morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-06-16
From: Stealth on ridge

To: Stealth tent site
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

Wonderful and peaceful night last night.Slept so good.  Another bright and sunny day!Havent had this many nice days in a row in a loooong time.Trail was pretty rocky and rugged all day.Really have to watch every step on these crazy jagged rocks.Was some really nice views down to some beautiful farms.  Around lunchtime Numb and I decided to hitch into Pine Grove 3 miles away to get a big fat burger or something and some beers to carry back out with us for later.There were boxes full of trail magic on the trail with funny notes on them just before we hit the road we were going to hitch at.All kinds of supplies any hiker would need.Got to the road and I stuck out my thumb and we were picked up immediately today.Nice old guy was on his way to Pine Grove.He brought us to McDonalds and a beer distributor and al the way back to the trail.Really nice guy.He said I looked like a druggie but trustworthy enough to give a ride,lolI am not a fast food fan,but it tasted so good today.I ate 3 double quarter pounders like they were little crackers or something.Just gone instantly!  A little later in the day we hit Pa 501 where there was more trail magic.Nice people from Pa were cooking up bagels with bacon ,eggs,and cheese.Wasnt really hungry but I need to gain some weight back and had one.They also gave me 30 bagels to take into the next shelter for thru hikers.That shelter was the 501 shelter.A really nice big fully enclosed shelter with a huge skylight and solar shower.Flyballs and Franklinstein were there and were laughing at how silly I must have looked carrying all those bagels in a huge bag over my shoulder.I met them way back in Franklin at the beginning of this adventure.They are really cool and are triple crowners of the big trails.Hoping to hang out with them more.  Another cool thing today was coming to an outlook and seeing an air show happening right in front of us.Watched a biplane doing some crazy stunts for about 20 minutes from above.It was a really different perspective to see it from and was so Cool.About 20 steps after leaving that we came upon the 1200 mile mark.Felt very proud andsadat the same time.Sad because it all seems to be going by way too fast.I really do have a long way to go though so will just enjoy every second of it.  There is a beautiful little swimming hole that we were looking forward to going to all day.Even had a really cool rope swing.Got there and it was tent city and mobbed by boy scouts.So we moved on a couple of miles and are now at a cool little stealth site with a nice fireplace.Had a really fun night drinking the beers we carried out and liovinh the fire .Been a while since we have had one.A possum was just hanging around close to my tent.Ran off with a weird little shriek when I shined my light on him Excited to see what tomorrow brings
Date: 2018-06-17
From: Stealth tent site

To: Port Clinton Pa
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: few clouds

Another nice quiet and rain free night.Slept like a little baby on a puffy cloud  Was packing up this morning when Numb said hey there¢s a bear .Like it wasn¢t a big deal to him.It just sounded funny.It ran off before I could see it unfortunately.  Trail was super rocky all day with nothing at all to see.Was a great day to listen to music so that¢s what I did.Found myself singing because I was by myself.Just felt so great to be out here doing what I love.Was also happy because my kids wrote to me a nice message for Father¢s Day.Miss them terribly but am so proud of them and who they have become.  I was a ways ahead of Numb talking to some day hikers when he catches up and had blood all over his face.We were all like WTF?He walked into a branch with his face.It was about 1 inch from taking his eye out.He is really lucky.I told him it looked awesome and now he is looking like a real thru hiker.The dayhikers thought that was hilarious.Glad he is okay though.  Trail descends steeply down to Port Clinton.Really cool old railroad station is at the bottom.We walked down the street and came to the fire station and saw a sign that there was a bar inside for members only.I took a chance and rang the bell.They answered and I asked if 2 smelly thru hikers could get a beer.The chief was there and said we could.We had a blast and ended up being there for almost 2 hours talking and laughing with the locals.Really nice people  Next we headed down to a pavilion that is set up for thru hikers.Free place to stay and it had free beer and drinks inside.HEAVEN!!Lieutenant Dan,Finish,and more were there and we had fun getting to know each other.Numb and I went to the Port Clinton hotel for a fantastic mushroom swiss burger and fries.After that back to the pavilion for more fun.  I had a really great Father¢s Day looking back.Really wish I could have been home with my kids though.Happy Father¢s Day to all the Dads who are reall Dads out there.
Date: 2018-06-18
From: Port Clinton Pa

To: Hamburg Pa
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Woke up to a really hot and humid morning.Also surrounded by tents.When did that happen?I was up late and nobody was around us.Had a fun little morning chat with Napoleon,Flyballs and Franklinstein before walking away on the hot streets.Numb and I had decided yesterday to take a Nero in Hamburg today just to clean everything up and resupply. Hamburg is about 3 miles away from the trail so we needed to hitch.As soon as we hit the road a nice old guy looked us up and down a little before deciding to give us a ride.I probably wouldn¢t pick us up either.  Got into Hamburg early so we couldn¢t get into our room for a couple of hours .Roadkill was there so we caught up with him a bit.Then onto fast food to stuff our faces.Then we resupplied at Walmart.The bartender from the firehouse the day before was there and said we should go back there today..Was SO tempting.The guy was hilarious.  Finally got into our room and was maybe the best shower I have ever had.Was extra dirty and disgusting for some reason.  There is a pub connected right to the hotel so we went and had a few.Met Hop a long for the first time there.Really look forward to hanging out with him more along the trail.We have many things in common and he is just a real easy guy to get along with.We ended up leaving  the pub and going back and he was still there.Had such a great time talking to him.Of course the usual happened,we all drank way too much.There was also a trucker from Wisconsin I met there .Really cool guy that¢s really into music like I am.He bought me a lot of beers too!Got into some deep subjects while there.I really love deep talking.  Numb and I stumbled back to our room.It was a fun day.Town days off the trail can become too fun.I understand how people get trapped in towns for days.Hope y¢all have a great night!  ¢Some like thieir water shallow ,I like mine deep so very deep.Tied to the bottom with a noose around  my feet¢-    Black Crowes
Date: 2018-06-19
From: Hamburg Pa

To: Stealth camping
Miles today: 18.1

Another wicked hangover for me.This is something I can¢t avoid,just keeps happening.Slept until 8:30am.That is really late for this trip.Called Steve the shuttle driver and were on our way after I drank 2 beers that were left from last night.  Trail is a little more aggressive today with more ups and downs and getting even more rocky.Mist watch where you place every step or you will fall.People have been falling a lot around us.Trying to be extra careful.Were also some great views today.Pulpit rock had some great views of farms.Pennsylvania must be full of farms because that¢s pretty much what all the views look down to.Hop a long ,Didgery,and Roadkill were all there.Lots of dayhikers too.Next cool spot was The Pinnacle.Really think this is the best view in Pa so far.Lots of jagged cliffs looking out to some little mountains and guess what else?More farms.They are really nice views.Not complaining at all.There was a day hiker there that said there was a cave below so I started exploring.Had to climb down some really steep slabs and boulders about 100 ¢ and found the opening.It was worth it.So nice and cool inside.Was more like a long tunnel that had another opening about 40 yards away.Massive boulders were inside just above my head.Instantly thought of that movie 127 hours.They did look like they could drop easily onto someone.Glad it wasn¢t me!  Trail after that followed an old road for miles.Really easy hiking.But then the trail turned off the road and takes you through some really tough rock and boulder sections.I kind of like rock hopping across the boulders.Sometimes they are super slippery though . Stealth camping again in a really quiet spot.Really nice cool crisp breeze.Think I am going to have a smoke and think about what lays ahead....
Date: 2018-06-20
From: Stealth camping

To: Palmerton Pa
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Another great ,quiet,rainless night.And very nice weather again today!   Very sharp rocks all day on the trail.Trail is sooo flat but can¢t get any speed or rhythm going.Great view from the knife edge section.Very tricky along this edge but really fun.Next came bear rocks.Little side trail sends you scrambling up many huge boulders for about 50¢ up.Had to use all fours to get up.View was worth it.  Water has been really scarce in Pa..Eent to Bake oven knob shelter to get some.Someone was laying down in it and I asked where about the water was.It was Chad the Dad!He is having some bad leg issues so we caught up to him.Was good to catch up.All the springs were dried up so had to move on for another 6 miles to find some.We made plans while we there to head into Palmerton and hopefully Chad would meet us.  On the way Bake oven knob was a cool spot.Pretty much entirely covered in graffiti but really nice.Packed with dayhikers though so I didn¢t stay.  A little ways further down the trail I came really close to a buck.He just stared me down.He also started stomping  and snorting at me.Not sure what I did to him to get him pissed.He even took a few steps forward like he was going to charge.  Ended up down to a hwy that you have to get a ride into Palmerton on.Tried hitching but it was really busy.A nice young guy said ¢hey man ,I can¢t give you a ride but you can have my cheeseburger I just bought¢Cool kid.It was delicious!Re wire and Goat were there and had already called for a shuttle to get them.She arrived and said she could fit all 4 of us if I put a tiny baby rabbit on my lap.She found it while mowing her lawn that day and didn¢t know what to do with it.I called my wife and she told me what she needed to do to save it.She was a really hilarious lady who owned the hostel where we decided to stay.The hostel was full but she let us stay in her garage.When we got to the hostel Savage was there.She is really fun to hang out with,and she did my laundry for me.  Savage ,Numb and I went to a tavern down the road and had dinner and a few beers.Rocky and Jumping Moode from Sweden were also there.Really nice people.Chad the Dad showed up too.After that Numb and I went to a beer store and bought some so we could all hang out later.  We get back to the garage and Savage invites us into the real hostel.Numb,Chef,and everyone from the tavern earlier was there.We had some really funny conversations.Really great time.Mu wife Beth called and I sent the phone around the room so she could talk to the people I am hiking with from all over the world.I thought that was kind of cool.  Such a great time tonight.All good things must come to an end though,goodnight all
Date: 2018-06-21
From: Palmerton Pa

To: Stealth
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: broken clouds

So as most of you probably figured,really hung over from last nights fun.Had a great breakfast at Berts restaurant with. Numb,Chef,Savage and Chad the Dad.Best omelette of my life  Got back on the trail around 10am.Tracey the owner gave us a ride back.Lady was just so funny.She is keeping me posted on the baby bunnies progress.  Savage ,Numb and I climbed the very steep and rocky trail up out of Lehigh gap.Steep enough that you needed all fours to get up.Really amazing views straight down to the Lehigh river.This was definitely my favorite spot in Pa..Amd luckily it was a stunning sunny and breezy day.A great first day of summer for sure  Trail was super flat but super rocky.Walked along a long open ridge forever which was really nice to be in the open instead of the green tunnel.Saw Rambo Juice and Stretch.They are a great couple that are always cool to talk to. Today was international hike naked day.I saw nobody naked.Did I do it?Nobody will ever know .If I did do it I can tell you it was a really great feeling to be so free.  Scored some awesome trail magic from some guys from Kentucky who thru hiked in 16.All kinds of drinks and hotdogs and beans.Had about 5 gatorades while there to rehydrate.Was truly magic   Went to Leroy Smith shelter to get some water.Seems like in Pa you always have to hike way downhill to find water.And many times it all dried up anyway when you get there.Lucked out this time.Back at the shelter there were 2 teenage girls with their small little sister.They hiked in to make marshmallows for her.They said they tried to make a fire for 2 hours with no luck.I had it going for them in about 5 minutes.Used Fritos ,works great.They were all so happy,made me feel great!  Found a nice little stealth spot for tonight.Very quiet.Savage,Stretch and Rambo Juice wanted to stay by us but there was no room.Hope to see them soon again.  Time for a puff and to think about the future
Date: 2018-06-22
From: Stealth

To: Delaware Water gap
Miles today: 19.1

Slept so good last night.Its amazing to me how quiet the forest can be at night.  Trail was very rocky all day again.Bottoms of my feet really hurt but only have 20 more miles to leave Pa. where it¢s supposed to get less rocky.Not much to see today for views so got into my hiker trance and thought about so many things.Working through some things that have bothered me for a long time.One of my favorite things about this trail is having so much time to work things out in your head. Wolf rocks was a really rugged section today.Was hoping to see some rattlers but no luck.Another really cool spot was lookout rock.Looks down into Deleware water gap.Great view.Met a young lady there who was really nice.I talked her ear off about my whole life.She was really cool about it though.When you get fresh ears after being out here so long it¢s just great to talk to someone new.She would ask me a question and I would just tell her everything and probably too much!I guess you have to be out here a while to understand.I just really like talking with people   Arrived at Deleware water gap and we decided to stay at Church of the mountain hostel.Its just a donation and has everything close by.Met Ninja and his dog Bones there.Really cool guy who I ended up hanging out with all night.Many others were there too.Over 30  Numb and I went to a really old ice cream shop.Built in 1906 it was part of an old hotel.Really awesome all original place.Next we went to a bar and then The Deerhead Inn for dinner.I had Japanese Tofu.It was the best dinner I have had in the trail so far.Just so much flavor like I have never tasted.They have live Jazz music there.The owner came in and told our waitress to make sure we were gone before it started.I hate jazz so I really didn¢t care,but was pretty rude.The waitress was really cool and felt so bad about it.It was a stuffy ,uptight crowd so I told her I was happy to leave.She laughed.Think she felt the same Back to the church hostel ended up hanging out with Ninja,Flyballs,Franklenstein,the Canadian girl,Savage ,Spirit,and a really cool ridge runner.Snuck some beers back and had another outstanding night of talking and laughter.Its going to be really hard going back to the real world eventually after all of this.I do miss home though.  Thanks Beth for the nice talk last night.And thanks again for letting me live this dream.
Date: 2018-06-23
To: East Shroudsville
Miles today: 0.0

Took a zero today.Trally neede a shower and to resupply.Not much excitement   But...Found out Echoes,and American Pink Floyd cover band ,was playing tonight at The Sherman theater close by.Really nice and old small place.They were really great.I went by myself and had a great time .Usually don¢t like going places by myself.Rrally glad I did.I think it¢s good to prove to yourself that you can be happy alone  Leaving Pa.tomorrow!!!!
Date: 2018-06-24
From: East Shroudsville

To: Stealth site
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: light rain

Was really hard to get up out of a nice cushy hotel bed this morning.So nice to be able to sprawl out.Realizing my tent is a little too small for my sleeping style which is pretty much thrashing from side to side all night  First 2 miles of trail were road walking today.On the Deleware river bridge it was so great to see the Pa/NJ border.Really proud I made it out of Pa unscathed.Many hikers are having foot ,ankle and leg problems from the rough terrain.Been hearing of a lot of great hikers I have met that had to leave the trail recently.Makes me sad because I know they wanted to finish really badly.To me Pa wasn¢t anywhere near as bad as the stories I heard about it.At the same time I can definitely see how people get injured hear though   I really like NJ so far.The whole trail just seemed to change right at the state line.Many more views,streams,and even a lake.Cant remember the last time I saw a lake.Really can¢t wait to dive in the cool smooth wetness.And go all the way down deep.Love getting in there deep.And letting the wetness drip off of my body when I come out.  Some great spots today for views.Kittatanny mtn has great views down to more deep and wet lakes.They were beautiful.Rattlesnake swamp was pretty too.More of a warm,sticky dark hole.Kind of wanted to jump into the wetness anyway.Its been a while.I am so ready!!!  I am in my tent now waiting for some little thunderstorms to end.Its been a really nice and peaceful day .Really don¢t want this journey to end ,but feel really great about how far I¢ve hiked so far.I will never forget this trail and all the people I¢ve met along the way.
Date: 2018-06-25
From: Stealth site

To: Mashipacong shelter
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Another great sleep last night.Really love how peaceful and quiet it is out here most nights.Nice cool breeze going through my tent is one of my favorite things now  Really beautiful crisp morning.Really like NJ.Trail is still rocky ,but the forest is more open and clean looking if that makes sense.Numb saw a bear right in front of us this morning.I missed it because I had music blaring away in my ears.Everyone around us has been seeing bears too.I really hope to see more here in Jersey because there are lots of them here everyone says. Only saw the Swiss couple Jumping Moose and Rocky today.They are super nice people I really look forward to hanging out with again.  Rattlesnake mtn was a great spot today.Wide open views stretched forever down to a lake and hills below.After that hiked down to the town of Branchville.Mountain House tavern was very close to the trail so I went and had some very awesome IPAs.Also the best Mac and cheese with huge chunks of chicken in it.Was really delicious.Mouth is watering just thinking about it now!Met some really cool locals there who were very curious about trail life.Its weird talking about it all because I still really can¢t believe I am lucky enough to be doing this!  Next stop on the trail was Culver firetower.A family was there and asked me all the same questions the people in the tavern did.I really don¢t get sick of talking about it and seeing people¢s expressions when they find out how far I¢ve come and how far I still have left.Kind of puts it in perspective for me.Really nice and strong,cool wind on the top of the tower felt so refreshing.And blew some of my hiker stink away.Next cool spot was Sunrise mtn.Huge stone pavilion is on top with great sweeping views .Kind of wanted to stay there for the night but needed to move along to get water.Om the way down I ran into some section hikers who just saw 2 huge bears in the next mile.I am always just missing them,makes me mad.I love seeing them out here.They are really cool to watch.  Decided to stay at Mashipacong shelter out in a tent tonight.Someone brings in lots of water for us hikers because there is no water source here.Such a nice thing to do!I was thinking about sleeping in the shelter tonight but there is a note that a big snake is living in the rafters.I am very happy in a nice breezy spot watching the sunset through lush green trees.  Really hoping to be woken by a bear tonight.Havent seen one since the Shenandoah,too long.
Date: 2018-06-26
From: Mashipacong shelter

To: Pochuck mtn shelter 
Miles today: 19.1

Another very quiet and peaceful night darn it!Was really hoping a bear would come through.Staerted off pretty early this morning to try and get some good mileage in. Early in the morning we decided to take a side trail up to the top of High point mtn which is the highest point in NJ.Was a crystal clear day so really glad I did.There is a 220¢stone tower that looks a lot like the Washington monument on top.Long ,hard,and erect poking into the sky..Many stairs lead all the way to the top but it was worth it.Fantastic views from up there.Someday I really want to get al the state high points so really happy I hit this one today when I didn¢t even know it was there close to the trail.  Trail followed many old roads today.Came across Red Jeep who was doing trail work.Really funny guy.I helped him saw an ash tree down that was ready to fall on the trail.Felt good to help and I really think I am going to volunteer to do trail work when this is al over.Will be in the Adirondacks though.  Decided to go into Unionville for lunch and some beers.Excellent pizza place and excellent beers.Really nice little town.Another place where it feels like going back in time because everything is so old.Was a great stop.Rocky and Jumping Moose were there.Been hanging out with them a lot.They are from Sweden and are awesome people. Shortly after leaving town you walk through Walkill preserve.It was a big ,long and sticky wet area.Saw all kinds of cool birds and swans in there  Next was up to Pochiuck mtn shelter.On the way up there is an abandoned house that has a spigot you can get ice cold water from.Was at the shelter with Rocky and Jumping Moose when Savage comes up and looked really scared.She had just seen a big bear and it wasn¢t afraid of her at all.Took her a few minutes to scare it off.I went looking for it and found nothing.Again I don¢t see one. Rx(the Canadian girl from earlier entries)and Swimmer also stayed close by in tents.I really like this new group of hikers we are in now.Everyone is easygoing and likes to have fun.We all had another great night just talking and eating.The more I¢m out here the more I am really appreciating simple things .Ive never needed things to be happy and after this trip I think I would like to simplify things even more.Realizing I like socializing more than just about anything.Its free and you can learn so much from others