morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-06-05
From: Day 87 WaynesboroÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Quality Inn

To:  Day 88 Waynesboro Quality Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Just trying to get healthy. Rested most of the day, walked to steak house for dinner.  Not much else ........I'm still on page 77 (Waynesboro, VA) in the A. T. Guide by David Miller  (the green book)........Tonight I feel a little better than yesterday but not by much......Total AT miles hiked today 0.0.....Nite all
Date: 2011-06-06
From:  Day 88 Waynesboro Quality Inn

To: Day 89 Waynesboro Quality Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Again in bed most of the day just trying to get healthy. In the afternoon we went to local outfitters. Tramp got a new hydration  bladder and I got my pack and pack belt adjusted. I also brought new hiking T shirt since my wool T was pretty worn. Went to the Chinese AYCE buffet and of course ate too much.  Posted many new pictures to my trail journal page. Other than that I just took it easy and rested .........I'm still on page 77 (Waynesboro, VA) in the A. T. Guide by David Miller  (the green book)........Tonight I am hoping to feel better in the  morning because I don't feel that great tonight ......Total AT miles hiked today 0.0.....Nite all
Date: 2011-06-07
From: Day 89 Waynesboro Quality Inn

To: Day 90 Waynesboro Quality Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Same story, different day. Today went to the post office to mail more stuff home I wasn't using or just didn't need. Sent home gorilla pod, wool T shirt, extra stuff sack etc. Still taking my meds, I think they are helping. Even though it hasn't been the full 8-10 days the Doc wanted my to rest before I went back to hiking, tomorrow morning. I am going back to hiking even if I am not feeling 100%. I can't wait any longer, I need to get back on the trail. It's 7 days and the Shenandoah mountains until my next resupply box, so I'll be careful and try to take it slow .........Yes I'm still on page 77 (Waynesboro, VA) in the A. T. Guide by David Miller  (the green book)........Tonight I am hoping for a good nights sleep and be magically healed by morning .......Total AT miles hiked today 0.0.....Nite all
Date: 2011-06-19
From: Day 101

To: Day 101 @ Home
Miles today: 0.0

OK being sick, "that was special" I could have done without that! Some of the blood results came back and the news is great.  No infections, no Lyme etc. I am waiting for 2 more results and I hope to have them by Tuesday 6/21/11. I want to give a big THANK YOU to my wife Gerrie for her Love & Affection, Caring & Cooking and just her overall taking care of me while I wasn't feeling so good, knowing that when I get sick, I can be some what of a PITA at home also. I believe it was what Gerrie did that got me well again. (if for no other reason then to get me back out of the house) I talked to Tramp and he would like to meet up with me at the Delaware Water Gap around July 1-3.  I'll be there to pick him up and he will zero with me & my family for as long as he wants to and then we both will return to the Delaware Water Gap and continue Northbound to Maine.  I'll pick up the missing section after I get to Maine. In the mean time I will be wearing my pack and hiking as much as possible until all of the side effects go away.  On Saturday 6/18 I hiked 14.6 miles.  As I started out, the temperature was 72*, it was  sunny and with a light breeze. During the day it warmed up to 85* but the breeze was still there.  It's 9:20 am, wearing a full 40 lb pack, I start my hike by going down 1300' over 6.7 miles then 2.5 of flat road walk, (along here I was moving at about 4 mph. to get off the road and away from the Saturday traffic) then back up 1300' to where I started, it was now 2:40 pm.  This 14.6 mile hike took me 5 hr 20 min. including 40 minutes of lunch/break time, so I guess I still have my trail legs.  I was afraid, that with almost 2 weeks off the trail, I might have gone soft.  At the end of the hike, I felt great and had very little side effects from the medication, and that's a good thing. So while I wait for Tramp, I'll wash my tent, sleeping bag, everything. I'll review what I need and what I really don't need in my pack,  I'll go see my Mother, she fell and broke her hip June 3 and is still in rehabilitation, I'll stop by to see other family and friends, then I'll continue planing for our AT trip northward.  ...........I just can't wait to get back on the trail.........Nite all
Date: 2011-07-07
From: Port Clinton PA

To: Day 120 Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: few clouds

Finally after 30 days recovering from who-knows-what and the side effects of the antibiotics I am finally back on the trail, Yahoo and Yippee. On the 4th of July, Tramp an I went into NYC and met My friend Robert Benjamin who showed us around the city.  We walked to Strawberry Field in Central Park and many other interesting places before catching a bus to go down to 22nd street where Robert and Audrey live and from who's 15th story rooftop we watched the NYC firework display. It was fantastic and a big THANK YOU to Bob and Audrey for the invite and their great hospitality  Tramp and I had a really good time and will never forget it.  36 hours before we were to leave, Gabby my new doggie, got sprayed by a skunk.  It was 12:00 and we were all getting ready for bed. I went and let her out for one last pee and what does she find, a skunk. She got sprayed real bad and was rubbing her face in the grass and dirt, so I picked her up and took her into the shower.  We stayed in there for almost 1 hour. Using oatmeal soap, I washed and washed her over and over again. Of course I couldn't get all the smell out but I did a pretty good job, Gabby seemed to understand I was helping her so she never complained or struggled. I could have done without that!  Ok now to the trail update. Up at 5:30 and left home at 7:00 Gerrie drove us the 2 hrs to Port Clinton PA. There at 9:40 Tramp and I head north.  Of course it was up hill 800' in 3 miles and they were tough miles with lots of rocks. Then its more rocks. (it is Pensilvania after all) As a matter of fact, most of the day we were hiking over rocks.  I should have planned my restart better by starting later in the day and only hiking the 5 miles to the first shelter, but nooo I had planned to go to the second shelter, another 9.5 tough miles away  Needless to say we got to the second shelter very late, 8:00, very tired and with sore legs, soaking wet from sweating, and had to rush to get dinner and setup our tents before it got dark. Not a good way to restart but we survived and are happy. Today we started on page 114 but tonight I'm now on page 115 (Hawk Mountain Road) in the A. T. Guide by David Miller  (the green book)Temps, it's 76* in my tent right now (11:00) and we are watching lighting in the clouds but no thunder, so maybe no rain. I have my rain fly on but 1/2 of my tent uncovered so I can get some air. If it starts raining I am ready and it will only take me a 30 sec. to cover up. Tonight, just being back on the trail is good enough for me and I really don't care how hot it is or how sore and tired I am, I am back on the Appalachian Trail, so life is beautiful once again. Total AT miles hiked today 14.9Nite all
Date: 2011-07-11
From: Day 123 Smith Gap Road

To: Day 124 Dingmans Ferry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello all.  Well I decided to take a zero day today but still drove Tramp back to Craig¢s Gap this morning. After dropping Tramp off, I used the rest of the day to rest. Aches and pains are part of this journey and I¢m sure this won¢t be the last. I¢ll pick him up in Delaware Water Gap tomorrow and take him back to our home in Dingmans Ferry PA. DWG was a planned re-supply stop.  Already purchased re-supply items are waiting in Dingmans Ferry for 2 stops.  Our next planned re-supply stop is Rt17A in Greenwood Lake, NY where we will do an overnight and re-supply in Dingmans Ferry again. I want to say a big Thank You to my wife, Gerrie.  You may think it¢s only me that¢s hiking the trail but in fact without her I probably wouldn¢t make it. She puts up with all the insanity, constant changes and all the ¢I need help¢ calls, and never complains.  She listens to me and hears what I need, and without me even asking, she understands what I need and gets it to me. No I am not hiking alone¢¦.I believe two days of rest, that¢s today and while waiting for Tramp tomorrow, will be all I need to feel fit again. ..........Today we are on page 124 (PA 611 Delaware Water Gap) in the A. T. Guide by David Miller  (the green book)Temps, it's 82* outside my window right now (11:00), the ceiling fan is doing it's best to make me feel cooler.Tonight, I ache less, still relieved I am not more seriously injured and will return to the trail Thursday morning.  Then it's on the trail in my back yard, the AT in NJ. A section I have hiked many times and look forward to hiking it again with Tramp. ........Total AT miles hiked today 0.0 .....Nite all
Date: 2011-07-14
From: Day 124 Dingmans Ferry

To:  Day 127 Camp Rd. NJ
Miles today: 11.7

Finally back on the trail and feeling good. We left from the town of Delaware Water Gap at 10:30. After crossing the Delaware River via Route 80, we went under the highway, through the visitors center and then it was uphill.  We went up over 1200' in just over 7 miles. The trail was a lot like the trail in PA, just not as tough. Our next re-supply stop is 6 nights away so our packs are quite heavy, add water weight and my pack weighs 50lb., that's heavy. The only positive thing is it will get lighter every day.  My food now weighs 2.5 lb per day, so that's 15 lb. of food, water weighs 2 lb. per liter, and I carry at least 2L most of the day. Today's hike was fabulous. The temps were mild, there was always a light breeze and the Sun went in and out behind high puffy clouds. Not a rain cloud in sight. Tonight there is going to be an almost full moon and without a rain fly sleeping should be awesome. ...........Today we are on page 118 (George W Ourterbridge Shelter) in the A. T. Guide by David Miller  (the green book)Temps, it's 70* in my tent right now (9:30).  We're not actually at Camp Rd. but about 1 mile north of it at a  small campsite on the ridge.  With no rain expected I have left the rain fly off, so theres only screening between me and the Moon and the Stars.  ..... .....The pain in my thighs is gone and my feet are no longer sore. Ahhhhh what a little rest can do.  ............I have heard it said that my aches and pains are Natures way of telling me I'm still alive.. ..... and after a day like today, what else can I say except once again life is beautiful on my piece of Appalachian Trail.....Total AT miles hiked today 11.7........and I don't think I'll need any Advil tonight................ Nite all
Date: 2011-07-15
From:  Day 127 Camp Rd. NJ

To: Day 128 Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: few clouds

Well the night couldn't have been any more perfect. It was a clear, cool Moonlit night. Some time during the night I actually got into my sleeping bag, but most of the night I was on top of it. The morning came with a surprise, no song birds, not one. I was up anyway just before the first rays of Sinshine, about 5:45. Since we climbed up after getting water last night, we didn't have a climb to start our day. The trail today was a mixture of nice trail and NJ rocky trail with most of the day being the rocky trail. (tough on your feet)  There were several places with views but the view all looked the same. We also had several small bumps or hills, nothing over 300', but with most of them coming in the last 4 miles.  The weather today was clear, but hot and humid, so we were soaked all day. It was a good thing that there were several water sources where we could camel-up. I also soaked my shirt each time we stopped for water. This merino wool tee shirt I'm wearing works terrific. It dries so quickly it actually keeps me cooler than no shirt at all. We finally made it to the shelter about 6pm, very tired and with aching feet. The rocky trail really took a lot out of us today. Not wanting to stay in the shelter, we hunted around and found a great tenting spot nearby. The mosquitoes were rampant so it was get water, then a quick dinner, hang food bag then jump into our tents for the night .........Today we are on page 125 (Brink Road Shelter) in the A. T. Guide by David Miller  (the green book) ..................Temps, it's 70* in my tent right now (8:00).  Again with no rain expected I have left the rain fly off, so theres only screening between me and the Moon and the Stars.  ................I am truly blessed with good friends, great weather and a fantastic adventure. ............Once again life is beautiful on my piece of Appalachian Trail............Total AT miles hiked today 13.3........................ Nite all
Date: 2011-07-16
From: Day 128 Brink Road Shelter

To: Day 129 Rutherford Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

After a good night sleep I was awakened by the familiar morning song birds, at 5:16. Oh well turn over and get 30 minutes of rest. Then it's up and out. I left first around 7:15. We were meeting Gerrie at the Route 206 crossing around 9:30 so I went on ahead to meet her. She was brining us sandwiches, sodas and water. We waited for tramp to catch up and then we both stayed with her until 11:00. Then it was back to the trail. Thank You Gerrie!The climb down to Route 206 / Culvers Gap is a real leg & foot killer with all the loose rocks. The climb out is about 1000' over 1.5 miles ending at the Culver fire tower. Then more rocky trail and we stop at Gren Anderson Shelter for lunch. What a treat homemade sandwiches and cold soda on the AT. Next it was up some more to the Sunrise Mountain Pavilion. The weather today was awful for hiking. The temperature  wasn't too high but the humidity certinitly was. I was soaked for most of the day and when I came to the Pavilion I just laid down on the stone floor to cool off. The view from the pavilion was of course Fabulous! Well worth the effort. After a short rest there it was on to Mashipacong Shelter. The shelter does not have a water source so the shelter caretaker will often have water available in the bear box , and on a hot day like today it was there and Greatly Appreciated! It was now after 5:00 so we debated about going further, then hiked on after all  the next shelter was only 2.9 miles away. The first thing we come to is Trail Magic.  Safari, A 2010 thru-hiker and his wife, just wanted to give back. He felt he received so much trail magic during his thru- hike, he just wanted to pay it forward. So they had sodas, water, fresh fruit galore, a welcome surprise indeed. Thank You. The trail today was of course tough so it took a lot of effort to keep moving northbound.  For me, I was starting to overheat so I was glad when the sign to shelter came into view, BUT now we go down .4 mile over a very very large rock face then rough trail to get to the shelter. We got to the Rutherford shelter a little before 7:00, hot, totally soaked and tired. There are other Hikers already there and they have the best tent sites so we have to stomp down tall weeds in order to setup our tents. Of course this unleashes a torrent of mosquitoes. Quick set up tent and get inside. I am soaked and I am too tired,to even eat, I just lay down on the tent floor to rest, I'll try to have a good breakfast in the morning.........Today we are on page 125 (Rutherford Shelter) in the A. T. Guide by David Miller  (the green book) ..................Temps, it's 70* in my tent right now (9:30).  Again with no rain expected but I'm not completely sure, so tonight I'll attach the rain fly but pull it half open, if needed it's ready.  ...........................Tonight life is beautiful on my piece of Appalachian Trail............ But oh those Jersey mosquitoes drive me nuts. Total AT miles hiked today 15.3 ........................ Nite all
Date: 2012-01-27
From: Moonachie, NJ

To: Making plans to return to the trail
Miles today: 0.0

Hi All,Well as Robert Hunter (Grateful Dead) put it so beautifully and Danny "Tramp" Martinez so often claimed, ¢Sometimes the lights all shining on me, Other times I can barely see, Lately it occurs to me, What a long strange trip it's been¢, and so it was for Tramp who completed his long strange trip along the Appalachian Trail by summiting Mt. Katahdin on Saturday October 9th 2011. I wish I were there with him to celebrate that moment. I was not, but a real big CONGRATULATIONS to Tramp is definitely in order.. .. .. ¢¦I'm sure many of you have heard the saying ¢there is always a silver lining to any dark cloud or moment¢¢¦. and I have found it to be so true¢¦. Leaving the trail in June and not making it to Mt. Katahdin seemed like a very dark moment in my life, but when hurricane Irene came through in August, I was very fortunate to be home, so I could deal with the flooding at our house. Less than 2 weeks after Irene, there was Tropical Depression Lee and a lot more flooding. (ugh) If I had still been on the trail, it would have been a disaster for us, and a tremendous burden on my wife. I would have felt awful not being there with her when she really needed me. Right then and there, my dark moment turned into a ray of sunshine. After all, the trail will still be there. We have lived in Moonachie since 1991 and this was only the second time our basement got flooded, so I probably would not have left the trail because I was expecting flooding in my house. So yes, I believe things really do happen for a reason¢¦. ¢¦ ¢¦.It is amazing how busy our everyday lives can get and yet with everything we have going on, Gerrie found time for me to go hiking for 3 full months in 2011, while she took care of everything else¢¦ ¢¦ ¢¦. .. I can never say it enough, Thank You Gerrie, I Love You!. . ¢¦ ¢¦. ¢¦.Our plans are always changing but as of today Jan 27, 2012, my plan is to return to my northbound journey along the Appalachian Trail beginning at Hog Camp Gap, near Buena Vista VA, on June 2, 2012, hiking to Port Clinton Pennsylvania by the end of the month. I¢ll take a few zero days, see how everything is going on at home and possibly re-enter the AT (place TBD) to continue my north bound journey... ¢¦¢¦.. .. Yes I will still be using the A. T. Guide by David Miller (the green book) so you can follow along.. . . ¢¦ ¢¦ ¢¦ I also plan on a few warm-up hikes on the AT. I hope to get out early in the year leaving from Greenwood Lake NY, going northbound for 5-6 days and who knows how much more hiking I can get in before June. I know the saying, the only way to train for hiking is to get out and go hiking and that¢s exactly what I plan to do.. . ¢¦. ¢¦. ¢¦.That¢s all for now maybe more before I leave for VA .. .. ¢¦ ..Total AT miles hiked today 0.0... .. .. ..Stocking up on Advil right now. . . . .Nite all
Date: 2015-03-31
From: Seven Lakes Dr. Bear Mt

To: Bear Mountain
Miles today: 0.0

March 31, 2015. At home in Moonachie and finally done with all my planning, all I have to do now is get out and hike. I have checked and rechecked the trail and the path it follows. I have my Neo-Tracks app checked and up-to-date. I will be starting out on 7 Lakes Drive, exactly where we are doing trail work this year. Speaking of trail work, LDTC¢s first trail work outing was last weekend, March 27,28 & 29.2015 This year the LDTC will be relocating a section of the Appalachian Trail from a very worn-out eroded piece, to a more enjoyable path with new and awesome views. My friend Bill Bradshaw will pick me up tomorrow morning at 7:30am and drive me to my starting point, from there I¢ll hike up and over Bear Mountain, across the Bear Mountain bridge and follow the trail to Connecticut. I am hoping to make it in 5 days. Some snow is forecasted for tonight but they are not predicting very much. I¢ll take my micro-spikes just in case I need them. I hope I don¢t need them because I¢m not interested in hiking in the snow. My pack with water and 5 days of food weighs 42 lbs. That¢s a lot I know but I rechecked everything and there¢s nothing I want to leave behind. Wintertime hiking adds several pounds to my pack, I know it will be lighter in June. I am very excited about getting back on the trail and I betcha I find it hard to sleep tonight......Nite All....PITA
Date: 2015-05-13
From: Moonachie, NJ

To: Moonachie, NJ
Miles today: 0.0

May 13, 2015Ok my April 15th & 16th AT hike didn¢t go as planned, I ran out of energy and stopped having fun, but the good thing was it was a great learning experience. The biggest learning point was to eat more food, eat more often and drink lots more water. On April 21st I did an inspection hike of my 13+ mile section of the NY Long Path. Carrying only a 25b pack I was able to do the entire 13.7 miles in 6hrs., it was a beautiful hike and I felt great. The sad news there is, that 2 weeks after my hike there was a devastating forest fire destroying most of that section. It was started by someone burning trash in their backyard and it took off from there consuming over 2500 acres of beautiful forest. Yes there was a burning ban in effect but you just can¢t fix stupid. OK that 13+ mile hike was good for my morale and my conditioning. April 24, 25 & 26th was trail building again and that in itself was more conditioning. April 30th. Bob Fuller and I went on an 8ish mile hike with me wearing only a 25lb. pack. Bob understood my need for conditioning so he planned a great hike on the Timp Torne (TT) & the Ramapo Dunderberg (RD) trail. Because of heavy weekday traffic we met at the trail head around 7:30 and hit the trail before 8am. and returned to the parking lot by 2pm. At the end of the day my knees were screaming STOP! ¢¦yes it was great conditioning. After a couple days rest the knees were ready to go hiking again. So on May 7th. I went on another 8ish mile hike only this time wearing my full AT pack weighing 42lb. I hiked out of Anthony Wayne parking lot south, headed up the AT, then to the new Red trail section, over to the Suffern-Bear Mountain (S-BM) trail and finally back to the parking lot on the AT. This was an unusually hot day and I was glad Bob had shown me the value of getting on the trail early so I could hike in the cooler part of the day. I left the AW parking lot at 8ish and finished up 2ish. I felt great walking back to my car and came to realize that I am finally in AT hiking condition. That was Thursday, Friday Saturday & Sunday it was more trail building and my last LDTC crew outing until I return in July. Seeing how much our trail crew has accomplished on the AT relocation in only 4 weekends, I can only imagine how much they¢ll accomplish while I¢m gone.Now it¢s pack the car, hit the road and head to a beach in Sanibel Florida for a little R&R before hitting the AT.For a look at what LDTC has been up to goto.... www.nynjtc-ldtc.orgMore later... Nite all. . . . . . PITA....