morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-05-13
From: George Outerbridge Shelter

To: Delps Trail
Miles today: 10.7

Everytime I tried to sleep on my right side my "sidesting" reminded me it was still there - it had to be a pulled muscle as it was still such a bother. Seems like I am falling apart here No more blue skies it was hazy and grey just waiting to start a down pour. However, as I left at 9:00 the sun seemed to peek through the clouds and it quickly got hot. It was about to get a lot hotter as I got to Lehigh Gap. The trail went up and up steeper and steeper until I had to put away my hiking poles to use my hands in climbing the rocks. There are only one or two more places along this trail that are as bad as this one, one of those places is Katahdin where you don't have a full backpack on. As I got over the worst climbs I saw a rock painted with thte American flag. It was awesome to see it up here - much better than all the other grafitti I have seen at various places. I had climbed a rock scramble of a mountain side and now entered upon an open and desolate mountain top. Unlike most other mountain tops here on the At nothing was growing up here. The area has been nick named "the nuke zone" due to the absence of vegetation. A Zinc smelt plant had been in operation close by in earlier years and the air polution had killed all the trees, flowers, bushes - all the plants. Now many years later after the zinc smelt operation has been closed the vegetaion is slowly struggling to return. Leaving the sad area I got down to Little Gap and from there it went up another rock scrambler, albeit this time a much shorter one ten more miles to go but now the sky was again starting to darken. And two miles later I heard the first thunder. OK, time to look for a campsite or get drenched! EWe found a campsite 2 miles further down the trail. Dodger went for water while I pitched the tents. Not a second too soon. The very moment Dodger returned the rain started coming down heavily. At 17:00 it was all over but by now it was too late to pack up and walk the rest of the way, so here we stay.
Date: 2006-05-14
From: Delps Trail

To: Wind Gap
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Stuck my head out of the tent and looked up at the sky - urgh! It was dreary and grey just a matter before it would pour again. Got breakfast and went over the plan for the day with Dodger and at 10:00 we finally shamed ourselves into getting going especially since it had not yet rained! I walked on and didn't seem to see to much of PA besides the trail itself. If you avert your eyes your chance of stumbling, falling, and twisting an ancle increases exponentially. Halfway - or a little further, we stopped at Leroy Smith Shelter. I sat down and read the register and on page 58 a thruhiker from '04 or '05, Peanut, had written a funny story. Dear Pennsylvania, we have had a great time together but lately I fell like our relationship has changed. You hurt me. Although you say you are sorry you keep hurting me and others are saying you are hurting them too. I too have a confession to make: I am seeing someone else, his name is New Jersey. He has promised to treat me well and I believe I deserve it. I will try to remember the good times we have had but for now our ways must depart. Peanut (The story is a replica from memory of what I read - the real story in the shelter is even better) I laughed so much reading the story as it was really well written. Leaving the shelter Dodger and I gathered all the trash including a bag of hamburgers! That was just torture seeing two hamburgers without mold getting thrown away but we didn't know how old they were and besides a mouse had been visiting the bag!!! Coming down to Wind Gap we got rid of the trash and filled up with water at the Gateway Motel, located only 0.1 mile West of the trail. Across the street and a little way up the ridge we found a good campsite before the rain set in.
Date: 2006-05-15
From: Wind Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: moderate rain

"What are you doing?" I asked from the inside of my tent. "packing" was the answer from Dodger. In pouring rain at 6:00 in the morning we were getting ready to leave for Delaware water Gap. It was cold and it didn't take long before we were soaked. I walked ahead while dodger approached the rocks with more experience and respect. It was no fun climbing down Wolf Rocks in the rain. The rocks get rather slippery. At 14:00 I reached the church hostel. Two section hikers, Jane and Lance, were already there seeking shelter from the rain. Before getting too comfortable I went back outside to go to the post office where a maildrop from LeQuire was awaiting. Once again I entered the church hostel dripping wet. This time, however, I immediately got in a hot shower and put on warm dry clothes. It feels so good to be clean again. Then Dodger arrived - had I really looked like Dodger when I had arrived - like a drowned mouse? He was also completely soaked and really cold so it was good that the hot water was ready for him. Meanwhile I opened the treasure box. Thanks for all the food and goodies. It was incredible nice to sit inside and eat a piece of chocolate while the rain drums on the windows outside. The rain finally stopped so Dodger and I walked down to the nursery/bakery, which had a special: a hot dog and a warm piece of apple pie for only $1.49. We each had a couple of rounds of that Later in the evening we splurged again and shared a pizza for late dinner. The restaurant was closing so we turned our heads toward the hostel each with a slice of pizza in our hands. Walking back the local police officer drove by us slowly not just once but three times. The third time I turned around and waved hello - he must have thought we were drunk,   when all it was - just a stiff legged hiker shuffle. Midnight we turned out our headlamps and said goodnight.
Date: 2006-05-16
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Blairstown
Miles today: 10.3

Yeehaw! We get to hike outside in the wet cold bone-chilling down pour again!!! At least we only had ten miles to go. Where did the sun go? Maybe I should turn this hike into a southbound one - meaning heading south from where I am right now.After a while the rain slowed down and finally stopped. Bob Templin and my NOLS friend Cathy came to meet us on the trail. They hiked with us to the trail leading to the Mohican Outdoor Center. The wet rocks were really slippery and while talking Dodger slipped on one of the rocks. Luckily he seemed OK, nothing broken and nothing hurt too bad. Down at the cars Bob had brought a sandwich for both Dodger and I and of course a Dr Pepper Dodger then went with Bob while I went with Cathy. Cathy and I are both NOLS graduates from their Outdoor Educator Program and the Wilderness First Responder course. It was a lot of fun to meet again as we haven't seen each other since last August. Dave, Cathy's boyfrien came home from work and we spent a fun evening together.
Date: 2006-05-17
From: Blairstown

To: Blairstown
Miles today: 0.0

Dave cooked us a phenomenal breakfast aster which Cathy and I went to Ridge & Valley School where Cathy works as a Guide (teacher) for 5-6th grade. I had the pleasure of talking to her class about hiking the trail. The class had just spent three days on the trail so they knew a lot about hiking already especially since Cathy and Yvonn had been there to help them. after lunch I met briefly with 7-8th grade to answer any questions they had about the AT. Back home Cathy took me to the local German butcher "Alpine" where she bougth me a package of Pumpernickel bread and some Land Jaegers. When Dave got home we all went to Sarah Street Grill in Stroudsburg. It was almost depressing to see how fast we could drive the stretch I had just spent a day to cover! However the dinner quickly removed that "cloud".
Date: 2006-05-18
From: Blairstown

To: Brink Rd Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: few clouds

After yet another fabulous breakfast Cathy took me back to the trail. It had been a great visit and hopefully not the last. See you soon Cathy and tell Dave hello too. Two miles into the trail I got to Catfish Firetower. It is a beautiful place with great views and it is an excellent campsite, however you must carry your water up there as there are no springs. After the brief stop the trail got really easy as it was following an old gravel road. I passed the trail leading down to the buttermilk falls where I had just been a few days earlier (a really beautiful water fall, if you have time you should take the 2 mile blue blazed trail that leads to it). I was now approaching Rattlesnake Mt the last mountain to cross before the shelter. Something moved at the edge of the narrow trail. I looked at the underbrush and right there 3 ft from me was a snake. It had a distinct pattern on its back. It was a brownish colored snake with a black tail and at the very end of that tail was attached several rattlers! I had found a Timber Rattlesnake (Klapperslange in Danish). It was slowly moving away from me so I got a good look at it. I stomped the hiking poles on the rocks to make the snake move a little further before I passed it. I was all excited. I had seen a Rattlesnake on Rattlesnake Mt. guess the mountain got its name for a reason. Two more miles down the trail and I was close to the rendevouz point where I was supposed to meet up with Dodger again. I walked up to Brink Rd Shelter and there both Dodger and Bob were waiting - with a cold Dr. Pepper Dodger had taken a look at the schedule and was afraid we would be at the Greenwood Lake Post Office on a Sunday so Bob suggested we drove there right now and relocated the package - and so we did. After getting the maildrop and a surprise box from Tambourine we headed back toward Vernon. On our way out of town dodger spotted a bear in a backyard so we stopped and went back to see it. The bear was HUGE around 500lbs. The bear was walking away from the yard and back into the woods so no pictures this time. WOW I have seen both a Black Bear and a Timber Rattlesnake all in one day We dropped off the package in Venon but kept the surprise box with us. Bob is an avid bird watcher and knows a lot of the back roads in the forrests so he took us within 100yards of Brink Rd Shelter! There I opened the box from Tambourine. The box was full of surprises such as: an AT bandana that she had signed, homebaked caramel brownies, tea bags, mountain house meals, q-tips, shampoo, advil, a large bag of trail mix, etc. Thanks a lot for the presents, Dodger and I will have a great time sharing it. The shleter had a lot of bugs in the air so we were quick in making dinner, clean up, and store the food bags in the bear boxes.
Date: 2006-05-19
From: Brink Rd Shelter

To: Gren Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: light rain

Woke up to intermittent rain complete with grey clouds and cold temperatures. Got up anyway - what heroes we are!!! Dodger walked the road as his ancle was still hurting him so we agreed to meet at the bagel store where the trail crosses the road at Culver's Gap. Walking went easier than expected as the rain was light and the trail nicely graded without too many rocks. Coming up a hill ten minutes after leaving the shelter just to the right of me was a Black Bear! He was about 30 yrds away from me. He took a look at me and then ran off (good thing I hadn't looked at myself in the mirror or I might have run off too!) He was a big bear about 350lbs not huge like the one I had seen yesterday but still big. He ran 20 yards then stopped turned around and took another look at me before he waddled off into the forrest. I never got afraid as the bear was moving away from me, instead I just stood still and avoided eye contact while enjoying the experience. It was so exciting. The bear was beautiful and didn't look anything like a big dog - it was too big. His fur was thick and dark brown and he moved with such gracefulness - in contrast to a certain hiker! From that moment and all the way to the bagel store all I could think about was bears so it didn't even face me that I went the wrong way for a while or that it was raining much harder and I was completely soaked. Dodger was waiting and we had a bagel with eggs, bacon, and cheese, and a small cup of coffee. It was still raining hard so we decided to go to Gyp's Tavern. There we had a table enjoying a coke and a burger while reading books and waiting for the rain to subside. Finally in the afternoon the rain quit and we walked up to the first shelter. It had been a short, rain soaked, but exciting day.
Date: 2006-05-20
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: Secret Shelter
Miles today: 18.0

High point Shelter was the destination so once agin under gloomy clouds we trotted off. Dodger had walked ahead of me up to Sunrise Mt via the road so when I met up with him he had already become pals with a pidgeon. That friendship, however, did not last long. After receiving a peanut the pigeon left its business card right on Dodger's right on top of Dodgers left boot. No more friendly chat here! Next break was at Mashipacong shelter. A momma bird had a nest full of young hatched babies sitting on one of the raftes inside the shelter. It was really a qute scenario until we sawa big blake snake slowly making its way over the rafters towards the nest We could move the snake so it would not get the young baby birds but that wouldn't be fair to the snake - I sure wouldn't like it if someone came and took my food bag! Anyway, the snake would just crawl right back up if we moved it. The horror and beauty of the circle of life. Five more miles of easy walk and we would be at the visitor center. Got lucky just as it started to pour down I had arrived at the Ranger station/visitor center for High Point. We stayed there for half an hour until the rain stopped. Didn't want to take the chance with the weather so we only saw the High Point Monument from a distance. It kinds of looks like a miniature of the Washington Monument in D.C. Ahh, only half a mile to the shelter, guess I will make it! Walking in on the trail to the High Point Shelter I saw several tents up - not a good sign. It means it is crowded. The shelter was not completely full but with lots of kids and a dog running around Dodger and I opted to just get water and then go on. After another 3 miles we were only 2 more miles away from the Secret Shelter. I pushed on although I wanted to stop for the night. It would not be long until it got completely dark and I was really tired. There was the sign "Well water 100 yds" We found the pump - and more important - the Secret Shelter with electricity, a sink, and a jot shower It was getting dark now so we quickly unpacked, cooked dinner, and was off to dream land ZZzzz.
Date: 2006-05-21
From: Secret Shelter

To: Pochuck Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: light rain

Beautiful morning. Blue skies and sunshine. Dodger took a shower while I cooked us oatmeal and an omelet. As breakfast was over with so was the clear skies - no fair I had not yet had a shower so like the past few days we trotted off under grey rain-filled clouds. Soon, however, my attention was distracted by all the bog bridges we had to cross. It was rather neat and I am very thankful we didn't have to wade through all that marsh water. After a short road walk we then entered a wildlife refuge with lots of birds - because of rain and cloudy weather and a dropping temperature we didn't dtop to watch the birds much. At the end of a water hole there were 6 Swanns swimming around they were so beautiful. We arrived at Pochuck and after waiting an hour to see if the weather would clear (which it didn't)we decided to stay for the night. Catalyst came to spend the night too and later on Guns of Jesus came in. It was good to see them again.
Date: 2006-05-22
From: Pochuck Mountain Shelter

To: Vernon
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Up and go before the rain starts again. We had been told about a trail angel box located down the trail a little ways and sure enough there it was we had found it. I took a pack of cheese crackers, a razor, some toilet paper, and a juice. What a nice surprice. Before reaching Vernon the trail becomes the longest board walk on the AT. It was fun to cross especially since it was not all hot and humid = less mosquitoes and gnats! Dodger's ancle was still hurting and he wanted me to continue on the AT without him as he felt he was slowing me down. So we stopped and had a little chat about priorities - mileage versus friendship! and off we went - together. Reaching Rd 94 into Vernon there is a neat nursery/bakery so we "had" to stop there and buy a Strawberry/Rhubarb pie It was soo good. A nice lady then gave us a ride into town. At the church hostel I opened up the box from Betty McCoy. It was a heavy box, wonder what she possibly could have put in it? After removing the tape and all the protective layers I found a beer: A Becks - Uhmm! Hmm! Better save it for later as no alcohol is allowed at the church hostel. It sure is tough to wait though. There were also some of my favorite baked crisp sugar peas, I think I can get addicted to those they are so good. Lots and lots of good food: soups, chili, ramen, pasta, cheeses, tuna steaks (yes, I know I am a very spoiled hiker), German nutella, chewing gum, and licorice. - No, this hiker will most definately not be starving the next week. Did my laundry at the church and after giving a donation Dodger and I went over to the firestation where we camped at the pond in the middle of the town. I cooked soup, chili, and stuffing - the most heavy items I had! As we finished cleaning a car pulled up. The guy introduced himself as Shamrock. He was a trail angel and offered us a ride back to the trail in the morning
Date: 2006-05-23
From: Vernon

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Shamrock picked us up and took us back to the trail. The trail went up steeply Wawayanda Mt. We stopped at a nice overlook but didn't stay long as the wind was cold. We could see the bakery way down and the cow field that the trail had crossed. On we went. Took a break at Wawayanda shelter. A ranger station was close by so we took a detour to get rid of trash and use the bathrooms. Back on the trail I got a little ahead of Dodger but then I took a wrong turn. After a little while I noticed the abscence of white blazes and as the trail took a 90 degree turn without a blaze indicating the change of direction I knew I was on a wrong trail Back again. A new state. I am crossing the NJ/NY stateline. NJ seemed to have gone by in a wink. No Dodger here, and half an hour later still no Dodger her! Hmm, either he is hurt or he has gotten ahead of me when I took that wrong turn. Most likely he is ahead of me so I started walking and 30 minuttes later talking to a southbound hiker the though was confirmed - Dodger was ahead of me. Well, I guess it is catch-up time the last 7 miles. My impression of NY so far: sure are a lot of huge boulders to climb and cross over. The Eastern Pinnacles were beautiful wanted to sit and watch the sunset here but I figured Dodger might be worried - he didn't know how he had passed me. Just as I got to the trail leading to the shelter Dodger was on his way out looking for me. The shelter was full with Law and Order, Una Mas, Suds, and Catalyst so it was tent night.
Date: 2006-05-25
From: Island Pond Outlet

To: West Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 11.2

How can it possibly already be morning? I barely closed an eye. If only I could find that racoon's house, then I would stomp around there all day and prevent that little rascal from getting a good days sleep! All 0.6 miles to the Lemon Squeezer I was coming up with new ideas as how to prevent racoons from steeling my food and how to keep this one particular racoon up all day - such as stuffing a dirty stinky sock in through one of the holes to his home. The Lemon Squeezer, there was no doubt that was what I had reached. In front of me where these huge boulders through which you had to go inbetween, no small task for a huge backpack with a tiny hiker! The small space inbetween the rocks is not only long and narrow, but it is also tilted at an angle and very wet with moisture running down the sides of the rocks. It only took a few steps before I heard the unmistakenly sound of a backpack scraping against the rocks and then, then I was stuck! The only thing that got me going again was all of Dodger's "encouragements" They made my red hair flare up and somehow someway I made it through the narrow passage. Now it was DOdger's turn but he of course made it through just fine with his tiny backpack. Through with the Lemon Squeezer - or so I thought because I had just walked from the frying pan straight into the fire because in front of me was this huge boulder I had to get up and over. No way I could get up and over it with my pack on - would just have gotten over balanced and fallen over the edge. How does a 110 lb person get a 60 lb pack up on a boulder that stands taller than your head? - It is called Red Hair and it works even better when your hiking buddy is standing there laughing at you. Unbuckled and threw, pushed, shoved, and flipped the pack up over the boulder. Phew, now I had to somehow get up there. I climbed around the tree that was standing at the edge and before long was standing on the top smiling at Dodger telling him it was his turn. He just smiled back and said he was gonna walk the easy route - the route that went sround the boulders. No way! So after I helped him with his pack he too crawled around the tree and made it up on top. We later had a brief stop at the old Fingerboard shelter and from there on I went to William O'Brien Shelter. It started to look like rain so on I went up over Black Mt. to the Pallisades Interstate Pkwy. If you follow that road there is only 34 miles into N.Y.C It felt very much like the possum trying to cross the road to get to the other side. Breathe! I made it across alive! One more climb (Steep rocky one if I may add) up to West Mt Shelter.It is one of the oldest shelters on the trail - built in 1928. After darkness fell we could see the lights of the skyline of N.Y. city. Great place but no water up there.
Date: 2006-05-26
From: West Mtn Shelter

To: Graymoor Friary
Miles today: 12.2

Dodger took a yellow blazed trail while I followed the good old AT down the mountain and up over the next. On top of Bear Mountain was Perkins Tower but it was closed as were the restrooms, due to renovations. Down on the other side I found Dodger at the Bear Mt. Inn, that too was closed due to renovations. We came to the famous AT Trailside Museum and Zoo which is the lowest elevation on the AT (124'). It was not a joyful walk through the zoo. There were Hawks, coyotes, bobcat, porcupines, and black bears, all trapped in small cages. These were animals I have seen lived free out in the wild nature. I had met them walking along the trail. It felt very wrong and incredible sad to see them all penned up like this. The rain just seemed to add to the depressing mood. Finely we were out of there. I wish the trail did not go through there. We walked over to Fort Montgomery to see if a package had arrived for Dodger and had lunch there. The trail crosses the Hudson River over the magnificent Bear Mountain Bridge. It was getting late afternoon and a downpour was threatening in the horizon so it was on rapid feet I covered the last 6.4 miles to Graymoor Friary. So glad to finally be there as my feet were a little sore. You do not actually camp at the Friary but instead down at the Ball field. They have a pavillion that hikers are invited to use for cooking (and tenting if the weather is bad.) Two tired hikers fell asleep under their bug nets while the mosquitoes buzzed around.