morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-05-30
From: Race Brook Falls Campsite

To: Days Inn Great Barrington
Miles today: 10.0

It was still drizzly and misty in the morning, which meant setting up a wet tent. It was ok, because I had just booked two nights at a hotel in town, where I¢d be able to dry it out.Worked my way finally into MA. The bugs were pretty bad in sections. The mosquitos overwhelmed me in a hemlock forest section. They were so huge and slow - I could feel them land on me, and I was fast enough that I could smack them. But it got to be so constant that I dropped my pack and scrambled to find my Picaridin, which I literally applied to my exposed skin. The mosquitos tried to stick around, but at least they were no longer attempting landing operations. I returned to my pack and could see a bunch of mosquitos were relaxing on it... pretty bad.Tried to Lyft and Uber for a ride at US 7, both unsuccessfully. My backup plan was to call Joe the shuttle driver, who accepted only donations. He said he¢d arrive in ten minutes, so I went inside an antique store and bought two sodas, one to drink while I waited outside.Joe brought me to Days Inn and took my photo to post on his Instagram account (@jwsnma). He also took down a lot of stats like the type of hike I was doing, my start date, some gear questions. Apparently he maintained a spreadsheet with this data.Checked in, got a few coffees from reception, and rested a little before heading out later to try a restaurant (The Well) and the local SoCo Creamery for ice cream.
Date: 2019-05-31
From: Days Inn Great Barrington

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Wandered around expensive Great Barrington today. Visited a supermarket with a great selection of healthy organic foods, with prices that somehow seemed to be pricier than any Whole Foods I¢d been to. Visited a French bakery, Bazilions, owned by a French guy who was very hiker friendly. He even gave me a free croissant, so I felt obliged to buy something else - it looked like a biscotti (singular?) but was called something else. I really wanted to return the next day, but decided against it. Will have to come back someday...Smacked on some foods from the market for dinner, and I was engorged... bit too much food, but I know I need the calories...Spent the night watching TCM and messing around on my phone.
Date: 2019-06-01
From: Days Inn Great Barrington

To: Tom Leonard Shelter
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: clear sky

Checked out of the hotel right at 11am, then walked to downtown Great Barrington. There was a farmers market going on, but I didn¢t check it out. Ended up heading the post office to grab the small package I have been mailing to myself - with liquid refills mainly. Decided to dump all the contents into my pack and broke down the box. This gives me a lot more freedom, as I don¢t need to make sure I make it to the Post Office at the right hours in the next town. Also not sure exactly where I¢ll be staying the night before my flight. I¢ll be heading back to CA to help my folks move cross country. Finally figured out that Albany airport in NY is a good nearby place to fly out of (and hopefully fly back to, to resume my hike).Got a sandwich from a market downtown and ate it on a bench nearby. The Saturday crowds were buzzing around in all their yuppiness and I felt like an alien. Ready to get out...Joe the shuttle driver picked me up nearby the post office around noon. I heard him say ¢Philosopher!¢ from the side parking lot, and I jumped in. He dropped me off right where I left off, and by luck there was a pair of hikers coming up the path just then who he¢d been in contact with. They needed a ride into town, and he was there instantly to provide it!Tom Leonard shelter was less than ten miles in, and I felt no desire to go longer than that today, plus there was the ever-looming thunderstorm ready to pounce sometime that afternoon.Was already starting to feel a bit tired... now I know why folks like to do a lot of hiking in the mornings, before they have to deal with the after lunch lethargy.This is an awesome bunk and loft style shelter with plenty of room. I grabbed a bunk and was happy to have space, and no whoopie cushion face storing directly into my ears. Turned in early for the night without really talking to anyone. Getting a bit burned out by most social interaction these days, and the egos bragging about their big miles for the day. Just tired of all of that. Too much predictable conversation about miles and gear and starting dates.
Date: 2019-06-02
From: Tom Leonard Shelter

To: Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 11.3

The other thru hiker got up and left before dawn, as I kind of expected. Although I can¢t blame him wanting to get an early start, as the latter half of the day was supposed to be filled with thunderstorms. I slept in a bit and left around 7:30am, which is pretty good time for me.Fairly easy today, although the total altitude gain was 2k+, which is a pretty standard day. No crazy rock scrambling or rock climbing thankfully. I keep wishing I had enrolled in some sort of basic climbing class at REI or elsewhere...Made it to The Ledges view, which looked back south where I came from, with Mt Everett in the distance dominating the other hills... mountains. I got the urge for some coffee, so I boiled up some water right there. I wish I did that more often, aka stopping and smelling the roses. Liked that much more than just cooking up coffee at the shelter.Passed a beaver bog and saw a beaver for the first time! It was also the result of pausing for just a few minutes and appreciating the nice pond. Even got some video of him going past me, doing a little scouting swim to figure out what the humans were up to now.Got into camp and saw familiar faces - the father and his adult daughter (who offered us weed and whisky, both which I declined), the older man Jersey who was not yet retired, but was thinking of doing a Flip Flop when he eventually does.This whole campsite is called Shaker campsite, and for a reason - the Shaker community had some settlements here and in the surrounding area. This particular campsite had some old farming equipment and a stone foundation for what was apparently a barn. There were some pretty old tall trees growing up right where the barn would be, all newer than that foundation obviously. Lots of history there.I setup my tent at the top of this foundation, where there was a nice flat spot. Settled in a bit early - the thunderstorm finally arrived soon after. Not too bad, but the creaking and groaning of trees made me nervous, and I realized I forgot to check for ¢widow maker¢ branches above. Oh well, I thought... if a branch came down and killed me, it was fate (and of course not due to my own laziness).
Date: 2019-06-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Flying back to the trail tomorrow. This month has passed very fast - I helped my parents move cross country, I saw my sister and her family, I experienced a 115F degree southern heat (while we were unloading the truck...). I was even able to experience the first day of the Barnes and Noble Criterion sale... Most importantly in terms of the trail, I have also given my knees a chance to recover. Also started taking Glucosamine supplements to help the knees rebuild. I think my knees were the things slowing me down in the previous few days on the trail. The downhills have been hard and I¢ve been dreading them, particularly in the rains...Despite the slow recovery of my knees, I have been genuinely motivated to get back on the trail, and I¢m glad for that. I want to see what¢s coming up ahead. All through this hike I have been hearing about how beautiful the Whites are, and equally how challenging they are. I want to see what the 100 mile wilderness is about. I want to experience hiking up Kadahdin. I want to see just how muddy Vermont (¢Vermud¢) is. I want to discover some more fun trail towns and see what they have to offer.After hiking 1/4 of the trail I¢ve also realized how quickly it passes. I had hoped to figure out some more plans for the future along the way, but all I have are a few scraps of insights which are rattling around my brain. I need to take more time to write and sort things out.Tomorrow I fly out of Charleston, South Carolina and fly back to Albany, New York. Will probably just take a Lyft from Albany to Dalton, Massachusetts to avoid the headaches of Greyhound and shady Greyhound stations. Planning to spend the night there and then start the trail again the next morning.
Date: 2019-07-02
From: Econolodge Pittsfield

To: St MaryÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs of the Assumption Cheshire
Miles today: 8.7

8.7 miles1514 ft up1699 downHad breakfast at Econolodge and while I ate I saw a Thomas the Tank engine rideable toy that my nieces have... a little reminder that I am once again far away and on my own for a while.Left Econolodge and couldn¢t find a Lyft, so I decided to walk into Dalton. I thought this would be a nice warmup for my legs, but probably contributed to overdoing it on the first day back on the trail in a month...Again felt the anxiety of walking around these car towns with no pedestrians in sight. You start to feel weird for being the only one walking around...Soon made it back to Dalton and into familiar territory where I last left off.Went back into the woods and loved hearing the bird song that I had missed.Pushed on harder and faster than I should have today. I felt like my legs were ready, but soon felt some killer pain in my knees when descending. I had thought my knees were almost fully healed, and was more disappointed than anything. My legs were also shaking somewhat, which wasn¢t a good sign. I thought I would have to quit immediately, even though my mind wanted to continue, which is a terrible place to by in...What I realized in the following days was that I had simply packed too much stuff, especially food, and had not shipped some of it ahead. I had also failed to do any sort of stretches or massaging to stretch out my IT band. Seems to be a common injury.So slowly I descended down the mountain, and hobbled into town in pain. The ice cream shop was closed, but I enjoyed their picnic benches for a quick rest.Soon I hobbled to St Mary¢s of the Assumption, a church that welcomes hikers to use their lawn. I was surprised I was the only one there that night. Not too bad... some road noise, but Cheshire was way more sleepy than Dalton or Pittsfield, so it worked out nice.
Date: 2019-07-03
From: St MaryÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs of the Assumption Cheshire

To: Mark Noepal Shelter
Miles today: 4.9

4.9 miles1878 ft up90 ft downLeft before 10am. Nice breeze. Folks arrived for church, left before 10. Spot was good - some road noise, but pretty pieceful, felt I rested well. Legs felt ok. Massaged knees a bit, hoping it would help.Heard some gunshots when ascending. Still some gun ranges around event all the way up here...Continued to see many hikers, including day hikers that had probably taken some time off for Fourth of July.Got to the shelter in time to grab a bottom bunk. The site was pretty full - lots of people outside camping as well.A guy with a British accent arrived and I recognized his voice and appearance as Mighty Blue, a podcaster who has posted links to his podcast on the Facebook AT hiking group.
Date: 2019-07-04
From: Mark Noepal Shelter

To: Howard Johnson Williamstown
Miles today: 9.6

9.6 miles1603 ft up3738 downWoke up at a comfortable time and found the folks in the upper bunks had left already. But there were still some folks around, including the caretaker. Took my leisurely time to enjoy the morning and make some breakfast - biscuits and gravy with coffee!When leaving the shelter I grabbed my hiking poles which were propped by the side of the shelter (sort of a way of letting approaching folks know you¢re inside) and had to tear it loose from a fresh cobweb, which crumbled and withered. Sorry spider! The spider seemed to get back to work weaving his web...Soon after leaving, I saw a porcupine up on the trail ahead. He saw me as well, and decided the best path of escape was to follow the AT north. I kept pausing to give him some room, and could see him stopping on the trail ahead and turning his head back cautiously. This happened a few more times for maybe 0.2 miles till he gave up and decided to climb a tree. Got some good video of that!Enjoyed walking through some pines with a sweet sugary smell, which oddly reminded me of some pine smells from summer day camps about thirty years back now...Made it to Wilbur Clearing Shelter and saw the ridge runner there again (named Saw Dog?). Also saw a bunch of tents from a trail crew. Chatted with Saw Dog a bit and he sort of convinced me to keep going. It was maybe too soon for a hotel stay, but that¢s how the timing worked out, so I booked a place in town.Walked over to the Stop N Shop and loaded up on salad, pluots, drinks, and some cheese and salami snack. Dinner! Then walked another long distance to the hotel and begged out. Good bed but just ok hotel.Tonight there were probably Fourth of July fireworks outside, but I was too tired. I satiated myself with food and drinks and had a nice good sleep!
Date: 2019-07-05
From: Howard Johnson Williamstown

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: clear sky

6.9 miles2241 ft up640 ft downSlow start from the hotel as I planned. Missed breakfast but had coffee. Took a while to warm up muscles - was worried about them at first, but then they started to feel more normal.Walked into town and got some food at Spring Street Market and Cafe. The whole place was bustling and busy. The town had more of a touristy vibe to it than anything. It was ok.Lucked out and found an Uber nearby. First one I had seen after looking for two days. He had just dropped off another AT hiker.Trail was really lovely, following a stream a long ways, which cooled down the whole area. Today it was expected to reach 90 degrees F but I never really felt too hot or humid like I did in previous days. The cool breeze helped.Pete¢s Spring was really awesome - a true spring with water bubbling up out of the ground. Watched the sand dance around a while where hidden natural openings piped up pure water. Every now and then some air bubbles would seem to also come up from random places. Reminded me of some place from my past where we got water from a natural soda spring.Crossed into Vermont and helped take a photo of a friendly three person group flip flopping like me.The mud the last few days hasn¢t been too bad, and a bit dried out if anything. But true to Vermont¢s reputation, the bad mud started soon after.Made it to the campsite, found a tent site across from the shelter, and immediately went to task trying to hang up my bear bag. Haven¢t done this for a while - with the one month off and even before that, with every campsite and shelter in CT and MA providing a bear box. Not this time! Every state brings its own style...Tried forever for a pretty ideal branch, but ended up snagging on something nearby that was the next best thing. I did the PCT style and even pulled the bag away from the trees further and tied it off. I hope it¢s still there in the morning.
Date: 2019-07-07
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: fog

14.4 miles3977 up2499 downNot a lot of notes for this day. The weather became wonderful, cool air with a breeze and not so much humidity.The trail descended sharply down rock steps to Bennington, then rose sharply again to get out of the gap. Same old pattern I¢m used to by now.Saw one garter snake on the trail.Got to Goddard Shelter and was happy to find a new bear box in place. They have been having bear issues around the area, but at least I didn¢t have to hang up my bag!Setup my tent near the shelter and called it a night. I definitely get more relaxing sleep out in my tent, not having to be self-conscious about my snoring. But maybe I setup too close to the shelter itself, as I could hear snoring from there soon (I think it was Lost and Found, who I met later).I really pushed myself this day and was proud I could do it. A decent number of miles with a LOT of elevation gain. Gained back a lot of confidence today. Bit change after getting depressed on the first day back, thinking I would have to fly back home soon because of my knees.
Date: 2019-07-08
From: Goddard Shelter

To: Stealth Camp 1636.8
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: heavy intensity rain

13.9 miles2063 ft up3054 ft downStopped into Kid Gore Shelter for a quick breakfast break and saw a trio of trail flip flopper folks I¢d run into before at the Vermont border: Mercury, Houdini, and Everview (wearing a kilt).That shelter had a nice break in the trees which provided a rare viewpoint. These Green Mountains have been mostly a tunnel of green, and if you want a view, most of the time that simply means having to climb up one of the fire towers along the trail.Another benefit of these mountains is that they are quite remote. You can walk through the forest and only hear nature, and the occasional passenger airplane soaring above. On most of the trail south of here the AT follows only a thin corridor, meaning that non-nature surrounds you on both sides. Along with all its sounds: traffic and farm equipment mostly. Sometimes the endless sound of truck backup signals, beeping endlessly as you make your slow descent down some mountain. But the Green Mountains had none of this. Kind of an exciting feeling being so remote for once.Passed by a bog which had pitcher plants in bloom on the side. A lady doing the Long Trail pointed them out to me.Took a break at Story Spring Shelter, which looked already busy. I probably would have stayed, but I really wanted to get to town in the next few days, so I was eager to make more progress and get more miles done, even if it meant stealth camping. Which I did.Found an ok site, not near water, but just at the base of Stratton Mountain, which I definitely didn¢t want to ascend this day. Looked all around and was scouting out a place for my tent and bear bag when I spotted two black bears moving in the distance. I let myself be known and they sort of took notice and then meandered on up the mountain. Quite a dilemma then - if I stayed I know my bag might get snagged by a bear. If I proceeded up the mountain I would probably run into the bears ago - in the dark...Though I barely had food left, I protected what was left of it and took extra time to find a good hang. Took me a long time, and I got it just as light was seriously starting to fade. Had just enough time to then setup my tent with the remaining light.Heard some funky animal screams which must have been coyotes, and probably didn¢t have the greatest sleep that night. But I got through unscathed...
Date: 2019-07-09
From: Stealth Camp 1636.8

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: clear sky

13.3 miles2259 ft up2655 ft downWas happy to split the miles between today and yesterday. It means that town was coming up just one day away!Hiked up Stratton Mountain and made it to the summit, where a caretaker and house were stationed. She was nice and gave some good tips, but had some outdated info about the water sources nearby. I think she came up the mountain on the gondola and never passed those water sources!Tried to climb up the lookout tower, but I chickened out after only about the second or third level, where I had a decent enough view anyhow. I was shaking so much and probably got some terrible video up there.Stopped in at Stratton Pond Shelter, which was one of Vermont¢s overnight few shelters ($5). It was super sizable and nice, but I just used the privy and rested there a bit with Lost and Found, who was taking a late lunch break. We both took a nap, and he started snoring loud. This had to be him at the previous shelters!Kept pushing on and finally got to Spruce Peak Shelter, a rare four-walled shelter. It even had an old fashioned wood stove inside, the first time I¢ve seen that!Also at the shelter was an older lady from Ohio, originally Mississippi, with purple hair, and the couple who were from Switzerland (I originally thought they were Dutch for some reason).Also met Stick Man, a very skinny older man who looked like a Hippie Gandalf. He had been there for 3 days because of some knee issues (the back of his knee) and wasn¢t sure if he should move forward or not, not wanting to be a burden to others and have to call in a rescue party or something.Partially unclogged my water filter finally by tapping on it. Looked forward to spending more time cleaning it in a hotel room.
Date: 2019-07-10
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Palmer House Resort
Miles today: 2.7

2.7 miles380 ft up724 ft downGot up earlier than usual to go into town! Walked just a bit to a trailhead parking area where it was supposedly easy to hitchhike. Increasingly there are no Lyft or Uber drivers around, and one of the local shuttle drivers was too busy at the time I was there, so I gave hitchhiking a go. After about 20-30 minutes I just sort of gave up and sat down on the grass, just about to call the shuttle driver again as a last resort.Right then from the other direction came John (trailname Snail) with his black dog on his lap in his truck. He asked if I was heading to town, and he did a U turn to pick me up. He was a friendly guy, a retired professor from Atlanta. I mentioned my folks moving to South Carolina and he was sort of surprised - said he had experience with them being very backwards and racist there.Got to town and explored and relaxed most of the day!
Date: 2019-07-11
From: Palmer House Resort

To: Pinnacle Lodge Hostel (AirBnB)
Miles today: 0.0

Zero day, decided to book a room at the new Pinnacle Lodge AirBnB to save some money. Swung by the post office again and was lucky to pickup my package finally. It had been mistakenly sent to Charleston - not my fault!Also stopped by a market to grab some snacks and food for later, since the hostel didn¢t really have anything nearby. Apples, Gatorade, cheese, sandwich wrap. Great!Spent a lot of time at the hostel catching up on blog entries and also putting together footage for another part of my hiking video series. Felt great to catch up on everything properly while letting my muscles rest.