morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-15
From: Harper's Ferry (the Henn's house)

To: The Henn's house
Miles today: 0.0

Nice zero day. sunny at our friend's house. We scrubbed our water filter, mended a sock, wrote post cards, wrote in our journal, washed our backpacks and let them dry in the sun. We picked up our friend, Susan from the airport, who would be hiking two weeks with us. We organized our new food drop and bought some bananas at the grocery store. The Henn's cooked us a delicious home cooked meal and we enjoyed catching up with them.
Date: 2006-06-16
From: The Henn's house

To: Rocky Run shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

Susan, our friend, soon took on the name Headstand as she liked to stand on her head when every possible on each trip that she takes. Susie drove us back to the ATC and we headed north once again. The day was hot and we enjoyed the cold delicious tasting springs that we can upon. Nice hike out of Harpers Ferry on the C&O canal towpath at 260' beside the Potomac River. At the Ed Garvey shelter Banjo Man played a concert!
Date: 2006-06-17
From: Rocky Run shelter

To: Ensign Cowall shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: few clouds

We hiked past the original Washington Monument, 1827 with great views. We crossed Interstate 70 using a foot bridge, then US 40 on another foot bridge. Pine Knob shelter for lunch then onto Ensign Cowall shelter by 6:40. Busy shelter area with boy scouts and thru hikers.
Date: 2006-06-18
From: Ensign Cowall shelter

To: Deer Lick shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

"10 X 12" by noon -10 miles hiked by noon. PenMar Park for a break with several other hikers. This park is high on a ridge over looking farmland of Maryland and Pennsylvania. We are very close to the half way point. Clayton, a person just enjoying the park got talking with the hikers and soon decided to treat everyone to lunch. There was a consession stand near by. Little Wing, Bama, Headstand, Kilgore, Brain Freeze, Banjo Man, Indiana, Wild Bill all were together around the picnic tables with Clayton enjoying the park. There was a live band playing at the pavillion and Banjo Man was invited to play a few songs with them! After the socializing, we headed north and crossed the Mason-Dixon line, also the boarder between Maryland and Pennsylvania. Headstand stood on her head at the line! we cheered! onward!
Date: 2006-06-19
From: Deer Lick shelter

To: Quarry Gap shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Another 10 X 12 (10 miles by noon) into Caledonia State park, which has a public swimming pool right off the trail! However, a thunderstorm was just pushing through, so the pool had just cleared out. Since the locker and shower area were vacant, and the attendant was still on duty, we asked if we might shower! yes! I actually showered with my clothes on! They needed a freshening up! Then I took them off and wrung them out and put them back on! It was a hot day and they would dry in a few hours. Nice shelter with two potted daisies hanging from the roof. Actually, there were two shelters with a covered picnic table in between. first class!
Date: 2006-06-20
From: Quarry Gap shelter

To: Pine Grove Furnace campground
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: broken clouds

We made it to the official half way point!! We love being out on this trail with the fresh air, people, hills, trees, birds and away from the cars, trucks, houses, cement, wires and phones! At the Ironmaster's mansion hostel hikers are known to celebrate by eating an entire half gallon of ice cream in one sitting! Not us! But we did "officiate" several hikers that wanted to eat together and race while doing so! The half gallon challenge was on with Identify Crisis, Indiana, Wild Bill, Slick Bee, Berkenstock, Banjo Man, Cool Hand, Kilgore Trout. The cheering sections was Coheba, Otter, Brain Freeze, Little Wing, Bama, Headstand, Man Man and Robin. Indiana had Rocky Road, nut and all he stuffed it all down in 12 minutes and 37 seconds! Identity Crisis was second.    Later, we camped with several other hikers at the Pine Grove Furnace State Park camp area ($12). Banjo Man and Slick Bee pulled out their guitars and strummed away for a great concert. Kilgore Trout played a bit on Banjo Man's guitar too. Awesome way to spend the evening.
Date: 2006-06-22
From: Alec Kennedy shelter

To: Darlington shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Easy terrain for hiking most of the day. Boiling Springs town was nice. The ATC Nid-Atlantic Regional Office was in Boiling Springs with flush toilets and toilet paper, something we now really apreciate! We picked up a very small package at the post office. The mulberry bushes were dropping their sweet berries right onto the trail! Our fingers were stained with the delicious juice as we snacked. Hot and steamy day today and by 2:30 we stopped at Scott Farm Trail Center where we relaxed and enjoyed their water spigot! Headstand hiked her 100th mile on the trail! She is half way done on her outing with us. At the Darlington shelter, we were high above the town of Duncannon. There were lots of hikers at this shelter including Brain Freeze, Kilgore, Cool Hand, Burkenstock, Otter, Coheba, Tecumseh, Nick, Bama, Little Wing, Banjo Man, K'Ache, Pi, and Indiana. Banjo Man put on a concert tonight while the rain poured. We all gathered in the shleter then we retreated to our tents!
Date: 2006-06-23
From: Darlington shelter

To: Clark's Ferry shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

We bounced in and out of the town of Ducannon today! The trail goes right through this wonderful small town. Our new carbon tips for our hiking poles were at the post office along with our new food drop. At the 100 year old Doyle hotel, we enjoyed a lunch with several hikers. There was also a picture book of all the thru hikers, which we enjoyed looking over as well as adding our mugs. Headstand stood on her head as we left and said good-bye to the others. Just four miles further was Clark's Ferry shelter, with a beautiful view and quiet. Trickster and What were at the shelter. We found out that Trickster and What had been the ones getting married at Amicaloa Falls April 4th. We had seen them setting up for the festivities! This hike was there honey moon!
Date: 2006-06-24
From: Clark's Ferry shelter

To: Peter Mountain shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Lots of rain last night. Today was a misty, overcast day. Foggy view from Table Rock at 1380' where we ate lunch. We hadn't hiked many miles today, but we thought Headstand would like an easy day and we did our laundry. The water source at this shelter is 800 feet down hill and 293 steps! There were lots of jugs at the shelter, which people could fill and haul up to the shelter. Since we were in camp so early, we decided to fill all of them for others to come! We made two trips. Little Wing, Bama, Old Drum, Kilgore, all were in the shelter tonight. We opted to sleep in the shelter too as Bama had heard the weather report and told us a big storm was headed our way.
Date: 2006-06-25
From: Peter Mountain shelter

To: Rausch Gap shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light rain

The rain didn't come last night, but it did today! lots and lots of rain! Our first nine miles was dry, then a hard, soaking rain fell. Our umbrellas saved us. Puddles on the trail turned into streams and then rivers! The last five miles the water on the trail was up to mid shin. At the shelter, we found Moe and Ponch. Never did a shelter look so good, even though it was on the small side, a six man shelter. Little Wing, Bama, Old Drum, Nick and us made nine people. We all squeezed in the shelter. I felt great to take off wet clothes and put on our dry long John's, that were dry from being wrapped in a trash bag. Kilgore came into the area after dinner as well as Wild Bill, Carbomb, Lichen, Sleepy Arab, Chuck, Sticks, and Tipper, all who had to set up their tents in the down pour. Now, water was falling down around the shelter making a lake around it. Fortunately, the shelter was three feet above the ground.   The rain continued all night.
Date: 2006-06-26
From: Rausch Gap shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: moderate rain

The rain tapered off by morning, however someone, who had a radio, said we had gotten 5 inches of rain yesterday and more was on the way for today! There was lots of mid shin deep water on the trail today. The steams were swollen and a small bridge was washed away at one crossing. We had to cross up steam above where a second steam was rushing into the creek. Where we crossed was very deep, top of our leg, but not rushing as fast. We hiked on and found we recrossed a road above where the bridge was out. I jogged back down the road to leave a note for the others to take the gravel road, not the trail, to avoid the dangerous river crossing. Rain held off till we reached the 501 Shelter, which is a big shelter with four sides and 12 bunks! We were very grateful that we had made it! There was a solar shower, but the water was freezing! I did take a super fast shower to get the grime off. Then the rain hit again, very hard! The owner of a near by hostel cooked up a big vat of chili and steamed brocolli and brought it to our shelter! nice!
Date: 2006-06-27
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagles Nest shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

Another wet, wet, wet day! Because of our umbrellas, we were the first ones out of the 501 shelter and into the rainy trail. We tromped through ankle deep to mid calf deep water all day! There was an old note in a plastic bag telling hikers that the spring at the bottom of the hill was dry and not to bother to hike down to it! Ha.. ha, not today it was not dry!! The sky cleared by lunch and we ate without juggling an umbrellla, however, more rain came again by late afternoon. Tipper, Kilgore and the three of us were the only ones in our group from the 501 who made it to this shelter which was small and never would have held them all.
Date: 2006-06-28
From: Eagles Nest shelter

To: Windsor Furnace shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: few clouds

The rain finally stopped! There was still lots of water rushing on the trail, but the going was better. After nice miles we reached the town of Port Clinton. It was sad to see the flooding in the town. Several cars were two-thirds underwater and one steet was three or four feet under water. The post office was up hill and open to give us our next drop box. We hiked with Kilgore to a wonderful restaurant, where we ate a delicious meal. Headstand was caught a bus out of town after lunch. She accomplished her 200 miles on the A.T. and was a great sport with all the rain. She did really well for jumping into backpacking for her first time! My shoes were falling apart so I sewed them together with dental floss. They would be switched out in 275 miles at Salisbury, CT. I think they can make it!
Date: 2006-06-29
From: Windsor Furnace shelter

To: Allentown Hiking Club shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: few clouds

The sun was out today! Clear views from Pinnacle at 1635' and Pulpit Rock at 1585'. The trail was drying out for the most part. Tipper, Kilgore, Scarecrow, Josh and his dog, Scooter were all at the shelter.
Date: 2006-06-30
From: Allentown Hiking Club shelter

To: George W. Outerbridge
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: few clouds

Another sunny day and our feet and shoes dried out completely, first time in several days. Rock abound in Pennsylvania. We had to watch our step. Mapman stuck his pole between a rock and it wedged as he moved forward and the bottom section broke off. We called the Leki company and they said they would have new poles waiting for us at the outfitters in Kent, CT! nice! There were lots of blueberries lining the trail today, which slowed us down, but so worth it! Views from "the Cliffs" 1550' and Lehigh Gap were amazing! Kilgore hiked to the jail house hostel in Lehigh Gap! That sounded fun to spend the night in jail, but we hiked onto the shelter.
Date: 2006-07-01
From: George W. Outerbridge

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

Nice day! sunny, excellent views at Weathering Knob 1550'. Very rock trail with boulders to carefully step through. Bucket bath at the shelter and rinsed out our socks and shirts, away from the water source, of course. Low Gear and Tipper at the shelter.
Date: 2006-07-02
From: Leroy A. Smith Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap Presb. Church hostel
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: broken clouds

Crazy amounts of rocks to scramble over and around today. Lunch with Wolf Rock, Tipper, and 6 Days. Delaware Water Gap church had bunk beds for the hikers! We claimed the last two beds! Pizza at the local dinner. This town had been hit by the flood waters, which left water marks in the low parts of town. Piles of wet rugs, damaged books, and other items filled the sidewalks. Numb was at this hostel and played cribbage with Mapman. Also, Squarrel, Low Gear, Energizer Bunny, Brownie, Soul Man, David, Salt (the girl) and Pepper, her dog, Grinds, Parkay, Kilgore and Braveheart.
Date: 2006-07-03
From: Delaware Water Gap Presb. Church hostel

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: few clouds

New food drop at the post office. Back on the trail and into New Jersey, our eighth state, after crossing over the Deleware River. The trail popped out on the road that went under highway 80. As we road walked, a car pulled up to us and said they were looking for a place to park their car and wondered where we parked ours! ha! We told them that we had been hiking the A.T. since April 2nd from Georgia! they were amazed!    Fresh cherries for tral magic today!
Date: 2006-07-04
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Gren Anderson shelter
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: haze

Nice day of hiking. Lots of miles rolled under our feet. At Gren Anderson shelter there was porcupine chew in the side of the shelter. We were told that they would chew anything with salt in it, including hiker's shoes! Compost, Gandido, Cal Gal and Ichy Foot were all at this shelter, most tented, but we decided to stay in the shelter, due to rain clouds building up.
Date: 2006-07-05
From: Gren Anderson shelter

To: Pochuck Mountain shelter
Miles today: 25.4
Weather: light rain

Marshy lands in this part of New Jersey, with lots of boardwalks.   We found the "secret" shelter, a private home that had a shelter for hikers with a shower! We showered, but then moved on after dinner to Pochuck Mountain area, with nice pine duff to camp on. Compost, Dinosaur, Hellbender, Plunger and Yukon were all at the shelter playing cards.
Date: 2006-07-06
From: Pochuck Mountain shelter

To: Wildcat shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Million dollar mile boardwalk today above the marsh lands of New Jersey. Cattails lined the wooden walk way. We used our bug juice today! Heavenly Hill Farm Nursery just a tenth of a mile off the trail. We liked the second day old shelf! Pinwheel's Vistas at 1300' and Wawayanda Mountain at 1340' were beautiful views of New Jersey/New York boarder. We crossed over the state line, which someone had painted on a rock and into New York! Compost was with us a took our picture.         By 6 p.m. we had almost reach the shelter when we saw a note stuck to the tree. It said, "ice cream .1" with an arrow. Well for a tenth of a mile, we could alter course for the treat!
Date: 2006-07-07
From: Wildcat shelter

To: West Mountain shelter
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: few clouds

Into Harriman State park today through the Lemon Squeezer, a narrow rocky slot, and up and down very steep trail. The park was void a people, which seemed strange for a Friday. Later, we realized that the park was shut down due to the state not having passed its budget for the new year. It was nice the thru hikers could still continue on. Wonderful views from the top of Black Mountain over looking New York City. By 8:30 p.m. we were still hiking and crossed the busy Palisades Interstate Parkway, a divided highway with a grassy median. We had to twice cross three lanes with cars driving 60 mph! wow! we made it! glad it wasn't rush hour! By 9 p.m. we were almost to the shelter and had to stop a put on our head lamps. Awesome sparkle of lights from up top!
Date: 2006-07-08
From: West Mountain shelter

To: Gray Moor Friary
Miles today: 12.1

Bear Mountain State park today, which the first section of this trail was built back in 1922. We took the pedestrian tunnel under US 9W to the Trailside Museum and Wildlife Center.   The zoo opened at 10 a.m., which is the A.T. trail, so we had 20 minutes to wait. Snack time! This is the only spot on the trail that has a lock on it! Also, the zoo is the lowest spot on the trail at 124'! After the zoo, we crossed over the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain bridge and up to the Fort Montgomery post office for another food drop.    Back on the trail after a lunch at a real New York deli. Six miles north was Greymoor Friary. We liked the spot for camping and took advantage of their solar shower ---burrr cold!
Date: 2006-07-09
From: Gray Moor Friary

To: RPH shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Calm, sunny day with ward temperatures. Excellent views from Lake Canopus. The RPH shelter is actually in a neighborhood, in fact you can drive onto its property! The shelter was in place long before the houses, so it was allowed to stay, even the out house!   A trail crew had been at this shelter all weekend working on the trail. Tim, the crew leader welcomed us and asked how we liked our steaks!   He had several coolers full of food from the crew that he wanted to share with us! Along with us, Kilgore Trout, Grinds, Don Quixote, Squarral, Dufrain, Postcard, & Brave Friend all enjoyed a meal with Tim. Mapman was the grill master!
Date: 2006-07-10
From: RPH shelter

To: Telephone Pioneer shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: broken clouds

Pancakes on the grill before we left the RPH shelter.   Hot day of hiking, passing several major roads, Toconic State Parkway, we crossed under this, and over Interstate 84 and NY55 on bridges. Rinsed off shirts, shorts and socks at the shelter, away from the water source. refreshed!
Date: 2006-07-12
From: Mt. Algo Lean-to

To: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 17.3

Into the town of Kent today, half mile off the trail. At the outfitter, Mapman traded in his broken Leki poles for a new set, nice! Back on trail and out into the light rain. Fields and rolling hills to our shelter where we met Sir Lancelot, Traveling Fuzz, One Who Wanders. Rain in the evening after dinner. dry in the tent!
Date: 2006-07-30
From: family reunion

To: Brassie Brook 
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Back on the trail again! We got back to where we left off the trail in Salisbury at about 3 p.m. and started hiking!!! Viewpoint at Lion's Head at 1738'. Joined back up with Banjo Man, Sizzle, Mud Flap and Daisy - like old friends!
Date: 2006-07-31
From: Brassie Brook 

To: The Corn Crib Nursery
Miles today: 16.8

We crossed into Massachusetts, our 11th state at mile 1,492 today! Big climb up Bear Mountain with great views also today. The ridge on top of Race Mountain was nice tread at 2430', then up Mt. Everett at 2602' and down again all the way down to 620'! The Corn Crib is a commercial nursery for plants, that likes hikers so much that they allow hikers to tent on their property. They have a gazebo out front, which we sat and enjoyed a break eating fresh blueberries at their country store! Banjo Man, Bill, Number 2, She- Bear, the couple from Holland, Nellie and Willum and the Weatherman all hung out at the nursery as well.
Date: 2006-08-01
From: The Corn Crib Nursery

To: Mount Wilcox North
Miles today: 13.5

There was a nice bridge to cross over the Housatonic River today. Ice cold spring at the Tom Leonard Lean- To, which was awesome on this hot day. At Benedict Pond, after lunch time where we swam with our clothes on. The water was bath warm. Another music concert tonight by Banjo Man!
Date: 2006-08-02
From: Mount Wilcox North

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: haze

Very warm day. We took another swim at Upper Goose Pond. There were lots of hikers at the cabin. We tented in the area for more quiet.   Clear sky tonight with lots of stars to view. The stars reflected nicely off the water on the pond.
Date: 2006-08-03
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kay Wood Lean-To
Miles today: 17.6

More good hiking today. One mile out of camp, we crossed Interstate 90/ Massachusetts Turnpike on a walking bridge, which was a good deal! At the Mountain Lean -To, we ate lunch then headed for Pittsfield Road where the "cookie lady" lives! She makes cookies for the hikers and has blueberry bushes, which happened to be in season! We paid some money to her and were able to pick a few handfuls of delicious berries! She also gave out a few cookies, but she was just leaving. Banjo Man gave another concert to the group of hikers that had assembled on her lawn! At 6 p.m. we arrived at the Kay Wood shelter. With slim pickings for flat spots for our tent, we found a relatively flat spot, our water bottle stilled rolled on it. It is actually cold this evening!
Date: 2006-08-04
From: Kay Wood Lean-To

To: Mark Noepal Lean-To
Miles today: 16.7

Rain this morning on the way to Dalton. We stopped at the diner and eat with several other hikers. The rain stopped and we headed back on the trail.   The views from the Cobbles at 1800' were inspiring with very clear sky by now.   We picked up another food drop box in Dalton and moved onto Cheshire, also on the trail and then up to the Mark Noepal Lean to.
Date: 2006-08-05
From: Mark Noepal Lean-To

To: Seth Warner shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: few clouds

We climbed to a marvelous, clear view at the top of Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts at 3491' today. Then a good down hill to 650' at the Hoosic River. After lunch, we came out of the woods and onto a dirt road, a Boy Scout's mom was there handing out sandwiches, so we had a bit more to eat! Then we headed up hill to Eph's lookout at 2250'and then crossed into Vermont, our 12th state at mile 1582. We met Stampede, who was coming south now, doing a flip flop. We had wanted to meet up with him as we had met his parents last winter and we knew he was on the trail. We exchanged views of the trail south and got his take on the Whites, ahead of us.
Date: 2006-08-06
From: Seth Warner shelter

To: Melville Nauheim shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

Last night was cool and morning had a cool start to it. It appeared that we were out of the summer heat. Congdon shelter by lunch with Number 2, Pill Box, Kentucky, Wiggy and Homeward. We met Sunshine, Lost and Found, Enough and Too Much. Enough was the baby doctor, who had delivered Iron Wolf's first son! There were also several southbounders that we met as they came toward us. At the road, VT9, we met Paddy'O, who told us that Aloha, Sven, Tail Wing and Butterfly had all finished their thru hike!
Date: 2006-08-07
From: Melville Nauheim shelter

To: Story Spring Peak
Miles today: 17.4

Light rain this morning as we hiked to Goddard shelter for lunch. The sun peaked out as we made it to the shelter. We made it to the top of Glastenbury Mountain at 3748' where there was an old fire tower, which we climbed. Fear Not hiked toward us and we had a fun chat! She was section hiking. We met Pilgrin, who was hiking the Long Trail, which is shared with the A. T. on this streatch.
Date: 2006-08-08
From: Story Spring Peak

To: Spruce Peak shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Clear and cool at top of Stratton Mountain 3936'. The smell of pines were everywhere. Stratton Pond at 2550' and we took a swim in the sun. Fast hiking with Kentucky and Pillbox at the end of the day. At the shelter, we once again found Fear Not, who was with White Eagle and Just Richard. Pilgrin joined us too. He realized that he had overpacked some food and from his full quart of honey, filled up our 8 oz. container.