morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-30
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I expected to sleep in given the fact that I didn't get to sleep until 11 pm. Nope! Sun was up at 6 am, and so was I. I slept soundly through the night, so when I woke up at 6, I knew I was up for good. So I just went with it and packed up my stuff and hit the Trail. I was actually liking the idea of getting out ahead of the 20+ hikers.First thing was crossing the Delaware River leaving Pennsylvania and into New Jersey. Woo-hoo! Another state down. The Trail climbing out of Delaware Water Gap was a park trail, meaning wide and a gentle grade up the mountain. I mosey'd down the trail (hmmm...up the trail) today and took my time. On top of the mountain was Sunfish Pond, inviting place, so I sat and just enjoyed the scenery with Kogito, another thru-hiker. I saw a half-dozen snakes in that pond area. And one was coming right at me and Kognito while we were sitting there snacking, and then made a quick 180 and took off. Hmmmm...time for me to go!The rest of the hike was uneventful. I made it to the Mohican Outdoor Center around noon. My feet and legs were thankful for the short day. Showered, and ready to relax the whole day away! I grabbed my handbook pages and went to the main lodge. First things first......had two delicious deli sandwiches....hit the spot.Then I planned out my last leg before the July break. I'll get off the Trail on 7 July for some family fun and get back on around July 23rd. I'm comfortable with that. I had originally planned on getting off on 5 July, but will end up 2 days late.....but at the same spot.OK. A note on the PA Trail. There were so many shelter register entries whining about the rocks and how "PA sucks." I loved PA. Sure, the Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde trail of PA was a challenge. But I remember: The parks at the beginning; Pen-Mar and the park with the half-gallon challenge: The cool unique shelters and locations (e.g. double shelter locations, 501 shelter, Eckville Shelter, Cove Mountain Shelter): Unique experiences; Doyle Hotel, Jailhouse Hostel in Palmerton, Port Clinton: Some great trail sections; rock scramble out of Palmerton, rock maze early in PA, "field day" out of Boiling Springs: I had my biggest mileage day in PA: I got to see the biggest rattlesnake of my life from about 3 feet away: I caught up with The Group after losing time with the flu: Blue Mountain Summit B&B with good friends, good food, and good beer. Sorry, if you didn't enjoy Pennsylvania, you simply did not hike it right!!
Date: 2009-07-01
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: haze

Slept good. Up at 6 am like normal, Got showered, packed and went up to the main lodge to wait on everyone. Goof and Mr Buffalo Man actually made it to the Mohican Outdoor Center late last night. Those two and Sunnuke took a day or two off and went into New York City. They stayed at Sunnuke's sister's (Christine) house. Sorry I missed those festivities. I was looking forward to meeting Christine. She has been able to follow some of her brother's hike through my journal. As I was walking to the lodge, I meet Goof and Mr Buffalo Man headed to the lodge also. We sat there for an hour talking about the last couple of weeks. Sunnuke had camped about a mile or two back on the Trail.Well, the "nero day" (near zero) for me worked wonders. Feel back to 100% this morning. After arriving yesterday, I spent all day in the main lodge just lounging, listening to the radio (classic rock), and reading......just what my feet and legs needed.The whole mess of us started hiking around 8:30. It was pretty cool having the entire gang back together again......where is Sunnuke??? The Trail today was mostly ridgeline with a lot of plant growth crowding the Trail. Another good use for trekking poles.....pushing back the "weeds". It was also rocky in places but not overwhelming.About lunchtime, we are hiking in one massive group down the A.T. on a wide, old woods road. Standing dead center, and broadside to us was a bear!! My first bear sighting since the Shenandoahs. Using the "small-medium-large" scale, this one was a medium. It walked into the woods before I could get any decent photo. We watched it wander off into the woods. Other hikers after us also saw it, standing in the same place in the woods.Shortly after that, we came across Sunnuke taking a break. Wow. All morning long, we thought he was behind us.....but here he was! The whole gang....back together again. It was great to see Sunnuke back on the Trail again.Only 6 days left on the Trail for me before my July break. I made my hotel reservation for 7 July in Newburgh, NY. I've got a nice relaxed plan for this next week.....just going to relax and enjoy it! We're going to go into Vernon for the 4th.....take a short hike day.....and relax in Vernon at the hostel there....and hopefully see some fireworks.Not much socializing going on for me tonight! The Brink Road Shelter was built in the middle of a swamp.....totally mosquito infested. Everyone is just hanging out in their tents.....protected from a million blood-suckers by a millimeter of nylon cloth! When you plan your hike....plan around this shelter!Very good day on the A.T.
Date: 2009-07-03
From: High Point Shelter

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

Back to last night .... it was the first time on this trip that ANY water has got on the inside of my tent. Me and another thru-hiker were rushing to the shelter to get set up before the night's storm hit. We knew it could start raining any time .... 2 choices .... go directly to the shelter and wait for the storm to pass .... or .... start setting up the tent. If I go to the shelter, I don't know how long I'll be there and will most likely have to set up in the dark with headlamp on wet ground. I can't stay all night in the shelter because of the mosquitos. So I start setting up the tent and it starts raining as soon as I get the ground cloth down and poles in place. So I hurry to complete. I get in the tent and some rain had gotten on the floor .... camp towel to the rescue. No harm done! Good thunderstorm, and one lightning strike was close enough to scare the crap out of me. Loud too!OK....back to this morning! Up and out at 8:30. I get a text message from The Group that they are going to go into New York City for the 4th of July!! Nope .... not me. First, it doesn't fit into my timeline or expenses. Second, I've never been to New York City (and would like to go) but can't imagine going in for one day, and on the 4th of July. I'm sure I would have fun, but at the same time not enjoy the chaos.I look at what's ahead. The whole group had planned on going into Vernon for the 4th. That I could do without affecting my July family plans. NYC just doesn't work for me. All things happen for a reason .... I do firmly believe this! I look ahead and see that with a little hard work, I can make Bear Mountain Park (Palisades Parkway) on the 5th. This is the date and location I planned on leaving the Trail when I was planning this whole thing months prior to starting the hike. So there is a pride/ego thing going here and I have decided to go for it!!So I get a little smarter today and zip the legs back into my convertible pants, and wear a long sleeve shirt. I did have to change the long sleeve shirt out for my rain anorack when it started raining this morning. No more mosquito problem!! I did sweat a lot more, but much better than annoying mosquitos all day long. I enjoyed today's hike. Hiked through a couple of nature preserves with raised boardwalks, and even s suspension bridge. Pretty Cool!The sun was out strong in the afternoon, and I was able to lay out all my tent stuff and get it dry. Yea sun!I'm in a motel tonight watching it rain outside .... good to be inside, dry, eating pizza, drinking Diet Coke, and watching TV. Called and text-ed The Group tonight to say goodbye to them. I expected to do the goodbyes with some toasts during the 4th in Vernon .... but I guess that didn't work out too well!! All plans fail at first contact with the enemy (paraphrased from Clausewitz).... the enemy being "stuff happens", in this case.No bears today. Will be in New York tomorrow afternoon!!
Date: 2009-07-04
From: NJ 94, Vernon, NJ

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: broken clouds

On the trail at 7:40 this morning. The early miles were easy and flew by. I stopped for a break at Wawayanda Shelter. Then through some more New Jersey wetlands. I've been kinda moaning lately because of having to hike through a swamp .... and the mosquitos. But as I thought about it more, it fits! If I'm going to hike a trail that covers 2178.3 miles of eastern America, from Georgia to Maine, I should expect to cover a wide range of terrain, weather, and other obstacles .... like mosquitos. I was just bummed that I "missed" an enjoyable day of hiking thru Jersey due to the bugs. But once I placed it in the category of being one of the things I will have to overcome and endure during the trip, it goes in to the category of a challenge, and then there is a sense of accomplishment of having "figured it out" and got through it with the least amount of pain or fallout!! Like I said, we have to entertain ourselves out here.I had the long sleeve shirt and pants on again. Might not have needed them today....mostly sunny and breezy.Early in the afternoon I entered New York!! Woo-hoo. And right away New York said "the easy Jersey hike is over!" I hiked a rocky ridge all afternoon. There was some fun rock scrambling spread out throughout the day. But it did kinda wear me out. From the rocky ridge I could see Greenwood Lake. The ridge ran the entire length of the lake. Wow.....it was a busy place on the 4th of July. It was crazy....boats everywhere. I took a couple of breaks at some vistas wishing I was down on the lake wakeboarding. I doubt you could have found a smooth stretch of water anywhere .... break out the tube! After all those rocks and ridgeline I came to NY 17A. Just 0.1 mile left is Bellvale Farms Creamery. So of course I went for Ice Cream .... one scoop chocolate, one scoop vanilla .... hey, I'm a man of simple tastes! And of course back for a "twist" cone. I visited with the Packadivas, good to see them again. I know Storm and Rocket (members of the Packadivas) have journals on this site as well.Tenting at Wildcat Shelter tonight. Weird to think that tomorrow is my last day on the Trail for a couple of weeks! Hope I sleep well.....long day tomorrow .... 21.7 miles! Gonna try to be on the trail by 7 am so I can take a nice easy "all-day" pace. Good night! Happy 4th of July!!
Date: 2009-07-05
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Palisades Interstate Parkway
Miles today: 21.7

Well, I couldn't have asked for a better day for a last hike before my break. I woke up to perfectly blue skies....not a cloud to be seen. There was a nice breeze all day long. Temps in the 70's. Cool in the morning!Had a lot of miles to do, so I was up and on the Trail by 7 am. Red Leg was up so we exhanged goodbyes. I have been hiking on and off with him for the last month .... nice guy .... he's 67 and hiking strong!Nice Trail today ... a couple of swampy sections but not enough to spoil the hike. The 1st highlight of today was Fitzgerald Falls .... very cool place ... and it has been a while since we've had falls right on the Trail.About an hour later I got to Mombasha High Point. Baltimore Andy and Bones were still there. They had slept there on the rocks all night after watching the fireworks last night. I was invited, but passed, knowing I needed a good night's sleep for what I had planned for today.There were several mountains to climb today with some great rock scrambles..... Buchanan Mtn, Arden Mtn, Green Pond Mtn, Island Pond Mtn, Fingerboard Mtn, and Black Mtn. Oh yeah, a lot of up and down mountains today. But that is my favorite type of hike.As I mentioned, there were a lot of rock scrambles today. There is a feature called the Lemon Squeezer on the way up Island Pond Mtn. Tight Squeeze it is. My pack was rubbing on both sides and I had to hold both of my arms straight up in the air to fit through!! This is the famous feature in this area, but what followed the Lemon Squeezer was the real challenge .... a climb straight up. No way I could make it with my pack on .... plus I was alone so I didn't want to do anything foolish without someone around to help when I busted myself up. There was a blue-blazed "easy-way" trail around the climb and I had to take it.....very bummed that I wasn't taking the White Blaze Trail. As I take the blue-blazed trail, it turns out that it is only literally 50 feet around the rock climb. Way cool! So I set my pack down right there, go back down the blue blaze without my pack, make the climb up the White Blaze Trail straight up the rock, and put my pack back on and continue down the A.T.. I can live with that! I hope that was somewhat clear!The final climb was up Black Mtn. You can see the New York City skyline from the top. I took a photo .... interested to see how good it turns out.12-hours after starting, 7pm, I reach the Bear Mountain Park Visitor's Center. Taxi to the Ramada Inn in Newburgh, NY .... food, laundry, shower, soak in tub, watch some TV. Tomorrow is the Greyhound Bus ride to Akron, OH. Looking forward to sitting all day long and not having to walk!! Time for a break! Great day on the A.T.!
Date: 2009-07-24
From: Stow, Ohio

To: Newburgh, NY
Miles today: 0.0

I would like to thank my sister, Jane, and brother-in-law, Keith again for their hospitality and letting me use their house for my Appalachian Trail Hike staging area. I'm sure they are ready to re-claim their hobby room in a couple of months! Thank you! I'd like to thank my niece, Jessica, for her efforts as my mail-drop agent. All drops were recieved perfectly....even a couple of last minute additions! Thanks Jessica!Well, I survived the 17 hour, 20 minute bus ride from Akron, OH to Newburgh, NY. Actually it went very smoothly and I even got quite a bit of sleep. I must admit that I'm glad the bus rides are over. I'll fly back home from maine at the end of the hike.I have to relinquish my claim as master planner! I checked the Vasque website and found that there were several retailers within minutes of my sister's house in Stow, OH. So I decided to wait until after my Jamboree country music camping extravaganza to get my new trail runners. Woops!! None of them had my size and only one even carried the Vasque Velocity's.I called Outdoor Trails in Daleville, VA. This is where I got my first pair. I was hoping they would have another pair. Nope. But Mark, the sales agent on duty, called Vasque for me and arranged for a pair to be waiting for me at the hotel in Newburgh, NY. I showed up at the hotel today and had a pair of brand new trail runners waiting for me at check-in. Now how's that for service?? !! Thanks Mark.It was a very weird feeling leaving Ohio, being on a bus, headed for the Appalachian Trail, to go hiking the next day, with only a set of Crocs with me (on my feet)!! OK. Ready to hike. Tomorrow I am back on the Trail. First update from the Trail should be in about a week. As "Spokes" would say, time to "advance North".
Date: 2009-07-25
From: Newburgh, NY

To: Graymoor Friary
Miles today: 13.1

Slept so good last night. Didn't want to get up when the alarm went off. Actually contemplated just "zero-ing" at the hotel and sleeping in.Got a taxi back to the Bear Mountain Visitor's Center/Bookstore and back on the Trail at 9:30 am.It was nice to get back on the Trail! And it was a very nice hike today. The sun was out in full force, not a cloud in the sky. The woods in the Bear Mountain area are open and made for wide open forest hiking....a lot of visibility.There were a couple of gentle climbs early allowing me to test my legs. All-in-all, the hike went fine. I could feel that I hadn't been on the trail for a while, but it was not as bad as I expected it to be. My foot placement wasn't as sure as it was when I left the trail....this was what I noticed most.The whole environment today made it easy to adjust back to the hiking life.I had to hike by Hessian Lake, a huge recreational area, that was packed with people....today being Saturday. It was very cool. Lot's of people with lots of Trail questions, and, of course, a snack shop, and an ice cream sandwich!. Then the Trail takes hikers right through the Trailside Zoo! Do the 3 bears I saw there count? The bear's den at the zoo claims to be the lowest point on the entire Appalachian Trail at 124 feet.Then a few miles later, at US 9, the was a convenient store called the Appalachian Market. Yep, more ice cream, with about 8 other hikers.I'm tenting tonight at the Graymoor Friary, of the Franciscan Order. Neat Place. They allow hikers to camp at their ballfield pavilion.Here with me tonight are Navigator, Mockingbird, Hummingbird, Tufted Titmouse, Superglue, Sunshine, Stewball, In-Deep, and Dustin. Seems like a good group of people.Pretty good first day back. Looks like I am in for some rain tonight. But the tent is up, and that is always key.
Date: 2009-07-26
From: Graymoor Friary

To: Ralph's Peak Hiker's (RPH) Shelter
Miles today: 18.9

Wow. Did I sleep well last night! I think a mix of catching up on the bus ride, 1st day hiking, and rainy night. Didn't want to get up. But up and on the Trail at 8 am.I forgot about it until about noon, but I crossed the 1400-mile mark early this morning.The Trail today couldn't have been better suited for a guy that was off the trail for 19 days. The climbs were easy; the Trail was wide and soft; the mosquitos were present, but not overly irritating; the sky was overcast. but no rain. It was muggy, so the sweat was pouring out.So the plan was to hike a leisurely 11.9 today. The Trail was easy and I was though the 11.9 by 2 pm. I felt good and didn't know what I would do all day if I stopped. So onward to the next shelter, ending up being a 18.9-mile day. I hiked slow today and didn't press it, speed-wise. I'm surprised I feel as good as I do. Interested to see how I feel in the morning! It was definitely slippery on the Trail today. It rained most of the night last night. And I'm reminded that there are some dangers out here, and I take my progress for granted some time. I bring this up because two very cool people I know out here got off the Trail recently after falling a few times in just a couple of days. She hit her head on 3 occasions and finally decided to get off the Trail and get checked out by a doctor. Very smart, but hard to do. Not many want to leave the Trail. The Trail will still be here. I hope they are well. Last I read, she checked out OK by the doctor (CT scan).Another hiker, Veggie Steve, fell face forward 3 times in Pennsylvania, all resulting in cuts and bruises + one golf-ball-size knot on the head. He's still hiking, but I would not have blamed him for leaving the Trail either.Anyhow, there are a lot of things that can dismantle a hike. The flu and sore feet slowed me down, but I've been extremely lucky to avoid worse. I've fallen a dozen or so times, but luckily have avoided injury. Just thought I'd share what I was thinking about today.Excellent day on the A.T.
Date: 2009-07-27
From: Ralph's Peak Hiker's (RPH) Shelter

To: Telephone Pioneer Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: broken clouds

What a light show last night! Lightning (with thunder) everywhere. Some day I will try to get a photo of it while in my tent. Basically, the whole tent lights up and looks perfectly white; and for a second you can see everything. I was too comfortable (read "lazy") last night to grab my camera.However, I slept great again last night and didn't get on the Trail until 8:30. Clear, beautiful, sunny skies this morning! The Trail continues to be soft, wide and offers easy hiking.There were a couple of good climbs today which I was grateful for. I need to get stronger for the New England mountains coming up.So New York was kind enough to put a deli on the Trail right in time for lunch today. Very hiker friendly place on NY 52. Ham and turkey sub and Gatorade....hit the spot. Washed it down with a pint of ice cream. Must have been a good idea ... the whole gang of new hikers I've met are here.I wrote the first part of this entry at the picnic table where I had dinner .... boom .... storm pops up .... now I'm in my tent. There was room in the shelter, but the bugs are too bad right now. I'm very comfy in my tent! Oh, by the way, this shelter, Telephone Pioneer Shelter, is placed in an awful location. My tent is in the only semi-level location around .... which is no where near the shelter camping area. They should really have a note in the Handbooks stating that there is no tenting at this shelter.Been on the trail for 3 days, thunderstorms all 3 days. So far, so good though. Most have been at night .... one this afternoon. And then they move on. I can live with that. It is the 4-5 day stretch of total overcast, no sun, continual rain that drives me insane.Feeling great. Loving the Trail. Good day on the A.T. Tomorrow will be the last day in New York.
Date: 2009-07-28
From: Telephone Pioneer Shelter

To: Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Wow! Near perfect day on the A.T.. Rained last evening but stopped soon enough for the tent rain fly to dry. Slept great. On the trail at 8:30 again.Nice morning hike. A couple of hours into the hike I came upon a train stop right on the Appalachian Trail. You can board a train to NY City and back. Right after that I came upon NY 22. So I headed to Tony's Deli, just a half-mile up the road. I hadn't taken a dozen steps when Mike, a local hiker, asked if I wanted a ride to the Deli. He knew where I was headed! Holy cow!! I got the exact same sub as the last place .... no comparison .... much better and a whole lot more of it. No room for ice cream this time.Back on the Trail, the hike was awesome. The New York forests were open with great visibility .... and quiet. The ground was soft and there was no wind at all. I could hear absolutely nothing from the forest. I could hear every sound that I was making .... water sloshing in the bladder in my pack, pack straps rustling, etc. Very cool!I also got to walk through some fields today, which always makes for a nice change of scenery.Oh yeah, the best part, the sun was out all day long!! Awesome. Then the Trail followed the Ten-Mile River and another river (don't know it's name) for a long while. The "unknown" river was moving fast, nice rapids. Cool.Next I got to climb Schaghticoke Mountain. I knew I was in for it when an A.T. 4000-miler and trail maintainer named Elvis Trailsley said it was a "bull-buster." And it was. But I had my workout hat on, and got some great training. I needed the work to prepare for the mountains ahead.I finally arrived at my camping location which was awesome .... right by a cascading falls river. Beautiful place. I'm here tonight with Old Hobo, Otter, and Bark and Berry.Oh yeah, I'm in Connecticut.