morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-05-14
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: Carlisle, PA
Miles today: 8.0

Day 258 miles in 3.25 hours Boiling Springs, PA (1121.3) to Carlisle, PA (1129.3)Weather: Sunny, high 60sDinner: Broiled seafood trio with mashed potatoes, Lima beans, salad, bread and crackers at the Middlesex DinerWildlife: Ground hog, grouse, birds galore Hikers: Four NOBOs, several joggers, dog walkers and two girlsAll my trains back from Wisconsin were on time which meant I was back in Boiling Springs by 1:45 p.m. It was a beautiful day so I started hiking. I knew I couldn't or didn't want to go all the way to the first shelter, 14.7 miles distant, so I instead headed for Carlisle and the Days Inn eight miles away from Boiling Springs. Feels a little wasteful to be staying at a hotel so soon, especially as I showered on the train and the weather was holding, but I originally had anticipated the train running late and that I would have ended up staying at the B&B in town anyway. Plus I had major email issues while on the train, including the loss of a detailed Baxter State Park/Maine rendezvous plan for Sam. Wanted to work on getting it all sorted out sooner than later.The trail is quite flat, passing along fields, some edged by stone walls, or through them. Or meandering through adjacent woods around them. It is also quite a bit greener two weeks later and it seems like the birds are louder and more numerous. Walked about .4 miles along along a busy highway 11, utilizing the nicely mowed lawns of trucking companies, to the Days Inn. Headed over to the most excellent Middlesex Diner soon after checking in. If I was sticking around, I hit that place again. Soup or salad, rolls and crackers, and two sides in addition to your entr©e. My seafood platter special was only $17. Excellent indeed.
Date: 2016-05-21
From: Eagles Nest Shelter, PA

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 9.0

Day 319 miles in 5 hoursEagles Nest Shelter (1208.5) to Port Clinton, PAWeather: Hot, humid, mid 80¢sDinner: Crabcakes, potato stuffing, pepper cabbage, salad, Yeungling beerWildlife: Deer, assorted forest crittersHikers: Nova, Loony and Slug (who were behind me, but suspiciously were in town?!), NOBO General Lee from last night, passed by an unknown NOBOTurns out another hiker showed up after dark, so there were at least 15 folks at the Eagles Nest last night--five of us in the eight person lean-to. The last two arrivals slid in between me (in the far right corner) and two 60-year-old section hikers (in the far left corner.) Besides any threat of rain, criteria I use to determine if I will stay in a shelter is: do the hikers appear well-adjusted, do they snore and do they smell? The two guys already residing in the far corner passed, but I didn't have any control over the late-comers who tucked in. Fortunately, neither snored or smelled, but one of the two was up at 5:15, which meant we were all up shortly thereafter. Because I was headed for town, getting an early start was just fine. Plus it was predicted to be 70 degrees by 7.a.m. I made it to town by noon. In addition to The Port Clinton Hotel, there is a vintage candy store and barber shop. The barber shop welcomes hikers to hang out and offers cookies and coffee. It was pretty awesome. That where I found my hiking pals from a few days ago. They are going to take a zero day. I picked up my mail drop with the next four-five days of food and got a ride with one of the shop's "regular's" to pick up a few fresh things and some power/granola bars. The rocks were still present today, and will be until New Jersy, but I started trying to read them like rapids, looking for navigational routes. Unlike paddling where you avoid boulders, scouting instead for "v's" and wave trains to carry you around or over the obstacles, I looked for the biggest, broadest and best rocks to place my footing. This last half mile descent slipping into town was a doozy though. Few rocks, but an incline of 60 degrees--or so it seemed. That alone took me 45 minutes. Today wasn't as bad mentally, but then it was shorter.Now isn't that ironic? At one time, 9 miles was a full day of hiking. Everything is relative.
Date: 2016-05-23
From: Common Ground Farm and Retreat Center, PA

To: Common Ground Farm and Retreat Center, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Nested with a remodeled barn and listening to frogs in the back pond lulled me to my first really sound sleep in a long time. It feels great to be lounging around today, catching up on writing and emails and downloading photos off my phone without feeling pressure to hurry up. I¢m also eating food that I hauled in yesterday's heat that won't need to be carried once I¢m back on the trail. Future Northbound hikers might want to take note of this place. It's not the cheapest, but it's exactly what I needed at the right place. I'm investigating slack packing options to make the next few days of Chinese foot massaging more bearable.
Date: 2016-05-24
From: Common Ground Farm and Retreat Center, PA

To: Bake Oven Knob Road, PA
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 3416.4 milesEckville Shelter (1232.3) to Bake Oven Knob Rd. (1248.7)Weather: Sunny, high 80¢s but didn't feel as humid or hot as the past three daysDinner: Tortilla with pepperoni and cheese (just snacking), lemon tuna couscous salad at lunch was very filling and goodWildlife: 2¢ copperhead snake and three other reported snakes I didn't seeHikers: Lots. NOBOs I've already met included Nova, Alice, Silver Fox (last seen several weeks back in Fayetteville at the Trail of Hope Hostel), Frodo and Turtle, Pinky and her partner. Must have met another eight heading north and another two dozen out for the weekend. There still is talk of rocks, as in the worst are yet to come. I¢ve been contemplating skipping ahead, but wanted to see if slackpacking would make any difference. Either the zero worked or the trail didn't seem any worse. There still were rocks¢including the Knife Edge¢huge boulders heaving 60 or 75 degrees upward that, at times, demanded one to booty scoot down. There were still rock gardens that I cruised over and between, but I wasn't cursing them today. It also was less humid¢and I started my day with coffee and a big farm breakfast. I was warned by three people, at different points along my hike, to watch for a snake they had just passed: two rattlers and one copperhead. Never saw them, but in mid-afternoon, I did pass a long, skinny copperhead off trail in the leaf litter. I heard it scurry to get away. All the hikers I've talked to agree that the snakes are generally just chilling. In fact, the snakes were in no hurry to move even when one guy practically walked right over it. Am staying a third and final night at Common Ground. My pack and spirits are lighter. And for the win: the forecast is for rain from midnight to 8 a.m. tomorrow.
Date: 2016-05-25
From: Bake Oven Knob Road, PA

To: Walnutport, PA
Miles today: 8.8

Day 358.8 miles in 6 hoursBake Oven Knob Rd. (1248.7) to Walnutport, PA (1257.5)Weather: Sunny, high 80¢s (?), humid!Dinner: Thai chicken rice noodlesWildlife: TurkeyHikers: Lots. A few weekenders, many 20-somethings (or less) clustered in a pack, Yoda (who joined us for breakfast at Common Ground, Howard flipflopping as a southbounder at the Filbert House B&B tonightIt poured last night, but I never heard it over the white noise of the AC (again). A couple I talked with for a long time over lunch told me it started around midnight, hard, and never let up until 6 a.m. I hung around eating breakfast with all the guests this morning and didn't get on the trail until 10 a.m. The trail wasn't too bad today (aka hellish spikes), unless that zero really did a number on my perception. There was one tough rock scramble at Bake Oven Knob up first. The rocks were still very slippery and the higher altitude still held the clouds. No riding the boulder wave train this misty morning. I took my time because there were only two overnight options at the end of the day:-A shelter located only 7.8 miles away or-A B&B pick-up at either mile 8.8 or 13.5I wanted to see what the shelter situation was like before I made up my mind. Four miles of ridge line yielded many gorgeous pine needle carpeted stealth campsites, but none near a water source. Plus it would have been too early to stop. I headed toward the shelter. As I passed between ostrich ferns through the soft wood forest under a cloudless sky, I finally figured out the source of the raining sounds I¢ve been hearing for the past few days. Sibilating frass. That¢s quietly falling gypsy moth poop, my friends.By 3:15 p.m., the shelter was full of people, some just escaping from the afternoon heat and thinking about heading further through the upcoming four mile zinc mining Superfund site. Some already hunkered down for the night and staking claim to their spot. And all save one unfortunate soul, in their 20s. Or younger. Beavis and Butthead were having quite the discussion about a f¢ing dude who only showered four times during his entire thru hike. Dude! That¢s f¢ing insane! Huh.huh.huh.huh. Let's just say that I wasn't into the vibe and leave it at that. I hiked a mile farther and my plastic and I are now very happy to be ensconced at this lovely B&B, the Filbert House, just slightly north of the waterless wasteland of the Superfund site near Palmerton, PA. And where I was quite content to take full advantage of hot running water. Oh, and rain is expected to again fall overnight.
Date: 2016-05-26
From: Walnutport, PA

To: Stealth Camp, past Wind Gap, PA
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

Day 3616.9 miles in 10 hoursLittle Gap Rd., Danielsville, PA (1262.4) to stealth camp, 1.5 miles from Wind Gap (1279.3)Yellow blazed (skipped) 1257.5 ¢ 1262.4 (4.9 miles) Weather: Sunny, high 70s/low 80sDinner: Beef curry ramenWildlife: Two non-venomous snakesHikers: Members of the same north hiking group as yesterdayHad an awesome hiker breakfast at the B&B and decided to skip ahead, missing the Superfund site after all. My goal is to get out of Pennsylvania (sorry), and hit Delaware Water Gap by tomorrow night, a distance of either 30 or 35 miles. As I¢m not up to 20 mile days by any stretch of the imagination, and there are these obstacles called rocks to slow me down, and there is no water in this stretch, I lobed off those miles. The B&B is located closer to Little Gap Road, so that's where I started. Stilled pulled a long day. Debated trying to hit a hotel, but now it's perfect camping weather and this isn't the Camino where you do actually walk inn to inn or hostel. So if you are keeping a tally, until tonight, I'm carrying a tent and just spent five consecutive nights not camping. The downside is that this waterless stretch means I'm short on water. I have enough to last me until reaching the next spring¢8 miles from here tomorrow, but it's going to be a bit of a sticky sleep. It certainly was a sweaty hike getting here. The trail was still rocky, more so it seemed, on a four mile stretch before Wind Gap. Otherwise, it doesn't seem to be any more difficult than other sections I've articulated my displeasure over. And I crossed over the 400 mile mark.
Date: 2016-05-28
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: AMC Mohican Outdoor Center, PA
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

Day 3810.8 miles in 6 hoursDelaware Water Gap (1293.4) to AMC Mohican Outdoor Center (1304.2)Weather: Sunny, high 70s/low 80sDinner: MOC Grilled Veggie SandwichWildlife: Two snakes, one really large black one, whippoorwills, bear sounds Hikers: Diggetty, Nova, LL Retro, a father/daughter SOBO section hiker team, misc day hikersStopped for breakfast at the Apple Caf© with Balou, Nova, LL Retro and Stone Cold. A lot of hikers took a zero today and stayed for the free Thursday night hiker feed at the church in DWG. Nova, LL Retro and I hiked on, but I eventually fell behind as my left foot continued to give me problems. Especially on the rockier sections¢which did not end at the state line. And a state line I did cross¢New Jersey! Hikers have to cross the Delaware River following a pedestrian walkway on Interstate 80. City or trail planners have thoughtfully painted the state border lines halfway across the bridge. I stopped at the Sunfish Pond to soak my feet and stayed reading a book. Nova saw the first snake in the water. The lake was a nice break from the green tunnel of trees. The day was a nice one for being outside. The trail follows an open ridge line here in New Jersey (with less rocks) to the summit of Kittatinny Mountain. I liked this section very much, but of course that changed over the two mile rocky descent to the Mohican Outdoor Center (MOC). I arrived more than two hours after the others, but then again, I did stop to read my book over lunch. Still, the trail was annoying. I saw the second snake, a four foot black racer or rat snake just before reaching the MOC.I was even more annoyed when I went to retrieve my mail drop containing my next five day supply of food and more map sections at the front desk. They couldn't find it. Ugh¢¦.Seriously? Again? A half hour later, the manager returned and brought me my shredded box containing one package of Via Fruit Fusion mix and my maps. The mail carrier had left two boxes at the bottom of the road outside of the mailbox instead of delivering them to the office. Mine was one of the two destroyed by a bear last week. I've just spent the past two hours attempting to figure out my next week and what towns I now need to stop at to resupply. I still have two days of food¢and thanks to the post office, the AMC fronted me a dinner and room in one of the cabins. As I write this, a bear has been working the dumpster two buildings away. Other people saw it, but I can only hear it from where I'm sitting. New Jersey is home to the highest concentration of black bears found on the AT. Let's see how the wildlife sightings go this week. Musings: Yesterday, there was discussion about Grandma Gatewood and how the trail differed in her day. For example, she likely didn't burn out her eight pairs of Keds hiking over these rocks. Likewise, the first blind hiker to thru-hike, probably didn't have nearly as many disconcerting ridge line obstacles to overcome. The trail has been rerouted since their days, when it followed more country roads. And my feet want to know why, why, why?
Date: 2016-05-29
From: AMC Mohican Outdoor Center, PA

To: Brink Shelter, Stokes State Forest, NJ
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Day 3914 miles in 7 hoursAMC Mohican Outdoor Center (1304.2) to Brink Shelter, Stokes State Forest, NJ (1318.2)Weather: 60s, overcast/showers/drizzleDinner: Fish ChowderWildlife: MosquitosHikers: Lots northbound, about 20 at the shelter tonight, three SOBOs along the trailLiking New Jersey so far. There are still rocks, but only in parts and we had some good views, once the clouds lifted. After an 8 a.m. breakfast at the MOC that lasted past nine (and that is meant to be a commentary on how long it took four hikers to get fed this morning), we started out in some light rain. Hiked all day with LL Retro as we solved the world¢s problems. In the afternoon, we ran into ¢Dys-feng-shui-nal, a woman that a Facebook friend we both had in common had told me about. It was a moment of ¢Hey! I know you!¢ when in fact I really did not. That happens out here. You hear about people and then paths do cross. Dys-feng-shui-nal is a sports med doctor and took a look at the foot that has been giving me problems. Pennsylvania may not have been the problem¢well at least as far as blaming the rocks goes. The issue appears to be plantar fasciitis caused by overuse. I¢m loading up on Ibroprophen to help relieve the inflammation and will re-evaluate my insoles when I reach a town with a shoe store. Very clammy, damp day overall, but still better than hiking for miles on end over rocks.
Date: 2016-05-30
From: Brink Shelter, Stokes State Forest, NJ

To: Mashipacong Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: broken clouds

Day 4012.4 miles in 10.5 hoursBrink Shelter, Stokes State Forest, NJ (1318.2) to Mashipacong Shelter, NJ (1330.6)Weather: 60s, overcast/drizzle/humidLunch: 2 hour break at Gyps Tavern, Branchville, NJDinner: Cream of MushroomWildlife: DeerHikers: Dysfengshunal, Merlin, Purples at the shelter; bunch of NOBOs at lunch, weekenders and one SOBOWoke up to a misty morning which translated to a humid day. Everything started out sticky¢clothes, skin, backpack straps¢and stayed that way pretty much all day. Still liking New Jersey. Pine needles line the trails in many places and there are views at the summits. We've been hiking through the Stokes State Forest yesterday and today. Ran into Dysfengshunal about an hour after I left the shelter and we hiked together the rest of the day talking books. Stopped for lunch at Gyps Tavern with its outdoor seating overlooking Kittatinny Lake and the small mountain we had just descended. Hung out there for two hours, the first 30 minutes awaiting for it to open.Even though we only had 5.8 miles left, hiking after two pints, a loaded cheeseburger and sweet potato fries proved tiring. We passed a fire tower and met a woman from Manhattan, out for a section hike through New Jersey. Passed a large slate floored outdoor pavilion falling into disrepair and rendered the woods for the last three long miles to the shelter. ATWeather.com predicts heavy rain tonight. Got some trail magic at the shelter tonight. Beer angels! Two young men had been planning to stay the night and do a little hiking on Sunday. Until the heard about the coming rain and were invited out with some friends. So they opened up their canteened growlers and shared their amber ale and IPA with us before their ride picked them up. Unlike last night, there are only four of us at tonight's low profile, stone shelter. Merlin and his dog, Monkey and Purples were also at Gyps Tavern but had passed us during those last miles. We were able to take care of the beer, get dinner done and set up camp before the first raindrops fell. There are lots of brownish red millipedes here¢and have been all along the trail since Pennsylvania. They look like short night crawlers with legs and like caterpillars, which are also present in droves, are everywhere. On the trail, on the rocks, on the picnic tables, which is where I sat on one. I need to look them up online when I get a connection¢not only to learn what they are but if they sting when squished, because I sure felt something through both my skirt and shorts. I can feel raised welts on my backside, but I'm not asking anyone to look¢yet.
Date: 2016-05-31
From: Mashipacong Shelter, NJ

To: Highpoint State Park, NJ
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: broken clouds

Day 415.5 miles in 3 hoursMashipacong Shelter, NJ (1330.6) to Highpoint State Park, NJ (1336.1)Weather: 60s, overcast/rain/pummeling rainDinner: Chinese take-outHikers: Dysfengshunal, four other NOBOs at the park office, Perry and Mikka at the motelIt poured buckets last night and we stayed relatively dry. And by relatively, I mean that the shelter¢s tin roof leaked only a little. The white noise of the rain lulled me to sleep. The splash of some errant drops and the small puddle forming next to my head only momentarily disturbed my slumber. Likewise, an errant mouse only momentarily caused alarm when I awoke a second time to feel it exploring my hair, which yes, is starting to resemble nesting material. I did two things today I haven't done in decades. I ate a chocolate Poptart for breakfast and drank a free Pepsi that the Highpoint State Park office gives to thru-hikers. The Poptart was another trail magic gift left in the shelter bear box along with a bunch of other treats. I thought I'd just have a nibble and then I ended up scarfing up the whole thing. Poptarts can be a hiker breakfast staple, but I have yet to crave them. The Pepsi went down pretty easily too¢in spite of the cool, rainy morning. The rain had stopped by the time I left the shelter and the first two miles of hiking was in what Dysfengshunal termed ¢ambient moisture.¢ Some sections of the trail were rather rocky in a bluff sort of way, bluffs that had to be climbed over or down. Earlier today I had been reflecting how Pennsylvania would wind the trail up and over the bluffs and ridges, making you scramble along them for some time, before taking you down the same way. Whereas New Jersey just gets you up to a ridge to keep heading north. But that was not the situation today. I'm just glad it wasn't raining when we hit those bluffs. Instead, we only had to deal with pummeling rain for the last half mile. We had almost made it to the state park office. Arrived in a puddle to claim our Pepsi. I wrote a few postcards while Dysfengshunal organized a mail drop and we waited out the downpour. It was now after noon, so we headed over to the concessions stand by the empty beach for something hot to eat. A ranger stopped by and mentioned the severe weather on the way. Thinking only of safety¢¦and a hot shower¢¦and laundry, we decided to seek out the nearest shelter¢a nearby motel room that we are sharing. Thunderstorms are predicted again for tonight. Hoping the roof won't leak again and this room is mouse-free.
Date: 2016-06-02
From: Pochuck Mtn. Shelter

To: Warwick Turnpike/Greenwood Lake, NY
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 4312 miles in 9 hoursPochuck Mtn. Shelter, NJ (1350.2) to Warwick Turnpike (1362.2)Weather: 70s, sunny, hotter, scattered thundershowers Wildlife: TurkeyLunch: Two loaded hotdogs, pint of blueberries, two apple pastries, ice-cream coneDinner: Eggplant marinara with spinach, mushroomHikers: Dysfengshunal, Hops, Dandelion, Sunshine, Moonshine, Babbit, lots of day hikers taking the Stairway to HeavenWoke up to the drone of a mosquito. The days of sleeping out in the open shelters are getting numbered. The trail today was a mixed bag: some rocks, a long boardwalk, a wooden suspension bridge, a one-mile climb and another state park. Yesterday, Dysfengshunal and I decided to work with a motel up the trail who will slack pack us for a few days. We hiked with our packs, got picked up at 5 p.m. and brought to Greenwood Lake, NY where we are staying at Antons motel. Tomorrow we will hike without our gear and attempt to put on some more miles. We¢ll get a ride back to the state park, where we stopped yesterday and hike past Greenwood Lake, then have the shuttle pick us up and bring us back to the motel again. Her knee has been bothering her and my foot is still giving me issues, although I think it is improving with Ibroprophen and ice. Walking along the boardwalk was an interesting departure from the footpath. It ended with a small suspension bridge over a stream. Fourty-five minutes later, we walked over a railroad track and through a cow pasture to a road that offered two eateries near Vernon, NJ¢Mitch¢s Roadside Grill and Heaven Hill Farm Market. Dysfengshunal had been looking forward to eating a Knish ever since she had read about it in the guidebook. We headed there first. Unfortunately, Mitch no longer served Knishes and being vegetarian, there wasn't anything on the menu besides chips and soda for my friend. Meanwhile I wolfed down two hotdogs with garlic and onions. Next, we headed to Heaven Hill where I brought and ate the rest of my lunch while waiting out a short downpour with NOBO ¢Hops.¢ Lunch and rain done, we then headed one mile straight up following the ¢Stairway to Heaven¢ stone steps and boulders to a view overlooking the valley and Heaven Hill Farm. The sun was shining and it was hot. The trail continued to be somewhat rocky as we hiked on toward the state park, but the pine trees, steams and ponds were diversions. With less than a half mile to our designated pick-up, the sky suddenly went black and thunder rolled. We got hit with a quick downpour right before our ride showed up. Met up with Dysfengshunal¢s Chicago friends here at the motel and headed out to dinner at Emeralds across the bridge from Antons. Hiking to motels works just fine for me.