morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-06-20
From: William Brien Memeorial Shelter

To: Old West Point Road, Graymoor Friary
Miles today: 15.3

New people I met today at the Greymoor shelter: Wile Coyote, Roadrunner, Pizza man, Gizmo, and Rifiki. Actually, I had met Rifiki way back in Tennessee at the Mountaineer shelter. A rainstorm was brewing that day, and I kept going while he stayed back. I could tell then he was kick-ass hiker then, and obviously he is since he's been doing monster mileage lately to catch up. I'm glad he did. One of the negatives of being on this pace is that I meet some really cool people only for a day or two before getting ahead of them, and then I have no idea how they are doing. Seems the typical hiker pace is 13-18 miles per day with a zero day once every week or two. This is the sane and rational way to walk the AT. As seen by today's miles, I'm trying, (and I really am) to stop doing the big days..I must have a sickness of some kind. blah blah blah...Anyhow, Rifiki was able to catch me up on the all the trail gossip about all the folks I'd passed. I was especially sad when he informed me that Sapra had to get off the trail in Front Royal. He was my number one favorite character. he got some poison ivy in his eye and also is going to a wedding. word is he will get back on the trail in Maine and hike southbound later in the summer..hope so. At the Greymoor, a halfway house, we tented in their baseball/soccer field. This is one of the few places on the trail where you can order pizza and have it delivered. I had to walk up to the halfway house facility to use their phone to make my order. While standing in line, one of the "residents" welcomed me as if I was new there. I had to tell him that I was actually just a hiker camping down in their field and just up there to use the phone. "oh" he said and looked away. Then another resident came up to welcome me. The first guy said, "Don't bother. He's not one of us."
Date: 2007-06-21
From: Old West Point Road, Graymoor Friary

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter
Miles today: 27.8
Weather: clear sky

Kind of a big day. Considered stopping at the nice RPH shelter, but just 5 miles north was a deli 0.3 miles off the trail and then just 4 miles to Morgan Stewart.Not that I needed to spend more money on town food, but what the hell. Random details that infiltrate my brain: pretended my hike was a work day with two 15 minute breaks and a half-hour lunch. Ate leftover pizza on my two breaks. The ankle sprain pain comes and goes. Hung out at the Deli for awhile until Rifiki caught me. Dude, that kid can flat out hike. much much much much more athletic and faster and stronger than me. Think Lance Armstron with trekking poles. We left the store together and I tried to stay with him. Didn't happen. I must be said that also, he's a bit arrogant about his ability and pace. I don't think he means to come across as arrogant; it's just his way--kind of like my little brother Josh with chess or puzzles. It just comes natural to him and he can't understnad why it isn't the same for everyone else. But looking past this, he's a genuinely nice guy and I enjoyed hiking with him..even if it was a one-sided conversation since I was constantly out of breath. Things are looking up: The backpain I've been having while sleeping, otherwise known as "my personal night terror" seems to have abated. halleluja.
Date: 2007-06-22
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: Ten Mile River Lean-to, Conn.
Miles today: 20.3

From the diary:All I can say is, "Boy am I glad this day is over!" To start off, I slept in a bit and didn't get on the trail until 6:45. But this didn't matter because, well, hm, how to put this, OK, I'll just say it, I STARTED HIKED IN THE WRONG DIRECTON!! Not for a few feet or a few hundred yards, but close to 4 MILES! I was so upset with myself when I realized. just the sickest feeling possible. Here is the scene: I'm walking along, complaining about how the New York terrain is a little bland and doesn't seem to change (duh), when I see a tent 30 yards off the trail that looks JUST like the tent I saw last night. "huh" I think "that's a weird coincidence". Then a closer look reveals a red campchair next to it, again, just like the red campchair last night. "that's peculiar. maybe these folks got up early and set up camp again 8 miles north." I'm still in denial and keep walking, the puzzle pieces still floating around in my head, not fitting together yet. Then I see the same sign I saw the night before. "oh no, what have I done" I say to myself as I look at the other side of the sign with the same handwritten note I'd seen the night before - which is instructions to northbounders. This evidence cannot be ignored. I made an idiotic mistake. Earlier in the trail I had this thing where every time I tripped on a root or a rock I would mutter the F-word. There were some days back there that I said the F-word a lot. But those days pale in comparison to the thousands of F-words I muttered to myself on the 4 miles back to the shelter. Basically, an 8 mile roundtrip to break even on the day. The only consolation was the thought that Rifiki, an obviously much stronger hiker than me, who was going to leave the shelter until around 7am, must have been hiking his ass off just to catch up with me.Fuming the whole way, I walked straight through the day with no break until darkness, some 20 miles.
Date: 2007-06-23
From: Ten Miler River Lean-to, Conn.

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 15.7

All things considered, a nice relaxing day. This morning, hiked 9 miles to a town called Kent, Connecticut. Most hikers consider this a rather snooty town where the locals look at a thru-hiker as if he has a third arm sticking out of his chest. Yes, I got the same vibe. I got a lot done though--internet, groceries, laundry, outfitter. No place for a shower, but who cares. Bought new shoes - North Face Brand. MENS size 8 this time, and I can already, after one day, see it starting to wear on the toe part of the tread just like the last ones. Ankle sprain is the same, but I'm getting used to it. Met lots of new NOBO people today, if only in passing. Ranger, Fly Away, Cheeze, Widowmaker, and Truffles. And saw Rifiki in town also. Also, in town, picked up a copy of Robinson Crusoe from the library booksale to entertain myself in the upcoming evenings. Seems like apt reading for this type of adventure.
Date: 2007-06-24
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-to

To: Limestone Spring Lean-to
Miles today: 22.3

Straight from the notebook diary:All things considered this was shaping up to be the perfect hiking day. Just the right mix of mileage, difficult and easy terrain. pretty scenery while walking along the Husatonic river. Everything was going my way, backpain was subsiding, ankle no longer hurting, tick head somehow dislodged from my leg, when BAM!! Out of nowhere , one of my trekking poles snapped in half, and as a result, I took a nasty summersault shoulder roll down a hill. So dangerous. Luckly I am fine, but now am hiking with one pole. On the trail, it seems to be that everyone I meet now is a strong hiker. I guess I am now in first tier of NOBO hikers to make it to this point. Wiley Coyote, Roadrunner, Hartley Hounddog, and Rifiki are all ahead of me. In fact, Rifiki is off finishing up another 30 miler today as I write this. He wanted me to come with him, but I pussed out. At the shelter, which is 0.5 miles off the trail--superbly annoying--I read the register and see farewell entries from Joe from Iowa and Conquistador. They were a month or so ahead and I'd been following their entertaining posts since the beginning. I'm a little sad that their journey ended prematurely and I won't be able to follow in their footsteps. Had an entertaining evening with Widowmaker and Cheeze. These kids are hilarious. In my sleeping bag, under just the bugnetting, and looking at the stars, I am struck by how much I really love being out here. On the trail. I can't imagine why anyone would want to leave.
Date: 2007-06-25
From: Limestone Spring Lean-to

To: Glen Brook Lean-to, Mass.
Miles today: 17.6

This morning I walked a few miles to Salisbury, Connecticut. I had breakfast at the local coffee shop and became a little impatient waiting for another thru-hiker who I didn't know to finish up on the computer so I could check my e-mail. Afterwards, on the lawn outside of the cafe, I say hello to this same thru-hiker and his wife - Habitual Hiker and Umbrella Woman. They are so nice. They are going through their maildrop box and, upon seeing they have too much food, graciously offer me granola bars, fruit rollups, and tuna packets. I swear, must've been about 2 days worth of food. Who'd a thunk--trail magic from fellow thru-hikers. I was very happy to have met them. But the best part is that later on today, I find out that Habitual Hiker is one of the more famous AT hikers. He's done the trail around 7 times or something, even got married on the trail. Also, he has written several books about the trail, mostly guide books about the plant and animal life that line the AT. I was so impressed. We chatted for a good bit, and not once did they mention any of this. They were just going through the routine of resupplying and extending great generosity to me as another fellow hiker. (For the record: I also saw Road Runner and Wile Coyote in town. These girls are definitely hardcore, and we both seem to be on about the same pace.)
Date: 2007-06-26
From: Glen Brook Lean-to, Mass.

To: Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 25.5
Weather: clear sky

The theme of today's adventure was "Those Goddamned misquitos." Never in my sheltered life have I seen them so bad. Hopefully they won't get worse as I go north. Even drenched in deet, still got bit up. My father would argue it is all of the sugar I'm eating and lack of onions and garlic in my diet. After today, I'm almost ready to listen to him. I'm almost ready for anything. Especially ready to be out of Massachusett's "Misquito Alley." Cool moment of the day: Mid-day. After having my obligatory ice cream treat at the Corn Crib 0.2 miles off the AT on US7, I walked back up the road and ran into Widowmaker, Cheeze, and Katerpillar. We all just stood there on the side of the road chatting, Widowmaker trying to thumb down a ride to town since he was getting off the trail for a couple weeks. and his hiking partners Cheeze and K were saying goodbye before pushing on. All four of us, in complete thru-hiker fashion--backpacks, widowmaker in his kilt and hemp bracelets, Katerpillar with his bandana hat, all of us dirty and wearing beat up trail shoes. We stood there on the side of the road feeling and looking like we had just come through a battle and getting ready for more. We stood there on the side of the road while expensive Lexuses, SUVs and BMWs cruised passed. I tried to look at the drivers and passengers of these vehicles. Some wearing ties, some drinking their coffee, some talking into their cell phones. They all had a place to go - the office for work, home to their familes, the store, little league practice, the hair salon, etc, etc. They all had something important to do. And so did we.
Date: 2007-06-27
From: Shaker Campsite

To: October Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: haze

Right now, I am lying in my tent. It is raining outside. I just ate 7 granola bars, and if I had 7 more, I would eat those as well. Also, I've devoured two lipton side dinners. Is it hiker hunger or cigarette withrawals? Or just boredom. I've been reading Robinson Crusoe which seems appropriate. It is sometimes enjoyable to get to camp early and just hang around lazily reading or whatever. Early on in the trip, this would drive me crazy. Met Big Guy, Earl Grey, Jersey Fresh, and Five Strings at the shelter. The first three pushed on while Five Strings stayed. He has to be, by far, one of the coolest people I've met out here. His name is Five Strings because he plays bluegrass on his banjo every night. He also sings. And he is dang good.. So entertaining, laid back with an infectious personality. Hopefully, I'll see more of him down the road. Now--Back to Crusoe until headlamp batteries die.
Date: 2007-06-28
From: October Mountain Lean-to

To: Crystal Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: light rain

Not much going on today. As usual, woke up early, limped to the privy, ate my normal breakfast of PB&Nutella filled tortillas, packed up and started hiking by 0600. Made it to the cute town of Dalton, Mass. by 11am. While wandering through town, I hear, "Hey Gopher!" I look around wondering if God just spoke to me..Apparently, I had made it to Tom Levardi's place. I guess he's famous for hosting hikers in his home and all in all just providing a chill place to hang out. Sitting on the porch were Road Runner and Wile Coyote, who I guess were taking a zero day here. Also--Big Guy, Jersey Fresh, and Earl Grey, the good hiker folks who I briefly met yesterday. Tom came outside and greeted me, offered me a place to stay. Since I was moving on, he gave me to outlay of the town and wished me luck. Good dude. Had breakfast at an old fashioned diner, and headed to the library for internet. Since I still had some time to kill before the library opened, I stopped into the local Irish pub and had a couple beers with the local town alcoholics -- "The Breakfast Club."Made it out of town around 2pm--hiked 5 miles and had a nice relaxing evening in my tent. good day on the trail.
Date: 2007-06-29
From: Crystal Mountain Campsite

To: North Adams, Mass
Miles today: 18.6

Never trust a section hiker. Today's hike included the famous Mt. Greylock. This mountain allegedly inspired such great writers as Nethaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Herman Mellville. Yes, it was an impressive sight from the top. Being the highest point in Mass., from the top, I could see miles and miles of beautiful New England countryside. Unfortunately, my camera is not functioning, so you'll have to take my word for it. And it was a challenging ascent to boot, maybe a little tiny taste of what is to come in New Hampshire. Coming down the otherside, maybe halfway, the trail led me to a clearing where several trails met. There were some weekend backpackers standing around. I casually asked where the AT was as the white blaze was not evident. They pointed down one trail, and one asshole in particular, made it seem like I was an idiot for not knowing this. Turns out they were also headed down this trail, so like it or not, I fell into walking with their group.The more I hiked on this trail, the less sure I was that it was right. For one thing, I kept seeing blue blazes, and another, this trail was not descending like the guidebook said it would. Now, sometimes blue blaze and white blaze trails overlap and there are double markings, and sometime the trail meanders. But this didn't feel right. I asked the group, "Are you guys SURE this is the AT?"   Oh yeah, they said and kept walking. "Well, Ok, and you guys want to be heading towards North Adams?" They looked puzzled. no, we're trying to get to the top of Greylock. "Hmmmm..I have a hunch we are both on the wrong path because I just came from Greylock on the AT." The lead asshole stopped the group and while he pored over his map I backtracked to the clearing, found the right trail, and made my way to town. At the North Adams grocery store, I purchased an entire watermelon.
Date: 2007-06-30
From: North Adams, Mass

To: Bennington, Vermont
Miles today: 18.4

This is one of those times where I don't plan to stop in town, don't need to stop in town, don't even want to stop in town...but end up stopping in town. Don't lie. you know the feeling. you're hiking along the AT, minding your own business, enjoying the beauty of the trail and the multitude of natural wonders out here. And then that dreaded road crossing comes up--you know the one, the one that leads to ice cream, chocolate, beer, clean sheets, a shower, television, beer, and all of the things we are out here to escape from but can't wait to get back to. I stay at the Autumn Inn. Ahhh, the autumn inn. I know you're picturing a cute and cozy country house where a nice and old white lady in an apron serves you pancakes smothered in maple syrup. Nope, just another crappy motel owned by a foreigner. Which is fine with me. ******This entry is dedicated to my loving parents for always being on the receiving end of the telephone whenever I feel like chiming in with my self-serving updates.Thanks dad for religiously reading Gatorgump's journal and letting me know how much more wonderful his adventure on the trail is than mine. And mom, thanks for listening to my stories and pretending to care.   You guys are the best.
Date: 2007-07-01
From: Bennington, Vermont

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

 First full day in Vermont. At this point, it had been weeks since I smoked a cigarette. And I'd been doing fine. But after downing a few guinnesses last night in the pub, for some reason, I had an uncontrollable urge to buy a pack on my way home to the motel. But when trying to smoke one, in my slightly drunken state, I almost vomited and quickly snuffed it. Waking up this morning, I had no desire to smoke. But, I had this whole pack of 19 unsmoked cigarettes. Such a waste of money if they went unused. So I stuck them in my pocket and resolved to finish them off later...you know...purely from an economical perspective.It was 5 miles up the road to the AT. I started walking and stuck my thumb out when a car came by. No luck. Another car - nothing. And another - still nothing. Ah screw it, I said to myself, and lit up a cigarette as a protest to all of the wonderful healthy things the AT had given me. I resolved to walk the five miles and stopped thumbing. Maybe it was that this particular pack was stale, or maybe it was the brand itself (unfiltered pall malls), but again, my body rejected the smoke and I gagged. I tried several puffs with the same result. What's this? Was my body actually physically rejecting the bad habit I was trying to mentally force myself to adopt? Isn't it supposed to be the other way around. So I snuffed this smoke. No more than 15 seconds later, a guy in a truck pulled up and offered me a ride to the trail. God works in mysterious ways, my friends. At the trailhead, I left the entire pack of smokes on the bumper of another car--you know, paying it forward. Or - trailmagic.
Date: 2007-07-03
From: Manchester, Vermont

To: Greenwall Shelter
Miles today: 24.6
Weather: clear sky

Got a late start today out of town since I was waiting for the bookstore cafe to open. The Companion book said this place has internet access...well, turns out in this case, internet access is wi-fi only. crap. But while waiting, I had a nice huge breakfast at Friendly's Diner. Found a ride back to the trail with a weirdo electrician who had a "militia" business card of sorts taped to his dash board. We didn't have much to talk about. I have to note that the romantic idea of hitching is a lot better than the reality. Lots of ups and downs through these Green Mountains of Vermont - my favorite state so far. Pushed hard with my new trekking poles, and caught up to Hartley Hound Dog, Road Runner, and Wile Coyote at the shelter. They were in a different part of town and got an earlier start (plus, they move at rockstar speed on the trail) so already were making s'mores over a fire when I rolled up. I had no problems mooching. Awkward moment of the day: A section hiker accompanying us at the shelter was a hardcore christian fundamentalist evangelist wacko nutcase. Seemed like a nice guy, but the more he talked, the more I twisted my stomach into knots in refraining from responding to him. He is a preacher by trade and spends his time while hiking listening to the spoken word of his bible that he downloaded onto his i-pod. Well, H.H.D. is also a christian (I just learned) and so they had some things in common. This preacher kept talking and talking about the state of the world and people's lifestyles and so on and so on, and HHD kept nodding and agreeing while his hiking partners, RR and WC (a couple who happen to both be female), remained conspicuously silent.   Nothing happened, and I'm sure it was only awkward to me because I read anything into anything.
Date: 2007-07-04
From: Greenwall Shelter

To: Cooper Lodge (Shelter)
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Happy 4th of July! Just as I was leaving the shelter this morning, not even on the AT yet, I caught a root snag on the already worn off tread of my shoe, and just about completely tore it off. Imagine a flip-flop that flops under the toe instead of the heel. Now, after even further wearing it down walking 19 miles up Killington through brutal, rooty, and rocky trail, I'm debating whether to hitch into Rutland tomorrow or hold out for Hanover. With all the rain and muck tonight and supposedly what will be the same tomorrow, I'm leaning towards Rutland. Only problem - it's a bigger city and an 11 mile hitch. Yuck. And then - do I want to stay there - after only a 6 mile hike, or go back to trail for more miles.........aaaahhh, hiking obsessive compulsive dilemmas. To be in town or or not to be in town, that is the question. On a less whining note, met two pretty cool chicks at the shelter. And remember, chicks are rare on the trail, let alone cool chicks. First, Optimistic. She's just doing Vermont's Long Trail which is the same as the AT right now. And Lost, who is sweet and shy, but hikes like a banshee. Needless to say, good night in the shelter..heh heh..I wish.
Date: 2007-07-06
From: Rutland, Vermont

To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 19.9

The best thing ever. A local bus runs a route between Rutland and Killington. The bus station is downtown right next to the hostel and the driver dropped us off right at the trail. ..was able to reach the trail at 7:15 a.m. with no aggravating hitching. Rode to the trail with sectioners, Cantaloupe and Midnight.Nothing too special about the hike. ..my first day in the new New Balance shoes I bought from the Cult in Rutland. They are wet and muddy now--welcome to the AT new trail shoes. Reached the shelter at 4:30 and was feeling the magnet of "town" pulling on me again. So tempted to hike another 4 miles to VT12 and hitch to Woodstock. But that would be my 5th townstop in 7 days. As nice as a warm bed sounds, that many towns in that few days would be ridiculous. As a matter of principle, that is, to regain a tiny bit of the purity of backpacking through the woods instead of just backpacking to towns, I fought off the urge to see cars and TV shows, and made camp. I took advantage of nobody being in the area and took a 2 hour nap, finally waking up around 7:30 when my Rutland friends, Cantaloupe and Midnight, roll in and tell me grand adventures of their getting lost a few times, waiting out the storm at a previous shelter with other shivering people, and then slippling and twisting a knee or an ankle.. and on and on..      section-hikers--gotta love 'em.