morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-07-07
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Campsite on the Trail
Miles today: 16.6

Day 97 Welcome to New JerseyThe Delaware River is the state border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey and there Is a busy long bridge connecting the two. I took off early and made a celebratory large leaping footstep when I reached the official marker sign. One more state down! Trucks roared by and the bigger ones made the bridge harmonically jump as if I were in a bouncing castle. Not a safe feeling at all so I hurried on to the next side. At first the path was paved and when I did reach the woods there was a Park employee waiting saying ¢Welcome to New Jersey!¢ Such a nice thing to do. He was just checking on all the visitors and smelling that I was a through hiker he knew I was pretty okay with the park, where to go, park etiquette and so on.The path itself ? Well I could swear that someone had taken a file to all the rocks and smoothed off the edges! I made quick time out of the river valley and back up into the higher lands. The rocks of Pennsylvania were as a consequence of glaciers and now for the first time I encountered one of their other creations: glacial lakes. Some were quite small, others dry depressions, and other picture perfect reflection mirrors. I took my time in contemplation.Then as I wandered down a ridge I heard the call: ¢Hiker Up!¢ It was a mob of past hikers called ¢Riff Raff¢ and they¢d set up a trail magic pavilion with every booze drink imaginable, plus sandwiches, apple pie and every other junk food feast you could ask for. I was in heaven. Later (much later) I staggered up the next ridge to an old realestate development site that the Nation Parks had purchased. The levelled home sites made the perfect campsite for many tents. There were about 12 of us there. We all were so grateful for our midday feast and rejoicing that the Pennsylvania rocks were now a thing of the past.
Date: 2019-07-08
From: Campsite on the Trail

To: Gren Anderson Shelter 
Miles today: 14.8

Day 98 Ridge WalkingEarly morning there was the pitter patter on the tent fly, then the rain steadily increased in intensity and was still going strong at the dawn. The old cleared home sites that we were camped on had varying degrees of drainage. I was lucky: on my site the water ran off to one side. But for some others, their site had become a lake with their tent in the middle!!! Packing up in the rain is never much fun, especially as the wet tent adds extra weight to the backpack. I put my tent in a large outside pocket of my pack. It has drainage holes so in theory some of the water goes away. Our route today followed a ridge line and I was mesmerised by the rolling clouds that filled the valleys below. Every so often the ridge was punctured by a gap, through which usually was a busy arterial highway. We came to one of these that led to Dales supermarket in Branchville, a couple of miles away. Sadly for us we had no luck hitching a ride and it was a hot long walk in the afternoon sun. I think there must be something about ¢The Beast¢¢s French accent because he struck up a conversation and soon enough had an offer of a ride back to the trail head. It was a small car and we all squeezed in with our packs on our knees. I had my pack right up against my nose. Oh boy I did not realise how bad it stank! My pack was so rank!!! How the rest of me was?? Dear me. Goodness me that poor driver in the small vehicle. It must have been stinky even once we had left. They say the odour sticks around a long long time. That shows true generosity to have put up with us lot! We walked on another three miles to a shelter where we set up our tents and let them dry out. I had brought with me salmon and a pomegranate salad from the market. It was delicious and certainly helped me sleep well that night. I wonder how well that driver slept now having a ripe rank vehicle!!
Date: 2019-07-09
From: Gren Anderson Shelter 

To: Jim MurrayÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Secret Shelter
Miles today: 18.3

Day 99 ¢Jack¢The days are getting hotter and oh so humid. Marcia Lake State Park was just off trail and it had a shower!I was so looking forward to that shower. But when I got there it was closed for the day. Alas. But a trail angel generously gives every through hiker a coke and that was a blessing. It gave me the energy to push on. I made it to the ¢Secret¢ Shelter which is not an official AT shelter but really does the trick. It¢s at the end of a country lane, set in an idyllic open grassy pasture. The well water was cold and refreshing, it had a shower and it had ¢Jack¢.He is a friendly donkey who pestered me all dinner time for my supper. He had an annoying habit of getting really close to my pot and then snorting!! Fortunately I kept everything covered!
Date: 2019-07-10
From: Jim MurrayÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Secret Shelter

To: Wawaywanda Shelter
Miles today: 18.6

Day 100 AmericanaNearby the ¢Secret¢ shelter was Howlers General Store, Unionville. It was a short 0.7 mile walk off trail in the fresh cool morning air.  I can say that in the late hot afternoon it would be a very long 0.7 mile!! Unionville struck me as a very typical americana peaceful village. It was still festooned with flags and red, white and blue ribbons from the 4th July. The general store had a comfortable porch that I kicked back on and enjoyed a breakfast sandwich. I stayed an hour but could have stayed so much longer. But the trail was calling! Much of the day was through swamplands and marshy nature reserves. These often had boardwalks so the walking was easy. Towards the end of the day we came across Heaven Hill Farm. I was ravenous and bought a blueberry pie plus a pint of berry icecream. I didn¢t finish the pie and felt quite ill from such a full belly. Somehow we made it back on the trail, up the next ridge and onto our shelter for the night.
Date: 2019-07-11
From: Wawaywanda Shelter

To: Wildcat Shelter 
Miles today: 12.1

Day 101 Searching for TicksThe big worry for most hikers is the tick. These tiny little monsters carry awful diseases which if contracted can end the through hike. At every trail head are warnings about Lyme Disease and what to look for. Trouble is the Deer ticks that carry the disease are tiny and so hard to spot. I did find one tick on me today but as far as I can tell it was not the one I need to worry about. I had gone into a disabled toilet and spotting a mirror I took off my shirt to do an inspection. There it was.. just out of reach of where I would normally feel on my back. Gosh they are cunning! But I got it!! Relaxing over breakfast at a picnic table outside I struck up a conversation with Al, a local resident. He was enthralled with my walk and he wanted to help out however he could. That afternoon he met me and another hiker at a trail head, presented us with an icey refreshing drink and then drove us to a supermarket for a resupply. So kind. Back on the trail it poured with rain and I cursed the Trail designers for they had us traverse a rocky ridge. Normally that¢s okay but in the rain the rocks were treacherously slick. Slow and steady we made it to a shelter. The rain was still coming down so I didn¢t bother to tent, rather accepting the cover of a dry roof.
Date: 2019-07-12
From: Wildcat Shelter 

To: Stealth Camp near Lake Tiorati 
Miles today: 15.7

Day 102 Breakfast Surprise Al left a text message to call him when I woke up. I did and he asked if he could walk with me for a short while. When we met up at the next trail head he had a strong black coffee and a breakfast selection of fruits for me. So very very kind! The hospitality shown towards hikers continues to amaze me.The trail today explored rocks. Not the Pennsylvania sharp pointed ones, but truly massive ones. One such rocky outcrop was called the lemon squeezer and was not only a tight squeeze, but also a test of small cliff climbing. Somehow I made it through without getting too squashed!Arriving late in the day at my planned shelter there was no near water supply so I trudged on. I came to a spectacular old water tank that I drew as well as a newer one that had a water spigot. Only trouble was that it was behind a barbed wire topped chain mesh fence. So, I detoured to Lake Tiorati, a local state park, way down a hill, where I knew I could get water. It also had showers but alas these too were behind locked doors!! Frustrating. I traipsed back up the hill. It was late in the day and I was so tired. The hills seem so much higher at that time of day! Then I sought out a stealth camp in the woods and slept sweetly!
Date: 2019-07-13
From: Stealth Camp near Lake Tiorati 

To: Campsite near AnthonyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Nose
Miles today: 15.1

Day 103 New York HeatThe trail today led relatively close to New York City. By relatively close I mean 30 ish miles or so. It travels along ridges and from a couple of these I could see way off in the distance the New York skyline! Icould quite easily spot the Empire State Building as well as One World Trade Centre that replaced the twin towers. The humidity was high and so the view was not as clear as some days, but I still could make out the great city. I felt so excited to see it. The temperature also was quite warm and natural water sources few and far between. Fortunately folks took pity on the hikers and left water jugs at most trail crossings. In the afternoon I sure needed that. Late in the day, the trail dropped down to the lowest point on the Appalachian Trail, at 124ft, which is beside a bear cage in the Trailside Zoo! From there it crossed the Hudson River via a spectacular suspension bridge, and then a vicious climb back up the ridge at ¢Anthony¢s Nose¢. By now it was late in the day, but the hot sun was unrelenting. I was relieved when ¢The Beast¢ who I was walking with, called out that he¢d spotted a campsite. A chance to rest although that night it was so warm. No need for any covers.
Date: 2019-07-14
From: Campsite near AnthonyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Nose

To: Campsite near Dennytown Road 
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

Day 104 Side of the Road MagicMy strategy to beat the heat was to get up early and make tracks as far as I could. That worked well until 11:00am. From then on it was hot! We called into the Appalachian Market which is a fancy service station for refreshments. Lots of weekend Harley Davidson bike riders were out in force and it was a popular place to take a break. From there we moved on a few more miles then took a break by a road junction where there was a running  brook. Every 5 minutes or so cars would drive past and most stopped to ask how we were going and if we needed anything. One lady even gave us a bag of cherries and bananas, so kind. It made us want to stay much longer, but the trail beckoned and we were on our way. True relief came towards the end of the day when we came to a spigot that provided icey cold water from a deep well. A group of us hikers gathered to enjoy the revitalisation. So refreshing. We made camp a short distance away.My picture is of the William Brien Memorial Shelter made from massive boulders. The back wall was actually formed from the existing cliff wall.
Date: 2019-07-15
From: Campsite near Dennytown Road 

To: Deli campground near NY Route 52
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 105 The DeliA fair day of Hot hiking up and down hills!Now, maybe l sound repetitive! It¢s hot. Oh so hot. Somehow when I decided to do the Appalachian Trail, I thought it would be in an idyllic environment where I could hike and never sweat, never feel hot, never swelter, know mugginess or torridity. That dream was eroded today. The heat was never ending. Now my dream was to leave New York State and head to the North Pole. Perhaps then the weather would cool down. I closely monitored my AWOL guide that told me where I was on this long pathway. Maybe if I walked faster I¢d escape the fieriness? I watched closely for every piece of shade. Problem was even in the shade I felt as if I were in a steamy furnace. Trudging down a hill I spotted a road. Sideways down that was a deli. Refreshments maybe? A mile or less I got there and I saw ¢Sweet¢ by the strip shops, only one of which was open: The Mountaintop Market Deli. ( Not on top of a mountain and not next to a market, rather neighbours to a Quarry/ Cement Plant) ¢Sweet¢ signalled to me to head out back. Wow there was a verdure oasis back there. There was an abundance of foliage surrounding a manicured lawned small pasture. Already there were 4 ¢Big Agnes¢ tents set up. I note ¢Big Agnes¢ because this is a brand many through hikers swear by. There were picnic tables and the deli provided the drinks. (Well we did have to buy them.) By state law these were always in brown paper bags .. a reflective statute from the prohibition days. That evening was so relaxing and it even cooled down a bit. Bliss.
Date: 2019-07-17
From: Stealth Camp near Pawling Nature Reserve

To: Schghticoke Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 14.0

Day 107 Connecticut More hot weather! Over the past few weeks of walking I have developed a possibly unconventional idiloligical belief that if I kept on heading north from New York then the climate would get cooler. It was based on my theory that the closer I got to the North Pole then the cooler it would get. Today we were to reach the next state of Connecticut, ie north of New York ergo colder temperatures, so I made haste! Sadly when I got there, there was no dramatic temperature decrease! Actually it seemed to get warmer?? I reached the town of Bulls Bridge where there was a historic covered bridge over the river. Somehow the traffic engineers had so safety barriered it that it had lost its charm to me! But there was one joyous site. (sight) A through hiker had set up a pavilion with trail magic. I had to stop! It had an ice chest filled with ice and under that cold drinks. I don¢t know why but I ended up staying much longer than I intended. All was fine. I met up with 4 slack packers who I have been racing with, plus of course ¢The Beast¢ & ¢Sweet¢. However, when I got going about an hour or so later I realised I¢d badly miss calculated my hiking plans. I had intended to camp at a shelter 6 miles away but the trail turned nasty. Rocks, boulders, cliffs and hot hot conditions. Every barrier imaginable was thrown in my way to slow me down. And to top it off an ex hurricane thunderstorm came hurtling in with torrential rains. Even then it was still hot! With the difficulty/sheer stupidity of the terrain I had no hope of getting to my goal destination. At 7:30 pm I texted my friends and let them know I was camping 3 miles short. I was totally spent. I pitched my tent in between rain downpours. Even though the trail magic slowed me down I was glad I stayed and figured I¢d make up the distance in the morning!PS My drawing is of a small water tower in pastures alongside the trail. It sat so idyllically.
Date: 2019-07-18
From: Schghticoke Mountain Campsite

To: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: moderate rain

Day 108 Big Mile DayThe rain eased up during the night and I was surprised that my tent fly was dry in the morning. The temps were already starting to rise and even with the rain I needed no cover when I slept. I was determined to make a push for distance, but the terrain was not being helpful at all. I had some big climbs and some ridiculously steep and rocky descents. At Caleb¢s Peak there was even a mountain climbing school practicing on one of the cliffs I had to come down! I know that the big climbs are coming with the White Mountains in New Hampshire... perhaps today was a way to get me ready. There was a brief flat section as the trail went beside the Housatonic River. But that didn¢t last for long! At 8:30pm, in the dusk,  I reached my destination of Pine Swamp Brook Shelter, a distance of 20.2 miles with over 4,100ft of ascent. It was a good effort for me considering the heat. I quickly set up camp as the mosquitoes were thick and nasty. It had been a hard but satisfying day.
Date: 2019-07-19
From: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter

To: Salisbury at Vanessa BretonÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Home
Miles today: 15.3

Day 109 Vanessa¢s 15 short??? (Nothing is ever short) miles from my campsite, and just off trail was the town of Salisbury and in that town Vanessa Breton offered comfortable beds in her home for $40 plus for an extra $5 to wash clothes. This sounded ideal to me especially as for days and days now my shirt and shorts have been soaked in perspiration. My nose wrinkled in burning pain whenever it came time to put them on in the morning. With that decision made I stepped out that morning with anticipation of a clean me. It was a relatively easy walk following the Housatonic River valley with detours up and over mountains on either side. But the heat was brutal and I developed heat rash in every inconceivable place unimaginable. It hurt and my pace reduced from its steady slow to a pained hobble. Even the sight of the 1500 mile sign didn¢t raise my spirits. When I reached Salisbury I headed straight to the drug store for much needed medical salvation. That done, the lovely Vanessa greeted me at her door. Soon she had my stink bomb linens in the washing machine and I was in the shower! That felt so good! The rest of the day was relaxation. There was no air conditioner and there were about 8 other hikers so we were all a little warm. But having the chance to sit back in a lounge chair and have my weight off my feet was pure luxury.
Date: 2019-07-20
From: Salisbury at Vanessa BretonÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Home

To: Brassie Brook Shelter
Miles today: 4.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 110 Hot Weather NeroThe National Weather Service put out an urgent weather message : ¢ Excessive Heat Warning. ... The Heat Index Values up to 110 due to temperatures in the mid 90s, and dewpoints in the low to middle 70s and the Impacts ... Heat illnesses likely for those spending prolonged periods of time outdoors or in non-air conditioned locations. Prolonged heat is most dangerous for ..? Hikers ??? ... Temperatures will remain very warm and muggy tonight, ...¢ With that grim hot forecast for the day, a shortened hiking plan of only 5 miles in the late afternoon seemed like a no brainer. Vanessa let us hang around in her home during the day until we left. I loved the time of doing nothing! There was an excellent supermarket in town with a range of gourmet salads so I had an early dinner with lots and lots of greens. All the foods I couldn¢t get when out walking. When I did head out I was met a short distance along the trail by trail magic: ice cold drinks. I think folks knew of the extreme conditions and were doing what they could to ease things for us. That evening the humidity seemed to bring out the mosquitoes so as soon as my tent was up I was inside with the bug net zipped up and I went to sleep watching the little blighters try to get in without success.My photo is of values Vanessa lives by and is on her fridge. I thought they were neat!!
Date: 2019-07-21
From: Brassie Brook Shelter

To: Stealth Camp uphill from Boardman Street
Miles today: 18.4

Day 111 A cooler dayThe weather forecast called for more heat, albeit perhaps not as hot as yesterday. My plan was to get up before dawn and to get done as many miles as I could before things got too hot. There were a number of steep climbs to be done and in the early coolness it would be so much easier. My first climb was Bear Mountain, which is the highest peak in Connecticut. I watched sunrise there and the sight of the humidity clouds lazing in the valleys below was awesome. Then it was into Massachusetts! There were no formal border signs as I was negotiating the delightful Sages Ravine which is an old growth hemlock forest sunken into a deep gorge. Easy to understand why it is a hikers favourite. Then I had more mountains to climb. Four is about my limit and with that done on came the heat. Lucky for me a trail angel had left a cooler full of iced water at a picnic table along the way so I lazed for a while. Then it was downhill! But next up was awaiting an army of Deer Flies and mosquitoes in a 3 mile stretch of swamp. I had to make a long run for it. The deer flies bite in and the only satisfaction is that they are slow to let go so a good hand wack disposed of that problem. But if I was too slow it left a really nasty bloody sore that potentially could get infected. When past the swamp I was faced with another steep hill but my legs had had enough! I did my best to climb up as high as I could then I found a flat spot and made camp for the night!
Date: 2019-07-22
From: Stealth Camp uphill from Boardman Street

To: Mt Wilcox South Shelters
Miles today: 10.1

Day 112 Cold Front I had grand plans to make miles today and rejoin my friends ¢The Beast¢ and ¢Sweet¢. I was up early and made the first shelter before most of the hikers were even out of their tents. I stopped, boiled some water for a coffee and chatted to a hiker. ¢Rains coming¢, he said. I hiked on and the skies threatened. At lunch I made the next shelter, ate some peanut butter spread on a tortilla with tuna, and then was about to head off. The sprinkles of rain started and I paused. ¢Maybe I¢ll wait a couple of minutes,¢ I thought. Then the rain really started coming down. A steady stream of hikers arrived at the shelter. One told me a cold front was moving in. Meteorologically it was converting all the humidity I had been experiencing in the air over the past two weeks to precipitation. Then there was thunder, lightning. At this point I made a decision: no more hiking today!! On reflection one of the best decisions I¢ve made all trek. From then on the rain intensified and intensified. The shelter was full and we all watched the heavens explode with a torrent. I was so glad I was under a firm roof. I had a platform for my mattress and went to bed early listening to the downpour outside. I was so glad I wasn¢t in my tent! My drawing is of a corner detail from one of the hiker shelters. The Hut was built by a group of hiker mates in memory of one of their group who passed away. They went to a wood working class and learnt how to use old hand tools and the traditional craftsmanship of working with timber. They then built the hut in a garage, perfecting their techniques. When the hut was looking just as they wanted they disassembled it, hauled it up a mountain and reassembled it ready to help out hikers in need of shelter.