morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-05-23
From: Palmerton- Lehighton, still PA

To: tent site 
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: scattered clouds

1263.61453'We asked for a shuttle back to the trail head at 7:30 but we were packed and ready to go by 7 waiting on our ride.We took a blue blaze called The Winter Trail around the very precarious Lehigh Gap AR trail. Our trail consisted of very steep switch backs but was not dangerous. When it joined the AT the trail was going through an area that the government is trying to reforrest. This area was destroyed due to zinc mining contamination. The trail was smooth for maybe a couple of miles but just so we wouldn't forget we were in Rocksylvania we went though a long boulder field and finished the day through miles of rocky trail.We stopped at a "designated camp site." There is not a shelter for 15 miles after Palmerton and we know we we couldn't make that a across this terrain with my ankles.
Date: 2016-05-24
From: tent site 

To: Leroy Smith Shelter 
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: broken clouds

1272.91413'Today it was Grandma's turn to almost step on a snake and this time it was a rattler. She took two giant steps backwards, then grandpa stepped forward to try to get a picture. By this time he was no longer stretched out. You can't tell by the photo but he was about 4 ft long and fat.   We gave him a wide berth as we passed well off the trail on the other side. When we had passed he was totally coiled and looked like a rock with a head sticking up, still rattling that tail of his. The trail today was easier than any other in PA outside of the farm land. It was still rocky and had some tricky places but not bad at all.We made it to the shelter and shared it with Sorority Stephen, and Traveling Man Both nice young men. My ankle is my ankle and I press on.
Date: 2016-05-25
From: Leroy Smith Shelter 

To: tent site before Wolf Rock 
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

10.31283.2Long day. We started at 7:30 AM and stopped at 6:30 PM. We were nearly out of water and thought we might have to ration. Bob walked an additional .6 miles and back to get us water from a spring.We are tired of rocks! It was a constantly very rocky trail. To try to change our attitudes we started listing all the wonderful things we had experienced while in PA. The list was long. We kept it up for a good long while which took our minds off the rocks for awhile, though not completely. I will try to make a list on notes when I am not so bushed.   There was another rattler today   It was at the tent site. SeNombre was here first and said he had been there coiled up for hours. When he and Bob went out to hang the Bearbag, SeNombre stepped on the rattler as he was finally slithering away. It is a mercy he didn't get bitten.   Sure would love to make it into Delaware Water Gap tomorrow but that is not happening. It is another 10 miles and my ankles can not do two 10s in a row.
Date: 2016-05-26
From: tent site before Wolf Rock 

To: Church of the Mountain Hostel 
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: clear sky

9.81293.0We made it. We ate in Delaware Water Gap. We will cross the river and be out of PA. Amazingly when we arrived at the hostel it turns out they were doing a feed. They do it every Thursday night. We arrived just in time to eat the last spoonfuls of each dish. YUM and homemade ice cream!Showers tonight. Laundry and mail pick up tomorrow. Taking another Zero. Awesome experiences in PAWildlife Amazingly large snakes- black and rattlersCrazy PorcupineMama TurkeyDeer looking straight at usPlant lifeFern undergrowth as far as you can see May Apples as far as you can seeBeautiful forest Glens surrounding farmlandsMountain top Views - we could see for milesBest of all -The People - Trail AngelsSuzanne in Harpers FerryGrasshopper and Bar Bell- trail angels extraordinairePatrick in Duncannon Tom and Nora, Craig and Jodi Stein- hospitality plus and fantastic foodFrank's Barber Shop in Port ClintonZip-tie's amazing logs and friendshipSurvivor- there when we needed him Many wonderful hikers Nice big Flat Rock in the middle of a sharp rocky trail or in the middle of a boulder field.
Date: 2016-05-27
From: Church of the Mountain Hostel 

To: Delaware Water Gap PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

ZeroToo many zeros but my ankles remain so swollen.   I iced them several times. I have taken the full doses of Aleve. They go down a little for a while but are soon back where they were. We had a great breakfast in a local cafe. We split "the hikers omlet.". Bob did laundry while I kept my feet up. We picked up the resupply boxes that our daughter Ashley sent us and ate lunch and supper out of our supplies. We celebrated being finished with PA trails with an ice cream from the local creamery. Bob had the local outfitter help him figure out what was wrong with the fit of his backpack. Hopefully the changes in the way he wears it will help his back.I iced my ankles again. We need to move on. We have a package to mail tomorrow morning and then I think we will be off.
Date: 2016-05-28
From: Delaware Water Gap PA

To: Zero
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Another Day to hydrate and keep my feet up puts us here for a Sunday morning. We will attend yet another worship service then be on our way.   I am feeling somewhat better. Maybe we are on the trail partly to experience the variety of fellowship. A little scare at the hostel today and tonight due to a homeless man with some mental issues and some anger issues. Hopefully it is resolved.
Date: 2016-05-29
From: Delaware Water Gap PA

To: Backpackers Campsite , New Jersey
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Church this morning at the little Presbyterian Church that hosts the hiker hostel. They started the hostel as a response to the scripture regarding the "good" Samaratin. It is a great hostel run by hiker donation and church member graces. The service was nice. It was laity Sunday. I especially enjoyed the anthem. With only two male voices and 8 females, they still managed to have the another's harmony parts sound balanced. It was really extraordinarily beautiful. I miss the quality music of prepared anthems so it was a treat.1297.8Bob again allowed me to slack pack the town and bridge. It was a good way to get my feet to walking again. Then up we went through Kittatinny Point Visitors Center. Right off we were told that we would soon see a mama black bear and get three cubs. Someone else said two. Before we saw her we were stopped by "Digger" running up the mountain to give us our stove. We had left it accidentally at the hostel. I am blown away that he brought it to us, running, in 90 degree heat. Unbelievable! We could not thank him enough.Right around the corner we saw the crowd with cameras up to take pictures of the bear just across the creek and up the hill from the trail. Bob tried to get a good picture. We watched for a few minutes as the bear slowly ambled up the mountain further and further away. We did not see the cubs.Later we had the second trail magic of the day. Two hikers coming down had fresh fruit they were giving out to AT through hikers. I received a handful of the sweetest blue berries ever and an apple. Bob received two apples. They were happy, snappy, juicy apples,if you know what I mean.We were also told of a place further up on the trail that was a memorial and prayer place full of cairns, each rock representing a prayer. They suggested we put a rock on a Cairn for our granddaughter when they found out why my head was shaved. When we arrived at the spot (see picture) the lady leaving suggested we put a rock and make a wish. We put a rock and said a prayer. Later up the trail a baby copperhead zoomed across the trail. Once again it was I who almost stepped on the little guy.We continued on up the trail to "Backpackers Campground" which was practically full of campers, many of whom were boyscouts. Bob is snoring. I don't know how he got to sleep with all this noise but it is well after "hiker midnight - 8".   The hammock set up is great!
Date: 2016-05-30
From: Backpackers Campsite , New Jersey

To: Mohican Outdoor Center Camp Site
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: light rain

1303.6It rained most of the night and about one o'clock, I realized my hammock was wet. I quickly grabbed my over quilt and put it where the hammock was not wet, put on head lamp to try to figure out what was going on. I thought maybe a stream might be coming down the line from the tree but no, it was dripping through where Bob's tarp pullouts are attached. Bob woke up with all this hullabaloo and helped me quickly set up my tarp under his tarp. I took my slightly wet bandana and wiped the large drops of water off my under quilt and tried to kind of wipe the wet area of my hammock. We both got back into our hammocks and successfully returned to sleep as the rain continued. This morning we woke later than planned but the rain had stopped. We packed up and went on our way. We did meet a nice Christian couple that camped with us. His trail name was mule. They soon passed us as did some of the folks we met at the hostel in Delaware Water Gap. We saw two large does today right after a spot where we could see the valleys on both sides of our mountain at the same time. It was really wonderful. We took our time again today knowing we were not going far and already having been forewarned that the section would be rough. Thank you Zip-tie. I am hoping we can do better tomorrow with a supposed better trail. Shower but no laundry available here. I hand washed my socks and undies.Hoping to "hang-out" with some family. They have free Wi-Fi.
Date: 2016-05-31
From: Mohican Outdoor Center Camp Site

To: Brink Shelter
Miles today: 14.2

1317.81106'We started out this morning at 6:15 determined to make it the 14.2 miles to the next shelter.From the Mohican Outdoor Center we took Rattlesnake Swamp Trail to the AT. It was longer than I imagined and much rockier than I expected. It was full of the sharp edged medium sized rocks whose sole purpose seems to be to turn ones ankles. It was on this trail that we met the first little orange salamander that I have read so much about in trail journals. After this was a good deal of smooth trail as had been promised but it was NOT smooth even a quarter of the trail. There were Pennsylvania style boulder hops from time to time (though not nearly as long) and one place where we practically had to scale a 20 ft rock wall. I should have practiced for this sort of thing at REI's climbing wall. I dreaded this when I saw it in front of us but it turned out to be kind of fun. At about the half way point we took an hour off in the shade by a stream. We ate lunch and soaked our feet in the hottest part of the day. I texted my dil asking her to send our summer bags which will lighten the load and to send my next size down hiking pants. These pants are getting hard to keep up.The long day really beat up my feet and Bob's back and feet. A nice man named Veggie walked back up from the shelter and took my pack the last 3 tenths of a mile. It was very nice but later he was very discouraging about my finishing the hike which I did not appreciate. I do need to lower the weight somehow. For one thing,we need to better judge how much food to carry. Big day. 6:15 - 6:15. Long miles for us. Hanging in hammocks without a tarp set up. It is not "supposed" to rain.
Date: 2016-06-01
From: Brink Shelter

To: Gren Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: clear sky

1324.51346'We started out early again today to avoid the heat. If anyone wonders, there are plenty of rocks in New Jersey, no shortage. But, the walking is easier due to more trail with less rocks. We only did 6.7 as we didn't think we could make it to the shelter after and we wanted to take a short day after the long one. We are in bear country. Last year a hikers tent was ravaged where we soaked our feet in the stream yesterday.   At shelters there are generally bear boxes to store food stuff for the night. There were no boulder jumps today and lots of mountain top views.   Lots of downs and back ups.We hit 300 today. We are making progress.
Date: 2016-06-02
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: Port Jervis
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: overcast clouds

11.2 1335.7Today we hit the trail early hoping to hit the next shelter, Mashipacong Shelter, in time for lunch and stay near the one 3 miles after, Rutherford ShelterWe hit the first shelter earlier than we hoped and decided to pass the next shelter as well and go on into Port Jervis, spend the night, shower and laundry then get right back on the trail early in the morning. This is called a Nero. A night off the trail, a partial day of the trail, but right back on with a half day of hiking done. No day without hiking.   The many extremely steep up and downs after Mashipacong Shelter surprised us but the desire to get rid of our stench drove us on. The fact that some friends we met on the trail, Looney and Slug, were going into Port Jervis and staying at a quaint hotel with an acclaimed restaurant was also an encouragement as we hoped we'd be able to share shuttle costs. They were planning a zero.You can not imagine how good a shower feels after 5-6 days of sweating profusely as one hikes. I also end up craving real food. We are getting stronger but also the trail is easier in more places which is not to say it is without challenges. One of those challenges from today is pictured here.They have a train station here. If you can get into NYC for a low price, we might stay another night and run into the city to do our business there tomorrow instead of waiting until we get to bear mountain. Bob is checking it out while I do laundry. He is also going to the towns creamery for a taste of ice cream.Regarding all the "view" pictures. Sometimes looking at these pictures it begins to look like the same ole same ole, but each one in real life does take my breath away for a moment. The. The trail calls me to move on to the next summit.
Date: 2016-06-03
From: Port Jervis

To: Murry 's Shelter 
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: broken clouds

1342.7Today's last minute plans to go into NYC were thwarted by the fact we were unable to find out for sure if my friend was available for a visit. He is new in a Friary that serves the Harlem area so could have been meetings or something. Turns out Friday is a day of prayer so they don't answer the phone.We did get some pounds of things we have decided we could do without at least for awhile mailed home. Our packs are much lighter and it made the day go better. We didn't get back on the trail until 11:40 and we called it a day having reached this shelter by 4:40. The photos show an observation tower along the way that we enjoyed climbing. The view might have been spectacular except for the fog. We enjoyed the day for the most part and made excellent time for us. We skirted pastures for a couple of miles, climbing over a couple of different types of stiles (see photos). In a couple of places there were short boardwalks. Captain America was at the shelter when we arrived and we really enjoyed getting to know him a little.
Date: 2016-06-04
From: Murry 's Shelter 

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: light rain

13.61356.3Barely back on the trail and we see a doe and a tiny fawn crossing the trail. Awesome. We stepped off the trail for awhile when we were close to Unionville. There we went into the grocery store which also had a grill and purchased breakfast sandwiches and doughnuts, a small cartoon of milk and of orange juice and a banana to share. We sat on the porch and ate breakfast saving half of our sandwiches for a lunch later. When we started to leave, who should we see but one of our favorite hikers, Survivor. We hiked with him the rest of the day. After long straight paths around a wildlife refuge ( I think for mosquitoes), we had three very steep and difficult climbs as well as several others not so steep, lots of fairly easy trail and a couple of miles of mostly boardwalk. We saw another large black snake today as it crossed the path just in front of us.   As so often in the last couple of weeks, we saw lots of chipmunks. Today at least three times they were in a pair and chasing each other around. Bob keeps calling them Chip and Dale. We also saw a very fat gray squirrel. No bears today. It was a long but fun day. Tonight we sleep on the floor of a hostel without our pads since we sent them home to go back. We are not sorry. Our packs are much lighter. While in NJ we skirt the NY border going in and out so we are not always sure what state we are in at any given moment.
Date: 2016-06-05
From: Vernon, NJ

To: VERNON 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

This church is closing in October. The remaining members are grieving. Blame is on the priority for sports scheduled for Sunday, low interest for church on younger people, the church convention. A great loss to the hiker community who this church has served for 20 years, to AA who they serve, to the many who benefit from their food pantry, and the now small congregation.
Date: 2016-06-06
From: VERNON 

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: overcast clouds

1361.4.   The shelter440' The road. Mile 1356.31200' The View "Pinwheel Vista"1446' The top   Mile 1357.7Just to give you an idea of the climb of the "Stairway to Heaven". The View? Spectacular! See the photos.I went to the dentist this morning. He confirmed that it was my eye tooth. He gave me a RX for antibiotic and said not to start taking it until the tooth kept me awake at night. He said to find other solutions to diminishing the pain in the meantime, drinking with a straw, using Sensodyne toothpaste, avoid chewing on that side. He said the tooth was likely in the process of dying and I would need a root canal eventually but he couldn't suggest it yet.So...I hike on with a toothache and antibiotic in my bag to use of it gets worse.   Lots of birds today. I think they are different varieties of thrush.
Date: 2016-06-07
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Wayawanda Shelter 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today we went in to NYC to see my friend. We were going to REI and eat at Ellen's Stardust Diner as well but so many things did not work out that we came right back to the AT after our visit. We hammock again tonight at the same shelter on the same trees as last night. It has been an exhausting day without mountains to climb.
Date: 2016-06-08
From: Wayawanda Shelter 

To: 17A NY
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: clear sky

1371.1We planned on waking by 4:30 and getting away by 5:30 at the latest but...we left camp at 6:20 ready, we thought, for a 12 mile day.We hiked as fast and hard as we could in the morning so we would have less miles once the sun was out full. We hiked as fast as we could later to get out of the pouring rain and to avoid hypothermia. We were definitely both hypothermia by the time we arrived at the creamery on 17A where we were able to get in out of the rain and try to warm up. The only thing they had for sale that was not cold was hot fudge or carmel, no coffee, no hot chocolate. We both changed from our sopping wet t-shirts into our slightly wet long sleeve shirts while there. Believe it or not, Bob ordered ice cream and ate it while he shivered. Like a prince, he let me have his delicious waffle cone once the freezing stuff was out of it.The trail:Quote from our guide regarding this section:"Despite the unimposing profile, rocks, abrupt ups and downs make this section challenging."AWOL 2015 Guide This was an accurate warning. We climbed over many walls of rock. It was challenging and fun before it started raining. Even in the rain it was fun, if it were not so very cold. There was one place where rebar was stuck in the wall making a ladder for us to climb. We could have used some more of that on some of the other places where footing was almost impossible. I had to hold my poles in one hand or throw them up or down (depending) and use arm strength to heft myself up in many places.   Bob's longer legs served him well. Fall Score Bob 0Beverly 9    No injury today.
Date: 2016-06-09
From: 17A NY

To: Elk Park in Harriman State Park
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

1383.6We accepted free slack packing service (packs had snacks, water, and first aid kit only) from owner/manager of Anton's On The Lake, Matt. Starting where we came off the trail yesterday afternoon, we headed out. I love New York. We had several very challenging mountain climbs but they were fun. The last one is titled, "Agony Grind." It deserved the title especially on the descent. But the most difficult part of the day was the scarcity of blazes and the time wasted and worry when in ambiguous situations a blaze was difficult to find. The trails were wonderful, though in many places.It was evident, however, that due to New York's lax stand on immigration, a few sections of Pennsylvania Rocky trail had snuck into New York.   I am sure that if Trump is elected, he will take care of the situation.Be sure to check our today's photos.
Date: 2016-06-10
From: Elk Park in Harriman State Park

To: Pallisades Parkway
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

6/10/20161395.2On the 10th we started late, waiting for our slack pack ride. For some reason our energy levels were very low. I just couldn't make it happen.   Our first view was of beautiful Island Pond. Island Pond appears to be a favorite location. For local swimmers and campers but there was no one there that day and amazingly no trash.We had several climbs over or through the rocks including going through the Lemon Squeeze that many talk about ( see photos). A large group of hikers passed us galloping over a climb we found difficult like they were young billy goats.We were so void of energy that we talked about shortening our day by 4 moles and calling for a ride where the trail crossed Seven Lakes Road instead of Palisades Parkway. We had gone through the Lemon Squeeze and I was not impressed except that the trail took us through something instead of up and over it. I told Bob that I really needed the Lord to give me some energy because I was unable to pull it up for myself. I then thought and said that seeing wildlife gives me energy. Right after that we saw a fat gray squirrel run up a tree, a garter or ribbon snake on the trail, a chipmunk ran across the trail not one foot in front of me, then maybe 20-30 feet in front of me a young buck slowly walked across the trail eating leaves from the forest floor as he ambled along. We stayed completely still and watched him for awhile. Every once in a while he gave a glance our way but was apparently not concerned about our presence. Bob was able to take several photos. When we arrived at Seven Lakes Drive I honestly still felt like I just had no energy but at the same time felt like we should press on.Shortly after this as we began the climb up the foothill of Black Mountain, Bob found a phone. He has such sharp eyes. Fortunately the person owning the phone had her number listed as "me" and also had a couple of trail names listed that we recognized as part of a large group of young people hiking together. We texted a couple of them saying we had her phone. She hadn't yet realized it was missing. They texted back that they were at the next shelter, which was the William Brian Memorial Shelter on the south side of The Black Mountain. Is it crazy for me to say that the Lord wanted her to know he loved her enough to keep a couple of old tired geezer going despite their energy levels so they could return her phone?Black Mountain was a good climb and a view of New York City in the far distance. We could see it with our eyes. Can you see it in this picture? We ended the day at Palisades Parkway and walked up to the visitor center that lies in the middle of the median for easier pick up. The center closed at 5 and we arrived at 5:30 so we couldn't get the soda we were dreaming of. Our ride, however, kindly brought us a large cold gatorade. YUM.