morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-06
From: Duncannon, PA III

To: Middle Patch
Miles today: 14.4

I got up after a 3rd restful night of sleep. Ipacked, ate breakfast, went to the post office and metmy shuttle by 8:30. Starlight got me on the trail by9:50AM. The most interesting thing about today is Idid not see another hiker all day. No northbound, nosouthbound. I am in my tent now at 7:15pm and still noone has stopped or even walked by. I am camped rightnext to he trail. Anyone can see my tent. I did speakwith a camp counseler at the shelter I stopped torest at. She was there with a group of teenagers. Theywere tenting a couple hundred yards behind theshelter. I could hear them. This made me decide tomove on couple more miles. It is nice to be goingsolo again. I enjoy the company of others, but like todo it alone also. I suspect I will catch up withSpitball, Handlebar and others. I think Johnny K isbehind me somewhere nursing a heel blister. My latest problem is a leaking air mattress. I havedunked it in water 3 times and patched leaks, but itis still losing air. I have to blow it up about 3times a night. I major hassle. So when I get to thenext town with an outfitter I will look at areplacement. It has served me well. I doubt that themanufacturer anticipates the wear aad tear theirproducts go through when used by a thru hiker. To makeit puncture proof it would have to weight 3 times asmuch as it does not. Oh well I can deal with thistemporary inconvienace.Today wasn't hard but I am tired. I will puff up mymattress, and listen to ohe radio for a while then getsome sleep.Clay
Date: 2006-07-07
From: Middle Patch

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I slept well despite the frequent times I had to blowup my mattress throughout the night. I got a bit coldbut not too bad. I hit the trail by 6:45. The day wasuneventful. I did eventually begin to see other peoplebut it wasn't until mid day. I stopped by the WilliamPenn Shelter for lunch. It is offically 999.6 miles toMt. Katadin from here. So now I am under 1,000 milesto go. The trail today was rocky and overgrown. Lotsof poison ivy. I made it to 501 Shelter about 4:00.Theshelter is near a highway and near a the town of PineGrove Furnace. This is good because I and my sheltermates ordered pizza for dinner. I showered in theoutdoor solar shower which wasn't much more than agarden hose hooked up to a black plastic barrel. Thesolar heat must have taken the day off today. But noproblem am used to the cold showers. I ususally takemy little shower with my water bottles each night.More rocks for tomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-07-08
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagle Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was the worst day yet for trail conditions. I amexhausted. I only did about 15 miles but it took about9 hours to do it. Terrible, terrible rocky trail. Someboulder hopping, but mostly it was stepping on rocksimbedded in the trail. All sharp and jagged. My feet,ankles and achillies tendon are all sore. I don'tthink I will be doing many miles tomorrow. I haveabout 85 more miles off this rocky Penssylvania stuff.Clay
Date: 2006-07-09
From: Eagle Nest Shelter

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: light rain

Today was a short day. I and Johnny K went into town.We each had to do a little resupply and wanted to geta shower and laundry. We yogied (the art of gettingpeople to offer hikers assistance) a ride to theCabellas store. We ate at the restaurant and did someshopping. I bought a pair of rain pants, and a waterfilter. I decided to invest in one. I have gotten lazyin treating my water. I get thirsty and see this clearcold water and can't wait the 20 minutes required forthe chemical treatment to work. With the filter now Ican drink as soon as I run it through the filter. We got a ride back to the town, did our laundry andshowered. We then stayed in the park in our tents.Evening storms came up, but I stayed dry in my tent.More miles tomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-07-10
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up early and walked to a little diner down theroad. Had a great breakfast and was on the trail by7:30. There was initially a slight climb out of town,but it soon leveled off to jsut ridge walking. Againparts of the trail were rock infested. The weather washumid. The threat of rain was predicted for theafternoon so I walked quickly aad arrived at mydestination, Eckville shelter by 3:00. Just I reachedthe road crossing I met a nice family vacationing inthe area. They were from Lancaster county, Amishcountry, they werent Amish but were dressed somewhatlike the Amish people. I think they had about 6 kids.More than I could count. They drove two cars. Theyasked me lots of questions about the trail and why Iwas doing it. They were impressed and very verysupportive. It renewed my drive to do this trek. Igave them my trail journals website to review. I can'trecall their name exactly. I believe it was Keniston.Nice people. More rock miles tomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-07-11
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Bake Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Today had it all. I started at 7:00 and immediately thehumidity was oppressive.The first mile and a half wasthrough a wet boggy jungle like area swarming withmosquitios, gnats and no see-ums. When I wasn't wipingsweat I was swatting at bugs. The next mile and a halfwas a steep climb to add to the exertion. Then when Ireached the ridge top I was to walk all day I wasgreeted with the worst terrain yet. When it was a pathit was full of sharp uneven gnarly rocks. Then thepath would lead to a boulder field and would spent 30minutes covering a half mile jumping from one uneven,tilted slippery rock to the other. Later in the dayrain was added to the challenge and de rocks reallygot slippery. Now don't forget the gnats, and otherbugs swarming my eyes, nose and ears. Someone walkingbeind me would think they were seeing a man inconvulsions as I walked along then let go of my hikingpoles, letting ten dangle from my wrists as I tried tosmash the little buggers between my hands as I clappedthem in front of my face. Right after the clap have toget a hold of my hiking poles before I end up trippingon them as I stumble along. In summary I tough, tough, long day. When beganthinking about doing this trip it was days like thisthat I worried about the most. Hot, buggy, toughterrain in the summer woods. But there is satisfactionin knowing I made it through this day so I am thatmuch stronger. Tomorrow a short day into a small town,Palmerton, PA to resupply, wash clothes and get ashower. I will stay at the old city jail that has beenconverted into a hiker hostel. I wonder if I have towear one of those old black and white striped prisoneruniforms? I wll let you know.Clay
Date: 2006-07-12
To: New Videos
Miles today: 0.0

Bear Videos:http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=926372043&n=2http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=926382176&n=2Wild Ponies:http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=926412661&n=2Mountain top view:http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=926382176&n=2
Date: 2006-07-12
From: Bake Knob Shelter

To: Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 7.4

Ok so it really isn't a jail. It is the basement ofthe former police station. So no bars on the windows,and no black and white prison clothes. But is is avery nice stay (for a hostel) hot shower, laundry andfood nearby. The people are very friendly in town andthat has helped to refresh my and my fellow hiker'smoods. The heat, bugs and terrain have taken a toll onus all and a nice day of rest helps. Unless it is atotal thunderstorm rainout tomorrow I will continue onnorthward. New Jersey is not far away.Clay
Date: 2006-07-13
From: Palmerton, PA

To: Wind Gap
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: overcast clouds

After my night in Palmerton I left out at about 7:15.The trail began with the steepest climb I haveexperienced for the entire trail. It was the climb upLehigh Gap. It was rock climbing most all of way. Manytimes I had to hold my trekking poles in one hand inorder to grab a rock ledge to pull myself up on. Therewere no ropes affixed to grab. It would have helpedbut was not absolutely necessary. The climb was a couple of hours and then I reached thefamous Palmerton Superfund site. To explain; Foralmost 100 years the New Jersey Zinc company producedwink at two factory sites in Palmerton, PA. Over allthese years the smokestacks of these factories emittedsmoke that drifted to the nearby forestedmountainsides and eventually killed all of thevegetation in approximately 1980 the EPA shut downNew Jersey Zinc and began attempts to reforest the nowbarren mountain sides. A description of the view wouldbe a moonscape, or a bomb zone. The pictures show thedesolate depressing landscape.After about 5 miles of this I moved beyond the damageand into mosquito hell. It became impossible to stopas they would swarm all around. I slapped on as muchdeet as possible and kept moving all morning. Thetrail continued its relentless rock infestation. Thesides of the trail were right up next to he path sothere was no way to avoid or walk around the rocks, soit was grit my teeth and do it for most of the day.I arrived at the shelter I planned on staying at, TheLeroy A. Smith shelter. It too had an army ofmosquito¢s standing guard. I looked at the map and sawthat 5 miles away was a road crossing with a motel .2off the trail. Even though I was tired and beatdecided a bug free room with air conditioning and ashower was worth the extra time on the trail for theday. I arrived at my final destination at 8:0pm. A widedecision I made. Shower, A/C and a bed- THE BEST.Clay
Date: 2006-07-14
From: Wind Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I started at 6:30 from the motel. Honestly a bittired. I stayed up too late watching Red Sox and A'sgo extra innings on ESPN. I couldn't help it. Ihaven't seen any baseball all season.The trail continued as it did yesterday, rocky. Themosquitoes were even more aggressive today. I stoppedonly when I reached a road that provided at least somebreeze to blow away the pesky critters. I kept asteady pace all day and got to the hostel about3:0PM. The first thing I did after arriving and takingmy boots off was to get a cold Mountain Dew. I drank a12 ounce can then a 16 ounce bottle, and then bought asweet iced tea. It seems like that has been thestrongest craving I have had lately. At the motel lastnight I slammed 3 as soon I got there. At the hostel the bunk room was full, had no windowsand no air-conditioning so I decided to set up my tentin the backyard. It was cool and quiet.Clay
Date: 2006-07-15
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap II
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Still at the shelter. Taking a zero day to rest myfeet. It was supposed to be a hot and humid day, butrain materilized, so it was cooler. Either way it was agood day to rest. I have been reading. I went throughmy pack to reduce weight and of course ate more food.Tomorrow I will hit the trail. A heat wave is expected forthe coming week. Another challenge to overcome.Clay
Date: 2006-07-16
From: Delaware Water Gap II

To: Camp ken-etiwa
Miles today: 17.6

Last night, during the evening many more hikers showedup at the hostel. I think there were at least 25 for afacility meant to hold maybe 8. I am glad I wastenting. I got up and left by 6:40 to avoid themorning rush. I traveled alone as I crossed theDelaware River into New Jersey. That is 7 states downand 7 to go. New Jersey is only 72 miles then into NewYork. Unfortunately the rocks don't stop at the border andneither do the mosquitoes. By now both are just anignored annoyance. I stopped for lunch at the MohicanOutdoor Center. It is a commercial campground. I laidaround for 2 hours, rested my feet and drank softdrinks. I started again at 2:40 and continued on until6:0 PM when I arrived at Camp Ken-Etiwa-Pec. A formerYMCA camp now a commercial youth camp. They offer 2screened in shelters free of charge to thru hikers. Itook a look at each and the best description Ican offer is the prison barracks in the movie Cool HandLuke. Dark, buggy, mousy, humid and depressing. Iquickly developed a plan B and found the camp directorand basically begged to be allowed to put my tent upin the soccer field. Her name was Christine. A verynice college age girl that said, her boss is not hereso go ahead but it never happened. Then she offeredto feed me left over spaghetti. I jumped at it. Freefood, but even better, I didn't have to cook outsidewith the mosquitoes. I told her I had at least 4 hikerbuddies an hour behind me that would help finish offthe spaghetti. She was happy to help more hikers.Johnny K, Catskill Eagle, G Man, and BLT showed uparound 8:00.She gave us brownies and helped us get coldsoft drinks. We even yogied (got for free) showers.It turned out to be a good evening except for the damnedmosquitoes. Tomorrow the forecast is for 97 degrees. We will seeif 97 in New Jersey is the same as 97 in CentralArkansas.Clay
Date: 2006-07-17
From: Camp ken-etiwa

To: Sunrise Mountain
Miles today: 15.0

I got started at 6:40 am to beat the heat. I, G Man,Number 2, and Johnny K made it to Culver's Gap bylunch time. We ate a Gyp's Tavern. They were very niceto us. The food was good and they let us rest and hangout in the "back yard" Behind the tavern is a patioarea with a community lake, and an area for horseshoepitching. We knapped under the shade trees until about4:00 then walked on another 5 miles or so. We picked anice spot with a thick blanket of pine needles. Therewas a nice breeze, so this kept the mosquitoes off ofus. Since I had eaten 2 cheezeburgers for lunch Iskipped dinner and went to bed early. The heat takes atoll on us all. More of the same tomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-07-18
From: Sunrise Mountain

To: Murray Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

We started early, 6:15 to avoid the heat. We got tothe summit of Sunrise mtn, found some trail magic inthe form of cold sodas and ate our breakfasts. Then itwas on through the constant attack of mosquitoes toHigh Point State Park. We got there at noon. It wasalready hot. We found the concession stand and gotdrinks and lunch, yes a cheeezeburger, but I addedbacon this time. Then a swim in the lake and a nap inthe shade. I started back on the trail at 3:00 for thefinal 7.1 miles. The only good thing about thisportion of my traveling day is that the severe rocksthat I had been cussing about since I crossed intoPennsylvania finally diminished. I was so pleased, buttoo tired to celebrate of even pick up my pace verymuch.I got to the Jim Murray Secret Shelter about 6:00 pm.This shelter is on private property. It has runningwater, shower, and electricity. I chose to tent. Moreroom and I can keep up with my stuff.The interesting part of this stay was the pair ofdonkeys in the adjoining pasture. Have you ever hearddonkeys bray? I can really describe it but I guess theclosest I can say is a thousand cats with their talescaught under a rocking chair. Amusing at first butgreatly annoying at 2:30 in the morning, but ear plugsdo help. More miles tomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-07-19
From: Murray Shelter

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 13.5

We got up after a night of being serenaded by thedonkeys. It was a quick walk into Unionville, NY forbreakfast at a small diner, then back on the trail formore hot miles to Vernon, NJ. There isn't anythingmore I can say about the heat and mosquitoes so wewill skip it. I am staying at a church hostel at thissmall town. I will get some dinner, hopefully somerest in the cool then back on the trail tomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-07-20
From: Vernon, NJ

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 0.0

Instead of sleeping in the hostel I decided to move tothe grassy area over by the fire dept, a couple ofblocks away. I set up my tent along with Number 1. Ijust prefer my tent over a room full of people. But Inights rest was poor. It was jsut too close to oheroad and the street / parking lot lights. So I wastired most of the day. I had a chance to go shoppingfor new boots so I chose to take a zero day instead ofhiking out. I went to Gander Mountain in a town about30 minutes from Vernon, NJ. I tried on and a bought apair. I put them back in their box and walked over toa restaurant to meet the people who had taken me totown. Rapunzal, her sister Susan, and sister's friendSusan. I ordered my meal and then put my new boots onagain. They just never felt comfortable enough soafter lunch I walked back over to Gander Mountain andreturned them. We went back to the hostel. I wasdiscouraged about my feet and boot problem. I couldhike on another week until I got to a town with anoutfitter. Not a pleasing thought but the only plan Icould think of for now.For the rest of the day I got a hair cut and juststayed off my feet. Except I did go to the grocerystore aad bought a bowl of sliced watermelon and twotomatoes. Two things I had been thinking about overthe summer as I walked. That was my meal for thenight. Sliced tomatoes with salt & pepper, thenwatermelon for desert. The most fruit & vegetable Ihave gotten in a long time.For the evening I stayed at the hostel. I positionedmyself near the fan and used my ear plugs to drown outthe other noises. I was tired and slept pretty good.Clay
Date: 2006-07-21
From: Vernon, NJ

To: Waywayanda Shelter
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: haze

I devised a plan as I slept last night. We already hada ride to the trail arranged with a trail angel namedShamrock. When he arrived I asked him about ANY otheroutfitters in the area. He said there was a Campmorestore a little over an hour from here and he waswilling to take me after he shuttled people to thetrailhead. I was happy again. When I had put my bootson this morning I knew I couldn't go another week inthem. The walk in the rains of last month and thegrowth / swelling of my feet had made them jsut tootight across the toes to bear anymore.We made it to Campmore by 9:30 as they opened. I got anice guy to help me. I told him what I was doing, whatI had been experiencing and what I needed. He made asuggestion on a boot. I also went from a 9.5 normal toa 10 wide. I think and hope this will solve a goodbit of my pain. The sore bottom of my feet may remain,but I don't think I can get away from that until Ifinish. But the tightness across my toes will be gone.WE retuned to the hostel. I had planned to takeanother zero for the day but got ansy sitting aroundfor a 2nd day so I chose to do a short 5 miles thisafternoon and to break in my boots a little bit. Itwent pretty well as I suspected and I am pleased. When I arrived at the shelter a thru hiker from 1990was there to provied trail magic. His name wasJourneyman, and he had met Model T in 1990. So theyhad arranged to meet here today, and I along with some otherhikers benefited from the magic. Burgers, cookies, ice cream.. YUM. The only bad thing is I didn't cookso my packweight didn't go down yet. Maybe I will eatextra tomorrow. Rain is back in the forecast. The goodnews is generally the bugs don't bite in the rain. Wewill see what happens tomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-07-22
From: Waywayanda Shelter

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: moderate rain

Since I have the new boots I knew I shouldn't do amajor mile day so I chose to go only to the nextshelter 12.1 miles away. I started at 7:20 andtravelled by myself all day. My traveling partners oflast week are all ahead of me now since I spent a dayand a half shopping for boots.The forecast today was for severe thunderstorms in theafternoon. I kept a slow but steady pace. I passedfrom New Jersey into New York around 11:00 am. Istopped for a break at an ice cream shop. It is partof a family dairy business located in the area. Greatice cream. I could have stayed for a second servingbut it had begun to drizzle and I still had 2 miles togo. By the time I arrived at the shelter it was asteady rain. No one was there when I arrived. I layedout my wet gear and then decided to take a nap. It wasonly 3:00 pm. But the mosquitoes just wouldn't let me doit. By now the rain had subsided enough that I couldset up my tent. I then ate a bite for lunch. Model Tand Ranger Dawg showed up to stay for the evening. Wevisited for a while. Nice guys I enjoyed talking withthem. The rain has held off, and it never got severe butthere is a breeze now which is keeping the mosquitoesaway. Hopefully no storms develop overnight. Moremiles tomorros.Clay
Date: 2006-07-23
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: William Brien Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

The miles didn't come easily today. I felt jsut a bittired. I started at 7:20 and there was a steady butlight rain. The terrain was rocky and parts of thetrip were tricky when the rocks were slippery. Oneparticlar portion of the trail today called AgaonyGrind was extremly steap and I used hands and feet topull and push myself up. I made it up and over with noaccidents. I am slow and methodical over these trickyparts, especially when am travelling alone. I slippedand fell a couple of days ago and had I actuallyinjured myself it would be a major hassle to getmyself to medical services. Not immpossible. It is nottotal isolation here, but walking out with a brokenarm, or having to be carried out would really put adamper on the trip.I stopped at Lake Tiorati Park around 4:30. There wasa hiker feed being provided by former thru hikers. Itwas a nice little break and free food. I gobbled asteak sandwich and some watermelon then hiked on thelast 4 miles of my day. I arrived about 7:50 just asthe mosquitoes were beginning to find me. I threw upmy tent and climbed in. Glad that I didn't have tocook tonight. More miles tomorrowClay
Date: 2006-07-24
From: William Brien Shelter

To: Graymoor Center
Miles today: 15.2

Even though I did 19+ miles yesterday I didn't sleepwell so I started the day tired. The plan for the daywas only 15 miles so I was happy about that. I startedthe day alone but was in frequent contact with NoPliers and Willow and Switch. The day had lots of sights. We started with a coupleclimbs, the largest up Bear Mountain. The views werenice. After stopping to eat "first lunch at BearMountain we descended into the Bear Mountain Park,Lake, Museum, Zoo and most importantly concession standwhere we all had "second lunch" The trail goes rightthrough the park, past the lake, the swimming pool andright through the zoo. We did the ususal looking atthe various animals but the hard pavement was hard onmy feet and the fact we will had about 8 miles to goforced us to press on. We walked across the BearMountain bridge that crosses the Hudson River. Bigriver, Big suspension bridge. Both were impressive.We had a steep climb after that that took a toll on usall and after that it was mostly just a quiet, hard,tired march to the Graymoor Spiritual Live Centerwhich is a Large church facility tha allows hikers tocamp on their ballfield. The short 15 miles day turnedout to be a long, hard hot day. I took a cold showerate dinner and went to bed.Clay