morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-16
From: Leroy Smith Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA (hotel)
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: broken clouds

Started at: Leroy Smith ShelterEnded at: Delaware Water Gap, PA (hotel)Miles: 20.5Today was a rough one. Not just a lot of miles, the rocks were brutal. It's not the big boulders that are the problem. It's the fist-sized rocks that are shaped like giant shards of glass. In places they literally jut out of the trail like teeth. Or they stretch endlessly before you, tumbles of softball-shaped rocks piled up loose on top of each other, just waiting to turn an ankle. Your foot twists this way and that looking for a flat place to step. Your ankle cocks sideways and backward and every which way on slants. You find yourself walking at a snail's pace as minutes and hours tick by. Your two feet look as though they're having a conversation, all turned in toward each other. You look at the map and realize with agony that you've only managed to hobble two and a half miles.This was our day for twelve ridiculously pain-filled hours. But we made it here. It took a lot of foot rests, a lot of cursing and a few tears but we did it. And now we are handsomely rewarded. The hostel in town is closed for renovation, so we got a room at the Ramada. We have a flushing privy, a payphone that doesn't require quarters, and a large box that makes sound and moving pictures - all in our own private room. Plus the hotel has internet access, a game room and an indoor pool. Oh and the continental breakfast starts at 6. Aaaaaah.We both took showers AND baths the instant we got into the room. Now we're lying in bed bellyaching over our poor feet, watching the idiot box, unable to move. We've each consumed a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. That was supposed to be just a warm up to dinner, but we can't seem to rouse ourselves. That's right, not even for FOOD. Hard to imagine, folks, I know. Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA (hotel)

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Started at: Delaware Water GapEnded at: Mohican Outdoor CenterMiles: 10Today we crossed into another state: New Jersey! It felt like a long day even though it wasn't because we hit more rocks and we're still so sore from the past two days. But we're feeling very lucky tonight. We're sleeping with a roof over our heads while a big thunderstorm is thrashing about out there. We did manage to get a little wet, but no matter; we took hot showers the instant we got here. But we're wondering where our friends are. No Dog and No Beard were supposed to show up at the Ramada last night but never did. And Lucky Dog was supposed to make it here tonight. Hope everyone is nice and dry.We met a neat couple here at the lodge tonight. Bronwyn is originally from Australia, but lives now in New York City with her husband Mike. She's an actor and he's a musician. We had a good time just hanging out talking with them. They went out for dinner and when they came back brought some trail magic with them: two pints of ben & jerry's, whipped cream, and magic shell. Can you belive that? Amazing.We're also feeling lucky because my sister Jen will be picking up our packs tomorrow so we can slackpack, then she'll take us back to her place to see our much-missed pup, and stuff us full of mexican food, which we haven't had in three and a half months. Yippie skippie!Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-06-18
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Culvers Gap (house)
Miles today: 17.9

Started at: Mohican Outdoor CenterEnded at: Culvers Gap (house)Miles: 17.9Today was a great day to slackpack. It was hot, hilly, and water was hard to come by. We were drenched in sweat all day with the sun beating down on us. While we were out hiking, my sister Jen picked up our packs from the Mohican Outdoor Center and met us at the trail. It was fantastic to meet up with her, Micah, Sasha, and Hallie (Sasha's cousin). Jen's amazing. She brought an ice chest stocked with an incredible array of treats: chocolate milk, yogurt, water, juice, cherries, chips... and she made us bagel sandwhiches on the spot! (Apparently Dad informed her well: "They're gonna be ravenous. Have a ridiculous amount of food waiting there. Fruit, they love the fruit!") She even brought us new shirts, which we badly needed. Then they drove us to Campmor, an outfitter that's like the Mecca of thruhikers, and we replaced and acquired some equipment with the help of Micah's employee discount. Score!! We bought a couple silk sleeping bag liners and a new, ultralight tent so Arwen has dropped 3 pounds!! Sometimes it's great to get an outside perspective on this thruhiking thing we're doing. When I ambled out of the back of the truck in my Crocs (plastic camp shoes) and hobbled across the Campmor parking lot, Jen exclaimed, "Sissy, what's wrong with you?" Her tone of shock and concern startled me. It jolted me for a moment from my hiking induced waking coma (typical after 15-20 miles). I looked down, expecting to find my leg gashed open and bleeding or something. And then I realized she was just referring to my pathetic, handicap-esque manner of walking. I chuckled and said, "Oh silly, this is how I walk all the time." Now let's stop for a moment and think. Who, in fact, is the "silly" one in this situation? Could it be my sister, observing someone whom she has heretofore known to be perfectly able bodied and in good control of her faculties now unable to walk as a normal upright biped? Or could the silly one in fact be me, thinking smugly to myself what great shape I'm in, like some olympic girl scout, and how I'm kicking this trail's tail. Hmm, yes, let's ponder that one. Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-06-19
From: Culvers Gap (house)

To: County Road 519 (house)
Miles today: 17.3

Started at: Culvers GapEnded at: County Road 519 (house)Miles: 17.3We slackpacked again today. It was hard to get going - all I wanted to do was hang around with Jen and Sasha - but now that we're out here I'm glad. It's a crystal clear, sunny, cool day. Unbelievably perfect, with a strong cool breeze that keeps the warmth of the sun from feeling hot. It's a great day for hiking.We ran into Monkeyman today. He actually took public transportation to get from a friend's house in Connecticut back to the trail in NJ. He spent almost as much time on the rail as on the trail and got little sleep. Now that's dedication! When Jen picked us up at the trailhead this evening, she brought fresh baked cookies and cold milk (among other treats), which we polished off immediately. When we all expressed our gratitide with mouths full of chocolate chip deliciousness and sporting milk moustaches, she said she's going for the distinction not of "trail angel" but "trail goddess." Little sister, I think you've earned your tiara and then some!Tonight we were going to have leftover fajitas for dinner, but instead Jen spent hours preparing one of my favorites: veggie enchiladas. We ate and watched a bad action movie together and enjoyed what little time we actually have to spend not either hiking or running a zillion town errands. I'd be sad we're leaving tomorrow if I didn't know that we'll all be back together in a week (Sasha too!) with our Mommy Too for my birthday. In the mean time we'll be cranking out the big miles.Oh, I almost forgot to give you an update on Sasha. She's doing great here. The ruptured anal gland that was so painful for her has healed. She's put back on a little weight and looks very healthy. She and Hallie play together non stop like sisters, fighting over the same toys, chasing each others' tails, and competing for attention. And she completely adores Jen and Micah. It makes not having her with us so much easier to know that she's being cared for so well. Jen snapped a few pictures of her in the past few weeks she's been here. We'll try to get those uploaded soon.Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-06-21
From: Old Woods Road (stealth tenting)

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: clear sky

Started at: old woods roadEnded at: Wildcat ShelterMiles: 20.4Long day. Well, it wouldn't have been as long if we'd been able to get our tired bums on the trail before the crack of 9. Oh well, we were too cozy in the new tent we tried out for the first time. We entered a new state today: New York. That makes 8 down, 6 to go (NY, CN, MA, VT, NH, ME). Only 814 more miles left. Snap!Entering NY seems to have brought us into a slightly different terrain than NJ. We're starting to see a little more elevation, more puds, less flat. And a lot of the big ups involve scampering over large boulders. I say scampering, but I suppose with a 30-40 lb pack strapped to your back, one hardly "scampers." It's really more like heaving yourself up boulders with a lot of grunting and a lot of help from your trekking poles. I still say I'd take big uphills over little sharp rocks any day. We're gonna have to get back into the groove though and figure out how to get the big miles in and still get to the shelter before dark. Tonight when we arrived it was already dusk, the shelter was full and everyone was in bed with lights out. We felt bad, but they were nice enough to move over and make room for us. But I hate cooking and eating in the dark. After a while if you're not careful it can start to get you down - waking up early, packing up as fast as you can, walking all the livelong day until it gets dark, and only then stopping to eat and sleep. Now we're pretty used to the idea that we will walk all day every day except for one hour in the morning and one hour at night. My only pet peeve is when that one hour of not walking in the evening is not in the daylight. But when you get it right it feels really good. The ultimate hiking day consists of rising early, eating a hot breakfast, getting a long lunch break and a few other foot breaks, getting 18-20 miles in,! *and* getting to the shelter before dark. We'll give it a shot again tomorrow.Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-06-22
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Fingerboard Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: light rain

Started at: Wildcat ShelterEnded at: Fingerboard ShelterMiles: 14.3Well today New York kicked our butts up and down the mountains. It said, "You tink yah tough hikers? You tink you can hike 20 miles ovuh me? Fuhgetaboutit. Yous be cryin fuh yah muthah before da day's ovuh." And it said all of this in a thick Brooklyn accent.We had planned to do a 20 today. Instead we'll try for a 20 tomorow. It didn't help that it rained all day on us. Not hard, but consistent. That's ok. It was good to be reminded what it's like to hike in mountains instead of over flatland. Plus, as tough as the giant boulders are, at least hiking over big rocks you feel like there was something to see. There've been amazing rock formations all along the way, including the "lemon squeezer," aven't seen him since Damascus. He's getting off the trail tomorrow for a week long bike ride (not getting enough exercise out here I guess) but it's fun hanging out tonight.We're all settled into an awesome shelter - made of stone, sitting atop a huge flat rock, perched over a green valley on a slope above a lake. It's stopped raining now, and Arwen's got a small fire going. He strung a clothesline above it to dry out our socks and shirts. We should be in good shape for a big hike tomorrow.Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Graymoor Friary (shelter)

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: few clouds

Started at: Graymoor Friary Ended at: RPH ShelterMiles: 18.9Ultimate Sun Hat Diaries, Part DeuxHaving proven itself as a formidable protector from the sun, the next major test for the Ultimate Sun Hat was the recent rains we've had. At first it performed valiantly, its tinted windshield beading up the rain as fast as it fell. But then, unexpectedly, tragedy struck. As it continued to pour all day, the aforementioned manly angled shape of the USH gradually gave way to that familiar feminine rounded shape. In addition, where the brim of the hat meets Arwen's backpack, the finely woven raffia began to crease and then - no! - unravel. This crease had a ripple effect throughout the entire brim, giving it a noticable wave. The USH was now a sun hat fit for the belle of the ball. All it was missing was a handsome sash, perhaps in red organdy (to set off the red in Arwen's beard), tied in a bow under his chin. **********************************In other news, today we had a hot and sweaty hike, but we had fun hanging out with Dharma. At one point we cruised by a beautiful blue lake. It was so inviting. But we missed our one chance to jump in, thinking the trail would wrap around the other side of the lake. I counted it up and this makes the fifth lake we've passed up swimming in. We have got to get our priorities straight.Tonight at the shelter we met two neat ladies out for a section hike, Barbed Wire and Spongebob Squarepants. Doug, another hiker we hadn't seen in a while rolled in a little later. We had a good time just hanging out cooking around the picinic tables. Tomorrow we meet up with my stepmom Kathleen and her husband Ronnie. They're flying in all the way from Texas to do some trail magic and celebrate my birthday (6/27). We can hardly wait!Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-06-25
From: RPH Shelter

To: NY 22 (cabin)
Miles today: 19.7

Started at: RPH ShelterEnded at: NY 22 (cabin)Miles: 19.7The only thing better than getting to see your mom on the trail is getting to see both your moms. I was expecting to see my stepmom today, but my mom mom was there at the trail head too. Bonus![Quick note for those readers who aren't acquainted with our crazy family: My mom and stepmom both used to be married to my dad, neither is now, and they're good friends.] Mommy One and Mommy Too, as we still call them, met us at the trail today and fussed all over us in a double dose. They ooh'd and aah'd over our bulging muscles. They winced at our crusty, brown toes. They had a good laugh over the Ultimate Sun Hat. And they even pretended we don't smell too bad. "You're not nearly as stinky as we expected." Gee, thanks moms.They came well stocked with all kinds of lunch foods, and we ate and drank in astonishing quantities (what's new). They'd already seen a few other hikers before we got there and handed out some trail magic - sodas, twinkies, and hostess cupcakes. It didn't take long before they'd both zeroed in on the red, bumpy, painful rash I have all over my upper thighs. It started weeks ago and has only gotten worse and worse in the heat. "Oh honey, that looks terrible!" "What she's got there is a bad case of diaper rash." "Let's stop off and get her some Desitin on the way home." Uh, what? Excuse me, did you say diaper rash? Now Moms, I know you said I'd always be your little girl, but I didn't think this is what you meant.As if all this attention and trail magic weren't enough, this evening was topped off by a visit from Lekiless. His buddy Trevor had picked him up earlier in the day to drive him to a family vacation in Maine. On the way up there they stopped off at the cabin we're staying in, and the moms cooked us all a fabulous porkchop dinner. It is so fantastic to be clean again, to be in a cute little cabin, and to be surrounded by some of our favorite people!Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-06-26
From: NY 22 (cabin)

To: Skiff Mtn Road (cabin)
Miles today: 21.4

Started at: NY 22Ended at: Skiff Mtn Road (cabin)Miles: 21.4This morning we rose early but were treated to a hot breakfast of bacon and eggs. We said farewell to Leki and Trevor and hit the trail for a slackpack.Mommy Too, who organized this whole extravaganza, is turning out to be quite the slackpacking trail fairy. She insists on bringing lunch to us every day so we're not slowed down by the weight! So today around noon as we were coming to the pre-arranged lunchtime road crossing we could hear the moms and Jen all excited saying, "Here they come! Here they come!" How awesome for a couple of stinky hiker trash to be greeted with such enthusiasm. And Jen brought Sasha and Hallie for us to see. Sasha is doing great by the way. In fact, she absolutely adores Jen and Micah. Given the choice of curling up next to us in bed at night or Jen, Micah and Hallie, she'll come lay with us for a little while, but she always ends up with them. We try not to look at it like we've been replaced, but that Sasha has settled in very happily with her foster family, who obviously dotes on her. It really sets our minds at ease to know she's so well looked after. Thanks Jen and Micah!So speaking of my wonderful sister, I had to ask her what on earth she told the moms in preparation for meeting up with us. We were, truth be told, a little disappointed not to have elicited the usual expressions of surprise and disgust at the momumental wall of stench that accompanies us and our gear everywhere we go. "Sissy, remember when we picked you up? You said you were making yourself nautious with your stench." Oh yeah that's right. I chuckled to myself with pride. You know it's gotta be bad when a hiker can't hack it. And I'm hard of smelling to begin with. I remember that day when we walked into Campmor straight from the trail Micah said to Jen, "You're right honey, they really do smell like animals."Well who knows, maybe a few days of slackpacking will civilize us. The moms insist on washing our clothes every day. We tried to tell them it's a losing battle they're waging, but who can argue with the pride they take in getting the stink out, even if it takes three wash cycles to do it. Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-06-28
From: Skiff Mtn Road (cabin)

To: Housatonic River (cabin)
Miles today: 0.0

Started at: Skiff Mtn RoadEnded at: Housatonic River (cabin)Miles: 22.4Back on the trail after a wonderful day off. We ran into Tortoise this morning and tipped her off that the moms would be meeting us at the next road crossing, lunch in hand. And boy did they deliver. They brought huge sandwhiches, cherries, gatorade and mom's homemade fudge. Happy hikers!Well after grabbing some grub we had to say goodbye to Mommy One. She was about to hop a flight home. It means so much to me that she was able to come all the way out here to see us. I'm grateful to Mommy Too for making it happen. This afternoon was yet another illustration of how everything just seems to work out on the trail. We had planned to meet Ronnie and Mommy Too at "the bridge" about 20 miles up. But when we got there, we noticed in our guidebook that there are two bridges, about two miles apart from each other. Which one did they mean? We waited for a few minutes at the appointed time and when they weren't there, we decided to push on to the next bridge. I was fretting at first that they'd be waiting on us (it takes about an hour to hike 2 miles), and then, as we got closer to the second bridge, I worried that it had in fact been the first bridge we were supposed to meet at. Little did we know that while we were worrying over that, Mom and Ronnie were stressing over being a little late to pick us up. It had taken longer than expected to get Mommy One to the airport, pick up our maildrop at Bear Mountain (they *are* angels!), and negotiate unexpected rush hour traffic. When they got to the trailhead they were a little freaked that we weren't there yet. But little did they know... that as soon as we made it to bridge #2 we realized our error, stuck out our thumbs and the first car stopped for us. She drove us back to bridge #1 just as Mom and Ronnie were pulling out. Our driver hit the gas, chased 'em down and we caught 'em! It worked out great because this way we got a few extra miles in and they didn't have to wait for us. Excellent.Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-06-29
From: Housatonic River 

To: Laurel Ridge (cabin)
Miles today: 16.9

Started at: Housatonic River Ended at: Laurel Ridge (cabin)Miles: 16.9Today's yuppie lunch report: Seaweed salad, followed by salmon and tuna sushi rolls, grilled chicked pesto pannini, and strawberry banana smoothies. Are we getting soft? Well maybe... I think we could really get used to this slackpacking thing.We crossed into another state today: Massachusettes. Another one bites the dust! Just before crossing over we walked through one of the most beautiful spots we've seen so far on the trail: Sages Ravine. It's a gorge with a clearflowing stream that cascades over large boulders and pools under dark caverns. Had it been sunny we would've loved to go for a swim.Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-06-30
From: Laurel Ridge (cabin)

To: MA 23 (cabin)
Miles today: 21.1

Started at: Laurel Ridge Ended at: MA 23 (cabin)Miles: 21.1Today we slackpacked yet again, thanks to the untiring efforts of Mom and Ronnie. These two are unbelievable. They get up at the crack of dawn, feed us a hot breakfast, get us to the trailhead as early as possible, *bring us lunch!*, run our errands, pick us up in the evening, feed us a huge hiker dinner, wash our laundry, and then while we go to bed they stay up late doing all the planning of where to meet for lunch and dinner the next day. Seems almost as exhausting as hiking to me. Actually, they were supposed to be heading back to Texas today but Mom decided her work here wasn't done. "I'm having too much fun. Besides, that diaper rash isn't gone yet."All this hard work on their part has made it such that all we have to think about each day is: eat, hike, eat, hike, eat, shower, sleep. We keep finding we've lost track of the days. All we are are mindless walking machines, like the two bicyclists in that animated movie "The Sisters of Seville." This will give us a huge jump on our schedule and give us a little room to work with as we head into the toughest terrain of the trail: the White Mountains and southern Maine.Today we had two beautiful climbs with great views up Race Mtn and Everet Mtn. Mom and Ronnie met up with us for lunch and shuttled us into a nearby town, first to get ice cream and then to get lunch. I had a brie burger with carmelized onions. Arwen had some kind of exotic wrap. This has been like a vacation from our thruhike!Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net
Date: 2004-07-01
From: MA 23 (cabin)

To: US 20 
Miles today: 20.7

Started at: MA 23Ended at: US 20 Miles: 20.7Someone wrote in a shelter register, "Massachusettes? More like Mosquitochusettes!" We couldn't agree more. It seems this whole state is nothing but one big swamp. At least the trail maintainers have gone to the trouble to build long boardwalks throughout. We finally had to give up our 100% natural bug repellant and go with 100% deet. We'll probably go blind or lose an appendage but at least we won't have any mosquito bites.Today's yuppie lunch report: Potroast sandwhiches, smothered with melting provolone, still steaming hot. Fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies the size of your face for dessert. Camera 1 & Camera 2Heather & Arwenvaughan@pocketmail.comhttp://www.hobbithole.net