morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-06-01
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Eckville Shelter to Bake Oven Knob Shelter for 17.4 milesLate arriving last night was Blue Bandana he got a couple slices of pizza we couldn't finish. We all slept well but not happy about the wet dew on our tent. Tortoise carries the tent for her and Garmin, so....she was not happy this morning! They head out with Grinder at 7 and we got on trail a bit after. We had some rough & rocky trail after nice view at Dans Pulpit, which in it self was a challenge. We did some boulder scrambles. Trail was better & not as rocky around Ft Franklin Rd mile 1241. We got water at the Blue Mountain Summit B&B and headed for the KNIFE!! The Knife Edge that is .....lots of pictures of Moonbeam not liking it very well, but making it!! Big Cypress made it a quick "slice", but mine was a slow cut through, but....again we made it without issues and praise the Lord, No Injuries!! Then directly after is Bear Rocks, tough but we made it!!Arrived Bake Oven Knob and Water was an issue. Tortoise, Garmin, Grinder & Ghost Walker were there. Slug was already searching for the water, but....never found it and had a very choice things to say about it, the PA trail clubs and you name it, he was on a rant!! Big Cypress finally found water, after almost a hour. I got dinner started and visited with everyone mentioned after setting up our tent, while the water hunt was on. Big Cypress has been dealing with 2 patches of poison ivy, one on his forearm and one on his hip/back. We've been rubbing zit cream on it to dry it up. That works great, but doesn't stop the itching! Critters: Lots of knats, a few mosquitoes are starting to show up, thank God not too bad. Black flies, salamander and grass snake.Did I mention we survived Knife Edge?? Thank you Jesus for watching over us and keeping us safe!!
Date: 2016-06-02
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Smith Gap Rd
Miles today: 20.0

Bake Oven Knob Shelter to Smith Gap Rd.@ Stempa Family home/garage for 20 miles (6:45 am to 6:30 pm)Today's Trail Outlook....Rocky with 100% chance of BouldersOk...yesterday was hard, but today was harder and the climb out of Lehigh River area and then on top of it we had to rock climb. Yes, no poles sometimes I had my pack off, with much thanks and appreciation to Big for dragging it up to the next area for me. At one point my platypus and reflectix fell out and almost was long long gone!! Again, Big took lots of pictures and yes, we survived! Sometimes the climb was very precarious and when I say precarious, I really mean scary! At least for this chic!! Almost 1500 feet up, rock climbing and a chic afraid of heights. But....We made it praise the Lord!!We arrived at the road to stay at Stempa home! Mechanical Man was supposed to pick us up, but we started walking with Tortoise, Garmin and Grinder. Then we got picked up by Mountain Man in his lil Subaru, we packed in with his dog too!! He was just passing by after band practice and stopped to see if we were ok. We asked if he was Mechanical Man....he replied Mountain Man. Tortoise said the look on my face was funny. Mechanical Man took Big & I to the General Store for Epsom Salts and Kunkletown Pub. Gretchen, Owner & Casey Rose were amazing. They even let me soak my bad foot in Epsom salt while sitting at the bar!! AND we were offered a free beer or wine. The food was amazing, we had saucy wings and the special for the day, stuffed meatloaf....glad we stayed up past our bedtime!!Critters: we've been hearing turkey calling
Date: 2016-06-03
From: Smith Gap Rd

To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Smith Gap Rd to Kirkridge Shelter for 17.2 miles We went to sleep after thinking we were going to have to go to Urgent Care in the morning for my toe. John(mechanical man)gave me a splash of alcohol to clean it before bed. Woke with everyone at about 6:30. Poz, Grinder, Garmin & Tortoise. Poz was heading to the airport at 8:15 via John. The 3 were hiking after John took them back the mile to the trail head. We....undecided.....I worked on the boo boo, it wasn't tender to the touch now, it was red but not black. So....I decided I wanted to hike. Especially we need to get to town for rest, resupply (post office closes at 11:30 Sat), toe soaking, see a Dr. And really honestly....to get out of PA and the awful rocks/boulders. Rain was expected for today, it mostly was mist, damp and a few sprinkles. Sun on Saturday and storms again, some severe on Sunday. The wet weather is brutal for rocks....makes them super slick!! We hit the trail at 8 amWe hiked a good hike. Met Ann & Erica just outside Wind Gap. Which by the way, has no Motel there to get water as in the AWOL guide book. Ya See....water is a problem here! We went to a shelter for breakfast, since we left in a rush thing morning, Big Cypress could Not find water. 3 places were dry....so @ this motel, under construction and not open, we walked past it to a couple apartments. We looked around outside for a spigot, nope! A light was on inside one of the windows, we decided to knock & ask for water! La Quan & Heather, answered the door, Praise The Lord!! And we were thankfully blessed with water for our next 10 miles hike. Can't thank them enough for even opening the door to strangers and then to be trail angels!!! Oh yeah... Big and I ran out of water about a mile away from shelter tonight. Too close for comfort!! Grinder, Tortoise and Garmin leapfrogged ahead of us. We all ended up pressing passed the campsite before the shelter and making our way through the wet rocks from not rain but mist and humidity of Wolf Rocks. We were all thinking it would be tough, but really wasn't too bad, except being slick. I did some butt scooting and took the low side of the boulders that had leaves & pine needles to help grip. We arrived at the shelter at about 6. OG Bob was hammocking, Ghost Walker in the shelter and Sci-Fi tented. Garmin, Tortoise and Grinder all went .3 beyond to a tent site. Water was from a spigot and we stayed in the shelter as it would make for a faster get away in the morning and supposed to rain.Critters: a deer and salamander
Date: 2016-06-04
From: Kirkridge Shelter

To: Church of the Mountain Hiker Center
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: broken clouds

Kirkridge Shelter to Church of the Mountain Hiker Center for 6.4 milesWe woke to no rain at 5 am. We are happy to be woke every morning to God's nature alarm....birds singing!Breakfast of Quaker Oatmeal and we were off at 6:15 am. Well....We heard it was no rocks and easy last 6 miles....really it was not lacking rocks, still holding on to Rocksylvania reputation! There was a few minutes not miles of road hike, but not a lot. We arrived at the hostel at 9:30 with Grinder. He caught us closer to town and we stayed together and chatted while we hiked. Grinder is heading out, via bus, to NY in the morning to then catch a plane home to FL. Tortoise & Garmin are off trail now also.We claimed our bunks in the hostel. Church bells still chime a hymn....beautiful! Big went to post office after his shower and while I showered. We organized, figured out what we needed, put items in another box to send home and back to PO. Sent our long underwear home, my winter sleep socks, a extra pair of pants, and a compression back that was in need of stitches, that was replaced a couple town stops back.We had breakfast at Deer Head Inn. Met Jim and Diane, who happens to be the shuttle driver we were going to call. Jim went above and beyond....after breakfast he took Diane home, then took us to outfitters down the street for new (free) tips for my Leki trekking poles. Grinder did the same. Then Jim took us to Stroudsburg to the Urgent Care, and even waited with us!! It took me longer to fill out the paperwork then get seen. Nurse Practitioner, Renee' was great. Toe is slightly infected again, needs cleaning 3 times a day, not 2 and antibiotics again. Same wrapping regimen. I soaked in Epsom salt at hostel. Grinder, Chardonnay, Ron Jon, Big and I went to wine tasting on the way to eat at the Village Farm & Bakery restaurant. Great food and amazing bakery!! Kevin, ATC ridgerunner and volunteer taking care of hostel on Saturday's said to watch for strange guy that comes to hostel. Stealth was here tonight also!! Sci-Fi made it to Pocono Inn close by.So... Not only is Jim a great guy and shuttle guy, for .....get this $3 a trip, yep! Our trip to, outfitters, Urgent care and Wal-Mart and back to CVS, cuz we all forgot to get my script, only three dollars!! Jim is also a deacon at the church hostel we are staying at. (church basement). So....We are finally going to attend church in the morning, 10 am. Critters: Deer and too many salamanders to count!! It was misty humid morning and definitely salamander weather this morning.
Date: 2016-06-05
From: Church of the Mountain Hiker Center

To: Pocono Inn Delaware Water Gap PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Zero in Delaware Water Gap PAWe slept well in the bunk room. No AC, but two fans kept us cool. Grinder head out at 3 am. I never heard him. Earplugs!! I woke at 6 to tinkle, Big said he got up three times. I went back to sleep until 8, Big Cypress woke me to go to breakfast with Chardonnay, Ron Jon, and another hiker that his name escapes me. Back to Village Farmer, great breakfast too!! Church at 10 am. Pastor Karen was the past pastor and she was filling in for the current, since she's away. Sermon was on finding peace and happiness in our lives and in the bad things that "happen" or things we may not like. Well.....that sermon spoke volumes to me. I've been struggling with finding happiness with this hike. Ya know what, even the hymns we sang this morning were about the beauty of God's creation, the woods, east and west and.....WOW can it get anymore vivid for this daughter of Christ. Big Cypress said he thought the same thing, God was speaking to me this morning! Jim, again gave us a ride to the Pocono Inn from the church hostel, because it was raining. Our bunks were quickly taken. The hostel bunks full, three couches full, one on the floor and about 4 or so in the back area for overflow, with Kevin.The Pocono Inn.....not as bad as we were told, but not the nicest we've stayed at. Laundry cheap $2 wash, free dry. No soap available, so get at gas station next door less than $4. Dry only on Perm Press or takes longer. Ron Jon came to wash his clothes, hostel has no laundry. Eddie, a local and in the lobby when I went to see if Laura had cork screw for wine we got yesterday at wine tasting. Nope, but Eddie had a drill and Laura found a long screw....We got the cork out!! Hurray!!! So....Laundry done, foot and body soaks done by both of us! Watched the New York parade celebration of the 68th Birthday of Israel being a nation. Ate Mac n cheese pot pie from Village Farm Bakery! Resting and watching the heavy heavy rain come down!! Feeling awful for fellow hikers that are out in it!! We've been blessed to have rain, but not buckets of it!!
Date: 2016-06-06
From: Pocono Inn Delaware Water Gap PA

To: Campsite @ 1309.7 mile mark
Miles today: 16.7

Pocono Inn to Campsite @ mile 1309.7 AWOL Guide for 16.7 We head out at 7 this morning. Crossing the bridge over the Delaware River. We stopped at Sunfish Pond, there was a bench there and we sat for a snack. Sparks, from Michigan showed up. He is originally from NJ and came here as a boy with the Boy scouts and stayed a bit after we continued on. He was at the church hostel in DWG with us two nights ago. Staying last night, but lots of wet stinky hikers showing up. Leapfrogged Turtle & Frodo, Chardonnay, from CA, but born in Flint MI and Sparks.Saw an awesome beaver pond. Lots of chewed trees lying by, waiting their turn to be part of the dam. God has made some amazing creatures!! No water at this campsite, so we had to carry what we needed 2 miles-ish.Critters: sunny with salamander siteings today, frogs, lots of toads, squirrels, chipmunks, and bull frogs croaking at sunfish pond.
Date: 2016-06-07
From: Campsite @ 1309.7 mile mark

To: campsite/stream at 1328.5
Miles today: 18.8

Campsite to Campsite with Stream from Pond for 18.8 milesBlessed with another beautiful sunny day, lots of butterflies, this morning, then rain, then sun again!We leapfrogged with Chardonnay, Sparks, Turtle & Frodo and added to our day is Mr. President, from NJ section hiker with a pure White tent, like the white house. We all visited and snacked atop Rattlesnake Mountain. We we blessed by Miss Donny with Trail Magic at Sunrise Mountain. She had yogurt and mini Gatorades. We also were blessed by The Lord by having a thunderstorm miss us!! Only little sprinkles. We did get some pictures of the heavy rain in the distance. We stopped for lunch at Gyp's Tavern, Branchville NJ, joined by Sparks.Arrived at 5:15 pm at camp, our first time drinking water the color of tea. After filtering thru the Sawyer AND using pool shock to treat also. Our water tonight and for tomorrow morning is from a seasonal ponds over flow. Lots of frogs singing in that pond tonight! Critters: tons of Salamanders, kicked up a grouse-off trail but it flew up and scared both of us. Turkey, button buck and two doe.
Date: 2016-06-08
From: campsite/stream at 1328.5

To: Pochuck Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: moderate rain

Campsite to Pochuck Mountain Shelter for 21.3 milesWe hit the trail at 6:45 am. Our earliest start yet. Stopped at High Point State Park headquarters. Where we were offered free sodas from friends of high point. Great surprise!! Used a real potty, with hot water, flushing toilet and washed hands and faces!! (it's the little things now....makes hikers smile) Snacking with Chardonnay and Sparks and clouds rolling in. Weather alert said rain at 11:39 am, it's 11:31....we all put rain gear on!! Yep....it came, but not severe...praise the Lord!! Turning sunny around 2-3 pm. Walked a lot of nice easy trail today. Even around a National Wildlife Refuge and Wallkill Reserve. We hiked a lot with Chardonnay today. Arriving at the camp spots near the shelter, after getting water on a side trail from the trail leading to the shelter. It's an abandoned house with a spigot....a true water source, as the trail is groomed well, recently edged for invading weeds. Chardonnay tented near us. Sparks showed up soon after us and headed to the shelter. Super windy tonight and temp about 48. Nice for sleeping!!Critters: too many salamanders to count, squirrels, chipmunks and a fawn bleeting like crazy for its mom, we saw the fawn but not mom.
Date: 2016-06-09
From: Pochuck Mountain Shelter

To: Anton's on the Lake, Greenwood Lake NY
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: clear sky

Pochuck Mtn Shelter to road 17A, Greenwood Lake NY for 21.5 (not including walk to Bellville Creamery .2 miles)We hit the trail with sun and very breezy conditions at 6:30 am. Now our earliest start!! Today was our longest day in terms of miles. We skipped a hot lunch, snacked all day. Trail was tricky....and slow!! It's not just a walk in the woods, it's rock climbing too and that was one of those days!! Big Cypress was a great cheerleader and help, as I struggled with the no poles kind of climbing....actually climbing rocks!! Finding little niches for fingers and toes. Even a rebar ladder we had to climb, in the side of a flat faced boulder....but.....We made it safely!! That wasn't as bad as the crack I clung to while laying on my right side and scooting while trying not to slide down it, to a spot on the right side of this boulder that I could actually then climb down. Big took a different way that was more difficult....steeper with a couple big drops to get down. Glad we never have to climb those buggers ever again, although others lie ahead. We entered NY today. We met Hail again, he was at the church hostel. Unknown popped out of the woods right where we saw a Copperhead snake....We warned him to avoid getting bit!! Just in the knick of time. Nice to see him again and sporting his new Osprey pack, like Big switched to. AK also leapfrogged us....not sure the last time we saw him. He saw another copperhead and stayed near the spot till we arrived to warn us. Tough, long day of rocks and boulders. But....not anything like Pennsylvania rocks....those are sharp and or pointy! These here are more like rounded ones and boulders the size of houses and cars.Matt from Anton's on the Lake hotel was getting other hikers, so suggested we get ice cream at the Bellville Creamery. He picked us up at 7:15. We stopped at CVS for snacks n stuff for trail. Had Italian delivery....delicious and tons of food, enough for tomorrow.
Date: 2016-06-10
From: Anton's on the Lake, Greenwood Lake NY

To: Anton's on the Lake, Greenwood Lake NY
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

We slept well last night as the AC was white noise...We like the fan to stay on while the temp control will turn off and on as needed. So....none of the fan off & on, going from loud to quiet and so on. Matt, the owner of the hotel is a great host. He is very helpful, goes out of his way to do what he can to help hikers!! Laundry is included in our stay and he is willing to shuttle you for free to town, which is really only half mile away or less, depending on the business you want to visit. We rested, after Big walked to the post office and Subway for lunch. I soaked my toe and we soaked bodies in Epsom salts a few times today.We called our boys, our folks and I spoke to both my sisters and my Aunt Sally. Text some of our trail family, like Suds & Subman, Fiber, and the Near Miss (Rabbit, Leopard & Crash). Everyone is doing well. Fiber is about 40 miles ahead and Suds/Sub are 76 miles behind. Near Miss is also 76 miles being at Delaware Water Gap.Critter: Canada Geese swimming in front of our hotel room in Greenwood Lake. Black vultures sitting on a sailboat mast and shoreline.
Date: 2016-06-11
From: Anton's on the Lake, Greenwood Lake NY

To: Fingerboard Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: clear sky

NY 17A to Fingerboard Shelter for 16.4 milesWe got a ride back to the trail where we popped out of the woods, from Matt the hotel owner. We have to say that Matt is a great business owner and very accommodating!! We were back on the trail @ 7:30 with big muffins and OJ compliments of Matt!! I wasn't feeling well this morning, I believe the antibiotics for my toe was to blame. The threat of severe thunderstorms probably didn't help my uneasyness either!!We hit the Eastern Pinnacles pretty quick....they were a challenge for Moonbeam, but again....I survived! Big Cypress rock hops like a mountain goat....I'm more like a scaredy cat!! Having trouble finding my inner goat!!We met Clementine from OH and Quicksand from FL. We were blessed by trail magic from a special trail angel Paddy-O, Mr Patrick O. Lynch. He was on the trail going south and hiked back north to give us great stories, and.....Gatorade and Honeybuns. He told us about the endangered Cricket frog and we actually heard it later, while hiking. Paddy-O said they sound like hiking poles hitting together. We got squeezed, big time by the Lemon Squeezer at mile 1385.6 It really was a tiny sliver to get thru two eminence boulders. Ok....so it never rained, or even looked like it was going to!! Praise the Lord!! Not good for water sources that thirsty hikers need to survive though. With that being said we got water at Surebridge Brook and hiked with all containers filled, 10 liters in all, up a 350 foot climb to the shelter that has an unreliable water source. Glad we did...no water there!! Dry....and a serious problem for hikers!!Critters: squirrels, chipmunks, crows, doves, blue jays, robins, cardinals, birds I can't identify by their call, but wish I could!! 4 point buck in velvet that was very photogenic. We also learned that our "salamander" we see almost every day is really a newt. Paddy-O corrected us!! Thank you for making our brains bigger!!
Date: 2016-06-12
From: Fingerboard Shelter

To: Hemlock Springs Campsite
Miles today: 17.7

Fingerboard Shelter to Hemlock Springs Campsite for 17.7 milesWe tented, we've been tenting due to the presence of skeeters and black flies. We left this morning at 6:30 am. Hit Black Mountain in time for a snack while we rested and looked out to New York City. Yes, you can see the Skyline!! Sunday or weekends in general, means lots of people out on trails. Bear Mountain gave us a good solid up and lots of rock steps down, packed with people. People that look at hikers like we are from outer space! We made it in time to the Trailside Museum & Zoo. The black bear enclosure is the lowest point on the AT @ 124 feet elevation. Then we hiked around Hessian Lake, BBQ's and lots of people enjoying the sunny breezy day. We stopped for a soda and couple hotdogs from a vendor. After our lil break we walked over the Hudson River on Bear Mountain Bridge....it was super windy!! We then had a big up...steep! Chardonnay yelled Hay!! She town stopped for shoes, so was behind us. Then we met Tinkerbell & Marilyn from Saint Louis. We all camped together tonight, along with Quicksand, but he was on the water source trail camp spot. Within eyesight!! Breezy arrival @ 5 pm. Good for sleeping....but not with the train whistles !! Argh....
Date: 2016-06-13
From: Hemlock Springs Campsite

To: Stream/Stealth Camp
Miles today: 18.8

Hemlock Campsite to Stream/stealth camping for 18.8 milesWe got an early start at 6:45, everyone beat us out by a few minutes. Quicksand passed us by on the trail. We all ended up at the Appalachian Deli. Water refills and cameling up (drinking a full bottle or as much as you can, so you have a lighter pack. We also got snacks and the hikers breakfast!! We heard a tree fall today, didn't see it, but heard the loud thud! We met Dysfungshuishanal (not sure on spelling, but that's what she said her trail name was). We hiked a bit together, then she moved on when we stopped for water & set up camp @ 6:45 pm.
Date: 2016-06-14
From: Stream/Stealth Camp

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: few clouds

Camp spot to Telephone Pioneers Shelter for 21 milesWe hit the trail early since it was going to be a long day. We were pleasantly surprised by trail magic at RPH Shelter. Trail Angel Grrr set up a spread to feed hungry hikers yesterday and today!! So...today we were blessed by bagel, egg & cheese sandwiches!! Awesome and can't thank him enough!! I've been very very emotional since leaving Greenwood Lake. My tears have been flowing unabated....daily! Tough on hiker bodies and feet. I want to finish, but I don't want to hike anymore! It's a difficult mix, not wanting to be a person that quits but on the same hand not wanting to hike anymore! Well....We still continue to tell people we meet along the way that they can follow our journey at this website. Today we met two ladies from Massachusetts, we talked for a few minutes. They said we must go to Upper Goose Pond, it's beautiful! We asked about water availability at the shelter, since it's listed as unreliable. They said it's there, just not a strong flow. We sat for a break & took several pictures at Nuclear Lake. The moon was out & flowers blooming....very pretty!!We tented on a flat-ish spot. Sparks arrived and sheltered with a section hiker, Chardonnay tented right next to us. BaBa was going to press on, but decided to stay instead. He found a flat spot on a high spot above the shelter. Our spot was down wind from the privy, only a slight breeze off & on, so...not too stinky. There was also a couple in hammocks, they looked like hikers out for a few days. Tinkerbell said she really was wanting a egg sandwich and the trail provides, really God provides! Just like we heard about the hiker that had something in his eye & couldn't get it out. At camp that night was an eye Dr. that had things necessary to remove the item from his eye and treat it. Yep...God provides!!Critters: the usual suspects....chipmunks, squirrels and a chorus of birds. We added to it today...a large garter snake, about as big around as two of my fingers.