morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-12
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: broken clouds

A few more rocks today, but nothing serious. Got on the trail at 8 and sorta took my time since it was only 17 or so miles. As I pulled into William Penn Shelter for a midday break around 3 pm, in walks Mr Breeze* my old trail friend from Day 1 & 2. He had just completed 25 miles, but at the mention of a solar shower here at 501 he agreed to make the extra 4 miles.Well as it turns out, the shower was cold, but since the book mentioned a McDonalds 3.7 miles down the road (PA 501) I decided I needed a cheese burger . It was to be my first hitch hike experience on the trail. I got a ride almost right away, but the McDonalds was off the 501 and over a hill and down another highway. 15 minutes in and 1 hour out. Yup, I was standing there for an hour before a couple of guys in a small car turned around and picked me up. I brought Mr Breeze* his quarter pounders and hour old fries for which he was thankful.So my first hitch wasn't all that bad considering I was so far from the trail that most folk probably didn't even know it was there. 501 Shelter is a neat enclosed cabin run by the ATC. Like a free hostel .
Date: 2006-06-13
From: 501 Shelter

To: Port Clinton Hotel
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: clear sky

So I was lured by the prospect of a shared hotel room bill by Mr Breeze*. Sort of a mistake, but I will explain. I wasn't planning on a long day, but the caretaker at 501 said that after the first hour it wasn't a bad hike. Well that wasn't exactly the way it went. The PA rocks hit today. Lots and lots of sharp pointy rocks. I made the 24 mile trip including the half mile into town in under 12 hours, getting started at 0530, but not without it's toll on my feet. Most of the trail was sharp embeded rock that just seem to penetrate your boots.The Port Clinton Hotel is old, much like the Doyle in Duncannon. Shower down the hall, tiny rooms, few amenities, you get the picture. However, they have an excellent restaurant and bar downstairs. We got laundry and showers and a trail angel named Closer* provided transporation to re-supply. Not much available in Port Clinton. There is not even a single pay phone in the whole town!Today I jumped a wild turkey, which took flight and scared the crap out of me . Then later I some how got between a hen grouse and her chicks. She was not the least bit happy about this and I nearly got goosed! or groused .Well, I gained half a day on my schedule. Hopefully I can keep it but re-supply required some adjustments.
Date: 2006-06-14
From: Port Clinton Hotel

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: overcast clouds

OK, so I lost the half day I gained, but my feet feel pretty good tonight . I woke up at 4:30 this am when Mr Breeze* got up and we hiked the half mile down to a diner for breakfast. The breakfast at CC's was great, then Mr Breeze* departed on his 20+ day and I went back to the room and slept til 9:00 . I checked out of the room at 11:00 so I could get the $10.00 key deposit back and about then up walks Sir Wounded Knee* and Lady Green*. Spook* joined us then for lunch in the Hotel Restaurant. Sir Wounded Knee* ordered a plate of fries and when it came we all were speechless. The pile of fries stood about 6 inches high on the plate. Spook* and I were invited to help out and together we nearly finished it off.One thing led to another and we decided to wait a bit before leaving town. Then came a down pour of a storm and we waited a little longer. We've been really lucky with this weather because once we started hiking the rain had stopped completely.So here in the shelter tonight I have my tent set up to deter the bugs and Lady Green* and Sir Wounded Knee* have theirs set up also. They offered to let me call home on their cell phone and since Port Clinton did not have a phone, I was happy to make the call. Sir Wounded Knee* and Lady Green* are really nice people and also very interesting. Sir Wounded Knee* and I chatted about a variety of subjects the whole way here today. Just plain great folks to travel with, but unfortunately our schedules will diverge in a few days when they take a zero. Oh well...that's the trail for ya.
Date: 2006-06-15
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: PA 309, Blue Mountain summit
Miles today: 20.6

Well our half way ice cream at Eckville Shelter was a bust. Apparently they used to have a fridge at the Eckville Shelter, which also has a flush toilet and a solar shower, but according to the caretaker "There was a problem last year." Lady Greene*, Sir Wounded Knee* and I were all set on ice cream.So we see that 4 miles beyond our planned stop here at Blue Mountain is a restaurant that allows hikers to tent in the back yard. So we pumped out the 20 today and had a restaurant meal. It's PA's way of making up for the rocks, which by the way are every bit as bad as their reputation. Just hideous.OK, only about 50 miles of PA remains, then I'll be in New Jersey. But I guess it drifts back and forth between New York and New Jersey. The whole thinkg is only 160 miles to the Connecticut line. I'll be in Vermont before mid July. Fine by me.
Date: 2006-06-16
From: PA 309, Blue Mountain summit

To: Slatington, PA
Miles today: 13.3

Well, last night was different. The trucks on 309 rolled by all night long driving me to put in my earplugs and the restaurant has a flood light that shines into the back yard where we were camped. All in all though, the grass was nice and rock free....at least the first 2 inches, and I woke up rested.LG*, SWK* and I slack packed over some PA rocks today and it was a pretty good day. Crossed over some wicked boulder scrambles and stepped lightly (in my 6 lb pack) over the embedded pointy rocks. My feet still hurt, but not as bad as usual. It really does come down to weight.We saw two large black snakes today. It was about 90° so the snakes were active. We got a shuttle to Allentown Mall where there is an EMS Outfitter and I was able to replace my socks that had about 800 miles on them. It was weird being in a mall after being in the woods all day. Just a sureal feeling.Tomorrow we climb out of Lehigh Gap on a shagnasty trail that climbs 1000 feet in less than a mile. We'll be slack packing again and I don't know where I will set up camp tomorrow night. That's not usually my style, but after getting a good look at tomorrow's climb, it's a chance I'll take in order to slack pack this climb. I'll be saying goodbye to LG* and SWM* after our 20 mile slack pack tomorrow since they will be zeroing at Wind Gap. Such is the trail and it's mantra..."Hike your own hike." I've stopped doing zero's so I will move on.
Date: 2006-06-17
From: Slatington, PA

To: Wind Gap, PA
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, our slack packing trip didn't set any speed records and we got sort of a late start, so my plans to resupply and keep moving from Wind Gap fell apart by 7 pm. At least we only have about 15 more miles of PA rocks.LG*, SWK* and I started the day with a climb out of Lehigh Gap. It was a steep exposed boulder climb that sometimes required a handhold. The view back over the shoulder was spectacular! and the climb was sorta fun. Once on top we were on the Palmerton EPA Superfund Site. A barren wasteland gradually coming back to life after the zinc smelting operation in Palmerton caused the loss of vegetation. Interesting, scary, surreal.We waw a Black Racer and I never saw a snake move so fast. He darted into the bushes and covered 5 yards in the blink of an eye, popping out between SWK* and LG*. SWK* and I then went to redirect him and he came at SWK* in such a rapid fashion, crossing his boot while trying to dart into the bush. SWK* launched and nearly knocked me down. It was hilarious.... the Racer won .The last 10 miles today were very rocky, very tedious and very painful.
Date: 2006-06-18
From: Wind Gap, PA

To: Deleware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 15.6

Well I was going to stop short at 9 miles, but as I pulled into the Kirkridge Shelter, Gumby* and Coyotebec*, Tinkerbell* and Hind's Feet* were there on a break and moving on the 6.6 miles to Delaware Water Gap. The hostel is free the first night, so who can pass up a free shower on a 90° day .I'm glad to hook up with friends again after leaving SWK* and LG* behind. Leaving friends behind is one aspect of the trail that makes one sad. I've left so many new friends behind, but that's the trail. It gives - it takes.This is a very nice hostel in the basement of a church. A shower, a Bunkroom and a common room all free to hikers. Delaware Water Gap is, by the way, on the PA border, so I have crossed PA in 15 days. I've stuck to my 15 miles/day average even if I hiked several 20+ days. Actually, as I sit here, I am half a day ahead of my planning.I saw a cuckoo today. A large gray bird with a longer than average tail. It let loose two clear notes that were unmistakable. But I didn't know or expect to see cuckoo's here. Curious? But as it turns out, cuckoos eat gypsy moth caterpillars and are definaitely needed here.
Date: 2006-06-19
From: Deleware Water Gap, PA

To: Mohican Outdoor Center, NJ
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: broken clouds

OK, well I'm in New Jersey. I took a short day today and for the first time in a long time, I actually rested. The center is out in the woods, so there are none of the usual town chores that find me walking as much as on a full hiking day. It's just three of us here tonight. Cookie*, Orange man* and myself in an 18 bunk cabin complete with full kitchen and two showers. Not bad at all for $12.I caught up with Cookie* from Trail Journals yesterday. He started on Feb 28. I also caught up with a couple from Grand Rapids, MI. Headin Out* and Tagin Along*. Nice folk. They are choosing to tent here, but I think the 5 PM T-storm and the one that is building now at 8 pm made them wish they hadn't.The climb out of Delaware Water Gap was gradual and a nice change even though the temp was in the high 90°'s and the humidity would make a fish sweat. We crossed I-80 today and into a new state. I'm running out of interstate highway's to cross . 7 out of the 14 states are behind me and with PA and it's horrendous rocks being a big psychological hurdle, it feels pretty good. Of course NJ has the same geology, but there was, in fact, less of the really nasty stuff today. By month's end, I expect to be tackling CT and MA will soon follow. Hopefully with less rocks.
Date: 2006-06-20
From: Mohican Outdoor Center, NJ

To: Gren Anderson Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: light rain

The NJ trail is gentler, less rocky and more springy. I'm sure the T-storm yesterday helped, but after 20 miles, I have less foot pain than on any other day since March. Let that stand as a testament that the PA rocks do end.I saw two bears, a fawn, a really cool beetle, a hummingbird, a pilieated woodpecker and a scarlet tanager today, and... oh yeah a garter snake The first bear was a huge 300 pounder that I walked within 10 yards of before he let me know he was there. The unnerving thing was that this brown didn't run away. He walked slowly away from the trail, clearly unafraid of humans. The second bear was smaller, maybe only 150 pounds. He ran when I smacked my poles together. Oh, I almost forgot! I saw some baby birds that I thought might be grouse, then... I saw momma!!!! She was coming for me, one T'd off turkey momma! I had to fend her off with my poles. Honest, I wasn't bothering them. So I guess it was a pretty good day for wildlife. Coulda done without being goosed by a turkey, but hey....that's the trail.
Date: 2006-06-21
From: Gren Anderson Shelter, NJ

To: Unionville, NY
Miles today: 20.1

Unionville, NY, which is .4 miles off the trail allows hikers to camp in the city park. Cookie*, Patches*, Ole Graceful* and myself have our tents set up while Silverback* opted for the $3.00 hostel at the tavern. We have just returned from the Soda shop across the street where we had some excellent meat ball subs and ice cream... of course.No significant animals today, but NJ did deliver some nice views. We passed High Point State Park that had a couple of very nice vista's. It was a lot rockier than yesterday and my dog's are hurting tonight, but I'm sorta used to that.There is a mercury vapor lamp here in the park which will flood us with its warmth all night. We can hear cars go by and the fire department alarm is sounding as I write. I'm gonna dream I'm in the movie "War of the Worlds" it has been sounding for over a minute now. It's really loud and wavering. Maybe it's just to keep the bears out of the park .OK, there goes the fire engine. Yup, I'm still on the AT. or am I only dreaming? Yes, I am in NY, but we weave the border for a while.
Date: 2006-06-22
From: Unionville, NY

To: Vernon NJ
Miles today: 11.8

Here at the St Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel, we have 10 hikers tonight. It's no surprize that a $10 shower, laundry and place to sleep attracts thru hikers like a magnet, while out on the trail we disperse. Gumby*& Coyotebec* showed up after 6 with Tinkerbell* and Hinds Feet* in tow. Silverback* who starts at 5 each day, came in before me at 2 pm. Patches*, Mr Pink*, Denali*, Cookie* and Orangeman* round it out. We'll sleep on a carpeted floor, but it's a pretty sweet hostel. I was going to pass it by, but I'm glad I didn't.The hike today was hot! I'm glad it was short. My next week is lacking a 20 mile day and that's fine by me. It just works out that way. Tomorrow I leave New Jersey behind and cut across NY to Connecticut by month's end. The states are dropping and it gives the hikers a measure of accomplishment. Today, as I reached the summit of Pochuch Mountain, I looked back and saw the Wallkill River Wildlife Refuge that the trail walks around. It was distant and it occured to me that I was down there only an hour before. Two miles as the trail lies and it looked like a long, long way. But in fact 830 miles lie between us thru hikers and Katahdin. Eight weeks.
Date: 2006-06-23
From: Vernon NJ

To: Wildcat Shelter, NY
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Cookie* and I did our required chore at the hostel and headed out. Five minutes of thumbs provided a ride that took us both to the trailhead by 8 am. I headed out, but I heard later from Patches* that Cookie* had left his cell phone in Vernon and had to go back. About half way through the day, I caught up with Gumby* and company and hiked with them. It started raining around 3:30 but the rain sorta felt good. I put my pack cover on but not my rain jacket. The rain jacket is more effective in camp. It's too hot to hike in it.We came to NY 17 and there was an ice cream parlor about .1 miles down the road, so darn the luck. We had to sit out most of the storm eating ice cream.It wasn't raining when I got into the shelter and there are several nice tent sites here, so I decided to tent. Gumby* and Co. are going another 2 miles. It's funny how we keep running into each other, but the trail has a way of holding groups loosely together.Three snakes today. Small garter, medium milk snake, supersize blacksnake!
Date: 2006-06-24
From: Wildcat Shelter, NY

To: Stealth Near Arden Valley Road
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

What a day! Body odometer reads 20 miles even though it was only 15. A wet, misty, up and down, rock scramble, roller coaster of a day. I got a late start because up until 0800 it was pouring down rain. Then the day was one of those overcast gloomy sometimes rainy days, which makes for a dull hiking mood. Most of my stuff, including my tent is soaked but at least it's warm.At the crossing of NY 17 just before entering Harriman State Park, there was a payphone in the middle of no where. I called my wife and that brightened up the day some.The rain made the smooth granite rocks of this area slippery and hard to hike. That coupled with some very steep boulder scrambles and one interesting piece called the Lemon Squeezer made this a very difficult day. The Lemon Squeezer is about a foot wide, maybe 16 inches passage between two rock faces. I made it, but I got scruffed and slimby from the rock wall. Might be fun with no pack on a dry day .As I arrived at Fingerboard Shelter, I remembered it had no water. I pushed on 1.1 miles to a point where the state park had a beach with facilities .3 miles down the road. I cooked dinner down there and then moved back up the the AT to camp.
Date: 2006-06-25
From: Stealth Near Arden Valley Road

To: Greymoor Friary
Miles today: 19.5

Rough day. Mainly because about 2 miles from my destination I saw a blue blaze trail that I thought was a foul weather trail. Well, the weather had been foul all day, so I took it. Two miles later after much twisting and turning, it dumps me back onto the AT about a mile before where I took the Blue Blaze. So, I actually hiked about 23 miles today. Most of it in pouring rain. Doesn't the AT look like fun? It has now rained for 3 days straight and I still have a few pieces of dry gear... guess I'm getting better .We crossed the Hudson River today on a very long bridge, right after passing thru a trail side zoo. Yup, a zoo. The animals were of the local fauna and all had some need for care. They had a silver fox and when we looked at each other, I felt a kindred spirit.The pavillion that the Friary allows hikers to stay in is packed and I got in late, so I'm in my tent even though I came here to get out of the rain. I added 4 miles to my plan, so I guess that means I can make a short 12 mile day of tomorrow. Maybe the sun will come out and I can start drying out, but that isn't what the weather report says. Oh well.
Date: 2006-06-26
From: Greymoor Friary

To: Fahnestock State Park, NY
Miles today: 11.8

The longer day yesterday gave me this much needed shorter day today. The mileage doesn't include the mile off the AT I walked along NY 310 to get here, but the campsite is free and so was the hot shower. It felt good even if I had to put on my soaking wet shirt and shorts and crawl into a soaking wet tent.I have a few dry clothes left after 4 days of rain without the possibility of drying anything. I guess it's because I keep them in a watertight bag and refuse to pull them out. I may tomorrow when I go in for a re-supply.I'm in for the night at 5 pm. Showered, fed, stowed. Now if I can just get some sleep. There is a freeway about 200 ft away. Sorta like those rivers they have out west that lull you to sleep with their white noise. I'm hoping to get an early start tomorrow so I'm turning in early in hopes of getting some sleep. Not sure how easy that will be in all this wetness, but I don't really have a choice.
Date: 2006-06-27
From: Fahnesock State Park, NY

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter, NY
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Believe it or not, I slept failry well last night. The 10 minute hot shower was a welcome respite from the pouring rain and the taconic parkway, oddly enough did have a "white noise" effect I got an early start this morning and was back to the AT by 0700. With 1 hiking day of food left (no evening meal) I was due to re-supply at NY 52 Mountain Top Deli. When I got to 52, Delicious* a young hiker dude I had met at Greymoor was trying unsuccessfully to hitch west into Stormville. I only had to walk .5 miles east.I had an awesome sub sandwich and a quart of grapefruit juice before calling my wife . Then I was able to get a good 3 day re-supply that will get me to Kent, CT.Although it was raining as I walked the mile back to the trail this morning, the sun eventually peeked out and my clothes started to dry out. I left the Deli at 4 pm, having arrived there at about 2. Then I headed up to the shelter 4 miles away. Since the sun was out, I quickly strung a line and got some things drying. The air is still saturated, but I was able to dry the critical things out.I took my camera out today and tried to capture some of the interesting mushrooms that the rainy weather has brought out. When possible, I will post one here.
Date: 2006-06-28
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: Wiley Shelter, NY
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Drying things out last evening was just a dry run. It started raining at about 1 am and rained hard all night and into the morning without a lull. By 8 am I was needing to get started, so I grit my teeth and packed up in the rain. I try to schedule my day to arrive at destination no later than 6 pm and that meant a 9 am departure. I arrived at the shelter around 6 and once again strung a line to dry things out. Wash, rinse, repeat Although the terrain was easy today in terms of elevation, the trail made up for it in swamps, bogs and other high water. Very soggy, very muddy, very buggy.Near the end of the day was some wonderful trail majic. There were patio chairs arranged around some coolers where there was cold beer and water and some incredible homemade pasta salad in baggies with forks taped to them. What a welcome treat. Thanks to Big Mac*, Mrs Mac* and String Cheese*! of Connecticut. Speaking of Connectifut, I will be there tomorrow and I hear the campsite is excellent.I got my tent dried out enough to sleep in. Tried the shelter, but it was noisy and buggy. Lots of mosquitoes and ticks out here. Other little nasties too. Tent is better
Date: 2006-06-29
From: Wiley Shelter, NY

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 12.7

I got my tent dried out last night enough to set it up and get in out of the bugs but had a hard time going to sleep in the humidity. There was no air movement at all. Ol Gracefull* hollered over at me to turn the fan on before I crawled in, but I couldn't find the switch.This a.m. as everyone was having breakfast there came thunder, we ignored it. Bad decision. The rain came fast without warning and I found myself stripping the clothes line and grabbing the rest of my gear and diving head first into my tent. I packed up everything except the tent and got ready for another day in the rain.Cookie* had offered to share a room in Kent. We made a plan to do laundry and re-supply and set out.We hiked about 4 miles when I dropped onto a road crossing and there stood Cookie* talking to Socks*! I had read Socks'* journal GA-ME 05 and she said she sometimes did trail magic in CT. Sure enough, there she stood. I recognized her and just for fun I walked up and said "hiya Socks*!" before we were introduced. She was just as nice as can be. Socks* offered to take our packs to Kent so we could slack pack Schaghticoke Mtn. Gave us both a quart of water and even met us at CT 341 to take us into town. Whoa! Socks*, I can't express enough gratitude. Thanks, very much! Trail angels are what makes the AT Great!
Date: 2006-06-30
From: Kent, CT

To: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-To, CT
Miles today: 17.0

Rough day, but the weather was pleasant. CT has us climbing mountains again, but just gradually. It's just as well. I'd rather adjust to the climbing again then have it smack me in the face. The big climbs are coming in the next month. The thing about today was the number of climbs and decents. The decent down from Caleb's Peak was a steep stone staircase. I'm just glad we didn't have to do it in the rain.I hiked with Cookie* all day. There was news of a bridge out, but it turned out to be Guinea Brook, which is noted in the handbook that in the event of heavy rain there was a roadwalk bypass. We went down and took a look at the Brook and decided to do the roadwalk. Some folks schimmied over a dead log, but neither Cookie* or I was comfortable with that. We're talking excessive water volume here. Some weekenders here in camp tonight forded it. They said it got pretty hairy in the middle, but it only took 30 min to do the bypass and our boots are dry