morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-05-31
From: Gren Anderson Shelter 

To: High Point Shelter 
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Nothing could take away how nice a day it was, not the rocks or the feet. Great views and cooler temperatures plus a bonus - last night a thunderstorm came through so close you could hear the very heavy rain in the trees not a hundred yards away yet not a drop fell on the tent. Plus I'm over 300 miles!
Date: 2016-06-01
From: High Point Shelter 

To: Murray Property 
Miles today: 7.0

Going to pick up my resupply in Unionville and head back to Murray's place. The crazy rocks end exactly after the High Point Shelter, 44.5 miles into New Jersey folks - back in Pennsylvania, estimates ranged from 20 to 35 miles. I've been reading for years journals describing this point and I would have recalled anyone saying such. A beautiful day today and I'm taking it easy after yesterday. It's time to start watching out for tics, several hikers have had to pluck them off though I haven't had to yet.
Date: 2016-06-02
From: Murray Property 

To: Pochuck Mt Shelter 
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: broken clouds

Let me begin by saying I knew before I started this hike that I would have a steep physical adjustment to make. That first day going 6.8 miles to the Ed Garvey Shelter required the hiking poles for leverage or else I wouldn't have been able to climb or desend the modest elevation changes. Since then I have faced a variety of challenges each contributing to my ability to succeed. Throughout May I have continually pushed the edge of doing more than I can handle because it's going to get a lot tougher soon. In critically evaluating my progress, I have been able to identify the vulnerable parts and address them. For the next few days I can back off and enjoy how special this journey is becoming. Thanks everyone following along with me. Just keeping it real. Instead of feet, next time I'll talk about food!
Date: 2016-06-04
From: WanaYana Shelter 

To: Wildcat Shelter 
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Now it is a muggy hot day with no breeze, and I am soaked before 8:00 am. The ups and downs of New York usually require rock scrambling - one after another and getting water has been more difficult. Thunderstorms are scheduled for all day tomorrow, and after the last couple days I am considering staying where I'm at.
Date: 2016-06-05
From: Wildcat Shelter 

To: Wildcat Shelter 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Not much fun sitting in the rain all day, but I don't want to risk it. I did finally get that thunderstorm at around 6:00 pm. It was a big one. I figure my feet can always use the rest. Slept most of the day away until hikers started trickling in. Starting to see a lot more thru hikers from Georgia. They are mostly young people who I'll never see again.
Date: 2016-06-06
From: Wildcat Shelter 

To: Fingerboard Shelter 
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: few clouds

All I can say is that was the toughest day I've had. 12 hours to go 14.3 miles. So many steep ups and downs crammed into one day. I later found out from a trail caretaker of sorts that ten of those miles were the hardest in New York. I am sore and tired. Did I remember to mention another state done - goodbye New Jersey!
Date: 2016-06-07
From: Fingerboard Shelter 

To: Bear Mountain 
Miles today: 13.4

I started today with low expectations. I thought I was done from yesterday and the options of where to stay were too short to make it convenient for tomorrow's resupply in Peekskill. With little food left, I decided to just walk and stealth camp - which means setting up wherever. I got all the way to Bear Mountain which turns out to be a mecca for the AT. Everything is built using the techniques to shape various improvements to the trail in grand scale. There was also a lightning storm just when I got there, so set up on the side of the road just before it hit - pretty spectacular - but not a place I could camp. With little light left, I packed up and hustled out of the park and found a spot before it got dark.
Date: 2016-06-08
From: Bear Mountain 

To: Graymoore Spiritual Life Center 
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: clear sky

Today is a supply pick up day, and it is nice to get some miles in with a place to stay close by. What I didn't consider was the five miles to the post office in Peekskill. It called for rain by noon. I arrived at the highway to town just in time to walk down the road in the rain. New York has strict no hitchhiking laws so I wasn't expecting a ride and didn't get one. What I did get was a ride back to the trail by a guy at the post office who was out of work and needed some cash. Best ten bucks I spent. By the time I got to Graymoore the rain had stopped and the evening was pleasant visiting with the other hikers already there.
Date: 2016-06-09
From: Graymoore Spiritual Life Center 

To: Canopus Lake Park 
Miles today: 13.9

Got off to a good start with smoother trail today. The sun is out and a breeze kept me cool, which means only the back of my shirt is soaked in sweat. I'm always soaked in sweat after a couple of hours - just depends on where. I wear very thin black windbreaker pants that work great for keeping the tics off, but when I sweat, they tend to stick to my legs. I know the day will come when I have to stretch to reach the next step saving myself from a fall and rip the whole crotch out. I guess duct tape won't look so bad. You never know what the trail will be like from day to day, and as easy as today was, the last two miles were the most twisted up and down around this lake - even for the AT - that you just have to accept it is what it is. So far the trail has never given me anything I couldn't handle, but it has pushed me to my limit many times.
Date: 2016-06-10
From: Canopus Lake Park 

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter 
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: clear sky

It was a very windy night and surprisingly chilly morning. I know I've brought the right amount of clothes when I find myself wearing them all to keep warm. Another easy day, relatively speaking, and I find myself able to walk two hours before I need a break. My feet are doing much better now though they still ache at the end of the day. I hope this trend continues as I will need the stamina when the hills become mountains farther north. I am meeting a lot of people who started at Springer Mt - the southern terminus of the trail starting in Georgia. I expect this to continue all the way to Maine.
Date: 2016-06-11
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter 

To: Wiley Shelter 
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: clear sky

Rain is in the forecast later this morning, so I'm taking advantage of my newly found strength to get as much done as I can before it starts. One thing that I've managed to avoid is starting the day with wet shoes - until today. I've been concerned about how my feet will handle being squishy wet all day. Along the way I past a train station where you can hop on and go straight to New York. It's a simple bench not even protected by the weather. Sure enough my feet are like prunes tonight. I can only hope that I don't have too many days like this, because I don't think they would hold up very well.
Date: 2016-06-12
From: Wiley Shelter 

To: Mt Algo Shelter 
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

I seem to be improving just when I need to without any pause between stages. Today was the first serious climb to date. 1400 foot gain to reach top of Algo Mt. One of the issues I've been having from the beginning is my right hip getting sore on climbs. I'm going to have to figure this out. Right now I know that I can't handle much more without hurting myself and then I would be unable to deal with the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire. I think I'm going to head to a hostel called Bearded Woods after I pick up my resupply in Cornwall Bridge CT and take a zero day.
Date: 2016-06-13
From: Mt Algo Shelter 

To: Bearded Woods Hostel 
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

This morning gave me plenty of opportunities to try different ways to climb a mountain and see if I can figure out what is going on with my hip. I've put this particular problem on the back burner because of the foot stuff, but now the hip demands my attention. So with each approach to a steep slope, I am trying something new. It appears that I am taking too big of a step. This is putting all of the strain on the muscle that's attached to the hip. If I take really small steps, the leg muscles and especially the calves are working much harder - and no hip pain! I got a hold of Hudson, owner of the Bearded Woods and he picks me up and takes me to his hostel he runs with Big Lu. All I can say is go to beardedwoods.com and check this place out - simply too much good stuff to write about. I couldn't have made a better choice to take a zero day. My first real shower in 44 days with a haircut thrown in as well by Hudson himself.
Date: 2016-06-14
From: Bearded Woods Hostel 

To: Bearded Woods Hostel 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Weary from the trail Bearded Woods to the rescue To brighten your day Stay just for one night But why not take a zero Now that you are here The trail calls you back And you know that you must leaveWith good memories Thank you trail angels I hope you know how special Hudson and Big Lu
Date: 2016-06-15
From: Bearded Woods Hostel 

To: Falls Village 
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

I would have thought that I would be rejuvenated by my stay, but instead I'm feeling emotionally shaken. I didn't realize how focused I've been just getting through the daily difficulties. This morning the dawning awareness of how audacious my ambition has been over the past three years has caught up with me. I'm having my first doubts on how I can possibly complete this journey, and in it's shadow lurks something - I think it is fear. Yet it is a beautiful day, and I'm now camped behind the Toymaker Cafe. I'm going to have a real cup of coffee in the morning and see what tomorrow brings.
Date: 2016-06-16
From: Falls Village 

To: Sages Ravine Campsite 
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a long day - hot and muggy. The heat makes the climbs seem longer. I'm still mulling over yesterday. I met my first trail runner. These are usually young people who get paid to hike the trail keeping it clean and instructing hikers on the leave no trace practices. There are seven catagories. When I arrived at the campsite, I had a long chat with him way past hiker midnight, which is only about 8:00 pm. He was very nice and appreciated the captive audience to practice on.
Date: 2016-06-17
From: Sages Ravine Campsite 

To: Glen Brook Shelter 
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Today started off well enough, but soon the heat got the best of me. I climbed two mountains today - Race and Everett. So far I've been able to put it in low gear and grind up everything without stopping. This didn't work well today. I was about half way up Everett and started losing it. This climb was very steep, and it took everything out of me. All the physical alarms were going off. Well I didn't stop, but I was a wreck at the top - completely spent the sweat poring off of me. I tottered off that mountain feeling like crap and called it a day.
Date: 2016-06-18
From: Glen Brook Shelter 

To: Tom Leonard Shelter 
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: clear sky

Woke up this morning and thought about what happened yesterday. I think it was a combination of dehydration and my mood that made the day so tough. Both things can be addressed. So today I'm drinking more water and thinking about getting some electrolyte packets sent to me. In figuring out my trip, I'm planning on which part of the southern half I want to see most. If I start in Harper's Ferry and go south, I'll only miss Georgia, so that is what I'll do. Today was a tough day of up and downs in the heat. Drinking water before a climb helps. I'm also stopping briefly to rest. This made for a better day
Date: 2016-06-21
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin 

To: The Cookie Lady's House 
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

Rained overnight, but I missed the thunder showers. I arrived at the Cookie Lady's House early in the afternoon where I had sent my resupply, but no one was home. While I waited, I saw a lawnmower next to an outbuilding so I took a turn mowing her yard with the other hikers. When she arrived no box for me! I had enough food for tomorrow where I would be in town. I'm going to try cook free for a week which means the food I buy in town doesn't need to be cooked - should be interesting.
Date: 2016-06-22
From: The Cookie Lady's House 

To: Shamrock Inn
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Awoke to a beautiful day with an easy hike to town. I've been hiking with an English couple the last week or so. We have been ending up at the same camps and have enjoyed the evening recaps of our day. Don Quixote and Chatterbox are their trail names. We've decided to plan our destination points together as we seem to be hiking at the same pace. We took a bus to a nearby town that had a supermarket, and I got busy figuring out what to buy for my cold food diet this next week. For breakfast, I'll be having a bagel with peanut butter, lunch consists of salami and pita bread, and mashed potatoes and tuna packets with crushed kale chips for dinner. Snacks are toasted sunflower seeds, banana chips, fig bars, and dark chocolate. I've enjoyed an afternoon coffee with my new friends, so a little tub of Folgers crystals has become a staple. This is the first night in a hotel, and this one was hiker friendly and very clean.
Date: 2016-06-23
From: Shamrock Inn

To: St Mary's Church
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: few clouds

Another beautiful easy day. This church allows hikers to stay in an attached Sunday School building. As I've often wrote about the problems I've had with my feet, I should point out that my pack weighs 30 lbs. with five days of food, 48 oz. water, and 8 oz. fuel with a base weight of under 17 lbs. When I planned the trip, I did lots of research on gear to try to keep my pack weight down. The last day before a resupply is wonderfully light.
Date: 2016-06-24
From: St Mary's Church

To: Wilbur Clearing Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

What a perfect day to climb Mt Greylock. This is the greatest elevation gain to date in a single climb, but the cool temperature and smooth trail made for an easy climb. At the top is a monument that you would normally be able to enter for greater views, but it is currently being reconditioned with scaffolding to the top. There was a small restaurant, so I took advantage of the opportunity and had a burger. This is something I'm finding myself doing whenever I get the chance.
Date: 2016-06-25
From: Wilbur Clearing Shelter

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: clear sky

I've really enjoyed the lower mileage days and good weather this week. We will be picking up the pace now, and I continue to enjoy the company of my new friends. Don Quixote is quite the organizer as well as having thru hiked the AT back in 2006. I've found his experience to be truly helpful. Chatterbox always has a smile and a positive word.
Date: 2016-06-26
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

The weather continues to make great hiking. Today I leave Connecticut and enter Vermont. We seem to be crossing the hills with lots of up and downs and little ridge walking as we head in a more easterly direction. Because of the great weather the mud Vermont is notorious for has not been hard to navigate through, though I can see that if it were wetter it could become quite the mess. The lore of the trail has confirmed that what I have been suffering with my feet is in fact Planter Fatuitous. This explains the tenderness and ache I've been experiencing. The next town I pass, I will be looking to order a special sock sleeve that I can wear that is supposed to alleviate this condition. I'll have Linda mail it to the next supply drop and hope for the best.
Date: 2016-06-27
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a long day with no major mountains to climb, just lots of little up and downs. It has rained lightly most of the morning which has kept it cool, but means the overgrown trail tends to get you wet as you brush through it. Still, not enough to make conditions too muddy - we'll see if this holds up. I'm really liking the non cooking this week. It's much simpler as the morning and evening ritual of cooking is time consuming. Also, my normal diet has been heavy with proteins and complex carbohydrates which seem to take longer for my body to turn into hiking energy. I'm going to have to modify my diet to include more simple sugars for when I need a boost in a hurry.
Date: 2016-06-28
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: William Douglas Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: drizzle

I had what is becoming a more common occurrence today with a climb of greater duration to start the day. With thundershowers forecast for this afternoon, there is an urgency to get over the top and down the other side. Stratton Mt has a fire tower at the top you can climb, but the weather was overcast and there weren't any views. With these long assents there naturally follows an equally long decent which I have found can be just as tiring. The trail tends to be quite steep, and the effort you have to put in to slow yourself down is a real workout. We did finally get our thundershowers this evening, and they didn't disappoint.
Date: 2016-06-29
From: William Douglas Shelter

To: Green Mountain House Hostel
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: scattered clouds

It was a short day with the anticipation of a supply drop in Manchester Center. This is also my first hitchhiking experience of the trip as the trail meets the road five miles out of town. The locals are used to seeing hikers on the side of the road, and it didn't take long to catch a ride. Green Mountain House is run by Jeff for the sole purpose of helping hikers. It is a house with a studio next door that he stays in during the hiking season. It is very clean and Jeff offers slack packing with an additional night's stay which we decided to take advantage of the following day. Slack packing is when you are dropped off at a point farther along and hike back to a pick up point. You don't have to carry much in your pack which makes for easier hiking and longer miles. Because of my foot condition, I decided to buy new boots and inserts in Manchester. I got over six hundred on the old ones and though there was plenty of tread left, the inner support was wore out. I also got my broken hiking pole fixed free of charge - bonus!
Date: 2016-06-30
From: Green Mountain House Hostel

To: Green Mountain House Hostel
Miles today: 17.8

Today was interesting. Slack packing really picks up the pace and I achieved my highest mileage day to date. Even so, my feet were really screaming at me by the end of the day. I've ordered the special sleeves and should have them at my next supply drop in Hanover New Hampshire. Coincidently, where we were dropped off today was also the location of the Rainbow Gathering which you'll have to Google for info, but has been going on for many years where people gather to raise awareness for world peace as I understand it - culminating in a moment of prayer that happens simultaneously around the world. Of course there is a week of "preparation" to get ones consciousness in the proper state of mind - hmmm. We only met a couple of guys as it was early in the morning and the actual site was five miles up the road.
Date: 2016-07-01
From: Green Mountain House Hostel

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Back to a full pack today, But I felt good and enjoyed the day. Vermont is proving that it can be rocky as well. What seems to have happened so far this trip is a matter of addition; first the rocks, then add the roots, throw in some elevation, and the bogs of potential mud are here to stay all the way to Maine. Looking forward to a spectacular lightning display this evening.
Date: 2016-07-02
From: Minerva Hinchey Shelter

To: Cooper Lodge Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: light rain

The thunderstorm of last night didn't disappoint. That left us with a cool breezy day, which helped the biggest climb so far up Killington Mt with a gain of over 2600 feet of elevation. I have to say the northern route up is the ugliest foot work I've had to deal with so far. Normally I break camp a bit before Don Quixote and Chatterbox, and they catch me at some point in the day's hike. Today they never caught me, which raised concern. When I got to the top of Killington at the end of the day, I checked my phone and found I had a couple of missed calls. It turned out that Chatterbox had twisted her ankle early on in the hike and had been taken to the hospital for x-rays to see if anything had broken. Illness and injury are the two events that can change who you hike with because any delay will put you on a different schedule and likely mean you won't see each other again.
Date: 2016-07-03
From: Cooper Lodge Shelter

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

Well, I'm on my own again. Fortunately, Chatterbox is going to be ok with rest and a soft boot prescribed by the doctor. Besides being sad knowing that my new friends are going to have to change their plans, it was an especially tough day with lots of steep up and downs without any breeze to cool me off. At least I will see Don Quixote tomorrow as he has decided to continue as far as Hanover and will have caught up to me.
Date: 2016-07-04
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: The Lookout
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Took it easy today so that Don Quixote can catch up to me. I arrived at The Lookout in the early afternoon so nobody else was there. This is a private cabin on top of a mountain I don't know the name of with a platform built on the roof you access by a very steep set of custom stairs built on the side. By far the most spectacular views of the hike. I could see the mountains I would be hiking over in the distance - massive intimidating mountains. Oh boy, I hope I'm up to the challenge. Don Quixote shows up a couple of hours later, and we enjoy a quiet afternoon. Soon there are over a dozen fellow hikers here, mostly ones having started in Georgia, all with the intention of watching the fireworks from the little platform perched atop the cabin. Needless to say, it is going to get a bit rowdy tonight, and with no where to tent, little sleep will be had by all.
Date: 2016-07-05
From: The Lookout

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

Today is going to be hot and humid. To the annoyance of our fellow hikers, Don Quixote and I decided to catch the sunrise this morning. So we were up by 4:45 am to climb up to the platform. We had to weave our way through the bodies on the floor not too gently as there was no way not to bump into someone because of a hiker who chose to hang his hammock in the middle of the chaos. That is why I like to tent. I hope the pictures come out, (that I will post someday). It was a bit hazy, but the Mountain the sun broke over is called Mt Moosilauke at nearly five thousand feet and will be the biggest challenge so far. I'm still sorting out my feelings about losing my new hiking buddies. Tomorrow is Hanover and New Hampshire, I think I'm ready to take a zero.
Date: 2016-07-06
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Betsy and Bill, hosts Hanover 
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: clear sky

What a hot muggy day, but the trail is well graded and smooth. This will be the last day I'll be hiking with Don Quixote for a while as he is going to get a car and reunite with Chatterbox who is still recuperating from her ankle injury. We have made reservations with a couple in Hanover who host thruhikers in their home. All they ask is that you pay it forward in some way. Betsy and Bill are a wonderful couple who really go out of their way to help us hikers. I have a couple of packages at the post office, so I'm going to take a zero tomorrow.