morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-06-20
From: Eckville Shelter, PA

To: PA Route 309 intersection
Miles today: 11.5

After I wrote yesterday's journal, the wicked storm that The Weather Channel predicted, arrived. I haven't seen lightning and wind like that in a while. It even knocked out the electricity at the motel for about twenty minutes. It was a good night to stay inside. This morning at 6:30 AM, I met Beach Bum, First Wife (Betty), and Backyard Boogie at the free breakfast in the motel. Once again, our day was going to consist of our last slackpack with the automobile support of First Wife.First Wife has been graciously helping out Monkey and Coco, (on Trail Journals/Blogspot), Eulla, Stretch, and many other hikers this week. "Bag of Tricks" has also given me a ride around the local area.At 8:30 AM, "First Wife" dropped us off at the Hawk Mountain Road trail crossing and arranged to pick us up at PA Route 309 in the afternoon. That is a distance off 11.5 miles over some difficult rocky stretches of trail. The three of us, me, Beach Bum and Backyard Boogie hit the trail just minutes after the rain let up this morning from last night's storm.   Last night's rain left a pleasant fragrance that seemed to follow us as we walked through the forest. Additionally, it was cool and damp this morning with a strong breeze. However, the trees are so tall and dense overhead that the wind really did not penetrate, much, to the forest floor. We could only hear the "swishing" sound overhead as the trees swayed and the leaves fluttered.In a few miles, we reached "Dan's Pulpit." It is another great, rocky overlook that peers into the farms down in the valley. By the time we reached this location, the overcast skies had cleared to reveal astonishing horizontal visibility in the distance. I regretted that I left my camera back in the motel out of the concern that it would get wet if we encountered another rain shower. I will not make that mistake again since I lost the opportunity to take some good pictures today. Tomorrow, Beach Bum, Backyard Boogie, and myself will return to the Pennsylvania Route 309 trail crossing and hike up to Palmerton. In other news, I've seen a lot of hikers with Poison Ivy rashes. I think I'll continue to wear my pants rather than shorts from now on.Also, when someone asks Beach Bum if he's been hiking northbound, he'll jokingly reply, "No, I've been hiking up and down" - in reference to the ups and downs of the hills and mountains.
Date: 2007-06-22
From: Palmerton, PA

To: Leroy Smith Shelter, PA
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: scattered clouds

A group of us who were staying the night in Palmerton arranged for a two-mile ride back to town in a pick-up truck driven by a gentleman named Duane who owns a pest control business. He offers this service to help out the hikers who come into Palmerton during the summer. Six of us piled into the truck for the ride back to the trail. Today's big event was climbing up the side of a mountain to the Palmerton Superfund site. The blazes direct hikers up nearly 1,000 vertical feet over rocks and boulders. It is quite impressive and strenuous. Once again, we had the benefit of the cool morning air. Once on top of the mountain you can see where years of zinc smelting has killed off the vegetation for a few miles. It appears that the winds carried pollutants up the slope of the mountain from the furnaces in the valley and deposited them on top of the mountain.The rest of the hike today, while long, was fairly pleasant. I expected a lot more rock scrambles, but there weren't any. The trail follows a gravel road for a while, and then follows the ridge of the mountain. The only big concern today was a lack of water. I hiked an additional 2.2 miles to find water from reliable springs.I'm typing this journal entry from inside my tent. Outside, Salaam is learning to play the mandolin that he's been carrying with him. Wolf, Backyard Boogie, and Beach Bum are also here at the campsite that is about one hundred yards from the shelter.Tomorrow¢s destination will be to the Kirkridge Shelter - the last shelter in the northern portion of Pennsylvania. Sunday will be a short day into Delaware Water Gap where I will take a day off.I'm exhausted and the sun is going down. Soon I hope to be sleeping.
Date: 2007-06-23
From: Leroy Smith Shelter, PA

To: Kirkridge Shelter, PA
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

Since I pitched my tent last night, I got up a little earlier than usual to pack up. By 6:30 AM, Stretch walked into camp to see who was there and said that she was ready to start hiking. Since I was ready to go, I followed behind Stretch.Stretch is a fast hiker who started in Georgia in March. She got her name when someone saw her leaning towards a tree and doing her morning stretches. From then on, she was called Stretch. She wasn't completely thrilled with that name, but decided that she'd keep it instead of receiving, perhaps, an even worse name. During my attempt to keep up with her, I learned that the recently finished her master's degree in business, she has a strong interest in training horses for races, recently sold her house in New Hampshire, and more recently began living with friends in Raleigh, North Carolina. So far, she's the second person that I've met who lives in Raleigh. Hopefully I have recalled these details correctly. One other thing about Stretch is that she shaved her head a while back.   Overall, I enjoyed the conversation with her today and appreciated her company. There is not much I can say about the trail today other than the acres of ferns that I walked through are very fragrant; it's a pleasing scent. There have been many sections of the trail where ferns are growing underneath the oak trees for as far as you can see. The rest of the trail was filled with rocks. I'm tired of Pennsylvania's rocks. It's difficult to take a look around when you have to watch where you put your feet every step of the way. In addition, it was difficult to find the trail over the rocks since there aren't enough blazes in this section.In recent days, I have been in contact with Blip (Trail Journals 2003). Since she lives within a reasonable distance from the Appalachian Trail, I figured that I'd say "hello" when I came through the area. Much to my surprise, she left a note for me on a cooler full of lemonade and a few gallons of water at the Wind Gap road intersection. I was encouraged by the "trail magic" that she left for me and the other hikers coming through that road crossing.I arrived at the Kirkridge shelter around 1 PM. I was tired and had enough of hiking over the rocks. It was really too early to stop, but I put in nearly 14 hours. Stretch was resting at the shelter when I showed up and then continued another 7 miles to Delaware Water Gap. Part of me wanted to continue, knowing that I could be taking another hot shower tonight, but I also knew that I had a bad blister forming on my right foot.Anyway, the Kirkridge shelter has a fantastic view. The sky is cloudless, and I am looking down a scenic valley towards the Delaware Water Gap. I am wondering what the lights in the valley will look like once the sun goes down, but I think I'll be in bed before then, especially since it's chilly and the overnight low temperature will be in the 40s.In the shelter tonight: Denali, Dreamcatcher, and Salaam (also on Trail Journals). There are bunches of Boy Scouts and weekenders tenting nearby.
Date: 2007-06-24
From: Kirkridge Shelter, PA

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I slept in a little later than usual - until about 6:30 AM because I knew that I had a short day of hiking ahead of me. The destination for today was Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania, and my final stop in this state before continuing on to New Jersey. I hiked to the camping area designated for the Kirkridge shelter about one-tenth of a mile downhill and north of the shelter to meet with Backyard Boogie and Beach Bum. They were packed up and ready to go. Both of them prefer to tent or, in Backyard Boogie's case, to set up a hammock rather than to stay in the shelters. I prefer the convenience of the shelters. Anyway, the campsite is unique in that it is a mowed, grassy field that is used as a hang gliding launch site. The trees were cut down in front of a sharp ledge or cliff, of sorts, where one can run down the "grass strip" and fly a hang glider, then land in the pastures several hundred feet below in the valley. The view was outstanding!The three of us continued down the mountain to the Delaware Water Gap where we intended to take a "zero day" on Monday, then hike out on Tuesday. Once we arrived in town, we stopped at a cheap diner for a mid-morning breakfast.   "First Wife" was there to meet her husband, Beach Bum. Right next door to the diner is a farmers market and bakery where you can get any type of baked goods imaginable. It was nice to know that with a hiker's appetite, you can buy a whole apple pie and eat the whole thing in one sitting - and many of the hikers here did just that. You'll burn the calories shortly anyway. I don't quite have that enormous appetite - yet.One of the things that I enjoy about this hike is traveling from one small town to the next. Delaware Water Gap is no different. All of the towns along the Appalachian Trail have their own unique character. You can't help but walk down the streets, look at the old buildings, some abandoned, some barely existing, but occupied, and wonder what these areas and towns looked like fifty or even one hundred years ago.The accomodations for hikers are slim in Delaware Water Gap. Some hikers are staying at the Presbyterian "Church of the Mountain" hostel. The church allows hikers to stay in the basement of the sanctuary for free. There is also an inexpensive motel in town where others are staying.This evening, Blip, a thru-hiker from 2003 gave me a ride into Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, to go get a few groceries and to try to find Internet access. We didn't have luck with the Internet access on a Sunday night, but we did stop at a very good place for dinner. It sure beats "trail food."
Date: 2007-06-25
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Even though this is my day off it has been difficult to sleep late because I am getting used to waking up around 5:30 AM. It's all good, though. I was up before 7 AM so that I could clean and sort my equipment and figure out what I need to get for the next week out on the Trail. I also had to get to the post office and to the Stroudsburg library for Internet access.My first stop of the day was to the diner for breakfast. It's inexpensive and good. I just happened to walk in at the right time to share a table with Clymer, Stretch, and Salaam.   Stretch and Salaam were preparing to leave town today for the eleven mile hike to the Mohican Outdoor Center in New Jersey. That will be my destination tomorrow.My next stop was to the post office. I picked up my next food/mail drop and met Wing Heart, Castanettes, and Gorilla. We exchanged greetings, stories, and information about the whereabouts of other hikers along the Trail.Finally, I was able to get a ride into Stroudsburg to visit the library. I was given a thirty-minute guest pass to use a computer, but the computers were slow and I didn't get much done. I still have a bunch of e-mail to reply to, but I was able to get a few pictures posted on my TrailJournals pages and I will add more again, soon. When my time at the computer was up, I called a taxi for a ride back to Delaware Water Gap. The taxi driver was a woman with a twelve year-old son. She was curious to know about hiking the Appalachian Trail and I answered her questions. She mentioned that she was a native of Stroudsburg and wanted to leave because it was too expensive to live there. Her goal was to move to North Carolina within the next year.By the time she brought me back to Delaware Water Gap it was lunch time. I hit the diner for a cheeseburger and then walked next door to the farmer's market where I am right now, typing this journal. I'm just relaxing with a slice of their homemade apple pie, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a cup of coffee. It is a good day!
Date: 2007-06-26
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Mohican Outdoor Center, NJ
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: few clouds

This morning, I couldn't resist the pancakes at the diner in DelawareWater Gap (DWG). I at the table by myself and enjoyed the silence since there was only one other customer in the restaurant. It seemed like I had been in "DWG" for more than a day and one-half. I liked the time off to give my feet a rest, but I was ready to continue.After about twenty minutes, Blazer and No Worries entered the diner and I motioned for them to share the booth with me. We talked about our brief layover in DWG and our plans to go 10.5 miles to the Mohican Outdoor Center in New Jersey for the night after a trip to the post office.I went to the post office after breakfast to forward some food and supplies to myself in Ft. Montgomery - about nine days away. Next, I returned to the Pocono Inn motel, grabbed my pack, and joined Beach Bum and Backyard Boogie for the hike along Interstate 80 across the (muddy)Delaware River.The hike today wasn't too bad. We had a steep climb, at first, as you usually do when you leave a "trail town," but it wasn't that bad. The heat today really made it slow-going, though. By the time we hiked to Sunfish Pond which was near the top of the mountain, the rocks came back to haunt us. Everyone is tired of stumbling over the rocks and boulders along the trail. They really can be "ankle breakers."I moved ahead of Backyard Boogie and Beach Bum while they were taking a long lunch break to find the next stream. I needed some cool water and to refill my hydration pack. In addition, I only like to take very short breaks while I'm hiking, or it becomes difficult for me to get moving again.During the last half of my hike today, I met Gorilla and Knucklehead and a few other "new" section hikers who don't have trail names, yet. Finally, I reached the road leading to the Mohican Outdoor Center.The Mohican Outdoor Center is an outdoor retreat that offers a bunk house, private cabins, and a campground on a lake. I opted to stay at the hostel/bunkhouse instead of camping - for a few more dollars. There is a full, furnished kitchen in the bunkhouse, along with hot showers.Panda, Ann, and Peterman are the only people staying in the bunkhouse tonight. Blazer, No Worries, Beach Bum, Backyard Boogie, and others are here in the campground. Tomorrow is supposed to be another hot day with temperatures in the90s. I hope to get up early enough to hike 15 miles before it gets too hot.
Date: 2007-06-28
From: Culvers Gap, NJ

To: High Point State Park (NJ23), NJ
Miles today: 14.3

Early this morning I was second guessing my decision to stay at a motel that was two miles down a busy road. I thought about trying to hitch-hike, but I knew that it was illegal to do so in New Jersey (and New York). I secretly hoped that someone would stop for me as I trudged up the hill, but it did not happen. There was not enough space for a car to pull over for me and most people were in a hurry to get to work. So, I continued hiking on the shoulder of the road until I stood in front of "Joe to Go," a coffee and sandwich place on the road/trail intersection. I stopped inside the coffee shop for a bagel, orange juice, and coffee before heading up the soggy trail that received quite a bit of rain overnight. I was impressed with the beauty of the trail today. New Jersey has surprised me. I saw another bear and two deer that did not seem to mind that I was nearby. One deer came within fifteen feet of me, probably thinking that I had a handout. The raspberries are just about ripe and the blackberries should be ripe soon.My initial plan for the day was to make it to the Rutherford Shelter before we had a repeat of yesterday's afternoon storms. Once I was content to stay, Climber showed up. She was looking for access to the nearby lake so that she could swim, but she couldn't find a way. We discussed continuing to High Point State Park. There, they have a concession stand with hot food, hot showers, a campground, and lake access. I was reluctant to go because of the thunder that I heard in the distance and I did not want to get caught in a bad storm, but decided to go along, especially, for the possibility of getting a cheeseburger.By the time Climber and I arrived at the state park and checked in, the skies opened up and it poured. The staff said that the park allows hikers to camp and sleep under their large picnic pavilions for free. I'll be sleeping on a picnic table tonight.In forty-five minutes or so, the rain stopped and Climber, Dude, Pete Moss and I walked over to the concession stand for some hot food. By the time we had our food, it started raining hard again. I can't think of much more to write about today and I'm tired.
Date: 2007-07-01
From: Vernon, NJ

To: Wildcat Shelter, NY
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: broken clouds

"Butch Cassidy," is an elderly gentleman who has been hanging out at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church hostel. He describes himself as a hiking groupie. This morning, he offered rides in his van to hikers who needed to get back to the trail. Climber and I took him up on his first shuttle at 6:30 AM.We had a tough climb out of Vernon, New Jersey, but were rewarded with an amazing view from a vista called the Pinwheel. It was another great view of the red barns, silos, and farms down in the valley. Moving on down the trail, a few miles away, we came across a cooler full of soft drinks and candy bars. In a few more miles, we saw another cooler hidden behind the bushes at the trailhead filled with beer for hikers, but the beer had been consumed and the cooler looked like it had been destroyed by animals (a bear?). We've been lucky in the past week or two to have found several coolers hidden at road crossings intended for hikers.   The next highlight of the day was getting to the New Jersey/New York state line and reaching Prospect Rock, nearby. Since the visibility was excellent we could see the New York City skyline and down the mountain to a beautiful lake called Greenwood Lake. Looking down into the lake was like looking outside the window of an airplane at dozens of boats in the water pulling water skiers.Clymer, my hiking partner for the past few days, was leaving the trail for home today. She's been a great hiking companion and I know that she enjoyed her last hike today before she returns home and then leaves in a few days for a vacation in Mexico.She picked a great spot to leave the Trail. It was at the Bellvale Creamery on NY/17A and an intersection with the Appalachian Trail. You can get homemade ice cream there and gaze out at the view of the pastures in the valley from picnic tables since the creamery is on top of a small mountain. A few miles away I found the shelter for the night. About thirty minutes after I arrived, a group of five hikers from the Appalachian Mountain Club showed up. To those of us already at the shelter, we wondered why this group of five and their three dogs were showing up late in the day. They enthusiastically declared that they were bearers of trail magic. In their backpacks, they had all sorts of things to hand out to us: beer, hard lemonade, water, potato chips, dip, candy bars, brownies, Band-Aids, and etcetera. What a great surprise! We all thanked them for their generosity. Staying in or around the shelter: Tortuga, Chico, Eulah, Ziola, Dude, No Worries, and Blazer.
Date: 2007-07-02
From: Wildcat Shelter, NY

To: Arden Valley Road, NY
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

Boy, it got cold last night for a July evening. I was prepared for the conditions and warm, but I did not expect to wake to temperatures in the forty degree range.The plan for the day was to hike out of the shelter area with Blazer and No Worries early this morning for a long day that would get the three of us to within thirteen miles of Fort Montgomery / Bear Mountain for the Fourth of July and take a day off. It is good to hike with No Worries. He has hiked through this area before when he thru-hiked in 1999 and has been a good guide.Once again, today, like yesterday was a difficult one. In fact, the last two days have been my most difficult days on the trail so far. I was so exhausted last night that I could not finish my journal. The trail went up, over, and down rocks and boulders without much of a break in between. It wasn't the distance that made this day tiring; it was the multiple ups and downs. In many cases, you had to climb hand over hand on some of these rock scrambles. Sometimes you had to lift your knees up towards your chest to lift yourself up onto the boulders. I have heard that I should expect this type of hiking in New Hampshire and southern Maine, but I did not expect it here. It was like a jungle gym or an obstacle course. Then there was the rock formation called the "Lemon Squeezer." The route through the Lemon Squeezer has hikers walk under a great big boulder and the up through a gradually narrowing crawlspace between two giant boulders. Then, eventually, you have to crawl up and out of the wedge between the rocks.   Apparently New York wants to make sure that the hikers know that there are lots of big rocks and boulders in this state. "Thanks," New York. However, the Harriman State Park that I have been walking through during most of the day is beautiful.Luckily, the weather has been cool, dry, and the humidity has been low. I couldn't imagine doing this section in the rain or heat.   This area has been dry with regards to water sources, too.   There have been road crossings today where trail angels have left gallon jugs of water for the hikers. Another hiker with the trail name of Aquarius was handing out snacks and water in Harriman State Park to hikers. New York seems to be the trail magic state.Over the past week or more, I've passed through and beside a labyrinth of stone walls or fences. I would guess that they were built to designate land boundaries, but I also wonder when they were built, who built them and why. It is difficult to describe these fences/walls in a paragraph. Perhaps I will look into it when I'm off the trail. I am staying tonight at a place called Education Through Adventure (ETA). It is some sort of summer camp and they have a cabin for hikers. I won't write much about it, but I do not recommend it for hikers. It's too expensive and there is no hot water, laundry, or Internet access as advertised in ALDHA's Companion.   Staying here tonight: Beach Bum, Backyard Boogie, Eulah, Blazer, and No Worries, Spunky, and Symbol.