morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-06-09
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning after checking the weather reports we decided to stay in town. Cold rain on wet rocks did not seem like a good mix. Besides, we needed to wash clothes, especially socks.For breakfast Trash and I ate at the Village Farmer Bakery. We had a breakfast sandwich made with French Toast, eggs, sausage and maple syrup. It was so good we decided to come back at lunch.The Pack Shack shuttle took us to Stroudsburg to wash clothes. While we were there we picked up a few things at Wal-Mart. When we got back we stopped at the bakery for a hot dog and apple pie special.The rest of the afternoon we watched the rain come down and rested. My feet sure needed it. Around 4:00 a wave of hikers rolled in. Sonic, Beefstick and Roughing It were first. Then Cob and Moose showed up. Moose needed shoes so Trash and I walked to the outfitter with him.At the outfitter Moose was trying on shoes but I played with a Springer Spaniel and a Golden Doodle. One belonged to the outfitter and the other belonged to the owner of the bakery. Trash walked over and said "you really miss your dog". He's right, I do. Susan says Bonnie misses me too. Next winter she and I will have to go backpacking in the Uwharries.After playing with the dogs I went back to the bakery for supper. This time it was the Shepherd's Pie. All the food there is outstanding.Of course Trash, Moose and I finished off the evening with Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Tomorrow it's back to the trail. Just 44 more miles of rocks!
Date: 2010-06-10
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: light rain

I was told last night that We'll See was off the trail. His leg started to swell so he called his girlfriend who was waiting for him at Wind Gap. Hopefully this is just a temporary problem and he will be back soon.The bunkroom started stirring about 6 AM. Trail Trash and I were out the door before 7. The first part of the hike was over the Delaware River. The cars were flying past us. Then we climbed to the ridge line on the New Jersey side of the river. By lunch we were at the Mohican Outdoor Center. They make deli sandwiches, so we each had a sandwich, chips and a cold Coke. It hit the spot.As we got back on the trail Trash heard a bear. He pointed and a head popped up above the bushes. As soon as he spotted us he took off running.Not long after lunch it started to rain. It didn't last long. Just long enough to wet the grass so our shoes stayed wet. It also made the rocks slippery. By late afternoon my feet were really sore so I stopped for a break. I discovered that under a callus on each foot, I had a blister. I opened them up to drain and they are doing better.When I arrived at the shelter two girls had a tent inside the shelter. They moved it and Trash got to sleep in the shelter. I picked out a spot and set up my tent. Roughing It, Beefstick, Sonic and Moose showed up a little later. Everyone was tired and were in bed by dark.
Date: 2010-06-11
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: Unionville, NY
Miles today: 26.7

I was up about 5:30 this morning so I could get a head start on the day. I knew 26 miles would take awhile especially with the rocks and my worn out feet. I had not gone far when I heard something in the bushes. It was a bear. He started running and then from a distance he looked back at me and took off again. I guess I'll never get that picture for Sydney.At Culvers Fire Tower I completed yesterday's journal and called home. It's always a treat to call Susan. That is the hardest part of the hike, being away from her. After the call home I called Dick Ludwick in Unionville. On the trail he is known as the Mayor. Hikers are welcome to stay at his house. Bill answered the phone and said to be there by 6:30 so we could eat supper. Trail Trash and I got a move on since it was after 10 and we had 21 miles to go. We got to High Point State Park about 2:30 and stopped for water and lunch. A little after 3:00 we were back hiking again. The rocks that had plagued us since Duncannon finally let up just past the memorial. The thick foliage with thorns did not. We applied Deet and waded in. Just after 6 we walked into Unionville. I called the house and Butch drove over to pick us up. We walked in to a great supper that included baked chicken, potato wedges, three bean salad and watermelon. Afterwards we showered and washed clothes. Tomorrow we will resupply and hike most of the remainder of New Jersey.
Date: 2010-06-12
From: Unionville, NY

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Bill was up early fixing our breakfast. When we got upstairs we had omelets, potatoes and sausage. Leaving Bill's cooking was hard enough then Butch kept offering to slack pack us so we could stay another night. We loaded up and stopped at the General Store for supplies. Then we said goodbye and hiked up the trail.The first few miles were easy walking. The trail passed through the Wallkill River National Wildlife Reserve. There were swans, and otters and a deer with a little fawn. I tried to get pictures but the animals kept their distance.We had a 750 foot climb up Pochuck Mountain. The flat lands of Pennsylvania are gone. It's time to get used to mountains again. The Whites are coming!We stopped for lunch next to a stream. I had hoped to find a store and get a Coke but that didn't happen.After lunch we took a walk on the boardwalk. It spans a marsh area. Lots of people were walking on it. Our next climb was Wawayanda Mountain. The elevation gain was about 900'. It was mostly rock all the way up.We filled our water bottles at a stream 3 miles from the shelter. It was the last reliable source listed in our guide.A little past 4 we got to Wawayanda Shelter. It's the nicest shelter I've seen in New Jersey.Who knows, I may sleep in a shelter tonight.
Date: 2010-06-13
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Ringerboard Shelter
Miles today: 26.4
Weather: light rain

So in the last entry I was going to sleep in the shelter. I did go to sleep but the mosquitoes were so bad I set up my tent in the dark and slept in it. How Trail Trash can sleep in there I cannot image.When I got up this morning Moose was in the shelter. He must have gotten there just after I moved out. As we all had breakfast we started talking about ice cream and Bellvale Creamery. They make their ice cream from local cows. So off we headed on an eating adventure. Everyone talks about Pennsylvania rocks. But New Jersey has some pretty serious rocks too. They're just a little bigger. We were looking forward to New York but we had no idea what was in store for us. It started out walking on exposed rock. Then it became a series of scrambles. At first they were not too bad, but as the day continued they got steeper and taller.It took almost five hours to do the first 10 miles. We only saw one section hiker that couldn't believe we were thru-hiking with such small packs. Then he asked about our shoes. I told him Pennsylvania was rough and gave me my first blister in 1300 miles. He said he got one just walking the bridge at Delaware Water Gap.When we got to the creamery, Moose was a little behind. We went ahead and ordered. Trash got two scoops of Calf Tracks. I got a banana split with Calf Tracks, Snickers and Bellvale Bog. It was decadent. Moose finally showed up. He said his book indicated the creamery was to the left. Trash and I both said yes, to the left as Moose raised his right hand. I've done the same thing more times than I care to recall.Trash and I took off on what was to be a long afternoon. The first 7 of 16 miles went fast and then the rain started. At first it was nice. It cooled us off and drove off the gnats. Then the rocks got soaked and we had to slow way down to keep from falling. I did fall once and got covered in mud. The rock scrambles continued until we reached Arden Valley Road. There we made a series of climbs up actual trail to the Lemon Squeezer. You actually have to go through at an angle to fit. After that was another short scramble. When we reached the shelter it was almost dark. There were three other hikers and a dog. Two of the hikers had pretty much taken over the shelter but we were able to squeeze in. A hiker that came up behind us set up a tent. We ate supper and crawled into bed for some much needed rest.
Date: 2010-06-15
From: Bear Mountain Bridge

To: Bear Mountain Bridge/Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Trash slept most of the night on the floor of the waiting area of Penn Station. I dozed a little but mostly stayed up all night. I guess I was a little excited about the trip home. At 6 AM we toured the food court for some breakfast. There was a bakery with a stuffed spinach croissant that hit the spot for me. We made our way to the train which by the way was sold out. We must have gotten the last two seats when I made the reservations the night before.The ride was smooth to start. I was keeping Susan informed of our location by texting her. By late morning we were in DC. I was thinking we would get to Burlington earlier than 6 PM. Then we got to North Carolina. At the first stop in Rocky Mount I checked the time against the schedule. We were an hour behind. I knew a couple of stops seemed a little long and the train was not running as fast since DC, but an hour? At one of the stops a train host boarded. He was talking to the passenger in front of me and told her not to worry. The train would make up the time as soon as we passed Raleigh.We stopped in Wilson, Selma, Raleigh, Cary and Durham. It was now an hour and fifteen minutes late. I called Susan and told her where we were and that we should be in Burlington a little after 7 PM. As we approached Mebane, NC the train came to a halt. We had changed to a side rail so another Amtrak train could pass us. I called Susan to make her aware of the delay. She told me the train passing us was just leaving Burlington. Finally the other train passed and we started up again. As we went through Haw River we passed about a quarter of a mile from my house. I wanted to yell ¢stop the train and let me off¢ but instead I sat there semi-patiently. Then we slowed down again. We had just crossed the Haw River and were going up a pretty good grade so I thought it might have something to do with wet tracks since it was now pouring rain. Well, close. The storm had knocked out all the safety signals on the tracks so the train had to proceed slowly to avoid cars crossing the tracks.It was 8:30, two and a half hours late when we pulled into the station in Burlington. Still it was great to see Susan, Erin and Sydney waiting on us as we climbed off the Carolinian.So what are our plans? We will be home until July 4th. Believe it or not that is the cheapest day for us to get back to New York. We can catch a metro within a mile of the Bear Mountain Bridge on the morning of the 5th. From there we will continue our hike to Maine. For now we are home letting my feet heal and enjoying being with family.
Date: 2010-07-04
From: Home

To: Penn Station, NY
Miles today: 0.0

Trail Trash and I got off the trail 20 days ago. I've celebrated two anniversaries, the day my wife and I married and the day we met. I was also home for the birth of my daughter's second child. She had a little boy with a full head of hair. I also got to spend time with his big sister, Sydney. We even camped in the living room one night in a real tent. My dog Bonnie joined us for part of the night, but she thinks she's supposed to lay between us instead of at the foot.It's time to go finish this hike. So this morning we hopped an Amtrak in Burlington, NC and headed north. We remembered the expensive cafe car food so we packed subs from Subway and drinks for the trip. The Carolinian ran late as usual and the A/C in our car went out. Somehow we made it to Penn Station about an hour late. That's not a problem since our bus to Bear Mountain doesn't leave until 8:45 in the morning.
Date: 2010-07-05
From: Bear Mountain Bridge

To: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: clear sky

This morning was kind of abrupt. At 3 AM the woman monitoring the Amtrak waiting area woke us up and asked us to leave. Instead of arguing we moved into the mall area. We spent the rest of the night listening to people fight and cuss. I guess we had a real NY experience.At 5 AM we got some breakfast and headed to the Port Authority. We picked up bus tickets and hung out until the bus left at 8:45. By 10:15 we were at Bear Mountain heading for the bridge.After a quick call home we started walking. The views from the bridge were great and the breeze was nice and cool. As we started up the side of the mountain I could tell I had not hiked in awhile. I could also tell I was exhausted from the Penn Station experience.On top of the mountain we met Dirt and A Day Late and A Dollar Short. They are doing a section from Connecticut to Pennsylvania. They told us Graymoor was having a hotdog lunch. It sounded great since we were headed there. On the way I stopped for Gatorade at the Appalachian Trail Store.When we arrived at Graymoor a large group of guys were playing ball. The hotdogs were about gone and the condiments were put away. No big deal. I was really more interested in a nap. So I set up my tent and went to sleep.When I woke up I told Trail Trash to let's order a pizza. He said we were invited to eat ribs with a group from Graymoor. Since I love ribs, who was I to argue?Rat Man and Tumbler showed up just as we started to eat. The ribs were great with potatoes, corn and watermelon. I enjoyed talking with a couple of the guys from Graymoor. They had a ton of questions about the hike. But my real attention was on eating. After supper I felt much better.A group of hikers showed up after everything was cleaned up. Grandpa, McFly, and three others that I can't remember their names. After a cold shower I going to crawl in my tent and sleep all night.
Date: 2010-07-06
From: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: clear sky

Alright, there are trail experiences and there are ¢trail experiences¢. I had one at 2:30 AM that tops anything I can imagine. I was sound asleep when something butted me in the head. It felt like my wife's cat Alley. I sat up quickly and saw the culprit. It was a skunk. I waited awhile for him to move on but he seemed very content to lay up against the tent netting. Finally I clapped my hands and it ran off. I thought about it awhile and decided to move my tent in the middle of the night. The couple in the next tent said it circled their tent the rest of the night. At 5:00 AM I got up and packed up. I woke up Trail Trash and suggested we hike early to get in some miles before it got hot. We were on the trail by 7:00 AM. The heat set in quickly. By the time we got to Dennytown Road (8 miles) we were hot, sweaty and ready for a break. There is a spigot there to fill water bottles. We took a long break and mixed up some Gatorade. Jiblets joined us and hiked with us part of the afternoon. We planned to stop again in 5 miles to eat lunch and get water from a stream. The stream was dry so we hiked down a side trail to a lake. The water was hot and tasted stale but it was wet. We ate lunch and headed on.We met our first real SOBOs. Hit and Miss started from Katahdin just 37 days ago. It confirms Trail Trash and I can make it in the 45 days we have planned.Tonight we are at RPH Shelter with Labrat and a couple of section hikers. We ordered pizza and Cokes for supper. The temperature is supposed drop to 80 degrees tonight. Should be great sleeping weather. Not!
Date: 2010-07-07
From: RPH Shelter

To: NY 22
Miles today: 19.9

We were up early again and on the trail by 6:45. Jiblets and her crew slept in. They were slack packing today. I found a tube of Elixir at the shelter and drank it all day long. It's good stuff especially in this heat. Today was in the 90's again.We stopped at a deli about mid-morning for Gatorade and snacks. Labrat stopped in just as we were leaving.We planned to stop at a hotdog stand for lunch but couldn't find it with the directions in the guide book. We asked at a woodworking shop, but they had no idea either. They did let us fill our water bottles. We then headed into the woods and had lunch next to a bridge over a dry stream. At County Road 20 we filled our bottles again at a house next to the trail. The owner has a faucet mounted on the fence for hikers to use. As we hiked the last 2 miles we stopped to talk to a father and two sons. They were going up to Telephone Pioneers Shelter. I told them there was no water there. I found out all three were Scouts.We are spending the night at Native Plant and Garden Center. Pete let us take showers and we're camping here tonight. A trail maintainer named Sasquatch came by and talked awhile. Turns out he knows Bread. So of course we called Bread. I wish he was back hiking with us.
Date: 2010-07-08
From: NY 22

To: Kent, Connecticut
Miles today: 18.4

I woke up early to the sound of traffic on the highway. Needless to say I was dragging all day. With the heat and very high humidity it was a pretty rough day. After the first 5 miles I suggested we get a room in Kent and sleep with the AC on as low as it would go. The best part of the walk today was along Ten Mile River. We took a long break at Ten Mile River Lean-to. The climb up Schaghticoke Mountain started out okay. However the gnats about drove me crazy. I sprayed deet and they just kept coming. The humidity increased and we were both completely soaked with sweat.We finally made it to town and checked into the Fife 'n Drum Inn. The shower felt so good. I washed clothes and we made it to the IGA to re-supply just before they closed. Supper was cheese burgers and fries. Of course desert was B&J ice cream.Now for some much needed sleep.
Date: 2010-07-09
From: Kent, Connecticut

To: Sharon Mountain Campground
Miles today: 19.4

It felt so good to lay on clean sheets in a cool room I had a hard time getting up this morning. Trail Trash had actually started moving before I rolled out and got dressed. The sleep helped a lot but my feet were still aching. I decided to call Susan and have her ship my next pair of shoes to me in Dalton, MA. The walk out of town was hot. Just as we started into the woods, two cars pull up coming from town. I think they were trail maintainers. If we had been a little later we might of gotten a ride.The trail had a number of steep climbs to start. Then we descended down a long series of steps to the Housatonic River. The walk was flat as a pancake. At noon we stopped at the Silver Hill Campsite. It was really nice. There was a dining shelter, a porch swing, and a water pump. The site was open and had a great breeze that made lunch really comfortable. Yes, it is still so humid I feel like I'm in eastern NC instead of Connecticut. We come across day hikers and a few section hikers, but for the most part the trail is deserted. We have not seen a NOBO in three days or even a SOBO in two. I'm starting to miss the crowded trails from down south. I called Burgundy tonight just to talk awhile. I miss him, Bread and We'll See. I don't know whatever happened to We'll See. I wish I could contact him and see if he was able to get back on the trail. After I wrote tonight's journal I walked to the water source for Pine Swamp Brook Shelter.It was a mud hole. Trail Trash was OK with it, but I was not. We packed up and hiked another 2.5 miles to a campsite with a running stream. Supper is over and we're both in our tents away from the mosquitoes.Tomorrow we are going to Salisbury. It is the last town before we cross into Massachusetts.
Date: 2010-07-10
From: Sharon Mountain Campground

To: Salisbury,CT
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: mist

This morning the mosquitoes were waiting in full force. Trash said it was just wrong to have to put on deet before breakfast. We started out hiking with some ups and downs that reminded me of Georgia. Over all it was a fairly easy hike. At US 7 we crossed the Housatonic River through a construction site. The skies opened up and rain poured on us. The trail blazes were a little confusing and we ended up hiking in a circle and repeating a section. We looked like two drowned rats. A driver stopped and asked if we needed help. He said some of the signs were wrong but pointed to a trail and said it would take us north.We met a SOBO just before Prospect Mountain. We asked about water but he said he had not seen any sources. In about a 1/2 mile I spotted a spring. SOBOs are definitely different animals. After all, they hike in the wrong direction. By 1:00 we were walking into Salisbury. We dropped off our packs at Vanessa Benton's home. Before we left for lunch Labrat came in. He got Vanessa to pick him up at Cornwall Bridge to get out of the rain. It was good to see another hiker.Things got even more exciting. When I opened my e-mail, We'll See had sent me a message. He unfortunately is off the trail but is healing up. I called him this afternoon and we talked about how much fun we had hiking together. It was great to talk with him. Trail Trash, Labrat and I had supper at the Country Bistro. The food was good but we all opted to have Ben and Jerry's ice cream for dessert. Labrat will be staying in town at least another day. Trash and I will be heading for Massachusetts in the morning.
Date: 2010-07-11
From: Salisbury,CT

To: Glen Brook Lean-To
Miles today: 14.2

I had finished packing by the time Trail Trash got up. I told him I'd be outside waiting. As I sat on Main Street I got to thinking about how lonely the trail had been all week. All I could think about was how much fun the trail was down south when hikers were everywhere. An elderly man walked by and asked me about my hike. He congratulated me on making it this far. I told him it wasn't going that well at the moment but I was still hopeful.When Trash made it out I told him I was hiking slower to see if I felt better at the end of the day. We took a break at Riga Lean-to. Aikido Joe had been here yesterday morning during the rain. I thought about pulling a long day and catching up to him. After I looked at the guide I decided it would be too long a day.At Bear Mountain a Ridge Runner approached us and asked where we were going. I replied Katahdin. He then told us to look for some drinks in the stream at Stages Ravine. As we got near the stream a couple of hikers were fishing them out. I'm thinking a couple of section hikers are scoring some trail magic meant for thru-hikers. I was wrong. The hikers were Bear and Aqua. We all sat down and had lunch together. Their plan was to go to Hemlocks Lean-to, about a tenth of a mile from where we were headed. As we finished up lunch another hiker came up. He looked at Trash and said, "I know you guys". It was Scout. We had not seen him since Damascus. He and Martin took off hiking and exchanging stories. As I hiked along I came across two more hikers, Slim Pickens and Second Breakfast. I had a great time talking with Slim.By mid-afternoon I was on top of Race Mountain. There was a cliff along one side. As I peered over the side there was a plane flying below me. After Race Mountain I came to Mount Everett. Trail Trash was waiting for me. Everett was a climb of 600' on solid rock. We had been told it was about the toughest climb in Massachusetts. It wasn't all that bad.At Glen Brook Lean-to Scout was waiting on us. We all had supper together and set up tents for the night and sat around talking. Another hiker named Breeze just walked up looking for water. It seems NOBO's are coming out of the woodwork since hitting Massachusetts.This is so great!