morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-22
From: Dingman Campground, DWG national park, PA

To: Brink Rd Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 7.2

Woke up when "Speaks Little & Gypsey Spirit" were up and milling around. It was just after daylight; they had been up since 5am: everyday, just like my buddy "O.G.". It must be nice to have that type of circadian rythym. We all went down to the campground headquarters and drank coffee and ate breakfest. It was nice to have some fresh brewed coffee. It is amazing how coffee and cokes get a thru hiker going. As we ate, we drew alot of attention from the local "Jersey Girls". "Gnarley" wheres a kilt and is an unusual sight for civilians. Of course, "The Breeze" & I were totally transfixed on these girls with our "hiker goggles" on. Of course, I wanted them to see how "hot" I am (that's a joke for those snipping at my heels). I just wish I could go tell the girls this; but, I must hike. We rode back to The Blue Mtn Lakes Rd with THe Breeze laying in the back of the pick up. It was a chilly morning for the end of July and I was glad that I was in the cab. We got back to the trail and I shook Speak's little's dad's hand and thanked him. Now my pack was extremely heavy. Yesterday, he took most of our gear; so, we kind of "slack packed". I had sooo much food and I knew that after the coffee wore off that I would feel the 40 to 45 pounds in my pack. I did really well for about 7 miles. while running thru the Jersey rocks; I was thinking to myself that the Jersey trail maintainers can do alot with 500 foot elevation changes. The climb up to Rattlesnake mtn was pretty tough. It was absolutly beautiful up here. I love Jersey! I took my shirt off and soaked up the sun and dried out my sweat drenched clothes, boots, and pack. While I was here: I noticed a complete rainbow around the sun, reflecting off of heavy moisture laden low level clouds. Then there were these high level clouds that were whisping through in long bands with puffy, pillowy anvil clouds miles and miles away in New York to the north. It is moments like these; here on the trail, that leave me in a sort of aesthetic ecstasy that totally paralyze me to hiking. I just sat there and sat there thinking about Speaks Little's dad asking me,"what are you going to do, when your done with the trail....well, what if it is not a perfect world, then what...."? With about 880 miles to go on the AT, this question is becoming much more pertinent than it was with 1500 to go. The answer to the questions? I dont know. I did get my stuff together and got down to The Brinks Road Shelter and talked with The Breeze some.It was around 4pm. I then took a nap that lasted till midnight. I was going to get up and walk; but, I did not have the "Mo" to get going; so, after about an hour, I went back to sleep. I slept until dawn when it began to rain and I had to put my rainfly on my tent.
Date: 2007-07-24
From: Brink Rd Shelter, NJ

To: Observation deck near high point, NJ
Miles today: 20.0

Woke up and got going around 11am; after the sun had a chance to burn some off the moisture off of the grasses and bushes. I really dont like getting all wet. They have a saying, "must walk through the rain, to get to Maine." I am really trying to avoid this as much as possible. It is also necessary to wear alot of bug spray right now. Ticks are crawling up my legs most of the day; the flies want to come in and get a bite here and there; along with the biting gnats and No See Ums; & not to mention the 20 types of bees, wasps, & hornets. If I feel a little itch or something that could be a bug crawling; I take heed and brush it off. Well, I got going and I was going to try get into Unionville, Ny. The rocks were supposed to end today. I was definitely hoping that this would be the case. My Montrail boots had finally succumbed to the rocks and had got a hole in them. I have had them all the way from Hiawasee, Ga. These have been the most durable boots that I have ever had. Im going to wear them until they fall off of my feet. It was not too bad of a hike; there were not alot of hikers and a day filled with boy scouts from Pa. I had some good conversations and one troop gave me a sub sandwich. And an "Old timer" named Ed corrected me when I called the sandwiches a "hoagie". He said that this was not a hoagie and told me the story of Hog(Hoag) Island where the local workers from there would go get a sandwich that soon would be called a hoagie. Man, the things that I have missed in the south! I got going and had a vigorous night hike up and down rock fields and was "cussing" NJ. If I could just get through these rocks, it will be "gravy" to Unionville. I got to the High Point Park Headquarters, NJ and was completely "tuckered". In Jersey, the bears are so populous that I did not want to camp out by myself with all this food that I was carrying; so, I had to gather up the strength at midnight to go the next 2 miles. I ate three power bars, drank alot of water, and drank and Emergen-C. It got me up to this cool big observation deck on top of NJ. I could not resist camping here. It was windy, cool, above the bugs and I thought that I could get a good picture in the morning. It got so cold up here in my 20 degree REI bag that I had to get out my space blanket and rain fly and wrap them around me to stay warm.
Date: 2007-07-25
From: Observation deck near high point, NJ

To: Pochuck mtn shelter, NJ
Miles today: 14.0

Woke up before daylight and took a few pictures. I am not schooled enough, yet, to take pictures that capture just how beautiful this sunrise was. It was quite a view with fog covering all the low lying valleys. I tried to get back to sleep; but, could not. I was not sure that it was legal to camp here and could not get back to sleep. I got going and I descended down towards The High Point Shelter and guess what? The rocks stopped and it was easy going to Unionville. If I could have just got to this easy part last night; but, Oh well. It was kind of difficult in this section to figure out where I was because there were so many road crossings. I did finally get to Unionville road where I walked the .4 miles into town. This is a great little town. All of the buildings are from the the middle of last century or older. I talked to some locals who said that the population was 500 when they grew up in the 50's and it is 500 now. I went and got a package from Adam. I then went and laid down at the town pavilion around noon and had a restless, sweaty nap till around 4pm when the town custodian, Butch, came up and talked to me. He said that 2 nights ago, there were alot of hikers here and it started raining; so, the mayor invited them all to his house for the night and supper. He invited me to take a shower and do laundry. I told him that I appreciated it; but, must keep moving. I soon was on my way after watching a mother and her child play on the playground equiptment. I got kind of sad and walked back out of town and climbed up and down till I got to NJ 284 where I sat for a long time on a bridge across a rushing stream and thought about how beautiful NJ was. I got going over to Oil City road that started a long road walk that is more than the .2 mentioned in the log book. I got to the Wallkill river where I entered The Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge. I doused myself bug spray/mist as this was a path along a wet land for 2.3 miles that had deer, swans, ducks, snakes, and plenty of mosquitos contained within. The mosquitos were so bad that they covered about 2-3 bugs per 6 inches of exposed flesh. They wouldnt bite; but, it was freaky. I finally got close to the Lake Wallkill Rd that has about a mile of wooden platform walking. I stopped here and got my head lamp fired up. I climbed up to The Pochuck Mtn Shelter and said hi to "Frugal" who seemed intoxicated and said hi to thru-hike"He man & She-Ra(female)." I apologized for coming in after dark and set my tent up in the woods up past the shelter. I did this, after I put my food in the bear box. I would have kept going, if not for the bears.
Date: 2007-07-26
From: Pochuck mtn shelter, NJ

To: St Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel, NJ
Miles today: 6.5

It clouded up overnight and kind of looked like rain; so, I got my stuff together and got going around 11 am. All the others were gone by the time I got up except "Gnarley". We talked for a bit and he got going. I got going after him. It was a pretty good climb over the rest of Pochuck Mtn; but, not much for a thru hiker, especially in the morning and being fired up about getting to a shower. I was just going to go all out to Vernon, NJ and go to the St Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel, NJ. Alot of road crossings again; but, I eventually got to a boardwalk that was over a mile long thru a marsh. It was right after county 517. It was the most unique thing. I liked it alot with all the exotic plants, even though it was hot as hell and in direct sunlight. After the boardwalk was a long walk through an old overgrown farm pasture which was very hot and I was out of water. I passed a couple of couple heading towards the canal that was near the Boardwalk. They asked, "is it nice?!" I said yes; but, I hate answering questions about beauty, miles, views, and water because they are all so subjective. I dont even ask other hikers about these things or trail difficulties, like terrain or elevation because you never get a good answer. It usually just gets me down or excited, falsely. I got moving and got to NJ 94 and stood there and tried to hitch into town; but, I looked pretty rough and no ride. I then got walking towards Vernon. About a half mile, a guy picked me up. He turned around to come back and get me. He said that he knew that I was going to the hostel. He dropped me off at a gorgeous old church from the early 1800's. When I walked in; there was "Bobcat". When I saw her, I said what the hell? She always hitches and gets ahead of me. I was happy to see her, anyway. She and other hikers can hike however they want or not hike however they want; I dont care and it is not my place to judge: Hike your own hike(HYOH). There was "He Man & She-Ra" here as well. They are pretty cool, they are from the Hot Springs, NC area. I got a good shower and washed my clothes and stayed up late and played on the computer for awhile. This is a great hostel. I dont know if there is another hiker box as good as this one. What a ministry. More churches should take advantage of this type of ministry. They had this questionare that if we filled it out, a research institute would give the church 5 dollars. I filled it out and it was tough and spiritually challenging. It asked alot of tough questions. I slept well with good air conditioning and my own fan blowing right on me all night.
Date: 2007-07-28
From: Springhill Suites, Danbury Conn

To: Springhill Suites, Danbury Conn
Miles today: 0.0

Another day in Danbury, Conn as a Zero. White Blaze Fever, changed from White Line Fever by Merle Haggard:-White Blaze fever a sickness born deep within my soul-White Blaze fever the years keep flying by like the high pine poles-The wrinkles in my forehead show the miles I've put behind me-They contine to remind me how fast I'm growing old-Guess I'll die with this fever in my soul-Well, I wonder just what makes a man keep pushing on-Why must I keep on singing this old trail song?-White Blaze fever a sickness born down deep within my soul-White line fever the years keep flying by like the high pine poles-The wrinkles in my forehead show the miles I've put behind me-They continue to remind me how fast I'm growing old-Guess I'll die with this fever in my soulalso Merle Haggard sings the Runnin Kind I was born the runnin' kind; leavin' always on my mind; home was never home for me at anytime; every front door I found open; I found the back door open.
Date: 2007-07-31
From: .3 miles from Barrett Rd, NJ

To: Prospect Rock, NY
Miles today: 6.9

I woke up late, in the early afternoon, after many hikers had come by. I wanted to see which direction they were going and then I would no the correct way to go(seriously). When I did get going, which took awhile because I felt like the morning after a very tough football game. Emotionally, I had taken a pretty good hit, as well. I filled up with about 200 ounces of water at the stream and got going. Man, oh man, what a tough day. It was kind of short; so, it was not too bad. I did sweat "like a stuck pig" all day long. I powdered my whole body with Gold bond and it actually helped a great deal. It was still real rocky and alot of up and downs were coming back to the trail profile. As I was climbing up to Prospect Rock; I really envied all those people down there on and in Greenwood lake. It was a pretty view; so, I stopped and slept on a rock. It was nice and cool.
Date: 2007-08-03
From: .3 miles north of 17A, NY

To: Fingerboard Shelter, NY
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: few clouds

As I awoke; I knew I had to make some "big miles" to make up for my small amount of hiking that I had been doing lately. I carried up around 200 ounces of water from town yesterday and I figured I drank 4 gallons of water this day. It is hot(mid 90's); but, the humidity is brutal. I sweat all day long and I just disgust myself. As I crossed over The Mombasha High Pt and down near the West Mombasha rd; I took all of my clothes off and put them in the sun to dry. I then doused myself with body powder and laid there naked for about an hour. No one came by, thankfully. I was so wet that it was just like I had been taking a shower. When I am this wet, I also take special precautions to not let my pack and clothing chafe me. I have had it so bad that it looks like I slid on pavement with my bare ass. Then infection can sat in and you can literally die. There is a guy on the trail this year that had to go to the hospital with chaffing so bad that he said that he might lose his "junk". And I take back what I said about loving New York! I love New York small town folk; but, hate the #%$*@! trail. It goes up 500 feet, straight up, and then down 500 feet. It does this over and over again. All the thru-hikers were talkin about how difficult it was in this heat and humidity. I will attest that it was one of my most mentally and physically challenging days of my hiking carreer. It is like being on a stair master; on the fat burning cycle; that goes up and down; all day long. There is also hardly any water in this area. There were several trail angels that left water at road crossings. I grabbed about a gallon and a half jug and carried it to the shelter for that evening. I also picked up a food cache around the Arden Valley Road parking area that I had put there several days ago. Im glad it was still there. I ate like a king. I then carried on up and down hills I went through one section called the Lemon Squeezer where I actually had to take my pack off and throw it ahead of me. In one spot it had a sign that said, "Easy Way". I said to myself, "you bastards"! And then I went the hard way. Why not take the white blazes along the easy way? Is it absolutely necessary to try to kill us? I did finally get to the FingerBoard shelter that is made out of rock and sits right on a big rock. I got there just before a thunderstorm. There was a poor young out of shape sectioon hiker that asked if he could have some water. I obliged. I told him that that was the reason that I brought it up. Two thru hikers showed up late, after we were asleep.
Date: 2007-08-06
From: Heidi's Inn, Brewster, NY

To: Heidi's Inn, Brewster, NY
Miles today: 2.0

Had to take a zero while "Pokey's" car got worked on. I really dont want and cannot afford too many more days off. I am looking into mid October finishing now. Oh well, got some work in walking to the store and carrying pack groceries. Also laid by the pool some. With the boys camp still on my mind; here is one story from around 1991. There was this one boy from the "projects" in Pulaski, Tn. Now, I say boy; but, this boy was 15 years old, 5 foot 10 and 220 pounds. He was the common southern stock with blonde hair and blue eyes. His family was the only white folk that lived in the black projects. A significant point; but, even more important is that Pulaski is where the Ku Klux Klan started. It was started by Confederate calvary general, Nathan Bedford Forrest. Even have a state park named for him. So being the white kid in the projects: he got beat up by the balcks at home and at school got whooped by the white kids for living with the blacks. He had been at the camp for several months and was always brooding and getting into fights. One night, My supervisor and I had him in a very small office. I had it with all of his meanness. I really did not know what to do. I noticed a 666 tatoo on his back and took a stab at that. I said and what is that 666 on your back all about. He immediately stood up and was going to challenge me. Then he told the story about how he was doomed to go to hell because of the tatoo. Now, I am not an evangelist; but my supervisor was and told him that satan was the great deceiver and lier. I left at that time as the boy was sobbing and crying. I did my part. We eventually got the TAT removed with lasers. That next morning: an overnight change. The boy never got into another fight and nearly always wore a smile. The only overnight change that I ever saw with the 1000 boys that I worked with. God definetly used me as a tool that night. I saw my job the next 9 years as spiritual warfare.
Date: 2007-08-07
From: Heidi's Inn, Brewster, NY

To: Clarence Fahnestock State Park, NY
Miles today: 5.0

We fianlly got "Pokey's" car and we drove from Brewster to Bear Mtn State Park. There were not as many people here today as it was a Tuesday. We walked down to where I cut across the parade grounds in front of the closed Bear Mtn Inn. It is being remodeled. We followed the white blazes through the park along the lake stepping over the "goose butter". The trail then went underneath hwy 9 and by a big pool that had all kinds of people swimming. One group of people that I thought were the most remarkable where sub-continent indians that swam in full head to toe garb. It was an unusual sight. We then walked down into the zoo which is actually on the AT. Where the black bears are pinned is the lowest point on the AT and I was feeling it. It is 124 feet in elevation and just up from the Hudson River. I was sweating just walking around as it was so humid and hot. I actually took my shirt off as we walked around. The guide book says that this walk can be emotional for thru hikers. Pokey and I discussed why this would be so. I think it is because you see all of these common wood animals pinned in these close quarters, especially the Eastern Coyotes. They justed walked in circles. There was also several types of hawks, eagles, bears, snakes, etc. I have seen caged animals before; so, I did not get emotional. I did feel the need to get to Kathadin, though. Pokey had skipped this section before as well as Bear Mtn; so, we drove to the top and took in the views. There were not hardly any people up here today, unlike the other day. We drove down to where she took a blue blaze that skipped both road walks that partially ascend and descend the mtn. We had a long discussion as to why the AT would take you on a road walk up this mtn. We figured that NY did alot of these road walks and climbs due to their historical significance. The first part of the trail was done here in the 1920's. We then drove to Clarence Fahnestock State Park where I would leave my stuff tomorrow and slack pack from Bear Mtn Bridge back to here.
Date: 2007-08-08
From: Clarence Fahnestock State Park, NY

To: Clarence Fahnestock State Park, NY
Miles today: 18.5

Well, I woke up early after a good rainfall. My tent did drip somewhat; but, it did OK. I did alot of chores and finally had to wake "Pokey" up. She was in here tent and it was around 10am. She works nights; so, I understand, but, I had to get rolling. She dropped me off where 9D starts after The Bear Mtn Bridge. I carried my 200 ounces of water and good I did. It was an incredibly hot and humid day. I would like to say that it was a beautiful day of hiking with "rainbows and butterflies"; but, I would be lying. It was very difficult low elevation up and downs; nothing extraordinary, except that this trail is getting very tough mentally: everyday, up and down, sweaty, thirtsy, buggy. I have always had this "up on a pedestal" view of the AT. It has changed(hopefully temporarily) to putting on the boots and going to work. Luckily, I have worked hard before; so, that is what I will keep on doing. I did not finish the hike until a couple of hours after dark. It ended with a mile road walk to my tent where I ate some newly acquired meat products. My tent was there all day and no one had touched it.
Date: 2007-08-09
From: Clarence Fahnestock State Park, NY

To: Shenandoah Mtn, NY
Miles today: 5.0

I woke up feeling really fatigued. I loaded up my gear which seemed very heavy with all my gear as opposed to yesterday's "slack pack" hike. I did the mile road walk from the park back to the trail and walked about a 1/2 mile up north on the trail and set up my tent and took a nap. I slept well last night and I dont know why I am so wore out. Anyway, as I was sleeping: I was disturbed twice. Once, two Doe deer came within 30 yards and hissed and snorted at me for about ten minutes. I was a good 20 yards off of the trail and was surprised when some dude walked up to my tent and asked if I was OK. I said yes, thanks for asking and then he said to make sure that I put my rain fly on as a big storm was coming. I was a little upset with him waking me up; but, I knew that he was just being friendly. I did get going again around dusk and had a good 4 mile hike to the top of Shenandoah Mtn where I just got my tent put up before it began raining and raining and raining harder....