morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-11
From: Gold Spring

To: Bake Oven Knob shelter
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I took a lazy morning at Gold Spring - read & snacked until almost 11am. The Trail was a fire road for the first few miles & then turned to steep single track for the 1,000' back to the ridge of Blue Mountain. The Trail was several miles of jagged, broken rock & I wasn't making good time until I passed Allentown shelter 10 miles into my day. The next 5 miles were mostly fire road & as I neared a highway, I heard a band & smelled chicken. I resisted the temptation as I knew the last 5 miles were rocky & daylight would run out if I stopped at the restaurant. I pushed over "Knife Edge Rocks" which was an incredibly steep, challenging & frankly dangerous stretch. I ran into Mustafa from Maine Train & we crossed Bear Rocks & Bake Oven Knob & made it to the shelter with 1 hour of daylight to spare.The shelter was small & old, so I set up my tent. Nearby were 2 Canadian section hikers named Feed Me & Firefly. I got water & cooked as the rest of the Maine Train arrived.It was another day of mental struggle through the rocks. Some nice views & interesting formations, but if I was young & had been shown this trail - the AT hiking trail in this section of PA - I probably wouldn't be hiking today. But I'm here to meet the challenge & that's always where the dialogue in my head ends.
Date: 2006-06-12
From: Bake Oven Knob shelter

To: Leroy A Smith shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke before sunrise & started breakfast in bed. Hummingbirds were buzzing around the raspberry briars as I ate & finished reading by book. I got to packing & headed to the shelter to say good morning to Maine Train. To my surprise, Granite & Superman were there too - they night hiked 'till 11pm. The two Canadian section hikers and I sat around & chatted as the shelter crew shoved off. I soon followed & the Canadians brought up the rear.Beautiful sunny day & cool - low 70's. The terrain was a bit rocky (what's new?), but the ridge was full of mountain laurel in bloom & ripe blueberries - amazing! I passed right over the Lehigh tunnel & thought about all of the times I had drived through this mountain on rte. 476. I had always looked up at the mountain with awe. Sometimes it would be clear on one side & raining on the other. It always looked steep & menacing...now I was on top of the world.I had 1st lunch at George W Outerbridge shelter with the crew from the previous evening & we all shoved off. The next section was a 1,000' descent into Lehigh Gap, across the Lehigh River & up a seemingly impossible 1,000' climb out of the gap. It wasn't hiking, it was rock climbing...I should have been wearing a helmet!After the climb out of Lehigh Gap, I continued on a curious stretch of Blue Mountain. It seems there was a zinc mine there at one time & there were dead trees laying bleached on rocks for miles & miles. The map called it "waste area" & I didn't linger. The afternoon brought more rocks & no water, but I toughed it out & made Leroy A Smith shelter well before sunset. I fetched my water...1/2 mile downhill & back up...ugh! Set up my tent & hung out at the shelter with Maine Train & Granite...who brought us all Krispy Kreme doughnuts from town! We sat around the fire, cooked, chatted & recounted the events of the day. 9pm & off to bed - 20 miles left in PA & hotel tomorrow...shower, food, bed...YEAH!
Date: 2006-06-13
From: Leroy A Smith shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: overcast clouds

The Maine Train was up & out early, but Granite was still snoozing. I ate, packed up & headed to the shelter. Granite was packed & ready to go. She said things had been falling on her all night. I took a look at...a pile of ant eggs! EWW! She took off down the Trail. I signed the shelter journal & headed out.Beautiful weather - a bit hot & a lack of spring water made the going a bit thirsty, but I chugged along through Wind Gap & onto Kirkridge shelter for lunch. I ate with Maine Train & Sweet Tea. I headed out for the final 6 miles through familiar terrain. I had hiked this section in December 2005 to test winter geat...the Smokies made that a valuable experience. Great views of the Delaware River & the Kittatinny Ridge in NJ from Lookout Rock. I careened down the rest of the Trail & into the town of Delaware Water Gap.I decided to stay at the Ramada Inn & enjoy the comforts of a king size bed, shower & cable. A pepperoni pizza, coke & snacks...and I was relaxing & getting ready to meet friends in Stroudsburg for the weekend. Off trail for 5 days...SEE YA!
Date: 2006-06-19
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Mohican Lodge, NJ
Miles today: 10.5

Woke up at the Ramada Inn & watched world cup soccer 'til noon. I headed out with a full food bag & lots of memories of recent good times with Philly friends - thanks Jeanne, Val, Lynne & Philippe! If interested, refer to my "non-trail journal" for details.Up the Kittatinny Ridge & onto familiar terrain. This is a section I've hiked a few times & it's quite lovely. At Sunfish Pond, I met the ridge runner "Brian" & he gave me some NJ tips & weather info...a bit late! As I headed for Mohican Lodge, the skies opened up with lightning, thunder & heavy rain. On with the pack cover & rain gear & I sloshed toward the lodge. As the rain let up a bit, I came across a 2' rattlesnake on the Trail. He didn't seem to be enjoying the rain & he hardly acknowledged me as he disappeared into the undergrowth. A few minutes later I hit Camp Road & was soon at Mohican Lodge.I got a bunk in a nicely appointed community cabin & saw Cookie, Tag-A-Long & Headin' Out...some old thru-hiker friends! One new face in the crowd: Conductor. I got into dry clothes & made dinner. We sat around & chatted for awhile & I turned in early - gotta break the legs back in after all that time off!
Date: 2006-06-20
From: Mohican Lodge, NJ

To: Brink Rd shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: light rain

Woke fairly early at Mohican lodge - made breakfast...took a shower & was out by 9:30am. I took my time & reminisced about past hikes I'd done on this section. Wild clouds looked ominous all day, but never opened up. I took a long lunch on the ridge, relaxed on a rock, took breaks, picked blueberries & called it an early day at Brink Road shelter. I made a nice dinner at a vacant shelter, and planned my upcoming journey as the sun set. Wild mosquitoes drove me to my bed early as Biz & Wrong Turn showed up. They're cooking & I'm off to bed!
Date: 2006-06-21
From: Brink Rd shelter

To: High Point shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: clear sky

Woke up in the buggy Brink Road shelter & cooked breakfast with Swamp Donkey, Biz & Wrong Turn. They all headed out first & I was on the Trail by 8:15am.It was already warming up & I had made the 4 miles to Culver's Gap for 2nd breakfast (bacon, egg & cheese - WARNING: DON'T GO TO "JOE 2 GO"!!) & 1st lunch (cheeseburger & beer). I hiked through familiar territory & even read one of my "weekend warrior" journal entries from September 2005 at the Mashipacong shelter. On through High Point SP & onto High Point shelter. At the turnoff for the shelter, I met a section hiker named Jennifer. She told me she was waiting for a friend & "Grampa Willard" was already at the shelter.I got to the shelter & met Willard aka "Titanium Man" because of joint replacements. At 86, he was completing his 2nd to last section with his Granddaughter Caroline (aka "Muffy") and friend Jennifer. We all sat around cooking & chatting. Since it was their last night out, the scotch & vodka was flowing. Jennifer, Caroline & I stayed up to finish off the liquor. Word of advice...watch out for those Canadians!!
Date: 2006-06-22
From: High Point shelter

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 18.9

Woke up at the High Point shelter to 86 year old Willard yelling to his Granddaughter "Caroline, where's the water?" Grampa packed up & hit the Trail first, and Caroline & Jennifer followed soon after to complete their Southbound Jersey section.Off I headed into warm, overcast & humid weather. The terrain was relatively easy, but the bugs were thick. All day I pushed hard to get to a road crossing with a nearby ice cream shop. Hot, sweary & buggy I emerged from the woods to see a guy standing next to a pick-up truck saying "Are you headed to the hostel?" Thoughts of a shower, dinner & laundry flashed through my mind..."Yes" I said. Pete drove me the 3 miles to the St Thomas Episcopal Church hostel in Vernon, NJ.I got a shower, started my laundry & headed out for Chinese food & Dairy Queen with Denali & Mr Pink. Back to the hostel to hang with the rest of the crew: Cookie, Conductor, Heinz Feet, Tinker Bell, Coyotebec, Gumby, Patches & Silverback (WHEW!). We sat around, snacked, watched TV & turned in at around 9:30pm.
Date: 2006-06-23
From: Vernon, NJ

To: Wildcat shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up at 6:30am as the floor of the church had ceased being comfortable. I packed up & headed for breakfast. I met Denali & Mr Pink at the coffee shop & I chowed down on eggs, pancakes & bacon. Back to the hostel & I headed out.I had a lucky hitch as the 1st car picked me up & John drove me to the Trail head. The warm-up was a 1,000' climb to Pinwheel Overlook. Sunny & warm hiking over nice terrain until mid-afternoon when a thunderstorm moved in & forced on the raingear. A couple of rainy miles & it blew over. A road crossing promised ice cream, so I had a double scoop & root beer.A couple more miles over some nice rock formations & I was at Wildcat shelter. Tackle & Conductor (tenting) were already there & I cooked dinner. Cookie showed up & tented. Soon Denali & Mr Pink rolled into the shelter, too. We sat around, talked, listened to Tackle's radio & burned candles...yeah, man!
Date: 2006-06-24
From: Wildcat shelter

To: Brien shelter
Miles today: 19.6

The rain started to fall heavily at about 3am & didn't quit 'til 8am. No one was in a hurry to leave early. By nearly 10am, I was the last one to leave the shelter...but I caught up with a big group at Fitzgerald Falls. I pressed on through cool & overcast conditions with occasional light drizzle. There were some nice views as the cloud ceiling was fairly high & I saw lots of toads, newts & deer.By the end of the day my feet had had enough of being wet & they looked gross. I ended up at Brien Memorial shelter where a large scout troop had taken over, so I tented on the outskirts.I met up with Delicious who I hadn't seen for a few weeks & we sat around & caught up. He was off to bed & I made my dinner of mashed potatoes with tuna & miso soup. Off to my tent to review maps & plan. My food bag is low & I need to get new socks. The ones I got on my mail drop are horrible - I don't know what I was thinking. I'll take back my Smartwool's with 1,200 miles on 'em any day!
Date: 2006-06-25
From: Brien shelter

To: Ft Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 8.9

The morning was overcast but rain free. I packed up, said good-bye to Delicious & I was off.The terrain was hilly & rocky - a bit treacherous with a slick coat of moisture - but beautuiful. To the top of Bear Mountain where I saw a few day hikers & over nighters braving intermittent showers. I felt as if I were in a terrarium - the landscape felt almost artificial - stunning the eye & challenging the body. As I descended toward the Hudson River, I caught glimpses of the Bear Mountain Bridge & the surrounding cloud-shrouded mountains.At the base of the mountain, I found the Bear Mountain Inn closed for renovations, but the Trail took me through the very interesting Wildlife Center. It was full of rehabilitated/orphaned local animals & had many plant & geological displays.Although it was only 1:30pm, I decided to call it a day & get a room at the Bear Mountain Bridge Inn - a 1 1/2 mile walk form the bridge. Because of the extended wet conditions, my feet had been soaked for days & I was paying the price. The skin looked like mashed potatoes & my heels were beginning to fall apart. I thought it wise to take a break.I picked up some snacks & got my room. I took a nice long hot shower & rinsed my clothes in the sink. I hung my stuff around the bathroom & propped my sponge-like boots in front of the air conditioner. I've had these boots for 30 days & they have less than 450 miles on them...already they're dead. No longer waterproof, they suck moisture from the trail & right into the boot. The folks at Garmont will be hearing from me...$130??Except for going to the deli across the street for dinner, the rest of the day I was in total relax mode.
Date: 2006-06-26
From: Ft Montgomery, NY

To: Canopus Lake
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

I slept in 'til 8:30am & got myself to the deli for a breakfast bagel & coffee. I saw a section hiker there named "Had" & he was also suffering with bad feet & a sprained wrist.Got myself packed up & headed to the "grocery store" for limited resupply. I tried to hitch to the Bear Bridge, but at 55mph, people weren't slowing. By noon I was crossing the breezy bridge & I climbed up "Anthony's Nose." I stopped to chat with a small group of school kids - important conversation about toads & newts & mushrooms.The ground was wet & there was no real rain to speak of, so my boots were at least dry half the day. Cool hiking, cloudy views & crazy mosquitoes today. The miles went by quickly & by 8pm I had found an amazing campsite by Canopus Lake.Right on the water in a soft protected area...with a fire ring. I quickly set up camp & built a small fire to dry my socks & boots. I cooked dinner & sat around the fire on a moss pillow drinking tea. Frogs croaking, fish jumping, chilly breezes...warm fire!
Date: 2006-06-27
From: Canopus Lake

To: Telephone Pioneers shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: light rain

I woke at dawn at Canopus lake & opened my tent door to look out at the scene. It was overcast & cool with a mist on the lake & cloud streamers slowly rising from the surrounding trees. Frogs & birds were busy, but otherwise the world was still. As I made coffee, a bit of weather moved in & sheets of fine rain swept across the lake from the West. I sat & watched, wrote in my journal & cat-napped for 3 hours until the sun peeked out a bit. I got packed up & decided to explore a bit. I found plenty of frogs & swampy still water to the left of my camp & to the right was a more open shore line. I found lots of chewed trees - evidence of beaver - but I never found their lodge. As I moved further along, I startled a great blue heron from the water's edge & it took off across the lake - amazing!The day had turned mostly sunny in the 80's with heavy humidity. The mosquities & black flies kept me on the move. I had read about a pizza place & store 1/2 mile up at a road crossing, so when I thought I'd reached it I took a right. I walked & walked & finally checked my map. I had walked a mile up the wrong road! "Lesson learned" I told myself...grrr!I was back on the Trail & finally hit the right road crossing & it wasn't long before I was stuffing my face with a medium pepperoni pie. Patches & conductor were already there & we talked for a bit.Back on the Trail & I was pushing hard to finish the 11+ miles to my planned shelter. A few nice views, a cute sleepy racer snake on a rock, chipmunks, birds - I was enjoying the scene until a rock jumped off the Trail & twisted my right ankle. After a few explitives, I walked it off. I passed nuclear lake - no reactor or cooling tower - quite beautiiful. I had almost made it to Telephone Pioneers shelter before dark, but broke out my headlamp 1/2 mile before arriving.Patches & Posey Picker were already set up & we talked about the days events. I munched on a salami sandwich I had picked up at the Stormville deli & it wasn't long before I was in my bag getting some well deserved rest.
Date: 2006-06-28
From: Telephone Pioneers shelter

To: Mt Aglo lean-to
Miles today: 21.4

The early morning was rainy at the Telephone Pioneers shelter & it was close to 10am before we headed out into hot, humid & mostly cloudy conditions.The early hiking was down a mountain & into a very wet & humid valley. There were rivers flowing through the meadows & I was in soaked boots again. I was hiking through fairly easy terrain, but the heat, humidity & constant midday sun made for very sweaty going. I passed into Connecticut by late afternoon & was talking to a trail maintainer about my class reunion & how I needed a bus to Syracuse... "I'll give you a ride to NYC tonight" he said. I thanked him, but said that was a little fast & needed to get cleaned up & get my schedule organized. I continued North through the swampy conditions & hit Schaghticoke Mountain - my last major climb of the day at 1,000'. On the ascent, Patches caught up with me & we decided to finish the last 3 miles to Mt Aglo lean-to together. We were night-hiking over some fairly technical bumps. We made it to the lean-to by 10pm.The shelter only had 2 people, but their stuff was strewn around & they were snoring - it was easier to set up the tent. I made dinner & rinsed off in a nearby stream...off to bed!
Date: 2006-06-29
From: Mt Aglo lean-to

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 0.3

I was awake at about 6am & getting ready to pack up & make the 1 mile run to Kent when I heard the thunder. The storm sounded close, so I decided to stay in my tent. Within 15 minutes there was a torrential downpour, so I hunkered down, read & waited it out. By 9am the skies were clear, so Patches & I packed our wet gear & headed into Kent, CT.20 minutes later, we were having coffee & breakfast sandwiches at Panini Cafe. Patches headed to the library & I went to find a room. Along the road I met Fortune Cookie. We talked for awhile & I mentioned I was headed for a hotel room to shower & how I was curiously smelling of ammonia. "Muscle necrosis" he said & explained how I must not have any body fat left & now I'm burning muscle & sweating ammonia. I vowed to eat more.I struck out at the two B&B's in town - nobody home! So I got a room at the Fife & Drum Inn & got showered. Since there aren't laundry facilities in town, I scrubbed my duds in the tub & hung them around the room to dry. To the Kent Pizza Garden for a big steak lunch & to the library to figure out how to get back to Syracuse for my reunion. I posted my need for a ride on my high school reunion website, trailjournals & trailplace. I also checked the bus schedules. To the store for snacks & to my room for R&R.I got a call from a high school friend Matt Puzey who told me our classmate Karen (Geiger) lived nearby. I called & we talked for awhile. She said she'd give me a ride & was going up saturday. I wanted to get there ASAP, so I thanked her & decided I'd be taking the bus friday morning. A few more calls to friends & family & I was off to bed.
Date: 2006-06-30
From: Kent, CT

To: SYRACUSE, NY!!
Miles today: 0.0

I woke at 6am at the Fife & Drum Inn in Kent, CT & got my stuff packed up. Since there's no public transportation, I had to hitch 30 miles south to Danbury, CT. I got rides from Danny & Rick which got me to Milford, CT. I caught a bus to Danbury & at 11:30am I was bound for Syracuse, NY by way of NYC.I had a transfer in NYC - Port Authority. As usual, it was a madhouse...mass confusion, but I finally found my gate & I was on my way. I hadn't realized what all of the rain I'd been hiking through was doing to the Northeast. The news the night before was eye-opening & as we crossed over the cresting Delaware River at The Gap I was amazed. What was a normal river 10 days ago was now filling the valley - covering trees & roads in a brown soup.I did a lot of reading on the bus ride to Syracuse & made it there around 8pm. My Mom picked me up & we headed to Wegman's Market to get food. Back at the house in Cazenovia, I dove into chicken, salad, cookies & milk. We talked, ate & I was in bed by midnight.I'll be off trail until 7/5/06, so that'll be my next journal entry...talk to you then!
Date: 2006-07-05
From: Kent, CT

To: Stewart Hollow Brook lean-to
Miles today: 7.0

Woke up at my Mom's house in Cazenovia & started getting my pack together. Lots to do & I felt chaotic & disorganized, but I got it together & was ready by late morning. My Dad stopped over to say good-bye, and we were off.My Mom was kind enough to give me a ride back to Kent & we made good time until we hit the smaller roads of Mass. & CT. We hit Kent around 4pm, got a bite to eat & by 5pm I was at the Trail head.I was suprised to see Delicious at the road crossing - he said he had been in NYC for 6 days. I headed off with a full pack & soft legs, so the 7 miles to Stewart Hollow Brook lean-to weren't the easiest. I made it by dark & set up my bag. I had eaten just a few hours earlier, so I did a bit of reading & was off to sleep.The time off in Syracuse was really good - I caught up with old friends at my class reunion & enjoyed an unexpected BBQ at my Mom's house. I was expecting to get back on the Trail sooner, but I'll just have to push a bit harder to finish by mid-August
Date: 2006-07-06
From: Stewart Hollow Brook lean-to

To: Limestone Springs lean-to
Miles today: 22.3

Nice morning & I was ready to hit the Trail hard. I ate, packed up, said good-bye to Delicious & I was off.Lots of ups & downs in beautiful weather - dry, sunny, mid 70's. The miles weren't easy on my soft legs, but I pushed on & made Limestone Springs lean-to well before dark.I met Afterburner at the lean-to. I hadn't seen him since The Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, PA. I made my dinner & we caught up. There were also 2 section hikers with their tent set up in the shelter...curious. I packed up my cookware & was quickly off to bed.Lots of chatter going on in my mind today - will I be able to make it to Maine (Katahdin) by mid-August? "Just keep hiking" I tell myself. According to my calculations, I have to average 16 miles a day for the next 45 days - certainly do-able. I WILL make it!
Date: 2006-07-07
From: Limestone Springs lean-to

To: Hemlocks lean-to
Miles today: 17.5

I was up early, but did some reading & writing & didn't hit the Trail 'til 9:15am. Really nice day - sunny with a few clouds, low humidity & temps in the low 70's. Some nice climbs today - I finally feel like I'm back in some real mountains with climbs over 1,000'. Some great mountain top views from Lion's Head & Race Mountain. I had lunch at Sage's Ravine where a crystal clear stream filled pool after pool...nice waterfalls, too. I would have gone swimming, but I was a bit chilled & I'm coming down with a little cold (sniff-sniff).Made it to Hemlocks lean-to by 7:30pm & met Afterburner & the ridgerunner Nick there. We cooked, talked & it was off to bed once nightfall set in.
Date: 2006-07-08
From: Hemlocks lean-to

To: Mt Wilcox South lean-to
Miles today: 19.7

I woke up congested & didn't have an easy night's sleep. Everyone was up & gone, but I slept in. I was up by 8am & packed & on the Trail by 9:15am.Even though I wasn't feeling 100%, I hit the Trail hard...when the going gets tough! A 1,000'+ descent down Mt Bushnell & then onto some flats. Some trail magic from Freeze-Out's Dad. It seems Freeze-Out has lyme disease...getting better, 'tho! At a road crossing I found a greenhouse/nursery with fresh fruit & ice cream - I had a pint of blaackberry & a tomato.The afternoon brought some good climbs...and more than a few mosquitoes. It was 5:30pm when I stopped at Benedict pond. I went for a swim, had a snack & watched the world move around me for 1 1/2 hours. Geese swimming & preening, schools of baby fish, frogs croaking - it was lovely. As I was packing to go, a few people came from around the pond. "Do thru-hikers carry all of their food for the whole trip, or do they stop along the way?" a man asked. Luckily, Head-N-Out & Tag-A-Long came by & saved me & we headed the last mile to Mt Wilcox South lean-to.Easy hike up "The Ledges" & I was making dinner while Head-N-Out & Tag-A-Long tented behind the shelter. Quick dinner & I'm off to bed. Here's to feeling better tomorrow!