morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-21
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: clear sky

I got an early start to take advantage of the cool morning temperatures. The terrian was good for most of the day with the exception of the last couple miles that were a bit rocky. The thought of ordering pizza tonight from the shelter and a hot shower were great motivators so I made good time.I got to the shelter about 3:00pm and took care of getting a shower. This particular shelter is one of only two in PA that has a solar shower. The water was not hot but not cold either and it made for a very refreshing experience. By the time I got my shower, washed clothes, and got my gear sorted, Trout Bum showed up and we ordered pizza. Man what a treat, but as usual my eyes were bigger than my stomach and there was lots of food left over. With a healthy population of mice in the shelter it looks like I'm going to have to come up with a plan to protect my pizza.
Date: 2008-06-22
From: 501 Shelter

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: light rain

About 7:00 p.m. last night some trail angels showed up at the shelter with all kinds of goodies. Man what a treat.The sodas were great but unfortunately the caffeine kept me up all night.With nearly a 25 mile hike it was a long day on the trail and the rocks along the last few miles were brutal.I had a real treat today when I saw a wild turkey hen and several chicks a long the trail.I got to Port Clinton about 6:00 p.m. I found out from a local resident that the restaurants were about 2 miles away. Man was I looking forward to a hamburger so out came the hitch hiking thumb. I got a ride within a few minutes and the fellow even took me back to town and directly to the pavilion. I learned that this fellow had been recently divorced and was currently unemployed. With all his problems he still took the time to help someone else. What a guy! I had recently received a voice mail from my brother so I gave him a call. I also called my buddy Eddie to give him a report on my progress. Today marks 1205 miles hikes on the AT.
Date: 2008-06-23
From: Port Clinton, PA

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

Even with a major road next to the pavilion, I got some great sleep last night. Taking the extra pain meds probably helped.I got up at 6:00 a.m., packed up, and headed to a local diner for breakfast. I then went to the post office to pick up my mail drop and sort food. It looks like I¢ll have enough to get me through NJ. All I will need is some lunch items which I will get my wife to send to me.I got on the trail by 8:30am and my final destination for today is the Eckville Shelter.Nothing spectacular about the hike today. Fortunately there was great weather and not as many rock scrambles as yesterday.I got to the shelter at 3:30pm after a 15+ mile hike. This facility also has a solar shower which I took advantage of. I also washed my clothes and hung them out to dry. I¢ve got another big mileage day tomorrow so I will hit the sack early.
Date: 2008-06-24
From: Eckville Shelter

To: George Outbridge Shelter
Miles today: 24.2
Weather: few clouds

It was a very long and tough day on the trail. Lots of rocks and boulders to negotiate along with a 24+ mile day had my feet aching. I only saw two other hikers all day long and I¢m the only one at the shelter tonight. Boy does this add to my homesickness.Securing water has really been a problem with springs in the area going dry or having to walk up to 6/10 of a mile one way to get water. This has caused me to carry up to 4 liters of water which adds a great deal to my pack weight.There were a lot of wild blueberry bushes along the trail and I stopped several times to enjoy this treat.I finally rolled into the shelter at 6:30p.m. and fortunately the water source was close by. After supper I got all my gear arranged for a quick departure in the morning. Tomorrow, I¢ve got a climb out of Lehigh Gap that is going to be very challenging.
Date: 2008-06-25
From: George Outbridge Shelter

To: L.A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: broken clouds

I was up by 5:00 a.m. and packed up and on the trail by 6:00 a.m. The climb and landscape out of Lehigh Gap can best be described as walking on the moon. There is little or no vegetation and the area is covered with large boulders.I was carrying a lot of water which added to my pack weight but also hindered my balance. Much of the climb involved using handholds to climb over the large boulders. The rest of the day involved numerous rock scrambles that gave my feet and ankles a real workout.I had two interesting wildlife encounters today. I jumped twin whitetail fawns today that were bedded next to the trail. Both still had their spots but they were quite large and agile. The second encounter was with a black bear. He was about 30 yards from the trail when I spotted him. I spoke to him and he looked in my direction. I continued slowly down the trail talking to the bear hoping I wasn¢t part of his dinner plans. He did woof at me once which unnerved me, but I continued my slow pace.I got to the shelter about 2:30 p.m. and normally this would be too early for me to stay but after a long day yesterday, I decided to call it quits.I called my wife today and received some real sad news. Herb Reynolds who was the president of my archery club and good friend had passed away. Herb had done so much for traditional archery and for our club and things will not be the same. Herb had a stroke many years ago and this kept him from being as active as I know he wanted to be. I take solace in the fact that in heaven he is no longer burdened by this and I bet he is shooting his bow and planning a hunting trip right now. Happy hunting Herb.
Date: 2008-06-26
From: L.A. Smith Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: moderate rain

I got up this morning to dark skies and shortly after I started hiking, it started raining lightly. Luckily it only required me to put on my pack cover.The trail continued to be very rocky and I was constantly twisting my ankles. After dealing with these trail conditions for the past couple of days I have had a belly full of PA and will be glad to have this state behind me today.I stopped at kirkridge Shelter for lunch and met a nice couple there. They even filled my water bottle and gave me some dried fruit. This trail magic was greatly appreciated.The large boulders at Wolf Rocks were quite challenging due to the rain and I lost my footing more than once.The wild blueberries were very abundant at Mt Minsi and I spent several minutes there picking and eating.I rolled into Delaware Water Gap PA about 4:30 p.m. and got checked into the church hostel. All the hikers are fortunate tonight that the church is providing supper. What a meal! Having vegetables and salad is just what my vitamin depleted body really needed.After supper I got a shower and then I caught a ride into town to do laundry. In the morning I¢ll pick up my mail drop at the post office and take care of a few other chores. My plan is to get back on the trail by lunch tomorrow. After so many 20 mile days, I plan to take it easy tomorrow and do a 10 mile day.
Date: 2008-06-27
From: Zero Day

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

I went to the post office this morning and learned that one of my mail drops didn¢t arrive.After a phone call to my wife and checking again with the post office, I learned that my package had been sent to another town. Since this package contained food and other items I needed there was nothing else I could do but take a zero day and wait for delivery in the morning. My feet were still swollen from the day before and the extra day of rest would be a good thing. Also when I reworked my hiking agenda my arrival time in CT remained about the same.I took advantage of this extra time to get some things done, but also relaxed and stayed off of my feet.
Date: 2008-06-28
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Camp Ken Etiwa Pec
Miles today: 17.8

I got up about 6:00am, took a shower, and then went to the Water Gap Diner for breakfast. The swelling in my feet has really gone down and I¢m itching to get back on the trail. The post office did not open to 8:30am so I spent the morning checking my hiking plans for the upcoming eight days and packing up my gear.At a little before 8:30am I went to the post office and luckily my package was there. After some sorting, I forward my mail drop up the line and I hit the trail. It felt really great crossing the Delaware River and entering New Jersey. I met a lot of people on the trail today and had some great conversations about my hike. I still get that shocked look when I tell folks how long I have been hiking and that I¢m going to Maine. Today I saw the biggest Blacksnake I have ever seen. It was well over 6¢ in length. I also encountered a non-poisonous snake that continued to hiss at me as it crossed the trail.I got lost trying to find Camp Ken Etiwa Pec and luckily I ran into two nice park rangers who drove me right to the camp. Great Guys!
Date: 2008-06-29
From: Camp Ken Etiwa Pec

To: Rutherford Shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: light rain

I decided to pack up and go back to the water pump up the road to fix breakfast. The mosquitoes were so bad around the lake you really could not do anything. I was hiking by 7:30am and had a real long day ahead of me. When I got to Brink Rd Shelter I stopped to get water and take care of the blisters on my feet. This location marks 1306.4 miles hiked on the trail so I took a photo to celebrate the event.Shortly after leaving this shelter I encountered a huge black bear near the trail. This bear had to be in excess of 300 lbs and his head was as large as a basketball. Luckily he wasted no time in leaving the area. The second bear I encountered was very agitated. He was pacing back and forth and huffing. When he started walking in my direction, I slowly turned and moved 20 yards up the trail. I continued to talk to him and he eventually crossed over a ridge.Anytime you are hiking in low areas the mosquitoes are tagging you. They were so bad tonight I had to set up my tent in the shelter just to get some relief.
Date: 2008-06-30
From: Rutherford Shelter

To: Lott Rd
Miles today: 11.4

My intent was to hike farther today but when I got to the road crossing, my blistered feet and the reviews I had heard about the Mayor's House convinced me to go into town. After a quick snack at the local grocery store, I gave the Mayor a call and within a few minutes he picked me up. I can't say enough good things about this fellow. Not only does he open his house up to hikers but he treats you to a great meal. Just one of many examples of the generosity I have experienced on the trail.
Date: 2008-07-01
From: Lott Road

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: few clouds

After a great breakfast at the Mayor¢s House, Butch gave me a ride to the local grocery store. Pickings were slim but I was able to find enough food to get me to Pawling NY. Bear Mountain NY will be my safety valve just in case I need more grub. Butch came back to the grocery store and gave me a ride to the trail head and I was hiking by 7:30am After an evening of rest my feet felt so much better and I was really looking forward to my hike. The great weather and terrain was a real boost to my moral today. The only tough climb was Wawayanda Mountain but it was a needed challenge.Water continues to be scarce and on two occasions trail angels had left water at road crossings.I got to Wawayanda Shelter at 5:30pm and got settled in. I was able to rework my hiking agenda so I arrive in Pawling NY on Sunday evening.I gave my wife and daughter a call today. Looks like I¢m always finding a reason or excuse to call them. I finalized my mail drop needs with my wife and thanked my daughter for typing up my journal pages, but mostly it was great to hear those sweet voices.
Date: 2008-07-02
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Camp at Mile: 1365.8
Miles today: 15.8

After an hour in the shelter last night the mosquitoes forced me to set my tent. I¢m sure glad I did because I got a great night of sleep.I got up to dark skies this morning and shortly after I started hiking it began to rain. Fortunately it only lasted about 30 minutes and then the sun popped out. There were a lot of large boulders to cross and climb over and at one point a ladder was needed to climb a rock wall. I really enjoyed climbing over the rocks and it allowed for some great views.I stopped at the Wildcat Shelter and had an early supper. I planned to hike a few more miles to shorten my hike tomorrow. I met a fellow by the name of Joe at the shelter. What a nice guy. He asked if I needed food or water and he even gave me some blister pads when I told him about my feet.I was back on the trail by 3:30pm after gathering 3 liters of water. Ouch on the weight factor¢¦I found a camping spot a short distance from the Mombasha High Point. You are supposed to be able to see the New York skyline from here, but regardless the star gazing will be great.
Date: 2008-07-03
From: Camp at Mile: 1365.8

To: Willam Brian Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

After supper last night I laid down on my sleeping bag to rest a few minutes with the full intention of getting up at dark to do some star gazing and to see if I could see NY City from the Mombasha High Point. When I woke up it was about midnight. I decided to stay put and just open my tent fly. Man the stars were beautiful, but within a few minutes I was back asleep.There was some real tough hiking today with a lot of climbs and descents. The lack of water along the trail and at shelters continued but luckily trail angels were placing containers of water at road crossingsThe most interesting section of the trail today was the Lemmon Squeeze. This is a very narrow corridor between boulders that required that I remove my pack to get through. After that you get to choose an easy or hard way to continue on the A.T. Of course I chose the hard route, which required that I remove my pack and toss it on a ledge above me. I then monkey climbed up the rock face to the trail above.When I got to Fingerboard Shelter I only had 12 liter of water left. After a short break I went to the road crossing and hiked the 3/10 of a mile to a state park. I knew I could get water there but I would also realize what a good choice this would be.As I was walking down the road a fellow pulled along side me and gave me several packages of snacks. What a trail angel! When I got to the restrooms I saw that they had a shower, so I asked the lifeguard if I could use it and he gave me the ok. Not only did I shower but I also washed my clothes. The best part was that I had hot water. Man what a shower and clean clothes can do for your spirits. This place even had an ice cream vending machine.I had been feeling really fatigued and down in the dumps today and these few simple acts of kindness really changed my attitude. I continue to be touched by God¢s grace.I saw several deer today and one I was able to stalk within 20 yards of. Made a perfect shot with my pretend bow¢¦Its funny how calm I am when it¢s not the real thing.
Date: 2008-07-04
From: Willam Brian Memorial Shelter

To: Graymoor Friary
Miles today: 15.3

It rained for several hours last night. I¢m sure glad that I stayed in the shelter.I got on the trail by 6:00am and it was raining lightly. I¢ve only got 8 miles to hike to get to Bear Mountain NY where I plan to eat lunch and pick up some snacks. I continue to encounter a lot of hills to climb and descend.As I was approaching town I met a fellow on the trail who asked about my hike. I learned that he was also a hiker and he gave me some fruit and a bagel.When I arrived at the park, I met fellow thru hiker Peanut and members of her family. They treated me to a sandwich, soda, and some treats. What a great lunch!The A.T. goes right through the wildlife park so after visiting this area I walked to nearby Fort Montgomery NY to get some snacks. While I was in a local store I met a hiker by the name of Stan. Stan offered me a ride to a local AYCE buffet and after eating he picked me up and drove me to the trail head. It¢s the kindness of people like Stan that have made my journey so rewarding.It did not take me long to cover the 7 miles to the Graymoor Friary. This church allows thru hikes to camp at their ball field and they even have a shower. That night the church was hosting a cook out for some of the youth members and they invited us to join them. Great hamburgers!Trail magic 4 times in one day! Now that¢s magic!
Date: 2008-07-05
From: Graymoor Friary

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained really hard for several hours last night. About every hour a drop of water would fall from the peak of my tent fly. Looks like its time to seal the seams. I was up at 5:30am and dried my tent the best I could before packing up. I was on the trail by 7:00am. and thank goodness the hills were not as bad as previous days.It had been overcast all day and about 2:30pm. the rain came down hard for about an hour. At one point I was walking up a hill and the stream of water was rushing over my ankles. After a couple of hours the rain stopped and the skies cleared. I arrived at the RPH Shelter at 6:00pm and pitched my tent. I also hung out my gear to dry.Today marks 1415 miles hiked on the A.T. I¢m heading into Pawling NY tomorrow and plan to stay in Morrow Park tomorrow night. I have a mail drop and plan to take a zero day Monday.
Date: 2008-07-06
From: RPH Shelter

To: Pauling, NY
Miles today: 17.3

The RPH Shelter was right next to a road and with fireworks going off until after midnight, there wasn¢t much sleep.I was up at 5:30am and on the trail by 6:00am I decided to skip breakfast since the water source was looking so bad. There¢s a deli at the road crossing about 5 miles away and I will stop there for breakfast and to get water.The terrain continued to be very good and I made great time on my hike. I got to the road crossing in about 2 hours and it was only 3/10 of a mile to the deli. After a great breakfast sandwich, I filled my water bottles and hit the trail again.On my hike today, I saw my first turkey gobbler. I only observed him for a couple seconds but could see he had about a 6¢ beard.I got to the road crossing at 3:30pm and was able to get a ride in about 30 minutes. The fellow that picked me up spoke very little English, but drove me all the way into town.After a great sandwich at the deli, I met some teenagers that were very interested in my hike. They said like typical teenagers that there was nothing to do in their town. I encouraged them to put on a backpack and begin hiking the trails in the area. I showed them some pictures I had taken in the area and they were amazed at what was at their back door. I walked down to Murrow Park and learned that the shower was outside with no walls, so I stripped down to my short pants and took a shower. Felt great. I also got all my gear cleaned up and dried out.
Date: 2008-07-07
From: Pauling, NY

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Zero DayI got up at 5:30am and walked to the laundry mat and washed clothes. I then went to a local deli and got a breakfast sandwich. While waiting for the post office to open I worked through my hiking schedule. It looks like I will be in Vermont in 9 days.I had 3 boxes at the post office so a lot of sorting to do. After that I forwarded 2 boxes to my next re-supply and one home. While in the post office a lady offered me a ride to my motel. Thank goodness for trail angles like Gwen that help hikers. I had a wonderful relaxing day and this was really good for me. But by the afternoon I was itching to get back on the trail.
Date: 2008-07-08
From: Pauling, NY

To: Ten Mile River Lean-To, Connecticut
Miles today: 12.0

Try as I may, I could not sleep past 6:00am this morning. I got up and drank the chocolate milk I had bought the night before and watched a few minutes of the local news. Yep, it¢s called eyewitness news and they cover the various shootings, robberies, and traffic crashes and the weatherman tries hard to make his part interesting. I would hate to be the weatherman!I got packed up and was on the road hitching by 7:00am and within a few minutes Trail Angel Gale gave me a ride into town. I stopped by the deli for a breakfast sandwich and then waited for the CVS Pharmacy to open. I was out of paper to write journals and I wanted to pick up a few cards to send to my girls in the upcoming weeks. I also was going to make a CD of my photos just in case I could not load my photos at the library.While waiting for the library to open I rewrote a couple journal pages and mailed them home. I also rewrote my hiking agenda and made sure I had all of my bases covered. If everything goes as planned I will be in Vermont in 9 days.Man am I glad I made that CD because I was unable to load my pictures on my website. I had burned up about an hour trying to do so. As I was walking out of town I decided to stop by a deli and get my last taste of real food for a few days. It was then off to hitch a ride to the trail head. Fortunately it only took me a few minutes before a nice lady stopped and gave me a ride. I regret I did not get her name.I was on the trail by about noon and when I came to the first road crossing I saw Red Dog and Lucky Dog there. They were enjoying some BBQ from a roadside vendor. Man do I wish I had waited on lunch. This nice fellow was giving free drinks to hikers. Within a few minutes Lotus showed up and we brought each other up to date. It was then back to hiking. About 4:30pm I crossed into Connecticut. What a great feeling. Only 5 states left.
Date: 2008-07-09
From: Ten Mile River Lean-To, Connecticut

To: Silver Hill Campsite
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a day hiker camp near the shelter last night and between his dog barking and him telling the dog to be quite, there was not much sleep. When I got up this morning it was overcast and already hot and humid. I was on the trail by 6:30 a.m. and was faced with a lot of climbs and descents throughout the day.As I crossed one road I met two teenage boys who were out for the week. They quickly left me behind until we reached a mountain. When I passed them they were both leaning over gasping for air. I wasn¢t even breathing hard. That made this old thru hiker feel pretty good. At one point on my hike, I jumped a jake turkey that was bedded right next to the trail. This turkey was not more than 20 yards from me when it flushed from cover and then he ran down the trail for 50 yards.About 2:00 p.m. the rain came and it poured. It rained hard until I got to the shelter 2 hours later. After fixing supper the skies cleared somewhat and I decided to push on to Silver Hill Campsite. I got to the campsite about 6:30 p.m. and with clearing skies and a steady breeze this was definitely the place to be. One thing I failed to mention in an earlier journal entry was an unusual item I found along the AT while hiking in NY. It was early one morning when I looked down and saw a white traditional arrow nock. I picked it up and saw it was in perfect condition. I later learned that archery hunting was allowed in this area. I wondered if this nock was attached to an arrow that took a deer? I decided to keep this artifact and deemed it the good medicine nock. I¢ve placed it in the cavity of my trail mascot Porky the Porcupine.