morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-05-23
From: 3.2 miles north of Wawayanda Shelter, NJ

To: 3.6 miles south of Fingerboard Shelter, NY
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: few clouds

Farewell New Jersey! Oh my goodness today was a long day on the trail, but at the end of the day trail angels saved me. My tenting location tonight only had pond water for a water source, which is my least preferable source, but at a road crossing late in the day were six one-gallon jugs of water set up for trail magic, and then at the last road crossing of the day trail angel Todd randomly picked me up and took me to a restaurant and then returned me to the trail. New York's trail is rugged. Lots of short ups and downs and stone. I wondered if the midAtlantic states were in a misguided competition to show-off their stones and rocks! So, it was a slow-going, short-stepping day without much opportunity to open-up my long stride. It rained briefly this afternoon, but I was ready and waiting for it. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-05-24
From: 3.6 miles south of Fingerboard Shelter, NY

To: .3 miles north of West Mountain Shelter, NY
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: light rain

A perfectly rainy day is a day whose rain's intensity and duration is consistent throughout a hiking day. Today was close to perfect, but not quite perfect. Tomorrow morning I have a hard-stop on the west side of the Bear Mountain Bridge which spans the Hudson River in order to meet an old friend for lunch and then after lunch he will shuttle me around town for resupply. I wondered this afternoon how the trail would cross the Palisades Parkway. I didn't expect the method to be, Run Forrest, Run! At first it was difficult to judge a car's arrival time when it was coming straight towards me traveling at 70 mph, but I got the knack of it. Four tenths of a mile from the trail crossing was a welcome center on the parkway's median, which I walked to for water and vending machine food. On arrival I was a minor tourist attraction and was photographed standing next to a large AT interpretive sign. The artillery firing range at Camp Buckner Military Reservation adjacent to West Point is hot today. So... I am far from home, tired, hungry, marching in the rain, carrying a heavy pack, listening to field artillery impact, and I'm not even being paid to do it. But, I am safe, dry, and warm.
Date: 2016-05-25
From: .3 miles north of West Mountain Shelter, NY

To: 6.7 miles north of West Mountain Shelter, NY
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: clear sky

Today was a short hike in sunny warm weather to the Bear Mountain Inn at the west end of the Bear Mountain Bridge, which spans the Hudson River. As planned, I met an old friend from high school days at the Inn, and he shuttled me around town to do the usual hiker resupply errands, to include a much needed laundromat visit. I am staying the night at a hotel in Fort Montgomery, NY and headed back on the trail in the morning. The area I am in is called the Hudson Highlands and was of great strategic importance to the Americans during the Revolution. American control of the highlands and river allowed the French army to cross the river unopposed during its heroic and epically long march from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia in 1781 and then fight in the culminating battle that ended the war. Unfortunately, the brilliant campaigns of the American Revolution are largely forgotten or trivialized because of American obsession with its Civil War history. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-05-26
From: 6.7 miles north of West Mountain Shelter, NY

To: 5.0 miles south of RPH Shelter, NY
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: clear sky

Today was the first warm day of hiking that I have hiked. Fortunately, there were more water sources today than on the west side of the Hudson, but I need to do a better job of eating throughout the day when it's warm, instead of filling up with just water. Tonight I hiked off-trail a couple of miles to Fahnestock State Park, NY to stay the night. I took a hot shower tonight here at the park! Plus they have garbage cans and water. Hiker heaven. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-05-27
From: 5.0 miles south of RPH Shelter, NY

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter, NY
Miles today: 16.0

Today was another warm hiking day, but this time it included late afternoon thunder and lightening and rain; however, I was already snug in my tent by the time it all arrived, thank goodness. I owe White Rabbit for picking up a pad that dropped off my pack early this morning and carrying it all day before returning it to me tonight. I still haven't been able to find a tick on me. The prevention methodology of repel, detect, remove if practiced well is the best defense against Lyme Disease. I have a hard-stop late tomorrow morning. My wife is picking me up in Pauling, NY and we will spend the Memorial Day weekend together. Having breaks along the way will help ease me back into life after finishing the AT. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-05-28
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter, NY

To: 0.7 miles north of Telephone Shelter, NY
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: overcast clouds

When hiking the AT in Virginia, I hiked past a massive Oak tree that had an interpretative sign near it explaining that it was the second oldest Oak tree on the AT and that the oldest was in New York. Just as I was finishing my day's hike, I came upon the oldest Oak tree. Yesterday, a trail maintainer told me where it was on the trail, which was roadside and not easily missed. There were no interpretive signs near the tree. My wife picked me up in Pawling, NY this morning and whisked me away for the Memorial Day weekend. I will take a zero day tomorrow and return to the trail on Monday afternoon. I will start hiking on Monday using a third pair of Keen's. Pennsylvania ate my second pair and then spit them out. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-05-30
From: 0.7 mile north of Telephone Shelter, NY

To: Wiley Shelter, NY
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: few clouds

I returned to the trail today after a too brief holiday zero day. I am tenting at Wiley Shelter, which for whatever reason, only has five other hikers here tonight and no black flies! For today's journal photo, I stopped along the way at a village cemetery because I was intrigued by the American flag posted next to a very old grave. The grave stone was difficult to read, but the veteran died in 1786, which of course means that he was a Revolutionary War veteran. When the name on a veteran's headstone becomes unreadable and in the absence of a grave block number engraving that references a cemetery grave plot record, the veteran is entitled to a replacement standard government headstone or a flat marker to complement an existing headstone. Historical societies should be aware of the process using Veteran Administration Form 40-1330, Claim for Standard Government Head Stone or Marker. I have seen a replacement VA headstone placed in front of an unreadable existing headstone before in a Rutland, Vermont cemetery and thought it was a great way to remember old veterans. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-05-31
From: Wiley Shelter, NY

To: Stewart Hollow Shelter, CT
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: clear sky

Farewell New York! I crossed into Connecticut early this morning and was greeted by a large sign welcoming me to the Gateway to New England and some trail magic fruit. I wanted all of the fruit badly, but I took only two pieces. I should have taken three pieces since I was the first one there this morning. I am tenting near Stewart Hollow Shelter, which is halfway between Kent and Cornwall Bridge, CT. My tent site is only 150 feet from the Housatonic River, but the river is high and fast and has high wooded banks, all of those making for a bad combination for swimming. But, I found a stream to cool my feet and was satisfied with that. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-01
From: Stewart Hollow Shelter, CT

To: 3.3 miles south of Limestone Shelter, CT
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

This afternoon my sister picked me up in Falls Village, CT and shuttled me around to do hiker errands in her hometown of Litchfield, CT. I was then taken to dinner and now I am sleeping the night at her home. She will bring me back to the trail early tomorrow morning. This is such an incredible break for me. The trail in Connecticut has had plenty of water sources, which makes a hiking day so much easier. I am safe, dry and warm tonight
Date: 2016-06-02
From: 3.3 miles south of Limestone Spring Shelter, CT

To: 4.9 miles south of Hemlocks Shelter, MA
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: broken clouds

Farewell Connecticut! Today I crossed into Massachusetts on a beautiful bluebird-sky hiking weather day. Early this morning, my sister cooked a large breakfast for me, made two large sandwiches for me to take on the trail, and then drove me to the AT in Falls Village, CT, where I got off the trail yesterday afternoon. Falls Village is a quaint little village, but it's unlikely I would have survived a childhood there because of the waterfalls and my affinity to water. My poor mother would have tried her best though. My day's hike took me over Bear Mountain, CT, which is Connecticut's highest elevation on the AT. The north side was a very steep and rocky descent. I am at a tenting campsite tonight. It has its own privy and water source! The campsite is heavily wooded and each tent sight is secluded from the others. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-03
From: 4.9 miles south of Hemlocks Shelter, MA

To: Tom Leonard Shelter, MA
Miles today: 19.3

Today was a cloudy day with cooler temperatures than we've been having the last week. Rain looked imminent in the afternoon, but it never rained a drop today. A few days ago, I was immersed in through hikers, but I haven't seen one all day. There is only a weekend hiking couple here tonight. I am going to bed early tonight. I am safe, dry, and warm.
Date: 2016-06-04
From: Tom Leonard Shelter, MA

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin, MA
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a weather change to much drier air, which made everything about hiking more pleasant, and the sun was shining all day too. The trail surface was mercifully smooth today, as compared to previous days, so my feet had it easy today, but the best part of the day was that I went swimming! Tonight I am at an Appalachian Mountain Club operated camp on Upper Goose Pond, and before dinner I went swimming off the little dock the camp has on the pond. I was swimming with two other hikers. I think it's forecasted to rain tomorrow afternoon. I am safe, dry, and tonight.
Date: 2016-06-05
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin, MA

To: Kay Wood Shelter, MA
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: moderate rain

Today was a perfectly rainy day and it still is perfect. The shelter is packed with hikers tonight, but I am using a tent site adjacent to the shelter. I am so more efficient now in setting up my tent in the rain then I was way back in Georgia. I even have a clothes line rigged-up inside the tent, although it's doubtful things will dry tonight. Hopefully, tomorrow I won't have to take my tent down in the rain, as I did this morning. My resupply town is twenty-seven miles away, which is too far for me to reach in one day, so the next two days will be shorter than usual. I am thinking of taking a zero when I get to town for no other purpose than to provide time to eat restaurant food five times. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-06
From: Kay Wood Shelter, MA

To: Mark Noepel Shelter, MA
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: scattered clouds

If yesterday was a perfectly rainy day, today was a perfect hiking day with dry, cool air and sunshine too. After hiking just one hour this morning, I was in Dalton, MA, which is a tidy New England village that I hiker-trashed by spreading everything in my pack out to dry on sun-soaked asphalt loaned to me by the Dalton business community. In the afternoon the trail traced through the little village of Cheshire, MA. As I passed through the village, I asked a neighbor for some water and was also offered a huge class of what I assumed was lemon aid but was actually grapefruit juice. Not wanting to seem rude, I drank it hoping that anything that medicinal tasting would mercilessly kill any trail-water bacteria and viruses that may be lurking within me. Tomorrow is a short hiking day into town for restaurant food and resupply. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-07
From: Mark Noepel Shelter, MA

To: 3.1 miles north of Wilber Clearing Shelter, MA
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: few clouds

In the rain this morning I summited Mt. Greylock, which is Massachusetts' highest elevation. On arriving, the massive war memorial monument at the summit was just a dark shadow in the fog and clouds, but before I descended, the clouds blew away and revealed the monument completely encased in construction scaffolding for a renovation project. The ascent and descent of Mt. Greylock was without hand-over-hand climbing of rock obstacles, which was nice. I am in Williamstown, MA now eating everything. In the woods south of Ft. William Henry (Lake George, NY) while long-portaging my canoe to the Hudson River, I came across an obelisk alone and seemingly lost in the woods. The namesake of both Williamstown and Williams College was killed in 1755 during the French and Indian War and the obelisk marks the site of his death. (But I can't seem to ever remember my cellphone number.) I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-08
From: 3.1 miles north of Wilber Clearing Shelter, MA

To: 3.1 miles north of Wilber Clearing Shelter, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I am taking a zero-day today in Williamstown, MA in order to eat, and I am doing well at that. Fortunately there is a nice diner and restaurant minutes from my motel which serve a greater variety of food compared to being surrounded by fast food places. The next 264 miles of Appalachian Trail from Williamstown, Massachusetts to Mount Washington, New Hampshire is trail that I have hiked before, part of it when I through hiked Vermont's Long Trail and the rest on two section hikes from Killington Mountain, Vermont to Mount Washington, New Hampshire; nevertheless, I am looking forward to hiking these miles again as part of my AT through hike. It will be interesting to see how my perspective of these 264 trail miles may be changed due to time and experience, although it can be a tricky thing to go back and tamper with fond memories of old times and places. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-09
From: 3.1 miles north of Wilber Clearing Shelter, MA

To: Congdon Shelter, VT
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

Farewell Massachusetts! This morning I was welcomed to Vermont and its Long Trail by an impressively large sign. Vermont's pride in its beloved Long Trail is such that only at the bottom of the sign is the AT parenthetically mentioned as following the Long Trail. There are so many things in Vermont whose names start with Long Trail, from breweries to schools, which explains why many Vermonters are unaware the AT traces through their state at all. Anyway... regardless of the name, it's a beautiful trail. It's great to be in my home state, but as usual it could be just a little warmer. If I hadn't sent my knit cap and fleece vest home, I'd be wearing them right now. I am safe and dry tonight.
Date: 2016-06-10
From: Congdon Shelter, VT

To: Kid Gore Shelter, VT
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: broken clouds

Today was a delightfully sunny, cool, dry-air hiking day. At my one and only highway crossing this morning, a trail angel was giving away ice cream sandwiches from the side window of his RV. He is retired U.S. Army and enjoys being a mobile angel and moves from place to place on the trail in his RV to provide for hikers. Last night I socialized around the fire ring too late into the evening, but not tonight. Tonight I am tenting in the vicinity of a shelter, but far enough away that I will get to sleep earlier. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-11
From: Kid Gore Shelter, VT

To: William B. Douglas Shelter, VT
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: clear sky

I summited Stratton Mountain, VT at midday today in the rain and mist. Stratton Mountain is notable as the place where Benton MacKaye was inspired to propose an Appalachian Trail that was considerably different than what was eventually built. Many of Benton's radical ideas in his proposal were ignored or dismissed as impractical. Whenever I am at a place on the AT where it is obvious that blazing was done by unsupervised testosterone, I think about how Benton would be incredulous and disappointed to know that his trail ended up this way. But a little trail magic fixes everything. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-12
From: William B. Douglas Shelter, VT

To: Lost Pond Shelter, VT
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Oh my goodness, today was a cloudy, windy, cold, raw day and rainy in the afternoon. As soon as I arrived at my destination, I fetched water, set up my tent, and then crawled into it without intending or needing to get out of it until morning. I had dinner under the fly tonight so that I stayed cozy, dry and warm. I am hoping for a return to summer weather tomorrow. This morning I came upon a cooler along the trail with trail magic items stored in it, and I scored a small bag of barbecue potato chips. I got two long views of the Green Mountain National Forest this morning that left the impression that no one actually lives in Vermont. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-13
From: Lost Pond Shelter, VT

To: Clarendon Shelter, VT
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: clear sky

This morning's rain was so chilling that I wore a pair of wool socks as mittens, but the rain stopped by noon, although it remained cloudy and cool for the day. Late in the day I hiked two bonus miles to have dinner at Loretta's Deli in Clarendon, VT. It was the first non-trail food I've eaten since entering Vermont. Normally, I wouldn't have hiked off trail late in the day, but I had plenty of daylight and I needed something to perk-up the day. It's raining perfectly heavy right now, meaning on my tent roof, rather than on me, but I think we are finally in for a weather change tomorrow, thank goodness. Tomorrow I will be close to home. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-14
From: Clarendon Shelter, VT

To: 1.9 miles north of Churchill Scott Shelter, VT
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

Today was finally the weather change I have been anticipating, but it must have rained more than I realized last night because I had to ford my first stream on the AT this morning. It was a small stream but the stepping stones were under water, which didn't make jumping from one stone to the next a good idea. I hiked on trail this afternoon that I hiked last fall when rehearsing for my AT through hike. Just for the satisfaction, I sat on a log for a break that I also sat on last December for a break but in much colder weather. I finished hiking today where the AT crosses U.S. Route 4 east of Rutland, VT, at which point my wife picked me up to take me on a forty minute drive home. I will zero at home tomorrow and return to the trail the day after.
Date: 2016-06-15
From: home, VT

To: home, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today I zeroed at home but stayed busy with hiker tasks, such as laundry, treating my clothing and gear for ticks again, buying trail food, new socks, weather re-sealing the toe box of my Keens, haircut, and eating all that I could. Tomorrow I will be back on the trail again. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-16
From: 1.9 miles north of Churchill Scott Shelter, VT

To: Wintturi Shelter, VT
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: clear sky

I had a nice zero day at home yesterday and then my wife returned me to the trail early today. This morning I passed Maine Junction on the trail, which is where Vermont's Long Trail heads north to Quebec and the Appalachian Trail takes a northeast trajectory towards New Hampshire and Maine. For the first time on my journey, I am now moving away from home rather than towards it. There are only two other hikers here at the shelter tonight, which is the fewest hikers I've seen at a shelter in a very long time. It's all very random. I need to go to sleep early tonight. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-17
From: Wintturi Shelter, VT

To: 4.8 miles north of Thistle Hill Shelter, VT
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: fog

Today was another delightfully sunny, dry, and cool day, which was perfect hiking weather. A friend and one time coworker picked me up late this afternoon and brought me back to his home for dinner, shower, and overnight stay. Early tomorrow he will return me to the trail and I'll continue on. Small breaks like this are so important to sustaining a long hike. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-18
From: 4.8 miles north of Thistle Hill Shelter, VT

To: Moose Mountain Shelter, NH
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Farewell Vermont! Today I crossed the Connecticut River into the college town of Hanover, New Hampshire, the home of Dartmouth College. The center of the bridge over the river was the intersection of two adventures: my 2015 through-paddle of the Connecticut River passing directly under my 2016 through-hike of the AT. I stood midspan on the bridge enjoying the adventure coincidence for a few moments. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.
Date: 2016-06-19
From: Moose Mountain Shelter, NH

To: 1.4 miles south of Hexacuba Shelter, NH
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

This morning I was paying extra attention to the trail so as not to miss the short side-trail to the Ice Cream Man's home. I needn't have worried about missing the turn because there was a colorful sign to mark the turn, which I hadn't remembered from my previous visit a few years ago when section hiking. Sadly there was also a laminated, 8.5X11 sign at the turn which was the Ice Cream Man's obituary from his May 23, 2016 passing. I went to the house anyway because I wanted to see it a last time. Everything was as I remembered, but rather than being handed an ice cream by the Ice Cream Man, a note on the door directed hikers to a freezer filled with ice cream. When I got back on the trail I thought how cool it was that in Bill Ackerly's final years he met many thousands of mostly young people without needing to leave his front porch. What a great ending to a life.
Date: 2016-06-20
From: 1.4 miles south of Hexacuba Shelter, NH

To: 0.9 miles south of Jeffers Brook Shelter, NH
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: overcast clouds

While minding my own business and bent over a small stream drawing water, I heard a commotion of splashing and squealing, and when I looked up I saw a snake just four feet away from me latched onto a frog's hind leg. Unable to use its powerful hind legs to leap to deep water and safety, the frog was doomed. The snake dragged the squealing frog twenty feet from the stream and engulfed the frog completely in less then five minutes. The cleverness and ferocity of the snake's attack and kill was amazing to see. Today I met a section hiker who through paddled the 740 mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail from Old Forge, NY to Fort Kent, Maine. Very few paddlers have completed the trail, so it's always interesting to meet and talk to a paddler who has completed it. I am tenting on the lawn at the Hiker Hostel in Glencliff, NH tonight. Tomorrow is my first big New Hampshire climb over Mount Moosilauke. I am safe, dry, and warm tonight.