morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-20
From: 2.5 miles past 501 Shelter

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: broken clouds

Happy Earth Day!I did 20 miles by 2 p.m. today. Of course it helped that I hiked about 8 miles on a gravel road instead of following the rocky trail that paralleled it.I was trying to hurry to make it to Cabellas before it closed. I made it there with about 5 hours to spare. Cabellas is about a mile south of Port Clinton. I walked a new railroad bed trail to get to it and ran into a bunch of AMC hikers on the trail. (I was hiking at close to a normal thru-hiker pace and they caught up to me so I was thinking what the hell until they told me who they were.) One of them said there was still 90 inches of snow in places in the Whites, which seemed astronomically high to me. They wondered how bad the snow conditions would be for Trek, who has to be getting close to there by now.I got iso/butane fuel at Cabellas and new trekking poles for Stride (there were only two pairs of Lekis left). The place was a zoo and I got back out of there as soon as I could. I wore my pack around the store and got lots of weird looks, but the only guy to talk to me was the guy who keeps a register at Dan's Pulpit, about a day north on the trail.I caught a ride back toward Pt. Clinton, but my poor driver was completely confused by my wanting to get back out where the railroad trail crosses under the road south of town instead of going all the way back to Port Clinton.There is a free pavilion back at Port Clinton that hikers can stay at. Flameboy arrived around 6 p.m. and Vagus and Stride came in about 30 minutes later.We paid $5 for showers at the Port Clinton hotel. I also ate a salad and had four beers (Yuengling Lager). The showers were warm with occasional shocking bursts of cold water. The stall was yellowing and the door didn't close, but the shower still felt good.I saw two turkeys on the trail today. It is turkey hunting season in Pa. But I didn't see any hunters.Skit's bits:* Conversation overheard from three older gentleman on the other side of the bar"The hikers will be coming soon.""There's three of them over there right now.""They started in February.""Whoah."* Program listened to on NPR: A bit about one of the first men involved in cryogenics and how he froze four people in one canister and how they accidentally got unfrozen when he was on vacation and how no one knows where those bodies are right now.* Animal kept as a pet in a garage/enclosure in Port Clinton: An albino deer.* Bad newspaper headline: Officer kills man with baseball bat.(The officer shot the man, who was wielding a baseball bat.)* Date Vagus and Stride began hiking together: Valentine's Day.* Day I began hiking with Vagus and Stride: April 1. Vagus: We met on Valentine's Day and then this Joker came along.* * *This day in bad trail poetry (inspired by NPR):This is to Let You KnowIt was me that put that video up on YouTube,I know you find it tasteless and embarrassing,but forgive me, it was too hilarious not to shareYes, your butt looks too big in those jeans,sorry, but you asked
Date: 2008-04-21
From: Port Clinton

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

We had a relaxing, enjoyable day on the trail today once we finally got out of town.The highlight of the day was the Pinnacle. The view was nice of the farmland a thousand feet below, but the exciting part was climbing around in the crevasse cave that went 20-25 feet beneath the surface and maybe 40 feet in from its side entrance. We also enjoyed watching dozens of vultures zipping around on the air currents.It is nice that Port Clinton has a pavilion for hikers to stay at, but the heavy traffic all night just feet away on highway 61 made it tough to sleep. We slept in and then went out to eat breakfast. We straggled into the post office where we each had drop boxes, including a 20-pound box for Stride. My box came with brownies baked by my mom and youngest niece, Brooke, and notes from Brooke and Ashley.Peggy at the post office was extremely friendly and helpful and offered us brownies that Flameboy had left earlier in the day.We met the Brotherlode (older brothers section hiking the trail) and Bluejay (hiking south in a skirt).We had been warned us that Mick at the Eckville shelter could be a bit ornery. Arriving at Eckville we found Mick to be cordial, just a bit awkward in his social graces. He offered us soda and chips and brief conversation before disappearing back into the house (He's the caretaker of a shelter in his backyard).The gnats and flies are starting to get a little bothersome on the trail.* * *Skit's bits:* The waitress at the 3cs guessed most of a regular customer's order correctly prompting the following exchange: "I was close" "Yeah, you were about 2 feet away."* The register at the restaurant went back to '01. So I looked at names I knew from '04 like Wicked Lobster, Pop-Up and Coyote. When I mentioned Officer Taco, Stride said, "That sounds like a pink blazer."* Vagus didn't get it and kept repeating Officer Taco, Off-I-Cer Taco as Stride and I laughed uproariously.* Distance we hiked today: 15.2 miles* Straight-line distance we are from where we stayed last night: 4.8 miles.* We are all hiking with Leki poles now, prompting Vagus to say, "We are one Leki family. We are Leki to have each other."* Weight of our food packs when we left the post office for 3 1/2 days of hiking: Stride, 13.7 pounds Vagus, 8.10 pounds Me, 6.4 pounds* Notes from my nieces:Hi Richard. How are you? From: Ashley. To: Richard. Rich we made a snowman with a snowdog. and colored them with water spray. Love, Ashley Golly (note has drawing of a colored snowman and snowdog).Hi, Richie, I liked talking to you on the phone. I helped grandma bake the brownies. Love, Brooke Golly. (with lots of hearts, stars and smiley faces).* * *This day in really bad trail poetry:Every interaction tells something about you,even if it only lasts for a second or two,You might be ornery, funny, or mad,happy, excited, or sador your body language could just be bad,every interaction tells something about you,and everyone just happens to be true.
Date: 2008-04-22
From: Eckville Shelter

To: George W. Outerridge Shelter
Miles today: 24.2
Weather: scattered clouds

It was a rocky trail today going over Dan's Pulpit, Balance Rocks, the Knife Edge, Bear Rocks and Bake Oven Knob. The rocks slow you down and hurt your feet, but in some places the scrambling is rather fun.I saw two 5-foot long black snakes today. One on the ground with a wide girth and one that Vagus spotted climbing a tree. Black snakes are friends of hikers. They eat shelter mice, scare away poisonous snakes, give backrubs and remove sharp rocks from the trail.I took a scenic alternate blue blaze near the end of the day that brought me along the cliffs above Palmerton and Lehigh Gap. The area is an EPA superfund cleanup site since the pollution from the Zinc-smelting plant nearby wiped out all the vegetation on the hills. It is experiencing a fairly successful comeback, but still looks like it belongs in the arid west rather than PA.* * *Skit's bits:* Things I picked up off the trail today: A black Jack Daniels bandana (Jeremy, a SOBO hiker, lost it. I might try to get it back to him somehow), an empty box of Skittles gum (can't have Skittles trash lying around) and an empty Gatorade bottle (I was missing a bottle).* * *This day in bad trail poetry:Pennsylvania Rocks!Sharp and jagged, large and small,this state has them all.Zinc devastated Lehigh Gap in the 19th century,Then Zinc moved on to pulverize cheeseburgers at the Doyle in 2004.
Date: 2008-04-23
From: George W. Outerridge Shelter

To: Wind Gap
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: broken clouds

We took what may have been an expensive cab ride today, just to get to a place less than a mile from the trail.At Wind Gap we decided to try to get into town where there was supposed to be a movie theater. We filled our water bottles at a hotel at the gap and saw a number for a taxi company and instead of hitching or walking we called for a cab.It took probably a half hour for the cab to arrive and then we drove around town looking for the theater (there was one that was closed, but we never saw one that was open) so after a few miles of driving in circles we got dropped off at a pub.We ate dinner and had a few beers there then, this time, opted to walk back up to the trail.One problem. When I went to grab my pack I noticed my trekking poles were missing. I had, most likely, left them in the cab.Vagus' cell phone battery had just died so we didn't have the number to call the company back. I decided to hike a day and call from Delaware Water Gap where Vagus could recharge his phone.The poles are Leki Makula ones that I used on the PCT and CDT. They are old and probably would need to be replaced sooner or later, but they still worked so it would be nice to get them back.An annoying whip-poor-will woke us up early with its unending repetitive cry. We were on trail at 7:15 a.m. getting to Lehigh Gap before the sun had a chance to warm the rocks.The scrambling up the rocks on Lehigh Gap is reminiscent on a small scale of hiking out West. The Zinc-smelting plant in Palmerton killed the grass and the trees leaving a dry, barren landscape that feels out of place, but interesting.Stride loved the climb and afterward kept exalting on how she loved her life. It's awesome to hear someone say that.We ran into a man hiking from Delaware Water Gap to Lehigh Gap who warned us that the rocks were bad ahead. : )* * *Skit's bits:* Cost of our cab ride that ended up a mile from the trail: $12* Probable cost of replacing Leki's: Around $90.* Cost of eating dinner at the pub (and 3 beers): $20.* Money spent at convenience store: $8* Total possible cost of 2-hour trip 1-mile into town: $122* Amount of money I have budgeted per month of thru hiking: $650* * *This day in really bad trail poetry:The vulture swoops low,taking a close look, does heknow something I don't?
Date: 2008-04-24
From: Wind Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I used a stick for a hiking pole today. It actually worked fine and I only used one, instead of two poles. If I have to replace my poles I might just get one (a wood staff might be kind of cool, but a pole is more efficient -- weight and size-wise -- can collapse for hitchhiking and I need it adjustable for setting up my tarp).When we got to DWG I called the cab company, but the guy said no trekking poles had been turned in. He laughed when I told him what I was missing, having never heard of trekking poles, but when I explained what they were was positive nothing like them had been found and the cabs were supposedly cleaned out every night. I gave him Vagus' cell phone number to call back. I'll check back in tomorrow before we go to the outfitter.We're staying at the Presbyterian church hostel tonight and plan on a zero tomorrow. Flameboy and Stick are also here. Stick is hiking from Harpers Ferry until early June in preparation for his CDT hike which he is starting June 25 (10 days after Recess, Five-Leaf and I start). Stick said snow conditions in Montana are 170-percent above normal so we might have some snowy passes to work through.There isn't a phone at the hostel, but Vagus let me use his cell phone to call people after 9 p.m. so I called friends and family for about 90 minutes since I had not called anyone in a while.Tomorrow, Desperado, a trail angel friend from New Jersey is coming over to meet us.* * *Skit's bits:* Number of clean-smelling day hikers we saw: 4 (the odor of clean clothes and deodorant/perfume was strong to us stinky thru hikers.)* Number of drinks had during dinner at the DWG cafe: 5.5 (3.5 rootbeers and 2 water).* * *This day in really bad trail poetry:Please hurry little leaves,unfurling at branches end,for the sun is out and hot,and I'm ready for the green tunnel to begin.
Date: 2008-04-25
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

ZERO DAY at Delaware Water Gap!New Jersey trail angel Desperado drove down to meet us today to deliver some trail magic in the form of buying us breakfast and driving us to the laundromat, outfitter and Wal-Mart in Stroudsburg.Thank you Desperado!I bought a hiking skirt (kilt if I want to sound more manly) today. I think I'll like it, but I still have to wear sliders underneath to prevent my huge thighs from rubbing together and chafing. I also temporarily bought Black Diamond hiking poles (the cab company never located the ones I lost). I returned the poles, though, as they were making an annoying clicking sound at every tap. So for now I'll still be hiking with a stick.* * *Skit's bits:* Number of years Desperado has done trail magic in New Jersey: More than 30.* Number of thru-hikers he met his first year: 4 or 5.* Things Desperado did for hikers I knew in 2004: Drove one to an outfitter to help her get resupplied out of her 60-pound pack, drove another to a doctor and then a hostel after he had injured his knee.* Furthest Desperado has driven to help a hiker: He drove one from Maine to Georgia when the hiker's father had a heart attack.* Last time I spent two nights in a row at the same place: Wildcat's home in Maryville when I took a zero from the trail at Fontana Lake.* * *This day in really bad trail poetry:New songs fill the brush each morning,flowers poke their heads into the sun,from the edge of winter's icy grip,to the cusp of spring we've come
Date: 2008-04-26
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: broken clouds

We did almost 25 miles in 10 hours today. I guess the zero day helped.Early in the day we flew past a bunch of dayhikers -- probably 20 or more -- headed to Sunfish Lake, the first glacial pond the AT passes. We went past a few small ponds today, which was cool since there hasn't been much for lakes and ponds near the trail.It was mostly easy hiking today with a few hills and lots of flats. We ran into Freebird and Coldfeet who are hiking somewhat together. We also met Mailman and a friend, who told us they had met Torchy Flambeaux yesterday at Culver's Gap, so somehow she is in front of us again.There were eight people at the tiny Brinks Road shelter when we arrived, but fortunately they were all courteous weekend hikers who were camping out.Saw a porcupine -- and watched him climb to the tippy top of a tree -- and also saw a large newt in a spring.* * *Skit's bits:* Question a little girl from a camp group asked Stride when she found out Stride had been on the trail 3 months: "Are you setting a world record?"* Stuff found in the Brinks Road shelter area: Sleeping bag, hat, flannel shirt, food - including bagels and pitas, porcelin pot, other dishes.* Distance between the last shelter in PA and the Brinks Road Shelter: 31.4 miles* Total distance between Brinks Road and the next 5 shelters: 24.9 miles* * *This day in really bad trail poetry:Everyone complains about the rocks in PA,but they're just as bad in New Jersey, I'd sayThe glaciers may have left them a little more round,but every inch of the path they continue to abound,I'm afraid that the trail might this way remain,until the summit of Katahdin way up there in Maine
Date: 2008-04-27
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: Secret Shelter
Miles today: 24.9

The band might be breaking up, but hopefully it will only be for a day or two and the reunion tour will continue on to Vermont.Vagus is living up to his name and wandered on ahead of Stride and I today. We got to the shelter we were planning on staying at and he was not there and there wasn't a note. If we catch up to Vagus in the next few days I might move ahead or fall behind to give Stride and him some time together.Stride and I had breakfast with Desperado at Culvers Gap in the morning as he met us at the road crossing a little after 8 p.m. He also is planning on seeing us in Vernon tomorrow night.We hiked mainly along a ridge with views to the east over New Jersey and to the west over Pennsylvania. You can usually see houses, lakes, telephone lines and roads from the ridge, but the walk still has a peaceful country feel to it. I did a side hike up to the New Jersey high point which is marked with a monument that looks like a small version of the Washington Monument.The shelter we are staying in tonight used to be more of a secret than I think it is now. It is a tiny cabin with running water, a warm shower, heat and electricity that is owned by Jim Murray a former through hiker.* * *Skit's bits:* Questions asked by Ron, a dayhiker from Manhattan we met who seemed fascinated by a thru hike and oblivious to what it entailed:What do you do for food and money?Do you carry an ATM card?How often do you stay in hostels?Are you worried about getting robbed?Are you ever scared?Do you have sex on the trail?Well maybe not right on the trail, but in the shelters?* * *This day in really bad trail poetry:Bears are everywhere in New Jersey they say,one per square mile is how they like to play,I hear geese in the air, a warbler, and a little chickadee,spy a porcupine, a black snake, and even a donkey or three,but the Garden State has no bears as far as I can see
Date: 2008-04-28
From: Secret Shelter

To: Vernon hostel
Miles today: 13.6

We awoke to a cold rain that had begun falling during the night. Stride and I were drenched and cold by the time we arrived in Vernon, which made the latest trail magic from Desperado especially appreciated.Desperado got us guest passes to a mineral springs spa where Stride, Vagus and I soaked in the hot tub, sat in the steam room, swam in the pool, sat in the sauna, and played ping pong for more than two hours. It was heavenly.A fireman gave Stride and I a ride into Vernon and there we met Desperado, Vagus and Sulu (formerly Stick) on their way to the grocery store.Sulu I guess opted to spend the afternoon on his own while the rest of us ate lunch, went to the spa, ate at Dairy Queen, resupplied at the store then came back and watched TV.At lunch Vagus told us about Stealth and Dozer finding a man hanging in a shelter in New Jersey. Stealth saw the man first and yelled for Dozer. We actually had some off-color humor about what if you had nighthiked and slept in the shelter before seeing the guy, but the whole thought of seeing a man hanging in a shelter gives me a chill.We are all hiking out tomorrow, but I'm not sure how far we are all going and if Strittlagus is still a group or not, or if Sulu (who might be finishing his hike via the Long Trail, too) will be hiking with us.* * *Skit's bits:* Amount I weighed before spending 2 hours in the spa: 215 pounds* Amount I weighed after: Just over 213* Food I ate at the pizza joint: a chefs salad and 2 slices pizza.* Food I bought at the grocery store: orange juice, soy milk, oranges, grapes, bananas, dried plums, cereal, granola bars, chocolate bars, Carnation (I'm trying to eat healthier in towns and on the trail -- I still had 3 dinners and some snacks leftover from the last section)* * *This day in really bad trail poetry:Cold, wet, windy, muddypenetrating rain from the outside,warm, overheated perspiration, soaking from the inside,freezing, shaking,waiting for a ride to townwater bringing misery.warm steam, vapors penetrating,hot bubbles in a pleasant soaking tub,peaceful, restful, soothing,a leisurely swim in a pool,water bringing pleasure.
Date: 2008-04-29
From: Vernon hostel

To: near Little Dam Lake
Miles today: 24.2

Start spreading the news. We reached New York today.We enjoyed reaching the state so much we celebrated twice, accidentally celebrating at the State Line trail junction before coming to where the border crossing is marked on the trail.New York is famous for its short steep ups and downs and routed over every possible rock formation. It can be fun, slow hiking. It can also be frustrating.It is hard to do big-mile days, but still we managed 24 today. I'm not really positive why.We went over Prospect Rock, The Pinnacle, Cat Rocks (where there was a nest of vultures), and over several rocky climbs that you needed to use your hands to get up.We hiked a bit with Sulu, stopped to eat at a Creamery near the trail, yelled a lot on the high points, caught up to Vagus at night and set up camp at dark.Stride talked to Torchy Flambeau, who was getting of trail, but is thinking of coming back in the fall to hike more with her soon-to-be husband.* * *Skit's bits:* Stride's qutoe of the day: "That's not safe" - uttered when coming off a rock formation where we had to cross a smooth angled section of rock with a drop-off below it.* Temperature when we were going to bed: 33 degrees (it's cold!!).* No. miles hiked in 2004 by the night of April 29: about 8.5* No. miles hiked this year by the night of April 29: 1,366.5* Name of cow statue at creamery: Adora Bell.* Thing encouraged at the creamery: Cow tipping (I gave my change.)* Date I entered New York in 2004: August 14* Date I completed New York: Oct. 31 (I did a flip-flop hike, finishing in Bear Mtn. park and going to Times Square in New York 2 hours after I finished.)* * *This day in really bad trail poetry:The frogs are certainly vocal tonight,and I hope they are able to tuck in tight,for the temperature is dropping like lead,and those geese flying north overhead,may wish they were not going so fast,they could be still having fun in the sun, waiting for this cold spell to go past.
Date: 2008-04-30
From: near Little Dam Lake

To: Hemlock Spring Campsite
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My left knee was really hurting me today as we continued through the torturous, rocky up and down section of New York, featuring sections such as Agony Grind and the Lemon Squeeze.Climbing up the rocks is fun. Going down, not so much. Especially for my knee. I probably should've stopped earlier than I did today, but continued on to camp with Vagus and Stride (we haven't seen Sulu since this morning). I think not having trekking poles to take the weight off contributed to my knee pain.We passed the Arden Valley Road and Tiorati Circle around noon. That's where I finished my 2004 flip-flop hike and celebrated by jumping up and down with Roadster. Not exactly a monumental place to finish, but it was odd to walk by again.From West Mountain you could see the outline of New York City, looking almost mystical in its distant gray outline. I could've seen it again from Bear Mountain if I hadn't opted to take a side trail that cut out the climb and, more importantly, most of the descent.We met four women in the morning, who we had also seen section hiking in New Jersey. They commented on the water bottle I have attached to the front of my pack. I met 2 of the 4 women again by Bear Mountain as they were scouting out the next day's hike, they didn't recognize me until one noticed the water bottle again. Then they expressed amazement at how far we had come during the day.We also met Carl Hiassen, editor of the AT data book and I met a guy from New York City, who used to live in Poland where he had heard about the Appalachian Trail and now he does a 3-hour loop hike frequently, which involves the trail. He was filled with questions about the hike as we crossed West Mountain, me with my pack ("That's all you have?") and him carrying a carton of green tea in his hand. He said I looked like a professional hiker, which is how Stride and Vagus sometimes describe me to other people.We were a bit too late for the Bear Mountain Zoo (closes at 5 p.m.) unfortunately but walked across the majestic Bear Mountain bridge over the wide Hudson River and continued on a couple miles to camp after an exhausting, painful day.* * *Skit's bits:* Stride's quote of the day: "They want you to die." after looking down at a particularly sketchy section of trail.* Day we left Harpers Ferry: April 12* Miles we've hiked since then: 390 miles* Ave. miles we've done per day (including a zero in DWG) since Harpers: About 20.5* * *This day in really bad trail poetry:There is no trail in this state,just paint on rocks and trees,you hike straight up on slate,and straight down again on leaves,The agony grind is an apt name plate,as is the lemon squeeze,there is no avoiding your fate,it will bring you to your knees.