morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-06-11
From: Duncannon PA

To: Peters Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Doyle Hotel, Duncannon PA to Peters Mountain Shelter 11.4 miWaking, packing and leaving the Doyle, going across the street to Goodies for breakfast. I start walking out of town, stopping at the post office to mail home my journal notes. I have had a very good time here and want to come back. Vickie and Pat and the local characters at the Doyle are priceless. I will cherish each night here. As I walk out I can¢t help hoping the town sees better days again and all the people have happy lives. They deserve the best. I walk over the Susquehanna River Bridge and reenter the forest again. The walk up is graded at first then it gets to the job at hand. It¢s pleasant and relaxing to be back again. The damage done by the Gypsy Moth Caterpillars is worse than it was a few days ago. In places every leaf has been eaten and the trees look like when they first budded in spring. The canopy of leaves is gone and the sun beats on you. I have to drink more water and wear my brimmed hat. I stop at the Clarks Ferry Shelter for a break and discover the platypus is sprung a leak and my pack is soaked in beer. Great! Now I have something to remember the Doyle. I clean it up and dry everything in the bright sun. Good thing there¢s no leaves to block the sun. Seriously I am concerned about the trees I¢m not sure how much stress these trees can take. Packing up and moving on I enjoy the beautiful day and find some shady patches. Eventually I reach the Peters Mountain Shelter and settle in. I find Flick here along with Golden Boy and Ninja. Maybe there¢s still hope for our group to stick together. Flick and I volunteer to go for water down the steepest water trail I¢ve ever seen. It has hundreds of rock steps that are so steep in sections that it¢s like going up a ladder. We find water and take a break before making the climb back down to the shelter. The shelter is quiet and we celebrate an early night. I find my summer bag is a little cool and later I am discovered by the bugs. Luckily I have my headnet and put it on. The shelter is close to something because you can hear sounds of civilization.
Date: 2007-06-12
From: Peters Mountain Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Peters Mountain Shelter to Rausch Gap Shelter 17.5 miI start hiking with Flick and then am joined by Caveman of Ohio, then Ninja. Along the way we pass rocky places with a hand written note warning about numerous rattlesnakes seen in the rocks. We cautiously navigate the rocky cliffs and head on up trail. At one point I trip over a big tree root and land knee first on a sharp pointed rock. I am writhing in pain and take my time getting up. The kneecap feels bad and is bloodied. After while I take something for it and continue on. It¢s sore but still works. We break by some other rocks for lunch and a storm blows in so we take refuge under my shelter tarp which we just drape over us. It¢s over quickly and we go on. Later another thunderstorm rolls in and I walk alone in the light rain, shirtless and happy. When I reach this shelter it¢s full so I set up my tent in the rain. I¢m happy to be in my tent, the shelter is full of early birds and one is already announcing she is going to sleep at 7:15 pm. I hope the early birds can fly away fast, I don¢t care to be around them. I cook at the shelter and eat my food there, then walk to my nice dry tent and the sound of the rain on the leaves is all that can be heard. It¢s so peaceful. I am blessed to be here. The temperature allows me to lie here with my shirt off and be comfortable. I¢ll take something for my knee and call it a night soon. I decide to listen to my IPOD and the rain, then I fall asleep.
Date: 2007-06-13
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Rausch Gap Shelter to 501 Shelter 17.5 miAgain we get a nice late start. It rained last night. I shake off my tent and stuff it, pack up and hit the trail. It¢s a nice day for hiking with many breaks and fun along the way. There are plenty of rocks for recreation. Our goal is the 501 Shelter where we can order dinner and have it delivered to the nearby road. Most of the day¢s hike is nice except for where the trail goes under Interstate 81. The water sources are not good, many are dry. There are some rocky break spots with vistas of the farmland. The day goes pretty well, I haven¢t fallen. My knee is sore so I keep it medicated. When I arrive at the 501 Shelter I get a drink and rehydrate. I am always thirsty, I don¢t know if it¢s the terrain, the weather or the doxicycline. I order a pizza and save some for lunch tomorrow on the trail, The care keeper from last year has retires and I meet the new keeper who is a young state ranger. He¢s very nice and seems like he has taken pride in his job. The house has been painted and the solar showers have been rebuilt. Everything looks good and he even has nice firewood stacked by the fire pit. The stay is pleasant. I find sleep easily and enter dream world with a full stomach.
Date: 2007-06-14
From: 501 Shelter

To: Port Clinton PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

501 Shelter to Port Clinton 23.7 miWe leave the shelter at a respectable hour of 10am and the day is marvelous. It¢s cloudy and cool. I even have to warm up before I feel comfortable. The trail is pleasant too. The forest is dense with many trees and thankfully leaves to keep things cool and pleasant. There are plenty of rocks to hop over and to trip on. Somewhere along the way Flick trips and falls, banging his knee and leg and he has a scrape and cut on his cheek where he kissed a rock. I didn¢t see him fall but it looks like a good one. Our goal today is Eagles Nest Shelter. I am glad I started with a load of water. When we arrive at the shelter the water source looks bad so I decide to keep going, thinking I will be better off at the spring in four miles. When I reach the spring it is dry and I am in a fix. While there Golden Boy and Flick arrive with Caveman of Ohio and we decide to push on to Port Clinton. The walk is rocky and challenging. I lead off and take it as fast as my legs can go. We are racing at top speed. The darkness is my energy. Eventually I have to put on my headlamp and it has weak batteries and gives slim light. The trail goes on and we run, stumble and fall down the trail towards town. When I finally reach the end of the last steps off the mountain my knee is messed up. I can hardly bend it and limp on down the road into a dark town with hardly any signs of life. Port Clinton Hotel is closed at 9pm so we get some water from a spigot and walk to the Pavilion where we sleep. I hope I will be able to walk on my knee tomorrow.
Date: 2007-06-15
From: Port Clinton PA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Port Clinton I wake in the pavilion. It was a loud night with many trucks and cars driving close on the highway. We walk to CC¢s restaurant for breakfast and I charge my phone there. I come back to the pavilion and pack up and walk to the Port Clinton Hotel where I hope to shower and do laundry. My goal today is to do my chores, get new batteries for my headlamp and get some more food, then hit the trail again. This town doesn¢t seem very hiker friendly so far but I shall see as the day goes on. My knee is sore and I take something for the pain. I decide to not hike out today. My knee needs rest and I will stay at the town pavilion again. I stake out a place and make myself feel at home. The place makes me feel like a trail hobo. Later the guys go to the pub and return all pumped up. I feel like an outsider, it must be hard to live with a drunk. Eventually it is time to sleep.
Date: 2007-06-16
From: Port Clinton PA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Port ClintonGolden Boy and Caveman decide to hike out today. I thought Flick was going to hike easy with me so my knee can heal, but he decides to take off for a good mileage day. I say goodbye and call Lynne. I have asked in her to come get me so I can rest at the shore instead of staying alone at the pavilion. Coco and Monkey come around in a rental car and we go to the Yuengling Brewery for a tour. Later Lynne arrives and I head off with her to the Jersey Shore. I plan on staying there until my knee feels better. I will zero for a while then come back to continue my hike. I haven¢t updated my journal in a while and will update again when I get back on trail. I am planning on restarting my hike on Saturday or Sunday, thanks for your continued interest. Soon I will be in new territory and I am excited and nervous about walking on new trail.
Date: 2007-06-25
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: broken clouds

I re-enter the forest again, after a healing time at the Jersey Shore. The trail is beautiful from the moment you leave the parking area and enter the Worthington State Forest. Walking along the Dunfield Creek the trail is wide and offers a heavily populated area access to the trail and its forest. As I reach Sunfish Pond I take a well deserved break on a bench which offers a nice full view of the pond. The trail goes along the banks of the pond and is full of Jersey rocks. I think about how Pennsylvania could make a good argument to claim this section of the trail. The Kittatinny Ridge offers a beautiful trail section with grassy areas and a great viewpoint from an open area on a high point where someone has stacked rocks into a big pile. Along the path I come upon a large copperhead snake which appeared to be turning towards me. I pick up my pace and fast step with my boots kicking out in front as I run away down the trail. I think how ironic it would be if I had returned to the same place where I had to get off trail last year only to have to get off again because of a snake bite. I am walking today on the last of the "Deja Vu Tour". Tomorrow I set out on a new trail not knowing what waits ahead around the bend. It is very exciting to return to this life changing spot. But here I am again and what lies ahead is still an exciting mystery. I am tenting here at the Mohican Outdoor Center. I've picked three ticks off me today, I saw a hawk fly through the forest, I came upon a Black Bear mother with three young cubs and patiently waited as they treed themselves then eventually walked on up the hill to the top of a ridge away from the trail. I saw a deer come along then hop away into the forest. Today was jam packed with wildlife and was a beautiful day in the forest. I am so happy to be back where I feel at home and it feels good to have hiked through the day and be at a point further north than the day before. I know I will sleep well tonight.
Date: 2007-06-26
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

14.3 miToday I venture into parts unknown and new to Bwhacker. Last night Monkey and Coco, Cassie, Eulah and The Dude and Salam hiked into the Mohican Outdoor Center. This morning I am up early. It is light at 5am. I break camp and pack my gear, I roll out on a day which promises to be a hot one. We are in a heat wave. The trail continues to impress, it is beautiful and it seems wilder than most areas. The wildlife is also impressive. I hear everyone telling stories about how many bears and other animals they have seen. Today I come upon something making much noise and I am surprised to see it is a large turkey. The day turns out to be very hot and I am walking with The Dude, Salam and Eulah and we are all overheating. Just when we needed it the most we came upon a pond and we hike through the dense foliage to the bank and go for a refreshing swim in Crater Pond. It is refreshing and cooling. We take this break during the hottest part of the day. We swat flies and use them for bait to catch sumfish. Later we hike and become hot again. Eventually the sun is lower and the hiking becomes more bearable. I arrive at the Brink Road Shelter and set up my tent. The flies and mosquitos are bothersome. We hear about the resident skunk family and prepare for the night. Later on everyone that was in the shelter has vacated it because the skunk family has come calling. With everyone in a tent I can hear the other hikers trying to get the other hikers away from their tents. A mother and small baby skunk circle my tent and the mother tries to climb up the side of my tent. The skunk visitation goes on well into the night.
Date: 2007-06-27
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: Gren Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

Today is supposed to be hotter than yesterday and in fact is well into the upper 90¢s. I start out hiking towards Culver Gap and US 206. The hike is over many hilly, rocky sections, some with tall grass hiding the wet rocks. I end up coming to the road and go to Gyp¢s Tavern to wait out the thunderstorm. Also there is Climber, Eulah, Salam, The Dude, and others. We were settling in with pitchers flowing and juke box playing when we were told to move to the back of the tavern because we smelled so bad. The bartender then informed us they would put fans on us to blow away our smell. Finally the owner informed us we would need to move outside because they were concerned our smell was offensive to other patrons and that our smell would linger and they would be unable to get it out of their bar. The other patrons appeared to be regulars with nothing better to do than spend their midday of a weekday in this smoky bar. They made a pretty big deal out of it, and we ended up leaving and going elsewhere where they were more accommodating. This place did not mention our smell. Much later, after the rain stopped, we hiked back into the forest up a few good hills and arrived at the Gren Anderson Shelter. I arrived at the shelter alone, ahead of The Dude, who never arrived. The rain came again as I was walking up, it¢s another good thunderstorm and I am lucky to have made it here before the lightning came closer. The shelter is asleep before 9pm as I catch up on my journal and prepare for sleep. The shelters in NJ have bearproof metal containers and tonight I walk in the rain to secure my foodbag there.
Date: 2007-06-28
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: High Point State Park
Miles today: 0.0

Gren Anderson Shelter to High Point State Park 11.3This morning is hot and very humid and I begin my day getting water for the hike. I hike alone today. When I arrive at the Sunrise Mountain Pavilion, which is a nice shady place with benches and nice vistas, The Dude is here and advises me that he missed the shelter sign last night in the rain and tent camped about a mile or so back down the trail. He has some of his things spread out to dry. The hike is wet and the rocks are slippery. I am overheating trying to get enough to drink, as I hike on through tall grass and overgrown foliage which hide the rocks and is home to ticks. I stop everyone so often to scan for ticks and pick several off my legs. Eventually I come to the High Point Park Headquarters Building and wash my shirt and bandana in the mens room sink. I drink a soda from the vending machine and call Lynne on my cell phone. The bothersome flies are driving me nuts. I decide to go to the park beach where I take a shower, swim in the lake and get some food at the concession stand. I have decided to get out of here and have Enterprise pick me up at HWY 23. We go back to the rental office and it is pouring rain. I then drive to the Jersey Shore for a few more days of rest away from the trail. I know it will get better and a cold front is coming but I can¢t deal with it and must get away.
Date: 2007-07-02
From: High Point State Park

To: Unionville ny
Miles today: 8.8

I heard from many friends while at the shore and they have offered me encouragement and I am grateful for their well wishes. I hope to find what it takes to get through the next miles and successfully complete my journey. This incredible adventure has many surprises and many difficult obstacles. I never knew I could be so challenged.Today I said goodbye to Lynne at the Jersey Shore and drove to resupply, then headed north to return my rental car. Enterprise rentals is going to drive me back to the trailhead. The drive back to High Point from the shore is about 2.5 hours which gives me time to refelct on my journey and to get my head back in the game. I am dropped off on the side of the road and re-emerge into my home the forest. The trail is wonderful and the weather is perfect. There's a nice breeze and little fluffy clouds. I walk on past the High Point Monument and pass many stone walls as the trail leads me on through more beautiful country. The humidity is low and the views are clear and long ranging. I pass the road to the "Secret Shelter" and continue, thinking maybe Unionville will be a good stop. I walk into town arriving at the city park where the town allows thru hikers to camp. Unionville is very hiker friendly. Butch welcomes us and then the mayor stops by to offer us showers and laundry at his home. This is the first time I have been personally welcomed by a mayor. I had dinner and drinks at Back Track Inn then returned to the park. Sublime is the only hiker here whom I have previously met. Also here is Carpenter, Crazy Bear, Paloma, Sniper and Ghetto. The night is cool and my summer bag is challenged to keep me warm. If you sleep here, find a place out of the lights. Thank you Unionville for making the hiker community feel welcome and well cared for.
Date: 2007-07-03
From: Unionville ny

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: clear sky

The tent warmed up as the sun said good morning. I had a nice breakfast sandwich at the Bagel Store and spread my tent on the basketball court so it could dry. The trail out of town was a nice easy walk up trail. It found a few hills and road crossings then went around wetlands with big swans and water birds. I then reentered the forest again and went uphill to the Pochuck Mountain Shelter where I took a nice long break. I¢m not sure where I¢ll end up today, the shelters are spaced out and the next stop seems like it should be Wayawayonda Shelter but, then what? The sky is filled with song birds and I am alone and free to do as I choose, but I don¢t yet know what that is or what it will be. I will relax and let whatever it happens to be occur. The hike is about freedom, few rules, and continuing northward. As I read the shelter register I see many hikers listed that I know many days ahead and many hikers that I have not yet met. My days at the shore have put me back on the trail with hikers that were weeks behind me. Tomorrow is the 4th of July and I hope to be somewhere I can see fireworks. Well, it¢s time to get moving again so I will put my pack on and walk. I walk through beautiful forest and across many open fields, some with boardwalks and some on big rock stepping stones. The views are great, the sky clear. I arrive at an elevated boardwalk which goes on for miles. The views are open and there is a nice breeze. After climbing several hills I arrive at a field, then a road. Down the road there is a Garden and Produce store with ice cream and drinks. It¢s a nice break before a long steep climb up rock stairs to the top of a mountain and then a series of rolling ridges to the Wawayanda Shelter. The shelter and area is packed. A Boy Scout troop and a group from the Unitarian Church chaperoned by my 06 friends Trooper and Chef. We talk and catch up then before I know it, it¢s bed time. The bear containers are stuffed. I had to sit on the lid to get it to close. There are about 25-30 people taking up every tent site. As I lie in my tent writing in my journal I can hear the buzz of many conversations and the sound of the fireworks somewhere in the distance. Before going to sleep I will look at the guide book and try to come up with a plan for tomorrow.
Date: 2007-07-04
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Highway 17
Miles today: 22.0

When I started today I didn¢t think I¢d walk 22 miles or that I¢d get picked up at 10pm but that¢s what happened. I started out hiking on an enjoyable trail reaching the NY/NJ line and celebrating another state. The trail in NY is along nice open rocky cliff tops. Then there¢s the boardwalks and the long boardwalk across beautiful open wetlands. There¢s plenty of steep rock work and many rocks to maneuver over and around. There¢s a challenge in that drinking water is scarce. A lot of the shelters have no water or seasonal springs that are dry. You end up gathering water at businesses and at trail angel¢s boxes and carrying as much as possible. It¢s the game, finding and carrying as much water as possible. I reached Hwy 17A and walked to a creamery where I had a banana split. Fueled, I took off for parts unknown. I reached Hwy 17 about 10pm and got picked up and taken to a primitive camp where I showered and washed my clothes out in a sink and collapsed, exhausted and sore. I fell in the rain after dark and was lucky I didn¢t slide down the rock face to a great injury. I was lucky to only be cut up and scraped on my legs, arms and hands. When I reached the camp I was drenched and shivering like I was hypothermic. I hung my clothes on a line in the cabin and slept on the floor on my thermarest pad. Today¢s hike was too long for the terrain and weather. I overdid it and have blisters from walking in wet boots. All I want is rest.
Date: 2007-07-05
From: Highway 17

To: West Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: light rain

When I woke I saw that Big Gulp, Walnut and Low Gear had spent the night here. We filled each other in on what has been going on since we last saw each other in the Shennies. They are ahead at Bear Mountain and got a shuttle up trail. I got a shuttle back to 17 and started hiking north. I reached a place where I had hiked last year with Lynne and Felice when we were returning from Saratoga. Felice's horse had raced and won there. That spot brought back fond memories and I called Lynne to tell here where I was. She was dropping the kids off at the train station to go to NYC for the day so we didn't talk long. I continued into the forest and reached the Lemon Squeezer where I could only fit through if I pressed had against the side of the rocks. It was a tight squeeze! I hiked up and over many challenging cliffs along the way. I took a break at a sunny meadow to try and dry my wet clothes and socks. I kept on stopping briefly at the Fingerboard Shelter and the William Brien Memorial Shelter. I decided to go on. No water yet, no trail angels today. I found an ugly brook and a water source and I gathered as much as I could and drank a quart before starting back up West Mountain to the Shelter. The shelter is .7 miles off and has no water. I finally arrive at the shelter and walk up on Salam playing his mandolin and singing. I startled him and we had a laugh. This shelter has a night light view of the city. It also has a resident rattle snake and as I am writing this I notice it has many little mice. Tonight should be interesting. I will sleep with my wet clothes on and in my socks hoping to dry them in my warm sleeping bag. I have to turn off my head lamp because I am getting bombed by moths and other insects. I am very tired tonight. I'll take some ibuprofen and hope to be ready to hike tomorrow. As I look at the city light view I think about my family visiting in the city today. I am in a very different place than they and they are in my thoughts. Good night.