morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-17
From: Island Pond

To: West Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: few clouds

If Shelters Could TalkWe woke up to a beautiful morning and went for one more swim before hiking on. We got to the lemon squeezer and squeezed our way through. The squeezer is a narrow rock passageway that you push through, then up, then over. It then gives you a 6ft rock face to climb before putting you up on the ridge. We climbed up fingerboard mtn and found the motherload of high bush blueberries. I picked only one bush and got almost half a nalgene full of berries. We climbed down fingerboard and took a blue blaze to lake tiorati. This lake had lifeguards and all kinds of people in the water so we didn't go swimming. Tribes and I got ice cream and sodas from a vending machine then sat for an hour people watching. We hiked on and made it to william brien shelter full of kids. We got up to black mountain and found more blue berries. I was in heaven! We then hiked down and crossed the palisades parkway and got water from a nearly dry beachy bottom brook. We then humped up west mountain and did the .6 blue blaze to the west mountain shelter. On clear nights you can see the NYC skyline, but tonight was hazy. I slept in the shelter for nostalgia purposes. West Mountain shelter is one of the oldest on the entire trail so think of all the great thru hikers that had slept there before me. If only shelters could talk! This one would have some amazing stories.Today's StatsStarting Point:Island PondEnding Point:West Mountain ShelterMileage:11.1Elevation Gain:3120ftElevation Loss:2860ftHiking Time:8:45Weather:Sunny hotPain Factor:3
Date: 2007-07-18
From: West Mountain Shelter

To: Bear Mountain Inn
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: mist

Historic Bear MountainI'm glad I slept in the dry shelter since a thunderstorm ripped through around 4am. Tribes and I slept until 10 and took our sweet time getting out of camp. We took the blue blaze back to the trail and picked more berries along the way. As I walked behind one of the bushes I spotted a rattlesnake on a rock trying to get warm. We watched him for a while then walked on. There were no views to be had since we were in clouds all day. We climbed down west mtn then up bear mountain and got sodas at a vending machine. We sat on a bench watching the fog blow over the mountain then started the steep descent. We got to the old ski jump and found a lot of wild raspberries. I picked a cup of them as well. At hessian lake we found a concession stand. I got a cheesteak, fries, and a beer. Tribes called tracy for a pickup. We threw the frisbee around in front of the bear mountain Inn that is being renovated. After tribes and I parted ways I called my friend Mike, who lives in the area, to come pick me up. Mike showed up 20 min later and brought me to his place. I got clean and did laundry and spent some time on the computer. We ordered pizza and watched fight club. I didn't go to bed until like 2am, waaaay past hiker midnight.Today's StatsStarting Point:West Mountain Shelter Ending Point:Bear Mountain InnMileage:5.0Elevation Gain:1170ftElevation Loss:2210ftHiking Time:3:36Weather:Overcast coolPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-07-19
From: Bear Mountain Inn

To: Greymor
Miles today: 7.1

InspirationSomehow I was up at 9 and made some coffee as I got my pack together. Mike took me to the grocery store for a resupply. Back at his house I made blueberry pancakes from the mountain blueberries I picked. They were super delicious! We then decided to watch The BIG Lebowski. Mike drove me back to the trail around 3 as a heavy rain storm was rolling through.When we got to the Inn I said goodbye and walked to a pavillion to get my pack rain ready. The rain had temporarily stopped, but I knew more was on the way. I walked under rt9 and into the trailside museum and zoo. I passed a monument to Walt Whitman and was inspired by some of his writing:"Afoot and light hearted I take to the road. Healthy, free, the world before me. The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose."After that I made a beeline to the bobcat exhibit, which was the first. I was mesmerized by this animal, one of the only local mammals that I haven't seen in the wild. Another rain band came through so I ducked into the reptile room to wait it out. I checked out the rattlesnakes which didn't look as meacing as the wild ones I've seen. The rain let up and I went and checked out the porcupines, coyotes, and foxes. They all looked at me with seemingly sad eyes. Maybe they could see in my eyes the wild places I've been? I wanted to take them with me. The bears were even more sad looking, particularily the old dominant one. He was fat and off colored. The rain picked up again so I went and ducked in the geology room. I learned about glaciers and fossils and other fun rock stuff. Then I got kicked out into the rain since the museum was closing. I rushed past the owls and hawks and bald eagle. I could have spent 4 hours in that place! Even though most of the animals looked sad to m! e, most of them were there from injury and would be dead if left in the wild. The zoo serves as a rehab center as well. I ran into Brew and Larry who were heading into fort montgomery. I crossed the Hudson on the bear mountain bridge in the pouring rain. At one point it was raining so hard I couldn't see more than 20ft in front of me. I noticed motorists staring at me as I walked through the downpour. I couldn't help but smile. On the other side I crossed rt9 and headed into the woods. I felt great and hauled ass to Greymor. A spiritual retreat center that lets hikers sleep in their picnic pavillion. I met 2 other hikers and we ordered Italian delivery. I got an eggplant parm which was delicious. I hung my hammock in the pavilion and stayed up late catching up on my journal.Today's StatsStarting Point:Bear Mountain InnEnding Point:GreymorMileage:7.1Elevation Gain:1720ftElevation Loss:1300ftHiking Time:3:43Weather:Heavy RainPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-07-20
From: Greymor

To: Shenandoah Mountain
Miles today: 16.1

Cowboy StyleI slept in late and was woken up by a chainsaw. The groundskeeper was trimming trees in the ballfield where the pavilion is. I had a bagel with nutella and drank some mate. I didn't get going until 11. On my way from the pavilion back to the trail I ran into larry and brew again who had come from ft montgomery already. I hiked to denning hill and took a break. The wind was blowing and the skies were blue with a few fluffy clouds passing through. An absolute perfect day for hiking. I moved on and went up and down countless hills. I saw a gartersnake and a huge black rat snake. There weren't many views today. I hiked with larry and brew, who had caught up, to denytown road where we ate lunch near a water spigot. I left before them and took a break at a waterfall. The first one I've seen in a while. All that rain we got yesterday filled up the streams again. Those two guys passed me and I hiked to rt301. The trail then followed canopus lake all the way around. There was a nice view before heading away from the lake. I put some tunes on and hiked fast with every intention of making it to RPH shelter, but when I got to Shenandoah mountain I just had to stay. There is a perfect view towards the sunrise, a nice breeze to keep bugs away, and no storms forecast. A perfect time to throw down cowboy style on a mountaintop. There was also a meteor shower which I had a prime viewing spot for. I heard coyotes howling in the distance as I fell asleep looking up at the stars.Today's StatsStarting Point:GraymorEnding Point:Shenandoah MountainMileage:16.1Elevation Gain:3740ftElevation Loss:3120ftHiking Time:9:13Weather:Cool breezy perfectPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-07-21
From: Shenandoah Mountain

To: Nuclear Lake
Miles today: 16.3

FoxxyI woke up to a most excellent sunrise. All my stuff was soaked with morning dew so I went back to sleep, waiting for the sun to get higher in the sky. At 8 I got out of my bag and layed all my stuff out to dry. I had some pop tarts and baybel cheese for breakfast and started hiking at 9:30. About 5 min into the hike I heard something rustling in the blueberry bushes to my right. I stopped to check it out and couldn't see the animal, just the bushes moving as it slowly walked away from me. Then it jumped up and over the bushes pouncing on something. It was a red fox! I could only see the its back and the back of its head. It was silver with red accents and too wide to be a coyote. I stayed there for 5 min to see if could hear it again, but it disapeared.I hiked on down to the RPH shelter and there was an entire trail crew building a new bridge. Some of my thru hiker friends were digging trenches for new water bars. I signed the work waiver form and went to do some work, but I couldn't find anymore tools. After standing around for a few min, I decided to hike on. The trail went up hosner mtn and to the west I could see the Catskills. They looked huge and grand in comparison to the smaller ridges we were on. I can't wait to spend some time there this fall! I continued on to NY52 and walked .4 down the road to the mountain top market. I got a delicious italian sub with roasted red peppers and garlic. After eating that I fell asleep for an hour. When I woke up I went and got some ice coffee, ice cream, some resupply, and 2 24oz heinekens. I packed the heinys into my pack wrapped in my jacket to help keep them cold. I got a ride the .4 back to the trail with sherlock and circuit rider from a friend waiting for rhode island red. I hiked 8 more miles and met up with old yeller, singe, misplaced, larry, and brew who were doing trail work at rph. They got to slack pack from there. I convinced them all to camp at nuclear lake with me so we sent someone to get beers as the rest of us went to find a campsite. We found an excellent spot right on! the lake and were up until 1 listening to music and throwing the light up frisbee around. Life was good!Today's StatsStarting Point:Shenandoah MtnEnding Point:Nuclear LakeMileage:16.3Elevation Gain:3560ftElevation Loss:4190ftHiking Time:11:23Weather:Cool breezyPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-07-22
From: Nuclear Lake

To: Dover Oak
Miles today: 3.8

Surprise SidetripWe all slept in and didn't get up until 10. We lazily packed up and sat around for a bit. Larry and brew borke free of the lake scene first and I followed shortly after. About 2 miles down the trail I caught up to them and larry said tomorrow was his birthday and he was geting picked up to go to a friends house. He invited me to go so I thought about it for a min and decided to tag along. We hiked down the hill past telephone pioneers shelter and stopped at the dover oak, the largest tree on the entire trail. We took some pics and larry called his mom to give her directions to where we were. She picked us up and immediatly gave us all clean shirts to put on. We squeezed into her vw golf and were on our way to her friends house in ct. We stopped for pizza then we stopped to get beer. I slept the whole way to the house after we got the beers. At francines house we took showers as charlie and abby went out to get food for us to cook. I had them get a whole chicken so I could make a beer can chicken on the grill. I neglected to tell them to get a small 3-4lb chicken so they came back with a 7lber. It would still work, just take a bit longer to cook. 3hrs later the chicken was done and then we grilled up some burgers and had a feast. Everyone said it was the best chicken they had ever had! Abby, bridget, charlie, and us three hikers stayed up late drinking and then watched the big lebowski. That's twice in a week I got to see my fav movie. Today's StatsStarting Point:Nuclear Lake Ending Point:Dover OakMileage:3.8Elevation Gain:670ftElevation Loss:870ftHiking Time:1:49Weather:Sunny warmPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-07-23
From: Dover Oak

To: 10 Mile River Campsite
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: moderate rain

Rain PartyCharlie made us pancakes in the morning and we all loaded back into larry's moms car to head back to the trail. It was raining heavily all morning and I wasn't looking forward to getting out of the dry car. We stopped in Wingdale so brew could get a package waiting there for him and we got lunch at a deli. We were back at the dover oak around 1:30 and said goodbye to aunt J (larry's mom) as we walked off into the rain.The trail went through farm fields and then down into a swampy area. There were bog bridges thru most of the swamp, but I still ended up stepping in ankle deep puddles. There was a wasps nest under one of the bridges and I didn't notice it until I was on top of it. A few flew up my kilt, but I lifted it up and ran and none stung me. I crossed NY22 and went through more fields in the rain before entering the Pawling nature preserve. Once back in the woods, the rain let up and I cruised onto wiley shelter. Two hikers whom I had never met before were there. I hiked on and crossed into Connecticut as the rain started to pick up again. At NY55 A former thru hiker, OD Greens, had a tarp set up with a bunch of beer and booze. Singe, misplaced, old yeller, larry, brew, and chef were already there when I arrived. OD tossed me a beer before I could even get my pack off. The 8 of us sat around under his tarp drinking and talking about the trail. This road side party was quite fitting since it was larry's birthday. We all drank a lot more than we ahould have, then stumbled off in the dark. It was another 2 miles to the 10 mile river lean-to, up and over a hill. Brew and I were the first to get there and larry showed up 10 min later. The shelter was actually full so we went down to the campsite. The rest of the crew never made it. I guess they stopped somewhere along the way. I cooked dinner and fell asleep listening to the housatonic river flow by in the dark. Today's StatsStarting Point:Dover Oak Ending Point:10 Mile River CampsiteMileage:12.1Elevation Gain:2330ftElevation Loss:2560ftHiking Time:7:06Weather:Rain 60'sPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-07-24
From: 10 Mile River Campsite

To: Campsite
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: light rain

KentOnce again I slept in and didn't get walking until 11. I crossed over the ten mile river and walked the 1.5 miles to bulls bridge road. I walked .4 down the road under the covered bulls bridge, to a country market. I think this covered bridge officially means we're in new england. I got a breakfast sandwich and some coffee and filled up my water bottles. I had slacked off all morning, I forgot that I had to be in kent, another 7 miles away, before the PO closed at 5. I got back to the trail and hoofed it up to Indian rocks where the trail passes through an indian reservation. I paused briefly at a viewpoint then continued on. I got to thayer brook and took a quick break with singe and misplaced before heading over one last climb then down to the road to Kent. I got to CT341 at 4:05 and the PO was at least a mile away on the road. I started walking the road and turned around to thumb a ride. The second car stopped and drove me right to the post office. I had a new pair of shoes waiting there for me in my bounce box and I mailed my old ones home. After getting all my PO chores done, I went and got a small resupply at the IGA. Then I walked to the outfitter and bought new cord locks for my water bottle holders, new tips for my leki poles, and a new pair of shorts. Old Yeller and I went to the pizza station and sat at the bar for dinner. I had spinach and mushroom pasta and some peel and eat shrimp. Yeller and I left and started walking out of town around 8. We stopped at the beer store to see if the free hiker beer rumor was true. Sure enough it was and we each got a free can of bud complete with a brown paper bag. We finished them as we passed the last garbage can on the way out od town. We got back to the trail in the dark and hik! ed only another mile before stopping to camp. Today's StatsStarting Point:10 Mile River Campsite Ending Point:CampsiteMileage:9.2Elevation Gain:2840ftElevation Loss:2330ftHiking Time:4:57Weather:Warm sunnyPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-07-25
From: Campsite

To: Silver Hill Campsite
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: few clouds

Slow GoingOld Yeller and I were out of camp at 930 and that was the last I saw of him all day. I was moving slow and felt low on energy. I got up to caleb's peak and took a break admiring the view of the housatonic river valley. I hiked on and down the very steep and rocky hill to the famed 5 mile CT river walk. The trail follows the river for 5 miles on a smooth sandy trail with little elevation change. I walked half of it and stopped at a stream that was flowing into the housatonic. I ate lunch then went for a swim in the river. I was watching the fish and and digging around in the gravel looking for cool stones. I got changed back into my hiking clothes and put my shoes back on then fell asleep for 2 hours. I just had no motivation to walk today. Around 5:30 I eventually got going again and saw 3 blue herons in the river as well as a deer foraging along an island. I made it up to silver hill campsite and decided to call it a day at 6:30. I cooked dinner and crawled into my hammock to escape the mosquitos at 8:30. I think I just need to catch up on some sleep. Today's StatsStarting Point:CampsiteEnding Point:Silver Hill CampsiteMileage:9.6Elevation Gain:1900ftElevation Loss:1780ftHiking Time:5:25Weather:warm sunnyPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-07-26
From: Silver Hill Campsite

To: Falls Village, CT
Miles today: 15.0

Shower on DisplayThe skeeters were pretty horrible last night, but I managed to outsmart them. I slept on top of my open sleeping bag with the sides pulled up around me. That prevented them from biting from underneath and my sides. I woke up around 9 and was walking by 10:30. The trail was super rugged today. Constant ups and downs and rocky to boot. I had more energy today than the last few days so I was able to move a little faster. After silver hill I stopped at guinea brook for some water and again and hatch brook for more water. I drank a lot, but couldn't seem to stay hydrated today. I trucked up and over seemingly endless puds (pointless ups and downs) and found another black vulture den. My fear of the parents being protective was unfounded since mom flew off when I got close, leaving the baby by itself. I stopped for lunch on top of mt. easter and had an avacado and garlic hummus wrap on roasted red pepper tortillas. Not bad food for the trail, huh?After lunch I came to hang glider view and could see Porches racing at lime rock race track below. I thought of ripping around with them in my Mini Cooper S, but I'll stick to this 2mph pace for a while longer. I contined on through old stands of eastern white pine and hemlock and made it down to US7. The trail followed the road for a while before dipping back into the woods. I got to the falls village hydro electric dam and took full advantage of their cold outdoor shower. It was on the side of a building right next to the road, so I was on full display to passing cars as I washed the stank off. I had my bathing suit on so they didn't get the full show. After showering I walked .5 into falls village and knocked on the door of the toymakers cafe owners house. My guidebook said they let hikers sleep on their lawn. Annie and Greg were both home and gladly let me stay there. I walked down the the package store (the only other store in town) and bought 2 beers for dinner. I cooked on their picnic bench and crawled into my hammock to escape the skeeters. I set my hammock up on the ground as a bug bivy, we'll see how well it works tonight. Note the elevation stats today...the last 4 miles were flat too!Today's StatsStarting Point:Silver Hill CampsiteEnding Point:Falls Village, CTMileage:15.0Elevation Gain:3830ftElevation Loss:4030ftHiking Time:8:50Weather:Hot Sunny HumidPain Factor:2
Date: 2007-07-29
From: The Jug End

To: Mt Wilcox South Lean-to
Miles today: 17.3

Phish Makes MilesWhen I got out of my hammock at 8, guess what was the first thing that happened? I got bit by mosquitoes! Those bastards were waiting for me all night! I broke camp quickly and ate my last bagel with cream cheese and started down the mountain. When I got to jug end road I put on a phish show and rocked out until us7. The mosquitoes were so bad in the valley. Someone must not have told them about the hiking code. You know, where there not supposed to bite you while moving. I was brushing them off my arms all morning and wacking my legs with my hiking poles to get em off. I found that I don't get itchy spots from the bites when I brush them off vs smacking them flat. My brother taught me that. At us7 I did my hitchin dance and got a ride within 10 min. The dude who picked me up was rocking Incubus, Are You In. I haven't heard that song in a while! In town I went right to the laundromat and threw my nasty clothes in the washer, then went to the grocery store for resupply. When I was done shopping I threw my clothes in the dryer, checked my pocketmail, and bought 2 fosters oil cans to pack out. When my clothes were dry I got changed outta my rain gear, packed up, and went to the great barrington bagel co for lunch. I got a reuben and an iced coffee and was hitchin back to the trail when I was done eating. I got a ride within 5 min. I rocked some more phish, the gamehoist 94 show, on my way back up the mountain. After I got over the first ridge, the skeeters disapeared. I stopped at a view point and took a break and then hoofed it to tom leonard shelter. I grabbed water and my steripen decided to stop working. I just drank it untreated. I'll have to call them tomorrow to try and get a new one. I left the shelter at 6 with 5.3 more miles to do. I cruised on the flat spots and chugged up the hills. I contemplated stopping at benedict pond, but decided to push to the lean-to, past the ledges. I rolled into Mt Wilcox Lean-to around 8:30 and found a trail work crew camping there, but the shelter empty. I walked down a side trail to see if there was anywhere to hang my hammock and found a brand new lean-to with 3 section hikers in their sleeping bags. I decided to stay in the old one so I wouldn't keep people up. Besides, I had beers that I carried 10 miles to drink!I set up my hammock as a bug bivy in the shelter, cracked a beer, and cooked dinner. The skeeters were swarming worse than last night, but weren't biting as much. I put on my rain gear and had no problems. After dinner I crawled into my bug shelter and could hear an almost deafening high pitched buzz from the hundreds of mosquitoes trying to get in. Today's StatsStarting Point:The Jug End CampsiteEnding Point:Mt Wilcox South Lean-toMileage:17.3Elevation Gain:3600ftElevation Loss:3590ftHiking Time:8:34Weather:80's humid hazyPain Factor:3