morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-07-13
From: Blue Mountain Summit

To: Jailhouse Hostel, Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 14.2

We awoke to such thick fog you could hardly see 10 ft. This will be a big day as we cross an extremely rocky area known as the Knife's Edge. This section is known for its steep and and difficult rocks. It will be all that much more difficult since the rocks will be wet. The first 2 miles weren't difficult and were a good warmup for what would come later. The boulder hopping started even before we got to the Knife's Edge and I took my first fall there. The overcast sky again made for cooler temperatures. The Knife's Edge was definitely a challenge but it was much shorter than I thought it would be. Hat Trick took his spill on the Knife's Edge. Both of us had some scratches but no serious damage. Not long after the Knife's Edge we ran into a group of 7 Asian hikers. I tried to warn them about the slippery rocks but there was a language barrier. I pulled out my phone and showed them pictures - amazing how well that works! They headed off talking excitedly in a language I didn't understand. It was only 14 miles but it was a tough day on the slippery rocks. We were glad to arrive at the road where we would hitch hike into town. A big thank you to Kim who picked us up! In town we went to the police station and checked into the Jailhouse Hostel. It is a free hostel provided by the town of Palmerton in the basement of the municipal building. Best of all, they so provide free showers and towels. AND, it's right across the street from the laundromat. Beerdra, Heart Walker, Semi, and Skeptic are the other hikers staying here. We thru our laundry in and walked the short distance to a tavern where we ate dinner with everyone staying at the jailhouse. This is a very hiker friendly town. For instance, when resupplying at the grocery store the manager gave us each a free apple or orange. I spent most the evening trying to arrange a slack pack north for 20 miles tomorrow. Everyone except Beerdra is going to do it.
Date: 2013-07-14
From: Jailhouse Hostel, Palmerton, PA

To: Wind Gap, PA
Miles today: 20.1

I was up late making all the arrangements for our slack pack today. A local shuttler, Janet, is picking our packs up at 7:00 and taking them to the Gateway Motel, 20 miles north. We hear the Gateway is a real dive but the Red Roof Inn refused to allow our packs to be dropped off and the Travel Inn's phone wasn't working. Beerdra, Hat Trick, and I made signs for hitching (see pics) and were soon in the back of a pickup truck headed out of town. Our first challenge of the day would be a nearly 1,000 ft climb over a steep rocky trail. It is a deforested ridge due to zinc smelting from 1889 to 1980. It is now a Superfund environmental cleanup site. The climb was every bit as steep as advertised. We put our poles in our day packs and climbed hand over foot up the barren mountain. Since Beerdra had a full pack we waited for her to be sure she made it off the steep part. Once we got to the top we were on a ridge where we would spend the remainder of the day. I thought that surely all 20 miles couldn't be rocky, but oh how wrong I was. I would estimate all but about 2 miles was rocky. My feet were so sore from being twisted and turned in every which direction. I knew we had to keep the pace up to go that far and sometimes I must have looked like I was drunk as I stumbled along. Hat Trick bent his pole pretty badly on the rocks (see pics). Near the end there were times when I literally wanted to cry because my feet hurt so bad. Another complicating factor was that there was no water for for 20 miles unless we wanted to to walk 1.2 miles round trip to get it. A highlight of our day came when we met Matt and Vanessa from Philly (see pics). They were out for a short backpacking trip and we had a good time chatting with them. They are outdoor enthusiasts and were curious about our trip. Later when were taking a break at Smith Gap they arrived and offered us a ride a mile down the mountain to get water. What a relief - THANK YOU Matt and Vanessa, you are trail angels!!!By the time we arrived at our motel we had been hiking for nearly 12 hours. The Superfund was exhilarating but a lot of the rest of the hike was monotonous and painful. In retrospect it was a mistake to attempt this kind of distance on this rocky of a trail. This is the dirtiest motel I've ever stayed in but I'm so tired I don't really care. We cooked dinner on the sidewalk in front of our room and I fell asleep attempting to journal. I decided to sleep on top of the covers since I was afraid to see what might be in the bed if I pulled back the covers.
Date: 2013-07-15
From: Wind Gap, PA

To: Fox Gap
Miles today: 8.6

It would mean that we would have to hike in the heat if the day, but I decided we should sleep as late as we want to recover from yesterday. Early in the morning the door to our room opened and the owner of the motel said "Oh, you're still here?" We were packing up when she again opened the door and said its 10:00 and that's check out time . . . really?!? We ended up piling all our stuff on the sidewalk and finished packing. At the trailhead we ran into Beerdra, Dorothy, Fancy Feet, Walmart, and other hikers. It was steamy hot and no one was looking forward to the climb out of the gap. The trail was still plenty rocky but not as bad as yesterday. Both of us have sore feet, but my left little toe is extremely painful today. I had thought we might do the 16 miles into the Delaware Water Gap but the heat, pain, and late start quickly made me realize it would have to be a shorter day. While hiking in the Shenandoahs I met a section hiker named Mayer. His mom was worried about him and Mayer used my phone to contact her since he wasn't getting any reception. I would occasionally send her texts reassuring her that he was doing well and sending her pictures. They live in the Delaware Water Gap and asked me to contact them when I reached the area so they could do some trail magic. I decided to contact them to see if they would pick us up at Fox Gap and slack pack the rest of the way in tomorrow. Mayer picked us up about 5:00 and we went directly to Dairy Queen. After we were done with desert we went to a pizza place were we ran into 4 other hikers. We gave them a ride to a movie theater and headed to Mayer's house. Mayer's mom, Amy, is so kind and made us feel right at home. She had cheese, crackers, chips, dip, and drinks waiting for us. Later we sat on the back deck soaking our feet in Epsom salt and talked late into the evening. The plan for tomorrow is for Mayer to drop us off where he picked us up, we'll hike the remaining nearly 7 miles into the Delaware Water Gap where Amy will pick us up and take us to resupply, etc.
Date: 2013-07-16
From: Fox Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 6.8

Amy fed us scrambled eggs, bacon, bagels, and juice before we left with Mayer to be dropped off at the trailhead. My left little toe was noticeably tender but I hoped it would improve as I hiked. Mayer dropped us off about 8:30. In less than a mile we stopped at the Kirkridge Shelter (the last shelter in Pennsylvania) where I wrote my farewell letter to Pennsylvania in the logbook. A hiker came in who said he had just seen a bear. I was excited about this short hike since Mayer said it was one of his favorite hikes. The possibility of seeing a bear increased my excitement. The excitement was soon replaced with concern as my left little toe became increasingly painful. I was limping and putting more weight on my poles. By 10:00 I knew I had to do something about it so I called Amy and asked her if she knew of a podiatrist that I could see. She is an amazing trail angel . . . within a few minutes she had an appointment scheduled for 1:00 today. I would have to keep the pace up in order to make the appointment. I didn't feel like crying, I actually did. Hat Trick was very sweet and stayed close to me. Further earning her trail angel wings, when Amy met us she had wet wash clothes, towels, sandwiches, snacks, cold drinks, and Vitamin I. We had time to run by the local outfitter and pick up the care package that my oldest sister, Becca, had sent us. THANK YOU Becca!!! It was loaded with all kinds of goodies. The podiatrist debrided my little toe again and said the problem is that an abscess forms under a callous. It has no way to drain so it becomes more and more inflamed. He also asked me to stay off of it for a few days . . . sigh. It occurred to me that I wasn't that far from Anita so I called Enterprise and they came to get me. I'm renting a car until Friday and driving to Bridgeport to see Anita - yeah. If I have to be off the trail it will be good to be with her. Before we left Amy cooked us a steak dinner with corn on the cob, baked potatoes, grilled asparagus, and angel food cake with fresh strawberries and ice cream. She is truly amazing. THANK YOU Amy and Mayer!!!When I go back I'll get a pic of them to add to this post. Hat Trick and I arrived in Bridgeport CT late tonight. It feels good to be with the woman I love!
Date: 2013-07-19
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 0.0

Farewell To A Lover:Fare thee well Pain Sylvania. I have all ways been a fan of yours. I cheered for you, proudly wore your jersey, and defended you when my friends criticized you. Growing up in Ohio, you were the good times girl next door. I have affectionate memories of the fun times we had during my childhood visiting the birthplaces of my parents, the excitement of visiting my grandparents, touring the dairy farm that our family once owned, and being fascinated by the homestead built by my forefathers when they immigrated from Germany. Yes, I have always been fond of you. What I didn't realize is that as an adult you are so HOT! I will never forget the steamy nights (and days) that we spent together. I was loyal to you and defended you even when you "ticked" me off. But, alas, I love you no longer. You drew me into you and I did everything I could to please you but the path to your heart is not clearly marked and I have made many a wrong turn - some my own fault. You probably knew before I did that our relationship was on the rocks. I knew that your "in your face" temperament really "bugged" me. I had concerns about your poisonous friend Ivy, who I found very irritating. Who in their right mind protects friends with names like rattle snake and copperhead? I know you think they are handsome and that they enhance your environment. I just hope you realize how much venom they bring into your life. Your lightening quick temper and thunderous outbursts scared me and kept me "rained" in and I lingered longer than I should have. Yes, your poor housekeeping and thorny ways bothered me, but I was determined to push on with our relationship. Pain Sylvainia, you held my amorous feelings in your bosom and yet you carelessly and cruelly flung them onto what felt like a Knife's Edge, leaving me battered, bruised, and bleeding. I knew I must end this affair when I realized that I can't even enjoy your natural beauty because I spend all my time with my gaze cast downward in fear of falling upon your jagged wrath.I don't leave you with ill will. You have taught me many lessons for which I'm grateful. You made me stronger because you did not kill me . . . even though you tried. Regardless, the "bottom" line is that you chap my buns. So, Pain Sylvania, I'm leaving you. I'm not a fan of yours, I will no longer wear your jersey and defend you. I hope you won't be hurt when tomorrow you see me in a New Jersey. I am homeward bound where my Maine lover awaits me. Good bye Pain Sylvania!~ Hobo
Date: 2013-07-20
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 11.0

I took Mayer and Angel Amy out to dinner last night to thank them for their incredible hospitality. We heard that Quaker was at the hostel so Amy drove us by. I wish I had a picture of Quaker's face when I walked in. We embraced each other as long lost friends. We decided to meet in the morning to hike out of town together. He had already eaten dinner so he didn't come with us. We had a wonderful dinner at an Italian restaurant where Mayer used to work. The food was delicious and the fellowship was great. We again spent the night at their house and they made us feel so welcome. We were out late last night so we got less than 5 hours of sleep when we arose at 4:30. Mayer and his friend Huck are going to hike with us for part of the day. We met Quaker at 6:00 and immediately started hiking. It is soooo good to be with my old friend again. We quickly crossed into New Jersey - yeah!!! Seven states done and 7 more to go. We began our long climb out of the Delaware Water Gap and time passed quickly as Quaker and I caught up on all the events in our lives since we had last seen each other. We caught up with And Stuff who excitedly pointed out a huge rattlesnake (see pics). We watched him go across a log and when Quaker moved closer to take a pic he coiled up and began rattling. When we caught up with the young bucks they were disappointed that they hadn't seen the snake. Another milestone we passed today was reaching the 1,300 mile mark. There are 885.8 miles to go. The trail was rocky but not nearly as bad as Pain Sylvania. My intent was to do a short day to not over do it with my toe, which is feeling pretty good. When we arrived at the Mohican Outdoor Center the weather report was for an intense but fast moving storm. We decided to call it a day and get our tents set up before the storm. Blackhawk and Pathfinder are here and it's really good to see them. There are other hikers here as well. Around 4:00 we heard a lot of thunder, the sky got dark, and we had a brief rain shower. The intense storm never materialized. We will eat an early dinner and get to bed early so we are more rested. Life is good.
Date: 2013-07-21
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Newton, NJ
Miles today: 14.0

I'm dedicating today's post to my friend Quaker who not only hiked more than 1,300 miles of the AT, but also hiked another 600 miles starting on the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama. Today is his last day of hiking for this year and I will miss him greatly. Quaker is one of the most generous people I have ever met. I honestly believe he would give a fellow hiker his last meal if that hiker was in need. He has a kind and gentle spirit that is immediately evident to those with whom he comes in contact. He served in Vietnam and was awarded two Purple Hearts. He could have been bitter by his experience but instead chose to see the positive from his traumatic experience. Quaker's generosity and kindness make him a good hiking partner, but it is his intellect that makes him a great hiking partner. He is a curious person and strives to understand a point of view even if he disagrees with it - a rare trait in today's world. He is fluent in multiple languages. During the last two days our conversations have covered science, religion, philosophy, psychology, and leadership. Hat Trick has described Quaker as one of the top five people who he has met in his lifetime. The trail had some rock climbs today and there were frequent downed trees to climb over. Quaker has developed a medical condition which causes him significant pain - particularly on terrain like this. He never complains but I can tell from his non verbals and posture that he was in pain. At the top of one of the climbs I told him I was now in charge and Hat Trick and I were going to take most of his pack weight and divide it between us. He protested but I could tell by how quickly he capitulated that my assessment was correct. Hat Trick used Google Earth to find a side trail that we could take him down to a road were we would meet his wife. Quaker's son came along with his mother and it was a real treat to meet him. Along time ago we had met each others wives and now we've met each others sons. Not surprisingly, his son is also a kind and generous person. It was good to see his wonderful wife again as well. So, to my good friend Quaker I say peace be with you and may you heal quickly. I have no doubt our paths will intentionally cross in the future. For trail news . . . we passed rattlesnake mountain, rattlesnake spring, rattlesnake swamp, and rattlesnake trail. Some other hikers saw rattlesnakes. Catnap, who was 15 minutes ahead of us even left a note on the trail warning us about a rattlesnake but we never saw one. Fine by me!!!The terrain was diverse with ridges, views, a swamp, and a beaver pond. We leapfrogged with Blackhawk, Pathfinder, and K2. They are nice and fun people so I like it when we end up taking breaks at the same spot. K2 has a nap hammock that she uses when taking breaks. I'm envious! It was a hard day and I'm exhausted . . .
Date: 2013-07-22
From: Newton, NJ

To: Mashipacong Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: light rain

Quaker's dear wife did our laundry for us last night so we could sleep. We resupplied first thing in the morning and ate breakfast on the way to the trailhead. As I hiked, Quaker was on my mind all day. Later I found out he was in a hospital in Pittsburgh and things seem to be falling in place for him. Dreamer has also left the trail and is home in Michigan. He and Quaker were two of my favorite people and I'm sad that I won't be hiking with either of them. Lots of other hikers are seeing bears but I still haven't seen one. The problem is I look down so I don't trip on the rocks, then I want to look up to see bears, and then I look down so I don't step on a rattlesnake. The rain started in the afternoon with the rolling thunder around us. At the summit of Sunrise Mountain we came upon a pavilion where some other hikers had taken shelter. We watched the storm get closer and then decided to make a run for the shelter that was 3.4 miles away. We were both carrying 3 liters of water since it was scarce in this section. We hiked through the rain and arrived at the shelter before the worst of the storm hit. It's not the nicest shelter I've ever stayed in but we were mostly out of the rain - the roof leaked in 2 places. The really nice thing was that there were large containers of water in the bear box. It continued to rain heavily most of the night.
Date: 2013-07-23
From: Mashipacong Shelter

To: Murray property cabin
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Thankfully the rain stopped before sunrise. However, the trail was rocky all morning and the rocks were slippery since they were still wet. At High Point State Park headquarters they give thru hikers a free soda so we made sure we stopped there. The sun was out so we dried our shoes and socks while we drank our sodas. The topography was quite varied, ranging from the highest place in New Jersey to swampy low land. One of the interesting features were many rock walls that ran through the forrest. I wish I knew the history behind them. The trail ranged from rocky to beautifully smooth. It rained intermittently all afternoon but never stormed. Several of our planned water sources were murky so we pushed on. We arrived at the Murray property just as it began to rain hard. The Murray property is owned by Jim Murray who thru hiked in 1989. He bought an 85 acre farm close to the trail and converted the ice house into a small cabin that hikers can use for free. On the outside of his cabin is a shower that hikers are welcome to use. It's a pretty setting and very luxurious by hiker standards. The weather forecast for tomorrow is cooler temperatures and lower humidity. I can't wait!!!
Date: 2013-07-24
From: Murray property cabin

To: Drive in movie theater, Warwick, NY
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

You need a magical day every now and then to motivate you and today was one of those days. We awoke to a beautiful day and were on the trail early. The 3 section hikers were still asleep in their tent. Steady Eddie stayed in the cabin with us and was packing up when we left. The first several hours were beautifully smooth trail and I rediscovered the joy of hiking. The trail passed through forrest, boggy areas with bull frogs bellowing, fields, and near the back yards of residential areas. Mid morning we took a break by the Wallkill River. As we snacked and hydrated we watched a doe and two young deer leisurely grazing across the river. It was so peaceful and relaxing. We walked around the Walkill Wildlife Refuge were we meet 2 nice women who were out for a day hike. Next we climbed over Pochuck Mountain. I was excited that we were approaching nearly a mile of boardwalk over a swampy area that Quaker had talked a lot about. We were coming down the mountain and about 0.2 of a mile from the boardwalk when I rounded a corner and saw a bear. I had just enough time to point him out to Hat Trick before he scampered down the trail and into the woods. It all happened so quickly I didn't have enough time to get a pic. The trail got more rocky and the climbs were steeper but its still better than Pain Sylvania. We leapfrogged with Steady Eddie and Crank several times. Just before climbing Wawayanda Mountain we came to a road and were tired and thirsty. We could see a business a little way up the road but weren't sure what it was. It turned out to be a farm stand that had drinks, fresh fruit, and ice cream. It was the perfect place to refuel before climbing the mountain. Cat Nap, Persistence, Indigo, and Balloo were also there. The climb over Wawayanda Mountain was rocky and steep but we were driven. The view from the top was spectacular. We chatted with Indigo while we hiked. When we arrived at the Warwick Turnpike we hitched the 2 miles to a drive in theater were they let hikers watch 2 movies and camp for $10. There are 9 of us here: Wooden Spoon, Blood Orange, Orion, Davy Crocket, Steady Eddie, Hipsy Gipsy, Oak, Hat Trick, and me.   It's so much fun to lay in your tent watching a movie and the large tub of popcorn was a real treat. It was a chilly evening so when I was out of my tent I wore my rain jacket and in my tent I was snuggled down under my down quilt. We hiked 19 miles today but I feel good. I REALLY needed a day like this!