morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-07-16
From: 1512.6

To: 1527
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

Rough, unnecessary crap Trail again. Dogs came at me twice off leash - growling, snarling, etc. Lost it and screamed profanities at moron owners. Indication of my mental state. NEVER would have done this before. Again, told one owner dog attacks, it dies. Got to Tom Leonard shelter - 1st of two. Camped down from shelter. Lots of tents, shelter full. Noise from 2nd shelter from kids - esp. at 2300 when it started raining. Sheesh. Need to slow down - make Tyringham by Monday, not Sunday for mail drop. Saw Hong Kong Steve again - slackpacking. Motel I was planning to use has closed. Other motel was $129 per night, plus tax. Yeah, right. No decent water in this valley because of farming and fertilizing, etc. Also has PCBs in water supply. Spent $10 on bottled water at an antique store to fill up for next section. Found unopened Trail magic water at a road crossing - will hold me through breakfast.
Date: 2016-07-17
From: 1527

To: 1537.5
Miles today: 10.5

Slept well - took pain meds at night. Cool, clear morning. Nice weather. Fair Trail - trying to take it slow. Mostly blurring together now. 5 dogs off leash today - fended off 3, profanity filled rants at owners, none of whom responded to my "All pets on leash". Tired of it. In camp early, 2.5 miles from Tyringham - top of mountain before Shaker Campsite. Could have done campsite, but wanted to avoid idiots. Tstorm at 1830.
Date: 2016-07-18
From: 1537.5

To: 1548.1
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: fog

Pretty decent sleep - nice breeze going through tent. Cool and dry. Had one critter rustling around, yelled at it and it bounced off. No clue as to what. Too small to be a bear. All I cared about. Got to Tyringham - got my food drop and of course, way too much for the next few days. Went to ship excess forward, and the PO doesn't take credit cards. Seriously??? I have $6 for a $13 box. Rats. Guy behind me asked what the problem was when I go "WHAAAAA??", if I needed a ride and I just blurted out I needed $10 to mail a box. He immediately took a ten out of his pocket and handed it over. Holy moly. Talk about restoring a bit of faith in humanity. Fair Trail - extra mile into and out of town, but ok. There was a small, honor system road side stand at the trail head where a couple of kids were selling sodas, Gatorade, etc. Pick what you want and drop the money in a jar. Got a couple of sodas and a Gatorade, which helped. Had another dog run-in as I was getting water - I was on a boulder in the stream and the dog couldn't get to me. Another profanity laced rant at the owner. Getting tired of this. Bunkhouse at the Upper Goose Pond shelter was OK, but crowded - decided to tent. Caretaker made stew for dinner out of the blue - very nice - with some homemade bread to go with it. Last 3 dollars into the donation bin, no problem. Allegedly, caretaker and former hiker states next section is pretty flat, with hardly any rocks and/or roots and lots of stealth camping places. We'll see.
Date: 2016-07-19
From: 1548.1

To: 1564.1
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This was a bad day. Half mile out from the shelter, full of roots and rocks. Tripped several times. Should have tented somewhere last night on the Trail. Caretaker lied about the Trail - very rough, rocky, tons of roots to where you can't get a decent stride going. Stumbling every minute or so. Looking down to avoid the obstacles, rammed my head into a large, leaning tree. Knocked me back and down. Lump on head, shoulder and neck hurting. Caffeine at lunch helped with emotional problems, felt better, more energy. Did not want 16, but no place to camp. Finally found place about 1800. Very bad emotional day.
Date: 2016-07-20
From: 1564.1

To: 1568.7
Miles today: 4.6
Weather: fog

decent sleep last night, up to 3 hours at a stretch. Cool night. Down to the Shamrock Inn - Laura was very nice. Ate lunch while my room was getting ready. Had shuttle from Tom Lavard to Wally for resupply. Very nice gentleman. Painted my tent stakes bright green so as not to lose them - the original red I painted them has worn off. Epoxied the boots, got another package of epoxy just in case. Sprayed waterproofing on bdu liner. Minion and Pierre are next door. Thought they were miles ahead.
Date: 2016-07-21
From: 1568.7

To: 1585.9
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

Good bfast at the coffee shop. Decent Trail - caffeine is helping. I'm picking up my feet and not stumbling as much. Two pills a day is like two cups of coffee. Cheshire for lunch - Diane's Twist. Huge ham sammich, chips, 3 sodas and a hot fudge sundae. Beats tortillas and Nutella. Planned on water at shelter and stealthing - read in the guide where the lodge on Greylock Mt has bunk house, for reasonable and muffins and coffee in the morning. I decided to stay. Pushed 3.3 up to top - got a wall bunk no prob.
Date: 2016-07-22
From: 1585.9

To: 1592.2
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept well - only 4 people in bunkhouse. No snorers. Out late - read plaques, etc. on the way down. Took some pictures for my curriculum about Earth processes. Mostly downhill, steep in places, not so steep in others. Motel price doubled on the weekend. Oh, my. Still, needed it. Has mail drop from previous town. Only needed to buy 2 meals for the next 58 miles. Very nice motel, but way over priced.
Date: 2016-07-23
From: 1592.2

To: 1606.3
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: thunderstorm

Good bfast at diner before leaving. Steep out of town. Again, bad Trail, in locations which make no sense at all. Made camp at Congdon shelter just as rain started. Ate in tent, slept with food. Getting tired of journaling. Nothing changes, bad Trail, tired, angry at Trail placement, stumbling, etc.etc.etc.
Date: 2016-07-24
From: 1606.3

To: 1620.7
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: mist

Slept well - rained and/or dripped all night. Harder day - still tired from yesterday. Exhaustion seems to be catching up with me. Decent sleep doesn't seem to help. Clear and cool - good hiking weather, but the last few ups were bad. Bad campsites, finally found one not as sloped. Shelter full - 7 tents already up. Another young pup bubble - walk slow, get the dregs for camping. Heh.
Date: 2016-07-25
From: 1620.7

To: 1633.2
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

Slept OK, but constantly slipped to one side. Oh, well. Trail OK, but full of rocks and roots again. Hard to make time. Leapfrogged Bag Lady and young couple - names unknown. Black Brook camp full. Went to next one - Pierre and Minion were there. They heard me at the shelter last night. Found a good spot just up the Trail from the camp site. Took a sponge bath in the creek, felt much better until I had to put the nasty shirt on again. Day behind now - Town on Wednesday - good thing I had some extra food. Not making the 15 I was planning on - too tired, bad Trail.
Date: 2016-07-26
From: 1633.2

To: 1648.5
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: fog

Fairly good Trail - way fewer rocks and roots. Got to the top of Mt. Statton - place where AT was proposed. Spent 30 minutes with peers. Peer pressure forced me up the tower where it was cold and windy. Didn't want to do more stairs, but what the heck. Lots of tannic streams through this section. Clogged filter at the last one. Not sure why - dark color should NOT stop up the pump. Barely enough water for bfast. Spruce Peak shelter bad - nasty, dirty, ick. Every tent site had someone on it, so I went on further. Found bad, sloping place, but didn't want to go further. Make do with what I got.
Date: 2016-07-27
From: 1648.5

To: 1650.7
Miles today: 2.2
Weather: light rain

Bad night - ankles hurting longer than usual. Sloping site and noisy - animals bouncing around in the leaves. 1 actually hit the side of the tent before bouncing off into the distance. Not sure what they are - can't seem to catch in the light. Bad morning - needed ALL pain meds to make it to the highway - ankles really hurting, stiff and unusable for at least 15-20 minutes. Got to the highway - took taxi into town. Protocol with Green Mt House hostel is to call after resupply and they pick you up. Went to Fast Mac's, started loading up on protein. Stayed 3 hours or so with other hikers nearby, eating, charging phone, etc. Resupplied, called Green Mt. House, got picked up. GMH is AWESOME! It's a house that has been converted totally to putting up hikers. Free pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and a free soda on arrival and per day stayed, free breakfast materials for eggs, pancakes, cereal, etc. Full kitchen, small bunkhouse type rooms, just really great. Now: after the much needed shower, found a bulls-eye rash on my stomach. Uh, oh. Went to Bing, looked for images of "Lyme disease rash" and looky there - there's my exact rash. Joy. Called my military nurse care line and after many, many, MANY questions, told me to go to the nearest emergency room within 8 hours. Not happening - 50 miles away, $1 per mile both ways, 2 trips, not happening. Will try the local clinic tomorrow.
Date: 2016-07-28
From: 1650.7

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Took a zero to go to the local clinic which DID take my Tricare insurance. I'd taken NO pain meds for the last day or so, just to see if anything was being masked. Now: nothing on the doctor, they have their protocol; however:Question #1: Do you feel tired? Question #2: Do your joints ache?C'mon - I'm hiking anywhere from 12-15 miles a day in the mountains - of course to the above!! Question #3: Do you have a rash? Uhhhhhh.............Doctor took one look at the rash and said they weren't even going to do the blood test - Lyme disease. Temp was a classic low grade 99.8. After close questioning, she was not sure just how long I've had the disease, only that I have had it QUITE a while evidently. I never saw the tick that got me and I've been using 98% DEET since Virginia. 3 weeks of Doxicillin should clear it up. Hoping so. This might explain the whining and complaining about my ailments for the last few weeks, I believe. Not excusing it, just explaining it. So, the pill schedule will interfere with my calorie intake, as the pills have to be taken on an empty stomach. 2 hours AFTER a meal (snack time) or 1 hour BEFORE a meal (snack time). Sheesh. It'll work out. Just glad I caught it. The hike to the local CVS was about a mile - very long for some reason and very painful. Ankles, shoulders, wrists, all pretty bad. Guess all the pain meds WERE masking the symptoms of the Lyme. Back to Fast Mac for more protein and another pickup by GMH. Pigeon Toe and Determined came in for the night, so I have some people I recognize.
Date: 2016-07-29
From: 1550.7

To: 1662.7
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

Started meds - now have a nasty taste in my mouth from them. Sweat has started to have a weird odor as well - not sure it's an improvement. Very tired and washed out - after 3 pills, the rash seems to be breaking up. Fair Trail, just tired. Bag Lady from GMH caught up to me about lunch time - she's staying at the shelter - I'm trying to move on. Took lots of breaks - need to figure out pills and calories. dHad to stop at 12 - too tired to go further uphill and no idea of what the camping is like ahead. Pump filter has gone inop again - glad I have the Sawyer for a backup.
Date: 2016-07-30
From: 1662.7

To: 1678.1
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

Got some good sleep, but kept waking up every 1-2 hours. Was in camp early and had a 45 minute nap before supper which may have messed up my sleep schedule. No noises, just waking up. Bigfoot went by in the AM while I was packing up - haven't seen him for a while. Fair Trail again - Baker Peak was bad - no switchbacks, typical crappy layout. Took good long breaks going up. Still tired, though. Was supposed to have camping at Bully Brook - nope, lied to again by a maintainer. Had to go over VT 140, uphill and finally found a good place. Was surprised at the 14. Allegedly rain tonight.
Date: 2016-07-31
From: 1678.1

To: 1689
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Something large going by tent in the night - no clue - by the time I got my light out, whatever it was, was gone. Never stopped, no probs. Back to sleep. Very slow day today. Had NO, repeat, NO air going uphills. Very surprising, very scary. Med reaction? Several stupid ups. Had a GREAT lunch at Qu's Whistle Stop. Called to see if they were open before I hiked the half mile to the diner and they surprised me by telling me they would come pick me up AND take me back to the trailhead. Whoot ! Burger, fries, ice cream sundae, refills on the Dr. Pepper. Tons of streams in the PM - no lack of water, just good camping spots. Pretty dense conifers for quite a while. Seems every flat place is a conduit if there is a heavy t-storm. Finally found flat place that seemed to be a bit higher than the rest of the surrounding terrain, so dropped there. Rain started about 1730 or so. 4-6 hikers trooped by about 2100 or so - no lights. Could not imagine hiking without light - it's pretty dark under the conifers.
Date: 2016-08-01
From: 1689

To: 1698.9
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

Very dark at 0730 under the conifers - had to use my headlamp to eat and pack up. Started raining hard about 0715. Got food bag before the rain, so ate in the tent. Only needed about 11 for resupply tomorrow - needed to get as close as possible for another short day. Can't remember most of the Trail for this day. Did note a "long uphill". Rain stopped about 1000 or so. Got to the shelter - Churchill Scott (?) about lunchtime. Had a blue blaze up to the ski lodge restaurant, so decided to go. It's only .2 mile - can't be that bad, right? Yikes. Talk about a rock/cliff climb. Evidently they don't want the hiker trash up there. Half way up, turned really bad, but I was kinda mad, so I went on up, pack and all. Lunch was great - burger, fries, grilled cheese, fresh tomatoes, salad, yeah, I pigged out. Pricey, but good. Going down was worse, foggy, drizzly, wet rocks. Pretty scared a couple of times, afraid of slipping, but made it. After my tale of the climb, 2 other hikers decided not to go up.
Date: 2016-08-02
From: 1698.9

To: 1704.1
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

Rained or dripped pretty much all night. Not sure which, doesn't really matter. Kept checking for condensation and/or leaks, but nothing major, so I slept pretty well after midnight. Slept in - only 5 to trailhead and .5 to the motel. Felt better while hiking, physically and emotionally. Not sure why - had a couple of breakdowns yesterday. Passed 3 southbound young pup females while I was bellowing Meat Loaf and before I saw them. They were laughing (as usual) and actually knew the singer and his music. As I passed, they started singing as well. Met 2 retired Marine southbounders as well. Baby Hiker (?!?) and Next Step. Both were shirtless and tatted up pretty much with actual military patches, locations and units. Baby Hiker had a lot of tats I recognized. Hotel at 1300 - shower, food and laundry. Deli 100 meters down the road - very nice. Bus runs by every hour. Very nice. Planning now.
Date: 2016-08-03
From: 1704.1

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Used the day to go to Rutland to resupply, plan, eat, etc. Saw Pigeon Toe at the hostel in Rutland. He's taking another zero and moving on. Fixed toe bumpers on shoes one more time - new boots waiting in Hanover. The Killington Motel actually makes pancakes, coffee breads, etc. for breakfast - outstanding. They offered to take me to the laundromat, but I took the bus instead.
Date: 2016-08-04
From: 1704.1

To: 1714.5
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

NOT TOO SURE ABOUT THIS ENTRY - VERY LITTLE INFO IN PAPER JOURNALLate start out - had to mail box. Very hard going uphill, no air it seems. Not sure if it's the disease or the antibiotic, but the uphills are MUCH harder now. Took lots of breaks. Found place at 1715 - not too happy with progress. No joint pain or not too much, but can't go uphill. Hope it gets better with time.
Date: 2016-08-05
From: 1714.5

To: 1726.5
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Better Trail - bit more miles. Still not moving uphill too well, but most of the uphills were at the end of the day. doing well on flats (duh) and moderate ups and down, though. Had Trail magic about 1724.1 - really helps lighten the mood, esp. when you are NOT expecting it. Talked with 2 other hikers who had Lyme - had same problems with going uphill, so maybe it's the meds. 3 weeks and done with them. Found place at 1530, very early, but I'm done. Relax, hydrate, pain meds.
Date: 2016-08-06
From: 1726.5

To: 1739.5
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

Nice parts today. Very nice woods road walk. Took ups very slowly, consciously slowed down to keep moving without breaks. Seemed to help. Also back to counting steps on hard parts - get to 100-150 and stop for a few minutes. Trail magic times 2 (!) today - soft drinks. Nice to have a coke in the pack for a break or meal later on. Went up to a store for locally made ice cream and soft drink. Couldn't finish the pint of ice cream - I'll be hungry again in 2 hours, but I just can't stuff the stomach. Feeling better - joint pain like in the past, rash is getting better.
Date: 2016-08-07
From: 1739.5

To: 1747
Miles today: 7.5

Pretty decent Trail - still no uphills. Town by 1200 +/-, 2 MORE miles to the motel - found out when I got there that they would have come picked me up. NOT in the guide, didn't think to call and ask. Sheesh. Another hiker who has Lyme - same probs with uphills. feel better MENTALLY about it, but it really doesn't HELP with the uphills. Heh. Delivery pizza, salad, 3 cokes, 1+ liters of water and STILL not hydrated. THAT may be part of the problem as well. Zero day for planning and resupply tomorrow. Getting rental car to run around in as well. 2 miles out from town is a stretch.
Date: 2016-08-08
From: 1747

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Hmmmmm. One package from home is here - the other is "somewhere but we don't know where just yet". Eeeeek. Has my sleeping bag, cookset, insoles and a few minor items. Met Blue Meany and Georgia Lily, 2 section hikers, are at the motel. in 2012,I was having a BAD day in NC. I remember this distinctly. These two came up, talked, commiserated and my day was much brighter. GA Lily says she remembers me. Blue Meany is having tons of joint pain, no rash, but thinking about stopping and going home. Hope he gets better and tested for Lyme. Got a Hyundai (?) Santa Fe for a car - wanted, reserved an econo-box, but they had none. Same price since they had no sedans and waived the gas for my military service. Wow. Thanks much, Enterprise. Didn't have the heart to tell them I was never in the military, just the Air Force. Heh.
Date: 2016-08-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

*sigh*Still no box #2, but we now know it's in Massachusetts, on its way here. No ETA, but it's coming. Found the All You Can Eat (AYCE) Chinese buffet yesterday (forgot to mention) only by accident as I was trying to find the Wally World. Ate a great lunch yesterday and again today. Even though I was trying to put them out of business, they remembered me today and brought me my Dr. Pepper. I asked how they could remember one guy out of the dozens and they laughed and said it was the beard and hair. Not as much today as yesterday, but as much of the protein as I could ingest. Helpful advice from my brother: more protein for cell regeneration.
Date: 2016-08-10
From: 1747

To: 1758
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

As I was walking out, went to Post Office to drop a few envelopes in the mail. Clerk saw me, yelled that my package was here. Too late. Yesterday, had to get new sleeping bag (on sale, thankfully), stove and cookset. Opened it up, got insoles and a few other small items out and mailed it back. Now have an additional 20* sleeping bag, stove and cookset I did NOT want to buy. Oh, well. At least it got here. Should have been an easy Trail, but still feeling washed out. Slow and no switchbacks. What the heck !?! Over Moose Mt at 1700 with no clue for camping. Got to shelter side trail and stopped, but was not optimal. Rocky, steep, so went .1 past and found a good spot and dropped. Had 6-8 people go by NOBO about 2100 with no headlamps. They WERE human, as they were talking very loudly as they went by. Not sure how they could hike in the dark, but not my problem.
Date: 2016-08-11
From: 1758

To: 1770.3
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: broken clouds

Harder Trail today - still did more miles. Go figure. Still counting paces and taking breaks. Had rebar in places for steps. One place just straight (almost) up a rock face. Very scary trying to climb up. Long legs, again, came in handy. 1 campsite at the top - taken. Had room for another tent (maybe), but I hate to crowd people. The cabin at the top was an actual cabin - windows, closing door, etc. Went ahead and took a wall spot, since there seemed to be no camp sites further on. Only one other hiker for the night. Heard (I think) a few rustles from mice, but nothing bad. Didn't see any evidence in the morning.
Date: 2016-08-12
From: 1770.3

To: 1783.1
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: clear sky

Slept OK - 20* bag was overkill, so took the 40* quilt out instead. 1 rainstorm today - walked through it, no prob. Again, no switchbacks. Not TOO hard and made the Ore Hill campsite. No one else was here for some reason. I was passed by several and thought there would be others, but no. As I was setting up, it got intensely dark with thunder in the background and this was at 1700 or so. Actually had to get the headlamp out. Thought it was going to pour, but did not, thankfully, at that time. I was frantically trying to get the tent up, but it lightened back up in time for supper. Still ate in the tent, as the ground was pretty wet from earlier. Got my bear bag up and NOW it started to rain. Hard. No prob - camp is set up, I'm in bed.
Date: 2016-08-13
From: 1783.1

To: 1790.4
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

Slept well - seemed to rain all night, but may have been intense dripping from wind and fog. Very foggy in the morning. 2 guys passed tent on the way to the privy in the morning. Never heard them come in the previous night, but they were a ways away. Rain, SOLID rain started about 1100. I was soaked by 1200. This is when I almost quit for good. Got to NH 25 and the rain was just sheeting down. I am truly, truly thankful that I have dodged this during the hike so far. Got to the hostel by 1330. Soaked, dripping, starting to get chilly. Had shower, did laundry, good meal. Spirits got better, as other (younger) hikers were talking about quitting as well. Hikers Welcome Hostel was very nice - run well, good people, decent bunkhouse. Rain started again about 1800 and continued, so I was in bed by 2000. Place was packed - had over 38 I was told. Had 3 on the upstairs floor where I was. Mail drop with Mt House food was here - weight in the pack has gone down with he freeze dried stuff.
Date: 2016-08-15
From: 1790.4

To: 199.5
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: clear sky

Up and over Mt. Moosilauke - (Moose - uh - locky). Very bad - slow and steep uphill. Rocks, roots and in places, had 6x6 timbers actually bolted to the rock face for steps. Very wet, very scary. Downhill was worse - all of uphill and more. Terrified of falling. Slipped TONS of times, but no falls, thank you God. Had rebar hand rails in places, most of which were broken on one side and were very loose. I learned QUICKLY not to trust them. Stealth camped at Beaver Brook - not sure if it was legal or not, but to heck with it. Saw Crow had tented up from me - did not even notice as I walked past. Shoe Leather came up and said there was Trail magic .1 down at the parking lot - whoot!! Coke, brownies and chips for supper - huzzah! Cool evening - bed by 1800.