morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-09-10
From: Great Barrington

To: The Hemlocks lean to
Miles today: 8.0

Unlikely Events!!!9/10/2007 9:00pm This morning we woke and it was raining. We got our continental breakfast in the lobby. It was hard to decide to continue on but the rain stopped and we checked out. We didn't know how to get a ride back so we went to the grocery store with the intent of asking around. We saw a lady sitting for a bus and thought this could be the way to go. We took the bus and got dropped by the Library because we thought we could use the internet before we left (now this is a spread out town and where we were staying was a good ways form downtown) The library is not open Mondays. So sitting outside the library thinking on how we can get a ride the rest of the way, we take witness to a tree limb from the adjacent church's yard crack and fall on a parked car. It was the most bazaar, random thing ever. There was no cause, it just broke off the tree and fell. So I went over to examine this incident as Keisha went to mail a letter. I met some people including the pastor of this church. Then a lady named Connie come up to me and asked if I needed a ride and if she could buy us lunch. So we went to a diner/pastry shop and talked while we ate. Then we went back to the church where I was able to access the internet. We got back to the trail at around 1:45. We would have beat out the rain if we had not stopped on what we thought was the top of the mountain for an hour. Turns out the top wasn't really the top and we had further to go than we thought. We made it 8 miles safely to our lean-to. It is now getting late and I really need some sleep. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-11
From: The Hemlocks lean to

To: Brassie Brook lean-to
Miles today: 8.8

Connecticut!!!9/11/2007 7:44pm It is the hardest thing to get going in the morning when all you hear is the constant sound of raindrops hitting the roof of the shelter. But nevertheless, we still got out by 9ish. The rain grew constant and heavy. Coming down Mt. Everette was not fun. The slippery rocks made falling nearly inevitable even with carefully planned steps. Race Mountain made us feel like we were in Southern Maine again. It was just exposed ridge line with plenty of wind and rain. And to think that Massachusetts had been treating us so nice. And now this? Why, oh why? It took us 7 tough miles later to hit the state of Connecticut, our fifth state. As for Massachusetts, it was: Mainly A Short State Accommodating Caring Humans Unexpectedly Serving Every Trecker They Saw.Connecticut didn't really prove to be a whole lot better. Getting up Bear Mountain, we had to quite literally rock climb up a waterfall. The rain had made a river of the trail. My entire body was thoroughly soaked. I could have jumped into a lake and not gotten any more wet than I already was. It was 2 o'clock when we arrived at Brassie Brook lean-to. Seeing how slow of progress we were making and how it was not going to be feasible to make it 9 more miles, we stayed put. I sure hope tomorrow will bring sunshine. We slept away most of the afternoon so I really hope I'll be able to sleep tonight. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-12
From: Brassie Brook lean-to

To: Pine Swamp Brook lean-to
Miles today: 21.0

Sunshine!!!9/12/2007 7:43pm The rain last night turned to sunshine this morning when we woke. We met 4 older section hikers midway through our walk. All in all we did 21 miles exactly today. This is now our new high-mileage record. We are at Pine Swamp Brook lean-to and hoping to hit Kent tomorrow. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-13
From: Pine Swamp Brook lean-to

To: Mt. Algo Lean-to
Miles today: 17.3

Kent!!!9/13/2007 8:35pm The trail started off pretty difficult with lots of annoying ups and downs. But before long we were walking next to a river and for several miles we had the easiest walking of the entire trip. We saw trail magic today but unfortunately it was empty. The same thing happened yesterday too. There was a sign saying trail magic in the river but none was to be found. Connecticut is seriously struggling. Though yesterday we did find some free watermelon but they weren't very flavorful. So after the easy river walk we climbed up some really steep ledges before descending into Kent. We were maybe going to walk the mile into the city, but I suggested we try to hitch for a little bit first and see if we couldn't get a ride. This is when Keisha pulls the fastest hitch in the history of the world. The second she put out her thumb, a car slowed down and picked us up. It was amazing. We hit up the post office, devoured some delicious apple treasure cookies, went to the grocery store, the outfitter (which had absolutely nothing a backpacker would need), met a guy who told us all about the town and where to eat, ate at that place, then hiked back to the trail. As it was nearing dark we made it to our lean-to. 17.3 miles is not too bad seeing that we went into town. I saw four deer today while I was hiking. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-14
From: Mt. Algo Lean-to

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: overcast clouds

New York!!!9/14/2007 8:22pm This morning the hiking was pretty tough. We made it over Schaghicoke mountain and a little detour brought us to Bulls Ridge. This one lane covered bridge is supposedly where George Washington crossed the Housatonic River on several occasions. Past the covered bridge was a Country Market gas station store where we had a snack break. We then climbed up and over Ten Mile Hill and crossed into the state of New York. This ended our 52 miles of Connecticut. It was a short state that struggled with trail magic including one failed attempt I found today. Connecticut: Crossing Onto New York Needs Everyone Cross Through Inevitable Connecticut's Unexpansive Trail. It took us 11.2 to hit New York. 1.2 miles later we were at a lean-to. It was 3:30pm, looking like it might rain, and 9 miles to the next shelter. Some Nobo section hikers showed up and told us how easy the terrain was, so we decided to head out and book it those nine miles to get in before dark. It took me 3 hours and 10 minutes to make it to the lean-to by 7 o'clock, which is pretty close to being too dark to walk these days. We saw the AT train station that can take you 30 some miles into NY city that is located right on the trail. We also saw Dover Oak, the 300 year old tree that is supposed to be the largest on the AT. So we have completed 5 states and are in our 6th one now. Pretty exciting. And with the 21.4 miles we racked up today, we again have a new mileage record. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-15
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: broken clouds

Late Again!!!9/15/2007 8:57pm Last night it rained. This morning it rained. We held out in our shelter waiting out the rain. This caused us not to leave till almost 11 o'clock. We ate lunch at the next shelter and then for snack break we hiked .5 to a deli/market. We still had 5 miles up and down a hill to go at around 5 o'clock. So for the third straight day we've had to push it to make it before dark. Tomorrow we'll try to leave a little earlier. We did 16.6 today to make it to an interesting RPH shelter that is located in a neighborhood and only .3 from a major interstate. The sun did come out and the clouds have moved on leaving a chilly,clear night with a pretty good view of the stars. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-16
From: RPH Shelter

To: Old West Point Road/Graymoor Friary
Miles today: 18.8

Spiritual Life Center!!!9/16/2007 9:20pm So New York really is lacking in its water supply. It is also lacking in the amount of shelters and places to stay. This is why we are currently residing at a shelter next to a ballfield at a monastary. So we hiked 19 miles to make it to Graymoor Spiritual Life Center. The Friars at this place have for some time allowed hikers to stay in their shelter by the ballfield. We didn't really know what to expect. What we found was electricity, a sink, picnic table and a table full of food. We feasted on Mac and Cheese, baked beans, and some rice. We are about ready to go to bed. I saw over a dozen deer today. I've been seeing several every day recently. Tomorrow we might see our first bear. OK, bye.
Date: 2007-09-17
From: Old West Point Road/Graymoor Friary

To: William Brien Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

The Hudson!!!9/17/2007 7:30pm We crossed a big river, passed through a zoo where we hit our lowest elevation and saw our first black bears, and climbed up Bear Mountain where we got our first glimpse of the New York City skyline. On our way down from Bear Mountain we met some nice people who gave us some food. I saw 2 rattlesnakes after almost stepping on one. We are now at William Brien Memorial Shelter. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-18
From: William Brien Memorial Shelter

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: few clouds

Typical New York!!!9/18/2007 8:25pm We squeezed through the lemon squeezer (whose name is rather misleading; for all day I was craving fresh squeezed lemonade, but none was to be found). Agony Grind proved to be an agonizing climb, Mombasha High Point gave us our last chance to say good-bye to New York City, and Fitzgerald Falls refused to fall. It took us nineteen and a half miles to reach Wildcat Shelter which turned out to actually be quite tame. Water was not abundant, but a half-mile detour to get some as well as trail angels leaving bottles by the trail got us by without a problem. Eight more miles and we'll be out of the state of New York. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-19
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Vernon
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: clear sky

New Jersey!!!9/19/2007 9:02pm What an interesting day. Before getting into New Jersey we had to go up Prospect Rock, the highest elevation in New York, which I kept thinking we were at but we never were. We finally did make it up and over the rock and down into New Jersey, saying goodbye to New York. New York I'd say was an average state; not too hard but certainly not easy. It provided us with some pretty decent views and I believe I saw at least 1 deer every day we were in the state. It's a nice state to hike in but there's: Not Exceeding Water, You Oughta Really Know. New Jersey proved to be nice hiking. 9.3 miles into the state (17.3 on the day)we hit the road that leads to Vernon, our destination for the night. Hitchhiking is illegal in NJ, so I walked .1 to a farm-stand store to try to get a ride. Before I could walk inside, a man asked If I needed a ride. When Keisha arrived, he took us to the Post Office then the church that supposedly takes hikers. We went into the church, checked the place out(there was no one around), and made ourselves at home. We put clothes in the wash, Keisha took a shower and I went to the grocery store to buy dinner. When I got back, there were a bunch of people there (homeless, I think), but it still seemed alright that we were there. I took a shower, we cooked and ate our food and we were tired for it was starting to get late (7:45pm). This is when we were told we had to leave and couldn't stay the night. So with it being dark outside and us having no place to go, we had to pack up all our stuff and head out into the city. The firestation had a pavilion they let hikers stay, but when we inquired about it we found it had been torn down. Fortunately they allowed us to tent in their yard and opened their restrooms for our use. So we are currently tenting by the fire department next to a pond and a bank, across a fairly busy road from a gas station, and up the street from a shopping center with a 24 hour grocery store. Not all is bad though. We did manage to do laundry and take showers (which it had been 10 days since). But we'll see if tomorrow doesn't go better. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-20
From: Vernon

To: Jim Murray's property
Miles today: 13.5

Murray's Property!!!9/20/2007 8:16pm Woke up today to the sound of morning traffic on the road we were tenting next to. We went to the Rite-Aid (of course) to resupply our snacks then to the Post Office and grocery store. After that, we packed our stuff and headed to the gas station in desperate hope to find a ride cause we did not feel like hiking over 2 miles just to get back to the trail. As soon as I reached the gas station some one offered us a ride back to the trail. We climbed up Pochuck Mountian, crossed through a large marsh area, walked for a while on an almost mile-long boardwalk, and went into the little town of Unionville (which we actually crossed back into New York to get to). After buying and eating a cake in Unionville, we continued on to Jim Murray's property. Murray has a cabin open to hikers with electricity, water, and even hot showers. This is where we are staying; it is pretty nice. So I took a shower, we fought off some donkeys for apples, ate supper and are now in bed. It was a fairly easy 13.5 mile day today. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-21
From: Jim Murray's property

To: Gren Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: clear sky

Mosquitoes again!!!9/21/2007 6:58pm Jim Murray's property was great. I almost wish we could have stayed an extra night. But Georgia is calling and, after watching some turkeys, we hiked 18 plus miles to get to Gren Anderson Shelter. It is a warm night so all during dinner we were (and still are) swatting mosquitoes and watching a deer who has no fear of us. I like the warm weather but do wish it was slightly colder, cause dealing with mosquitoes can be no fun. Ok, BYE
Date: 2007-09-22
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: overcast clouds

An Uneventful Day!!!9/22/2007 7:22pm From Gren Anderson Shelter we walked 20.9 miles to Mohican Outdoor Center. It is a retreat center with a cabin and tensites (kind of like the huts) that offers free tenting to thru-hikers. PA tomorrow. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-23
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: clear sky

Pennsylvania!!!9/23/2007 8:35pm Ten miles from the Mohican place we were crossing over the Delaware River and into another state. A half a mile after that put us in Delaware Water Gap and at the Presbyterian Church of the Mountain Hostel. We got here at half past twelve; explored town, ate, took showers, and then just hung out at the hostel for the rest of the day. New Jersey was nothing special. Very unmemorable. We were just in it and I already forget it. Nothing real exciting happened. It is supposed to have one of the highest bear densities in the nation, but I never even saw a single one (Keisha did see one). Murray's property was still a highlight of the trip. Other than that it was: Nothing Exceedingly Wonderful Just Every-so-often Random Stones'll Ensnare YaBut I guess we should be getting used to the stones. For we are in Pennsylvania. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-24
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: few clouds

20 after 10!!!9/24/2007 8:27pm After we picked up our package, packed, and bought and ate food it was already after 10 o'clock. Even with the late start we decided to go over 20 miles and reach Leroy A. Smith Shelter. What possessed us to go 20 miles after a 10 o'clock start? I have no idea. Pennsylvania is living up to its name. Little rocks that stick up in every direction litter the path. With feet sore from walking on rocks all day, we made it to the shelter just before dark. I am exhausted. Goodnight. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-25
From: Leroy A. Smith Shelter

To: George W. Outerbridge Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

Rocks!!!9/25/2007 8:01pm Pennsylvania is actually kind of living up to its name. I wasn't really buying all of what the northbounders have been saying about how terrible the rocks are, but now I see that they are more annoying than I had expected. Endless miles of rocks sticking up from the ground hurting your feet as you inevitably step on them is not fun. We walked 10 miles on these rocks. Then, after Little Gap, we ridge walked on a gravel road for 5 miles. This was a really neat walk. The mountain was bare save some sticks and a few trees and it felt as if we were walking through a desert. The 90 degree heat added to that affect as well.   After the beautiful ridge walk, we had a ridiculous 1000 foot climb down loose rocks to a road. Right after the road we had to climb back up again to get to the shelter. There had been absolutely no water since we left this morning. So dehydrated, we some how made it up the 700 feet to water and the George W. Outerbridge shelter where we're spending the night. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-26
From: George W. Outerbridge Shelter

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 24.2
Weather: scattered clouds

24!!!9/26/2007 8:35pm We hiked past Bake Oven Knob, Bear Rocks, and Knife Edge. Stopped to get water at Blue Mountain Summit B&B. Met a guy named Gary right before the Allentown Shelter. We made it to Eckville Shelter which is pretty nice. It has electricity, fluch toilets, cold showers and a caretaker that's giving a weather report every couple minutes. He says its gonna start raining here in a bit. All in all we did 24.2 miles. By far the most we've done in a day. I'm tired and my feet hurt. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-27
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

World's Foremost Outfitter!!!9/27/2007 8:29pm We left Eckville and hiked 15.2 to make it to Port Clinton. We passed by The Pinnacle and Pulpit Rock. The views were limited due to clouds, but they were pretty neat. Port Clinton is not much of a town. It is kind of a mix between historic Old Salem and redneck West Virginia. We had to walk .4 to a pavilion where hikers are allowed to stay. We then realized that the Post Office is all the way back to where we came from. We had wanted a ride somehow to Cabela's, so, as Keisha went back for the package, I called the store. About 15 minutes after I called, and before Keisha even got back, a Cabela's van pulled up to the pavilion to pick us up. At no cost to us he brought us the two miles to the store. After wandering around the nation's largest outfitting store for a while, we decided to get some food. Both of us stuffed our bellies with their all-you-can-eat buffet (including "Eat Like A Hunter" mac and cheese). I then bought a head lamp (both Keisha's lights had broke) and we were ready to go. They were willing to drive us right back to the pavilion where we are staying the night. I am currently listening to Keisha's recently aquired mp3 player to try to drown out the highway noise that we're right next to. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-28
From: Port Clinton

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Crowded!!!10/28/2007 8:52pm We left Port Clinton and made it all the way to the 501 Shelter. The sun and rain fought all day for control of the skies and I don't think either won. Nearly 24 miles wore us out. This shelter is a nice enclosed building with bunks, tables and chairs. At least it was nice till almost a dozen hikers including kids bombarded us. Now it's loud and it might be a long night. We ordered stromboli that got delivered right to the shelter (we're next to the PA501 road). It was really good. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-29
From: 501 Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: clear sky

1000 miles!!!9/29/2007 7:22pm We left the crowd of people at the 501 to make it to Rausch Gap Shelter. Somewhere along we hit our 1000 mile mark for the trip. Also at this road crossing we met a guy who was parked by the road waiting for hikers to pass. When we arrived he gave us an apple and a gospel tract and tried to witness to us. It is starting to feel like fall. Feels like hunting and football season; and hiking too, I guess. OK, bye
Date: 2007-09-30
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: Peter's Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: broken clouds

291!9/30/2007 7:00pm We went 17.5 miles today. Not a bad day. Though the last 4.5 miles that my book said it would take from the road crossing, turned out to be much more than just 4.5. It is amazing (and frustrating) to me how Keisha's 2004 book can be more accurate than my 2007 book. But nonetheless, we did make it to Peters Mountain Shelter in real good time. To get water, I had to walk downhill 291 steps (500 feet) and pump from a little spring. Then I had to haul all those 4 1/2 liters back up. Hopefully that will last us and I won't have to do that again. We already ate and got our beds set up and it's only just after 7pm. So I guess that means it's bedtime. OK, bye
Date: 2007-10-01
From: Peter's Mountain Shelter

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

The Doyle!!!10/2/2007 5:08pm So yesterday was the first day of October. After crossing on a highway over the Susquehanna River, we stopped at a truck stop. Discovering that it really had nothing we wanted, we continued to our destination: the Riverfront Campground. This place was the most beat up, run down place I had ever seen. Old trailer homes were all around and the only person we found was an old man we couldn't understand. So the Doyle it was. The Doyle Hotel is a 100 year old hotel that sits right in the middle of Duncannon. The 4 story building with a bar in the basement has about 40 rooms, and, though we weren't really, it felt like we were the only 2 people stayng the night. We checked in, met the mayor of Unionville, took a shower and then waited for the shuttle to the grocery store. We get into the back of a mini van (with no seats), get shuttled to the store, buy a bunch of food, and get driven back. After packing all the food, we ordered a Stromboli; ate, read the Reader's Digest and went to bed. OK, bye
Date: 2007-10-03
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 21.8
Weather: broken clouds

Cumberland Valley!!!10/3/2007 7:29pm About a mile into today's hike I saw a porcupine sitting on the trail. I kept walking and it ran down the trail and eventually away from me. That has got to be one of the funniest creatures to watch run. Once off the mountain, the remainder of our hike was through the Cumberland Valley. This consisted of walking through fields, over highways, on roads, and by people's houses. It was actually a pleasant change of scenery. And with the beautiful weather, it made for a good day of walking. We made it to Boiling Springs at around lunch break time and picked up our mail. We have so much food now. Somehow we managed to fit it all in our bags. With my pack weighing more than it ever has, we continued 4 miles to Alec Kennedy Shelter where we made our first attempt at making pudding. It was actually pretty good. OK, bye
Date: 2007-10-04
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter

To: Tom Runs Shelter
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Half Gallon Challenge!!!10/4/2007 7:57pm   After 7 miles of hiking we reached Hunter's Run Road and the Green Mountain Store. At this store I bought a half-gallon of Hershey's Heavenly Hash ice cream so that I could eat it and join the Half-Gallon Club. To be a member of the Half-Gallon Club you must eat an entire half-gallon of ice cream in one sitting to mark your halfway point of the trail. So in 27 minutes and 18 seconds I consumed 2880 calories, 176 grams of fat, 96 grams of saturated fat(5 days worth), and 304 grams of sugar. Meanwhile Keisha (she opted not to try it), having nothing else to do, just kept snacking and put down a good deal of food herself. Needless to say, shortly after we started hiking again we both were feeling sick. This sickness kept up throughout the whole day for me. Continuing though, we passed by the old midpoint marker that was errected 20 years ago by Chuck Wood of Norristown (I found this humorous). Somewhere between there and Tom Runs Shelter we passed our true halfway point of the trip. I am tired, but at least I don't feel sick anymore. OK, bye
Date: 2007-10-05
From: Tom Runs Shelter

To: Rocky Mountain Shelters
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: few clouds

Counting Down!!!10/5/2007 7:06pm It is a good thing when the miles gone exceeds the miles left to go. We made it to Rocky Mountain Shelters where each of us has claimed our own small shelter. On our hike today we passed by Quarry Gap Shelter, which was one of the nicest we've seen on the trip as far as how well it was maintained. We should be on to Maryland and out of the Rocks-of-vania tomorrow. OK, bye