morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-23
From: James Fry Shelter

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 37.0

Our original plan for today was to go 33 miles to Cove Mtn Shelter. Unfortunately we are getting another cold spell it seems and temperature are dropping below freezing at night time. We stopped at a gas station in Boiling Springs about 12 miles in today, and loaded up on energy drinks and sweets and decided that the extra 4 miles into Duncannon would most likely be worth it. Luckily, about 15 miles of today were through farmlands and pastures so it was easy to make good time through that section. Gator and I had managed to get into Duncannon before 19:00 and we started hiking this morning at 06:30. 37 miles in just over 12 hours... I'm satisfied with today. I sure as hell am ready to stop writing and get some sleep. Taking a zero tomorrow here in Duncannon before taking on the rocks.
Date: 2015-04-24
From: Duncannon

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 29.0
Weather: clear sky

Gator, 0311 and I left the Doyle at about 07:00 this morning. About 2 miles of road walking before we got back into the forest. I heard that the rocks get bad after Duncannon but the trail was actually not that bad today. It was actually fairly easy. I was really dreading hiking through PA, but I have to say, so far so good! I've enjoyed my time in PA so far and as for NOW it's been one of my favorite states. We have some company here at the shelter tonight who informed us that tomorrow we will start to hit the boulder fields. A little nervous about the rocks and we have a 32 mile day planned. Rausch Gap is an awesome shelter, has a ridiculously close water source, and nice privy!... hint hint 2015 Nobos.Anyways, big day tomorrow going to get some rest.
Date: 2015-04-24
To: Zero in Duncannon
Miles today: 0.0

It feels nice to wake up and not have to worry about how many miles I'm going to hike. I slept in until about 08:00 this morning and then we wandered over to the cafe across the street to enjoy a breakfast sandwich. After breakfast, we walked back to the Doyle and sat around in the lounge until my Aunt Jane showed up. She generously came out to visit me and took us to the Bass Pro in Harrisburg so we could get some cold weather supplies. Gator and I sent all of our cold weather gear home because we were sure we wouldn't need it. We were wrong. We got what we needed and strolled around for a bit before my Aunt Jane took us back to the Doyle. She then treated me to a room and dinner! Thank you Aunt Jane! Shortly after sitting down in the restaurant, a gentleman came up to Gator and asked "Are you THE Gator?!" He has been watching Gator's YouTube videos and recognized him immediately. He bought us all a drink and then gave us $50! Too bad we didn't get his name, but if you are reading this, Thank You!! After the gentleman left the bar, another gentleman approached us and started talking to us about the trail. His name was 'Bag O Tricks' or Tricks for short. We ended up hanging out with Tricks and his friend Woody for the rest of the night. They went out and bought snacks and drinks and Tricks had a movie projector that he set up in his room. We stayed up and watched a movie on the CDT or Continental Divide Trail. I can't get my mind off of the CDT now. After watching that film, I told myself I have to do that trail. Not logistically possible right now, but one day I will. Had an awesome night with awesome people and Im excited to get back on the trail tomorrow.Gonna get back on the trail tomorrow. Have a 29 mile day planned.
Date: 2015-04-25
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 32.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today, Pennsylvania earned its infamous nickname, Rocksylvania. I was starting to think that people were just exaggerating about the rocks and that maybe PA wasn't that bad. I thought wrong. About 15 miles in, boulder fields and rock gardens started to become frequent and lasted longer, sometimes over a mile at a time. All sorts of new blisters formed today due to the unforgiving rocks. On the bright side we only have about 80 miles left of PA. Can't wait to be out of this state!
Date: 2015-04-26
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Allentown Shelter
Miles today: 31.0
Weather: light rain

Once again, more rocks today.About 10 miles in, we stopped in Port Clinton to do a little re supply at the peanut shop. Well we got there at 09:00 and it wasn't open until 10:00 so we hung out in a nearby barber shop that welcomed hikers. Frank, the barber, turned out to be an awesome guy! He fed us, made us coffee, and even chopped off all of my hair. After re supplying at the peanut shop we got back on the trail and had a nice climb out of Port Clinton. PA gets rockier and rockier every single day.
Date: 2015-04-27
From: Allentown Shelter

To: Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 18.0

We all agreed we would pull a short day into Palmerton this morning. Our feet are sore and blistered so we thought staying in a hostel tonight would be a nice reprieve. After walking across rocks all day long, we finally got into Palmerton just for the hostel to be closed to hikers. We looked in our guide book and the only other place was a nudist colony called Sunny Rest Resort. Gave them a call and split a room at the nudist colony. Sort of a different experience, but it was a place to stay the night.
Date: 2015-04-28
From: Palmerton, PA

To: LeRoy Smith Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: few clouds

Today, I made a vow to myself that I will never be caught in Pennsylvania with a backpack for the rest of my life. The ONLY exception is if I get the chance to thru hike the AT again with my dad. Other than that, NEVER AGAIN. I despise this state and I fully understand what all the fuss is about it now. We plan on hitting another short day tomorrow, and be out of Pennsylvania the following day.
Date: 2015-04-29
From: LeRoy Smith Shelter

To: Deleware Water Gap
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: light rain

I actually had an entire conversation with a rock today. I explained to said rock how much I hate him and all his brothers and sisters. 5 miles in and we hit Wind Gap to pick up our mail drops. 7 days worth of food in our packs we got back on the trail. I haven't seen a dirt path in days, just sharp rocky trail. It's almost as if someone has came through and flipped every single rock so it is facing sharp side up. Our feet are sore and blistered but today was our last day in PA. We pulled into Delaware Water Gap at 16:00 today and came into the Church of the Mountains Hiker Center Hostel. Awesome donation hostel and we are in for the night. Sleeping on the PA-NJ border tonight!
Date: 2015-04-30
From: Deleware Water Gap

To: Gren Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 31.4
Weather: few clouds

Late start this morning out of the gap. So happy to finally be out of PA!! A gradual 6 mile climb took us to the top of Kallinsky Mtn and on top of the mountain was a huge pond! It looked more like a lake how big it was. New Jersey so far has been beautiful with all the views and ponds and somewhat less rocks than PA. Gator and I came across what looked like an old abandoned Fire Tower at about noon today. We decided to climb up. Upon reaching the top, a trap door popped open and we were greeted by a jolly old man with a big bushy white beard. He welcomed us into his lookout and we helped him spot some smoke flumes which he then called in. It was pretty neat. After climbing back down the fire tower we had 12 more miles to go to the shelter. 0311 was just behind us. Well 17:30 came and went and finally I knew something wasn't right. I checked my map and Gator and I had gone 2 miles past the shelter. To walk backwards even 100yds is extremely disheartening, so Gator and I decided to push the 6 miles more to the next shelter. Got in a bit later than usual and tired so I'm going to get some rest.
Date: 2015-05-01
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: Unionville, NY
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: clear sky

Gator and I slept in for a bit due to our bigger than expected day before. We were hiking by 07:00 and only had about 14 miles before reaching the highest point in New Jersey--High Point. It was a bit harder to get a steady pace today due to some rock scaling. Reached High Point Shelter at about 12:30 and I decided I was only going to do 8 more miles into Unionville, where there was a free campground. Gator wanted to push the extra 4.5 to Pochuck Mtn. I stopped in Unionville only to find the campground was basically a little playground with a small 9x14' gazebo in the middle of a town. I strung my hammock up in the gazebo and looked like the new homeless guy in town. 0311 showed up and we made camp for the night under street lights and barking dogs... kinda different.
Date: 2015-05-02
From: Unionville, NY

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 27.8
Weather: scattered clouds

0311and I decided to sleep in since the grocery store didn't open until 7 anyways and we wanted to grab some snacks and energy drinks. I drank a large coffee and 2 20oz monsters and felt unstoppable for the first 12 miles. Then, after climbing the notorious Stairway to Heaven, I started to feel the inevitable crash coming from the Monsters wearing off. I was dehydrated and sleepy for the next 15 miles and they seemed to last forever. All the water sources in NJ/NY have not been very good and most aren't flowing, yet sitting still in the long valleys creating big bogs and swamps. A fair amount of NJ has been long boardwalks stretching over miles of swampland. Beautiful scenery I'll admit but as far as water to drink, there is not that much. 8 miles out from the shelter we crossed into NY for the last and final time. Out of NJ and into NY! It was wild how the landscape changed almost in a matter of minutes after crossing the border. So far, New York has consisted of walking on the very peak of the ridge and atop of a long stretch of just solid rock. Not like the painful PA rocks that were sharp and everywhere, but one long smooth stretch of rock. Got into shelter at after 19:30 today due to the late start and frequent breaks. Nonetheless I'm here now and looking forward to what NY has to offer tomorrow!
Date: 2015-05-03
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: West Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 22.8

Gator was the first one out this morning, like usual, and 0311 and I brought up the rear. I could tell that it was going to be a rough day just looking at the map. Plus it was 80 degrees out by 09:00. Not a single piece of flat ground today. At about 9 miles in, we came to a road crossing and I spotted a cooler down near the trail head next to the road. "Trail Magic" were the words written on the lid. I popped it open and it was full to the top with bananas, apples, oranges, plums, lemons, carrots, sardines, granola bars, raisins, and 3 gallons of spring water. I ate until I was full and so did 0311. After the long unexpected lunch break we got going again and moved very slow going up and down constantly four point climbing. We got into the Shelter after 20:00 and it took us over 14 hours of hiking to go 22 miles. New York is beautiful but it sure is a challenging state to hike.In my sleeping bag now atop of West Mountain over looking the Hudson River and NYC Skyline in the distance.
Date: 2015-05-04
From: West Mtn Shelter

To: Holiday Inn 
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: scattered clouds

0311 and I decided upon a Nero today. The day before beat us down physically and mentally. We pulled an easy 7 into the Bear Mountain Recreation area where we got a ride 2 miles into town to stay at the Holiday Inn. Feels good to actually sit down and not get eaten alive by bugs for once. Going to enjoy my Nero in town today and eat good.
Date: 2015-05-05
From: Holiday Inn 

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 26.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Took advantage of the continental breakfast this morning at 06:00 and ate until I couldn't anymore. Then back up to the room to quickly pack our bags. It started to rain out and was a bit cool but it felt great compared to the hot days we had already been having. We couldn't find a ride so we had to walk 2 miles from the hotel back to the trail. Didn't get on the trail until 08:00. I was expecting today to be full of puds and four point climbs but it was nothing but nice trail. Today I didn't worry about the miles and I didn't even pull the map out of my pocket to see where I was. I just hiked. Not only had I gone 26 miles in 8 hours but I enjoyed it much more. I wasn't counting down the miles or estimating exactly when I'd be at the next land mark. I just hiked. It was a great day and I'll admit NY has been arguably the most challenging state to hike through so far, but it is also one of the most beautiful states hiking through. That being said I STILL have my same opinion about PA being the absolutely most annoying, painful, rocky, and worst state to hike in. Never again, PA.
Date: 2015-05-06
From: RPH Shelter

To: Ten Mile River Shelter
Miles today: 29.7
Weather: overcast clouds

0311 and I woke early this morning before 05:00 and got an early start. Some nice climbs in the morning before it got too hot was nice. By 09:00 it was close to 80 degrees and the black flies are out again like clock work. Around 09:00 every morning now, it never fails. I think I swallowed 3 flies to day and surprisingly only one flew up my nose. I bought 100% deet but that seems to be some kind of sweet tasting syrup to them.Twenty miles into today, we stopped at the Native Landscape and Garden center, where my mail drop was awaiting me. Re supply days always give me mixed emotions. I am excited to open up my box and see what new food I will have for the next week but at the same time so dread having a heavy pack again. We took an hour break there and snacked a bit, rehydrated, and then pushed 9 miles more to the Ten Mile River Shelter. Passed into Conneticut today!
Date: 2015-05-08
From: Ten Mile River Shelter

To: Silverhill Campsite
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

So this heat is seriously starting to get to me. By 07:00 I'm pouring sweat and then by 08:30-09:00 the relentless black flies come out until sundown. 0311 and I enjoyed the first 2 miles of our day hiking along the 10 mile River. Then the heat came and up onto the ridge line we went. Conneticut has been beautiful but it seems as if who ever made the trail was drunk while trying to wander through Conneticut. Pointless ups and downs or downs and ups, however you want to look at it. Around noon we came down off the ridge and popped out alongside the Housatanic. We then began a 5 mile stretch that is as flat as a board running right along the Housatanic River. About 2 miles in and we gave in to the tempting cold mountain water. We flung our packs down and went down in the river to cool off and drink our fill. We spent well over an hour in the shade of the overhanging trees alongside the riverbank with our feet in the water. Finally, we shouldered our packs, took one last drink, and we're off. We decided to cut our planned 25 mile day short 7 miles and stop at Silverhill campsite which had a water source and privy. -Note to NoBos: water is yellow and taste like iron even when filtered @ Silverhill.
Date: 2015-05-09
From: Silverhill Campsite

To: Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Once again another unplanned Nero. About 2 miles in today 0311 and I came to Guinea Brook. There was a sign on a thick pine just before the brook. I stopped to take the time to read it, 0311 did not. 0311 was soon submerged in deep rapids, I was not. The sign had warned hikers that the brook was not safe to cross and that there was a bypass route or that one would have to forge the brook. The stones once used to cross the river were no longer safe and were also below the surface of the water. 0311 thought he could cross the brook using the stones just below the surface and stay, for the most part, dry. He slipped on the first rock and disappeared into the Rapids below. He popped up, pissed off and only had 1 trekking pole left. His pole was hidden in the white water which he ended up having to go back out and get. There was no way in hell I felt like taking a mile long bypass route up this mountain so I walked as far as possible upstream until I found a fallen pine about 15ft above the brook. I bear hugged it the entire way and have the scrapes and cuts to show for it. We lost well over an hour going just 40 ft. 0311 made the decision to go into town because he did not want to suffer through trench foot again. He has already gotten trench foot once back in the Shenandoahs. I told him I'd come with because I'm a lazy hiker and enter an excuse to not have to hike another 20 miles. I feel like a bum for being in town so often recently and I want to be out there hiking and enjoying it. It just sometimes is almost hard to enjoy in this unexpected heat wave and relentless biting flies. It's funny... I remember a brutal winter and wishing for warmer weather and now it's the exact opposite. In my defense, I feel like we didn't really get spring this year? It went from numbingly cold weather to blistering hot temperatures.
Date: 2015-05-10
From: Salisbury, CT

To: Vanessa's
Miles today: 17.0

Okay I swear it's our last lazy day!! We planned on a 25 into Mass today but as Vanessa was dropping us off in the morning at Weat Cornwall Rd, she offered that once we hike back to town (17 miles up the trail) we could stay another night free of charge. We thanked her greatly, then declined her offer. 0311 and I started back up at about 08:00 and had a bunch of puds to start out the day. Luckily we weren't the first on the trail this morning, I could tell because I didn't a mouthful of spiderwebs the whole time. About 8 miles in, we got down to lower elevation and started to walk alongside the Housatanic again. It was absolutely beautiful and the Housatanic will most definitely be a place to go back and visit. At the uppermost part of the river, there were big rock plateaus with waterfalls running down them. Another hot day, I couldn't resist; I put down my pack, stripped my boots, and hopped right in. We also met a really cool local family up there on the falls.After about an hour of sunbathing, 0311 and I got moving again and after going the 17 miles, that previous offer from Vanessa sounded pretty good so we decided we would take a free place when we can get one. Plan to pick back up on the miles tomorrow
Date: 2015-05-11
From: Vanessa's

To: Tom Leonard Shelter
Miles today: 28.4
Weather: light rain

I hate flies. I hate gnats. I hate mosquitoes. I hate any kind of insect with wings. I look like I have chicken pox due to all the bug bites. I have 100% deet but that just seems to attract them even more. Finally picked back up on our miles today. Massachusetts has been absolutely beautiful! The streams are more like small rivers with waterfalls. Some of them are over 10 ft deep and have swimming holes (which I have been enjoying thoroughly). Approaching Vermont, we are starting to gain altitude again and really getting some spectacular views. The weather has been in the high 80's with not a cloud in the sky. Not the best hiking weather, but I will admit now that we are gaining altitude the views are spectacular. 0311 and I got in camp late today at 19:00 due to the late start. I had to start burning leaves to keep the bugs at bay. It helped a little. Gonna pull only a 21 mile day tomorrow to Upper Goose Pond Shelter. Supposedly it's an awesome shelter is within feet of the pond, which I will most definitely be taking a dip in.
Date: 2015-05-12
From: Tom Leonard Shelter

To: Lakeside Lodge
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: light rain

Woken to the sound of a buzzing mosquito in my ear.0311 and I were up and out early trying to get moving so the bugs weren't as bad. I pulled ahead of 0311 and hiked fairly quick for the first 12 miles. Pretty much a green tunnel for the morning until I dropped down off of the ridge line. I had stopped at a stream crossing to fill up water for the 2nd time. I had already drank 4 liters of water and was filling up 2 more before getting going again. 0311 caught me there before I had started off so we breaker for a snack and to camel up. Hiked together to Upper Goose Pond which was absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, the Upper Goose Pond cabin which we planned on camping at was closed. We checked our map and saw that we were only 1.6 miles shy of a road crossing with a cheap lodge only .1 M off trail. We decided upon staying there and we're glad we did. Awesome little lodge with a pretty view of the lake. Getting some rest, then off in the morning.
Date: 2015-05-13
From: Lakeside Lodge

To: Tom Levardi's
Miles today: 27.8

We slept in a bit this morning, but I don't care that mattress felt so good!After downing 5 cups of coffee, 3 muffins and an orange at the continental breakfast, we got moving at 08:00. A nice 800ft climb to start off the day but after that it was flat as a board ridge line. Very pretty, dense pine forests were abundant today. One second you would be in a dark shaded pine forest then you pop out into a bug infested swamp area, yet still beautiful and alive with croaking frogs and high pitched birdsong. Made good time into Dalton which was 19 miles out. A famous trail angel, Tom Levardi, caught us hiking through and told us to come up on his porch. We did as told and came to join him. We started talking and he told us that Gator had just left that morning and was going to visit family after hiking 9 miles into Chessire. Perfect. That's where 0311 and I were headed for the night so we would be caught back up. Before leaving Tom's, he treated us both to a big bowl of ice cream and cake! The sugar high put us up and over that mountain into Chessire in no time. We retrieved our boxes from St Mary's of the Assumption church where we planned on staying. Father McKallum is hiker friendly and is nice enough to let hikers stay in the Parish hall for free. That sounded good to us, but ice cream and cake sounded good too back at Tom's place. We gave him a call and he picked us up from Chessire and brought us back into Dalton for the night. He drove us to Five Guys and it wasn't until then, I realized how much I miss home... and Five Fuys. Crashing here at Toms tonight!