morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-05-05
From: Peters Mtn

To: Rausch Gap, PA
Miles today: 17.5

A bottleneck has developed with the shelter spacing once again either forcing moderate days or super long days. We have become a crew of seven and have the days lined up to make the necessary steady progress through rocky Pennsylvania. My usual bigger mile days will get me nowhere and PaBert has sure been persistent in telling me so. I have a good time trying to make him feel guilty for slowing me down but I have looked at the coming miles myself over and over and 30 mile days produce much pain for no benefit. We are PaBert, Batman, Robins Nest, Red Ranger, Hatteras Jack, Kip, and myself. Since we will be together for the next few days I'll give some background on each of these characters.PaBert, who I've been with on and off for several weeks, is a retired mechanical engineer from DuPont. He hails from SC but loves his hometown of Cleveland. His wife is an education professor at a local college. He had no intention of thru-hiking this year but was abandoned by his hiking buddy soon after they departed Springer for a four week section hike. PaBert stayed on the trail and ultimately decided he wanted to do the whole trail. Batman and Robins Nest are recent high school graduates who have a lot of experience with camping, hiking, and many outdoor sports. They are in no way related but have an amazing friendship and respect for one another. I have made comments to each of them about their remarkable maturity and independence. They are from Boston and will each be going to college in the fall.Red Ranger is a retired air traffic controller from Atlanta, GA. His wife sends his mail drops. He puts in a lot of miles when he wants to but enjoys zero days in towns. He is a very loud snorer.Hatteras Jack has his teaching certificate but just recently got out of the Navy after spending 5 years as a submariner. A fast hiker, he left on March 6 from Springer, but won't finish a thru as he will be getting off the trail on Memorial Day.Kip recently quit his job as a high school principle and this is his second attempt at a thru-hike. His hike last year was cut short because of Hurricane Katrina. His parents live in New Orleans. He hasn't acquired his trail legs yet so he is the last to arrive to the shelters but like the rest of us has foot pain.
Date: 2006-05-06
From: Rausch Gap

To: PA 501
Miles today: 17.4

The Northern Procession is making its way up Pennsylvania. The majority of us needed to resupply in the town of Pine Grove which is 3 1/2 miles off the trail which of course meant another hitch. I have spoken in the past about my hitchhiking but many thumbs make light work. We actually got a ride from a past thru hiker who literally crammed five of us into the back of his minivan and took us to an all-you-can-eat buffet. It was then groceries. After buying our supplies I asked an unsuspecting woman in the parking lot if she would haul the five of us and our groceries back to the 501 road crossing. (I could see the bed of her pickup truck had adequate room.) She consented and we were happily back to the shelter in no time.I am here with PaBert, Batman, Robins Nest, Hatteras Jack, Red Ranger, Kip, and Do-Rag.
Date: 2006-05-07
From: PA 501

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: broken clouds

Divorce is a tragic event that hurts all involved and places their friends in awkward positions. Friends having to pick sides of every argument or curry favor with one over the other ostracizes friends to the point it is too uncomfortable for the divorcees' friends to maintain a close relationship with them. Even trying to abstain from getting involved is difficult. Effective May 11 Batman and Robins Nest will sever their trail partnership. Robins Nest says, "I want to prove to the world that women can hike alone." Despite everyone's advice to the contrary (including Batman) she is emphatic about her independence. The two of them have been an excellent team. They share gear, keep track of each other, and prepare amazing meals together. Now they must separate their gear, each must now carry a stove, get separate mail drops, and avoid one another all because Robins Nest doesn't want her thru-hike to be perceived as on the back of a man. I have earnestly been trying to dissuade Robins Nest and have several more days more to try. I'm happy to say that Batman is not looking to ditch Robins Nest.Another divorce may also be brewing and unfortunately this one involves me. While I love all the folks in my group of thru-hikers the group has grown too large. We are now ten and we are very much a smelly mob. I was very excited to be reunited with Taco, who I last saw before the Smokies, today. He is hiking with Bleach and with a 29 mile day today the two joined our already bloated 8. The problem of our size became very obvious today when all ten of us overran a restaurant. We were looked upon with dread rather than embraced. The only way to get back to hiking, camping, and interacting with the outside world in the way I have come to enjoy up until now is to over hike my group. I will have to stretch my miles through some tough terrain but it is the only way. It will be a painful departure from my friends and they too may be hurt. Divorce is awful.
Date: 2006-05-08
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Bake Oven Knob, PA
Miles today: 32.6

I did decide to separate from the group by over hiking. I am extremely fond of the folks I am pulling away from and will miss them immensely. I am not only moving on because of the size of the group but also I want to hike longer than the majority wants. They have a great itinerary worked out but I miss my super long days and the feeling that I've over-done-it. In the Allentown Hiking Club Shelter register I wrote a short letter to the group explaining that, effective immediately, I was resigning my membership in the group.I will miss them all and perhaps I'll see them further up the trail. My penalty for leaving? I am here at Bake Oven Knob alone.
Date: 2006-05-09
From: Bake Oven Knob, PA

To: Wind Gap, PA
Miles today: 28.1
Weather: broken clouds

Pennsylvania is notorious for its rocks. The trail maintenance crews take great pride in the rocky trails and even sell postcards of the geologic survey. A sample of their postcard was pinned on a bulletin board at Peters Mtn Shelter. At first I was skeptical; I have been through so many rock fields before PA, how bad could it really be? Remember my initial impression of Pennsylvania? "Nice and surprisingly flat," is what I told the folks back at Quarry Gap. My impression has change significantly. I now can see why the folks at Quarry Gap Shelter would think my initial impression ridiculous.It is not that PA's rocks are anymore difficult or painful than any of the other states' rocks. It is the day in and day out walking over, in, around, and though that has made me curse the state of Pennsylvania. Ankles can be twisted only so many times! My feet were sore long before I entered PA but the pain is sure compounded by having them torqued, squished, bent, folded, tripped, stabbed, and contorted by the millions of PA rocks.Very soon I will enter New Jersey. I sure hope the Garden State lives up to its name because the Keystone State sure has.
Date: 2006-05-10
From: Wind Gap PA

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Last night I stayed at Travel Inn in Wind Gap, PA. It is a tired looking motel but offers a hot shower, a bed with sheets, and the convenience of being near restaurants and a grocery store. While I was sitting in room I gave my dad a call. "I'm in a motel in Wind Gap, Pennsylvania," I answer. "Why a motel?" he questions. "I haven't showered in seven days, Dad!"This conversation and some of the questions I received at the picnic back in Maryland have brought to my attention the need to define what it is that I'm doing out here on the Appalachian Trail. I am on a Thru-hike. "Thru-hike" is a compound word. 'Thru' meaning through which means, well, through. And 'hike' which means hike. The goal is for me to hike past every white blaze on the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mtn, GA to Katahdin, ME. I am not on a Thru-camp which, if there is such a thing, requires you to camp out every night. I am certainly not on a Thru-no shower which would be just plain foul. Seven days is pretty foul in and of itself. There are no rules to a thru-hike just a desire for a hiker to complete the entire Appalachian Trail in one continuous outing.I did occupy myself with the idea of referees on the trail. "Tweeeeeeeeeet," comes the sound of a man running over the crest of the hill blowing his whistle. (Three blows is the universal sign for a person in distress but he just blows once.) Out comes his yellow bandana and it is thrown onto the trail. While his arms are motioning the penalty he yells, "Illegal procedure! Failure to walk on the correct side of a blazed tree! Five mile penalty! Repeat hiking day 32!" Then he is back to his hillside position waiting for my next infraction.
Date: 2006-05-11
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Brink Road Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: overcast clouds

New Jersey is much like Pennsylvania so far. It is more ridge walking with lots of rocks. Seven states behind (GA, NC, TN, VA, WV, MD, PA)Seven states ahead (NJ, NY, MA, CT, VT, NH, ME)Jennel drove up to the Delaware Water Gap for a rendezvous and to exchange some equipment. She is weary of the hike. Although she hasn't said anything directly, it is obvious she wants this all to be over and for me to be back home. She said at least twice that she wished we were at Katahdin rather than the Water Gap. She has made a huge sacrifice in letting me go and it seems now she is really feeling her sacrifice. I also look forward to the end but neither of us want the hike to end before Katahdin.Jennel did share some exciting news. Robin Roberson of the Community Free Clinic called and said the donations and pledges are now over $18,000!
Date: 2006-05-12
From: Brink Road Shelter, NJ

To: Secret Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 24.9

Stayed with three St. Joe college guys. Despite the fact that kept mentioning how St. Joe destroyed KU in basketball this past year, we had a good time. I think there may be at least one future thru-hiker in the group.We all stayed at Brink Road Shelter which is purported to have the most black bear activity in New Jersey. How many bears did I see? Zero. How many have I seen? Zero. I was specifically told that if I didn't see a bear in the Shenies then I would see one in NJ. I have another day and a half. Between you and me I have mixed feelings about this bear thing, but it is supposed to be a highlight of a thru-hike.
Date: 2006-05-13
From: Secret Shelter, NJ

To: Wawayanda, NJ
Miles today: 18.9

Hiked more Jersey today. I had a lot less rocks but a remarkable amount of swampy low lands. Long bridges and planks snake the landscape to keep hikers out of the mire (at least almost). I pity the hikers who come through here in mosquito season.I had one great climb. It came at the end of the day and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It seems like weeks of trudging over rocky trail with limited vistas and lots of foot pain. Wawayonda Mtn climb was a steep rock climb with a great view. It was back to the muscle pain (good pain) and less of the foot torquing pain (bad pain).Wawayonda Mountain is what the Jersey-ites call it. We Marylanders would be correct in calling it Hon-Its-Way-Over-There Mountain.
Date: 2006-05-14
From: Wawayanda, NJ

To: Fingerboard, NY
Miles today: 26.3

Yeehaw, I crossed into New York, had a great hiking day, and went under 800 miles to go. The trail has taken a dramatic turn to the difficult. New Yorkers don't play games. They lead you right up to a rocky cliff and then require you to follow the white blazes strait up. They were nice enough to provide a ladder once but most of the time it is palm to rock climbing. It's hard and it gets me sweating like a pig but it is a very welcome change.A New York Physician Assistant (Milton O'Connell) and his physician grandfather met me on the trail for lunch. Their property abuts the trail lands. They have a great clearing overlooking the valley and that is where we ate. I was tickled to meet them and eat their food. They sent me off with the leftovers and also with epinephrine and insulin. Now I am ready to save any diabetic who¢s allergic to bees. As I was leaving they shout back to me, "Just don't inject it into their knee!" Har, Har, Har.
Date: 2006-05-15
From: Fingerboard, NY

To: Fort Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 14.2

Imagine yourself:-Waking up to fog, twisted in your sleeping bag, on a plywood floor.-In the cold-Putting on the same clothes you've been wearing for months. They haven't been laundered in over a week and a half.-Putting on cold, wet, dirty, get-that-away-from-me smelly socks and wet shoes.-Looking forward to the fact that you're going into town today to eat, buy food, do laundry and sleep in a bed.-Hiking in the rain for 14 miles up and down steep rocky terrain.-Eating a breakfast of tuna fish on bagel in drizzle.-Being happy to find a Port-a-John so you can put on another layer of clothing to your cold body without getting soaked. (Not a lot of room to change in one of those things)-Following the Appalachian Trail as it takes you through a New York zoo and seeing a black bear (behind a fence).-Walking 2+ miles off the trail to find a motel room and then walking another 1 1/2 miles to a Laundromat.-Taking off all your clothes, except your long underwear, and sitting on the floor in your rain coat waiting for your laundry.-Feeling as pathetic as you look.-Buying groceries based on calorie count.-Eating a fantastic Mexican dinner on your way back to the motel.-Placing you shoes, insoles, socks and backpack in front of the vents of your room heater.-Taking a short nap.-Updating your trail journal.-Dreading tomorrow because the weather is to be the same but excited that you have clean clothes.If this sounds fun then you're sick. It may not be fun but I do look forward to the next 786 miles of it.
Date: 2006-05-16
From: Fort Montgomery, NY

To: RPH Shelter, NY
Miles today: 25.2
Weather: light rain

Lotsa cold rain. Lotsa ups and downs. Lotsa miles. Lotsa slips and three falls. Lotsa fatigue.Then I reached RPH Shelter and life improved dramatically. I arrived in sunshine and was surprised by some huge trail magic. Socks and Husband of Socks drove forty minutes to be Trail Angels to a very weary hiker. Socks finished her thru-hike last year and now loves bringing out trail magic to several shelters in the area. She figured from my trail journal that I'd probably be at RPH. It is strange to be greeted, "Are you Bone Pac?"The selection was enormous with Cokes, cake, trail foods and bars, bottled water, chocolate milk, and supplies. She gave me DEET and a head net for the mosquitoes and black flies in addition to the food. We spent an hour and a half talking, eating, and drinking (I did the eating and drinking). Awesome!Batman caught up with me. I knew it was only a matter of time now that he and Robins Nest are separated that he would stretch out his days and run me down.Here with Batman, Yo-yo, and Fallaffle.
Date: 2006-05-17
From: RPH Shelter, NY

To: Ten Mile River Lean-to, CT
Miles today: 29.6

The ground is saturated and the trail has become a soupy mess. There are long stretches of trail where I walk straddling the flowing water that is the trail. It is an interesting question; why bother? My feet are already soaked, and have been since I put my cold wet socks on in the morning, why not just tramp through the muck and mire? I guess part of me hopes that me feet are drying out even though every few minutes I feel cool water seep into my shoes as I slip off another rock, a board submerges, or I must ford.Into Connecticut today!
Date: 2006-05-18
From: Ten Mile River Lean-to, CT

To: Silver Hill Campsite, CT
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: few clouds

What a beautiful day in Connecticut. The hiking was more difficult than I expected but I had the opportunity to visit the town of Kent this afternoon for my first taste of a New England town. It is a pish posh little town full of spas, fine dining, art galleries, and caf©s. It looked very much like my stereotype of New England. More quick hiking this evening got me under a shelter before the rains began. It is raining now.Here with Batman.
Date: 2006-05-19
From: Silver Hill Campsite, CT

To: Riga Lean-to, CT
Miles today: 26.6

Rain has a way of lengthening the trail. I slept on a picnic table under a pavillion last night. The pavilion has no sides. A fine layer of rain mist was on everything when I woke in the morning. Nice start to a wet day.It rained all night and all day today. It has been terrible. The cold wet penatrates everything eventually. Climbing up rocks in the rain is quite hazardous. Batman yells up to me, "This sucks!" We are slipping, sliding, and getting drenched, all while we climb through Connecticut and I couldn't agree more with his assessment.Weather forecast: 3 more days of rain.
Date: 2006-05-20
From: Riga Lean-to, CT

To: Tom Leonard Lean-to, MA
Miles today: 24.3

An exciting start of the day. I entered Massachusettes. That was about all the excitement until I reached Tom Leonard Lean-to. There I met GG and her granddaughter Flick. Both were looking to offload some extra food and I was there ready and willing to take any off their hands. Flick gave me some leftover mashed potatos. Delicious. Then GG made a huge pot of soup just for me. The soup was thick and hardy, more like a stew, and it was super delicious. GG said that she liked feeding men, "they're always so hungry." And with me not having a stove, "(I) need a hot meal." Awesome.There is a lot of very angry water. With all the rain, together with the spring thaw, the streams, creeks, and rivers are all high and raging. I have had to take the 'high water trails' on a couple of occasions because I am not willing to risk ending up in the Atlantic. Many of the creeks that are normally crossed easily now have the stepping stones submerged. I was left with wet soggy feet all day.
Date: 2006-05-21
From: Tom Leonard Lean-to, MA

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin, MA
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: light rain

5 21Tom Leonard, MA to Upper Goose Pond, MA 21.1 Forgive me for complaining about the rain. Little did I know how much worse it could be. Well today it got worse. The showers came and went all day with short bursts of sunshine. My rain gear would come off just long enough for me to get hit with more drops and then the rain gear would go back on. This was the dance I did with the weather all day until things got decidedly more exciting.The sun came out and I only had 1.6 miles to go before reaching Upper Goose Pond Cabin so I decided to sit for a while and eat my Pop Tarts. The sunshine faded to black as huge dark clouds rolled overhead. "Not again! You've got to be kiddin' me," I said to myself. While putting the rain cover onto my pack there sounds the grumblings of a t-storm. Then it began! Hail! Pea sized hail balls were being driven into the ground. I was getting pelted. "Only 1.6 miles to go," I mumble. And I'm off. Look out small children and old ladies! I'm comin' through! I was flying over the trail, poles diggin in and feet barely touching the ground; all the while ice balls are striking me and lightning flashes are right overhead. I smoked that mile plus only to reach the shelter trail and a sign saying the cabin was another 0.5 miles down a blue blazed trail. By now I am pretty wore out but I kept moving. The hail didn't stop until well after I was at the cabin. Either I put away the 2.1 miles really quick or that was a long hail storm.        Hail has a way of putting rain into perspective.The caretakers at Upper Goose Pond built a fire in the fireplace and we sat around it visiting.They are going to make me pancakes in the morning. Awesome.
Date: 2006-05-22
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin, MA

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a wonderful breakfast of pancakes and then it was off to Dalton for a long awaited rondezvous with Jennel and the kids. I must of strained my knee yesterday during the hail storm unbeknown to me at the time. Today it is stiff and sore. I could use some rest and relaxation and quality time with the family in Dalton.
Date: 2006-05-23
From: Dalton, MA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

ZERO DAY!My master plan for today was to hike to the top of Mount Greylock and have Jennel pick me up on top. We would then have the afternoon together and I could have some more miles behind me. My plan changed.Jennel met me in Dalton yesterday after a cold wet week with a lot of miles, sore feet, sore knee, hungry, and with a bad attitude. "You haven't said one good thing about the trail," my wife said to me late in the evening yesterday. "You do what you want but I think you should take a day off." In the back of my mind I knew she was right but I wanted to keep moving North. I think I've been hiking for three weeks straight and over 400 miles with no rest days. Finally, I agreed to the much needed Zero Day. I'm glad I did. Thanks Jennel.
Date: 2006-05-24
From: Dalton, MA

To: State Road MA 2, MA
Miles today: 23.3

The Zero sure made a difference. Funny thing about rest, food, family, and improved weather; It sure improved my attitude about the trail. I feel like I have been out here a long time and when the weather gets bad the trail goes on forever. I get home sick. Sloshing around in mud and water for miles upon miles with no views or any perks to improve my demeanor sure gets old. Today that changed. The weather was warm and clear. The climb to Greylock was fun and view spectacular. Jennel met me on the trail and we had lunch together. All around it was a much improved day and a bounce (or at least less of a limp) was back in my step.Entering Vermont tomorrow! Under 600 miles to go!
Date: 2006-05-25
From: State Road MA 2, MA

To: Goddard Shelter, VT
Miles today: 28.5
Weather: clear sky

Upon crossing the Hudson River in New York the trail takes a shallow dip and reaches its lowest elevation at 125 feet above sea level. From that point it is a gradual (in some cases not so gradual) climb to the much higher elevations further north. Connecticut gets you back over 2000 ft, Massachusetts gets you back over 3000 ft, Vermont gets you just to the brink of 4000 ft, and New Hampshire and Maine go over 5000 ft. New Hampshire also takes you over 6000 ft. So that is what I have been doing since NY. Everyday it is more climbing and every day it will be more climbing. I am now climbing in Vermont.
Date: 2006-05-26
From: Goddard Shelter, VT

To: William Douglas Shelter, VT
Miles today: 24.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Today marks three calendar months I have been on the trail. Georgia seems an eternity ago. It would not be hard to convince me that I started this hike in February of '05 rather than '06. Home seems distant and strange but I yearn for it. Maine also seems distant but amazingly closer than ever.