morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-20
From: Quarry Gap Shelters

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Catfish made the half-way point today and met the "Half-Gallon Challenge" with a carton of Moose Tracks ice cream. He finished it all! After watching him eat this past week, his mom had no doubts that he could polish off a half-gallon with no trouble! He and Hot Sauce were trying to decide where they would camp for the night when a group of Unitarian women came into the grocery store and offered them camping space at their site. The women were on a church retreat, and the hikers appreciated the place to camp. The ladies' hospitality continued the next morning when they cooked eggs, bacon, and pancakes for Catfish and Hot Sauce for breakfast! Catfish says he is really enjoying hiking in Pennsylvania--the people he's met have been very friendly,the weather has been cooler, and there are places along the way to grad a snack--a welcome change from hiker food. The rocks come later, though!
Date: 2008-06-22
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter

To: U.S. 11
Miles today: 11.9

Catfish and Hot Sauce got off the Trail early today, due to threatening thunderstorms. They went into town and got a motel room before the bad weather hit, so they were able to spend the night more comfortably than if they had gone on to a shelter. Hopefully, the storms will be gone by morning!
Date: 2008-06-23
From: U.S. 11

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Catfish made a lot of miles today on his way to Duncannon. About 2 miles before the town, he encountered the beginning of the rocks. He broke one of his hiking poles and the tip of it fell down in a deep crevice between the rocks. He was unable to find it, so he's hiking with just one pole right now. He spent the night at the Doyle Hotel--a structure that is more than 100 years old! He is planning to try to get the pole repaired tomorrow before he heads out
Date: 2008-06-24
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Pa. 225 Footbridge
Miles today: 8.5

Catfish left Duncannon without being able to get his pole fixed. The closest outfitter was too far away without spending the whole day getting there and back--and he would have had to find a ride. He trusts the duct tape to do the job until he gets it fixed! He left Duncannon this A.M. and met a former hiker and friends with trail magic at the Pa. 225 road crossing. They visited a while, then Catfish went back to Duncannon to eat supper and camp by the river with them. They dropped him off back at the Trail on Wednesday morning. He enjoyed his visit with a former hiker whom he hadn't seen in a while, and the change of pace from the routine!
Date: 2008-06-25
From: Pa. 225 Footbridge

To: A little way before Cold Spring Trail
Miles today: 17.0

Catfish got kind of a late start toady--his friends brought him back to the Trail at Pa. 225 in the morning, but it wasn't early! He made a lot of miles, though, and says the rocks weren't too bad in this stretch. He wasn't sure of the exact location where he camped on Wednesday night--he knew he wouldn't make it to a shelter and stopped when he found a little stream so he would have water. He spent the night in his hammock under the stars!
Date: 2008-06-27
From: William Penn Shelter

To: Black Swatara Shelter
Miles today: 14.7

Happy Birthday, Catfish! He celebrated his birthday on the Trail by stopping at the 501 shelter and ordering lunch from town (an Italian restaurant delivers to the shelter!) He ate Stromboli, salad, and a 2-liter Coke for lunch and visited with other hikers at the shelter for a while to let his lunch settle. He ended up hiking in a rainstorm in the afternoon, so was pretty soaked by the time he got to Black Swatara Shelter. In the humidity, wet clothes don't dry out very well, so it wasn't especially the ending he would have liked for his birthday. This is one he will certainly remember, though!
Date: 2008-06-29
From: Port Clinton City Park

To: Microtel Inn, Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Catfish took today to do laundry, sleep, eat, rest, and eat some more. He enjoys being where he can use his cell phone and catch up with friends, so he made some calls and even connected with some former hikers. Catfish hopes to hook up with Mzungu when he gets to Mzungu's hometown on up the Trail.
Date: 2008-06-30
From: Microtel Inn, Port Clinton, PA

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

The Eckville Shelter was a real treat--it is enclosed and has power. Pretty comfortable place as far as shelters are concerned. Catfish saw a timber rattlesnake along the Trail today--it was about 31/2 ft. long and had 8 rattles and a button. They watched it for a few minutes, then went around it. As they did, it just went off into the woods. The terrain was rocky at first, then they had a long stretch along something like a Forest Service road, so that was a welcome break! They got sprinkled on, but missed the real rain--they could see that it was raining all around them, but they missed the worst of it. So, a little bit of a break today--every day brings something different!
Date: 2008-07-02
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 7.7

A short hike today, so Catfish could enjoy the hospitality of the city of Palmerton by staying in the basement of their borough hall (like their old jail!) It was comfortable, with bunks and a shower. Today was day 100 of Catfish's "walk in the woods", marking 1,245.6 miles on the AT. He found ripe blueberries on lots of low bushes along the way, and enjoyed the snack of fresh blueberries as much as he did the pleasant weather and scenery.
Date: 2008-07-03
From: Palmerton, PA

To: Smith Gap Road
Miles today: 12.3

A former AT hiker friend of Catfish picked him up at the road crossing this afternoon and they went back to Duncannon for 4th of July festivities. They went to a movie in Harrisburg--something that Catfish hasn't done in a while, and contended with rain all night as they camped out. Catfish hiked the Palmerton EPA Superfund Site today, an area near Lehigh Gap where all the vegetation was destroyed by zinc smelting. Although some of the vegetation is beginning to come back, the area is rocky and the climb is steep. Catfish said the climb wasn't as bad as he thought it would be, and is looking forward to good food at the celebration in Duncannon!
Date: 2008-07-05
From: Smith Gap Road

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: light rain

Catfish had a good time in Duncannon--the Hiker Feed offered all kinds of good food and good company. His friend dropped him back on the Trail about 5:30 this afternoon. It had been pouring rain for a while, and he wasn't looking forward to hiking in the downpour, but the rain stopped shortly before they got to Smith Gap Road. He hiked only a few miles to get to the next shelter--he wants to make it to Delaware Water Gap tomorrow.
Date: 2008-07-06
From: Leroy A. Smith Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Catfish had breakfast in town with a couple from Clarksville (Mother Nature and Smokestack) and Stumpknocker. He enjoyed the ride to town, the company, and the breakfast! They left him back on the Trail after they ate and he hiked over 20 miles today. He had supper in town, and he was treated to a couple of beers by some of the locals. He is looking forward to putting Pennsylvania behind him tomorrow!
Date: 2008-07-07
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Mohican Outdoor Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was drizzly and humid. Catfish crossed into New Jersey this morning and is still encountering some rocky terrain. He resupplied in Delaware Water Gap--he was getting pretty low on supplies (although he has had a number of meals that weren't "trail food" recently!) He was amazed at the prices of things--don't know if the high cost is due to the economy or just the area he's in. Gas in Delaware Water Gap is $4.17 a gallon for unleaded--it's about a dime cheaper here. He met some Israeli hikers at the hostel last night and was most impressed with their fortitude--they started the Trail on April 25 (a month after Catfish started) and they are where he is. He enjoyed talking with the younger hiker and hearing about his experiences in the Israeli Army.
Date: 2008-07-08
From: Mohican Outdoor Shelter

To: Gren Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: clear sky

Although he is out of Pennsylvania, Catfish is discovering that New Jersey has it's share of rocky terrain! He hiked 20.1 miles today--the humidity is still bad and he's getting sprinkled on a lot, but not wet like he was last week. He saw a rattlesnake today that he found interesting because it was light in color--not like any he's seen before. He's enjoying the pretty views and sights along the way--just sorry he can't post any pictures right now. He'll look forward to sharing those later!
Date: 2008-07-09
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: Jim Murray property
Miles today: 18.3

Catfish hiked another long day today. He stopped at High Point State Park headquarters for water and a weather update because it looked like it might storm. One of the people there assumed Catfish had been caught in a storm because he was so wet! When he sits down, a puddle forms under him from the sweat dripping off of his clothes. He is pretty miserable--his feet are badly chafed from staying so wet in the heat. The Jim Murray cabin belongs to a former hiker, and he graciously allows thru-hikers to spend the night there. Catfish is looking forward to getting his boots off, having a shower, and doctoring his feet. He met his first true southbound thru-hiker on the Trail today!
Date: 2008-07-11
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Greenwood Lake, NY
Miles today: 6.5

Catfish now has 8 states behind him! He crossed into New York with a section of the Trail that was more like rock climbing than hiking. At one point, there was a ladder set up to climb because it was so steep! He could see the skyline of New York City at times. The mosquitoes are pretty vicious--he was being bitten through his clothes, but picked up some insect repellent that another kind hiker left at a shelter. He is spending the night in Greenwood Lake, and says it is a nice little town, but NO ONE takes credit cards and there is no place to do laundry in the whole town. He'll pick up his mail drop and head out again tomorrow--not really a place you would want to take a zero!
Date: 2008-07-12
From: Greenwood Lake, NY

To: N.Y.17A
Miles today: 3.4

What an interesting and fun experience Catfish has had the past few days! He was about to cross the interstate and saw a hotdog stand at the road crossing that he needed to check out. While there, he started talking with another customer--a man who had stopped for a snack as well. One of the real pleasures Catfish has enjoyed along the Trail has been the opportunity to meet and talk with people from other places. He likes sharing his hike with others, and learning about other people. He and this man talked for a while, and Catfish ended up joining his family for a boat trip down the Hudson and seeing Manhattan from the water. What an incredible experience for a Southern boy who has never been to New York! He was treated to an awesome boat ride, a nice meal, and lodging on the boat that night.      A memorable experience for Catfish to add to his collection of Trail highlights!
Date: 2008-07-13
From: N.Y.17A

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Catfish spent Sunday on the boat, resting his tired feet and relaxing. He visited with his hosts, and was so impressed by how friendly and helpful everyone was at the marina. He had thought to get back on the Trail today, but decided to enjoy this time. The Trail will still be there when he gets back to it!
Date: 2008-07-14
From: Stony Point Bay Marina

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

One more day of R and R for Catfish--the weather was terrible this morning, so Catfish stayed put and was thankful not to be hiking in the storm. He will spend the night with his host family and be on the Trail early tomorrow. He has made friends with some really wonderful people, and he and his mom thank Wayne and Cindy Corts for their hospitality and generosity! They have been an unexpected and greatly appreciated blessing on Catfish's journey!!
Date: 2008-07-15
From: N.Y.17A

To: Arden Valley Road--Lake Tiorati
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Catfish got back on the Trail rested and refreshed. His feet feel better than they have in a while. He said it was a gorgeous day for hiking. He had wanted to make a lot of miles today, due to taking a few days off, but had to stop a little sooner than planned since so much of the hike centers around available water sources. He spent the night at Lake Tiorati where he knew he could find water!
Date: 2008-07-16
From: Arden Valley Road--Lake Tiorati

To: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Catfish made a lot of miles today, as well as a pretty steep climb up to the top of a mountain called Anthony's Nose. It is about a half-mile off the Trail, but it is 900 feet above the river and offers great views of the Hudson Valley. His feet aren't feeling as good today--maybe they got too used to resting during Catfish's R and R, but he is experiencing the same kind of chafing he dealt with a week or so ago. The weather is just so hot and humid, he stays soaking wet almost from the time he starts hiking each day and he never dries out. He's quite disgusted that the climate seems more like Georgia! He'll really appreciate the cooler weather on up the Trail! He's staying on the grounds of a monastery at their picnic shelter tonight--another good water source AND the possibility of fast food delivery from town!!
Date: 2008-07-17
From: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: clear sky

Catfish hiked to the RPH Shelter where a friend (Two Beers) picked him up and they went into town to get some stuff to doctor his feet. He said they haven't felt this bad since early in VA when he was trying those new insoles that were such a disaster for him. He's spending the night in town tonight.
Date: 2008-07-18
From: RPH Shelter

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Catfish took a zero today--he wasn't really planning to, but he discovered last night that his cell phone would no longer recharge. He took advantage of having a ride to the phone store to get a new one and was most grateful that the phone died at a time he could do something about it. Two Beers delivered him back to the RPH Shelter this afternoon where he'll spend the night tonight. Thanks Two Beers--know you miss being on the Trail, but you have been a wonderful "trail angel" to Catfish!
Date: 2008-07-19
From: RPH Shelter

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Catfish reconnected at the RPH Shelter with the Israeli hikers who he had met in Pennsylvania. They have had some other family members join them to hike and have slowed their pace considerably! They had been into town for supplies, and invited Catfish to join them in preparing and sharing a type of Israeli pita bread (cooked over a fire) and coffee. Catfish really enjoyed the experience, and says the coffee is delicious! His feet are better with bandages and medicated powder, but the heat and humidity are still miserable. There are thunderstorms around, but they seem to only make conditions more humid.
Date: 2008-07-20
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter

To: Mt. Algo Lean-to
Miles today: 21.1

Catfish crossed into Connecticut today! He has 9 states behind him and 5 more to go. With his feet feeling better, he's trying to make some big mile days--he knows that he'll really slow down when he gets to New Hampshire--but he's still taking time to enjoy the hike and the people along the way. Today has been so humid that he could wring sweat out of every stitch of clothes he had on when he got to the lean-to. He is using his camp towel down the back of his shirt to try to soak up the moisture, but he had to stop and wring it out 8 times today. Just as he got in his hammock and hung the clothes up to dry, it started raining. The clothes didn't get wet from the rain, but they never dried out. He'll have to put on wet clothes before he even starts out in the morning. At least he has a mail drop to look forward to on Tuesday!
Date: 2008-07-21
From: Mt. Algo Lean-to

To: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 17.3

Catfish found today to be not quite as hot as it's been, but still really humid. He is drinking gallons of water (thank goodness for plenty of water sources right now!)but still feels dehydrated. Hopefully the weather will improve before long--the continued showers and storms keep the humidity so high. He has been able to hike the miles he wanted to today, and is looking forward to getting into Falls Village tomorrow for his mail drop and a chance to dry out--he's been wet for about 4 days now and is ready to be dry for a while!
Date: 2008-07-22
From: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to

To: Falls Village, CT
Miles today: 8.2

Falls Village turned out to be pretty much a ghost town--no restaurants open, no place to stay, no laundromat. Catfish spent last night with the mosquitoes--the most he's ever experienced at one time. The lean-to is right next to a swamp (thus the name), and not a great place to be spending the night in hot, damp weather. He was fine after he got in his hammock and killed the ones that came in with him, but he could hear them buzzing outside during the night. The Trail today took him to a view of a racetrack that Paul Newman has raced on, and he could hear the cars as they went around the track--that was different! He is camping in an old barn in Falls Village tonight--no place to hang his hammock. He says it's not a great barn, but it's shelter out of the rain!
Date: 2008-07-23
From: Falls Village, CT

To: Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: light rain

Two Beers once again came to Catfish's rescue and picked him up for pizza last night. She returned him to the barn to sleep, but another hiker who tented had a close encounter with a skunk--he woke up in the night to find a skunk in his tent dragging his left-over pizza outside! No arguments with the skunk--the hiker was just happy when it got the box outside and went on it's way. Catfish hiked today into Salisbury, a larger town than Falls Village, to find some place where he could dry out. He is staying in a rooming house owned by an 80-year-old lady, Maria McCabe, who seems to thrive on taking care of hikers. He'll get to do laundry, eat some decent food, and enjoy not being wet for a little while.
Date: 2008-07-24
From: Salisbury, CT

To: Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Catfish hated to take a zero today, but the weather forecast included high winds, severe thunderstorms, hail, and possible tornadoes. He woke up to steady rain, and even though it cleared up for a while, he decided the section he would be hiking would not be a lot of fun in bad weather. He stayed with Ms. McCabe again and she treated him to fresh vegetables for lunch--a real treat when things like corn and cucumbers aren't part of your regular diet! The extra day allowed his boots to dry out some more. The weather forecast is for much better weather tomorrow, and Catfish will get an early start in better hiking conditions.
Date: 2008-07-25
From: Salisbury, CT

To: The Hemlocks Lean-to, MA
Miles today: 13.4

The hike today offered great views and decent weather. Catfish climbed Mt. Everett, the second highest mountain on the AT in Massachusetts, which he said was a pretty rocky and steep climb. He also navigated Race Mountain--quite a climb with big drop-offs and not a place one would want to be in bad weather. He's glad he waited to tackle these today so he could enjoy the views and the hike. He has another state behind him--only 4 more to go!
Date: 2008-07-26
From: The Hemlocks Lean-to, MA

To: Mt. Wilcox South Lean-to
Miles today: 19.7

The climb got a little steeper today and Catfish was glad for the decent weather. He met Aggie and Forecast at the shelter last night and they managed to get into a town to a restaurant for lunch--an event that always seems to lift spirits! Catfish hiked almost 20 miles today--he's hoping the good weather holds for a while so he can put some more miles behind him while he enjoys the hike and the scenery.
Date: 2008-07-27
From: Mt. Wilcox South Lean-to

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: haze

There were horrible thunderstorms last night, but Catfish rode them out in his hammock. He got damp--not really wet, but don't know that anyone got a lot of sleep with the weather. He was eating breakfast this morning and discovered a chipmunk munching on some of his vitamins on the floor of the shelter (he leaves his backpack in the shelter at night to keep dry). It seems a mouse had invaded his backpack and helped himself to the vitamins! They are a natural supplement of dehydrated fruits and vegetables and they appealed to the critters in the shelter! Guess there'll be some healthy rodents at that lean-to. Today is cloudy and looks like rain again at any time. The good news is that it's a bit cooler than it has been--hope the bad weather holds off on the Trail today.
Date: 2008-07-28
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Washington Mtn Road--the Cookie Lady
Miles today: 11.0

The bad weather hit yesterday afternoon as Catfish climbed a mountain in pouring rain, hail, and darkness. It was raining so hard and so dark that he had a hard time seeing the Trail at times. He really didn't have any choice except to go on--there was no place to take shelter at that point on the Trail. Catfish passed the time by singing all the "rain" songs he knew and by praying that it would quit storming. He was happy to get to the shelter and dump the water out of his boots! He did enjoy blueberry pancakes this AM at the shelter before heading out. He was really looking forward to picking blueberries at the Cookie Lady's farm (one of his favorite fruits), and was SO disappointed that the hail had knocked most of the berries off of the bushes. He found enough to eat as he walked the field but would have loved to have gotten there before the storm--he said the berries were big, juicy, and delicious! He gives Massachusetts the award for "the muckiest Trail (5" of rain in the last week), having bridges where they don't need them, and no bridges where they do". Some really wet and muddy hiking today--hopefully his boots will dry out some in the sunshine that they are enjoying this afternoon.
Date: 2008-07-29
From: Washington Mtn Road--the Cookie Lady

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: few clouds

Catfish hiked into Dalton today to pick up a mail drop, do some laundry, and dry out AGAIN. He met Stumpknocker in town and had lunch with him and Mrs. Gorp (thanks for the treat, Stumpknocker!) Catfish had no big plans tonight, but Two Beers came up for the last time--too far for her to travel after this--and they went to a local buffet to eat. She brought him a bunch of stuff that he had given her the last visit that he didn't want to have to carry on the Trail(maps, old cell phone, etc.)so he could mail all of it home. Thank goodness for friends on the Trail!
Date: 2008-07-30
From: Dalton, MA

To: Mark Noepel Lean-to
Miles today: 13.7

Catfish just hiked today--up to some higher elevations and then down again--isn't that what's the Trail all about? He called when I was out in the afternoon and didn't call back in the evening--the cell phone service isn't as dependable as it was earlier. It will probably become more sporadic the farther he gets up the Trail now.
Date: 2008-07-31
From: Mark Noepel Lean-to

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: light rain

Catfish crossed into Vermont today, making a lot of miles and meeting up with Mike from Connecticut to pass the time with. They encountered a lot of muddy hiking, due to all the recent rain, but still put in a good day's hike. Catfish actually slept in the shelter tonight, rather than his hammock--lots of rain, cool temps, and no bugs in the shelter--better inside than out tonight!