morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-29
From: PA Hwy 183

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light rain

Water on the trail receded a little more today. There was still enough to have to commit to wet boots and socks all day. The second toe on my right foot looks like it is going to rot off from the open blister that's been exposed to fetid standing trail scum for four days. Today was a mostly sunny day with not too unbearable temps, so things seem to be slowly drying out.We learned today that we were lucky to leave Duncannon when we did (last Saturday). Since the crazy rains, hikers have been stuck there because Clarks Creek (about 17 miles north of Duncannon) is impassable. Many of the connecting roads have been flooded for days. We passed a half dozen northbound thru-hikers today who were heading south today. Their only option for escaping the alcoholic vortex of the Doyle was to get shuttled north to Port Clinton and hike back south to Duncannon over the next few days. Hopefully, Clarks Creek will recede enough for them to make it back to Duncannon as planned.We reached Port Clinton around 5PM and hoped to find an open restaurant and/or cheap hotel or hostel. Other than an adorable old candy store (fudge... mmmmm) nothing is open. I think Port Clinton's few citizens are busy drying out their flooded homes. So tonight I officially became a cheap date. A local church owns the town pavillion, where our sleeping bags are now rolled out. The highlight of the evening came when trail angel "CR" came by and shuttled groups of us to a town a few miles up the road to feast on Wendy's fare. CR saved us from our ramen noodles for another night and offered up all kinds of interesting details on his two-year section hike of the AT back in the 90's.While these past few rainy days have certainly offered up their share of rocks, CR explained the REAL heinous section is 70 miles north of here. The joy awaits us.We're looking forward to seeing Scott and Bill tomorrow evening through the July 4th weekend. Hopefully the wet, muddy, rocky, insect-laden trail won't cure them of hiking forever. Gee, I can't understand why no one wants to come visit me out here! (Ed. note: I think it did cure Bill of hiking!)
Date: 2006-06-30
From: Port Clinton

To: Hawk Moutain Road
Miles today: 15.2

Drum, Bama, and I managed to keep our boots mostly dry today, especially after we decided to bypass a .5 mile section right beside the Schuylkill River. The challenging climbs were out of Port Clinton and later up to Pulpit Rock. Near Pulpit Rock there was a large astronomy observatory, interesting buildings, beautiful grounds, but Bama and I were most excited about the privy with toilet paper and carpet.The most beautiful sight of the day was of Bama's husband Bill's white truck at the end of the day's hike, with a cooler full of cold sodas and Gatorade. We were wisked away to air conditioned comfort at a nearby Super-8 Motel and enjoyed a great meal at a local Italian restaurant across the street. Scott won't arrive until around midnight tonight.Today's weather was really beautiful - mid 70's, breezy, and sunny. If/when the floods come again, I need to remember that "this too shall pass." The sun will shine again, eventually.
Date: 2006-07-02
From: Hawk Moutain Road

To: PA Hwy 309
Miles today: 11.5

Slack-packed a short, rocky day with Scott and Bill. Since we hiked south today, we ran into about a dozen hikers going in the "right" direction and got to introduce Scott and Bill to some members of our trail family. The trail continues to dry out, though water was still a few inches deep toward the end of the day. Scott discovered his new hiking boots were not waterproof after submerging one of them in a small stream. These wacky section hikers.Today's hike culminated in a visit to the Blue Mountain B&B's restaurant and bar. One by one, nearly every hiker we ran into showed up and the evening became somewhat raucous after the live music started.
Date: 2006-07-03
From: PA Hwy 309

To: Lehigh Gap
Miles today: 13.3

Rocks. Gnats. Rocks. Gnats. Gnats. Rocks.It was about 5000 degrees today and the hike included a delightful jumble of boulders called the Knife Edge. Aptly named, a bunch of huge rocks are thrown together at mostly slanted angles which required walking and balancing along the edges of them as we climbed. A mis-step would send an unlucky hiker over a steep cliff face. A few of us navigated this area by crawling on all fours, and we did manage to get through it with all limbs intact.Scott and I noticed that, when the trail becomes ALL rocks, the gnats disappear (probably because there's not much standing water in these areas).So I am working on my gratitude level as it relates to rocks. Sure, they tear up your feet and twist your ankles. But if I have to choose between rocks and gnats, I'll take the rocks.Another bonus of the day: wild blueberries. The last few miles today offered up hundreds of blueberry bushes. They're delicious! ...and hopefully not TOO contaminated by the nearby EPA superfund site related to zinc smelting. The mountains on the north side of Lehigh Gap are devastated--cleared of all vegetation. Looks like the surface of the moon. That will be tomorrow's problem to solve.
Date: 2006-07-04
From: Lehigh Gap

To: Leroy Smith Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I've not experienced anything like the climb out of Lehigh Gap before. Totally exposed rock (after about the first quarter mile) which required hand-over-hand climbing. Had a couple "don't look down" moments. Thankfully, we did this section first thing in the morning and it was relatively cool and breezy AND Scott slack-packed us.I couldn't imagine going down this mountain with a full pack on. Send for the helicopter!The first 3-4 miles offered up more views of complete environmental annihilation from the superfund site. Trees and ferns came back after that and gave us some cover from a blisteringly hot day. A quick thunderstorm around 2PM gave us some welcome (and temporary) relief from the heat.My feet are pretty tender from today's (continued) rock strewn trail. Word has it that the most heinous stretch of rocks is a 9-mile boulder field that will greet us about mid-morning tomorrow. I'll be the bug-eyed, crazy hiker whispering to herself: "rocks are better than gnats."(Ed. Note: For nearly a hundred years, the smelters had pumped enough heavy metals into the air near Allentown that one infamous mountain was bare not only of trees but of all life. In the words of the Superfund report on Blue Mountain: ¢By the time the original forest was killed by the sulfur dioxide, concentrations of cadmium, lead, and zinc in the soil were so high as to prevent regeneration. In fact, metals levels stopped all microbial activity, creating a biological desert where trees that had been dead for 20 or more years could not decompose.¢ To say the scene on Blue Mountain was apocalyptic seems an understatement. This was Mars, and it was my idea of a vacation.  The AT transverses some beautiful areas, but the mark of man's folly blight it in other places. --Scott)
Date: 2006-07-05
From: Leroy Smith Shelter

To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: moderate rain

Pennsylvania took a bite out of me today, but I'm still standing. Woke up to a thunderstorm, so we slept in a little and watched the rain from the shelter until about 9AM. When it slowed to a drizzle, we started hiking.I have mixed feelings about the infamous PA section of the trail that I have seen described as "where hiking boots go to die." On the upside, the rain today kept the heat and insects at a tolerable level. On the downside, the rain also made all the rocks we had to scramble over wet and slippery. Ninety percent of the rocks were merely annoying. Just large and irregular enough to make you do the 'drunk-walk' for 8-9 miles, which does indeed grow tiresome. But tiresome is quite a few steps above what we experienced yesterday during the climb out of Lehigh Gap, where I felt that one mis-step and I would be laying on top of a semi truck heading down the highway 1000 feet below. However, just as I thought I was going to get through PA unscathed, we reached Wolf Rocks. Normally this would have provided a fun opportunity to scramble up and over some big boulders, but today Wolf Rocks were very slippery from the rain. About halfway through, my legs went out from under me and I managed to ski down the face of one boulder on my left knee and shin. Nothing broken, just a big bruise and "rock rash" on that leg - another hiker badge of honor to go with the duct tape on my right heel (for blisters). Bama and I reached our shelter by 4:30 and celebrated by eating the Mountain House blueberry cheesecake provided by UPO (mmmmm).Best news yet: tomorrow will be our last six miles in PA! Another hiker out here whose wife took a nastier spill on the rocks than I did a few days ago says the two best things about PA are 1) The "Welcome to Maryland" sign and 2) the "Welcome to New Jersey" sign.By the way, today's fall is my third on the trail so far. My first was with John on a rainy day and a loose gravel road heading into Erwin TN. My second fall was also a slide on a gravel road into the Mason-Dixon line, were Banjoman declared me "Safe!"The best thing about my second fall is that I performed it in front of about a dozen girl scouts. "Hey girls, don't you wish you could be a cool thru-hiker like me?" Aaaaauugh!
Date: 2006-07-06
From: Kirkridge Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: overcast clouds

While the annoyingly crooked and pointy rocks continued for the first part of today's walk into Delaware Water Gap (DWG), the last couple of miles were beautiful. Mountain laurel tunnels exploded in blooms along creeks with cascading waterfalls. My eyes had been staring at my feet tripping over rocks or wading through flooded trails for so long that I had forgotten how starved they were for a beautiful landscape. DWG delivered it! On top of the pretty scenery, last night's rain dropped today's temperatures by 10-15 degrees. This morning's hike was nearly chilly...I was in heaven!Bama and I are staying at a free hiker hostel inside a church. We had one of our best breakfasts in 1200+ miles at the Trails End Cafe across the street from the hostel. Managed to get a ride to nearby Stroudsburg to do town chores. And rumor has it that we lucked out and hit DWG on the day of their weekly "hiker feed." Not sure what's in store for us but it sounds promising!Picked up my mail at the local PO this morning and was once again overwhelmed by everyone's letters, packages and generosity.Kelly-Welly! How wonderful to hear from you! Loved the picture of Megan playing the sax and am moved to learn that Collin is so interested in my journey. Can't get over how old your kids are! Thank you so much for the care package...especially the homemade jam, which likely will be spooned directly out of the jar and eaten tonight at the hostel since it's a little heavy for the pack.My UPO package is equally wonderful and should keep me fed for days - thanks Lucy!I so enjoyed reading everyone's letters and cards...the other hikers probably think I am a lunatic as I squeel with joy or get teary-eyed over all you're sending me. Lauren, the pictures of Lucy and Ella are precious. I know you know I am a sucker for cute puppy pictures. And Tonya, the VERY selfish part of me hopes that forces combine to keep you and Ben in Gainesville forever! Tomorrow morning we hike out of DWG and enter our 8th state - NJ. We heard that the annoying rocks continue for a couple more days. I refuse to be beaten down by them!P.S. I think I hit a new low (or high, depending on your perspective) in hiker culture today when I boasted to Bama of my successful pilfering of extra toilet paper from the bathroom of a laundromat. Will I ever be able to re-enter civilized society?
Date: 2006-07-07
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: broken clouds

This has been a very good day. Slept in until 6:30AM (yup, that's sleeping in out here) since the Trails End Cafe doesn't open for breakfast until 8:00. Lapped up another fabulous breakfast of French toast, eggs, bacon and then hit the trail. Crossed over the Delaware River and bade a not-so-fond farewell to PA. Much of today's hike was accompanied by mild temps in the 70s, a beautiful breeze, and sunny skies, though it did get a little hot toward afternoon. The good news is that we only had about 10 miles to hike today as the Mochican Outdoor Center, a hostel recommended to us by Melody in Catawba, was our goal. Even better news is that we managed to intersect with Old Drum again about halfway through our hike at a lovely glacial lake called Sunfish Pond. We ate lunch beside the pond and it was all I could do to keep from jumping in. Sun glinted off the surface of the water and bullfrogs could be heard 'barking' all around it.The three of us moved on to a nearby panoramic view of the Delaware River and surrounding lakes and resevoirs, before arriving at the Mohican around 3:30PM. We have a bunkhouse for the night (that has showers and electricity!) and I am currently sitting beside another glacial lake drying off after a swim. I couldn't hold myself back a second time. The water is cool enough to be refreshing but warm enough for an enjoyable swim, and again the only sounds are I hear are of bullfrogs and birds. Frosting on the cake: when I return to the bunkhouse, I have two deli sandwiches waiting for me made by a gentleman working at the general store here. I may never leave! I need to back up here to describe last nights 'hiker feed' in Delaware Water Gap. It seemed like the whole town turned out! They cooked hamburgers and hot dogs and everyone brought covered dishes - salads, banana pudding, brownies, homemade pies, fresh veggies and fruits. They insisted the hikers in the group go first in line, then we all sat down together and answered their questions about our hikes in between shoveling mass quanities of their wonderful food into our mouths. I have never felt so officially welcomed by an entire town before.Damascus VA is supposed to be the "friedliest hiker town on the trail," but I think Delaware Water Gap is giving Damascus a run for its money. And all of this generosity was offered up a mere week after floods devastated many homes and businesses in the area. DWG, AT hikers salute you!Time to go chow down on an egg salad sandwich the size of my head...
Date: 2006-07-08
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: clear sky

Beautiful morning with temps in the low 70s, a gorgeous breeze, and wild blackberries along the trail. Old Drum is hiking with us so we enjoyed a day of storytelling as we hiked. Things heated up quite a bit after lunch, due in part to an infestation of gypsy moths that is quickly eating its way through the entire tree canopy of these mountains. The final few hours of the today's hike were much more exposed to the sun. An ATC Ridge Runner (Garrett) told us that the infestation (and its accompanying tree destruction) is even worse north of here--near High Point State Park (NJ's highest peak)It being a weekend, we have a couple of scout groups camping near our shelter tonight. Our guide book claims that this (and several NJ shelters) have experienced "increased bear activity." They have big metal bear boxes, in which we're supposed to place our food for the night. I've also read that NJ is supposed to be a big state for bears. They actually had a problem with overpopulation and have reintroduced bear hunting in NJ. My bear count for today remains at a whopping one (Bama's is still zero!), so we'll see. Rumor also has it that the rocks we have been stumbling over for a week now will start to thin out tomorrow. We're cautiously optimistic.
Date: 2006-07-09
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: Rutherford Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

After being chased out of the shelter at 5:45AM by mosquitoes, the day improved considerably. I saw my first porcupine on the trail this morning...cute little guy who stopped and stared at me, posed for a picture, then ambled away down the trail. I have heard out here that we'll need to start being careful where we store our hiking boots as porcupines like to EAT them. Who knew?Today was a hot day made barely tolerable by a gentle breeze. After a climb to a shady pavillion atop Sunrise Mountain, we collapsed onto benches to dry out in the breeze and eat our lunches. It was very challenging to get up from that spot to complete our afternoon march.I was just reminded by my fellow sheltermates this evening that the highlight of the day came mid-morning beside Culver Fire Tower. The picnic table there became the break site for a bunch of hikers: Ork and Bean, Rip and Treehugger, K'Ache and Pi, Bama, Old Drum, Wind chime, MRE, and I. Ork presented the group with a big bag of fresh cherries and we all chowed down gratefully. I declined a climb up today's fire tower since it was hot and I had climbed yesterday's.Based on the past 24 hours, I'd say we've entered the mosquito time of year, aided by the fact that we are walking through some swampy areas now. I am a DEET machine. I also have about a dozen bites on my arms and legs that I am trying hard not to scratch like a fiend.
Date: 2006-07-10
From: Rutherford Shelter

To: Unionville NY
Miles today: 11.4

I will not, repeat, WILL NOT be sent home by a mosquito. Having cleared that up, this morning sucked fantastically. It was a mosquito feast. I even wore long pants and a long sleeved shirt (in mid to high 80 degree temps) and the little bastards gnawed on me through my clothes. For over an hour, I wore mosquito netting over my head, which is very stylish (for an alien from Mars) and actually did help a little. I slapped and waved my arms like a lunatic most of the day. I bruised my arm at one point by smacking it with the hiking pole still in my hand. I'm beating myself with my own poles. Yup, feeling good.A negative person could choose to focus on this, perhaps even obsess a little about the fact that the oppressive heat and mosquitoes are likely to continue for a least another month (scratch, scratch, scratch). Instead, I am trying hard to focus on the more positive aspects of the day such as:1. At noon we arrived at the "Secret Shelter," which in spite of its smallish size offered a shower and--get this--ELECTRICITY! We charged our phones...how ridiculous is that? Even though evidence of our showers was gone after 20 minutes of hiking, it felt great to wash off three days of sweat and Deet and then reapply the sweat and Deet.2. Unionville, NY. This little town has a fabulous little ice cream and sandwich shop, plus they welcome thru-hikers by permitting us to tent in their cute little grassy town park. While Drum and I went to dinner, the mayor came over to chat with the hikers here (including Bama) and "Butch" (the manager of the park) came over and gave us all free bottles of insect repellant. It's little touches of generosity like this that help me forget the mosquitoes (scratch, scratch, scratch).3. This is out of chronological order, but around 8:30AM we stood on a platform at High Point State Park in NJ and experienced a brief cool breeze that kept the mosquitoes at bay temporarily. Our book told us we should be able to see New York City from this platform, but the hazy conditions prevented that. Still, I enjoyed looking to the southeast and shouting "Hi Tom!"
Date: 2006-07-11
From: Unionville NY

To: Vernon NJ
Miles today: 11.8

My mosquito net has become my #1 hiking accessory. Today it felt like the AT wound through the Amazon jungle. It had to be 80 degrees by 7AM and the mosquitoes...I can't find words to describe them. Remember the "Off" commercial from the 70s/80s where the guy would stick his hand in a glass box of mosquitoes and they'd all attack him? It was sort of like that only our whole bodies were in the box. Bama and Drum also donned their head nets, so we looked like members of some weird beekeeper cult as we trudged through swamps listening to mosquitoes scream in our ears. The nets kept us from going completely psychotic, but it made it even hotter, along with my insect combat clothing of long pants and long sleeved shirt. We'd planned on a 17-mile day, but with the heat and bugs I shut down after about 12 miles. That's right, I was the big heat-exhausted wimp. Drum and Bama could have moved on. But I don't think anyone is complaining now as we sit in an air conditioned hostel at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Vernon NJ, fully showered and with laundry washed. Drum claims a dozen or so mosquitoes washed out of his hair; other than that, I think we have a skeeter-free spot for the night. A big thank you to the good folks of Vernon for providing this wonderful hostel and to 'Shamrock' for shuttling us to and from the trailhead. I was in need of rescuing today.
Date: 2006-07-12
From: Vernon, NJ

To: Warwick NY
Miles today: 15.4

Things I am grateful for today:1. We entered our ninth state on the trail, NY. I lived here once.2. The steady and occassionally torrential rain kept temperatures cooler and the mosquitoes at a tolerable level.3. Windtalker and Mom for waiting for Drum, Bama and I at the base of a cliff wall so they could help us down with our poles and packs.4. Another cliff face wide enough to allow the five of us to hide under while the heaviest rain and lightning passed.5. Enough energy today (unlike yesterday) to see me through 3-4 miles of wet, slippery boulder-hopping and near vertical cliff climbing without falling.6. The hot fudge sundae and dry hotel room waiting for me at day's end.NY gave us a pretty rough welcome today. Hopefully, the trail will dry out tonight so we won't have a return to more slip-n-slide conditions tomorrow.
Date: 2006-07-13
From: Warwick NY

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 2.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Not sure whether it was due to the yesterday's long, rain drenched, boulder and cliff skating day, but we experienced a rare loafing this morning. Even Bama slept in until 6AM and neither of us left our hotel until nearly noon, partly to let another few omnious clouds pass. Decided to pull a "nero" day today to let the trail dry out some and put ourselves in position for an early start on what looks like another rollercoaster day tomorrow.Arrived at the shelter at 1:15PM after some boulder/cliff climbing (drier today). Since I have all afternoon to sit here and read or write, I thought I would reflect a little on some of the things I've learned in the last couple days:1. Given the choice between hiking totally soaking wet or overheated, I'll take being soaked.2. While I don't relish wet, slippery conditions, I do sort of enjoy the mental problem solving dimension of all this rock climbing. Hiking over regular mountain trails can be so mind-numbing after a few hundred miles. It's very easy to "check out" mentally and daydream while your feet continue to move. Not the case over these past few days! This terrain requires 100% of my attention to figure out what small crevass will support the toe of my boot or to find an indentation in the rock face to dig my fingers into, not to mention finding a place to throw my poles since they are useless in this terrain. There's real decisions to be made as I navigate these tricky areas... "If I put my right foot there and hold on to the tree limb here, will the weight of my pack shift the wrong way and pitch me over the cliff?" It's a total mind and body experience that I am really enjoying. Sick, huh? Maybe I will check out a rock climbing gym when I return home (or maybe I will never get off the couch again!)3. I think I knew this earlier in the trip, but I forgot it then re-learned it yesterday. Per Windtalker and Mom, those cute little orange spotted salamander-looking creatures are called "efts." They're adorable - no more than an inch or two long. We have to be careful not to step on them. I saw a couple on the trail yesterday, which were the first ones I'd seen since the Smokys.