morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-08-23
From: Glastonbury fire tower

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: clear sky

Little chilly this morning up there. Hiked to melville and took a nap and read some...later that evening I re met with Slim and Bogey, continued hiking and caught Duster and Honey. I got to the shelter first and went for water and was about to cook the only thing in my pack, instant mash, when I met Paddy-O. He said he's been doing trail magic for 8 years and met 1400 hikers. He told me to follow him to his truck and I did not thinking twice it may be a bad decision out in the middle of no where in VT. Luckily duster and honey with slim and bogey rolled in and followed us out. On the way out we ran into Supertramp who was confused as to why we were walking north. We flipped him right around and now had a large party. When we got to the dirt road Paddey-O flipped down the tailgate and popped out a grill. He offered us some chocolate milk and soda while he put on some brots and calzones. He had 6 coolers with 120lbs of ice and anything you could imagine. He blared Sinatra and while slim and bogey danced in the dirt road supertramp inquired about beer. "you want a beer or A BEER?" asked Paddey-O. "A BEER" was his response and Paddey-O opened up the middle cooler and pulled out a mini-keg of DAB. "think you can handle this?" haha I had 3 brots, 2 calzones, brownies, cookies, a peach and fresh farm milk. 2 trail bombs later it was near 2 and I loaded up some ears of corn to roast over the fire back at the shelter. Supertramp was pretty toasted and kept asking about moonshine he was promised. We had a humorous walk back as we would take 3 steps then hear a crash behind us to see supertramp wrestling a sappling. "I"m good" so a few more steps and crash...It was night to his credit...I kept saying things like "use your poles" and "its muddy up here go right" and would turn to see supertramp go left and tumble into the mud. I told Paddey-O about Karl and he said I should let Karl pass me early in the morning then run down and hitch to the other side of the mountain. Then be bent over with my pack when Karl comes down.."wow that was a tough one eh?" while Karl runs by both amazed and confused
Date: 2008-08-24
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up and met a guy from LA...first black guy i've seen all trail and I was joking that the outfitter saw him coming as he dragged his huge bag out of his four man tent. Later I found out he worked at REI...ekk We informed him of Paddey-O and told him to accompany us for breakfast but he didn't want to walk any extra milage and insisted on bringing his pack so we left him. Paddey-O was up and quickly had the grill going with bagels and the works. 2 kids doing the Long trail showed up and I insisted they do a trail bomb even thought it was 10 am which they did after a bagel then headed on their way. Finally our overpacked friend showed up and just stood in the dirt road with a shocked expression. I think he was debating if we were real or a mirage. Supertramp said "what they don't give free food away in LA?" He was then and there dubbed "Mirage."We attempted to leave but fell asleep back at the shelter due to a late night. Paddey-O came in looking for hikers at 4 and laughed when he saw us, so we decided it was time to get moving. We crossed the MA line and headed into town to resupply. Camped at the base of Greylock.
Date: 2008-08-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My pack was heavy from the resupply and I cursed all the way up the first mtn. I felt sick by the first shelter and decided to leave the soccer ball to lighten my load. After a long break I decided to push on and went up greylock and kept running into YALE freshmen orientation groups. Quite the program they have their, better than my schools bad ice breakers. Except large groups like that are not supposed to take over shelters as one did when we arrived. We stealthed further away without complaint since the YALE group gave us a large block of cheese.
Date: 2008-08-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Supertramp decided to yellowblaze to Dalton and I told him I'd meet up with him at the shelter just outside Dalton. Once I arrived at the shelter there was a young weekend couple with their tent set up 5 feet next to the shelter and at 8 I heard loud moaning coming from inside so decided to retire to the shelter loft and not wait for supertramp.
Date: 2008-08-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up and had 2 voice mails the first was supertramp saying he'd meet me in the morning the next was him saying he was getting off the trail...um? Hiked a fast pace to meet the rents by 1. Mom was hiking up the trail to meet me and met/invited 2 elderly section hikers to lunch. Got my new shoes, new sticky cats...how did I ever hike without you! Potato salad and zucchini cake my favs! Dad even gave me his phone so I could actually talk to people for once. So maybe I'm not sponsered, maybe my support crew are my rents, maybe my support vehicle is a purple volvo and my face isn't plastered on the side. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. And I bet Karl doesn't get home made zucchini cake...so it that...not the cake thats mine, I'm packing it out!So I had to cross the MA pike via foot bridge so I disrobed for the event...just to make the rush home a little more interesting for people that day ha...loved the new shoes so hiked well into the night and cowboy camped at 10:30
Date: 2008-08-28
To: housatonic river
Miles today: 24.0

Ran into Songbird and Lightning Rod, they had their ridgeback with them. I played with him and tried to hike off and make him follow but they called him back. I rested at the next lean-to to let them catch up and play with their dog. Hiked to the next shelter and caught Bungee and Bearwalker, waited for song/lightning to catch up again. Fed their dog jerky and bacon much to fellow hikers dismay then pushed on for another night hike. On the top of East mountain I heard rustling and assumed it was a squirrel but just in case I whistled. A fuzzy head popped up and looked at me, then it jumped up onto a rock. A bear! I snapped a blury photo before it headed off and went on my way. My feet were pretty banged up from 2 longs days so I camped next to the housatonic. Had to set up the tent fast as the buggies were out for blood.
Date: 2008-08-29
From: housatonic river

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I have to stop hiking with such little water to carry me over to the next day. Hiked today a little sucked out and it was getting to me so I took a long break while I cameled up at the next shelter. Up MA second highest mountain and took a dip in Sages Ravine then into CT...nice welcome..straight up Bear Mountain, CTs highest mountain."It were well to be educated in the shadow of a mountain as in more classic shade. Some will remember no doubt not only that they went to college, but that they went to the mountains." -Thoreau
Date: 2008-08-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My mother insisted I must stop to see a family friend Jeremy. Said he'd be upset if I didn't stop by, he was walking down a dirt road holding my mail drop and I thought he was just going to hand it to me and send me on my way. But he asked if I was hungry and "of course" was my reply "but I'd like to get in a shower and laundry as I haven't done either since Rutland VT" He ignored the comment as we drove past his house and into town for a deli. When you get a wiff of yourself and nearly gag the last place you want to be is mixed in society. So I kept my arms close to my side and tried to keep my distance from others. He asked Caroline, another family friend if I could shower and do wash at her house and she said ok but no one was home and it was a mess. So he dropped me off at this empty house saying he was late for work and I did laundry and showered as quick as possible so that no one would come home and call the cops that a bum had taken shelter in their house. I hiked out and passed Jeremy mowing his lawn...confused I ignored his late for work comment and continued. It was the weekend and you could hear the engines of lyme rock blaring through the mountains. Eventually I came to a bluff and could see one of the turns of the track but couldn't make out the cars. I zoomed in with my huge lens then hit playback and zoomed in to see to stingray vettes than panned over to see a 66 fastback in front of them...just the way it should be.I continued and ran into 10 asians who asked "where does this white blazed trail go?" "Maine" I responded"WHAT?!" they all blurted "where are you coming from?""700 miles north of here" there was a long silence "are you looking for a campsite?" I asked which I realized was a dumb question when I looked them over. A gallon of water and million power candle light flashlight..the equivalent in size and brightness of a car headlight. "yes and no, we have a campsite but we can't find it, we took a blue blaze loop trail and asked some guy if there was a campsite near and he said yes and a few hours later we are here."I took my book out and saw their camp was 3 miles away"well theres a road ahead but its 2.2 miles into town, you're better off just heading back the way you came""no way we are going back into the woods, we'll call a cab" was the response"well I think its a small town, most likely there will be no cabs""then we'll call the cops" one said as he bee-lined for the roadThe last guy in the group stopped and held up a newt he had caught, "does it bite?" he asked"its got big fangs" I responded and headed into the scary woods.
Date: 2008-08-31
From: ceasar campsite

To: ten mile river
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: clear sky

I met Cheezewizz who thru-hiked in 06 who hooked me up with some trail magic and told me to call him when I got to PA.Planned to cruise into NY finishing CT in 2 days but hit a mini-mart for dinner and spent 21 dollars somehow taking in 4k+ calories and didn't feel much like walking after.
Date: 2008-09-01
From: ten mile river

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up at 8 and saw I had a voicemail from my bro, called him back and he said he and stephanie were coming to visit. Cool I said and went back to the river to swim and try and rid myself of some funk. Jack called and demanded an address, that he was coming to visit. Wow I thought didn't see that coming, and packed my things to head back to meet seth and steph. On the way Mike called and said he was coming as well...today was becoming a great day. Seth and Stephanie took me to lunch and I bought some books at a booksale in Kent, CT. Mike and Jack showed, with stella...one of my favorite girls. Seth and Steph headed home and we headed to dinner for pizza and loaded potato skins. Jack dropped me off at dark and I hiked back to ten mile shelter for another night. I can't believe i was just going to hike out of CT the night before and miss all this last minute get together. It improved my moral drastically as I had been hiking alone for some time and was a bit lonely.
Date: 2008-09-02
To: Morgan Stewert
Miles today: 20.3

Finished the book my uncle had given me to loose some weight. NY was pretty flat this morning and coming through a pasture I rounded a corner and startled a large coyote. I thought it was a wolf at first since I've never seen a coyote that large but I guess wolfs run with their tails up as coyotes run with their tail between their legs like this guy did. Came within 10 feet of it but couldn't snap a close shot in time. Road walked a bit to Tony's deli. Lot's of deer in the area as well. Passed Nuclear lake which I planned to swim in but when I actually saw it I didn't want to even get close. It was a milky green color almost neon in color, not natural like algae. Apparently it was the site of a nuclear fuels-processing research facility until 1972.
Date: 2008-09-03
From: Morgan Stewert

To: Graymoore Spiritual Center
Miles today: 27.6
Weather: clear sky

Took a break at Canopus lake next to a beaver lodge. Plastic bags in the woods are tell tale signs I am in a park. On labor day I watched a family pull up in a Escalade with big rims and unload tons of supplies including a 50lb bag of charcoal. At the end of the day that bag of charcoal was on the side of the road along with bags of trash just left by them. Occasionally on trail, I will see a wrapper and pick it up and that same instinct kicks in when walking roads into town but there is just so much trash its a little disturbing. Anyways...Traffic has been a constant background noise through NY. Today has been my biggest milage with 27.6 miles, and I followed book "cross one dirt road then you are on the spiritual centers driveway" Nope there are 2 dirt roads so I walked a mile out of the way before I flagged down a car and was informed I was on the wrong road. So a near 30 mile day...getting lost minutes from your destination at the end of a very long day is no fun. I rolled into the shelter as it was nearing dark and met Cache/poptart and his son Evergreen. Paddy-O sent a perfect text considering the big miles. "but through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way" -Sinatra
Date: 2008-09-04
From: Graymoore Spiritual Center

To: Black Mtn
Miles today: 0.0

The trail goes through Bear Mtn Zoo which was fun, esp since its free for hikers. Saw a bunch of animals including a swimming bear who kept splashing water at crows that would get too close. Next was Bear Mtn which was not well marked and a good climb considering you are starting from the trails lowest elevation up 1300 feet. At the top I met a couple who just taken a train in from NY to hike a bit and they were very ill prepared. They asked "do you have to pay for water the whole trail cause thats bullshit!" "Is the whole trail like this where you climb steep mountains cause thats bullshit." Anywho I don't think they made it too far. The next lean-to's spring was dry so I had to hike .4 on the Palisades parkway to a rest stop for water then up Black Mountain. I arrived with perfect timing as the bright sun was just kissing a far off mountain and descending. A pink half moon arose and was eclipsed and I could see NYC city lights as well...quite the place to pitch tent for the night.
Date: 2008-09-05
From: Black Mtn

To: VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hiked an easy 10 miles or so, kept calling the hostel I planned to stay at and resupply at with no luck. I'm starting to notice this trail is geared towards NOBO's only. Hostels are closing, trail magic coolers are taken in and free meals end with labor day. I called Paddey-O who lives in NY and he said he could help me out at 3 so I chilled at the lake for a few hours then hiked down to meet him. My feet were killing partially due to my super feet being dead so off to the outfitter. I mentioned that I was thinking of taking a zero since I was doing high mileage days for so long and needed rest. Paddey-O said I should join him for the weekend and do trail magic. I'd been hiking alone since Rutland VT and hadn't caught Stretch yet so I figured DARE and Creeture would catch me and agreed. So that night I yellow blazed to VT to the road I first met Paddey-O at. It was late but we walked into the shelter to look for thru-hikers. Instead we met some guy with 2 yappy tiny dogs...If a hawk can steal your dog it shouldn't be on the trail is my thought. We named them floofy and coyote snack and headed back to the truck. We were sitting on the tailgate having a beer and chatting when a jeep drove by and then stopped...tried to back up and stalled. "Hey we're drinking! whats up?" they shouted, "Just chillin" we responded "well watch out for a crazy guy in a white van." with that they started the jeep and were off.
Date: 2008-09-06
From: VT

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Around 10 we were cooking up some bagels when Bo-didley (as we named him) rolled past on his quad. Last time we were here Bo-didley road past several times with his 2 kids and stopped and chatted. A large man who we only saw on his quad, "yup..I had an 18 pack in the morning than another sixer up there and another sixer at home, 30 beers the damndest of it is I wasn't even drunk." This time he passed and once he saw us he smiled and flipped around. He shut the quad off and immediately popped a coors. Never asked "why are you back here?" or "what are you doing with a truck load of food in the middle of nowhere." We belonged there as he was concerned ha. Later 2 dirt bikers stopped by, one said that some kids in a jeep stole his girlfriend last night and he was chasing them in his white van. We laughed, now putting the two stories together. No hikers rolled by so we decided to check Bennington in the pouring rain. No one there so back to the dirt road and we hiked in some beers to the shelter and met MEGAMousetrap. He was thankful for the beers and company.
Date: 2008-09-07
From: VT

To: NY 17
Miles today: 0.0

We only caught 1 hiker so we decided to head back slowly and hit trail crossing on the way back. Creeture called me and gave me a rough estimate of where he was and I told him we'd try and meet up. Paddey-O worked his magic and hit a road he thought they might pop out at, we waited a while and I grew impatient thinking we missed them. Paddey-O told me to chill and to always underestimate the hiker, sure enough they showed up with 3 other SOBO's. They were all very impressed with Paddey-O's set up as he put on tunes and cooked up some brots, calzones and the works. Paddey-O dropped me off where he picked me up and I thanked him for helping me re-supply and get new superfeet and padded socks. Quite the trail angel, thanks again Paddey-O!
Date: 2008-09-08
From: NY 17

To: Wayday shelter
Miles today: 22.1

I took a lot of breaks but was still kicking miles out. I came up behind Cache and Evergreen to their amazement. When I first met them I did 27 miles and they thought i was days ahead by now. We hiked a few yards together and took a wrong turn but quickly realized it and were back on trail. The last few miles in NY were a bitch just rock outcrops into Jersey. It was Caches b-day that next day and we decided to head to the Mayors house the next day.
Date: 2008-09-09
From: Wayday shelter

To: Mayors house
Miles today: 17.0

Wicked lightning, I was truckin to avoid it but got down into an open field when out of no where a large bolt struck in an adjacent field. I made a bee line for the tree line passing right by cows who gave me confused looks. The lightning passed for a while and I was on a few miles of bridge through marshes, as soon as I got off the bridges and started up the hill the lightning started again. I hoped cache and evergreen weren't out there and charged to the next shelter. I was tempted to stay here since I was cold from the rain but pushed to the mayors. I showed up and met Butch who claimed he was the mayors secret service and gave me the rules. 1. giggle the handle on the toilet 2. If you use a 3 syllable word you owe a dollar. Ha so this hostel is run by the Mayor of Unionville NY, his secret service Butch, and the cook bill. They are all big shit talkers and joke with the hikers, its quite fun. Met a bunch of hikers here, Moses, Fireferry and smokey, Cheverlegs, Last Master, One Gallon (his 3rd time hiking the AT, will make him a triple triple crowner...that means hes hiked the PCT, AT and continental divide 3 times each) Otis, uncle ben and probably some others I'm forgetting.
Date: 2008-09-11
From: Mayors house

To: Catfish fire tower
Miles today: 0.0

Euro joined me at my start point and we hiked an easy 15 to catfish fire tower where my camp friend Ali said she lived by. We met a camp up top and I talked to one of the counselors who said she lived in the town Ali told me she lived. She asked for a name and i told her and she said she never heard of Ali. Turns out she worked at the same camp as Ali and Ali had talked to her at lunch that day. I didn't know at the time that ALi was working at a camp. We met Ali at the road and she had picked chinese food for us then dropped us off at the staff house where we showered and watched 3 Tom Hanks movies.
Date: 2008-09-12
From: Catfish fire tower

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

More Tom Hanks movies today..its the weekends theme. We had lunch at camp and I called luke hoffman to come join us...after 2 and a half hours of pleading with him we finally cracked him and he got in his car. Had a little party, a mini camp reunion which was good and stayed up late with luke catching up.
Date: 2008-09-14
From: catfish tower

To: Kirkridge shelter
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a record high temp day which didn't come into play until a long uphill where I was pouring sweat. Had to stop and just rest under a tree to cool down. Stayed with John out hiking a section, seemed quite pumped to meet thru-hikers and share stories. Met another section hiker who had a heavy pack and said "well I theres 2 things I can't do without, whiskey and cigars."
Date: 2008-09-15
From: Kirkridge shelter

To: stealth
Miles today: 19.0

Did a fast 9 miles into Wind Gap, Euro wanted to hike into town to get some snacks, I said I'd accompany him only if we saw pineapple express. He agreed and we hid our packs and started the mile hike into town...after a mile we came to a run down town and a movie theater that had seen better days. The sign said "Mama Mia 5:30 and 8:30 - All showings before 5:00 only 4 dollars!" HA so we had to walk another mile before we actually hit the new section of town, the book let me down again! Tried to hitch back without any luck. Up on the ridge we passed several dry springs then hiked a .6 all the way off the ridge for water. It was the toughest portion all day and we just went another 20 minutes before we camped. The good thing about all the rocks in PA is that you can make a fire pit and throne seats anywhere you want. The baby plans to go to town tomorrow to look for a bike and then ride it to NYC for a one hour job that pays 100 bucks...doesn't seem worth it but whatever
Date: 2008-09-16
From: stealth

To: Oven Bake shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Caught Cache and Evergreen who again thought I was days ahead ha. They were headed into town to hit a deli and planned to hit the same shelter I was heading to. Euro and I climbed a barren looking mountain, i guess it was damaged from mining in the area. The walk overlooked a large mining facility and then we had a nice overlook into Leigh Gap where I stopped for lunch while Euro headed into town to find a way into the city. I was waiting for Cache and Evergreen when I saw them crossing the bridge below, guess the walked the road there. I packed up and caught them on the next uphill, they seem to lack that uphill gear I have. Met Uncle Ben, Otis and Cripple at the first shelter, they were waiting for a mail drop or something. Made it to the shelter where the spring was dry and there were obvious signs of mice in this crap shelter so I backtracked a bit to a camping spot. Later we learned a large black snake lived in the ceiling, living on the bountiful supply of mice.