morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-08-19
From: NYC

To: Telephone Pioneer's shelter
Miles today: 3.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 61 3.1mi Telephone Pioneer's shelter. Today is exactly 2 months since I started the trail and one month since I was on Mt Washington and I began this day on the Brooklyn Bridge. Now that's an adventure! I rode the subway up to Central Park. I walked across Park and Madison ave. My plan was to walk across thr park and catch the subway to Grand Central. I ended up making a big U. I couldn't believe all the people that were out at 7a.m. on a Sunday.   So I stopped for some pastries and had the best cup of coffee I have had. Even better than the Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans. I jumped the 5 express back to Grand Central, got my ticket back to the Appalachian Trail. The city was not overwhelming. I was able to move around as I pleased. The secret I figured is that you have to do it in the middle of the night. If I lived here I would want to know every nook and cross street, and every good place to eat. I think that is one reason why New Yorker's love their city. They have to know intimate details about the city just to get around. So I rode the 2 hours back to the trail where I had been 17 hours before. I think that I gave myself a pretty good tour in 13 hours. I'm very very glad that I did it. Another oppurotunity grabbed up.I walked the 3.5 miles to the next shelter. I still had good energy, but my feet were tired. 28 hours in my boots. I stayed awake as to not mess up my sleep schedule. Guess who just showed up, Snacktime (Stayin')
Date: 2007-08-20
From: Telephone Pioneer's shelter

To: Graymoor Spiritual center
Miles today: 36.5
Weather: clear sky

Day 62 36.5mi Graymoor Spiritual center. Yep that 36.5 mi. Today I hike for Andrea Konrad. I hold her in high regard for grace and discipline, I think of her often, she is a good friend. Today I felt great. Stan has now changed his name from Stayin' to Snacktime on my rocomendation and some pushing from others. He left a little before me, I caught him at lunch. We hiked quick and felt good. We had walked 18 by 2:00. We stopped a few times for water. We were at mile 24 and next water and camp was at 27.7. We really wanted to make an even 30. It started to rain. We had dinner at Dennytown rd. Mile 27.7. We could have camped, it was dark, raining. Next camp was at 36.5. We decided to do it! We put on our head lamps and prepared for our first night hike. We hiked fast over very rocky terrain. It was fun, we saw many deer. By the last hour I was tired, sleepy. My eyes were tired from constantly focusing. We made it to the pavillion at the Graymoor spritual center at 12:45 a.m. 16 hours of hiking. I am happy with the feat of hiking 36.5, it's a milestone on this trip. Not bad after missing a night of sleep.
Date: 2007-08-21
From: Graymoor Spiritual center

To: Bear Mountain Bridge Motel
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: moderate rain

Day 636.3 milesBear Mountain Bridge MotelRain! Cold! We slept until 9:30, headed out about 11. It rained hard. We later found out they were calling for 3-5 inches of rain today. It was about 50 degrees. Not August weather at all. The difference with this rain is that I was cold while I was walking. Of course, I sent my rain jacket home. We made it to the Hudson River, and the lowest point of the trail: 124 feet. I was back and forth on going into town or not. Snacktime mentioned a motel, my teeth were chattering, and that was motivation enough for me to go into town. We checked into the Bear Mountain Bridge Motel. All they had was 1 full size bed. I took a hot shower, and now we have our clothes and shoes strewn around the baseboard heat to dry out. It sure does stink in here! We ordered a pizza and relaxed. We¢ve got the heat up to 80 degrees. It was an unplanned stop, but still pretty good.
Date: 2007-08-22
From: Bear Mountain Bridge Motel

To: Tent camp mile 792
Miles today: 6.3

Day 646.3 milesTent camp mile 792Had a fairly decent night of rest. It¢s good to have Snacktime back around. I like the way we cut up and laugh. It was a slow start. Check out wasn¢t until 11, and we had t.v. We headed out around 10. Most of my stuff was dry. I noticed my left boot was especially tight. Really both boots were tight. Snacktime¢s knee had started bothering him yesterday and is still hurting him today. The trail goes through a small zoo. We checked out the exhibits for a while, and then headed up Bear Mountain. Once at the time it was quite a while before Snacktime came up. He was in pain with every step. He was going to have to pull off the trail again back into town. I sat with him until he found a ride. I was pretty bummed. Not about being alone, but for being without Snacktime. We hike well together, push each other, and are just a good team. I am sad for him that he must deal with this. I know it is stressful. He handles it well. So as to steal another line from Forest Gump, ¢And just like that, he was gone again.¢ So I walked down Bear Mountain and noticed that my toes hurt from the tight boots. I walked about 4 more miles and found a good water source. All my toes were raw, so I called it a day. Better luck tomorrow.
Date: 2007-08-23
From: Tent camp mile 792

To: Tent camp at mile 811.4
Miles today: 19.4

Day 6519.4 milesTent camp at mile 811.4Today I hike for the Everybodyfields, a band from Johnson City. I¢ve listened to them a lot on this trip to remind me of home. Their new album Nothing is Okay on a new label came out August 21st. I can¢t wait to hear it for the first time live at Bristol Rhythym and Roots Festival Sept. 14-16th. I hope that they will play one of their old songs ¢Good to Be Back Home¢ for me one time. I¢m flying back home from PA on Sept. 13th to see Becky and go to the festival. It¢ll be 3 months since I¢ve seen my wife. This was planned before the first day that I started the trail. I hope that readers will recognize me and not hesitate to say hello.Today I miss my buddy Snacktime. I didn¢t realize how much I liked having him around. It was hard to get motivated but I did. I was against electronic devices on this trip, but I am so into music that I brought my MP3 player along. Today I needed some cheering up and didn¢t realize how sad I was until I listened to the Avett Brothers. I needed it, to hear something from the South. Of course today is the first day that I use it, and the first day I see a rattlesnake. I walked right past it while seeing it out of the corner of my eye. It didn¢t offer to rattle, and I didn¢t provoke it. My boots are rubbing me again. I need to make a decision on what to do about them. I¢m also tired of everything being sticky and extra stinky with sweat.
Date: 2007-08-24
From: Tent camp at mile 811.4

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: haze

Day 6614.8 milesWawayanda ShelterHad a good sleep last night. The sub sandwich that I packed in from the deli was good. It was a hot, hot day. My hose pulled off my water bladder, and my backpack filled with water. I threw my backpack on the ground when I realized it was leaking and salvaged as much water as I could. I found another spring shortly after and luckily didn¢t have to drink the salvaged water. Today I crossed into my 7th state. Good ole dirty Jersey. I got to the shelter. There was a ridgerunner who had SOBO¢ed in 2005. He was happy to see a thru-hiker.
Date: 2007-08-25
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 5.3

Day 675.3 milesVernon, NJSaint Thomas Episcopal ChurchI hiked down a bunch of rocks off the mountain out into a field and down to the road. The ridgerunner, Midnight, was waiting there for me to give me a ride into Vernon. On our way into town we say Pyro, a fellow SOBO who was stumbling down the road. He had hiked 45 miles and was out of water, looked like death, and had a gash in his leg big enough for stitches. We gave him a ride into town. He recovered. They had a Dairy Queen in town. I got 4 hot dogs and a frozen hot chocolate. I talked to Snacktime today. He¢s back at home in North Carolina for 3 weeks with his knee pain. The urgent care doctor said he might have lyme disease. Me or Snacktime don¢t believe he has lyme disease. Alpine, Princess Brat, and Fresh showed up this evening. The church had a kitchen, so I made burgers for everyone. So now I have a new trail family to hike with.
Date: 2007-08-26
From: Vernon, NJ

To: Mayor of Unionville, NY
Miles today: 11.8

Day 68 11.8mi Mayor of Unionville, NYHiked out of Vernon today. A guy gave us a ride back to the trail. So it was me, Princess Brat, Alpine, and Pyro. Pyro Leading, walking fast all the way. We walked through the flat bogs most of the day. It was hot and humid. Pyro had put supr glue on the cut on his leg, then a bee stung him right on it. We had head about a guy in Unionville, NY that takes in hikers and feeds them for free. We wanted to hike further, but wanted to meet this guy. We stopped by the park and asked some kids where he lives. We didn't want to just go knock on his door, so we stopped by the bar first. It was 2:00 in the afternoon on s sonday and the bar was full. We could tell the locals didn't like the hikers. We caught a few dirty looks and got out of there. We went and knocked on the door of the mayor's house. We were greeted by a 60 something man who invited us right in and washed our clothes. He advised us he only had 3 rules.1. Don't help with anything, especially dishes.2. Fill out contact info on the picture he takes.3. Send him a picture at the finish.His name is Richard; history teacher, insurance salesman, mayor, and all around super guy. He has a right hand man named Butch. Butch helps Mayor Dick take care of the hikers. Butch is also Unionville's Maintenance Dept. Butch and Dick made dinner for us. We all chowed down on Spaghetti and salad. I noticed pictures of the mayor's wife and a lot of handicap fixtures around the house. I found out that the mayor and his wife lived in this house for 31 years, raised 2 sons(both I met).   She had recommended before she died that since Mr. Mayor had such an interest in the hikers, he should take them in. He began on June 29th taking us in. He has "loved every moment, It has been the best he has felt since she died." I saw a picture of his wife in her late 20's, the only other pictures were as a sick and elderly woman. I thought that time is quick. I missed Becky intantly and badly.
Date: 2007-08-27
From: Mayor of Unionville, NY

To: Sunrise Mtn.
Miles today: 17.7

Day 69 17.7mi Sunrise Mtn.We woke this morning to coffee, eggs, and bacon. Wow, what a guy! We got a ride in his Toyota Prius to the trail. Another "dad" for us hikers. I hope to see him again.I hiked with Pyro most of the day and mostly killed myself keeping up. We hiked to the highest point in NJ. At 1800 feet, I'm not so impressed. We came to a road, there was a deli to the east. We ended up walking 2.6 down to it. A guy asked us at the store if we had seen any bear, he told us of his sightings. We got our foos and asked him for a ride. He opened up the hatch on his small suv and said "Don't worry boys, I got permits for those." We sat our packs down on 3 rifles and 8 inch hunting knives. At the end of the ride he looked at me and said "Boy, you got black hair and it's hot out here, here's a hat, $2.50 from wal-mart." It was camo and fit perfect!It was 5:00 and we hadn't really covered any ground, we hiked to the next shelter, talked a while with another guy, then Brat and Alpine showed up. We had 5.9 to go for the day. It was sunset. So I was able to keep up with Pyro's 4 mph for a while and then tired out. The rocks started today too. It was dark and I couldn't beleive I was walking in it to make 17 mi. I saw a good spot to camp. Many times during the night I heard bears groaning like gorillas, I couldn't wake up enough to be scared.
Date: 2007-08-28
From: Sunrise Mtn.

To: Ridgeline camp @ mile 880.0
Miles today: 19.0

Day 70 19.0mi Ridgeline camp @ mile 880.0I woke up early and headed out. I met up with Pyro, he had hiked on last night. We walked a mile down the road to the Jumboland diner where I had an omlet and french toast. I've been drinking coffee since NYC. We got a ride back to the trail from a couple who had a bear break into their house 3 times. Pyro was going to wait around for his friend "Traveler" so I met up with Brat and Alpine and hiked with them. Brat talked a lot so it made time go quick. They took a second luch and I hiked on alone. I was on the ridgeline looking into the valley and just had to camp. Beautiful views to the East. 40 min later Brat and Alpine showed up and camped with me too. I guess I'm not just a 3rd wheel after all.
Date: 2007-08-29
From: Ridgeline camp @ mile 880.0

To: Delaware Water Gap.
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: broken clouds

Day 71 14.8mi Delaware Water Gap.Today I hike for Charlie Fedorka, a man I met at Sunfish Pond. He enjoys bringing his 15 yr old dog up to the pond to swim. He is very much happy in nature. He was very interested in my trip and proud of me. He took care of my dinner for the night. I woke up feeling good, but soon as I started walking, I felt tired. then a slight headache. I think I was a little dehydrated. I hiked to Sunfish Pond, it is said to be one of the last glacial ponds in the US. There were many no swimming signs posted. It was 85 degrees, the water was cool and clear. What good is a body of water in the summer if you can't swim in it? So I swam across the pond and back. It was great. I walked the next 6 miles quick down to hiway 80 and then a 1.5 mile walk along the interstate across the Delaware River Bridge, leaving NJ and entering PA, my 8th state! I arrived at the Church of the Mountains, in for the night.
Date: 2007-08-30
From: Delaware Water Gap.

To: Delaware Water Gap.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 72 0 day Delaware Water GapI woke up this morning hungry. I went down to the pie shop and got a whole coconut custard pie and ate it all. Pyro who rolled in last night was amazed. We tubed down the Delaware River, past convicts and trash. 4 miles 4 hours and sun burnt. Though relaxing. The church had their last covered dish hiker feed. I had 3 plates and desert.
Date: 2007-08-31
From: Delaware Water Gap.

To: Delaware Water Gap.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day 73 0 Day Delaware Water GapUnplanned 0 day today. My shin splint that I got walking down the mountain still hurt and Alpine said, "Let's go to the Movies." "OK" I said. We had us a big time in Stroudsburgh, PA. Maybe too big!
Date: 2007-09-01
From: Delaware Water Gap.

To: Tent site at 908.4
Miles today: 13.6

Day 74 13.6mi Tent site at 908.4The rocks have started. I¢ve been hearing about PA rocks since I was a kid. Hearing how terrible they are, and how hard it is to hike. We had lunch at the pizza place and headed out. We are done with this Delaware water gap, it cost us a lot of money. Obie and Pyro hiked out quick. I just let my brain calculate my steps and move over these rocks. Alpine and Princess Brat had started earlier in the day, I met them about dark at camp. They had a fire going and I didn¢t feel like hiking in the dark. Pyro and Obie hiked on to Wind Gap. Our little group of hikers are all from the South. Pyro (WV), Obie (GA), Alpine and Princess Brat (GA). We all crave sweet tea, gravy, and grits.
Date: 2007-09-02
From: Tent site at 908.4

To: Cliffs @ mile 923.8
Miles today: 14.4

Day 75 14.4 mi Cliffs @ mile 923.8We hiked down to Wind Gap. We met up with Pyro, Obie had hiked on. It was hot and none of us could get our energy going. We found a place to stop overlooking Allentown, PA 30 miles away. We rolled out are sleep mats haphazardly on the cliff, all the while conscience of rolling off in the middle of the night. We looked into the distance and could see fireworks for Labor Day. It was beautiful and quiet.
Date: 2007-09-03
From: Cliffs @ mile 923.8

To: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: clear sky

Day 76 25.7mi Allentown Hiking Club ShelterMe and Pyro Hiked out 1st, we wanted to go into town for breakfast. We got a hitch from the 1st car we tried. She stopped right in the middle of the road on a blind curve. She drove us past the spot where we thought we were going. She asked us if we needed groceries, ¢sure¢. We thought she was going to wait on us, but instead she said ¢see ya boys¢, and drove off. There we were 7 miles from the trail. We ate breakfast, a guy asked me about my trekking poles, I asked him for a ride. We met back up with Alpine & Princess Brat right before the ¢Dead Zone¢. The Dead Zone is a EPA Superfund site where zinc had been mined up until 1980. Now everything is dead on the mountain. No trees, only a few scrub bushes. Not even lichen on the rocks, just bleach white. Signs from previous years, but no longer present read; ¢Do not camp or stay for long¢. I guess we¢re lucky we¢re fast hikers. So I say thanks to the ATC for buying this poisoned land and allowing us hikers to be exposed to it. Insert sarcasm.We hiked a hard rocky to descent down to the road to Palmerton, PA, then back up the other side. We all stopped at a spring for lunch, me and Pyro hiked ahead, I was ready to gain some miles. We hiked 17mi after 12:30. We camped alone in the Allentown shelter with a few weekenders close by.
Date: 2007-09-04
From: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter

To: Microtel Hotel Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 77 22.6mi Microtel Hotel Port Clinton, PAWoke up this morning to more ridgeline walking. The North bounders said we sould have such a hard time through the rocks, we would never hike over 20 miles. The rocks aren¢t that bad, I just put my feet out there and let them get twisted and turned. I just continue to move forward. We hiked fast, nothing much to look at anyway. Pyro¢s dad drove down from WV to see his son whom he hasn¢t seen on 3 months. Pyro offered me a night in the hotel. No way I was passing on that. We drove over to Reading, PA for dinner, we ate and had beer at the Ugly Oyster. His dad ,Bob Evans, picked up the tab. I thought that was very nice. I turned down the AC on low and slept great.
Date: 2007-09-05
From: Microtel Hotel Port Clinton, PA

To: Camp at 977.0
Miles today: 5.9

Day 78 5.9mi Camp at 977.0Guess what was next to the hotel, a Cracker Barrel! Mason Dixon line is getting closer! I got some groceries, stopped by the PO and hiked the trail up and out of the gap of Port Clinton. I felt that my back was wet again, my water was leaking. I threw my bag down and salvaged as much as I could, about a quart. This is a problem, water is scarce. Everything has been dried up. I camped short today since I was hiking in the afternoon heat and also I got stung on my inner thigh through my pants by a yellow jacket. That made me dance around like a fool. I figured it would be cooler in the morning and I could make my quart of water last longer.
Date: 2007-09-06
From: Camp at 977.0

To: 501 shelter
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 79 17.8mi 501 shelterWell I ran out of water quick. It was hot and humid by 9 am. Every spring I went to was dried up. Luckily about 10mi in I found a slow spring that was not listed in my book. The trail magic helped me again. Everything was not as dismal. Flat ridge walking all day. Hitched a ride to the buffet and filled up. The owner of the place gave me a ride back to the shelter. He told me ¢He lives through the hikers since he can¢t do it¢. I tried to tell him that anyone that has legs to walk on can do it.
Date: 2007-09-07
From: 501 shelter

To: Campsite at mile 1011
Miles today: 16.4

Day 80 16.4mi Campsite at mile 1011Today I hike for Verdund Arrowood. He is a good friend who was my neighbor when I moved into my house. Him and his wife Mary have always taken good care of me. He has always been involved with the Boy Scouts. He would take a group out on the AT for a 50 mile trek. He did this for years. Today I passed the 1000 mile mark. It¢s like walking from Johnson City to Dallas, TX. Now I¢ve got to walk back. I would be happy if 1000 miles is what this journey took, but it takes more. I must and want to keep going. I can say that being halfway weighs on me pretty heavy knowing I have to repeat what I just did. I am not speaking of feelings of quitting, it hasn¢t entered my mind.
Date: 2007-09-08
From: Campsite at mile 1011

To: PeterÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: broken clouds

Day 81 Peter¢s Mountain ShelterSlow start this morning. I had a plan, it was to hike 30mi and get to Duncannon, PA, hitch ride down highway 81 back to TN. I hiked fast. Storms were brewing in the valley. I got to Peter¢s mountain shelter, Contact was there. He told me that if I missed my leaving flight, they might cancel my return. I used his phone and found out that was true. So there went my plan, so I just stayed. Storms blew in hard, I felt lucky to be sheltered.
Date: 2007-09-09
From: PeterÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Mountain Shelter

To: The Doyle Hotel Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 82 11.4mi The Doyle Hotel Duncannon, PAMe and contact rolled into Duncannon and caught the trucker buffet breakfast. I had 7 plates, I wasn¢t full, but tired of breakfast food. I checked into the Doyle Hotel, an old Anheuser Busch hotel from the 1800¢s. This hotel is a mainstay on the Appalachian Trail. Every Thru hiker should make a stop here, and almost all have. I met back up with Obie and Traveler. Pyro came in at dark, we¢re taking it easy.
Date: 2007-09-10
From: The Doyle Hotel Duncannon, PA

To: The Doyle Hotel Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 83, 84, 85 0 Day Doyle HotelAlpine and Princess Brat came in today. The ¢Superbad¢ team together again. I spent all of these days hanging out with these guys. I¢ve managed to keep them here around me while I wait on my plane to leave out of Harrisburg. I couldn¢t find a ride if I walked more south so The Doyle is a great place to be stuck at. I gained 8 pounds while here. I was offered a slackpack, what that entails is to be shuttled 25 miles south and hike back North to the Doyle with no pack. This is to just get the miles in and complete that section of the trail. My journey moves one direction and I¢m not hiking just to complete the miles. So it just doesn¢t work for me. I met Chris, the barber in town. I got a hair cut from him. He¢s 31 and moved here to find cheap rent and to be a barber. It¢s good to see a young man take up that trade. For many communities after the old timers retire, there¢s no barber left. He¢s the Dad of a 5 month old daughter, Jordan Alexi Olivia. He hooked me up with the local trail angel in town, Mary. She¢s going to give me a ride to the airport. While we were here Alpine and Brat picked up a Siberian Husky to hike with. It has lived in a kennel for 18 months so it¢ll be interesting to see how it handles being free on the trail. I¢ve enjoyed being with my family here at the Doyle. I think I¢ve made some lifelong friends.
Date: 2007-09-13
From: The Doyle Hotel Duncannon, PA

To: Home! Johnson City, TN
Miles today: 0.0

Day 86 0 DayMy day to finally leave Duncannon. Boy, I¢m looking forward to seeing Becky. I headed down to Mary¢s about 10 am after telling everyone goodbye for now. I rode in a 1980 something Dodge Diplomat with a gold top. If I wanted a ride I had to sign the top of it. My flight didn¢t leave until 4 pm so I told her I could run some errands with her. So we went to Bob Evans where she made an Avon sales call. I got to watch her hustle make up, and she was good at it. She dropped me off about 1 pm. I noticed on the flight from Harrisburg to Detroit, MI and then in the airport that being around so many people enclosed in their personal space is now alien to me. I am used to sharing space, conversating, and being close to people around me. I miss the trail already even as I go to see my wife. So now I¢m flying on the ever popular Saab propeller plane over Lake Michigan to TRI. The anticipation of seeing, hugging, and simply smelling her is enough to blank my mind of any other thought. I hope she¢ll recognize me!