morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Doyle Hotel, Duncannon PA

To: Peters Mtn. shelter
Miles today: 11.4

I left the Doyle about 9 am. I felt a bit tired and sluggish. I have a heavy pack and having been off the trail for the weekend just made it difficult to get going. There was a 2 mile road walk across a couple of bridges, highways and then a 3 lane rail road track and back up to the woods. It was a steep climb to the ridge and then a ridge walk. Part of the ridge walk was very rocky, lots of boulders. I had to throw my poles down a couple of times and slide on my butt. It really slows the hike. The rest of it wasn't too bad. I passed a lot of day hikers, saw a big black snake and got great pictures of it.I finally pulled into the shelter at 4 pm. Little One and Gunna got here about 5:30. No one else is at the shelter. The water here is almost 1000 feet down the side of the mountain so I carried 2 liters from the last shelter and I will get water after I leave here tomorrow.Tomorrow and the next day will be LONG-both 17 miles-yuck!
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Peters Mtn. shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: few clouds

I got started at 7 AM again. Facing a long day-the good part is that it's all a ridge walk but you never know how the terrain will be. Yesterdays ridge walk for the most of the day had been marred by the sounds of cars on both sides of the ridge. This morning the only thing to be heard were birds.The sky is crystal clear with a bright sun, but it barely penetrates the thick canopy of the forest. I crossed some exposed rock ledges that reminded me of the area in VA with the Eastern Continental Divide. There were notes at either end to be aware of the rattlesnakes. It was nice and sunny-I didn't see any so I quickly crossed the rocks. Little One and Gunna only about 30 minutes behind me saw 3 rattlers there! They had to wait until they finally moved off.When I got down into Clark's Gap there were 2 gentlemen in the parking lot getting ready to do some trout fishing. They offered me some water (I declined as I had just gotten some and didn't want to carry more), but I did take some other goodies they offered(mini moon pies). They told me there were lots of rattlers, bears and deer. And it is turkey hunting season until Saturday.The rest of the hike was rather uneventful-the long green tunnel. I got to the shelter at 5 pm. Mike is here, I've seen his entries in the registers the last few days. Little One and Gunna made it and a SOBO- Shasta, came in!This is a small shelter-we could squeeze another in but it's pretty comfy this way.
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: broken clouds

The setting at last night's shelter was really very pretty. As you approached the area of the shelter the trail very suddenly changed from a rocky nasty bit of trail to a beautiful grass lined path. The forest became "park-like". There was a huge rounded mound-of coal, lots of evergreens etc. The side trail to the shelter was a broad smooth tree lined road. The woods are mixed evergreen and deciduous trees. The entire area is riddled with old coal mines and roads and trails.I got onto the trail at 6:30 am today. Not really looking forward to another 17 mile day but I like walking early in the morning. The sun is barely up the birds are all singing. It was 45 degrees this morning so I started with gloves and hat.The trail turned onto a nice road which was an old rail road back in the 1860's when there was a village here with the coal mines. Rausch Gap Village-the sign said the coal mine was not very productive and closed so I guess the village disappeared. It's really a nice setting, and the whole area is littered with coal.I then had to climb Second Mtn. (that's it's name). Then down into an open meadow of grass and sunshine. Across a few roads and back up onto the ridge. I crossed Interstate 81 again!The ridge walk for the most part was most unpleasant. Very narrow, lusciously lined with poison ivy! If I don't get it today, I guess I'm immune to it.At one point the trail went through an area that was sort of yucky-very open, tall thin trees (Sumac?) with just a few leaves at the top. It was very sparse. Then back into a nice piny woods and the floor was covered in ferns.I stopped for a 30 minute break at the William Penn Shelter and then trudged the last 4 miles to the 501 Shelter. There were some great overlooks.Mike made it to the 501 Shelter so it's just the 2 of us here. He said he met Little One and Gunna at a road crossing and they were looking for a ride to go home. I guess she had enough of the snakes!The shelter is really nice. We ordered our pizzas and cokes after we took cold showers. There was a fire laid in the fire ring so it took just one "flick of my Bic" to get it started. With lots of wood chopped and stacked up by the fire ring, comfy chairs set up around it, what more could one ask for? (A nice glass of wine would work!) The care taker came home and visited with us for a bit. All in all not a bad day. I have one pizza left for breakfast and lunch tomorrow!Oh! As of tonight, I've been on the trail one month and I have only 995 miles to the end!
Date: 2007-05-23
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, not a whole lot to say for today. Two 17+ days and todays 15+ is alot for me. And it was made worse by the F-ing rocks here! And I'm told they only "get worse". There was very little smooth trail, you have to watch your feet constantly. The only nice part of the day was when we stopped for lunch at Ft. Dietrich Snyder Marker. A local guy walking his dog came by and talked to us-the only guy Mike and I saw on the trail today. A couple of Menonite women and children started coming up the path while we were sitting there, but when they saw us they turned around and left!So, the trail was all a ridge walk, big wide mostly flat, no views except rocks. My brandy supply ran out and I could really use it after a day like today. The shelter register here goes back to last summer. I saw a lot of familiar names in it-Bluebird, Banjoman, etc.Well, 8 miles to Port Clinton in the morning and off the trail for a long weekend.Oh! The 501 Shelter (for those that don't know) is fully enclosed, so I thought I'd set my clock to get up at 6 am since I didn't think I'd hear the birds this morning. Well, the birds did wake me up at 4:50 am!! They are just a little too early!
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Port Clinton, NJ-then my brothers house
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: broken clouds

Not much to say about today-more F-ing rocks! For every 2 miles of rocks you get about 1 1/2 feet of smooth trail!Dice came into the shelter last night just before dark and ??Elmer?? caught up to him today. They got into Port Clinton before me!I did pick a trail name for the guy Mike I've been hiking with the last few days-Ice Berg. He just retired from the Coast Guard and I think I've helped him lighten up his load. It's way too heavy. Perhaps I'll see him up the trail.
Date: 2007-05-29
From: New Rochelle, NY-my sister's house

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: clear sky

I left my sisters house in New Rochelle, NY at 6:30 am, I was back on the trail at 10:00 am.The shelters in this area are spaced 7 and then 10 and then 7 miles apart. So you either do a short (7-10 mile) day or a long 17 mile day. It's only 1 pm but I really don't want to hike another 9 miles with a very heavy pack on today, and there are restrictions on camping in the areas between shelters. So......I feel like it is too early to quit hiking for the day. The shelter is near a park area at the reservoir. Translate that to alot of locals out in the area, lots of day hikers etc., but I think I'm not going to allow the "mileage monster" to get to me. I am forcing myself to take it easy and quit early today. I'm really in no rush so....The shelter is a very nice setting so, I'll kick back and relax!I spoke to Marianne my translator, and it seems that a week or so worth of journals has not arrived yet! I mailed them from Damascus-I think-during Trail Days. I sure hope they show up soon! It was bad enough last year to have one of my photo discs get lost in the mail.About 3 miles short of the shelter I passed a couple hiking SOBO, a girl about 20 y.o. and a guy. The weird part was that they pulled over to the side of the trail as I went by. She was getting a drink from her platypus and he stood facing her keeping his back to me. It gave me the heebie jeebies, but a few minutes later several other NOBO's passed me up, they all said the couple wasn't talkative, but that the guy did look at them. So, maybe it's nothing.There are 2 other SOBO section hikers at the shelter with me-brothers out for a long weekend. They had met up with Iceberg a couple of days ago.
Date: 2007-05-30
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

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

All I have to say for today is F*** Pennsylvania and it's rocks. And yes, I know the worst is yet to come! I have never thought about yellow blazing to skip a section(well the SNP was one place) but I am very tempted-though I won't-to skip the rest of this f-ing state. There is absolutely no reason for us to have to walk on these f-ing rocks except for some seriously sick people who put the trail here! There were a few sections today of really nice trail that continued on straight but, Oh! there is a pile of rocks here, lets make the AT turn and go on the rocks!!!! Someone is having a good laugh at all the poor SOB's hiking the AT!
Date: 2007-05-31
From: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

So, I got an early start again today-6:30 a.m.,undecided if I were going to do 10 miles or 17 miles. I didn't feel great this morning. I didn't feel strong but the first few miles of the trail were very nice and I breezed along then came the-you guessed it-the rocks. Then the knife edge. I actually had to stow my hiking poles and crawl along with my hands-sliding down on my butt and praying I didn't miss a step as that would be the end of you. It was very scary, but fun too. It would have been much better without a heavy pack on. After the knife edge, you go by Bear Rocks, but that wasn't so bad. You don't actually have to walk across them. Then came Bake Oven Knob- more big boulders to scurry over.I did make it to the shelter by noon feeling better than i did this morning. I thought I'd take a 2 hour break and decide to go on or not.I think I'll stay put. That gives me about 8 miles to Palmerton tomorrow and then another big day after that with still worse rocks to come!While getting water here at the shelter, I saw a really beautiful blue bird. I don't know if it was an indigo bunting or something else. It was solid vibrant blue.Another thru hiker, Plod just came in for water. He said there were a bunch of people behind him but they were all planning on going on to the next shelter. Maybe someone will stay here, I'd love company. He is the first person I've seen all day.Well, the other thru hikers came and went. Just as well, one of them-young and dumb-was just to loud and noisy.Lots of thunder rumbling overhead. Maybe I'll get a good downpour. Tomorrow is a really short day-8 miles into Palmerton.
Date: 2007-06-01
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 7.7

So, I hiked into Palmerton today. The trail other than one area of boulder hopping wasn't too bad. The rocks were scary though because they were wet from the storm last night. It finally started up about 9 pm. There were a few crashes of lightening that were really close-loud and scary. Lots and lots of rain. At one point it was blowing into the shelter but I slept pretty well.Along one part of the trail today there were some neat views of the valley with misty clouds hovering way down below me. There were few trees in this area and very dense ground cover-lots of mountain laurel blooming.When I got to Palmerton the first thing I did was get gatorade and down it in a few seconds. Then I found the "jailhouse hostel". It's really just a big basement room with some wood bunk beds, a few tables and chairs. But the people here are very nice.They were unable to find me a ride to Delaware Water Gap but I called the outfitter there and they have a guy who will come and pick me up. My food drop is there already, I called the post office this morning.Later-I'm at the rinky dink "Forest Motel". On the ride here we went through a major hail storm! Trees and power lines down. I hope hikers weren't caught in it.
Date: 2007-06-02
From: Culvers Gap, NJ

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Great day today. I met Ice Berg at the Gap this morning after getting a ride from the hotel. We had breakfast at a little road side sort of deli place and started out. The trail in NJ is fantastic. There are still some rocks here, but hey they are NJ rocks, not PA rocks. The forest was pretty. There were some ups and downs etc.At 11:00 we got to the summit of Sunrise Mtn. There is a covered pavilion there (and nothing else). There were a few people hanging about so we started to talk to them-they were getting ready for a wedding! The bride and groom were rehearsing with the Master of Ceremonies! They were doing a multi-cultural wedding (they were NOT multicultural) but were going to have a Navajo hand washing ceremony, a Chinese tea ceremony, a Norwegian dance and broom jumping and one other ceremony-I don't remember the last one. It was fun to watch them rehearse this.Then we got to the Mashipacong Shelter where we met the ridge runner Ben and had a nice talk with him. There were some day hikers who pulled out some delicious looking deli sandwiches. We were just about 2 1/2 miles from the High Point State Park HQ where there is a concession stand, so we decided to fore go our own lunches and go for good food.Soon after we headed off we got caught in a thunderstorm-it had been thundering for awhile but we thought the storm was passing us by-nope-we got drenched. It was too hot for rain jackets so it was pack cover only.We finally made it to the HQ and the concession stand is 1/2 mile off the trail. I talked someone into giving us a ride in to it. We ate, and then I asked one of the Park Rangers who was hanging out if he could give us a ride back to the trail head-he actually gave us a ride to the Shelter! I guess I'm just a yellow blazer-oh well!There is one other lady here at the shelter doing a section from Harper's Ferry to ME.
Date: 2007-06-03
From: High Point Shelter

To: Secret Shelter
Miles today: 5.3

Well, I guess this is a new record for my shortest day. But the rain from tropical storm Barry is heading this way. There is 1-2 inches of rain expected today, 90% chance of rain today and tomorrow. I was going to go 20 miles to Vernon, NJ where there is a hostel with laundry facilities, perhaps tomorrow.I was up at 5:30 this morning and on the trail by 6:30. My boots were still sopping wet, but I put on dry socks so it wasn't too bad. The trail was really pretty. This is what the trail should be like-lots of change in the scenery, some open fields and a few styles to climb. One field was full of cow patties! I saw 2 deer, a turkey, a rabbit, a turtle and a few beaver in a pond. I got caught in a wonderful downpour. Rumbling thunder and soft heavy rain fell. The parka is ok but it does leak-I need to get my sil net and seam seal it.The rain finally quit and I got to the Secret Shelter. There were two guys here-Johnny Thunder and Matthewski who are just out for the weekend. Ice Berg finally showed up (BTW, I got here at 9:30 am) and we have decided to spend the day here. Lots more rain to come although it's almost sunny right now!This shelter is great. It has electricity so I can charge up my phone! It's in a lovely spot.Later-The rain held off all day and finally a drizzle started at 6 pm! We could have made it to Vernon, NJ, but it really was a wonderful day to kick back and take a zero day in the woods. Nancy showed up, she was at the shelter last night and she is staying here although she is tenting.
Date: 2007-06-05
From: NJ 94-Vernon, NJ St. Thomas Episcopal Church Hoste

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

Well, as good as yesterday was, today was brutal! First off, I had no energy today. I slept very well last night-we found pillows at the hostel-what a difference a real pillow makes! I was at the trail head by 6:45 am with a 1000 ft. climb over the next 2 miles. It wore me out and just thinking about an 18 mile day was depressing. The terrain today was much more difficult than yesterday. Up and down all day long and lots of rocks! I thought maybe I was still in PA! But I came to a border crossing at 12:20 pm that said NY/NJ so I must not have been...I didn't see any bears at the Wawayander (?sp) State Park area. I was told that would be the most likely area to see them. I did pass several trail crews doing trail work. I stopped and talked with them for awhile and yogi'd a bottle of water off them-Thank You!The area that crosses the state line is a ridge line that is LONG-at least 2 miles of walking along a pointed granite ridge. There were areas of very difficult rock climbing. Near Prospect Rock there is wooden ladder leaning up against the rock face. A lot of the time I had to throw my poles up or down to use my hands for pulling me up.Anyway, it was a very long, arduous day when we finally got to NY 17 road crossing. There was only 2 miles left to go after the road. Just before the road was a large "Off" citronella candle with a note on it-"for use at the shelter"-Score!! No mosquitoes tonight! It quickly went into my backpack-no problem hauling the extra weight! There was also a gallon (unopened) of spring water, so Iceberg filled a 2 liter platypus with it for our use. And on top of that, the trail for the next 1 1/4 miles was smooth and easy to walk! Then there was another major rock climb to the pinnacle but I found a blue blaze around the "cat rocks".Finally made it to the shelter. The candle seems to be working well-it can burn all night! Iceberg and I are the only ones here. Other than the trail crews we didn't see any hikers today.
Date: 2007-06-06
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: NY 17
Miles today: 9.9

Well, if I thought yesterday was difficult, today was 100 times worse! NY really throws some hard climbs at you-sheer rock walls to climb! I called a friend, Bonnie Carmicino, that I know through PACC who lives near Bear Mtn. She came and rescued this poor, tired, dirty, stinking hiker off the side of the road and will slack pack me tomorrow!
Date: 2007-06-07
From: NY 17

To: Seven Lakes Drive
Miles today: 14.4

After a wonderful home cooked meal, three adorable children to play with and a great nights sleep I headed to the trail this morning with a very lightweight pack-water, gatorade, home baked bread for lunch and snacks.NY managed to redeem itself today. The climbs were all very manageable. The Lemon Squeeze was fun. The trail was beautiful and I had a great time. Mountain laurel is blooming everywhere, the hills are all covered with it and chipmunks were scurrying about everywhere. I saw a dead rattlesnake in front of the William Brian Shelter and someone took the rattle from it. I saw only one SOBO section hiker and 3 guys out for a day hike.Harriman State Park had lots of other trails criss-crossing the AT, and the ATt is not marked as frequently here as it was in NJ. Also, a lot of the blazes were very faded so I wasn't sure if I was always going right-but it turns out I was.Tomorrow will be a short 10 mile day to the Graymoor Friary.
Date: 2007-06-08
From: Seven Lakes Drive

To: Graymoor Friary
Miles today: 10.5

Ten miles took me 6 1/2 hours today! But, I was going slow-it's HOT and humid and I took my time. I climbed up and over Bear Mtn. The tower at the top of the mountain is closed. The climb down which I believe is the new "relocated" section of the AT was downright treacherous and ugly! It's a very wide swath that is nearly vertical. It just looks like the whole side of the mountain has eroded.I did get an ice cream and gatorade at the vending machine and sat down by the lake to watch the baby geese swim around. I got hissed at by the parents. Then it was through the zoo-what a sad little zoo. Small cages, pitiful looking animals. This is the lowest elevation on the trail. Wingfoot says it's 124' in front of the bear cage.After the zoo it was across the Bear Mtn. Bridge and a long road walk-the 3rd one today. The rest of the trail today was pretty nondescript. Though I did see more people on the trail than any other day so far. Some of the thru hikers I met in PA have gotten here (and I skipped ahead 4 days!).I finally got to the Graymoor Friary around 3:30. Plod and Invisible Man are here and more are expected. Thunderstorms are expected tonight, and if tomorrow is as hot as today I may just go another 10 miles to a state park that has camping, swimming and hot showers!
Date: 2007-06-09
From: Graymoor Friary

To: NY 301
Miles today: 11.9

There were 6 thru hikers at Graymoor last night! I haven't seen that many people at any one shelter yet. I headed out by 6:30 this morning. The thunderstorms of last night never did materialize. I thought I had just 10 miles to hike, but it turned into 12! Which can get really distressing when you think you have only 5 hours of hiking but it turns into 6! It just seems to drag on and on and on.The weather yesterday and today has been really opressive-hot and humid. I'm at a point in my hike again when I am constantly questioning why I'm doing this. I'm ready to quit and go home. I'm sitting at the Campus Lake Beach right now, I just took a wonderful hot shower-it's amazing how good it can make you feel. But still, I'm often in tears wondering how I can go on. Now, for those of you who don't know me, I cry at the drop of a hat! I cry at Hallmark commercials. If there was one thing to change about myself it would be to not cry at every little thing.Anyway, I was sitting around waiting for my sister's boyfriend to come by and drop of my summer sleeping bag and next mail drop when I decided I was going home with him back to my sisters house in NY for a break.Yesterday, just after I got across Bear Mtn. Bridge, a car drove by and pulled over. The guy asked me if I was thru hiking, did I need anything, could he give me a lift etc. I really didn't need anything so I thanked him and walked back into the woods. Today just as I got to NY 301, the State Park I was planning on going to was a mile down the road. The road was very busy with no shoulder to walk on. I do not hitch by myself, rather until today I never hitched a ride by myself. But, I couldn't see walking this part, so I stuck my thumb out, a car immediately pulled over for me. Turns out it's the same guy as yesterday! What a coincidence, he said he loves helping hikers and gives them rides into the area all the time.So, Steve, thank you very much for the ride. He offered to drive me all the way to the RPH Shelter and did show me where it was by road and I was oh so temped to skip the next 7 miles but actually going to my sisters house is better. Hopefully, I will regroup and gather the energy to get back on the trail in a day or 2 and continue north.