morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-10-13
From: Leroy A. Smith Shelter

To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

Weather - Sunny and very cool.Dutch and I were the first ones to leave the shelter around 8:00 a.m. We were planning to hike only 5 miles to Wind Gap and get a motel room right by the trail and restaurant food 1/2 mile away. But it is Friday the 13th and it was about to happen. The motel had one room left and it was 10 times smokier than the campfire last night. So we hiked on. We caught up to Sleeping Bear and sat on a fallen tree and ate lunch with him. The trail was rocky all day long. The only view we had was at Wolf Rocks and it was so cold we got down behind some rocks to eat a candy bar and move on.Got to Kirkridge Shelter about 3:30 p.m. Sleeping Bear was already there along with Mike (dad) and Mike Too (son) who were camping behind the shelter. They also had their dog, Girlfriend, a black lab with them. Mike Too was camping out tonight after a hike for a college class in backpacking that he is taking. We just missed the rest of his class and his teacher by a few minutes. Mike and Mike Too lived in Delaware Water Gap and gave us all the low-down on where everything is located. It is always good to meet someone from the local area. They were very helpful. They had also built a nice campfire that we all stood around to get warm as the sun went down. The shelter is really nice, a lot of work had been done on it recently to improve it. Before the sun was down we were all in our sleeping bags. I am warm and cozy again.
Date: 2006-10-14
From: Kirkridge Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap, Church Mountain Hostel
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: clear sky

Weather - Sunny and very cool.Sleeping Bear said when he gets to Delaware Water Gap he is going home to Alabama. He said it is getting too cold for him. Dutch and I were on the trail by 7:45 a.m., ready to get to town. It got into the low 40's last night. Again more rocks then a nice road on the ridge with very little rocks. Then we had a beautiful hike through a rhododendron forest like NC and TN as we were coming down the mountain into Delaware Water Gap.As we turned at Deer Head Inn we saw a young girl hiker coming our way, she was looking for the hostel. Since we were headed that way she came with us. Her name is Lorena and she is in the same backpacking class as Mike Too. She is originally from Peru and came to the U.S. with her dad when she was young.At the church hostel, Dutch and I took showers and put on clean clothes. Boy that always feels good. Lorena was trying to get in contact with a friend to take her back to her car but could not reach him. About this time Mike and Mike Too stopped by to see if Dutch and I needed anything and to see if we had found the hostel. After Mike took Mike Too to work he came back and gave Lorena a ride to her car. But before that, Dutch, Lorena and I walked down to the Water Gap Diner for lunch and next door to the Farmer's Market and Bakery for dessert. Dutch and I went back to the diner for supper later that night and at about 7:00 p.m. Lorena came back to the hostel. We were going to go to the Deers Head Inn for a beer but all the tables were taken or reserved, even the stools at the bar. There was a band playing there tonight. So we stayed at the hostel and talked about gear. Lorena is just starting backpacking and this weekend was her first night in the woods by herself. She wanted to learn as much as she could from Dutch and me. Dutch and I were very impressed by the choices of gear she had already purchased. She had done her homework very well. She is coming back to give us some trail magic in the morning. She is going to take us to the laundromat in Stroudsburg.
Date: 2006-10-15
From: Delaware Water Gap, Church Mountain Hostel

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

This is the end of Dutch's hike. He made arrangements yesterday to leave on Monday morning to catch a bus then an airplane back home to Michigan. He and I walked down to the Water Gap Diner for breakfast since it was the only place open for breakfast that we could walk to.As we were walking back up to the church hostel, we could hear the church bells ringing for the 10:00 a.m. service. Lorena was waiting for us, so on the spur of the moment all three of us went to the church service and afterwards to the coffee social in their new Fellowship Hall. We got to meet Rev. Karen and thank her for the hostel that their church provides for all the hikers coming into town. Aterwards Lorena took us to Stroudsburg to do our laundry. Clean clothes again. Went to the mall for lunch and downtown to a couple of sports stores with camping gear. At 3:00 p.m. Lorena dropped Dutch and me off at the hostel and we thanked her for being a trail angel. I have finished hiking through another state - Pennsylvania. So here are some of my reflections about Pennsylvania: The first few days hiking through the cornfields were easy and pleasant as were the last few miles hiking out of the state. But in-between there were rocks, rocks, rocks and more rocks. There were pyramid shaped rocks, axe edged shaped rocks and anything with an edge shaped rocks sticking up out of the trail. I don't believe I saw any round rocks in Pennsylvania. By the end of the day these rocks had worn us down, only to go out to do it again day after day. The towns were nice along with the people. Boiling Springs was one of my most favorite towns to hike through. But I don't believe that I will ever want to come back and hike on these rocks again. The only thing that made it easier was having Dutch there to hike with. They say misery loves company, well Dutch and I shared these miserable rocks together. Thanks Dutch for the company. I enjoyed hiking with an old retired guy like myself.
Date: 2006-10-16
From: Delaware Water Gap, Church Mountain Hostel

To: Camp Road to Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Weather - Sunny, cold in morning and cool in afternoon.Dutch left walking to the bus station at about 8:45 a.m. He said he wished he could keep going with me. I will miss him - he has been a lot of fun to hike with. I finished packing up my gear and decided to mail a few more of my trail journals home, so I walked up to the post office. When the lady at the post office counter saw me, she said she had another package for me. It was brownies from my daughter Kelley and granddaughter Shanna. If I hadn't gone back to the post office, I would have missed them. I was so happy the lady recognized me that I gave her a brownie. Then I walked up to the bus station to give Dutch a couple of brownies to take on his bus ride. He was surprised and pleased to see me again.I didn't leave the hostel until 10:30 a.m. and walked across the bridge over the Delaware River. It was a beautiful day and walking into the Gap was neat. About halfway up the mountain, I ran into two southbounders, John and Molasses, and a little later when I had stopped for lunch another southbounder, Greatmilk, came along. He said there are still some more southbounders behind him. All three of them plan to hike through the winter. The trail was rather nice most of the way up the mountain then the rocks came and did not go away for the rest of the day. The trail went around the edge of Sunfish Pond, a glacial pond. It was real rocky and slowed me up a little. About 2 miles before Camp Road, there was a vista where you look down on the Delaware River. At the vista there were a couple that were watching the hawks migrating. They pointed a couple out to me. They said I had just missed a young Golden Eagle fly by. Got to the Camp Road, walked up to the Mohican Outdoor Center at about 5:00 p.m.I am the only one staying at Black Oak Lodge. It is nice, I have an electric stove to cook supper on, a hot shower and lights and heat. And even a mattress and pillow. I was even able to buy a soda for supper. It is really quiet here by myself. Wish Dutch was here. As soon as I am through writing in my journal, I am going to bed at 8:30 p.m. I have a long mileage day tomorrow and plan to get an early start. Rain is predicted so I want to get to the next shelter early.
Date: 2006-10-17
From: Camp Road to Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Culvers Gap, US206 to Forest Motel
Miles today: 17.9

Weather - Rain, fog and coldAs I was leaving the Mohican Outdoor Center, I looked back and saw Super Star. She had come to get water. She is a young woman from Georgia doing a southbound thru-hike. She said she is planning to hike until it gets too cold, then finish the trail next year. At the trail head, she turned south and I turned north. It was about 8:30 a.m. It had started to rain. I had on my long pants and my rain jacket because it was cold.At the top of the mountain, the trail followed the edge of the ridge for a short distance giving some great views. It was starting to get foggy as I passed Catfish Fire Tower. New Jersey has its rocks too but they are rounder, spread out more and there is dirt to put your feet on. Passed a couple of neat looking ponds right beside the trail. At Blue Mountain Lakes Road, I found a dry rock under a big spruce tree, the perfect place for lunch since it was still raining. The only other people I saw today were two ladies, Laughing Socks and Rambling Tanager, close to my age, slack-packing. Said they would see me tomorrow.The A.T. went up what looked like a cliff for about 100 ft., the rocks were slippery which made it a little scary. As I went over Rattlesnake Mountain, the wind and the rain picked up. About one mile later I slipped on a rock and fell backwards, trapping my right leg underneath me. It hurt pretty bad and I thought I might have messed up my knee. I walked slower but still got to Brink Road Shelter at 3:00 p.m. Decided to go 3 more miles to Culvers Gap and get a motel room to dry out some. The rain has been constant all day long and there isn't a dry spot on me, even my socks and boots are soaked. My knee is feeling better and I am making good time. Got to Culvers Gap and US 206 at 4:30 p.m. Tried to thumb a ride but no luck, so I walked 2 miles down the mountain beside the road to the Forest Motel. Got out of the wet cold clothes, took a hot shower and went across the street for supper. Back at the room I used a heater they had given me to dry out my clothes. The motel manager is going to give me a ride back to the trailhead in the morning. Put some BioFreeze on my knee and it feels a lot better. Today was not a fun day in the woods. It was long, cold and miserable. Hope tomorrow is better.
Date: 2006-10-18
From: Culvers Gap, US206

To: NJ 23, High Point St Park & High Point Country Inn
Miles today: 14.3

Weather - Cloudy and foggy in the morning, clear and sunny in afternoon, not too cool.The motel manager gave me a ride back to the trailhead and I was hiking out of Culvers Gap at 8:45 a.m. It was cloudy and foggy and not too cool. The weather did not look too promising especially when I reached the Culver Fire Tower about 2 miles away. But when I got to the pavilion on top of Sunrise Mountain the fog had lifted and I could see the sun shining in the west. The trail was rocky about the same as yesterday but I was still able to hike at about 2 mph.I was finishing my lunch around 1:00 p.m. at Mashipacong Shelter when Laughing Socks and Rambling Tanager hiked up. Said they would see me again tomorrow. When I walked out of the woods at High Point State Park, a car pulled up and the driver asked me if I was a thru-hiker. When I said "Yes," he asked if he could drive me anywhere. He is Jersey Dan and drives up to help hikers, he is a retied school teacher. He drove me down to the deli so I could get something to take back to the motel for supper. Then he drove me back up to the High Point Country Inn. Thanks to trail angels who show up right when you need them.
Date: 2006-10-20
From: NJ94 from Vernon, NJ

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Weather - Light rain.It rained hard last night. I slept late until about 6:30 a.m. At 8:30 a.m., I walked next door to the Mixing Bowl Restaurant for breakfast. The building was built in the 1850's. With my rain gear on, I walked down to the A&P Grocery Store to buy a few items to get me to Fort Montgomery, NY. Also in the same strip mall was a Bagel Shop where I got another deli sandwich to take for lunch. Stopped at the bank across the street to cash some travelers checks. Don't think I will bring any next year. A check card is about all you need nowadays. The ladies at the bank were so helpful, they even gave me some cookies to take on the trail. It is 1:30 p.m. and it is still raining only harder. I have decided to take a zero day since it feels like I might be getting a cold. Bought some Airborne to take for the cold to help with the symptoms and a days rest might help also. If the weather had been clear, I would have moved on but why push my luck when I am so close to going home for the winter. Only have a few more days to go.
Date: 2006-10-21
From: NJ94 from Vernon, NJ

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Weather - Clear and coolI didn't leave the hostel until about 10:30 a.m. While standing on the corner thumbing a ride, a young man in a van on the other side of the street said as soon as he got gas he would give me a ride. So I walked over to the gas station. His name was Wayne and he had his young son of about 2 or 3 years old with him. The nicest people have picked me up and given me rides. I asked him to drop me off at Heaven Hill Farm where I got some ice cream.Saw a lot of people on the trail hiking up to and down from Pinwheel Vista and day hiking on the rest of the trail. A lot of leaves have fallen making it a little hard to follow the trail sometimes. I missed the sign to Wawayanda Shelter and walked about a mile too far. But the good news is that I got to see some bears. As I was walking down the trail, I saw something black moving through the woods about 200 feet away. It was several bears and I followed them for about 5 minutes. When we came to a road, I watched the mama bear go across first then turn around and each one of her three cubs darted across the road one at a time. That is when I realized that it was 4 bears I had been watching. I crossed the road and a little farther up the trail turned to the left, the same direction the bears were headed. Sure enough in a few minutes I saw them cross the trail in front of me again only about 60 feet away. When they saw me, they took off running. Right after that I saw some Boy Scouts who told me they were going to Wawayanda Shelter which made me realize I missed the shelter. I turned around and headed back to the shelter. At the shelter there was already a group of Venture Scouts but they made room for me. There were ten of us in the shelter. The adult leaders were camped nearby. There was another troop camped nearby also. The boys shared some of their cookies with me for supper. They were some well-behaved young men with some really good adult leaders. I was very impressed by them.
Date: 2006-10-22
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

Weather - Cloudy and cool.It was Sunday so I asked the adult leader if I could give a short sermon for their scouts before I left. They agreed and my topic for my sermon was, "Trail Magic." It only lasted 5 or 10 minutes and then I was hiking at 8:15 a.m.The trail ran along the ridge of Bellvale Mountain for most of the day and included a lot of rock climbing. When I got to NY 17A, I walked up to Bellvale Farms to get some homemade strawberry ice cream and to refill my water bottles. It was only two miles to Wildcat Shelter and I got there at 3:00 p.m. A southbounder named Grimace arrived at the same time. He recently got out of the Marines. After we finished our supper, a young woman named Thank You came hiking in. She and Grimace have the same birthday in two days. Grimace jokingly told Thank You he was going to get her a puppy for her birthday. They might celebrate their birthdays in Vernon, NJ. Grimace wanted to know if they had a Chinese restaurant there.There has been an owl screeching outside for some time now. I have heard them do this all night before.Today I hiked out of New Jersey and into New York. So here are my reflections about New Jersey. The first couple of days it was a lot of rocks like Pennsylvania, but it got better and the scenery changed with ponds and mountain tops again where I could see where I was going. I especially enjoyed the raised platform trail through the marshlands before reaching Vernon, NJ, even though it was on the end of a 20+ mile day (which I plan not to do again).
Date: 2006-10-23
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Fingerboard Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: few clouds

Weather - Cloudy, windy and real cool.Grimace and I left the shelter at about the same time around 8:15 a.m. Thank You slept in and was up and packing when we left. It was really cold so I was hiking with my thermal pants and shorts, rain jacket as a wind breaker, fleece hat and gloves. Winter weather is around the corner. About two miles up the trail I came to Fitzgerald Falls and the trail went straight up beside them. I am back in the mountains climbing big rocks again. Another mile up the trail, I saw a young couple hiking south. They would be the only people I would see on the trail today. Grimace had told me they were behind him. He thought they might be runaways. I would have to agree, something didn't see right. He looked to be in his early twenties and she in her late teens. They were hiking in jeans, flannel shirts and cotton sweatshirts and their gear looked like it came from a department store. She wouldn't look you in the eyes and he referred to his mail drop as a care package. There was a story here but I will never know what it is because I am going in the opposite direction.The colors of fall and the lakes and ponds are getting more beautiful. When I got to the Lemon Squeezer, I was thin enough to fit through but my pack wasn't, so I had to take it off and lift it up over the crack in the rocks. It was kinda neat.Seeing more deer today. Late this afternoon, I saw a young buck about 50 feet in the woods watching me as I walked down the trail. I stopped and watched him. Then he stomped one leg on the ground, so I did the same thing. He repeated the stomp as did I. This went on for several minutes. It was interesting to interact with him but I was wasting time and I had to move on. Got to Fingerboard Shelter about 5:20 p.m. Took my head lamp with me when I went to get water. Wasn't sure how far or how long I would be gone to get water. It was about 100 yards down the hill and didn't take long. I was there by myself and it was getting dark as I started to cook supper. It is dark in the woods a little after 6:00 p.m. now. At about 7:15 p.m. a southbounder named Combat came in. He had hiked over 20 miles today. It was good having someone to talk to my last night on the trail for the year.
Date: 2006-10-24
From: Fingerboard Shelter

To: Bear Mountain Bridge to Fort Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Weather - Cloudy, windy and cold.Today is my last day on the trail for 2006. Combat and I were both up at 5:30 a.m. The cold weather seems to make you move slower and it was 7:15 a.m. before we both left together in opposite directions. Again I was dressed warm and moving fast to stay warm. The wind is blowing. The skies were red this morning, a sign that bad weather is coming. Only saw two guys, a little older than me, this morning hiking south for a section hike. Again this is a beautiful area to hike in, the scenery is fantastic. Sat in the grass behind a big tree to eat lunch, just to get out of the wind. I saw Bear Mountain from West Mountain and knew it was going to be a bear to climb and it was. Got to the top of Bear Mountain and Perkins Observatory about 2:00 p.m., only three more miles to go. Oh! As I was going up Bear Mountain, I was passed by two day hikers, Bob and a woman engineer whose name I forgot, sorry! Took a short break on top of Bear Mountain and got some lemonade from the vending machine to get me down the mountain, since I was about out of water.As I was coming down the other side of the mountain, I ran into the two day hikers again. As I got near the bottom of the mountain, I ran into another day hiker going only a short way up the mountain. His name was Larry and he is about my age and retired also. He said his car was in the parking lot at Bear Mountain Lodge, which is closed for renovation, and that if it started to rain he would give me a ride to the Holiday Inn Express in Fort Montgomery. The skies were getting darker. It was a little after 3:00 p.m. when I got to the Trailside Museum and it was still open, the trail goes right through it. Finally got some pictures of black bears. Came out the other side of the museum right at the foot of Bear Mountain Bridge - the end of my A.T. hike for this year. The motel was about 1.8 miles further so I started walking. About 1/2 mile further, a car pulled over - it was Larry. He said he figured he would find me walking so he gave me a ride the rest of the way to the motel. This trail angel stuff sure is magical. After a good steak dinner and laundry, it was time to sleep in a real bed. Excited about going home tomorrow.
Date: 2006-10-25
From: Fort Montgomery, NY

To: Travel day to New York City
Miles today: 0.0

Weather - Who cares! I'm not in the woods!I am including today's entry because getting to and from the A.T. can be an adventure by itself, which today proved to be. I caught a taxi to the Amtrak Station in Croton-on-Hudson about 15 miles away. The next train to Penn Station left at 9:48 a.m. and didn't get into New York City until 11:00 a.m. At Penn Station I went to get a ticket to Newport News, VA, and they told me the last train left at 10:38 a.m. and the next one was at 3:00 a.m. tomorrow. So I bought a ticket and decided to go see a little bit of New York City while I had some time on my hands. The station came up to ground level right at Madison Square Gardens. I kind of fit right in with the people in New York, that is an old guy, with a gray beard, long hair, and a strange looking pack. Walked 25 blocks down to the Disney Store. On the way back I passed Radio City Music Hall. It was a very interesting walk. Quite different from what I had been doing for so many months. What a culture shock from only seeing a few people a day where everyone speaks to you to seeing people all around you and no one speaks to you. But I was enjoying every minute of it.Got back to Penn Station around 6:00 p.m. and got something to eat. Sitting in the waiting area, the other people and I watched three little mice run around. It is amazing the areas those little guys find to hide in. I am surprised how fast my time in New York City has gone by.