morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-06-28
From: Econolodge; Pine Grove, PA

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: clear sky

Hiked 12:30-7:15. Just when I was getting comfortable with hitchhiking (as indicated in yesterday¢s treatise), I got totally rejected today! After standing on Route 443 from 7:30 to 9:30, I was getting nervous about losing the day. I decided to go proactive and walk all the way back. There were two choices -- Route 443, the way I hitchhiked in, a curvy, hilly eight or nine mile route -- or Interstate 81, a relatively flat and straight six or seven mile route. I chose the latter, although it left me with at least one mile of A.T. hiking at the end, just to get back to where I left off two days ago.On Interstate 81 I chose the safer northbound part, so I could see the vehicles before they zipped by me eight feet away. My other option was to go with the southbounders (traffic approaching behind me) and hope somebody would pick me up (thumbing being out of the question).To make a long story not quite as long, I found the A.T. in 2 1/2 hours and was back at 12:30 to where I left off two days ago -- a half-day lost (except for some good exercise).The 12.8 miles from there to here included one sizable ascent and lots of fairly flat walking, some of it very rocky. The only views were near the end -- beautiful ones of the Monroe Valley (Lancaster area, for you who have been here).Weather today was sunny and warm. Thirst is the dominant force for me in this weather, replacing hunger. Mountain Dews have replaced cheeseburgers as Number One in my affections.This shelter is totally enclosed (no mosquitoes) with a full-time caretaker. It even has toilet paper in the privy! It has six double-decker bunks, and it looks like we¢re going to fill nine of the 12 beds. Buffalo Bobby is here, as is the notorious gang of one girl and six guys (actually, down to three guys now) that I described in an uncomplimentary way a few days ago. We¢re near a road so have ordered pizza, wings, and Pepsi! Sorta makes up for a semi-bummer of a day.Note on hitchhiking: The ladies seldom hitchhike alone. They try to pair up with a man or another lady. If a man does get paired up with a lady, his chances of getting a ride improve immensely.As of this afternoon, I have less than 1000 miles to go!
Date: 2003-06-29
From: 501 Shelter

To: Port Clinton Hotel; Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked 6:00-8:15. Pennsylvania, you¢re no longer the Number One A.T. state in my heart. Those infamous rocks arrived today, and my feet paid a steep price.The only good news of the day was a huge dose of trail magic. The trail angels were from the Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club, which is responsible for maintaining this part of the A.T. Once a year they have a picnic for the hikers, and, as luck would have it, I happened to be passing at lunchtime. Hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, fresh fruit, fresh veggies, soft drinks, ice tea, lemonade -- fantastic!Remember that I lost half a day yesterday, and I wanted to make up those miles, mainly to be sure I catch my next mail drop (Delaware Water Gap, PA) before the long holiday weekend closes the post office. There was a shelter at 15.1 miles -- or I could really stretch and try to get here. My choice depended upon how I felt at 3:00 when I got to the shelter (good) and how difficult the trail is between the shelter and here. (The hiking prior to reaching the shelter was very rocky.)A section hiker whom I¢ll call Blowhard (not his real trail name) told me at the picnic that the trail was great. I had previously been told that it was the toughest stretch I¢d see. Blowhard sounded so knowledgeable that I went with his advice. Big mistake! The trail was by far the worst stretch I¢ve had so far. A real test of my fortitude. I neither cried nor swore, but I think my feet did both. (Blowhard also said I¢d see a stretch of trail in a couple of days that will make everything I¢ve seen in Pennsylvania so far seem like a cake walk; if he¢s right, I¢m in deep trouble.)This town has an outfitter, a B&B, a BMW motorcycle dealer, and this little hotel/tavern -- that¢s it. Not a soda machine, not a newspaper machine, no public phones, and absolutely no food available. My ¢supper¢ was a Pepsi from the bar. They stopped serving food at 8:00.This is the seventh trail town (the others were Hot Springs (NC), Damascus (VA), Pearisburg (VA), Harpers Ferry (WV), Boiling Springs (PA), and Duncannon (PA)), and every one has had a tough descent to get to it, this one being the toughest of all -- long and steep. I did the whole descent backwards. I didn¢t think my battered feet and knees could take a forward descent after the day they had.Of all the trail towns, only Pearisburg had all of the necessary (for me) conveniences -- regular motels (with in-room phone, TV, and bath), laundromat, supermarket, post office, and a good choice of restaurants. Harper¢s Ferry was great for historic reasons, and Boiling Springs was beautiful, but the other four left a lot to be desired. I think most hikers liked Hot Springs and Damascus, just because there were so many hikers there.One other nice thing today: The mountain laurel were everywhere -- lovely! I also saw my first Pennsylvania rhododendron -- and they were white -- unlike the pinkish ones I saw in Virginia.I¢m exhausted -- don¢t even want to think about what I may be facing tomorrow...
Date: 2003-06-30
From: Port Clinton Hotel; Port Clinton, PA

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked 7:15-4:15. Well, I needn¢t have worried about today¢s hike. Pretty routine -- not a huge quantity of rocks. It was a fairly strenuous day because of the ascents, but otherwise unremarkable. A couple of super views, especially from the Pinnacle, generally recognized as the most spectacular vista in Pennsylvania. Too bad my camera has been out of commission in this state.To give you an idea of wildlife on the A.T., here¢s what I¢ve seen so far:1 -- bear, rattlesnake, weasel, coyote2-5 -- turkeys6-10 -- other snakes, lizards11-25 -- toads, turtles, grouseMore than 25 -- deer, chipmunks, rabbits, squirrelsChipmunks are the most plentiful, especially in Pennsylvania.Except for the two overlooks, today, like most days, was pretty much woods hiking, which is getting pretty boring. Kind of dark and shadowy, even when the weather is good. To give you an idea of how boring, a highlight is when I cross under a power line, or, as happens frequently in Pennsylvania, over a pipeline. This means the trees have been cleared, and I get to walk in the sunlight on grass for a few seconds. There also may be flowers, and there¢s probably a good view. I like to take breaks in these clearings.As I was passing the Windsor Furnace site, I heard a familiar voice from behind, saying ¢Chimpy?¢ It was Deysman, a super nice young man from Maine (with Hollywood good looks, I might add). He¢s a fast hiker who went off and left me weeks ago, but has just now returned from a seven-day hiatus in Maine with his family and girlfriend. He enjoyed it very much, he said. He¢s not concerned at all with losing seven hiking days. My kind of kid!I passed the 1200-mile mark today.Tomorrow will probably be a real mental and physical test. It¢s the only section of the trail for which the guidebook says, ¢The footway is rocky all the way.¢ Uh-oh!This shelter is really different -- in back of a guy¢s house a quarter mile down the road from the A.T. Has a gravity shower and a fridge (pop, ice cream, candy bars). Cool!
Date: 2003-07-01
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Bake Oven Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: clear sky

Hiked 5:45-5:15. Up until about the 13th mile, I was saying ¢Where are all of those famous Pennsylvania rocks?¢ Then came a long, long, long stretch of serious and dangerous boulder climbing. If it had been wet, I really don¢t know how I would have handled it.The good news was the weather -- sunny and warm; also, some super views of the valleys. I wish I had photos of these southeast Pennsylvania valleys -- no description does it justice.I don¢t know what lies ahead regarding the rocks, but I can safely say this: The stories about Pennsylvania rocks are greatly exaggerated, at least until about the 180th of the 229 miles.Last night there were five guys in the Eckville Shelter, four of them in their 50¢s -- bad karma. Southbound section hiker K.C. (not his real trail name, but close) had a rare combination -- the profane vocabulary of the young and the know-it-all attitude of the ¢mature¢ male. When he started letting us all know how much he knew about backpacking, I could see Crip (not his real trail name, but close) rise to the challenge. Scavenger (not his real trail name, but close) and I, not being in the old guys¢ testosterone competition, just sat and listened to K.C. and Crip compete on: (a) backpacking knowledge and (b) money making ability due to heavy demand for their services when they return (K.C. in real estate appraising, Crip in industrial engineering). Why is it that guys my age look at all of these things as a challenge to their manhood?Tonight is my first attempt at camping since the mosquito fiasco of last week. Seems to be going well -- the water is far away, and I also sprayed myself with Repel (23 percent Deet). Maybe camping can be fun again after all.Only 44 miles to New Jersey. I never thought I¢d be this excited about getting to New Jersey.
Date: 2003-07-02
From: Bake Oven Shelter

To: Parkside Hotel; Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 7.5

Hiked 6:00-10:15. Another warm (mid-80¢s), sunny day, but, fortunately, I was done by mid-morning. This is because, due to the Friday holiday, I can¢t pick up my mail drop in Delaware Water Gap until Saturday morning anyway, so no advantage to going farther. Also, it gives me a chance for a half-day of rest in air-conditioned comfort.Not typical terrain today. Although it was rocky ridge walking, much of it was without large trees, so there was a continuous wonderful view of the Lehigh Valley.Lots of blueberries on the ridge. You could pick as many as you had the patience for. Yummy!The tarp worked fine last night. No mosquitoes at the campsite. I need to be careful where I camp. Talked to Gimp at length last night about thru-hiking. He, like many others, not me, expressed the opinion, ¢I don¢t much like the hiking, but I really like the hikers...it¢s the social aspect that keeps me going.¢There are a few, like me, who aren¢t much a part of the thru-hiking social scene, but for 95 percent, I¢d say, that is the highlight. I can¢t put my finger on it, but I can cite some factors that might play a part: (1) We don¢t know each other¢s real names -- or occupations -- or status, (b) it¢s a constantly changing group of friends as some go ahead and some drop behind, (c) it¢s a very unusual and difficult mission that we¢re on together, and (d) old and young are together a lot. I¢m sure a psychologist could make sense of all this, but I can¢t.I can tell you the toughest part for me, and it¢s probably no surprise. It¢s the physical exhaustion, especially now that it¢s hot. Just to force one¢s self to get out of bed (or out of sleeping bag or bunk) almost every morning, knowing there¢s an exhausting ordeal ahead, is very hard. I don¢t see how those no-zero-days guys do it. I¢m just not that tough.Second most difficult is the loneliness, which is worse for me because I don¢t make friends easily. I miss Rosie, the kids, and grandkids terribly -- and hope to make a weekend trip home soon.Still, it¢s a most interesting endeavor, as well as a great challenge. There are many milestones and rewards along the way that keep me walking.
Date: 2003-07-03
From: Parkside Hotel; Palmerton, PA

To: Leroy Smith Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked 6:00-7:30. Today¢s lesson, students, is on rocks. There are, generally speaking, three kinds of rock problems on the A.T:(1) Imbedded (in the ground) rocks. These often have a sharp edge or a point aimed upward in order to damage your toes, soles, and heels. The object is to avoid stepping on these, but that¢s often impossible to do. Walking on this terrain requires concentration and is, therefore, tiring, as well as painful. Always terrible.(2) Scree. This is loose rock, which moves when you step on it. Twists ankles and knees. Always bad. (3) Boulders. These bring walking to a standstill. You have to stop often to contemplate how you¢re going to get from one boulder to the next. This is more dangerous than painful, especially if the boulders are wet. Sometimes can be fun, though.There are mixtures of all kinds on the Appalachian Trail, but today¢s hike was a killer because of continuous imbedded rocks -- on and on and on -- tiring, aggravating, painful.The beginning of the day, though, involved some really scary boulder climbing -- up Blue Mountain from Lehigh Gap (Lehigh River). Picture the rockslide I described a few days ago, but on a very steep, say 70-degree, slope. Picture a half-mile climb up that slope, often using hands. Looking down was very scary -- I don¢t know what I would¢ve done if I had to descend that thing!Once at the top, though, it was three or four miles of level, very easy ridge walking -- through terrain like I¢ve never seen before. No big trees, some small trees -- mostly dead. Mountain top covered with scree. It looked like the area had been hit with an atomic bomb. Maybe it had something to do with strip mining (coal or zinc). Many of the mountains around here have been stripped.After that 3-4 mile stretch, the A.T. entered the woods for a long day of boring hiking. In addition to rocks and boring hiking, I had to use my Platypus to carry extra water (and weight), as there were no water sources on the trail. Not a good day -- but New Jersey is only 20 or so miles away.
Date: 2003-07-04
From: Leroy Smith Shelter

To: Church on the Mountain Hostel; Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Hiked 5:45-5:45. The objective today was to finish up Pennsylvania, which was a tall order. I¢ll pick up my mail drop in the morning, get organized, and cross the bridge into New Jersey.This morning¢s hiking was as bad as it gets -- hot (95 degrees), humid, constant imbedded rocks, no views, no water sources (so I was carrying extra water in my Platypus -- thank goodness for my Platypus). Luckily, about 1:00 the trail became good, and at 2:00 I reached a water source (spigot at a retreat center). Some great views of the Delaware River this afternoon.This town looks like it has some interesting tourist activities, but, unfortunately, only this hot, stinky, crowded hostel for accommodations. Therefore, my tired, aching body will have to wait for some nice New Jersey town for its day of rest. I did have a nice restaurant supper and will do likewise at breakfast in the morning.I composed my ¢Goodbye, Pennsylvania¢ poem in my head while hiking today; unfortunately, I¢m just too tired to recall it at the moment.I believe there¢s a big fireworks display in this town tonight, but I¢m too tired and sore to search out a vantage point. I just want to sleep, but won¢t be able to until these energetic young squirts are ready (we¢re all in one room -- old and young -- male and female).Sure wish I had a motel room, so I could watch the Wimbledon ladies final in the morning. I love to watch Venus Williams! Serena will probably win, but Venus is the most graceful looking player I¢ve ever seen.
Date: 2003-07-05
From: Church on the Mountain Hostel; Delaware Water Gap

To: Mohican Outdoor Center Hostel (NJ)
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked 10:45-4:45. Well, if I thought those rocks would disappear at the New Jersey border, I was wrong. Not nearly as bad as the last two or three days in Pennsylvania, though.Today was the hottest and most humid day yet. I still can¢t seem to quench my thirst, even though I had plenty of water along the way. Fortunately, it was a short mileage day, once I got my mail drop and got organized.The climb up Kittatinny Mountain was a hot one, but the views from up there were fantastic -- Delaware River on one side and lots of lakes on the other. The mountaintop was park-like -- grassy, with scattered trees. Very beautiful. Not like you picture New Jersey, I¢ll bet.This hostel is great -- three separate bunk rooms, sandwiches, three bathrooms -- and a lake with a small beach, which I took advantage of. All day I was dreaming of Mountain Dews and a swim -- I got both. Life is good!I know I¢ve run this subject into the ground, but three more examples of male machismo complex:(1) Crip (not his real trail name, but close) explains to me that even though he started 11 days before I did, the reason we¢re now at the same place is because he took 12 days off for a trip home.(2) Zeus (not his real trail name, but close) camps with me earlier this week. The next day, I arrive at a shelter for an afternoon break just before he does. He explains that he broke camp two hours after I did.(3) Crip arrives in Delaware Water Gap this morning (I arrived last night). He explains that he stayed up on the mountain last night to watch the fireworks.I know these guys are much faster and stronger than I am. Why do they need to keep reminding me?These are very nice guys. It just seems like this hike is a way to confirm their machismo. (If that was part of my motivation, which it may have been, it certainly backfired. I¢m not nearly as tough as I thought.)Rosie and I made tentative plans for me to fly home for a ¢furlough¢ the weekend of July 18-21, assuming that I¢ll be able to catch a train into New York (LaGuardia airport) about that time. Sure hope it works out. Can¢t wait to see her, the kids, and grandkids -- and to go to my home church once again.
Date: 2003-07-06
From: Mohican Outdoor Center Hostel (NJ)

To: Cobmin Ridge Motel; Branchville, NJ
Miles today: 17.9

Hiked 5:30-4:00. My feet are telling me this was nothing but a rocky day -- and it certainly was that -- but there were many great views, and neither the heat nor the humidity were as bad as yesterday¢s. Still, it was a grueling one, with lots of small ups and downs, along with those infernal rocks. This brings up the subject of Pennsylvania. Here¢s the truth about Pennsylvania, despite all of the wrong reports I¢ve gotten on the subject. Except for the last (northernmost) 50 miles, Pennsylvania is the nicest, easiest state so far. However, those last 50 miles are indeed the rockiest, most aggravating ones on the A.T. Why so many wrong descriptions? Mainly, I think, it¢s because it¢s the last 50 miles, so those are the ones hikers remember. Some hikers, on the other hand, say Pennsylvania is no problem and no worse than any other state. That could be because they haven¢t done it recently -- or because they¢re young and agile and not bothered by all those rocks.I have to tell you about the entertainment at the Mohican Outdoor Center last night. There were probably 25 hikers or so (only three thru-hikers, I think) in the hostel. Saturday night being music night in the main lodge, we were entertained by a quite good country music band. However, a couple of other hikers ¢ad-libbed¢ their talents -- a violinist who specialized in Scottish Highland music and a fabulous Russian lady pianist/singer. She didn¢t know English well, but her voice was incredible, and she sang Russian love songs with such emotion that we were all pretty much overwhelmed. Not at all what you¢d expect from a bunch of hikers, eh?I saw two beavers cavorting next to their lodge in the pond. Have you ever noticed that water mammals really seem to enjoy life? For example, whales, otters, beavers, dolphins (or is it porpoises that are mammals -- I can never remember).This is major bear country, and I heard one among the blueberries on the top of Rattlesnake Mountain, but it ran away before I could get a look at it. Blueberries are abundant and at their peak on the mountain tops.I¢m very tired and need a zero day, but there¢s no good town where I can take one for a while, as far as I can tell. I may have to take one without all of the usual conveniences -- television, air conditioning, restaurants, laundromat, etc.I passed the 1300-mile mark today.
Date: 2003-07-07
From: Cobmin Ridge Motel; branchville, NJ

To: Comfort Inn; Port Jervis, NY
Miles today: 14.3

Hiked 7:45-4:30. Hot humid, rocky, buggy, many ascents and descents. Any questions? No? Good!This was one of the most discouraging days ever. I was feeling so good about having the rocks of Pennsylvania behind me -- then I find that New Jersey (yesterday and today, at least) is just as bad -- or worse.Then there was the water situation. The Data Book shows a water source that didn¢t exist, so I was thirsty as well as tired, achy, and hot.The mosquitoes are especially bad, as you¢d expect, with all the rain. I use Deep Woods Off, which is 100 percent Deet -- very effective, but I sweat off two applications today because it was so hot. (I know there are issues with Deet, but I just can¢t take those mosquitoes.)High Point State Park was near the end of today¢s route, so all day long I was anticipating a swim and refreshments there. Wouldn¢t you know it -- as I was approaching the state park, it started to thunder! No swim, but at least things cooled off.I had already decided to come into Port Jervis for a zero day, which I needed badly. I got rained on quite a bit, which I enjoyed, before finally getting a ride -- and I probably walked two or three miles down the road before getting that ride. (I also got no ride from the motel this morning, so I had to walk two or three miles just to get to the trail. I think these mid-Atlantic people are more reluctant to pick up hitchhikers -- old men, at least.)There were several nice views today, as there have been all three days in New Jersey. I also saw a turkey and her brood of eight or ten children. (Trivia question: What do you call baby turkeys?)P.S. Although I¢m in New York now, the trail is still in New Jersey.P.P.S. Lest you think I¢m exaggerating the effect of those imbedded rocks, the soles of my feet were actually throbbing with pain last night -- woke me up several times. I expect tonight will be as bad or worse. This is why it¢s important to take a zero -- and hope that this rocky terrain will end soon!
Date: 2003-07-08
From: Comfort Inn; Port Jervis, NY

To: Comfort Inn; Port Jervis, NY
Miles today: 0.0

There¢s even a Ponderosa restaurant in this building! Does it get any better than that?!?!If you¢ve been following this trip, you know I¢ve stayed in a lot of motels. Let me tell ya¢ -- stick with the famous names if you have a choice. Most often, though, you won¢t have a choice because the A.T. doesn¢t often pass near cities of any size at all -- or near interstate/major highway intersections. I¢ve stayed in some real dumps because I go there sight unseen, and, by the time I arrive, usually don¢t have an alternative. From this point on, I¢ll opt for hostels (at 8-15 dollars per night, or often just a donation) if it¢s a choice between that and an unknown motel (35-50 dollars per night). I like my own phone, bath, and television, but the difference isn¢t worth it if the motel is a dump.It¢s official -- I¢m going home the weekend of July 18-21! The plan is for me to catch a train to Grand Central Station (New York City) from one of the little towns in New York or Connecticut, depending upon where I am at the time. Then I¢ll take the bus to LaGuardia and be home Friday evening. Back to New York Monday morning. A brief interlude of ¢real life¢ before heading into what is roughly the last third of the A.T.It¢s super hot and humid today, but is supposed to improve a lot tomorrow. This was a good day to take a zero. I was so tired that, after breakfast, I went back to bed and slept all morning.