morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-07-08
To: Plans
Miles today: 0.0

CTMAAT08 PlansI hope to start outside of Wingdale, NY and go up to Salisbury for my first resupply, then make it to Great Barrington or Lee for a second and maybe last resupply. Bugs are out in force up here in ME, i hope that they aren't too fierce down in southern New England. Will bring spray.
Date: 2008-07-16
To: Drop box and dinners!
Miles today: 0.0

Drop box and dinners!I got a lot of resupply at local big box. Very happy with the selection of preserved meats. Room temp in a bag, hopefully tastes as good as it did last summer. Got boxes of energy/protein bars, out of a lot of selection, I chose power bar protein, cliff bar regular, and snickers "charged." I also have 4 bags of trail mix, dried fruit, and other mixes. I stopped by the PO today and have their largest flat-rate box to be my first resupply and then bump box. I will bump it up into Lee, MA from the first spot of Salisbury, CT. With it being 4 days away and sending out the drop boxes tomorrow, it seems that my hike is here! I am still waiting on some crucial gear to appear in the mail, so i am set but needing the stated delivery for this stuff. Again, some new gear and some tried and true. I will be setting up text message updates while I am actually on the trail, let me know via email or Guest book if you want to be on the list.   Good night and peace to you!
Date: 2008-07-20
From: Hoyt Road, Conn. / NY State Line

To: Schaghticoke Mtn Campsite
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: broken clouds

My first day on the trail for this hike.I got up at 5am, rode with Renee to Portland Airport to get my rental car. Got a pretty cool ride and started heading down to CT. I realized that i had forgot my cellphone on the way down. Bummer as that was to serve as my camera too. 260+ miles later and i got to Danbury, CT at a little after noon. After a few minutes, i got a courtesy ride and after a few wrong turns, i got dropped off at Hoyt Road in New York, my starting point.It was super hot and humid, and stepping out of the new car AC was a great intro to the heat. Well, time to head North! I had to stop a few times to get all sorted out and gear and food where i needed them. I got to Bulls Bridge road crossing fine, but on the way up Schaghticoke Mtn i slowed way down. With the heat, humidity, and the warm, poor quality water sources had me really dehydrated. I don't try for this, but i seem to do this to start each hike. That's why they call me "Thirsty." I didn't make it to my intended shelter, 8.5 was plenty that day, but it put me behind already on my schedule. No one else was at this primitive campsite and after walkin around naked for a while i took a nap with water bag in hand and then woke to try to eat a dinner. It stormed that night and cooled down so i could eventually get to sleep.
Date: 2008-07-21
From: Schaghticoke Mtn Campsite

To: Whale's Tail Farm, off Dawn Hill Rd
Miles today: 13.2

Woke up late after sleeping in. After waking up to a flat, deflated pad, I realized that my inflatable sleeping pad has a mystery hole in it. Sweet. Got more water, as the storm last night had made the water source a bit better, and ate breakfast. Got on trail between 10 and 11 and started trekkin. Past up on my chance to go to Kent, CT as I wanted to get some miles done, past by the hiker that I would soon know as Icarius. Kept hikin as my body was wondering what was going on and was getting adjusted. Still hot an really humid. Got down St. Johns ledges and along the riverwalk. Met Wookie and Freefall, as a coincidence, Wookie works blocks away from my house in my hometown.After laying in the Housatonic river to cool and clean off, I kept on going. I decided to make a visit into Cornwall Bridge. As I was walking down the road, some people waved from screen room of a house. I waved back, of course, and asked how far to town. After a few minutes a truck came up on me and it was someone from the house that I had passed. I figured that he might be nice enough to give me a ride to town, but instead he introduced himself as Bruce and offered to take me back to what was a beautiful farmstead property for dinner. The place was gorgeous and I met the Frost family who owned and ran the Whale's Tail Farm along the Housatonic river. They were extremely generous and accommodating and treated me like family. They served a delicious dinner prepared by the daughter and six of us ate by candlelight. I felt a bit out of place as I was hot and stinky but they at least pretended not to notice. After a Ben & Jerry's desert, they let me stay at their guest house up the road, and planned to pick me up for breakfast in the am. It was just what I needed as the I was having a little trouble getting acclimated to the head and trail. Many thanks to them!
Date: 2008-07-22
From: Whale's Tail Farm, off Dawn Hill Rd

To: Toy Maker's Cafe, Falls Village, CT
Miles today: 16.2

After a great sleep and a great breakfast at Whale's Tail, i was off in the cool morning to crank out some miles. Met "Siren," who was doing a very similar section hike only he was Southbound (SOBO). He told me that Great Barrington was a good town to visit and i later followed his advice. Kept cranking, but missed a trailside cafe meal, as i was too late in the day. As i got near Falls Village, the area school football coach stopped me to say that a big thunderstorm was about to hit. He wanted me to come stay at the high school, but i didn't want to and needed to press on. I guess he stopped other hikers too as we later talked about him. The last section before town was handicap accessible and went by fast as the rain came. I stopped to ask directions as i walked into town and this guy gave me a ride and i got dropped off at Toy Makers Cafe and there were other hikers on the porch out of the rain. We ended up getting drinks at the package store which is the only store in town and ordered delivery pizza to the cafe as it was closed but allowed all of us to tent out behind it in the yard.Pizza was great but couldn't finish it. I couldn't just let it go and i took it to the tent and to bed with me with hopes of cold pizza in the AM. I slept well until i awoke to my tent shaking and some funny noises. There was a creature trying to get the pizza from my tent! The pizza was in the floorless vestibule portion of the tent and it was trying to drag it out of the tent by the box. I yelled and banged stuff to make noise but to no avail. I saw it's face and it looked like a skunk, but it seemed really strong and the tent was shaking as it was detirmined to get the pizza. Eventually, Wookie woke up and scared it away so that i could move the pizza box. I moved the pizza far away and decided that the skunk could have the damn thing, hoping it'd leave me alone. But i left my trekking pole hanging halfway out my tent, just in case it came back. Almost right away it was back and in clear view. I banged my pole around and could have hit the skunk if i wanted to, but i really didn't want to get sprayed, especially in my tiny tent with one door so no way out. The skunk didn't care about my threats and was not intimidated in the least. It was domesticated and not afraid of humans at all. He eventually left and ate the pizza on the other side of the yard, leaving me to clean up his mess in the morning. It was still worth it for the pizza that night though.
Date: 2008-07-23
From: Toy Maker's Cafe, Falls Village, CT

To: Brassie Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 14.3

Had a quick breakfast on the Toy Maker's porch, thanks for them for letting us stay, walked back out of town and barely made it to the woods on the other side of the river before emptying myself of last night's supper in an emergency fashion. Met Catfish on the trail and then needed to backtrack to the power station for water. Had a good hike up to the ridge and over to Billy's View, where Catfish met up with me again. Talked with him for a few minutes and we got along really well. Cool hiker from GA. We hiked and talked about our lives, and he told me his NY trail magic, which is probably the best "trail magic" story that i have ever heard, and i have heard of alot. Good for him.We made it over the mountains and to Salisbury, CT in no time. I had planned this to be my first town stop and had a mail drop here. We got into town, saw other hikers, and got a awesome lunch. Hot Reuben sandwich, and cold soda and water. We then lounged in the center of the stores where they have tables and chairs set out, and had some microbrewed beer while we relaxed and met a bunch of other thru hikers. I got my maildrop and made some phone calls on Catfish's cellphone; it was one of the best times on my hike. Eventually I had to think about moving on and getting up some more mountains. I hooked up Catfish with some stuff from my maildrop and then said our goodbyes as he was staying in town and i was moving on.After a great americano coffee drink, i was off to go up CT's biggest mountains with storm clouds threatening. I definately felt supercharged from all the town food and beverages and rocked right up the mountain. I wanted to make it to a shelter as these storms were predicted to yield serious rain, the collision of the remnant of a tropical storm and storms from the midwest coming east. I got to Brassie brook shelter and am glad i stayed in the shelter, we all watched the storms come through will massive power, lightning, thunder and inches of rain as if nature was giving us quite a show. While this is going on, if you thought that i was way out there in the mountains away from civilization, a girl scout leader in the shelter had service on her cellphone and i was able to check my stocks in between her compulsive texting. It's a brave new world.
Date: 2008-07-24
From: Brassie Brook Lean-to

To: Great Barrington - Shay's Monument
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: moderate rain

Got up fairly early, and did my camp stuff while it rained. Whatever grossness is in my backpack's foam, probably from my sweat, is now giving me a terrible rash. I don't know if it's heat or sweat rash; whatever it is feels like tingling that then goes to really hurting. It feels like hundreds of little needles sticking into my skin. I had slept wet all night and it got pretty cold, compared with the weather of the past 5 days or so, and that must've set me up for this whole "painful skin pore rash" thing. I haven't really felt anything like it before.So up CT's tallest Bear mountain to the cool remnants of the old stone tower, down it's wet steep waterfall ledges to the North, and into Sages Ravine and Massachusetts. Sages Ravine was one of the most beautiful parts of the hike and i really love that type of terrain, with waterfalls and big pools in the stream. It was really wet from all the rain, and part of the trail was in the stream flooding. I just walked down the stream for .25 mile or so, feeling the cool clean water and was listening to my iPod, and really really digging the hike at this point. I crossed the stream one last time, deep at this point, and registered on the MA state line with Wookie. Up Mt. Everett which was wet ledges as well, but that is OK as I later heard that it's a rattlesnake haven if dry. I continued to Shay's Rebellion Monument, which was very humble, and I hitched into Great Barrington. The guy that picked me up told me how much he wanted to hike some of the AT, and promised that he would some day. I hope he does, but it's like writing a book or something, he has no idea of what it is like, but really holds on to his idea of what it would be like and wants to do it "someday."Great Barrington, MA. I got dropped off at the first motel i saw near downtown. Comfort Inn. Comfort inndeed. I showered and couldn't lay down right at the chafing on the top of my butt from the pack was so bad. Called my peeps and took rest. Got the bomb burrito and drinks to go back to my room. Had to figure out rest of itinerary for trip until i fell asleep. Heavenly king size bed with 8+ pillows everywhere. ;]
Date: 2008-07-26
From: Benedict Pond

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: clear sky

Felt great hiking this morning despite not sleeping well last night. Felt like i was floating up the hills in the cool morning air. Hiked with Stump Knocker for awhile and met Warren Doyle, working on his 15th hike of the AT! This guy knows seems to know every little part of the AT from memory. Ate more blueberries, and local hikers explained the low bush/ high bush difference, i had no idea. Got up to the cabin in rough shape, my feet hurt so bad, and i was totally exhausted. Went swimming and washed the funk out of my pack so that it wouldn't give me that needle prick rash that i have mentioned anymore. K-bomb brought a box of wine and there was a party on the cabin's front deck. I got out early as i really knew how tired my body had become. It's been many days that i've been hauling ass, and i haven't taken a rest day yet. I should have just stayed in bed more in Great Barrington and rested. But i am where i am because of getting up and getting going. I looked forward to the breakfast that i have heard so much about.
Date: 2008-07-27
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Mass 8 & 9, Dalton, MA
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: haze

As Jim Cramer (the stock guy) would say, "Ba Ba BOOOO YAAAH!!! I needed to bust a big 20+ mile day, and i did it today. I was foolish and thought that the hike would be cake and i'd be doing 20's most of the way. Nope. The AT is the AT and there is only easier, not easy. But getting this mileage done really felt good and set me up to finish on Tuesday. This 21.6m beats my all time daily record of 21.3m, set on the Long Trail last summer, though probably on more difficult terrain. But it's a new record and not bad for someone who's never walked for more than a few weeks at a time.In the morning, I ate a great breakfast of blueberry pancakes and real coffee. I packed up as quickly as i could, my stuff was in different locations as i had taken em out to wash my pack the night before. I headed out just after Blues Traveler, and with Double D, that i had met the night before. He was headed to Dalton, and said that i could make it. It was the confidence that i needed. We got separated a couple times but met back up at Warren mtn. summit in a pretty severe thunderstorm. The storm invigorated me, and i kept up with him in it. We ate a quick meal at the shelter 3m before town, then made it into town to a trail angel named Tom's house. Showered and went out to eat at Shamrock Pub and Inn, had a great dinner of chicken parmesan. Great sleep on a bed as me and Double D were first to arrive that day. Lots of other hikers showed up later and enjoyed Tom's hospitality very much. Thanks!
Date: 2008-07-29
From: Greylock Summit Area

To: Rt. 2 North Adams, MA
Miles today: 7.8

My last day on the trail was a half-day just like my first. I woke up early did my usual routine coffee, but saved the cereal to eat back up on the summit. Leaving the shelter i realized how protected and warm i was last night as it was windy and cold. It was 6-something and the summit was not a place to hang out, so back to the shelter for a nap. After an hour or so, I went back up again, as i didn't have many miles to go and i liked the summit. This time i watched a huge rabbit do it's things for 5 minutes then checked out the really cool scale model of Greylock area. 1 foot = 1 mile so it pretty big and showed all the landscape and all the trails too.Eventually at 8am it was time to start heading, and down i went though slowly as i had no rush. I took the Money Brook Trail for a little bit to get water, and it was cold and pure. Saw other thruhikers doing their slackpacking thing headed SOBO up the mountain. Biggest climb in quite some time for them. Finally ate my breakfast cereal at Mt Williams summit and signed in the register for the last time. Came into North Adams along a beautiful street with Greylock school and it's bug themed playground. Got to Rt 2 and sat down on the corner. DD came just before Renee picked me up. Gave him a soda and put a bunch of Pepsis back as the trail comes into town from south. Renee forgot how much i stank when i do these hikes. ;[ So off we went to the local diner for a pretty good Reuben sandwich and ice water. We took Rt 2 east to get closer to the coast and it's interstate highways, but was a beautiful ride at first. Will miss the trail life, as i always do, but i love coming home too.
Date: 2008-07-31
To: Back Home in Maine
Miles today: 0.0

I'm back home in the ME and the comforts of home. It's raining pretty hard out right now, and I am enjoying my house. I'm about to go out to eat a nice lunch with family, and then do a trip to the grocery store. ;]The stresses of modern life abound however, although this time around I feel more prepared and not disillusioned that my life would be so different now. I just try to carry one or two positive attributes from hiking into this world and apply them as best I can. Voicemails, emails, vehicle and refrigerator issues; they all come at you quick. But expecting that stuff do happen and being trying to be super patient when they come, is kinda like expecting the next climb and just taking it one step at a time.I'd love all the awesome hikers that I met on the trip to sign my guest book! Many thanks!So, being the numbers geek that I am, I¢ve got my stats for the trip below.Actual Time on Trail = < 9 days(1pm Sunday, 20th through 1230pm Tuesday, 29th)Calendar Days = 10 daysTrip Days Overall =  9.0 = 16.1 mpdFull Days Hiking =  7.0 = 16.6 mpdHalf Days Hiking =  3.0 = 9.7  mpdMore importantly thought I had a great time!
Date: 2007-05-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

cHelloSo this is where I write down my deep thoughts as I prepare to walk over 2000 miles¢¦. ¢¦. ¢¦. Hmmmm, well what is I just write down what I see.How did I get here¢¦preparing to hike the AT? A few years back, I was graced with the opportunity and support to help a group of women change how they do retreats. Instead of the normal church retreat, I proposed we take 4 days and hike the Maryland portion of the AT as a retreat. Much to my surprise and several others, we had 14 women on the first year ¢ of which only 2 had backpacking experience. Since then a version of the retreat has occurred every year . . . on the AT. As we grew bigger and more women were ready to take on leading their own retreat, we divided and did different hikes and such.Somewhere along in the following years, I started talking about the goal of a through hike. I never in my wildest dreams believed I would find fellow through hikers. On year two, I meet Carolyn, who was going to hike last year. But God had better plans and she will be joining us.During the last 5 years of section/retreat hiking, I had the privilege of watch a 11-year-old girl grow into a dedicated young woman - Lydia. I don¢t remember when she stated the words ¢I want to through hike the AT,¢ but I remember smiling. When her mother (Tammy) also stated she wanted to through hike the AT, I knew I would quit work to join them.Well now we are less then a year our from our start date of Mar 30, 2008, I am making plans to leave work soon. In addition, I am trying to dehydrate a few more meals. More to follow.
Date: 2007-06-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well - It is time for a monthly update. It is now 9 months away before I depart on the AT. I am working to sell a house, continuing to dehydrate meals and to get in shape. I just completed a 1/2 ironman and I mean just completed. It made me realize that we need a stretching program for the trail. So over the next few months, I hope to build a series based on yoga (the not so kumbaya type) and core strength stretches.
Date: 2008-01-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

HelloIt is 1 Jan 2008 and it is the year we take off in an attempt to hike the entire trail. I have recently returned from an overseas assignment.   I wish those who I worked with the best of blessings for the new year. You will be in my thoughts this year. You have all been a joy to work with and may we meet again!I am vacationing off and on until March where I will depart work for the duration of the hike. I have spent the holidays with my non-hiking family and have managed to snowboard one day. But it has been great to be with family, the first time in three yearsI will soon be driving across country to meet up with some of my hiking partners. In between what I hope is some snowboarding, we will pack 18 drop boxes with various meals and equipment. After that, I hope to get a few weeks of rock climbing, snowboarding, and sea kayaking in before driving east to meet up with the entire team (3 other hikers and one dog).My update should be every 5 to 7 days from here on out. I hope to post the equipment I will be using. Llike 90% of the hikers, I am have last min equipment thoughts...should I give up my jet boil for a alcohol stove? Hmmmm....should I use the lighter sleeping bag with a liner for the early spring or just use my heavier bag?   Equipment and logistic questions are pushing there way in to the front of my thought processes
Date: 2008-01-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

HELLO EVERYONEIt is 11 Jan 2008 and I am finishing up an introduction course to Mercy Ships. What a wonderful and refreshing week.   It makes me look forward to hike, where I will have time to think. The bad, but not too bad, news is that I twisted my ankle playing WallyBall. I have to start remembering that I am not 20 years old anymore. :-) It is a light sprain and with plenty of ice and rest it should be healed with-in the week.I have been in almost daily contact with my hike partners. At times, I feel they are so far ahead of me in the planning cycle. But when that panic feeling starts to happen, I take a deep breath and realize I have time - I think!I have plans to put together my drop boxes in the middle of Feb 08. In addition, I will pack my pack and make some decision on when to have new shoes sent to me, or a lighter sleeping bag and such.I am still struggling over the stove. I own a Jet Boil and have really enjoyed the jet boil for the last two years. But this last months Backpacker Magazine made me think about switching to the alcohol stove with the funny looking funnel for a wind shield. Time is running out to make that decision.Well I am signing off for now. T**************************Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened. Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.