morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-07-10
From: Leroy A Smith Shelter

To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

7/11, 10:10am - Afternoon DelightYesterday was one of those long, lazy days that make summer oh so pleasant. I slept in pretty late and took my time in the morning. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my cinnamon buns had aged well and made for quite a tasty breakfast. Perhaps it was merely my distance from civilization.A few miles up the trail, I crossed paths with some more familiar faces. I could attempt to pass running into Uncle Guy, Aunt Barb and my cousin Holly as some sort of astounding coincidence, but the truth is I had called them from Palmerton and had arranged a rendezvous. They hiked south from Wind Gap until meeting me and then we hiked north together back to their car. They've apparently been doing a lot of ultra-distance road biking lately. Together, Uncle Guy and Aunt Barb had ridden 100, 200, and 400k rides. Uncle Guy had just completed a 600k ride two weeks ago. And to think, I only hike around 30k on a long day.Once we reached the car we ducked down into the nearby borough of Wind Gap. We had lunch at a diner followed by a trip to Rita's for dessert. I had a large gelati, which is Italian ice sandwiched between layers of soft serve ice cream. It's not something one typically finds at an AT shelter, and quite tasty, too.After a few quick photos, I resumed my hiking alone. Surprise, surprise - more rocky ridge walking. I did spend quite a bit of time lingering at Wolf Rocks, soaking in the sun and pretending the view was better than it was. Around five or a bit thereafter, I arrived at Kirkridge Shelter, my home for the evening.Toe-kicker and Butterfingers were already there, a couple I initially met a few days ago at the Palmerton hostel. Sink II arrived a few minutes later. His father used the trail name Kitchen Sink some forty years ago, and he had adopted it as well, as advertised by a sign on his pack. Chuckles and Gotta Go completed the crowd, but largely kept to themselves. The rest of us stayed up past ten thirty talking about every topic imaginable.It's been a relaxing morning, sunny and pleasant. The trail's been nice, too, with good views scattered about. I'm just going to the Delaware Water Gap today, a mere 6.5 miles. I've already gone six and reached this beautiful pond [Lake Lenape] that was inviting me to rest along its shore. The morning sun is cast upon the innumerable lilly pads and the surrounding mountain laurel, giving this place an aura of tranquility. Today has all the makings of a good day.
Date: 2005-07-11
From: Kirkridge Shelter

To: Church of the Mountain Hostel (Delaware Water Gap)
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: clear sky

9:11pm - Return of the Grievous AngelToday was a pretty good day. Gozar showed up in town just after I did. Sink II took him, Toe-kicker, Butterfingers, and me over to Stroudsburg for the afternoon, treating us to lunch at the diner. We did laundry and went grocery shopping before the day's main adventure: a 4pm screening of War of the Worlds. I loved the movie - it was relentless, brutal, and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It wasn't deep, but it was a fantastic popcorn movie. There was also a trailer for a new Terrance Malick film, the New World. I had no idea the brilliant, reclusive director was even making a movie. This is only his second film in the last 25 years (The Thin Red Line was the other), and you'd better believe that I'll be catching this one when it comes out.There's not much else to really say about today. We came back to the hostel and I rearranged my food bag. I'm going to experiment for the next stretch and not cook at all, so I'm mailing my stove ahead. It's a bit ironic - Chickenfeet gave me a surprise maildrop consisting of red lentils and cheese sauce packets, both of which require cooking. Oh well, it's still appreciated and I'm sure that I'll be cooking again somewhere up the trail. I definitely plan to resume in the White Mountains, if not before. There's just too much danger of cold weather and hypothermia.Afterwards Gozar and I went to the local pizza joint and split a sausage pizza. It was good, but the owner's kid kept reminding us that they were about to close and that he wanted to go home. Then it was back to the hostel and a quick read through National Geographic Adventure Magazine. I read an article about how the political system in Nepal affects trekkers. It only made me long to return to India. I now realize that an eventual return journey is probably inevitable.
Date: 2005-07-12
From: Church of the Mountain Hostel (Delaware Water Gap)

To: 1.5 miles past Catfish Fire Tower
Miles today: 14.4

9:07pm - FruitcakesI had a late start out of town today - I had to wait for the post office to open amid other distractions. But I finally got off and entered the grand state of New Jersey. The trail was awesome - a wide fire road, well graded and meticulously maintained. I stopped at Sunfish pond for lunch. It's a glacial pond billed as one of the seven natural wonders of New Jersey. Toe-kicker and Butterfinger showed up as I was eating so we chatted for a bit.I set off alone and ran into Gozar and Mayfly about 75 yards later. Had I known they were eating so nearby I would have pushed on the extra distance. I had it in me. We chatted and hiked out. I was a bit ahead when I heard some commotion behind. Gozar and a bleeding Mayfly soon rounded the bend. Her knee had given out and she took a nasty tumble. Luckily she was okay.Hike on we did, first Mayfly and then myself and the Gozarian. We passed by several groups out from nearby camps. We hiked along a grassy ridge for quite some time and were treated to some great views of the nearby Delaware River. We also checked out the Catfish Fire Tower. A few miles later, we were climbing up past a beaver pond and decided to camp at the first place we found past the ridge. We turned a corner and found Mayfly's tent already set up. We, too, settled in for the evening.Mainly, we swapped tales of hikers we knew. We've all met a lot of the same people but at different times. It was a lot of fun to hear about what we missed. At some point, the conversation took a bit of a political turn. Hearing Mayfly's in-depth analysis of the economic evils of Wal-Mart constantly rebutted by Gozar's "I love Wal-Mart" was quite entertaining, even if it doesn't sound terribly exciting. Gozar has a unique way of telling a story, approaching it from all angles and circling around the point. It drove Mayfly crazy, but in a way entertaining for all. The two of them together is quite a riot.
Date: 2005-07-13
From: 1.5 miles past Catfish Fire Tower

To: Gren Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Gren Anderson Shelter 8:41pm - CrashGozar and I got off to a respectfully early start, beating the injured Mayfly to the punch by a few minutes. We set a fairly moderate pace, expecting Mayfly to catch us at any minute. She never did. We halted near the Brink Road Shelter for lunch and spread our tents to dry. It rained last night so they were soaked. I stretched my bear bag line out as a clothesline and draped my tarp over it.We set off again after an hour's break. Before too long, we came to a small pile of debris along the trail - twisted plastic and shattered plexiglass. Following a small path through some thick brush we came across the charred carcass of a small airplane. We could make out a nose cone complete with a twisted propeller, and two nearby wings, but charred cinders were all that remained of the fuselage. With a sickening feeling we realized that the wreckage was upside down. A strong smell of charcoal lingered in the air; scorched limbs with green leaves confirmed our suspicions that this must have occurred relatively recently.Two miles later we reached Culvers Gap. We went into the Sunset Grill and joined Circuit Rider and Sherlock for a bite to eat. We learned from our waitress that the plane crashed about three weeks ago and that the pilot miraculously walked out with a hiker. We also learned that we're no longer in the South and that soda refills aren't free.We made it to the shelter around six. It had been a shade less than 17 miles, but we figured we'd done enough for one day. We settled in, talking for a while with a fellow named Torch. He hiked southbound last year, finishing on New Year's Eve. Right now he's leading a group from a nearby camp on a four day trip. I guess he caught trail fever.Toe-kicker and Butterfinger just rolled in, and there's also a group of five or so younger girls about in the area. The bear bin (a New Jersy shelter item) is overflowing, so we've strung a bear bag. We had to use Gozar's rope, though. I apparently forgot mine at Brink Road Shelter at lunch. It's a bad state not to have a rope in - New Jersey is known for bears. In fact, this shelter is rumored to have a large resident black bear. I know for a fact that it also has a lot of mosquitos. I spent a bit of time earlier this evening improving the mosquito netting I've rigged on my tarp. Last night proved its inadequacy; I'm hoping for improved results tonight.
Date: 2005-07-14
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: The Secret Shelter (Murray's Properties)
Miles today: 18.3

The Secret Shelter (Murray's Properties) 8:49pm - Monkey Wash, Donkey RinseI've had many fun experiences on the trail. Fighting off stomach cramps for most of today doesn't number among them. I didn't sleep very well last night and I woke up feeling bloated. I figured I was still full from last night so I had a small breakfast. The first hour of hiking was a bit uncomfortable, but not overly so. But after passing Sunrise Mountain, it felt like somebody socked me in the gut. I limped onto Mashiparang Shelter and collapsed.Gozar showed up and we walked for a bit. Forty minutes after I arrived, I decided I was strong enough to hike 2.9 miles to Rutherford Shelter. The first two miles were unpleasant but bearable, and then something clicked. I felt fantastic and finished strong. Gozar and I had lunch on some rocks; my appetite had even returned.I set off for High Point State Park in good spirits but soon had a reality check: the cramps returned. The next four miles were passed alternating between feeling great and being doubled over in agony. Luckily, the pain always faded quickly, and it was pretty infrequent between bouts.I beat Gozar to High Point and hung out on an observation platform for a while, even catching a short nap. At the bottom of the platform I found a raspberry bush. A local told me I'd find more at the base of the High Point monument, but he was wrong. All I found was blackberry bushes.High Point Monument appears to be New Jersey's answer to the Washington Monument. It's a 221 foot obelisk erected in 1928 on the highest point in the state to honor veterans. It's pretty impressive, and unlike the Washington Monument, visitors can go all the way to the top by stairs. In fact, it's the only way up. The top, however, is a bit anticlimactic.After exploring the tower I went down to the Lake Marcia swimming area and took a dip. I dried out on the grass for a bit enjoying the day and a Nutty Buddy. But all good things must end, and I returned to hiking. I met Gozar at the High Point Shelter and then set off five more miles to the Secret Shelter.The Secret Shelter is a small, nice shelter erected by an AT alumn on some land he owns just off the trail. It's remarkably clean and has a sink, electric lights, and a shower. It also has a pair of donkeys. Gozar, Princess and I were at first amused by the donkeys, but then we learned just how loud they bray. Also, we're currenlty in the midst of a situation. We set up our tents in an effort to fight off mosquitos for the night. However, the donkeys escaped their corral and are currently roaming free. They especially seem to like grazing around our tents. We're hoping that they don't try to eat the tents or trip over my guide wires; I really don't want a frightened donkey dragging my tarp over to the next county. The nearby munching and hoof sounds are a bit unnerving. Hopefully a truce can be established between man and beast.
Date: 2005-07-15
From: The Secret Shelter (Murray's Properties)

To: St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Vernon, NJ)
Miles today: 13.6

9:27pm - This Hard LandOther than the braying occurring two feet from my tent during the dead of night, the donkeys proved rather harmless. The mosquitos affected my sleep far more, but I eventually escaped them by burrowing deep within my sleeping bag liner. The hours until dawn passed, and I awoke to the gentle sound of rain on my tarp. Soothing as it is, few things are more depressing than packing up and leaving in the rain. It's hard on the soul.I slogged onwards, drying out for a few minutes in the Pochuck Mountain Shelter. A mile north I found a trail magic box containing water and snacks. I grabbed a capri sun and some peanut butter crackers. By now the sun was emerging and heat was creeping into the air. The extra water was appreciated.The Wallkill National Wildlife Preserve was an unexpected treat. The sight of a family of cranes skimming over a lowland marsh is very different from everything else I've seen on this trip. However, it was topped by the last two and a half miles before Vernon. The trail crossed over another marsh on an elevated wooden boardwalk, cutting through vast fields of cattails. Partway through, a wooden suspension bridge cut across Pochuck Creek. With the sun shining brightly, it was a glorious way to end the day's hike.It didn't take long to hitch to Vernon, and I found the church hostel with a minimum of aimless wandering. I took care of the usual town chores, and feeling much cleaner I proceeded to raid the hostel's fridge. As tempting as the nearby pizza and chinese joints are, a free dinner is more appealing. I ate it while watching a rerun of today's Tour de France stage, and then popped in Raiders of the Lost Ark.This is a very nice hostel. It's just a church basement but we've got a kitchen, TV, a shower, laundry, and the Internet. It's also conveniently located - Vernon ain't exactly huge, so it's easy to get anywhere quickly. It's a full crowd tonight. I caught up to Corporal and Ramblin' Man, who zeroed here. I've also met Doc Gnarly, Freeze Dried, a slew of others I can't remember, and re-met Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, who I first met at the Port Clinton Pavilion as I was leaving. Princess is here; Dandy Lion was but has since been picked up by some friends. About the only thing missing is air conditioning. It could get pretty hot in here tonight.
Date: 2005-07-16
From: St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Vernon, NJ)

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

8:24pm - Living and Dying in 3/4 TimeToday has been one surprise after another. It all started when I went to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. "Are you hiking the trail?" the cashier asked me. "Yes," I replied. "I knew it," he exclaimed. "Are you heading north?" "Yep." "I knew it!" I talked with him for a few minutes about my experience so far and why I'm hiking northbound, explaining that it's more social in that direction. Eventually I ordered, getting two donuts and a coffee. I pulled out my wallet to pay but the young man behind the counter stopped me. "Don't worry about it," he said, "it's on me."My hitch out to the trail ended up being with the guy who made the pasta salad I ate from the hostel's fridge last night, proving that it is indeed a very small world. It was also a muggy world this morning. There was a steep climb up Wawayanda Mountain straight out of town, and I was drenched with sweat and a liter shorter on water by the top, 38 minutes later. Thankfully the trail flattened out for the next few miles and even provided me with my next surprise, the occasional raspberry bush.I crossed into New York in early afternoon and soon lost track of my landmarks. After a few miles of alternating between fun exposed rock scrambles and shady ridge walks, I stopped to take a break. I was getting low on water and thought I was still two miles from the next road and three miles from the next water source. After I started moving again, I found out I was five minutes from the road. A sign at the road indicated that an ice cream stand (not in the guidebook) was one tenth of a mile away and also had a water spigot that hikers could use.If a food joint is one tenth of a mile off the trail, it's almost an obligation to stop in. But if it's an ice cream stand practically on the trail as a surprise near the end of the day, you don't even stop to think, you just head straight there. I had two delicious, heaping scoops in a waffle cone. While eating, a few locals and I started talking. People often shake their head in disbelief upon learning I've been hiking for three and a half months from Georgia. Today was no different.I easily cruised the remaining two miles to the shelter and met Ramblin' Man and Corporal there. I whipped up a pair of hummus and cheese wraps for dinner which were quite tasty. This stoveless dinner experiment is actually quite nice - I'm considering extending my experiment past Kent and only getting the stove back when I reach the White Mountains. We'll see - I've still got plenty of time to ponder the merits. Shortly after dinner, Doc Gnarly and Pus Gut (formerly Indy) showed up. We've got a nice evening, too. The humidity has cleared off and there's a good breeze blowing that's almost putting a slight chill in the air. I'm hoping that I'll have my first solid night's sleep in the woods for quite some time.
Date: 2005-07-19
From: Graymoor Friary

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: haze

7:36pm - ChangesIn all the excitement of yesterday, I neglected to mention my fall from grace. I've always regarded trail register entries as sacred. For example, one guy calling himself Mountain Man used to leave rants filled with bigoted comments. I detested his entries, regarding them as an embarrasment to the hiker community. Others would often scratch out his swastikas and the worst of his bile, but I left them alone on the rare cases when I found a virgin entry. Though sorely tempted otherwise, I refused to become a censor. Free speech has a price.Yesterday, I altered a register entry. In reference to New York's rocks somebody had written, "This is good practice for what awaits us up north." The open-endedness was too tempting; I couldn't resist. After a not so subtle forging, the entry read, "This is good practice for what awaits us up north, where we must fight the minotaur."Such alterations are a bit of a thru-hiker tradition. Oh, it's not an official one - as much as any of them can be considered official - but most people indulge in a little prank here or there, altering a register entry or something else. My favorite tale is one from Professor's 2000 hike. When they entered a town, a bar's sign out front advertised that it had the "coldest beer in town." When they left town, the c was missing.I boogied out of Graymoor this morning at 7am sharp and was pleasantly surprised by the trail. As Gozar put it the other day, "if a tree falls across the trail in New York, they don't just leave it, they paint a blaze on it." Apparently the trail maintainers got their act together after crossing the Hudson. Everything I've seen since then has been well-blazed. That's not to say it hasn't been frustrating, though. I bypassed two good lunch spots because I was convinced there'd be something better around Canopus Lake. Leave it to the New York ATC to route the trail alongside a lake without providing so much as a glimpse of the lake for over two miles. I ended up bushwhacking down to the lakeside where I enjoyed an hour and a half break during the heat of the day. I read a copy of "The Atlantic" I picked up from Gozar.It was hotter than blazes today, but at least it wasn't humid. We finally caught a break in the weather. I may have sweated buckets, but it was an honest sweat. I took the afternoon easy and, despite rumblings, made it to the shelter wet from only sweat. I settled in with Fido and Waist Deep before the others from the Friary (minus Buffalo Bob) showed up.Off to set up my tarp while I still have light, in yet another battle against the bugs. They're not real bad yet, but I'm not taking chances. As today has proven, nature bites. It bites and stings, too. Three bee stings, one tick bite, several deer fly bites, numerous mosquito lancings, and probably three dozen horseflies thwarted today so far. I've had enough for one day.
Date: 2005-07-21
From: Murrow Park (Pawling, NY)

To: Mt. Algo Lean-to
Miles today: 20.7

8:03pm - Leaving New YorkAs I suspected, it was a hard hitch back to the trail. As a matter of fact, it was impossible. I walked the three miles back to the trailhead. When I got there I saw Ramblin' Man, Corporal, and Wilderness Bob trying to hitch into town. Good luck, fellas. You'll need it.Once I started on the trail I was instantly frustrated with its maintainers. Come on guys, we're nearing Lyme County, Connecticut. If you send us through a field, don't you think it would be a good idea to cut the grass a bit? In several spots I found myself wading through neck-high grass, some of it appearing to never have been cut, merely trampled. The one respite was a few miles through a nature preserve. There we were treated to winding forest paths that were well-blazed and maintained. There was also a trail magic cooler with drinks, water, and snacks just before the last shelter in the state. That, too, was nice, but not enough for me to leave the state holding the trail maintainers in high regards. I appreciate their efforts, but the end result is far below what I've seen elsewhere.The first thing I saw upon entering Connecticut was evidence of trail improvements in progress. It was a nice change of pace. Indeed, I have been quite impressed with Connecticut so far. It's had well-maintained trail cutting through valleys, following rivers, and climbing ridges. At 2:30pm I came across a convenience store two tenths of a mile off the trail that sold ice cream and was reached by crossing a covered bridge. Surely that's the work of the Connecticut trail maintainers, right?I finally reached the shelter a bit before 7pm. I'd been walking for nearly 12 hours. Well, I suppose I did take a lot of breaks today. But when you're trying to cover 23.7 miles (including the 3 mile walk from Pawling) that ends with several miles of tough climbing, you've got to know your limits. I think I was coming close to reaching them today. I'm pretty much exhausted and ready for sleep.