morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-07-15
From: Bake Oven Shelter

To: Campsite 2 miles north of Little Gap
Miles today: 14.7

My day started early; 5:45am. I was up by 6, out on the trail by 6:40. I walked with Tipperary and the section hiker, Arjuna. At 10am we met up with Granite who had gone ahead last night. He was going to wait a while for Scubaman who had not caught up to us the night before.At the road into Palmerton we hitched a ride with a fellow named Joe who happened to be off from work today so we took him to lunch at Bert's. He was a really nice man who had just returned from building an orphanage in Madagascar. I've met the most interesting people out here! After lunch he took us to the drug store and then back to the trail. That's when the excitement really started.We had a steep climb of 600' straight up out of Palmerton on big rocks. Big, giant, steep, hand over hand rocks. We had a cool breeze to help us along and when we finally reached the top, there was a magnificent view of the Lehigh River. This was probably the most fun and exciting part of my adventure so far. It felt as if we were on top of the world. Tipperary and I were especially excited, Arjuna was just happy that it was over.The next 4 miles was rock hopping and dirt road walking along the ridge of the mountain. There was practically no cover for hours due to the damage done to the vegetation from past zinc smelting. It was an erie walk through a Super Fund sight that felt like it was another planet.When we arrived at the road to Danielsville we attempted to hitch into town for water since we were almost out and there was none on the trail for 7 miles. After being unsuccessful for 15 minutes, we decided to go with what we had and we moved on down the trail.It took us 2 miles before we found a suitable camping site for 2 tents and a hammock, but we're settled in and should sleep very well after the strenuous day.Granite passed by, stopping for a short time to chat, as did Bull and Crazy K. No sign of Scuba yet. My guess is that he will stay over in Palmerton and do the killer climb in the cool temperatures of the morning. Smart move.Tomorrow our goal is to get to water as soon as possible, so we'll leave early, before it gets too warm. We're hoping that the spring at Delps Trail, 5 miles from us, is running. If not, it's another 2 miles to the next water. This is the first time I've let myself get this short on water. It's getting more difficult to get water now then it was in the beginning of the trip when it was everywhere. I hate the thought of having to carry lots of water on my back, I have enough weight as it is!
Date: 2003-07-18
From: South Jersey

To: South Jersey
Miles today: 0.0

Slept in: Kim's houseI had arrived in Delaware Water Gap at 3pm on Thursday afternoon, called my family in south Jersey and begged a ride home for my 1st zero day in almost 3 weeks. My brother-in-law Mike who is the king of road trips arrived several hours later and met me at the visitor's center on the Jersey side of the Delaware River Bridge. What a guy!While I waited for our appointed pick up time, I went to the P.O. and retrieved my bounce box which I unloaded and threw away. It has become expensive and not very useful to me.The Hiker Center at the Church of the Mountain was a wonderful, friendly place and we hikers are so appreciative of Pastor Karen and her congregation for all they do for us. As luck would have it, every Thursday night they serve a pot luck dinner for hikers. Carolina Cruiser joined us to film the feast. I ate my fill of the delicious spread and had to run, I didn't want to be late for my ride home.It took Mike and I only 2 hours to get to my sister Kim's house where I would be staying. We made plans for a family dinner Friday night and Mike headed home.Today Kim and I, my niece Julia and nephew Christian food shopped for our family celebration tonight. Kim's husband Rory was home for the day; he's always good company. It was also my sister-in-law's birthday, so it was the perfect time for us all to be together.My day was spent playing Barbies, making baked beans, coloring, making iced tea, jumping on the trampoline, and watching a Snow White video.This evening we were joined by My bro-in-law Mike, his parents Barbara and Richard, nephew Nick, bro. John and his wife Kathy along with daughters Katie and Kylie, and my sister Karen with her son Jake. I couldn't believe how big Jake had gotten since I saw him in January!It was so good to be with family after 6 months, the perfect little side trip at this point in my adventure.I didn't write a journal on Wednesday or Thursday and don't have the data book pages for those distances, so my mileage will be off until I can get the info. and add it in, sometime in the future. I was stressing about not having written for 2 days (the first time I've done this!) and was going to try to re-create the days, but decided against it. What stands out is that I really enjoyed the hiking company of Tipperary this week, I met up with Last Minute Mark for the first time since Daleville, the weather was fantastic, and I felt strong and healthy. Life is good.
Date: 2003-07-19
From: Visitor's Center on the Jersey side of the bridge.

To: Ken-Etowa-Pec YMCA Camp
Miles today: 16.6

Nephew Christian awakened me at 5:30 this morning. The day starts early at Kim's house! It didn't matter, I had slept well, sharing Julia's big bed, and was being picked up at 6:30 for my ride back to the Gap.Mike, John, Kylie and Nick were taking me back and then hiking with me to Sunfish Pond.While Mike drove I caught up on my journal and e-mail.We arrived at the visitor's center at 9am and were on the trail by 9:15. Mike wanted to get the feel of backpacking, so he carried my pack to Sunfish Pond! I carried his day pack.We had a great hike and arrived at the pond before noon. After a snack and some pictures, we parted. The family headed south back to the parking lot, I headed north to Katahdin.Minutes after parting I started rock hopping around the pond. I wish they could have experienced some of that.Along the pond on a rocky "beach" were a dozen rock sculptures left by some creative person for all to enjoy. I certainly did.An hour later I saw a rattlesnake. He hissed at me and moved quickly off the trail. He never did rattle. After the snake came the wild turkey. He was the first turkey on my trip that didn't fly away. He watched me as he walked away.I stopped for lunch at the Mohican Outdoor Center. I was joined by: Mellow Yellow, Constant Motion, Granite, Blink Blink, and Scubaman. It would have been a great place to spend the night, but I had only done 9 miles and was feeling real good.I headed back out at 3:30 and arrived at the shelter by 7pm. The YMCA offers 2 shelters, fully enclosed, with screen doors. They are right on the lake and there are bears here. I'm sharing the shelter with a thru-hiker named Inish who left May 11th!! She is hiking 26-40 miles a day. Yikes, just thinking about all those miles makes my feet hurt.We're settled in the shelter on cots, journaling and listening to the whip-or-wills over the pond. Earlier we watched a beaver swim past us then go up onto the shore and into the grass. He came back a short time later, re-entered the water, and swam away.It's been a good day; great weather and a great trail. The visit with family was just the "shot in the arm" that I needed to jump start me into the northeast. I feel strong. I feel confident. I feel like a thru-hiker.
Date: 2003-07-20
From: Ken-Etowa-Pec YMCA Camp

To: Gren Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Last night Anish and I were just about to sleep at 9:30 when a section hiker that had gotten lost showed up. He banged around for over a half hour, then finally came into the cabin and settled down around 10.At 11:30pm the teenage group that was at the camp for the weekend, showed up on the beach about 100' from us to party. They left around 1am. I didn't get much sleep last night.The sun came up right into the door of the cabin. Laying on the cot, looking out at the misty water, and listening to the birds made me think about how wonderful it is that I'm out here experiencing this adventure.We were invited to eat breakfast after the campers finished and we accepted the offer. We dined on scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, muffins, cereal and juice. Then we were given lots of fresh fruit for our packs.We headed out late and Anish pulled quickly away from me. My walk was quiet and cool again this morning. I saw lots of bear scat, but no bears.There were numerous day hikers out today and I met the trail supervisor for the section of trail from Rt. 80 to N.J. 206. Later I met 2 trail maintainers who were cutting blow downs. They told me that there 3000 bears in north Jersey, so there would be bear hunting this year for 500 bears.When I reached Rt. 206, I went to the bakery and got a cold drink and a brownie the size of my head. I sat in front of the bakery and while I ate, I pulled out my pocketmail to read e-mails. When I was finished, I sent messages, called home (no-one answered) and called Justin, my youngest son. Justin leaves for Japan in one week for work and I feel badly that I haven't seen him since Christmas.I hiked another 3 miles to this shelter. With me are: Millipede, Mellow Yellow, Gazelle, and Sketch. I'm attempting to sleep in the shelter instead of tenting because we're expecting rain. My food bag is in the bear box a hundred feet away. A bear chewed up someone's pack here last week. A hiker left their pack at the trailhead and came down to the shelter for water. When he got back, a bear had eaten half of his pack! He chased it off, but at that point, it was way too late.I should sleep good tonight. Tomorrow is a 13 mile day.
Date: 2003-07-21
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: the "Secret" Shelter
Miles today: 18.8

I was cold last night in the shelter. The fleece liner is wonderfully cozy and soft, but not quite warm enough fo me. Even with long underwear and socks on, I had to pull my tent fly over me for warmth. Unfortunately, the fly acts like a vapor barrier and the fly and fleece get wet from condensation. So I'm damp all over, but warm. I'm thinking of getting the 20 degree bag back and keeping the fleece. That way on the chilly nights, I'd be ok.The birds awakened me at 5, but I waited until 6:45 to get up. It never did rain last night even though the wind picked up around 2:30 and it felt like rain.Millipede, Mellow Yellow and I headed out at 8:15. The trail was cool and dark. Mellow Yellow is missing his hiking partner, Constant Motion, who has gotten off for a week with a sprained ankle.Our first break was at the Pavilion on Sunrise Mountain. We stopped at the Information Center on Rt. 23 to eat our lunch's and to use the phone.Sketch and Gazelle were there too.After starting out again we went up on an observation tower where, on a clear day, which it wasn't, you can see New York City. Also from the deck you could see the High Point Monument a little way off in the distance.The day went quickly and we reached our destination around 5pm. A previous thru-hiker has opened his property to thru-hikers for sleeping. he built a bunk house with sink, dryer, and shower. It's on an old farmstead property, very pastoral, very pretty.We expected rain off and on all day and were very happy to have it hold off until we had eaten and those who were tenting had gotten their tents erected.At the first sign of rain I hit my tent and in the last half hour the thunder, lightning, and rain have danced over my head as I write. The thunder is rolling farther away now, the lightning is flashing instead of cracking, and the wind has died down some. The rain is still falling, although not as fast and furious. When it stops, I'll crawl out and do any damage control needed before heading to bed.The 18+ miles today have caused me some mighty sore feet, but I'll take 2 Aleve and hope for the best.
Date: 2003-07-22
From: the "Secret" Shelter

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 13.1

The thunder storms continued through the night, but I was comfortable and dry in my tent.I awakened at 5am and waited until 6:30 when the rain had stopped and the sky was blue, to leave my tent.I had coffee with a section hiker named Just Plain Ed, then at 7:00 began to pack up my wet tent. The extra weight of the wet gear is not welcome on my back.Mello Yellow and I headed out at 8am into the dripping wet woods. Although the sun was shining at 6:30, it had become overcast again, so it was nice and cool.I had become spoiled by the Pennsylvania trails, and so when we started the ups and downs today, I really felt them! I'm sure yesterday's 18.8 miles played a part in my fatigue, along with my very sore feet.Millipede, Mello Yellow and I stopped for lunch at the Pochuck Mountain Shelter then headed on toward Vernon.In the afternoon we were treated to a walk on the newly completed puncheons that meander through wetlands complete with cat tails, dragon flies, and an assortment of birds. The sun by this time was high in the sky so it was a toasty few miles, but everyone really enjoyed it.We arrived at the road to Vernon by 2pm, and went to the Heaven Hill Farm store for pastries, ice cream and fresh fruit before attempting to hitch the 2 miles into Vernon. I say "attempting" because we never got a ride and had to walk the 2 miles in. Road walks are difficult on sore feet and knees, so by the time we got here, I was very, very uncomfortable but after removing my pack, boots and taking some Aleve right away, I felt better and was able to walk the 1/2 mile to the A&P to resupply. I have a food drop in Bear Mountain, about 45 miles away, so I supplied for 3 days of food.The hostel is in the basement of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church and offers us a shower, laundry, full use of the kitchen, and space on the floor to put out our sleeping bags. There's also internet access and 2 televisions. They offer all this for $5.00! With me here are: Carolina Cruiser, Anish, 3 section hikers, Scubaman, Mello Yellow, Blink Blink, Jimmy and Elf, and a thru-hiker from 1994.We had another thunder shower tonight but happily I won't be packing out a wet tent in the morning.
Date: 2003-07-23
From: Vernon, NJ

To: Wildcat Shelter, New York
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: light rain

I slipped through an old growth Hemlock forest, up some rocks, and into the state of New York.The rain held off all day and allowed us to get to our destination, eat, set up, and have almost a full night's sleep before it dumped on us.The day went well. Kudos to to whomever laid out the trail up and out of Vernon. It was a 900' climb over rocks that was nicely switched back. There was the reward of a great view and a nice breeze at the top.Mello Yellow and I stopped for lunch and took several breaks throughout the day.With me at the shelter are: Morph, Moon Shadow, Skittles, Sheepstuff, Millipede, Gazelle, Sketch, Chicken Legs and CC, a section hiker, and Rubberband Man.All of the great miles that I have been making have wreaked havoc on my feet, like everyone else, because of the rocks. Hopefully, they will let me sleep tonight, without too much grumbling.
Date: 2003-07-24
From: Wildcat Shelter, New York

To: Fingerboard Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: light rain

I'm down for the count and in for the night!I have to say, this has been one of my toughest days on the trail yet.I hadn't slept last night because of the pains in my feet. I was in such bad shape when I reached the shelter that I never got it under control. I worry that I'm doing long term damage to my feet by continuing to hike when they are so bad.This morning when I awakened, the ball of my left foot and my toes were swollen more than usual. I was able to get my foot into my boot with the only discomfort being my big toe hitting the top of the boot.Mello Yello and I headed out at 7:45am but quickly separated because I was hiking slowly. If I was careful how I put my feet down, and didn't step on any roots or sharp rocks, or jump down off any rocks, or stretch my achilles tendons too much on the up hills, the pain cycle wouldn't start and hopefully I could get through the day.I stopped for lunch on top of Arden Mountain. It was a beautiful day and I could see a long way off. My boots and socks came off before I ate my spread of cheese and peanut butter on crackers, washed down with water.I sat and rested for an entire hour when Moon Shadow, Morph, and Skittles showed up for their lunch. I stayed on and visited since I enjoy the company of these 3 so much. We all headed out together about 2 hours after I had first sat down.The best part of the day came when we reached The Lemon Squeezer, a rock formation that dares you to go through it with your pack on. I went through first and made it all the way without having to remove my pack. I got myself into some awkward positions along the way, but made it. Skittles too was able to get through with his pack. Moon Shadow had to remove her pack and hand it up to me.Morph removed his but rolled it up the crack, keeping it with him the entire way. We laughed the entire time.Hiking with them is a pleasure, but several hours later when we reached the creek before Fingerboard Shelter, I had had enough. I stopped for water and told the group that I was going to the next shelter, not on to the lake as I had originally planned. Off they went, saying that they'd see me in the morning.I saw twin fawns, still sporting their spots, cross the trail in front of me and run into the woods, only to stop and watch me pass by.A short time later I met back up with Moon Shadow who had decided to go to the next shelter along with me and not push on the 6 more miles. Morph and Skittles hiked on down the trail.When we arrived at the shelter we were disappointed to find that the spring was dry, but we had collected enough water at the creek to last us until our first stop in the morning.As each hiker arrived at the shelter tonight, they said the same thing, that the trail kicked their butts today, that the 14+ miles seemed more like 20 miles, and that they were very tired and sore. I guess we're getting in shape for the Whites.
Date: 2003-07-26
From: Bear Mt. State Park

To: Greymoor Friary 
Miles today: 7.5

Teflon and his brother Samuel joined us in our secret campsite last night and we put our tents close together behind some rocks that were as big as a house. The trains along the Hudson river awakened me throughout the night, and the snorting of a large animal close to the tents kept me awake for some time too.This morning Moon Shadow and I packed up and went down to the lake to eat breakfast. It was quiet and cool. After eating we went under Rt. 9 and up to the zoo, which was closed at 8am with no-one was in sight. There was nothing to tell us what time it opened so we opted for the walk along Rt. 9. I later found out that it opened at 10am.As we crossed the Hudson River Bridge you could hear the firing range at West Point. It could still be heard 3 hours later.Moon Shadow was excited about meeting friends from home today and rushed off so we wouldn't be late. She will catch up later in the week.I walked along thinking about my friend CQ this morning who was supposed to hike Jersey and New York with me. He had to have unexpected surgery in June and was not in any shape to hike now. Hopefully he'll join me somewhere down the line for a day or two.I stopped for water at South Mountain Rd. and chugged what was left in my bottle before refilling. I've never been much of a chugger, but with water so difficult to find, I'm learning how. Moon Shadow, who had gotten behind me at the campsites, and I had a long talk about hiking in pain. She had to get off the trail early on due to knee problems, but was back out a week later. I cried, she listened. What a sweetheart she is.There were so many day hikers on the trail today, and they smell so good! I'm embarrassed to walk past them I smell so bad. I'm dirty, my clothes are really dirty and my pack is so dirty it now has a life of it's own.I crossed NY Rt. 9 around 11:30 and walked the last .6 miles to Graymoor Friary where I would be spending the night. Since 1978 these generous folks have given hikers a place to sleep, a shower, and a meal at the end of their day. There are 12 of us here right now, everyone waiting for the Frier to come and get us for dinner.We have returned from a dinner of salad, 2 kinds of pasta, homemade soup, bread and pudding. My stomach is full, my spirit happy. Tomorrow morning I'm going to my first mass that doesn't involve the wedding of a Catholic friend or relative.After mass I'll attempt to get a ride into Kent, Conn. to the closest outfitter and get new footwear. Scuba told me that when he replaced his Vasque boots several weeks ago the balls of his feet felt better almost immediately.
Date: 2003-07-27
From: Greymoor Friary 

To: Kent, Conn.
Miles today: 0.0

Last night I slept like a baby from 8:30pm until 6 this morning. I hadn't slept in 3 days because the pains in my feet awakened me constantly through the night. After such a stressful day yesterday, worrying about my feet and hike, and hobbling into Greymoor after only 7+ miles, I was just exhausted.This morning I attended mass in the St. Christopher's Inn. The Inn is home to a number of homeless and drug and alcohol addicted men. The men play an important part in the service, singing and reading throughout the hour. It was very moving to see how the men were trying to turn their lives around.After mass one of the Friers offered me his cell phone when I had difficulty with a pay phone at the Inn. I called a local trail angel for help in getting the 60 miles to the outfitter in Kent, Conn.This dear man said he would be at Greymoor in one hour and drive me all the way to Kent himself! He would take no payment whatsoever for his good deed, not even let me buy his lunch when we stopped to eat along the way.He drove me around Kent until we found a place for me to stay. The St. Andrews Church, where I hoped to stay for several days, is no longer running their hiker hostel. The outfitter recommended the newly renovated Starbuck Inn, and they had an opening, so I am being pampered this evening. Laurel, the Inn's manager, has fed me wonderful treats, answered all of my endless questions and offered support for my aching dawgs.I have called Jack and gotten rid of all my tears about my feet. I've purchased new Asolo boots that I hope help my foot problems and don't make them worse. I have iced my feet, something I wish I could do nightly at the shelters! I have accepted the fact that my hike has to change in order for me to keep going.