morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-08-01
From: us23

To: Guilder pond picnic area
Miles today: 16.8

We started hiking around 7 and by 7:30 it started raining for about an hr. The sun then came out and the hiking was good. We hiked up to East Mtn then down to u.s 7 which is the road into Great Barrington. We hiked 9 miles that morning so we decided to hitch into town for a big juicy hamburger. We caught a ride by 10:30 and the place we ate opened at 11:15. The big Texas burger was worth the wait. We caught a ride bc ack to the trail by a very nice women who has a friend hiking the trail. We then had to wait out a rain storm for an hr before hiking. We started back at 2 and made it over to Shays Rebellion before the 1 mile hike thru the mosquitos. We survived that and started our climb up Mt. Everett at 2600ft. But, we decided to stop at Guilder Pond Picnic Area where they had water and a privy. We set up tent and went to bed we were both tired from 4 hrs in town then the climbing going up Mt Everett. God Bless
Date: 2015-08-02
From: Guilder pond picnic area

To: belters campsite
Miles today: 23.3

After stealth camping last night we were up and hiking by 6:30. It was clear and sunny with a slight breeze. We first finished climbing Mt Everett which was just 700ft in .7. It was clear and you could see 360 degrees with the fog settled in the valley. We then hiked over to Mt race which has open ledges you walk around with beautiful views down in the valley. We then made our way down to sages ravine which I think is the greatest place to camp on the AT. It sits in a ravine with water flowing beside it with clear pools and waterfalls. The temp is always cool and you have just crossed into Conn. We then climbed up to Bear Mtn where we had a view of the lake that Meryl streep lives on, not sure how her last name is spelled. We then hiked 6 miles down to Salisbury Conn. We stopped at a graveyard to get water and found a shade tree to sit under to have lunch. We then had a rode walk before reentering the woods. We had a easy 6 miles to go to get to Falls Village. On the hike over we stopped and took pics of this rock which looks like a Giants thumb. When we made it to Falls Village first thing u see is the giant falls that all the locals swim in. We then had to road walk 3 miles bc the bridge was out and we had to take the AT detour. We then finally made it back into the woods and hiked .4 to our campsite. We had a great day of hiking with our biggest miles to date and we had great weather and great views. There is nothing that compares to the sun shining thru the trees, the wind rustling the leaves and the birds singing while u are hiking. God Bless.
Date: 2015-08-03
From: belters campsite

To: kent conn
Miles today: 22.2
Weather: clear sky

We got started hiking around 7 this morning. The weather was perfect with blue skies and a slight breeze with no clouds. The trail was the best maintained and clear on the trail so far. We have only been seeing 10 to 15 NOBOs now and no SOBOs. We first hiked up to Mt easter at 1350ft and then stopped short of Pine Swamp Brook Shelter for a break. Then we hiked about 9 miles total before we started tiring real bad. We sat by CONN 4 hoping for a ride into to town but had no luck. So we hiked up to Silver Hill Campsite which is a great place to stop for lunch, there is a porch swing u can sit in with a great view and picnic tables to sit on instead of a rock or log. There is a well pump to get water as well. We were so tired and hungry we ate everything we had in our packs except a packet of instant potatoes. We took a 1 hr break and had lunch and filled our water knowing we still had 10.9 to hike with no more food. We started hiking and after a 1 mile down we had a level walk along the housatonic river for about 5 miles. Then we had to climb up a rock scramble to St. Johns Ledges before climbing on up to Calebs view. We still had 4.2 miles of hiking to get to town and we were both tired and hungry. We finally made it to the rode around 6:25 and hitched a ride in less than 5 minutes. Good thing neither one of us wanted to rode walk 1 mile. We are currently in a pizza place after resupplying and have set our tent up in the yard of a couple who lets hikers camp for free. There are about 10 NOBOs there camping. We will be in NY tomorrow after 11 miles. God Bless and please pray for us we are both tired after 86 miles n 4 days.
Date: 2015-08-04
From: kent conn

To: NY 22
Miles today: 18.4

After a terrible night sleeping in the back yard in Kent Conn due to 3 or 4 hikers who have no thought for other hikers we were up and walking the one mile road walk to the trail. We started by climbing out of Kent to Indian Rocks then we crossed over into NY. It was a very humid day with clear skies and slight breeze. We then made it down to Ten Mile River campsite and shelter where we had to cross a bridge to arrive there for lunch. We then had a 700ft climb up Ten Mile Hill then down to Hoyt Road where we again crossed into NY for good this time. We then hiked up to Wiley Shelter where we met a very nice couple hiking North. We then started our 4.5 mile hike to NY 22 so we could hitch down to the deli for supper. On the way we met a group of teenage girls with 3 leaders hiking 3 days on the trail. We sat and answered their questions for about 25 minutes. They had alot of good hiker questions and we stayed even though we were hungry and answered every questions. We then hiked a easy trail the last 3 miles with the last mile downhill in a field to the road. A nice man from England gave us a ride to the deli and the deli workers are letting us camp in the yard with 3 other hikers. We did reach 1000 miles today. This is now where u can send a 10 dollars which is a penny a mile to First Baptist Church in Pennington Gap Va. P.O Box 146 24277 pastor is Josh osteen 12765462586 is church phone number if u have any questions just write youth hike in the memo space. This money will go to are Awanas program to remodel our building plus help feed these kids who come to learn about God. We have 70 to 90 kids who attend Aug thru May with our van ministry picking up most of the kids. If God puts it on your heart we thank u plus the church will send out a tax deduction form so u can turn any donation back on your taxes. But the money isn't the most important thing, if u read this and don't know the Lord please except him today don't put it off any longer if u give ur live to the Lord he will take all those burdens u have been caring with u like he did ours and u will have daily blessings from him. I pray u except him and GOD BLESS.
Date: 2015-08-05
From: NY 22

To: Shenandoah tenting area
Miles today: 21.2

After a night of trains passing 200 yrds from us we were up and packed at 6 but had to get coffee and a biscuit at the store before walking the .6 back to the trail. It is unlawful to hitchhike in New York, this is the only state on the AT where u can't hitch a ride. We first had a pleasant boardwalk before reentering the woods and hiking 2.4 miles until we came to the Dover Oak which is the biggest Oak tree on the trail. We then climbed West Mtn and stopped at nuclear lake for a morning break. It was very peaceful sitting by the lake taking in the sunshine and feeling the cool breeze on your face. We then hiked about 3 miles until we came to Morgan Stewart Shelter where we had lunch and refilled our water. The shelters have pump wells but u still have to treat ur water. We then hiked up Mt Ebert and crossed over I-84 before reaching N.Y.52. The trail is relatively easy with many rolling hills and flat areas. We make good time here bc of the easy trail. We crossed under the Taconic State Parkway and stopped at the RPH shelter where u can have pizza or Chinese delivered to u at the shelter. We chose not to and hiked 1.3 more miles until we reached our campsite. The nice couple we camped with last made it here about and hr after us, which means its just the 4 of us camping here. We have a pump well, picnic tables, and a privy what more could u ask for. We bathed at the pump, then had dinner and looking forward to tomorrow bc at mile 19 we walk right by a store on the trail where we can have dinner. God Bless.
Date: 2015-08-06
From: Shenandoah tenting area

To: us9w Ny 403
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

We were on the trail by 7 with overcast skies and very noticeable drop in humidity. We first hiked up to Shenandoah Mtn where u can see the NY skyline. We then hiked around Canopus Lake, Clarence Fahnestock State Park before taking a break at Dennytown Rd where we had lunch. There is a field here with raspberries and a brick structure with a faucet with good water. We also set our tent out to dry because it drew moisture in the night. We then hiked on some great maintained trail, we would have to say the trail in NY is the best maintained so far on this hike. We hiked another 9 miles until we walked right into the Appalachian deli/gas station which sits right on the trail. When we first arrived there were a few hikers sitting at the picnic tables and a guy who was riding a Harley sitting there as well. We sat down and starting talking with this nice gentlemen and when he left he gave us 40 dollars for food and re-supply. What a great gesture to just give someone u just met that much money to help them on their journey. We truly believe God put that on his heart to help us. Thank u to this nice man it was very humbling. We then went into the store and met a man who's wife has cancer, she was a nurse for 35 yrs we ask that u pray for her, her name is Roberta please pray for him and his wife. This man was tearing up talking with us. We feel God also led us to him in that store to talk with him. We ate our huge sandwiches and resupplied for two more days until we get to NJ. God Bless please pray for them and remember us as well.
Date: 2015-08-07
From: us9w Ny 403

To: Arden Valley Road 
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: clear sky

We did not start hiking until around 7:30 this morning. We had 6 miles of hiking to get to the lowest pt on the AT, Bear Mountain Zoo. The weather was perfect again with blue skies and a cool breeze, they are not giving any rain until Monday. We made it to the Bear Mtn Bridge which we had to walk across to get across the Hudson Bridge. We then walked to Zoo and found the gate open even though they didn't open until 10 and we were there at 9:30. We made it about half way when a guy on golf cart politely asked us to turn around bc the zoo wasnt open yet. We had to take the trail around to the other side which is the official AT trail when the zoo isn't open. We went to the lodge and showered off in the bathroom sink then had lunch in the park before starting our climb up to Bear Mtn Tower. We counted 723 steps on the way up and that didn't count the two sections they were working on that we didn't get to walk up. When we reached the summit we had two cokes and a nice lady gave us 50 more cents so we could get a Gatorade. We then hiked 2 miles off of bear Mtn and started our climb up to West Mtn. Then we hiked 1 mile down to Palisade Parkway with a sign saying NY 34 miles. The cars were zooming by at 70 miles an hr as we walked .4 down to the wayside to get water. The creeks and streams are dry in NY so we have to go to parks,stores or waysides to get water. We rested there for 30 minutes and drank two more cokes before moving on. We still had 6.3 miles to go to reach camp. We started our climb up to Black Mtn when we seen a 6ft black snake, then when we reached the top we looked East and seen the NY landscape and all the buildings in NY. It was a pretty view on top of the Mtn. We then hurried the last 5 miles bc it was getting late. We made camp at 7:30 tumbler set up the tent while I walked .3 down to the park to get water for tomorrow. We are only 23 miles from NJ. God Bless.
Date: 2015-08-08
From: Arden Valley Road 

To: mile past 17a
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: overcast clouds

After another bad night of camping we were on the trail by 6:30. The first 3 miles brought us to the lemon squeezer which is a small narrow passage between two rocks. We then made our way down to NY17 and took a break. We were hoping someone would stop and offer us a hitch down to the store 2 miles away. We needed a couple snacks to get us to Vernon. Just as we were about to leave a guy pulls in and asked if we needed a ride. We said sure just down to the store. We started talking and realized we met last yr on the PCT out in California, again the trail makes the world so small. He said he was car support for his girlfriend who was hiking the trail this yr, we had pasted her last night. After getting what we needed we started up agony grind, thankfully we were going up it instead of down. It got its name from killing hikers knees on the descent to the road. We then hiked around a pretty lake, crossed two Mtn tops and reached Fitzgerald Falls. The falls was dry like all the streams along the trail. A great trail angels has left water jugs at each road crossing, if not for that we would all be hurting. Then we climbed up to cat rocks then over to the Eastern Pinnacles before reaching NY17. We walked .2 to the ice cream place which is the best on the trail. We then hiked 1 mile further before setting up overlooking Greenwood Lake. They have a live band tonight so we get free entertainment. 14 miles to Church in Vernon where we will shower for the first time in 10 days and wash our clothes. God Bless and thank u for cont to pray and follow our journey.
Date: 2015-08-09
From: mile past 17a

To: vernon church hostel
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

After a night of listening to a pretty good live band and fireworks from our private campsite on a Ridge we were up and hiking at 6. We were 5 miles from the New Jersey line but we had many boulders to hike and rock hop before reaching a new state. We made it about 8 and took a break. We then had 9 miles to town and a shower shower shower and laundry laundry laundry after 11 days and 219 miles with neither. The mosquitos and biting flies was swarm in and just fall out of the sky lol. The day was perfect with sunny skies and cool temps. The trail was easy and flat for the most part until the last 1.4 miles which was rocks rocks rocks. We made it to the road at 12 and by 10 after had a ride to u guessed it shower and laundry. U don't hear hikers thinking shower first its usually town food but after 11 days u realize why. We can say the wildlife and bugs are now safe bc we are clean and smelling somewhat better. We are relaxing the rest of the day. God Bless.
Date: 2015-08-10
From: vernon church hostel

To: stealth camp near rutherford shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning after a bad night at a church hostel we were up and eating bf at a small diner at 6. We were in the church hostel all day and around 8 a group of four came in and had no respect for the hostel or the hikers. We have seen this the past 7 days with late NOBO's. They ddon't seem to respect the trail or the generosity of towns people who help the hikers, its not all of them just those few who ruin it for all the hikers. We then caught a quick hitch to the trail. We were on the trail by 730 and was greeted by flat trail and boardwalks for the most part. After hiking on the boardwalk near Pochuck Creek we climbed Pochunk Mtn. We then hiked down and around Wallkill National Wildlife Perserve. We then road walked about 1.5 miles before crossing Lott Road and Unionville Road. We then hiked thru Vernie Swamp and stopped at the Jim Murray property for some fresh spring water. We then met a group of about 30 people doing a short hike and when we told them this was our third thru hike they acted like we were crazy and treated us like trail celebrities. We then made our way to NJ High Point State Park and were 3 minutes late. If u get there by 4 u get a free coke we made it at 4:03. This happened in 2012 with spirit, we made it about 4:05 and u guessed it no coke. We rested for 30 minutes then continued on our way. We found a spot to camp, which was the only one since the trail and all around turned to rocks but the two bears standing there changed our minds. We kept hiking for two more miles until we found another spot with no bears. We made dinner and went to bed after 23.5 miles we were tired. God Bless.
Date: 2015-08-11
From: stealth camp near rutherford shelter

To: US 206 Branchville NJ
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: light rain

Last night it poured the rain and it finally stopped around 6 this morning. We knew they were giving rain for today so we were hiking 11 miles to a motel. The trail was good except for the rocks and it was foggy with a breeze but no rain. We made it to Sunrise Mountain which was the halfway to town pt around 9:30 and stopped for a snack with very overcast skies we hurried with our snacks and kept moving. We seen no one on the trail except an older man at Mashipacong Shelter and he didn't look like he wanted to hike in the weather that was coming. We then hiked up to the Culver Fire Tower where we had no view bc of the fog. We then hiked to the road and hitched a ride to the motel by 12. It is raining but suppose to clear out by tomorrow, we will be in PA. in two days. God Bless.
Date: 2015-08-12
From: US 206 Branchville NJ

To: stealth 2 miles past mohican outdoor center
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning we were out by the road trying to hitch the 2 miles Back to the trail but had no luck. We had to road walk 2 miles. We stopped at the AT deli right next to the trail and had a bagel bisquit with a free coffee with the nice couple we met hiking South to harpers ferry. We then were on the trail at 9:30. It was a perfect morning with a breeze and blue skies, a big change from yesterday with all the storms that came thru. We had a climb up first in the first mile or so then ridgeline hiked with a view of the lake to our left. We then hiked down to the shelter before hiking up rattlesnake mountain where we seen no snakes. We then hiked around two or three Lakes with level trail and pretty good terrain with a few rocks here and there. We stopped for lunch at Blue Mtn Lakes Rd. We then hiked 5 miles to Catfish Fire Tower before making our way 2.4 miles down to a gravel Rd where we walked up to the Mohican Center to get a cold drink. We then went back to the trail and hiked 2 more miles before finding a tent spot with a few of a couple Lakes below. We seen 6 NOBOs today, seems they are dwindling down and its just us heading South. We reach PA and the dreaded rocks tomorrow. God Bless
Date: 2015-08-13
From: stealth 2 miles past mohican outdoor center

To: stealth 3 miles before wind gap
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: scattered clouds

We woke up to another perfect morning with a view of the lake below. We started hiking at 6:30 with the thoughts of lunch in DWG and also reaching PA. We hiked on Ridgeline thru fields and boulders with great views of the valleys below. We had fog in the valley to the right and clear on the valley to the left. We hiked around sunfish Pond before descending to I-80 where we had to hike under the interstate. We stopped at the visitors center before hiking across the Delaware River Bridge and into PA. We went to the church hostel and took a shower then made our way to the P.O. were we picked up our gift from our great trail sister and dear friend Gypsy-Sole. We then went to the bakery and had Shephard Pies and had a hot dog with a slice of apple pie. We also purchased a peanut butter and chocolate silk pie and split it between us. We then went to the local store to get a few supplies. After all that we went back to hostel and ate that pie before going into a sugar coma. We napped in the sun until 1 then hit the trail. We hiked up to Council Rocks then Lookout Rock before reaching Mt Minsi. We then hiked over to the Kirkridge Shelter and took a break. Then we started the dreaded section of rock all the way to wind Gap. We first were about .5 from Wolf Rocks when we seen a beautiful 6ft rattlesnake. We took a video and pics before it crawled into the woods. We then hiked over Wolf Rocks and continued on the nice sweet rocks for about 3 miles before setting up camp. God Bless
Date: 2015-08-14
From: stealth 3 miles before wind gap

To: George W. Guterbridge Shelter
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: broken clouds

We started hiking around 6 and knew we had around 3 miles to Wind Gap and a two mile hitch to town. The three miles were almost all rocks and very painful on the feet. We made it down to the road at 7:30 and tried hitching but no luck so we sat in the parking lot and caught up our journals hoping someone would notice and offer us a ride. But, no luck again so we started hiking again at 8:30 and had a rough start to the day. We had rocks, we had bushes that had not been cut, Ratman had spiders and their wwebsite to contend with not to mention looking out for more rattlesnakes close to the trail. We hiked up to the Leroy A. Smith shelter and had a snack before hiking 4 miles more to Smith Gap Road where we met a nice man from Jersey waiting on his son after finishing a section of the AT. He gave us some pasta sides and some fresh water. We talked for awhile before hiking on with the intent of doing 25 miles today. The terrain was very rocky but not hilly mostly flat. We stopped for lunch 3 miles short of Blue Mountain Road at Little Gap. We met a hiker today that we met on our 2012 thru hike going up to Shuckshack in the smokies. He was doing a section of trail, his trail name is Hopalong. We then hiked to the road where we found ice cold water in a cooler for the hikers, great trail magic on a hot day. We then started hiking towards Lehigh Gap and the boulder scramble. On top of Lehigh Gap you have great views from both sides of the Mtn with rivers on both sides and the town of Palmerston in the valley. There were great views on a picture perfect evening on top. We then hiked down to the road crossing and found more trail magic with Pepsi and snickers bars. Then we hiked across the Lehigh River Bridge and went .7 up to the shelter to set up our tent. So u c even when the hiking started out bad we met some old hiking friends,made some new ones and had great trail magic. Also, seen a mama bear and her cub along with two deer today. God Bless.
Date: 2015-08-15
From: George W. Guterbridge Shelter

To: Pa.309 Blue Mountain Summitt
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

We were up and hiking by 6:30 with a bright sun coming up over the ridge. We first hiked to Ashfield Road at Lehigh Furnace Gap. Then we hiked to the Bake Oven Knob Shelter for a snack break. We then hiked and climbed over Bake Oven Knob before reaching the road. We then hiked over Bear Rocks and the knife edge. We met a guy from NC who thought we were crazy hiking this trail 3 times, we told him we hear that daily. We then reached PA.309 and had lunch at the roadside restaurant. We were surprised when nanner and his brother walked in and asked if we wanted to go stay with them tonight. So, after 13 miles we said yes and our now in Allentown PA for the night. God Bless