morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-06-28
From: A mile from Wind Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap 
Miles today: 18.1

Day 96Everybody wanted to get out of Pennsylvania as soon as possible! No matter how it was planned, everyone said they¢d push miles today to get to Delaware Water Gap. It felt like this little town has the magic power to stop Pennsylvania rocks spilling over to New Jersey side. I pushed too. For additional two reasons: both of my phone and battery power bank were dangerously low on power. In this modern world, even we are in the wilderness we still relies on the information on our digital devices. It¢s a shame, but it is how does it work today. The second reason was that I want to find a place where I can have long noodles for dinner. It was my father¢s 95th birthday. Even though I cannot go back to Beijing, I still want to follow the Chinese tradition to eat long noodles on loved one¢s birthday. So I hiked a little over 18 miles in a hot day to reach the town. 6.5 more miles than I planned.The first 6 miles on today¢s trail was rocky and rocky. I needed to watch every step to place my foot in the right spot. A couple of young man hopped and jumped run passed me. I didn¢t know how they were possibly done that without falling or twisting their ankles. I knew one of the guy was a hokey player and a marine. Maybe his training made him very capable of this!After the foot rolling rocks, came the bigger rock pile of wolf rock. Compare with others we had passed in the last two days, this rock was much easy to pass, though it still needs focusing, puzzle solving and balancing skills. The trail gave me a break after the wolf rock with a mile of fire road. Followed by more rocky sections. In the last 6 miles before the town, it was pretty nice. In one section the trail was a pathway between rhododendron blossoms. Not sure why these bloom later than the ones I saw in Tennessee and Virginia. But they were sure very pretty. It was as if PA was trying to leave us some nicer/calming impression before we finish. Thanks for the beautiful flowers, but, no, thanks PA, I would not miss your mean rocks and sucking mud!By 7:30pm, I rolled into the town, has a Japanese ramen dinner, showered and stayed in the hikers center of Church of Mountain. Tomorrow I will cross the state line. The locals already set July 4 celebration in full swing. Fireworks mixes with the sound of traffic, and the dances of fire flies.
Date: 2019-06-29
From: Delaware Water Gap 

To: Friend ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs house
Miles today: 1.2

Day 97This was a sweet and short hiking day today. I only walked 1.2 flat miles to meet my friend from elementary school. So I got a late start, had breakfast with a slice of apple pie, a fresh lobster roll, and milk in the country bakery before I packed anything.It was a founders ¢s day, a day for celebration. In this small town, it had a classic car show and craft show. I walked through those and passed the Downtown to The bridge. In the middle of the bridge it laid the sign of the state line! I was officially completed Pennsylvania and started to go into New Jersey! I was so glad to leave the big rocks and muds behind in Pennsylvania!My friend picked me up from the closed Kittatinny visitor center. She took me to Edison for an afternoon of relaxed spa and Asian food experience, did resupplies shopping, then met another elementary school classmate for dinner! What a nice zero day!
Date: 2019-06-30
From: Friend ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs house

To: AMC Mohican center
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: broken clouds

Day 98Ah, sweet New Jersey! That¢s all thru-hikers say when they are done with PA and resumed hikes in New Jersey. The trail did get better and less rockier in the first full day of my NJ hike. There were also more interesting scenes along the way. It started alone a bank of a creek, as soon as I enter the forest, it felt as least 15 degrees cooler. When the trail went higher, the shade was given away to hill tops with open views and blue berry bushes. Most of the berries are not ripe yet. But there are some tasty ones for me.I started late from my friend¢s home after passed 10am. We reached the trail head at above 12:20. With about 9 miles of hike, I got an easy day. Halfway through the hike I reached the Sunfish ponds - the first glacially formed pond on A.T. from the south. Piles of rocks formed its lake side trail, picturesque but hard to pass. On the hill, the Delaware River curved a slanted S on left hand side. A dam formed a lake and a few irrigation pond on the right hand side. The wind blew loudly, making unwanted bugs staying away from my face. Even though it was still rocky at some points, it was more manageable to go through. By evening time, I have checked into AMC Mohican outdoor center, where many families with children can rent houses for their lake front vacations. With a hot shower, I was ready to go sleep.
Date: 2019-07-01
From: AMC Mohican center

To: Blink Shelter
Miles today: 14.3

Day 99This was the first day of the second half of the year. It started out pretty cool. I worn polar fleece jacket in the morning. Only after climbing up a hill when I needed to remove it.I reached the catfish fire tower in about 1.5 hours. On top of the tower, the views were wonderful, as well as the cool breeze. I got refreshed up there by the wind.A couple of hours later, a neon green sign at the trail head of a road crossing announced a trail magic up front. On the other side of the road when A.T. crosses it again, 3 ladies set up tables, chairs and a grill. I was directed to sit down, then they Gave me first class services: grilled a cheeseburger, filled a glass of orange juice, handed me a plate with fresh berries and a piece of pound cake. I was also served with deviled egg and potato chips. The hunterton hiking club has been doing the trail magic for 20 years. I was their first hiker for today. Thanks so much for the treat. I had my lunch really early today with all the food they served. I didn¢t feel hungry for the full day.Shortly after I left the trail magic place, a water lilies chocked pond came into my sight. Frogs made lots of calls in here. Salamanders darted in the water too. The pond was calm, the reflections formed still painting. Further up the trail, some fall colors have started to show off in the fallen leaves. Added warmth to the green forest. Suddenly a family of wild turkeys came near me, mother with 4 chicks. The mother stayed cool while I videotaped them, no running around in panic. The trail also climbed up a rocky ledge with big steps that I needed to use my hands pulling me up. It reconnected to a fire road very shortly. I was wondering if this was a fun way to just show a little challenge of A.T.. Up on the open ridge, there were so many blueberry plants. Most of the berries were not ripe yet. But I still can get two handfuls of sweet berries easily. By the time I reached Blink shelter, I decided to stay for the night. The bear box and privy are too convenient to leave behind.
Date: 2019-07-02
From: Blink Shelter

To: High point shelter 
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

Day 100100 days has significant meaning in Chinese culture. For a new born baby, once he/she survived the first 100 days, the likelihood of the child to grow up to adulthood increased tremendously. Therefore there is always a big celebration for a baby to be 100 days old. For me being on the A.T. for 100 days means that I am thriving in the forest. It had been my home and my spiritual garden for the 100 days. It could be simple, humble, beautiful, and sometimes even hostile. But I loved it for the past 100 days. And I will continue to love it for the coming whatever number of days.To expecting a long day of hiking today, I started very early. By 6:30am I had left the shelter. It was always peaceful and beautiful in a sunny morning when the air was cool, the sunlights were low and golden soft. Very soon I came upon a view point with big rocks and a large shiny lake below. It¢s Culvers Lake. It¢s water surface reflected the sunlight like a steel board. Shortly after, I came across a fire tower with a picnic table on a side of a cliff, great view point for taking a break there. By noontime, I reached the Sunrise Mountain pavilion. A family was doing trail magic there, with cold drinks, cookies, crackers and bananas. I stopped to enjoy the goodies and a comfortable chair to rest my tired body. There was still 10.6 miles to go. The blackberries on Sunrise Mountain were very ripe now. I picked handful of the sweet berries. Down from the Sunrise Mountain, another trail angel loaded 5 large bottles of drinking water at a shelter. He does this once every 4 days. The water source near that shelter was rather staggering water, not good for hikers.In the afternoon, the trail entered High Point State Park. For a few hours, I suspected someone had gone back to PA with a big truck, and transported those rocks to here. My pace slowed down. By 6pm I reached the headquarters of the park. But the visitor center had closed by 4pm. So I missed a free soda there. But it has a drinking fountain. I got the water I needed, cooked and ate my dinner before going forward to the High Point shelter. On this last 1.8 miles, The highlight was the monument For the Highest Point of New Jersey - a slightly smaller version of Washington Monument in DC.
Date: 2019-07-03
From: High point shelter 

To: Appalachian motel
Miles today: 19.0

Day 101New Jersey in Chinese translation has a word ¢¦312¢, means water, marshland. It is very suitable for today¢s trail. Lots of marsh/swamp fields that I walked through on temporary wooden boards, or on beautifully constructed boardwalks. There are also lots of bugs. So I almost wear my bug net all day, and still got bitten on hands, arms and legs where they were covered by clothes. There was no win when we face bugs!The forest and swamp were nice to wildlife. I constantly heard birdsongs and frog calls. A frog with shiny green top and shiny brown bottom hopped near me. Then it froze for a very long time when I photographed it. It was a hot day for hiking. It was a day better spent swimming in a pool, or napping at home. Even the maple tree under the sun had leaves shrunk to conserve evaporation. When the trail went through uncovered areas, which were a lot today, I could feel the heat coming from both underneath and overhead. My clothes were constantly wet with sweat. So drinking water was always occupied my mind. It was nice that I carried enough water today from last shelter. It was also a heavy load to carry so much water.At the end of the day, I checked into a motel for a chance to get more food and cool drinks.
Date: 2019-07-04
From: Appalachian motel

To: Wildcat shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 102Happy 4th of July!  I got on trail by 8:00 am. The hotel owner shuttled me to the trail head. It was a very nice hotel, newly renovated with upscale fixtures, large clean shower room, and build in 2 USB charging outlets. I wished the laundry could be much cheaper than $10, and have tea in addition to coffee. The first 2 miles were steep climb on rocks. It was good to get this done before it got too hot. At the first road crossing, a cooler with many cold drinks was there for trail magic. I was hot and thirsty from the hard climb earlier. So I was really happy for the cold drinks. Then at another road crossing, another cooler full of cold drinks was there again. I grabbed a string cheese and another cold iced tea! Thanks for all the wonderful trail angels to provide us with much needed drinks!Before 2pm after a few purple rocks scramble, I arrived at the state line between NJ and NY. It was emotional to me. My family had lived in NY state for about 6 years before moving back to CA. It¢s been almost 19 years since I left. It felt like coming back to my hometown! After crossed the state line. I sat there for some time, just to let the homey feeling wash over my mind before moved on. The moves were mostly on large rocks. It went on for a long time. Some sections were more challenging then others. The rocks all have purple color, with white crystal inserts embedded. An American flag was set on top of a huge rock, added more atmosphere to 4th of July Celebration. While I was walking fast on an easy section of the trail in the afternoon, all of a sudden a loud rattling sound made me almost jumped. A large rattle snake was right there about a foot from my left in the fallen leaves by the trail side. It was well camouflaged in the leaves. I must surprised it too for its rattling warning was the most earnest I had heard! I quickly moved away from it. It slithered forward to further investigate me - a large object that could mean extreme danger. I carefully backed out, keeping my distance, but looked at it carefully too. Its skin had a beautiful shine, its belly bulged with the last meal that it might had not long ago. A well fed, healthy, large, beautiful rattler! My first encounter of a rattlesnake on A.T..At evening I reached Bellvale creamer for a tasty ice-cream before hiked two more miles to wildcat shelter .
Date: 2019-07-05
From: Wildcat shelter

To: Fingerboard shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 103It was a hot and humid day. For the first time my sweat run down my face constantly. At the end, my skin hurts from drying with bandana. The trail was challenging too. Many large rock scrambles. Even though some places can be easily pass around, the A.T. built on rocks! Sometimes it felt the challenges were done on purpose- to make it tougher. As a place called lemon squeezer, the AT goer had to squeeze up and out from two rocks formed narrow crack - barely enough to get one person squeezed through without pack. Fortunately ¢moon walker¢ was there when I got there. So he helped me lifted my backpack so that I could walk through the crack with no backpack!In this hot day, thru-hikers relied on good wills of local mountain club people. They put drinking water on trailhead of road crossings. Without them I don¢t think I could make it through. And I carried about 2.5 liters of water to start with. I added at least 1 liter more from their bottles. The fingerboard shelter doesn¢t have reliable water near by. So I hope my water will last to tomorrow morning when I get to the first water source. This shelter had bear problems. I see a bear trap was set up in here. The bear cable is nice to have.
Date: 2019-07-06
From: Fingerboard shelter

To: Bear Mountain Inn
Miles today: 14.7

Day 104I plan to meet my classmate after about 15 miles hike today. So I started early at 6:20am. It was hot and humid even in the morning. Because the shelter doesn¢t have water near by, I planed to get water from the public beach on a lake about 1 mile into the hike. When I reached the road that would reach the beach house, there were bottles of spring water at the trail head putting there by the mountain club volunteers. What a nice gift they gave to hikers! It saved me at least 40 minutes for the round trip to get water from the beach house.Just before the noon time, the thunderstorm rolled in. The shower brought very nice relief from the heat. Instead of covering myself with poncho, I let the rain soaking my shirt and pants, feeling refreshed and renewed. The sticky layer of salt and sweat washed away. The forest became alive again, so was me. The shower came and go several times, breaking with lovely sunlights dancing in the breeze moved leaves. At lunch break, I cooked pine needles tea. My heat clogged stomach instantly felt so much better. It was a Saturday today, many day hikers were on the trail. As they learned that I am thru-hiking the ¢WHOLE THING¢, their eyes opened big, admiration and encouragement were delivered. I was proud and blessed. In the early afternoon, I entered Bear Mountain State Park. For the next 4 miles, the trail was the best constructed trail on the A.T. Up to now. This is the New York State that I had remembered: sophisticated and beautiful. Man made beauties blended nicely with nature¢s wonders. My state tax dollars were not wasted when I was a resident here, so are the current residents now. Even after l left this state for 19 years, I still love it a lot.My friend took me to her house for a yummy Beijing style dinner, including sweet and juicy watermelon. It was wonderful to meet her whole family and saw her grown children. What a treat!
Date: 2019-07-07
From: Bear Mountain Inn

To: Sunken mine road
Miles today: 16.5

Day 105What a relaxed day! The shower from yesterday cooled down the temperature. A family of my relatives living near NYC came to visit me and we did day hiking together. So my heavy backpack was in their car. The whole 12 miles of light and cruising through the forest. We picked blueberries and tasted blackberries during the hike. There were some short rocky sections and three hills on today¢s route. But all were very manageable. The bugs were still problematic at some areas, though. Even though there was no great view point today, I liked their accompany, and happy to share anything they liked to know about A.T. .For dinner, we went to a Spanish restaurant in the lovely downtown of Peekskill. Very tasty dishes with salads, seafood, cheese and meat platter. After dinner, I went back on trail, hiked about an hour more before settling down for the night next to a creek. Sweet dreams.
Date: 2019-07-08
From: Sunken road

To: NY 52
Miles today: 14.3

Day 106It drizzled in the morning. But it didn¢t make the hiking more difficult. Before noon time, the sun came out, and it was hot and humid again. That¢s the typical summer in the east coast. I came to Canopus Lake shore in the drizzle. The water was quite and gray. Going up hill, the panorama view of the hill hugged lake was more impressive. A sign showed the side trail to beach front campsite. Up on the hill I can see the beach, and people canoeing down there. It was very attempting, but it was a long way down. I kept walking.Up to a hill top, a large American flag was painted on the rocks. God bless America! I felt the patriotic hearts beating here. No body loves their country as much as the Americans do. We proudly and deliberately put our beautiful flags on everything, everywhere, and in every imaginable forms. In the early afternoon, I reached RPH shelter. It was a pretty property with cozy lounge chairs and picnic tables. There were two bird houses on a post in the lawn. Orange day lilies and purple basil decorated the garden area. I wish I could stay for the night. But it was too early to stop hiking. Also 5 miles down the trail, it has a Pizzaria. I wanted pizza for my dinner. I was not disappointed. The pizza with its crispy thin crust tasted so good. Last time when I ate a pizza, it was more than 1 month ago, and it was a frozen pizza. After dinner I hiked a little more and settled in an area between two busy roads. Hopefully the highway noise would die down in the night.
Date: 2019-07-09
From: NY 52

To: Pawling Nature Reserves 
Miles today: 17.0

Day 107I got out of tent in early morning and saw the forest was draped in fogs. When I hiked under big net, it became a fog catcher. The cool moist air felt good for my skin and lung. By 8am, the sunlight warmed up the mountain, heavenly lights broke through the fog. Lots of birds started to sing their morning songs, making the forest alive and busy. ¢Here, children, heeeeere!¢, they called earnestly.Several of large oak trees stood out surprisingly on the trail. They don¢t have a name like the big one called Keffer on the south. But they are compatible sizes. Near noontime, I reached the Nuclear Lake - a clear lake with an alarming name due to its history of nuclear fuels processing research facility at the location. Most lakes and ponds I¢ve seen in NJ and NY were overly nutritious and choked with water plants. This lake was still relatively clear with mostly open surface. In the sunshine it looks pleasantly blue. When I got water from Morgen Stewart shelter, I used an old fashioned hand pump. It reminded me of a similar pump I used in the 1970s back in Beijing. It was fun to use it here again. In later afternoon I reached NY road 22. Got a cold outdoor shower and drinking water from the Native Garden Center next to the trail. Their garden was very beautiful. The ice cream and cool iced tea were very satisfying.Today I was planning to hike 15 miles, ended up with 17. Not tired at all.
Date: 2019-07-10
From: Pawling Nature Reserves 

To: Algo Mountain shelter 
Miles today: 15.0

Day 108The last 4 miles in New York State was easy and peaceful. At one point in the quiet forest, I saw a half dead tree with the profile of a joker face in black. It was a surprise since it appeared suddenly after a corner. It made my heart jumping, at the same time made me laughed at myself.By 10:00am I have arrived at the Connecticut State line. Nine states done, five more to go!From there I climbed up to ten mile hill, then the trail soon followed a lovely creek and later a river. The song of water accompanied me into Bulls Bridge - a covered bridge. Along the river, cascades flowed through boulders, forming deep water holes in many places. I can tell it¢s a local favorite recreation place. Trout and bass are managed in here for fishing. In a country general store, I bought cold drinks and sandwich for lunch. A nice change from my usual energy bar and trail mix.The weather was pretty hot as the high was 88 degrees. All the serious climbs were in the afternoon. For me the climbing part was not too bad. The real challenge part began after the climb. From the top, the trail started to go up and down, up and down for countless times. And it was very rocky and steep, too. Thankfully I had bought cool Gatorade in the store and put most of it in my thermos bottle. It helped a lot.By 7 pm, I finally reached Algo Mountain shelter to rest my tired body and feet.
Date: 2019-07-11
From: Algo Mountain shelter 

To: Pine Swamp Brook shelter 
Miles today: 17.0

Day 109It¢s humid and buggy today, even in the morning. I was sweating hard the whole day. The going was rough in the first a few miles especially when it was down a big boulder after St. Jones ledges. For a person as me with short legs, it means I needed to use all fours, and sometimes my butt to reach the stepping rocks below. Two men passed me on that section, their long legs allowed them to go one step after another much easier. It also didn¢t help that my left knee started to feel funny in the middle of the climbing down. But as soon as I reached the river road, it¢s heavenly flat! The following 5 miles were great for me to makeup the lost time when dealing with the rocks. And I really needed it to complete the 17 miles in daylight time. The walk along the slow flowing river was also very soothing. An old guy cut branches at couple of sections of this trail that he maintains. I thanked him for his kind job.For most of the afternoon, I was on the trail with many ups and downs, some was steep, too. For the last mile before I reached the Pine Swamp Brook shelter, there was a shorter version of the lemon squeezer. When I went through the crack, I kept looking for snakes. If there was one, I¢d be doomed. Fortunately there was none. In NY and CT, I had not seen as many snakes as in the southern states.I made to the shelter before 7:10pm, much better than I estimated.