morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-07-16
From: Eckville Shelter

To: New Tripoli campsite
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: broken clouds

Wake up early with the first person to take a shit. Get out of the privy and make camp at the picnic table. Wait for Pit and Bridgette to wake up. A short day is planned so we can take our time at every turn. At one turn I see another bear. It as about 35 feet away from me and not moving. I get my camera out as quick as possible and snap. No good pictures, but incredible sensations I will never forget. Two bears in three days. Do a cool climb up to Tri Corner then march into the Allentown shelter for an extended break. Cook, chill, lay down a while. Dreams of a cheeseburger were dashed when we found out the Blue Mountain Restaurant and Bar isn't open today. Get to the road in an absurd time. The trail was a flat forest road that felt like an airport walkway. Got to road, mockingly hitched from our asses, hoping someone might see the need for cheeseburgers on our faces and take pity. No go, so we go. 2 miles to the campsite. Bridgette whips up a fire in no time, good thing cos the bugs are alive down here. The fire fades as night sets in. Crawl into my tarp. Good short day. Good weather. Good company.
Date: 2003-07-17
From: New Tripoli Campsite

To: Palmerton jailhouse
Miles today: 11.6

Have good sleep and wake up rarin' to go. Today is the fun day for PA rocks. First the Cliffs, which are a fun little scramble with little on each side of you. Then Bear Rocks, where I was misled and followed a pathway to a coiled rattlesnake. Then comes Bake Oven Knob, a pile of boulders sandwiched near the top of the ridge. Poorly blazed, I get pissed when it takes me a couple of minutes to find the trail amidst the boulders. Find it and truck on. Again another poorly blazed area sets me off, but I am soon calmed by the open fields on the ridges. I see a local gentleman picking blueberries in the field. Blueberries? Didn't see them. Now I did. Everywhere. Couldn't stop eating them. When I got up to walk again, I couldn't stop bending down and picking more. Free fresh food, what a concept. Am really moving and make it into Palmerton by 12:50pm. Sign up at the jail, take my high pressure prison shower, gorge on burgers, and go back to jail to take a nap. Pit and Bridgette arrive soon after. Back to the diner, more food, then to a bar, then bowling. After bowling, we went to a bar that had 50cent drafts for hikers. Payday!! Let the drinking begin. Never let it end. And it didn't. At 12:30am the owner started handing out shots of whatever (Jim since we drank him out of Jack)for whoever. Then more shots, more beers, then free cheeseburgers. Palmerton kicks royal ass. Big ups to Mugshots, its owner, and all the locals who partied with us. Great trail night. Good hikers having a great time. This is why I come out here. Just don't tell anyone that.
Date: 2003-07-18
From: Palmerton

To: DWG
Miles today: 0.0

Catch ride from Palmerton to DWG so I can hit the P.O. I would have had to hitch from Wind Gap tomorrow morning, into Stroudsburg, then into Delaware Water Gap by 11 am. Not bloody likely. The ride is the safe way to go. Besides it is raining and I have zero desire to be on the exposed Palmerton Ridge in a lightning storm. I can handle most everything out here, but lightning still seizes me up. So off I go, listening to Iris Dement the whole way. What a treat. Get to DWG, set up, shower, hang out, play guitar, and pretty much just putz around. Spend too much money do nothing. Sleep like a baby.
Date: 2003-07-20
From: DWG

To: Sunfish Pond
Miles today: 6.0

Have a final breakfast with Bridgette before she heads back to WI. Go back to hostel and prepare to hike out. Enough time has passed, so I suggest we get lunch. During lunch, a visitor arrives. DUCT TAPE!!! Yeah, buddy. Palns have changed. We head to Stroudsburg to find a bar. We do. Eat, drink and watch some sports on TV. Pat Burrell's swing is still the worst I have ever seen in my life. Good thing I am out here. Play some free pool and head back. Duct Tape walks with us up the trail for a few miles and heads back to his car. We move on for the pond. Get there before dark and cook up a dinner by the water. Hike less than 100 yards from the pond and throw down. Spirits are high. Duct Tape saves the day. I could complain to him about this year's crop of hikers and he would know what I meant. He did. Bugs are insane at the campsite. Try to sleep.
Date: 2003-07-21
From: Sunfish Pond

To: Gyp's Tavern
Miles today: 21.0

The bugs destroyed me last night. I must have chosen a bog for us to camp in. This explains why we are hiking by 7:15 am. The walk today is beautiful, thru fields on top of ridges. The clouds are threatening but never loudly. It is overcast and cool. We make good time to Rattlesnake spring, where we cook up a lunch. Pit's feet are in bad shape. We push on and are moving at a pretty good clip. At least I am. After waiting for Pit at Brink's Road shelter for a while, he shows. His spirits are down. The pain in his feet is too much. Thankfully, we only have 3.6 miles to go. And beer at the end of it. Make it down to Gyp's Tavern by 6pm. Not bad, 21 miles by 6. Wait for Pit to arrive to order food. Do not wait for a beer, though. He rolls in, tired and sore. We gorge. He eats 3 cheeseburgers and fries, while I eat a cheeseburger, a pizza and fries. And plenty of beer. A wicked storm rolls in. The owner offers us a camping spot behind the bar. It is much appreciated. We drink out the rain, and set up in the wet grass. No sooner had we set up than round two of the storm thundered in. And I mean thundered. Booms that sounded like someone was pounding a bass drum. I was scared shitless by the lightning popping all around. Pit said he wasn't hiking tomorrow, so lack of sleep won't hurt a bit.
Date: 2003-07-22
From: Branchville, NJ

To: Vernon
Miles today: 31.0
Weather: light rain

Pit cannot hike on, so we are headed to Vernon so his feet can heal. The owner of Gyp's Tavern kindly offered us a ride to Rt. 94, the road to Vernon. Get a quick hitch right to the hostel. Shower, relax, journal, email. Go to dinner.At dinner the possibility of Pit getting off of the trail is more than real. It is over. His feet can take no more. I try to break up the mood with humor, but I could tell he was dying inside. Stayed up most of the night at the pavilion talking about whatever. He couldn't sleep. I can understand that. I have hiked with him since Hot Springs, he has been an excellent hiking companion. He will be sorely missed. I kinda latched onto Pit and Ponyboy cos they seemed to be my type of hiker, whereas I didn't quite catch the right vibe from people on the trail this year. Still haven't. Probably gonna take some time off in Vernon and wait for Ponyboy's return.
Date: 2003-07-27
From: Vernon

To: Vernon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Still Vernon. Will be hiking north tomorrow and getting as far as I can by Tuesday afternoon, at which time I will hitch to Albany.   Kim, a teacher from Ct who I met in '01 in Fall's Village, has found me a job on a farm for a couple of days. This should give Ponyboy plenty of time to catch up. Inertia has set in, so I have started doing upper body work again. I weigh more than when I started. Too many zeroes, not enough hiking.
Date: 2003-07-30
From: Albany

To: Albany
Miles today: 0.0

Made it to Albany yesterday courtesy of Gene the trail angel. He drove me and Ruby, a SOBO, over 100 miles to Albany. Went out last night and got hammered. Today, I labored down on the farm, picking beans and weeding. My back is sunburnt beyond recognition. Tonite, we are going to see a GD cover band and get hammered again. Tomorrow, I will work again at the farm. On Friday, Kim will be drivng Ruby and I to Pawling, where I will wait for Ponyboy. Having an excellent time. It is great to be reminded why you like somebody. Kim is a sweetie.
Date: 2003-08-05
From: Pawling

To: Pawling
Miles today: 0.0

Still in Pawling. Still waiting for Ponyboy. Swimming in the pond when it is not raining. Hangin' out with the locals under the Pavillion. Ruby is still about, just hangin' around like me. Ponyboy was supposed to arrive last night, but I guess the rains have slowed him down. It will be nice to talk the law, again. Am also looking forward to hiking again, it has been a week since I broke a sweat. Oh well, off to take comfort in my New York Post, a cup of coffee, and a cigarette. Maybe I'll take a nap.
Date: 2003-08-06
From: Pawling

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I lost the will to hike. Took many days off. Hiked again. Still no will. No more hike. It took about two seconds to decide to leave the trail. Everything said, the crazies, the lack of a tight community this year, the rain, I think I was just done. I really wanted to see the waters in Maine this year, but alas no love this time. To all who helped me out, my humblest thanks. I have no idea what I will be doing. Just like everyday on the trail. Too bad that quality isn't appreciated as much off the trail. Happy trails to all.
Date: 2003-02-13
To: Happy Wanderers Are We
Miles today: 0.0

And so the adventure begins...We have arrived in North Carolina, back from St. Thomas, and acclamating to the cold weather is on the top of our list right now! Spending at least 15 minutes each day outside is our goal this week to get used to this cold stuff. People keep saying that this is warm (45 degrees), but I beg to differ. Ask me again in a few weeks.Today is a big prep day - heading out to Walmart for some more supplies and our first major food shopping trip - wish us luck - 2 girls who have been living on a small island head to a store about the size of half of the island we were living on!Thanks to everyone who has been helping us to prepare for this adventure. We hope to keep you entertained (updated) as we finish preparing and embark. Start date is scheduled for March 3 - otherwise known as 03/03/03 - weather willing!For those of you who have not yet met us...We have just moved back up to the "mainland" after spending 3 years in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Yvonne is originally from Orlando, FL and is a world traveler - she has spent time in Africa, Tajikistan, Turkey, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, just to name a few. Ask her to share some stories sometime :)Carol was born and raised in Havertown, not far from Philadelphia, PA. Carol is a marathon canoer who regularly competes in the General Clinton Regatta in Cooperstown NY on Memorial Day (and may take time off the trail to do the race). If you are ever up there, look for the JUST ADD WATER duo.Hiking such a long way is new to both of us, but we are very excited about being unemployed and living in the woods for the next 6 months or so. Thanks to everyone for supporting us!Happy wanderers are we...Carol and Yvonne
Date: 2003-02-14
To: Food shopping - part one
Miles today: 0.0

Well, we survived the first food shopping adventure! Starting to get a feel for how to handle all this food and so far so good. Carol is a little obsessed with the scale - running around the house weighing everything now, but it is exciting. Today is cold and rainy outside, almost sleeting. I guess we need to get used to this weather, huh? If I had my raingear purchased, it would be a good day to try it out!Happy Valentine's Day to all...
Date: 2003-02-21
To: Success is a journey
Miles today: 0.0

Whew! It's a good thing we have good friends to help us homeless people as we prepare for this adventure. Imagine food shopping for a week like most normal people do. Now multiply that number by about 24 and you have the amount of food that was sitting in our friend Anne's house yesterday. We are going to be using maildrops primarily for our food, to avoid having to shop much along the trail, so that was a huge job. It is not completely over- we still have to box them up and organize how many meals are going in each maildrop, but we have depackaged many many boxes of oatmeal, granola bars, pasta and crackers. Thank God for stores like BJ's! We certainly got some looks and comments from people in the store, made for some interesting conversations if nothing else!This is definitely an overwhelming process - but I know the end result will be worth it. Thinking about being out there on the trail keeps us motivated. One more week and we'll be packing up the car to head to Georgia!!! Photos are coming soon...Stay tuned...The new motto for the hike, which we have used throughout our lives - "Success is a journey, not a destination". Looking forward to this journey, wherever it takes us!
Date: 2003-02-25
To: Neither Sleet Nor Snow
Miles today: 0.0

We certainly hope that neither sleet nor snow keeps the US Post office from doing it's job! For we are bound to go a-hiking soon. And we have finally completed plotting our path through the mountains and towns of the AT. In all we have 27 mail drops planned. Yes, it's a bit like airlifting food to yourself, except you have to hike or hitch (don't tell mom) into town to get the food. It makes me feel like a bit of a mouse in a maze...trying to find my way to the food at the end of a 5 or 7 or 10 day stretch. Like I said in a previous entry, life is full of paradoxes. And so it is that I am experiencing more of them as we get closer to our leave date. Have I told you I hate shopping? Well, I hate shopping unless there's nothing I need. Well guess what? All I have been doing for the past two weeks is shopping..bulk food stores, online, REI, Campmoor, Kroger and by my calculations we have purchased and I have moved and packed nearly 600 pounds of food. This is supposed to last us 150 days. (You calculate about 1.5 to 2 pounds of food a day per person.)Sometimes I look at the mountain of food and think, "I will never eat that much." Then I hear about how your metabolism picks up and you end up eating twice as much as you started out eating. Then I think: "I'm gonna starve." But I can't bear to think of it anymore. I am definitely in a place where it is time just to get hiking. I have been driven buggy with planning that I just want to fake the rest and get going. We still have four days until we leave and we are still packing the maildrops and travelling from east to west North Carolina back and forth between friends who are helping us with our necessities.I'm getting cabin fever, it is time to fly. Will the weather permit a March 3rd start date. Travelers on the trail say it is icy,...Ice, Smice, I say. Let's get going!!!!! Counting the days, Yvonne
Date: 2003-02-27
To: Of birthday celebrations and trail preparations
Miles today: 0.0

Today was my 38th birthday. At 8 PM 38 years ago my mama, having labored for 24 hours, gave birth to me and so began my journey. Here I sit, less than 24 hours from embarking on a new adventure, perhaps not as traumatic but it is definitely a passage from one world to the next. Since our move from the US Virgin Islands, I haven't quite made the leap into the traffic of North Carolina roads. I find myself gritting my teeth and gripping the seats while I sit as a passenger amidst all this traffic. It will be a relief to be on foot for a while and out of the maddening pace of traffic.For my birthday and in need of some external sign that I am about to undergo a metamorphisis, I have been experimenting with my hair of late. From dark dark brown to bright orange then to bright yellow and now to 1/4 inch long bright yellow. The only thing holding me back from taking it shorter is the cold weather we are experiencing. So I will look a bit different from the web-posted photo, but none the more freaky. I think it's funny how people pass judgements based on appearances, and I enjoy stepping outside of my comfort zone.Nobody can't say I am doing that now...what is a comfort zone on the trail, eh? That will probably only be achieved after three months on there. I shall see. And what parting words prior to the drive to Georgia tomorrow? Simply this - I am starting with an attitude of gratitude to have the abundance in my life to do this at this time. Abundance of resources, friends and family. I welcome the experience - come what may.I hope to see my guide on the trail and I hope to see you all on the trail. I'll be the one with really short hair carrying a guitar. :) Ciao Bella!
Date: 2003-03-06
From: Neel's Gap - Walasi Yi Center

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

We have made it over the first hurdle and have arrived safely to our first rest stop - one night with a warm bed and hot shower, and pizza on the way! We have been out for 4 days now - started out the official journey from atop Springer Mountain on March 2 in the company of my sister Michele and our friend Anne. It was awesome to have familiar faces as we took our first steps north!Our first day took us 7.6 miles (about 3 of which were with Michele and Anne), and we spent our first night in the woods at Hawk Mountain Shelter. Getting used to the cold weather - whew! No major problems, no falling off sides of mountains - it was a good day...Day 2 began with cold sunshine and we trekked 7 miles to Gooch Gap Shelter. We have been trying to stay close to shelters in the beginning, giving us the option of staying in a 3-sided structure or tenting it. We thought the first night was cold, but the wee weather radio said that it was about 20 degrees that night. We little island girls were feeling it that night!Day 3 was our longest yet - we have been trying to ease into this, not going too hard in the beginning so we can stay healthier, but we got ambitious and decided to do a long day. Mental note to others - don't choose to go to a shelter that is a half-mile off the trail after you have already hiked over 11 miles ... AND...when the water source is even further!!Day 4 took us over Blood Mountain, Georgia's highest peak on the Trail. We got there just as the fog lifted off and had some amazing 360 degree views. We have been blessed with cool but beautiful weather so far, only one night of a little sprinkling. We descended from Blood Mountain to arrive at Walasi Yi Center, an outfitter and hostel located right ON the trail - the only place that the trail goes through a building (well a breezeway actually) - a very cool place with friendly, helpful people. We picked up our first maildrop, re-stocked with food and water, and weighed in our packs again - fully loaded we were each carrying about 45 pounds - not bad considering we were carrying full water and 6 days of food!On a final note, I have to say that my favorite piece of equipment so far has got to be the hiking poles - they are a savior! I never imagined that 2 little poles could be so helpful. An awesome Christmas present Mom and Dad :)So tomorrow morning we hit the trail again, heading north, looking for more signs of spring! We'll keep you updated as we can...Carol
Date: 2003-03-07
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: few clouds

Yesterday we pulled another big day (for us) - 11.2 miles to Low Gap Shelter. We weren't planning on going that far, but we thought - "oh, it's only 3 more miles to the next shelter". Yeah, never do that again!! At least not until we are in better shape! The last three miles were over one big mountain!!! Slept in today and got going around 10 am - it was a beautiful morning - warmed up to about 60, and we had an easy trek for the first 5 miles - hiking along a ridge, feeling a little bit like the Von Trapp family in the Sound of Music. The last 2.6 miles were not quite so easy, but we trudged uphill, climbing over many rocks and made it to the top of Blue Mountain. We christened the mini-Boggle game with Stacey (aka Turtle) from Georgia...Carol won.. and we caught a beaufitul sunset with about 15 people staying the night in and around the shelter. Seeing lots of people out here already, all walks of life and it is so neat to talk to everyone and hear their story!Looks like we are in a beautiful position to see the sunrise from the shelter. Now I know some of you are may be thinking - "Carol - up at sunrise??" - but times they are a changing. Bedtimes these days are pretty much when the sun goes down - about 7 or 7:30. 8:00 would be staying up late, so by sunrise, we are ready to get up and get going.The equipment of the day today is earplugs - what a godsend when you sleep in a shelter with a chorus of snorers (Yvonne included)!The aches and pains of muscles adapting continue, but what can I say - transformation is taking place and we are loving it out here!Carol
Date: 2003-03-08
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Cheese Factory Site
Miles today: 5.8

Taking another short day, just continuing to break the bodies in. Woke up to a gorgeous sunrise at Blue Mountain shelter and another great weather day. We both actually got some sunburn on the faces! We ate lunch on top of Rocky Mountain and arrived at our campsite by 2:00. It was really nice to still have the warm sunshine to wash up a little at the spring and relax again. Tomorrow is a 9 mile day with lots of ups and downs, so hoping to get an early start!Lots of stories get passed along about different people on the trail and here's one that amused us...apparently there is a guy hiking ahead of us who is known as the "Chicken Man". He carries a chicken on his backpack, who faithfully lays some eggs for him out here!!! Some of the people we are hiking with claim that they have seen the eggshells lying on the trail!!! Go figure...CarolP.S. - The Cheese Factory Site is where there was once a functional cheese factory, and today is a beautiful place to camp - grassy area with a spring nearby...
Date: 2003-03-09
From: Cheese Factory Site

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: few clouds

One day away from civilization! We hiked 9 miles today to get us within striking distance of the road that will take us into Hiawassee, Georgia, where we plan to take a day and a half of rest.We do have maps and a data book with us, but we are not sure how accurate they are, so sometimes it is hard to tell where exactly you are and how much further you have to go. Today was one of those days...of course you always THINK you are further than you are! Manys ups and downs today, actually more ups. One little bear that we will not forget is Kelly Knob - a mile and a half of sheer up. And when I say up...I mean UP. That mountain had a few choice words left on it, but we conquered it and arrived here to Deep Gap shelter.Tonight has been a very pleasant evening - 6 others here at the shelter, and we had a great campfire complete with the first use of Yvonne's backpacker guitar! Good stories and lots of laughs. Tomorrow we hitch into town, hoping that some friendly folks will pick up some smelly hikers!CarolP.S. From Yvonne - a few more myths evolved while around the fire - there is TUBA MAN who is said to have hiked the trail with his TUBA that actually saved his life one day while hiking in Pennsylvania. If anyone can offer evidence of this, I'd be one curious to know. Also, telling stories around the fire came the story of "ELMER" half wolf and half bear who make people disappear. Other helpful knowledge such as how to ward off a black bear....anything from knocking your hiking poles together (another great reason for poles Mr. & Mrs. C!) to standing still and allowing them to breathe on you and then they'll go away. Some have hear coyotes howling for the past two nights, but I think they are really overactive dogs. What do you think? This may be where the guitar gets off....don't know yet. Four pounds is getting mighty heavy. It might have to be a summer thing...despite what my guide says.