morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-07-09
From: Canopus Lake

To: Poughquaq, NY
Miles today: 19.3

So, funny story about this morning's early rising. I set my alarm on my iPod for 5:30, but somehow my clock got off and when I woke up and started moving around it was really 4:45ish...Pacer and Flamethrower were not happy to be woke up 45 minutes earlier than expected...woops. The trail around the lake was nice, but buggy and the terrain seems to be leveling out a bit...not so up and down. I stopped off at the RPH shelter for a break and some water. The water source was a well, so I pumped some into my bottle and didn;t notice the orange/brown hue the water had. I had a few drinks and thought to myself, this water taste like crap...then I looked at it...no wonder! It was rust from the pipes! To add to the fiasco, there was a sign in the shelter saying this water has tested postive for bacteria in the past so it needs to be treated...which I did not do...so anyhoo...sweet. I guess I will wait and get water later and hope I don't get sick! I stopped at a deli that was about a 1/2 mile off the trail for lunch and ran into Pete, Shelter Monkey, Snake Whisperer, Hot Wheels, Shutterbug, Freebird, and Blaze...we pretty much took over the place and had a nice break. Pete was hurting already from the big miles and with the heat and humidity the "push" seems to not be a great idea. After a decent break and waiting out a little rain, I hit the trail again, cathcing a bit more rain along the way. The rain isn't so bad, because at least its cool. I stopped at the Morgan Stewart shelter with Pacer, FT, and Pete and we all decided to push a few more miles to Poughquaq and get a motel room...you know to keep up the streak of not camping...dry bed, A/C, town food, its all too hard to pass up.
Date: 2008-07-10
From: Poughquaq, NY

To: Ten Miles River campsite
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Finally the humidity is letting up and the temp is cooling off a little. I finished the state of New York today, so another one down...man that feels good! The trail today actually crosses some railroad tracks with an Appalachian Trail stop...that was pretty crazy to see. I really enjoyed the hike today, stopping a lot to take photos and just soak up the nature all around me. It seems like it has been a long time since I have done that and it felt good to slow down and enjoy the trail and not get caught up in the destination for the day so much. At the Wiley shelter, a big group of us took a long break and enjoyed the shade, cool breeze, and conversation. Just north of the Connecticut border we all stopped at a great campsite along the river and finally spent a night in my tent again! There is a big group here tonight: Pacer, Pete, FT, SW, SM, Hot Wheels, Shutterbug, Freebird, and Blaze.
Date: 2008-07-11
From: Ten Miles River campsite

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 8.5

A nice cool night last night and I slept great. I hit got on the trail pretty early and enjoyed the cool morning air and the hike along Ten Mile River. So far, Connecticut has been awesome. After a nice ramble along the river I hit Schaghticoke Mt. and then down into Kent. I arrived to find my shoes I ordered are not here...and I was pretty pissed. Some delay with Montrail, so I have to keep hiking in these crappy North Face trail runners. A nice lady in town let us set up our tents in her backyard, so I stayed in town, did my laundry, and had some good food and beers. I tried a nice pale ale from a local brewery, Berkshire Brewery. It was nice to have short day and relax a bit. The town is really great and the people I ran into seemed really nice. Most of the group from last night are here tonight, along with Stomp and Shuffles.
Date: 2008-07-13
From: Conn. 4

To: Falls Village, CT
Miles today: 14.1

Another pretty uneventful day...we did some yellow blazing along the river and that took us straight into Falls Village. This town looks almost like a ghost town, nothing open and no one around. The only place open was the Toymakers Cafe, run by some really nice people. They let us camp next to the shop and hang out there and relax. At the end of the day they hooked us up with some of the leftover food too! Dust and Jackaroo showed up a bit later and it was cool to see them again.
Date: 2008-07-14
From: Falls Village, CT

To: Sages Ravine campsite
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained all night last night, but I stayed nice and dry in the tent. The only bad part about it really was packing up my wet tent...and carrying the extra weight of a wet tent. Pete and I hiked a quick 9 miles into Salisbury, CT for a nice lunch and met up with Flame Thrower and Pacer there in town. Right after lunch had a big climb to the top of Lion's Head MT and was rewarded with a great view of CT. The clouds and rain had cleared out and it was a nice spot to take a break and soak in the views. Directly after was Bear MT, the highest point in Connecticut. We took advantage of the sun and rocks to dry out our tents before we headed down into the ravine. The descent was very steep and slick...always fun! The campsite was a cool spot with tent platforms and a good water source. The platform was a new thing, but my tent worked well on it. It cooled way down in the evening which made sleeping in the tent very pleasant. Also, the campsite was just past the border of MA, so another state down...sweet.
Date: 2008-07-15
From: Sages Ravine campsite

To: US 7 Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

I got a nice early start today and it was almost chilly this morning which was a great relief. The first climb of the day was Race Mt. At the top there was a great section of trail that followed a cliff edge for about a mile. The views were spectacular....the clouds were burning off from the valley below, and I felt like I had to stop every few steps to soak it all in. I think I could have stayed there all day. After I left the cliffs, it was a steep drop back down and then right back up...another tough climb up Mt. Everett. There wasn't really any views from the summit, but the big boulders made a nice spot to stop for an early lunch. I cruised the rest of the way down into town through some pastures and fields, which was a nice change of pace. There was also a very marshy area just before the road that I got attacked by mosquitos!   I got a ride into town and did all the usual town things...laundry, shower, and lots of food. And finally...my shoes are here!!!!!!!! I can send these crappy North Face home!
Date: 2008-07-16
From: US 7 Great Barrington, MA

To: Mt. Wilcox Lean-to
Miles today: 11.7

Today was another one of those half days out of town. I spent most of the morning lazing around. I hit the library for some internet time and had lunch on the way out of town. I am really amped up to be on the trail today, just full of energy and enjoying the hike. I guess that is the benefit of real food and a nice night of sleep. It was really hot today so starting the hike at 1:00 probably wasn't the best plan, but oh well. The trail seemed to meander in every direction today really giving me the sense I was walking in circles, which was frustrating. My feet feel so much better with the new shoes, so I just went with it. Flamethrower and I met back up with Pete, Pacer, Monkey, Snake, and Dust at the shelter and spent another nice night in the tent with my fly off. The moon was so bright I woke a few times thinking someone was shining a flashlight into my tent!
Date: 2008-07-17
From: Mt. Wilcox Lean-to

To: Upper Goose Pond cabin
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

The mosquitos are completely insane in this state! I literally get swarmed as I hike! I can be walking along and at any given time there are 3 on each arm! I have been dealing with a knee issue for the last few weeks, its really stiff and bothering me a lot, especially going uphill. Today, it started popping every step I take...not sure what to think of that. I am hoping it will work itself out though! The cabin is a nice place to stay for the night run by the AMC and there is a volunteer caretaker there named Grampy. It was a nice place to chill out and go for a dip in the pond. The water is a spring on the other side of the pond so I helped Grampy fill about 25 gallons for the other hikers. We hopped in the canoe and rowed across the pond to the spring and filled them up...a bit of work, but it was cool to get in a canoe again.
Date: 2008-07-18
From: Upper Goose Pond cabin

To: Mass. 9 Dalton, MA
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: clear sky

The morning started out with some pancakes made by Grampy...nice! The trail was muggy, marshy, and filled with mosquitos again today, with really one big climb in the mid morning. I stopped off at a blueberry farm just off the trail for lunch. There is a nice couple that lives there and lets hikers eat lunch, get water, and if they are around give you home baked cookies. Luckily, Roy was there and I got some cookies and a cold Coke...what a relief from the heat! After lunch, it was a long humid afternoon into town. As I was walking into the outskirts of Dalton, it started pouring...and just then I walked past Tom's house, a great friend to the hikers in town and I ducked in to wait out the rain. There were about 20 hikers there all staying for the night. Tom was nice enough to drive me to the PO and the laundrymat, so I got all that stuff done right away. I got some good stuff at the PO, a great book from my friend Brandes, some good food from Mom and Dad, and our last set of maps. I decided since there were so many hikers at Tom's to just get a room at the Shamrock Inn for the night, and after a long day had a beer with a few people and then crashed pretty early.
Date: 2008-07-20
From: Mass. 9 Dalton, MA

To: North Adams, MA
Miles today: 23.3

Today, Tom slacked me, Pete, Dust, Jackaroo, and SofaKing, so we started out driving to North Adams, MA and heading back to Dalton. The first part of the day was a steep climb up Mt. Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts at 3,491 ft. The sky is very foggy and cloudy so the view from the summit was not that great, but still nice. There was a great cool breeze up there and a nice place to take a break and enjoy the mountain and the monument. After the summit, the day was really just getting started. The trail down the mountain was long, rocky, and filled with ups and downs making it feel like I was never going to get off Greylock! Eventually I did and make my way into Cheshire, MA for some lunch. There is a nice deli right on the trail as it goes through town that I stopped for lunch. Afterwards, another 9 miles into Dalton that seemed to go on forever. The storms from the other day had knocked down a lot of trees, so I had to clomb over or bushwhack around them. At one large tree I actually fell trying to climb over, luckily I didn't hurt myself, but it made me be a bit more careful the rest of the day! My knee is still bothersome, so when I finally made it back to town, I iced it down. I was hoping this would go away...After I got cleaned up, I met up with Pete and Flamethrower at the Tavern for dinner and met a cool section hiker from Scotland on his last 500 miles section. We all shared stories and had a few beers.
Date: 2008-07-22
From: North Adams, MA

To: Vt. 9 Bennington, VT
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Back on the trail today, and another state down...just 3 more to go! I am happy to be in Vermont, it has been one of the states I have been looking forward to the most. Right at the state border is the southern Terminus of the Long trail, a trail that goes all the way through VT to Canada. The AT and LT are one in the same for about 105 miles. The first part of the state was a bit disappointing, the trail is really just a muddy, sloppy marshy place...not a lot of fun to hike through. Also, the weather is so overcast and gloomy, it just not an ideal day! In the early afternoon we hiked up on another bear just grubbing on some berries about 20 ft off the trail...it saw us a took off. I think that brings my bear sighting total up to 8 for the trip. The last mile of the day was a crazy steep downhill to VT 9 highway. Once I got down, the wind was blowing and the sky was dark gray...a storm is coming in and it does not look good! Pete and I wait for Pacer and Dust at the bridge to see if we should take advantage of a $2 shuttle into the town of Bennington, VT. We all decide to head into town and call for the ride. Just then the sky opened up and it started pouring and thunder was echoing through the valley...good call. We get into town, get a place to stay and have some pizza and visit the local brewery, Madison Brewing Co. Good timing paid off today!
Date: 2008-07-25
From: Vt. 9 Bennington, VT

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

The trail is a river. The 3 days of rain has water logged everything. Hiking through this mess is not fun at all...and very tiring! I started out trying to hop from rock to rock...but soon this is so tiring and hard on my knees and feet that I ended up sloshing through the mess. I did have a great climb up to the top of Glastenbury Mt. where there is a fire tower to climb up. What fantastic views in all directions. Despite the sloshy ground, the weather is perfect...cool and sunny. It really feels like I'm in the mountains again...high mountains. Finding a dry spot for the tent proved challenging, but I finally did and had a nice night here at Story Spring. I met a SOBO named Flash and she shared a lot of cool stories about the Whites...can't wait to get there!
Date: 2008-07-26
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Manchester Center
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Another long muddy day on the trail. I passed Stratton Pond and it was a very scenic pond tucked into the mountains...if it wasn't so cool, I would have liked to have taken a swim there. Today drug on forever...a lot of ups, downs, mud, wet rocks, wet roots, slipping, sliding and overall tough day. Finally, I could hear the rode into town ahead...I hitched into town with Pete and Dust and hit the food store, the EMS outfitter, and pizza store. We had heard of a super hostel in town from some SOBO's and got lucky to grab the last few beds there. The name of the place is the Green Mountain House...and it was superb. Probably one of the best places to stay on the trail..and all for donations that the owner didn't even ask for! Just a great guy helping out the AT hikers! I stayed there with Pete, Pacer, Dust, Jackaroo, Sofa King, Monkey, Snake and one SOBO...it was a very nice group and a great nights rest.
Date: 2008-07-27
From: Manchester Center

To: Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

A crazy day for hiking up and over mountains. I crossed Bromley, where there was a ski lift at the top, in the heavy fog of the morning, Styles Peak, Peru Peak, and finally Baker Peak...all with steep climbs up and steep climbs down and all over 3,000 ft. Have I mentioned the mud and flowing water situation on the trail...yeh that makes the steep trail even easier...needles to say there was lots of slipping and falling today. I passed a shelter today called "Old Job Shelter" and it made me think of my old job...good 'ole GFF...I hope to get back there when this crazy journey is over and do some architecting!!
Date: 2008-07-28
From: Big Branch Shelter

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Finally today the constant mud has started to let up and the trail is actually kind of nice! I am hiking more and more through nice pine forests that add to the experience with a great smell of mountain air. Near White Rock Cliffs there were these crazy rock cairns everywhere...kind of temple-like vibe here. This section of trail is more like the Vermont I was expecting...finally not so muddy! I ducked into Minerva Hinchey shelter in the afternoon to avoid an afternoon shower. Towards the end of the day I crossed a bouncy suspension bridge over Clarendon Gorge. The last mile was a long steep uphill to the shelter, but once there it was a great place to set up camp. The shelter is huge and quite nice with a nice meadow in front and great stream nearby.
Date: 2008-07-29
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: The Inn @ Long Trail
Miles today: 16.4

Today was another great day...no rain (for most of the day anyway) and nice trail that isn't deep mud! The 2,000'+ climb up to Killington was a tough climb, and even though it was cool all day, I was sweating like crazy...very frustrating. Once at the top, I dried off in a patch of sun and had lunch with Dust, Pacer, Monkey, Newt, Creek Diver. After lunch, I took the steep, rocky blue blaze trail to the summit of Killington...and man was it worth it! What a view! Finally a tough climb with a reward...the only one in Vermont besides the Glastenbury firetower. I got my first glimspe of the the Whites...they look sweet! I hope the weather gets better for them! After Killington, it was a lot of downhill into the gap. I took a blue blaze trail that led directly to the Inn (so I wouldn't have a 1 mile road walk). The Inn at Long Trail is a cool place that marks the AT's departure from the Long Trail. It also has a great Irish Pub, called McGrath's...which I enjoyed the rest of the afternoon and evening. I had a few Long Trail Ales...a great local beer with dinner.
Date: 2008-07-30
From: The Inn @ Long Trail

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up early today and just chilled by myself downstairs and had some coffee...some nice alone time. I had a nice breakfast with Dust, Pete, and Pacer and then caught a bus into Rutland for food re-supply. The timing worked out perfect with the bus schedule and I was back at the Inn by 10AM. I relaxed the rest of the morning and hit the trail after lunch from McGrath's. The trail strated off with a nice ramble along the shore of Kent pond...then a whole lotta up. There was a nice crowd at the shelter tonight, Site, Bondi, and a brother I sister that were doing a 2 week section. We had a nice fire and fun conversation. The bugs were pretty bad so I set my tent up in the shelter...Pete and I were the only ones in the shelter...to keep the bugs off me.
Date: 2008-07-31
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Cloudland Farm
Miles today: 19.8

It stormed like crazy last night...I'm so glad I opted to stay in the shelter. I had a lot of energy today and really enjoyed the day. There were a lot of tough, steep ups, but not very much mud, so I was happy! Around mid morning, I ran into Butters and Rock Steady at the Wintturi Shelter. I hadn't seem them in a long time and it was cool to catch up with them. Butter leaves cartoons as trail register entries...and they are hilarious. A few miles down the trail I walked down the raod to a general store for some soda and to eat lunch...and then some ice cream. I caught bck up with Pete, Pacer, and Dust here. We got news ther was a bad storm coming, so I really wanted to make it to camp or a shelter berforehand...but it hit about a an hour later...so no such luck. The upside to the rain is that is really cooled off the temps. The afternoon was filled with 3 different steep, long climbs...really made the day drag on forever. On top of all that, my knee stated really killing me...the most pain I have had since the problem started in PA. Finally, I made it to the road that Cloudland Farms is on. We all stopped there for some Vermont organic soda and I decided I was done for the day...along with Dust and Pacer. Pete pushed on. They ended up letting us camp here right next to the barn. While we ate dinner this crazy chicken joined us...after the dog, Rue, chased it over to us. It wouldn't leave! The sun also finally came out and I got to dry out my clothes and gear. There was another wave of bad storms that was supposed to hit in the evening, so I'm glad I got dried off and my tent up.
Date: 2008-08-01
From: Cloudland Farm

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: light rain

The rain never came last night, so I stayed dry along with my tent...Nice. There was a lot of steep downhill today and it was killing my knee. It feels like my kneecap needs to pop, but won't. I am really getting concerned about this. The trail goes right through a small town, W. Hartford, VT, where I stopped for a break at the general store. Site, Bondi, Dust, Pacer, Monkey, and Snake were all there having lunch. I ended up yellow blazing the last 9.8 miles into Hanover because of my knee. I bought a brace in Hanover and I hope that will help with the pain and weird feeling in my knee. Next I hit the PO for a bunch of great stuff from my brother, Courtney, and my parents...sweet! Hanover is a really cool college town that was bustling with students, parents and tourist...by far the busiest town I have ventured into yet. My main concern though, is my knee. I got a room and rested, iced, and took some ibuprofen. I'm so close...I don't want to have to quit now because of injury! Oh...and another state is down, 2 to go.
Date: 2008-08-02
From: Hanover, NH

To: Moose Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Well after a nice morning spent in Hanover, I got on the trail about 1:00. I really liked Hanover, it was a oool college town with a lot to do. As I was walking out of town, there was a Shriners Parade, so I saw a bunch of funny hats and small cars...but it was kinda of cool to be walking on the trail and be in such a crowd of people.So, after getting in about 4 miles the sky opened up and it starting pouring...again. I guess it is just going to rain every day until I finish. I think I got 2 days in Vermont that it didn't rain, and so far 0 days in New Hampshire. Anyway, the rain was nice enough to wait until I got to a nice big clearing before it hit, so I got extra soaked. I did finally make it to the shelter around 4:45...wet and cold. Thank goodness there was still space for me in the shelter, so I got into some dry clothes and felt a lot better. Pete, Dust, Monkey, and Snake are all here along with 2 section hikers, Mike and Dave. Mike is from NH, so it was cool to hear about what all the state has to offer us. After dinner the thunder and lighting hit...it was quite a show because the shelter is near the top of Moose Mountain at about 2500 feet. One particular lighting strike was sooo close...pretty much the closest I have ever been to lightning! It pretty much poured the rest of the night...glad to be in the shleter and dry! My knee brace helped quite a bit, especially going downhill, but it is rubbing the back of my knee raw...so it's quite uncomfortable.