morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-09-12
From: stealth camp past Hosner Mt road

To: side of Canopus Hill
Miles today: 18.0

9/12/14 - day 63775.2 - side of Canopus Hill18.0 milesNot exactly sure of the mileage today, but that's close enough. The shelters and campsites in this part of NY are not convenient for me, so I hike until I can't anymore and find a couple of trees to hang the hammock from. Not sure what the rules are, but I make no fires and leave no trace.The shelters are great though. They still have wells and pumps for water, if not I would be in trouble, because there is nothing else. Every shelter and trailhead has a tick poster - todays photo. I'm not afraid of bears, or rattlesnakes, or getting robbed or shot, but I am afraid of getting Lyme disease.That poster is pretty scary - that's one way to cut down on day hikers and families with kids on the trail. "Lets go for a hike this weekend!" Then they see that poster in the parking lot and lock the car doors, roll up the windows, and speed home.Today was my two month anniversary of starting the trail! I'm over 1/3 and wish I was further, but its really tough for southbounders to start with Maine and New Hampshire. I've been picking up the pace, but am too tired to do the math right now. I plan to zero on Sunday and will try to get my math brain working.
Date: 2014-09-13
From: side of Canopus Hill

To: Bear Mt bridge
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

9/13/14 - day 64785.6 - Bear Mt Bridge10.4 milesOne great thing about New York are all the delis. At 9 this morning I crossed the busy highways US 9 and NY 403. Right in the intersection is the Appalachian Deli, open 24 hours. Its basically a gas station/convenience store with an actual delicatessen on one side. So I had the scrambled egg, cheese, and sausage wedge (a wedge is what they call a hoagie up here). Yum!But it was tough to hike after that! I managed to make it to the bridge (todays picture) over the Hudson before it started to rain, then called the motel for a ride.I'm at the Bear Mt Bridge Motel, another family style motel that has learned to cater to thru hikers. They did my laundry, and they have a care package from the local church - got a free bandana in mine!Tomorrow - no hiking.
Date: 2014-09-14
From: Bear Mt bridge

To: Bear Mt bridge
Miles today: 0.0

9/14/14 - day 65785.6 - Bear Mt Bridge0 milesAfter 16 days straight and 247.5 miles, I took a zero day today. My average for those 16 days was 15.5 miles per day. My overall average is now about 12.1 miles per day.This area is not the best for resupply. There is no grocery store within walking distance, but there is a deli across the street. Laurie sends me everything but tortillas and a brick of cheese, but no tortillas at a NY deli, so I'm carrying bagels for this section, and sliced cheese. So instead of burritos, I'll have spam and cheese on a bagel. The real problem is that the bagels are so much more bulky than tortillas.State of the hiker: most of each foot is numb - right thigh is numb - right shin/ankle are still swollen and sore, but much less than they were - back of neck is also numb. While hiking I still have pains in shoulders and arms.Appetite has tapered off some. I'm still eating almost twice as much as before, but burning it all off. Carrying that much food is a real pain (literally), but better than going hungry.The plan from here is to resupply 3 more times before the halfway celebration at Harper's Ferry WV, which should be early October.Today's photo is from a trailhead kiosk in NY - wildlife paintings by the 6th grade students at LaGrange Middle school.
Date: 2014-09-15
From: Bear Mt bridge

To: stealth camp
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: overcast clouds

9/15/14 - day 66799.2 - stealth camp at woods road13.6 milesLate start, since I had to wait for the PO to open at 8. Got a ride from the motel owner, and we swung by the PO on the way. So I was on the trail by 8:30, still a good two hours later than usual.Too early for the zoo to be open. The AT actually goes through a zoo by the bridge over the Hudson River. I took the road around, and I'm not sorry I missed it - they are usually pretty depressing.The climb up Bear Mt was on the best constructed trail I have ever seen anywhere. A lot of money was spent on rock steps, rock walls, and gravel. I imagine it gets a lot of traffic in the summer from NYC.There's an impressive stone tower on top from the 1930s. And I could see the NYC skyline - that's your picture of the day.Lots of great views from the trail on the way down too, as it passed over some bare rock areas.Then things got more obscured and difficult. There's some sort of evergreen undergrowth that looks like Mt Laurel but is only waist high. It would make orienteering very difficult, since it would be hard to see the ground and hard to run through.No water either. I went off trail 4/10 to a rest stop on a 4 lane highway crossing to get water from the restroom. It was good water though!So I hiked until I started to stumble and quit. No way to call Laurie - no service all afternoon!
Date: 2014-09-16
From: stealth camp

To: Wildcat shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

9/16/14 - day 67815.3 - Wildcat shelter16.1 milesThe rain started about 30 minutes into my day. We need the rain, of course, since drinking water is such a problem, but slick rocks and wet leaves make hiking difficult. Ouch! Today's picture tells the story - that's my right elbow.No water at the shelters or anywhere on the trail today. Some kind maintainers left jugs at a couple of road crossings, which was a life saver.Still, I only had one bottle left when I reached camp, just barely enough to eat and brush my teeth.But tomorrow - a new state!
Date: 2014-09-17
From: Wildcat shelter

To: stealth camp
Miles today: 18.0

9/17/14 - day 68833.3 - stealth camp past Canal Road18.0 milesI'm in NJ! State number 7! Today's picture is dawn near Prospect Rock, the state line.It was pretty rocky for awhile, not what I think of when I think of New Jersey. Years ago I attended a training class for a computer system in NJ down north of Philadelphia - that was a very different NJ.No water again today, so I had no breakfast until 2 miles into the day, where there were jugs at a road crossing. Later I went off trail to Wawayanda State Park for water, then at the end of the day off trail to a store where I bought water. Then back to the trail for another hour to find a stealth spot to camp. But I have plenty of water for supper and breakfast!
Date: 2014-09-18
From: stealth camp

To: High Point shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

9/18/14 - day 69851.3 - High Point Shelter18.0 milesBeautiful start to the morning (except it was cold!) when I saw the sunrise as I did the long boardwalk over the marshes at Pochuck Creek. A different kind of beauty, not mountains, but flat marsh. That's the picture for today, but it doesn't come close to the real thing.Its hard to top that, so the rest of the day was mediocre. There was a long walk around the Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge, but it was very dry - no birds in sight.I briefly went back into NY when I went 1/2 mile off trail to get pizza in Unionville. I also stocked up on water.I filled up on water again at the private Murray cabin - a beautiful property that the owner opens to hikers. I carried that water 5 miles to this shelter for supper and tomorrow's breakfast. I will be glad when the water situation improves!
Date: 2014-09-19
From: High Point shelter

To: stealth camp
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: scattered clouds

9/19/14 - day 70870.0 - stealth camp18.7 milesThe photo is the monument at the NJ high point, which I crossed a little after dawn. It was deserted, cold, and windy. I think I prefer the high point towers like the one at Clingman's Dome. Just barely above the trees, unobtrusive, with a long ramp to the top.Then at Sunrise Mt, I saw 2 bald eagles! Sound impressive? You need to hear the rest of the story. I got to the top and there were 3 guys up there with big binoculars."What are we looking at guys?""Migrating hawks!"Of course, there were enthusiastic about describing their hobby. And they pointed out lots of hawks I never would have seen passing high overhead. They even gave me a banana. Then I saw something. "There's a big one," I said. They swiveled their binoculars. "Bald Eagles! Two of them!" Of course they were just specks to me, but I'm counting it.I wanted to get a sandwich a Joes to Go deli, and carry it up the mountain for supper, but it was closed. Imagine my disappointment... I ended up hiking until dark.
Date: 2014-09-20
From: stealth camp

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 14.9

9/20/14 - day 71884.9 - Mohican Outdoor Center14.9 milesDry, dry, dry! I got water early, and that was it for the day. Then it was a long, hot, dry slog.Today's picture is for my buddy Kevin. He made a sign for me (NOT the AT) to put on my section at Hawk Mt. Well, somebody in NJ had the same idea!So I got my resupply box here and a shower and will sleep in the bunkhouse tonight, then hike out in the morning - a quick resupply.Guess who showed up? Marathon Man. I haven't seen him since NH. We talked and caught up. He knows more of the twenty-somethings than I do, since he is one. He started a few days before me.The bunkhouse is full of geology students from a local college. The reason the rocks from here through PA are standing on edge - orogeny. I just know the rock dancing I have to do hurts the soles of my feet.
Date: 2014-09-21
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: clear sky

9/21/14 - day 72902.1 - Kirkridge Shelter17.2 milesI'm in Pennsylvania! State #8!And I have hiked over 900 miles! Left the MOC at 6:30, just light enough to see, and did the ~11 miles to civilization by a little after 12. The woods of the NJ side of the DWG (Delaware Water Gap) were very pretty - open and gradually sloping. Sunfish Pond (one of the 7 natural wonders of NJ, according to the sign) was interesting and rocky.I saw more and more day hikers as I got close. When I saw the two ladies carrying purses I knew I was there. The trail passes under I-80 and then does a long roadwalk on a road between the interstate and the Delaware River. Finally it climbs up onto a narrow walkway beside I-80 to cross the river on a bridge. Just a little nerve-wracking! The photo is the view of the gap from above on the PA side.Then it enters the town of DWG, PA. If I hadn't known it was PA, I could have told by the style of the old houses in town. I got a barbecue sandwich, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese at the pie place, then bought a homemade loaf of rye bread to carry up the mountain (no tortillas).So I was back on the trail by 1:30. A successful town stop except for the difficult climb with all that food in my belly. Reached the shelter by 5 and called it quits. Marathon Man, Freebird (a guy doing a long section SOBO), and a section hiker who brought a cast iron frying pan are here.
Date: 2014-09-22
From: Kirkridge Shelter

To: Stempa Spring
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: scattered clouds

9/22/14 - day 73920.3 - Stempa Spring18.2 milesI meet 3 trail maintainers today, out checking their section. They were happy to meet a fellow volunteer from Georgia. One of them had thru-hiked a few years ago, and remembered Hawk Mt. Its usually the first shelter NOBOs stay at, so it sticks in their memory.They told me that the water situation is better here than in NJ, but in the next breath they filled me in on all the springs that were dry!The terrain here is just one long ridge, with no other mountains around. When there is a view, you see what looks like flat plain, but is probably rolling piedmont. The trail follows the ridge for mile after mile, sometimes on the "top", sometimes on one side or the other. The ridge is so wide, that it can be hard to tell which direction is up. There is no fine contour detail and no boulders worth mapping. But there is lots of stony ground, and the stones are sharp and narrow, turned on edge, and generally unstable when stepped on. So walking through theses section is a rock dance of teetering and tripping, stumbling and stuttering, with constant cadence changes, head always down, scanning the ground for trouble.Which explains why the NOBOs complain about the PA rocks. But from a SOBO perspective, its no big deal - so far.
Date: 2014-09-23
From: Stempa Spring

To: Bake Oven Knob shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: clear sky

9/23/14 - day 74939.4 - Bake Oven Knob Shelter19.1 milesWent through the Palmerton Superfund site today. There was a zinc smelter there for about a century, and the mountain downwind became contaminated. They've done a great job cleaning it up (At what cost, I don't know). Trees are stunted in places, or non-existent. But it looks like they have sown grasses to hold the soil. So if you didn't know it was a Superfund site, you would probably think it was a series of high meadows or balds. Of course, I have no idea how bad it may have been.The rocky descent to the Lehigh river reminded me, on a small scale, of ME and NH. I can see why it impresses the NOBOs. That's your picture for today.
Date: 2014-09-24
From: Bake Oven Knob shelter

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

9/24/14 - day 75956.8 - Eckville Shelter17.4 milesStarted out the day "climbing" to the top of Bake Oven Knob (what a name!) since the ridge is long and fairly level it wasn't much of a climb. That's your photo for today - dawn from the top.Unfortunately there was a lot of graffiti up there. The reason was apparent as the trail went down - a parking lot and road just a short distance away.There were much bigger rocks today, in piles, and the trail had a bad habit of going right over the big piles of rocks, for no reason that I could see. Of course, I'm not privy to all the boundary problems or traditional route decisions and so forth. But sometimes the trail route seems designed by committee.I'm staying at Eckville shelter, which is an enclosed building with bunk platforms behind a house just 2/10 from the trail. Its free. There's an actual flush toilet in a yard barn next door and running water. Almost all the comforts of home.After dark another SOBO showed up. He told me his name, but I was so tired and he talked so fast (from MA) that I missed it. He started a month before I did and the odd thing is that he was at Bake Oven Knob shelter last night too. I checked the shelter when I arrived (your typical dark, smelly, mouse-ridden, haven for viruses) and then I crossed the AT   and hung my hammock in a clean airy spot. Hr arrived after dark and crawled into the shelter so I didn't know he was there. Of course, I left long before he woke up. So that's how we crossed without meeting. Anyway, he calmly mentioned that he had already spent almost $5000 on motels, hostels, eating out, and beer for about 30 zero days. I was astonished.Tomorrow, resupply in Port Clinton!
Date: 2014-09-25
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

9/25/14 - day 76971.6 - Port Clinton Hotel14.8 milesThe photo is the view from Pulpit Rock. The interesting thing about that spot is there are a bunch of huge telescopes on top, the domain of the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomy Club. They have a sign that says "no flashlights!"Then the rain started, a cold autumn drizzle, and followed me into town. I'm staying at the Port Clinton Hotel, which I am pretty sure was built before electricity. The bathroom is down the hall. There is a $10 deposit for the room key and towel. Of course, when I went down the hall to take my shower, I left my towel in my room, a fact I discovered only after I was soaking wet. I'm pretty sure I am the only person here (7 rooms, all on the second floor), so I made a mad dash, naked and sopping wet, to get it.Downstairs is a bar and restaurant, which is where they really make their money. Very good food.Next door is the Peanut Shop, which has every imaginable type of candy. I got an assortment to snack on.And I found a trail angel to give me a ride to Wal Mart, so I got my tortillas, cheese, and Nutella. No bagels or rye bread for the next few days.The bad news is that the PO doesn't open until 12:30. I have to send my bounce box forward and will have to hang out and wait. Forced relaxation!
Date: 2014-09-26
From: Port Clinton

To: stealth camp
Miles today: 11.4

9/26/14 - day 77983.0 stealth camp11.4 milesHung out at the hotel until 9 (check out time) to get my $10 deposit back, but no one showed. I'll probably never see that $10 again.So I was in a funk when I went down to the PO. Sure enough, not open until 12:30. That's new, and not in AWOL's guidebook. I even checked the USPS website and it did not have the new hours. So I'm standing there thinking about waiting for 3 hours, when I see the barber shop across the street - its open. So I walk over and give the barber $20 to mail my bounce box forward. I wrote out the address and hope he understands. The postage is $11, and he keeps the change. I guess I'll find out when I get to Harper's Ferry if he got it right.After all that, and some confusion about the trail out of town (I got distracted by the railyard and missed the turn into the woods), its 10:30 before I start climbing. I guess it was all worth it.Resupplying in town is a necessary evil. I mean, I can't hike without doing it, and Laurie sending me boxes makes it much easier than it would be if I had to shop for everything, but it sure can be a hassle.So I just didn't have "it" today, whatever that is. I loaded up with 5 liters of water at Eagles Nest shelter and carried it another 2.5 miles or so to a stealth camp.There's some kind of concert or festival down the mountain from me. I can hear live music - which sounds pretty bad even at this distance - just far enough away that I can't really make it out.So now I need to focus on getting to Harpers Ferry by the 6th to meet Laurie. One more resupply in a few days in Duncannon.
Date: 2014-09-27
From: stealth camp

To: William Penn shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: broken clouds

9/27/14 - day 78999.8 - William Penn Shelter16.8 milesToday's picture is the inside of the 501 shelter, named for the PA highway it is next to. This shelter is famous among thru-hikers. It has 4 walls, doors, widows, a skylight, an inside table, a solar shower, and running water from a tap outside. None of this is why it is famous - there is a pizza restaurant that will deliver!Unfortunately, I got there at 2PM, and I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, so I went 4 miles further. I have too much heavy food in my food bag that needs to be eaten anyway.At the end of the day I spent 45 minutes getting 3 liters of water from a barely dripping spring, a drop at a time. I was lucky to get that. Lack of water remains my number one problem. I could have gone on another couple of miles and camped if the water had been less time consuming to get.Did I mention I had heard from Wrinkles? Remember him? He got off trail after 538 miles, went home for awhile, and is now coming back to pickup where he left off. Its going to be cold back up there. Look at my mileage - tomorrow morning I will pass 1000 miles!
Date: 2014-09-28
From: William Penn shelter

To: Rattling Run stealth camp
Miles today: 20.7

9/28/14 - day 791020.5 - Rattling Run20.7 milesAt 6:16 this morning, hiking in the dark via headlamp (my usual morning routine), I passed the 1000 mile mark. For about 30 seconds I was excited - then I started doing the math. The actual halfway point is not until about mile 1093. The psychological halfway point is not until mile 1165 - Harper's Ferry, WV. I hope to meet Laurie there a week from tomorrow. I have to average 18 a day to do that - very difficult. Oh well, she will have a car and can come get me if I fall short.The photo is the first rhododendron tunnel I have seen. They tower over the trail and form a green tunnel to walk through. Much more common down south.This was my longest day yet. And the water problems continue. I carried 3 liters out of camp this morning, and got 2 more during the day. I had one left when I reached camp, only to find the water source totally dry. So I had a dry supper - no cooking. One packet each of tuna and spam (cold), one nutrigrain bar (cherry), and a bag of homemade gorp. All washed down with 1/2 liter of water, saving the rest for breakfast.I will be glad when the water situation improves, even if it means rain...
Date: 2014-09-29
From: Rattling Run stealth camp

To: Doyle Hotel
Miles today: 21.7

9/29/14 - day 801042.2 - Doyle Hotel in Duncannon PA21.7 milesI really covered some territory today, or at least it felt like it. There were a few stony areas, and the trail went out of its way to go over some piles of rocks for no reason, but overall it was fairly pleasant for PA.I got more water at about mile 4, so my joints were lubricated again. The rest of the day was dry until Clarks Ferry shelter, which had a spring that was actually flowing.The descent into Duncannon was different, and nerve-wracking again. Imagine my state of mind after being in the woods for a few days. I pop out of those quiet woods and the first thing that happens is a freight train holds me up. The noise! Then I have to cross a confusing highway at rush hour and find my way across two bridges over the Susquehanna River. There's a walkway, but the traffic is zooming by inches away.Then I cross more busy highways and do a mile roadwalk through Duncannon to get to the Doyle Hotel. Those last two miles seemed more exhausting than the previous 20.The Doyle is an AT institution. I can't imagine anyone other than a hiker staying here. At least a 100 years old, in poor condition, not too clean, bathroom down the hall, shower upstairs and down the hall. The light in my room is a pull cord from a naked bulb in the ceiling. I bet this was a state of the art hotel in 1922.But the restaurant/bar downstairs is great and inexpensive. Full of a curious mix of locals and hikers, and the owners couldn't be more friendly. Its all part of the AT experience.So I pull out in the AM with full food bag and a plan to meet Laurie in Harpers Ferry next Monday. My odds of making it on time are not good, but if I can't, she will just have to pick me up at a road crossing!
Date: 2014-09-30
From: Doyle Hotel

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: few clouds

9/30/14 - day 811053.5 - Darlington Shelter11.3 milesThere's a no-camping area in the Cumberland Valley that stretches about 18.2 miles, unless you want to stay in Boiling Springs next to the RR tracks, so today's relatively short mileage is to set me up to get across that valley tomorrow.Its also to give me a chance to recover from the long miles the last few days. I ate a real breakfast across the street from the Doyle and was walking out of town at rush hour again. People were hurrying to work and kids were waiting on school busses. I was doing my "job" too, carrying my full food bag up the mountain out of town.Reached the shelter a little after 2. This is another shelter with an unreliable spring, so I had to carry water up here. Hung my hammock and took a wonderful nap - I think the first one in ages.But back to the long miles tomorrow. I have a plan to make Harpers Ferry on time - if luck and the trail gods will cooperate.Today's picture - its starting to look like fall...