morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-03-24
To: Overnight in the White Tanks
Miles today: 0.0

We were finally able to get away on Sunday afternoon to go and try out some of our new gear in the White Tank Mountains. I had hiked for almost 3 months last summer so a short hike up into the mountains and sleeping under the stars was not a big deal but.......my partner has spent the last four or five summers living in a villa and roaming all over Italy. I figured the one major thing that was a must for her first overnight venture into the wilderness was a good bottle of wine.We did a five mile hike to the one waterfall within the the reserve. We selected this route due to the fact that we got a really late start. We could complete this hike and still have daylight left to pitch the tent and cook dinner. It was a really easy hike and one that most of the population of Phoenix had heard about. I guess I've been spoiled but seeing 100 other people out on the trail is something I have still not totally adjusted too. I kept telling myself that at least they were out enjoying the outdoors.When we completed the hike we went to the one family campground. The REI half dome plus 2 sets up in about 2 min. Two poles that you just clip and Bam, you are done. We used the Whisperlite to boil water and we each tried a Freeze-dried meal. I remember these things not tasting all that bad but I must have come to this conclusion after being out on the trial for weeks. Pen didn't say all that much over dinner but I figured it out when she put down the freeze dried lasagna and grabbed the peanut butter cookies. I was right behind her but I munched on Cheez-Its. Dinner was not a total loss since I did remember to bring the wine.The one thing that was forgotten was something to sit on around the fire. Well, Pen came up with the idea of just taking out the back seat from the van. I'm not saying that we looked as if we were from a trailer park but sipping wine out of tin cups and sitting on the bench from the back of a Dodge Caravan might have given some of the fellow campers that idea.Overall the overnight trip went well. The only thing that woke us up was the howling of the coyote's.Next weekend it is hiking with the packs fully loaded up Oak Canyon near Sedona.
Date: 2003-04-06
To: Day Hike at Oak Creek
Miles today: 0.0

It is amazing the diversity that you can experience by hiking in the fifty states. I always thought the beauty of the area around Fontana Lake in North Carolina would stay my favorite place to enjoy the great outdoors. After spending some time walking in the Red Rocks of Sedona, Arizona; I might have changed my mind. Hiking through the canyons and the peaks are at times awe-inspiring.We spent this weekend on the West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon trail. The weather was beautiful, in the mid-70s with only a few clouds in the ski. It was an easy hike with hardly any change in elevation. One of those really nice days where it feels wonderful to be alive. To be able to kick back on a big rock with the person you love, close your eyes and simply listen to the sound of the river roll by.We grabbed our new packs a few days ago. Pen got the REI Valhalla and I got the Bora 80. I hiked with the same pack last year and while it is very heavy it fits my weird body to a Tee. Pen tried about 5 different packs on and the Valhalla was the one that she felt was the most comfortable. We are attempting to get our bodies in shape. Hitting the gym about 5 days a week and doing cardio along with some weight lifting. In two weeks we are doing the next test, hiking down and back into a major Arizona canyon. We are going to do this with full packs so we will then see if we are in shape and just how well those packs do on out bodies.Ciao.
Date: 2003-05-18
To: Around Squaw Peak
Miles today: 0.0

I'm trying to remember when I could exercise as hard and as long as I wanted to and then not be sore the next day. I must say, it is a long forgotten memory.Penny and I loaded up our packs and set out to Squaw Peak. We did a loop trail with a mild elevation gain. The problem with this time of year out in Phoenix is that the temp. is already on the hot side. The day before it had gotten to 103 degrees so we waited until the late afternoon before attempting our hike. One of the things that we wanted to work on was to see how we hiked together. How our pace was going to be on the different terrain. We are getting to the point where we both walk near the same speed and can determine when the other one needs a rest break. So far our packs feel fine. There are no blisters forming on our feet and the water can still be sucked easily from out platupus water bladders. It is only a few more weeks before we fly out to the east coast and hit the trail. The reality is sitting in and the pace of getting everything taken care of is increasing. There is no calm before the storm. Just one storm after another but isn't that what makes life worth getting up for each morning.
Date: 2003-06-06
To: Trail Bound Or Bust!
Miles today: 0.0

Hi to everyone! This is from the female half of this couple. One week to go and we will finally be on the trail after months of planning and working our fingers to the bone to make this a reality. Last night we put the finishing touches to our packs and the enormity of this adventure hit hard. To be carrying every thing we need on our backs for the next few months is very sobering to me. I have never done anything like this before and I am more than excited about it. My fears of not being able to make it or being attacked by a big hairy beast keep my enthusiasm from boiling over. Scott is so encouraging and has been behind me 200%. He is carrying most of the gear that we need and I have the tent poles.....whoopee! For any of you that see us out on the trail.....I will be the blond girl with the small pack scurrying behind the tall guy with the huge pack!To all of my friends who think I am totally nuts.....you are probably right. The way that I have always looked at it is this. You can work very hard, stay within the box, and have a very nice life. Or you can work very hard, grab life by the tail when you can, and have one grand adventure after another. Wish me luck on this one as I may need it!Special thanks to Allyson who is going to transcribe this journal while we are out on the trail!A piu tarde....Pasta (formally known as Penny)
Date: 2003-06-12
From: Phoenix Airport

To: New Jersey
Miles today: 0.0

3:30am "The alarm clock starts ringing who could that be singing? It's me, baby, with your wake-up call". An ole country song that for some reason was running through my simple mind this morning. The one thing I really like is the fact that it takes Penny slightly longer to get ready each morning. She is like my human 30 minute snooze button. I can roll over and fall back asleep until she walks in the room, shakes her wet hair over my face and utters in a very loving voice "Scott, time to get your ass up!"We packed our backpacks in U-haul boxes last night and taped them up like they were being shipped to Singapore. Penny's mom drove us to the Phoenix airport. Jacque is one terrific woman and has helped the two of us not only get ready for our adventure but in so many other areas of our lives. Thanks again Jacque.We had a great guy at the curb side check-in. He asked us what was in our boxes. As we told him they were each filled with packs, he then asked if we had any fuel or used fuel bottles. When I told him that I had an empty, used fuel bottle he just looked at me and shook his head back and forth. I'm going to ask you again if you have a used fuel bottle in the box and this time you need to give me the correct answer. After finally passing the oral exam, we were safely on our way.The flight into New Jersey was smooth and uneventful but the shuttle to the hotel was a different story. The guy drove like a bat out of Hell. He was flying around big 18 wheel semis on the shoulder of the highway and squealing the tires as he charged around the cloverleaf. Maybe he had to go to the bathroom or something. Anyway, we are now in our hotel room and one day closer to the trail, Take care, Pasta & Crockett (Maine in 2003)
Date: 2003-06-13
From: The Greyhound Bus

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 1300.0
Weather: light rain

I have to admit, today was the first time that I have ever taken a Greyhound bus. I have to be honest; I hope I never have to ride another Greyhound. Maybe I'm just getting old but it was just plain nasty. I kept pretending that Penny and I were in another country and that seemed to help. Did I mention it was nasty?We are in Delaware Water Gap and we are both excited and slightly nervous. Please say a prayer or two (maybe 3) for us as we start on our little hike.It is finally time to hike, enough of this preparation crap. Take care,Pasta & Crockett(Maine in 2003)
Date: 2003-06-13
From: Delaware Water Gap Visitors Center

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: light rain

The first step was a wet one. It was spitting something from the sky this morning, I suspect it was rain but we crossed over into New Jersey so you never know. A major thunderstorm rolled through the area last night. Every 20 minutes the weather service would break into the regular scheduled programming to update us on the Flash Floods that were happening.I'd say we both were a little nervous as we started our adventure by the Delaware Water Gap Visitors Center. It was very cloudy or foggy. I'm not sure what the difference is but suffices to say that visibility was 30 feet at the most. We had a nice steady climb after the first mile and rain water was just gushing down the trail. We reached the top of the mountain and I'm sure there were some spectacular views but Penny and I saw nothing but grey fog (clouds). We just put our arms around one another and pretended that the view was highly romantic. Shortly afterwards we reached "Sunfish" pond. It is the first glacial pond that we will encounter. I'm sure it is a beautiful pond but it was so foggy (cloudy) that all Penny and I could see was grey. We just put our arms around on another and pretended that the view was highly romantic.Afterwards the trail became very rocky and also very slippery. We had finished over half our miles by lunch. We feasted on Cheese and Saltines. For dessert it was a HoHo.The hike in the afternoon became much harder. We both really had to concentrate to find the white blazes that mark the trail. Somehow we walked past a road and a plaque and never saw them. I knew that from the first road that we still had 1.8 miles before we reached camp road where the Mohican Outdoor Center was located. We both knew we were moving slower than in the morning but it was taking us forever to reach that first road or to see the plaque. Finally, we reach the road. Penny looks at the sign and informs me that the Outdoor Center is .25 miles to the left. We were both dragging so it was wonderful to see that sign.It is supposed to storm once again tonight so we decided to stay in the bunkhouse. There are about 8 other people in here but so far Penny and I have our own private room, with a nice, hot shower. Well, it is almost hiker bedtime so we will now sign off.Take care,Pasta & Crockett(Maine in 2003)
Date: 2003-06-14
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Woods Road Campsite
Miles today: 8.9

It was once again cloudy (foggy) this morning. We had a butt kicking climb right off the bat. At my age I need a little time for my muscles to understand what I'm doing to them. Nothing like hiking less than a mile and having to stop and take a break.After that initial climb the trail became really nice. The sun came out from hiding and started to warm up the day and burn away the fog. We rounded a bend and saw our first views from atop the mountain. A nice view as far as you could see of rolling New Jersey forest.So far, the trail through the state has been beautiful. After only spending time near Newark and on the northern Jersey shore, the western part looks like a completely different state; gently rolling hills, crystal clear streams and an abundance of wildlife.We ate lunch today at a pretty good size beaver pond. A guy came up about 10 minutes later and asks if we had seen the bear. We both probably walked right by the creature waving at us and didn't see a thing. We did see two healthy doe's and a totally cool red/orange salamander.Around 3:30 today we reached "Blue Lakes" road. There is a Boy Scout camp there that has a screened in shelter where they will let thru-hikers stay. Since it was early in the afternoon, we decided to do another mile or two. We had hiked for about 20 minutes when the wind suddenly shifted. 5 steps later this huge black cloud was directly overhead. Before we could get our packs off to put the covers over them the bottom dropped out. As my Dad would say, "It was a gully washer." It poured for about a half an hour before finally letting off. We were both soaked but the afternoon was warm enough that it actually felt pretty good. We found a nice campsite on some high, level ground. We pitched our tent quickly and had a dinner of freeze dried meals. It is great having your best friend out here hiking with you. You know you have someone watching your backside and who laughs when you sing "zippidy do da" way off key. We work really well together. The tent was up in no time flat and it was wonderful to unzip the tent flap and see the thermorest and sleeping bags already set up and ready for bed.It is into town where a shower is waiting at the end of tomorrow's hike. Penny's pace quickens when she knows a hot shower is waiting for her so I'd better get some rest so she doesn't leave me in the dust.Take care,Pasta & Crockett(Maine in 2003)
Date: 2003-06-15
From: Woods Road Campsite

To: Cobman Ridge Hotel
Miles today: 9.1

We awoke at 5:40 am. After a nutritious breakfast of cherry frosted poptarts we hit the trail at 6:40. We have found out so far that we do pretty well hiking in the morning but then we really fade after lunch. It is almost like the guidebook starts to lie about how far things really are away after the hour of two o'clock.We almost felt like a couple of hikers as we trudged through some dense forest. We saw our first bear as we crested one of the mountain ridges. Luckily all we saw was his backside lumbering away from us. Maybe the bear sighting quickened our pace since we made it into town before 1 pm.We had to make a pit stop at the trail famous "Worthington" bakery. The lady behind the counter was super nice. Penny and I were going to split a brownie so I asked the lady for one. She informed me that she had seen me walk in with my wife and since there were only 3 brownies left that I might as well take them all. She charged me for a single brownie and also gave me info on the best place to eat. I have to totally recommend this great establishment.After each of us inhaled a brownie, which was awesome, we called the Cobman Ridge Hotel. The owner was there in a matter of minutes. Now, the Cobman Ridge Hotel is not the Four Seasons but it had a bed plus a shower.Dinner was at Rosie's Italian restaurant. I'm not sure dinner was great but halfway through a pitcher of beer it sure tasted good. Overall, the first day where we felt like we could complete this hike together. We are learning a pace where we can hike together. I take the lead and each time we hit a mountain, I push up and Penny tells me to shout back when I reach the top. It pushes me to get up there and it causes Penny to hit the next gear when I let her know I've reach the top.Sleep is starting to come earlier with each passing evening.Take care,Pasta & Crockett(Maine in 2003)
Date: 2003-06-16
From: Cobman Ridge Hotel

To: Unionville NY
Miles today: 9.1

Today was just a perfect day for hiking. The air was clean and crisp. The type of day where you smiled with each breath you took. By 11:00, we were at High Point State Park. The monument looks just like the Washington monument and sits upon the highest peak in the state. It was decent but we jumped on the road to actually go up to the monument. Well, we could not find our way back to the AT. We called and consulted the guide book and we still headed out down the wrong trail. The darn guidebook said to hang a right to get to the monument but that was incorrect. We found a Ranger, so I thought we were now home free concerning getting back on the trail. Well, he had never hiked the trails so he was not sure where we should go. Finally, we just backtracked and got back on. We probably lost a good hour of hiking but I'm sure it will not be the last time we take a wrong turn or get lost.Once we got back to the task of heading north, the trail became very beautiful. We crossed cascading streams and groves of great smelling pine groves. We stopped for lunch beside a wonderful mountain stream and just admired the view as the water rambled down through the valley.Later, we walked through farmlands that looked as if they were out of a Norman Rockwell picture; New England barns with a farmer cutting large fields of hay. I love the smell of fresh cut grass and the smell radiated across the entire valley.Just before town the terrain changed once again. It was as if we were hiking through the Florida everglades. We hiked for a good mile and a half over puncheons where the land was nothing but a huge swamp. The vegetation looked as if it came out of the tropics. Huge ferns and other plants covered the area in such thickness that you could hardly see the water below.Tonight we are sleeping in our tents in the city park of Unionville, NY. We went down to check out the one bar located in Unionville and wound up having a great time. We start talking to the locals and before long, a retired fireman named Brian was showing us his pictures from the ten weeks he worked at ground zero right after 9-11. The pictures showed what it was like down in the trenches after the attack. It was sobering to look at the devastation and once again remember the lives that were lost that day. I think almost everyone had a friend or a family member who did not survive that day. It causes you to step back, at least for a moment, and realize what is really important to you.We met a few other thru hikers today; a guy with the trail name of "Spot" who is doing the trail for the fourth time. I wonder what the motivation is to do the trail over and over. Maybe it is the community within the trail, the sense of freedom while you are out here or just the feeling of accomplishment you get each time you take that last northbound step at the top of Katahdin.Take care,Pasta & Crockett(Maine in 2003)
Date: 2003-06-17
From: Unionville NY

To: Greenwood Lake
Miles today: 11.8

The plan was to get up early since we had pretty many miles to cover. We slept in the Unionville city park and you could hear the church bells chime each hour. Well, we did not get our butts out of the tent until 8:00. We went over to Horler's to grab some breakfast. The lady behind the counter was not in a good mood at all. She was nasty to everyone in the store and I thought she was going to jump over the counter and grab me by the throat when I asked if she could make me a deli sandwich.On our way out of town we stopped at the cemetery to fill up with water. So I'm walking along and thinking that a good title for a book about the trail would be "Eating a sandwich by a bitch and drinking water from the graveyard".The hiking started out nice and easy. We were able to crank out about 5 miles in just over 3 hours. That is fast for the two of us. We walked through the Wallkill Wildlife Preserve where the mosquitoes were as bad as I've ever seen them. You could not stop to take a break because the critters would engulf every inch of exposed skin. We met a super nice guy out in this area and as we talked we discovered that he knew the couple that I hiked with on the trail last year. In fact, he used to work for Tom. Sometimes it really is a small world.As we left the Preserve the trail and our quick pace changed. We started to climb and it was rugged. The incline was steep and rocky. It was a triple tier climb so twice we thought we had made the summit only to discover that there was more. There were a few places where we had to rock scramble hand over hand to get to the next level. Finally we made it and we were rewarded with a mile long, raised walkway through Pochuck creek. The last couple of miles contained more hard climbs but at 4:00 we finally walked into the parking lot of Heaven Hill Farm. ¢Dumpie's Day¢ was there and he agreed to take us where ever we wanted to go. Terry is a terrific guy. After the first hotel we went to was full he drove us all the way to Greenwood Lake. Thanks Terry for your kindness today.Penny and I are both worn out. My ankle is sore and her feet are very sore and swollen. We are going to take a zero day tomorrow. The game plan is to sit on the deck over looking this beautiful mountain lake, grab a Corona and prop our hurting feet up. Take care,Pasta & Crockett(Maine in 2003)
Date: 2003-06-20
From: NY 17A

To: Little Dam Lake
Miles today: 9.5

Not once, not twice but three times today, Penny and I looked at each other in dismay. There was just no way in this world that the trail actually went the way the white blazes were marked. It was crazy; the trail would lead straight up these hundred foot granite walls. The eastern pinnacles, cat rocks and the one that had us checking to see if our shorts were still dry, Buchanan Mountain.It was not really hiking. A better term is probably "mountain crawling." We would throw our hiking poles ahead and then just scramble on all fours. One wrong step and you would be tumbling over a sheer cliff. Working as a team, we were able to scale over and eventually emerge with only a few bruises and scrapes.The guide book said you could see the skyline of NY City from the top of the peaks but it was grey with low clouds so we could only see a few miles into the valley.We did pass by Fitzgerald Falls. All the rain that has fallen in this area made the falls pretty spectacular. We also spotted our first wild turkey. We had heard a few over the past few days but we saw this one down beside a small stream.Overall the trail has been harder than either one of us expected. While the climbs are not super long they are steep and full of golf cart size rocks. Our bodies are holding up well except for a couple of blisters Penny has on her feet. She has a nasty one underneath her left big toe. We have popped them, cleaned them, and covered them with both mole skin and duct tape.Dinner tonight was peanut butter and crackers with breakfast bars. Not a bad meal unless you had munched on peanut butter and crackers over lunch. The waterproof matches had somehow gotten damp and would not come close to lighting. Oh well, the one thing you have to be out here is highly flexible. After dinner we walked out over this small bridge that spans the creek that feeds into the lake. It is amazing what just leaning against the railing and watching the sun slowly setting over the water can do for your mindset. We stood there laughing about this huge dive bomber beetle that kamikazed me during lunch. The thing did a fly by and then turned around and attacked.Take care,Pasta & Crockett(Maine in 2003)