morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-07-04
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon - Doyle Hotel
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

We found the rocks! Yes, those nasty little anklebiters that Pennsylvania is famous for showed up about 10 miles south of here and just wouldn't go away. We had a good all-night rain last night so after a fantastic sleep we went slip-sliding up the trail. The profile was again pretty easy - but those rocks! At one point we even saw an interdimensional door open from Hell and the demons were pushing the worst offenders (lawyers, politicians, etc.) through to our side. As punishment they are condemned to hike the Pennsylvania rocks forever. Ouch! those poor feet. The Doyle Hotel is a classic on the trail. It is the exact opposite of the elite B&B we just had a couple of nights ago, but unique in its own way. Its an old hotel where all the rooms on each floor share bathrooms and it has a tavern on the first floor. It was one of the original Annheiser-Busch hotels. Nasty little town and nasty little hotel, but neat to be here.
Date: 2008-07-05
From: Duncannon - Doyle Hotel

To: Camping at PA 325
Miles today: 17.4

We had a big climb out of Duncannon up and over Peters Mountain. Finally after topping the mountain the trail flattened out and we had several views. One really nice view was a cooler with Pepsi and Mountain Dew right at lunchtime!! Couldn't have come at a better time! Great trail magic! We got to Peters Mtn. shelter at 2 p.m. Too early to stay so we pushed on. We are camped down at the spring not far from the road-Pa 325. More awful rocks to eat up the feet.
Date: 2008-07-06
From: Camping at PA 325

To: Camp 1/2 mile past I-81
Miles today: 18.3

Great day walking along mountaintop woods almost all day long. Some good views of mountains but the highlight was walking through old abandoned villages. One was the Yellow Springs coal mining town and the other was Rausch Gap coaltown. Nothing but ruins remain of the villages. Both villages were from the 1850's. There was also a little cemetary on the mountain with just a few graves from the 1850's. AHHH! We also had some great trail magic on the road near PA 443. They left sodas, water, beer and ice pops. Terrific angels.
Date: 2008-07-07
From: Camp 1/2 mile past I-81

To: Hertlein Campsite
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Rocky, achy, hard miles. Virginia is known as the heart of the AT, Georgia is the armpit of the AT. Well without a doubt, today we found the anus of the trail. Just how hard are the rocks in PA? Throw all the pots and pans you can find in a little narrow hallway then take all the butcher knives, steak knives, scissors, and everything pointy you can get and stick them in between the pots and pans pointy end up. Now walk back and forth on this mile after mile while wearing a pack on your back. That will give you an idea. Our feet are sore! We are tenting beside the creek at Hertlein (Hurtfeet) campsite. Three or four good views today of the mountains and farms. Again good raspberries and blueberries.
Date: 2008-07-08
From: Hertlein Campsite

To: Hamburg - Microtel Inn
Miles today: 18.8

Today's trail featured - Rocks! all day and then a mile roadwalk, but we got a hot shower and soft bed and a good meal. Today's only view was from a rock outcropping to sit on rocks while overlooking the valley of rocks across to the next mountain of rocks! As hikers we really rock!
Date: 2008-07-09
From: Hamburg - Microtel Inn

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: broken clouds

Much easier miles today via a blueblaze around the Hamburg Reservoir. Rocks only at the first and then a much nicer trail. Only a few views of the towns and farmland today and a nice walk around the lake. When we got here, Rue left the shelter and came back later for her phone which she had forgotten and left her pack beside the road. When she went back, someone had taken her entire pack. She was on the verge of tears, but the caretaker here started trying to get together enough extra gear to keep her on the trail. Just as she was about to start out again, another car showed up on the road and said a pack had just been put back on the road - sure enough, when the theif didn't find money or drugs, they dropped it back off.If Dr. Seuss had hiked here:Rocks! Rocks! Rocks! Rocks!Would you hike upon the rocks?Would you wear out all your socks?Would you throw away your Crocks?Would you pull out all your locks?On these Pennsylvania Rocks?
Date: 2008-07-10
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: broken clouds

This was a 50/50 day. Half the day was the blasted rocks everywhere and half the day was fun walking in open woods on flat trail or climbing some terrific boulder jumbles on the Knife Edge. Those cliffs seemed to last about 1/2 mile and more, lots of fun to clamber around on with wide open views across the farmland below. We also had a really good lunch at the Blue Mtn. Summitt Restaurant. Before that we had another quick lunch at Allentown Shelter and spent the whole time watching an ant try to drag a bug 5 times his size and then run around like he was really frustrated.
Date: 2008-07-11
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: North of Little Gap
Miles today: 14.2

We are camping in the woods 1.5 miles north of Little Gap. 100% of the trail today was rocks! Rocks! Rocks! But about 15% of those rocks were actually fun since we were climbing straight up--fingernails and toenails (what's left of them) over Blue Mountain out of Lehigh Gap where the EPA Superfund site is being worked. It has actually regenerated a lot of vegetation compared to the last time we climbed here. Today contained miles of blueberry bushes full of those delicious ripe treats. As we crossed the road at Lehigh Gap a car pulled over and gave us a pint of store-bought blueberries and two peaches. He also offered us a ride to Palmerton. He was also a backpacker and just wanted to do some trail magic for us! Love it! They were great! We're really bushed and sore, but once again life if good.
Date: 2008-07-12
From: North of Little Gap

To: Gateway Motel-Wind Gap
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: overcast clouds

As usual, more miles of nothing but rocks. A long, hot section of the trail. Bogie had to go way down the trail at the shelter for water. No views at all today. Just of the rocks. We got a room at the Gateway Motel. We had a good hot shower and ordered lots of food. We are resting up for the push into Delaware Water Gap. That will mean the last of the PA rocks. YEAH!!
Date: 2008-07-13
From: Gateway Motel-Wind Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap-Shannon Inn
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Fun again! Yes, we only had a few miles of those blasted rocks and we were able to enjoy hiking today. We had a great lunch on Wolf Rocks. These cliffs overlook a beautiful green valley and into the green mountains. We are at the Shannon Inn in Stroudsburg,PA just west of DWG after a good hot shower and food at the Mexican restaurant downstairs. We almost feel human again. Our plans are to keep our feet up as much as possible to let the swelling go down before we enter New Jersey on Tuesday.
Date: 2008-07-15
From: Delaware Water Gap-Shannon Inn

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

Easy, beautiful miles full of gorgeous views, delicious blueberries, and deer. We had lunch at lovely Sunfish Pond, which is a 42 acre glacial pond full of frogs and little fish. Now we are tenting after loading up on deli sandwiches and cokes. The views from the mountaintop were the best we've had in over a week and were of green mountains and lakes. We also saw a dozen or more gliders floating above us. It was a beautiful day all around and even though we still had some rocks in the trail, they weren't like the Devil's spawn of Pennsylvania. It's great to be back on decent trail.
Date: 2008-07-16
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Brink Rd Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: clear sky

The magic is back! We started the day early and immediately saw a mama deer and fawn. Later another deer, and then a huge black bear eating blueberries. I got a couple of pictures as he kept a weary eye on me. That was about the biggest bear we have ever seen. We then came on down the trail loading up on blueberries and dewberries. They're delicious and everywhere. We climbed to the top of Catfish Fire Tower for some really terrific views of wooded mountains and rivers and lakes. The trail stayed along Mt Paradise and Rattlesnake Mt. with views all along the ridgetop for miles. There's really still a alot of woodland and farms in New Jersey. We also had good, cold well water from a pump near the trail and trail magic in the form of candy from some youth group and a cooler chest filled with sodas and coookies and fruit. One of the best, views was a large pond beside the trail that was totally covered with white and yellow water lilies.
Date: 2008-07-17
From: Brink Rd Shelter

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: clear sky

Lots of wonderful views incuding 360 degree mountain and lake views from Culver Fire Tower. We also had similar views from atop Sunrise Mt. at lunchtime at a nice CCC stone pavilion. There Bacall spent the entire lunchtime answering the usual questions about our experiences on the AT from nonhikers (How far you going? Where'd you start? When did you start? Seen any Bears? Seen any snakes? etc.). We had views all afternoon along the ridgeline of lovely Kittatiny Lake with its blue open waters and lilies around the edge. When we got to High Point Park, the monument there stands above everything. It looks like the Washington Monument in D.C.We also had trail magic three times today in the form of cold Gatorade before a big breakfast at Culver's Gap and cold bottled water at the pavilion, and cold drinks at the Park's AT parking lot. Today's animals included a spotted fawn that stood just off the trail for pictures.Having a cooling rainfall made all the difference in how many miles we were able to cover today. We are thankful for the wonderful blessings.
Date: 2008-07-18
From: High Point Shelter

To: Unionville NY - the Outhouse
Miles today: 7.1

Easy trail through beautiful parkland covered by open green woods. We are staying at the mayor's house in Unionville where we have had a good hot shower and washed clothes, and had a good meal. The mayor started having backpackers stay at his house a couple years ago and has a basement hostle built to accomodate several. We have resupplied at the local store and will head back out tomorrow. The heat index today is 100 degrees so we are very grateful to have a cool place to get in. We continue to meet some of the nicest people you could possibly find. These experiences help renew faith in fellow mankind (either that or they are aliens in disguise!).
Date: 2008-07-19
From: Unionville NY - the Outhouse

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: haze

Beautiful walk through nearly dry swampland, lots of it on puncheon and a mile or more on boardwalk with ample opportunity to observe the wetlands vegetation and many red-winged blackbirds that live there. We also walked through the Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge and saw ducks, geese, great blue herons, little green herons, and snowy egrets. New Jersey is in a severe drought so lots of the areas thar normally flooded are almost dry. We had two good climbs today, up Pochuck Mt. and again up Wawayanda Mt. We had just about forgotten what climbs were like, but the abundant sweat brought back the memory. We stopped for lunch at a farmer's market and loaded up on fruit and ice cream and cherry cider. Just laying in the tent now waiting for the temps to fall enough to get to sleep.
Date: 2008-07-20
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Fitzgerald Falls
Miles today: 13.8

Hot, sweaty, fun miles to Fitzgerald Falls where we are tenting near the base of the waterless falls. Yep! The drought has completely emptied what was once a big, beautiful waterfall the last time we were here. Today we saw another bear, another spotted fawn, and a rattlesnake in New York. That's right! We left New Jersey behind. About half of the day was spent rock climbing more than hiking. We went over huge boulders and slab rock for several miles over Prospect Rock, The Pinnacles, and Cat Rock with terrific views of mountains and Greenwood Lake. Best view today was an ice cream parlor on a road we crossed at midday. Man! That hit the spot.
Date: 2008-07-21
From: Fitzgerald Falls

To: 1.5 m north of the north crossing of Arden Rd
Miles today: 15.1

We had lots of climbs up and down today. We are camping 1.5 miles north of the northern crossing of Arden Valley Rd. Hot in the woods tonight. We saw three lakes today--Little Dam Lake, Island Pond and Tiorati Lake. There were some views of the mountains and the valleys today. The lakes were covered with some beautiful yellow and white water lillies. We also had a great detour to Tiorati Circle for some cold sodas, chips, ice cream and a big Otis Spunkmeyer Banana Nut muffin. Today also included fun putting ourselves and our packs through the Lemon Squeezer. It is a very narrow opening between huge rocks that slant back. We also saw lots of deer.
Date: 2008-07-22
From: 1.5 m north of the north crossing of Arden Rd

To: Bear Mtn Bridge-Holiday Inn
Miles today: 11.6

We are staying tonight at the Holiday Inn Express in Ft. Montgomery, N.Y. Another fun day which included some great views of the Hudson River with big tugboats, and good climbs including Bear Mtn. up to the observatory on top for terrific views all around. We also went through the trailside zoo which had bobcats, foxes, coyotes, deer, porcupines, owls and lots more. It is really a great little zoo with the Appalachian Trail going right through it and thru hikers don't pay. We got to enjoy everything for free while the other tourists got to gawk at us. Lots of fun today! Today also included hearing all the booms from West Point Firing Range. They sounded like they were having a great time blowing things up.
Date: 2008-07-23
From: Bear Mtn Bridge-Holiday Inn

To: Graymore Friary
Miles today: 6.4

We are at the Graymoore Friary where we are tent camping under the picnic shelter at the ballfield. One climb up Anthony's Nose after crossing the Bear Mtn. Bridge. We slept in late at the Holiday Inn and enjoyed lunch before heading out. The Friary is a great place to be. We have been enjoying the beautiful music of the carrilon after a brisk cool shower. The Monestary looks like a castle on the mountaintop, complete with small little windows. Even in the shelter this is a peaceful place to be--especially since we have the pizza delivery boy on the way here. So far it's just us and Hike-On and Free Spirit.
Date: 2008-07-24
From: Graymore Friary

To: Shenandoah Tenting Area
Miles today: 17.5

Up and down wet slick miles today. A few good views today, mostly of Canopis Lake and beach. We also came by a beautiful full waterfall. After the all-night rain and half the day, it's really nice to see the creeks and ponds with water again. We have had abundant drinking water all day.
Date: 2008-07-25
From: Shenandoah Tenting Area

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: clear sky

More up and down miles to the shelter. Some very nice views today alongside Nuclear Lake and some good views of the mountains. Today's animal sightings included a flock of pink flamingos! Yes, that's right. Right in the middle of the woods beside the trail someone had posed a group of pink flamingos. This one may even top the bedpan in the middle of the woods that we had seen before. I still haven't figured out the story on that one, but I am leaning toward the idea that some medical helicopter was flying over and made a quick turn and some poor sick soul had it slide right out from under them and fall into the middle of the woods. I suppose that is as good a guess as any. Today's deli break included a terrific chicken supreme sandwich, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and chips and soda at a place .3 miles off the trail at a road crossing. I love this part of the trail!
Date: 2008-07-26
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter

To: New York City-Holiday Inn Express
Miles today: 0.7

Great big .7 miles to the West Dover Rd and the beautiful 300+ year old Dover Oak tree. Then we had a short road walk and a hitchhike into Pawling, NY for breakfast and a train into New York City. The train ride came complete with a couple of rude and obnoxious NY women for the complete NY experience. Although there were plenty of other seats on the train open they had to get the conductor to ask us to move our backpacks so they could have those seats. Then they continued with snotty comments into the city. We made adequate replies and then trumped them by talking about the "awful diarreah and vomiting that we had" over the last few days (not really but they didn't know it!) and we hope it's almost over. Hopefully they have spent the rest of the day worrying about it every time they had a stomach twinge. Today after we got here we just spent the afternoon enjoying walking around the Broadway/Times Square/Madison Square Garden district. It's a real culture shock to come from the woods where we usually see only 5 or 6 people a day to these masses, and messes.
Date: 2008-07-27
From: New York City-Holiday Inn Express

To: New York City - Holiday Inn Express
Miles today: 0.0

We spent a full day today at the American Museum of Natural History. It is a huge and amazing museum with more exhibits than a person can possibly see in only one day. After the museum we went to see the Broadway play "Monty Python's Spamalot" at the Shubert Theatre. It was hilarious! Better than we imagined it would be. If you are a Monty Python and the Holy Grail fan, then it is definitely for you! This has been a great trip to the city. Back to the woods tomorrow.
Date: 2008-07-28
From: New York City - Holiday Inn Express

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

Easy miles today with a roadwalk/hitch out of Pawling. We left NY city on the train and resupplied and did laundry after we got to Pawling. It was a fun trip to the city but its nice to be back in the sane woods in the tent. On towards Connecticut tomorrow.
Date: 2008-07-29
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Mt. Algo Lean-to
Miles today: 13.6

Hardest climb we have had in weeks over Schaghticoke Mtn. The heat and rocks didn't help any. This morning we had exquisite trail alongside the Ten-Mile River to the confluence with the raging Housatonic River. It looks like a terrific rafting river. We saw lots of Class 3's and 4's. The temps were again a little high-lower 90's and we had lots of good views of the Connecticut farmland-yep, we left New York. After we got here and put up the tent, a fawn walked into the camp and browsed about 30 feet away. Yes, it's another beautiful day to be on the trail.
Date: 2008-07-30
From: Mt. Algo Lean-to

To: Caesar's Brook Campsite
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Another glorious day! We had a big climb up and over Caesar's Peak. We had fun hiking down beside St. John's Ledges. This is an area where many people do rock climbing. We had a great trail that ran alongside the Housatonic River. It is flowing very fast because of all the rain lately. We also had a great cooling skinnydip in the Guinea Brook.
Date: 2008-07-31
From: Caesar's Brook Campsite

To: Limestone Spring Lean-to
Miles today: 15.7

Tenting in the rain! Two hard climbs over Mt Easter and Prospect Mt. plus a lot of hot ups & downs all morning. We had a really nice walk alongside the Housatonic River at the hydroelectric plant. Great Falls was really massive today and beautiful. We also had a great view of a racetrack, complete with race going on, from an old hangglider launch site. Midday we stopped in Falls Village for a terrific lunch & brought supper with us. We are alone here just listening to the rain.
Date: 2008-08-01
From: Limestone Spring Lean-to

To: Laurel Ridge Campsite
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Amazingly beautiful hike all day long. Early morning we climbed the trail from Limestone Spring along some of the best rock formations on the trail and alongside a fast falling creek. We stopped at Salisbury for a meal and small resupply and then climbed over Lion's Head then Bear Mt, both with great vistas of the distant mountains and farms in the valley. Then the highlight of the day was entering gorgeous Sages Ravine, with a mile or more of waterfalls and deep, clear pools of crystal mountain water rushing between close rock walls. Another highlight - we left Connecticut and entered Massachusetts! Another one bites the dust! We also saw the Giant's Thumb, a huge rock standing alone that looks just like its name.
Date: 2008-08-02
From: Laurel Ridge Campsite

To: U. S. 7-Corn Crib
Miles today: 12.7

We are tenting in the back of the Corn Crib. It's a nice little nursery/fruit market and the owner's a really nice lady. We have resupplied in Great Barrington and cleaned the clothes and are about ready for bed. Today was another wonderful mixture with great views along the top of Race Mtn. and Mt. Everett, the second highest in Mass. Then we came way down to swampy, mosquito infested bogs. This is a beautiful state! Oh! While climbing along the open ridge-line of Race Mtn. an airplane buzzed us really low-so I mooned him and he dipped his wings in response. Ah the comraderie.
Date: 2008-08-03
From: U. S. 7-Corn Crib

To: Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: light rain

Great easy hike in wet woods and fields. We started alongside the Housatonic river again then climbed East Mtn. for some truly terrific cliffs and huge rock walls, then back down to swamps and beaver ponds. Its raining again now so we are just chilling til bedtime.
Date: 2008-08-04
From: Shaker Campsite

To: Lee Mass - Pilgrim Inn
Miles today: 11.5

 Nice Walk to US20 and a trail angel ride to town for a hot shower, soft bed, good solid meal, and clean clothes. Nice trail today with one good climb over Tyingham Mt. and over The Cobbles, then beautiful walk through pastures with contented cows and alongside beaver ponds and around Upper Goose Pond. The whole day was full of really nice scenery. We even met some SOBO's from Knoxville who knew all about the area we live in and even knew some of the neighbors. Then at the end of the day, about a quarter mile from the road we met a nice young couple from Chicago who got off on the wrong trail and started asking all about the AT, In the manner of true trail angels, they gave us a ride into town to the motel. Angels abound.Only one small worry, Bacall slapped about 53 mosquitoes and with each one gave a wicked little laugh and looked at me wierd. Later she started weaving her leg hairs into mosquito netting. I'm making her shave tonight.
Date: 2008-08-05
From: Lee Mass - Pilgrim Inn

To: Kay Wood Leanto
Miles today: 16.0

Water, water everywhere. Today's trail was alongside about a dozen ponds and crossed at least that many creeks. We also had a great view from Warner Mt. of Mt. Greylock massif and nearby mountains. Best view on Warner Mt, though was the huge, full blueberry bushes where we stuffed ourselves. Today contained treats for all senses - early morning the tannengers were singing; mid-morning had the beauty of the ponds for the eyes; afternoon we walked through sweet-smelling cinnamon ferns;late afternoon we had the great tasting blueberries; and all day the terrific touch of slapping mosquitoes.
Date: 2008-08-06
From: Kay Wood Leanto

To: Cheshire Mass - St. Mary's Catholic Church
Miles today: 12.8

Nasty, muddy, rainy day with only one view from the Cobbles of the Hoosic River. We stopped in Dalton for a blueberry pancake breakfast, then on to Cheshire (which has zero cats!) for a great supper and a cleanup to spend the night in the beautiful church's parish hall. This is a great place to be in for the night and out of the weather. It has already rained several times since we got here.