morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-05-28
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Sugar Run Gap
Miles today: 7.2

My tent was wet when I packed it up in the morning. I was glad I was going to a hostel that evening so I could dry it out. There was a tough climb out of the shelter first thing up to a Sugar Run Mountain. I put the pedal to the metal and got a good workout chugging up the the top. I was not rewarded with a nice view. It was disappointing. The two section hikers I met yesterday were also let down at the summit.From there, the trail gradually descended towards Sugar Run Gap. A couple rocky sections slowed me down. I had wanted to get to the hostel as early as possible to enjoy the atmosphere. One guidebook called it 'a little slice of heaven'.Right before the road crossing a Sugar Run Gap there was a sign with a little map to the hostel. It was a quick road walk downhill to reach the place.The hostel looks like a cute little farm. The hostel opened in the 1980s and featured a restored 1880s cabin and a hiker bunkhouse. The original proprietor, Tillie has passed away but her grand daughter, Neville continues to open the home to hikers.Neville greeted me when I arrived and she retrieved my resupply box. I opted to stay indoors in a shared room rather than stay in the bunk room. The shared accommodations included an indoor shower and comfy bed with a warm duvet. Well worth the extra $10! An older hiker named Pockets and my buddy Cheer Up also shared the room with me.A huge group of my favourite hikers came into the hostel that day such as Aqua man & Tricks, Sheepdog & Butterfly, Jade & Steady, Yak etc. I spent the afternoon socializing and catching up to see how their hikes were going. It rained most the day so it was a good time to be sitting on a swing on a front porch! It was fun seeing all the hikers roll in throughout the day. It was like a family get together.The good at the hostel is legendary. Neville uses man fresh ingredients from her organic garden. The first course was a leafy green salad with homemade dressing. The main was a tomato based meat and veggie sauce with pesto over rice. Neville's amazing homemade bread perfectly complimented the meal. There was also ice cream for dessert! No hiker went away from that dinner hungry.After dinner, I was tired so a borrowed a book from their library collection and tucked into my comfy bed until my eyes felt heavy.
Date: 2018-01-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

D'oh! I never updated the conclusion of my 2014 AT thruhike attempt.My time on the Appalachian Trail was incredible. The friendships, scenery and challenge was outstanding. I was having so much fun that I slowed my pace to linger along the trail. I had a limited time away from work and it became clear that I would not reach Katahdin in time.I left the AT just before to Connecticut border and flew to Spain to completed the Camino France (Camino de Santiago).You can check out my Youtube channel for my hiking video blogs from trails around the world. https://www.youtube.com/SaraMy upcoming 2018 hikes are the Via de la Plata Camino and the Pacific Crest Trail.
Date: 2014-06-15
To: Western U.S. - New Mexico, AZ, California, Oregon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

As I mentioned in my ¢About¢ section, the idea to hike a section of the AT came to me while we were cross country skiing in Wisconsin in January. I had seen parts of the AT, read Bill Bryson¢s ¢A Walk in the Woods¢ and read articles on Thru Hikers so the ¢lure of the trail¢ was running around in the back of my head. When we returned home from the ski trip I determined that hiking between Connecticut and Maryland in a month seemed doable. It also helped that I took an early retirement package from my employer and what I call my ¢gap year¢ began April 1st. In early April my wife and I headed out for a 5 week road trip out west and we were able to do quite a bit of hiking in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon and at Yellowstone National Park. My fifty something year-old left knee started bothering me on steep inclines but by the time I got home the pain had migrated to my left hip (I must have been adjusted my walk to help my knee and starting hurting my hip). Have been through 6 weeks of physical therapy to work thru the hip issue. Made some great progress thanks to Rich who is a Physical Therapist at Athletico! He has also given me a number of stretching and strengthening exercises as tools during and before my hike in addition to adapting some of the exercises to not require bringing extra stuff in my pack.
Date: 2014-06-25
To: Kettle Morraine State Park, Wisconsin 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Back in April, I received an email titled ¢WE ARE DOING THIS FOR STEVE¢ from my friend Dan. Dan is attending the Maryland wedding and is going to hike with me the week before the wedding. His trail name will be "Off the Grid". His email suggested that Kettle Morraine North State Forest in Wisconsin had similar terrain and shelters to the AT and would be a good ¢practice run¢ for me and invited our wives and another couple to join us. In early June, Dan started joining me on early morning hikes with packs in our local forest preserve so we had some good mileage before our practice weekend in late June. The weekend provided a taste of some of the challenges we might encounter on the AT ¢ terrible mosquitos, rain, muddy & hilly trails, unknown shelter configurations. Even though I looked like a bee keeper in my mosquito head net, Dan would have paid a small fortune to buy it from me. Our wives arrived just as we completed our 10.5 mile hike and they hadn¢t bought in to the ¢dry run¢ aspect of the trip which included boiling our pasta/tuna dinner with pasta/tuna so they had stopped at Panera Bread and brought salads for their dinners. Dan¢s wife had seen there was a lake a few miles away and suggested we hike down to the lake as the weather had cleared up but we were mosquito-bitten, my socks/boots were soaked and we were tired so I suggested we drive and come back and make dinner. When we got to the lake we found ourselves right in front of a hamburger/ice cream stand so I immediately did a 180 on boiling my dinner and had a cheeseburger and ice cream cone ¢ from what I read on trailjournals.com, you need to take advantage of ¢town food¢ when you can get it. Needless to say our wives were merciless in rubbing in the fact that we did not follow our practice run of boiling our dinner! Sat out in front of the campfire that night with the sparks of the campfire and fireflies down in the valley below. The girls did their early morning Tai Chi after our coffee and oatmeal breakfast. Dan and I did about six miles the on Sunday then had to head home for a going away dinner for a friend.
Date: 2014-07-17
To: Morraine Hills
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Decided to increase my mileage and did 12 miles at Illinois' Morraine Hills State Park which is less than 30 minutes from our house. The park was really nice with some hills, grasslands, river and lake with tons of lily pads. I sat out on a wooden dock and had lunch with the bullfrogs and redwing blackbirds who surprisingly could land right on the lily pads to reach their food and water. Felt pretty good after the hike and treated myself to a vanilla ice cream cone at McDonalds after the 12 miles; won't be able to have the same treat daily when I'm on the AT though!
Date: 2014-08-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Just a few more days till I start my 30 day hike. In the past few months I've hiked over 300 miles and lost about 18 lbs in preparation for the 450 mile segment. In the last week my hiking partner Dan and I hiked the 22 miles around Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. We are spending the week before my hike with 3 other couples around Boston and having a wonderful time w great friends. Activities have included Red Sox game, boat rides, clamming, a lobster feast, bike ride on Nantucket and lots of laughs. See links below and photo section of blog (I can only post one photo per day on blog)http://youtu.be/4SbYwsaV5zUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSipLklD9hQ
Date: 2014-08-25
From: Bull's Bridge (Kent,CT)

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter (New York)
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: broken clouds

After visiting my wife's relatives and attending the beautiful wedding of John and Kate Scurlock, Beth and I had a pre-hike getaway in Kent, CT to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Though I joke that Beth told me to "take a hike" for her anniversary gift I couldn't be more blessed to have her as my wife! She gave me a horseshoe good luck charm for my pack and I know the charm has some power as the starting marker for the trail I began had a real horseshoe on it (see photos section of blog for more pics as I can only post 1 picture per day). Beth did the start of the hike with me and it was a perfect trail (rushing river, filtered light thru trees and not too hilly). My plan to do a short day since I started late and hadn't been hiking during our 10 day vacation but ended up arriving at the shelter as it was getting pretty dark and realized this morning I did almost 14 miles I had an option to camp at a "hiker friendly" Landscape Center but it was right next to a train track and a busy road so I trucked on the last 3 miles. There was one couple camping at the site and another couple joined me in the 3 sided shelter. Coyotes and owls kept me up somewhat but feel pretty good after day 1 of 32!
Date: 2014-08-26
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter (New York)

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: broken clouds

Since most long distance hikers start from Georgia in the spring I thought I would not get to meet as many hikers since they would have already gone past my section of trail. Two southbound thru hiker couples who started from Maine in June were at the shelter the first night and the couple from Florida helped find me the next water source and give me a few pointers on how to filter water. Before I left the shelter I had a good talk with a retired state trooper from Boston who gave some poison ivy pointers. After not making it to the shelter till pretty late on day 1 I decided to stop for the day at 3:30 rather than push on for 9 more miles to the next shelter. Not too long after I stopped a northbound group of hikers that a part of a group that has formed called "the party boys" arrived (their trail names were sour patch, Etcha sketch, Lost bard and Catch up) and after 1500 miles they had a lot of experiences to share before they hiked on. As it was getting dark a hiker named Bible packer arrived and we talked about his hike and the work his family has done as missionaries.
Date: 2014-08-27
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

By the end of my first day hiking (after going down the wrong trail twice for short periods) I thought I had learned that if you don't see the "white blazes" on the tree marking the AT - do not go further, turn around and find them as they may be on obscure boulders or shelters but thy are there. Well today I rationalized that the white reflectors on telephone poles on a road were AT markers then headed east on a road there was supposed to be Deli;but I was not on the trail so I ended up walking a couple miles on a very hot day out of my way. Turned on my phone, found the deli and talked with hiker Colonel Tom and his dog at the deli about his hike. After I left I was feeling bad that I hadn't bought the Colonel some of his food since he left it at the cash register for a long time before paying for it and looked like he didn't have much money (and quite frankly most all hikers who are on the trail for more than a couple weeks look and smell like they (soon to be me) are homeless). I proceeded back what was supposed to be .3 miles but ended up hiking up and down a steep and hot hill at least another mile out of my way when I realized I had AGAIN missed the trail entrance!! So as I walk up the steep hill who do I see but Colonel Tom (with his bearded figure of a shadow reminding me of Jesus (but with a dog) pointing "the way" to a trail sign I don't know how I missed. I guess I definitely should have offered to buy his food based on that image! So I'm an unhappy and very sweaty hiker when I say hi to hiker heading towards me and vent about my mishaps; she says ...in the most calm and serene manner ..."there are no wrong turns" and glided on down the trail which definitely hit me upside the head as a reminder that everything typically happens for a reason. I only had time to blurt out a quick thank you to her (I'm going to pretend her name is Mary for obvious reasons). Well she was right because 3 hours later I arrived at the very nice RPH Shelter (where you can get pizza delivered!) just 10 minutes before a terrible thunderstorm hit and who knows where I would have been on the trail without those "right turns". So I took advantage of the rain to take my first ever shower in the rain, rinsed out some clothes and enjoyed a pizza dinner with 5 other hikers; plus I went to bed smelling good!
Date: 2014-08-28
From: RPH Shelter

To: Dennytown camp site
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Left the great RPH shelter after K2, Omega, Rocket turtle, Halls and Platypus had gone. Stopped at fahnestock state park for a sandwich and hiked around the beautiful lake. Since I got a late start I stopped at the small Dennytown road camp site. The only other camper there was a very experience long trail hiker from New Orleans named Bayou. He volunteers in an AT hostel and is active in hiking organizations. He also explained the guidebooks' definition of east and west which is different from the compass and will be useful info. This was the first night in my tarp tent which is supported in the center by one of my trekking poles. I didn't realize till I was in bed that I was on a slight incline so my sleeping bag pad (and me) tended to slip down towards my trekking pole which made the tent collapse a couple times- yet another lesson learned out here!
Date: 2014-08-29
From: Dennytown camp site

To: Bear Mtn Bridge Motel
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Trail continued to be hilly with a lot of roots, rocks and boulders mixed in for fun for first segment but managed to complete 16.5 miles. Added some mileage to stop for water and rest my feet at the Graymoor Spiritual Center/Friary and also hiked up to Anthony's Nose with great views on the Hudson River. Staying at motel tonight which seems luxurious plus the owner did a load of laundry for me - very nice couple are the owners.
Date: 2014-08-30
To: William Brien Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Lots of hikers and families out and around the Bear Mtn area today; several hikers and families wanted to hear about my hike. Was really impressed when I saw a runner speeding over the rocky and mountainous terrain- he told me he typically does an 18 mile circuit. I think he may have been from West Point as it is nearby. On the opposite end of enjoying the outdoors was the guy in the photo on this page who was watching a game on his portable tablet when he could have been issuing the Hudson Valley and the New York City skyline. Glad I bought water at the top of Bear mountain as there no water sources at the shelter or on the way.
Date: 2014-08-31
From: William Brien Memorial Shelter

To: Days Inn Harriman, NY
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

At the shelter met 5 "twenty something's" from Brooklyn the previous night and had a very nice evening around the camp fire (including marshmallows). One of the campers was from the UK, had lived in and married a woman from China and works for UNICEF. Another camper was a stand up comedian and dog walker. Booked into a motel due to lack of shelter in area but got soaked in a huge storm just as I was finishing hike. Luckily "trail angels" Bob and Doris took me to my motel even though it was out of their way!
Date: 2014-09-01
From: Days Inn Harriman, NY

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: broken clouds

Gladly left the Days Inn (night mgr said site was going to be a Cabela's soon so be didn't care about a anything) and had an interesting taxi ride to the trail from a driver that was part time rock star and had the inside story about what the U. S. Is really doing in space (he told me but asked me to keep it secret!) The hike started with Arden mountain (aka Agony Grind) which was difficult both up and down. On the way down I met Lone Ranger from Pittsburgh who is hiking from Maine to Georgia and hiked the rest of the day with him. Weather continues to be very hot and water is limited so as we pass other hikers we share info on a available water. Also saw my second big snake of the trip, a black rat snake in addition to the copperhead I saw a few days ago.
Date: 2014-09-02
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

Lone Ranger and I left the shelter early on another hot day. On the AT amazing people called "trail angels" leave water (and sometimes food) which is called "trail magic" for AT hikers. Today we received water, snacks, bagels and bananas which was GREATLY appreciated! Climbed a number of boulder ridges above Greenwood Lake and crossed from New York into New Jersey. 3 of the hikers were heading into the town of Warwick where hikers can watch the drive in movie and camp there for the night. Met Big Stick at the shelter who is doing a section hike and sleeps in hammock which I'm seeing a lot out here.
Date: 2014-09-03
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Pochuck Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: few clouds

Got another early start due to the heat so just had a pop tart and vitamin water for breakfast but made up for it mid morning at Heaven Hill farm (very hiker friendly place) by eating 2 pocket sandwiches, donut, chocolate milk and a pint of ice cream. Unfortunately that much food didn't feel good in my stomach climbing up Pochuck Mtn which I thought I might rename Upchuck Mtn but I felt ok after awhile. We caught up with K2 and Wolfburger at the shelter- you definitely feel like you in a different place where we only use trail names!
Date: 2014-09-04
From: Pochuck Shelter

To: Rutherford Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

After a quick bite to eat with one of the Section Hikers (a hiker like me who is only doing part of the Georgia-Maine hike) Lone Ranger and I headed out on the nicest 7 miles of trail I've been on since I started and arrived at the famous Jim Murray property. Jim is a former AT Thru Hiker who allows hikers to use his cabin, water and outdoor shower. I really enjoyed the shower but there wasn't even a partial wall; just a shower head on the side of the cabin! MyThe trail also went around the perimeter of the Wallkill Nature Preserve where I saw egrets, herons, deer and ducks. We went thru High Point State Park where long distance hikers get a free Pepsi, saw the Monument (which looks like the Washington Monument) and ran into a group of Princeton students who hike the trail as part of orientation. We spent the night at Rutherford Shelter which had a fake satellite dish and electrical outlets; the local hiking club has a sense of humor!
Date: 2014-09-05
From: Rutherford Shelter

To: Brink's Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Cloud cover helped the hike today but the view wasn't as clear as it could have been from the Sunrise Mountain Pavilion, an impressive stone and wood beam structure. Saw some wild turkey's and another big black rat snake but no bear so far. Highlight of the day was going to Gyp's Tavern for burgers and beer. Gyp's is on a lake so I got to soak my feet plus by the time we left we had talked to everyone in the place. On our way back to the trail we were offered a ride and a minute later "Snores", a former hiker, offered us trail magic beverages! What friendly people. The Brinks Shelter we are staying in tonight looks like a miniature chalet and was just built last year. K2, Wolfburger plus Steve (who like me took an early retirement package and Is doing his first long distance backpacking) and Easy Rocks (a I free spirit who has been on the trail for 8 months and is cooking some of kind of wild mushrooms he found on the side of a log) are here tonight.
Date: 2014-09-06
From: Brink's Shelter

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 16.2

Didn't sleep that well last night; not sure if it was because I made a couple phone calls home and that got me missing home and things that I would be involved in if I was home. It was also another near 90 degree day and no water sources till our 16 mile destination so our packs were heavy with around 4 liters of water each. We walked some nice ridge lines along Crater Lake and a other lake that had an industrious beaver population based on the knawed off trees and beaver dams. I've also started seeing some small orange salamanders. I was dragging by the time we made it to the Appalachian Mountain Club's Mohican Outdoor Center and was hoping for a bunk bed in a cabin but they were sold out. After a BLT and chili we found some good tenting sites; rain was in the forecast so proper drainage was my primary selection criteria since dragging around a wet sleeping bag is not fun. After our $5 shower (worth every penny) we hung out in the Lodge and I was looking thru the book "Hiking the AT" by Larry Luxemburg and came across the following quote in a chapter on mental attitude on the trail. "Keep on going and the chances are that you will stumble upon something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down." Charles F Kettering
Date: 2014-09-07
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: broken clouds

Several waves of heavy thunderstorms last night and I only got a little bit of water in my tent from splashing off the ground and the lightning gave quite a light show from inside the tent. Actually fell to sleep early with the rain and got a great night's sleep. Packing up everything wet was not so fun and as usual Lone Ranger was ready to go before me (but he's been doing this for over 850 miles). Went by Sunfish Pond (naturally acidic so only certain fish (e.g. Sunfish) can survive and some nice waterfalls and streams in Delaware Water Gap. On the way to the town we ran into Northbound hiker JD who said how great the Presbyterian Hiker Hostel was but getting thru the town was a hassle there was a Jazz Festival and the festival security escorted him thru (since the street was part of the trail) but wouldn't even let him buy something to eat at the food booths. We approached the town from the other end and our experience was totally different. We had only gone a few feet when a member of the Presbyterian Church asked us if we needed a place to stay or any directions. They then insisted that we come to their food booth where they served us burgers, fries and drinks as their treat! They could not have been a nicer group of people!! We then did a small food resupply (I can't believe I'm doing most of my grocery shopping at gas stations but they seem to be close to the trail) and hike up Mount Mias and to Kirkridge Shelter. I'll provide more updates as cell coverage permits (which is hard to predict)