morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-07-10
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagle's Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

        The rain of yesterday hung over us today in the form of overcast, foggy weather and when the wind blew we were sure to get a fresh shower from the leaves. The hike was great today and seemed to pass so quickly. Morph and I left together and talked a lot about my plans for a kill-your-own farm (needs tons of explanation. Don¢t get angry!), literature, cars and first loves. After lunch Soul Train joined us for some hiking. Though we just met a couple days ago, we talked about some neat ways we were challenging ourselves on the trail as well as observing changes within ourselves on the trail. It was cool to have such an honest conversation with someone out here, in addition to Morph.        We got to camp really early ¢ around 3:00 or so. Because the weather was so chilly, hot drinks were definitely in order. I made sassafras tea (with lots of help from Morph) - out of sassafras roots. I had been eating sassafras leaves for several weeks. Jonny showed me what they looked like in VA but I didn't find out until more recently that I could eat them. The tea was pretty tasty. Again, good people here and tons of laughs. Hoping the weather warms up soon. These colder temps are just getting to me. Morph has even loaned me his down vest for the night. He generally uses it for a pillow but my fleece bag is too insuficient for warmth. Here tonight: CC, Chicken Legs, Andrea, Jimmy, Skittles, Martha Graham, Morph, Dutch, Soul Train. I got to climb in Dutch's hammock this afternoon. Those things ARE pretty comfortable - and the getting in/getting out part isn't as difficult as I thought it would be.
Date: 2003-07-11
From: EagleÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Nest Shelter 

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: light rain

        It seemed like it took forever to get off the mountain this morning. As easy as yesterday¢s hike was, today¢s was three times more difficult. Me playing psychological games with myself I suppose.        I met Morph on the trail about 2 miles out, so he and I walked the descent in to town and made our way to the Post Office. It was closed for lunch, so we dropped by the Outfitter on our way to the Pavilion. The Pavilion is owned by the church and they allow hikers to utilize it much like a shelter.         Now, I had a mail drop coming to Port Clinton, so I didn¢t really need food for the trail, but I had been craving ¢ I mean every bone in my body had been calling out for ¢ fruit salad.        Andrea (now Elf), Jimmy and I decided we¢d hitch over to Hamburg to resupply. I had a grocery-shopping list for Morph and would bring him back what he needed. The three of us got up to 61 and worked on getting a ride for a very long time, maybe a half hour. Finally a lady leaving the post office asked where we needed to go, and sure enough, agrees to take us to a supermarket. I picked up some gorgeous fruit ¢ apples, plums, mangos, and bananas- got Morph¢s groceries and checked out. When we were all finished shopping I approached a man with an 18-passenger van about giving us a ride back to Port Clinton (which was farther than we had first anticipated, with many windy roads). It turns out he¢s a local youth pastor. It was awesome of him to give us a ride.        Straight away T-Bird and I went about preparing the fruit salad. We used a watermelon that we found at the pavilion as a bowl and topped off the finished product with fresh picked blueberries off the trail. Skittles, Morph, Soul Train and I had worked on collecting them during the first part of our hike. The fruit salad went a long way with many people enjoying the flavors of nature.        As the evening wore on, Jester, a Billville resident and 2000 thru-hiker showed up. He brought beer for folks at the Pavilion. We hung out there for a while before going to the hotel/restaurant for French fries and a drink.         Before long it was far past hiker bedtime, so we all headed for the Pavilion for a nice, long nap.
Date: 2003-07-12
From: Port Clinton 

To: Port Clinton 
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: few clouds

        The original plan for Port Clinton was to hit it on Friday, hangout until Saturday when the Hiker Feed would start, eat, then hike out. Jester had suggested an alternate plan for those of us planning to hike out that day ¢ he¢d drop us off 15 miles north and we could walk back to the feed, spend Saturday night and eat a pancake breakfast on Sunday before hiking out. Soultrain, Tunnel Vision, Skittles and I were sold on the idea. We departed around 10 for the trail.        The first couple of miles of the trail were great. It was very easy hiking up a long dirt road. The AT goes through a very popular destination, the Pinnacle that draws tourists, hikers and Scout troupes en masse on beautiful clear Saturdays like today. I must agree this is the best view we¢ve seen yet in PA. Skittles, Soultrain and I lounged on the rocks watching the birds fly (Port Clinton is the buzzard capital of the world you know) and resting our eyes. The hike seemed to drag on forever after the highlight that was The Pinnacle. Though seeing Journey and finding out that things are going well for her and her family was also a highlight. After a time (around 3) I started hiking with Soultrain. We both thought we should have reached town by this point in time, so we kept up some great conversation to keep our minds off the food awaiting us in town. We talked about different expressions of faith, professions and impacting the lives of others. Having good company made the trail pass faster.        The ¢Feed¢ was in full swing when we arrived, and our concerns that there wouldn¢t be food left when we got there were totally unfounded. Two cheeseburgers, pasta and fruit salads and a couple mini-donuts later I felt sated. There were so many people there I hadn¢t seen in a long time. It made me happy to know they were still on the trail ¢ folks like Sleepy Floyd, 2 dog, Moose Munch. It felt good to be able to catch up with everyone.        As the evening wore on, we got a campfire started and roasted marshmallows. T-Bird and CC played guitars and I went to bed fairly early.
Date: 2003-07-13
From: Hawk Mountain Road - Eckville 

To: PA 309 (slept on a B and B lawn)
Miles today: 11.0

        What a great day! I woke this morning to an abundance of pancakes, eggs and bacon from the Billville Crew. I was packed and ready to hike on pretty early; Jester took us back to the trailhead after he shaved some folk¢s heads. When we got up Hawk Mountain road to the trail there was another magical surprise ¢ Scuba Man¢s parents. They were there with refreshments for the hikers. We all started with a Gatorade to drink. After sitting and talking for an hour or so, we were hungry again. They fed us delicious bacon cheeseburgers, homemade brownies, pasta salad and cookies. Mmm. Sweet treat it was running into them. Sometime late in the afternoon we set out to hike. I was listening to my radio and just jamming to some good Philly stations when I heard some interference. I pulled the plugs out of my ears to hear Live Blues Music! In The middle of the friggin¢ woods I¢m hearing a guitar, harmonica and drums getting¢ down. By now I¢m a couple paces behind 1/3. She and I feed off each other¢s enthusiasm and are literally dancing down the trail. By now we¢ve surmised that the music must be coming from the bed and breakfast just .2 off the trail at the next road crossing. When we got to the road Trace is there, as if waiting to be persuaded to explore the sounds of music down the way. Convincing him was a cinch. 1/3, Trace and I left a note to other hikers who may want to join us, then walked down the way to the lyrics calling our names. Talk about the way summer time should feel, this was like an outdoor BBQ with 50 of my closest friends, except I didn¢t really know anyone. I ordered a margarita and we all sat down to enjoy the show. An older couple got up to dance. After the band took a break the woman came over to talk to us. She was a sassy 76 year old with a pixie haircut died red in a sharp outfit who could dance and move better than some twenty-something¢s I¢ve seen. She came over to find out more about what we¢re doing but she also came to give us an important message. She said live for yourself and enjoy life; she encouraged us not to live by what society thinks is right. The message of a free spirit caught hold of us. We could definitely relate to what she was saying. With the band's next set I was the first from our group dancing, then 1/3 Rambler, Trace and Soultrain joined in. At one point, Rambler, 1/3 and I were up on stage singing with the band.        Our afternoon intentions to hike another 3 miles transformed in to an evening of wild fun with music, lessons on living well and new bonds of friendship. I don¢t think I got to bed until one in the morning. What a hearty good time I had.
Date: 2003-07-14
From: PA 309 

To: Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 13.4

        Long day of hiking. It wasn¢t so much that I hiked a lot of miles but I got a late start, which always makes the hiking seem more extensive. I was sluggish, too, from such a late night. The weather was pretty warm and the trail covered the tops of ridges where the vegetation wasn¢t so high, making for a warm hike in the sunshine.        When I got to the Shelters just before Palmerton, I intended to stop for the day. Upon my arrival, though, Trace, Skittles, and Soultrain were selling the idea, the lure of town-including a shower and a free place to stay at the old jailhouse. I was won over fairly quickly. One more mile down the hill, across a river and to a stoplight where we could hitch the last two miles in to town.        Palmerton provided just what hikers needed. We dropped our bags at the hostel (what hikers call the jailhouse shelter) and went to register ourselves at the police station. The library was open so I pooped in for a touch of email lovin¢with friends and family, then I hit the IGH for ice cream. When I was checking out they gave me a free apple! Before long I had showered and eaten dinner over conversations about God and religion with Soultrain.        And to sleep I go, on the top bunk of a bed.PALMERTON - THE BEST TRAIL TOWN SO FAR!!!
Date: 2003-07-15
From: Palmerton, PA

To: Leroy Smith Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: few clouds

        Whoa! The hike up from Leigh High Gap was a tough one. It is a steep climb up exposed rocks and absolutely No Vegetation. The higher I got, and the more the trail took me to the southern point of the mountain that overlooked the river and zooming highway, my heart raced faster. I almost think I had a panic attack on that climb. I felt very uneasy. Like I couldn¢t sit or stand still. Looking off to the side made me more conscious of my racing heart and the need to move further along the trail, hoping with each step that it would curve back around and head north. Eventually it did and I was able to calm down. The trail like yesterday, topped a ridge and was covered by very little shade from trees. It was a hot day for us, maybe one of the few days we¢ve had in the 90¢s, so water went fast. Skittles, Soultrain and I hiked together most of the day and took breaks together in the shade when possible. When we reached Smith Gap Rd. Soultrain was desperately dehydrated and I was semi-dehydrated. It was a 1-mile hike down to a house that offers water to hikers; we¢d have to go. A truck ended up giving us a lift down the road. So, we didn¢t have to walk that mile. We tanked up on water and lay on the plush green grass of their lawn until they came home. John gave us a ride back up to the trail and we pushed on the last 3 miles to the Smith Shelter just before nightfall. Looks like rain.
Date: 2003-07-16
From: Lercry Smith Shelter 

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

        Tunnelvision and I were up and hiking by 6:30 or so. The goal: town. We figured we could make it there by 3 or 4. I think we actually made it there by 2:30. Tunnelvision and I teamed up to hike together today ¢ he for conversation, me for his pace. We talked a lot about spirituality and faith, then other stuff like music and family. The hiking today was by far the toughest hiking in PA. Within 6 miles I felt like I¢d been walking on a meat tenderizer for a lifetime. After a while I just couldn¢t keep up with Tunnelvision anymore, but he¢d hike ahead only so far before looking back to check on me. Eventually I caught up with 1/3 and Trace. 1/3 and I hiked the last four miles or so in to town, swapping stories and talking about girlie stuff- like how awesome it would be to climb in a big bubble bath when we get to town, and dreamily talking about a laundromat. When we approached the church hostel in Delaware Water Gap, 1/3¢s parents 2/3 and 3/3 showed up. With them in town we were able to borrow the car and drive over to East Stroudsburg for laundry, Wendy¢s and groceries. We didn¢t get back to DWG until late so we sufficed ourselves with showers, and good conversation in comfortable recliners and sofas. I got to see Hopeful who I hadn¢t seen in ages; unfortunately he wasn¢t feeling to well due to dehydration and knee injury.As I was falling asleep on a recliner at the hostel, other hikers laughed at my feet moving. Apparently I hike even while sleeping.
Date: 2003-07-17
To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 0.0

I just got another call from Leanna. She's a day ahead of her mail drop schedule. She got into Delaware Water Gap yesterday. Picked up her mail drop from mom and dad and is on her way back on the trail this afternoon. As we were talking I could hear the church bells chiming the 11 am hour. Her spirits are high. She seems very settled and relaxed. She's hiking with a great group of people (including Morph, Chicken Legs, 1/3 rd, Soul Train, Cici - and more, I couldn't catch all the names she rattled off). She was happy to have a reunion with Last Minute and Hopeful a while back (in Palmerton?). She says just recently people have started to talk about how they plan to get home after they summit. This change in conversations from what if's about summitting to a more definitive outlook suits her well.She was in Palmerton, PA on Monday and plans to be in Vernon, NJ in 4 days and in New York in about 8 days. At this pace, this puts her on Katahdin (sp?) at the end of September!! She was talking to a ranger (? don't think that's the term she used) who said that 1700 started the trail at Springer and that as of July 7th only 670 passed through Harpers Ferry. Leanna's in that 40% - go Leanna!!! She said that the trail in Maryland and Pennsylvania crosses a lot more roads - not as much uninterrupted wilderness as before. One section went over an old zinc mine. "It was kinda spooky." She said they were scaling just rocks on a very steep incline, which made her feel uneasy - navigating with her poles, etc. She said it was challenging because it was the first time she was afraid of the heights. "It would have been easier just crawling on my hands and knees! It was so open you could see everything down to the river and road, I just wanted to keep going!"She said Palmerton was a really neat town. Everything was walking distance from the hostel which was a converted jailhouse. In this section, the group had planned to hike 13 miles that day, but around mile 10 they heard blues music. Curious, they started hiking towards it. It turned out there was a concert in the backyard of a B&B - they listened in, even got to sing on stage with them and danced the rest of the night. They were able to tent in the yard and were off the next morning. A great surprise and diversion!That's this week's installment from Leanna. Bridget has graciously agreed to transcribe Leanna's journal entries and post them - so keep your eyes peeled for them. They are currently in the mail.Tracy
Date: 2003-07-17
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

I finally escaped the clutches of town and got out to hike! I'm not sure what I spent all my time doing this morning...but before I knew it, it was this afternoon. Ah, that's right...I had breakfast this morning with Hopeful and Morph. Hopeful, as of my departure, still hadn't decided whether or not to hike for a couple days or go ahead and pick up a rental car to head to his son's wedding. Either way, I probably won't see him again for a while, so it was nice to catch up with him while we were at the same place at the same time. Then I spent some time working the phones; making sure upcoming mail drops were put together and mailed and catching up with friends and family.Fastforward to lunchtime, when Takereasy coorced me in to going to the bakery for a hot dog and slice of apple pie (plus, you get a free donut). Worst part was I wasn't even hungry...so he ate my donut. There was talk about going swimming at the river by some other hikers and I was definately up for a swim. By the time we all motivated and got down there it was 2 or 3 p.m. Lots of them were drinking beer but I wasn't of the notion to drink, so I bypassed hanging out with them all together and joined Andrea and Jimmy under a big shade tree. They were waiting out the heat of the day before hiking. I left around 5 p.m. and started up towards the mountains. The hike to and around Sunfish pond was magnificient. The waters were begging me to come for a swim but I respected the signs that asked us not to swim for ecological purposes (to maintain acidic balance of the water). And on I hiked. The trail became more and more poorly marked and with a lot of guess work I kept finding my way. There was one section just before the center (about 2 or 3 miles before) that was so overgrown it was like bushwhacking. What's that all about? Anyway, I got my tentsite here just before total night fall. TIme for some of momma's homeade cookies, a quick dinner and bed. The mosquitos haven't been too bad so far on the trail, but today, just after Sunfish pond I hit a briggade of them. They were vicious; I literally ran down the trail for a while to escape them. The worst part was I couldn't move fast enough.
Date: 2003-07-18
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Culver's Gap - Branchville, NJ
Miles today: 16.0

Hiked to Culver's Gap...had lunch by the road with Orbit who was waiting on his brother to come pick him up for some time in town. Then I visited some with Krazy K. I kept expecting Jimmy and Andrea to come off the mountain. Eventually, they did. We got a ride with Tito's (a friend of Jimmy and Andrea) friend over to his house. We relaxed a bit until he came home from work. I actually passed out on his floor. His mother fed us tons of excellent food. Tito, Clack, Jimmy, Andrea and I ended up heading out to a Karaoke Bar in Branchville, after some crooning into a microphone, singing "take me home, country road" and who knows what other love ballads, we went back to the house. There were two pretty amusing parts of the eveing: One, I took out my wallet (read: plastic bag) to pay the bartender for some drinks and he asked me if I had been swimming today. I said "no, I'm hiking" as if that would clear it all up...but he turned away looking more confused than before. Second, a guy offered to buy Andrea and I drinks. He said, "what would you like?" and I Andrea said "Just a Margarita - with two straws" and he said to me..."what do you want." I said "I don't need anything, she and I will split her margarita!" What was I thinking????? Later, I found this guy using the lady's restroom with the door wide open... When I made a "yuck" comment, he started to come at me with his unwashed peepee hands. I backed, then ran away, saying don't touch me with your unwashed hands. Of course, I probably looked like I hadn't bathed in a month...but still...
Date: 2003-07-19
From: Culver's Gap - Branchville, NJ

To: Mashipacong camping
Miles today: 16.9

We all jumped in the back of Tito's truck for a ride back to the trailhead. Jimmy, Andrea, Clack and I were off for more hiking. Clack, a friend of Jimmy and Andrea's from Hawaii was coming to hike with us for several days. We hiked today over some beautiful terrain. If I ever thought that NJ was an ugly state, this portion of trail has proven me wrong. It was a leisurely hike today...not to hot...not to cold. We took a long break for lunch/snack on Culvers Fire Tower. I'm pretty sure we all napped after our late evening in Branchville. Then on we ambled to Sunrise Mountain - an absolutely beautiful location overlooking the modest mountains around us. It was a great picnic area, great for locals in cars to come out to visit for the afternoon. Unfortunately, camping there was discouraged. We ended up hiking further to Mashipacong shelter but moved back off in to the woods to camp. Andrea shared my tent because the bugs have gotten so bad recently that she doesn't like sleeping out under her tarp right now. After Clack is gone, she and Jimmy will share Tito's bug-meshed tent. It's a little cosy in my yellow tent, but it's working out just fine.
Date: 2003-07-21
From: Secret Shelter

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up and ambled over to the "breakfast area" where Morph, Leaf, SnakeheadFish and Shelton were gathered eating. Hiked some of the later part of the day with Morph. Walked on duck boards (as Morph called them) for part of today. Apparently these boards become more frequent as the trail extends North. At the road crossing to Vernon, Morph and I headed left and went to the little store. I gawked at all the amazing food in this fresh market of food and wonders. There was fresh bread, fresh ice cream, dairy from a nearby farm...oh delectible goodies. I had a huge portion of ice cream and settled down outside to eat it. Then Morph and I moved up towards the road, hoping to catch the attention of someone leaving the market and heading to town. It was difficult getting someone to take pity on us. Eventually a woman from NY picked us up. Apparently she and her two kids come to NJ for the summer. I recommended that she take them up to Sunset Mountain because of the ease of the hike and the excellent views. The hostel was super. When we arrived we met Looney and Svensaw's parents. Had a shower, went to the supermarket, did laundry and saw some faces I hadn't seen in a while - like Trace and Soultrain. Jimmy, Andrea and Clack arrived later that evening. They called Tito who was coming back out to pick up Clack from his section hike. We ended up all piling in to Tito's truck and heading to the neighboring town for dinner. Because of the rain we were all six crammed in to the cab of the truck. Those clowns have nothing on us! Tito treated us to dinner. Thanks, Tito! Worn and tired we arrived at the hostel after everyone was in bed and the lights were out. I stumbbled toward my sleeping bag with very little noise.
Date: 2003-07-22
From: Vernon, NJ

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It was a short day of hiking today (about 5 miles or so). We left late from town. Skittles, Morph and I actually ended up walking the curvy road from town to the trailhead. When we were about one mile away (after having walked 2), Skittles managed to thumb down a guy with a truck. Morph and I jumped in the back, Skittles took the front and we were off. When we reached the trailhead, Sheepstuff was there. She ended up getting a ride in to town with this guy. Perfect timing all around. Slug and Teflon were at the shelter when we arrived. I ate a newly concocted delicacy on the trail - bread (fresh from town and carried on the outside of my pack to prevent smoosh-age), babaganoush in the plastic tub, provolone cheese and Peperonni. Damned good! I set up my tent. Despite the call for rain and thunderstorms, I just needed some time to myself. I really couldn't imagine staying in a shelter tonight. I'm not sure why. The privy at this shelter is funny. There's no barrier - everything about it is in the open. Don't imagine I'll be using that in the morning.