morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-04-28
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: MoseyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Place Hostel, Port Jervis,NY
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1338.1A relatively easy day today.  Did 11.3 miles in rainy conditions.  Believe it was about 39 degrees ay 7:30am when I started out.  It never rained hard, mostly a drizzle off and on all day.  Only drawback was being enough rain to not be able to step on many rocks(due to potential slip hazards).  There were some rock scrambles but not up to PA standards.For the first time this trip wore gloves for awhile until it warmed up a bit.  And never took the rain jacket off all day.Passed two young guys going south to get to their car leaving a knee injured friend resting at a shelter.  Later at the shelter found their friend sleeping.  He awoke while I was snacking/watering up.  Talked for a bit making sure he was okay and moved on.I¢m staying at a hostel that picks you up at High Point State Park, NJ. The hostel called ¢Mosey¢s Place¢ is actually in Port Jervis, NY.  Very good hostel run by a mature single woman.  Clean clothes, showered, food resupplied and a dinner run accomplished.  I remember this area from my youth as having dark black soil and a large onion growing area.  Understand onions are no longer a big crop here and much is being converted to growing hemp.Today¢s picture is the cabin I had at the Mohican Outdoor Center a few nights ago.  I had the right side alone( were 4 bunks) and 2 other hikers had the other side.  No pictures today as my phone was buried in my pack to keep dry.
Date: 2019-04-29
From: MoseyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Place Hostel, Port Jervis,NY

To: Pochuck Mountain Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 14.1

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker= 1352.2One day closer to my home town which I¢ll reach tomorrow.  But as for today it was a good hiking day, cool and sunny.  Did 14.1 miles of mostly nice trails.  There were several long stretches today over marshy area where you walked on boards.Early in the day the trail led near the 220 foot tall High Point Monument which was built from 1928 thru 1930.  It sits on a site with an elevation of 1803 foot. That is todays picture.At the shelter tonight there are 5 people, all inside.  That¢s due to the expectation of heavy rains over night.  Two of them are a man my age and his adult daughter both from NJ.  I caught up to them on the trail this morning and we went into Unionville, NY for lunch at a great deli.  The other couple are probably about 30ish from NYC.  All are nice.Had a brand new experience this afternoon called ¢turtleing¢.  It was near the end of the day and  going uphill.  I saw another couple coming down.  So I sat on a fallen tree at trails edge to let them by.  Just as they arrived I slipped over backwards.  So I¢m lying on my back with pack on, legs sticking up in the air over the tree trunk. Could not get up..like  a turtle turned over on it¢s back.  The man helped pull me back up.  How embarrassing is that?
Date: 2019-04-30
From: Pochuck Mountain Shelter, NJ

To: Newfoundland,NJ(boyhood home)
Miles today: 12.0

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1364.2Made it to my home town 12 miles off the AT.  My cousin Buster and wife Julie picked me up from Waywayanda State Park about 3:30.  On the way to their home was like a trip down memory lane.  At first nothing looked familiar.  As we got closer I recognized more and more.  Places and things that brought back memories long forgotten.  It has been almost 50 years since I lived here. Only a few short visits since then.Today¢s hike took longer than I expected.  Near the end was a nearly 1,000 foot, quite rocky climb, called ¢the stairway to heaven¢.  Called that I guess because of the big climb and that near the end are a series of large stone stepping stones. Ran into a couple of guys I met days ago at Mohican Outdoor Center that were coming down it.  My question to them was, ¢does this thing really go all way to heaven?¢.Earlier in the day was the Jersey boardwalk ( not the one most people think of).  It is in the picture and is nearly a mile long over swampy grounds.  Occasionally it widens to allow rest/ passing opportunities.  There were many other sections today with the common 2 board wide wooden passes over wet areas.Taking a Zero tomorrow.  A package from Wendy should arrive tomorrow which includes more pages from The AT Guide I need to plan my future days.  After determining the next town for food resupply, I¢ll do my shopping here, etc.
Date: 2019-05-01
From: Newfoundland,NJ(boyhood home)

To: Newfoundland NJ (boyhood home)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1364.2My 2nd ZERO day of this hike.  Visiting with cousin and wife, visited my parents gravesite, received package sent by Wendy, out to dinner again, food resupply trip and some driving around town triggering old memories.Part of package from Wendy was my 55 degree sleeping bag.  Now having 2nd thoughts about just maybe being a little too early for it.  Will make final decision tomorrow morning on which bag to send home.  I do have a bag liner that adds 12 degrees more comfort (i.e. to 43 degrees).  That is borderline for the next weeks forecast. Decisions, decisions?Picture today is from yesterday.  At top of the ¢Stairway to Heaven¢ was this collection of things that hikers decided they did not want to carry anymore.  A frying pan, cooking pot and a large roll of duct tape.
Date: 2019-05-02
From: Newfoundland,NJ(boyhood home)

To: Waywayanda Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1364.2My 3rd ZERO day of this hike.  Visiting with cousin and wife again today and also my 2nd cousin Michael and his family. Got a haircut which is in today¢s picture along with a typical bear box in the background.Back at shelter I actually passed before getting picked up the other day.  It Is about .5 miles back; but, will allow me to get an early start tomorrow morning.
Date: 2019-05-03
From: Waywayanda Shelter

To: Wildcat Shelter? NY
Miles today: 11.6

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1375.8Finally back on the trail.  Forgot to mention yesterday that at the shelter last night were: Wolf(Germany), Stripes and  Levi - all new meets.Those 3 plus 5 others are here tonight.  Including Pilgrim, Mosey and Captain that I¢ve met previously.  Also here is Lightfoot (from Michigan) who I was expecting to run into after knowing about him from Trail Journals before I left home.  Also Popeye from Va.Today¢s 11.6 miles was definitely not easy.  When the AT Guide indicates caution that this area is more difficult than the elevation profile indicates, you know to expect the worst.  There were 3 areas where there were bad weather alternative routes.  I, of course, choose the official AT routes even though the rock climbs were wet from it being a misty day.  It was a challenging day to say the least.  Many times used hand holds on rocks to make to up and down.  Did slip on a large, sloping rock causing a laceration on one elbow.  It is OK, just a little blood. Was up high many times but clouding misty conditions did not allow any vista¢s.  So other than self-satisfaction, no rewards for such hard work.One bright spot today was Belleville Creamery.  Large hot fudge sundae. Yum!Went over 300 miles today for this trip and left NJ for the last time into NY.  That is today¢s picture.
Date: 2019-05-04
From: Wildcat Shelter? NY

To: Stealth camping
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: light rain

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1391.2It was not the best of days....but in the end was interesting.Hiked for 11 hours today and it was tough, quite tough.  At first I thought NY had turned easy with nice smooth trails. Then it showed it¢s vengeance again with numerous tough rock climbs.  Unfortunately they were wet and slippery causing a couple of falls.  No injuries other than more scrapes on legs and arms.  There was one section I deemed impossible in the wet conditions and took an alternate blue blazed option which itself was no picnic.One notable feature is a rock formation called ¢The Lemon Squeezer¢.  It is a very tilted, narrow slit between rock walls.  Was impossible to make it through with a pack on. So I went through once to deposit my hiking poles up there. Then came back down and pushed my pack ahead of me and later carried it above my head to make it through.  The picture is someone else coming down while I waited my turn.Late afternoon I reached my targeted shelter.  As I was going down the side trail to it, I SAW MY FIRST BLACK BEAR from about 35 yards away.  Saw it had something in its mouth.  I made it down to the shelter and found it had just stolen food from a Boy Scouts pack.  There was a group of about 30 scouts and leaders planning on spending the night.  The leaders came over to me and said the bear had been hanging around the shelter and they were leaving.  Leaving me alone, I decided to move on too.  On the side trail back to the AT I saw the bear again.  It just sat there and watched me and appeared to be eating something.  We both kept an eye on each other until I got out of there.So now I¢m stealth camping a little over a mile away.  Made sure all food and wrappers are out of my tent and that my bear bag hang is a good one.  Six of the 8 from last night went into town tonight.  And Pilgrim and Mosey are camping somewhere ahead of me,After my 2nd fall today(which damaged one of my new hiking poles), I had my first thoughts of ¢why am I doing this?¢  As the sun finally came out to dry most of the slippery rock and the bear incident, I¢m feeling better.
Date: 2019-05-05
From: Stealth camping

To: West Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: light rain

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1398.6Rained through the night as I was snug on my tent with no one else near by.  It adds to the morning routine to get ready, pack up and stow the tent in the rain...thankfully a light rain.  The rain/mist persisted all day so I was a cold, soaked puppy carrying excess weight due to wet gear.  The shelter I¢m at has a view of the NYC skyline.  However all that can be seen today is clouds.  Maybe it will be clear by morning as the rain is supposed to stop overnight.  Today¢s pic is that view.Another day of having to hike carefully.  Added to the lately normal wet, slippery rocks were lots of puddles where the trail should be.  I am a dirty and smelly mess right now and my shoes are soaked.The trail crossed the Palisades Parkway today. I walked the .8 mile round trip to a Visitors Center in the median.  Spent some time there charging my phone, having a snack, etc.  Am feeling better today(even with the rain)than yesterday.  Even with the conditions and a few rock climbs today, my attitude has improved.
Date: 2019-05-06
From: West Mountain Shelter

To: Graymoor Spiritual Center
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

AT Mileage Done/ Mile Marker = 1412.0A good mood inducing day today.  Weather was nice, trails/rocks were dryer and had good food twice.Did leave the shelter with plenty of wet, heavy items including shoes, tent, clothes and food bag.  The shoes dried out during the day as did the clothes I was wearing.  Items inside my bag did not.There was a big climb up the south side of Bear Mountain.  Trail maintainers did a tremendous job in placing hundreds of stone steps rather than the rock scrambles. A reward at the top was a great(although quite expensive) lunch at The Bear Mountain Inn.  Then the trail went down the north side of the mountain.  Again with hundreds of even easier stone steps on a smooth gravel walkway.  It fed right into the zoo at Bear Mountain. There in was my 2nd bear sighting within a few days (only this one was in a cage).  Just before my stopping point for tonight was a 24 hour deli/store.  Had a pint of Cherrie Garcia ice cream there and a good hoggie sandwich to go.  While there saw the 2 girls from France I met the night of the bear sighting who also had the same experience and moved on to tent as I did.Staying tonight in a camping area owned by the Graymoor Spiritual Center, an order of Friars.  Has a tenting area in a ballfield, a pavilion with power to recharge phones, a water faucet and porta-potties. Two guys and two college age girls from France here too.  One of the guys built a fire which I used to dry out clothes.  My tent dried on its own after being set up.  However no shower and dry but smelly clothes still need attention somewhere soon.So over-all, a good day on the AT!
Date: 2019-05-07
From: Graymoor Spiritual Center

To: Clarence Fahnestock SP, NY
Miles today: 13.8

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1425.8A kind of ho-hum day today.  Nothing really special about the hike.  No great views.  Weather was nice and did meet a few nice people on the trail...including Bob & Cathy again from NC.  It was slow hiking again due to mostly rocky trail. I was hoping to do 19 miles to a shelter; but, not enough time to make it considering the conditions.Never saw the people from last nights camp except for the southbound short section hiker.  I caught up to him about 20 minutes into my hike.  He had no idea he was going the wrong way.As I type this I¢m laying in my tent with a rainstorm going on.  It is relaxing hearing the rain drops and wind and I can feel the lowering temperatures.  Bad thing is as I saw the storm clouds moving in there was only time to grab a protein bar out of my bear bag before hoisting it up and rushing under cover.I was concerned about my tent and worried about it all day.  This morning when trying to get out, the zipper was stuck and took me awhile to get it open.  Tonight it seems to be working just fine again.Forgot to mention yesterday that I went over the 1400 mile mark of the AT.  At present I¢m only 33 miles from entering CT.No pictures taken today.  So the one I¢m using is from a couple of days ago.  A rare and pleasant surprise that does not appear very often at roadside trailheads.
Date: 2019-05-08
From: Clarence Fahnestock SP, NY

To: Morgan Steward Shelter, NY
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: scattered clouds

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1439.8A good day on the AT.  Both the trail conditions and weather were nice.  Least rocky day in some time.I made a real blunder however. Had my mind set on a deli for lunch only a half mile off trail.  Looking forward to it so much that I got off at a road before the correct one.  After walking for well over a half mile I asked a local how to get to the deli.  He said take that road over there....and it¢s about a mile or so.  WHAT?  Then I got my ATGuide out and realized what I¢d done. Then used my phone and called up a map to make sure.  Went ahead and continued on the wrong roads to the deli.  Lightfoot & Popeye who were sitting outside at the deli say ¢why are you coming from that direction, find a short cut?¢  My reply ¢yes, some short cut that was.¢  After getting my food and sitting outside eating a car pulls in the parking lot.  The 2 French girls get out of it.  They had camped not far from where I was last night.  But this morning they went south instead of north for quite awhile before realizing it.  They then got a Uber to bring them up to about where they should have been by midday.At this shelter tonight are a man from Long Island, NY and two older women from N.H.  One woman in the shelter and the rest of us tenting.The problem I mentioned yesterday with my tent zipper that I thought was resolved is not. And now it is a much bigger concern.  When you pull the zipper handle it flows smoothly; but, the two pieces of mesh fabric do NOT attach together.  So now there is a big open gap through which any insects can get through.  The bugs are not bad yet.  I guess I¢ll see how it works out the next few days.Today¢s picture is from a shelter I stopped at for s morning break.  A pair of feet with hiking shoes hanging from the ceiling.
Date: 2019-05-09
From: Morgan Steward Shelter, NY

To: Dutches Motor Lodge, Wingate, NY
Miles today: 10.9

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1450.7It was a beautiful day for hiking.  Had 10.9 miles done by ¢noonish¢ when I pulled off the trail to get to a motel for a zero day tomorrow.  Trail surface was the nicest, smooth path I can remember having in quite awhile.  Coupled with a near empty food bag I felt like I was flying.I¢m in a fly by night type motel in Wingate,NY.  There was a parking trailhead at US22 just past the AT Rail Depot (shown in picture).  As I arrived a car was just pulling in to park.  I simply walked over to it and asked the driver if he would be interested in giving a hiker a ride to town.  I offered to pay he; but, he graciously offered a ride of about 4 miles.  A nice young man was on his lunch break and we had a nice conversion during the short ride.  Great Trail Magic!From the AT Rail Depot you can ride to NYC for $22. Really do not know how the train knows to stop.  Since I was not interested, did not check it out.It has been 8 days since my clothes or body have been cleaned.  Was about time for both.  This motel has a washing machine; but, not a dryer.  My clothes are hanging on a clothes line out back.  It is a cloudy day so I was concerned. But there is also a good breeze that is helping out.  Ultimately most items dried.  The wool socks and shirt were still damp.  They are now draped over lamps inside my room.On my zero tomorrow I¢ll walk about a mile or more to a grocery store.  Otherwise probably hole up and rest.
Date: 2019-05-10
From: Dutches Motor Lodge, Wingate, NY

To: Dutchess Motor Lodge, Wingdale, NY
Miles today: 0.0

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1450.7By 9:30 this morning had all my walking chores done.  That included a 1.5 hour walk to a gas station convenience store, a very small grocery and the same deli I visited last night.  Acquired an adequate amount of 4-5 days of hiking foods plus deli salad/sandwich and drinks for lunch & dinner tonight.  Wanted to get this done before today¢s/tonights projected rains.  Even bought a NY Times to pass some of today¢s time.  My next resupply will be in Salisbury, CT.On my walk I saw a pair of hiking shoes tossed over a power line above the road(today¢s pic). I guess it was the end of the line for some hiker.  Speaking of which I am starting to consider the end of my hike.  Currently thinking of finishing off NY, CT and Massachusetts and going home.  In that plan, I could visit my 2014 hiking buddy Paul Bunion who lives in MA and think could make travel arrangements home from there.  Could change my mind as the miles pass by, just current feeling.When at home I join a small group of former co-workers from BAE Systems about once a month for lunch on Friday¢s. I suggested via Email that they call me today since I was holed up in a motel room.  Had a fun call with Eddie, Cindy, Martin and Bargie today.  Glad they called and always fun to get caught up and hear their voices again.I am about 4 miles from the AT at this motel.  Was unsure if I¢d have to walk to it in the morning.  Hitch hiking is illegal in NY state.  Talked the motel manager into driving me over in the morning.Been kind of a long day sitting around motel room.  However I may have solved my tent zipper issue.  There was a video on the TarpTent web site explaining what to do.  With the help of a borrowed pair of pliers and lip balm on the zipper teeth the fix was done.  Will see how it works in the woods soon.  For now a relief of mind.
Date: 2019-05-11
From: Dutchess Motor Lodge, Wingdale, NY

To: Mt. Algo Shelter, CT
Miles today: 18.1

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1468.8Two milestones today: 0. Went over the 400 mile mark for this years hike. 0. Went past the 2/3 mile mark of the entire AT which is 1461 miles.Weather was perfect today.  Cool temps reaching only in the low 60¢s with a slight breeze and the deepest blue sky.  The deep blue sky showing through the budding green trees was quite picturesque.With the first part of the days trail near perfect, I was flying.  Before noon(after 4.5 hours) I had already booked 10 miles.  Then the trail again turned rocky and ran into a nearly 1,000 elevation gain.  So the last 8 miles took about 6 hours.  Oh well, still had a big day.....and you have to take what the trail gives you.At the shelter tonight are Wolf and Stripes who I¢ve met before.  Also 2 young men out for a few days and way up on a nearby hill are about a dozen seemingly college age guys and gals.  I and all others except Wolf are tenting.  The shelter just had a new metal roof installed earlier today.My tent zipper is working perfectly.  Sure am glad I saw the video about how to fix it.Met a young couple at a scenic vista today.  In the conversion I mentioned being from Aiken.  The guy went to USCA and graduated from there. Was familiar with Hitchcock Woods.  Small world.Suppose to start raining over night and well into tomorrow.  Several additional days also indicate rain likely.  Hopefully it will be if the light, low accumulation variety.  Another state bites the dust.Completed: GA,NC,TN,VA,WV,MD,PA,NJ,NYUndone:CT,MA,VT,NH,ME
Date: 2019-05-12
From: Mt. Algo Shelter, CT

To: VanessaÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Place, Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 0.3
Weather: light rain

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1469.1An IMPRESSIVE day of hiking..... 0.3 miles(i.e. about 10 minutes).Rained most of the night.  Not a hard rain; but a steady one.  After a big day yesterday and being cold and rainy it was hard to pull myself out of my cozy sleeping bag.  This was especially reinforced by looking at the forecast of 3 days of rain and a projected low tonight of 38 degrees.  First plan was to hike in the rain 7 miles to the next shelter.When I finally got moving and stowed all except my soaked tent in my backpack I carried it over to under the canopy of the shelter.  Then went to the metal bear box and retrieved my food bag.  After awhile got up the gumption to go out in the rain and take down/stow my tent.  The next few moments changed my day.  Was eating breakfast in the shelter along with Wolf(from Germany).  He mentioned he had a reservation in Salisbury(about 30 miles ahead) and the owner also did shuttles.  We hatched a plan to move his reservation up to today, me joining him and get a shuttle ride there.  A quick call and we were to be picked up in about 30 minutes.  We rushed to complete getting ready and get to the road crossing quickly.  Although we ended up waiting for an additional half hour in the rain, we eventually arrived safely, albeit cold and wet.Now afternoon and we are showered,clothes in the dryer, and laying in our bunks under covers to stay warm.  Vanessa(the homeowner/hostel owner) has invited us to join her and her family in a Mother¢s Day spaghetti dinner this evening.  We will gladly partake.  When I say hostel, it is really a bunk room in her home with access to bath and kitchen.Wolf is going to stay here 5 nights and then get a shuttle to the Hartford airport for his previously planned flight home.  I am playing it by ear.  My timing of getting a ride back to our road crossing pick up point will depend on the weather forecast and it does not look good.Now evening and another hiker showed up from Maine.  He took an upstairs room to himself.  We all gouged on pasta with meatballs and sausage, salad, bread and dessert cake.  Understand the house we are in is over 300 years old.  It is today¢s picture.
Date: 2019-05-13
From: VanessaÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Place, Salisbury, CT

To: Hostel in Salisbury 
Miles today: 0.0

AT Mileage Done/Mile Marker = 1471.1A ZERO day in Salisbury, CT.  Nothing too exciting to talk about.  Was cloudy with no rain in the morning and I was able to set up the tent to dry.  Rain did start in the afternoon and should stop overnight. In addition to Wolf and I, 3 others showed up this afternoon that we had camped with previously.  The are Lightfoot, Popeye and Captain.I am the only one starting out tomorrow morning.  Suppose to rain in the afternoon with a high temp of around 48 degrees.  Hope to have a relatively short day to the next shelter before it starts.  Getting an early start.Today¢s picture is the fireplace in Venessa¢s hostel.