morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-08-08
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-to

To: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 10.0

Rained most of the night, but it didn't break up the humidity. Another hot andhumid day with lots of steep climbing. Ten miles was all I could manage andThumper agreed...we'll do 12 tomorrow and then go in to Salisbury on Friday toresupply and get my bigger boots at the Post Office...but we will move on. Ourplan is to go into Great Barrington to spend the night on Sunday...there we'llget showers and laundry done. Clean bodies and clean clothes once a week isenough...cleanliness is over-rated! When I get to town and take a shower, Irarely take two...I'll feel too clean.Step lightly
Date: 2007-08-09
From: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to

To: Limestone Springs Lean-to
Miles today: 12.3

"The Common Man's Extreme Sport"...that's my definition of hiking theAppalachian Trail!I sure would have liked a good night's sleep last night...fell asleep before 8,but woke up 45 minutes later...then slept and awoke on and off til around 1 amwhen I finally went into a deep sleep...so of course, this morning I was verytired. Food! Today's hike went near a cafe and we partook. mmm good! I evengot a burger to go for dinner! Much easier hiking today because the humiditydropped, thank goodness...sure made the day go faster.Sad news today from E.Z. Duzit...he's off the trail for now because his back was killing him. He and Aaron only walked about 8 miles when he finally got on the trail (after getting the correct tent). Too much back pain to continue. So sorry to hear this, EZ...what's the Three Snoozes without one of the Snoozes? We're hoping you can find a quick cure for your back and get back out here! Join us whereever we are...fill in the missed miles later.On to Salisbury CT tomorrow for bigger shoes and resupply then on to anotherstate...M¢¬! During these last few days of high humidity, I had thoughts ofquitting. The hills were so hard to climb and I had no energy. Cooler weatheris coming so I'm hoping I feel stronger because I need to, otherwise I don'tknow how I'll finish.I'm so grateful for Thumper's companionship on this hike...it's made a world ofdifference for me. We don't hike together much during the day, but I catch upwhen he stops for a break and he keeps me moving forward when I want to quit. And I keep him fed because I rarely can finish my food, so it's a good workingrelationship.Last night some old friends showed up at the shelter: Mate, Genesis, Coach, andKimchi. I last saw them back in VA! They are going strong and still makingmusic every night. It was fun seeing them again!!! Handyman was part of thatgroup when I met him and they believe he's behind us a couple of days as he gotoff for a while to go see his son.There have been quite a few cases of Lyme's disease out here and Tony Tiger andSkip Battaglia (of Rochester) are both rumored to be off the trail due to Lyme. Another guy, Sweetwater, who's a doctor wrote himself a prescription when he thought he had it...and Stitch got bit on the hand and had to get antibiotics due to severe swelling. So far so good...some ticks on me but nosymptoms....hope it lasts! Step lightly
Date: 2007-08-10
From: Limestone Springs Lean-to

To: Riga Lean-to
Miles today: 7.5

I'm "soggy bread" today! Oh, did we get wet and cold!!! It started rainingduring the night, but had let up mostly by morning so we got packed up andheaded to Salisbury about 3.5 miles away. Quaint town with a bistro forbreakfast, a tasty grocer for resupply, and a post office with my new biggershoes. Why did we leave o hike into the rainy woods? We ran into Bum Bum a guyI met for the first time inPort Clinton PA and he managed to get a room to rentin a house across the street from the PO...when we saw him again after eating,he'd already been driven to the laundromat in the next town and had cleanclothes on. But we decided to hike on to the shelter to keep moving north andthe rain decided to keep coming down. And rain it did, so hard that rivwrs ofwater were pouring down the trail and where it was flat large swimming poolswere forming...and me in my new shoes...what a way to break them in!We managed to get to the shelter by 3:00, but by then we were soaked through and shivering. There was one other guy, Bill the Pony already in the shelter...and Candymancame in behind us. So 3 guys in the shelter and I'm soaked to the bone and need to change all my clothes...now there's a situation you don't run into everyday back in he real world. I asked them to let me change and all three politely turn their heads away until I'm changed...so simple.So now I'm tucked in my 50 degree bag with my long underwear on, my head stillsoaking wet, thin socks on, and shivering...can't quite get warm enough. What I wouldn't give now for a warm hat, a heavy fleece, mittens, and a 30 degreebag...ahhh, warmth! Hopefully a hot dinner of tortellini, sun-dried tomatoesinolive oil, and crusty bread will help to warm me up.Step lightly
Date: 2007-08-11
From: Riga Lean-to

To: Glen Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 10.1

A bit of a chilly night, but dinner warmed me up a bit. I did have to sleepwith my bag fully zipped and over my head to approximate a level ofwarmth...without the tent, it was much chillier than usual.What a view this morning though! The shelter faced east with a vista. Thehorizon was bright redat about 5:00 and brightened as the sun got higher in thesky...what a spectacular sunrise!Right now I'm sitting on the top of Bear Mtn (2354 ft....highest point in CT)drying my gear. It's a beautiful day, the sun's not too hot, and we only plan on going about 9 miles total...7.4 miles more today...so we are lying around, for a change, and it feels good not to be rushing.It's now 8 pm and I'm snuggled in my tent in the supine position (EZ'sfavorite!). What a challenging day...we went over three mountains: Bear Mtn,Race Mtn, and Mt. Everett...quite rocky climbs and descents, that's for sure.We're seeing a lot of southbounders these days...and they've taken two months to get here so we're feeling better about our pace to Katahdin...it's always on our mind...we have to keep moving, but we want to enjoy ourselves today...pushing for the miles is too stressful.Had a good supper tonight: burritos using a Lipton rice side and spicing it upwith red peppers and taco seasoning from my spice bag, canned chicken ('causethey didn't have the pkg stuff), and taco cheese, all rolled into atortilla...mmmm good. Finished off with pudding...a good way to get ourcalcium.Tomorrow we have to resupply again and then on to a hostel called East Moiuntain Retreat Center where we can shower and do laundry. That should hold us for another week!Step lightly
Date: 2007-08-12
From: Glen Brook Lean-to

To: Monutment Mountain Motel, Great Berrington, MA
Miles today: 7.9

Passed the 1500 mile mark today! I cannot fathom that I have walked 1500 milesthrough the mountains...it's just not conceivable, and I did it! Thumper and I decided town was a good idea today...we had originally thought wewould just resupply and hike on to a hostel 8 miles further...but then we knewwe were ready for a rest, if even for half a day...and laundry and shower, too! Besides, when we couldn't get a hitch, this place picked us up. We likehiker-friendly places!Pigged out at the grocery store, napped and watched movies this afternoon whileThumper did the wash, this is the life...so why am I hiking this darn trail? Ihaven't the foggiest idea, but I'm to close to quit now!Step lightly
Date: 2007-08-13
From: Monutment Mountain Motel, Great Berrington, MA

To: Mt. Wilcox Noth Lean-to
Miles today: 13.5

Mosquitoes! Vicious, blood-sucking mosquitoes! ( I don't think I'm spelling itright, but I don't even have a bottle of repellent to look at to find thecorrect spelling, so forgive me.) Ever try to hike, poling with one hand andswatting with the other, while ascending and descending slippery, wet rocks? Nothing like it! Keeps the adrenalin pumping. The wet rocks without themosquitoes does that, though...swatting just adds another element of interest! Thumper gave me some herbal repellent when we stopped for lunch, and I think ithelped. The higher I climb, the fewer the misquitos so I'm always glad to see aclimb ahead.Met a southbounder today named Two Step and she reminded us to enjoy the lastquarter of the hike because it's the most beautiful part. It's awful easy toget so focused on finishing that uyou forget to stop and smell the roses alongthe way. Thumper and I talk about that quite often. That's one reason we'redoing lower mileage days....and to rest our legs because we'd lost muchstrength, finding it harder and harder to climb. The rest seems to be helping.I got my larger boots, but now my problem is wetness. When my feet are wet allday (like they were today because it rained this morning and we had to hikethrough deep grass)...they prune up and become quite painful. The nerve endingsonthe toes. the balls, and the heels is numb and tingly to the point ofpain...the wetness exacerbates the situation. And I can't sit around in the sunanywhere long enough to get the insides of the shoes or the heavy socks dry...soagain tomorrow I'll be putting on wet shoes and socks in the morning. When thesun is up and warm tomorrow, I'll have to stop and get them dried out. I'mgetting concerned about the wetness I'll have to deal with in Maine where wehave to ford rivers. I don't know if I should look for boots that do a betterjob of staying dry...hhhmmm. Question to ponder.Breakfast - bagelbread, cream cheese, jamLunch - bagelbread, hummus with roasted eggplantDinner - southwestern chicken fillet with hummus and Fantastic tortilla soupwith taco cheese added...mmm good!Step lightly
Date: 2007-08-14
From: Mt. Wilcox Noth Lean-to

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

Good hiking day today...temps in the 80s (cooler under the canopy). Happy Feet, the toy penguin I got from the cheerios box while making gorp beforeI left, who has ridden on the back of my pack since I left Katahdin, jumped freeyesterday. He's jumped off many times before, trying to get away, but he'sbeen noticed and returned to his place on the pack. Well, he finallyaccomplished his breakaway...he's a free man...uh penguin...now. Lately he hadbeen jumping off daily...I guess he really needed to stay in lower New England,so I hope he's happy now...but I miss him!Tonight we're staying at a cabin\hostel with bunks upstairs (with mattresses!),a great front porch, a pond for swimming and canoeing, and pancakes forbreakfast! Fun place, nice people!Step lightly
Date: 2007-08-15
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kay Wood Lean-to
Miles today: 17.6

Waking up to the smell of coffee brewing was a delight this morning...I evendrank some even though it was caffeinated. And pancakes! But we were on thetrail by 8:00, 'cause we had over 17 miles to do today. And we did it, by 6:30! A good day.I've gotten into poison ivy on the inside of my knees. I think it spread fromone knee to the other when my knees rest together while sleeping. Boy does ititch!!! But I won't touch it - I don't want it to spread. Self control.I picked blueberries today at a U Pick farm. I never knew blueberries grew ontrees! High bush blueberries, they call them. We had them in our cheesecakepudding tonight!lunch - tomato basil seasoned tuna on bagelbread with mayo andmustard...mmmgood!dinner - coucous, chicken soup, salmon packet...ok; blueberries in cheesecakepudding...mmmgood!Sheltering with our first group of southbounders tonight...gave us some goodtips on places to stay up ahead. Also gave us the lowdown on the Whites and thehuts. Should be interesting how that all works out for us. Hard to plan onwhere we'll be each night. Also, very expensive. Maybe we will do "work forstay". I felt strong today for most of the day. Glad to have my hiking legs back! Tomorrow 3 miles in to Dalton for breakfast. Get lunch to go. Then on toCheshire to pick up boxes at PO and spend the night at a church hostel. We hopeto meet up with Mr. Talker Man (the name given to him by his young grandsonright before he, as Justice of the Peace, married a couple) and Bum Bum fordinner. (I have to find out how Bum Bum got his name.) Should be a fun day, sooff to sleep.Oh, yea, I did want to comment on how depressing it is to hike down into thewoods every night and lose the sunlight so early. The shelters are always deepin the woods and I don't get to enjoy the evening sun...haven't seen it much inforever! And I sure do miss it. Haven't seen any places to camp in theclearings, but I think I need to some time soon.Step lightly
Date: 2007-08-16
From: Kay Wood Lean-to

To: St. Mary's Church, Chesire, MA
Miles today: 12.3

Spent last night in a shelter, but I'm not sure why...so we wouldn't have to putup and take down or tents, I guess...but that was a mistake. First, themosquitoes, though few, were troublesome; then the wood was hard; and the micewere noisy as they tried to chew into my pack. None of these problems occur inmy tent...what was I thinking?But we knew we had only 3 miles into Dalton and breakfast...got there in onehour! Bunch of the young guys were there. It was good seeing them again, likeCandyman, Snakecharmer, White Crow to name a few. We only get to see thembecause they take a few days off when they get to town, unlike us who will notdo another zero day until this hike is over (unless forced by bad weather).I called the PO and found that my bounce box was here and not in Cheshire, thenext town up. Candyman said he had slacked south from Cheshire and was gettinga ride back there, so I asked him if he would take my box up there to the churchhostel for me. Yup, he would. Now I just had to go the half mile down to thePO to get it and get it back to him. "Yogi" a ride...asked a woman leaving therestaurant if she was going that way and sure enough she was. Thumper said he'dwait at the restaurant with our packs. Get there, got the the box, and now Ineed to yogi a ride back. Second person I asked hesitated at first, then agreedto take me back to center of town...down and back in 10 minutes! Getting prettygood at begging!!! (But I hate it. Always dependent on someone helping.)The next 9 miles to Cheshire were easy and ice cream was waiting for us so thatwas a big motivator. But besides the ice cream/sandwich shop and the church,there's not much in Cheshire...except for Larry Dragon's AT Bike and Outfitters. He's previously done the whole trail ('05) and stocks food and resupply itemshikers need...great guy and across from the church.So tonight I sleep on the floor of a room in the church, on linoleum...oh boy! I wonder how that compares to wood...probably just as hard, I'm sure. I'm offto find out...good night.I just walked outside for a few minutes and I'd rather be sleeping out there...Ilove the out of doors, feeling the breezes on my skin, hearing the leaves rustlein the wind, breathing the fresh cool air. There's really no place I'd ratherbe...I guess that's why we sleep with 2 windows wide open all yearround...right, honey?Step lightly
Date: 2007-08-17
From: St. Mary's Church, Chesire, MA

To: Wilber Clearing Lean-to
Miles today: 11.0

I fell again today, late this afternoon coming down off of Greylock Mountain ona very rocky trail. Thumper was behind me and he said he thought he was going to have to carry me off the mountain. Coming down the rocks, stepping quickly and my toe caught...couldn't get my other foot free and with all the downwardmomentum plus pack weight moving forward...kaboom...onto my hands and knees! Myleft thumb seemed to get the worst of it. It hurt right away like a jammedthumb and it's swollen and very sore tonight. Looks like I'll live to hikeanother day!!!We climbed our first real mountain since Virginia I think. Mt. Greylock is3491'. Everything up there (the lodge, the tower, everything) is closed thissummer because they are doing a major road renovation. It looked like it wouldbe a great place to visit when they are open. It was the first ski slope inethe east back in the early 30's. The skiers would haul all their equipment upto the top, taking hours to get there, for a 2 minute ski down.Thumper calculated our daily average mileage since Pawling NY and it's over 13miles per day. We knew we had to do 10.2 miles per day to make Katahdin by10/15...so this puts us in good shape. NH and ME are going to be hard, so wewant to have sufficient time there...besides we want to be able to enjoy thelast leg too without a worry on the timing...so we're pleased with how we'removing north. We don't like to hike too late in the day, need time to set upcamp, cook dinner, and just relax. Some of the youngsters hike until dark ornight hike. The only time I've night hiked is to the privy! What fun is that? You can't see anything.Last night sleeping on the church floor was actually fine, I slept well. Thismorning we met the Father when he was taking his dog for a walk...a dog savedfrom New Orleans. Breakfast - Coffee and Danish from Shell gas stationLunch - PB & J on whole grain bread from the diner in Dalton yesterdayDinner - Ramen noodle soupNot an exciting day for food.We ran into Mr. Talker Man and Bum Bum again today...again slacking! This timethey are slacking to the next town (North Adams) where they have a motel roomand then they will slack tomorrow into Bennington where their packs are beingdropped off for them...clever slacking set up. And we're carrying our heavypacks with some winter gear. Plod On! Step lightly
Date: 2007-08-18
From: Wilber Clearing Lean-to

To: Stealth campsite
Miles today: 12.5

It's Thumper's 61st birthday today! so the day started out with a "HappyBirhtday" rendition from my tent when he dropped off my food bag, a ritual thathe uses to wake me up about 6ish. I then gave him his birthday present: apackage of organic poptarts wrapped in a well-worn bandana and tied up withclothesline rope! He'd been coveting those poptarts ever since he spotted themin my bounce box. Life's simple pleasures. We then hoofed it to North Adam'sFriendly's for 2 Super Big Two Do breakfasts. They even treated him to an icecream cone for his birthday.Then we lucked out and got a ride the .7m back to the trailhead...birthday trailmagic!We've seen the trail go many different places, but today beat all when it wentup the driveway of a house in North Adams, through the backyard, and off intothe woods! Can you imagine when the house is for sale...oh yeah, by the way,hundreds of smelly hikers have the right to walk down your driveway everyyear...We're in Vermont!!! The Green Mountains! We can see Katahdin from here, so tospeak. The weather was much cooler today after a front with rain came throughlast night. We woke up to temperatures in the 40's...it warmed up some, but wascool and windy most of the day. I feel so strong in this weather, like I canfinish this hike and enjoy the strenuous climbs ahead.The plan is to spend 10 days hiking Vermont, but tonight it looked like we'd hitthe huts of New Hampshire on Labor Day weekend on that schedule...yuck, notgood. We'll have to take a closer look at that. Planning, planning,planning...things never quite work out as we plan, but I like my hikingpartner's flexibility. We'll get this figured out over the next 2 weeks.Tomorrow we're going into Bennington for the night. Bam Bam has Mr. Talker Man's daughter's car so he's going to pick us up when we get to VT 9. Wheels will be great to get around tomorrow...lots of town chores to get done.Tonight we have sunlight on our campsite for the first time in a long time. I'msitting all bundled up on my Thermarest pad outside my tent with the fadinglight beaming onto me, while I type and sip the rest of my soup! Life isgood!!!Step lightly
Date: 2007-08-19
From: Stealth campsite

To: Kirkside Moto Lodge, Benninton, VT
Miles today: 9.1

Ahhh! A shower, clean clothes, and real food...I love town days! Bum Bum metus at the trailhead at 11:30 when we came out of the woods after a 1000 fttreacherous, rocky, steep descent from Harmon Hill. We heard today that a guywe know fell back in NY and broke 2 vertebrae in his back. Guess I've beenreally lucky with the falls I've had, just a sprained thumb and bruised knees.The trails in VT are quite muddy, rocky, and rooty. Not much fun to hike whenthe terrain is like that. Sure hope it improves because it's exhausting on thefeet and on the level of concentration required with every step.Tonight we had dinner with Phil and Bum Bum...it was fun hearing their trailtales and woes. Phil quit the trail back in NY thinking that it was him and notthe heat & humidity that was the problem. I have not met him before,but I'mglad he's decided to come back to the trail. It's never a happy thing to hearthat someone has had to quit because you know what a difficult decision thatmust have been. But only 1 out of 4 that start will finish...pretty stiffstatistics.Time for sleep... Step lightly
Date: 2007-08-20
From: Kirkside Moto Lodge, Benninton, VT

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: clear sky

A bit of frustration in town today. We made plans with Bum Bum and Phil to stayin town this morning so that I could get to the library to download my pics frommy camera to a flash drive and label them, then send them to Dana. The libraryopened at 10, so I got there then. I plugged in my camera and flash drivewith no problems, but I couldn't find My Computer to see and move the files. The librarian said that it was hidden so that I couldn't do it. They don't wantanyone bringing files from outside onto the computers. That was a first! So Icouldn't get that task done...maybe I'll have better luck in Manchester.I did get to read quite a few emails from folks. I try to answer most of them,if I can, but I know my responses are brief. There's just no time to getwordy, but I so love hearing from those reading my journal so keep the notescoming! Someone wrote to say that I had not mentioned that EZ Duzit It was off he trail. I thought I had. He hiked on from Pawling NY the Tuesday after Thumper and Ihad left (8/7), but his back was killing him from a poorly fitting pack beltthat wouldn't tighten enough causing the pack to hang from his shoulders. Thumper just heard from him tonight and he won't be coming back...he's lost toomuch weight...but he might come up to Katahdin when we finish. That would be sowonderful if he could! We had a really good hike today, climbing most of the afternoon. I am trulysurprised at how good it feels to steadily climb for several hours...theendorphins kick in for sure! Tonight Thumper and I are in the shelter with Philand Bum Bum. It's going to be another cold night. I'd rather be in my tentbecause it's warmer, but there's no tent spots here. Oh well, I'll manage, I'msure. I have my long johns and fleece on with my buff on my head, so I hopethat's enough.Sure wish this poison ivy would stop itching. I'm not bothered by it all day,but when I put my long johns on, it heats it up and oh does it itch...and oh do I want to scratch it! But I'm so afraid of it spreading and that would beworse...so Im trying to be strong, but it's really hard.Step lightly