with no tent. As I go out the door I meet a fellow named Darrin, he is staying there while attending truck driving school. Nice guy, says he has hiked some of the trail. We sat and talk a while. He tell's me he has two beds in his room, I'm welcome to stay he says. The trucking company is paying for it. I decide to take his offer.I sneak in through the back door, darrin guides me along. A bed and shower for free ! I get settled in and we go eat at ther diner next door. I decide to buy his dinner. get's late we head back, I "stealth" my way back in. At about 2:30am a fire alarm goes off 3 times, just a false alarm. Darrin checks out about 7 am, I stay a while longer, then sneak out. Very grateful for him letting me stay there.
Date: 2004-07-23
From: Carlisle PA

To: Duncannon PA
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: light rain

Walk out of Hotel, rain again. Pack still too heavy. is a pack ever light enough ? Hell no! Lots of farmland walking again. see lots of rabbits. Get to Scott's Farm. This is the A/T trail maintenance center, big barn and farm house, very peaceful.I read in the register about other hikers being turned away at the Appalachian Motor Inn. They don't like hikers there. I was able to "stealth" sleep there for free. "I stuck it to Da Man, I beat the system"! HA HA. look out here comes the boy's from the south.Lots of slick rocks today. I am down to one pair of socks and they are soaked. I have no underwear, I threw them away when they became brittle! I have a blister on my heel, 'these *(^%%& gnats are in my face and it's starting to rain again, at least it drives the gnats away! Hope the rain sends them to hell where they belong.Takes forever to get to Duncannon PA. Head into town, along the way I pass a gentleman setting on his porch. I ask him about where I can buy socks, not here he says, but there's a K-Mart about 12 miles down the road. "Hell he says, I'll take you there, I've got nothing better to do. we drive there and I pick up my supplies, I'm so grateful for his help! such wonderful hospitality!Get back to town, I check in at the "Doyle", now this is some kind of place! Looks like the "Adams Family" house. This is where all the hikers stay. Four stories with a big dome on top. this place is full of charactor! Big bar downstairs, very old place. almost looks like it's been condemed! No a/c, no TV, no phone, share the showers, that's ok with me. It has a big balcony right on main street. I just like to sit here and observe the town.It's friday and the bar is really rocking tonight. While headed up to my room a fellow, obviously drunk staggers past me with a bewildered look on his face. Ah yes, life at the Doyle. I really like the place, would like to stay here tomorrow, but I'm in a race against time.
Date: 2004-07-24
From: Duncannon PA Doyal House

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Wake, very good nights sleep. Even thought the train tracks are just across the street. Apply a little shoe goo to my shoes to make them last longer.Walk to P.O. to mail some stuff home. It¢s an uneasy feeling when I get rid of equipment. Because now I will have to learn to do without it. But I¢ve got to get this pack weight down before I hit the BIG mountains again. That is the key to the game, GO-LITE!Free Bird is here looking for Katz. But if Katz was afraid of the Appalachian Motor Inn (apparently he saw a drug deal there) he damn sure won¢t come to the Doyle! Free Bird leaves.Go down and have breakfast in the bar. Sit with Swedish and his brother Ottie, very private but nice guys. They say very little, they read their books while they eat.The bar is full even in the morning. Fellows have fishing license pinned to their caps. Even from my room I can see kayak¢s on the river, is pure torture watching them.Someone at the bar pisses off the bartender, she squirts the guy with beer, goes all over the wall and floor. Ahh, life at the Doyle. I had planned to leave today, but I haven¢t had a zero since Damascus VA. This looks like a good place for a zero day. Go back up to the room and sleep.Wake up in mid-afternoon, walk around some. Decide to order pizza, pizza place just down the street. Sit and read newspaper while waiting.As I¢m coming out of the pizza place, ¢Butterfinger¢ ¢wideload¢ ¢Goofy¢ Terripin¢ and others are staggering into town. Butterfinger tells me there¢s a big party tonight at the Doyle for ¢Lammy¢ who is getting off the trail.The Doyle is gonna be on fire tonight! As I climb the stairs to my room, I notice two dogs coming up the stairs, one of the dogs looks familiar , then I notice the owner, It¢s Wonderboy from Damascus! Where do these people come from!He puts his dogs in a room, I can hear them howling, I can only laugh. He truly loves his dogs.He asks me if I¢m gonna drink tonight, not I, I say. He says well, if you are I¢ve got a big bottle of tequila !!! A Saturday night at the Doyle, locals and rowdy thru-hikers mixed together. It¢s a wonder if the building will survive this. I do feel a little better knowing the other hikers are here, we stick together pretty tight.I also see ¢Halftrain¢ a fellow in his sixties who is thru-hiking, he¢s in excellent shape. He comes in the bar, asks me where the bunk house¢s are. I notice that he is constantly looking over his shoulder. He is clearly spooked by the rough crowd. I inform him that he gets his own room. He asks where the dining area is? I tell hem that he¢s standing in it!Hang on tight tonight!!! I¢ll probably keep to myself tonight, that¢s just me. Free Bird is gonna be sorry he missed this...
Date: 2004-07-25
From: Duncannon PA

To: Horseshoe Trail Campsite PA
Miles today: 20.8

Wake early. Good nights rest, pack is ready to go.. Eat cold pizza for breakfast. The rest of the gang is dead asleep. I can hear someone moaning next door, I can hear someone else puking. Ah, life at the Doyle.I had a pair of shorts hanging from the window to dry. A nice gust of wind blew them out of the window onto the roof of the balcony below, climbing down is out of the question. I curse and laugh at the same time. Ah-Ha I say. I get my parachute cord out and a safety pin, duct tape (always carry duct tape) the safety pin to the end of the cord, and start fishing for my shorts.People down below on the street can see what I¢m doing, some of them laugh and just shake their heads. Takes about 20 minutes to snag them, the catch of the day!I head out alone. The others are hung over and in no shape to walk. Nice quite Sunday morning walk through town. Walk by campground that is on the river, they rent canoes and kayaks here. This river is supposed to have good small mouth bass fishing, very, very shallow. No wonder all the boats have jet out-boards.Hard climb up from the the road, very rocky. Meet a school teacher from Nevada. Get to Clarks Ferry Shelter, take break. get to Peters Mountain Shelter, very impressive double decker shelter. Moving on, walk is fairly flat.These mountains have been mined for coal before. I meet ¢Heidi¢ the ridge runner, she works for the ATC. She¢s in charge of a 65 mile section of trail. She checks on the shelters, picks up trash etc. Very nice person.Start climbing again up a stony mountain. I¢m feeling very depressed, I worry about my family, I worry about my ¢career¢ when I get back. It will be like starting back over again. Keep thinking to myself, what am I doing here ? I have a future to think about.Getting dark, decide to camp at the Horseshoe Trail by the creek, need to be up early in the morning.
Date: 2004-07-26
From: Horseshoe Trail Campsite PA

To: 501 Shelter PA
Miles today: 25.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Wake, clouds moved in overnight. Was worried I might get wet, push hard for William Penn Shelter. Get there and decide not to stop. Easy, easy walk rest of the day. Stop for a rest, set on a log with my pack still on. Fall asleep, the weight of the pack pulls me backwards off the log, I go tumbling down! I¢m glad no one saw that! No more breaks with pack on.Walk by many blackberry bushes, I have to stop at each one. Getting late, gonna push for the 501 Shelter. Finally get there, this is a small house, 4 walls, roof, big skylight, bunks, hikers box, cold shower. Big dinner table complete with a red and white checker board table cloth! This is something else! The caretaker lives in a house nearby. Very tired, almost out of food, settle in.
Date: 2004-07-28
From: Port Clinton PA

To: New Tripoli Campsite PA
Miles today: 28.5
Weather: light rain

Wake up in the pavilion. Texas Kid is dead asleep. Tough to get moving after a 24 mile day. But I must get moving, I need snacks. Free Bird is out of fuel and food. He decides to hitch to Cabalas, 2 miles down the road. I¢m tempted to go because I¢ve never been there before.We walk through town, I strike up a conversation with a man setting on his porch. While talking I notice a big black snake in their flower bed. I casually mention the snake, the man runs in to tell his wife. She comes out screaming, ¢OH SHIT¢ , ¢OH SHIT¢, ¢OH SHIT¢, Free Bird and I wonder in amazement, we soon depart the premises.A few houses down, we pass by a house with a fenced in yard, two Dalmatians run up to the fence howling like mad. This brings back memories of Daisy.Free Bird hitches to town, I hit the trail. As always the climb out of town is tough. I¢m not feeling very well, feel very weak. Almost pass out on top of mountain. Have absolutely no energy at all. I find a big flat rock and immediately take a nap. Wake short time later, feel a little better.Lots of rocks, massive boulders, have to be careful. Get to Allentown hiking club shelter, very nice. Feeling queasy again, take another nap. I¢ll never get to Maine like this!! Wake much later, too much. Set and think of my family and Daisy, words cannot express how much I miss them, I worry about them all day long.The trail is hard physically but also emotionally coupled with the fact that I¢m basically alone all day and most nights. One¢s mind begins to drift and wander.See many deer, my goal is the Eckville Shelter, supposed to be posh, supposed to be able to order pizza from there because it¢s so close to the road. Lots of extreme rock hopping all day. Last 5 miles is a breeze walking on a forest service road.I¢m really not sure how I did this, but I passed the shelter somehow !! Getting dark, I¢m frustrated, I find water and just sleep under the stars. All night long deer are blowing and huffing at me, but I¢m not moving.
Date: 2004-07-29
From: New Tripoli Campsite PA

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter PA
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: clear sky

Didn¢t get much rest overnight, get moving early. The boulders are getting much larger. I would just hate to hop them in the rain. Get to Blue Mountain Summit road crossing, there¢s a restaurant just down road. I clean myself up and wonder in, order chicken Caesar salad, it is to die for!! Texas kid soon came in, he looks like hell! He says he hurt himself on the rocks. He¢s going to push on to Palmerton, PA. There¢s a free hostel there. He soon leaves. I eat a piece of pie and head on out. Giant boulders now. Area called Bear Rocks, is just flat dangerous. I pick my way through that soon come to a trail head, a fellow there asks me how I like the rocks, I just frown . He says ¢I don¢t like ¢em either¢. Back in 96 he climbed them to watch fireworks down in the valley. He slipped and had to be airlifted out, broken leg, ankle, steel plates, the whole works.    The next shelter is Bake Oven Knob shelter, I stay here for a bit. Getting late, if I hadn¢t piddled around so much today I could have made it to Palmerton. I¢m a little frustrated. Whenever I don¢t make 20 miles, I fell like I¢ve almost wasted a day. The shelter register says that there are snakes living here. I investigate, sure enough a big black snake is curled up towards the roof. He won¢t bother a thing, it¢s just me and the snake in the shelter tonight. I name him ¢Gonzo¢ after Hunter Thompson¢s attorney. I tell the snake good night, he just stares.
Date: 2004-07-30
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter PA

To: Smith Gap Rd PA
Miles today: 20.0

The snake and I slept just fine 2 or 3 times I turned my headlamp on to see and make sure that he¢s safe. At one point he left either to find a mouse or possibly to escape my gastro-internal releases. But when the toxicity level diminished, he soon returned. Fixed some oatmeal for breakfast ate one spoonful and decided to feed it to the wildlife. Get going, it¢s very rocky and slick. The rocks drastically reduce your walking time. I am stunned to walk upon a crime scene investigation, it seems that someone was shot during the wee hours of the morning. The PA state troopers said the guy would probably survive. Yep, I¢m getting close to Jersey all right. Get to Outer bridge shelter, take a break, then move on to the highway. My intentions were to hitch into Palmerton (2 miles) and take a shower at the jailhouse hostel, but highway was a little to fast-paced. I decided to stay on the trail. No fuel, very little food/water, the trail takes me up a viscous mountain of solid rock there is no trail here, just straight up boulder hopping. You fall here and it¢s probably game over. This takes long time to climb, very hot and humid. I¢ve really got to conserve my water. Once I¢m on top its easy walking. Everything is dead up here, looks very surreal. This area is very polluted and is in the process of being cleaned up. Get to Little Gap road crossing, I hitch into Danielsville, PA (3 miles) for food. I catch a ride in the back of a construction truck, get to store, eat ice cream, Doritos, etc¢¦. I sit and watch people come and go, trying to imagine what their careers are, what their lives are like. Getting late in the day, no hotels here, this is a very small but pleasant town. A fellow in a Subaru pulls up and asks if I need a ride back to the trail. Oh Yeah!!! Very gracious of him. Start climbing rock, yet again. Walk about 4 miles, gonna have to camp. I¢m not going to be able to make it to the next shelter. One problem ¢ very little water! I decide to keep walking and hope for a spring or creek, some-time later, I see a sign that points to a spring .03 miles downhill. Down I go, it¢s dark, finally get to spring, just a little trickle of water!! I¢m furious. It takes a while to fill up. On the way up the hill from hell, I meet up with a porcupine! It darts right by my feet, gives me a good scare. The weather looks promising, settle in for the night.
Date: 2004-07-31
From: Smith Gap Rd PA

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Wake early, during the night clouds and wind moved in, I thought ¢oh boy¢ gonna get wet, but luck was on my side. Start walking these rocks, theses rocks have come from the bowels of hell to make our lives miserable. Get to Leroy Smith shelter, a fellow named ¢Pop Tart¢ is there just getting ready to leave, he knows Gather too. I take a break there but the piss-ants are too vicious so I move on, finally get to Wind Gap, PA road crossing. I set at the trail head and watch the people go by. A guy pulls in and parks there. He gets out and raises the hood, I can smell that the engine has over-heated. He comes over and introduces himself. Zac is his name, young guy, very laid back, says that his car overheats from time to time. We talk a while, very cool guy, he plays lead guitar for a local band. (rock and metal) Soon PopTart comes bouncing along, says he wants to hitch into town for ice cream. Me and Zac watch Pop Tart¢s feeble attempts to hitch. No luck today. He gives up in disgust. Dad-gum people he mutters. Zac soon leaves and we depart for the climb ahead. Tough climbs as always, is from a road. These PA rocks are really beginning to work on me mentally as well as physically. I watch as Pop Tart slips and dances a wonderful little jig as he struggles to gain his balance. I chuckle to myself. He suddenly stops and looks down at the evil-wicked rocks and screams ¢ GO TO HELL YOU SON OF BITCHES!!¢ One can only laugh at such a spectacle. I¢m running low on water as we approach Wolf Rocks. We decide to make a push into Delaware Water Gap that¢s 9 more miles and its getting late in the day. He pushes on I have to stop at the Kirkridge shelter for water. Thankfully, I walk on a road bed and that really helps me out as far as time goes. Getting dark now, this worries me because its quite easy to lose track of the white blaze. I¢m really hurtling coming down the mountain. Yep, I lose the trail for a short moment. Finally get into town, live music is playing at the Deer Head Inn. The hostel is located beside the Inn. I walk into the hostel and see Pop Tart¢s gear. A father and son that started in Maine are here. Their destination is Maryland. I stink beyond description and it¢s starting to rain. I get cleaned up and head out to the pizza place. It¢s pouring down, Damn It!! I stay at the hostel for a bit. In comes Pop Tart & Tarzan and Tony. Tony!! I haven¢t seen him since the Shenandoah¢s. He is as surprised as I am. Pop Tart hands me a pizza box! 2 slices left! What a blessing we all pile into the bunkhouse. I can¢t describe the smell of that room, my putrid socks are on the floor under someone¢s bunk, God help his soul. Settle in for a long, hot, farty night.
Date: 2004-08-01
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Wake early, my plans were to leave out early, but the nice atmosphere and wonderful company ¢forced¢ me to stay. I feel guilty. I feel that I should be walking. Father/son are going to ¢zero¢ today as well as Pop Tart. I walk down to the bakery, heavenly place! I buy blueberry muffins and plums. While in the bakery, I meet my first ¢South-bounder¢ he looks like walking death. He doesn¢t say much at all, just moans a little. So that¢s what Maine does to you, huh? It¢s an odd feeling walking sown the sidewalk of a strange town that you walked into. In the center of town a fellow has all of his windows and doors open and is ripping on his guitar. This is on Sunday morning. I go back to hostel and hang gear out to dry, do some shoe repair, reorganize etc¢¦ Pop Tart and ¢head hanger¢ hitch into Stroudsburg for a movie. I lay around here. The local church is hosting a free concert this evening. This is taking place within feel of where I¢m staying. The band gets cranking as I¢m writing this. Let me tell you this isn¢t church music, these cats are really jamming, that dude on the organ is going nuts! Ah yes, good company, good music.