morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-11
From: Stealth Tentsite past Wind Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Nice crisp cool night after midnight last night. I almost¢¦(I say almost) wished I had packed my light gloves as I hiked out early and was at DWG by noon. Not unlike ¢03 when we had some breeze and relief from the heat.Short day but I did take a break after about nine miles at the Kirkridge Shelter. There I met a couple out for a section hike I believe. Kirkridge is the shelter that if you follow a path behind it, you come to a water spigot¢¦I remember filling up there in ¢03. I didn¢t need to this time. I don¢t seem to be drinking as much water as I probably should. I have kind of conditioned myself to stretch 2 liters out and rarely fill up during the day¢¦except for those exceptionally humid days when I¢m sweating like George Bush at a press conference.Being Sunday, I passed day hikers out for a stroll when I got close o town. One guy I met jogging on his way up to Lookout Rock (820¢) and he passed me again on his way down.Less than a half mile from town is Lake Lenape. There, was a touching memorial including the picture of a young man who had died before his twentieth birthday. It didn¢t say how he died but whoever authored the words did so eloquently.I stopped by the church hostel and no one was around. The next thing I did was drop by the bakery/nursery for their $1.50 hot dog and slice of apple pie special¢¦same as it was in ¢03. The bakery is outstanding¢¦they give you a nice slice of a fresh baked pie...and the hot dog is good too.It was a hot sunny afternoon and a great time to be taking a shower in an air conditioned motel room. After getting cleaned up, I drove over to the next town and did my laundry (DWG does not have a laundromat and the one at the motel was being used.) There I asked a couple of ladies for a good Chinese restaurant and they steered me to a great place nearby where I had the general¢s chicken and pork fried rice with an egg roll. Tomorrow should be interesting. I¢ve been studying the map book and I¢m going to drive up to where NY52 crosses the Trail and find a place to leave the SUV and hitch back here to resume the hike.
Date: 2006-06-13
From: Backpacker Campsite

To: Stealth Tent Site 1 m N of Culvers Gap
Miles today: 24.6

A long day where I did good miles but did not end as smoothly as one would like¢¦but things have a way of ¢falling together¢ for me.I¢m up hiking at daybreak. Since I started at 1,320¢ and stayed in the twelve to fifteen hundred range most of the day, there wasn¢t any long tedious climbs or downhills. There was a lot of ridge walking in the hot sun¢¦on boulders and rocky surfaces in and out of forest cover¢¦not particularly exciting but good hiking nonetheless.Didn¢t hike with anyone but did pass an older day hiker coming the other direction who was parked at Blue Mountain Lakes Road. There¢s a hand water pump there where I took a break and made some good cold lemonade. The other break was at Brink Road Shelter in the afternoon. Got to Culvers Gap (where the famous Worthington Bakery no longer exists) around five. The Sunset Grill was closed on Tuesdays so I mosied on down the road to Gyps Tavern where I got a cold Coke, used the ATM and chatted with some locals at the bar. One guy looked exactly like the big fat Italian mobster who made the spaghetti sauce in The Godfather. He told me about Rosie¢s Italian restaurant a mile or so down the road across from an old motel owned by some people from India¢¦the Forest Motel. I called to see if they had a non-smoking room which they said they had one left. The ¢Italian¢ guy at the bar said he would take me there in ten minutes. Twenty minutes later I got tired of waiting and walked to the motel¢¦he honked at me as he drove by. I went to the motel and asked to see the room before I checked in¢¦it smelled bad¢¦I told the woman I didn¢t appreciate her telling me she had a non-smoking room that had obviously been smoked in. She argued with me. I decided to hitch back to the trail and sleep in my tent like I should be doing anyway.Before that I went across the road to eat dinner at Rosies. I was a little uncomfortable there¢¦nice restaurant with tablecloths. They didn¢t seem to mind me although I had to keep asking for more water. My eggplant was fine but I couldn¢t enjoy it cause it was after seven and I was anxious to find my way back to the trail and find a tent site before dark.I¢m about half way back when a very nice woman and her young children in a minivan pick me up. When I told her what happened she apologized and put out her cigarette. I told her she had every right to smoke in her own vehicle (I didn¢t want to rag on her about second hand smoke and her beautiful children). I probably should not have told her the reason I didn¢t stay at the motel¢¦sometimes I talk too much.I hiked up out of the gap and found a great tent site 400¢ up near a viewpoint. I have been hanging my food the entire hike. In the middle of the night I heard something heavy walking around nearby but never saw it¢¦my guess is it was a black bear as it went away after I yelled at it.
Date: 2006-06-14
From: Stealth Tent Site 1 m N of Culvers Gap

To: Murray 
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: few clouds

I was up and hiking at 6:30. I always consider any day I¢ve done twenty miles as a good day for me¢¦then for the most of the time, I can do a hundred miles a week which keeps me moving along nicely and in good shape. Also, if the weather gets bad, I can lie around in town and eat and not feel guilty about it.Today was a nice day for animals¢¦the rattler you saw in yesterday¢s journal¢¦the cow and calf¢¦another black snake and deer of course. One thing I should probably do is try to learn my birds. Trouble is, I hike most of the time with my eyes on the ground ahead of me¢¦and the bird watching would turn my hike into a walk. I don¢t want to carry binoculars either as they are too heavy.When I came through here in ¢03, I was being deluged with rain¢¦I remember quitting early (noonish) and getting a motel room down the road from the park where I put my soaked boots in front of the heater to dry out; turned it on high and opened the door. Today I was here again around lunch time and asked around about food. They said they had an excellent concession in the park (High Point State Park¢¦one of the biggest parks in the state of NY)¢¦and it turned out to be great¢¦at the beach concession the guy made me the best philly cheesesteak sandwich I¢ve ever had¢¦it was delicious! I should have taken a picture of it.Other highlites worth mentioning today was my tent site last night¢¦slanted a little but nice and cool. It sunny in the morning turned muggy and I got rained on the last hour or so. There was some nice bottled water trail magic at one of the roads¢¦one didn¢t leave any name so if you any of you ¢trail angels¢ read this¢¦Thanks!The ¢Secret Shelter¢ is the private property of hiker Jim Murray. On a beautiful rolling hillside a hundred yards off the AT, he has built a few nice rustic buildings. One is a cabin that he lets hikers use as a shelter. There is clean running water, indoor and outdoor showers, electricity, sink and privy. Although I stopped by for a visit in¢03, I always regretted not staying here.When I got here after five, a thru-hiker called Overflow was already bedded down. She had been off the trail recently to visit with her husband and was ¢away from the pack.¢ Because of the rain, I decided to stay too¢¦mainly to avoid packing a wet tent tomorrow. No one else showed up
Date: 2006-06-15
From: Murray 

To: NJ 94 Vernon NJ
Miles today: 13.6

Started hiking at seven and got off the Trail by one. There is garden nursery right next to the Trail on NJ94. I went inside looking for something to drink and found a bakery, ice cream shop and convenience store all rolled into one.   Was it the ice cream I had first or the lemonade¢¦Sat around talking to a retired guy that works there for something to do. I thought this was interesting...he lives not too far from here in a nice but not too big house and his property taxes are $9,000+ a year. He wanted to know how someone like me had the time to hike the AT.The AT today included a couple of miles of boardwalk over wetlands¢¦the sun was hot and I didn¢t stop to rest on any of the built in benches. I did pass one jogger coming the other way.I also stopped at Pochuck Mtn Shelter to read the register and take a break. Oh yeah¢¦I almost forgot to tell you about the mosquitoe breeding farm disguised as The Walkil National Wildlife Preserve. It was the only place on the AT in ¢03 where the mosquitoes were so bad you couldn't see the Trail in front of you and I had to tuck my poles under my arms so my hands would be free to constantly brush off the pests. So today, even though it was a longer walk, I took the old route on two roads around it.It turned out to be a somewhat short day as I wanted to enjoy town food and take a shower. The Episcipol church here is one of the nicest hostels on the Trail in that they turn over the church basement (which is a walk out) to the hikers. It has everything but beds...big kitchen with a hiker frig, cable TV, washer & dryer and shower. They have a suggested donation of $10 and hikers are expected to complete one of a list of chores (I vacuumed).When I got to the hostel, gator goat and novocane were watching TV. Overflow and Freeze Out showed up later. By the time I ran out and picked up a few items at the IGA and got cleaned up it was time for dinner. A block from the church is an Italian restaurant where I picked up a pizza and brought it back to the hostel. A young hiker, Freeze Out ate what I didn¢t want. Food rarely goes to waste on the AT.
Date: 2006-06-16
From: NJ94 Vernon NJ

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: broken clouds

(Note my ADD must have kicked in yesterday as this was originally posted incorrectly as the 6/15 entry)I was up before six packing up outside on the picnic table where I wouldn't wake everyone up. Then, to the local cafe next door as it opened at six where I had breakfast with a bunch of local farmers. The waitress was nice enough to let me fill my Camelback up with ice. Being appreciative, (as I always am) I left her a bigger than usual tipI immediately got a hitch out of town with a local who recognized me as a hiker.A short day today because I got a little sidetracked. The big big event of the day was more or less this fantastic surprise out of nowhere...it was like a miracle¢¦like there really is a God.   Well, what would you think if after being alone and dreaming about the impossible¢¦the most important thing in your life day after day¢¦the only thing that makes life worth living¢¦craving it¢¦starving for its voluptuous taste on your lips¢¦seeing it over and over and over again in your mind while knowing it could never become a reality it suddenly appears right in front of you out of nowhere. I couldn¢t believe it either¢¦a homemade ice cream shop 1/10 of mile off the Trail . (It wasn¢t here in ¢03¢¦if it was I never heard about it.)I was told about it from a SOBO I passed this morning, but I kind of brushed it off and forgot about it like I do everything (ADD). The folks who own a dairy farm built the store on the mountain top and you can see their farm in the valley below. One guy in the parking lot said it was the only true homemade ice cream shop in the state of NY. All I know is it was not a dream¢¦it really did happen.I started off with a large strawberry cone. After that it was a root beer float and then a large dish of chocolate ice cream. I hung around as long as I could and I almost broke into tears as I slowly walked away¢¦I couldn¢t turn around and look back¢¦I just couldn¢t do it.Well, the walk was very hot and tedious mostly on a ridge line in and out of the hot sun. I saw another big fat black snake in the middle of the trail. Did I mention that if I were to be reincarnated I would like to be a rattle snake?I'm tenting in a nice place near where I tented in '03. Buttercup and gater goat rolled in and are tenting too...I think everyone is tenting.
Date: 2006-06-17
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: William Brien Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Well¢¦it was almost twenty miles. I think I¢m getting too much like another hiker I know who tends to focus on ¢town food.¢ as I spent two hours on lunch today.Things started out okay¢¦I was on the Trail and walking by 6:30..I think I was the first one out. Another nice hot sunny day. Good trail too¢¦the rocks seem pretty much behind me for now and no real difficult terrain.I had already decided that I was going hitch into the Red Apple Restaurant for lunch at NY17. I stopped there in¢03. It was a popular place in the fifties before the four lane by pass took most of the traffic off NY17. Apparently they are banking on the nostalgia as it looks like it hasn¢t been touched for fifty years. The food was just okay and as I recall and the atmosphere not all that ¢warm.¢¢¦but it is the restaurant closest to the Trail.I wasn¢t having much luck hitching when a mother and her young son picked me up on their way out of the park. Originally from Scotland, Linda and David are now living in the US. David had just completed hiking one of the side trails. We had a nice chat. Thanks you two.When we got to the Red Apple there was a sign on the door that it was closed for a wedding. Linda then took me several miles on down the road and dropped me off at a deli in town where I enjoyed a hot chicken sandwich.There have been some nice trail magic fresh water stashes at a couple of road crossings. But, my first real magic this hike came not long after getting back on the Trail as I was walking up the road entrance in Heriman Park when I heard someone yelling ¢Hey Asshole.¢ Section hiker Johnson was nearby handing out cold sodas, fruit and candy from his car in shade. Always nice...especially, when it is a total surprise. Previous thru-hiker Paddy-O dropped by for a visit. He was also out doing trail magic. I hung around long enough for Buttercup, gator goat, freeze out and a few others to show up.I want you to know that ¢eating out¢ like I¢ve been doing lately is not typical. ¢Real¢ long distance backpackers usually pack at least a couple of dinners a week. I¢m just taking advantage of the situation¢¦especially since I¢m not cooking this trip.At least I¢m living in my tent tonight. I¢m tenting at William Brien and wuss Buttercup is staying in the shelter. We¢re not sure where everyone else in his group is tonight.
Date: 2006-06-19
From: US9/NY403 Peekskill NY

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: haze

A fairly productive day that ends with me sleeping in the shelter to stay out of the weather.It starts with me hitching on the ramp next to the motel. Nothing for twenty minutes or so and then a landscape contractor, John, and his two workers pick me and take me to where I got off the Trail. We had a nice talk. I¢d say invariably, the people who pick up hitchhikers around the Trail recognize you as an AT backpacker and want to hear about your hike. I¢m always willing to share it with others¢¦kinda like here¢¦some kind of ego problem. Anyway, thanks John.It is still hot and muggy but not as bad as yesterday as the clouds move in. I¢m getting tired and taking more than the usual number of breaks. The Trail isn¢t particularly difficult but it does go up and down. I got a good nights¢ sleep last night and don¢t know why I¢m tired today.This next part will not make the ¢Purists¢ happy. I left my cell phone on because I¢m expecting a call about twenty acres of mostly wooded farmland I¢m buying not far from my house. (At least the ring is the sound of a cricket chirping¢¦honest) It chirps mid afternoon and the bank says they have the title and are ready to close the deal¢¦I have until the end of the month. Since my ride is just up the Trail, I decide to take yet another break from my hike tomorrow to go home to take care of it.Late afternoon, Buttercup and I meet up on the footpath and keep passing each other while the other one takes a break. We get to talking and he tells me that the next shelter has pizza delivery. Sounds good to me¢¦can you believe the string days I¢ve had eating town food? I did not stay here in¢03 and honestly did not know¢¦a nice little surprise. He also tells me Overflow and freeze out are right behind us and will probably be stopping there tonight,I get to the shelter first and Buttercup is not far behind. It starts to rain and I decide to sleep in one of the cabin bunk beds. Overflow, freeze out and gator goat show up in the rain. We all order three large pizza and some cheese sticks¢¦gator goat is the only one whose ¢health conscious¢ and gets a salad.Before I forget, the water out of the well here is clouded with something¢¦iron deposits maybe¢¦reminds me of times growing up when our well water was ¢rusty.¢ It was cold but had that ¢special¢ taste to it.
Date: 2006-06-20
From: RPH Shelter

To: NY52
Miles today: 5.1

I am always up before everyone else. This shelter is an enclosed bunkhouse so I took my backpack outside to keep the disturbance level at minimum. Nobody¢s gonna bitch anyway since I bought pizza for everyone last night.This group is not unlike the other young folks I¢ve ran into on the AT¢¦first class individuals. I still maintain there is something about the character of anyone willing to walk 2,000 miles over mountains in the rain.I told them I would get my vehicle and drive back to where the path crosses NY52¢¦if anyone was around I¢d buy breakfast. It was only five miles and I was there in no time.As I was hitching three miles or so down the road to where I parked the Liberty, I got stopped by the local police. A young officer (I should have checked his I.D.) hassled me¢¦reminding me that it was against the law to hitchhike in the state of NY. (I love the way they hold there hands on their hips¢¦ready to pull out their gun and shoot you. If necessary)   I told him this is the first time I¢ve had a problem in over 4,000 miles of hiking. Some of these guys have to be such ¢smart asses.¢ When I asked him if he would give me a ride he responded with something like, ¢if I can walk the AT, I can walk down the road to my vehicle¢¦and it¢s just around the corner.¢ I remembered Snail and Sally telling me they got yelled at by the police somewhere in NY in ¢03.It wasn¢t just around the corner and I ignored his orders and began hitching not long afterwards. A few minutes later he comes from the other direction. He rolls down the window and says if he sees me doing it again he¢s gonna take me to jail and write me a ticket...a "manure spreader of sorts. I mumbled, ¢it might be an interesting experience.¢ I quit hitching this time and it wasn¢t long before a pick-up truck passes me in my direction¢¦turns around in a drive way and comes back the other direction. It was my friend doing some excellent undercover work¢¦hoping I would be on the look out for the blace & white car, he cleverly disguises himself as a civilian hoping to entrap me. Ahh, what length our finest will go to ¢ to protect and serve.¢When I got to I81 I was thirsty and tired. So, I then had breakfast before driving back to the Trail crossing to see if anyone of the others was coming through. Buttercup shows up shortly and I treat him to a nice breakfast. The others had already crossed before him. After breakfast, I drop him off back at the Trail and I head back to Ohio.I¢m hoping to get my personal business out of the way and get back on the AT ASAP. I only have 300 miles and will have completed my section hike.
Date: 2006-07-13
From: NY52

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter
Miles today: 3.9
Weather: broken clouds

I guess I have become an official section hiker for the first time. What?...I started in March this year and have been home and returned twice. I was off the Trail longer than I wanted to be, but partly because the bank did not have the title on the property we purchased ready as promised. And, I bought a new John Deere (nothing runs like a Deere) and ¢brush hogged¢ the overgrown field part before I left to return to the Trail.One of the guys I met back in March, Guns of Jesus, made it sound like it was as good a time as any to be off the AT¢¦lots and lots of rain just like ¢03.On the interstate not too far from where I get off to hike, I came up behind this car with a mostly flat smoking left rear tire. It pulls over and stops. Since I carry an inflator, I pulled off too and parked behind with the four way flashers on. The driver was an extremely attractive young cat scan technician (that wasn¢t why I stopped to help). She didn¢t have that far to go and was trying to make if off the freeway.It won¢t inflate and just as we start to change the tire, a State Trooper stops, lends us a good tire wrench and puts out flares. There was no doubt in my mind that this young lady could have changed the tire herself¢¦but I wanted to get ¢my good deed for the year¢ out of the way. The lug nuts were on so tight¢¦or just because of the heat expansion I had to jump up and down on the wrench to finally get it loose. (I ruined on chrome lug nut for which I apologized.)The only thing I regret is not taking a picture of the victim or her taking a picture of me changing the tire so those of you who know me believe I actually helped.Anyway, after a dollar double cheeseburger, dollar McChicken, and dollar fries I got to the Trail around 5:30. This time I parked at the Trail as it had a good space out of sight. It was already hot and very humid¢¦more mosquitoes than normal too. There is one other guy tenting but we don¢t talk.It feels good to be walking with a backpack again.