morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-07-13
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: Near Millers Gap Road, PA
Miles today: 15.1

It was a slow start this morning leaving the Bed and Breakfast. I sit and talked with Kitty Gelinas, the owner of the B&B and she told me about the travails of raising her children. It reminded me of my teen-age years. Life was so much simpler in those days when you knew everything! Now that I'm older and realize I don't have all the answers...   A note about the geography. Yesterday, I passed a place called White Rocks. According to my guide, that marks the northern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The trail then crosses a flat cumberland valley. For about 12 miles, the trail is a patchwork of woods with crossing corn and soybean fields on easements. This evening on the other side of the valley, I entered the Blue Mountains. I will travel on this range east now, north of Harrisburg, the state capitol, then on to Delaware Water Gap on the NJ state line. That is the plan if my feet will hold up. They are very painful to walk on. I'm having grave concerns if they will last another 1,050+ miles. My pack is only slightly lighter tonight, as I ate little food out of it. I ate at the Middlesex Diner on US11 just off the trail today.
Date: 2005-07-14
From: Near Millers Gap Road, PA

To: Clarks Ferry Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: broken clouds

The Blue Mountains are mostly continous range running east across PA to New Jersey. However, one dramatic gap in them is where the Susquehanna River cuts through the ridge running south. Today, as I went along the ridge heading east, the mountain came to an abrupt end. It was a dramatic view looking down at the river and towards Duncannon. The trail dropped into town running through town and along the resdidential streets for a mile. In my neighborhood, if a scruffy looking stranger came walking through with a backpack the 9-1-1 board would light up like a Christmas tree. But I guess the residents of Duncannon are used to it. Matter of fact, the town had a festival for the thru-hikers last weekend. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when a thru-hiker, named Pack Stock was killed by a train. Though I didn't know him, he has left sadness on the trail. The trail then crosses the Juniata and Susquehanna rivers on road bridges. I waited underneath one of the road bridges for a rain shower to pass this afternoon. The Susquehanna River is the longest river crossed by the trail (444 miles). The bridge over the river was a half mile long. My prayers go out for Pack Stock's loved ones.
Date: 2005-07-15
From: Clarks Ferry Shelter

To: Near Yellow Springs Trail
Miles today: 18.4

I am afraid my chances of finishing the trail are diminishing. I continue to have foot problems, especially in the balls of my feet. I keep the pain under control with Naprosyn. It came a thunder storm last night so I'm trying to dry my tent out tonight. With a high humidity, it will take time. It was raining this morning when I broke camp and my feet got wet so I got new blisters in spite of my liner socks. Plus I don't have cell phone service tonight so I can't call Pam or my parents. I'm trying to hold out 2 more days until my parents get here. Am I whining and ranting? You know my ranting gets raving responses from Pam! On a positive note, I'm only 1,018.4 miles from Mt. Katahdin. I was told the total number of people who have ever completed the whole trail is approaching 10,000. That's still a small number for the 70+ years of the trail's existence. In recent years, the trend has been for fewer numbers attempting the trail but a higher percentage who finish. Historically, the percentage who finish was only 10% but it's higher now. It remains to be seen if I make it or not.
Date: 2005-07-16
From: Near Yellow Springs Trail

To: Swatara Gap - PA 72
Miles today: 11.9

I have been getting spoiled here in PA. Four out of the past five days, I've eaten lunch in restaurants. I only had to eat my noodles once yesterday. In Duncannon I ate an entire medium cheese pizza with onions. I washed it down with a 44 oz rootbeer. All the way hiking across the Susquehanna River, I feared I might lose it all! One thing about my noddles... I'm not tempted to over eat. It poured the rain again last night. It started thundering and lightning in the early morning and rained intermittently through the morning. I had my food bag hanging outside, covered with my pack cover but it still got soaked. I wrung water out of my food bag. I was afraid to look inside so I packed it wet! It was very foggy this morning, leaving an almost ethereal feel to the woods. As I was walking through the fog and woods, I saw about 15 people dressed like Amish. Shortly afterwards, 2 joggers came by with branches tied around their heads (the branches were to keep the bugs away from them!) Amish people and Greek gods in the fog?????? I wondered if I was dreaming. I saw a side trail to a cemetary. I decided I wasn't brave enough to go to it in the fog... My feet quickly reminded me that I wasn't dreaming. I left the trail at State route 72 and hiked first to a restaurant and then on to a hotel. I was glad I made that decision as torrential rains and flooding have come this afternoon.
Date: 2005-07-20
From: Swatara Gap - PA 72

To: William Penn Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: scattered clouds

It is back on the trail again after a couple of days of rest. My parents (long-suffering) drove all the way up from Virginia and met me. We then went to my cousin's house in Wellsboro, PA. She is a professor of history at Mansfield University. She was out of town (funny how that happens when I and my smell approach!). However, Carol, her mother was there and fixed us a feast. We visited Wellsboro and the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Both are worth a visit. But today it is back to the rocks! Even though it was rocky today, the worst will be over the next week, I'm told. It is also getting well into summer and the trail is getting overgrown. I used my hiking poles like a machete' some today. My feet are sore tonight but not intolerable. It was early afternoon before I started so it was a light hiking day (light being a relative term) My pack was still heavy!! Thanks for your kind hospitality, Carol and thank you for letting us use your house, Dr. Shawndra!
Date: 2005-07-21
From: William Penn Shelter

To: Eagle's Nest Shelter
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: clear sky

It is hard enough doing the trail as an American. I am amazed at the number of foreigners doing the trail. I've seen people from England, Scotland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Israel, Australia, and even Texas! (perhaps you've seen the TV ads-- "It's like a whole other (third world) country!" I'm guessing if you're traveling from another person from home, the last thing you want to do is have a squabble and separate. I saw Draga last night, a fellow from Australia who had been hiking with a girl named Angeline. I think they are related, but they've always been nebulous in explaining their relationship. In any case, he told me she had left to go home. He said he was tired and leaving too. He said he was going to go to New York and then on to Singapore. We said our good-byes as he was leaving with the shuttle with some Girl Scouts. Two miles later, at the 501 Shelter, who did I see but Angeline waiting on Draga! When I told her what he had said, she left scampering down the mountain after the Girl Scouts. They are real nice and I hope our paths cross again someday. But more important, I hope they cross paths today!
Date: 2005-07-22
From: Eagle's Nest Shelter

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

When I was in college years ago, I was fortunate enough to go with a music group to Romania. It was very communist in those days. After 3 weeks, we were anxious to get home. However, our director scheduled us to play for a weekend at Blue Mountain Adventist Academy in Hamburg, PA upon returning to the states. Needless to say, it was a long weekend and I was anxious to get home. Years later, I have now returned to Hamburg on the trail and I'm homesick again! I miss my bed, I miss Pam, I miss my house, I miss... Okay, I don't miss work... Moral of the story, don't drink the water at Hamburg, PA unless you want to be homesick. It was hot and humid again today and my feet feel like ground beef. When I got to Port Clinton today, I went to the hotel to eat. There aren't many choices in town. They have a sign up telling hikers to take a shower before entering! But since I'd only been out two days, I took my chances! When I went to sit down, the waitress was borderline rude, telling me not to sit there. There were no phones in town and my cell phone wouldn't work so I offered to pay a dollar to use the phone there for 5 minutes. She told me, "not on a Friday." I asked her where the bus station was figuring she might pay for my ticket to get rid of me. She said there was no bus station there. I asked another person about a bus, as I was ready to go home, but she didn't know anything either, so I did what any irrational person would do and continued on the trail.
Date: 2005-07-23
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

I had this conversation with someone and it went as follows: How are the rocks in Pennsylvania? They answered... well the rocks in PA are what you make of them and your attitude towards them... In my mind, my next thought was "wishy washy answer... they must be terrible." I've heard stories about the rocks in PA from the start of the trail and envisioned horrible stretches. I was dreading them. But as is the case so often in life, the anticipation in life is worse than reality. There have been bad stretches of "rocks on rocks" but they've not been as extensive as I expected. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Actually, today turned out to be a wonderful day for hiking. With lower temps and lower humidity, and a nice breeze at times. I stopped at the Eckville Shelter for lunch today. It was a wonderful place. It is in someone's back yard. There is a fridge with sodas and ice cream for hikers. I had soda with my noodles for lunch today. I was in heaven! Tonight it was a bear getting water. I had to hike down the mountain nearly a 1/2 mile losing 400 vertical feet from the shelter.
Date: 2005-07-24
From: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter

To: Jail House Hostel, Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 17.7

Well, tonight I'm in jail! Actually, I'm in the basement of a municipal building for the city of Palmerton, PA. It is called the Jail House Hostel and is sponsored by the city. The city manager just came by and gave us a goodie bag. In it are a toothbrush, toothpaste, some tylenol, t.p., an oats & honey bar, a 15 minute calling card, a band-aid, and a postage-attached post card. There is a 10pm curfew however. I can't remember the last time I was under a curfew! It is a welcomed rest because today was a hard day. Last night, around the campfire, we were discussing our favorite and least favorite states. There was no consensus on the favorite, but there was universal agreement on the least favorite... PA!! It is because of the rocks. They have played twister with my feet. Today I crossed the "knife's edge." It's scenic but hard to cross with a pack. The rocks are slanted 45-50 degrees and you are supposed to walk across the top of them for .2 mile. One side is a drop-off and the other side are boulder fields. It promises to be a bear climbing out of Lehigh Gap in the morning. Come on New Jersey! Thanks for everything Palmerton, PA.
Date: 2005-07-25
From: Jail House Hostel, Palmerton, PA

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

It has been a long 24 hours and I've experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly. Forgive me if I run long tonight. I went and ate with "Almost There (AT)" last night. I had met AT going south in VA. She is now going south in PA. Between us we devoured a whole large pizza with onions. That with the heat in the hostel made it hard to sleep last night. Then someone started singing a loud country music song at 1:00 am! My plan was to get up early and climb a steep mountain out of the gap early, however, when I woke up, my feet hurt, my right hip hurt and I had vertigo (the room was spinning). To top it off, it had stormed during the night and everything was wet. None of those were conducive for the rock climbing that lay ahead. AT & I went and ate breakfast and wandered around town. It came up 2 thunderstorms as we were out and about. It occurred to me that I'm not real bright. I've carried my rain coat for 1,200 miles, but was I smart enough to bring it with me? By 10:00am it started to break. AT and I walked to the freeway entrance to hitchhike. After 25 minutes, it was obvious this was futile, so we walked 2 miles to the trail head. AT left, and it was now noon by the time I started to climb out of the gap. The climb lived up to it's billing. It took me one hour to do the one mile climb out of Lehigh Gap. It is the worst I've seen yet on the trail. It is rock scrambling and at times I had to use hand holds to climb up. At one point, I considered tying the bear rope to my pack, climbing up the rocks, then pulling my pack up after me. The scenery was beautiful, however. There's very little vegetation growing in the gap and the surrounding area due to zinc contamination of the soil. An industrial plant was here from the late 1800's and during the first World War to make batteries. It resulted in zinc contamination of the area and it will be decades before vegetation will grow normal, they say. It was interesting to walk through, though the landscape looks like something from a science fiction movie. Shortly thereafter, I missed the trail for the first time. I was going down the road that I thought was the trail when I saw the actual trail cross the road I was on. I don't think it makes much difference in mileage, but I missed some white blazes... bummer. And finally, the ugly... I passed a family doing a day hike on the trail. The(step?)father became upset with his son for going too far on the trail. At first he started verbally berating him. After I passed them, the father got progressively more enraged and I heard multiple thuds as the father began pummeling him. When I got to the gap, I got their license number and called 911. Sometimes I don't miss society at all.
Date: 2005-07-26
From: Leroy A. Smith Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: overcast clouds

The end of PA and the rocks!!!! I am at Delaware Water Gap, a small town on the PA / NJ border. The Delaware River cuts a 2.5 mile cleft through the Kittatiny Mountain. The trail drops down the mountain, crosses the river on I-80, then turns north in NJ. It was a long hard day getting here, however. The heat and humidity were oppressive today. Equally as unpleasant, however, were the rocks. It was 12 miles of rocky trail non-stop. Someone described them like cobblestones with points. It's very appropo. Many pair of boots have died an untimely death on the trail in PA. I arrived very hot and sweaty at the church hiker hostel tonight. I went into the bunk house but it was very stuffy and close quarters so I decided to pitch my tent. A large group of us went and got pizza. I came one slice short of eating a whole pizza tonight. I called Pam after I got back into my tent and into my bag. She told me the entire state was covered with thunderstorms. After her coaxing, I moved all my stuff into a shelter and pulled up the tent. It threatened with rumbles of thunder but all we got were a few sprinkles and no severe weather (I didn't want Pam to feel bad so I told her there was thunder and lightning, hail and tornados and everything!)
Date: 2005-07-28
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: South of Blue Mountain Lakes Road, NJ
Miles today: 16.0

After all the blood, sweat, and tears (and boot leather), I left Pennsylvania. My final day there was very pleasant. I had a rest day there. The local outfitter ran a shuttle ($4 round trip) into Stroudsburg where I had to go to do laundry and resupply. I teamed up with Swinging Jane and her dog, Simon the Wonder Dog. She helped me navigate the laudromat and the Super Walmart. I stayed at the Ramada Inn for $50 last night. Thunderstorms came through last evening and swept away the oppressive heat and humidity. Today was a wonderful day for hiking. New Jersey is less rocky though there were still enough rocks to trip me flat on my face once! Surprisingly, this section of trail through NJ is also known for the number of bears. The Mashipacong Shelter, 21 miles ahead of me, is closed due to bear activity. I noticed at the AMC Lodge, where I ate lunch, that the garbage dumpster is surrounded by electric wires. I concluded either they don't want backpackers throwing their garbage away or they don't want bears using the dumpster as a dining room.
Date: 2005-07-29
From: South of Blue Mountain Lakes Road, NJ

To: Gren Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

I have heard people joke about New Jersey saying it is a nice place to live but don't drink the water. I fully intended to drink the water in NJ but it is proving difficult to find! All the streams have been dry so far. Tonight, at the shelter there was a low-flow spring with frogs in it. Normally, I would not use this water, but tonight I sterilized it and used it anyways! I hear the next 2 shelters are dry as well. It will be a 12 mile hike for water tomorrow. We have 2 groups of pre-teen campers here tonight from a local summer camp. I have the guys up on the hill with me. The other thru-hikers have the girls with them at the shelter. Normally, they go to different shelters, but they're both here tonight since the next shelter is closed due to bear activity. It may be a long night! The kids are from NYC and Brooklyn. The girls did a play and sang their camp songs for us. They were fascinated by my Steri-pen lite. One girl was delighted when I sterilized her water. My right foot is really hurting tonight. I hope my feet hold up for another 863.7 miles!
Date: 2005-07-30
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: Secret Shelter
Miles today: 18.3

Tonight I am living a life of relative luxury! Jim Murray, a former thru-hiker, has built a shelter on his property adjacent to the AT. It has a shower, running water and electricity plus it is enclosed to keep the bugs out! There is also a box fan in the loft. Can life get any better? I won't dwell on that or I might start to cry! It was a good day of hiking. The temperature was 81 degrees with low humidity at Highpoint State Park, NJ. Highpoint is the highest point in NJ at 1,800 feet. There is also a lake for swimming and a concession stand. I left my pack with the ranger and walked to the concession stand. There was also a lookout where one can see NYC on a clear day. There was too much haze to see NYC today. It is hard to believe there is this much wooded and rural area this close to the Big Apple! The closest point of the trail to downtown NY is only 31 miles. I can increase my bear count to 17 tonight. Just east of Gemmer road, I saw a mother and four cubs! I had to rub my eyes and count again to believe I was seeing four cubs! They ran down the trail in front of me. I kept banging my poles to keep them moving. Poor mama bear looked pretty tired. It appears she couldn't bear the pressure of four kids!
Date: 2005-07-31
From: Secret Shelter

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: clear sky

Tonight is my last night in New Jersey. I am in Wawayanda State Park at the AT shelter. Wawayanda is an Indian word that means "I wonda what I'm doing here!" It was a somewhat change of pace hiking day. I went through fields, along a road, through a swamp, and had two short but hard climbs today. One highlight was walking through a marsh on a boardwalk for one mile with a suspension bridge over the water. By mid-afternoon, it got hot and humid so I stopped at Heaven Hill Farm Store. It is a neat store with garden supplies, fresh produce, a bakery, and ice cream. I ate ice cream and rested while I stared at the rugged mountain I had yet to climb in the heat! I think the good Lord knew I needed a break though. When I reached the top, there was a nice cooling breeze. Plus, when I got to the shelter, Longhaul had gone to the ranger station and brought back a gallon of water. And best of all, it is only one week until Pam comes. Tomorrow, it's New York!
Date: 2005-08-01
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: North of Mombasha High Point
Miles today: 16.0

I have had the Nancy Sinatra song, "Downtown," in my head all day. I suspect it is because I'm so close to New York City (you would think I would be humming her song, "These Boots are Made for Walking!") I was going to stay at Mombasha High Point because the guide book says you can see NYC. It is too hazy, but I thought I might see the city lights. There was no good place to camp up there, so I came part way down the mountain. My first day in New York was rough. There was a one to two mile stretch that was pure agony. It was mostly boulder hopping and rock scrambling. At one point there was a wooden ladder. You have to climb the ladder to get up the 8 foot rock wall and do rock scrambling on top of it. Water continues to be scarce. I've had water, thanks to two trail angels. First, Sidecar left jugs of water at one of the road crossings. My guide book says I go by a waterfall, so I planned to water up there. It didn't say the waterfall dries up in the summer! But the trail still goes up a steep climb right next to the "waterfall." I soon passed a fellow named Mike, doind a day hike. He gave me (in answer to prayer) nearly a liter of water.
Date: 2005-08-02
From: North of Mombasha High Point

To: William Brien Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: few clouds

When I got stung by bees twice before 8:00am, I suspected it was going to be a bad day... When I got pooped on by a bird, I was fairly certain it was turning into a bad day... Tonight, when an unidentified assailant stung my leg and raised a welt, I knew it was bad day! The only thing missing was a rattlesnake. Sure enough, at dark tonight, while I was talking to Pam, there was a rattlesnake near my tent! It was a hot and humid day. The temperature was 92 degrees in Fort Montgomery, NY. The trail was tough for much of the day, going up and down mountains and in and out of ravines. The trail goes straight up and down, requiring more rock scrambling. One unique stretch was called the "lemon squeeze." You enter through a tunnel in the rocks and then squeeze through a fizzure with just enough room to get through with your pack. You then climb up the rock wall. It's the first time I've taken my pack off and pushed it over the lip above my head. I then climbed up after it. Only after I got up did I see where they had built a bypass trail! Water was an issue today. I got some water at a road crossing left by trail angels this morning. When I entered Harriman State Park, I was nearly out. Again an answer to prayer.. I got water from a girl named Hippie. This evening, I ate supper at Lake Tiorati.
Date: 2005-08-03
From: William Brien Shelter

To: Fort Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 8.9

Normally, I like to take one day a week off to let my body mend. This week, I've decided I will do 2 short days, today and tomorrow. It will be a good time as it was as hot as a torch today at 96 degrees and predicted to be 96 tomorrow. Did I leave Texas, or not?! I started by 7:00 am ... it was more ups and downs today. First, I crossed Black Mountain, then dropped down across the Palisades Interstate Parkway. There was a mad scramble crossing the divided highway with rush hour traffic going at interstate speeds into NYC. Then up and down West Mountain and Bear Mountain. The resort at Bear Mountain and town of Fort Montgomery sit on the Hudson River. The trail goes by a lake where people were picnicking and then through a zoo! We looked strange hauling our packs around moms pushing baby strollers. The little tikes looked at us and smelled us and wondered how we got out of our zoo cages! But tonight, it is air conditioning at the Bear Mountain Ridge Motel and I had a wonderful supper at the Pineapple Steakhouse.