morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-19
From: stealth campsite at mile 1444.8

To: Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 15.2

I was the 1st one out of camp at 7:20 today. I Believe, No Name and Salty Hat were only minutes behind and caught up to me when I stopped for a break. As I hiked I worked on a plan for resupply and a visit from Houdini. No name, Salty Hat and I are low on food. I use that term loosely as our most recent resupplies have been at gas stations, convenience stores and a small market on the trail. You can survive on that food over the short run, but we haven't been to a large grocery store for a decent resupply in a week. No Name and Salty Hat were going to take a .8 mile walk to town tomorrow and resupply, do stealth laundry (since the laundromat in town states hikers not welcome) and go to the outfitter. That is a lot of running around without a car, time consuming, and extra miles on foot.I talked to Houdini and he is now going to come Monday midday, we'll nero, do errands in the afternoon by CAR, and be back on the trail Tuesday. I'll stay overnight in a hotel with Houdini, No Name and Salty Hat will go back in the woods, and I Believe is going to stay at Bearded Woods hostel. There are always options and it just takes coordination to figure out how we can best help each other, fulfill differing needs and preferences and stay together as a hiking foursome. With our resupply at a grocery store now Monday, we needed one more convenience store stop to get us through until then, so off the trail we went this afternoon. We had a really good lunch at the Bull Bridge Inn Restaurant, then went next door to the Country Market convenience store. Our final miles in NY today were gentle on the body for the most part. We stopped at the state line for photos and to celebrate another state down as we entered CT! I lived in CT for 18 years, so this state is another coming home for me. We passed quite a few day hikers walking along a stretch of the the AT on the banks of Housatonic River. We always notice and comment to each other how clean smelling day hikers are. When you're clean yourself, you don't notice it, but when you're a stinky hiker, the contrast is striking. The 4 of us use deodorant, but even after a shower and putting on clean clothes, as soon as we put our packs on, we smell. The backpacks are permeated with sweat and I'm sure are growing bacteria which is the more offensive smell. It's just nasty. We're tenting tonight next to a roaring brook. I washed the dirt off my legs and soaked my feet in the water. It was as good as ice on my feet, and soap and water have it all over wet wipes for getting off the top layer of dirt. Now if I only didn't have to sleep in this damp, cramped mummy bag. Oh well, at least I'm horizontal until I do it all again tomorrow. Finally, thanks for the encouraging words from those of you that signed my guest book yesterday, after the down day I had the day before. It helps keep me going.
Date: 2014-07-20
From: Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite

To: Caesar Brook Campsite
Miles today: 16.9

I hiked alone all day today. I Believe left camp this morning before 6:00 to get her miles in so she could get picked up by the hostel shuttle and have some time to relax at the end of her hiking day. She has decided to spend 2 nights at Bearded Woods to take advantage of the slack packing service they offer. I was on the trail at 6:40, knowing that it was going to be a long day of multiple ups and downs. No Name and Salty Hat left camp at 7:30 and never caught up with me. They were exhausted and very hungry when they got to camp tonight. They can't buy enough calories at convenience stores to sustain themselves when they hike long miles. The trail had everything today. There were gentle and steep ascents, several steep descents, including a very steep boulder scramble down St John's Ledges, a creek to ford in my crocs, and an almost 5 mile flat walk along the Housatonic River. I passed numerous streams with clear, sparkling water, a welcome change after the recent dearth of water sources. Being by myself, I stopped often and whenever I wanted. Usually it's a group decision. I got to the campsite at 5:30. Caesar Brooks is a great campsite, with many tenting areas, a privy, and a stream. I was by myself until No Name, Salty Hat, and Geo came in together after 6:00. After surveying their meager food bags, they concluded they didn't have enough food to get them through a 9 mile hike tomorrow for our rendezvous with Houdini even after yesterday's resupply. They are going to hike 2 miles and go into town and EAT! I will hike the 9 miles and Houdini will pick us all up at both places. Meanwhile, with I Believe slack packing today, she will be 3 miles ahead of me. So much for coordination and staying together. It just goes to prove that planning only gets you so far. There are too many variables, and ever changing situations. I enjoyed my solitude on the trail today, but at the same time missed my hiking compadres. They are a big part of why I'm doing so well mentally. We'll see what tomorrow beings...
Date: 2014-07-21
From: Caesar Brook Campsite

To: US Route 7
Miles today: 8.9

It is past hiker midnight and I am at the laundromat. Did I say something yesterday about making plans?I was up at 5:00 and out of camp at 6:10. I wanted to make sure I beat Houdini to our pick up point this morning. Between the slow traffic on the interstate and Houdini thinking he knew the way better then the GPS, I waited at the road for almost 2 hours. I sat on Rosie and chatted with a newbie section hiker and Waldo, the husband of Sherpa Mom. Waldo is following his wife, slacking and generally providing her support on her thru hike. He gave me a coke and I gave advice to the section hiker who is on her 2nd day carrying a 40 lb pack and hoping to reach Katahdin. Houdini arrived, I loaded my pack in the car and we headed to The Wandering Moose Cafe where No Name, Salty Hat, and Geo were waiting for us. They were exhausted from yesterday and didn't have the energy or the fuel to hike but 2 trail miles and then into town. They had breakfast at the cafe and were a sorry looking lot sitting on the benches outside the restaurant when we pulled up. Instead of town chores, we drove 20 minutes to Torrington to a walk in clinic. We stopped at Wendy's first for a late lunch, not knowing how long Salty Hat and Geo would have to wait to be seen. The bite on Geo's leg that we'd all noticed for a few days was worse, and today had a bullseye look to it. Salty Hat had a different rash and no energy even after eating. Needless to say, they were both diagnosed with Lyme Disease. From there we went to the pharmacy at Walmart, Price Chopper for resupply, and then dinner at a Mexican restaurant. We dropped them off at The Hitching Post Motel and Houdini and finally got to our room at the Cornwall Inn at 8:00.The Inn is lovely, but unfortunately, we're not staying long enough to enjoy it. I talked with I Believe, who is now ahead of me after my short day and her long day. I'm going to try to catch up to her tomorrow. No Name and Salty Hat are planning on hiking tomorrow and will go as far as Salty Hat's body will take him.I check for ticks everyday. In my little hiking group of 5, 3 of us have now had Lyme Disease (No Name was diagnosed in Harpers Ferry).
Date: 2014-07-22
From: US Route 7

To: Laurel Ridge campsite
Miles today: 18.4

I was up at 5:30. I took another shower because I could, even though it had only been 8 hrs since my last one. I organized my food and toiletries, and tossed my gear into my pack liner to free up Rosie for slacking since I didn't have my day pack. Breakfast at the Inn was from 8:30 to 10:00, too late for this hiker, so Houdini went to the local market and came back with breakfast sandwiches and coffee. We had a deck off our room and sat outside to eat. I love sitting on a porch on a summer morning drinking coffee. It was a mini respite and reminder of a normal life I will return to in a couple of months. Houdini was able to slack me 10 miles before heading back to Maine. He dropped me off at the trail at 8:30, and then went and fetched No Name and Salty Hat and drove them back to their starting point. Salty Hat is feeling well enough to hike. I hiked 10 miles in 4 hours and caught up with I Believe within .3 mile from where Houdini was waiting for me with lunch. Geo was with him. He's feeling better having started his antibiotics (no fever, but still a stiff neck and low energy). Coincidently, Geo already had plans to spend a night with a friend who lives in the area. The friend picked him up this afternoon, and Geo can stay with him until he's feeling strong enough to hike. Hopefully, he'll be back on the trail in a couple of days. I thought of you Geo, when I ate some red raspberries on the trail today. I made sure to leave some for you. After lunch with Houdini at the car, I said goodbye to him and headed back into the woods about 15 minutes after I Believe. Since she was a little ahead, and I had a long afternoon of hiking, I got out my iPod. I've only listened to music twice, and was very frustrated when the songs kept cutting off before the end, or repeating. I was about ready to shut it off when I saw two 20 something SOBO's. I asked them if they knew what might be wrong. The guy played with the settings for a couple of minutes and was able to get it to reset and it worked fine the rest of the day. I didn't get their names, but thanks so much for your help. I can survive for months in the woods, because it isn't high tech. It was a great day of hiking, and I Believe and I got to the campsite at 6;30. Owlbear is here and a group of about 25 teenage girls from a summer camp. It's good to see girls out here. I've seen lots of Boy Scout troops over the months, but only a few girl's groups. By the sound of them, they are having a good time. I suspect, I'll be ready to sleep before they are. Oh, and we crossed into MA and passed the 1,500 mile mark!!!!
Date: 2014-07-23
From: Laurel Ridge campsite

To: Jess Treat's (mile 1518.4)
Miles today: 14.2

It doesn't seem like it should have been such a tough day, but it was. I Believe and I were looking to do 19 miles, but were aware of a forecast of an increasing threat of thunderstorms beginning in the early afternoon through late evening. MA allows camping only in designated sites on the trail and that with the placement of shelters, did not give us many options for getting out of the rain if we needed too. We headed out of camp at 6:45, figuring we would just see how the day played out. We had 2 climbs this morning that weren't technical, but were cardio workouts, followed by a long and tedious descent down Bushman Mountain. It seemed like it took forever to do 4 miles. We both were tired, and stopped for an early lunch to see if that would give us a jump start for the afternoon. Meanwhile, Jimmy was trying to find options for us (from TN no less) because of the thunderstorm threat and had been talking to Jess, who is listed in Awol's Guide, and puts up hikers. By afternoon the temperature reached 91 degrees and the sun was hot, but there was no sign of rain. The terrain leveled out, but the mosquitoes were out in full force as we walked through swamps and over stagnant creek water. In the morning the sun beat down on us as we hiked over exposed ridges, and in the afternoon as we walked through fields. We stopped for water twice to stay hydrated, but were just zapped of energy. It was obvious early that we were not going to be able to do 19 miles, so we decided to go ahead and book a room at Jess Treat's. I Believe and I are sharing a room in her home. Jess picked us up, stopped at the convenience store so we could get cold drinks and ice cream, will feed us breakfast in the morning and take us back to the trail. Coming here tonight ended up being more about the heat than rain, but I am very glad to be here. I am sitting on the screened in porch this evening, listening to and watching the thunderstorm pass through. I am showered and got all the sweat, dirt, bug repellent, blood from the swatted mosquitoes, and sunblock off my body. I get to sleep in a bed and not have to pack up and carry a wet tent tomorrow. After breakfast tomorrow, I'll be right back at it though. Goodnight.
Date: 2014-07-24
From: Jess Treat's (mile 1518.4)

To: Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 16.3

Today was a new day and a much better one. Jess had breakfast ready at 7:00. She made delicious blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup. With them I had coffee, yogurt with more blueberries,and cantaloupe. Our stay rejuvenated me after yesterday's tough day. All it took was a shower, a bed, a roof over my head when it rained, and a real breakfast. Jess then drove I Believe and me back to the trail and we were hiking just after 8:00. The temperature was at least 10 degrees cooler than yesterday and we were back in the woods, not out in the sun. Instead of heat, we dealt with mud and more mosquitoes. I use bug repellent sparingly, since I don't like it, especially when I can't wash it off at night, so I started the day without it. Immediately after entering the woods, the mosquitoes started to bite. I didn't want to stop, so I just swatted them for the 1st 2 miles until I came to a road crossing. Sawyer makes a premium maxi deet in a small spray pump bottle about the size of a kid's magic marker. It works well. No Name said he had some and it leaked through a plastic zip lock bag. I haven't had that problem, but I sure don't like the idea that what I'm putting on my skin eats through plastic. It's the best of 2 evils, however. I couldn't hike 10 hrs a day without it. I wouldn't have any blood left. Mud was plentiful today especially after last night's rain. Some bogs on the trail have single or double wood plank foot bridges over them, but mostly it's a game of hopping from one rock or root to the next trying to avoid sinking your whole shoe into the mud. It slows you down.I didn't fall today, but my fall count is up to 17. The latest culprit was a wet, slimy moss covered rock. I Believe was the fall victim today and it was a good one. Fortunately, she wasn't hurt and we laughed over it, but she slipped on a root and tumbled down a few feet over an embankment, landing jack knifed over a branch on her head with her pack pinning her down. I was behind her maybe 10 yards and heard the sound of breaking branches, then saw she was upside down off the trail. She told me she was okay, but it took a minute for me to unbuckle her pack, and right her body so she could get up. Often I hike in front of I Believe or we hike out of each other's line of sight, but today I was hiking right behind her. It was our excitement for the day and Jimmy, she is fine. I Believe and I are between hiking bubbles, and did not see one NOBO today. We are the only ones at the campsite tonight, not counting the mosquitoes. We set up our tents in record time and got right in them. It is the only mosquito free zone in the woods. Tomorrow we are looking forward to a short hiking day, so we can stay at the Goose Pond Cabin, a shelter with a porch. bunks with mattresses, and a pond with swimming and canoeing. I'll be content sitting on the porch and soaking my tired feet in the pond.Caroline, I saw a scarlet tanager today!
Date: 2014-07-25
From: Shaker Campsite

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

I Believe and I were packed up and on the trail at 7:30. I was excited about a short 10 mile day to Goose Pond Cabin, knowing that I didn't have to push so hard, and would have time in the afternoon to relax. The trail was interesting today with a lot of variety. There were boardwalks over swamps, rocks, soft pine needles, one almost 1,000 ft climb, gently sloping ups and downs, and more mud. The mosquitoes were much less bothersome today. It was only when we stopped for breaks or to get water that they started to bite. If I kept moving I was fine. We stopped to have lunch in a gravel AT parking lot out in the open to avoid the mosquitoes, and were joined by black ants instead (at least that is better than the biting red ones).We got to the cabin at 2:00 in the afternoon and met Bob, this week's caretaker and his friend Joel. There are 18 bunks upstairs and I picked one by a window overlooking the pond. I set up my sleeping bag on a plush 4 inch mattress. I Believe and I sat in rocking chairs on the porch and then went down to the dock and soaked our feet and washed the dirt off our legs in the pond (sans soap). We ate dinner out of our food bags, but sat at a real table with chairs. There is no electricity in the cabin, but there is a propane stove, refrigerator, and lanterns. Like yesterday, I Believe and I saw no other NOBO's on the trail today. Owlbear and Dad came in later in the day, and as I am writing from my bunk, I hear other hikers. I have not seen Dad in over 2 months. It is always fun to cross paths with hikers you haven't seen in a while and it still amazes me that you can end up at the same place 2 months later, and not have run into that person anywhere in the interim. How is that possible, yet it happens all the time?Tomorrow Houdini is coming. Our plan is to hike 10 miles, meet up with him and give him our packs, then slack pack another 10 miles into Dalton. We are taking a zero on Sunday. I am ready for a day off.
Date: 2014-07-29
From: Furnace Hill Road, Cheshire MA

To: Williamstown, MA
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Houdini and I left the motel this morning at 7:20 to pick up I Believe at St Mary's, and she and I were back on the trail by 8:00. Houdini stayed around for the day so he could slack pack us over Mount Greylock. After he dropped us off he went back to our motel to pack up the car and check out. We spent three nights at the Shamrock Village Inn and I highly recommend it. It is clean, very hiker friendly, and Laura, the owner went out of her way to be helpful and accommodating. Their coin operated laundry listed in Awol doesn't work, so Laura does your laundry for you, an even better deal. I was excited about hiking up Mount Greylock, the highest mountain in MA at an elevation of 3,491 feet. In my mind, it was going to be a big mountain which we haven't done since VA. It turned out to be a day like most we've had lately. It was a wet and muddy ascent and I was back to dodging both, though I'm not sure why I bothered, because my shoes were still wet from yesterday. The climb was gradual except for a short steeper push to the summit the last mile. It was not difficult and we made good time up and down slacking. The sun was in and out all day, but it was warm and sunny at the summit and we had great views of the surrounding mountains. We took off our shoes and socks to dry out our feet for a bit (they looked like prunes) before heading down the mountain. Owlbear, Cyclone, and Sherlock were at the summit when we got there, and we all hiked down together into town. Houdini was there to meet us. I Believe and I had planned to take our packs and head back into the woods, but couldn't resist an opportunity to share a motel room with Owlbear who was staying in Williamstown overnight. I said my goodbye to Houdini and he headed back to Maine. I'm staying at the Williamstown Motel tonight. My wet muddy shoes are outside, but I am inside, clean and sleeping in a bed. Today was a good day. Tomorrow I enter VT!
Date: 2014-07-30
From: Williamstown, MA

To: Harmon Hill campsite
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Today I was at peace with the trail, but I have to say root and rock hopping for much of the day to avoid the mud gets tedious and tests one's patience. It was wonderful to spend another night in a motel last night. Owlbear was insistent upon paying for our room as a thank you to I Believe and me for all our trail angel husbands, Jimmy and Houdini, have done for him. Thank you so much Owlbear. The Williamstown Motel was clean, comfortable, and hiker friendly. I opted to walk to Dunkin Donuts for coffee and breakfast early, but the motel does offer a continental breakfast beginning at 7:30. The owner shuttled us back to the trail for free and we were hiking at 8:45. The morning climb was pleasant and the trail much drier then it has been the last couple of days. There was plenty of mud as the day went on, however, and I worked hard trying to keep my shoes out of it as much as I could. My shoes were wet when I put them on this morning, but had actually started drying out as I walked, but alas the forces of nature ultimately prevailed. They are wet and muddy tonight. Quite a few SOBO's passed us today, but we didn't see any NOBO¢s. The excitement of the day was crossing into VT and passing the 1,600 mile mark! I may get to ME yet. Tonight I Believe and I are tenting on Harmon Hill in a grassy area amongst the raspberry bushes with a view of the valley and the sunset. The gnats have joined us.
Date: 2014-07-31
From: Harmon Hill campsite

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: broken clouds

Last night the crescent moon and the stars were bright and the lights from the town below were beautiful when I got up during the night. It was quiet and peaceful. This morning we packed up and I was on the trail at 7:00. I looked at the weather app on my phone and was flinching. There is rain in the forecast every day for the next five days. I tried to stay a step ahead of it all day. It started to rain lightly by 9:00. We had a steep descent over stone steps into and out of Bennington. I made it to the first shelter before the rain picked up. I Believe and I sat at the shelter for a while to wait out the rain and I chatted with Stitch, whom I haven't seen in probably three months. He spent 3 days in the hospital last week on IV antibiotics from an infected insect bite, likely a spider bite. The rain began to let up so I headed back onto the trail. It held off for several hours, but I kept hearing thunder in the distance. By 2:00 it was getter darker and looking more ominous, so I picked up my pace and got to the next shelter just as it started to rain again. It rained hard only for a few minutes, and then the sun came out. The forecast was for still more rain, and it was 4.3 miles to the next shelter. I am meeting First Gear, my niece who thru-hiked last year and is hiking The Long Trail, in Manchester Center on Saturday. I decided to push to the next shelter so I can make it to Manchester Center on time. It started to pour and the trail became a stream in places, and was covered in standing water in others. The drier mud was wet again as was I. My shoes haven't dried in several days. The rain stopped before I reached the shelter, but the wet rocks were treacherous. It only reached the low 70's today and I am wearing long sleeves to bed tonight for the first time in months. I am sleeping in the shelter with I Believe and Daryl. Tomorrow we climb Stratton Mountain.