morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-06-03
From: Warwick Turnpike/Greenwood Lake, NY

To: Bellvale, NY/Greenwood Lake, NY
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: light rain

Day 449.5 miles in 5.25 hoursWarwick Turnpike (1362.2) to Hwy 17A Bellvale, NY (1371.7)Weather: Party cloudy in the 60s to 50s, heavy showers Dinner: Steamers, tuna/seaweed saladHikers: Dysfengshunal, the Wanabes and other NOBOs seeking heat and ice-cream at the CreameryNumber of falls to date: FourWell that didn't go as planned. Today was supposed to be one of making some miles up slack packing. Scattered showers were predicted and we had our rain gear. The day started out sunny and we crunched out a few good miles before we hit the New Jersey/New York border. We knew we were in New York, because the painted rocks told us so. We even goofed off taking ¢Eva Jima¢ photos by the American flag perched upon the highest point of the AT in New York. The trail followed smooth boulder outcrops along the ridge for some time which is when the rain started. I already was wearing my rain jacket as a wind breaker, but for some (dumb, dumb, dumb) reason, I didn't pull out my rain kilt. In hindsight I suppose I had thought, like yesterday, it would be a passing shower. And also, we had a motel to return to that afternoon, so getting wet was no big deal. However. It was a cold rain. Dysfengshunal saw sleet. And it didn¢t pass. My quick dry skirt was now soaked and our fingers were becoming numb. The best thing to do was to just keep moving. We were on top of the world at this point, skittering up and down glacially-scrubbed granite. Greenwood Lake paralleled the ridge far below. There were moments when we couldn't move all the fast as we crab-scuttled down the increasingly wet rock surfaces. We both fell once¢neither very hard¢but still a rude reminder that we aren't young things able to easily bounce right back up. Still, I liked this section very much. Pine forests; hard, smooth rocks and bluffs; clear lakes¢and the mountain laurel was in full bloom. We hiked for the next three hours without a break, shoving various bars (candy and otherwise) into our mouths to keep fueled as we headed to the Creamery where we hoped to find hot food. Instead we only found delicious, yet cold ice cream and other hikers drying out while frantically searching for lodging and shuttles. Knowing we had a motel room to head back to, I was up for continuing another few miles, but it was now going on 3 p.m. and our motel shuttle was on its way to pick up two of the hikers, so our day ended after 9.5 miles. And I won't say that the hot shower back at the motel was a waste of time at all. The skies did clear and enjoy did we, a hypothermia-free walk to Murphy¢s Tavern for dinner. Bonus: It was clam night.
Date: 2016-06-04
From: Bellvale, NY/Greenwood Lake, NY

To: Harriman State Park/Greenwood Lake, NY
Miles today: 17.5

Day 4517.5 miles in 11 hoursHwy 17A Bellvale, NY (1371.7) to Arden Valley Road/Harriman State Park, NY (1389.2)Weather: 70s, sunny, windy, gorgeousDinner: Hamburger, calamari and a saladHikers: One SOBO, Dysfengshunal, Uncle Frito, Mad Mufasa, Northstar, Survivor, the WannabesOn the trail by 7:30 ready to put on some miles today¢and it was a gorgeous day. Everyone we hiked with said more or less the same thing in passing. Also received lots of trail magic. Water at many of the crossings, Gatorade, fresh fruit, even an assembly of sociable plastic chairs to rest our weary legs as we ate our treats. The trail was rocky, but a different kind of rocks¢exactly as someone described in a comment recently, ¢New York rocks are larger and smoother, like hard dirt.¢ We hiked over lots of areas of large, nice hard dirt today. Plus a bunch of smaller, annoying bits too. The views were striking, one of which was the sight of the interstate highway far below and that of another mountain on the other side. It struck us that we¢d be going right back up there next. The highlight of today had to be Harriman State Park. After picking our way down a vertical boulder wall known as Agony Grind¢a pretty good clue about how we felt about that particular part of the trail¢and crossing over I-87, we started up the mountain we had indeed seen earlier from our viewpoint. Unlike Agony Grind, the ascent was much less vertical and instead was a genteel walk up a well-used path through towering trees and oceans of grassy meadows. Island Pond (really a lake to my way of thinking) providing a visual reprieve from all this woodsy stuff. The trail led through ¢the Lemon Squeezer,¢ a rock formation passing through a very narrow passage that then goes up a steep rock face, where you will need to use both your hands and your feet. There is also a blue blaze option around the most difficult section. It was tight, but we were carrying a light day pack and could make it through without needing to remove them. Survivor, an older cancer survivor who is hiking to raise awareness for his cause and carrying a large pack festooned with silver Sharpie well-wishes, was ahead of me. A full pack did make squeezing through the rocks exponentially harder to negotiate. This section of the trail in Harriman State Park was the first of the A.T. to be completed, and much of it still follows the original route. At this point, I¢m only 30 miles from New York City. Dysfengshunal and I had a date with our shuttle that we now had to hurry to make. We rushed through some granite tableaux where the trail leveled off, but then had a few more pointless ups and downs to hike before reaching our ride back to the motel. Too tired to walk the short distance into town for dinner that night, we instead ordered in and got laundry done. I guess I was pretty hungry because that large calamari appetizer went down way too easily. So did the loaded hamburger. And the salad.
Date: 2016-06-05
From: Harriman State Park/Greenwood Lake, NY

To: Saranac Lake, NY
Miles today: 0.0

About three weeks ago, it appeared possible that I'd be able to attend the second annual Northern Forest Canoe Trail weekend Freshet Fest. The NFCT is a 740-mile long water trail that I thru-paddled in 2011. The trail begins in the Adirondacks in Old Forge, New York and ends at the U.S./Canadian border in Fort Kent, Maine. Over the years, I¢ve kept in touch with a number of NFCT paddlers, including a few who have also thru-hiked the AT. (And excuse me for a moment while I give a high-five and shout out to Miss Daisy/Team Moxie, who are partially a reason why I¢m hiking today. Woot! Woot!)Another of these colleagues is 2009 thru-hiker and 2012 thru-paddler, Country Runner. He conveniently lives in New Jersey and was planning to attend this year's event. All I needed to do was remain within an area where he could easily pick me up en route to Saranac Lake. Obviously, slack packing for three days from the motel in Greenwood Lake, N.Y. was completely logical. IMO.Friday morning, my paddling/hiking/shuttler, his wife and another paddling friend met me at Anton¢s on the Lake. My zero weekend included a lunch stop at Lake George with 50,000 ¢ 100,000 of our closest biker-rally friends, an entertaining 2015 thru-paddling trip presentation, food, reuniting and meeting up with other thru-paddlers, paddling, more presentations and more food. I also got my haircut. In short, I had a blast and am getting used to very short hair. In hindsight however, maybe I shouldn't have been the hairdresser's next client after that man. She still had the neck razor out.Bonus: My foot has had a chance to rest. We'll see how the plantar fasciitis liked that.
Date: 2016-06-06
From: Saranac Lake, NY

To: William Brien Shelter, NY
Miles today: 4.2

Day 464.2 miles in 2 hoursArden Valley Road/Harriman State Park, NY (1389.2) to William Brien Shelter (1393.4)Weather: 60s-low 70s, clear, very windy with big o¢gustsWildlife: Garter snake, deer, bear #3Dinner: Tomato rice with chickenHikers: Two weekenders heading south with a beagle and about a dozen here at the shelter including the Meth/Abortion Clinic hoodie girl from Orange is the New BlackAfter a lunch stop at a non-biker cheese shoppe, where we were served artisanal grilled cheese sandwiches by facially-groomed hipsters in Albany (I'm definitely going to miss the food we ate this past weekend), my friends deposited me back on the trail in Harriman State Park late afternoon. Mountain laurels are in full explosion. Whole hillsides are laden with shrubs thick with white or pink flowers. I had sent a resupply and was now carrying six or more days worth of food. I hiked only a short distance to the first shelter and had already decided to tent tonight. Good call. The shelter was populated with three chain-smokers, one of whom was a dead ringer of the Meth/Abortion Clinic hoodie-wearing girl from Orange is the New Black. The meth couple were also rocking out to 80s music on the portable radio they carried, because of course, nothing sounds more like nature than a little Twisted Sister. They are heading south. While cooking up one of my heaviest non-artisan dinners, a satisfying chicken-flavored TVP rice concoction, one of the fellows I was camping near suddenly noted a bear just yonder. And by just yonder, I mean close. The small yearling (?) nosed around another fire pit, looked at the four of us taking pictures and videos, then headed toward the shelter which was now populated with more hikers, none of which appeared to be additional meth heads. The bear sighting generated more interest in sleeping in the shelter, smokers or not. We were also much more vigilant about hanging our food, toothpaste and anything that remotely smelled delicious, even if it is packaged in plastic. That means my peppermint Aveda Foot Relief lotion is hanging from a tree tonight. And I mean it, I better not lose yet another food resupply to a bear. Prior to my departure, there had been lots of well-intentioned advice about safety, including encounters with fearsome bears. Yet, none of us reached for pepper spray or guns (if anyone was even carrying), during this entire encounter. Cuz that¢s how we hikers roll. Meth or not. Meanwhile, I need not worry about being jolted awake by the sound of snapping twigs caused by the footfalls of curious bears. The only snapping twigs (and branches) I'm hearing are those being torn asunder from the trees by gusting wind. That's white noise to me.
Date: 2016-06-07
From: William Brien Shelter, NY

To: Graymoor Monestary, NY
Miles today: 16.6

Day 4716.6 miles in 10 hoursWilliam Brien Shelter (1393.4) to Graymoor Monestary (1410.0)Weather: 60s-low 70s, clear, still windyDinner: Pasta with ham and peas, miso soup, Keebler crackersHikers: Daddy Longlegs, Body, The Wannabes and another dozen or so at the campsite, plus lots of tourists at Bear Mtn.Wildlife: Heard a barred owl
Date: 2016-06-12
From: Kent, Ct.

To: Silver Hill Campsite, Ct.
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: light rain

Day 5210.3 miles in 6 hoursKent, Conn. (1467.1) to Silver Hill Campsite (1477.4)Weather: high 70s-80s, sunnyDinner: Pepper SalmonHikers: Recon and Weird Horse, a section couple from Washington, a group of Connecticut high school students, Shotgun and EnglandNumber of falls: Near missSheesh. Today was nothing like yesterday. During my formative teenage years, a young Sally Fields, wanting to break out from her saccharine roles as ¢Gidget¢ and the ¢Flying Nun,¢ starred in the NBC made for TV movie ¢Sybil.¢ This was back in the day when there were only three major networks, plus public broadcasting, and no cable. Like HBO and Netflix today, networks would occasionally produce their own programs. Movies like Brian¢s Song, Born Innocent and Tribes became our weekly crack, sort of like the Walking Dead is to this generation.Sybil was based on a book about a young woman who suffered from split personalities or dissociative identity disorder. One was suicidal, another was a pre-verbal infant, a third is a gifted pianist. And poor Sybil doesn't know when the other personalities will manifest themselves. On any given day. At any given time. The AT is Sybil and Route 341 created a personality split just outside of Kent, Conn.South of Route 341 was full of ankle-twisting rocks and a totally pointless trek up to a viewless peak while today¢s northern route had us following the Housatanic River. All day. From a scenic ridge line to a smooth five-mile long riverside path. Okay so there was one death-defying descent after the St. John ledges, and by death-defying I mean to say a boulder scramble with few steps shorter than the length of your leg bone and covered with leaf litter and pine needles for upping the risk factor. And, yeah, I almost fell carrying a new food resupply at one point (near the bottom). But really, that was it. The flatness and relatively root- and rock-free personality of today¢s trail was quite the contrast to Sybil yesterday. Camped out at Silver Hill tonight¢word was that this campsite was a nice one and boy did it deliver. An absolutely beautiful spot surrounded by towering white pines complete with a covered picnic pavilion, deck and swing. Yesterday¢s two skirted sister hikers had spent the morning in town and arrived here at the campsite after I did. As did about a dozen high school kids out on a five-day trip. I had passed them twice today at the two Housatanic River overlooks and was surprised to see that they made it this far. Meaning the distance they covered¢although I did observe that they all seemed to have made it down that St. John descent without injury as well. A very nice group, and by nice I mean exhausted and quiet. Spending the remaining hours sitting on the swing as a full moon rose. Today also brought me past the 600 mile mark. Woot! Woot! Musings: I spent way too much time recalling scenes from Sybil.
Date: 2016-06-13
From: Silver Hill Campsite, CT

To: Bearded Woods Hostel, CT
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 5312.7 miles in 9.25 hoursSilver Hill Campsite (1477.4) to Bearded Woods Hostel (1490.1)Weather: High 80s, almost 90, sunnyDinner: BBQ chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, corn bread, tuna casserole, strawberry shortcakeHikers: Lots and lots weekend hikers, Bangles and Night Reader; Strider, Dysfengshunal, Sivvy, Shotgun, Blue Bandana, Uncle Al at the hostel, RoadrunnerWildlife: Lots of garter snakes, hen turkey and her poultsI can't get over how many garter snakes I'm seeing. Maybe it's just the time of year and not just an over abundant species living the dream in Connecticut.Another beautiful day¢cool enough in the woods, but hotter when crossing fields and roads. There were many changes in elevation, so ultimately it wasn't the easiest day of hiking---especially in the afternoon heat. At the end of the day I knew there was a hostel awaiting. Besides clean sheets and showers, the Bearded Woods includes a family dinner and breakfast. And laundry. Two things occurred just before the end of my hike. First, I ran into a ridge runner named ¢Roadrunner.¢ Ridge runners are seasonal employees of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy or one of the regional chapters, who routinely hike and monitor specific sections of the trail. They might assist with first aid or they might kick you out of an area where you aren't supposed to be camping. I had shared a shelter with Roadrunner about a month ago, right before heading in to Port Clinton, PA. He had told me then that he'd be working in Massachusetts and I had completely forgotten. And we were also in Connecticut, but as he explained, he is one of four ridge runners covering both Massachusetts and Connecticut. Second, the trail magic we had heard about yesterday ended up being parked at the road crossing at the end of today's hike. The dad of a young thru-hiker was handed out cold drinks, chips, candy and cookies. Why yes, please. So yeah, good things today. Even the snakes.
Date: 2016-06-14
From: Bearded Woods Hostel

To: Laurel Ridge Tentsite, MA
Miles today: 18.0

Day 5418 miles in 11 hoursBearded Woods Hostel (1490.1) to Laurel Ridge Campsite, MA (1508.1)Weather: 80s, slightly humid, sunny and breezyDinner: Sundried tomato tuna tortelliniHikers: Several day hikers, half a dozen NOBS and met up again Bangles and Night Reader in the morning,, Dysfengshunal, a couple from Washington state from the Silver Hill campsite, One Boot here at the campground also from Wisconsin and working on his sectional hikeWildlife: More garter snakes, and the smell of a copperheadThe Bearded Woods Hostel was wonderful. Owners khaki shirt-wearing Hudson and his wife are the Steve and Terri Irwin of the hiker world. Crikey! They know everything about hiker habitats and what is needed to tame them.I reported earlier that I had seen a Copperhead back in Pennsylvania, but now I believe it was a non-venomous milk snake. Today, however, I'm pretty sure I was in close proximity to an actual Copperhead and may have even touched it. I was in the lead of two other women I had met yesterday. We were chatting away when suddenly I detected a strong cucumber smell. But we never broke our stride or stopped. A few hours later, another hiker just happened to mention in passing that Copperheads emit a cucumber smell when touched. Say what?!!! Today was warm, but the trail was really nice as defined by ¢scenic.¢ Lots of streams. Lots of vistas. A nice variety of trail conditions. There was only one vertical double black diamond drop after passing the highest point of the AT in Connecticut, on another Bear Mountain, noted in the guidebook only as ¢steep and rocky.¢The highlight of the day was definitely the Sages Ravine area. The trail follows a stream for almost .5 miles and there are pools where you can swim amidst the emerald moss-covered stony bluffs. There were many little water falls cascading as the stream dropped in elevation through the ravine and a picturesque stream-side hiker campground. Except for feeling sweaty, I was feeling real good hiking 16.5 miles, even with the death march down the ¢steep and rocky¢ north face of Bear Mountain. But I did feel like swimming. I figured a quick dip would wash off the day¢s sweat, sun screen and accumulated dirt, plus give me that extra kick to make it to the next campground, another 1.3 miles ahead. Well kick it did. I believe that water was still winter runoff. It was cold enough to make me gasp¢and that's saying a lot for me. But I felt great and not even much sweatier by the time my tent was pitched and dinner eaten two hours later. I went to put my food bag in the bear box and took a look at the Campsite Trail Register. Turns out that the only other campground occupant is also from Wisconsin. It's day one of his month-long section hike. He's been working his way north for the past nine years. I think I'm happier to be doing this all at one time. I give the section hikers a lot of credit. It's much harder to constantly start over each year. Just when their trail legs are all tuned up, they have to head back home. Oh, and another state down. I passed into Massachusetts late this afternoon.
Date: 2016-06-15
From: Laurel Ridge Tentsite, MA

To: Sheffield, MA
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

Day 5512.9 miles in 8.5 hoursLaurel Ridge Campsite, MA (1508.1) to Sheffield, MA (1521)Weather: Again. High 80s, almost 90, sunnyDinner: Thanksgiving on the Trail, Creamy Tomato Soup, BeerHikers: Five day hikers, passed by five NOBOs, Dysfengshunal Another beautiful day¢¦and interesting trail following the Taconic range. I liked the morning very much. The afternoon, not so much. After leaving camp, the trail traversed piney woods to Race Mountain. The summit provided spectacular views along slabs of smooth bedrock for quite a distance. Each view seemed more dramatic than the last. All good things come to an end, and I started down the first of several steep descents so of the day. Vertical descents, worn even smoother by thousands of boots. Just like yesterday's Bear Mountain. Then I went up Mt. Everett, not to be confused with its more famous Tibetan cousin, Everest. Another nice view above scrub oaks and pines and the site of a former fire tower. The another death-defying trek downwards. This was beginning to become irksome. From then on, the trail continued to follow broken rocky fields. At one point I felt like I was walking in a dry stream bed. The scenery was still stunning and the bugs still haven't been bad, but am getting pretty sick of walking on rocks. The final descent out of the range toward South Egremont, Mass., was a long switchback of more balancing acts, careful foot placements and scootching downward. To be clear, this is my style. I am being very cautious and careful. Meanwhile younger, more agile hikers with lots of shock-absorbing spongy cartilage still nesting their kneecaps, bound past me. One Croc-clad young man initially startled me, not only because he was hiking barefoot in his Crocs, but because he was only wearing shorts. Today is Naked Hiker Day. ¢Oh!¢ I said, startled. ¢For a moment I thought you were observing Naked Hiker Day,¢ which he hadn't even heard about. Myself? I was alone most of the day and an organized observance strikes me as being more of a group, albeit very personal, experience. It certainly would be more disturbing for a poor day hiker to come upon a solo naked hiker sans clothes for no apparent reason.Before the trip, people would caution me about traveling alone¢primarily concerned regarding stranger danger. If you only saw where I'm hiking, one would be much more concerned about me falling. So I take it slow. I also wouldn¢t want anyone to have to deal with my broken body if I did fall. That would ruin both of our days. I¢d been chasing Dysfengshunal all day and finally caught up to her sitting at the bottom of the interminable switchback chatting it up with half-dressed, bounding Croc lad. We hiked the next four flat miles toward Sheffield, where we are resting our feet, recharging our devices and camping at a trail angels house. Musings: I like canoeing.
Date: 2016-06-16
From: Sheffield, MA

To: Shaker Tentsites, MA
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: moderate rain

Day 5617.6 miles in 10.5 hoursSheffield, MA (1521) to Shaker Tentsite, MA (1538.6)Weather: 79s, breezy, sunnyDinner: Noodle veggie bowlHikers: Five day hikers, more and more NOBOs, Box Turtle, Spacious, El Chapo, Peanut ButterAfter a leisurely blueberry pancake breakfast with our host, I said goodbye to Dysfengshunal who was leaving the trail for a few days to meet up with her husband. I made it a long day today for the sole purpose of making my day tomorrow shorter. Tomorrow Im hitting the famed Upper Goose Pond Shelter. Sybil showed a few personalities today through the variety of terrain. Started out needing to be a billy goat, but finished the day hiking through pine forests and boggish areas with a grand finale of mosquito wrath at the Shaker campsite. I had on all my rain gear and a head net for protection. Fastest camp set-up and dinner prep to date in the trail. I was in bed by 8:30 and more to the point, asleep soon after.