morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-19
From: Caledonia State Park

To: Toms Run Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Another slow start ¢ 8:45. We did get a cold shower this morning in the campground. We ate some of my leftover pizza for breakfast. The rest I threw away as I did not want to carry it all day in the hot sun. Otter took the last 3 slices of his pizza to eat on breaks. We stopped by Quarry Gap Shelters for a quick break to get water. Very nice double shelter with covered picnic table between. There were live flowers in hanging baskets. The caretaker, a retired mechanical engineer, came by. Very nice gentleman. He was actually brushing the dust off the OUTSIDE of the shelters! More shelters could use such loving, tender care. Ran into a family at Birch Run shelter who were section hiking from Pine Grove Furnace SP to Caledonia SP. They gave us some mixed nuts to snack on and some water. Otter¢s feet were giving him trouble today so we took our time getting to Toms Run shelters, arriving at 6:45. Identity Crisis is sleeping in one of the shelters and we are in the other. Will probably try the ¢half gallon challenge¢ tomorrow when we get to Pine Grove Furnace SP for a near-0.
Date: 2006-06-20
From: Toms Run Shelter

To: Ironmasters Mansion Hostel
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: broken clouds

Had a terrible thunderstorm last night. Sure glad we were in the shelter. PASSED THE HALFWAY MARK TODAY! Very easy hike today. Got to the hostel just before it closed (hours are 7:30-9:30 and 5:00-10:00). Were able to register and get a much needed shower. Spent the rest of the day at the general store where we had sodas, chips, cheeseburgers, fries, and ice cream. No, we did not attempt the challenge. Many other hikers came during the day. Several other hikers did the challenge. Indy won, eating the 1/2 gallon in 12 min. 37 sec. The last to finish just barely did it in one hour. Got my picture taken with Bama who my mom has been following on Trailjournals. Most everyone else are tenting in the campground. Many will be at Alex Kennedy Shelter, 15.7 mi, tomorrow night. We hope to be there too. It has been warm and sunny all day, but now the clouds are beginning to build up. Hope we don¢t have to hike in the rain tomorrow.
Date: 2006-06-21
From: Ironmasters Mansion Hostel

To: Alex Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Left the hostel a little after 8:00. Walked past one of the charcoal furnaces on the way out of Pine Grove Furnace SP. Easy walk to James Fry (Tagg Run) Shelter for second break. Third break was at a general store 0.2 mi up PA-34. Ate a hamburger and Gatorade. Heard that the Canes won the Stanley Cup. GO CANES! After a short climb from PA-34 the trail went over the crest of a ridge where it was difficult boulder scramble. At one point we had to lay our poles on a ledge above and literally scale up the rocks. Almost fell backwards at one point. According to the Thru-hikers Companion, the spring at the shelter we were planning to stay at tonight would dry up in early summer so we loaded up with 3/5 liters (7.5 lbs) of water at Whiskey Spring Road. It was 2.5 mi from the spring to the shelter ¢ UGH! Of course we knew by filling up with water that the spring at the shelter would be flowing ¢ and it was! Oh well, such is life out here in PA. At the shelter with about a dozen of the hikers who were with us yesterday. Banjoman entertained us for a couple of hours with his guitar and songs. Great end to a good day. Planning on an 18.2 mi day tomorrow with 12 mi of flat trail at 500¢ elevation. Hope it doesn¢t get too hot.
Date: 2006-06-22
From: Alex Kennedy Shelter

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Got an early start ¢ 7:30. Was a short 2 mi to leave the ¢mountain¢ and start the 14 mi walk across Cumberland Valley at 500¢ elevation. Got to Boiling Springs is about 2 hours. Had a great brunch at JC¢s Country Caf© ¢ 2 sausage, egg, cheese bagels and tons of delicious dark roast coffee. Stopped in the Yellow Breeches Outfitters (mostly Orvis fly fishing supplies) and bought a cap as it was starting to get hot in the bright sun. Signed the register at the ATC Mid-Atlantic Regional Office and headed out of town. The temperature quickly matched the 90% humidity. Crossed what seemed like a dozen roads, none of which had water. We were almost out of water when we reached US-11, 8 mi past Boiling Springs. Went to a trucking company to fill or water bottles and get sodas from their vending machines. Cold drinks and water were great in the heat! Stopped at the Conodoguimet Creek Bridge (ATC Scott Farm Trail Work Center) where there was water and a picnic table. We took a 1.5-hour break and ate dinner. In another 2 miles we began the 900¢ climb up Blue Mountain. Stopped to get water (2.5 liters) at a spring because the water at the shelter was unreliable. It started raining just as we were leaving the spring. Made the mile to the shelter just minutes before a severe thunderstorm blew through, and what a storm it was. The wind was blowing rain into the shelter. Glad it only lasted a couple of hours.
Date: 2006-06-23
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncanon, PA.
Miles today: 11.3

Well, we soon got into the PA rocks. It was slow going in places. Got to the 100-year old Doyle Hotel at 3:00. Th Doyle Hotel is a little over 100 years old built by Anheisure Bush. It is in great need of up keep and is now used sort of like a hostel at $15 a nite. Ate a pork sandwich and several beers with the other hikers there. Every time a hiker would enter, everyone would cheer and offer them a beer. Must be 30 hikers here. Walked to the post office to pick up our mail drop and a care package from Chuck Timley. He sent me some COHIBA cigars. Thanks Chuck! Elaine and Laurie (Otter¢s friend) got here at 6:00 after a long drive from Raleigh. We drove to the Purdy Motel where we had reservations. It is just a small step above the Doyle Hotel! We were glad to get a room however since everything from Harrisburg to Duncannon was booked. We got showers and had a little cocktail hour with wine and cheese Elaine and Laurie had brought. Then we went to dinner at the Ranch House.
Date: 2006-06-24
From: Duncanon, PA.

To: Duncanon, PA.
Miles today: 0.0

Went to the laundromat and washed clothes. Otter got his first haircut since March. Also got his beard trimmed. Looks too neat to be a smelly thru-hiker! We walked around town for a little while. We had our cocktail hour again today then had a very nice dinner at a restaurant down the road. Spent the rest of the evening typing my journal and sorting out what food we need for the next 4.5 days. We will pick up a mail drop in Port Clinton on the June 29 which should get us to Delaware Water Gap.On the left of this page you may view mail drops for Cohiba. The next one is in Southfields, NY087/08/06 -- Elaine
Date: 2006-06-25
From: Duncanon, PA.

To: Peters Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 11.4

Elaine and Laurie dropped us off at the Doyle Hotel and we started hiking at 10:45 in the rain. Really enjoyed their visit and hated to see them go. We were totally soaked by the time we had walked one mile to the bridge over the Junita and Susquehanna rivers. It was then a 900 ft climb up Peters Mountain on switchbacks. These were only a couple of rocky sections in the 2 mile climb. We took a break at Clarks Ferry shelter to eat something and drain the water from our boots and wring out the socks. We collected water that was running off the shelter roof instead of hiking 100 yards downhill to the spring in the rain. Hiked the next 7 miles without a break because of the rain. The trail was basically flat on the ridge. Got to the sheltrer about 5:30 soaking wet again. We had no views today because of all the rain and clouds.Changed clothes and again got water from the shelter roof. The spring here is 300 feet downhill on 273 steps! Very nice shelter that sleeps 20. Only 4 here tonight- Otter, 2 section hikers and myself. Heard the shelter was full last night. To bed early tonight as we have a 18 mile day tomorrow. The rain has stopped for now. Would be nice to hike dry tomorrow, but they are calling for shower the rest of the week! Good Night!
Date: 2006-06-26
From: Peters Mtn. Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: light rain

Rained almost all night. Waited for the rain to let up before we started out - 9:40. We were able to hike almost an hour before the rain started up again. Rained steady, hard at times for the next one and half hours. Had to cross Clark Creek at PA325. The water was a foot over the bridge. We had to cross very carefully because there was no railing and the water was almost to our knees. See picture. After draining the water from the boots, wringing out the socks, we started the 1100 foot climb up Stony Mountain. It was appropriately named. The climb was up an abandoned road and full of rocks. There was water running down the road in many places. Huge boulders were on both sides of the road, so we had to walk in the water -- more water in the boots! Once on top it was a ridge walk with much of the trail full of water - even more water in the boots. Of course it had started raining again! Some places on the trail were nothing but creeks. Our breaks were short because of the rain. Found a campsite near the trail to the shelter. Decided to tent as the shelter is small and several others were ahead of us. No sense in walking 0.3 miles to shelter with no possibility of room. Set up our tents quickly and threw everything inside. Cooked in the vestibule. Eating dinner at 9:00. I'm ready for the rain to stop. We have another 18 mile day planned for tomorrow. May cut it short to let our wet feet rest up a bit.
Date: 2006-06-27
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: William Penn Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: light rain

Slept on hill above Rausch Creek. With all the rain the last 2 days, the creek was out of the banks and sounded like Niagra Falls. Rained very hard during the night and I slept right through it! Had a good nights sleep, but I was still tired when I woke up. Ate breakfast in the tent and layed around too long. We didn't get hiking until 10:00. The trail in many places was still full of running water. When we got to PA433 there was a note stating that the creek ahead was too deep (4 feet) to cross, and to take the road 2 miles and cross on a bridge. We were lucky because 2 men in a van stopped and gave us water and a ride the 2 miles down the road. We soon came to another flooded road, so we climbed the STEEP hill up to I 81 and walked along the embankment far enough to get around the flooded area. We slid down the hill back to the roadl. Thought we would get to hike without rain, but we got soaked again about a mile from the shelter. We decided to stay the night here because our feet were too pruned to go another 4 miles. Hope to be able to make up the miles before Port Clinton.
Date: 2006-06-28
From: William Penn Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: few clouds

Rained hard overnight again. Only did 4 miles today. Tired of the rain. Everything has been flooded for 3 days. Decided to do a near-0 and stayed at PAMoneypit Hostel and get cleaned up, washed our stinking clothes, eat some great food, and dry everything. Fritz and Maybabie are great hosts. The hostel is actually a bedroom in their home. Had spaghetti and meatballs, salad, beer, and wine for dinner. For breakfast I had French toast, bacon, coffee, and orange juice. We stuffed ourselves again. Highly recommend this place. Hope the flood waters receed tonight as we have had enough of wading creeks and water in the trail.
Date: 2006-06-29
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: few clouds

After the great breakfast we packed up and got a ride back to the trail. Started hiking at 10:10 - another late start. Weather was great, partly cloudy and 70 degrees. Did not take long for us to get back into the rocks. Most are baseball to softball size with some sections with basketball monsters. Only had one small stretch of boulders. Almost stepped on a rattlesnake. I was 2 feet from its tail when I heard the rattle. When I jumped back it coiled up in the trail. Otter killed it with large rocks and his hiking pole. It was about 5 feet long, 1.5 inches in diameterr and had 9 buttons on it rattler. See pictures. Otter kept the rattles and we threw the snake off the trail. It started to thunder and rain when we were about a mile from the shelter. We put on our pack covers and hurried at 3+ mph to the shelter, only getting a little wet. We had to tent as the shelter is packed and there must be another dozen tents around. Seems like another bubble of hikers has cought up with us. Don't know most of them. Mud Flap and Daisy came in. The last time we saw them was just after Roan Mountain. On to Port Clinton, PA tomorrow to pick up a food drop and hike on through.
Date: 2006-06-30
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Port Cinton, PA
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: few clouds

Started hiking at 8:00. Took one short break and headed 900 foot steep downhill into Port Clinton. Got to the PO at 12:15 and picked up our mail drop. We put everything (5+ days of food, etc.) in our packs and headed to the restaurant at the Port Clinton Hotel. The hotel was closed - they all went on vacation through July 4. We then had to walk 0.75 miles up a busy highway to the only other restaurant. After lunch and headed back to town, stopping off at the pavalion which was a large covered porch where hikers could stay. There were several hikers there we knew so we visited for a while. Well- one thing lead to another and we decided to get some beer and wine and stayed the night instead of continuing the planned 6 miles through town. By nightfall, there were about 20 others there. Sat up and talked until 11:00.
Date: 2006-07-01
From: Port Cinton, PA

To: Dan Spring
Miles today: 18.2

We were up at 7:00, walked 0.5 miles to restaurant for breakfast. Started hiking about 9:15. The 0.5 mile trail beside the Schuykill River was wet and muddy - it had been under 6 feet of water from the flooding earlier in the week. Once we veered off the river, it was a 900 foot climb up Blue Mtn. Seems like we have been hiking on Blue Mtn. for several days - one darn long mtn. Can't seem to get off of it! Then it was back down 500 feet, then back up 800 feet to Pulpit Rock with a nice view of the valley below. (see pictures. Next was a 2 mile rock/boulder scramble level trail to the Pinnacle. There was a huge pile of rocks there - assumed it is their stockpile to add to the trail when needed - as it they need more!! There was a nice view of the farmland below (see pictures). We took an hour break there. The next 5 miles wasan easy 1000 foot downhill to Eckville Shelter. We were going to stay there but decided to go another 3+ miles and tent near a spring. It was another 1100 foot climb. Not too bad, but a bit tiring as we had already done over 15 miles. Today was the most climbing we had done in quite a while. Probably will do a couple more long days to make up for the 2 short ones earlier this week.
Date: 2006-07-02
From: Dan Spring

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: broken clouds

The 18 miles yesterday really did us in. Our feet are real sore this morning. I have declared was the over 15 mile days. The trail will have to not contain any large rocks or have climbs with out switchback to qualify for an over 15 miler. We slowly limped along today. The sections with large boulders were really hard on the feet because we had to walk on top of them, jumping from one to the other. We did stop after 8 miles at Blue Mountain B&B and Restaurant for lunch and a long rest. Back on the trail at 3:00 with about 6 miles to go. Didn't take long before we were back in the rocks. The ridge on Blue Mtn. here was a sharp crest of HUGE boulders. For some ungodly reason the trail went up into the ridge for 100 yards. They called it The Knife Edge. It was very danagerous as a slip could result in a 20'-30' fall onto the boulders. There was no snake or bad weather route. The next test came at Bake Oven Knob. It started thundering and raining just as we were beginning to climb down the boulders. It became very slippery. If that wasn't bad enough, lightening began flashing all around. Of course we were soaked again before we reached the shelter. The rain has stopped so we decided to tent rather than sleep in the 1937 vintage shelter.
Date: 2006-07-03
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Little Gap
Miles today: 12.7

Our wet clothes had dried pretty well over night hanging in the trees. We packed up and left about 9:00. The trail was typical for PA - more rocks. We got to Lehigh Gap about 2:00 and crossed the bridge over the Lehigh River. Took a picture of the mountains we had to climb. It is described as the most difficult climb until the White Mtns. in NH. It was 1100 feet almost straight up with LARGE boulders. Had to lay my poles above and climb uip boulders several times. It was about 90 degrees in the sun. What a climb.After that it was a 4 mile walk through the EPA Superfund Site outsdie Polmerton, PA. It looked like a moonscape with dead trees and rocks as far as you could see. At least it was an easy walk won a dirt road on the ridge. The devastation was from 100 years of zinc production in Palmerton. It was the largest zinc producer in the world. When we got to Little Gap there was a an doing a survey for the National Parks Service. We paayed him for a shuttle to Wind Gap where we stayed at the Gateway Motel. He agreed to shuttle us back to Little Gap the next morning so we could slack pack to Wind Gap.
Date: 2006-07-04
From: Little Gap

To: Wind Gap
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

We got up a 5:00 and it was raining very hard. Thought we would have to hike another day in the rain. Our ride arrived at 5:45 and it had stopped raining. We started hiking at 6:30. Sure was nice to hike another day without our packs. It didn't rain any more all day. Wind Gap was the end of Blue Mtn. Finally got to the end of it!! The trail was full of rocks! Made it back to Wind Gap at 2:00. The motel told us there was a diner 0.5 miles down the road. Well - we walked 1.5 miles and the only thing open was a biker bar which we decided not to eat there. We bought some junk food at a convenience store and walked back to the motel. The owner later shuttled us to Wendy's about 2.5 miles for dinner. Went to bed early as we were tired. It had been a long day.
Date: 2006-07-05
From: Wind Gap

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

We had tried for 2 days to call the Ramada Inn, but there was no answer. We packed up and left at 8:45 in the rain again. Would figure out where to stay once we get to Delaware Water Gap. It was only a light rain for a couple of hours. The trail was a 500 ft. climb up out of the Gap - not too bad. One section of the trail went over a ridge with large boulders - very dangerous . 200 yards with the wet rocks. Sleepy the Arab, who was ahead of us, fell and bruised his leg. We were lucky. Got to Mt. Minsi 2.6 miles from Delaware Water Gap. We took a short break. We then realized that we had packages to pick up at the PO and it was almost 4:00. We took off and went as fast as we could down 1000 ft. to get to the PO before it closed at 5:00. We got there at 5:00 but it was closed. I tapped on the glass door and gave the lady a very pitiful look. She opened the door and cheerfully gave us our packages. Our feet were aching terribly from the run down the mountain. Found out why the Ramada Inn didn't answer the phone. They had been flooded out by the Delaware River. The Outfitter there who was also flooded out, came by and 6 of us got shuttled to the Budget Host motel in Stroudsburg where we will zero tomorrow. Need to buy food for the next 4 days, get thee battery replaced in my watch, get cleaned up, and hopefully get Otter's boots repaired (new boots and soles are coming off). Probably 20 hikers here in the hotel. We all met at Siamsa, an Irish Pub, for beer and dinner. Great to get to talk with them. Care package from Elaine (goodies and very sweet cards) and Bryan Ginza (brownies and a Honderus cigar). Thanks E and Bryan!!
Date: 2006-07-06
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Spent most of the day doing laundry, getting the battery replaced in my watch, Otter buying trail shoes (his boot heels have separated from the boots), and buying groceries. I started walking to the library to use their computers to update trail journals and found out it was 3+ miles....... I turned around after 1.5 miles and came back to the motel. Elaine said she would do the update for me. Carol's aunt and uncle, Ted and Collene, came from NJ to visit and have dinner with us. Ted and Collene brought 2 bottles of wine and we had wine and cheese and crackers at the motel before dinner. We had dinner at the Willow Tree Inn with them. Great place for a nice dinner. I had scallops, broccoli soup, and a salad. It was a really nice visit with them. Thanks Ted and Collene. Planning a short day tomorrow - only 10.8 miles
Date: 2006-07-07
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Camp Road
Miles today: 10.5

Yes! Officially out of PA! Treated my boots last night to help waterproof them. We tried to get a shuttle this morning so we could slack pack 17 miles back to DWG. We were half way there when we were stopped by a locked gate. The recent flooding caused the rangers to close the road. We had to go back to DWG, get our packs from the hostel and pack the 11 miles to Camp Road. There is a nice spring here. Food bags are hung high froma tree because there is high bear activity in the area. It is estimated that there is one bear per square mile in the mountaings of NJ. It was an easy 1000 foot climb over 3.5 miles from the Deleware River, then a pretty flat walk the rest of the way in Kittatinny Mountains. Past Sunfish Pond that was created by the iceage glacier 10,000 years ago. Saw a snake eat a frog at the shoreline. Had nice views SouthEast into NJ and NorthWest over the Deleware River back into PA. Tenting with PC & Pache. Looking forward to a good night's sleep tonight.
Date: 2006-07-08
From: Camp Road

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

Left camp about 8:45. Were in no rush as the trial is so much better in NJ than PA. There were also no climbs or downhills of any significance. Saw a nice 6-point buck in velvet today. Had to shoo him out of the trail. Had great views of Wallpack Valley & Pocono Plateau from a cleared area on the crest of Kittatinny Mountain. The Poconos are a popular resort & recreation area full of waterfalls and gorges. Over 1/3 of PA waterfalls are in the Poconos. There are a large group of teenage boys and a large group of teenage girls at the shelter. Bama, LittleWing, Old Drum are also there. We decided to get water and hike 0.5 miles to tent. The mosquitos at the shelter were pretty bad. Not as bas up here on the ridge. Could use a little breeza as it is still 78 at 8:00PM. Probably sleep on the bag tonight.