morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-06-22
From: Nuclear Lake

To: Campsite
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I slept in late again 8:30 am. I was walking by 9 am. It looked like it was going to be a nice day but within an hour clouds moved in and rained on and off for about 2 hours. The rain didnt do much except make it more humid. Ft and I took a quick break at telephone pioneers shelter then moved on to MY 22 so we could go to tony's deli. A gatorade, mountain dew and some ice cream and a good hour break was what I needed. There is a train station that the trail crosses. We had talked about going in to NY city but we decided against it. Too much money would be involved in that side trip. Later on at the wiley shelter I met bamboo bob a thru hiker from 2002. We chatted a while then FT and I moved on so we could put our 9th state down. That's right, we crossed the Ct border today. What a good feeling to have 9 states done and 5 to go. CT trail looks to be well maintained so far. FT and I hit another store for dinner. I had an Italian sub, chips, and a mountain dew. We moved on and camped about a half mile past bulls bridge. We fell about 4 miles short of the goal today and thats because we took too long of abreaks but oh well. We only have 8 miles to do to kent tomorrow so it will be an easy day.
Date: 2005-06-23
From: Campsite

To: Stewart Hollow 
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: clear sky

FT and I slept in late again so we would not make it to town until afternoon. The morning started out with a 1000 foot climb up Schaghticoke Mtn. Once we were up over that we took a quick break at a shelter then went on into Kent, CT. First thing we did was eat then we went to the post office and then we went to the supermarket to resupply. Since you cant get a place to stay in Kent for less than $90, we decided we were going to try to make the next shelter which was 7 miles away. We spent a total of four hours in Kent. We found people were not very talkative to hikers and Ken is another northern city that does not give free soda refills. We got to the shelter at 8:30 pm. I ate a fewe snacks and I am going to bed. I should add the laundry mat in Kent has closed. I'll be washing my clothes in a stream tonight. I also have to thank spoonie for sending FT and I beef jerkey. I have to thank my mom also for the goodies in my mail drop.
Date: 2005-06-24
From: Stewart Hollow

To: Better's Campsite
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

It's getting worse. I slept in until 9:30 am this morning. I just can't get up in the morning. FT was redy to go before I even ate breakfast. I left camp at 10 am and was sweating like a beast by 10:15. I knew it was going to be a hot day. I caught up to FT in a few hours where he was taking a break. We both sat around for a bit and discussed how these mountains were touch. So we moved on, took a late lunch at Pine Swamp Shelter which was 10 miles away. For the day we decided we had to do at least five more miles. We arrived at the campsite around 6:30 pm. We were both exhausted. There was so much up and down today. I haven't felt this beat up by a few mountains since Georgia. The middle states WV, PA, NJ and MD made me soft. But it feels good to be hiking through mountains again. I am enjoying myself more then I did in the last two weeks. I am not sure why but NY was a very tough state for me mentally. It is supposed to hit 95 degrees tomorrow so I don't expect to get a lot of miles done. I am going to keep my eyes peeled for a swimming hole.
Date: 2005-06-25
From: Belters Campsite

To: Platen Campsite
Miles today: 11.4

FT and I slept in a little but were hiking by 8:30 am. We came across two dogs but they woudln't let you get near them to look at their collars. We took a quick break at the great falls but there was liter and graffiti so it wasn't appealing. It was a very hot day. Going up Mt. Prospect was torture. We heard it was supposed to hit 98 degrees today. When we got to US 44 we decided to go into the town of Salisbury, CT for food and a/c. We ended up eating and relaxing outside the grocery store for four hours and at 7 pm we hiked a mile and a half to a campsite where I had a beer and a sandwich I carried out of town. I am so full from all the eating I did this afternoon my stomach actually hurts. It is supposed to be another 95 plus degree day tomorrow so i am going to try an dget an early start.
Date: 2005-06-26
From: Plateau Campsite

To: Glen Brook Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: few clouds

What a hot day this morning. I started the day with a mountain dew so I had caffeine in me for the first climb which was lion's head (not much of a view). FT and I took a quick break at Brassie Brook shelter then headed up bear mountain. what a climb in this heat. I was almost to the top when I started to feel sick and dizzy so I had to find some shade and rest. After about 15 minutes we were moving again. We reached the top in a few minutes and there were at least 15 people up there on day hikes. Everyone wanted to talk to us about our hike. FT and I took a long lunch breat at Sages ravine, a very nice brook and the water was nice and cold. The next climb was up race mountain. The climb wasn't all that bad but the sun on the open face rocks made it feel like your skin was burning and there was no place to hide. We had one more clumb up mt. everett as we were taking a break by a side trail. A trail angel came by with some Powerades. He was a former thru hiker from 2003. So I have to thank Circus for the much needed liquid. We headed on up and chatted with circus and a section hiker named Terrapin for about an hour on the top. FT, Terrapin and I headed to glen brook shelter for the night. I set my tarp tent in the shelter tonight because the bugs are so bad. There is a youch group tending here tonight also. There are at least 20 kids around. Another thru hiker came in tonight. His name is Chairman. He said he has been on FT and my trails for a while. Seven days with now shower or laundry, man I stink.
Date: 2005-06-27
From: Glen Brook Shelter

To: Great Barrington
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: few clouds

FT and I decided we needed a short day followed by a day off. So when we reached MA 41 we decided to hitch into Great Barrington. It took us three hitches but we made it to the motel by noon. We have gone 21 days without a day off, it will do us good. I got my laundry and resupplying done today so I can have a day off and not have to worry about getting anything done.
Date: 2005-06-30
From: MA 41/Great Barrington

To: Mt. Wilcox
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: broken clouds

The owner of the hotel drove us back to the trail and we were hiking by 8:30 am. I am not sure what happened in the first four miles but all I remember was running for my life. We started walking and we were attacked by a swarm of mosquitos. You could swat to kill one and end up killing three. I believe we were very close to the main breeding grounds for every mosquito that has been in the north. Once we crossed the Itousatonic river and started to gain some elevation the mosquitos let off some but they still made their presence felt. After two and a half days off it felt good to be back on the trail so the climb did not seem too hard. FT and I took a lunch break at Tom Leonard shelter and I took the opportunity to dig out my deet bug spray. Deet worked pretty good but the mosquitos still got bites in now and then. In a few miles we were crossing Blue Hill road and a guy pulled over and asked if we needed a ride to town. He offered to wait around and drive us back since we just came from down we declined. What a mistake. 15 seconds after he drove away it just all out poured on us. It only rained for about 30 minutes but we were soaked. FT and I took a quick break at Mt. Wilcox south lean to but the water source was non existent so we went to the north lean to two more miles away. A guy and girl from FL are here tonight also, they are just out for a week and did not bring a tent or bug spray. They are getting eaten alive tonight. I have set up my tarp in the shelter to protect me from the bugs. FT set up his tent in the shelter also. The days off did me good.
Date: 2005-07-01
From: Mt. Wilcox North Lean To

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The couple from FL were up and moving at 6 am. They said that they did not get any sleep because they fought mosquitos all night. I fell back asleep and didnt wake up until 9 am and didnt get hiking until 10 am. FT and I went about a mile off the trail to the town of Tyringham to use the post office. I wanted to send a book home and he had letters to send off. We went over to cobble view bed and breakfast and bought some sodas. They let us take a nice long break in their yard and we put out some wet clothes to dry. We moved on to upper goose pond cabin and decided to stay because it is supposed to storm tonight. There are two small lakes here and FT and I took a canoe out on the lakes for about an hour. FT and I bought a chess set at the dollar store in Great Barrington. We played a few games, I won. There are six section hikers here tonight with FT and I . July 1st is my four month anniversary out here. I have about seven weeks left.
Date: 2005-07-02
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Dalton
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Everyone was up early. FT woke me up at 6 am. Nancy the caretaker made pancakes for everyone. After breakfast FT and I were off o our earliest start in a while. It felt good to have twelve miles done by noon. When we crossed Pittsfield road two things happened. First we met a thru hiker named Num-Tum doing some trail magic on her zero day. We scored some cokes. Second we found a sign saying if you need a place to stay in Dalton, MA go see Rob at the Shell station. So FT and I took a small break and had some lunch and soldas and hiked the last 8 miles into Dalton. FT and I headed straight to the Shell station and met Rob. He gave us a map to his house and told us to make ourselves at home. He had to work till 9 pm and he woudl see us then. Rob opens his house to hikers every year and has been doing so for the last five years. He does your laundry, you can use his phone, take showers and stay as many nights as you wawnt and its all free. FT and I got cleaned up and went to the store to grab some dinner and beer. We got back, watched a movie and when Rob got home we chatted with him a bit then the sack.
Date: 2005-07-03
From: Dalton

To: Mt. Greylock
Miles today: 17.0

Rob said he would slack pack us today so we left the house at 8:30 am and headed up to Mt. Greylock where FT and I would start and hike back to his house. Mt. Greylock is the highest mountain we have been on since Virginia at 3491 feet. As we headed down the mountain we ran into a lot of day hikers. We also ran into ElHeffe, Frenchie, and Flip. We havent seen those guys in a few weeks. It took us forever to walk the seven miles down to Cheshire with talking to everyone. Once we got in town we ate lunch and took about a 30 minute break. We had ten miles to go in four hours so FT could get to church for the 6 pm mass. Neeless to say, we met a day hiker and he told us there was a mall with an Outfitter a mile to the right. Once we reached the road called gulf and since we didnt think we would make it in time for FT to go to church we walked down to the mall. At the Outfitter I bought bug spray and FT bought a new water filter. then I went to the bookstore for a new book and of course FT went to the food court. We had some Taco Bell then started walking the last two miles back to the bird cage. That is what everyone calls Rob's house. We arrived about 7 pm and there was almost a full house. 3 section hikers called The Hombre's and five thru hikers Num-Tum, Hiku, Neighbor and two other ladies there names escape me. I had a few beers, some people played the guitar and I went to bed around 1 am.
Date: 2005-07-04
From: Mt. Greylock

To: Sherman Brook campsite
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: clear sky

I awoke at 7:30 am and everyone was gone except FT and the three section hikers. We took a late morning out. Rob drove us by McDonalds then up to Mt. Greylock and we got started around 11 am. I have to thank Rob for the hospitality and all he does for hikers. It is July 4th so FT and I went out to lunch after only hiking six miles. We walked into the town of North Adams and we went to a place called Friendly's. I had a steak sandwich, salad, fries and a chocloate sunday. We sat around for a bit then walked over to price choppev super market and read the newspaper. FT fell asleep sitting up against the wall. Neither of us felt like hiking so we decided to hike two more miles to a campsite and call it a day. I am so mad at myself. while setting up my tent I got caught on a branch and I riped a hole in the bug netting. I put some duck tape over it so I hope that it holds and doesn't rip anymore. FT and I might go in another town tomorrow. FT's knee is giving him a problem. He might go see a doctor if it doesnt feel better tomorrow. It's 9 pm and fireworks are going off. I am dead tired so I am going to sleep.
Date: 2005-07-05
From: Sherman Brook campsite

To: Bennington 
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: few clouds

FT and I left camp early. We wanted to get to the Vermont border. The border was 2.5 miles and we made it in about an hour but there was no welcome to Vermont sign just a sign for south bounders saying welcome to Mass. We met a woman who called herself Tortus. She was just starting the long trail. We walked with her for a while and she gave us directions to her house and told us we could stay there when we got to Manchester if we needed to. The hiking today was slow going. It is very muddy and FT's knee is really bothering him. He has made the decision to go have it checked out when we get to Bennington. We skipped the first shelter because it was a 3 miles off the trail. I am sitting on the congdan shelter waiting for FT. I saw my first southbound thru hiker today. He didnt say his name just that he was a sobo. Later that evening...We just got back from the hospital and it wasn't good news for FT. The doctor told him he has to stop hiking for 6 to 8 weeks. So he has decided to go home. It is weird because one year ago today I made the decision to go home from the trail because of an injury. I am going to take a zero day tommorw hand out with him and return to the trail thursday.
Date: 2005-07-07
From: Bennington

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up around 8 am said my goodbyes to FT. The hotel owner took a picture of us before he drove me back to the trail. I started hiking at 9:30 am. It was a good two mile climb up from the road to the first shelter. I was reading the shelter register and a thru hikder named English Bob showed up. I havent seen him since hot springs. The trail is really muddy. Sometimes the mud wants to suck your boot off. I listen to music most of the day so I had a good pace going and I had 19 miles done by 5 pm. I was thiking of going on after i ate dinner but it is supposed to rain tonight. So I will have 21 miles to do tomorrow so I can make the post office. It's still light out and I am goin g to bed. The shelter is full tonight Biscuit, English Bob, Ray, myself and a sobo named Beebe.
Date: 2005-07-08
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Manchester Center US11
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: moderate rain

Wow was I up early today. I was eating breakfast by 6:30 am. I left at 7 am and I was the last one out of camp. It didnt rain last night but by 8 am it started to sprinkle. My only big climb today was Stratton Mtn at 3936 feet. When I got to the top it was raining pretty good so there was n oview. I talked to the caretaker of the stratton pond area for about 15 minutes then I had to move on because I was wet and getting cold. I passed a lot of people today. I felt like I was running but I did make the road UT 11 by 3:30 pm. It took me 30 minutes to get a hitch to the post office. I looked like a drowned rat I am sure. I was soaked to the bone. The town of Manchester is small but it has a lot of outlet shopping. So after the post office I went to the Outfitter for fuel and the supermarket for some food. I had to still decide what I was going to do tonight: go back to the trail or take Tortus up on her offer and try to hitch 7 more miles to their place. Finding some other hikers in town who were also invited to Tortus' home for a free night stay, I decided I would eat at Friendly's then hitch out there. The hitch out of town was easy but she wasn't going that far so she dropped me off by the trail. I stood in the rain for 50 minutes trying to hitch the rest of the way. Just when I was about to give up and just go back to the trail and hike two miles to a shelter I got picked up. Two other thru hikers were in the car also, Flip and Geranamo. I am so thankful Tortus invited me. I was soaking wet and needed to do laundry. Hiku and Dr. Chickadee showed up also and we watched some movies.
Date: 2005-07-09
From: Manchester Center/US11

To: Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: light rain

What a great morning. I was up at 7:30 am and made eggs and toast and I was nice and dry. That was the best part of the day. Tortus dropped Hiku, Dr. Chickadee and me off at 9:30 am and it was raining. So much for being dry. It drizzled till about lunch time then it just poured the rest of the day. So ten of the sixteen miles I did today was in pouring down rain. I fell twice, once was into a mud puddle. but I made it to the shelter. got out of my soaking wet clothes that smelled like my backpack now. Tonight we have Choo Choo, Heather, Kate and myself.
Date: 2005-07-15
From: Hanover, NH

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

I left Hanover this morning early and hiked most of the day by myself. I had lunch with Dr. chikadee and her friend mike at Moose mtn shelter. Little up's and down's the rest of the day with slightly good views, mostly over cast though. At the shelter tonight Dr, chikadee, Mike, Hiku and myself. Liptons for dinner and hiku playing his guitar till bed time.
Date: 2005-07-16
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

Not a bad day really, just a little warm. I was the first to leave the shelter so I had the job of clearing spider webs and shaking the dew off the leaves. I had lunch at the firewarden's cabin with 2 southbound section hikers. I climbed the fire tower but it was cloudy so no views. Same crew as last night at the shelter tonight with more liptons for dinner and some more hiku guitar playing. Using my tent in the shelter because the bugs are eating me.
Date: 2005-07-19
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 15.0

I was one of the last to leave, the hike down Moosilauke was very steep. There is a stream that is basically a waterfall all the way down to the raod. I had lunch at Eliza brook shelter with neighbor and chickity. South and North Kinsman mountain was a killer, a very steep climb. It started thundering when I was on North Kinsaman. It rained on hard on me for the next hour or so then it drizzled for the rest of the day.I stopped at Lonesome lake hut where they were putting up hikers because of the rain. I didnt have to do any work for sstay but there was no extra food either, it was good to get dry.
Date: 2005-07-20
From: Lonesome Lake Hut

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 2.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Got into town to resupply and do some laundry rather early. I finally got a hold of Pokey pebbles that I met on the AT in 04. She is so noce she took me out for pizza and let me stay at her place a few miles out of town.
Date: 2005-02-09
To: Preparation #1
Miles today: 0.0

This hike began more than thirty years ago when I graduated from college. One of my roommates walked from North to South, and invited me along, but I declined in order to get a job. I have always regretted that missed opportunity, and have always hoped someday to have the chance again. Now that my children are grown and independent; one in graduate school and one finishing up college, the opportunity has come again, a dream come true, I hope. I have not been a particularly athletic or physically fit person for many years, but the last few years I have pursued my love of hiking and worked hard to build my strength in order to give myself a chance this summer. This past summer I spent a week on the southern section of the Long Trail/AT as a trial run, and it went pretty well. I covered 90 miles, but, boy was I tired at the end of the week! It also rained the whole week, which I figure was good practice. I learned what socks that stay wet for a week smell like, for example. (really, really awful!)I am considered an ultralight hiker ( base weight without food or water currently around 10 lbs., but I'm still working to lower it). My decision to hike light is really pragmatic. I know I will never make it if I have to carry 30 or 40 pounds. Once I got started looking at ultra light gear, however, I have to confess to becoming somewhat of a gear freak. The stuff is just so much fun! I'm pretty happy with most of my gear now, and will list it later if people are interested. I'm a big fan of Golite.I am hiking solo partly because I look forward to some time alone on the trail, but mostly because I don't have anyone who can take the time off to go with me. All my hiking partners have commitments elsewhere, or are lacking in enthusiasm for a long trip. My husband, Allen, will walk most of Georgia with me to get me started off right, but he has a business to run, and has expressed "enormous relief" that he doesn't have to walk with me all summer. He is happy, I think, to be in a support role.Enough for now! Next time I will try to explain the inexplicable; why I want to do this.
Date: 2005-02-14
To: Preparation #2
Miles today: 0.0

The other day I was walking along the road near my house with a full pack, trying to put in a quick 4 miles with some weight on my back, when I passed a horse and rider.( My town has lots of horses!) We said "Hello" and "Nice day", but when she passed me she saw the pack and turned around in the saddle and said, "You look like you are running away from home!" I laughed and said, "No, I'm practicing running away from home."It made me think again, 'though, about why I am doing this. Maybe a little bit of it is running away, sort of like when you are a kid and pack up a peanut butter sandwich and your favorite toy and set off to leave home. It is that kind of adventure. More than that, I think have always suffered from wanderlust, the desire to go over the next hill, around the corner or away from the road. I love the physical activity of hiking and the opportunity to be outside, but the best part is going new places and seeing something new and interesting in the world. I have never left a trail because I was tired of the trail. I have quit because I ran out of time or stamina, but not interest. I don't know, of course. Five months make exceed my attention span!Once a friend of mine gave me a box of really good chocolate (which I love!) for my birthday. The real gift,'though, was that when I unwrapped it she told me I didn't have to share it with anyone. I can't tell you how much pleasure I got from knowing that I could savor each different chocolate at leisure. Half the pleasure was in choosing each time and anticipating the tastes to come. Some were delicious and some were...interesting, but they were all satisfying. That's the way I feel about walking the AT, a huge box of choices and experiences all to be savored one at a time. 163 mountains, I think I read! 2174 miles. All those trail towns, and people and millions of trees and plants and rocks and animals.I am not unhappy in my life or particularly in a state of change, although the plans to walk the trail have made many changes in my life already. I'm not looking for an answer to a problem in my life or trying to solve something by walking the trail. I am looking forward to another adventure. So that is my best explanation for why I want to do this!