morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-07-23
From: Backpacker Campsite, New Jersey

To: Campsite near Buttermilk Falls
Miles today: 15.6

Got up and was walking by 8am. Packed up wet tent; wet everything, really. This was a really long day. Tracy had given me some spare water that was actually clear. I grabbed my wooden staff and headed up the trail. I took a picture of the clouds down in the valley below me and what amazed me was my elevation was less than 1300 ft, but I was still above the clouds. Stopped to read some posters about bear warnings in New Jersey. Continued on. Before 9 I arrived at Sunfish Pond which is one of New Jersey's 7 natural wonders. The so called pond in this area is actually quite a large lake. This area is famous to thru hikers for the cairns that are built around sections of the shore. I reconfigured/enhanced one of them and took a picture. Alongside the trail I also took a picture of the remains of a skunk tail, freshly killed. Nature at it's wildest. Came across blueberries growing by the trail and ate a bunch. New Jersey is beautiful around these parts. I've taken a number of panorama shots. Another significant happening, just before 12, I crossed the 1300 mile mark of my hike. It was near the road crossing where I got my trekking poles back. Water is scarce and filled with canon. The trail guide pointed out a pump. When I figured out how to use it, I filled my Gatorade bottles with crystal clear water (that tasted like the iron it came out of). A young thru hiker named Argo passed me on an uphill and stopped in front of me about 50 yds up. When I caught up with her she turned and opened her palm to release an orange salamander about the size of her pinky. I took picture and video. This was a long 15 mile day and I didn't arrive to the campsite until 7:30pm. Even though I was covered in DEET, the bugs were persistent as I prepared my beef strogonoff for supper. Set up my tent, got in my sleeping bag, called my wife for a few minutes, then went to sleep.
Date: 2013-07-24
From: Campsite near Buttermilk Falls

To: Branchville, NJ
Miles today: 7.5

Got up this morning and was on the phone with my wife for a while about family matters and didn't start walking till 930. I have some persistent blisters on my toes. That takes a lot of fun out of the walking. The hike out of the campsite I passed a number of those streams that are so filled with tannin, the water looks like whiskey. When I stopped for a early snack/lunch there was a huge rock that looked just right for sitting on at an overlook. Unfortunately, the large black rattlesnake did not want to share. And since he was there first, I let him have it. I hiked into Branchville, NJ. It was 2.5 miles down the road from where the AT crosses to the hotel, but luckily I got a ride and now I will be spending a Zero here to try and heal my feet.
Date: 2013-07-26
From: Branchville, NJ

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

Got a ride back to trailhead from Foodwalker. He was still close enough supporting his wife that he came over and picked me up. the trail started off with a nice gradual up for the first mile or two.I stopped had the fire tower to make a phone call and chatted with my wife for a while.took a few pictures that were reminiscent of Pennsylvania in that it was very rocky.this was a day when water was scarce hand or yellow. When I got to the next shelter Mashipacong a trail angels had left a five gallon water bucket dispenser full for us thru hikers. In that shelter blog I read from numerous entries that Quaker had gotten off trail for physical or injury reasons. I really hated to see that I know how much he wanted to finish.however it is best not to take serious risk with your health when it can be avoided. I called and left him a voice mail message later that day I came to a very tall stone structure that was three tenths off trail but very doable from a wooden deck that had been built above the trees. I got some good pictures there.it was late when I got to High Point shelter and I pitched my tent and ate my food went to sleep.
Date: 2013-07-27
From: High Point Shelter

To: Pochuck Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 12.4

It was a beautiful day for hiking today. There were many kinds of flowers in bloom.I took pictures in one field of flowers that had hummingbirds and many bees. A little further along came upon stone walls built through the woods.also came upon some stiles that we use to cross fenches and these were the first I've seen in weeks. Along with the flowers there were raspberries and a few blueberries ripe and delicious, grapes also but they weren't ready. there was a water source at the Murray property which was a gorgeous settings and had a great water pump with fantastic water. Hikers learn there is nothing worse than having to ration water or being without water and having to climb long hills. There was lots of boardwalks through the marshes. Then a steep climb up from a road crossing to shelter. Along the way was an abandoned house that allowed hikers to use a water faucet from the back of house that had a drinking water type twist handle that automatically turned itself out. I drank a litre and a half on the spot. As I continued up the climb I looked up about 40 yards and saw a hiker sitting on the trail resting. From his attire I figured him for a non thru-hiker but rather a weekender, we don't wear jeans. Anyway he also had on a jesters hat of many colors and many dangling peaks. When I got close he asked me was I going to stay at the next shelter tonight. I said yes, he said 'good, I'll cook you steak and I have beer', fantastic I said and went on up as he rested longer. As I was coming off the AT trail onto the approach trail into the shelter I ran into the ridgerunner leaving to go down to get water. A minute later I heard him talking to the jester down the trail. When the jester got up there he was complaining about not being able to cook because open ground fires are not allowed in NJ. I had forgotten, oh well...my Mtn. House sufficed. The shelter filled up and I was in my tent again for a nice night.
Date: 2013-07-28
From: Pochuck Mtn Shelter

To: St. Thomas Episcopalian Church Hostel, Vernon NJ
Miles today: 6.5

 It rained last night and I have a minor leak in the tent, gonna have to fix that.Did not start walking till around 9:00 or 9:15, gonna have to fix that too. Within a couple of hours I came to where the boardwalk started which was almost a mile long with a suspension bridge near the far end. The boardwalk was through a reedy marsh and about 5 feet above the wet and muddy bottom. Don't want to lose your step here or you will be knee/thigh/chest deep in the bog. This was a short day because not too far in was the road crossing into Vernon NJ where there is a church hostel. St. Thomas, and the hostel in downstairs. At the road was a market and wine and veggie and sandwich store. I had wine tasting of the Cherry wine, it was delicious but I could not carry a bottle to the church, oh how I wanted to. Had a good chicken salad sandwich and coke while waiting with Pantry for the ride that she had coming to pick her up. Also with us was YNOT2K. Diane picked us up a little later and took us to town. I went to the hostel, Pantry stayed with Diane and YNOT2K hooked up with a friend at the hostel and went elsewhere. It was a great hostel again with shower that had a chair (a little bit of heaven in the basement of the church). There was a large group of hikers and we watched the video Midnight Run which was very funny. Most of the younger ones stayed up way beyond what I wanted but I eventually got to sleep. Heading out early in the morning as Pantry is picking me up at 7:00 am.
Date: 2013-07-29
From: Church Hostel, Vernon NJ

To: Stealth Camp at 1366.6
Miles today: 16.0

 When Diane picked me up at 7:30 I asked her to go through the drive through at Burger King. When we got to the trail head I sat on a log and ate my breakfast sandwich and had my coffee. Pantry went on. After a gradual incline of half mile the trail got serious and had a steep climb for a while to the ridge..with a few minor rock scrambles along the way. A rock scramble is a hand assisted ascent up the pile of rocks or cliff face. A hiker named Midway caught and walked with me for a while then went on. Her trail name is Midway as she explained it she was 50 and intended to live to be 100 so she is midway. In the early afternoon around 3:00 pm we came to the NJ/NY state line and one more state down. That makes Ga., NC., Tn., Va., WVa., Md., Pa., and now NJ., completed or 8 down and 6 to go. Came to a spot where there was a flag mounted in the rock slab at the top, this is the highest point on the AT in NY. I took a picture of Midway here standing next to a rock cairne. When I finally came to the water source I was very, very thirsty and the water was the color of whiskey, I took pictures of the bottles and went ahead and drank it...oh btw my water purification aqua mira had leaked out and I am hoping for the best...gotta have water no matter what. I couple of hours later I found a place to stealth camp when I heard noises through the trees and invited myself in. A local father and daughter had found the spot and were very friendly. Made some calls to home and pitched the tent and went to bed.
Date: 2013-07-30
From: Stealth Camp at 1366.6

To: Stealth Camp 1378.6
Miles today: 12.0

Got up this morning, packed up and said goodbye to Ryan and Jessica, took their picture for memories sake. Nice sunny day with some up's and downs that are starting to become steep. Had another couple of rock scrambles that were find the crevices and notches to get to the top. You really have to concentrate on not overbalancing with the pack on otherwise over backward you go which could be either embarassing or tragic depending on where you are. The first one I came to would have been in the painful middle had I lost focus. At lunch time I came to a waterfall with a long climb of steps at the side that take you to and over the top. I stopped here for water and lunch, at the bottom of the steps. While I was eating a southbounder came by (sobo is what they are called as northbounders are called nobo's). He had already done the really tough mountains in New Hampshire and Maine and yet he was complaining that no one had told him or NY's very steep ups and downs. They are steep and frequent but much shorter than what I will run into further north. I guess this is a good place to mention that I will be flipping in a week or so. Flipping is when a thru hiker gets off trail and goes to the northern terminus and hikes back to where he got off. There is only one reason I would do this and it is to make sure I complete the thru hike. If you do not get to Baxter State Park in Maine by the 15th of October you can not summit and therefore you will not be a true thru hiker. Well everyone tells me I still have plenty of time but I am not going to take a chance....I will be flipping to Katahdin. Ended the day with another stealth camp.
Date: 2013-07-31
From: Stealth Camp 1378.6

To: Stealth Camp 1392.6 Bear Mtn. View NYC skyline
Miles today: 14.0

Was awake and starting to get up at 6:30 am. After an hour of walking I crossed a major NY highway and got on the road to Harriman State Park. The road passed over one of the transit trains as I was walking over it. Very pretty park like trail but with a lot of ups. I stopped to call my wife and sat on a hugh rock beside the trail and as I was talking a family came strolling down the trail I was going up. Preceding them by about 30 yards were a large german sheppard and a larger youthful possibly saint bernard. He got right in my face with what appeared to be a big grin on his face. Later I came to the 'lemon squeezer' which was a much tighter and longer squeeze than the fat man squeeze back in Virginia. I had to push my forward foot in front of me and bring my rear foot toe to the heel of the front foot, no room to take regular steps with my namesake fifteens. At the end of the crevice you have to climb out to get back on trail. Just beyond this you come to another rock scramble that is basically inverted vertical. There was a tree with a blue blaze that had an arrow pointing that said the 'easy way'. Now if that sign had said 'alternate way' or bad weather way or anything but easy I would have taken it. So up I went with much trepidation and grip. Without the pack it would not have been so difficult, however, where I go it goes. I came to a shelter that was very nice stone from a distance but when I got to it it had been trashed on the inside and close by by locals. No thru hiker would treat an area like this. I went on and am glad I did. When I reached the crest of Bear Mtn there were others taking a break there. Damsel fly and a section hiker. They went on and I pitched my tent for the night, ate my food and hung my bear bag.
Date: 2013-08-01
From: Stealth Camp 1392.6 Bear Mtn. View NYC skyline

To: Ft. Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today had some anxious and exciting moments. When I got to the first stream crossing and crossed it, took off my pack and grabbed my water bottles, as I turned back to the stream a large bear was about to come across the bridge and join me. I yelled 'BACK BEAR' loudly and a couple of times, he backed off the bridge and watched me. I almost skipped the water but was very thirsty. He went downstream and crossed while I was looking down, when I looked up I saw he was now on my side and headed to my pack. Again with the yelling and screaming, again he ambled off as if he were embarrassed. Long story short when I started out he followed me as if he were my pet for 4 tents of a mile. I was not liking this as he often got within 8-10 feet. He finally got off trail when I was almost ranting at him and started sniffing the ground. I continued on up the mountain faster than I normally do. He stayed. At the top I came to a large stone observation tower that was in the park and stopped for a coke or two from the vending machine there. I hooked up with YNOT2K here and we hiked together down to Fort Montgomery and shared a very small room in a motel. Went across the street and had supper and watched a little t.v. and went to bed.
Date: 2013-08-02
From: Ft. Montgomery, NY

To: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, NY
Miles today: 6.4

left this morning with my hiking partner YNOT2K who I just call YNOT. He is doing his third thru hike and is 63 going on 30. He is an extremely nice guy. We got back to the trail by getting a ride from the motel owner. the trail passes through the zoo however the zoo doesn't open until 10 a.m. So there is an alternative trail blue blaze that reconnects with the AT just past the zoo. I hate that we missed the zoo because it has a famous statue of Walt Whitman and a bear cage that is the lowest point on the AT. when we got to the bridge that crosses the Hudson River at Bear Mountain bridge I took pictures of the stonewerks as we crossed. as we crossed the river the trail went sharply up to the ridge of the mountain where it leveled off for awhile. another milestone was reached just over the river we passed the fourteen hundred mile mark of the AT. YNOT2K told me that if I didn't mind he would hike with me until I flipped to Maine.I said fantastic but you will have to walk much slower than you are used to.he said no problem and did often wait at the top of the climbs for me. when we reached the road crossing that had the appellation trail market we stopped for lunch. This is mostly voice input when I don't have a full size computer, hence the spelling of Appalachian in the last sentence. this market had everything at a hiker would want. We ate had a beer or two and continued on to the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center. this is a fantastic catholic monastery with 500 acres. they allow hookers to pitch there chance at the pavillion next to their balls field.we were invited to attend hey how large cook out the next day for the alumni of the retreat.this is a rehabilitation center and hospital for drug and alcohol treatment.it is a very lovely facility with many old buildings shrines statues we decided to accept and thanked this person that made the offer
Date: 2013-08-03
From: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, NY

To: Graymoor
Miles today: 0.0

Took a zero here and YNOT2K also stayed. Poppins went on this morning. She is a 31 year old with a degree in Anthropology. I am working on my second degree just for the fun of it and yes its Anthropology. Y and I hiked the mile back down to the market/deli/grill for breakfast. Eating large literally. I was told by someone in our group about a former thru hiker that gained 100 lbs after his hike. He is back on the trail again, hope its not a cycle for him. When Y and I got back to Graymoor, (I just went back and reviewed yesterday's entry, it is hilarious what the voice recorder hears...I didn't fix it it is too funny to mess with). There was a softball game for the alumni and a cookout. We attended both. Then later back down to the market for an early supper where Midway, Mothra and Sich Amour joined us as they came off the trail at the road crossing. We told them how great it was at the Monastery and they decided to stay also. Nice restful day with picture taking and talking experiences on the trail. Everyone was amazed at how NY could kick your butt with it steep rock scrambles and repeated ups/downs. I was back in my tent early as I heard other hikers coming in to camp to pitch their tents in the ball field.
Date: 2013-08-04
From: Graymoor

To: Clarence Fahnestock State Park, NY
Miles today: 11.8

When we packed up to leave this morning I headed out ahead of most of the others. I sat on a rock beside the trail and made a phone call home while waiting on Y to join me. As I waited Killer (20ish female) and her hiking partner Hagrid passed me and asked where I was going to be staying tonight, I told them Clarence Fahenstock State Park, they were also and invited me to join them for homemade blueberry pie that her mother was bringing to the park. Shortly after Y passed and I started hiking. It was a nice woods walk today with little to write about. We did come upon some weird frogs that had bright green heads and regular camo green bodies. Got some good pictures as they posed for me. When we got to the paved road that we had to get off trail and follow to the park, it was a mile and more than half way up hill. The reward for this off trail trek was blueberry pie and a hot shower and camaraderie with good hiking buddies. When I went to the shower house it was getting dark and when I came out it was pitch black, yeah right I did not have my light and had a hill to navigate in the dark...stumbles, stubbed toes and the works. Finally got to bed and asleep.
Date: 2013-08-05
From: Clarence Fahnestock State Park, NY

To: Hosner Mtn Rd...Bill/Amy trail magic
Miles today: 10.5

When Y and I left this morning I was really dreading the long mile walk back down the busy narrow paved road to the trailhead. We had not gone even 100 yards when a man in a SUV pulled over and offered us a ride. To me this is the best kind of trail magic. When he pulled over to let us off to get back on the trail we had passed where we had come off by about 100 yards, being a purist of a sort I hiked back to that point so that I would not miss any of the trail. The driver also gave us some cherry tomatoes..yum. A little after eleven we came to an overlook that had an American flag memorial to 911 painted into the rock slab at the top. We took an early snack break here for the view and to take a few pictures. At around 2 we reached the RPH shelter and there was trail magic there. A guy named 'Limpin Eagle' was cooking burgers and hot dogs, he also had beer and soda, I had some of everything. This shelter is a building that has one end open and the other looks like a house with steps and door. I was neat as a pin and had flower garden, large well kept grassy yard and pristine privy. Nothing like the shelter a few days ago that most people just walk on past. There was also a sign giving the miles remaining to both Katahdin and Springer depending on the direction you were heading. Killer and Hagrid joined us here before we finished eating. Y and I pushed on with thoughts of getting to the next shelter for a 14-16 mile day. Just before 5 we crossed a paved road and back into the woods where Y (in the lead) was stopped by a group and we were invited to a hiker party at a house just up the street we had crossed. They offered cookout, showers, place to sleep, party atmosphere. We had walked right past the sign that told about it and if they had not seen us we would have missed it. When we got to the house there were already 8 other hikers there, then in came Midway a little later. Probably over a dozen of us all together. One of the hikers had come in by car as he had finished his nobo hike two days earlier and summitted then. His trail name was Beacon and he was with his Mom and sister who had picked him up in Maine. We had homemade taco's, ice cream, beer, soda then later retired to a hugh 10 crater campfire in his back yard. Then off to bed above his garage.
Date: 2013-08-06
From: Hosner Mtn Rd...Bill/Amy trail magic

To: Stormville then flip to Katadhin
Miles today: 1.6

This was the day that I had determined to make my flip. Y and I walked less than two miles to the next road crossing where we went down to a market that was highlighted in our AT guide. This is where I had arranged for trail angel Claire to pick me up and take me to the Pawley MTR transit to NYC. While we were waiting we met to SoBo hikers finishing there lunch. Then a trail legend AWOL came up. I had met him back in Georgia and believe it or not he said "I met you back in Georgia, this is amazing to run into you again". Just as in Georgia I got a picture with him. He was there because he had had some complaints from hikers that the pizza place next to the market was not 'hiker friendly'. He asked us about it and we told him we had not been in their and that we had only gone in the market and that they were very hiker friendly. He went in and interviewed the owner of the pizza place and asked him if he wished to have his establishment removed from the trail guide. The guy said that sometimes hikers came in and stayed very long and basically stunk up the place. I guess its this thing called hiker stink/funk. A little later a young man named "Jules the Mule" came in and we talked and discovered we were both from the Birmingham area. He is a NoBo making good time headed north. At around 3:45 Claire arrived and Y and I headed to Pawley in her car, he wanted to see me off, he was not going flip since in early September be is flying to Spain to hike the pilgrimage trail El Camino de Santiago. At Pawley since there was over an hour to wait we took Claire to a restaurant near the station and had an early supper. I bought my ticket and said my goodbyes to wait for my train. I will truly miss hiking with YNOT2K, he was great hiking partner.