morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-05-24
From: Hertlein campsite

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: few clouds

Day 79 Wednesday Walking today for Bill and Mary Ewing, whom I hope will pick me up in Port Clinton. I got up early after a great night's sleep in the tent. For the first time since I have been on the Trail, there was no condensation inside my tent. I ate the Breakfast of Champions(peanut butter and honey on English muffin, rest of the reconstituted strawberries, and peanut butter and honey on Pop Tarts), packed up gear, took down tent, and was out by 6:50AM. The sky was sunny and stayed that way all day. After a short ascent from the campsite, the Trail levelled off on the top of a flat ridge and stayed there for almost all day. The first 10 miles or so were pretty easy, graded 2 to 4, with a rare 6 to 8 section thrown in for variety. I walked the last 2 miles or so with a section hiker from Philly named Brendan. He let me use his cell phone to call WOE(Bill Ewing) to tell him when I'd arrive in Port Clinton. Brendan and I shared half an orange and a fig newton. We ate lunch at Eagle's Nest Shelter. After I left the shelter the Trail turned evil, with several sections at 7 to 9 and the majority no better than 5. These rocks aren't any worse than those in other states, they're just so unrelenting. The forest today was primarily deciduous, probably logged or cleared about 25 to 50 years ago. The undergrowth in most places was predominately fern or huckleberry, which made me think that it might have been burned out recently. WILDLIFE REPORT: saw no deer, snakes, or chipmunks. They probably smelled me coming and ran for their lives. I have seen several pink ladyslippers the last few days, but no yellow ones. The last mile down to Port Clinton was very steep and covered with dead leaves which made footing treacherous. When I was entering town I met TANK leaving. A local man named Wharf Rat drove by then and offered me a ride to the grocery store, which I didn't need. When I told him I was going to the Pavilion to meet a friend, he offered me a ride there. He said he and his son are starting a section hike from here to Katahdin in early June-I may meet him again. Once at the Pavilion I met Greg(no Trail name yet) from Connecticut who is section hiking NOBO. Then Eagle Eye came in about an hour ago. He is a retired Air Force doctor who is doing the whole Trail,NOBO. He started at Springer on 3 March; I only caught him because he got sick and was off the Trail for 4 days. I walked down to the Port Clinton Hotel to make a reservation for next Tuesday night and to call Bill Ewing. The hotel doesn't take reservations- it's first come, first served and only has three(3!) rooms. No pay phone, but the lady let me use the mobile in the bar to contact Bill. We got our schedule coordinated so I am sitting at the pavilion waiting for him now.
Date: 2006-05-25
From: Port Clinton, PA (West Chester)

To: Johnson City
Miles today: 0.0

Day 80 Thursday Now I know how visiting royalty are treated. My fraternity brother Bill picked me up in Port Clinton and brought me to his home in SE PA. He and Mary live on 17 acres in a house that could only have been designed, built, decorated, and amended by very creative people. The guest bedroom is a large loft, with open rafters, its own large private bath, and skylights. I slept great, not surprising since they fed me a delicious meal of lasagna and that we stayed up late visiting. Bill is an artist who does lots of portraits by commission. Everywhere in this unusual house are paintings and other art objects-it's a gallery in itself. They added a geodesic dome onto the original part of the building; the dome contains a living room, Bill's studio, their bedroom(on more than one level), and part of a 1957 Pontiac, all shined up. I look forward to touring the rest of the house later today. This afternoon Bill is going to drive me to the Harrisburg airport. I'm flying to TRI to spend 6 zero days with my wife and family...can't wait! It seems like a year since I've seen Jane, and even longer since I've seen Audrey. I received an unexpected bonus at Bill's today. He did a sketch/painting of me in oils while I "sat" for him. His plan is to do one of each of the brothers who make up the Fall Reunion group in Sevierville. He will discount his normal fee substantially, then put about half of that into a fund that we will use to cover the expenses of one or more future reunion weekends. I was honored to be the "guinea pig" for a professional artist. Our drive to Harrisburg went smoothly; it is about an hour and a half drive, so I am very indebted to Bill for giving me this gift of his time. I look forward to repaying him and Mary some appropriate way. Am now in the air heading to Charlotte, then to TRI and Jane. Can't wait to get home.
Date: 2006-05-30
From: Johnson City, TN

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Days 81-85 May 26-30 Zero days in Johnson City, TN with family. Today is the last of my six zero's at home. It's been great to see lots of friends and family, attend a friend's daughter's wedding, go to Knoxville for Decoration Day, and plan out the next series of maildrop locations. I am leaving for Harrisburg and Port Clinton in a few hours.It's also been a very sad time. This morning we had to put one of our cats to sleep. Cammie had a tumor and was at the point where nothing was going right. It was the right time to prevent her from suffering, but it's still very sad. She lived with us for 14 years, and she was such a sweet, affectionate cat. Bye, Cammie.
Date: 2006-05-30
From: Johnson City

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 85 Tuesday Zero miles on AT but lots of miles in the air. I'm back in PA and will start walking from Port Clinton tomorrow. Smooth flight on US Air, and on time. They knocked off one of the plugs on the end of the pack frame tubing, so I'll have dirt being pushed into the tube everytime I set it down. I have a spare in the bounce box, but I won't get it until I get to Salisbury, CT. Could have been worse, though. US Air could have lost the entire pack. On the way out of TRI airport to Charlotte I looked down on identifiable sections of the Trail-crossing Hwy 321 at Watauga Lake, crossing Watauga Dam, and up the ridge overlooking the lake. Kind of weird to be flying over a section of Trail I had done months ago- and a whole lot faster. too. Still sad about loosing Cammie,but we know we did the right thing at the right time. She's better off, and we can grieve and begin to move on. Plus, Jane didn't have to deal with the decision and responsibility alone. Audrey went with us to the airport and loved seeing lots of small planes take off and land. I'll miss her so much during the next 2 months. Her language and vocabulary have grown so quickly.
Date: 2006-06-01
From: AllenTown Club Shelter

To: Lehigh Gap
Miles today: 17.4

Day 87 Thursday It's about 1:30PM, with very warm temps, high humidity, and very hazy. Otherwise nice overlooks or vistas are just haze. The rocks continue to be as bad or worse than yesterday. On a stretch of sharp ridge called "The Cliffs" I was genuinely concerned for my physical safety, for the first time on the Trail. But I made it through this morning without falling, at least so far. I'm taking a break at Bake Oven Knob Shelter; Fantasy Feet is here resting his feet with his shoes and socks off. His Trail name should be Toxic Waste Dump Feet. Took a short nap...felt good. Heading to next shelter for supper; may go into Stateville, PA for motel and shower. FLASHBACK: just remembered that I met my first panhandler on the Trail yesterday. A guy going south asked if I had 3 or 4 dollars for his Trail food and for a cigarette. I was unable to provide either. The afternoon had a couple of bad rock segments but mostly 3 to 7. Part of the walk this afternoon was different than I had seen in PA-long sections on a flat ridge that looked like heath or laurel balds, mixed with scrub trees. The deer must have liked it-I saw 5, and some were as curious about me as I them. One stood 25 feet away and stared at me, until I reached for my camera pocket, then she ran off...camera shy, I guess. I had a thunderstorm in the area where I was walking, but no lightning got real close. The rain felt good after a day of sweating over rocks. I stopped briefly at Outerbridge Shelter, then walked another 0.8 miles to a road. I hitchhiked into Slaterton for a night in a real bed and a shower. Also talked with Jane-best part of the day. Tomorrow I cross the Lehigh River (on a bridge) then climb a 1000 feet over open rocks. Only 36 miles left in PA-thank goodness!
Date: 2006-06-02
From: Lehigh Gap

To: Wind Gap
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: broken clouds

Day 88 Friday   The Weather Channel says rain and thunderstorms all day today, but so far just fog and overcast(It's 10 AM). The proprietor at "Fine Lodging" gave me a shuttle to the Trail at 8 AM. After crossing the Lehigh River, the Trail goes almost straight up a rock face, some walking, some bouldering, for about 1000 feet. Met Greg about 1/3 of the way up, and we climbed it together. Some great views, even with fog and haze. At the top the Trail follows a gravel/rock road along a wide, flat ridge through some very dramatic landscape-like the moon with a few clusters of trees and scrub growth scattered around. Apparently this is the result of a zinc smelting operation decades ago. Hope the sun doesn't come out-there's no shade. 2PM The nice road trail ended when the moonscape became woods again. I had hoped that PA would go out like a lamb, but alas, it was back to typical PA trail- woods, rocks, boring. Until 4PM, the Trail rated 3 to 8, with nothing significant to see, except 1 camera-shy deer.   9PM I stopped for a break at Leroy Smith Shelter and decided to go on to Windy Gap. Saw Blue Mount there; we met briefly at a shelter yesterday. He is about my age and from Illinois. Greg came in before I left, and Fantasy Feet arrived as I was leaving. On the way to Windy Gap I met Mawee and Pawee, whom I had read in Trail registers but had not met. They were tenting on the trail; they're from Lookout Mountain, GA-almost neighbors. Pennsylvannia doesn't go down quietly; I'll give it credit for that. The last 5 miles were almost uniformly a grade 7 on the RAPIMI. It also rained most of the time, which was welcome because it cooled things down. I was almost out of water, and not sweating so much was nice. ODDS AND ENDS: Got 2 Trail Magics today-Greg found and returned my bandana that I had left by accident on a limb during a water break. He and Blue Mount also shared extra water during the day. Saw Mr. Rogers and Tree Girl on the Trail. The highlight of the day was first hour-climbing out of Lehigh Gap on steep boulders, then going 3 or 4 miles on a flat road through a desolate, dramatic landscape. The lowlight was when Mr. Rogers and I climbed down 1/3 mile to a spring, only to find it dry. The climb back up to the AT was not fun. I'm now at a motel right off the trail. Have done laundry and had dinner. Now watching UT Lady Vols vs. Northweestern in the NCAA softball tournament. Tomorrow I will cross out of PA into New Jersey. I am estatic to know that from now to eternity I will never walk on these cursed rock ridges again. Looks foggy and rainy for tomorrow. I need to tighten my mesh backband on the pack-too loose and therefore uncomfortable.
Date: 2006-06-03
From: Wind Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: light rain

Day 89 Saturday Walking today for Audrey and her parents. Ate breakfast in the motel room and tightened the mesh band before I left-feels better. I started out in full rain gear but shed the jacket less than halfway up a steep climb out of Wind Gap...too much sweating. Kept the rain pants on to keep water out of the tops of my boots. I'm wearing my hiking pants, too, so there is little room for air circulation between skin and silnylon. At the top of the ridge I passed Blue Mount and a little while later caught and passed Mawee and Pawee. I have no one who walks my speed-the young ones leave me behind, but most others I outwalk. I am now at Kirkridge Shelter, 6.5 miles from the Delaware Water Gap. The previous 9.5 miles this morning have been a continuation of miserable Pennsylvania rock walking-mostly Class 6 or 7 stumbling, with one long boulder/ridge line crossing that was so slow and treacherous (in the rain, no less). But I am consoled to know I'll be out of PA tonight. Weather is foggy and drippy, except for brief showers. 5 PM I am in a church basement hostel in Delaware Water Gap, PA. I had orginally decided to do 20 miles to a campsite today, but when I got here it was threatening rain and getting close to being too late to get to the campsite before dark, so I bailed out. Lots of folks are here, including Jubilee and Julie, Mawee and Pawee, Two Shoes, Hydrohorse, Compass, Riverside, Blue Mound (who sounds like Will Rogers), Rocky, Mr. Rogers and Tree Girl, Swamp Fox. I had followed Compass in the Shelter Registers and now finally meet him-he is a college student from Marietta, GA. Looking back a little...the ridges today were entirely deciduous woods, with young-to-middle aged trees and low cover of ferns and huckleberries. Probably logged over or burned a few years ago. The openness made for pleasant viewing, except that if you look around you trip. It was not until the Trail started down to the Delaware Water Gap that the forest looked familiar to home...hemlocks, spruce, and rhododendron. There were two brief road-walking sections today (dirt surfaces)...welcome respites from the punishment, but too few and too short. Late in the afternoon Compass and I walked down to a bakery/flower shop in town for a snack. I had a peach pastry, a carrot-walnut muffin(dry), a large coke, and a cone of mango ice cream. About an hour later several of us walked back down to the Water Gap Diner for supper. On the way back Hydrohorse let me use his cell phone to call home. Thanks! Sat around the day room talking with other hikers for about an hour. There are 15 of us, and lots of good stories came out. About half our group are long-distance or multi-year section hikers. Restless came in late from a 10 day break off the Trail. Haven't seen him since before Sam's Gap. He and I came upon Happy Feet and Swiss Miss the morning after the storm that brought down the tree beside their tent.
Date: 2006-06-04
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: light rain

Day 90 Sunday I got out of town early, before 7 AM, and the sun was trying to peek out. Maybe the rain is gone. After crossing the Delaware River into New Jersey, the Trail went up a wide, well-graded path (what I call a "tourist trail") alongside a mountain stream-felt like I was back in TN or NC for awhile. After I got up on the ridge I realized a geologic fact-when the Delaware River cut through what is now Delaware Water Gap, it didn't separate 2 uniquely different ridges. It cut one ridge in half, each half with similar topography, vegetation, and geology, i.e., more rocks.They weren't too bad at first, but now (12:30PM) they're beginning to get old. Much of the ridges I've been on today are open or semi-open: part bald, part heath, part woods- so the views are nicer than just walking in the forest. At a designated campsite area about 4 miles above the river I stopped for a a break. As I was eating gorp and reading a sign about bears in the area, I heard a "woof" and turned around to see a young bear about 25 feet away. I wanted a picture but thought I'd better put my food away first. By the time I got the camera out he was wandering away in the bushes. He never made a threatening move toward me, but he didn't seem spooked by me, either. Some campers there said he had been around all night. Passed a glacial pond called Sunfish Pond-almost as big as Ripshin but more round-shaped, less elongated. Water was clear as could be. The afternoon walking was either great or crummy;crummy in the woods (grade 6-8) and great on woods roads(grade 1). Some of the Trail went up on ridges with pretty good views-almost like TN/NC balds but smaller. I got to this shelter about 6 PM, about 30 minutes before the rain started. Restless was already here, with 3 section hikers who are tenting. Helium (and dog Freckles) came in next, then Two Shoes. The last 3 were soaking wet. This is a small shelter, and we are cramped in, but cozy. At a road crossing a car stopped and the couple asked if I would like an apple or orange- Trail Magic! I took an apple, and also a sasparilla soda which they offered-tastes like root beer. The man thru-hiked in l996-Trail name was Gizzie. The caterpillers are chewing the heck out of the oak leaves. In places the forest floor is covered with remnant bits of leaves.
Date: 2006-06-05
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

Day 91 Monday Rained most of the night, so picnic table and surrounding ground are soaked. Got out at 7:10 AM. At the 3.5 miles mark, crossed a road with several stores at Lake Kittatinny. Had a great egg/cheese/bacon sandwich, filled water bottles, brushed teeth, emptied trash bag...good stop. I recommend JoeToGo for breakfast or lunch (deli subs); great coffee and lots of pastry choices. Pizza and ATM further on left at Gyp's Tavern. Both were friendly to me. Taking a lunch break at Mashipacong Shelter; Mashipacong is an Indian word meaning "we ran out of names so we grabbed a bunch of Scrabble tiles in random order and this is what came out". So far the rocks are slightly better than yesterday, but not by much. There'll be a nice woods section and you think "hey, maybe I'm getting out of this Class 7 section for good", then you turn a bend and you're right back in the ankle-benders. No risky or dangerous sections, but no woods roads either. Met two section hikers who are going from Connecticut to Chattanooga-or close by- maybe Springer Mountain. They are a brother and sister named Youngblood and Salamander. Going that far ought to qualify for thru-hiker status. Still overcast but no rain so far. The sun came out briefly, which was good in that it was not raining but bad because Mr. and Mrs. Snake might decide to take an afternoon slither. Never saw them so I guess they stayed in to watch Oprah. The Trail after lunch was most unpleasant. In fact, between stumbling through Class 6,7,and 8 rocks and swatting at rappelling caterpillars with my hiking poles, the only enjoyable stop I took all afternoon was the last one. I stopped at the Ranger Headquarters at High Point State Park to get water and cook supper. Unfortunately, the building was closed, so I couldn't get access to the restroom. However, I was able to call Jane(left message) and cook supper at a picnic table(supper was freeze-dried ham and freeze-dried tomatoes with Idahoan instant mashed potatoes...very tasty). I had plenty of water to cook and clean with and to carry here for breakfast. I also saw a young woodcock trying to learn to fly; it was hopping around with its tailfeathers up like a grouse. Got a few pictures. In this shelter are the same 4 from last night:Restless, Two Shoes, Helium, and me. Helium has Freckles, his dalmation, who sleeps with him under the same sleeping bag liner.
Date: 2006-06-06
From: High Point Shelter

To: NJ 94 (Vernon, NJ)
Miles today: 18.9

Day 92 Up early and out early. A bear wandered by while we were packing up, but it seemed uninterested in us or the shelter. Clear skies to start. Taking a break at 9AM; been walking for 2 1/2 hours. The trail so far is significantly different in walkability and surroundings from the previous week or so. There are still a few rocky sections, but they are much shorter and less intense than yesterday...a dramatic improvement. The environment has been quite varied...old forest, active fields and pastures, overgrown fields, stream bottoms and bogs (much on raised wooden walkways). The diversity is a welcome change. Still sunny - no clouds yet. I hope to get into Vernon, NJ, before the forecasted afternoon showers start. Looking forward to my maildrop, a shower, and laundry. Later on the Trail followed a paved road for about 1/2 mile, then turned and looped a huge federal bird sanctuary, a marshland that looked and smelled like a tidal marsh. Saw lots of birds, including a great blue heron, oriole, tanager, ducks, and 2 large white birds (at a distance) that I assume were swans. Nice flat, straight walking...welcome change. NOON at Pochuck Shelter for another break. The Trail guide says we've been on the NY/NJ border this morning, but I've seen no "Welcome to NY" signs. The Trail has also passed or crossed dozens of rock fences...some are falling down but others are surprisingly well-intact. Each has a story to tell, but I don't have time to stop and listen. Groundhog was at this shelter when I arrived and has since moved on. Not sure about his story yet; started out saying he was a thru-hiker, then said he started 2 weeks ago in Harpers Ferry. 6PM...I'm in Vernon,NJ, in the basement hostel of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The church provides a shower, laundry, soap, towels, and space to sleep on a carpeted floor. We have use of the kitchen and are expected to do a chore to help keep the place clean. My maildrop and a letter from Mom were both at the Post Office, which is in a shopping center with the A&P and a pizza restaurant. Nearby is a Burger King and Dunkin' Donuts...Hiker Heaven! Also here are Two Shoes, Restless, Groundhog, Dent(doing half the Trail...He's from MN), and a grandmother/granddaughter(Irish Gypsy and Jersey Girl). Helium put Freckles in a kennel and took a bus to NYC. Don't know when I'll see him again. As soon as our clothes get out of the dryer, several of us are going to an all-you-can-eat pizza place. LATER - The pizza was good and filling, as was the pint of Ben & Jerry's I bought to take back to the hostel. Talked to Jane on the phone...always a morale boost, expecially when I get good news. Saw 2 snakes today, both small and scooting away quickly. One was black and yellowish with stripes lengthwise. Also saw many dead and dying hemlocks. The hillsides of PA, NJ, and NY from a distance remind me of the TN hillsides a few years ago when the pine beetle came through. I didn't mention it at the first of today's entry, but I thought of Jane all day, so today I was walking for her.
Date: 2006-06-07
From: NJ 94 (Vernon, NJ)

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: moderate rain

Day 93 Got up real early with the intent of making 25 miles today and tomorrow, so I can get to Salisbury, CT, a day early. It was sprinkling so I didn't go to Dunkin'Donuts for breakfast; ate one of my cold cereal packs. NOT as good but cheaper and quicker and less weight to carry. Groundhog and I left about the same time and got a ride to the Trail head immediately-was walking by 6:22AM. By the way, with a heavy pack but a light heart, I am walking for Erik and Jennifer. It's raining lightly now...hasa been off and on all morning. 4PM at Wildcat Shelter- When I left the shelter earlier today I thought the day would be rainy and boring, just wet woods walking. I was half right...it was rainy but not boring. Much of the day was spent climbing up, onto, going along, and climbing back down exposed rock ridges, whose rocks were sloped and slick in the rain. Besides the rain, the wind was strong on the exposed ridges, it became a rocky canal or creek, depending on the slope. Obviously, trail drainage is not a priority in New York. The danger of the rock ridges was real, not imaginary. I fell 3 times, with the last one the worst. My left shin is bruised pretty badly, and I bent one of my hiking poles. I was able to almost straighten it later. Decided not to cook tonight...tired and sore, cramped in shelter. It's still raining at 6PM, and there's no dry place to cook. Here are Restless, Two Shoes, Groundhog, me and Frank, a homeless guy who asks for food and fuel. Officially passed into NY today, the 9th state. Messenger showed up late at the shelter. He has been ahead of me but took off a few days to attend his college graduation at Montreat. d