morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-06-16
From: Filbert Bed and Breakfast, Danielsville, PA

To: New Jersey
Miles today: 12.7

Got a late start from Bake Oven Knob Shelter where I arrived late last night and tented. Around 12:30pm I arrived at Palmerton, PA and began the steep ascent out of Lehigh Gap. It was a rock scramble to the top (see photo left) but it was for me the best part of the trail in Pennsylvania because of the challenge of the climb and the views from the top. After the climb, I walked for 3.6 miles thru a zinc Superfund Site. From 1886 until 1980 there were zinc smelting plants in Palmerton,PA. In 1983, the Environmental Protection Agency assumed control of the cleanup of the polluted sites caused by the zinc smelting plants. Pollution from the zinc smelters had destroyed vegetation where I walked this afternoon on the ridge above Palmerton. Parts of the trail this afternoon went thru sparsely vegetated terrain. The trail however went through high grass and little yellow flowers. I guess the earth is beginning to heal itself. At 3:30 pm I made my way to Little Gap Road, Danielsville,PA where Kathy, owner of the Filbert Bed and Breakfast, Danielsville, PA, picked me up and took me to her Bed and Breakfast. It had been four days since I had showered so I decided it might be about time for a shower and to do some laundry. Kathy had an ice cold glass of lemonade waiting for me in her car when she picked me up. I am staying at the Bed and Breakfast with one other hiker, Mando (he carries a mandolin. Mando is a retired Engineer, lives in Asheville,NC, and plays in a Bluegrass Band). This evening Mando and I had Italian food delivered to the Bed and Breakfast. The Filbert Bed and Breakfast is in a massive old Victorian house attached to what used to be a General Store. The house has a lot of out buildings such as a smoke house, a kitchen house, and a beautiful old barn. Tomorrow morning, after pancakes, Kathy will drop me back where she picked me up today and it's on toward New Jersey. The end of Pennsylvania is within my sights. I expect to be sleeping in New Jersey on Wednesday night.
Date: 2014-06-17
From: Wind Gap, PA

To: New Jersey
Miles today: 15.4

If all goes well this will be my last post from Pennsylvania. No tears formed in my eyes when I typed that. My day started with a breakfast of pancakes at the Filbert Bed and Breakfast, Danielsville, PA where I stayed the night. At 8:30am, Kathy, owner of the Filbert, dropped me back off at Little Gap where I stopped walking yesterday. I walked 15.4 miles to Wind Gap,PA where the town motto is "A Gap In Time". Not real sure what the town motto means. I stopped in wind Gap mainly because I was near out of water and it was still a good ways to the next water source. I walked a mile down the highway to a Bar called The Beer Stein where it said in the AWOL Trail Guide that the owner allows hikers to camp for free in a field behind the bar (see photo left). I happened to hit 95 cent Tuesday hot dog night at The Stein. I set up my tent then went into the Bar and downed three hotdogs. I probably will regret not eating more of them tomorrow. There is a trailer behind the Bar where I can take shower and a 24 hour convenience store across the street where I can buy junk food whenever the urge hits me. The urge has already hit me a couple of times. It may be a little difficult to sleep with all this traffic and constant town noise but maybe it will die down a little later tonight. After so much time in the relative quiet while walking on the trail I sure notice how very noisy it is in town. I can't believe the Bar stays open until 3am. Also tenting along with me behind The Stein tonight are Lyons, Speedy G, Tigger, Texting, and Mayonnaise Pockets. Tomorrow the plan is to get up early, hit the 24 hour convenience store for a cup of coffee (how great is that), walk the mile up the highway back to the trail, walk 20 miles, and lay my head in New Jersey tomorrow night. I like the sound of being out of Pennsylvania.
Date: 2014-06-18
From: mile 1294.9 backpacker camp site

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Greetings from New Jersey. The only sign I found leaving Pennsylvania and entering New Jersey was one someone had done with a magic marker on the back of a road sign (see photo left). Jersey Boyz? In any event, around 5pm, I crossed the Delaware River Bridge from Delaware Gap,PA and entered New Jersey, my eighth state. My day began very early in Wind Gap, PA where I had tented in a field behind The Beer Stein Bar/Restaurant. I didn't sleep well behind the Beer Stein as result of all of the traffic noise. I got moving around 5am, packed up, hit the 24 hour convenience store across the street from the Beer Stein for "breakfast", walked a mile up hill out of town, and got back on the Appalachian Trail where it was much quieter. At around 3pm I made it into Delaware Water Gap. The Appalachian Trail goes right onto Main Street in Delaware Water Gap. Conveniently there is an ice cream shop at the corner where the Appalachian Trail intersects Main Street which of course meant a large chocolate milkshake as my first order of business. I visited an outfitter store where I saw 50/50 who was spending the night in town. Next, I went to the Village Farmer and Bakery where I went all American and had their 7 days a week $2.49 daily special: hot dog and slice of apple pie. What a great bakery. I picked up some cookies to take with me, and headed out of town, across the Delaware River and back into the woods on the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey. The rocks are unaware they were suppose to stop at the Pennsylvania border. I am camped at a backpacker camp site for the night at mile 1294.9. I will go over 1,300 miles tomorrow. My winding journey continues on to day 97 tomorrow.
Date: 2014-06-19
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: New York
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 97 was a recuperate, relax, and re-plan day. It rained most of the night but I slept well in my dry tent. A rainy night meant packing up wet gear this morning but it didn't matter because I knew I wasn't going to walk far today. My walk began this morning skirting the shoreline of a pretty little 41 acre glacial pond called Sunfish Pond. A sign by the pond said that Sunfish Pond is one of the seven natural wonders of New Jersey. The sign also said that due to the acidic nature of the water in the pond only a few hardy species of fish such as Pumpkinskin Sunfish and Yellow Perch can survive in the pond. After a short 5.5 mile walk I arrived at the Mohican Outdoor Center which is operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). I am going to encounter more AMC run lodges and huts as I progress further north and particularly in the White Mountains in New Hampshire. I stopped at the Mohican Outdoor Center because I had ordered a new pair of boots online and had the boots mail dropped to the Outdoor Center. Hopefully this pair of boots will see me through to the end. I was sad when I tossed my old boots in the dumpster today. I had hiked over 850 miles or more in my old boots. They had never given me a blister, never hurt my feet, and had provided me with good support. I took a picture of my old boots on top of the Dumpster before I said farewell to them (see photo left). So, I hand washed my dirty clothes, hung them out to dry, took a shower, and took a long nap this afternoon. I ate a lunch of homemade black bean soup and a toasted egg salad sandwich over at the Outdoor Center. I spent part of the afternoon planning my next few days. I am fed, rested, somewhat clean, somewhat re-organized, and I am now ready to see the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey. Only one other hiker named Genesis is staying in the bunkhouse cabin where I am staying. I know that there are black bear here in southern New Jersey because this afternoon, while I was sitting on the porch of the cabin where I am staying, a black bear walked slowly thru the woods about 100 feet from the porch.
Date: 2014-06-20
From: mile 1322.4

To: Greenwood,NY
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: light rain

Word of the day: great weather. The morning was cool and there was a pleasant breeze blowing all day. The views of New Jersey were excellent from the ridge tops that I walked today. The last couple of days I had not seen many thru hikers. Today I saw lots of thru hikers. Today I saw Solo, Dirty Harry (British), Bug Bear (British), Wrong Leg (British), Half Moon, Impact, and Rosie. A lot of people are trying to get to Greenwood, NY by Sunday to watch the USA soccer team on television in the World Cup. Two thru hikers are getting married tomorrow here in New Jersey on the Appalachian Trail at Sunset Mountain. Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice and for thru hikers it is traditionally designated as hike naked day on the Appalachian Trail. I will pass on the hike naked tradition but since tomorrow is the longest day of the year I am going to try and hike my farthest distance in a day. I am tenting alongside the trail alone. Since I hope to hike from daylight until dark tomorrow I am signing off and going to sleep.
Date: 2014-06-21
From: the Murray Property

To: New York
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

Well, I didn't hike my longest mileage day today on the Summer Solstice and I didn't see anyone hiking naked. Just goes to show you that when you don't have a plan then things don't go according to plan. I did get up and get an early start as planned. It was another cool to almost cold morning. Maybe this is what they call Blackberry Winter back in Tennessee where I grew up. I like the cool weather because it slows down the Mosquitos. I was walking along at a pretty good pace all day mentally geared up to walk until dark when I came to a gravel road where nailed to a tree was a small sign that said "Well Water 100 Yards" with an arrow pointing up the gravel road. I walked the 100 yards and came to the Murray Property. The Murray Property indeed has a well water spigot. The property also has an unlocked cabin with electricity, another cabin with an outdoor shower attached to the cabin which actually has hot water, and there is a privy (depending upon where you are from you may call it an outhouse). The grounds had been recently mown and there are several black walnut trees and mulberry trees scattered around the field providing shade. The late afternoon was just so pleasant and the property is just too beautiful, too quiet, and too peaceful to not stop and enjoy. So stop I did. At around 3:30pm I pulled off the Appalachian Trail highway and pitched my tent under one of the walnut trees. I spent the rest of the afternoon goofing off and didn't feel the least but guilty. It actually felt pretty good. The rest of the day was spent sitting on the cabin porch eating food from my food bag, drinking hot chocolate, and eating ripe mulberries I picked off of the mulberry trees in the field (see photo left). I wonder how long it takes to grow mulberry trees this big. They sure are pretty and the berries are so sweet. I am tenting alone at the Murray Property watching a deer graze under a mulberry tree. I really don't know why more hikers didn't walk up the road to this property? I am looking forward to stopping in Unionville, NJ early tomorrow morning for breakfast and to resupply my food bag a little. I can't wait to get back at it tomorrow to see what day 100 has in store for me but first a good nights rest.
Date: 2014-06-22
From: Meadow Lark Farm Bed and Breakfast, Warwick, NY

To: New York
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Still cool at night. At around 3am I got out of my tent and noticed that I could see my breath. My morning began with a 2 mile walk into Unionville, NJ to Horlers General Store (photo left) and a step back in time. General Stores are almost extinct. They've been killed off by "convenience stores". The lady running the cash register seemed to know everyone who came in by name. There were boxes of fresh baked pastries, bagels, and breads. People were coming in steadily to get their Sunday newspaper, a pastry, and a cup of coffee. I ordered a sausage and egg sandwich on a fresh hard roll, got a cup of coffee, went outside, sat out on the front porch, and watched Unionville wake up on a Summer Sunday morning. Great way to start my day. I reloaded my food bag with among other things a couple of huge honeybuns and a bologna sandwich to eat for lunch, and walked back to the trail with a backpack that weighed too much. Today was a pleasant walk thru beautiful New Jersey countryside. On Sundays, when the weather is good, no matter where I am, I see lots of families, groups, and couples out taking walks. Today I saw members of some group who all had cameras and they were out together in the grass beside the trail looking at butterflies. I walked around a large wetland grasslands called the Wallkill Reserve. Next I made a climb up Pochuck mountain. In the afternoon I walked .8 of a mile on a boardwalk built over swamp land. Lots of people were enjoying this boardwalk walk in bright sunshine. Late in the afternoon I made a 936 foot elevation gain almost straight up Wawayanda Mountain. Although I have made many climbs since leaving Georgia, I had to take several breaks while making this climb. After 19 miles of walking I called it quits and called the owner of the Meadow Lark Farm Bed and Breakfast, Warwick, NY, an English lady named Dorothy, who picked me where the trail comes out onto the Warwick turnpike. I am spending the night at the Bed and Breakfast. She will take me back to the trail in the morning. I stopped walking just 3 miles short of the New Jersey/New York border. Tomorrow morning I enter my ninth state, New York.
Date: 2014-06-23
From: Firzgerald Falls

To: Graymore Spiritual Life Center
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I am in an Empire State of mind because I'm in "New York, New York, New York". The day started with an English Breakfast, minus the beans and mushrooms, at the Meadow Lark Bed and Breakfast, Warwick,NY prepared by Dorothy who is British and who owns the Meadow Lark Bed and Breakfast. After breakfast, Dorothy dropped me back off where the trail crosses the Warwick Turnpike, which is where I stopped walking yesterday. At around 10am, I crossed from New Jersey into New York. This is my ninth state. Next was a rock scramble up and down Prospect Rock, highest point on the Appalachian Trail in Mew York, which at one point involved climbing a ladder to get to the top of a large boulder. I next set my sights on getting to HWY 17A in Greenwood Lake, NY where there is a hotdog stand near where the trail crosses HWY 17A. I got to the hot dog stand only to find it is closed on Mondays. All was not lost. Up the HWY a quarter of mile is the Bellvale Farms Creamery. I had a strawberry milkshake followed by a chocolate milkshake. No Problem. Yes, that's two milkshakes taken down in short order. It was a warm day. It appears that I am currently in the World Cup Soccer thru hiker bubble. Tonight I am tenting with Winginit, Dirty Harry, Bear Bug, Mondo,JoHawk,Murphy,Martial Arts, and two or three other thru hikers. Everyone is headed Wednesday night to the Graymore Spiritual Life Center, a Franciscan Monastery which allows thru hikers to tent on the monastery ball field. The plan is for a group of thru hikers to go to the Stadium Sports Bar in Peekskill,NY at noon on Thursday to watch the United States soccer team play Germany in the World Cup. I believe that I am going to join the thru hiker World Cup Soccer bubble and be in Peekskill,NY at noon on Thursday to join with my fellow hiker friends in watching the game. What a great life this is.
Date: 2014-06-24
From: West Mountain Shelter area

To: Graymore Spiritual Life Center
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: light rain

Tough day at the office. Not much to report and too tired to report it. 20.9 miles of up and down Southern New York trail. Seemed like every up was a straight up rock scramble. Along the way the trail went between a narrow crack between two large rocks. Some one "cleaver" thought it would be cute to call the narrow crack the "Lemmon Squeezer". I took the hard trail and not the easy one. The day was clear enough that I caught some skyline views of New York City. Tenting alone atop West Mountain. That's all I've got.
Date: 2014-06-25
From: Graymore Spiritual Life Center

To: Pawling,NY
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: light rain

I went over the 1,400 mile mark early this afternoon when I walked the Bear Mountain Bridge across the Hudson River. By 6:30am I was packed and walking. At 8am I hit the vending machines at the Bear Mountain Perkins Memorial Tower. At the foot of Bear Mountain the trail passes thru the Hessian Lake Zoo. I waited until 10am when the gate to the zoo is opened then I walked the trail thru the zoo. Early afternoon the trail came out onto US HWY 9/NY HWY 403 where the Appalachian Deli is located. They know how to do a deli in New York. Delicious deli Turkey Club on a hard roll and a liter of cold Ginger Ale. Great stop. I packed out a Bologna sandwich for Supper. After the deli it was a short walk to the Graymoor Spiritual Arts Center, Franciscan Monastery ball field where I am tenting for the night. When I first got to the ball field Toast, Big Spoon, Impact, and a couple of other hikers were in the pavilion. My tent was the first tent to go up in the field. I did laundry by hand and put my laundry out in the sun to dry. I then took a shower in the ball field shower in water so cold that it let you know you are alive. You don't linger in the shower at the Graymoor. The cold shower knocked the dirt and sweat off and felt great on a warm Summer day. By night there must have been 20 or more thru hikers either tenting in the field or sleeping in the Pavillion. It was good to see Chops, Impact, Solo, Zachsquatch, JoHawk, 50/50, Mombo,Martial Arts, Bones, Murphy, etc. etc. I met a thru hiker at the ball field for the first time today named Outback. He is 57 years old, raised in Ireland, and now living in Chicago. It is rare at this point along the trail to run into a thru hiker nearing my age (he is 6 years younger than me). The number of thru hikers in their 60s has probably dwindled by this date and location. Several of us are walking the 8 tenths of a mile into Peerskill, NY tomorrow at noon to watch the US Soccer team on television play Germany in the World Cup. After the game I am moving on in the afternoon.
Date: 2014-06-26
From: Denny Town Road

To: Pawling,NY
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: broken clouds

Day 104: Today centered around watching the United States Soccer team play on television against Germany in the World Cup Soccer tournament in Brazil. In the morning everyone hung around the Graymoor Spiritual Arts Center Franciscan Monastery ball field drying things out after last night's heavy rainstorm. By 11:30am 19 thru hikers (see group photo to the left) made their way down to The Stadium Sports Bar, Peerskill ,NY to watch the game. There was good food and a good time. At around 2:30 pm, after the game, I headed back to the trail. It was a muggy Summer afternoon. I walked only 8.1 miles before it was time to camp for the evening. Camping in a grassy field beside Denny Town Road along with Zachsquatch, Solo, Gargamel, Pyro, 50/50, JoHawk, Murphy, and Mombo.
Date: 2014-06-27
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: Pawling, NY
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: broken clouds

Nothing much of note to report for this the 105th day since I started walking alone from Springer Mountain Georgia. I, however, am proud to report that as of this date I have walked the whole way northward, with my fully loaded pack on my back, and not skipping any section of the trail. I am feeling overall both physically and mentally healthy. No whining about how sore my feet and legs are. Not too bad for a young man but I know I have a long way to go yet. Today I walked 19.7 New York trail miles. At 8:30am I stopped by the Clarence Fahnestock State Park for a soda and some snacks. At 3:30pm I stopped at the Mountain Top Market Deli, Stormville, NY for a Reuben sandwich and a cold ginger ale. Man were they good. Not much else happening today except good old walking. I did find the sign shown in the photo to the left interesting. The sign was attached to a tree on the trail near Stormville,NY. It was good to learn that all water from this point north runs down hill. Next thing you know someone will tell me that the earth is round and is not flat. Yeah right.
Date: 2014-06-28
From: Wingdale,NY

To: Connecticut
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Short morning walk to NY HWY 22, the Appalachian Trail Railroad Train Station, Wingdale,NY. It is possible to catch the train to Grand Central Station in New York City from where the Appalachian Trail intersects the Metro North Rail Line in Wingdale, NY. My trail guide says that it costs approximately $15 one way and takes two hours to ride the train from the Appalachian Trail train stop in Wingdale to Grand Central Station, New York City. I decided I didn't want to take the train ride. Upon my arrival at HWY 22 I called the owner of the Dutchess Motel, Wingdale,NY who came and picked me up and took me back to his motel where I had planned to stay the night. Laundry, shower, food,and rest were the order of business for the remainder of my day. I can report from this morning's 10.9 mile walk that the mosquito population in New York survived last winter's Polar Vortex. The Mosquitos are abundant and are hungry in New York. Still deciding if I should take a day of rest tomorrow or not.
Date: 2014-06-29
From: Dutchess Motor Lodge, Wingdale, NY

To: Connecticut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today I rested at the Dutchess Motor Lodge, Wingdale,NY (photo left). The only walking I did today was this morning when I walked a mile down NY HWY22 to a local deli where I ate breakfast. I spent the remainder of the day reading a book and listening to some YouTube videos of Wendell Berry readings and public appearances. Wendell Berry is a true man of hope. I get anxious when I take a day off from walking but I believe an occasional rest is helpful for my feet and legs in the long run. I am looking forward to getting back to walking tomorrow.   I will leave New York sometime tomorrow morning and enter Connecticut, my 10th state. In case you don't already know, after Connecticut the four states which I have remaining are Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Date: 2014-06-30
From: MT Algo Shelter

To: Sharon.CT
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: light rain

Hello from Connecticut. I met thru hiker "Cartwheel" (see photo to the left) today. What an inspiration. Cartwheel is hiking with her Mother ("Momma Bear"), her Father ("All In"), her 9 year old Brother (Robin Hood), and her Dog ("Orion"). Cartwheel is 8 years old. She was 7 when she started her hike and turned 8 years old in Harpers Ferry,WV. Cartwheel and her family began their thru hike on March 31. The family is from Maine. Cartwheel and her family are walking home. She proudly told me that she hasn't taken any days off (zero days) since she started. She came flying by me going up hill like I was standing still. I guess I better quit whining about how hard this is. Cartwheel and her family are going to have some great memories to share. At 6:30am the owner of the Dutchess Motor Lodge, Windgate, NY, where I stayed last night, dropped me off at the trail where I stopped walking on Saturday. I had good energy today after my day of rest. At around noon I walked about a half mile off the trail to a store off of Bulls Bridge Road where I ate a sandwich for lunch. On my way to the store I walked across the Housatonic River on a one lane, covered wooden bridge which was built in 1842. At. 4 pm, I walked into an outfitter store in Kent, CT where I picked up a couple of items my wife mail dropped to me. I had a milkshake at the Outfitter store. After going into Kent I backtracked south on the trail .3 of a mile to the MT Algo Shelter where I am tenting for the night. It is a good tent site with a stream flowing nearby which makes for a pleasant background noise to put me to sleep.