morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-07-02
From: Iron Masters Mansion

To: Boiling Springs
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

7/2/08 - Got up and packed. Economan had made Fritatas(sp)-a rice and egg combo and offered me some for breakfast, very good. Saw the Bear & Easy Train at the Pine Grove store, so I had a ham, egg, & cheese sandwich with them. Started through the park taking pictures of The Furnace. Got to the mid-point marker and had no one to take my picture, so I took a picture of myself. Then Rama and Seta came along and took my picture for me. Rama is the man and Seta is the woman, Rama said in Hindy, it means "meant to be together". Had lunch at James Fry (Tagg Run) shelter. Called home. Got to Alex Kennedy Shelter and Economan was just leaving. Brush Strokes had set up in the shelter. I got water, but could not find a good place to pitch my tent. It was very hilly. Ravon had set up her tent and it looked steep. I decided to move on to a better campsite on the trail. As I was hiking towards Boiling Springs, I met a local couple. They said it wasn't that far into town. I thought I would try it. I hiked down out of the hills and into the corn fields. The trail got confusing and it was getting dark, so I walked the road a ways. I was standing at the Mountain road intersection looking confused. (I do that very well!) Two young girls stopped at the stop sign and I asked which way to go to the Garman Haas. They pointed to the right and asked if I wanted a ride so I agreed. They took me right there. I walked back and forth outside for a few minutes and then the owner John came out and brought me out back. He gave me instructions on where to tent, bathroom, etc. Then went to Boiling Spring Tavern for a beer. They were not serving dinner too late. Went to Anile's for supper. I saw Tetris and Grampa Joe, Economan and Sherpa Dan. Also the two girls that gave me a ride were in there. Back to the tent to sleep.
Date: 2008-07-03
From: Boiling Springs

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

7/3/08 - Got up and wrote in my journal and then Economan got up. We talked for a while and Cayenne and Tailgate got up. Packed up and talked with John, the owner. Brush Strokes came in and went down the street to the coffee shop. Economan and I went later to join him. Then we walked to the ATC office and on to the trail. On the way we saw Tetris, Sherpa Dan and Lynn, one of the Jersey Girls. We all hiked together for a while. On a break at the ATC trail work center we saw Rama and Seta, Cayenne and Tailgate. Got to Darlington Shelter to see Peregrine, Bogie & Bacall, Ravon and Hippie (a SOBO). A thunderstorm came in and it rained all evening.
Date: 2008-07-04
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon, Pa
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

7/4/08 - Got up in the rain and packed. At the shelter, I talked to Economan and he said the other hikers came in late last night - 1/2 Elvis was one. Most all had left before me. 3 or 4 tents left up. Headed to town and caught up with Cayenne and Tailgate. Cayenne had fallen and scraped her knee on the rocks. She said she was ok, so I moved on. Got into town about 2 pm. I went directly to the Doyle. I met Vickie and Pat, the owners. They told me they had a room. Brush Strokes had paid for the room and gone up to the trail magic field. I put my pack in the corner and had a beer or two or three! I called Patti - she was at Arthur & Sheila's with the group. I called Fig and left a message that I was at The Doyle. Brush Strokes, Serene and I went to the convenience store and got everything but the Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Then to Zeiderelli's pizza for supper. After that, back to room 29 to sleep.
Date: 2008-07-05
From: Duncannon, Pa

To: Duncannon, Pa zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

07/05/08 - Slept until 8:30 and got up to go to breakfast at Goodies with Serene & Brush Strokes. Went back to the Doyle and moved around and talked to some people and the reporter Chris, that did the article on our ice cream challenge and was in the bar talking with Brush Strokes and buying drinks. At 2 pm we walked up the hill to the town park to get the Billville Trail magic from Jesters crew. I got my name pin and necklace. Then we ate and had our pictures taken. We went back to the Doyle and had a beer. I bought EZ Slow Train some drinks and listened to Susan(?) play upstairs. I went to bed early.
Date: 2008-07-06
From: Duncannon, Pa

To: Peters Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

07/06/08 - Got up at 7:30 and went to breakfast at Goodies. Packed up and walked out of Duncannon. Crossed the Susquehanna River. At PA225 footbridge we met John Fogerty and wife with friends. They gave us trail magic and asked us lots of hiking questions. Then on to Peters Mtn. Shelter - 11 miles. The place was jumping with Duncannon escapees. Met Mathewski, saw CousCous and brother, Youngblood, the EZ Bear Train, Grampa Joe, BA Baracus, Uluru & Slayer and Daisy.
Date: 2008-07-07
From: Peters Mtn Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light intensity shower rain

07/07/08 - Up early and so was everyone else. The Holyroller service in the valley kept everyone up until ll pm. Ate breakfast on the trail. PB, bagels & fruit. All 15 hikers seem to be moving at the same speed. I took a picture of a rattlesnake and tried to send on my phone, but no signal. We are in coal mine country. Seeing signs of coal. Got to Rausch Gap Shelter. It was full. Tented with Peregrine, Ravon and Lynn-Jersey Girl. 18 miles.
Date: 2008-07-08
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: few clouds

07/8/08 - Got up late and mostly everyone had left at 8 am. Saw Banjo and started walking with her for a ways. At a rocky place in the trail, she fell and scraped her arm. She got up and said she was ok. We both walked to the first road crossing. On the way we saw a cell phone tower. Called home at the road crossing. I talked to Patti a long time and when I hung up, Banjo had finished her call and left. Met Chuck on the way to William Penn Shelter. She's a girl from St. Petersburg, Fl. who started at Damascus. I lost water from my camelbak twice because the bite valve came off when I threw my pack down. At 3 pm I ran out of water. It is a very hot day and the ridge I am on is windy. I got to William Penn Shelter at 4 pm and got water. Then a snack and headed for 501 Shelter. When I got to 501 I headed right to the shower and boy did it feel great. Then I saw Banjo.   She had ordered a chicken calzone and gave me half. Peregrine & Ravon had ordered pizza and saved me some and Pepsi. Life is Good!! - with the help from friends. Set up tent and went to bed.
Date: 2008-07-09
From: 501 Shelter

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: light rain

07/9/08 - Up at 6 am and on the trail at 7. This section is very rocky and some of the springs are very low, even with all the rain. Jersey Girl Lynn had gone ahead and then Peregrine and Ravon, Cayenne and Tailgate. The trail headed E/NorthEast for quite a while and then it went S/SouthWest. This is a reverse for us. After many rocks and a steep descent we were in Port Clinton, PA. The Port Clinton hotel is the only game in town and my first stop. Beer and burgers before showers and laundry. Last call was 9 pm and time to set up my tent in the field across from the Pavilion. 23 miles
Date: 2008-07-10
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Zero
Miles today: 0.0

7/10/08 - Zero day in Port Clinton. Got up at 8 am and went to Serene's room. Lunn let me in the hotel. Got a shower and then Serene called Cabelas for a shuttle. We went to the store and ate at their cafe $6.00 AYCE breakfast buffet. We went shopping and I got a shut-off valve for my camelbak. I got Peregrine a bite valve and Tetris a mesh bag for his cook pots. Then heard Serene paging me to get to the front door for the shuttle. Back at the hotel, I did my laundry, had lunch with Peregrine, Lynn & Ravon. Went back to the tentsite and pavillon for a while. I went to the outfitters for a shuttle to the grocery for resupply. Went back to the campsite to put everything away. I met Banjo and The Thinker and Long Shot. We wasted a little time and then went to the Port Clinton hotel for beer & supper. We closed the place up at 9 pm and went back to the pavillion for beer, games and cooking. Chuck and friend had bought steak and they made a fire and cooked. I supplied the garlic. Then we all went to bed.
Date: 2008-07-11
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: overcast clouds

07/11/2008 - Up at 8 am and found out the 3 C's restaurant really existed .3 of a mile north of town. I walked down for breakfast and it was great, lots of good food. On to the Post Office to find my package did NOT come in. Made a form to forward it to Wind Gap, Pa. Then to the Pavillion to pack up. Stopped at the outfitters for new pole tips, ice cream and coke. On the trail at 4 pm. and at the shelter at 6 pm. Met Serene at the shelter (6 miles) Bone Lady came in, then Bessy and Chris to do trail magic (molasses cake). I took their picture, then Ularu & Slayer. Hell on Bad Wheels came in with another couple. Talked with a trail runner before supper. Bed at 10:30 after journal time.
Date: 2008-07-12
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: Blue Mtn Summit
Miles today: 21.0

07/12/2008 - Up at 7:30 - Serene had left and everyone else was still sleeping, so I packed up. McGiver got up and started packing then went back in his tent. On my way, I took a picture of a snake, a picture of Pulpit Rock and a picture of The Pinnacle and a rocky trail. At Pulpit Rock, I walked into a field with several observatory telescopes. No one was around. At Elkville Shelter I read in the journal how some of the hikers had gone to the Pulpit at night and they were using the telescopes. Tetris got to see some of the universe. Got to the Allentown Hiking Club Shelter at 7 pm. Serene had already set up camp. I met Jo from Maine who was SOBO and she said she used to teach gymnastics. Found out she taught my niece "Alexa". She was hiking as far as Duncannon and then had a job to go to in British Columbia. I called Brush Strokes to tell him I had caught up with Serene. I told him Serene was doing ok. Brush Strokes said he was camping in back of the Blue Mtn B & B. Peregrine and Ravon got the last room. I told him to get me a beer and I would hike the 4 miles to get there before the bar closed. I did over 4 mi. and half of it in the dark in 1-1/4 hr. Ken, the owner, held the cook so I could get a great rib dinner. Brush Strokes bought all the beer. I then went in the back yard to set up my tent.
Date: 2008-07-13
From: Blue Mtn Summit

To: Slatington, Pa
Miles today: 13.0

07/13/08 - Sunday - Brush Strokes and I got up and had breakfast. We swept the patio and pulled some weeds for Ken, the owner, just to say thanks. Some of the other hikers came by to fill their water bottles and told us that they had gone to Bake Oven Knob Road for some trail magic. After the trail magic, they decided to get some beer and camp right there. They built a fire and the park wardens came in and fined them $180 each. I hiked over the Cliffs, Knife's Edge, then Bear Rocks and Bake Oven Knob. I got a message call from Peregrine saying not to go over the Knife's Edge if it was wet. Too late, I had already gone across. I saw Ularu and Slayer on Bake Oven Knob. I caught up with Serene and Brush Strokes at Ashfield Rd. We walked into Slatington, Pa together and called Ira Fine at Fine Lodging to shuttle us in. We just beat a thunderstorm. As Ira was driving us in, it started raining and his wipers were not working. Ira reluctantly gave us our room, but said we might have to share it with more hikers. We said ok, and I somehow got the bed and the others took the floor. We went up the street to the Shack for supper. Saw Hell on Bad Wheels in there. Tomorrow Zero Day (7/14)
Date: 2008-07-14
From: Slatington, Pa

To: Slatington, PA
Miles today: 0.0

07/14/08 - Monday - Zero day. Had breakfast at a diner next to Turkey Hill Store and then did my laundry. I went to the library to work on my trail journals and had lunch at the Slatington diner. Serene asked Ira to take us to K-Mart so he could get a slack pack. While we were at Ira's, we fixed Ira's windshield wipers. Went to supper at Mama's Pizza.
Date: 2008-07-15
From: Slatington, PA

To: Wind Gap, PA
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: clear sky

07/15/08 - Tuesday - Ira took us to the Lehigh Gap trail head. He said he would take our gear to the motel at Wind Ga. We took some pictures of the steep climb up to the Zinc mine area. It was smooth and level on top. Dropped down to Wind Gap and walked to the Gateway motel. When I got there, I checked with the motel people to find that Ira had not gotten there yet. As the others arrived from their hike, Ira arrived. We got cleaned up and walked to town for supper. We choose Jarad's Sports Bar. We had steamed clams and burgers. There was a one-man band guitarist doing Jack Johnson covers. The most entertainment was a customer that decided he didn't eat as many clams as they said he did and wasn't going to pay his bill. We left at 10 and walked 1-1/2 mi back up the hill to the motel.
Date: 2008-07-16
From: Wind Gap, PA

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

07/16/08 - Wednesday - Everyone left early except me. I had to walk back down the hill to the post office at 8:30 to get my mail drop. I received my medicine from home and some home made "trail bars" from my sister-in-law Brenda Hays. I also went to the Turkey Hill store across the street for breakfast. I sat on the ground in front of the store and had breakfast with Vegas. He was eating a pint of ice cream for breakfast. I then went back to the motel and packed my mail drop items and hit the trail at noon. I did 15 miles into Delaware Water Gap at 6 pm. I came up behind Brush Strokes. He had gotten lost and was just getting to town. We went directly to the Sycamore Grill for beer and wings. The bar was full of hikers. I bought Ularu and Slayer a beer for saving my soap a few miles back. I tried to buy The Thinker a drink, but he sent one right back at me. We left at 10 and pitched our tents in the backyard of the chuch. I sat in the church basement and talked for a while and then to bed.
Date: 2008-07-17
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Blue Mtn Lakes Rd, NJ
Miles today: 20.0

07/17/08 - Thursday - Up early for breakfast at the Quality Family Rest. We ate with Peregrine & Ravon. They were going to take a zero day and have dinner with Lynn, the Jersey Girl at a Jazz Rest. We then went back to the church to get packed up. On the way up the street Brush Strokes asked me if I wanted to stop in the Edge of the Woods Outfitters and I said no, that I would just spend money. (Good One!) When we got back to the church, I had a second thought that we should have asked the outfitter if he would slack us. Brush Strokes thought that we should go back down and ask, so we did. Chuck said he would slack us 20 miles to Blue Mtn Lakes Rd. We headed out of town and crossed the Delaware River Bridge and took pictures at the state line PA/NJ. We stopped at Camp Mohican Outdoor Ctr for soda. The ranger made us deli sandwiches. We talked to 2 fire rangers at Cat Fish Fire Tower. When we got to Blue Mtn Rd we found our gear. Then we got mixed up with directions and walked down the wrong road for a mile and back. When we decided to camp, it was getting dark.
Date: 2008-07-18
From: Blue Mtn Lakes Rd, NJ

To: Culvers Gap, Branchvile, NJ
Miles today: 10.0

07/18/08 - Friday- Got up and packed the tent. The weather was hot and we hiked into Culvers Gap, Branchville, NJ. We ate dinner at Kevin's steakhouse and then to Gyp's bar for beer and appetizers.   We tented just up the trail in the woods so we could get coffee and bagels the next morning. Several of the other hikers got to take home trail magic while there.
Date: 2008-07-19
From: Culvers Gap, Branchvile, NJ

To: High Point State Pk, NJ
Miles today: 14.0

07/19/08 - Saturday - Climbed out of Culvers Gap to the fire tower. At Gren Anderson shelter they were practicing Beley rescue. They had a solar powered fan in the roof. Got to High Point State Park. Walked to the beach to find the concession had closed early because of the thunderstorm we had hiked through. We walked back to the park headquarters and called the High Point motel and waited 1/2 hr with no call back. We were just ready to walk to the High Point shelter when the owner called to say they would be up to pick us up in a few minutes. We got to the motel in the back of the owner's dump truck. He had just bought a new vehicle and didn't want dirty hikers in it. We cleaned up and Katie, one of the residents of the motel, took us to the Sussex Inn for dinner. A very nice place, and then Katie came to get us. The next morning she took us to a breakfast restaurant before we started hiking.
Date: 2008-07-20
From: High Point State Pk,NJ

To: Unionville NY
Miles today: 8.0

07/20/08 - We heard from other hikers that Unionville had a Mayor that was really hiker friendly. He would take hikers into his home. We walked to the store and as we were walking a red Toyota van with GA plates that said AT HIKER asked us if we wanted a ride to the Mayors. This was Martin & Sally with their dog Noah. They are section hikers from GA. We got to the Mayor's house and Butch gave us the tour. There were 20 or more hikers there that night and Bill, the cook, made up hamburgers and hotdogs for Butch to pass around. There were sodas in the cooler and chips on the table. I found a space on the cellar floor for the night. Got a shower and Butch took my picture while I was on the phone to Patti. I put my name on it for the Mayor. Then we talked to Butch about a slack pack hike for the next day. 20 miles
Date: 2008-07-21
From: Unionville, NY

To: Warwick Turnpike
Miles today: 18.0

07/21/2008 - Monday - Butch took us to the trail crossing on the Warwick Turnpike and we hiked it to Lot Rd backwards. Ice cream at Heaven Hill Farm Rt. 94. I got a good pace going and hiked it very fast. I enjoyed the hike around the National Wildlife Sanctuary. I met Bilge Rat, a NOBO hiking fast through hiker group bubbles. I got back to the mayors at 3:30 pm. Bill and Butch were making chicken soup for dinner. After dinner the mayor showed us a video of a Star Search show winner in England. The show was called Britian has Talent. I thought the mayor was trying to encourage the hikers to complete their hike. I feel he is a very generous and kind man. We made our plans to hike out in the morning and went to bed. I got a bunk this night. Peregrine, Ravon & Slo-goin came in tonight also. (18 miles
Date: 2008-07-22
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Wildcat Shelter NY
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: few clouds

7/22/08 - Up at 6 am, Bill and the Mayor had made breakfast. Then the Mayor took us to the trailhead and we hiked to the N.Y. State Line and took pictures. We stopped for ice cream at the Bellvalle creamery. We climbed over Cat Rocks. The going got a little more difficult. We got to the Wildcat Shelter just as it started raining. I got my tent set up and it cleared. I ate some supper and hung my food, wrote in my journal and went to sleep. 12 mi.
Date: 2008-07-23
From: Wildcat Shelter NY

To: Arden Valley Rd NY
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

07/23/08 - Wed. - At 5 am it started raining. I got up and brought in my shirts and food bag. It really poured. Stopped raining about 8:30 am and I was the last to leave the campsite. Hiked over some big rocks on Buchanan Mtn. Put out a fire on the trail at Little Dam Lake AT bridge. It looked like lightning had struck there. The hiking was wet and difficult to NY17. I waited for Brush Strokes and Serene. We called a cab to the American Budget Inn in Harriman. We booked Room 110. While we were checking in, we saw Martin and Sally Weinrich (sp) and Noah their Lab dog. They had been staying with us at the Mayor's in Unionville. We exchanged pleasantries and they told us they were hiking tomorrow near where we had left off. They offered to slack us if we wanted and we said that would be wonderful. We got cleaned up and went to TGIFriday's for draft root beer and chicken wings. I also had a really good steak. Then back to the room for bed. We take turns, two of us get a bed and one sleeps on the floor.
Date: 2008-07-25
From: Arden Valley Rd NY

To: Seven Lakes Drive
Miles today: 14.0

07/25/08 - Friday. Up at 6 am. Martin and Sally dropped us off at Seven Lakes Drive and we hiked south. We got to the West Mtn Shelter and took a break. After the break we couldn't find the trail agin. We were following some grey blazes and realized they were not the white ones. That was when Serene found Bigglesworth's cell phone and headlamp. We didn't know whose cell phone it was until we turned it on and found the phone humber. I called it with my phone and heard Bigglesworth's message. Then I went into the contact log and found out that Fizz's number was in it. I assumed they were hiking close to each other, so I called Fizz. She said she was just ahead and would tell her. Hiking more south, we ran across BareAss at Black Mtn. He said he would take the cell phone ahead for us. Then we met Hoot and Sundance, a young couple. They told us what to expect at the Lemon Squeezer. We took some pictures at the Lemon Squeezer. We then to to NY 17 and saw Babu waiting there. He had started with us that morning. Then went back to the motel.
Date: 2008-07-26
From: Seven Lakes Drive

To: Denning Hill, NY
Miles today: 12.0

7/26/08 - Saturday - Martin and Sally took us to Seven Lakes Drive. We climbed up to Bear Mtn Monument. Then we walked down to the Bear Mtn Museum and Zoo. It surprised me how worn and wide the trail was down to the pond and resort. The erosion was starting to show. We saw BareAss was setting up to meet his family to do some Trail Magic. We walked thru the museum/zoo and took pictures of the Walt Whitman statue, one of Brush Strokes favorite poets.We got some sodas and ice cream at the vending machines by the swimming pool and took some pictures crossing the Bear Mtn Bridge. Stopped to each lunch near Hemlock Springs. A hiker called Mountain Lion went by and said he was headed for the Graymoor center. He was hoping they would have meals for him. I had heard they didn't do that anymore. I got to Dennytown Rd and Babu was there and had called Martin already. Serene and Brush Strokes arrived. When Martin got there he had told Babu he would take him to Fahnestock State Park. Babu told him it was just 4 mi. but that was trail miles. About an hour later Martin got back from many road miles. Martin then took us to WalMart for re-supply so we could get an early start in the morning. Martin was to meet his daughter the next day for breakfast. Serene, Brush Strokes and I went to Quizno's for dinner and then got ready for full pack hiking tomorrow.
Date: 2008-07-27
From: Dennytown Rd

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter NY
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

7/27/08 - Sunday - Up early, we went to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. Got some breakfast sandwiches for Martin & Sally. We loaded up and went to Dennytown Rd. Said goodby to Martin & Sally - thanked them very much for all the help. The hiking was good, smooth trails. Stopped at RPH shelter for lunch, very nice accommodations. Crossed the Taconic State Parkway. The traffic was very fast and close. We barely made it across. Climbed Mt. Egbert and I believe this is the spot on the ascent that I could just barely see the NY City Skyline. It looked like a magical place in the mist. I was inspired to call my nephew James Meader who has hiked the Maine 100 Mile Wilderness, but now lives in Manhatten. (I woke him up, too!)   Hiked on to Morgan Stewart Shelter for the night.