morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-06-27
From: Kirkridge Shelter

To: Church of the Mt. Hostel
Miles today: 6.4

Mosquitos were bad, but not inside my tent. Have been fighting ticks also, but think I have gotten all of them so far. Looking forward to seeing Grampie, who is coming out to meet and hike with me for a few days. I get a decent start (8:15 a.m.) and am glad to see Grampie come around the bend by 12:30 p.m. He's bringing me a Mountain Dew...Hooray!!! We hike on into town and down to his car at Church of the Mountain Hostel. We are looking for some A/C and some coffee. We're signed into a motel with a pool and a TV for that nite and on our way to dinner at the restaurant by 5:30. Somewhere along the way back, we pick up a 6-pack and tell hiker stories until 10:30 or so. I'm beat, but a swim in the pool helps my mashed palm laceration. Also freshens me up. Dinner and a nite of remembering "who, what, when and where" along the trail. It's been a good day. Lord Thank You.
Date: 2003-06-28
From: Church of the Mt. Hostel

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

Up early and a hiker breakfast at the nearby restaurant, then Grampie and I leave his truck at the Delaware Water Gap Information Center. In a few days time, Grampie will be picked up by another hiking friend who will shuttle him back to get his car. Finally we're hiking again.We have a fairly serious climb up to Sunfish Pond. On the way up, we meet the parents of some newly-wed hikers we had hiked with in 2001. They were Sooooo tickled to meet someone who had hiked with their kids I thought they were gonna' hug us, but we settled for pictures instead.Later, we're still climbing when Super Dave hiker comes by trying to impress some little local Jersey Girl Hiker Chick. Sunfish Pond was a great place to take a rest. There were people swimming everywhere, but not us. A candy bar and 25 minutes then Grampie and myself are hiking again. He's doing pretty good considering that he hadn't hiked in a couple of years. We figure that we would check out the Mohican Outdoor Center. It sounded like a good idea because the moquitos were FIERCE! Sure enough, we got a deal on a couple of bunks in the bunkhouse, and guess what? Old Bono (who I hadn't seen since Harpers Ferry) was schlepping around the kitchen. He was a Mohican employee! There was gonna be a Drinking/Running Club marriage that nite, and (with Bono in our corner) we hoped to be invited to the Bar-b-que and keg party to be held after the wedding ceremonies.Well! Who would have thunk it? Things are looking up this Saturday nite. Not only do we escape the dammed blood-sucking mosquitos, but we get food and drink for free (if it's ok of course). Bono's having a wonderful time, wasting his youth and getting nice and plump while working for this place. Sure enough, before it's all over with, the Drinking/Running Club had invited us to the party and fed us too.Later, there was a bonfire where Bono and I were inducted into the ranks of this venerable association as we were both required to down a small pitcher of beer to the strains of some bawdy running song...something about liking different parts of your girlfriend's anatomy. The idea was to have finished your pitcher of beer by the time they finished the "I love her..." or else wear it. Bono and myself were straightaway elected honorary vice-presidents, as it was immediately obvious that our breeding and lack of good judgement qualified us for the high-ranking position. I, for one, had to get to sleep, so I left Bono at the campfire, singing bawdy ditties.
Date: 2003-06-29
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Buttermilk Falls Trail
Miles today: 10.2

Grampie is pleased to see my bright shining eyeballs this morning. I knew he had been thinking that we wouldn't get hiking until after 11:00 a.m., but we were on the road by 7:15. Bono is dead to the world, explosives would not wake him up. No matter. I leave him a Thank You note and Grampie and myself are out hiking again. There are some amateur radio enthusiasts set up under Catfish Fire Tower. They were trying to transmit and receive from the highest point around. Guess they were having a good time, but we hiked on. At Rattlesnake Springs, we cameled up on water 'cause it was the last available.Later, we would learn that a bear had been struck by a car near here, and the injured animal scared the wits out of Twofiddy when it "bluff-charged" him to within 6 feet and then reared up. That would scare anyone, but Grampie and I took a 45 minute rest at the road crossing and we saw nothing. Just lucky, I guess?There were a few ups, but mostly level, when I heard a crashing off to our left. "Bear, bear, Grampie" I yelled, pointing to a well fed yearling bear with an ear tag showing, who was losing no time in getting over the closest ridge. He had been feeding in a patch of ripe blueberries. Later, we get a pic of me picking ripe blueberries on Rattlesnake Mt.That nite we pick a spot on the Buttermilk Falls Trail to pitch our tents. There are some big rocks to sit on and cook, and a steady breeze up on the ridge seems to keep the worst of the mosquitos away. Our decision to carry extra water from Rattlesnake Springs allows us to make dinner and go down for the nite with a cup of tea. Thank you once more for this day, Lord!
Date: 2003-06-30
From: Buttermilk Falls Trail

To: US 206 at Culvers Gap
Miles today: 7.7

Well, twilight last nite brought out the skeeters again, breeze or no. Thank goodness for our bug netting in the tents. Breakfast was a quick handful of dry cereal and peanuts, and Grampie and I are hiking by 7:15 a.m. This may qualify as some sort of "early start" record for us. Rattlesnake Mt. only lived up to it's reputation for scenic views, as no rattlesnakes did we see. We did, however, get a pic of Texas Jack picking blueberries up on the summit. Grampie tells me that he's leaving to go back to Connecticut this afternoon. He has a big 4th of July planned with his lovely wife, Donna, so this afternoon will be it. We get to the Worthington's Bakery and Sandwich Shop on US-206 at Culver's Gap. Here is where we snap some more pics of hungry hikers sitting around outside on the curb, tearing up those delicious, huge sandwiches the bakery is famous for. Here is where we hear the story from Twofiddy about his being charged by the injured bear earlier, but I've already told about that. Grampie called a friend to come pick him up, so we headed down to Gyp's Tavern to sample their bloody mary's on the adivce of Aloha Ann who, 2 weeks earlier, had spent a few pleasant hours there. The barmaid remembered Aloha Ann because bloody mary's was all she drank that nite. "Best on the A.T." and I have to agree they were pretty good! Grampie gave me all his food sack stuff and headed on back to Donna, and I yogied a ride to Cobman Ridge Motel and was down for the nite.
Date: 2003-07-02
From: Mashipacong Shelter

To: Gemmer Road
Miles today: 11.1

Well, how about that? As I hike away from the shelter, I find 8-10 gallon jugs of water along the Trail. Thank you Trail Angel! Am in good shape for the day's heat. Jersey hiking mostly involves climbing up out of the road gaps and then level hiking to the next road gap. It's an 11 mile day to Gemmer Road and Jim Murray's "Secret Shelter" It's a secret because the Data Book doesn't list it. Wingfoot's book does though. It's great! There is an excellent well, electricity, 2 hot showers and several bunk houses. There's even running water and a sink. It's wonderful! I see at least 6 turkeys and a deer this afternoon after I arrive at the shelter. Jim Murray isn't there, but at least 10-12 other hikers show up. I tent outside to get away from bugs, but no one complains that the skeeters are too bad. One hiker, Spyderman, discovers red rings on his thigh. This is serious. Red rings on the skin are symptomatic of Lyme Disease. Spyderman tells of being bitten by ticks all through the Shennandoahs. It looks like he has Lyme! We all advise him to seek immediate medical care, and Lyme is the topic of conversation, as Librarian got it a week back. A couple of other hikers have gotten it also. Everyone checks themselves for ticks REAL well that nite.
Date: 2003-07-03
From: Gemmer Road

To: Church Hostel in Vernon
Miles today: 15.8

Everyone leaves early this morning. We all seem to be headed for the Church Hostel in Vernon. But first we have to get by Wallkill Wildlife Refuge. What a misnomer! The only wildlife that's in this place is mosquitos. If I thought I had seen BAD before this, I learned better. The so-called "Wildlife Refuge" is a euphamism for a Sewage Treatment Plant. I don't know how many acres of stinking, black, fetid water and TONS of mosquitos. The Trail sends us around the edge of this swamp for a couple of miles. There are literally clouds of skeeters hovering and waiting to land. At least 70-80 mosquitos trying to land ALL the time. Deet keeps them from landing, but they won't go away. As soon as the Deet sweats off, they swarm in to feed. It's horrible. And it goes on and on and on. Horrible!!!The Garland, TX, fireman, III Packs, has sent me a message via the "Trail Telegraph" (a southbound hiker) that he will meet me at the Church Hostel in Vernon. All I can think about is escaping the heat and the bugs. The Church Hostel is great, but it will only accept 12 hikers per nite. I make it, so does III Packs. The kid with Lyme is there. So is Healer (another hiker, with a chiropractic background). This bunch keeps Healer busy. All sorts of aches and pains abound. I get my back cracked (Thanks, Healer!) and get rid of a nagging "catch" that I've been hiking with for a month or so. The hostel lets us use the kitchen facilities, the shower, also the laundry. Fans move the air around so we all sleep well. There are no bunks, but we all sleep on the floor in the basement. Thank you St. Thomas Episcopal Church for allowing me to stay there this nite.
Date: 2003-07-04
From: Church Hostel in Vernon

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 5.4
Weather: few clouds

It's hot and dry, but we get a ride to the trailhead on NJ-94 with one of Healer's friends who has a car. It's a tough climb up and away from the road, but once III Packs and I get to the top, it's pretty flat. It's nice to hike with a friend, and we both go about the same speed. All the young folks go by us fast. No matter. We only do a five mile day to Wawayanda Shelter. Water is available from a faucet at a Forrestry Office nearby. III Packs and I both choose to tent after dinner ('cause of skeeters) and we listen to 4th of July fireworks in the distance as we fall asleep.
Date: 2003-07-05
From: Wawayanda Shelter

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

Well, we're hiking again. The original plan was to get a motel room at Greenwood Lake, N.Y., but there are NO rooms to be had due to the holiday weekend crowd. III Packs and I hike past the lake and it's power boats and full-to-capacity motels and marinas (we could see them from the ridges) and make for Wildcat Shelter. I have to admit that I got a kick when we hiked past the New York/New Jersey state line. (The state line was painted on a rock.) Grampie had tented only a few yards from here when he was doing his 2001 hike. That state line was something I had looked forward to. One more state down and only 699 miles to go...YAHOO!!!
Date: 2003-07-07
From: Arden, N.Y.

To: Fingerboard Shelter
Miles today: 4.4
Weather: broken clouds

Had breakfast at Red Apple Restaurant, which is Greek owned. Worst runniest milkshake I ever had. But it was cold and sweet, so I guess it was ok. The homefries tasted good. III Packs catches a bus to find another motel to stay a zero day in. I hike on out to the Trail and make it to Fingerboard Shelter. The shelter itself is a work of art. Mortar and native stone, stuck upon a bluff, surrounded by acres of ripening blueberries. It had no water source, but I had pumped 4 liters of water earlier that day. It was brown, scummy pond water, but it tasted ok and didn't make me sick. It rained some that afternoon and a bunch of Jewish camp kids about 12-15 yrs. old came in to set up tents. Nice kids. I played a little harp for 'em and told 'em how I came to be out in the woods. They loved it! They were city kids out for their first outdoor experience. One girl even wanted to have her pic made with "Texas Jack". It was a good day!Took a pic of a crevasse in the rock known as "The Lemon Squeezer". It was narrow enough that I had to take off my pack and roll it thru the fissure. Tough climb. I know it squeezed my lemons.
Date: 2003-07-08
From: Fingerboard Shelter

To: Black Mt. Tentsite
Miles today: 6.5

Bad news today. I hiked into the William Brien Memorial Shelter, but after a rest, I got turned around and hiked 4 miles the wrong way back to Arden Valley Road. I found out later that there had been a near riot at the Lake Tiorati Circle, also lots of free food, but all I knew was that I went by that little green gate 3 times and I haven't gotten outta here yet!Worse news. My Vasque boots are about shot. The soles are coming unglued to the point that the sole is flapping up and down on one boot. That's dangerous. I'll call my cousin Jon up as soon as I can to help me get new boots. He lives around here, somewhere close to West Point, and he's expecting me to call him when I get near.Tonight, however, I am trying to make up for hiking 8 miles in the wrong direction. I feel so stupid. Finally I pick a nice little flat tentsite next to a brook that's clean enough to bathe in. I find that a nice sponge bath to clean off the sweat helps me to sleep better. This one felt great! A few deer were surprised to find my little Nomad tent on the trail to their watering hole. As long as it's not a bear...nite, nite all!
Date: 2003-07-09
From: Black Mt. Tentsite

To: Bear Mt. Inn, N.Y.
Miles today: 7.0

Am off to a slow start this a.m. I'm still feeling foolish from yesterday. Have to be careful about the flapping sole on my boot. Seven miles today will have to do. There's a phone and a too-expensive room at Bear Mountain Inn, N.Y. I bite my lip and pay the money. Gave Jon a call. He will be here tomorrow morning to take me to get new boots. Bless him! Meanwhile, there is a car show next door to the Inn. My favorite (of the fifty or so custom cars at the show) was a 1950 Mercury with a huge motor, fender skirts, twin tear-drop spotlights, and fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror. Man, you could have held a barn dance in the rear seat there was so much room. If I was rich, I would have bought that car on the spot. It looked like something right off a "ZZ Top" album cover. It was gorgeous!!! and I wanted it. Oh well. Will have to settle for new boots tomorrow instead of a killer antique car. Did get a good Philly Cheesesteak from the Bear's Inn menu at the bar. Not bad. Clean sheets and TV make everything ok for the nite.
Date: 2003-07-10
From: Bear Mt. Inn, N.Y.

To: Graymoor Friary
Miles today: 7.2

Was waiting for cousin Jon, the OTHER Jon Iwanski, of the New Jersey clan. Good to see him again. Haven't seen him since before Uncle Stan died 2 years ago. First item of importance is a new pair of hiking boots. Settle for High Tech brand. (Chinese imports to the hiking market.) They seem to fit, and they're not too heavy. Good enough! Problem solved. Will never own another pair of Vasques'.Later, Jon drives me around West Point, and I mean AROUND! Before 9-11 you could go inside the base, but now armed guards stand watch in front of terrorist barricades at each gate. It's the way things are today. I understand.When Jon asks what I want to do, I ask to be let out back at Bear's Inn. I have some more miles to do today. Jon and I make plans to go to a family get-together at Roy and Emily's in a couple of days. He will pick me up on the morning of 7/12 at Fahnestock State Park. Meanwhile, I walk on thru the Trailside Museum and Zoo. It's a nice place with local wildlife rescued and rehabilitated. It's also the lowest point on the A.T. Everyone can smell the smell of a skunk as we hike thru the zoo. All the hikers (like me) are looking and smelling of each other to see if it's any of us who smell this bad. Everyone who isn't a hiker stays away from everyone who is. It's probably just a patch of skunk cabbage down by the bears' pen.Soon, I'm hiking across the Bear Mtn. Bridge, then up Anthony Nose. Today, I do not get turned around and by 4:30 p.m. I'm standing in line at Graymoor Friary for the monks to feed us supper. Dinner for the hikers is a summer tradition at the Friary. Also, they let us camp on the baseball diamond and shower and clean up at the pavillion.   It's great! I leave a nice donation for the free meal and get a shower to boot. I'm pleasantly surprised to meet Burn again. Grampie and I met her in Damascus at Trail Days and she has been hiking northbound ever since. It's nice to meet someone whom you know. She's hiking with friends and they rag each other in the easy, good-natured manner that friends fall into on the Trail. It's a good nite. Nite All!
Date: 2003-07-11
From: Graymoor Friary

To: Fahnestock State Park
Miles today: 11.8

Rainy and foggy this morning. Have to do about 12 miles today. Jon will pick me up at the Fahnestock Park front office tomorrow morning. Not too much water along the way, at least not according to the Data books. Fortunately, with the wet spring, there is still water available that's not noted in the books. You only have to be willing to ignore mosquitos and bugs and brown yucky-looking stuff when you pump and/or treat it. (Try not to think of where you got it from when you drink it, too!) After the Trail hits NY-301, it's another 1.2 mile walk down to the shower and campground at Fahnestock State Park. The "hot" shower works well enough for the likes of me, then a good meal and a nite under the stars.
Date: 2003-07-12
From: Fahnestock State Park

To: Family Reunion in PA.
Miles today: 0.0

Am waiting for cousin Jon to show up to wisk me away for a couple of days to a family outing at Roy and Emily Wimmer's place over in Pennsylvania. What a relief! Clean laundry, a shave! Burgers, beer, TV, cousins I have never met! It's Great! We all sit out by the fire until late nite, talking family stuff, catching up on who's doing what (I'm hiking the Appalachian Trail, the first Iwanski to do so), who's getting a new house, a new job, a new spouse, a new baby. I love it!
Date: 2003-07-13
From: Family Reunion in PA.

To: Shenandoah Tenting Area
Miles today: 5.7

One good nite of family stuff, some pictures and, oh yes, a bear story. Roy Wimmer tells me that the state people have only recently eliminated the resident female black bear who used to live across the road from their house. It seems that some mother sent her son off to camp with a GIANT bag of Oreo cookies. Well, Mrs. Bear has a sweet tooth. She stuck her face into the kid's tent one nite and was happily eating cookies when little Johnnie woke up to find a bear halfway into the tent. Little Johnnie was understandably excited, and in the screaming match that followed, Mrs. Bear whacked him a little bear lovetap and walked off with the rest of the Oreos. The "little" bear tap took a number of stitches to close up, but the final straw was when Mrs. Bear showed back up the next nite and ransacked some more tents looking for another batch of cookies. Bad move. Dead bear. Big local topic of conversaton, so I thought I'd mention the local Wimmer-World scuttlebutt.Jon and Rita dropped me off back at the state park this afternoon, we took some pics and I'm hiking again, even if it is a bit late in the afternoon. I make it to a perfectly lovely Shenandoah Tenting Area which has no one other than myself camping there. It does, however, have a lovely orchard and old garden with apple trees, pear trees, and "The Best" sour cherry tree that is bough-bending-full of ripe, juicy sour cherries. Also, blackberries and raspberries in the garden. (Sour cherries look just like regular cherries, but they are juicy and tart instead of sweet.) I had cherries with dinner and so did every jay-bird and deer in the area.
Date: 2003-07-14
From: Shenandoah Tenting Area

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

The apples and pears are only half-way to being ready to eat. No matter, the sour cherries make up for everything. They're delicous!Hiked past the RPH Shelter this morning. They were trying to relocate the privy. The caretaker for the shelter tried to tempt me with food, but I said "no thank you" and hiked on. It was a tough day. Went by Mountain Top Market for a deli sandwich and one to go and I am hiking again to Morgan Stewart Shelter where I tent behind the shelter. I meet 6 or 7 other hikers, Thor, Boat, Lost and Found, (don't remember the others). I play my harp while they build a fire. I have a deli sandwich for supper, it's a good nite!
Date: 2003-07-15
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Everyone clears out before I do this morning, but by the time I cross Old Route 55 I take a break, and the gaggle who left camp early this morning hikes past me. How can this be? Simple, they've all been to another deli. Man! Those deli sandwiches must be addictive. Or maybe hungry hikers are just drawn to little deli markets, 'cause when I spot a small Hot Dogs stand alongside the Hwy. I find myself taking a break for a lunch of "4 dogs with everything and a pepsi, please". Yup! That must be it! The 'dogs' hit the spot and I tent that afternoon alongside Telephone Pioneers Shelter. The shelter log is full of entries about a hive of bees living in the privy. I wait until nitetime to go see. Sure enough! I can hear the buzzing bees under the seat and off to one side, but in the cool, dark of evening they don't bother me. REAL hikers don't care 'bout no stinking bees! Hot dogs, and bees in the outhouse. It's been a good day!
Date: 2003-07-16
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

Pretty nice weather this morning, so I head out at a reasonable 8:30 a.m. There's a good bit of walking over marshy land on Poncheons today. Also, I pass by the Appalachian Trail Railroad Station. It's just a small yellow platform with train schedules that's been built alongside the New York Metro Railroad. I hike on by, but later I hear that Bono has caught the train to N.Y. City to do some "night blazing" in Times Square. What a hoot! I hike on to the last shelter in N.Y. It's the Wiley Shelter and I meet Deja Vu and his wife Songbird. They've got the shelter, but I tent on a nice platform with privacy and a picnic table. Water is from a hand pump 75 yds. down the trail. A little after dark, several hikers come in by flashlight. Takes all kinds out here. It is a bright, moonlit nite, but no nite-hiking for this Mother's Son. I'm snug and happy and safe from the 'skeeters! (Never did find out the names of the nite-hikers, though).
Date: 2003-07-17
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Schaghticoke Mt. Campsite
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Bye-bye New York, hello Connecticut! That's where Grampie and Donna live, but I have to get closer before I call him. Not tonight. Today we have some mildly serious hills and mountains to do. I do some ups, some downs, some scenic vistas of The Housatonic Valley and settle for a campsite called Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite.It's actually on a Native American Indian Reservation. It's the only Indian Reservation that the A.T. crosses, but no Indians are to be seen Only 2 more gaggles of young teenage Jewish Girlscouts. They are out in the woods hiking, camping, and singing Jewish camping songs. There are about 25 of 'em, good kids, noisy, normal! I don't care. I'm in my tent, got a good flat spot, & plenty of water.