morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-05-26
From: Harrisburg, PA

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: overcast clouds

At 1:30 PM today, after four days of relaxation and rejuvenation, I finally returned to the trail recharged and ready to put in some big miles.Then I hiked five miles, fell over exhausted in a shelter, and went right to sleep.But I¢m getting ahead of myself. My stay in Harrisburg was much needed and very enjoyable. For much of the weekend the riverside streets in the city were flooded with booths, boasting paintings, sculptures, crafts, and even homebrew beer as part of their Memorial Day Weekend Art Festival. I also went back to the theatre to see the new X-Men film (thumbs up), so my nerd needs have been met. Lastly, being able to spend a few days with Alison was an absolute Godsend ¢ it¢s always nice to hang out with your best friend. And I¢m not just saying that because she reads my journal.Yet today finally rolled around and Alison drove Birdman and me back to Port Clinton via a rent-a-car. We stopped at a nearby Cracker Barrel for lunch ¢ a genuine taste of home ¢ then quickly resupplied at Walmart. By 1:00 PM we were back at the trailhead, and I said my goodbyes to Alison. I won¢t see her again until I reach Katahdin.By 1:30 PM we were back on the trail, which actually was just the side of the highway for over a mile. Even after being in a major city for a few days, the speed at which cars whizz by can be dizzying. At last we reentered the woods, but something dramatic had changed since we were last here: the bugs have come out to play. We were followed by a black cloud of flies the majority of the day. Thankfully, the mosquitoes seem to still be sleeping, though I¢m sure that will change soon as well.The other big change was the heat, finally reaching summer temperatures and coating me with sweat. By the time we reached the first shelter I was completely exhausted, and I lay back in the shelter to cool down and relax. The next thing I knew, I woke up at 6:00 PM with Birdman cooking dinner. I guess we will be staying here tonight.Despite the new difficulties, it¢s good to be back on the trail. I doubt I will have any trouble falling back asleep tonight.
Date: 2014-05-27
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

After our not-so-grand reintroduction to the AT yesterday, Birdman and I decided it would be best to take the next few days a bit slowly so that we can readapt. We also have some new hurdles I forgot to mention yesterday. First off, we both have brand new shoes that have to be broken in, which is typically a recipe for foot pain on the AT. My shoes are also trail runners, which are a double-edged sword: they are much lighter than my old boots, meaning my legs will be less sore at the end of the day; yet there is much less support than I am used to, meaning a thinner sole and far thinner side protection. I¢m going to give them a week or so to see how they hold up, but my feet are definitely on fire tonight.The other problem is the Pennsylvania rocks, which showed up with a vengeance today. Where there were sections of relief from the rocks before, now there are only sections that are ¢less rocky¢. These patches of trail are typically littered with golfball-to-baseball sized rocks, and they twist my ankles to the point that I look forward to the boulder fields.The terrain today was mostly flat, which helped with the walking but not so much with our enthusiasm. Even though it will mean more effort on our part, I can¢t wait until we have mountains big enough to actually have names again.Toward the end of the day, we ran to Allentown Hiking Club Shelter in order to avoid an incoming thunderstorm. We arrived minutes before the lightning and rain started falling, which is an extremely satisfying feeling. We also met two female hikers, Big Fox and Little Fox, who are completing one last section hike before starting a southbound thru-hike in June. They asked us for advice on food, pack weight and other hiking related matters, making me feel like an old pro. It also took me back to when I was in my final preparations and the amount of excitement I felt. I wished them an excellent start to their trip of a lifetime.
Date: 2014-05-28
From: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter

To: Palmerton, PA (Country Inn & Suites)
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

While today was another day of relatively low miles, it ended up being entirely necessary for our physical well-being. While our elevation stayed fairly constant the terrain was just one boulder field after another. In many spots, one misstep meant a twenty foot tumble onto a bed of rocks and a quick end to our hike. I¢m not trying to be dramatic when I say that this was one of the most mentally demanding days so far.Fortunately, Birdman had a surprise waiting for us in Lehigh Gap that completely lifted our spirits: three of his friends from Michigan had driven to meet him (and thus me) and take us to a place to stay. They are a fun crew and seemed genuinely excited to be helping us in our adventure. They also had the perfect way to describe our hiker smell: we smell of the land. Poetic, don¢t you think?They drove us into Palmerton for dinner, and we all binged on burgers, macaroni and cheese, and other goodies. We returned to our hotel to start laundry, and then sought out a local creamery for ice cream. I felt completely refreshed by tonight¢s excursion, which is definitely a good thing. Tomorrow we will be climbing out of Lehigh Gap, a mile long, straight up boulder scramble that is frequently referred to as one of the toughest climbs on the trail. After recharging, I¢m more than ready for the challenge.
Date: 2014-05-29
From: Palmerton, PA (Country Inn & Suites)

To:  Wind Gap, PA (The Beer Stein)
Miles today: 20.1

This morning was overcast and windy, making it the perfect morning to tackle Lehigh Gap. This section is infamous not only because of the steep, boulder-filled ascent, but also because of the scant amount of vegetation growing on the entire mountainside. This is due to zinc smelting that occurred in the gap for over 90 years, poisoning the ground and allowing only the hardiest of trees to grow. Even though the area was declared a Superfund site and received extensive rehabilitation, there is still very little green to be seen here.After a large continental breakfast, Birdman, his friends, and I drove over to start our ascent. While maybe it would be nothing to an experienced rock climber, the trail here quickly became a dangerous, hand-over-hand climb over countless boulders. Within minutes I was pouring sweat, but in truth we covered the mile within twenty minutes, giving us an amazing view far down into the valley. Birdman and I finished well before the rest of the crew, and they congratulated us on being true mountain men. Shortly afterwards we parted ways, as the guys had to begin their journey back to Michigan, but Birdman and I felt invigorated after conquering such an intimidating obstacle.Yet afterward, as we entered a grassy hilltop shortly after the gap, Birdman and I discovered the one thing that could break our spirits.Ticks.Lots of ticks.The hills after Lehigh Gap were a tick nightmare, as we found ourselves removing a new parasite every few steps. Worse, they weren¢t just dog ticks, which are relatively large and easy to feel on your leg. They were also deer ticks, which are small, impossible to feel, and capable of transmitting Lyme disease. On top of the dog ticks I removed, which were far more plentiful, I also removed two deer ticks from my legs, which required the use of tweezers due to their size.Cue our freak out.We spent way too much time looking up information on detecting Lyme disease, preventing ticks from biting us, and a dozen other things on our phones before deciding we should simply get the heck out of Dodge. We booked it until we returned to the relative safety of the woods and rocks. After a lengthy, thorough tick check, we were finally satisfied to carry on with our hike.After twenty miles, we pulled off the trail into the small town of Wind Gap. There we sought out the Beer Stein restaurant, which not only had HUGE plates of pasta for cheap, but hikers are also allowed to tent out back for free. We gladly filled our bellies and claimed a spot out back.At the Beer Stein restaurant, we met a female thru-hiker named Trillium. I recognized her Georgian dialect immediately, and it turned out that she is from Augusta, GA. Trillium is actually the first fellow Georgian I¢ve met on this trip, and Birdman and I spent many hours chatting with her before returning exhausted to our tents.
Date: 2014-05-30
From:  Wind Gap, PA (The Beer Stein)

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA (The Church of the Mountain
Miles today: 15.6

Today I woke up on the ground behind a bar; my mother will be proud.Despite the bar being close to a major road, I slept surprisingly soundly. This was doubly impressive when Birdman told me of a fleet of bikers that roared by in the wee hours of the morning. I may have finally mastered the art of sleeping outside. That or I just sleep like a rock.Trillium was already gone by the time I arose at 6:00 AM; she mentioned that this was something she often did due to her slower pace. Birdman and I, in contrast, walked in the opposite direction for a mile in search of a hot breakfast. We settled for a Duncan Donuts downtown and started our day off right with a gallon of coffee. After downing far too much food and caffeine, we quickly hitched back to the trailhead and began hiking.Today, dear readers, was our final day of hiking in Pennsylvania.My spirits were extremely high all day today just knowing that I was finally saying goodbye to this rock strewn hellhole. Parts of Pennsylvania have been absolutely delightful; the trail itself was not one of them. I may be slightly hyperbolic, but I know that my feet will be thankful to see the last of Pennsylvania.Actually, the last stretch was surprisingly peaceful. There were a few obligatory boulder fields, of course, but much of the day was spent meandering down old country roads. We also technically climbed an actual named mountain today ¢ Mt. Minsi (1,461 ft.), though we barely changed our elevation in order to get there. In fact, it wasn¢t even our highest elevation today.At around 3:00 PM, after a slow descent and great views of the Delaware River, Birdman and I emerged into the small town of Delaware Water Gap. We immediately ran into an old school ice cream parlor; complete with a carved wooden bar and actual soda syrups. We both had strawberry milkshakes, which cooled our still overheated bodies.Afterward, we headed to the nearby Church of the Mountain Hostel, our destination for the evening. This hostel is in the basement of a church and offers bunks, showers, couches, books, and other ways to relax after a long day in the mountains. It was here that we reunited with Mumbles, who stumbled into town while we were downing our milkshakes. Trillium is also here, as well as another Georgian named Good Company. After being surrounded by Northerners, it has been very comforting to interact with some fellow Southerners.After showering and relaxing for a bit, Mumbles, Birdman and I taxied over to the nearest Walmart for resupply, and then dined at a nearby Friendly¢s restaurant. I had never eaten at one before, but I definitely left feeling satisfied after my chicken quesadilla dinner. We then taxied back to the hostel to turn in, as we have a big day tomorrow: we will enter New Jersey, our eighth state on the trail. Even more importantly, we¢ll finally kiss Pennsylvania goodbye. I can hardly wait.
Date: 2014-05-31
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA (The Church of the Mountain

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: light rain

At long, long last, I stepped out of Pennsylvania and into New Jersey, the eighth state on the AT. It was absolutely energizing, crossing the bridge over the Delaware River, knowing that I was leaving my least favorite section of the trail behind. Of course, rumor has it that the Pennsylvania rocks don¢t actually go away until Massachusetts, but just leaving the state behind is such a mental boost.While New Jersey definitely has its fair share of rocks, the trail immediately felt more graded and easier on the feet. Almost every climb we had today was slow, steady, and easy to power up and over quickly. The area we went through today also had a distinct ¢northern¢ feel to it, full of thick evergreens that often blocked out the sun completely. This kept the temperatures relatively cool today, whereas we may have cooked had we been walking in the sun.Just before lunch, Birdman, Mumbles, and I came to a beautiful landmark: Sunfish Pond, the southernmost glacial pond on the entire AT. Deemed one of New Jersey¢s natural wonders, the water was so clear that I could see straight to the bottom almost its entire length. On the north shore there is a series of cairns, (rock piles), artistically balanced by the water. It is tradition to add your own stone to a cairn before you leave, so we gladly added to these makeshift sculptures.As we crossed a dirt road later in the day, we ran into our artist friend, Caribou, and his father, Chief, who had just finished a section and were about to go to a nearby waterpark. We were invited to come along as well, but we were enjoying our day so much that we decided to stay on the AT. We did, however; have them drop us off at the nearby Outdoor Center, a retreat for hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. We have definitely become food enthusiasts as well as hikers, so we ordered lunch from their deli and relaxed for a bit in the air conditioning.The rest of the day went by quickly and smoothly, and we reached the shelter just after 6:00 PM. When we investigated the (brand new!) shelter, we found that a group of young Boy Scouts and their troop leaders had taken up residence inside. Birdman and I (Mumbles had fallen behind) were about to leave when the troop leader asked, ¢Are you guys thru-hikers?¢ He asked us many questions about our trip and thru-hiking in general, and then pulled his troop out of the shelter so that we could use it. I felt guilty at first, but he said that not only were there more scouts coming, but that ¢these boys need a lot of practice setting up tents anyway¢.It is now jet black outside due to the thickness of the forest. It should make for a good night of sleep.
Date: 2014-06-01
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: Murray Property Cabin
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was a relatively uneventful day, filled with slow climbs, long conversations, and a surprising amount of time doing absolutely nothing.We awoke to the sound of giggling Boy Scouts and quickly made breakfast and departed. Unfortunately, we had also slept in later than we had intended, so the day had already started heating up by the time our feet touched the AT. Though the terrain was friendly, hiking can still be strenuous when the temperatures rise into the 80¢s.We also climbed another named mountain ¢ Sunrise Mountain (1,653 ft.) ¢ even though it was small; it made up for it with a large stone pavilion constructed on its summit. This allowed us to enjoy the views without absolutely baking in the sun. Even so, I decided to lie out in the sun and take a nap anyway, as the sun on my skin felt too good to pass up.After waking up and grabbing a snack, Birdman (who also sunbathed) and Mumbles (who stayed in the pavilion like a vampire) donned our backpacks and headed out into the woods. I am still very pleased with the terrain and surrounding views in New Jersey, offering us a smooth footpath through deep, beautiful forests. Such surroundings made the day fly by, even though we put in a significant amount of mileage.We are staying tonight at the Murray property, where the owner has constructed a cabin just for long-distance hikers. It is completely enclosed to keep out the bugs, has a well-water pump nearby, an ice cold shower for hiker use (I couldn¢t warm up for almost an hour), and two nosey donkeys to keep us company. We are also joined by fellow thru-hiker, ¢M¢, who has a jet black beard down to his midsection. M is an energetic guy with some¢¦interesting ideas about the government and society, but he is very good natured and fun to talk to. That¢s a thing I love about being out here: even when you may not entirely agree with another hiker¢s opinions, you can always relate to your shared love of the trail and the experiences it provides.
Date: 2014-06-02
From: Murray Property Cabin

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: clear sky

Today proved to be one of the most dynamic days so far in terms of the terrain, making me feel like I had really made progress. We started at the Murray farm, with rolling hills and wide pastures. We then dipped briefly into Unionville, NY, to resupply. The food was definitely overpriced, but the small town Americana charm of Unionville prevented the stop from feeling like a waste of time. After resupplying, we ventured around the outskirts of the Wallkill Reserve, a giant swamp that hosted a large variety of wetland birds (Birdman was in heaven).After the long, flat swamp stroll, we briefly reentered the mountains and encountered a HUGE king snake, which was at least 5 feet long. He shook his tail in the leaves like a rattlesnake to show he meant business, and then took off for the mountaintops. Birdman and I continued alone from here, as Mumbles realized he had left his phone behind ¢ this happens shockingly often, unfortunately.Birdman and I exited the mountains shortly afterward to find an extensive boardwalk over swampy terrain. I¢ve grown to love boardwalks, as they allow me to look intently at the natural surroundings without having to worry about tripping over a root or stepping on a snake. After 1/2 mile of board walking, we met a trail angel who topped off our water (awesome) and advised us of a nearby restaurant where we could purchase homemade ice cream. We made haste to this place, devouring not only a pint of ice cream a piece, but once Mumbles caught up we also had one third of a blueberry pie a piece. I had so much sugar in my system that I felt dizzy.This carbo-load came in handy for our last stretch today: the ¢Stairway to Heaven¢, a 500 foot climb consisting primarily of rock stairs. Our knees groaned and ached, but thanks to my sugar buzz, I flew up the mountain in less than 15 minutes.We¢re now all settled into Wawayanda Shelter for our final night in New Jersey. The New York border is less than five miles away, and I am thrilled to have reached a new state so quickly after slogging through Pennsylvania.
Date: 2014-06-03
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Fingerboard Shelter
Miles today: 26.4
Weather: light rain

On a normal day with an average amount of ups and downs, a 26-mile day would be difficult and tiring. Today, as we entered the little discussed land of southern New York, the 26-mile day almost killed us.It started out innocently enough; the trail from Wawayanda Shelter to the NY border was a little rocky but mostly flat. The temperatures were warm but manageable. Everything seemed to be going our way.When the first uphill boulder scramble showed up, I thought it was just an innocent holdover from Pennsylvania coming back to haunt me. Then the next mountain was more of a rock climb than a hike as well, with near vertical ascents and descents. I often had to strap my trekking poles to my pack and haul myself hand-over-foot up a sheer rock face to reach the summit, only to repeat the process on the way down.It was a sweaty, rocky nightmare, which would have been terrible if it wasn¢t so simultaneously fun. By the end of the day, I was completely exhausted and felt like I had accomplished more than most people do in a year.We were also blessed with ample trail magic today, mostly water to help combat the heat. It made the strenuous climbs far more enjoyable when we were rewarded in almost every gap.Birdman and I made it to Harriman State Park just before sunset and ran to the final obstacle for the day: the Lemon Squeezer, a very narrow canyon at an off-kilter angle that every thru-hiker must pass through in order to proceed. This is more difficult than it sounds, as the angle of the canyon forces you to basically walk at a 45 degree angle. Also, at the end of the canyon there is a sheer rock wall with a sign pointing in two directions: the ¢real way¢, straight up and over the wall; and the ¢easy way¢, a blue blazed path around the obstacle. We, of course, went over the wall, though I nearly dropped my backpack off of the mountain in the process. That would have made my long day much, much longer.We¢re staying in our tents at Fingerboard Shelter, as the mosquitoes are out in force. We have planned for a shorter day tomorrow, but if the terrain is similar to todays, it will still be a trial.Especially since my knees have let me know exactly what they think about today¢s hike. I¢m going to bed.
Date: 2014-06-05
From: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center

To:  RPH Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: moderate rain

During the night the rains came tumbling down, and they didn¢t stop until well after lunch. This turned the trail into a fine soup for the day, even more so than usual. I wonder if we are entering the section of trail where the mud is more like glue than slime. If so, at least we won¢t be slipping and sliding as much, though we may lose a boot in the process. It makes me wonder what Vermont, a notoriously muddy state, will be like.We started the day with a slight panic from Birdman who had left his guidebook (full of notes, cards and other memorabilia) sitting on the counter at the Appalachian Market. As he hiked over a mile back to the store, Mumbles and I forged onward. Mumbles was in the lead at first, roughly 50 feet or so ahead of me as we tromped through the undergrowth and rain. About 10 minutes into our hike, however; I heard Mumbles begin to yell over the rainfall. A few seconds later he came running back toward me with a huge turkey hen right on his heels, clucking loudly and occasionally nipping at his feet. Apparently, Mumbles had stepped just a little too close to her nest, and now she was making him pay the price. She dove back into the woods when she saw me behind Mumbles, but we could still hear her clucking for well over 200 yards ¢ as soon as my laughter died down, anyway.Due to the noise of the rain drowning out our voices, we spent the majority of the day hiking by ourselves. I put my head down and powered my way down the trail, intending to reach the shelter ASAP and rest my legs after two long, strenuous days. I passed several beautiful vistas, including a wonderful view of Clarence Fahnestock State Park from atop Shenandoah Mountain (1,282 ft.). Yet my mind was singularly focused on reaching my goal, so I spent very little time admiring these scenes. Though I have no regrets today, I often wonder if I will one day when I look back on my trip.I reached RPH Shelter at roughly 2:30 PM, just after the sun finally chased away the rain. RPH is wonderful, made from an old cinder block cabin and featuring a large covered back porch. There is a large group of colorful section hikers here as well, including a retired English teacher and his friend ¢Sketch¢. Sketch has no problem letting his opinion be known, and most of his statements include no less than three instances of the ¢f¢ word. He adds even more color to an already colorful trip.RPH is close to a major road, so when Mumbles and Birdman arrived (Birdman with his guidebook in tow, by the way), we took advantage of the opportunity and ordered pizza. It was a wonderful treat after several tough days, and hopefully it will also replace some of my missing calories. Despite eating everything in sight, I have already lost close to 20 lbs. on this trip, and I still have many miles to go. It would be nice if I didn¢t look like a skeleton when I summit Katahdin.