morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Delaware Water Gap PA

To: Backpacker Campsite, NJ
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: broken clouds

24 hours ago, I was in my Pittsburgh apartment, talking on instant messages with Carolina. Now I'm in a tent in New Jersey, miles from the nearest road. It's beeen a long day. The bus ride took the most tieme, 14 hours, including two-hour layovers in Baltimore and Philly. It was a crazy route, but it was the only Pittsburgh-Stroudsburg ride that would put me in Stroudsburg with enough daylight to get to a camping spot. The bus and I parted ways at 2 pm. Stroudsburg was a good place to get off the bus, too, because I only had to walk about 100 meters and I see a sign: Welcome to Delaware Water Gap. I stopped by the Presbyterian Church of the Mountain hiker hostel, but no one was there. It was unlocked, though, and looked like a great place to stay. It's a church basement, equipped with couches, bunks, snacks, a bathroom, etc. What more could you ask for? But I needed to get moving, so I was on the AT in minutes. I was sure it was the right trail, too, because a large sign greets hikers in DWG: It says "Georgia" next to a right arrow, and "Maine" next to a left arrow. Anyway, then it was right across the Delaware River- not in a boat like George Washinton, but on the sidewalk of Interstate 80. Then the trail shot up into the New Jersey Hills at a pretty steep rate: the Delaware River is 360 feet above sea level, and the campsite, a few miles later, is at 1320 feet. It was about 80 degrees today, too. It was only 5 miles, so it was just a preview of what lies ahead. Oh, as for the Backpackers Campsite. It's fine - about a half-dozen grassy areas on the top of this ridge. I have a really nice view of what I believe is Pensylvania. There was only one other party here - a couple. But some loud family just showed up, and Cub Scouts. I'll be asleep soon enough, though.
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Brink Road Shelter NJ

To: Mashipacong Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Alone at the shelter tonight. I've seen plenty of folks each day, but I was thinking that I have yet to meet an actual "thru-hiker" who started in Georgia. I've seen from the register (books) in shelters that a few Northbound folks have been through, but I guess most of them wouldn't be on this secion for a few weeks. It's early still. Made a couple phone calls today. So good to talk to folks. I'm having a great time, but being away from- and out of easy contact with- loved ones is probably the toughest part of this. Actually, I was wondering if anyone would stay at the shelter when two ladies stopped by. They were about my mom's age, from NY, and drove to various parts of the AT to do day hikes. Their names were Marsha (aka Minnie Pearl) and Ellen (trailname?) Real nice ladies. We chatted a while, and Marsha said she used to teach college. She even offered to make me dinner when I get to her part of the trail, Fahnstock State Park. They said it was often tough to find the AT with their car for their day hikes, but it sounded like they usually had fun. We wished each other luck, and they left. I'm still feeling the 19 mile run I did yesterday. I might take it easy tomorrow. I will, but here is good news. Whether I make it 5.5 miles to High Point State Park or 12.5 miles to the "Secret Murray Shelter," a hot shower awaits.
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Mashipacong Shelter, NJ

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

Apparently a hot shower did not await me today. High Point State Park was a bit of a let down. But I met some nice hikers, and had a good day walking. I definitely took it easy today, as evidenced by the 7.2 miles, but my right knee was feeling funny this morning. It's feeling better tonight. I basically crossed High Point State Park today. It's near Sussex, NJ, if you want to look it up. I should hit the NY line soon, but then I'll skirt the NJ/NY border for a while. Stopped in the park office, found out that the campsites ($20) were 2 miles south. No thanks. I pressed on to Marsha Lake, where my map told me there would be showers and a "concession stand." Apparently the facilities open on Memorial Day, I found out after bushwacking half a mile off the trail. This shelter was only 1 mile from there, though. Met 2 hikers at the park office, a couple of gentlemen from Virginia who had been section hiking for 13 years. They were headed Southbound to Delaware Water Gap. One of the fellows looked like Wilford Brimley. (No offense, my man!) Then at Marsha Lake I met a guy named Dan ("Dan from Jersey") who had done a lot of section hiking. Knew his stuff. He asked if I was on Trail Journals, and I said, "Check at trailjournals.com/hobbes!" Hi Dan! So tomorrow is maybe a stop at the "secret shelter" and then Unionville, NY for my first mail drop. (I might shower at the Secret Shelter so I don't stink up Unionville.) Oh, and I know this entry is getting long, but: I did laundry today! Laundry w/ no shower is bad, sure, but trust me, my clothes needed it. I had been wearing the same t-shirt and shorts since Thursday morning. I know, gross! So today I washed them near, (but not too close to) a creek. Then changed into my (only) other t-shirt and pair of shorts. Nice! I'm wearing no cotton, by the way, this is high-tech fast-drying nylon stuff. So it doesn't stink as much. Anyway, sorry to gross you out. Miss you all.
Date: 2007-05-15
From: High Point Shelter

To: Pochuck Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

I'm not sure what was best about today: the first shower in five days, seeing donkeys, getting mail!, or having a trail that was pretty flat - through beautiful meadows.Probably the donkeys.But overall it was a good day.Shower was at the Murray "secret" shelter, and the donkeys were next door. They said "Hee-haw!" a lot and sometimes kicked each other. They were playing around.I weighed my pack at Murray's, and it was 37 pounds - before my food resupply! Not sure what I can eliminate.Anyway, got mail in Unionville. Great to get stuff. Unionville was tiny, but the Horler's General Store makes a mean pastrami sandwich. They were really nice there, as was the post office lady. Trail was quit flat today. Rolling meadows, farmland. Beautiful pastures in Jersey - who knew?Also some swamps, but with wooden walkways over them. Walkill National Wildlife Preserve, which I walked past, apparently used to be an old sod farm but is now swamps for birds.Saw swans, ducks, geese, and various other birds I did not recognize.Oh, the rolling meadows and old stone walls remind me of the scene in "Shawkshank Redemption" where Morgan Freeman goes to dig up that box.That was me, today.Pochuck Mountain Shelter is well-maintained. Maps, some magazines, etc. Good stuff.
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Pochuck Mountain Shelter

To: Wawayanda Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.8

After three nights of camping in shelters by myself, I have some company tonight. Good folks, too!Ed from Rhode Island ("Ed Aches") is doing an 800 mile section from Mass to VA. He's about 50, and usually does 10 miles a day. Stays at a lot of hotels. Real friendly guy, looks like Bill Murray and talks like Rodney Dangerfield. Aaron from Cooperstown, NY, "(Orange Blaze") is the first thu-hiker I've met. He started in GA on March 4. He said he's in the first 15 thru-hikers. Must be moving pretty fast. He's probably in his mid-20's? and seems to have his act together. Reminds me of my friend Seth. He also has red licorice, and I'm jealous. Next town, I'm buying some.(Note: please don't send food! I have too much and it's heavy. Thx.)The trail was funny today. After some rocky hills, there was a few miles of boardwalks over marshes - and the boardwalks are apparently a popular place for locals to walk. Saw a dozen or so ladies out there.There were some birders, too. (identifying characteristics: floppy hats and binoculars.) I asked one couple what bird I kept seeing. It was black, with red and white markings on the wings. It's a red-winged blackbird, they said.Another couple, apparently English, took my picture for me. Lots of nice people.Then it was a stop at Heaven Hill Farm, 1/10 of a mile off the trail. It's basically a nursery, fruit farm, in season produce, etc.Anyway, they had ice cream, that's all I know. 2 huge scoops: Missippi Mudslide and cherry chunk. Too much.Filled up on water, then hit the trail. Got to this shelter just in time - supposed to rain all night. Glad I have a roof.
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

New Jersey is behind me now: After days of being on the NJ/NY border, I left Jersey for good today. I spent most of the day on a rocky ridge above a body of water apparently called Greenwood Lake.My maps for New York aren't very good. My Connecticut maps are great, though, and Connecticut is only 80 miles away.   Today was kind of unremarkable other than the really rocky ridge. The ridge, as I said, followed a long and narrow lake, so it was interesting to note my progress relative to the houses on the lake below.The road I crossed today, NY 17A, had a place called Bellvale Farms Creamery, which is an ice cream store run by a local dairy. Homemade ice cream.Butter pecan, caramel, whipped cream, cherry.Talked to a few folks outside - really nice day. Sunny, 75.After that, on another rocky ridge, I had to walk right past a nest of vultures or ravens or something. Huge black birds. They just looked at me, no big deal. Got pictures.So today is my seventh day, and most people take one day off per week, or at least get a motel. I could use it.Also, I have a mail drop at Bear Mountain (Fort Montgomery), NY and on my current schedule I'll get there Sunday. No mail Sunday.And no way I can get there Saturday by noon.So I have an excuse to chill, take it easy, and get my mail (food) Monday. Nice.   Oh, it's raining tonight. Two days in a row. I've lucked out, made it to the shelter in time.PS: One bad thing about the rain is that my food is outside in it, even though I'm in a wooden shelter.   In New Jersey, there were "bear boxes" near shelters, heavy metal boxes for your food. The purpose is so that if bears come around, they go for the bear box, and not into the shelter.In New York, there are no bear boxes.So we use bear bags, which basically is a food bag with a rope attached to it. You throw it over a tree branch so bears cannot reach it.Anyway, my bag is supposed to be water proof, but I'll find out in the morning.   It's not like I have angel food cake in there, but I'd prefer my food stay dry.Stay tuned.
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Tuxedo Motel in Tuxedo, NY
Miles today: 11.9

I'm taking a break from sleeping outside.After seven nights camping (following one night on a Greyhound), and 90+ miles walked, I am spending tonight in the Tuxedo Motel.It's not as formal as it sounds, it's just in Tuxedo, NY.The motel is really of another era. Apparently it was the place to stay when Route 17 was the main thoroughfare through this area. But then the New York State Thruway was built, parallel to 17, so now this strip is pretty empty.A big roadside restaurant nearby, the Red Apple Rest, closed in 2005 after decades of business.There's no thruway exit here, so no out-of-towners come by anymore.Dinner was an enormous corned beef "hero" sandwich, an entire (large) can of Pringles, an apple, and a Sprite Zero. Also bought a local paper and some Bacon Bits to spice up trail dinners.Iced the knee, did laundry in the sink, showered, made some calls. I could eat again, but the deli is kind of far.Tommow morning it's back to the woods.Just a few notes about today's trail:Maybe it was last night's downpour (my food and everything stayed dry, FYI) but the forest seemed extra-green today. The ferns and the Hemlocks, the maples and the moss-colored rocks.Passed this waterfall, Fitzgerald Falls, that was a pretty spot. Neat old store fences zig-zagging through pine-needle forest floors.Cold this morning, 45 when I got up; but my rain gear kept me warm.The only other aspect of the day was the Al Salvato Memorial Cairn I built at Mombasha High Point.A cairn is a pile of rocks, usually used to designate a trail, campsite, or any noteworthy location, really.Al was a profesor, the Cincinnati student newspaper adviser, and a friend. Leukemia, last winter.But he loved hiking, and was born and raised in Brooklyn, so I thought I'd make a little cairn at a hilltop overlooking the city. (NYC is visible from this hill and I saw some buildings, so I guess that was it.)Anyway, "love the ones you've got," as the song goes.Or, another relevant cliche most recently recycled in a Paul Wall/Kanye song, is "Live for today, man, because you never know." Tomorrow, back to the woods. Good stuff.
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Tuxedo Motel

To: Graymoor Friary
Miles today: 7.1

All's well that ends well, I guess.That saying is applicable to two near-disasters today. (Nothing real serious, don't worry.)1. I took a bus and a cab to Fort Montgomery to try to get my mail drop today (Saturday) before the post office closed at noon - otherwise I'd have to wait until Monday.2. My new friend Li and I spent an hour running around - at night, in the rain - the apparently huge Franciscan monastery where we are staying, trying to rendezvous with a bewildered pizza delivery guy.The first thing worked out because I called the pose offfice to ask if they could stay open a little later (because my cabbie was late), and the kind lady said, "I'll be here until 1 or 2. Just knock at the door!"So nice.The second situation worked out with luck, my cell phone, and a lot of Li and I walking around in the rain wearing headlamps. Poor pizza guy kept trying to help, like, "I'm at the statue of Virgin Mary holding Baby Jesus," but that wasn't much help at a monastery.Multiple status of Mary, multiple statues of Jesus, multiple cemetaries, crazy winding roads. Bad place to try to get a pizza.The place is huge.(I should note that the pizza place that normally delivers to Graymoor wouldn't come so late, so we called a place that had never delivered to Graymoor, apparently.)Li (pronounced "Lee") is really nice, though, and I am glad we are at this monastery, Graymoor, together. The monks let AT hikers stay in a picnic pavilion.He's originally from Grand Canyon, NM, and does crazy miles on the AT, like 35+ per day. I didn't know that was even possible.Li is 31, and remarked that guys our ages (I'm 27) are rare on the trail. Most AT hikers, especially thru-hikers, are either in their early 20s or are retired. Interesting dichotomy.We also discussed differences between regions in the U.S.All in all, pretty eventful day.The trail went through the Trailside Zoo at Bear Mountain State Park, and they had bears, coyotes, a bobcat, etc., in cages. Nice folks there. And ice cream and pizza.OH! I also walked across the Bear Mountain Bridge, over the Hudson River, today. Windy and kind of raining.Way bigger than any of the bridges over the Ohio River at Cincinnati, which is my primary point of reference.Full, crazy day.
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Graymoor Friary

To: Clarence Fahnestock State Park
Miles today: 13.4

Clarence Fahnestock State Park's campsites are 1.5 miles from the AT if they're a foot. And the only working bathroom is on the far end of the camp area, probably .5 mile further.Free for AT hikers, but still too far from the trail. My knee, my right knee, is telling me to take things easy. Hurts when I bend it. Sorry today's entry isn't more positive. I'm going to try to sleep on my back tonight, and not bend my knee all night.
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Clarence Fahnestock State Park

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Time for a break.16 miles of AT today, and that was after the 1.5 from my campsite at Fahnestock to the AT, plus .5 to a deli, plus at least a mile when I got lost when I tried to take the wrong road to the deli.So that's about 19 miles?And it wouldn't have been so bad, but I did all of it limping. Knee still doesn't work as it should, so I spent the day trying to keep my right leg straight while I walk.I use my walking stick as a cane, and have gotten quite good at propelling myself forward in this manner.But it's not helping my knee to heal. I'm 'taking tomorrow off - my first zero day - and staying at this shelter all day.A short description of how I got lost trying to find the deli, though:My guide book says turn right on NY 52 and go .4 miles to the Mountain Top Market. Fair enough.I turned off the trail at what I thought was NY 52, and walked up and up a really steep road for at least half a mile, cursing the book for estimating incorrectly. Where on earth was the Mountain Top Market?I found the mountain, but not the market.Of course it turned out I had not yet come to 52, and I was was walking up Hosner Mountain Road. There was some good news today, though. At the deli, the Mountain Top Market, I ran into some hikers that I'd seen on the trail, who had driven their car to the market. They gave me a ride back to the trail!I can't tell you how glad I was to hear their offer.Turns out one of them was from Lawrenceburg, Ind., next to Cincinnati. And her husband will soon finish the AT, after hiking it section-by-section for a few decades.Really nice folks.I made it to this shelter just before dark, and I'm looking forward to my day of rest tomorrow. I bought a Financial Times and some snacks at the market.Oh, and today I started seriously thinking about how I'd get off the trail if my knee doesn't get better. I hate to think about it, but I have to be realistic.Called my friend Jake, and he looked online for nearby Greyhound stations. It's unfortunate, but I'm not going to limp up and down mountains for another month, doing who-knows-what kind of damage to my knee.
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter, NY

To: Pittsburgh, PA
Miles today: 3.0

Deciding to get off the trail was difficult, but getting home was easier than I had expected. I planned to hike 11 miles today, to the train station in Pawling, NY.But first, I met up with my new hiking friends from Lawrenceburg, Indiana, so the doctor in their group could look at my knee. They were just 3 miles away at a road crossing.Dr. Gary Scudder examined the knee, and told me it was probably a damaged meniscus (cartilage), which my Pittsburgh doctor would later confirm. Gary also said I should stop hiking.Then - he offered to drive me to the train station.This was overwhelming for a few reasons.First, my hike ended at that precise moment. I had planned to walk an additional 8 miles that day, reflecting on my journey as I wrapped it up.But there was no way I could turn down a ride offer.Second, I was just knocked back by how kind these people had been - again. Total strangers helped me out repeatedly throughout my entire trip, but this party in particular had been especially altruistic.I thanked him repeatedly as he dropped me off, but he told me, "Just do something nice for someone else sometime."I told him I would.Then it was:* a two-hour train ride to Grand Central Station * a 10-hour Greyhound from NYC to Pittsburgh* a 10-minute taxi trip home from the station Faster than it sounds. I finished the NY Times crossword puzzle as I went. A Wednesday one, not too bad.I briefly considered hitting some tourist spots in NYC, as this was the first time I had been in the city in a few years. But I smelled, limped, and looked like a homeless person, and wanted to get home. I took some pictures as I passed through Times Square on the way from Grand Central to the Port Authority, but was spent most of my NYC time at the bus terminal.Earlier this morning I had woken up in the New York State wilderness, unsure of how I would get home.But less than 24 hours later I was back in my apartment, icing my knee, still having a hard time believing the trip was over.
Date: 2007-04-25
To: boo rain
Miles today: 0.0

Well I decided to find a better way to waste time other than facebook, and that was make a trail journal. I figure you folks could check up and see where my ambitious and probably crazy summer plans have taken me. As for the hike...Holy crap it's only 19 days away. The good news is I have all my stuff (minus the first few days of food, which I'll get today) and I got a ride down there (thanks pops). Where's "there" you might be asking? Springer Mtn, GA will be the start for friend Boede and I. The start date is May 14 after an all nighter of driving from sunny Brook Park, Ohio. For now I must attend to studytime. As for the boo rain name of this journal entry, it's raining and not very warm outside. Peace
Date: 2007-05-09
To: 5 more days!
Miles today: 0.0

It has recently occured to me that Boede and I are leaving in 5 days. Holy crap. All throughout my months of planning this thing I have been able to hide under the cover of "well we got a few months." I think all of the months of obsessive reading and researching has payed off. As far as gear goes, I'm ready. There was nothing on my Spring Break trip I wished I had or wished to send home (other than the 10 extra pounds of winter clothes, group gear, and our heavy group meals). Physically I'm about as ready as I could be. The rolling hills of Bowling Green are not comparable to the mountains of northeast Georgia, as I learned on Spring Break. That's all for now. Peace
Date: 2007-05-13
To: And it's here
Miles today: 0.0

Ten months can go by amazingly fast, and the last 10 months that I have been planning have indeed gone very very fast. Pops and Zach will take me to Springer Mountain starting this evening. We should arrive by about 7am tomorrow morning. I plan to update this thing every stop in a town or hostel. I feel quite nervous/anxious/excited as I'm sure every hiker has the day before the hike begins. And the anxiety is amplified by my utter lack of sleep the past two nights. But seriously, how many people get to take a summer and just hike the Appalachian Trail? Check for updates and send me emails! Peace.
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Amicalola Falls State Park

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Thus the journey has begun. The past 72 hours were nuts. I arrived at the state park on one hour of sleep after driving almost the entire night. The day before that included a drive back and forth to West Virginia. So I was pretty much spent. Add that to the fact that I had no plans to do the approach trail but I ended up doing it and I was one sleepy dude by the end of the day. The weather couldn't have been better today--just sunny skies and mid-70's. The approach trail was about as hard as I'd expected, but after hiking to Springer I figured I'd do the couple extra miles to the next shelter. I pretty much felt like a zombie walking down the mountain. I shared the shelter with an interesting fellow that was going to "hike as far as I can." Let me point out that he had a bookbag, canvas bag full of power bars, and no sleeping bag or tent. It was a difficult day overall, and already I second guessed myself. Hope tomorrow is better.
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Gooch Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Well today was 110% better than yesterday. The weather was perfect again--77 degrees and nothing but sunshine. By 7:15 I was on the trail..It's quite amazing what 10 hours of sleep do for ya. And I should also mention that my friend from last night was gone before I woke up. Guess the no sleeping bag/no tent/no food thing didn't work out. I arrived at Hawk Mtn shelter and took almsot a two hour break just chatting away with a father/son duo (Gary and Logan) from Oklahoma. They were fantastic people to talk to and were my first real conversation since leaving Amicalola. By either divine intervention or just sheer luck I was able to talk to Jess' mom and found out (she had recieved an email from Jess no more than 2 minutes prior) that she had safely arrived in Guatemala. After that I breathed much easier and the day became far more enjoyable. It was kind of a long day, but I do not yet regret pushing on a few extra miles, as it got me to a shelter with numerous good folks (Anne, Peter, Ben the Canadian, Geist the 100 day thru-hiker from Columbus). Can't wait for tomorrow!