morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-08-15
From: RPH Shelter

To: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 75 (Tuesday)Up at 7am to a rainy morning. Read the register for 1 hour and then went back to bed for 3 hours (Hansel also sleeeping). 2 NOBOs tented night prior and 2 kids (18, 20 y.o. from Staten Island section hiking to DWG) left at 9AM ate Hansel's PB and Honey on tortillas for lunch. On trail 1:15pm to start a 19 mile day. Stopped at Shanendoah tenting area for water (water @ RPH tasted pretty bad) and ate some raspberries (nice site). Hansel passed by while I was at the tent site. Passed several NOBOs including Polar Bear and Commando (f) and caught up to Hansel at 5:30 just past rt 301. Hiked along what appeared to be old RR bed with high stone fill and caught up to the Staten Island Kids around 6pm near Dennytown Rd. Got water at Dennytown Rd and hiked on; Hansel decided to stealth camp aroun 8pm. I hiked on into the night and passed a group of local kids hanging out in the woods. Talked to Richie via cell re: dropping a note off for Cleetus (reported 2 days ahead per NOBOs per Hansel) and hiked on to Graymoor Spiritual Life Center. Ate dinner around 1:30AM on a picnic table (turkey orzo stew - good) and went to the ballfield shelter where I found Tyvek and several NOBOs sleeping. Inadvertently disturbed Tyvek while looking for a place to hang my food. In bed 2:30am.
Date: 2006-08-16
From: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center

To: 7 lakes drive
Miles today: 10.2

Day 76 (Wednesdy)Up at 6am; met several nobos camped out including 1 canadian woman. On trail 7am ahead of nobos but behind Tyvek. Picked up badly needed fuel canister from hiker box before leaving (score!) and left word with a nobo to tell Hansel. Passed Tyvek around 7:15 and he passed me around 7:45 without realizing while I was at a view and then wondered how I got behind him and called me sneaky. Passed a few nobos stealth camped and stood idly by as Tyvek gave them his pitch for his cause (thelongwalkhome.org). Left Tyvek at side trail to Anthony's Nose and passed full register and clled the NY/NJ trail conference to report and got Dan Chazin's phone number in the process. Called Dan and made tentative plans to meet tomorrow to hike. Great view from Anthony's Nose. (Passed a few tame deer with Tyvek earlier and got video, btw). Took video of Hudson R., Bear Mtn, and Bear Mtn Bridge. Hiked down and passed 2 women with several small children, 1 of whom just moved from Georgia and asked me to mention them in the journal after I told them about it (consider it done!). Crossed Bear Mtn Bridge and checked out zoo (nice little zoo with bears, bald eagle, some owls, hawks, bobcat and other local animals). Passed a NOBO at the zoo, but didn't talk to him. Passed swimming pool and reached snack bar around 12:30 and ate sausage and pepper sandwich with fries and toasted almond ice cream bar. Got mail drop from P.O. and charged phone; returned to snackbar around 2pm and met nobos freebird, spirit, and wink who told me they got in trouble with the part rangers trying to swim in Hessian Lake and then are planning to go to the pool. Ate one slice pizza and soft serve ice cream, wrote some journal and took a nap while waiting for Hansel who arrived 5:30 just after I yogi'd 1 gal of ice cold polar spring water from the closed concession stand. (Bear Mtn Inn still closed for renovations btw). Called Aaron and arranged to meet at the top of Bear Mtn around 7pm and did so. Saw view of NYC, hung out and drank a 6pk of Saramac Black and Tan (split 3 ways). Hiked down to 7 lakes drive with Jack and met Aaron again (unloaded any extra food and maps on him at the summit, btw) also saw 2 deer at summit. Hung out and camped at parking lot at 7 lakes drive and got woken up at 12:30am by a ranger and informed that camping was not allowed there and promised to be out early.
Date: 2006-08-17
From: 7 lakes drive

To: Fingerboard Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 77 (Thursday)Up at 6am. Saw 1 car depart and 1 arrive. (BMW with 2 day hikers. I said good morning from my tent, but they ignored me and muttered something about assholes camping in a parking lot under their breath as they hiked out). On trail 8AM (skipped breakfast); also skipped dinner last night, btw. Talked to Don Chazin re: getting together and arranged to meet at 12PM near Lake Tioratti. Saw 3 bucks and watched for a while on descent of West Mtn (great views of Bear Mtna dn Moson ruver, btw). Took at 018 rt detour to get water from the rest area on the PIP (Palisades Interstate Parkway) and browsed the bookstore (several NY/NJ trail conference books edited by Dan Chazin on the shelf). Back on trail around 11am and reset meeting time and place for 2pm near 7 lakes drive. Passed Brien Shelter (nice stone construction, but trashed inside) and met up with Dan and Hansel at 2:15 (Hansel had been slightly ahead). Hiked with Dan to 7 lakes drive and packed up water and hiked south. Dan recalled story of Catskills hike with Tom Griffone, who is just graduating medical school now. Hiked with Dan to Tsorati Circle and went swimming and lake after eating ice cream from Robotic Vending machine and took shower and washed salt out of T-shirt (very refreshing). Met NOBO "Face plant" hiking with dog. Hiked 1.3 miles to Fingerbord shelter and called Aaron (arrived around 6:30PM - earliest arrival in many days). Dinner - salmon, couscous and lentils (good) and peanut butter cookies. NOBO Dan arrived (no trailname) around 7:30. Called Aaron around 8:20 and found he was at Tiorali Circle hiking in. Met them on trail around 8:50 (Aaron, Jamie and their dog, Meisha) and hung out until 10pm. In bed at 10:15.
Date: 2006-08-18
From: Fingerboard Shelter

To: Home (Teancek, NJ from NY17)
Miles today: 4.1

Day 78 (Friday)Up at 7am to find NOBO Dan already gone. Laid around for a while and ate 2 museli breakfasts. A bat shat on Hansel and he wrote about it in the register complete with illustration, reproduced here (by Jack). (editor's note: sorry can't reproduce the drawing for the online journal).On trail around 10AM, easy hike past old mine (19th century) with lots of tailings and thru the lemon squeezer (fun!) passing a few dayhikers along the way. Reached Rt 17 crossing NYS Thruway (I87) around 12:15 and decided to hitch into town for lunch and water (feeling pretty lethargic due to heat and lack of sleep over last few days). Hitched into Southfields (tuxedo) from a dayhiker we had passed earlier and had meatball sub, OJ, and pineapple froz fruit for lunch, followed by root beer float courtesy of Jack. Called Dad for pickup and got picked up around 3PM. Stopped at Campmor for superfeet insoles, socks, canister fuel and picked up MSR ultralight packtowel; Jack got Asolo trailrunners, and we stopped at EMS where sockes were buy one get 1/2 off, so I picked up 2 more pair and Jack got a pole swapped out. At home, took showers and borrowed Daniel's "end the ware on medical marijuana" T-shirt featuring icon of cop beating up a guy in a wheelchair smoking a bong and gave Jack Daniel's "Drugs win drug war" Onion T-shirt. Dinner - salmon - very good; hung out at Aaron's after dinner, and fell asleep watching the longest baseball game on record (4 1/2 hours yankees beat red sox). P.S. Got email from and talked to sky - confirmed she left trail at west harford, vt.
Date: 2006-08-19
From: Aaron's house

To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 79 (Saturday)Up at 10AM and drove home with Jack, looking for donuts along the way (hot bagels closed sat) so we decided to go to the IHOP on Cedar ln. Had combo with funnel cakes (very good). Waitress named Shaniqua. As we were in line to pay, some guy looked at our t-shirts, looked at us with our long beards and started smiling. Back to 'rents house at noon for a lazy afternoon. Dinner - California rolls - excellent but not uniformly sliced (my bad) and dumplings (also v.g.). After dinner - took Jack to Axis lounge with Aaron and met David Pearlman and then went to Andy's tavern where we met Jamie and Dan Chazin and I had a chocolate beer - very good. Also got to play KRS One's "I'm Dreamin'" for Jack in Aaron's lincoln. Back to the 'rents house to sleep. In bed 2am.
Date: 2006-08-20
From: home

To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 80 (Sunday)Up at 9am; family over for Brunch at 10 (Melissa, Jonathon, Brandon - big - 18 lbs at 4 months) Jonothan's rents Kathy and Fritz, Aunt Terry and Uncle Andy, Tom and Eluisa. Mom solicited multiple opinions re: the border on the new sidewalk in front of the house. Brunch bagels and fritatta, etc. (all very good). Hung out for the afternoon. Dinner - leftover california rolls and other stuff (still very good) and then back to Axis Lounge to watch jello wrestling and freak show(ok). On way home, got pulled over for having a taillgiht out and bid good luck on our hike by a Moonachie P.D. In bed around 12pm.
Date: 2006-08-21
From: home

To: Wildcat shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: broken clouds

Day 81 (Monday)Up at 9am; slow to pack, but left house around 11:00 after showing mom "Going to Kenya" at www.weebls-stuff.com (very funny). On trail around 12pm; met new Sobo "tentpole" from suburban Boston, on year off between H.S. and college, after climbing "agony grind". Hiked 10 miles to wildcat shelter, passing what looked like some sort of drug deal with 5 beat up cars parked and sketchy people in the woods near Lakes Rd. Great water and good views along the way. Had the shelter to ourselves (tentpole hiked past due to ice cream craving and dairy 2 miles ahead), Dinner - southwestern chicken - good but couldn't cook in 1 shot) in bed 9:30PM.
Date: 2006-08-22
From: Wildcat shelter

To: St. Thomas Hostel (Vernon, NJ)
Miles today: 17.3

Day 82 (Tuesday)Up at 9:30 AM when some nobo came in bidding us am amazingly chipper "good morning" and asked us where the water was. Breakfast - leftover S.W. chicken; on trail 11am. Caught 2 more sobos link and easy rider who had passed us in the am and were going off trail for the night at 17a with a sobo from '05 (Odie) out doing trail magic. (offered us a night off, but we declined). Ice cream at 17a very good - 1st view of high point and several hawks overhead. Passed some steep rock outcroppings known as the cobbles on the way. Pleasant Ridge walk in the afternoon with multiple views of Green wood lake and descnded into Wawaynada state park where we got Cleatis' phone number from a register and met the last nobo who will actually make katahdin this year (by his estimate - which I agree with) "Pigpen". Saw a biplane earlier in the day, btw. Reached rt 94 around 8:40pm and had a difficult time hitching into Vernon after dark. Finally caught a ride to Hostel at St. Thomas' episcopal church where 1 nobo and 1 fmr thru hiker section hiking were staying. Met Dave, the hostel manager and got the tour and a ride to Anthony's Pizzeria for AYCE pizza for $5. Ate 1.5 pies between Hansel and I and we got 1/2 pie to go, since they were closing. Talked to Cleatis during dinner, now behind Scooter (since DWG) 9 days ahead, but taking 3 off and will call then. Back to the hostel, surfed internet and in bed around 11pm. P.S. Everyone in the Hostel woke up at 2am, coincidently.
Date: 2006-08-23
From: St. Thomas Hostel (Vernon, NJ)

To: secret shelter
Miles today: 7.0

Day 83 (Wednesday)Up at 8:30; breakfast leftover pizza and cranberry juice. 1 new NOBO arrived at hostel and the guy from trail yesterday (Odie) gave me a ride to New Milford, NY for a mail drop (was pressed for time but did it anyway since I was a fellow SOBO). Would have dropped at trail head, but left shoes at hostel, so went back and stopped at rite-aid for glucosamine and hitched out with Jack. On trail 12am. Crossed the famous 1 mile board walk (very scenic) and passed a few nobos who will have to flip flop or finish next year, unless they can average 16 mpd for the rest of the way (very tough). Another beautiful day of hiking; Jack hiking in crocs due to lack of good insoles in his Asolos. Reached Pachuck shelter around 3pm and hung out until 4:20 and then passed Walkill river nat'l wildlife refuge (open wetland) and gave jack a dig about how if there was oil under it, W. would want to drill for it. Reached rt 284 at 5:56 for rendezvous with brother, who arrived at 6:09 with Dan Chazin. Dinner in Unionville, NY at Sara's Ice Cream Shop / Jambalaya and root beer floats - all good and learned tentpole had been in earlier. Hiked out at 7:50 from trailhead, after picking up extra food, fuel and aqua mira from Daniel. Reached "secret shelter" around 9pm after some confusion at Goldsmith lane (not Goldsmith rd - not on map). Found tentpole asleep, but very accomodating to our late arrival. Took hot shower, listened to Donkeys and talked to Dung. In bed 10:30.
Date: 2006-08-24
From: secret shelter

To: Deckert's house from Deckertown rd
Miles today: 18.9

Day 84 ThursdayUp at 7 and caught up on 5 days of journal backlog. Breakfast - Granola w/ pears. Caught video of donkeys running around and mounting each other (very funny). On trail w/ Jack @ 9:45 - about 15 min behind tentpole (aka Ben or scooter II). Pleasant hiking accross rolling hiss, fields, woods, and cow pasture to Kitatinng Ridge where we caught tentpole. Stopped by Hight Point Shelter and met a nobo section hiker @ jct to high point monument loop trail. Took the trail to the monument but lost it at a road corssing and bushwacked the last 300ft. Great views from high point. A few families around. Climbed the monument impressing several dayhikers with our ease of climbing 220 feet. Walked down to beach and lake marcia and had lunch at the snack bar (cheese steak and mozarella sticks, coke and chocolate eclair). Called Mr. and Mrs. Boy Scout (Frank and Kathy Deckert) for pickup at Deckertown that eventing (note at hostel in vernon said to call for a free meal and night's stay). Turns out we were the only ones to call this year. Bushwacked from beach back to the AT, cutting off 1/3 mile of trail in the process, but I felt ok about it since we didn't cut any distance. A minor debate about the best spot to find the trail led to Jack and Tentpole splitting up from me. I tried to wait for them at rt 23, but it turns out they were ahead. Checked out the hiker box at the state park and hiked on; weather starting to turn cloudly like rain; started raining soon after. Passed trail to Rutherford shelter and left trailmail for Jack; caught him soon after. Passing 2 NOBO section hikers filling in gaps on an attempted thru hike the year before, who we had met in Vernon, where they dropped their car. Hiked to Deckertown tpk and met scooter2 and talked to some random guy for 15 min about thru hiking and Philmont (apparently he was there in '84) before being picked up by Mr. Deckert. 45 min ride to his house, discovered he is originally from Teaneck (Oakdene Ave and Farridge Terrace). Probably Troop 92; passed space farms and arrived at their place in Newton. Took a shower and had excellent dinner of hamburgers and hot dogs, potato salad, corn and beans and met Boy Scout (their son) who thru hiked in '00. After dinner, went to Walmart for a new journal and memory card (both getting full)and returned to find Jack and Scooter2 watching The Princess Bride. Watched it, flipped to South Park and Mind of Mencia during the commercials. In bed 11pm.P.S. Hansel Officially changed his name to Gentleman Jack this morning in the register at the secret shelfter since he is tired of explaining his trailname. I've been calling him Jack ever since for short.
Date: 2006-08-25
From: Deckertown Tpk

To: Camp NoBeBoSco
Miles today: 22.0

Day 85 (Friday)Up at 6am; out of bed at 6:30 and packed up for 7:30 departure (Mr. Pechert had to work after dropping us off). Breakfast raisin bran and sticky buns (all good). Departed for trail around 7:45 and arrived at trailhead around 8:30. Put on goretex socks (shoes still wet from yesterday). On trail 8:40. Reached Mashipacong Shelter shortly after and met a mom and her daughter. Tyvek signed in the day prior, remarking that the privy must sleep 6 in a rainstorm (it was large). Hiked on to sunrise mtn and enjoyed a brief view during a break in the clouds, ate some lunch at 10am and hung out with scooter2 while waiting for Jack, who had been hanging out in the parking lot 75 yards back. Passed a bunch of prisoners at the parking lot before hiking on to Culver's gap for a roast beef sandwhich on a bagel w/ chocolate milk (all very good). Left at 2pm and climbed back up the ridge for an easy ridgewalk for he rest of the afternoon. Got a voicemail from Jim saying he heard about some guy hiking the AT barefoot on the news radio 88. Passed Blue Mtn lakes rd around 7pm and decided to hike on to Nobebesco. Reached side trail around 7:50 and hiked down, losing trail briefly and arriving at camp around 8:30. Looked around and didn't find anyone in camp despite lights on all around and camped in leanto in Iroquois. (Same one I slept in during webeles week in 1985). Dinner - turkey herb and garlic (very good) and banana nut bread. In bed 10pm.
Date: 2006-08-26
From: Camp NoBeBoSco

To: Hostel at Church of the Mountain
Miles today: 15.9

Day 86 (Saturday)Up at 7am; lazy morning, met a local guy in a pickup truck around 10am who said we were trespassing (which we were) and that we had some balls camping here (he got friendlier after I mentioned I was from Bergen Council). He called Trip McMillan (director of camping) who apparently wanted us all arrested and we left. Climbed the cable cut back to the AT (cutting off some of the ridge). Back on the AT around 11:30. Met 3 weekenders at catfish firetower (in a cloud) and mentioned it was a good view on a clear day. Lunch at Mohican outdoor center around 2pm (ham and turkey sandwich, 2 cookies and 1 snickers). On trail again at 3pm. Passed sunfish pond (also in a cloud) and met one of the ridge runners at the backpacker site (nice guy). Reached DWG around 7pm and hiked across bridge to Hostel at church of the mountain where we ran into Tyvek at 7:30. Showered and went to dinner at DWG diner after passing up the sycamore grill as too expensive. Dinner meatloaf, fries, carrots, and canolli: pie ala mode for dessert (all good). Back to hostel for phone calls (used tentpole's phone since Jack was on mine). Arranged to meet Dave Stuhr for breakfast at Bill Medei in Slatington Tues. Read some Adirondack Life and a book about Christianity. In bed 11pm.P.S. Managed to hike thru all of NJ without ever spending a night on the trail.
Date: 2006-08-27
From: Hostel at Church of the Mountain

To: Hostel at Church of the Mountain
Miles today: 0.0

Day 87 (Sunday)Zero day @ DWG. Up at 7:30 and caught up on 2 day's journal backlog. Met Dave Stuhr for breakfast and recounted tale of NOBE adventure. Hung out at the hostel, read magazines, met Pastor Karen and worked on jigsaw puzzle. Lunch at Pizza place (1/2 sausage pizza split with Tentpole and Barq's birch beer - all good) where we watched Cheetah girls on the Disney Channel with the owner's kid until he ran out and we changed it to sports disasters on TLC. Stopped at the ?? museum on the way back and learned a bit about the local area (founded by dutot - a french nobleman who fled Haiti during their revolution and used to be the #2 vacation spot in the US (behind Saratoga,NY) until automobiles were popularized. The video actually used the word "Halycon Days" to describe it. Talked with the museum staffmember and turns out she was also the local postmaster, so I asked her if Jack and Tyvek and Tentpole could pick up their packages and she said to sop by the post office at 5:30. (I told them and Jack and tyvek picked up their packages). Back at the Hostel, Link and Easy rider showed up after a 25 mile day and we went to the Sycamore Grill for a beer and some locals bought us 3 rounds, ate 1 dozen 25cent wings (bbq) and called myslef satisfied. back at the hostel Degoba (sp?) came in with his dog Smurf after pulling a 32 mile day, making 7 in the hostel for the night. Met Jack, Link and Easy rider outside for some extra trail magic from one of the guys at the bar. Tried to go to the diner for dessert, but it was closed at 10:30 pm and so was the convenience store. Finished the puzzle while feeling sick, in bed 12am.
Date: 2006-08-28
From: Hostel at Church of the Mountain

To: Leroy Smith Shelter
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 88 (monday)Up at 7am for an early start to a 20 mile day ate trail breakfast (granola) and sent journal book 3 and 2nd memory stick to Kellee at post office. On trail at 9:15 behind spoorman and his friend brian who joined him on trail that day (they came into the hostel at 1am this morning). Reached lookout rock around 9:45, took some pics and met tentpole and then jack and degoba after he left. (hiked w/ jack, degoba and his dog, scarf (trailname ratdog)) to kirkridge shelter where we stopped for lunch from 12:45 - 1:30 and read a register full of entries from nobos griping about the rocks. Took on water from a spigot which tasted like copper and hiked on with hansel (degoba a few minutes ahead). Reached wind gap around 5:45 pm and went 0.1 mi to gateway motel for water, where a couple of linemen (contractors) offered us beer. Drank 2 beers, filled up 3 1/2 L water to avoid having to go .42 from shelter and hiked out at 6:30 after meeting a local pie baker. Climbed out of wind gap very quickly and met flip flopping hiker Bonzo who I later learned from Degoba has a tatoo of the AT (map) on his back (hiking with dog - Rio). Passed him by and reached shelter around 8:30 (hiking with headlamps for 1/2 hour) arrived to find 5 people already in (spoonman, brian, degoba, tentpole and nobo section hiker underill). Dinner B.P. turkey past chipolte and peanut butter cookies (all good) in bed 10pm (sleeping on end of shelter).
Date: 2006-08-29
From: Leroy Smith shelter

To: Medei House (from Lehigh Gap)
Miles today: 16.0

Day 89 (Tuesday)Up at 7am; Mr. Underhill already up. Breakfast - granola (double ration - blueberry and peaches). On trail 7:45 - 1st of the SOBOs - spoon and Brian the only other ones moving. Raining steadily, but not too hard. Flat ridge walk - very easy except for the occasional "dreaded" PA rocks. Reached Smith Gap Rd (3.5 mil) @ 9:15. More ridgewalk through clouds and drizzle and PA rocks. Crossed little gap around 12:45. Easy climb up blue mtn on dirt rd. Passed Nobo section hiker ______ who asked to verify which direction he was headed. Summit Blue Mtn around 2PM and called Bill Meded to confirm meeting and move location to trailhead. 1st time using cellphone through a ziploc due to rain (successful). Entire ridge of blue mtn bare b/c of what I thought was fire but later found out was the result of 100 yrs of zinc smelting in palmerton and is now a superfund site (per Aloaa companion). Steep, exposed descent into lehigh gap w/ some almost technical scrambling - just a bit dicey in the rain. Got below the cloud ceiling on the descent for great view of gap and lehigh river. At trailhead 3:10pm. Got a call from Bill saying he went past and would be back in 10 min (actually less). Btw, saw a large spider wrap up a horsefly caught in a web at the signpost at little gap (very cool). Back to bill's house w/ quick stop at best buy for Bill; showered did laundry and went to wegmans for dinner - split a 14" sup and turkey chili, honest T (moroccean mint) - all good - also bought 6 bars (cliff, mojo and odwalla ) and 1 pint ben and jerry's dublin mudslide. Back to the house to eat ice cream and watch a bit of TV before heading over to the wildflower cafe for open mic night. Took a quiet walking tour of downtown bethlehem and hear a lot of great local talent, including.....????? and a guy named hecky darn playing vibrating crystal bowls. Stayed until 1:30am and helped bill pack up. Back at his house, ate ham and cheese sandwhich, saw susan and listed to bill discuss how everyone profiting from the war in Iraq should be killed. In bed 3AM.