morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-06-16
From: Hertlein campsite

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I'm definitely in the midst of the PA rocks now. Today's hike was mostly rocks with just a few breaks. There were just a few small ups and downs until the steep downhill into Port Clinton. I had lunch at the Eagles Nest Shelter and had a nice conversation there with a trail maintainer for Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club. They do a nice job with this section. There were a couple of nice vistas overlooking the PA Dutch farmlands. This evening I am staying at a pavilion owned by a local church that allows hikers to overnight. Port Clinton is quite friendly to hikers. However, the downside is there is no grocery store or outfitter. You have to go to nearby Hamburg for that sort of thing. This evening trail angels brought fruit, ice cream, cake and even a portable power source so we could charge our cell phones. Nice folks. I'm quite footsore tonight after a day of rock hopping, but I should be fine tomorrow. I am still extremely glad I am wearing boots rather than! trail runners.After several days of seeing very few thrus, I have finally run into several in Port Clinton. They include Silverheels, Jason, Diesel and Batman.
Date: 2007-06-17
From: Port Clinton

To: campsite north of Pulpit Rock
Miles today: 8.5

I got up and ate breakfast at the 3 Cs Restaurant just a short way from the pavilion. Nice place. Good food. I then walked the short distance to Cabelas to resupply. I tried to get a hitch to there on Rte. 61, but no luck. This place is the mother of all outfitters. However, it is geared more toward the hunter, fisherman, boater and RVer. It has gear and supplies for backpackers, but not the best lines and only fair prices. For backpackers, I much prefer REI and EMS. Another downside of the gigantic outfitters is that they have their own sort of Wal-Mart effect. They tend to drive the small outfitters near them out of business. I know this has happened in the Hamburg - Port Clinton area as well as around Harrisburg. On the other hand the economics major side of me says that this is one of the side effects of free competition. I don't think places like Wal-Mart and Cabelas have succeeded by having an unfair advantage. By and large, they started small and got big ! by working harder and serving their customers better than the competition. That said, I still miss some of the small businesses that have fallen in their wake. Coming back from Cabelas's I got a ride from Amy (Maybabie), who runs the Pa moneypit hostel near the 501 shelter.Today is fathers day, and I'm thinking of my Dad today. I've mentioned previously in this journal that I get my love of the outdoors from him, as well as whatever endurance and stamina that I may have. Dad is 99 and still in quite good health. At times I have regretted that I came along so late in his life. He would really have enjoyed sharing some of this adventure with me in person rather than just virtually. Taking a cue from something I heard on NPR's Weekend Edition this morning, today I'm proud to say that I'm Homer Foster's son, Early Bird. Happy Fathers Day, Dad.I got done with my town chores and left about 11 a.m. Coming north out of Port Clinton there is an uphill climb for about 2 miles back to the top of Blue Mountain. I got to the Windsor Furnace shelter and took a break, but I felt like going a little further. At the shelter I talked to Jason, who is doing about 2/3 of the trail this year. He is waiting at the shelter for friends who had taken a break in Phila. After the shelter there was a considerable uphill strewn with rocks to Pulpit Rock. This is a fairly famous vista on the AT. Just after Pulpit Rock I saw what has to be the oddest thing I have seen on the whole trip. A young guy on a unicycle was trying to ride it on one of the rockiest sections of the whole AT. He fell off right in front of me. I was absolutely speechless, as were the two day hikers right behind me. It's a Sunday, so I saw lots of day hikers today. I am camping about a mile past Pulpit Rock. It is just a beautiful night here on top of the ! mountain.
Date: 2007-06-18
From: campsite north of Pulpit Rock

To: Route 309
Miles today: 18.0

Today started out with a rock scramble to The Pinnacle, a famous vista on the AT. Then the path got smoother as I went downhill to the Eckville shelter. This shelter has running water, a solar shower and a caretaker, similar to the 501 shelter. I took off my shirt and took a cowboy shower. I also washed the shirt, which was getting pretty gamey. Afterwards, there was a steep uphill back to Blue Mountain that turned into another rock scramble. The trail was mostly rocky with moderate ups and downs until the Allentown Hiking Club shelter. Prior to reaching this shelter, the rocks really started to get to me. I ran into Focus at the shelter. He and I both reflected that the PA rocks are very frustrating. It's not that any particlar section is so bad. It is that the rocky parts are so long and unremitting. You have to keep your eyes glued to the trail to make sure you place your foot just the right way. Also, you can't keep to a steady gait. You have to vary each s! tep to hit the rocks right. Both of us are looking forward to the end of this section. Luckily the next four miles were pretty smooth.I haven't seen Focus since southern VA. He is from VA and his wife is visiting him here for a few days. He's been slack packing since Port Clinton.Tonight I am camping at the Blue Mountain Summit B&B, which is on Route 309 at the top of Blue Mountain (imagine that!). Supposedly hikers are allowed to camp in their back yard and get water from the spigot. I say supposedly because they are closed today and there is no one to ask. The only resident I have seen so far is a cat. Kitty doesn't seem to have a problem with me camping here, so I guess it's cool.
Date: 2007-06-19
From: Route 309

To: campsite between Lehigh Gap and Little Gap
Miles today: 17.3

When I tell successful thru-hikers that I maintain a section in PA, they often give me a funny look. That is often followed by a remark like "Are you the one who puts the rocks out" or "Can't you do something about those @#$%&* rocks". I then respond that my section is in central PA, not rocky northern PA. After today I know why they remember northern PA so vividly. The first mile today was pretty easy. Then I began a rock scramble ending at the Knife Edge, an aptly named section where the trail follows a thin edge of rocks at the top of the mountain. This was followed by the tough though beautiful rock scrambles known as Bear Rocks and Bake Oven Knob. Then there was a steep downhill to Lehigh Gap and the bridge over the Lehigh River. Next was the excruciatingly difficult (with a full pack anyway) climb back up the mountain over huge rocks. At the top is a moonscape of rocks, dead trees and a few scrub bushes. The one good thing was that the wild blueberries are ri! pe on the side and top of the hill. I ate a couple of handfulls. This otherworldly landscape continues for several miles on top of the mountain. I'm guessing it is the residue of some kind of mining activity. I feel like the trail definitely got its money's worth out of me today. No other thru-hikers all day today. Lots of hikers go into town at Lehigh Gap, usually heading into Palmerton. I've decided to go a day longer and head into Wind Gap.
Date: 2007-06-20
From: campsite between Lehigh Gap and Little Gap

To: Wind Gap
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: broken clouds

Last night I discovered that I have a sturdy tent. About 8 p.m., the wind picked up and shortly thereafter a thunderstorm began. It was blowing at least 40 mph and my tent was pretty much unprotected from it. I had put rocks on top of the stakes to protect them better. For about a half hour I had one hand on the tent pole (also my hiking pole) and another holding the side of the tent up. Everything held up, except that one stake came out. A few things got a little damp, but otherwise everything was ok. About midnight lightning from another storm woke me up. I quickly got up and restaked the tent. Everything held this time. Good tent.When I got up it was drizzling a little. I packed up and got going quickly. The rain soon passed and the sun came out. It is at least ten degrees lower today than yesterday, which is very welcome. After a very tough day yesterday, the terrain today was much easier, with generally a smoother path and only one moderate climb out of Little Gap. After I got down to Wind Gap, I saw a VW bus and the driver motioned me over. I suspected that she was Focus's wife, and that turned out to be the case. She offered me the beverage of my choice and I gratefully accepted a beer. She said she would take me into town whenever I was ready. Just as we were about to leave, along came Rockman. He was also headed into town and I asked if he would like to share a room. Rockman and I last shared a room way back in Hot Springs, NC. Mrs. Focus took us both into town. The manager at the Travel Inn was out so we resupplied at the Giant food store and then ate. I'm washing our clothes and resting.Tomorrow we will hopefully finish PA or come pretty close. Much as I love the Keystone State, these rocks can't end soon enough.
Date: 2007-06-21
From: Wind Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: few clouds

Rockman and I had to go to three places before we got our breakfast. McDonalds was only half open. Half because the lobby was closed due to some construction, though the drive-thru was open. There was such a long line there that we tried Burger King, which was not yet open. Door number three was the Wind Gap Diner. We had a good breakfast there served by a very friendly waitress. The manager of the motel took us back to the trailhead. We were hiking by 7:50. Today was fairly rocky but there was only one rock scramble, at Wolf Rocks. I had lunch at the very nice Kirkridge shelter. There was water from a spigot nearby, thanks to a nearby retreat center. Rockman arrived a few minutes before I moved on. The rocks are botherng him more than me, probably because he has trail runners rather than boots. I got to Delaware Water Gap about 3:15. The Presbyterian Church here runs a great hostel. However, all of the beds are taken, so I will sleep ate a shelter in back. It looks just like a typical shelter on the AT, but it is in town. Coming down the mountain into DWG, I found the trail rather poorly marked. At several turns, it took me a while to puzzle out which way I was supposed to go.I got a great surprise today. My sister Elizabeth called to see where I was. She lives just 30 miles away from DWG. I told here that I expected to be there tonight. She and her husband and son decided they will come and see me tonight. I had thought I wouldn't see them because they are leaving on vacation this weekend. Hikers staying here tonight include Caveman, Diesel, 357 Magnum, Ninja, Flick, Sticker & Rockman.
Date: 2007-06-22
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Blue Mountain Lakes Rd
Miles today: 17.8

I had a great time last night with my sister Elizabeth, her husband Don and their son Austin. We went out to dinner in Stroudsburg. They also brought some trail magic for the hikers at the hostel.I went over the bridge to New Jersey and the rocks immediately ended - well, not exactly. There weren't too many rocks on the ascent back up the mountain. But they returned in force around Sunfish Pond. There were occasional bunches of them throughout the rest of the hike. I'm sleeping at a sort of hostel at Camp Ken-Etiwa-Pec, a summer camp near the AT that allows thru-hikers to stay in a couple of the older buildings. I saw a lot of animals today - a couple of turkeys, a three foot snake and my first bear. It was maybe six foot tall if it stood on its hind legs and it was eating berries near the trail. It scurried away just as I was trying to get a picture. The trail ran along the top of Kittatinny Mtn. most of they day today, and there were great views of the Delaware River valley on one side and a string of ponds and lakes on the other. I hiked off and on today with 357 Magnum and Sticker, though neither of them are staying here tonight. We had deli sandwiches for lunch at the Mohican Outdoor Center, run by the Appalachian Mountain Club.
Date: 2007-06-23
From: Blue Mountain Lakes Rd

To: Mashipacong shelter
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: few clouds

I had a great night's sleep at the camp last night. It was a great day to hike, because it was quite cool for early summer. There are still some rocks here, but nothing like the bad sections in northern PA. I lost the trail coming down the hill into Culvers Gap. Two section hikers that came several minutes behind me did the same thing. We retraced our steps and eventually found the trail again. There was a rock cairn with a single blaze. The trail made a sharp right turn, so there should have been a double blaze. I had lunch at Archie's Tavern. The burger, fries and beer really hit the spot. I got to the shelter around 6 p.m. There is a group of weekend hikers from the New York City area tenting here tonight. So far the only thru-hikers here are Ninja and me.
Date: 2007-06-24
From: Mashipacong shelter

To: Pochuck Mtn. shelter
Miles today: 19.6

Today marks the end of my third month on the trail. It was a day of pleasant surprises. The first surprise was not quite so pleasant, though. It was the coldest morning in several weeks. I quickly put on two long sleeve shirts over my t-shirt. The day started out wih fairly rocky terrain past the impressive High Point monument. It warmed up quickly and by about 11 a.m. I was down to my t-shirt again. After High Point, the trail turned to the southeast along the NJ-NY border and the path got much smoother. I had heard of a "secret shelter" a couple miles before Unionville. Jim Murray, a past thru-hiker, has a shelter on his farm property just for thru-hikers. The way to the shelter is marked by a sign for water. It is made of rough sawed lumber and has a large sink with hot and cold water, a shower and a nice loft for sleeping. Diesel was there when I arrived. I took a shower and rinsed out my t-shirt. Thanks a lot, Jim. I then went into the small town of Unio! nville. There I resupplied a bit and had lunch at the Back Track Inn. They even had my favorite beer on tap, Sam Adams. I felt revitalized and decided to go all the way to the next shelter. I read there was no water at the shelter so I had to "camel up" and carry lots of water for the last three miles. When I got to the shelter I got my last surprise of the day. Patches, a section hiker on his last day, had left fresh donuts and bagels in the bear box. So I had breakfast for dinner. So far I am alone, but I think Diesel will be along before dark. I should sleep well after two 19 mile days in a row.
Date: 2007-06-25
From: Pochuck Mtn. shelter

To: informal campsite north of Cascade Brook
Miles today: 17.2

I had another trail magic bagel for breakfast. The trail was fairly smooth with moderate ups and downs for the first few miles. There was a big recent blowdown that caused me to get off the trail for a bit before I realized my error. I then met up with Judo again. There was a sort of symmitry to that since today is the start of my fourth month and Judo and I started on the same day. Judo has been staying with a relative from NJ for a few days while she does this section. We both stopped at Heaven Hill Farm for a milkshake. After that there was a tough climb up Wawayanda Mtn. In the afternoon the trail was fairly moderate until another tough climb to Prospect Rock. Prospect Rock is near the NJ - NY boundary. For the last couple days I have been walking along the boundary of the two states. Now I am in NY to stay. My campsite seems pretty isolated, but in fact I am right on the outskirts of the New York City metro area.
Date: 2007-06-26
From: informal campsite north of Cascade Brook

To: campsite near Little Dam Lake
Miles today: 14.0

I got water last night from Cascade Brook. It had a brown color like iced tea, I think from the minerals in the rocks. I treated it with aqua mira and it tasted fine. However, I decided to start the day without water until I could find another place to fill up.The Empire State started with a bang. The first four miles were a tough series of rocky ups and downs. I then arrived at Bellvale Farms on route 17A. The nice lady there let us fill our water bottles and served us, even though the store wasn't supposed to open for 2 1/2 hrs. I had one of the best milkshakes of my life, though it was kind of pricy. The shake motivated me to get back on the trail. It was pretty smooth for a couple of miles, but that wouldn't last. In the late morning there were tough rocky climbs to the Eastern Pinnacles and then Cat Rocks. In the afternoon it got even tougher, with rock strewn climbs up Fitzgerald Falls and Mombasha High Point reminiscent of the roller coaster in Virginia. By late afternoon I was pretty beat. I had hoped to do a few miles more, but the first decent campsite I saw proved irresistible. If the rest of NY is like this, I'll be going slower than I had hoped.
Date: 2007-06-27
From: campsite near Little Dam Lake

To: campsite near Beechy Bottom Rd.
Miles today: 15.0

Another day filled with ups and downs with plenty of rocks as well. Istruggled to get 15 miles in. I passed through the famous Lemon Squeezer around halfway. My pack barely made it through with my camp shoes scraping on each side. Many AT hikers are familiar with theterms PUDs (for pointless ups and downs) and MUDs (for mindless ups anddowns). These describe sections of the trail where the climbs anddecents seem to have no rhyme or reason. I am herewith proposing anadditional term for the rocky up and down stretches in NY and elsewhere - RUDs, or rocky ups and downs. The last two days has been filled with RUDs.Many of these RUDs are also PUDs and a good number are certainly MUDs. Near the end of the day I crossed the Palisades Parkway, a notoriouslydangerous crossing. I tell hikers that the section I maintain in PA isnear Route 944 (Wertzville Road), one of the most dangerous crossingson the trail. Some of them respond that I haven't seen the PalisadesParkway in NY. Now I have seen it and I think it is hard to choosebetween them. PP is a four lane highway with much more traffic that goesvery fast. WR is just a two lane road, but it is really dangerousbecause at the AT, the road resembles a saddleback. Because the road risesto the left and right, there are bad sightlines both ways. PennDOT hasrecently announced they will soon build an underpass for the AT. Isure hope something happens soon for the PP.During the afternoon there was thunder all around and it threatened torain. Rain was reported in a number of adjoining areas. However, allI got was a few sprinkles. This was despite my sincere wish for acloudburst. I was extremely hot and sweaty with the near 90 degreetemperature and proliferation of MUDs, but I never got my wish. I seem tohave gotten into another gap of thru-hikers. I haven't seen any since Ipassed Diesel yesterday morning. Apparently 357 Magnum and Judo areless than a day ahead of me and Diesel is just behind.Another milestone today - my first timber rattler of the whole hike! Iwas rather amazed that I didn't see any in PA. I certainly have seenseveral during my practice hikes on the AT in PA. Of course I was inPA in mid June. The timber rattlers really come out in force in thesummertime. The one I saw today was nice and fat but not too long,perhaps 3 1/2 feet, and laying on a rock sunning itself. True to form, itrattled at me, then went down a hole between the rocks. They really arevery shy.
Date: 2007-06-28
From: campsite near Beechy Bottom Rd.

To: Hudson River bridge
Miles today: 6.2

It rained off and on for about three hours last night. I did a short day down to the Bear Mtn. bridge over the Hudson. The trail continued the pattern of rocky ups and downs, though it was a bit cooler. The trail goes right through the Trailside Zoo. I would have appreciated it more if I hadn't been so anxious to get to town. I walked into Ft. Montgomery and past it to the Holiday Inn Express. I washed my clothes and me and then walked into the next town to resupply. I didn't try very hard to get a hitch, because it is a four lane highway with no berm to get off. Anybody would be taking their life in their hands if they decided to stop for me. I am really close to West Point and there are plenty of Go Army signs. I'll spend the rest of the day resting and getting ready to get back on the trail.
Date: 2007-06-29
From: Hudson River bridge

To: campsite near Sunk Mine Rd.
Miles today: 16.6

I got up and got my gear ready, then partook of the Holiday Inn Express's excellent breakfast. I was hiking by 6:40, and arrived back at the Hudson River bridge a little after 7. Ft. Montgomery is not the best town for hikers, because everything is really spread out and the roads make it close to impossible to get a hitch. I did much better on the trail today than the last three days. There are several reasons - the temperature was in the 70s rather than the 90s, the trail was more friendly and I coming off an easy day. From Prospect Rock until the Hudson, the trail was really rocky with lots of ups and downs. The main difference today was that the footpath was much friendlier. There were still several climbs and descents, but I wasn't constantly climbing up, over and around rocks. The temperature was also a huge factor. I don't do well in high heat. This was a much much better day. Over the last few days I'd started to worry a little that I was breaking down physically. It was a relief to learn that isn't the case. I hope I can get well into New England before the temperature rises again.
Date: 2007-06-30
From: campsite near Sunk Mine Rd.

To: Morgan Stewart shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

Another day of moderate ups and downs in the Hudson River valley. Unlike the earlier part of the trail in NY, the planners didn't feel the need to go over every bit of rock and climb every outcropping. For that my feet are grateful. I stopped for a break about noon at the RPH shelter and met Yahtzee. He recognized my Susquehanna ATC patch since he is originally from Harrisburg. He thruhiked in 2001 and is now going to law school at NYU. I continued on to NY 52, stopping for an early dinner at the pizzeria. They are all Yankees fans and were in mourning because the Yanks were losing again. I didn't tell them I am a Red Sox fan, since I feared it might be hazardous to my health. They did have some neat memorabilia on the walls, including photos of Babe Ruth, Yogi Berra and the old Yankee Stadium. As I move into New England I will look forward to listening to the Sox on the radio rather than the hated Yankees. I then moved on to the Morgan Stewart shelter for the nig! ht. I must say that the trail is rather poorly marked from Stormville Mtn. Rd. to the crossing over I-84. I had to backtrack a couple times before I finally headed the right way.I am surprised that I am the only one here at the shelter so far, since it is a Saturday night in early summer.