morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-09-13
From: Dalton, MA

To: Kay Wood Shelter, MA
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up at Blue Jay ,s home in NY and Not So Helpless made us all breakfast and I made coffee.Blue Jay, Not So Helpless, Dr Dolittle, Roadkill and I just kind of laid around the house all day. Blue Jay had a nice collection of CD¢s to listen to.Blue Jay thru hiked the AT in ¢98. He also has a donkey, a mini horse and two black cats.Not So Helpless is thinking of coming out to hike in a week or two.We all went out to eat at 99 Steak House in Pittsford, MA, then got some stove fuel and Blue Jay dropped us off back in Dalton in front of Duff and Dell¢s. Dr Dolittle and I walked the three miles to Kay Wood Shelter where I found a nice spot and set up my tent for the night. Roadkill showed up ten minutes later.
Date: 2003-09-14
From: Kay Wood Shelter, MA

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin, MA
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: light rain

I got up and ate breakfast and drank my coffee, then waited on Dr Dolittle to get ready. We started walking at 8:30am and walked to the Cookie Lady¢s home. No one was home and I wanted some of the blueberries from the u-pick bushes, so I went out and picked a few pounds of large blueberries and left money by the back porch. We hiked on, and a third of a mile before we got to October Mtn Shelter, Dr Dolittle had to head back into the woods.I walked onto the shelter, but Dr Dolittle never showed up, so I headed back and started looking for her. All I found was her backpack. I called out, but no answer.I finally figured out she went north on the Trail looking for her older dog Tristen. I found Maggie and took her back to the shelter and waited on her.It took her well over an hour to get Tristen back. That dog can¢t hear and just started walking north¢¦.lost.Maggie is a great trail dog, but Tristen¢s day is past.When Dr Dolittle got back, we walked on to Upper Goose Pond Cabin, getting there right as it was getting dark out.I was hungry, so I ate dinner right away.John Galt is here and Jack, the caretaker. I gave Jack the blueberries I picked¢¦he¢s going to use them to make blueberry pancakes in the morning.
Date: 2003-09-15
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin, MA

To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

When I got up this morning, Jack, the caretaker, had a bunch of pancakes made with those fresh blueberries I had brought in yesterday and lots of good, strong coffee.John Galt, Dr Dolittle and I all had breakfast together, then pack up and walked all day together..It rained a lot through out the day which seemed to bring out lots and lots of orange newts. Roadkill counted over 300 of those little buggers.We got to MA 23 and Dr Dolittle¢s friends from veterinary school came and picked us up. They brought two cars because of there being three hikers, three packs and two dogs.Steve and Kyra were about an hour late getting there. They had a hard time finding the trailhead. There was a nice couple that stopped and tried helping out with directions on the cell phone with Steve and Kyra. They eventually got there and took us all out to eat at an Indian restaurant in Great Barrington.That was the first time I¢d ever eaten Indian food. It was good, but boy oh boy¢¦.the portion were sure small. We are hikers and require a lot of food!!Steve and Kyra took us over to their house afterwards and we all got showers, did laundry and lounged around watching the Weather Channel and then Monday Night Football.
Date: 2003-09-16
From: Great Barrington, MA

To: Stealth Tent-site, MA
Miles today: 11.2

I woke up at Steve and Kyra¢s home in Copake, NY and Kyra put on a pot of good strong coffee.We got packed up and left at 9:30am and stopped at a really good breakfast place on the way back to the Trail. I had an omelette with lots of vegetables and it even had some potatoes in it¢¦very good!!We resupplied in Great Barrington and got dropped off at the Trail and started hiking at 1pm.I hiked two miles to Tom Leonard Shelter where I stopped and ate a sandwich I had packed out.I hiked to MA Rt 7 and walked a half mile to The Corn Crib, a road side vegetable stand. I ate some fresh peaches and plums, then microwaved some fresh picked corn on the cob and topped all that off with some ice cream.I helped a lady load two huge pumpkins into her truck, then we all walked on back to the Trail and started hiking again.There were some bog bridges that were in bad disrepair. Some were even floating in the swampy area. My shoes were dry and I knew they would stay dry once I got over these bog bridges, so I took them off and walked barefoot until I got across the swampy area.We saw two deer as we entered a field beyond the swampy area.John Galt, Dr Dolittle and myself are all stealth tenting about a mile north of MA Rt 41 tonight.
Date: 2003-09-17
From: Stealth Tent-site, MA

To: Plateau Campsite, CT
Miles today: 19.4

John Galt, Dr Dolittle and I all got packed up and walked about two miles to a nice spring, then stopped and had breakfast there.We saw a bunch of turkeys early in our hike today.We hiked to Glen Brook Shelter and stopped to eat lunch. I saw in the register that Hippie Longstockings had been there the day before.We hiked on to the MA/CT border where I got to say hello to Pamela. Then we hiked by Sages Ravine. We kept going and hiked up and over Mt Everett and Mt Race.We hiked kind of slow most of the day, but picked up our paces for the last six miles.I met Portogee and then I met MudButt for the first time.This is a lousy campsite I¢m tented at tonight because the open area is on the side of the hill and slopes downward.We have a short walk into Salisbury, CT in the morning for breakfast.
Date: 2003-09-18
From: Plateau Campsite, CT

To: New Milford, CT
Miles today: 7.5

It¢s my one year anniversary since I summated Katahdin on my first thru hike!!I woke up early listening to some coyotes yipping¢¦.the most I¢ve heard in one pack before.I made coffee while still laying in my tent at 5:30am.When John Galt and Dr Dolittle got ready, we hiked into Salisbury, CT and ate breakfast and bought some stuff for lunch.We sat around talking to Roadkill, Eight Ball and Energizer for a bit, then hiked on to Falls River, CT. As we were walking down the road part of the Trail, Moosie and Underpants showed up in Moosie¢s car. They drove us to Moosie¢s home in New Milford, CT.We went and picked up Goldilocks at pottery class, then washed clothed and took showers.I met Mrs Moosie for the first time. Poor woman had her husband Moosie and her son Goldilocks who are hikers to take care of and then Moosie goes and brings home four more dirty hikers along with three dogs.Well, despite being kind of overwhelmed, Mrs Moosie made an excellent dinner¢¦.Lasagna with a freash salad and we had ice cream and brownies for desert.I checked some email while Goldilocks was busy playing his guitar.
Date: 2003-09-19
From: New Milford, CT

To: New Milford, CT
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a day of rest. I got up and had a wonderful breakfast that Moosie made and excellent coffee that Mrs Moosie made. I messed around all day with email. I sent out a bunch to catch up with old email from friends. It always feels good to catch up on all the email in the inbox.I arranged to meet up with Hippie Longstockings at Ten Mile River on Sunday night, then I ate lunch and took a nap. That felt great!!Everyone piled into the car and went to EMS so Dr Dolittle could buy some new Leki poles, then we stopped by a grocery store and resupplied. I also bought Mrs Moosie some beautiful mums and a card that all four of us signed and gave to her for putting up with the four of us¢¦.John Galt, Dr Dolittle, Underpants and myself.
Date: 2003-09-20
From: New Milford, CT

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-to, CT
Miles today: 18.3

We all had breakfast at Moosie¢s house, then after everyone got ready, Moosie drove Dr Dolittle, John Galt, Underpants, Goldilock and me to the iron bridge at Fall River, CT and dropped us off.We hiked by the Hoosatonic River, then stopped on the side of a cliff where the hang glider ramp used to be. They have removed it since I walked through here last year. We all ate lunch there.They all wanted to stop in another mile after Eight Ball and Energizer showed up, but I kept hiking.   It felt great to walk alone for a while.I came up to Roadkill and walked fast, but quietly and scared a crap out of him as I passed by him on the Trail.I got to within ten feet of two deer before they took off running away. I got to camp early (5:30pm) and just lounged around.It was a warm and humid day with all the moisture in the woods from the remnants of Hurricane Isabell, which has passed through the area the last couple of days.
Date: 2003-09-21
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-to, CT

To: Ten Mile River, CT
Miles today: 17.0

I have started sleeping with my food bag inside my tent lately. It WAY more convenient and I like the idea of not worrying about something getting into it when it¢s hanging in a tree. The best part is like this morning¢¦I am having breakfast and coffee and I haven¢t even gotten out of my sleeping bag yet.I left at 7:25am walking alone. I scared a vulture on St John¢s Ledges and he kept flying back by me to see what I was.I got to the road crossing that goes into Kent, CT just as Underpants and his parents got there.I stopped at Mt Algo Lean-to and waited for an hour for the others to catch up. I tried staying behind them after that, but they were in slow motion, so I passed by and hiked on alone.I got to the road crossing by Bull¢s Bridge and road walked into the general store there. That¢s where Moosie and Mrs Moosie picked up Goldilocks and took him back home. It was nice having him out for a couple days on the Trail.Eight Ball and Dr Dolittle hiked on to NY. Roadkill, Hippie Longstockings and I walked to Ten Mile River and set up out tents for the night. I drank a few beers that Hippie brought me.Another good day!!
Date: 2003-09-22
From: Ten Mile River, CT

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter, NY
Miles today: 22.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a good day¢¦.I had breakfast and coffee and was hiking by 6:55am.I left Roadkill and Hippie Longstockings behind at the camp-site. I crossed into NY from CT and got to say hello to Pamela again. I walked on to Wiley Shelter, getting there at 8:10am. I walked on to the road, NY 22 and stopped at the hotdog stand for about two hours and waited on Hippie to show up.I ended up leaving with John Galt and walked on to Telephone Pioneers Shelter. Hippie showed up, so I walked on to NY 55 with her and stopped at the old school bus hotdog stand with her.   We ate dinner there, then hiked on to Morgan Stewart Shelter where I set up my tent.It¢s very windy outside my tent right now and I¢m expecting rain tonight.Hippie was complaining that her feet were sore tonight.
Date: 2003-09-23
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter, NY

To: Denneytown Rd, NY
Miles today: 21.0

It rained last night and it rained most of the day today, with some very heavy rain at times.I left camp and walked to Tony¢s Deli at the NY 52 road crossing. I ate breakfast there and packed out food for lunch. I waited until Hippie and John Galt showed up and bought their stuff, then we all hiked on together.I hiked on to RPH Shelter and signed the register, then hiked on to Shenandoah Tenting area where I ate lunch and again waited on John Galt and Hippie Longstockings to show up.   There were ripe apples on the trees there, so I ate a few¢¦very good!!I saw four deer just before I had gotten there, then saw two more deer not long after I left.I walked by the view point at Fahnstock Lake, then past NY 301 and on to Dennytown Rd.We were stealth tenting in some pines. I saw Dr Dolittle¢s head lamp and heard her cussing because she was tired and couldn¢t find the water, so I got out of my tent and went down and showed her where it was. I should have taken my headlamp with me because I fell off a two foot wall which ended up being a 6 foot wall. I couldn¢t tell in the dark. It made my toe bleed.
Date: 2003-09-24
From: Denneytown Rd, NY

To: William Brien Memorial Shelter, NY
Miles today: 22.8
Weather: few clouds

I had breakfast and coffee, then hiked out before John Galt and Dr Dolittle were up. I didn¢t see them again today. I hiked past Greymore Monistary, then crossed NY 9 and kept walking past Hemlock Springs Campsite. I came down that mountain and crossed NY 9D, then walked across the Hudson River Bridge. I kept walking and went through the Bear Mountain Zoo.I was thinking about getting a motel room. I walked into the Bear Mountain Inn and saw a restaurant, so I decided to spend my motel money on a good meal. I had a really good shrimp pasta meal, then ordered a half pound hamburger with fries.I left there and started climbing Bear Mountain. I summitted that and kept walking past West Mountain Shelter. I ended up going another 3.3 miles to William Brien Memorial Shelter and found a nice spot to set up my tent.I saw three deer and one 2 12 foot copperhead snake today. I stepped right over the snake before I saw it.I heard Dr Dolittle was having a fit today at the Bear Mountain PO because her dog food didn¢t show up in the mail. Humm. She¢s really stressed right now. Hope she starts having fun again soon.
Date: 2003-09-25
From: William Brien Memorial Shelter, NY

To: Wildcat Shelter, NY
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: few clouds

Got started walking at 7:30am after having breakfast and coffee.I saw five deer early, including a 6 point buck, then saw two more deer just after dark. One of them kept screaming.I stopped by Fingerboard Shelter and used some foot powder that had been left there. I hiked on a went through the Lemon Squeezer. When I got to NY 17, I hitched into Toledo, NY to get a motel, but the guy at Tuxedo Motel said they were full. It was early and there were no cars in the parking lot. I¢m guessing he doesn¢t like hikers.I walked across the street to a restaurant and ate two dinners, then started hitching out of town. I saw Jeff and a friend. Jeff has flipped after recovering from a fall on Dragon¢s Tooth in VA earlier this year.It was a hard climb up that first mountain because I was so full from dinner.I hiked by Fitzgerald Falls¢¦.very nice!!Jeff and his friend were at the next road crossing drinking beer. They had skipped the section I just walked and had about a case of empties sitting on the ground by them.Jeff gave me a beer and told me that Blisterfree had gotten off the Trail. I thanked him and walked on. I got to Wildcat Shelter and went down below it where I found a spot to set up my tent for the night.
Date: 2003-09-26
From: Wildcat Shelter, NY

To: Pochuck Mountain Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 24.5
Weather: overcast clouds

There was lots of rain last night!! I had my breakfast and coffee and packed up, then walked on.I ran into AT Addict just before I got to NY 17A. He was looking for John Galt. I guess they had ru into each other on the Trail somewhere and AT Addict was there to take him to his house for a day or so.I hiked up and over Prospect Rock where I took my 7th fall of this year¢s hike. I bent my Leki a little.I hiked on to Wawayanda Shelter and ate lunch CeeBee came walking into the shelter just as I was leaving.I hiked on to NJ 94 and walked over to Heaven Hill Farm and ate a walnut Danish Ring coffee cake.I saw my second bear print of this hike, but still no bears.I was walking across the one mile platform through a swampy area when a high school cross country team came running by. I also ran into the three guys from Alaska that I had met yesterday. They are down here doing another section of the AT.There are still lots of mosquitoes here in NJ.I got to say hello to Pamela as I crossed from NY into NJ today.
Date: 2003-09-27
From: Pochuck Mountain Shelter, NJ

To: High Point Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: light rain

I had coffee and some potato chips, then started hiking at 8am.I hiked down to Wallkill Wildlife Refuge where I had two swans fly right over my head. They were very noisy flying through the air.The mosquitoes were out in full force. They were chasing me. They were so bad that it looked almost like I was wearing a cloak. I kept up a good pace walking through there. It would be an enjoyable walk without those buggers.I hiked on to Unionville, NY and got my bounce box from the PO. I sat there in the parking lot and went through it for things I needed, then sent it on to Port Clinton, PA.The three guys from Alaska hiked in and we went over to Horler¢s Grocery and ate lunch together.I hiked up to the cemetery and stopped at the spigot for water and decided to eat one of the sandwiches already that I was packing out.I forgot to say that I saw two deer yesterday and saw one today. I saw some of those orange newts today. The little red squirrels are gone and there are the bigger grey squirrels in this area.I hiked on to High Point Shelter and set up my tent in a flat spot for the night.
Date: 2003-09-28
From: High Point Shelter, NJ

To: Brink Rd Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 20.4

I got up to rain¢¦.it rained most of the night.I ate some Poptarts and then hiked up to the observation platform and had a look around the area before walking on to the Visitor¢s Center here in High Point State Park.I made a few phone calls from the outside payphone while I waited for the Visitor¢s Center to open. I left Phaedrus ¢02 a meesage, then the three guys from Alaska hiked in and had me take their picture together. They are flying back home to Alaska tomorrow.I ate lunch at Mashipagong Shelter, then walked on to Culver¢s Gap and bought a dozen cinnamon rolls from the bakery there. I packed those out for breakfast.I went next door to the pub and had a beer and some chicken wings and a hamburger while I watched a football game.I walked on to this shelter where I had a bear come up to my tent twice in the same night last year when I was here.I saw a bunch of turkeys yesterday and saw a few more today. I saw seven deer today and even had one scream at me.
Date: 2003-09-29
From: Brink Rd Shelter, NJ

To: Mohican Outdoor Center, NJ
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

It rained a little last night. It¢s a wet area down by Brink Rd Shelter anyway and was just that much wetter last night.I drank a Coke and had some cinnamon buns for breakfast. I had packed them in from Worthington¢s Bakery last night¢¦.very good!!I hiked on and saw just one deer early today, but none the rest of the day.I stopped by a water pump and ate an early lunch, then hiked on.I walked to Mohican Outdoor Center and had a couple Cokes while I let all the stuff from inside my pack dry out in front of the building.I got here at 2pm and waited on Hippie Longstockings to show up. She got here at 5:30pm.I had just started to head back to my tent site when she showed up. We cooked dinner together.The weather has finally turned cooler out¢¦.nice!! It¢s supposed to be 40 degrees in the morning.Today is my last full day in NJ on the Trail.
Date: 2003-09-30
From: Mohican Outdoor Center, NJ

To: Kirkridge Shelter, PA
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Hippie Longstockings got me up early and I had coffee and breakfast in my tent. It did get down to 40 degrees over night.   That felt great!!I did sleep just a little cold. I¢m thinking my old sleeping bag is just about worn out.We hiked past Sunfish Pond, then on to the border of NJ and PA where I got to say hello to Pamela again.We walked across the Interstate bridgeand on into Delaware Water Gap, PA. We headed straight for the Gap Diner and had a good breakfast.I walked across the street to the outfitter and got a new hip belt buckle for my backpack. My old one keeps unsnapping itself.   I also bought a new bandana.We re-supplied for a couple days, had some hotdogs and apple pie, then packed out a couple beers for later. We hiked up to the top of the first mountain and sat down and drank one of the beers, then hiked on to Kirkridge Shelter. I had a great day hiking with the cooler temperature. It felt great!!I set up my tent in a nice flat spot for the night.I saw a few turkeys today.I¢m in PA!! Seven states done and seven to go.
Date: 2003-10-01
From: Kirkridge Shelter, PA

To: Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 31.2

Hippie Longstockings hiked over thirty miles today for her first time ever and I went along for the ride.We got up early¢¦about 5am and ate breakfast and had coffee. It was still dark out when we started walking at 6:10am. We walked with our headlamps on till it got light out. We saw two deer early and ended up seeing six deer altogether today.We took a break at Wind Gap, then hiked on to Leroy A Smith Shelter and ate lunch.We were walking on rocks the whole day. Hippie could get her little feet in between most of them, but I walked on top of those pointy little buggers. I consider this section of the AT as having the worst rocks on the whole Trail.I lost my FroggTogg rain jacket somewhere today. I had it draped over my backpack for protection from the morning rain and at some point it went missing.We hiked on down to Lehigh Gap¢¦descending down the steep rocky face. We hitched a ride into Palmerton and flagged down a cop to let us in the Jailhouse Hostel.The cops are extremely friendly here in Palmerton¢¦.in fact, all the people I¢ve met here are extremely friendly.Hippie and I had Chinese food to celebrate her big miles day.
Date: 2003-10-02
From: Palmerton, PA

To: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter, PA
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up early, took a shower in the gymnasium showers, then walked across the street and had breakfast at Bert¢s Diner.I resupplied at the IGA, then went to the library and used the computer there to check email.. Jan Liteshoe emailed me¢¦she was finished with here nobo thru hike.When Hippie got up, we walked across the street to Bert¢s and I had my second breakfast..We bought some socks at a local store, then hitched a ride back to the trailhead.We climbed out of Lehigh Gap and stopped at Bake Oven Knob Shelter for lunch.We hiked on to RT 309 and stopped at the pub there and had a couple beers and sandwiches.We walked on to Allentown Hiking Club Shelter where I found a flat spot and set up my tent for the night.There¢s a guy in the shelter with large pegs stuck through piercing in his ears and he¢s covered with tattoos. Guess he likes to be ¢noticed¢.
Date: 2003-10-03
From: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter, PA

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter, PA
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

I woke up and ate a Poptart for breakfast.I woke Hippie up and told her I¢d meet her at Hawk Mountain Rd later on. She was picking up her truck today.Hippie was already at Hawk Mountain Rd when I got there. She took me to Port Clinton and we ate breakfast at 3C¢s Restaurant.We went to the PO next and I got my bounce box and some other mail waiting on me. We went to the outfitter and I got a new bottom piece for my Leki hiking pole that I had bent. I also bought a new FroggTogg rain jacket, since I had lost my other one north of Palmerton.I mailed my bounce box to ATC headquarters in Harpers Ferry, WV, then Hippie dropped me off back at the trailhead. She had to head back home and get back to work.I hiked up to a nice spring called Cold Spring and got cold water, then hiked up to The Pinnacle and ate lunch.I saw a four foot rattlesnake shortly after I left there. I kept walking¢¦passing by Pulpit Rock and on to Windsor Furnace Shelter where I found a flat spot and set up my tent for the night.