morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-05
From: Skyline Drive

To: Gravel Spring Hut
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a calm day compared to yesterday, pulled a bigger day to catch up with No Eyed Deer and Genken. Had a pretty sizable tragedy - we were almost running to get to the restaurant (these are all over the Shennies, called Waysides) 13 miles away, and they were CLOSED when we got there (because of a power outage from the storm) - a huge blow to morale. But we finally made it to the shelter and caught up with the others. We had to do a bit of night hiking as we rolled in at like 9:30pm.I picked two ticks off of me when I got into the shelter. I've done this a bunch of times. I can't believe none have really bit yet.
Date: 2008-06-06
From: Gravel Spring Hut

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Rolled into town with Genken, N.E.D, and Mudbug, and we all got a room at the Super 8. My heels hurt and I hiked like 3 miles in N.E.D's pink crocs.We wanted to see Indiana Jones at the theatre but they were sold out, and while I was walking down the street I met up with Hotwheels and Shutterbug and their friend Courtney - we had a good time drinking and eating at a nearby restaurant.Had a pretty uneventful day and night, but the rest is appreciated.
Date: 2008-06-07
From: Front Royal, VA

To: Manassas Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: broken clouds

Did some errands today, then headed out to the trail at about 12:00. I had bought DEET at the outfitter and after about 10 feet into the trail I thought "I guess I should put it on now." DEET is a strong chemical that repels insects like ticks. Again, I'm only 10 feet into the trail. I reach down to spray it on, and there it is, a tick on my leg already. I brushed him off but it just shows you how bad the ticks are now. N.E.D. picked two off my feet yesterday.Did a chill 10 miles, because the heat was incredibly intense. I've never experienced anything like this. You can barely hike in this unbearable, oppressive heat. We have to hike in this heatwave until Tuesday I think. I was drenched in so much sweat today it was almost funny. I took my shirt off and just hiked in shorts for a while. I'm glad I bought Gatorade powder packets to replenish electrolytes.
Date: 2008-06-08
From: Manassas Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Couldn't sleep last night, got up after everyone else who got up at 5:00am trying to beat the heat. Actually, it was still really hot today but it didn't seem as bad as yesterday. Love these short, lazy days - caught up with everyone at the shelter around 1:30pm and that's where we stayed. Fun to have such a relaxed pace right now wher you have most of the day to just hang out, especially in this heat. I realized today that there are a couple ways to enjoy the trail. One is by embracing the athletic aspects, which is where the enjoyment of big days comes from. Nothing wrong with that, but you also need to just enjoy the whole experience of being a part of the trail. I think the tendency is to focus on the athletic aspects too much at first. It's still a part of it, but it's not everything. Included in the athleticism part of it, I think, is the desire to "rough it." Honestly, you're not really roughing it after a couple months out here. At least I don't feel like I am. You simply adapt and are most comfortable living outside. "Hiking and camping" or "backpacking" don't really thrill me anymore, but I'm not tired of them either. I'm pretty content. This is just my life.
Date: 2008-06-09
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Blackburn AT Center
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: few clouds

Finally got some good sleep last night - everyone slept outside the shelter, me in my tent, N.E.D. and Genken in theirs, and Mudbug in his hammock.THis morning N.E.D. and Genken got on the trail by 6:00 again to beat the heat, and Mudbug and I got on by 8:00am - I think this routine because we hike faster than them, it gives everyone some space and we all meet in the same place anyway. We were excited to get to a restaurant apparently only a mile off the trail, but when we went they were closed. However, there was a small store near it that actually made hamburgers and stuff right there. So we hung out there for a couple hours and headed out again to do 8 more miles to the Blackburn AT center, a cool hostel-type place right off the trail, run by the A.T.C. It's just a simple wooden building with a screened patio area but there are two caretakers who made us spaghetti and gave us sodas. A great, unexpectedly luxurious place to end our day.
Date: 2008-06-10
From: Blackburn AT Center

To: Harper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 11.7

Got up late again, the caretakers at the Blackburn center made me coffee, then I set out. I really walked fast and caught up to Genken/NED/Mudbug like I wanted. I can't believe I forgot that I was crossing 1000 miles this morning and never saw the marker that was there. Oh well...We made it into Harper's Ferry, WV (FINALLY out of VA, all 550 miles of it), the "psychological halfway point" of the AT, as well as the home of the ATC headquarters. Surprising even me, this is not a huge cause for jubilation. It's nice to be halfway but I don't really feel much different than on any other point on the AT. Maybe even Katahdin will be anti-climactic. It's cliche, but it's really not about the miles anymore.We went to the store, a Chinese buffet, bought beers, and settled back into our room at the Comfort Inn.
Date: 2008-06-11
From: Harper's Ferry, WV

To: Dalhgren Campground
Miles today: 18.2

Today Mudbug and I got our pictures taken at the ATC headquarters - every thru-hiker does this - they number you (I was around number 270 I believe), take your polaroid and put your trail name, start date, etc on it and stick that in a binder people can look through.It's funny - remember Babu Simba, the guy I met on the Amtrak going to GA? He works at the ATC and they have a map of the trail with a picture of his head pinned to his last known location.Today I also got a FREE replacement for my summer sleeping bag, which had burst at the seams, spilling insulation. Thanks to Lafuma and The Outfitter at Harper's Ferry for helping me out.Got back on the trail atrociously late w/Mudbug, but still managed to do 18 miles just before dark. I sherpa'd 2 litres of wine the whole way, but when we got there, Genken/NED were asleep, so we drank with Lady Cluck and Sampson. So glad to see those guys and finally catch up. They are hilarious. Stayed up till 1:00 with Lady Cluck - destroying her plans to start hiking at 5:00am.
Date: 2008-06-12
From: Dalhgren Campground

To: Pogo Memorial Campground
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

My 75th day on the trail...Woke up late with Lady Cluck, Sampson and Mudbug, and got another funny late start at like 12:00 on to the trail. Today was a lazy day. I was supposed to go only 14 miles but I didn't even make that. That is pretty crazy. After 5 miles we decided to go to a tavern 0.5 miles off the trail, which turned out to be really cool - A/C, sodas and pizza on a hot day.Got back on the trail and hit Annapolis Rocks, a very cool cliff that is used for climbing, I believe. We spent too long just sitting on top of it, and by the time I left to do 6 more miles to catch Genken/NED/Mudbug, it was 7:00. Found a campsite after 2 miles and just decided I didn't want to roll in after dark again - I'm beginning to hate that. So I just decided to do the other 4 miles tomorrow and catch them then. Shouldn't bee too hard.
Date: 2008-06-13
From: Pogo Memorial Campground

To: MA/PA border (Mason-Dixon line)
Miles today: 14.7

Woke up late when I had meant to wake up early, because there were really no flat spots for my tent and I didn't get much sleep when the thing was at like a 20 degree angle.Met up with Bondi soon after starting out, which was cool because I didn't really know him too well before and we ended up talking and hiking together all day. Just before hitting the Maryland/PA border we met up with Butters, Hotwheels, Shutterbug and Sampson. We spent a while hanging out so I never did the other miles to catch up with Genken/NED. Now we're camped literally mere feet from the PA border. I might try to catch them again tomorrow.
Date: 2008-06-15
From: Fayetteville, PA

To: Fuller Lake
Miles today: 20.1

Superchunk, Sampson and Bondi all left to go see Gettysburg, but I wanted to finally catch up with Genken/NED/Mudbug so I didn't go. I started out hiking with Knock on Wood and Mosby's Cat, a father-daughter section-hiking duo I had met just after the Shennies, I believe. We actually might get together for rock climbing in Gunks when I get near there.Today was so frusterating. When I finally arrived at Pine Grove Furnace State Park (home of the half-gallon ice cream challenge), I heard NED/Genken were down at the campsite. Perfect, I thought, and settled in to my half gallon of ice cream (this is the approximate midway point of the trail and this is tradition). WHen I finished it was quite dark and I walked over to the campsites. Nobody there. It's pitch dark now. Where the hell is everyone? I ran into three people who said they saw three others, one with a beard and bandanna, going back to the trail, but that it happened a while ago. That would be Butters, Rocksteady, and Beatbox, I thought. But where the hell was Genken/NED? I thought they were mere feet away from me, I was already celebrating having caught them. Now I don't know where anyone is, it's pitch black, and I'm walking down the trail all alone, thinking it is impossible that I will find anyone this way. How did things take a 180 so quickly?I was pretty pissed, actually. Pissed at the situation and at myself for not seeking them out when they were right there.I can't believe it, but after walking for a while, wondering what to do, I heard coivces across the river and was able to camp with Butters, Rocksteady and Beatbox. Still no idea where Genken/NED are. How bizarre. If you would have told me that I wasn't going to see them tonight, even after they were right there, I wouldn't have believed you. Very frusterating.Oh also, I forgot to mention that I have a nasty case of poison ivy going on. Always thought I was immune but I guess not. It's on my hands, my stomach, my upper thighs, my lower back, and a few other minor places. It just keeps spreading. I have this Technu stuf but it doesn't seem to be doing much. It's been here for about a week.
Date: 2008-06-16
From: Fuller Lake

To: Near Whiskey Spring Rd
Miles today: 13.2

Today was kindof grey and dreary - I didn't get any sleep last night for some reason and didn't wake up until noon, then didn't start hiking until 2:00pm.I walked really fast but the hiking was mostly uninteresting. The sky was overcast and raining a bit, and I didn't see anyone all day, until I fortunately ran into Nona. I like Nona. She's weird and eccentric, but smart and talkative. She's quite crazy but that makes her interesting. She's a doctor who has also done the PCT and the CDT, the other two long distance trails in the US. I used her phone to try and find out where Genken/NED were. Turns out they got shuttled to a trail angel's house, spent the night, slackpacked today, but quit early when Mudbug got sick. So they only made it a few south of where I am and probably went back before I even woke up. Now I'm camping a few miles past where they left off. Hopefully tomorrow morning they see my tent and we all will meet up - finally. Oh also - Nona is writing a prescription for some stuff to clear up my poison ivy - good having a doctor on the trail.
Date: 2008-06-17
From: Near Whiskey Spring Rd

To: Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 6.0

I am very sorry to have to report that last night there was an INCIDENT, and a pretty extreme one. Nona and I were pretty freaked out and scared and are happy to be safe and among friends again.First I would like to confirm that the most dangerous animal on the trail walks on two legs. All this stuff about bears and snakes in nonsense. The most dangerous animals on the trail are men, mice and bears.Without further ado, when happened last night: I haven't been sleeping the past few nights because of my poison ivy, and last night was no exception. At about 3:30am I heard loud, obnoxious, drunk voices swearing loudly from the road (which we camped foolishly close to). Please don't come up here, I thought. But of course they did. It was awful and scary. These were not normal people who happened to be drunk. These were people who couldn't function in society - that's why they had no job and no money. That's why they had no tents, sleeping bags, or flashlights. That's why they came into our camp and started harassing us. Thank God they only saw me and not Nona. Everything they said, they screamed. They said they had been on the trail for a week, surviving on only "what they could kill."They were mentally ill. I can't describe how disturbed they were. I just laid in my tent, not reacting, not wanting to give them anything to respond to, then one walked over and tried to get into my tent, wondering aloud if there was a girl in there. At this point I said "Stop touching my tent." At first he seemed startled by this but soon between bantering incoherently he'd say "GUY IN THE TENT - FUCK YOU." Then one of them said they should rob me for my food - a nice sentiment that luckily didn't come to fruition. They didn't even know what state they were in or what direction they were going. They thought they might be in WV, MD, or PA. They didn't know if they were going north or south. I guess they were carrying no gear. They drank a full bottle of something and passed out on the ground at about 5:00am. I somehow fell asleep - when I woke up at 8:00am, I got out of the tent hoping to get a look at them but they were gone. None and I talked about the whole experience for a while. Scary, but we came away unscathed. I insisted on accompanying her into town - besides, she had to call in my prescription for my poison ivy. Our walk was uneventful. In town we treated ourselves to a well deserved room. Saw Knock on Wood and Mosby's Cat for the last time (they're ending their hike here), and they shuttled us up to Wal-Mart where I got my medicine and resupplied and stuff.Hopefully I can finally have a decent night's sleep for the first time in a long time.
Date: 2008-06-18
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: US11 Super 8
Miles today: 8.0

The bed and breakfast pretty much sucked, unfortunately the only lodging options in Boiling Springs are B&Bs - I would recommend not staying at Gelina's - the guy is an old, cranky Nazi dinosaur and his wife is a windbag. You pay a lot of money to stay there and they're rude to you, to all hikers. Good riddance to both.Today, luckily, I FINALLY met up with NED/Genken/Mudbug. Now we're together again.By the time they met up with me, they had already hiked 9 miles, and were going to do 8 more to a motel off the highway. I'm beginning to feel like we don't sleep outside anymore. Well, that's not true, but there does seem to be more hotels and stuff up north.What's crazy is that I hiked out with a guy named Briar, everyone else was 15-20 minutes behind us, we all stayed at the same hotel, and we never found each other. Somehow, even though both groups looked for the other, we had to get separate rooms because we completely managed to miss each other.
Date: 2008-06-19
From: US11 Super 8

To: The Doyle, Duncannon
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we did the rest of the miles to Duncannon. In the morning we all met on the trail - apparently we had all gone to the continental breakfast at the hotel at different times as well and never met up. It was bizarre how we missed each other.We're staying at a place called The Doyle. I love this place. It's a very old building that looks like a saloon out of old western movies. It's basically a bar and a hotel. This place is famous on the trail. You can get a room with two beds for $25, so we actually could afford to get 2 rooms and each get our own beds. They have showers and laundry and everything. Non-hikers would probably think it's dirty and dingy and repulsive, but we love it. They cater to hikers here, this is perfect. My advice is don't even bother with the B&Bs in Boiling Springs, they don't like hikers. Crank out the extra 26 miles to Duncannon and stay here.
Date: 2008-06-20
From: The Doyle, Duncannon

To: The Doyle, Duncannon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Mudbug and I were so happy when we learned then Genken/NED wanted to zero here in Duncannon - my first day off since May.Duncannon is a great place to zero. You are sleeping above a bar - highly convenient. Plus there are tons of trail angels to shuttle you to stores and stuff. I love this place.We had a good day just resting and eating.Before I came out on this hike, I had this fantasy that I would be able to play music at an open mic at a bar or something. Then I thought it wouldn't happen. But tonight, it did. I love The Doyle. This guy came to play at the bar with a guitar and Genken/NED asked him if I could play some songs, and he was all about it. The audience seemed to really like it too. The owner asked if I could play tomorrow night as well. I said sure because we'll actually be here tomorrow night - tomorrow I'm trying slackpacking with them for the first time. This is where we get shuttled up the trail and walk back southbound with only a daypack. So we're spending 3 nights here - which is awesome.
Date: 2008-06-21
From: The Doyle, Duncannon

To: The Doyle
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: few clouds

HIKE NAKED DAY. I had almost forgot that today is June 21, the summer solstice and the day when thru-hikers traditionally hike naked or at least very scantily clad. Here's what Mudbug and I did: took off our shirts and shorts and tucked bandannas loosely into the hipbelts of our packs. I hear you asking "Bones, doesn't that leave the back of you completely exposed and only poorly conceal the front?" Yes, yes it does. We couldn't have asked for a better day for this. I've never seen so many dayhikers out. The first we ran into was a mother and her young daughter out on a rock outcropping. The mother ran up on the trail and said "Hey, can I asked you guys a ques-OH MY GOD" and promptly ran back to literally cover the eyes of her daughter with her hands. Then we passed 2 20-something girls who did not seem impressed. Then we started hitting some thru-hikers. Shutterbug and Hotwheels loved it, Shutterbug insisting on getting our pictures. Then we passed like 4 15 year old girls who just started straight ahead. Then we passed Butters and Beatbox, the first actual participants we found - they were wearing custom AT loincloths they had made. Then we saw some day hikers who took our picture for us. We also got a picture of us holding a snake we had found on the trail. Then we passed an older couple who tried to pretend nothing was wrong. Near the end of the day we had 2 section hikers take the last picture of us before we changed back into our clothes - a picture of us from behind, casually walking down the shoulder of a busy highway.I might play music downstairs again tonight, right now we're just resting.The hiking was actually kinda hard today - lots of rocks, though I know we haven't reached the legendary PA rocks yet.
Date: 2008-06-22
From: US 352

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

Finally left the Doyle and set out for some real backpacking - we should be sleeping in the woods for a good 3 nights - getting back into the routine after so many nights indoors.Went a short distance, met up with a large group at the shelter and we had a good time just joking and sitting around - later on we finally ate the pound of marshmellows I've been carrying around hoping for a good night to eat them. With so many people they got consumed in about 5 minutes.
Date: 2008-06-23
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

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

Bondi and I were one of the last ones up and on the trail, didn't set out until about 11:00am.Had a pretty uneventful walk over, though the scenery was nice today. Passed Freebird, good to see him again.I had only brought 2 dinners for this 3 night stretch because I had heard you could order pizza to the road near this shelter. Unfortunately, it turns out the pizza place is closed on Mondays, so Bondi and I ended up hitching into town for Chinese food. We brought back sodas and ice cream for people (there's a big group of us here, much more than usual) which was obviously much appreciated. We got a scary ride back from a crazy drunk lady, swerving all over the road who said she was on parole and offered to give us a baseball bat for protection on the trail. We stayed up until about 9:30 or 10:00 but scattered as it began to storm. I'm in my tent and the wind is blowing and it's thundering and lightning like crazy - the rain just started too.P.S. Just noticed - less than 1000 miles to go today
Date: 2008-06-24
From: 501 Shelter

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

Today I woke up really late for some reason. I don't know why I've not been sleeping well lately. I woke up at 11:30 but didn't start hiking until 2:45pm - just felt sluggish for some reason.It was a boring, lonely day - I only saw one person, Nona, briefly as she moved south slackpacking. I told myself I wouldn't let it get this late again before I left. I don't like that many people were probably at the shelter before I even left. To make up for the time I pushed pretty hard and cranked out 15 miles in just under 5 hours.Luckily got there before dark and camped with Mudbug, Genken, No Eyed Deer and Lady Cluck. I stayed up a bit listening to music Lady wanted to show me from her iPod. I can't imagine bringing all those electronic devices on the trail but she actually has the ability to do e-mail from her solar-charged iPhone.
Date: 2008-06-25
From: Eagle's Nest Shelter

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: broken clouds

Had a GREAT day today. Mudbug and I got up later than Genken/NED, as usual, and pushed out the 9 miles to Port Clinton in 2 hours, 15 minutes - very fast. The only problem was that I started feeling calorie-deprived after about 1.5 hours and slowed down my pace and needed food, bad. But I love rolling into town starving and wanted to wait for burgers. And I got them. It was the biggest burger I've seen in my life. Some people couldn't even finish them. But I could, and I ate a piece of cake afterwards as well as a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream.I was feeling kinda bummed that I left my titanium spork that I've had for over a year now with me on all my adventures, and reluctantly bought a new one at the outfitter for $13. Then Nona came into town with my old spork! Doh - stupidly I didn't get it from her yet and have to remember to get it tomorrow. Too bad I wasted the money on a new one. I have a strange attachment to that versatile utensil.The reason why today was so great was that Sky, our section hiker friend we met in the Shenandoahs, came and met us in Port Clinton. She is so nice - you wouldn't believe how much time she spent preparing to meet us. Apparently she visited three different stores looking for N.E.D's favorite ice cream. She brought beer, wine, cigars, lipton dinners, snacks, all kinds of stuff. We had a repeat of the great night in the Shennies when we all met - we went out to dinner and then sat around the campfire here at the campground drinking and playing songs. It was a lot of fun. We made her promise to meet up with us later on. She is an "honorary thru-hiker."Today I called my mom and she's agreed to pick us all up tomorrow and take care of us for a couple nights. I'm excited for everyone to meet my parents and vice versa. It's gonna be fun. This is pretty much as close as we get to Philadelphia - I actually crossed the Schukyll River Trail today - a bike path that runs from Philadelphia. What a strange feeling - I have walked back.