morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-08-02
From: @ Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: @ Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 0.0

Today was the perfect zero day. Resupply, relaxation, and a movie at matinee prices (The Wolverine, which really made me want to head back to Japan, as the movie is held there). The local diner was so good, I ate breakfast and dinner there.In to NJ in the morning, goodbye to PA. No more rocks?
Date: 2013-08-03
From: @ Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: @ Rattlesnake Mountain
Miles today: 22.6

Had a relaxed moring out of town, yet still made good mileage. So far, I like New Jersey¢s AT section. Because of our later start, we didn¢t get into camp until some time after 8 PM. We met three really nice guys out for the weekend and shared out thru-hiking experience over dinner by the campfire.No big rush for tomorrow. I¢m tempted to stay up late stargazing.
Date: 2013-08-04
From: @ Rattlesnake Mountain

To: @ Rutherford Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: scattered clouds

A shorter hike than yesterday, but for some reason it seemed a little harder. Terrain? No prior rest day? Hard to say, but the mileage was still good.My knee troubles have changed sides. The right one feels fine and now it¢s the left knee that feels tight and swollen and hurts on occasion. I hope some favoring and backing off the pace for a few days helps.Weather was pretty much perfect today ¢ cool, both cloudy and sunny. Tonight should be good for sleeping with a breeze and maybe a low in the upper 50¢s.Seen a few southbound hikers, but met the first talkative one today. His energy was contagious and I hope to carry that the remaining 857 miles to Katahdin.
Date: 2013-08-05
From: @ Rutherford Shelter

To: @ Pochuck Mountain
Miles today: 17.5

Last nights¢ spot was nice and quiet. I woke to a relatively cold morning and spent the first 15 minutes, or so, hiking in my fleece. Weather was perfect again.Stopped into a town called Unionville and was nicely surprised to find that it was closer than the distance listed in the guide. After pizza and garlic knots for lunch, I topped off my supplies for a 3-day push to the next market.The sunset was pretty good and I took a few photos in manual mode to try and capture the actual colors I was seeing.In my hammock now and I¢m pretty sure I can hear a bear picking at rocks to search for grubs, or other bugs. My food bags are hung quite far away and all my items with any odor are in them, so I hope to be left alone tonight. I also peed around my hammock to set my territory. I¢ll fall asleep soon enough and the bear has more interesting things to do anyway.(???) New York tomorrow, the ninth state
Date: 2013-08-06
From: @ Pochuck Mountain

To: @ Furnace Brook
Miles today: 16.1

The beautiful days continued and the hiking was great, yet again. Mileage was a bit lower than normal but Wawayanda Mountain was a nice steep climb. Before we touched it though, T and I spent some time at the Heaven Hill Farm Store.The store was only 0.1 miles off the trail and it had everything a hiker could want in the middle of the day _ sandwiches, drinks and ice cream. The staff was friendly and I hope more hikers get a chance to stop in and relax.Crossing into New York today was a nice achievement. It¢s one more state on the long walk and since the trail here is only about 100 miles, Connecticut isn¢t very far away. Then it¢s a short walk to Massachusetts and onward (though much longer) to to Maine.Right knee feels great. Left is still tight but it responds well to warm-up and stretching. Otherwise, I¢m doing pretty well and am super-excited to get in to some proper New England mountainside.
Date: 2013-08-07
From: @ Furnace Brook

To: @ Island Pond
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: moderate rain

The day started off well, but slowly deteriorated into mild agony. I¢m not sure what made the day so hard, but I think it was a combination of roughere terrain and some knee issues. Thought the guide shows somewhat in assuming ups and downs, the climbing we had to do make it tough to top it all off, when we reached a park that didn¢t allow camping, the rain started.Now we were set up near a pond and were out of the rain for tonight. I hope tomorrow feels better, body, and weather-wise.
Date: 2013-08-08
From: @ Island Pond

To: @ Fort Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: broken clouds

Today might have one of the roughest days on the trail. The trail wasn¢t any easier and I had some knee pain that wouldn¢t go away. Humidity was high because of the rain from yesterday. And when it started to rain again in the afternoon, it became very clear that T and I were going to take a zero-day tomorrow. I plan to stay off my feet as much as possible and let my legs rest.There were some really unique parts of the trail that we had to conquer. First, we made our way through the Lemon Squeezer, a narrow path that led us between two large rock walls that were on a slight tilt to the left, making passage difficult.Shortly after that, there was a vertical wall that required a straight-up climb and foot placements in very precarious locations. A fall would have been a guaranteed injury. Sure, there was an easy bypass, but that would have take away from the rush.It¢s been a long day and I¢m happy to be taking a day off.
Date: 2013-08-09
From: @ Fort Montgomery, NY

To: @ Fort Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Took a short walk to the bagel caf© for breakfast, then to the gas station for snacks. So far, I¢m doing a great job at walking as little as possible, looking forward to BBQ dinner tonight and hoping for a sunny, yet cooler day tomorrow.1400 miles is just in view and there are less than 800 to go! I hope the body holds out, and I plan to reduce daily mileage for awhile. I¢m ahead of schedule anyway, so the slowdown doesn¢t affect me negatively and should allow me to heal as I hike.
Date: 2013-08-10
From: @ Fort Montgomery, NY

To: @ Fort Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Decided this morning to take a second zero-day, the back of the knees are still tight while T seems to be suffering from a fever. It¢s not an ideal choice nor an ideal situation, but I¢ve got the time to spare and instead of hoarding it I might as well use it.
Date: 2013-08-11
From: @ Fort Montgomery, NY

To: @ Canopus Hill
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Three nights at the Bear Mountain Bridge Motel was mostly restful, but having to clear up confusions with the proprietor surely detracted from our energy supply. The guidebook stated that rides would be provided to and from the trailhead. We never got one from the trail and getting one back took some diplomacy on my part.Crossing the Bear Mountain Bridge, I ran into Bob and Liz who I had not seen since North Carolina. Our meeting was short, but it was a really good moment. I wish them luck as they head north.Today I felt great, but not 100%. The back of my knees still present issues ¢ mainly tightness of varying degree made the (luckily) infrequent acute pain in various parts of my knees¢ posterior. It wasn¢t much of an issue today, but I¢m rested and mileage was low; terrain was also only moderately challenging. I hope the next week of reduced mileage and slower pace help reduce occurrences of painfulness.I am so ready to be at Katahdin, but there is no shortcut. At least, none that I would ever take. I¢m feeling ready to complete the hike and wanting to move on to some new experience, such as returning to school to earn a new degree or finding some other stimulating career / work / adventure to undertake once I¢ve finished the AT.I will finish this. I¢m just also ready for a change of pace that doesn¢t have anything to do with miles.
Date: 2013-08-12
From: @ Canopus Hill

To: @ RPH Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Good start to the day but my mood devolved quickly, probably linked to my knees conditions. There was some other intangible that I couldn¢t put my finger on, but it was hard to hike today. I even felt like I wanted off the trail.At about 10 miles, we came upon a side trail to Canopus Lake and took a short break there. I didn¢t go swimming, but the ice cream sandwich and soda plus a short nap helped put me in a better mood.Five miles later we arrived at a shelter, one that we could purportedly order pizza from. Sadly, both pizzerias are closed on Monday. Easing the disappointment, a guy showed up and offered us some beers, so all is not bad.Tonight is the peak of the Perseids meteor shower, so I¢m hoping it stays clear. A little lost sleep would be worth the view.
Date: 2013-08-13
From: @ RPH Shelter

To: @ Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: light rain

There were no views last night as clouds rolled in and provided today¢s morning rain. I managed to leave early despite the demoralizing downpour. And even with my tight knee pace, I still made good time all day.Thankfully the rain ceased at around noon and I was able to dry out a bit as I walked the remaining 7.8. The sky even cleared up as I was eating dinner and that provided a hopeful forecast for tomorrow. I can¢t wait for cool days, though I¢m sure I¢ll bemoan the cool nights that come with them.My mood was much better today, though I still felt like some of today¢s miles were a chore. Tomorrow I¢ll cross into Connecticut and I could use the boost that comes with passing another landmark. I¢ve also realized that skimping on food to save weight is not worth the hit my attitude takes. I¢d rather go heavy that worry. I wonder if there¢s any correlation between hunger and mood. In fact, I¢m sure of it. I wish I knew to what degree.
Date: 2013-08-14
From: @ Telephone Pioneers Shelter

To: @ NY-CT Border
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I had a good day today. A rainstorm last night led to clear skies and a nice drop in temperature, a perfect combo for a day of decent mileage. Again T and I hiked separately and joined up a few miles before camp. The border crossing was icing on the cake since I was feeling so good already. I did have to make and unexpected run for the woods this afternoon, but I made it.I¢ve adopted a stride that greatly reduces strain on the backs of my knees and I didn¢t have any issues or pain until the last half-mile of my day. I¢m hoping that a day with little to no pain means that some active recovery is taking place. In any case, I¢m taking a zero in Salisbury, CT and will stay with some friends from Chicago, Jenny and Andy. They are doing a huge favor by hosting me and I'm looking forward to catching up with them.The stream at the border is babbling and it¢s a nice way to fall asleep. I noticed that it was dark a little earlier than I remember. I better get used to it as I head north.
Date: 2013-08-15
From: @ NY-CT Border

To: @ Caesar Brook
Miles today: 18.0

I had the intention to write a really, not really, somewhat detailed post about my day, but as I lie here with a crampy stomach, I¢m more inclined to just summarize.Short walk to the road to town, got a ride to the grocery store ($$) and made my way back to center of town. Had a breakfast sandwich and organized my food. Said farewell to Titus as I passed on my way back to the trail _ he will take a few days off. After that, I turned on serious mode and made good progress towards Salisbury.Of note, my knees felt good today. Not until I was in camp setting up my hammock did I experience any pain. Why is it always the mundane moments that make my body hurt? Like a small step on flat ground.Forgot to mention that I had my first river fording today. There was no dry option, so I just stepped right in and made it across with only one precarious step.Going to take an easier day tomorrow, 15 or 16 maximum. That will leave a nice morning like on Saturday leading into my zero with friends.
Date: 2013-08-16
From: @ Caesar Brook

To: @ Limestone Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: clear sky

I took today easy because distance was not an issue with me heading in to Salisbury. That said, I stopped at 4:30. Assuming I had kept hiking, I would have been in town by now with nowhere to stay.It¢s encouraging to find out that even a mild pace can yield good mileage. Even with some rougher terrain, I was happy with how I did. It bodes well for all the miles to come. I can¢t do them quickly, but early starts allow for much longer days.Only 693.7 miles to go. And with 60 days until Katahdin closes, I feel very confident about finishing. All I have to do is beat the cold and I¢ll be doing well. Early to bed tonight so I can get in early for my (bounce) box, some coffee, and breakfast.
Date: 2013-08-17
From: @ Limestone Spring Shelter

To: @ Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: overcast clouds

The walk into town went much more quickly than I expected and I made it to the post office right as they opened. But it turns out that I sent the box to the outfitter, so I had to wait until 10 AM to pick up my bucket.Salisbury was neat town and the little section I was in had some neat shops, particularly the caf©s and bakeries. I was even offered a job at the bakery when I made an off-hand comment about the baking that I used to do before the hike. I asked them to give me two more months; maybe I¢ll call them when I¢m done.My friends Jenny and Andy were not home yet, so I walked a mile to their place, found their spare key, and got in for a shower and laundry before they got back.They live in a neat bungalow and with two young boys, it¢s a full house. Andy took me to a grass-fed family farm called Whippoorwill Farm and he purchased various types of meats for dinner. We had flat steak, a really delicious kale salad, beets, tomatoes and sweet potato fries. It was a delectable meal and was incomparably good when compared to the trail food I¢ve been eating.The rest of the night was chill and I had to keep my legs from tightening up too much. And now there¢s a futon with my name on it.
Date: 2013-08-18
From: @ Salisbury, CT

To: @ Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 0.0

Zero days are AMAZING! Compared to yesterday¢s feelings, my legs felt quite good. For one, lying down and straightening my legs last night slowly expanded the tendons in my knees. Swelling also went down and walking has been much easier and pain-free ¢ both good signs.I resupplied today and tried to keep it light, but I still think I went a bit heavy. I¢m planning on 70 miles until my next resupply, so I figured 4.5 days of food would work.Tonight promises to be another great meal at Andy¢s hands and then I¢m off tomorrow to tackle two relatively steep peaks, at least compared to what I¢ve seen recently. Entry into Massachusetts yields me my 11th state anon closer to finishing this adventure.
Date: 2013-08-19
From: @ Salisbury, CT

To: @ Shays Rebellion Monument
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: moderate rain

I had a great day (well, except for finding water at the end) due to being able to spend two days resting. Again, I owe Jenny and Andy a huge thanks for opening their home to me, feeding me healthy and delicious food, and getting me back on the trail early this morning, not to mention their support.There were some serious climbs and descents today, a preview of Maine some say. The descent came first and was easily tackled with slow and steady movement. Following that descent was a long uphill that led to a scenic ridge walk, shortly followed by a very steep ascent up Mt. Everett. I was able to get up fairly quickly and with no leg issues, though my lungs were taxed and I was dripping with sweat.The main challenges over, I started to think about where to camp. Sadly, the nice weather dried up a lot of the streams. Stealth campsites were also few and far between. Some roadside trail magic alleviated some water problems, but I still took 2 liters from a stagnant pool below a footbridge just in case.I found a decent spot for a hang, but it might be on private property. The gunfire I heard earlier certainly didn¢t ease my tension, and the mosquitoes are horrible! I¢m surprised none made it into my hammock. Tomorrow I¢ll shorten my mileage so I don¢t burn out. But I really do feel good.
Date: 2013-08-20
From: @ Shays Rebellion Monument

To: @ Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: light rain

0.5 miles is not what I meant by a shorter day. I probably should have stopped at 16, but having to walk 0.3 to a campsite seems like a waste. I got into an afternoon rhythm again and the only thing that made me want to stop was the pain in my left knee. Not the usual tendon pain, but a sharp pain in the middle of the joint. Why do I always do this? I push, which leads me to have to take rest, after which I feel like I can push hard again. I can finish this hike comfortably by doing 16 miles a day., so there is need to feel rushed or to have to do 20 every day.Ten miles from here is a shelter on an island, a cabin really, that everyone talks about. That¢s a perfect place to end my day and keep my mileage low. Half a days¢ rest can¢t hurt either. Today¢s low point was realizing I left my guidebook at an overlook and having to hike back to get it. Thankfully, it was only about half-a-mile, but I¢m sure the one mile round trip, done quickly too, added to my knee stress.650.6 miles to Katahdin. About 40 to my cold weather gear swap; some nights have been quite chilly and it will only get more so as I climb and the year latens. Moderate mileage is the key, and so is not getting hurt.
Date: 2013-08-21
From: @ Shaker Campsite

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

Limiting my day to ten miles and coming to this shelter ranks among one of my best decisions of the whole hike. I never could have predicted all the good things that I¢ve experienced since stopping here earlier this afternoon.I started the day with ascents, the good news that I remain on this ridge for the next day or so. Knee pain was no longer joint-related, only occasional tendon tightness.Arrival at the cabin was quiet as the caretaker was out on errands and the camping groups were out. I had lunch, during which caretaker Thumper returned and showed me around.Cabin with porch, upstairs bunkroom that holds fourteen, well-maintained facilities, a pond for swimming and canoeing, and pancake breakfast at 7 AM. I started with a paddle over to the spring to help refill the water supply and then took my time getting back, followed by a quick swim in the cool, clear water. Afternoon socializing lasted until dinner and a few of us had a good time cooking out back. ThenThe AMC trail maintainers even provided us with some leftover dahl (?), a flavor rarely found on the trail.I¢m in a mattressed bunk right now and ready to crash. I hope the rest today helps me in the upcoming days, especially on the climb up Mt. Greylock, Massachusetts¢ highest peak. But first, pancakes for breakfast. 640.7 miles to go.
Date: 2013-08-21
From: @ Shaker Campsite

To: @ Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 9.9

Limiting my day to ten miles and coming to this shelter ranks among one of my best decisions of the whole hike. I never could have predicted all the good things that I¢ve experienced since stopping here earlier this afternoon.I started the day with ascents, the good news that I remain on this ridge for the next day or so. Knee pain was no longer joint-related, only occasional tendon tightness.Arrival at the cabin was quiet as the caretaker was out on errands and the camping groups were out. I had lunch, during which caretaker Thumper returned and showed me around.Cabin with porch, upstairs bunkroom that holds fourteen, well-maintained facilities, a pond for swimming and canoeing, and pancake breakfast at 7 AM. I started with a paddle over to the spring to help refill the water supply and then took my time getting back, followed by a quick swim in the cool, clear water. Afternoon socializing lasted until dinner and a few of us had a good time cooking out back. ThenThe AMC trail maintainers even provided us with some leftover dahl (?), a flavor rarely found on the trail.I¢m in a mattressed bunk right now and ready to crash. I hope the rest today helps me in the upcoming days, especially on the climb up Mt. Greylock, Massachusetts¢ highest peak. But first, pancakes for breakfast. 640.7 miles to go.
Date: 2013-08-21
From: @ Shaker Campsite

To: @ Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Limiting my day to ten miles and coming to this shelter ranks among one of my best decisions of the whole hike. I never could have predicted all the good things that I¢ve experienced since stopping here earlier this afternoon.I started the day with ascents, the good news that I remain on this ridge for the next day or so. Knee pain was no longer joint-related, only occasional tendon tightness.Arrival at the cabin was quiet as the caretaker was out on errands and the camping groups were out. I had lunch, during which caretaker Thumper returned and showed me around.Cabin with porch, upstairs bunkroom that holds fourteen, well-maintained facilities, a pond for swimming and canoeing, and pancake breakfast at 7 AM. I started with a paddle over to the spring to help refill the water supply and then took my time getting back, followed by a quick swim in the cool, clear water. Afternoon socializing lasted until dinner and a few of us had a good time cooking out back. ThenThe AMC trail maintainers even provided us with some leftover dahl (?), a flavor rarely found on the trail.I¢m in a mattressed bunk right now and ready to crash. I hope the rest today helps me in the upcoming days, especially on the climb up Mt. Greylock, Massachusetts¢ highest peak. But first, pancakes for breakfast. 640.7 miles to go.
Date: 2013-08-22
From: @ Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: @ Kay Wood Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: light rain

Waking up early for pancakes and coffee is not a bad way to start the day. Combined with yesterday, it made it hard it made it hard for today to be able to stack up in comparison.For one, the backs of my knees hurt right off. I was also having footing issues, which is particularly frustrating. Finally, though, breakfast was great, a later start meant I started in a little warmer temperature and felt more rushed to make it to this shelter. Tomorrow¢s goal is 11.8, so I need not rush. I might even experiment with a really slow pace to see how my knees react to it.Daylight is fading at noticeably earlier times and at 8:24 PM; it feels like nighttime already. Too bad I feel sick, maybe from too much dinner and water. I don¢t need to actually be sick ¢ no time to waste between here and the north. 623.1 miles to go.
Date: 2013-08-23
From: @ Kay Wood Shelter

To: @ Mark Noepel Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: scattered clouds

A thunderstorm and heavy rain arrived last night after dark. The lightning never came close, but it was neat to hear the thunder echoing around the mountains. I¢m totally confident in my sleep system so I fell asleep during the storm and woke to wind blowing drops off the leaves.Dalton, Ma was only a few miles up and I stopped in for a bagel and chocolate milk. I was doubting the food options in Cheshire (which I passed through later) so I purchased a few items as well.The walk to Cheshire was smooth and I made good time while also keeping my legs in check. I¢m sure that my hiking gait looks awful, but it works. And if it works, I¢ll take it all the way north.Before reaching Cheshire, I took a break on the marble cliffs overlooking town. I saw Mt. Greylock as well, Massachusetts¢ highest peak, which I will summit early tomorrow.Despite my obsession with pace, mileage, etc., the 20-minute break was a good pause in my long day. I hope to take more moments like that in the really beautiful parts of VT, NH & ME.Gear has been switched, so I¢m back to my 15-degree bag and cold weather clothes if I need them. Thanks mom for getting those packages out.A quick math check shows that I need only average 13.2 miles a day to finish by October 8. If, however, I manage to average 16 a day, I can be done by September 30. This is unlikely, though, because I would have to forego zero-days, or hike 18 miles daily to allow for time off. A more reasonable expectation is that I¢ll finish somewhere during the first week of October.It¢s chilly tonight and since the shelter is empty and the woods are dense, I¢ll sleep in it.606.2 miles to go.