morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-06-22
From: 1154.6 stealth site

To: Campsite at 1170.0
Miles today: 15.4

Another hot day today. I carried on for almost 11 hours though. I really want to get to Lickdale and take a zero! The heat and bugs are driving me crazy!!! The bright spots are Hungus, Pace, Overdrive, Peach, and Tater Tot, who just keep smiling and moving along at their resonable pace. Overdrive and Peach take lots of breaks to beat the heat, and I am taking a page from their book and doing so too.I dumped a stuff-sack full of cold stream water over my head to cool off and soaked my feet in a stream for about half an hour. Felt great!It's not all rainbows and butterflies though. On a sour note, I came upon a man deficating about 5 feet off the trail - into a stream no less!!! Somehow I held back from reading him the riot act... then as I walked on, I wish I had not. He needed a good education on trail etiquette. He must have been going south though as I never saw him again. It is probably for the best. I then ran into the RidgeRunner named Wayne. He too was heading south, so I filled him in on the guy. He said he'd catch up and talk to him. Funny how that worked out.The next bummer came near the end of the day. I passed two south-bounders. They were in their early twenties. They did not express any desire to talk, and I was too hot to talk anyway... so we just passed each other.A few minutes later I realize I'm about to step on a rattlesnake! It is moving toward me. I jump back, my foot just inches from it. Then I notice it has no head or tail!!! These jerks had just killed it! It was a timber rattler, and is a protected species! I ran back after them, but they were too far up the trail for me to catch. I tried to call the rangers but I had no cell service.Around 6:30 I pulled into the campsite where Overdrive, Peach, and Tater Tot were setting up for the night and joined them. Overdrive and Peach were just a minute or two ahead of me and witnessed the murder of the snake. I wish I'd been there earlier and could have stopped it. So sad.
Date: 2012-06-23
From: Campsite at 1170.0

To: Lickdale PA
Miles today: 6.2

Short day today. Overnight the wind picked up and it is slighly cooler. I can't wait to get a shower!!! I did call the ranger station and reported the two guys who killed the snake. I asked the rangers to alert Wayne.I'm zeroing and then I'm on to William Penn Shelter where I get to start counting down the miles from 1000! Hungus and Pace are here at the hotel.
Date: 2012-06-24
From: Lickdale PA

To: Lickdale PA
Miles today: 0.0

Spending the day updating my journals. I just spoke with Pace. She and Hungus zeroed because she contracted Lyme disease. I got a needle from the front desk and sewed my pants and sleeping bag with dental floss.   Getting a much needed rest. Love to all.Thank you to those that have signed my guest book. Your well-wishes are greatly appreciated! Thoughts for a zero day: In April I was taking a shower at Wood's Hole hostel. Not IN Wood's Hole hostel, mind you. This was outside, at night, in 35 degree weather with wind. The water was nice and hot, but getting out of the 3 sided shower stall (with plastic curtain)into the cold was something I really did not want to do. The thought came; in a few months, when you are in 100 degree weather, you are going to look back to this moment and wish you were this cold.
Date: 2012-06-26
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Was planning to go only as far as the campsite, but made such good time that I carried on and got 2 days of hiking into one.I was attacked by a dog this morning. I actually fought it off with my poles. The owner said she did not need to have the dog on a leash because she was not on the trail. I mentioned that I was on the trail, and her dog was on the trail, and that it did not much matter where she was.When I got to the shelter, Yoda and Ruskie were there. Ruskie was from Russia and Yoda was from Pittsburg.
Date: 2012-07-04
From: Port Clinton PA

To: Campsite
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: clear sky

I started the day by having breakfast at the local eatery with the gang from last night. Around 11:00 AM, I decided to head back out for the trail. Within a few miles, I came to the local swimming hole. It was on the Schullkill river and had a very nice set of easy rapids to sit in. Others were across, the river jumping about 50 feet into the water from an old bridge abutment. I spent most of the afternoon relaxing in the river. When I finally climbed out of Port Clinton, I stayed at a campsite where I met Glogg. During the night, lightning strikes hit so close there was no delay between the light and the sound! What was amazing was that there was no "lead in" to these strikes. They were the first strikes of the storm. This made them even more frightening.
Date: 2012-07-05
From: Campsite

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

I passed by the Lehigh Valley Astronomical Society¢s observatory site today. Their domes were amazing to see! This is not a fly-by-night operation (pun). See photos.At the Eckville shelter, which is another ATC site, I tented in a field with Glogg and Rebound. Both had Tarp Tents, so we had our own "Tarp Tent City.¢ Glogg had the Notch, Rebound the Moment, and I the Contrail.
Date: 2012-07-09
From: Fox Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: broken clouds

Nice hiking today. I hitched into Branchville for a quick resupply. I met Snotrocket and Anchor at the local coffee shop. I stopped for lunch at the Gren Anderson Shelter. Here I again met Whiffle Chicken, Crazen, Snotrocket, and Anchor. The views into Delaware Water Gap are fabulous!
Date: 2012-07-10
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Rattlesnake Spring
Miles today: 13.4

Today I finally got out of Pennsylvania! It was an easy climb up the Jersey side of the Delaware Water Gap. I saw many animals today. Sadly, the first was a chipmunk with a wounded leg. Later I managed to come between a doe and her fawn, which was a bit discomforting for all of us. I then spooked a bear and it ran off into the woods. Finally, I spied a deer on my left and was creeping by it when another deer on my right, that I did not see, broke and ran. It scared me silly, as I was only a few feet from it when it ran off! At Sunfish Pond, a glacial lake, I again met Scooby and Tank as I ate lunch (leftover breakfast on a roll) while sitting on a bench.   I met Charlie Brown today, so named for his resemblance to the cartoon character. Nice guy, I wish I could have kept pace with him longer. At sundown, it rained.
Date: 2012-07-11
From: Rattlesnake Spring

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Today I was up and running by 7:30 AM. I passed by a swamp, in the mountains, with a 100 foot cliff beside it. It was quite strange to see terrain like this. It has been very hot again today, and Crater Lake looked inviting, but it was too far off the trail to get to for a swim. I ran into Charlie Brown again for a short while. At the end of the day, as I was setting up my tent at the Brink Road Shelter, I look up to see a VERY large bear rambling through the woods about 150 feet away. It was turning over rocks that were twice the size of bowling balls as if they were made of paper! As it got closer to me, I started yelling at it so it would know I was there. It looked up at me for a moment and then went about its business of rock turning and grub eating with no regard for me. I then saw two cubs in the distance. Now I¢m worried. Here is a bear, with cubs, that is not afraid of me¢¦ This is not good. The bear came within 25 feet of me. Suddenly, another hiker with a dog showed up. When the bear caught the scent of the dog, it took off running and that was the last we saw of it. The dog had no idea the bear was there.
Date: 2012-07-12
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: Mashipacong Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

I resupplied at Branchville and was back on the trail in no time at all. I had lunch at the Gren Anderson shelter with Whiffle Chicken, Crazen, Snotrocket and Anchor.I saw my first rattlesnake today. I first heard the sound the rattle. I cannot tell you how loud it was! It scared the hell out of me! The snake was a few feet in front of me and off the trail, and so hidden from view. I did manage to get some pictures of it.
Date: 2012-07-13
From: Mashipacong Shelter

To: Murray Property
Miles today: 12.6

I stopped at High Point State Park and took a swim in the lake. It was wonderful! Snotrocket and Anchor were there too, but I didn't see them until I was on my way out.The Murray property is great. It is a must stay. The outdoor hot shower is a unique experience. No curtain. Nice touch there. I overheard two women talking to Mange about Canada. He had a Canadian flag on his pack and that got them together. I asked the women about going to Nova Scotia in October. They said that October is the perfect time to go. So Fern and I will head there in the fall.
Date: 2012-07-15
From: Vernon, NJ

To: Furnace Brook Campsite m1361.3
Miles today: 10.4

What a tough climb today! The Wawayanda mountain climb is 900 feet of elevation in a very short distance. On the way up, I saw a woman coming down the mountain. I recognized her from the climb out of Delaware Water Gap. We¢d spoken briefly at the time. This time we introduced ourselves. Her name is Dawn, and she is preparing for a trip to Montana, including Glacier National park.On the downside of the mountain, I met two other day-hikers; Ginny and Foy. They were familar with the area and helped me plan my stopping place for the night as the guide showed no campsites or shelters for miles to come.I pulled into the Wawayanda State Park for water. Here I again ran into Snotrocket, Anchor, and Mud. They were going into town to catch a movie at the drive-in theater (without a car, mind you).At a road crossing, I met Butterfingers and again saw Mange, a Canadian whom I¢d met at the Murray property two days back). While talking, a wild turkey flew across the road and landed (crashed) into the trees near us. They are the least graceful of any bird I¢ve seen.Later, I called my wife as I crossed into New York and got a campsite, near water, just before the rain started.
Date: 2012-09-05
To: New York City
Miles today: 0.0

Well dear reader, once again, I'm off to the Appalachian Trail. Today I head back to New York City by train from Orlando and then, on Thursday, I'll catch the bus to Greenwood Lake. If all goes as planned, I'll spend Thursday night at the Wildcat shelter area! I've no illusions of making it all the way to Maine this year. That is out of the question, but what the heck. It's taken me 8 years to get this far. There is no hurry.
Date: 2012-09-06
From: New York City

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 2.1
Weather: overcast clouds

It is amazing how well the transportation system can be in this country. After an uncomfortable night of sleeping in the chair on the train, I woke and got some coffee from the dining car. I returned to my seat and ate some donuts from my pack. The train pulled into Penn Station just at 12:15 in the afternoon. By 12:25, I was back on the streets of New York and heading for the Metro station to get the bus back to Greenwood Lake, NY. I stopped at a street vendor and bought some bananas for the trip and for breakfast over the next few days. By 1:45 I was on the bus, and at 3:30 I was back at the Bellvale Farms creamery near the trail eating an ice cream cone.I pulled into the Wildcat shelter after a few easy miles of hiking. Two southbound hikers, Spider Monkey and Thorn were there. I decided to tent, and as I was setting up, another joined us. This was Paddy-O. He was driving around visiting shelters with goodies, iced tea and cookies! This section of my journey is surely off to a good start.
Date: 2012-09-08
From: Little Dam Lake

To: Fingerboard Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: light rain

It rained off and on for most of the day. The trail had hard climbs. There were many rock scrambles, one named ¢Agony Grind.¢ The ¢Lemon Squeezer¢ was the most notable area on my hike today. This little gem required me to hold my pack out in front of me while squeezing between two rocks for about 30 feet. It reminded me of Fat Man¢s Squeeze back in the Grayson Highlands. I recalled a journal entry in the Wildcat Shelter from a south bounder. He wrote of the New York trail he¢d just done as being similar to the trail in New Hampshire. I saw two fawns along the way, and a toad with eyes that looked like a black mask and a very pointed nose. I made it to the shelter only minutes before the sky opened up with a very hard rain. A few minutes after the rain began, Paddy-O dropped in. He gave me a Gator-Aide and was back on his way. The Fingerboard Shelter is one of the oldest shelters on the Appalachian Trail. It is situated on a rocky surface in a very pretty field. I really enjoyed it. Just before dark another nothbound hiker with a dog showed up. Sadly, I cannot recall his name. Perhaps it will come to me later.
Date: 2012-09-09
From: Fingerboard Shelter

To: Campsite near West Mtn Shelter 
Miles today: 8.4

I decided for a late start today since much of my stuff was so wet from the rain yesterday and the sun was shining. Therefore, I put all my wet clothes out on the rocks to dry for a while. The guide I¢m using showed there to be showers at the Lake Tiorati circle, and I was really looking forward to getting one. Upon arrival, the ranger informed me the showers were only open until Labor Day. Sure enough, looking back at the guide, it states, ¢Open summer.¢ I need to be more careful when reading the guide. There were lots of motorcycles and bikes at the lake. Once again I hung my stuff out to dry and took a break. Around noon, I stopped for lunch at the William Brien Memorial shelter. I really enjoyed seeing the skyline of New York City from Black mountain. Today's company consisted of several day hikers, one SOBO woman, later in the day, two men. I¢m camping on the peak of West Mountain, which was quite a climb for ending the day (560 feet elevation over .7 miles) . The view is great. I got into my tent just before the rain started. As I write this, the sun is setting and life is good.
Date: 2012-09-10
From: Campsite near West Mtn Shelter 

To: Bear Mountain Bridge
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: scattered clouds

It was a chilly night, but my TarpTent did a great job of keeping me warm and dry. While hiking I spied a Red-spotted Newt which, I¢ve been told, is a sign of a healthy forest. From the ridge of West Mountain, I took some pictures of the Perkins Memorial Tower on neighboring Bear Mountain, and then proceeded to hike to it over the next few hours. When I got there, there were, as advertised in the guide, vending machines, and I had a Coke and a can of Pringles. There were Porta-Potties too, and a group of people drove by as I exited one of them. As I passed their car, they were all heading for it. One elderly lady asked, ¢How are they?¢ I replied, ¢Like the Taj Mahal, but I¢ve been going in the woods for 5 months, so I¢m easily pleased.¢ She laughed. I didn¢t bother to climb the tower. I could not imagine the view being much better than the one I had from the summit itself, and I was just too hot and tired to climb it. I did get some great views of the Hudson Bay and the New York City skyline.During my walk today, I met Grimley, Carrot, and Lucky. All are south bounders. When I met Grimley, I was on part of the trail that was the Perkins Memorial Drive. It dead-ended. Just as I reached the dead-end, Grimley emerged from the woods on his southbound trek. ¢I didn¢t know this was a road to nowhere,¢ I said to him. ¢We¢re all on a road to nowhere,¢ he replied in a deadpan manner, never breaking a step. I laughed for two minutes at this.I came upon a couple from Korea. They were cutting open some large, rather hairy looking, nuts from one of the trees. They offered me one and I tried it. They were not too bad, but not good. They made me thirsty. I think they were unripe hickory nuts. The last part of the day was a long downhill walk on Bear Mountain. At the bottom was Hessian Lake. It was a very nice park with lots of visitors. I then came to the Trailside Museum and Zoo, which is actually part of the Appalachian Trail. In the zoo, I saw coyote, porcupines, brown bears, and a fox. It was a bit sad to see them caged though. After the zoo, was the Bear Mountain Bridge. I recalled seeing this area in Google Earth a few years back when doing research. I¢m amazed to have actually reached it. I called Fern and she helped me contact the hotel, which then sent a car for me. How very nice!
Date: 2012-09-11
From: Bear Mountain Bridge

To: Canopus Hill
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: clear sky

By 9:00 AM, I was back on the ¢trail¢ which was a walk over the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain Bridge. As much as the AT is supposed to be a wilderness experience, I truly enjoy many of the man-made portions. Travelling over this bridge with the rush hour traffic going by was actually fun. Anthony¢s Nose, though very intimidating to look upon, was not as hard as it appeared. As I crossed Franciscan Way, the road that leads to the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, a sign on a post at the edge of the road struck me as rather humorous. It read:                               POSTED                  _____________________________                        HUNTING   FISHING                           TRESSPASSING                       FOR ANY PURPOSE                      STRICTLY FORBIDDEN            VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED                  _____________________________                     FRIARS OF THE ATONEMENT                        GARRISON, NY 10524On Canopus Hill, I found a tent site that just barely fit my tent. I had just enough water for dinner, but I knew I¢d find water at a brook just before Canopus Hill Road in the morning, so all was well. I sat on a rock and watched the sun set.
Date: 2012-09-12
From: Canopus Hill

To: Clarence Fahnestock State Park
Miles today: 8.1

With the tent stowed away and breakfast done, I hiked down Canopus Hill to the brook to get some water. I thought about going the .3 miles down Canopus Road to get some coffee at the local grocery store, but decided not to. When I got to South Highland Road, there was a wooden cross on the side of the trail. Upon the cross were the words: ¢Hikers please say prayer for my best friend Rick who left the earth here 10/06/2007.¢ Something like this makes one appreciate the day more than usual.At Dennytown road, there was a pump house with a spigot for water, a very nice field where I stopped for lunch, and a rather fancy old building that was crumbing away. While fixing lunch, a woman hiker came by, but we didn¢t really get to speak. She was on the phone and stopped only to ask me where the water spigot was.At one point, while hiking along, I noticed I was walking on top of a rock wall. This was more trail maintenance work. When I got to NY 301, I decided to hitch to the Clarence Fahnestock State Park. The guide says hikers get one free night¢s stay here. Unable to resist the free hot shower, I hitched the one mile to the park. It was nice to have a picnic table to use for dinner. Even better, on the table were two jugs of water (unopened) and a metal vase with fresh cut wild flowers. Nice touch! Overall, it was a fairly easy day of hiking.
Date: 2012-09-13
From: Clarence Fahnestock State Park

To: Stormville, NY
Miles today: 12.1

I walked back out to NY 301 to hitch back to the trail. The road was not a very good spot to hitch. The traffic was moving fast and there was no place to pull over and pick up a rider. Therefore, I resigned myself to the extra mile of walking. Still, I stuck my thumb out (Illegal in New York State, by the way). Before long, a car stopped in the middle of the road. I hurriedly got in. The driver it turns out, as so often is the case, was a hiker too. His name was Steve Fuller. Soon I was back on the trail.The first wildlife of the day was a Blacksnake 5 to six feet in length. Later I came upon a Black Rat Snake.On the summit of Shenandoah Mountain I came to the 9/11 memorial flag painted on the rock (see photos). I stopped here for lunch. A nice woman hiker came by and we talked for a while. Sadly, I¢ve forgotten her name. At the RPH shelter, I met up with another hiker and his dog. This guy I met at the Fingerboard Shelter, and I¢d helped him out with some food a few days back. His name, and that of his dog, escapes me too.The weather was perfect today. The views were great too. When I arrived at NY 52/Stormville, I walked the 0.4 miles to the Mountaintop Market Deli. Here I was able to camp behind the store. This was great because there was lots of food!
Date: 2012-09-14
From: Stormville, NY

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

It was a nice, cool, night. This morning, the dew was so heavy I thought it had rained. The store, as it turned out, was the local hangout for the retired folks. I waited around for my things to dry out and sipped coffee with them.While heading back up the road to rejoin the trail, I called Fern and said good morning. I stopped at the trailhead and continued talking to her; I don¢t hike and talk on the phone at the same time. It is inviting a fall. While I was talking, another hiker crossed the road and headed on his way. When finished talking to Fern, I followed the hiker. After about 10 minutes, I realized I was going up-hill. I¢d thought my day was going to start with a level walk. I then realized I¢d gone the wrong way!Shortly before crossing over the I-84, I came to a huge oak tree. It was very beautiful and full. At the summit of Mt Egbert, I came upon a full size tent that someone decided they didn¢t want to carry anymore and simply dumped it. Later at the Morgan Stewart Shelter, I found a pair of sleeping bags. Someone, it appears, had enough of hiking.Just before reaching the Morgan Stewart Shelter, as I sat on a rock, making my lunch, I heard a rustling sound about 100 feet away. The sounds were too quick and steady to be a deer, but too quiet to be a bear. I readied my camera. After a few moments, I saw a coyote angling toward me. When it was about 30 feet away, it turned parallel to me. It then stopped, backed up a few feet, and ran off. I took a picture, but I don¢t think anything will show up. Digital cameras stink when it comes to photographing wildlife. There is too much of a delay. I did get a great look at though, and this was thrilling. My first coyote sighting!Just past Depot Hill Road, I came to some railroad tracks. Covered with rust, these tracks looked as though they had not been used for many years.Nuclear Lake was clear and lovely. I enjoyed hiking around it. It was very peaceful and quiet. I did not see or hear another soul the whole way around the lake.Near the end of the day¢s hike, I came to a tree split down the middle by a lightning strike (I presume). At the Telephone Pioneers Shelter, I met Jack and Coos.