morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-10-05
From: Route 55 north of Pawling NY

To: Route 52 south of Stormville NY
Miles today: 7.2

Did a one day hike today with assistance from Cougar Bait. I really hate asking him to do these shuttles because he gets grumpy when I fumble around trying to find the Trail crossings and various parking spots. They do a good job of hiding them sometimes. So - it was nice for me to do a one-way hike from Rt. 55 north of Pawling to Rt. 52 south of Stormville. Nothing remarkable. I saw two other people all day and it was a beautiful day - a bit hot for early Oct - but still nice. The Morgan Stewart Memorial Shelter is a nice one - fairly clean and well-built. Also right on the Trail which is nice. I usually don't visit shelters unless I can see them from the Trail. Same rule I use when driving and looking for gas stations off highways. I still need about 3 days to finish NY but at least I am done with the state on the east side of the Hudson. I'll tackle the rest in two weeks and maybe do a bit in NJ if I have time.'til later
Date: 2012-10-22
From: NY 17A Greenwood Lake/Warwick, NY

To: Lakes Road, NY
Miles today: 3.6

Did another in and out hike today - tried to line up a cab but they were not available - she didn't try too hard so I'm not sure what the company's problem is. It was an interesting hike - nice, flat and wide for the most part but two areas of rock climbing using hands. Not too tough technically but I was tired. Beautiful weather - could not have been nicer. Saw several deer scampering away in the woods - I seem to always see deer in NY. Also saw a few hikers - more later in the day. I am not sure what I am going to do tomorrow - not energized enough for a tough section that I need to do and don't have a shuttle for the other - so will decide when I wake up. I need to add a small section I did late in the day - I'll just put in another day later.'til later
Date: 2012-10-23
From: Parking Area Arden Valley Rd NY

To: Top of Arden Mountain NY
Miles today: 1.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Parked in the lot off of Arden Valley? Road and hiked across the NY Thruway, Rt 17 - which was the craziest crossing I've made - much worse than the Palisades Parkway - and up the Agony Grind - and boy, was it a grind. Would have been easier but the Trail was covered with leaves and I had to be careful not to slip on the rocks. I went to the top (I think) and turned around. Will save me 1.5 miles when I do this section in November. I drove home today and will do the last bits of NY in November. 'til later
Date: 2013-02-28
From: Orange Turnpike NY

To: Top of Arden Mountain NY
Miles today: 0.8

Did a very small segment today - it was longer than the .8 - probably more like 1.5 but I think I showed more mileage last October when I came up the other side. Its a tough climb - Agony Grind as its called - and it was very slow-going today. This was the first time I hiked in snow - there was about 4 inches of the stuff in places - other places there was none. Sometimes its easier to hike in the snow since you can use it to make little ledges but other times its tougher. It took me 3 hours to hike about 3 miles - ugh. Tomorrow I plan on doing another small bit and maybe a few more miles. I couldn't believe that there were other hikers out today. I'm not the only nut job hiking in NY in February! No pictures to post because there were no views.'til later
Date: 2013-03-01
From: Orange Turnpike, NY

To: Little Dam Lake Crossing NY
Miles today: 1.2

My plan for the day was to do a hike in and back from Orange Turnpike where I parked yesterday to West Mombasa Road. I got 1.2 miles into the hike when I came to the Little Dam Lake crossing. The bridge had washed out in the last two years and the club had put stepping stones in but they were totally submerged with water rushing over them - much too dangerous even for the middle of summer. So I turned back. I tried to take a decent picture but sometimes the pictures don't do nature much justice. I then drove to the Delaware Water Gap and parked and took a short walk around the area. If I feel up to it, I plan on hiking in this area on Sunday and Monday but we'll see. A lot of work the past two days and very little trail mileage to show for it! Oh well.'til later
Date: 2013-05-09
From: Ridge Rd north of Milesburn Cabin

To: Quarry Gap Road PA
Miles today: 5.6

Cougar Bait shuttled me today! Dropped me off north of Milesburn Cabin and I hiked to Quarry Gap Rd - a total of 6.3 but I hiked a small bit previously so a little less counts. Saw 2 thrus, two women around 60 yrs old (separately) and Cheap Chardonnay. A nice day with no bugs and a comfortable temp. More tomorrow!'Til later
Date: 2013-05-10
From: Ridge Rd north of Milesburn Cabin

To: Toms Run Shelters
Miles today: 8.0

A big 8.0 today - actually more since I had to hike in to the Toms Run Shelters and back to Woodrow Rd where CB shuttled me again! I've now used up my annual shuttle allowance from CB. That's it for the next week. More in PA next week and then a trip through NY where I plan to FINALLY finish NY.Til later
Date: 2013-05-18
From: East Mombasa Road NY

To: Half Way to West Mombasa Road
Miles today: 1.0

Every little bit counts! Drove from WV ATC Board Meeting to the Trail in NY. Was hoping to do a quick 2.7 miles before dark. I walked about a mile and came to a steep decent on rocks. It was raining pretty hard and it would have been too slippery to go down the rocks - coming up would not have been a problem - so I turned around early and will have to come in from the other direction on a dry day. I am overly cautious when I hike by myself.
Date: 2013-06-17
From: Lakes Road

To: West Mombasha Road
Miles today: 3.5

A short 3.5 miles today on the way back from NJ. Cougar Bait dropped me off at 11:30 and I headed north back to my car. Didn't see a soul and had to wait out a thunderstorm at a low spot in the woods. The terrain was easier than I expected and I was prepared to do more miles but the weather had other ideas. 'til later
Date: 2013-08-11
From: Rt. 17A Greenwood Lake NY

To: Village Vista Side Trail NY
Miles today: 2.7

I parked at 17A in Greenwood Lake NY and hiked to the cutoff for the Village Vista Trail. In and out and even though the Companion says 2.7 miles one way - its more like 1.7 - probably an error because there is no way in hell that I can hike 2.7 miles in 45 minutes! I then drove over to West Mombasha Rd. and hiked east to Buchanan Mountain - where I stopped earlier this year due to wet and unsafe rocks. I'll add that mileage to my entry for tomorrow.An interesting day. The hike from 17A to VV Trail was very easy. Lulled me into a false sense of easiness which I'll discuss in my next entry. The hike to Buchanan Mtn was difficult. I really think the Trail needs to be rerouted around one very nasty rock face - that in my opinion is dangerous. I managed to get up the rock by grabbing onto protruding roots and had to come back down on my ass. Right before I arrived at the rock I came to a group of hikers sitting around. A women in the group had fallen and broke her wrist. I'm not sure who she was with but the other hikers had created a splint for her and had a ranger on the way. I ran into him further up the Trail and we discussed the best way to take her out - since I'd hiked the whole section between East and West Mombasha. They ended up walking her out by bushwacking their way to East Mombasha Road. Poor thing. Her hand was purple and she had cuts on her face. She hadn't even come to the nasty rock - she slipped on a random wet rock. She appeared to be doing a section hike because she had a full pack and its probably too late for thrus in NY. Made me very careful for the rest of my hike. 'til later
Date: 2013-08-12
From: Village Vista Side Trail NY

To: NY/NJ Border - State Line Trail
Miles today: 4.9

The mileage is a little funky due to some adjustments I had to make for yesterday. I think I actually walked 9.3 miles today. I started early by going up the Village Vista Trail to the AT - which is .9 miles. I then walked west to the NY/NJ border - which the Companion says is 3.2 miles but I say its 4.2 miles. It was a difficult day - many large rocks that required sliding down on the fanny and/or grabbing and hoisting myself up. All doable but it was hot and I was pissed that it was so hard. After the easy walk from 17A to the Village Vista Trail yesterday I was hoping that it stayed easy until the border - but I've read other journals and I knew it was going to be hard. I was excited to see the aluminum ladder that is fastened to the rocks - for some reason it looks bigger and harder in other people's pictures. But I was very excited to see the NY/NJ state line. I've finally finished NY and I have a few things to say about it which I will post in another entry. My intent was to turn around and go back the way I came but it was too stinking hard so I went down the State Line Trail to Greenwood Lake - which is 1.2 miles long and, like the Village Vista Trail, was well-marked and although not easy, it wasn't terribly difficult. I called the local cab company but they had no one available for at least an hour so I made the road walk back to my car. This is the second time I've tried to use them - I'm not sure how they operate but when I drove past them in the morning there were at least 4 cabs sitting there. She said they would have to call someone in and it would take an hour for them to get there. Makes no sense. Don't bother with them. A hard road walk - narrow shoulder and no place for someone to take pity on me and pick me up. So I walked the 3.5 or so miles. I am soooo happy to be done with the west part of the NY trail. It's now on to NJ - which I understand is much nicer 'til later
Date: 2013-08-13
From: NY/NJ Border - State Line Trail

To: New Jersey
Miles today: 0.0

I just need to vent a bit about the AT in NY - but also give kudos where they are due. I've been working on my day hiking of NY for a few years - started with the Zoo and Bridge - which I had actually walked through and over in 1981. The AT from Bear Mountain to the CT border was wonderful. My favorite section was in the Nuclear Lake area - to the AT Train Station. Loved it and loved the Pawling boardwalk. I hiked Bear Mountain before the new steps were put in but even in its old state, it was a nice but difficult hike to the top. There was a great reward waiting in terms of the view. But - after Bear Mountain heading west, I don't have much to say. Few views; some areas of the Trail that need more maintenance and one section that needs a new bridge; old, nasty looking shelters; just not an enjoyable walk in the woods. I kept thinking that maybe its because all of the attention and effort has been directed at Bear Mountain in the past few years and maybe some of the other sections have been a little neglected. I would encourage the NYNJ club to put a new bridge over Little Dam; put in switchbacks on the west side of West Mountain; and reroute the Trail in the Buchanan Mtn. area. Some hiker have complained about the lack of Trail markings in the Buchanan Mtn. area but I am happy to report that the area was filled with new blazes - probably too many blazes and some of them done in a very sloppy, drippy manner. Sorry to be critical but unless someone says something how will they know. I have high hopes for NJ - and look forward to starting my day hikes there in the next month.'til later
Date: 2013-09-11
From: Brady/Long House Rd. NJ

To: Rt. 94 Vernon NJ
Miles today: 6.9

So - for the first time ever I went the wrong way. I tried to blame my shuttle driver but he said I couldn't pin this on him and he's right. I drove from MA (leaving after a 7am dentist appt) to the Trail in Vernon NJ and called Ron at Vernon Taxi for a shuttle. He picked me up 20 minutes later and brought me to Long House/Brady Rd. for my hike back to my car. Stupid me went the wrong way and didn't realize it until I hit the NY border and saw the painted SL on the rocks - which stands for State Line Trail - which I walked last month. I was so pissed at myself. So I turned around and had to call him again when I calculated that I wouldn't get back to my car before dark - even though I carry a headlamp. Ugh. So lost a day but did get one new mile in. Yesterday he picked me up and I walked the balance of the section that I had planned to walk the day before. I then drove over to the Wallkill National Wildlife Preserve and hiked a small section around the Preserve. It was very hot - 90+ - so I hiked slowly and took many breaks. I did not include those miles - I'll pick them up on the 13th when I complete that section. Saw one SOBO thru hiker and two other random guys doing section hikes. Hot, hot, hot and buggy. Will get better later this week.'til later
Date: 2013-09-12
From: Lake Wallkill Rd. NJ

To: Rt. 94 Vernon NJ
Miles today: 7.0

A much nicer day to hike. Still humid but started at 7:30 am so done by 11 am. Used Vernon Taxi and Ron again and hiked back to my car. I loved the Pochunk Boardwalk - doesn't hurt that it was flat. The hike up Pochunk Mountain first thing was a little rough but I would rather do the hard stuff first thing in the am. The Trail in NJ is beautifully maintained so far and I really like it. I grew up in Toms River and didn't know much about northwest NJ and I have to say its much more rural than I realized. But there are some areas of the Trail that have houses very close by. I hope the Trail is adequately protected in this area. I chatted with two guys doing a 4 day section hike. We hiked near each other most of the day and one guy told me he saw a bear running away - just before I got to him. And then 10 minutes later he said he saw another one. Jealous - I really want to see one in NJ - maybe tomorrow! I forgot to mention the British couple I saw yesterday while walking the Preserve area. They are doing a thru hike SOBO but slacking the whole thing using a car and a RV. They were doing big miles (by my standards) and were very nice and funny. I told them that I was doing a hotel to hotel hike so I understood. More tomorrow - Ron is meeting me at 7am for my last Vernon Taxi shuttle.'til later
Date: 2013-09-13
From: County Rd. 519 NJ

To: Lake Wallkill Rd NJ
Miles today: 10.6

What a beautiful section of the AT. I met Ron the cab driver at the parking lot at the Wallkill Wildlife Refuge and he drove me up to County Rd 519 - which is south of High Point State Park. I walked back to my car. It was still a little warm but much better than it has been the past two days. I saw several hikers and ran into Blue Sky something-or-other again. A nice, cute kid who is going SOBO and has had some amazing trail magic from people. He's very nice and smiles all the time so I can see why people want to help him. I had lost my Road ID bracelet two days prior and he walked up to me and said "Fussymary!" and handed me the bracelet. He found it and kept it thinking he may run into me again. Made my day. I did big miles for me but what a wonderful Trail.'til later
Date: 2013-09-14
From: South of Millbrook on Rt. 602

To: Camp Rd. NJ
Miles today: 3.4

Did an 'in and back' today. Not many towns around - there is one shuttler listed on the AT site so I may use him next week for a longer section. This part of the Trail was very rocky - not the big boulder-type rocks that are popular in western NY and not the small, slippery stones - these are the 8 inch sharp pointy rocks that beat up the feet. But - this was offset by the wonderful ridge walk along the Kittatinny Ridge. Just beautiful. Since it was a Saturday, there were a lot of people out. The walk up to the fire tower must be a popular one - there is a picnic table up there and many people were heading that way. I am going to head to southern PA tomorrow am and do a short in and back near Mount Holly Springs. My feet need a break from the rocks. I plan on returning to NJ next week to do some more.'til later
Date: 2013-09-15
From: PA 94 Mt. Holly Springs, PA

To: Pine Grove Rd, PA
Miles today: 2.7

Drove from Stroudsburg, PA (hope I don't offend anyone but what a dump) to the AT hiker parking lot on Hunters Run Road in PA. Went to the deli located just up the street for lunch and started an in and out hike around 1. Hiked 5.4 miles pretty quickly on a flat AT. Beautiful weather - not much to see in the woods but smelled good. Saw 6 SOBO's sprinting south - man, these young kids just glide over the small rocks. I don't understand how they do it. I will probably do another in and out hike tomorrow in the early pm after the rains clear out. Still deciding which section to do - I need to do 10.5 miles to fill in my gap between the southern PA border and Boiling Springs. Two different pieces so can't do them both on the same day and need a shuttle for the larger piece - which I think I can get on Wednesday. So will probably do the shorter in and out tomorrow. Will see. After my Tuesday meeting at ATC in Harpers Ferry, I will do the Wednesday hike, another piece with a shuttle north of Boiling Springs on Thursday and then drive to my mom's in NJ. Maybe tackle the rest of NJ next week. Will see.....'til later
Date: 2013-10-20
From: Hiker Parking for High Point State Park NJ

To: County 519 NJ
Miles today: 3.25

Beautiful day - drove from Plymouth MA to High Point State Park in NJ and hope to complete the NJ portion of the AT this week via day hikes. Saw many hikers and lucked out with a ride back to my car so I didn't have to do an in and out hike. Still tinkering with tomorrow's plan but will an in and out unless I get lucky again.'til later
Date: 2013-10-21
From: High Point NJ Rt. 23

To: Deckertown Turnpike NJ
Miles today: 5.45

Another in and out today - parked at the AT Hiker lot just below the High Point State Park entry and took the side trail to the AT. Hiked south to the Deckertown Turnpike and turned around and hiked back. A long hiking day for me - many small rocks that made the going very slow - especially with leaves covering the small rocks. I did run into several other hikers today - two women doing a day hike; two separate guys who looked to be thru hikers - one told me he flipped in Damascus and hopes to make it there by Thanksgiving (I don't think so); a women with her three kids - who were doing a five mile loop hike so her son could get Boy Scout credit. I carry AT patches with me and I hand them out to kids. Its amazing how something so small makes them so happy. I hope that as they get older they will remember when they were on the AT and maybe help to take care of her someday. It was a beautiful day; the trail itself was in great shape, as has been the rest of the NJ trail so far, but there could be more blazes in this section. I did a lot of double-checking today because I'd loose the blazes. More small pointy rocks are in my future tomorrow!'til later
Date: 2013-10-22
From: Blue Mountain Rd

To: Culvers Gap
Miles today: 10.6

This was a most excellent day - but my feet are screaming at me. Lotsa rocks in NJ. I lined up a shuttle for tomorrow but he was not available today so I decided to do a 7+ mile in and out hike and decided to go a little later than normal. As I was parking there were two guys moving stuff into one car so I asked if they were doing a car drop and they said yes. I then asked where they were going and its a section I need to do and I asked if I could ride with them. I smushed into the backseat and off we went. Turns out they were a NYNJ Club Sawyer and his Swamper. Had never heard the term swamper before. Its like a spotter and they help carry the fuel and a few other things. The Sawyer carried the chainsaw. Joel the Sawyer explained to me that he and Rich the Swamper were going to be clearing blowdowns. Cool. I've never seen it done live so I hung around for a while and hiked with them for the first few. I then decided to get ahead of them because I am a slow poke and thought they would catch up. Turns out there were several blowdowns on this section and I did not see them again. I could hear the saw every once in a while. Was kinda nice knowing that I had two people behind me. I even turned my Spot off today. Just a little sprinkle and I saw four other hikers heading south - including Toes - who I saw the other day. I probably hiked about 11.5 miles today - the most I've done in forever - since we had to hike up to the Trail from Blue Mountain Rd. I plan on doing something just short of 9 tomorrow - again over rocky terrain from what I hear - so my feet will be complaining again. Its more of an issue with my toes for some reason - losing nails and getting toe blisters. Will work on this over the winter. 'til later
Date: 2013-10-23
From: Culvers Gap

To: Deckertown Turnpike NJ
Miles today: 9.0

Used George the Shuttler and recent graduate of the AT (finished his 28 year section hike recently - so I do have hope!) to get to the Trail today. Great guy - gave me a good luck charm/necklace. I started walking at 7:45 and finished around 1 or so. Stopped several times to enjoy the sights and check out the pileated woodpecker. The trail was better than yesterday but there were still some of those annoying rocky sections. I really enjoy walking along the Kittatinny Ridge in NJ. Not much to see today - a trio of hikers doing a section from the Hudson River to the Delaware Water Gap - nice North Carolinians probably in their early 60's or so. Just the kind of guys I like to hike with because of their pace. They were hiking with a women solo hiker who they said was leaving them in the dust. I should run into them tomorrow and maybe again on Friday since I will be doing the sections they need to finish. I finally saw a NJ shelter because it was along the Trail. It was clean and the area around it was very well kept. I don't know why they had a new privy when the old one - which looked like a porta potty with a solar panel on the roof - was locked up. It looked new but very out of place for the AT. Tomorrow I will do a 7+ mile in and out and probably drive over and walk over and back on the Delaware Bridge so I don't have to do it Friday. I will finish off NJ on Friday with Cougar Bait's help. Very exciting to have another state almost done!'til later
Date: 2013-10-24
From: Blue Mtn Lakes Rd NJ

To: Millbrook Rd NJ
Miles today: 3.9

Did two things today - I first completed the section between Millbrook and Blue Mtn Lakes Rd. What a great section. Flat and a great old woods road walk on a beautiful day. I went in and out so did 3.9 miles twice. I then decided to do the hike over the Delaware River Bridge at the Gap. Originally I figured I could do it when I did the PA side but to truly complete NJ, I decided to get it over with. Ugh - what a horrible experience. You are on a slender concrete walkway and the trucks are whizzing by you. The bridge moves sometimes and it was almost terrifying. I kept telling myself to just stay calm and look down and if it became unbearable I could crawl. I thought it would be better on the way back because I had to go back and forth but it was still crappy. I can't imagine how a thru hiker feels after coming out of a calm environment with a full pack and hitting that. I'll add those miles into tomorrow's figures. Anyway, that's done and was about a two mile back and forth. Tomorrow - I finish NJ!'til later