morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-28
From: MP 1256.5, PA 

To: MP1265.8 PA
Miles today: 10.2

So the plan was to hike to Delaware Water Gap today, didn¢t happen. We got to a road and a town was close by, so we decided to hitch in just for lunch, easy hitch, got a ride in a van, ate at Burger King. But we also passed a movie theater, STAR WARS. One of the big conversation topics of Glue and I is the new Star Wars movie, we had to see it, first showing 4:30. So we had a couple of hours to kill. We went and did laundry. Saw the movie, it was awesome; saw it in a cool old theater. So we hiked out of town in a slight rain at 7:30 at night. We got down the trial a little ways and then saw the guys we camped out with last night, so we set up camp too. Oh yeah, saw Snowdog come into town as we came out.
Date: 2005-05-29
From: MP1265.8 PA

To: Delaware Water Gap Hostel
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Delaware Water Gap HostelA short day into the hostel, arrived and annoying lady from a couple of nights before was there, she had to get off the trail and somehow skipped ahead to the hostel. A former thruhiker came by and took us all into the local big town, a number of thruhikers rolled in later, Snowdog & 3 new ones (to me) Bill Z, Toaster, Metric, Roaming Gnome. We all went out to eat, and then saw STAR WARS again, not as good the second time around.
Date: 2005-05-30
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: DWG
Miles today: 0.0

Same place, DWGUnwanted zero today. I had to food resupply today, but the people I was riding around with in the taxi were all zeroing today so I gave into the peer pressure and took one too. I got to really meet Metric & Toaster they are both my age, actually younger. They skipped the spring semester of their senior year of high school to hike the A.T. I saw my 3rd movie in 3 days, SICK. It was a bad movie Kicking & Screaming with Will Farrell. Glue is getting off the trail tomorrow and going home, he has no money left.
Date: 2005-05-31
To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Ross called yesterday, he is leaving Delaware Water Gap this morning. He ended up taking a zero day there yesterday because he had to resupply and there wasn't a grocery in town. He ended up sharing a taxi with several other hikers to go to the nearest town with a grocery store.   We had sent a resupply box To D.W.G. but since he realized he would be there over the holiday weekend and the Post Office would be closed we bounced it forward. When he got back from the grocery store he thought about hiking out but it was raining so he stayed at the hostel another night. He has been taking it easy for a couple of days, he has seen Star Wars twice and yesterday saw another movie that he said wasn't any good.He has met a whole new group of hikers, and he sounds good. His pack is developing a tear in the bottom of it near the frame, he put a duct tape patch on it, and plans on calling Granite Gear when he gets a chance. He also said his new shoes have taken quite a beating from the PA rocks.signed,Shorts' Support Team
Date: 2005-05-31
From: DWG

To: 1297.8 Camping
Miles today: 18.0

1297.8 Camping        I hiked with Toaster & Metric today, cool kids. Doing a lot more camping lately like tonight. I¢m living on the dangerous side tonight, I didn¢t set up my tent. Crossed into NJ today but there are still lots of rocks on the trail.
Date: 2005-06-01
From: 1297.8 Camping

To: Gren Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

Gren Anderson ShelterStopped at Culvers Gap today and got a burger, it is so sweet sometimes when the trail goes by civilization. Toaster had to resupply again, he takes as little food with him as possible and resupplies often. Hung out at the cool fire tower today. This shelter has a bear box, crazy.
Date: 2005-06-02
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: Pochuck Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 25.4
Weather: broken clouds

I hiked farther than I wanted today, but I wanted to stick with Toaster & Metric, I rolled into the shelter at roughly 8:30. Today was kinda crazy, I took a hard fall and when I finally got up, one of my Titanium hiking poles was bent beyond use, argghh. Losing a hiking pole is rough, it has thrown off my cadence & rhythm. I compare it to a 3 legged dog. I also heard a car accident. I was hiking along and heard what sounded like an old shack collapse, then heard lots of yelling and screaming, when I arrived at the dirt road there was a rolled car and 4 teenage kids, I asked and made sure everything was alright, then continued on my way. Jersey drivers.
Date: 2005-06-03
From: Pochuck Mtn Shelter

To: 1353.9
Miles today: 17.3

1353.9Slow start today, got to hiking at 11a.m. The first 12 miles were gravy, even walked on a boardwalk over a marshland, the second 12 miles were miles were rough, hiking over a wet rocky ridge, I crossed into NY today. I missed an ice cream shop today I was so ticked. OK now the fun begins, I came to a road at 8:45 p.m. There was a second ice cream shop, I stopped for a little while for cookies and cream and then decided to hike the final 2 miles to the next shelter in the dark. So I put my headlamp on and headed out. Getting back on the trail was odd, and it took me a little while before I found the blazes again. I hiked for one hour in the wet darkness over slippery rocks until I started to wonder if I had missed the shelter. After 1 12 hours I stopped at a small campsite and looked over my guidebook, I convinced myself I had not passed the shelter and decided to continue hiking. After 2 hours of hiking in the darkness I came to a wooden ladder. Suddenly I came to realize a horrifyingly disturbing fact. I was about to climb down a ladder that I had climbed up merely hours before. I had hiked 2 hours in the rainy night SOUTH!!! Everything was now crystal clear, I knew why I had thought it was weird the trail didn¢t cross that road at the ice cream shop, now I knew why the trail at the road didn¢t seem to have any blazes at the beginning. Now I knew why I had never got to the shelter. Now I knew why those views looked so similar to the ones I had seen during the daytime. I was heartbroken, devastated. I continued hiking because I needed a campsite for the night and I knew there was none north for at least 45 minutes. So I set up camp in the rain and went to sleep. Later I was able to convince myself that after 3 months of going north only going south for 2 hours wasn¢t¢ that bad of an average. I also read an entry the next day of a guy who did the same thing just days before, but he did it in the middle of the day, but lucky for him, he rain into someone who turned him around, so I don¢t feel as stupid.
Date: 2005-06-04
To: looking for Toaster and Metric
Miles today: 0.0

Near Arden NYJust got a quick phone call from Shorts (his phone battery went dead) He is near Arden NY. He is looking for 2 hikers "Toaster" and "Metric" if anyone can get in touch with them Shorts wants to meet back up with them. Apparently they got a ride into NYC and Shorts just missed the ride. If you can get in touch with them have them sign in to Shorts guest book or call his Dad's phone @1-800-801-3080.Shorts was hiking in the rain yesterday and after a stop for icecream got turned around and ended up hiking 2 hours southbound in the dark before he realized his mistake. He ended up just setting up his tent there. That is why he missed his ride into NY. Tonight he is tenting by a lake, alone I think.He plans on being in Fort Montgomery tomorrow.
Date: 2005-06-04
From: 1353.9

To: MP 1372 NY
Miles today: 18.1

As you can imagine I was mentally down today and hiked slow, until 5 p.m., when I ran into notes from Toaster and Metric, saying NYC today train at 6 p.m. I could have easily made the train if all the craziness hadn¢t happened yesterday, but it did and I ran to try and make the train anyways but I was 12 hour too late. They had a free place to stay too. I would have gone into NYC the next day and found them since they specifically had notes all along the trail for me to come with them, but that the thing about the A.T. I really don¢t know them enough to find them, I only know their trail names, I don¢t know their real names or anything, oh well.So I decided since I missed NYC that I could at least go to a motel for the night. I started walking towards the motel and a ¢trail angel¢ named ¢Paddy-O¢ picked me up and gave me a ride. I arrived to the empty motel and was asked for my reservation. I told them I had no reservation, he said I couldn¢t rent a room, whatever, I tried to give him money for a room, he wouldn¢t take it, his loss, not mine, I have everything I need on my back. Paddy-O gave me sodas and food and ride back to the trail and we talked for a while, great guy, I went on my way to a sweet pond he told me about. Unfortunately I was unable to find the campsite he spoke of and camped in a not so nice spot.It was a clear night and I didn¢t set up my tent, mistake. Apparently nothing sleeps in N.Y. The skeeters bit me all night, the ducks quacked all night, a dog ran up and barked at me a 3a.m. and it looked as though its owners were hiking around the lake in the middle of the night. Anyways it was a weird time and I didn¢t sleep at all.
Date: 2005-06-05
From: MP 1372 NY

To: Fort Montgomery NY 
Miles today: 16.9

As you can imagine I was mentally down today and hiked slow, until 5 p.m., when I ran into notes from Toaster and Metric, saying NYC today train at 6 p.m. I could have easily made the train if all the craziness hadn¢t happened yesterday, but it did and I ran to try and make the train anyways but I was 12 hour too late. They had a free place to stay too. I would have gone into NYC the next day and found them since they specifically had notes all along the trail for me to come with them, but that the thing about the A.T. I really don¢t know them enough to find them, I only know their trail names, I don¢t know their real names or anything, oh well.So I decided since I missed NYC that I could at least go to a motel for the night. I started walking towards the motel and a ¢trail angel¢ named ¢Paddy-O¢ picked me up and gave me a ride. I arrived to the empty motel and was asked for my reservation. I told them I had no reservation, he said I couldn¢t rent a room, whatever, I tried to give him money for a room, he wouldn¢t take it, his loss, not mine, I have everything I need on my back. Paddy-O gave me sodas and food and ride back to the trail and we talked for a while, great guy, I went on my way to a sweet pond he told me about. Unfortunately I was unable to find the campsite he spoke of and camped in a not so nice spot.It was a clear night and I didn¢t set up my tent, mistake. Apparently nothing sleeps in N.Y. The skeeters bit me all night, the ducks quacked all night, a dog ran up and barked at me a 3a.m. and it looked as though its owners were hiking around the lake in the middle of the night. Anyways it was a weird time and I didn¢t sleep at all.
Date: 2005-06-06
From: Ross

To: Graymoor Friary
Miles today: 6.3

Gosh, all I can think about is that steak I had last night at the Pineapple steakhouse, it was just downright tasty, a big, juicy New York strip. So people are telling me that I can probably get college credit for the hike, that would be really sweet. Speaking of college credit, I have to go to college, hmmm... not sure how I feel about that. It should be a good thing, right? college and all that well I at least have to find a computer with internet and sign up for my classes.This morning was interesting, the motel owner stopped by and offered me a ride back to the trail, I quickly accepted, free ride, YES. I hopped in the car then realized I still needed to go to the Post Office, so he dropped me off there instead, but it was 7 am and the P.O. didn't open for another 1 1/2 hours, so I just sat there and wrote in my journal recollecting this past weeks events. I spent 3 - 4 hours there before I left. So I started to get out of town around 11 or 12 but I made a few calls first to LEKI and Granite gear to see if they will replace my broken gear. Leki immediately agreed to send me a new hiking pole, but it'll probably be 2 weeks before I get my hands on it. Missing one hiking pole has really thrown off my hiking cadence. So I currentl am using no poles. Then I had the wrong # for Graite Gear to see if they'll fix the tear in my pack, but I set Dad up with the info. so he can try and talk to them for me. A big shout out to everyone out there for all the support you're giving me on this trip, I culdn't do it without you guys, especially Mom & Dad, thank you.So I crossed the hudson at noon and hiked pretty lazy, the rest of the day, I met Mountain Squid and hiked with him for a couple of miles, I had orginally planned on camping out tonight, but all of a sudden a storm rolled in from nowhere in about 5 minutes, and it immediately started to pour. I was quickly drenched, probably because my rain jacket was still in my pack. I have an opportunity to really use it and I leave it in my pack. So I hurried to the closest shelter, which really isn't a shelter at all, it's a paviion that is owned by a local retreat center, but alows hikers to spend the night there. It only took 10 mins to get there from when the rain started but i was drenched. There's 3 others here at the shelter, Mountain Squid, Pilot and Bob. All they can seem to talk about are Lyme Disease and Ticks, nonstop, you would think they would find something else to worry about, like alien invasions or something, nope its Lyme disease this and Lyme disease that, whatever. So I'm enjoying this second half of the trip, although the terrain is tough and the views are unimpressive, the only unfortunate thing is I don't seem to ever find a consistent hiking partner, oh well, all for the best, I suppose. You want to know something really weird, last week I had 2 days of appetite loss, I literally didn't eat a real dinnere two nights in a row, that wasn't something I expected, crazy times. Well I'm sitting here writing to avoid hiking must be done, I'm outta here.
Date: 2005-06-07
From: Graymoor Friary

To: Shenandoah Tenting area MP 1412.8
Miles today: 17.6

I sat around the shleter for a long time this morning waiting for my shoes to dry, they didn't, so I got a late start with wet shoes. There aren't to many things more depressing than wet feet. So I took a number of breaks and naps today, causing me to get in to camp late and not going as far as I had wished.bummer
Date: 2005-06-08
From: Shenandoah Tenting area MP 1412.8

To: NY 22 
Miles today: 21.0

MP 1433.8So I didn't set up my tent last night, this morning everything was covered in dew, you win some and you lose some. The bugs and the heat are starting to get to me, Have I mentioned the Heat? Anyways its abnormally warm in the area. I am staying with the McConaghy family tonight, they contacted me through trail journals and welcomed me to stay at their house while I was in the area. They are kind, helpful people who welcomed me into their home, I am extremely grateful. Paladin is here also, but he is farther north on the trail than I. I supposedly passed the largest tree on the A.T. today, the Dover Oak, itis not extremely huge, but the trunk of the tree has an extremely wide cirumference.Soft place to sleep, hot shower, good food, good company, life couldn't be better.
Date: 2005-06-09
From: NY 22 

To: Kent CT, 1452.4
Miles today: 18.6

I took up on the oppurtunity of a slackpack today and am staying another night at the McConaghy's it was another hot day, I still have not ajusted to the heat, especially the need to carrry/drinkmore water. There was some pretty river walking today and an overall nice day.
Date: 2005-06-10
From: Kent CT, 1452.4

To: Stewart Hollow Break Lean-to
Miles today: 7.0

I said farewell to the McConaghy's today and their wonderful hospitality and resumed my trek north. I decided hiking is lame so I took a roughly 5 hour lunch break, needless to say I am lacking motivation and made forward progress of less than 7 miles today. Some thruhikers caught me at the shelter today, Whiskers, Vievel & Lizard, last time I saw them was NC/TN area, at least 1,000 miles ago. The trail is a crazy place, hopefully I will find motivation, my parents are coming to visit next week, yay I could use some familar faces about now, especially my parents, maybe even a couple of zero days.Self Motivation 101
Date: 2005-06-12
From: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to

To: Riga Lean-to
Miles today: 19.8

OK so I sent my journal home and don't remember what day I left off so I think I'll do a recap of the last couple of days. I left the McConaghy's and hiked 7 miles to Stewart Hoolow Brook Lean-to. Only 7 miles because I took a break at an overlook and didn't start back up again till 5 hours later. The next day I hiked 10 miles to Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to, I seemed unable to motivate myself to hike for the second day in a row, a unhealthy pattern for thruhiking. I broke the spell the next day and hiked to Riga Lean-to, about a 20 mile day and stayed at a pretty little shelter with a view, alone.The last couple of days have been lonely, I've met people but have hiked alone, there have been some neat towns and cool swimming holes, but they are not quite as interesting with no one to share them with. The next day was set apart by the intense amount of mosquitoes. I valently defended myself with my cowboy hat and twirling hankerchief but the bugs in some sections were overwhelming. I made my way into Massachussetts and attempted a # of times to call home and tell my parents where to find me (they were coming to visit the next day) but no cell service could be found. As night came upon me I realized I would not make it to the shelter before dark and due to my last experience of hiking in the dark I decided to camp out. I climbed up June Mtn and layed upone a rock with a view for the night, and immediately I was attacked by mosquitoes, I was so ticked, I had just hiked to the top of a mountain with no water source for at least 2 miles (oh yeah did I mention I was out of water, whoops) and there were still bugs biting at me from every direction, so I quickly gathered my things and scampered along the trail, then quickly put up my tent right in the middle of the path and sealed myself inside away from the bugs. The next morning I packed my things and headed out, at the next spring I drank some water and found myself feeling sick to my stomach, apparently I had become more dehydrated yesterday than I had realized and was feeling the repercussions.   I forced down some more water and continued on my way. I took a side trail to a park with a pay phone to call my parents, it was broken. Finally I reache a road at 3 in the afternoon that had enough cell service to call my parents and explain to them where to pick me up outside of Tyringham, MA (Due to some of the smaller hiking days, I was roughly 30 miles south of where I had predicted I would be).I spent the following 2 days with them and my grandparents from Cape Cod, eating lots of steak and other good foods. I also got to fix my bent hiking poles, replace my pack with the rip in it, and I got all new socks!!! You would be surprised how good new socks feel, so what if it took me like a half an hour to pick out the ones I wanted.So finally we are up to today (see 6/17 entry)
Date: 2005-06-13
From: Riga Lean-to

To: June Mtn
Miles today: 19.9

Ross' ThoughtsTopic 1: Bridges on the A.T.I hate the bridges, a complete and utter resentment towards them. I'm hiking along, come to a stream or river and there is a bridge, first it makes me realize that I'm not as far into the wilderness as I think I am, then secondly they're boring. I simply walk across. If there had been no bridge I would have had excitment and danger trying to find a way across the water, while staying as dry as possible. Stream crossings take ingenuity and balance and can be just plain dangerous, in other words they can make good stories, imagine if there had been no bridge across the hudson river, I would have a great story about how I swam across with my pack over my head or about how I made a raft and floated across; but NO I just walked across a bridge, boring. Hopefully some of you get what I'm driving at here.Bridges=Safe=Boring=Lame=DullThey say in Maine the trail doesn't have bridges, I'm excited. A good metaphor for the younger generation reading this journal is the game Oregon Trail (Yeah, I know you al still wanna play it) you know when you get to a stream and you have to decide which way to go   *Ford the river   *Caulk the wagon and float   *hire an indian guide   *take the ferry $that's when the game is fun, except the A.T. has bridges, LAME, Burn the bridges, anyways moving on.
Date: 2005-06-14
From: June Mtn

To: Tyringham Ma
Miles today: 18.6

Ross' ThoughtsTopic 2: GodWhen i started this trip I expected that if I simply went into the woods, removed myself from the hectic life & tempations of the world that I would simply be able to clear my head. GOD would appear to me, tell me my specific life purpose, everything would make sense and then the Holy Spirit would walk ahead of me, literally parting waters and moving aside mountains. This unfortunately has not happened. He is definitely here with me, to many miracles have happened for him not to be, but I suppose for me to have a clearer understanding of what he wants to do through me, its going to take a little more work on my hands than stumbling around in the woods.
Date: 2005-06-17
From: Tyringham Ma

To: Upper Goose Pond
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: light rain

I said goodbye to my folks all fresh and rejuvenated and hiked 7 miles to Upper Goose Pond Cabin, the prettiest little spot tucked away next to a beautiful pond. I am feeling great and really glad to have my hiking poles operational again. The temperature has cooled off again, and the heat and humidity is gone. I am again ready and focused to tackle the next leg of the trail.
Date: 2005-06-18
From: Ross

To: Dalton Ma
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: light rain

So I spent yesterday afternoon napping on the dock at upper goose pond, most relaxing. Metric showed up, it was good to see him again.   Woke this morning to the caretaker making us pancakes, very nice. Metric and I took the canoe out on the lake and paddled around & went across the lake to the spring to get water to bring back to the cabin. Around 10:30 we started hiking into Dalton. We arrived around 8 and gave Rob a call. He immediately came and picked us up and took us back to his house. Scarecrow was there. We had a late night going out to see Rob play a gig with his band and then go to eat afterwards, probably got back to his place around 2 or 3 am. sleepy.
Date: 2005-06-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Phone call from Shorts, he is at the "Birdcage" in Dalton Mass. The "Birdcage" is the home of Rob Bird, friend to hikers. Shorts has finally met up with a couple of other hikers, Metric & Scarecrow and is looking forward to having company for awhile. Shorts met up with Metric at Upper Goose pond and got to canoe a bit, actually took the canoe out to the spring to resupply the cabin with water.Tomorrow they head out to Mt Greylock and hope to see a good sunset from the summit, Tuesday they will enter Vermont! Trek Support Team(new photos to be posted soon)
Date: 2005-06-19
From: Dalton Ma

To: Dalton - Father's Day
Miles today: 0.0

Lots of plans today but none of them were accomplished, we almost hiked out of town today, we almost slackpacked and we almost went to Boston to see a Sox game. But nope, we just hung out at Rob's house, went to the mall for a little while and watched some T.V. and some movies. Rob took us to the buffet and as we were about to leave we saw the B's and Snowdog. It was another nice long zero to stack up with the pile of zeros I've already taken.