morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-08-01
From: Leroy A. Smith Shelter

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

Long day today. Foggy starting out; warm and humid. The trail is still rocky. I was hurrying along part of the trail with my head down and did not see a tree that was across the trail at a 45 degree angle. I ran head first into the tree and went down on my back as if Mike Tyson had punched me in the top of my head! I laid there for a few minutes, taking inventory. I was okay except for my left buttock that had landed on a sharp rock. My pack protected my back and shoulders.Going into Delaware Water Gap it was hard to see the white blazes. I just kept following the fire road. Eventually, it led me off of the ridge and into town. Warm, humid night with the threat of rain. I pitched my tent at the Church of the Mountain hostel. I had thought about sleeping in the hostel, but I met a guy there who appeared to be intoxicated, so I decided to tent.
Date: 2014-08-02
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.8

An interesting day today. I went into the hostel to shower and to my surprise I saw Yogi. Yogi is the hiker who carried my pack for me when I was dehydrated in Waynesboro, VA. I would have thought he would be close to finishing the trail by now. He had caught Lyme disease from a tick and was moving very slowly.I ate breakfast with Yogi, Scout, and Gadget at a diner. A local started a conversation with us. He was with his son and talked about hiking. After he left, the waitress came over and told us he had bought breakfast for all of us. More Trail Magic.Back at the hostel, packing up. Firefox was there; Yogi and Scout had tented right next to me. I got ready to go and the guy from the night before who I thought was drunk asked me if he could follow me out of town. His name is Yoga Ninja. It turns out that he had brain cancer as a child; he has had nine operations. He is still out hiking the trail because this is his dream. Man, will I ever learn? Don't judge too quickly.I got to the Mohican Outdoor Center run by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). I asked if I could buy dinner; they said "no", but if I stuck around they would give me the leftovers after the paying guests had eaten. They fed me pretty good. While I was eating, another thru-hiker came in -- Smooth D. I thought I would never see that guy again. Turns out his Mom is up Freedom Hiking him and hiking a little on her own. I tented. Put my food in a bear box....
Date: 2014-08-03
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

My son--Daniel's--27th birthday. I ate breakfast at the center. There was a group of young people at the center; I caught up with them at a fire tower. One of the young men took a "selfie" of me and the group. Very nice group of kids-with very diverse cultural heritage. This generation all American.
Date: 2014-08-04
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: Mashipacong Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: light rain

Interesting day today. Grinding out the miles. Water is not as plentiful; New York has not had a lot of rain lately. Late in the afternoon I saw a shadowy figure off to my left, running parallel to the trail -- a bear cub! I started beating my trekking poles together because Momma Bear has to be close. I walked around a clump of undergrowth and about 20 yards off the trail was Momma Bear...standing on her hind legs with her front paws over her head, resting on the trunk of a tree. I looked up in the tree and there were two cubs. Momma was looking up at them, then she slowly turned her head toward me. I got the message: Just keep moving and everything will be okay. And that is what I did. I should have taken a picture, but the adrenaline was flowing way too much.When I got to Mashipacong Shelter, I was the only person there. I put my food into the bear box. It was nice to see the stars and moon.
Date: 2014-08-05
From: Mashipacong Shelter

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

What a day! Before I got through with breakfast, Firefox came into camp. He had spent the night at Sunrise Mountain. A shelter maintainer came in and put water in the bear box, so Firefox and I filled up. We ate lunch just short of a little uphill; Firefox took off before me and said he would meet me at High Point Park HQ. I got to the top of the little uphill and took a left. After walking about 50 yards, I realized that I was off the AT. I back-tracked and saw a tree with a white blaze so started hiking. After about 2 miles of what looked like familiar terrain, I realized I had been hiking south! What a mistake! The only thing I could do was turn around and hike north again. At the top of the little uphill I found the correct white blaze. I was really upset with myself. I arrived at the HQ after 4:00 pm. I ate and dried out my tent. I spoke with a local by the name of Jim; his son is going to school in Austin. Black Beard and Classy arrived. Jim split a hoagie 3 ways for us. I packed up my tent and headed toward High Point Shelter. At a wooden tower, I met Ray and Lorice. I took a photo of the High Point Monument, the High Point being the highest point in New Jersey.I arrived at High Point Shelter and pitched my tent...in a low spot. A mistake as there was a slight chance of rain (20%). A thunderstorm came up and the underside of my tent acted like a water bed!
Date: 2014-08-06
From: High Point Shelter

To: Pochuck Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: broken clouds

Packed up my wet tent. I hiked to Unionville, NY and went to the Wits End Tavern; got a burger and wings. Wit gave me two tokens for draft beers; told me to give them to two southbound hikers, but not to jerks!I went to the city park and dried out my gear. Re-supplied at Horler's Store--not much of a selection. I packed up and continued hiking. North of the Wall Kill Reserve, I heard a sustained noise. I took my eyes off of the planks I was walking upon and saw the biggest black bear of the trip so far! About a 400 lb. male black bear--just walking through the woods, foraging on berries. He did not pay any attention to me at all. If he saw me, he did not perceive me as a threat.
Date: 2014-08-07
From: Pochuck Mountain Shelter

To: Near NJ-NY Border
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

What a night last night! I kept hearing what I thought was a bear turning over rocks looking for grub. In retrospect, it was probably an air cannon--scaring off birds from the reserve.I walked over a long boardwalk today. A lot of work went into the construction of this boardwalk. Got some trail magic of captain crackers at an unattended box before the boardwalk.I tried to make it to the border, but camped in a low spot just shy of it. Blueberries around the area where I camped.
Date: 2014-08-08
From: Near NJ-NY Border

To: Near Fitzgerald Falls
Miles today: 10.8

I got up and hiked about .2 miles to cross the NJ/NY border. I decided I needed more food, so took a side trail to Greenwood Lake and went to Cumberland gas station convenience store. Part of my purchase was hot dogs. I went to the Country Kitchen and got a chili cheeseburger. Then back up the .9 mile side trail.I had trouble with the hose on my hydration bladder so I moved the tube to my left side so that it would not kink. Just irritating. Pack on, pack off, etc.
Date: 2014-08-09
From: Near Fitzgerald Falls

To: Harriman State Park
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I met Peter, his daughter, and their dog Riley, going into Harriman State Park. Peter gave me a granola bar. His daughter is going to school in Maine, somewhere near the Bigelow Mountains. She wants to hike the AT. Peter said that he grew up in this area and camped in Harriman as a teenager. They were very nice people.I went through the Lemon Squeeze today; just a narrow gap between the rocks. Then I pulled myself over a ledge after the Lemon Squeeze. I had to throw my sticks ahead of me; felt good to accomplish that. After searching around, I found a nice campsite about 30 yards off the trail, below a little rise. Mosquitoes have been bad; I had to wear my rain jacket to keep them off of my arms.
Date: 2014-08-10
From: Harriman State Park

To: Fort Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Started hiking today after one of the most restful nights I have had on the trail. I met a weekend hiker by the name of Fabian. He is a young entrepreneur from New York City. His company manufactures kitchen utensils out of reuseable/recycled materials. He is originally from Switzerland. He hiked with me until West Mountain, then he had to hike off to catch a train into New York. I very much enjoyed his company.I hiked Bear Mountain today. Many, many steps. Climbed up the observation tower. By the time I got to the Trailside Museum, it was closed. I took the alternate path and called the Bear Mountain Bridge Motel for a ride.The motel owners recommended a BBQ place for supper; great food. Before I even finished my nachos, I was full. Had to take 1/2 chicken back to my hotel room.
Date: 2014-08-11
From: Fort Montgomery, NY

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Zero Day in Fort Montgomery.....I needed to resupply. I ate breakfast at a small deli ran by a brother and sister, Perry and Cherie. I asked them about a place to resupply; not really anything around Fort Montgomery. I told them I was looking for some freeze-dried meals. Perry told me if I could come back about 10:30 a.m., he would go home and get some meals for me. When I returned, he had a whole box of freeze-dried meals. I took 5 of the meals and offered to pay for them. Perry would not accept any payment. All of the meals were alike -- Southwest Chicken -- but the price was right! I bought some more supplies at a little gas station, and then some more at another gas station.Back at the hotel I met Breakfast Club, a Spring graduate of Alabama. Pretty nice kid. He was also a thru-hiker; he planned to take a couple of Zeroes. I spent the rest of the day getting ready to get back on the trail. I called Linda and made arrangements with her for a mail drop in Falls Village, CT. I called Black Diamond and ordered new trekking poles to be delivered in Tyringham, MA.
Date: 2014-08-12
From: Fort Montgomery, NY

To: Near Clarence Fahnestock SP
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Up and ready by 8:30 am. Doug, the owner of the hotel, gave me a ride back to the trail, very near Bear Mountain Bridge. Doug told me that he used to be a funeral home director in New York City. He does have a nice, easy-going manner about him. He and his wife treated me very well during my stay with them.Weather called for possible rain today. There was another "heavy town pack" walking across the bridge. I had a good hike out of the Hudson River Valley; stopped to eat lunch at the Appalachian Market at US 9 and NY 403. There were a lot of people in the place. Bought myself a Philly Cheese Steak sub and ate it outside.There were a lot of little ups and downs all day long. It started getting dark and I couldn't find a suitable place to camp--not enough room on the high points or damp on the low points. There was a long, level stretch of trail before NY 301; thought I'd never say this, but I was ready for the level stretch to end. I met two SOBOs on this stretch, a young man and woman. The woman was from Houston. They told me that there were camping spots near Fahnestock State Park and the lake. I found a spot and set up camp. Ate Southwest Chicken for supper--pretty good.
Date: 2014-08-13
From: Near Clarence Fahnestock SP

To: Near Old Stormville Mountain Road
Miles today: 12.7

I got a late start today. It had started raining in the night. I had cell service so was able to bring up the weather radar. Heavy rain in the morning, so I just stayed in the tent for awhile. I finally packed up and was moving by 12:30 pm.I hike behind a couple of day hikers, a man and his son, for awhile. They were taking quite a few photos, so they let me pass. The trail was wet after the rain. I hiked over the 911 Memorial Flag painting today. It is beginning to get a little weathered.Stealth camped. I hung a clothesline today to try to dry out some of my clothes. More Southwest Chicken.
Date: 2014-08-14
From: Near Stormville, NY

To: Near Ten Mile Hill
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well, the clothesline did not work very well. Everything still damp this morning. Two SOBOs came by camp this morning at 7:30 am--moving pretty quickly, no words exchanged. In the daylight this morning, I am surprised at how close I camped to the houses on Stormville Mountain Road--almost in their backyard.I hiked near Nuclear Lake today. Met two day hikers--Hobbit and Mike. Hobbit is a section hiker finishing up New York. I had a nice chat with them while I was drying out my gear on top of a large, flat rock. In fact, Hobbit took a picture of me and my gear to show folks how we dried stuff out. I took a picture of Hobbit and Mike looking up at the largest oak tree on the AT (at West Dover Road).We all hike down to the "Red House" for water. An extra treat: Trail Magic from the local Girl Scout Troop. I got a granola bar. I met some locals north of the oak tree. They told me we were having September weather; that we were very lucky. I met a fellow at the Appalachian Trail railroad station; there is a train into New York at this station. He asked me where I was headed and I said Connecticut. He said the state line was past the last shelter in New York; told him that was okay because I was not "tied to the shelters". He was driving a Subaru with a lot of AT stickers.It started getting dark and I had not found a good spot to camp. I passed Green Giant, who had a nice camping spot on a creek, still in New York. I wanted to get to Connecticut. Finally, a little up Ten Mile Hill I found a flat spot a few feet off the trail, so I set up camp.
Date: 2014-08-15
From: Near Ten Mile Hill

To: Near Kent, CT
Miles today: 11.3

 I could hear what I thought were raindrops hitting my tent all night. I was breaking camp and an older day hiker passed by; he told me that he really did not think it had rained--just a heavy fog. Everything was wet! After descending Ten Mile Hill, I hiked along the river for awhile. Very soothing and scenic. A couple of miles north, I was getting water from a stream when Smooth D and Yukon came up the trail. The last time I had seen Smooth D was at the Mohican Outdoor Center. I thought he would have been way ahead of me by now. Turns out he and Yukon spent four days in New York City, seeing the sights and wooing some women. They were headed to Kent, CT. Yukon had a replacement pack to pick up. We all needed to re-supply.They took off ahead of me. These guys are in their 20's. I reached CT 341, which leads into Kent; tried to hitch but was unsuccessful, so hiked .8 miles. There were a bunch of hikers at Backcountry Outfitters. Also a lot of mail drops at the outfitters. Smooth D, Yukon, and Firefox were there, among others. I got some ice cream; I needed to re-supply, but did not find anything that I really wanted (besides the ice cream). I had met 3 SOBOs who told me about the IGA in Kent, so I left my pack at the outfitters and walked to the IGA. Best IGA I have ever shopped--wide selection of food. I got myself a ham and turkey sub, checked out, and found a bench between the IGA and the post office. As I sat eating my sandwich, here comes Blackbeard, Classy, and Firefox. Firefox sits down and we have a nice conversation. Firefox was in the Navy; had been on the USS Cole. He left the ship shortly before it was bombed. He knew all of the sailors who were killed and injured. He tells me that Kent is a wealthy community; a very nice prep school here. Firefox goes to to IGA; when he returns we walk back to the outfitters. On the way we stop at a drug store--Healthmart Pharmacy; I am looking for hand sanitizer. They only have large bottles, so the lady lets me buy enough to refill my small bottle and she keeps the remainder at the check-out counter. Nice solution.I repack my food, load up, and start hiking back to the trailhead. Again, I cannot get a hitch. From the trailhead, I hike about a mile and find several nice camping spots so I decide to stop.
Date: 2014-08-16
From: Stealth camp near Kent, CT

To: Sharon Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a good night's sleep. As I break camp, Firefox comes along so we talk for awhile before he takes off again. I have to descend St. John's Ledges--steep steps down to the Housatonic River. I hate it. A lot of loose material. Glad to get down.After a four mile plus walk along the river, and I catch up with Firefox. We hike the mile bypass around the low water crossing of the Guinea Brook and Firefox thinks about calling for a ride to Bearded Woods. We set a pretty quick pace to get to a possible pickup point; however, Firefox decides not to call for a ride. So, we hike on to Sharon Mountain Campsite. The mosquitoes are terrible; again, I have to wear my rain jacket to keep them off of me. Spider, Superman, and Firefox are just a few of my camp mates. Superman offers me the chance to try out his hammock, but I ask for a rain check--too many mosquitoes. Off to sleep.
Date: 2014-08-17
From: Sharon Mountain Campsite

To: Falls Village, CT
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: broken clouds

Interesting start to the day. I got up and started looking for a place to take my morning Constitutional. I stumbled upon an open-air privy. Just the seat. No surrounding materials. Kind of strange--sitting out in the open, looking off down the mountain.I had to go into Falls Village for a mail drop. The only problem is that it is Sunday and the post office is closed, so I have to stay in Falls Village for the night. I had noticed in the AT guidebook that the Toymaker's Cafe in Falls Village allows camping. The hike into Falls Village was not bad; passed a beautiful high school. I hiked to the Toymaker's Cafe and found Firefox, Spider, and Superman. Spider and Superman take off, but Firefox and I decide to stay at the Bearded Woods Hostel.Before I left home for this adventure, I had been following (on Trail Journals) a hiker by the name of Hudson. Hudson and his wife, Big Lou, own the Bearded Woods Hostel, so I had thought that given the chance I would stay at Bearded Woods. I borrowed the phone at the Toymaker's and called Hudson; he said he would pick us up shortly.Toymaker's Cafe was very hiker-friendly. Had something to eat while waiting for Hudson. Hudson arrived and drove Firefox and me out to the hostel. Chubby Bunny and her mom were there; later, Hudson picked up Green Giant. Big Lou arrived and prepared dinner of BBQ chicken, potatoes, salad, corn on the cob,rolls,and strawberry shortcake. All served family style.Chubby Bunny's mom is a civilian employee of the US Embassy in Munich, Germany. Two very nice people. Hudson started his thru-hike at Springer in February and hiked through to the hostel. He stopped his hike to help Big Lou at the hostel; they will close on September 1. Big Lou is catering a niece's wedding on September 10; after than, Hudson will resume his hike.It's just me, Firefox, and Green Giant on the men's side at the hostel. Tomorrow I will go back to Falls Village for my mail drop of clothes.
Date: 2014-08-18
From: Falls Village, CT

To: Brassie Brook Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

I got up and had breakfast. Big Lou sent me off with a chicken pot pie sandwich. I highly recommend Bearded Woods hostel. Hudson gave me a ride into Falls Village to the post office; Linda had shipped me a package of clean clothes treated with permethrin--wearing treated clothing has kept the ticks off of me. I picked up my package and asked the postal workers if I could use their restroom to change clothes. They said, "Sure." And in addition, they gave me a Coke. I packed my old clothes into the box, but made a mistake--I also packed the newly-treated, clean gaiters. I shipped everything back home.It was not a bad hike into Salisbury, CT. I went into town and re-supplied. Had a great meatloaf sandwich from LaBonne's Market. When I got to Salisbury, I met up with Aladdin. The last time I had seen him was before the Fontana Village at Brown Fork Gap shelter. Aladdin had helped me get into the Brown Fork shelter with a push on my butt and words to the effect of "Let me help you, Grandpa!" Aladdin is a strong hiker and I was surprised that he had not finished yet. I asked him what happened; he pointed to the girl next to him, Black Dog, and he said, "She did." They were taking their time hiking; had already been off the trail to meet both their families. Sounds like a serious relationship.I also met up with Yogi. He says that Scout has been off the trail with a foot injury, but she was coming back. Also that Gadget was close, but lagging behind as usual. Indeed, I saw Gadget when I was headed out of town. I tried to find the water at the cemetery, but couldn't. I hiked out of Salisbury by myself, but Yogi caught up with me. Decided to stay at the Brassie Brook shelter; Yogi says he will leave out around 6:30 am. That is way too early for me. It is cold this evening. I am in my tent and Yogi is in the shelter.
Date: 2014-08-19
From: Brassie Brook Shelter

To: (Stealth) Near Sheffield & Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

What a night! At 12:30 am, I woke up because I felt something on my feet. I grabbed my headlamp and turned it on. There, in a back corner of my tent, was a brown and white mouse! The previous evening, while we were eating supper at the table in front of the shelter, a mouse that looked very much like the creature now in my tent had come right up to Yogi and me. At the time I told Yogi to placate the mouse by giving him some crumbs. My thought was that if the mouse got full, he would not bother us at night. I also told Yogi about the time that Bulldog and I were car camping at Garner State Park in Texas, and there was an ant bed near our picnic table. The ants were coming onto our table looking for food, so I got some of the powdered sugar I had brought for French toast and sprinkled it in a circle around the ant bed. They did not get onto our table for the remainder of our stay. I thought that a similar tactic might work with this mouse. Now here he was in my tent!I must confess that even though there was a bear box at the shelter, I did not use it. I was sleeping with my food bag in my tent. I quickly saw that my food bag had a hole in it, and there was also a mouse hole in the side of my tent under the rain fly. From the light of my headlamp I could see that there was quite a lot of mouse poop in my tent. I was mad at both myself and the mouse. I could not leave him in the tent and I just didn't want to turn him loose only to have him return with his buddies. I decided there was only one thing I could do....I found my dirty socks and pulled them onto my hands. I cornered the mouse and grabbed him. I hate to admit it, but I dispatched Mr. Mouse to that Great Food Bag in the Sky. In throwing his carcass out of the tent, I managed to also throw one of my socks into the brush. Like I said, what a night!When morning came, I patched my food bag with duct tape and shook all of the mouse poop out of my tent. I patched the tent with duct tape and wiped it out with alcohol pads. Yogi had already left so I wasn't able to tell him about Mr. Mouse. My forest karma was not very good for the rest of the day -- the forest gods were not happy with my treatment of Mr. Mouse.I passed into Massachusetts today. I passed by the site of the last battle of Shay's rebellion--a rebellion by over-taxed soldiers of the Revolutionary War. Google it. I am stealth-camping tonight, listening to the coyotes yapping and music from a not-too-distant jukebox.