morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-21
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: William Penn Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Wow!!! what a spirit lifter a phone call is. Improves your whole out look on life around you, at least until the next big mountain. Well at least there was only one big hill and then follow the top of the ridges of the Pa country side, Blue Mountain, Sharp Mountain, Second Mountain,, Third Mountain and etc, etc, etc, About 6:00 pm two young couples probably in there early 20's came into the shelter. It was pretty obivious they were new to backpacking. One was carrying a paper grocery bag in his hands. Their packs were small dime store variety with huge rolls of sleeping bags or tents tied on helter skelth to the outside with clothes line rope. If there was any doubt that ended when one of the gals asked " how do i get out of this thing/"
Date: 2010-05-22
From: William Penn Shelter

To: Black Swatara Spring
Miles today: 14.7

The young couples last nite didn;t know that hiker midnight is actually 8:00 pm and partied on till much later. They weren't completely obnoxious as they did try to keep the volume down. Actually, some of the snorers in past shelters have been harder to ignoe.Looked like rain all day but never did.
Date: 2010-05-23
From: Black Swatara Spring

To: Hamburg, Pa
Miles today: 13.8

Yippe, Yipee!!! more rain again last nite, the tent stayed dry on the inside. Took the tent down in the rain. Walked in the rain all morning till 1:00 or so. Decided the best way was to use the waterproof pack cover on the pack and just walk in a short sleeve tee shirt and shorts and just get wet. As long as you were moving the temps were very comfortable. I think i have had more rain days on this trip than i did for all of my 3 months on the AT in 2007. Steep, steep down hill into Port Clinton, lots of rock steps, lots of log steps, lots of tree roots steps,lots of water diversion logs for stepping down. On a steep gravel section my feet just slide out from under me and fell backwards on my ass. Good thing there was a big padded back pack for a cushion. so no damage done. Just glad i didn;t fall forward.
Date: 2010-05-24
From: Hamburg, Pa

To: Hamburg,Pa
Miles today: 0.0

Stayed at Microtel, nice but too expensive.Happy Anniversary!!! Spent the day doing town chores. Bought new shoes at Cabela's, Merrill's with a gore tex lining. Got them first thing in the morning and wore them during the day hoping to start get them broken in before going back out. Mailed the old shoes back to New Balance and they are going to look at them and hopefully send out a new pair in the new couple of weeks. Also now have a mail drop on its way to Delware Water Gap on the borded of Pa and New Jersy.
Date: 2010-05-25
From: Hamburg,Pa

To: Gold Spring
Miles today: 11.2

Good breakfast at Cracker Barrel...bacon, eggs, biscutis and hash brown bake..good stuff. Left all my pocket full of change for tip to waitress. No use is carrying extra weight that really isn;t very usefull out in the woods. Stopped at the Windsor Furnace shelter for lunch and break. Peanut butter and flour tortilla something new for new but quite good. No blisters from the new shoes but the bottom of my feet are really sore.At the noon shelter meet a section hiker that had become lost at the Pinnacles....a great rocky over look. He had spent an hour trying to find his way back to the trail but gave up and called 911 for help. He got connected to the sheriffs dept and they tried to help and eventually found his way.
Date: 2010-05-26
From: Gold Spring

To: Allentown shelter
Miles today: 10.7

Up early to hopefuly beat the heat, but didn;t work. Hot all day. Saw a smallish bear cross the trail in front of me about 9:00 just north of the Eckville shelter. It just ambled across the trail not really concerned about me watching and went off slowly into the brush. And was completely hidden in just moments. Cool.Alletown Shelter was nice but a long, long, long 1/4 mile walk down a steep hill to the spring. While getting water managed to get a mouth full of untreated water from the slow moving spring. hope it doesn't give me problems in the future. Three other hikers in for the nite, Littla Buda, Catman, Just Jon.
Date: 2010-05-27
From: Allentown shelter

To: George Outerbridge Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: broken clouds

Rocksylvania, Rock baby rock!!!Rejoice in sore feet. Big boulder rock scramble over piles of rock stacked as high as a 2 story house. Over little dagger shaped rocks all with the pointed ends sticking up and as close together as as matches in a match box. O yes and everything in between was well.I sure have alot of indecision of wether or not i should stay on the trail or come home and be part of the real world. Runs yes and no and changes every short time. Would really like to hitch up with some one my hiking speed and daily distance.New shoes seem to working OK. but the front nose piece bending up from the sole is already starting to come loose after only three days. the padding the hip belt of the pack is starting to discingrate and is cutting into my hips.
Date: 2010-05-28
From: George Outerbridge Shelter

To: Palmerton Bourgh Hall ( hostel)
Miles today: 0.9

This shelter crew slept late. I was the first up at 6:30 even after laying awake for awhile. I could smell bacon and eggs in town!!! Bert's steak house and Grill was the hiker recommended spot to eat. Meet Catman, just jon and litla buda for breakfast.Busy day getting ready for the next section. Some grocery shopping for resupply., post office . Found a seamstress at the bridal shop to sew in new pads for the hip belt $10.00. So hope that helps.
Date: 2010-05-29
From: Palmerton Bourgh Hall ( hostel)

To: Le Roy Smith Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

My sexy legs were't enough to hitch a ride back to the trail head or maybe it was because it was 7:00 am and those driving by were still half asleep?? Several old fellows were sitting on a bench in from the last gas station before the highway. I asked for a ride and was sure glad they didn;t hestiate to help out. He didnt want any money but gave him a some for coffee. Thanks Palmerton!! Nice place.the climb out of Lehigh Gap was spectualar!! All bare rock, 1400' foot climb with perfect views. The cars and city just kept getting smaller and samller thankfully they was just a little light overcast to keep it a bit cooler.Rained last nite which sounds good when you are in a shelter.. got woke up around midnight with flashlights shinning in our faces. Three park rangers/fire fighter types were asking for information about a missing dad and 15 year old son. The fire fighters returned a few minute later reporting them found, camping just up the side trail to the shelter.. something about being picked at 9:00 am the next morning insted of the drivers anticipated 9:00 pm. I felt sorry for the 3 firefighters out in the rain in the middle of the night tripping over all those rocks.
Date: 2010-05-30
From: Le Roy Smith Shelter

To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: broken clouds

UP & at 'em at the usual time. Morning weather hot and clear. As the day wore on the rocks just became more difficult to deal with mentally, by midafternoon they were impossible. I felt like being out here was complete waste of a whole summer. Maybe a bite homesick???Shelter by by 3:00 which was a relief. Another hiker came in who looked a bit familiar but couldn;t quite place hime. He also recognized me and knew my trail name. Turns out it was fellow i had hiked with in 07, on and off for 3 or 4 weeks in Tennesse and North Carolina. Calm Waters.Was really great to visit with an old friend!! He's now actually a Ridge Runner out checking on this given section of trail. He stayed over nite and we hike out a couple of miles together in the morningl Good luck Calm Waters on your new job.
Date: 2010-05-31
From: Kirkridge Shelter

To: Delware Wate Gap;
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Enjoyed the short couple of mile walk out the shelter with Calm Waters. He gave me his cell phone no in case i might need help. Great Visit~!!Good way to start the day. Since this is the Memorial Holiday there are lots and lots of day hikers out. Cell phone has been working good and still always appreciate my visits with Barb. The hip belt on the pack is diggin into my skin worse than ever, will have to look for a replacement possiblly in Delware Water Gap.Plan to stay at the Presbyterian Church of the Mountain Hostel.
Date: 2010-06-02
From: Delware Wate Gap;

To: Rattle snake spring
Miles today: 15.2

Crossed the Delaware River at 8:00 am and into New Jersey. I like New Jersey already. Pretty little lake called Sunfish Lake. This is as far south as the most recent glacier got before receeding. I like New Jersey, not so many rocks,especially the sharp pointy kind. I like New Jersey, good wild blue berries. I like New Jersey, saw a black bear also picking blue berries!! I like New Jersey if it doesn't rain on my tent tonight ( looks like it might). Time to call Barb.
Date: 2010-06-02
From: Rattle snake spring

To: Gren Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: clear sky

Never did rain last nite, but extremely windy on the edge of the bluff. Didn't sleep very well. Hot, Hot Hot, and trying to drink lots of water. Start wondering again why am I out here any way????? Still not sure what the answer is Crossed highway 206 and saw Kevin's Steak and Family Restaurant just down the road. No way could I resist the thought of good food instead of "boiled something". After a Yingling and good buger it was off for the last 3 miles to the shelter. Noticed the hiking poles are loosing their hardened tips...either just wore off or broke off. Seems to be lots of equipment problems on this trip.
Date: 2010-06-04
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Pretty same day as all the past ones. Days seem to flash by in just the wink of an eye and the hours spent hiking disappear in what seems to be a instant. Hot!!Hot!!hot!! REI will send out some new poles to Greenwood NY PO. Paid for the expedited shipping. HOpe to able to get the olds fixed eventually. Ate supper at the picnic table in front of the shelter with the Ridge Runner who was in for the nite. A bit later in the evening a big black bear came wondering thru the woods just across the little stream from us. Probably checking us out glad he decided there were better picking elsewhere. Made sure we used the solid steel bear box...a lot better that trying to hang a food bag in the trees.
Date: 2010-06-04
From: High Point Shelter

To: Unionville
Miles today: 7.3

Short day to get to town to resupply. The towns along this section are close together and not far off the trail as well. They call this section the deli run.Unionville NY is small town America with old fashioned general store ( just like the one in Tisch Mills WI). Got directions to the Mayor's house. It is the home of the former mayor of UNionville, who caters to helping hikers. The basement has plywood bunks built and they feed both breakfast and dinner for $10.00. The place is not advertised in the guide books but word of mouth travels on the trail. Butch and Bill do a great job..
Date: 2010-06-05
From: Unionville

To: Unionville
Miles today: 0.0

Great Breakfast at the Mayor's Place!! Which i now understand is also known the Outhouse. Church at 10:15 at the Presbytrian Church. Decided to zero as the weather forecast was for severe thunderstorms and heavy rain. Hikers kept pouring in all day long and ended up with 14 for the night, Supper was all you can eat mac and cheese with vegetable sauce...all home made.We listened to a required video about Paul Potts an opera singer and his rise to fame singing VINCHERO on the British TV show Britians Got Talent. Required because the bill for the meals and the stay is only $10.00. Which also includes shower, clothes wash and one can of Bud. Extra cans are $0.50 each up to a total of 4 cans....all on your honor.
Date: 2010-06-07
From: Unionville

To: Wawayanda shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: broken clouds

Quite a circus in the mayor house this morning. Bill did the cooking and every one was up by 6:30...Bill saw to that for sure. After taking the first few steps in the woods heard some snorting and huffing, just a buck welcoming me back to the woods and the trail.. Mostly easy walking. Stopped at a Farmers roadside market and vegetable stand for coffee, ice cream, banana and drink. Six miles to the shelter and got in by 6:30 pm.
Date: 2010-06-09
From: Greenwood Lake Motel

To: Finger Board Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: light rain

Not much open for breakfast in this town early in the morning. Booooo, Ride at 8:00 am with Zeno to the trail at HWY NY 17 A. A whole buch of rock climbs!! Tiring. Rain started at 1:30 give or take. Tried to get a ride back to the motel but Anton's was answering the cell phone. Tried calling a trail angel but no luck there either. So standing in the rain not doing anhything didn;t seem like a good option. Do something.... right or wrong....do something....standing in the rain...so onward to the next shelter 4 miles. Went through the lemon squeezer, really cool set of rocks as big as the house and just far enough apart to get you and your pack thru.. just. Wish it hadn't been raining.shelter at 5:45, Zeno was there also. Wet soaking short and tee shirt that is was wearing but everything else was dry in the pack.
Date: 2010-06-10
From: Finger Board Shelter

To: Ft Montgemory Bear Bridge Motel
Miles today: 13.4

Woke up to heavy , heavy duty fog hanging thick in the air, but it is not raining. Just great!!! I get to wear wet shirt and shorts , socks and shoes this morning. Would like to keep my extra ones dry just in case.About a hr after leaving saw a mother bear and her 2 small cubs. The area was wooded but had very little underbrush. She watched me intently for several minutes all the while the cubs were near her but seemed to be playing. Not quite sure what to do, i walked very slowly on down the trail. Mother bear must have took this as a sign and quickly scampered off into the open woods. Her cubs instantenously followed right on mom heels...all without a word or noise from mom bear. thought 13 miles was going to be eash, but it never is. A least it didn;t rain today. A lot of 500' and 600' climbs. Hope it gets me ready fo the Whites. Motel came and shuttled me from the bottom of Bear Mountain.
Date: 2010-06-11
From: Ft Montgemory Bear Bridge Motel

To: Denny town Camp Site
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: broken clouds

Breakfast at the bagel shop across the street. While packing, i realized that i had lost my piece of tyvek. It must have come undone from the straps on the outside of my pack, during one of my many rest stops. The lady at the motel gave me a piece of thin plastic to use instead, guess it will work but not as good.Shuttle back to the trail i found that the Bear MOuntain Zoo was closed at this time in the morning. The AT actually passed thru and would have liked to seen it.Set up camp at the Denny town camp site late afternoon and thought i would be all by myself. Wrong!! 1/2 hr after pitching my tent in drive 5 pickup trucks and a couple of SUV's. All with a whole bunch of guys getting ready to celebrate a bachelor party. At least they offered me a beer.
Date: 2010-06-12
From: Denny town Camp Site

To: R.P.H. Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: mist

The bachelors party was really pretty quiet. At least there wasn;t any loud amplified music. Their talking and yelling was quite tolerable. Gloomy weather in the morning again. Raining by 10:00 and decided to stop a the RPH shelter by 1:00 and hope for a better day tomorrow. Clother weren;t quite as wet as last time. There were 7 hikers sitting around the shelter when a trail angel came by and dropped off a bunch of cold sodas, some fruit and pop tarts...needless to say it all disapeared quite quickly. Barb is going to come and visit and get me off the trail for awhile in New Hampershire and i will be counting the days until.
Date: 2010-06-13
From: R.P.H. Shelter

To: Pioneer Telephone shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Up and out pretty early. Saw a deer on the trail again this morning. Connecticut isn't far away, maybe tomorrow. Humidity is hanging heavy all day but never did rain. At this shelter there is one person in a hammock,2 tents and 3 of us in the shelter.
Date: 2010-06-14
From: Pioneer Telephone shelter

To: Ten Mile Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: light rain

Humidiy is hanging heavy again and all day just the last umpteen days it seems, wish we could have a bright sunshine day instead. Saw another deer out on the trail in morning, seeing them helps give a good outlook on the upcoming day. Quit after 12 plus miles at 2:15, earlier than i would like but Connecticut has the rule that you are suppose to camp at only designated sites or shelters. Since the next one was about nine miles again decided against
Date: 2010-06-15
From: Ten Mile Shelter

To: Kent Ct. Fife n'Drum Inn and Restaruant
Miles today: 8.5

Ten Mile Shelter is a little different than the others in its location. It faces out onto an open meadow with just tall grasses. The neat part was the fire flys or lightning bugs that were out last nite. They seemed to be all over the meadow setting off their little flashes. Watched them several different times during the nite and they always seemed to be there and blinking all over the meadow. Guess this is just a differnt kind of wild life on the trail.Connecticut for real now. I must have messed up on by journals entries for dates and miles but have broken the 400 mile mark now. Not sure how to go back and change it, the librarian will be asking me to get off the computer pretty soon anyway.Thanks to the eye doctor office in Kent for replacing the missing nose piece on my glasses. Much better than using adhesive tape.
Date: 2010-06-16
From: Kent Ct. Fife n'Drum Inn and Restaruant

To: Pine Swamp Brook shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Ate sweet potato pancakes for breakfast, tasted more like cinnanmon than anything else. The waitress wasn't sure if there was sweet potatoes in them not.Sun out in the morning for a short while, but the clouds came rolling in big time by midmorning....just a few sprinkles of wet but no real rain.Quite a few climbs today not real long but definitely higher than they have been in the past. Just a sign of the mountains to come as the trail heads north. I think i am getting my trail legs but definitely don't have mountain climbing legs.
Date: 2010-06-17
From: Pine Swamp Brook shelter

To: Salisbury Ct.
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: clear sky

Trail had a detour for river bridge being rebuilt, actually i think it was a highway bridge with the trail on the sidewalk. So the detour route was along some country roads. Easy walking but a bit hard following the markings, especially when the route changed from the detour marking back to the normal markings, would have been nice if they had a sign that said the end of detour.
Date: 2010-06-18
From: Salisbury Ct.

To: Glen Brooke shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Stayed at the private home of Maria McCabe, 4 Grove Street, Salisbury Ct. She rents out her 3 extra bedrooms upstairs to hikers. She was the friendliest person to stay with and visit with. She made the use of her home mine to use, TV and front room and all. Lots of energy for a octagenerian. Took me to the library even though it was only a few blocks. Loved staying there. Let me cook breakfast. HIghly recommend staying there even if you are not hiking.
Date: 2010-06-19
From: Glenbrook shelter

To: Tom Leonardk shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: clear sky

Tented as the mosquitoes are becoming quite bad, during the day as well. Nice when they weren't around. Noticed the mountain laurel is in bloom again. Thought that was all done as it had been out earlier in PA. Must be walking north with spring. Also found a few blueberries that were ripe, but not many or enough for breakfast cereal. Wonder if they will be getting ripe soon or am i walking north to fast for the berries. Three young section hikers arrived and are staying in shelter so glad the tent was pitched on the wood tent platform.
Date: 2010-06-20
From: Tom Leonardk shelter

To: Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: broken clouds

Happy Fathers Day!!! Trail magic really does happen.!!! First hint that something was going on was a small paper note taped to a tree. "Hiker feed just ahead". Sure enough, just up the hill was a family along right along the trail at the junction with a little side road, but out in the middle of the woods. They had tables, folding chairs, gas grill and several folding tables all set up with a bunch of coolers scattered around.Since is was about 9:30 in the am they were cooking bacon and eggs with cheese on grilled english muffins. Real orange juice, energy drinks. Ate 2 of them...good stuff. Stayed and visited for quit awhile and pretty soon out came the hamburgers and on the grill. One of those was too much.WOW what a nice surprise!!!Called Barb and found her in a down mood. So pretty sooon after visiting i am feeling the same way. Then start thinking i would like to send Steve an email saying that i miss him. Such extremes of feelings from super high to low in a flash just like the climbs up and down the mountains it seems.
Date: 2010-06-21
From: Shaker Campsite

To: October Mountain shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Long day planned for today, with a couple of climbs. The mountains are getting a bit higher in elevation everyday. Not sure if my climbing legs and lungs are going to be up to it, especially on the big ones coming. Would like to get to Dalton, Ma tomorrow as my supply of TP is starting to run low. Plus i always enjoy clean clothes and good food.Stopped at Upper Goose Pond Shelter for a long rest, nap, and noon break. Fun visiting with caretaker at the enclosed cabin. Beautiful spot wish it wasn;t so close to last nights stop.At about 3 miles from the nite's shelter, another surprise....trail magic...again. A young couple from MA was cooking pork roast and all sorts of vegetables in tin foil on a charcoal grill. Tasted absolutely great with all the fixing and a beer and soda. Five hikers were feasting, including me. Thanks to Puff and to Snappy for all their work and great food. Got to shelter by 7:30.
Date: 2010-06-22
From: October Mountain shelter

To: Dalton, Ma
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

Didn;t sleep very well last nite. Might be because i took a big juicy brownie from the trail magic and ate it all before going to bed....or maaybe because the mosquitoes buzzing around during the early evening.Short day but still seemed long. Lots of big and little tree roots and even more muddy and wet spots. Doing the motel thing tonight, didn't feel like staying at the hostel and talking more hiker talk. Broke the 500 mile mark.
Date: 2010-06-23
From: Dalton, Ma

To: Mt Greylock
Miles today: 17.0

Found out my mother has broken her arm just above the wrist. Sounds as if this is quit painful. She will be seeing a orthopedic specialist this Friday and probably have a permanent cast. Hope all goes well.climbed the highest mountain so far this trip, up Mount Greylock, the highest point in MA at 3491 feet. Taking the climbs slow and steady seems to be the best way to get to the top. Stayed in an old CCC built lodge, Bascom Lodge on the top to Greylock, just a great view of the mountains all around. STayed at the bunk house rate of $35.00, including shower, towels, sheets, banket and a real PILLOW.
Date: 2010-06-24
From: Mt Greylock

To: Willianstown
Miles today: 6.3

Beautiful clear night with almost full moooon. Windy on the mountain top which made it feel adventursome and exciting outside. Didn't want to leave the lodge so stayed for breakfast. Pecan pancakes with glazed bananas and dollip of whipped cream naturally with maple syrup. all for $7.95...GOOD stuff. Long down hill into North Adams/Williams town for mail drop and all the other chores of a town stop.