morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-27
From: Duncannon 

To: Duncannon 
Miles today: 0.0

Despite Special Ed's advice to me back in Franklin, NC about not staying at the Doyle Hotel, I'm here for a second night, zeroing due to it raining all day long. So are a bunch of other thru-hikers. The Doyle Hotel is about 100 years old, has hardly been upgraded since then, and probably only gets cleaned after hiker season. It is the most run down hotel you'd never want to stay at, with possible exception of a few hotels in Hiawassee, GA and Franklin, NC. But for $25 per night, it's pretty good if you think about it as a hiker hostel with private rooms and shared bath. There is no TV and no air conditioning except for a fan in the room. Thankfully it's a cool day with the rain. But the first floor has a bar with really good food and really good beer, and that's all a thru-hiker really needs. After all, it's part of the AT experience! I stayed off my feet most of the day (that's what bar stools are good for). The local supermarket runs a hiker shuttle from the Doyle at 4 pm with a beat up old Plymouth Voyager minivan, reminiscent of Ron Haven's operation in Hiawassee and Franklin. About 8 of us piled in to resupply there. Now I'm ready to move on tomorrow morning.
Date: 2015-06-28
From: Duncannon 

To: Stealth camp 
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: light rain

It was a chilly night last night but the rain stopped and I went across the street to Goodies for breakfast. Upon leaving the Doyle Hotel, I walked the length of Duncannon to cross the Susquehanna on the Clarks Ferry Bridge, named for Robert Clark who operated a ferry here in the 18th century. The trail was not difficult or unusual today, I just lacked motivation. But for a hiker, as with life in general, you don't get anywhere standing still. So I kept pressing onward. I was pleasantly surprised after 17 miles to find trail magic at Clarks Creek around 5 pm. A couple from eastern Pennsylvania had fresh salad, fresh cut fruit, hot dogs, baked beans and fresh corn on the cob. It was delicious and I didn't have to cook my own dinner tonight. This gave me the energy to hike another three miles up 1,000 feet at the end of the day. In the picture above is the hiker family, the hostess in black dress, Prefontaine with his back to the camera, and Ahab in blue.
Date: 2015-06-29
From: Stealth camp 

To: William Penn Shelter 
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: broken clouds

I think I have this Pennsylvania rocks thing figured out. The thing is that there are a bloody lot of rocks. It's impossible to walk in a straight line. Lots of pointy rocks are sticking up out of the ground like hands reaching through the soil from graves underneath. It really slows you down. And then there are loose rocks on top of other rocks that are unstable when you step on them. You have to be careful not to lose your balance and risk falling into the waiting embrace of the poison ivy that encroaches into the trail. At least the sun was out all day which improved my disposition. Even though we spend much of our time in the green tunnel, it feels good to occasionally be exposed to direct sunlight. I saw Iceman on the trail today. He's a 78 year old thru-hiker that I saw several times between Rt 501 and Priest Mountain in Southwestern Virginia. Today's milestone just before the William Penn Shelter was reaching the point of 1,000 miles remaining to Katadin Mountain, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail in Maine.
Date: 2015-06-30
From: William Penn Shelter 

To: Stealth camp 
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: broken clouds

Rocks. And mud. That about describes today. And afternoon thunderstorms. Twice. And flooded trail. And wet shoes and socks. Wring out the water wet. I wish I were through with Pennsylvania, but it is not through with me until another eight days. At 3:30 pm I felt something on the back of my leg and stopped to scratch it. Just then a tree branch fell to the ground directory in front of me. It might have landed on my head had I not paused to scratch an itch. I passed the 1,200 mile mark somewhere today, but didn't notice as it was probably under water. 980 miles to Katadin.
Date: 2015-07-01
From: Stealth camp 

To: Hamburg, PA 
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: light rain

There was a lightning storm last night around 1:30 that kept me awake for an hour, but then I slept until 7 am. The trail into Port Clinton was very rocky, pointy rocks, which is par for the course around here. Prefontaine and I hitched the 2 miles into Hamburg where I had a reservation at Microtel. We had lunch at Cabela's with Parks and Ahab, shopped there for resupplies as well as at Dollar Tree and Walmart. Then dinner at Red Robin. A shower, laundry and real food is rejuvenating, especially after a day like yesterday. 972 miles to Katadin.
Date: 2015-07-02
From: Hamburg, PA 

To: Stealth camp 
Miles today: 17.2

I didn't leave the hotel until 11 am as I was watching the news of the reported active shooter at the Washington Navy Yard building I used to work in. I was relieved it was a false alarm and that everyone there is safe. Today's excitement was the rock hop. I've been through a few rock hops already, and I'm sure there are more to come, but I fell for the one after Pulpit Rock. Yep, fall #3 of my thru-hike occured as I lost my balance hopping across rocks and fell backward onto the rocks, cushioned by my backpack. The only injury was to my pride at surviving the AT this far with only two previous falls. I'm stealth camping tonight somewhere on Hawk Mountain. 955 miles to Katadin.
Date: 2015-07-03
From: Stealth camp 

To: Stealth camp 
Miles today: 17.5

Today was a rock hop all day long. In addition to the usual irregular rocks sticking upright in the ground, there were many stretches of large boulders to hop through. The toughest part was the Knife Edge which was like climbing on the edge of a knife with a sharp falloff on either side that likely would result in serious injury if someone fell. I met Iceman on the trail twice today, first going northbound toward PA 309, then again southbound toward PA 309 after his wife dropped him off at Bake Oven Knob Road. He told me about trail magic at Bake Oven Knob Road, so I hurried there, arriving at 3:30. Two couples do trail magic on July 3rd every year. There were several other thru-hikers there that started at Springer Mountain in mid-April. I satisfied my hungry hiker appetite with three hamburgers, one hot dog, a banana and orange, and two Dr. Peppers. Wonderful timing as I'm too full now to make dinner. I continued on for another four miles when I noticed a stealth campsite with an Anirondac chair and decided this was the place for me tonight. 937 miles to Katadin.
Date: 2015-07-04
From: Stealth camp 

To: Stealth camp 
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: light rain

Today was a tough day even though my trail milage was short. I woke up to rain and hiked 5 miles to Lehigh Gap in the rain. Shoes and socks were soaked again due to continual contact with wet grass on the trail. I had planned to hitch to Walnutport 2 miles away, but last night I was reading Doc's online trail journal with a glowing report of Palmerton, which was 1.5 miles away. Big mistake. I followed the AT guide's recommended foot path, which was full of water and the gate to Red Hill Road was closed. So I had to hop a fence and guardrail to cross Aquashicola Creek on PA 248, then hop over to Red Hill Road where a dog came out of a house to attack me, stopping short when I stared him down. The 1.5 miles to Palmerton is just to the west end of town. Most everything was closed for the holiday and I walked an additional half mile to Tony's Pizza where I got a salad and 14 inch special pizza. I ate it all. As I was finishing, the rain stopped and another patron asked if I needed a ride back to the trail. What a lucky break that was, and I was happy to get out of this town. Back on the trail was the climb out of Lehigh Gap, 1,000 feet in less than a mile. I collapsed my hiking poles and attached them to my backpack for the hand-over-hand technical climb up the rocks. This was the most challenging climb of the AT to date, and I took my time. Once at the top, I took another long break to dry out my tent and feet. At this point the AT detours around the Palmerton Superfund site which is deforested due to zinc smelting from 1898 to 1980. Later I came across bushes full of ripe blueberries. They were delicious and no detectable taste of zinc! By 5:30 pm I was exhausted after just 10 miles and found a nice stealth camp. 928 miles to Katadin.
Date: 2015-07-05
From: Stealth camp 

To: Stealth camp 
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

My sleeping pad wasn't very comfortable last night as I kept tossing and turning. But it was very comfortable at 6 am as I didn't want to get up, and didn't until 7 am. My feet and legs ache in the morning such that it is hard to stand up getting out of the tent. This section of PA is dry with long distances between water and the water is usually far off the trail. I was fortunate to come across bottles of water twice today, left as trail magic. This is the eighth day of hiking through the PA rocks. I'm really getting tired of these rocks as they are killing my feet. I hitched a ride into Wind Gap at the end of the day as the AT guide says the Beer Stein Restaurant allows hikers to tent in the back. I found out at 7 pm that they no longer do. Fortunately, after dinner and recharging my phone, I got a quick hitch back to the trail, climbed the steep grade out of Wind Gap, and found an acceptable stealth camp site among the rocks. 910 miles to Katadin.
Date: 2015-07-06
From: Stealth camp 

To: Delaware Water Gap 
Miles today: 14.6

This morning I must have been under the flight path to Newark, as the whirling of gas turbines overhead was continuous. The trail today actually had stretches of rock less trail, which was wonderful to walk on. But I hear the the rocks continue into New Jersey. I met Iceman on the trail again. He even recognized me from behind. We hiked together the rest of the way into Delaware Water Gap where he was met by his wife, son and two grandkids who will walk with him into New Jersey tomorrow. I'm tenting tonight in back of the Church of the Mountain Hostel, as the bunks were already taken when I got here. There is a ground hog that just popped out of the back yard to forage. Hopefully he stays away from my tent. 896 miles to Katadin.
Date: 2015-07-08
From: Mohican Outdoor Center 

To: Brink Shelter 
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

I'm liking the AT in New Jersey a whole lot more than the AT in Pennsylvania. I partaked in the $7 buffet breakfast at Mohican Outdoor Center this morning, consuming 5 french toast, 5 link sausages, two large scoops of scrambled eggs, coffee and OJ. There were about 20 people there for breakfast; vacationers staying in cabins, a youth group tenting, and I was the only thru-hiker. More thru-hikers should consider the MOC. I usually wear my ball cap backwards so I have purriferal vision looking forward while looking down at the trail before me. This morning it was raining on and off, and the visor was in front to keep water off my glasses. Then...Whammo! I walked straight into a dead tree overhanging the trail. That knocked me backward and on my rear. AT fall No. 4. The brain cells were spinning for several minutes after that one. I passed through Rattlesnake Swamp Trail, Rattlesnake Spring, and Rattlesnake Mountain today, but did not see any rattlesnakes. New Jersey has a lot more climbs than PA, which slowed me down, and good views, where I pause to enjoy. And those wild blueberry bushes! It's hard not to stop to forage on blueberries. I'm in a shelter tonight due to reports of active bears around this shelter. I will probably be eaten instead by the mosquitoes. I'm not sure which is worse.
Date: 2015-07-09
From: Brink Shelter 

To: Rutherford Shelter 
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: few clouds

Rain last night, resulting with wet shoes and socks again today. The water in streams around here is light brown with tannins, even after filtering. In the early afternoon the sun came out and I took a break at the pavilion on Sunrise Mountain summit. As I was drying my socks and shirt in the sun, I was watching nine majestic hawks flying overhead, seemingly just for the pure joy of it. I found trail magic water and bagels in the bear box at Mashipacong Shelter. I saw my first copperhead snake today, about 30 inches long. Made it to the Rutherford Shelter 1/2 hour before a rainstorm started, which continued until 1 am. There is one section hiker here also.
Date: 2015-07-10
From: Rutherford Shelter 

To: Pochuck Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was beautiful hiking weather. This morning's hike resembled Rocksylvania with rocks galore, but with steep climbs and descents thrown in. My first stop of the day was at the High Point State Park Headquarters for a free soda and recharge my phone for an hour. Next was the High Point tower, a stone monolith at the highest point in New Jersey, a whopping 1,803 feet in elevation. Along the way I met Runs With Beer, who I hadn't seen since somewhere in North Carolina. It's interesting to meet people on the trail that I haven't seen in several hundred miles. The afternoons hike was much less rocky. This part of the trail follows the northern border of New Jersey, at some points going into New York were the AT was a road walk for almost a mile then was a long walk around the perimeter of the Wallkill Nature Reserve. The late afternoon included walking the planks through swamp land. It's apparent that we are getting into more densely populated areas as today included 15 road crossings.
Date: 2015-07-11
From: Pochuck Mountain Shelter 

To: Vernon, NJ 
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: scattered clouds

The morning climb up Pochuck Mountain was a bear with several rock obstacles. But once I got over that it was pretty much smooth sailing to Vernon, NJ, particularly the 0.8 mile tourist grade boardwalk through wetlands. Upon reaching NJ 94, I walked to nearby Heaven Hill Farm and Garden Central for a mid-morning snack and to figure out how to get to Vernon two miles away as hitch hiking is illegal around here. Airlock arrived there 20 minutes after me and she had arrangements to get to Vernon for resupply, so I yogied a ride from them. I'm two days ahead of my overall thru-hiking plan, and arriving at St. Thomas Episcopal Church hostel on a Saturday lined up nicely as I can now attend Sunday service tomorrow morning and try to yogi a ride back to the trail from a parishioner. There are several other hikers here tonight as well, including Oriole who I hadn't seen since VA 522 outside of Front Royal, and Uncle D, who I hadn't seen since southern Virginia. Uncle D had a bear encounter late yesterday afternoon as he had forgotten a few energy bars in his backpack, which was on the ground outside his tent. A bear smelled them, dragged the backpack around until it got to the energy bars. That gave Uncle D time to get out of his tent and put some distance between him and the bear, who had been just 15 feet away. The bear then went to his tent and tore a hole through the netting. Overall the damage the his backpack and tent was repairable, and he came away with a really good story. Unfortunately there is no 7-Eleven store around here and I didn't get a free Slurpee. But I'm trying to eat as much as I can while in town. The bathroom scale at the hostel says I'm down to 158 lbs, about 25 lbs less than when I started this thru-hike. I will need to take greater advantage of the trail town restaurants and roadside delis along the way, which may mean less miles per day.
Date: 2015-07-12
From: Vernon, NJ 

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

I went to the 8 am Rite II spoken word service where there were a total of nine attendees, including myself and one other thru-hiker. I was surprised that the Priest-in-Charge did not greet anyone at the conclusion of the service. Throughout the service was the sound of motorcycles going by as there was a rally outside of town this weekend. I managed to yogi a ride from one of the parishioners and was on the trail by 9:15. Today's hike began with a thousand foot climb with a vista at top. Four day hikers coming down from vista told me that there was a bear at the vista that came toward them instead of running away. This is probably the same bear that harrassed Uncle D two nights ago as it was in the same area. Having just resupplied in Vernon, I was a walking grocery store to a bear, so I decided to skip the vista and keep my distance from that bear. Later in the afternoon, I saw bear #6, or really just its hind legs as it was running away as I approached. Also this afternoon I crossed into New York, the ninth state on this thru-hike. New York so far has been a very long rock scramble where I just carried my hiking poles in one hand and grabbed rocks with the other. The climb even required a ladder at one point. Fortunately there was one there already. Around 6 pm, there were two sets of trail magic at NY 17A. First a cooler full of cokes and candy bars. Then jugs of water and a pizza. Two other thru-hikers were there ahead of me when someone came by with a fresh large pizza. There were two slices left when I arrived. I ate one and left the last piece for another hiker behind me. 815 miles to Katadin.
Date: 2015-07-13
From: Wildcat Shelter 

To: Fingerboard Shelter 
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: light rain

Happy birthday to my brother Steven. Today was the hardest 14 miles in a long time. It took 10 hours to hike these 14 miles, inclusive of two breaks. This section of New York is incredibly difficult. Although the elevation varied from 680 to 1349 feet, it is mountainous with many steep and rocky ascents and descents. The climb down to the NY 17 road crossing was incredibly steep. It would have been a triple black diamond if it were a ski slope. The water in these parts is scarce, and when available its usually from a pond. Fortunately there were jugs of water at three road crossings for thru-hikers, provided as trail magic. 801 miles to Katadin.
Date: 2015-07-14
From: Fingerboard Shelter 

To: Bear Mountain Bridge 
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

There was a flyer in the Fingerboard Shelter advertising the Stony Point Center where private rooms were $50 using lodging code "ATHIKE", which included AYCE breakfast buffet. It sounded much better than the $75 hotel at Fort Montgomery I was going to stay at. I made an online reservation last night with my credit card. Minutes later my wife called saying that VISA called with a fraud alert and did I charge $1 at the Presbyterian Church. No. Presto, the credit card was canceled. Turns out that Stony Point Center is owned by the Presbyterian Church and $1 was to hold the reservation. Unfortunately, the Stony Point Center web site didn't advise of that connection. This morning I tried to call VISA at the top of a mountain. First was an automated answering system asking me to enter 1 for English. I'm already upset and they're hitting my hot button. When I get a live person, its an English speaker with a foreign accent. Hot button no. 2 hit. This happened twice because of a poor connection, which was lost both times in mid-conversation. I called my wife Pam and fortunately she was able to arrange for VISA to send me a replacement credit card to the Stony Point Center for delivery tomorrow. Today's hike was easier than yesterday but still tough. Fortunately there were good water sources along the way. There were lots of stone steps and tourist grade paths around Perkins Memorial Tower and Bear Mountain Recreation Area. I started hiking at 7 am because the weather forecast was rain beginning at 9 am. Fortunately the winds held off the rain until 3 pm. The winds also kept it cool and the mosquitoes away. Along the way today I twice saw flocks of wild turkeys who fled into the woods. Fortunately I was able to get one good photo (see pics). I faintly saw the skyscrapers of New York City from Black Mountain. I also saw two bears and a bunch of other animals. It was easy as the AT passed through the Bear Mountain Zoo! Stony Point Center picked me up at the rotary near the Bear Mountain Bridge. The rooms are like college dorm rooms with bathroom down the hall. It's quit here and they provide AYCE dinner for $15 and AYCE lunch for $10. I'll be taking an unplanned zero here tomorrow to await my replacement credit card. Fortunately I get to eat five straight AYCE meals! Another milestone was achieved today, reaching 1,400 miles on the AT. Fortunately there are only 786 miles remaining to Katadin.
Date: 2015-07-15
From: Bear Mountain Bridge 

To: Bear Mountain Bridge 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today was an unplanned zero at the Stony Point Center to receive my replacement credit card shipped by UPS. Basically a low key day, cleaning some gear and planning the next several days. The down time was relaxing, but the highlight was the food here with the fresh salads and vegetables grown at the organic farm on-site. The director and his staff are very hospitable. The director even lent me his car to go to the local Stop & Shop to resupply. I'm ready to hit the trail after tomorrow's AYCE breakfast.
Date: 2015-07-16
From: Bear Mountain Bridge 

To: Dennytown Road 
Miles today: 14.5

After a great AYCE breakfast, the folks at Stony Point Center shuttled Uncle D and I back to the Bear Mountain Bridge at 9:30 where we crossed the Hudson River and began a big climb. I took the easy 0.6 mile side trail to Anthony's Nose, a rock outcropping that overlooks the Bear Mountain Bridge and upper Hudson River. This is one of those "must do" side trails, provided the weather cooperates. Today was a beautiful day with great visibility. We have now entered Deliware, the point on the AT in New York where we will encounter a deli at least once a day. Right at noon time I got to the Appalachian Market and had a Phily cheese steak hero and two ice cream sandwiches. Excellent food and everything a hiker needs to resupply, although I had already resupplied in Stony Point. Uncle D and Doc were already there when I arrived, and Drop Bear and Voyager arrived shortly thereafter. The five of us ate our lunch at a picnic table under a sun umbrella at the Appalachian Market and plotted the rest of our day. Someone mentioned that "Vegetarian" was an Indian word for bad hunter. Between the Appalachian Market and Dennytown Road the trail was a roller coaster of ascents and descents, with Pennsylvania style rocks. The five of us are tenting in a big grassy area next to Dennytown Road. A lot of car traffic is going by even at 10 pm and jets are flying over us as they approach NYC, so its a little noisy. It's supposed to be chilly into the 50's tonight.
Date: 2015-07-17
From: Dennytown Road 

To: NY 52
Miles today: 15.8

Our morning objective was to hike 5 miles to Clarence Fahnestock State Park by 10 am, the time the park and concession stand opens. Those 5 miles were tough with lots of rock obstacles, and it took me 2 hours and 45 minutes to get there. The state park is a lake where people go swimming and a concession stand. I had a bacon cheeseburger, fries and two ice cream sandwiches. That was a nearly two hour break. As I was leaving the state park, I got surrounded by six girls who wanted to know all about my hike. I spent 10 minutes answering their rapid fire questions; where do I get food, have I killed any animals, how many clothes do I carry, etc. Then they wanted to get a picture with me on their cell phones and so did I. That was pretty interesting. Then we did an easy 5 miles to the RPH Shelter where you can order a pizza delivered, but we passed that up. Then was the third 5 mile section of the day to NY 52, where we then walked 0.4 miles along the road to the Mountaintop Market Deli, who lets hikers tent behind the store. After setting up my tent, I got a fat rueben sandwich, a half-pound of potato salad and a six pack of San Adams lager. Also here is Uncle D, Doc, Drop Bear, and Voyager. The deli opens at 6 am so we will be getting breakfast here before hitting the trail again.