morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-02
From: Delaware Water Gap PA

To: Brink Road Shelter NJ
Miles today: 24.6
Weather: light rain

I woke before everyone else, Tex and Chicago Bob o r(Rob) have come in during the night. I quietly pack up, Pop Tart is asleep on the couch, his mouth gaped wide open. Heh, heh, heh, I ponder on whether I should mess with him just a little. Naw, I¢ll let him sleep. Eat 2 muffins for breakfast and head out.          Walk down the Delaware River Bridge. Yippy-Ki-Yay, I¢m in New Jersey Now! Soon get to the trailhead, pass by a nice looking stream, I¢m told to beware of the water in Jersey. After taking one look at the Delaware River, I believe it! Nice moderate climb up into woods, still plenty evil-wicked rocks though.         Pass by sunfish pond. 40 acre lake that is too acidic for most fish, or so the sign says, looks beautiful. Sunfish are supposed to be the only fish in it. I noticed hundreds of frogs, they seem to be having a grand ole time. I continue on by Catfish Fire Tower. Today I¢m a little worried about the Oct 15th deadline for Katahdin. Time is slowly running out. I try to shrug it off, but that¢s not so easily done.          Pass by Crater Lake, a youth group is having a canoe race. Their parents are jumping up and down screaming ¢Paddle Faster, Paddle Faster¢ I chuckle to myself. I¢m back in bear country and I believe it. Saw 3 bear today.          The scary moment of the day came when I heard rustling in the bushes beside me. I¢m quite accustomed to this as there are many chipmunks in these parts. I glance over. Its much larger than a chipmunk and is black with a white strip!! The skunk obviously felt threatened. It whirled around, lifted its tail and prepared to fire! If Olympic track coaches could have seen my hurdle-jumping maneuvers, I¢m convinced I could get gold. I bounded back down the trail and watched from a safe distance. The skunk liked his spot and refused to move. It¢s getting late and I¢ve got to hustle to make it to Brink Road shelter before dark. I threw sticks trying to scare it off. No luck, it only made him madder, now it¢s hissing at me. I take my water bottle and lob half a liter at it. Ah-Ha! It worked, the skunk slowly walked away. I smell bad enough as it is. I don¢t need any more ¢drama¢. With that behind me I hurry to the shelter. Before I get there, I meet a ¢South-bounder¢, he doesn¢t seem very friendly, that the 2nd ¢South-bounder¢ I¢ve met that has acted like that. So is this what Maine does to you?          Finally get to shelter. Dark, dreary looking structure, the mosquitoes are horrible. It¢s difficult to write this with these evil bugs. All in all, a productive day. 24.6 miles. Gonna settle in.
Date: 2004-08-03
From: Brink Road Shelter NJ

To: High Point Shelter NJ
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: light rain

Wake quite early, didn¢t sleep very well at all. Ate a corn muffin for breakfast, pack up and head out. Not bad walking so far.         Get to Culver Gap, route 206, there are a few businesses down the road. I decide to hunt a few candy bars. I walk by bakery that has ice cream, but they¢re closed. I decide to try Gyp¢s Tavern, a bar and grill. I stroll in, nice atmosphere. They have the TV tuned into the FOX news. I catch up on the news, learn that there is a hurricane headed for the Outer Banks, a fellow sitting beside me obviously an early drinker turns to me ¢Where are ya from¢ he slurs. ¢NC¢ I say. He gets excited and informs me that the hurricane is gonna get me. The bartender who is obviously familiar with this guy changes the subject to fishing. The drinker then calms down for some reason. I¢m the only guy at the bar who is drinking a cherry coke! I stay there longer than I should, I need to be moving.         Soon I head up into a state park and take a break at the Culver Fire Tower. Typical rocky walk. Get to Gren Anderson shelter just for the heck of it I look in the bear box. Cookies, candy, first aid supplies, even fuel!! I can¢t believe it! All of this is courtesy of a fellow named ¢Desperado¢. The same fellow who places gallons of water along the trail. I wish I could shake his hand!         Push on to High-Point State Park, here I encounter many blackberries! Rocky walk to High Point shelter. A youth group has swarmed the shelter. Kids running wild everywhere. I unpack and talk with their leader, a south African gentleman who when he speaks, it is with definite distinction and authority. It seems that he has his hands full today. Getting late, he quickly quiets them down. Settle in.
Date: 2004-08-04
From: High Point Shelter NJ

To: Mt. Vernon NJ
Miles today: 19.4

I leave before the youth group wakes. Trail not bad at all, have to walk through many bogs. If I stop, the mosquitoes will eat me alive. I¢m told that Unionville is a good place to resupply. I reach the highway into Unionville, but I decide to keep moving. I have run out of bread and snacks. This is not good.          Very hot today, water is becoming scarce, locals are leaving gallon jugs of water at trail crossings. This is a blessing, make it to Pochuck Mountain shelter. In the register there¢s a lot of talk about the hostel in Vernon, NJ. I had planned to do 24 miles today but if I stop at Vernon, it will only be 19. 19 is still not a bad day. I decide to stop at Vernon. Prior to Vernon, I cross a very large bog, the ATC has built a beautiful wooden bridge that snakes it¢s way through. A most pleasant walk on the Poechuck Creek footbridge. Lots of walking through hot open fields of grass.         Finally get to NJ-94. Crossing into Vernon. Have to hitch. I¢m in luck, a lady driving a new Suburban pulls over. Two young twins are strapped in their car-seats. She takes me to the hostel. The hostel is under a church. Very impressed, it has laundry, internet, showers and groceries are nearby. I walk in, 3 others are here, I recognize ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦. The other is the ¢Rev Yukon Jack¢. So and So Hiker"************" says a ¢very large¢ lady gave him a ride in and apparently she¢s fallen for him. (love-wise) that is. She drops him off and tells him that she might swing back by later on.         I soon shower then get onto the internet to check out Gather¢s website as well as my own, very impressed!! Dad is doing such a good job, I¢m a little worried that he spends too much time dealing with the journals and not enough time fishing!!         Later on a ¢big¢ lady comes in looking for ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦! We tell her we don¢t have a clue where he¢s at, but know exactly where he¢s at, he¢s down at the restaurant. She looks at me and says ¢¢¦¢¦¢¦.., you¢ve shaved your beard!¢ I¢m stunned and speechless she has me confused with him. She soon leaves disappointed. It was very tempting to send her down to the restaurant! I would have to go to just to see the look on his face! She leaves him a long note and says she may be back. Looks like ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦ has a stalker on his hands. We get a good laugh out of that one. I head to the A/P to re-supply buy too much as usual. Back at the hostel I meet ¢HomeFry¢ a Southbounder, He says the next 2 days will be difficult. Settle in for the night.
Date: 2004-08-05
From: Mt. Vernon NJ

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept well at the hostel. Now it¢s time to get moving. The problem is however, I just can¢t get motivated. No MoJo in me today.We all sit and talk. The Rev Yukon Jack heads to the diner, I eat 4 blueberry muffins that I bought at the A&P. Muffins are pure energy.¢Homefry¢ is taking a zero day. I learned that his parents were very much against his plans for walking the trail, so he sneaked out of the house in the wee hours of the morning! Nice guy he is.Me (******) and ¢Homefry¢ walk to the P.O., then to the A&P. Get back to Hostel, The Reverend has gone. It¢s 11:30 am. (******) bid farewell to the others and start hitching. No more than 5 minutes we land a ride. Nice lady named Linda drops us off at the trail head. But before we commence walking we head to a bakery that¢s close by. I buy Plums, (*******) eats a substantial number of do-nuts! A very substantial number.Into the woods we go, tough climb as always. We are mainly boulder hopping. But almost as soon as we cross the NJ ¢ NY state line things change. The terrain is much more rugged. Very steep climbs, short but very vertical. All day long, up, down, up down etc. Towards the end of day we begin to smell hot-dogs! We soon come to a road, sure enough a sign points the way to a hot-dog stand 0.1 mile down the road. We almost sprint down the road only to find no stand! Our guess is they left just before we got there! Pure torture!Head to Wildcat Shelter, gets dark, temp drops rapidly, the Reverend Yukon Jack is there There is no water source! Going to be a long night. The Reverend is slightly pissed because he can¢t cook for the lack of water. I¢m in the same position. Settle in.Vernon NJ to Wildcat Shelter 16.4 miles
Date: 2004-08-06
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Beechy Bottom Brook
Miles today: 21.9

Wake before the others, very nippy. Get going typical NY walk, steep, rocky, up¢s, down¢s. meet ¢Johnson¢ local hiker at a trail head. Nice fellow. He gives me soft drinks, fruit and chocolate! This is a blessing! NY is rugged but beautiful. This makes walking more enjoyable.My legs are really being tested today. I come to the ¢Lemon Squeeze¢ a narrow slot in which you have to pass through. I get severely squeezed!! Long, long day. My plans were to make it to West Mountain Shelter, but that¢s not looking too good.Getting dark, very little water left. I cross NY State Thruway, basically a suicide crossing!! I felt as if I were playing ¢Frogger¢ these people drive like maniacs!!Get to Beechy Bottom Brook, decide to camp here since there¢s water. 23 mile day, hope it don¢t rain tonight since I don¢t have a tent¢¦¢¦..Wildcat shelter to Beechy Bottom Brook - 21.9 miles
Date: 2004-08-07
From: Beechy Bottom Brook

To: Denning Hill
Miles today: 14.9

Cold last night, slow to get going. A north bounder comes by. I get cranking soon. Get to Perkins Tower. I get my first look at New York City from here.Trail here is very crowded with day hikers and visitors. A Ranger tells me there is a concession stand down the mountain down at the picnic area, off I go.Get there in no time. This is one crowded park. I¢m starving, buy food and set down amidst 400 Jamaicans (really). I¢m the only honky in the crowd.Watch people come and go trying to imagine what their life styles are, what their homes look like. Spend a lot of time here.As I walk the A/T through the park it gets even more crowded. Everywhere there are picnic tables loaded with food!! It makes me want to close my eyes. I see ¢Tarsan¢ here, he¢s going to take a day off to visit with some of his family.I push forward through the crowd, stop and buy some ice cream, apples and plums. I notice that one side of the park is Hispanic and the other side is black, perfect mixture for a gang war.Just as I begin to cross Bear Mountain Bridge, a family stops and gives me a bag of Tommy Toes and crackers, how nice is that? I ate the Tommy Toes before I got halfway across the bridge.Big climb up, meet several people walking their dogs. They all live in Manhattan. Not a bad walk today. Get to Old West Point Road. Just up the road there¢s a Monastery. They take hikers in for free. I walk up there but I only get water and keep going. Getting dark, I camp up high on Denning Hill, gets cold when sun sets. Great View!! Settle in for a chilly night, hoping again it don¢t rain as I don¢t have a tent ¢¦¢¦¢¦.Beechy Bottom Brook to      Denning Hill   14.9 miles
Date: 2004-08-08
From: Denning Hill

To: NY - 52
Miles today: 21.6

Wake, eat apples and plums for breakfast! Get moving. Trail is getting somewhat easier, less rocky. Get to Fahnestock State park. At the road I lose the trail, it happens sometimes. I soon pick it up and keep digging.Stop at the R.P.H. Shelter, nice! Small house like shelter with well water. Very tempted to stay but too much daylight left. A map on the wall tells of a deli 5.5 miles up the trail at NY ¢ 52. That¢s where I¢m headed.Mean climb, up, downs, up, downs etc. I meet ¢Shredder¢ and ¢Fochs¢ 2 south bounders. Get to NY ¢ 52. Walk 0.3 miles down the road to the deli. Get sandwiches, candy bars.¢ Katie¢ and ¢Gorbechev¢ are there, north bound girls, Gorbechev I think is from Albemarle NC, not far from High Rock Lake where I live.A red headed south bounder soon staggers up, ¢Scooter¢, orders a big pizza, gives me two slices, man that¢s good pizza!It¢s getting dark, we watch people come and go. We both head out to the highway, a jeep pulls up, guy and a lady. Offers us cookies, fruit, drinks and even offers ¢Scooter¢ a pair of shoes! His were about to fall to pieces. I take a few candy bars. ¢Scooter¢ thanks them but turns down the shoes. We both head off in opposite directions. I camp not too far away from the highway. It¢s much warmer tonight ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦Denning Hill   to NY ¢ 52 21.6 miles
Date: 2004-08-09
From: NY - 52

To: Ten Mile River Lean-To
Miles today: 23.1

Wake early, good sleep. I still need my sleeping pad though. Easy walking so far. Meet several south bounders leaving the Morgan Stewart Shelter, ¢Tape Worm¢ and ¢Tinkerbell¢. I stop at the shelter to check on Gather¢s whereabouts. I¢m slowly catching up.A Chipmunk scurries up to my feet and stares at me ? I give him some Snickers pieces, he appreciates that greatly. He packs his jaws full just like I do !!Nice walking today! I stop at Nuclear Lake, pretty lake, lots of bream. I take a break here, walk out on small dock. Lots of bream swarm to the surface! It appears that someone feeds these fish here.Walk through lots of bogs and wetlands, beautiful plants here. Meet fellow ¢Blisterfree¢ and his father out on a day hike. ¢Blisterfree¢ thru-hiked the trail, we talk a little, he gives me a giant red grapefruit, fresh fruit is always welcome.Soon get to West Dover Road, there¢s a hot dog stand just down the highway. I almost run to get there! While eating ¢Gorbechev¢ walks up, she¢s starving also! She lives in Albermarle NC!! Just graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in journalism. We spend too much time there.Time to get walking. I¢m moving fast now, go by several beautiful homes. I wonder what they do for a living? Pass on by Wiley Shelter. Getting late, I push on it! Ten Mile River Lean-To. It¢s empty, this surprises me! I¢ve seen mice here, gonna have to hang food bag up high tonight ¢¦¢¦¢¦NY ¢ 52 to Ten mile River lean-To   23.1 miles
Date: 2004-08-10
From: Ten Mile River Lean-To

To: Kent CT
Miles today: 8.7

Decent nights rest, get moving, nice trout stream follows the trail for a ways. Nice easy walking, boy, oh boy, wish I had a canoe right about now. I know Gather thought the same thing when he laid eyes on the water, good rapids everywhere.My plans were to take a side trail to Bulls Bridge Road. There is a grocery store there, I need candy bars!! I need them now!! As my luck goes I somehow missed the side trail!! Am frustrated about this!! The next re-supply is Kent CT which is about 7 miles up the trail!! I walk through bottom lands, come to a road. A Masda Miata comes whizzing by, but has to stop for a deer that refuses to move out of the road. I asses the situation, then chuckle to myself. The driver lays down on the horn, after a bit the deer slowly wanders off the road towards the swamp.I then begin to climb Schaghticoke Mountain. Long tedious ascent. Climbing first thing in the morning seems the hardest because your legs are not geared up and your heart rate is not up to speed. Damn thing just keeps going up and up!!Soon I get to the NY ¢ CT State Line ¢ Whoppeeee !!!! I think I whoppeeeed too soon, the terrain becomes substantially more rugged and tougher !! Steep climbs, steep decents, my knee¢s were about to melt down!I meet a pack of south bounders again, they just stagger past, their eyes locked in concentration. 7.5 miles later I reach CT ¢ 341, the highway into Kent CT.A few hikers are walking back toward the trail. They informed me that although the re-supply is good, the people aren¢t exactly friendly. I shall see for myself!I get NO ride in, have to hoof it. Kent is a very pretty town, small but very upscale. Lots of big money rolling through. I stand out like a sore thumb.Go re-supply, set outside grocery store and analyze the people, this seems to be a specialty of mine. Go to outfitters for fuel, ¢Katie¢ walks in. She said ¢Rainbow Lady¢ was upset and is getting off the trail.My plans were to re-supply and then get the hell out of town, but it never quite works out that way. I always get sucked into the vortex of ¢the town¢. I go to the pay phone and call home. Two kids on bikes ride up beside me chattering loudly! One of them eventually says ¢any day now¢ I look over at them and bark out a string of very colorful words! They quickly leave. Some of these northern kids aught to be used as shark food!!I¢ll be staying here tonight, I¢m a little frustrated that I basically blew the day! A local church lets us sleep in the yard and they provide us with a COLD shower. I shower, head off to do errands, explore the town.Little bit worried about the weather as I have no tent. But I have spied a dry place to sleep if weather rolls in. I have my gear ready for a quick getaway. Settle in ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦Ten Mile River Lean-To   to Kent CT 8.7 miles
Date: 2004-08-11
From: Kent CT

To: Mohawk Trail
Miles today: 23.3

Last night I looked up every so often to see the stars, many stars. Later on I see no stars! Oh man this could get interesting. Soon thunder and lightning headed this way! I bolt upright, pack the sleeping bag up, grab the pack and run for a door way entrance to the church, just enough space for one! I run back to make sure I didn¢t leave any gear. I see something on the ground, I don¢t have my headlamp with me, so it¢s quite hard to make out. It¢s another Skunk!!! It sees me and bolts off in another direction: Towards ¢Katie¢s¢ tent!!The Skunk leans up against ¢Katie¢s¢ tent as if it¢s scratching itself! I start laughing!!! Just as I get settled in the heavy rains make their presence known. I get a good rest and stay dry as well.Morning comes, I go off to eat, then get moving. No free ride out of town! I walk back to the trail, as usual hard climb up. Walk through lots of soggy bottom land, but many short but steep climbs. My goal is Pine Swamp Brook Lean-To, but I decide to push on to Mohawk Trail. There is supposed to be lodging and meals here.I push hard, getting dark fast. Finally get there. Guess what? The caf© is closed and I don¢t see any lodging, and it¢s thundering!! I¢m beyond pissed! Hungry, tired, I look for a place to sleep. I make the decision to stealth sleep. I walk past a school, beside the school is an old house. The house is possibly the original school house. There is a porch with hedges in front. There is a pile of leaves pushed against the front door. It¢s been a while since that door has been opened. I lay my bag down, ducking down whenever a car comes by. After eating peanut butter sandwiches I settle in, but I must be up early before before someone sees me. Police car comes by several times during the night checking the place out, I hunker down behind the hedges. I now know exactly how it feels to be homeless. The only difference between a homeless person and a thru-hiker is ¢Gortex¢ Kent CT   to Mohawk Trail   23.3 miles
Date: 2004-08-12
From: Mohawk Trail

To: Hemlocks Shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: moderate rain

Wake very early, pack quickly. A Policeman drives by and keeps on going. The clouds open up just as I get packed, heavy rains. I see the teachers coming to work, parking their cars. I head for the caf©, rain stops, get good breakfast then head out. Rains all day, I¢m soaked! Trail is beginning to show signs of bigger and bigger climbs. Long rocky climbs are more frequent.I meet Ranger Jan a thru-hiker. I last saw him in Daleville VA. He skipped most of the trail, catches a bus up to the NY section of the trail. I decide to call it a short day, staying at the Riga Lean-To. It¢s been a long time since I got to a shelter before dark. It¢s a hassle to cook and report at night.Ranger Jan and ¢Arms¢ decide to make a push for the Hemlocks Shelter. I go with them, It¢s an 8.8 mile addition to the day. We push on. Long rocky climbs, but it¢s not bad because the views are outstanding.Soon get to the Ma ¢ CT State Line. ¢Whaooo ¢ Hooooo!!!¢ Instantly we are greeted with ¢Sages Ravine¢ and Mt. Everett. Rocks are wet, lots and lots of rain has fallen. Meet ¢ Doc Gnarly¢ an older fellow, very polite person. Soon go down some wicked hills. I¢m very glag I have trekking poles!Takes a long time to pick my way down there. The views of MA farm countryside are overwhelming. getting dark, I don¢t want to get caught in the dark here. Hurtle,, hurtle ¢ get to the Hemlocks shelter, pitch dark.I walk up to shelter, chat with someone outside, ask if there is room, etc, etc, the usual questions. I turn to un-pack, my headlamp flashes across his face. I instantly stop in my tracks, the fellow I¢m talking to is my brother ¢Gather¢ !!!He is as surprised as I am! Both of us simply cannot believe we stood there, talked to each other and didn¢t recognize each others voice! We talk then settle in ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦Mohawk Trail to   Hemlocks Shelter   23.5 miles
Date: 2004-08-13
From: Hemlocks Shelter

To: Wilcox Lean-To
Miles today: 21.7

During the night, a loud ¢thud¢ wakes us all up. A hikers dog has fallen out of one of the bunks. The dog is fine. Quick breakfast of peanut butter sandwiches and I¢m off. ¢Gather¢ left a little earlier, we¢re headed to Mt Wilcox South Lean-To, this will be a 19.8 mile day.Not bad walking at all, typical walking, up down, up down, very heavy rain all day long. Sick of walking in the rain. All my socks are wet. I¢m pissed off! Slip and fall, no harm done.Meet north bounder ¢Harry¢, him and ¢Gather¢ have been hiking together. Finally get to shelter, the rain has me looking like a prune.The only other person there is a Ridge Runner. He tells me about the upper Goose Pond Cabin, this is more of a house than a shelter. Walkers are welcome to stay there. The care-taker even serves ¢PANCAKES¢ in the morning!Soon two south bounders with their dog roll in, very pleasant people. A full shelter tonight. I start to cook, Adam makes fun of my stove. Just as I finish eating the rains come again. Perfect timing, a youth group of girls come staggering in. They camp behind the shelter, they are not happy at all, they¢re miserable! They whine and complain. I¢m glad I¢m in here and they¢re out there. Survival of the fittest. Settle in. ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦..Hemlocks Shelter to MT Wilcox Lean-To   21.7 miles
Date: 2004-08-14
From: Wilcox Lean-To

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: few clouds

Wake early, the Ridge Runner has already gone. We pack and leave (Gather and I). Today is Gathers Birthday. We decide to head to Upper Goose Pond Cabin. Solid rain all day, the trail takes us through lots of swamp, beaver ponds. I even see where beavers have built a dam and flooded part of the trail.The mosquitoes are vicious! I don¢t even want to stop and rest because of them. Long day it seems.Get to Upper Goose Pond. Pond is very clear, kayaks are everywhere. The cabin is nice, a father and son from Maine are there. We un-pack, more people are coming in, The ¢Dysfunctional Family¢ from Wilmington NC comes in, as well as the crowd ¢Gather runs with. A full house. ¢Gather¢ and I are not getting along well at all, what else is new. Sometimes I wish I had not caught up to him. Settle in ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦..Mt Wilcox Lean-To to Upper Goose Pond Cabin 15.8 miles