morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-08-21
From: St. Thomas Church Hostel, Vernon NJ Rt. 94

To: secret cabin
Miles today: 13.9

August 21, 2016Jim Murray Cabin  mile 846.5  13.9 miles hikedWhat an amazing surprise NJ is! It¢s beautiful. I have a nice breezy morning, the hike starts off through a field and then the Pochuck Creek mini valley floor on an extensive boardwalk. I passed 2 ladies out for a walk and heard one say ¢Oh my there is so much dog doo!¢ I wanted to turn around and tell her it was not from dogs, it was bear poo. But that may have startled her and I didn¢t want to ruin her day. There WAS abundant bear poo! There are several minor ups and downs, I like the shortish scrubby pine trees. I stop at the Pochuck Mountain shelter for lunch and I have plenty of crackers. I have switched my mid day tuna for pepperoni, it is quite tasty. Next on my itinerary is the Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge. New Jersey really knows how to do up wetlands! I loved this area. The trail feels like a straight berm in the middle of a perfect marsh. Beautiful plants in bloom, I saw egrets, blue herons, and a raccoon. The rest of the hike passed through fields and crossed roads and had the occasional road walk. I was looking for a tiny sign that said ¢water¢ just passed a gravel drive way after Unionville Road. I almost missed it! There is a grass drive to the secret cabin and I found it! Jim Murray owns a farm and has a piece of the property open to thru hikers. There is a shack (its NICE) with electricity, an outhouse and an out door shower with hot water. What could be better? I will tell you, meeting Mojo, Pringles and White Walker again!! They were traveling together, got here in the morning and just couldn't leave. Fine with me! It was great to hang out with them once again. They were so intent on getting a pizza, but still follow the rules, that Mojo ran to the nearest road crossing to meet the delivery guy.  White walker ordered a whole liter of soda to go with his pizza. Crazy kids! They packed out the pizza box/soda bottle of course. We watched a deer family come out of the woods and eat dinner in the field, the smallest deer ran around like crazy. Just happy to be a deer I guess. Later we were visited by 2 donkeys that live at the farm. Very very friendly donkeys. Good day on the AT.Happy to see some of the old crew again.  Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-22
From: secret cabin

To: NJ Rte. 23 High Point HQ
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: few clouds

August 22, 2016High Point HQ NJ Rte. 23  mile 853.5    7 miles hikedYou never know how a day will turn out. I intended to hike far, farther than my 7 miles anyway. However at some point today I noticed a sign on a tree advertising a new hostel called Moseys. Thoughts of a shower, electricity, food kept flashing into my head all day. I gave in, I called Mosey in the afternoon for a pick up at High Point Park HQ. Score! I was having a very slow day anyway. In the morning, there was a lazy lowland hike, a couple of hills, a pond and pastures. More lowlands and a half hearted attempt at a climb onto a ridge. It was all very beautiful though and I stopped a lot just because it was such a nice day. The ridge had occasional awesome views. I hiked to what I thought was High Point, the highest spot in NJ, elevation 1803 feet. There was a wooden deck and an observation tower, it looked official. There I met up with White Walker and Mojo. We looked backwards and saw land higher than where we were, dang it! there was a side trail a little ways back, I should have paid attention. Mojo and I decided to go back and actually stand on NJ High Point. I am glad I did, fantastic views and an awesome huge stone tower. Back at the wooden tower, I waited with the boys for Pringles who was ¢just a little behind¢. Then we noted that the food concessions at the High Point State Park would be open in about an hour. Why not just wait? So we had snacks and waited for Pringles and the concessions to open. Pringles finally arrives with a park ranger who has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. So of course that lead to a long discussion about that trail. The concessions finally dictated that we go down and eat up a bunch of food. I had a burger and fries and a soda. The crew had similar nutritious meals. The crew just couldn¢t get moving so I headed out finally, made it about 15 minutes and called the hostel. Mosey told me to be sure to get my free soda at the Park HQ, thanks for the intel Mosey! She came and brought me back to her house which is serving as the hostel. I got a bunk, laundry and pretty much the run of her house. By the end of the evening, Daytona - a south bounder whom I had not met yet, Tyler (friend of Honey Bun and Funk Train), White Walker, Mojo and Pringles all ended up at Moseys. Tyler cooked up a mean chili for everyone and Mosey made a great big breakfast the next morning. I like how this day turned out.Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-23
From: NJ Rte. 23 High Point HQ

To: Brinks Road Shelter
Miles today: 17.9

August 23, 2016Brink Road Shelter mile 871.4   17.9 miles hikedI wasn't expecting a full breakfast at Moseys but that is what we got. Everyone was up by 7:00 or so and we enjoyed a big but leisurely meal. I took Mosey¢s first shuttle and was hiking by 9:00. I hiked a bit with Daytona, who is French and lives in Florida. She is a professor at ¢¦¢¦I don¢t remember the university, but she teaches something complicated about computers. She told me but her words floated above my head. Our paces didn¢t match up and after a while we hiked separately. I am sure I will see her again. The day is quiet, mostly hiking up to a ridge, (not big climbs) and walking on the ridge for a long time, then down to a wetland or road crossing. The miles go by quickly, I am kind of in a zero thought mindset and its very pleasant. There is a large pavilion on top of Sunrise Mountain, I sit a long while and eat some snacks. I do the same at the Culver Fire Tower. There is no water, ugh, I was happy that I packed extra but unhappy that I HAD to pack extra! There is a restaurant/tavern about 4 miles before my shelter, Gyp¢s I think was the name. Stopping was a no brainer since, it was right there practically in the trail. I met 2 sectioners who didn't make it far because of all the enjoying they were doing at the tavern. It was peaceful to sit outside in an Adirondack chair and slowly drink a rootbeer. The shelter area was large, 2 large groups were tenting. Not sure if they were family groups or a church group. I tented near the shelter. 2 Sobos were staying in the shelter, Pretty Boy and Lost and Found. Also Buns and Day Hiker showed up. Quite the crew of Southbounders were represented at the shelter. 2 teenage girls walked by the shelter and asked Pretty Boy where the garbage was located. He informs them there isn't any, its carry in, carry out!? They hadn't heard of that. Pretty Boy can't stand that! Then some other people ask him if the outhouses are working. He makes a comment something like if you can GO then, yes, they are working!! Kind of funny because the people did not get the inference. I made a mental note of where the blue blaze trail down to the water was. I decided to do that chore in the morning. I listened to some hysterical stories from Pretty Boy and Lost and Found until I fell asleep.Big Breakfast= Bigger milesInsect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-25
From: Backpackers Campsite

To: Church of the Mountain Hostel
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: overcast clouds

August 25, 2016Church of the Mountain Hostel mile 896.2   5.3 miles hikedPennsylvania State Number 8NJ= 6 daysTown! Town Day People! I am up early, packed, shovel a breakfast bar and hit the trail. I will have a proper breakfast in Delaware Water Gap. Beautiful cruising downhill mostly, to Kittany Point Park. I cross above Interstate 80, terrifying amount of traffic even from the safety of the walkway. As I walk through the park, it becomes clear that I will be crossing the wide Delaware River on the bridge that is Interstate 80. What? That¢s a long bridge with tractor trailers flying by at a constant rate. There is no other way. I tucked my head and proceeded, it was really scary and loud. Every time a truck passed, which was every 5 seconds, I was quickly pushed back and then sucked forward. Then Poof, it was over and I was in Pennsylvania on a quiet street in Delaware Water Gap. I found the hostel and collapsed on the first couch I came to. I sat on the couch for a while. It was awesome. People were just getting up. It was a surprise to see so many Southbounders, more came during the day. Pretty Boy, Durham and his dog Ridge, Calvin and Hobbes- I last saw them in Maine I believe! That Guy and the Duchess of Slugs. Buns and Day Hiker. Hmmm this is nice. At some point I shower and find the Apple Pie diner and have an enormous breakfast and read the paper. Wandering around, I find a store with some gear and buy a Platypus 4 liter water carrier. It has a handle and looks like a clear purse. So I name it my Water Purse. Now I can ditch 4 of my 6 water bottles. Resupply options are a gas station or the gas station across the street. I chose the first. Back to the hostel and veg out. Back to the diner for dinner and do not order the Scrapple. I had scrapple as a kid and its one of those dishes that you really do not have a clue of the ingredients. Animal, vegetable, table scraps? Its impossible to tell. Great day in the Gap. I decide a zero is in order for tomorrow. I go to sleep right away, full and happy. Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-26
From: Church of the Mountain Hostel

To: No where
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

August 26, 2016Church of the Mountain Hostel  mile 896.2   0 miles hikedAmbition -  noneHungry  -   yesClothes  -  stinky, cardboardySleepy   -  uh-huhHappy   -   you betThis is the first zero day in 19 days and it feels like a snow day off from school. I learn that the church has a dinner tonight and the hikers are invited. Home made food? Oh yes, I am going to that, even though I am not a social gathering type of person, I am a food gatherer for certain. I will be charming and engaging and that will get me some good eats. It¢s all very exciting. I venture out briefly and slowly to buy snacks for the day and eat again at the diner and read the newspaper. Speaking of the newspaper, WHAT IS HAPPENING????? I have to pretend that the newspaper is a pretend newspaper and put it back on the counter. Many hikers come, stay and go throughout the day as I sit on the couch. I really am quite fond of all these familiar faces. Calvin and Hobbes have constant conversations about life and society in the theoretical sense. They usually recognize when sense is turning into nonsense and stop before the theoretical world catches fire and burns into theoretical oblivion. I like them. Calvin¢s Mom came to take them to Walmart for resupply and brought 2 home made peach pies. They were gone in about 5 minutes. She was worried that she forgot plates and forks. Plates, forks? Those pies were inhaled, vaporized without any kitchen conveniences. Plates- get serious! Daytona showed up and went to do laundry and graciously took mine as well. She got a ride from someone on the ride board at the Hostel. White Walker, Mojo, Pringles showed up, they really make me laugh. With them was Stumbledwarf, whom I have never met but had heard about on the hiker gossip line. He is very direct and has an outrageous awesome beard. It¢s really eye catching. I sense many men must feel envious. Tyler was there waiting for the local bar to open. Even Walking Tree!! I was so happy to see him, I shouted and I think I startled him. Duchess of Slugs was waiting for That Guy to come back from a 17 mile stretch he had missed because he was sick. Another hiker, Wild Card Ninja, stopped by for a nap before she continued on. She was on a quest to set a speed record. 2 others were tenting but I didn¢t catch their names. The church feast was incredible. These people were so nice! They made the hikers go first in the buffet line, that¢s kind of crazy because of the amount of food we eat. I talked to 4 people and ate 4 plates of food. An incredible day off. Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-27
From: Church of the Mountain Hostel

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: clear sky

August 27, 2016Leroy A. Smith Shelter mile  916.3   20.1 miles hikedRocks Status- FAIR, walkable but annoying later in the day. May require some mild expletives.Quite a satisfying day. Hiking early, I got to climb 1000 feet up to a ridge where I spent most of the morning. The view to the south was the Delaware River Valley, a large wide scoop, very pretty, impressive. The landscape is very different from the north east with which I am familiar. Stopped for some water at the Kirkridge shelter and met up with White Walker for a bit. Then back to trucking the trail. The trail crossed 2 electric line swaths. Pennsylvania electric line swaths should have a different name. Perhaps ¢Dynamo Alleys¢. The power towers and cables are HUGE, science fiction huge, like something Ray Bradbury might write about. Looking at the straight swath cut as far as I could see, I could imagine these huge electric monsters marching across the country and nothing could stop them. They made other power lines look like 2 cans and a string. Really, really big with loud buzzing, I felt like I shouldn¢t dawdle and crossed the swaths pretty quick. Hiked down to Wind Gap where there was trail magic in the form of soda and sweets, the note was from some hikers that I had briefly met in New Jersey. Thank You!!! Promptly hiked back up to a ridge 500 feet. Consulting my topo map, I noted the trail crossed a buried a gas line. Hey, I could have been electrocuted or blown up by gas today! It didn't happen. HAH! Pennsylvania seems very industrial so far, Electric, Gas, Trains, Trucks, it¢s a work horse of a state. I arrived at the shelter, set up my tent, walked about a half mile to get water and relaxed. White Walker showed up undecided about moving on, I watched him get more and more comfortable and he decided to stay. Achilles is next and finally Walking Tree. Walking Tree sets up his tent without the need to swear in German. I am a little disappointed. No stubbed toes today, I hope my luck continues.Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-29
From: Campsite mile 935.3

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: broken clouds

August 29, 2016Eckville Shelter mile 957.2   21.9 miles hikedRocks Status- Hard Core Combo- all manner of rock terrain, changing at any moment. Small pointy, large unstable slabs, slanted smoothies, grabby jumbled boulders, trails to nowhere, resulting in a draining fatigue and perhaps some non-family friendly outbursts. Up early and hopeful for a great day in PA! Even though it turned out to be a Hard Core Combo Rock day, I didn't let it turn me grumpy. It was 10 miles to Rte. 309 where there was a restaurant with an outdoor spigot. So ten miles of weirdness, It's really difficult to describe, Rocks of all kinds everywhere and they are sometimes jumbled on top of each other and see saw when you step on them. All sizes, sometimes you squeeze between boulders and sometimes you crawl over them. Sometimes the trail is just like in a nonsensical Dr. Seuss book. It makes no sense! Weaving sharply north, south then north then west and you have gone 1/4 mile. I think Pennsylvania said, ok, AT people you can have this corridor, no one else wants it. The AT people thought well ok, lets make this an unforgettable challenge. It worked, I will never forget PA. I approached the Route 309 restaurant and saw White Walker and Stumbledwarf. We had lunch, chatted, filled up on water and I left for the trail, Stumbledwarf left to find a ride into town for a beer and WW was getting ready to leave. As I entered the woods I heard a loud BOOM! I thought someone had run into Stumbledwarf! I ran back to the road to see White Walker running to the road with his phone calling 911. 2 cars had collided. Stumbledwarf was just fine and was with a person who was trapped in the car. We stayed until the police came and took our statements and got people into ambulances. Stumbledwarf was just a little hopeful to catch a ride into town in one of the ambulances! Incorrigible Brit, he is!! Some excitement! Something to think about when I was avoiding thinking about the rocks. Finally the trail went down off the ridge and to a short road walk to the Eckville Shelter. This shelter is in someones backyard, it¢s a big converted shed and there is another shed that has a shower and flush toilet. Also charging stations! Across the road is a big tenting area. White Walker is there, all jazzed about getting pizza delivered when a section hiker notices a sign that says ¢NO PIZZA¢ I could tell he was momentarily crushed. Achilles showed up and we had our trail dinners and set up across the road. A big adventure with traffic. Saw a deer. Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-30
From: Eckville Shelter

To: PA route 61 Hamburg (Microtel)
Miles today: 14.5

August 30, 2016PA Route 61 mile 971.7   14.5 miles hikedRocks Status: Boulder Que - long continuous stretches of thigh high boulders, jumping, crawling, and surfer like balance skills required. Some grunting may occur. The trail looked like all the boulders came out of the forest and were bunched up in line, in little conversation groups. Like they were waiting for voting pols to open or something like that. Or maybe waiting to get tickets to the long awaited Rock concert. HAHAHAHA , hmm I might be loosing it. The trail continued to do its boomerang route and I dealt with the rocks. There were 2 view areas, The Pinnacle and Pulpit Rock. Both were east facing and had beautiful views of the valley, farmland. The rocks must start at a certain elevation, they just can't be in the valleys. There is no soil up here to grow crops, only rocks. There must be perfect soil in the valley, it all looked so nice, green and smooth. It has to be different down there .Why is the trail up here? I had passed an area with a random huge pile of rocks, a man made pile about 10 foot high. Did the trail workers start to clear the trail of rocks and throw them in a big pile? They must have seen it was futile and gave up, leaving this odd gigantic cairn. The trail did a weird turn here and I circled the cairn a couple of times before I got it right. I stopped at pulpit rock to rest and dream about re-routing the trail down into the valley. White Walker and Achilles show up and take off their packs. Someone mentions rocks and we all snort. White Walker and Achilles had thought of a great idea, getting a hotel room in Hamburg. Hamburg is a substantial town near the next road crossing. It¢s expensive but if there were 3 of us¢¦¢¦. Oh i am in! I made arrangements and we hiked on. Achilles and I walked the road to the hotel. Route 61 is a big highway, and we pass big shopping plazas, big Walmart, Pizza Hut, Gander Mountain, all the big players are here. White Walker continues a bit to Port Clinton to pick up package. The room is nice, 2 beds and a little sleeper sofa which I claim. Achilles and I walk to the laundry mat and have pizzas and soda delivered there. The laundry mat is in the REAL Hamburg, a cute downtown that had once been prosperous. Half of the businesses were closed, the big players had sucked the life and money out of this downtown and that made me sad. Achilles is a young man, long long beard. He was working maintaining satellite towers (I believe) and decided one day to hike the trail. He is quiet but really funny in a deadpan way. Back at the hotel, White Walker is relaxing, munching away on snacks. I decide to resupply tomorrow in my way out at the Walmart. So I go to the nearest gas station to get my snacks for the evening. There is a knock on the door and it¢s Pretty Boy! He is just down the hall. He stayed and visited for a while, it was a fun evening away from rocks. Hotels, are nice.Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-31
From: PA route 61 Hamburg (Microtel)

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

August 31, 2016Eagles Shelter  mile  981    9 miles hikedRocks Status: Consistent ankle rolling terrain, requiring concentration and nimble maneuvers. Leaping skills required. No one snored last night. I woke up refreshed, went immediately to the continental breakfast, loaded up and brought my feast back to the room to have breakfast in bed. My roommates were just waking up, Pretty Boy came for a morning visit. Its plain that no one will do big miles today. We paid for this magnificent room till 11:00. Reluctantly everyone went on their way. I had my resupply to do and Achilles asked me to pick up a comb, he lost his and apparently that¢s bad when you have a beard. Walmart, so so big. So big. I picked up supplies and remembered the comb. Back to the road and soon I am in Port Clinton. Huh, I have been here before! I remember my Grandpa, Dad, Mom and my Brother being here at the Train Museum. I was maybe eight or so. This is so cool! I take time to walk around the old refurbished engines and read the history information. I notice the big cliff just past the train tracks and think that is probably my trail. Yup. Back to climbing, up to a ridge and the DANG ROCKS! I must have better skills and these rocks are a bit less horrible because I am only slightly annoyed. I reach the shelter and it looks like it might rain so I decide to shelter it tonight. White Walker, Achilles, That Guy, Duchess of Slugs, Pretty Boy and me all crammed in the shelter tonight. That Guy and Duchess of Slugs stayed at the Port Clinton tent area last night and went to the local social club where they found Mojo. He was at the bar, when he saw That Guy and Duchess apparently he yelled, ¢HELP ME!!¢ ¢PLEASE, OH THANK GOD YOU ARE HERE¢ yes, poor Mojo was very drunk. Duchess and That Guy made sure Mojo was ok, thats what friends do. Then they tell stories and laugh! Not a bad evening at all.Pennsylvania is better when you share the misery.Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-09-01
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Wm. Penn Shelter
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: light rain

September 1, 2016Wm. Penn Shelter mile 1000.2    19.2 miles hikedRocks Status: Not Completely Miserable with occasional short stretches of 10 feet with no rocks. Staring at your feet is still required. Lifting spirits during the no rock parts.Misty rainy morning but cool and breezy. Today, I have been 3 months on the trail. That¢s ridiculous! I love trail life so much and am looking forward to the months to come. I am especially excited about meeting my sister who will be hiking with me the last 120 miles or so. Her trail name is Free Range. I am able to clip along fairly well today, feeling some relief about having to concentrate a little less and its cool and its breezy and I will have hiked 1000 miles by the end of the day! I stop for lunch at the 501 shelter and there is White Walker. He is debating wether he should stay at this shelter until the pizza shops open. You can have pizzas delivered here. He is hemming and hawing. I don¢t know why, if there is any chance at eating pizza, I know White Walker will not miss it. I assumed thats why he stopped here in the first place. We met Topher and his dog Al, a former thru hiker and got some god advice and stories. WW decides to wait and get his pizza (big surprise) and I hike on. I see a fox, and 2 deer on the way. I reach the shelter and find Pretty Boy eating his 3rd ramen of the day? Later he eats almost a whole jar of frosting. Anyway, I decide to tent and go back to the trail to the tenting area. There is a non-talking person in a hammock who is smoking a cigarette. Gag. I tent away from him. The water source is questionable. Its yellow and smells. Gag. I have 2 liters and pass on this source. I failed to notice the first time but right at the trail junction with the shelter someone had put rocks that spelled out - 1000! Wow, it is truly unbelievable! I think:ONE THOUSAND MILES!!!!!Wait, I have been hiking 3 months and only covered 1000 miles?there are over 1000 more miles to go¢¦¢¦WHO CARES! I JUST WALKED 1000 MILES!!!!!I visit with Pretty Boy, White Walker, Achilles, Duchess of Slugs and That Guy, Topher and pup Al before turning in. Insect SOBO 2016