morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-03-19
To: Socks
Miles today: 0.0

These words are not about smelly socks.. There is a sweet "trail angel" (helpful person who gives unrequested aid to weary hikers at mostly unexpected times) that I would like to recognize and thank again.. Her name is Socks and she lives in Connecticut with her husband Randy. She is a 2005 thru-hiker whose story is in www.trailjournals.com/socks. We met that year at on the trail on June 25 at Pine Knob Shelter in Maryland where Socks who was hiking with Sleeveless had stopped for the night. The details of our meeting, "The Great Raccoon Attack of 2005", and the role of Ben and his son Luke are all detailed there. Socks gives me much more credit for the rescue than I deserve but it was a significant event nonetheless. Now, forward a year later to June 29, 2006, Wiley Shelter in southern CT. A thunderstorm has unexpectedly sent me and fellow tenters scurrying at 6:30am to quickly pack and get on the trail. It is day 25,the last day of my section hike for 2006. I have traveled from Boiling Springs, PA to this point and am headed to my adjusted destination of Kent, 12 miles distant. Problem #1: Kent is 10 miles short of my last planned mail drop at Cornwall Bridge. My travel clothes/gear are there. I can't make Cornwall Bridge because of sore feet. Problem #2: Torrington, the nearest bus depot for transportation to NYC to get a flight home, is 50 miles distant; I already have a plane reservation for the next day. Looks like I going to have to hitch a ride to Torrington which I am told is tough to do in this area. Problem#3: The hotel in Kent charges $125.00 for a room and no laundry is available in the town.Meanwhile, now-Trail Angel Socks has read from Conductor's journal online that he met a hiker named ol'graceful a ways back and that according to her tracking and some word from another hiker, Coyotebec, today I might be coming through Sock's territory at Bulls Bridge Road. Socks sets up cold drinks and sweets/goodies for the hikers coming through and hangs out. By late morning, I'm hiking along analyzing all my problems, feeling terribly sorry for myself, praying for solutions, rock-hopping rain-swollen streams, and generally feeling funky. I struggle into a road clearing and see a Jeep, a cooler, and a woman standing nearby. Now who do you suppose that woman is? Yep, it is Socks and as we reacquainted, I heard the story of how she tracked me down, and got around to telling her all my problems. She says not a problem! I finish the section down to Kent where she meets me and Patches, a young guy from Washington DC, who also needs to get off the trail for a bit to see a doctor. We go to the Post Office in Cornwall Bridge, and then to her home near Danbury 40 miles distant. Our clothes go into the washer, the pizza is ordered, showers are finished. Socks introduces us to Randy, her husband, who seems used to having smelly hikers intrude on the peace and quiet of their home. Patches is taken to the train station, I get to sleep a free bed and Socks gets me to the bus station the next morning. Wow, WOW!...Thanks again to Socks and Randy.
Date: 2007-04-11
To: Trail Names
Miles today: 0.0

A long time ago when I was close to fifty years old, I started to make the annual trek to the doctor's office for the dreaded but routine physical examination. We in this age group are strongly encouraged by the health care community to perform this ritual. My doctor, Tom Karas, an experienced outdoorsman himself, gave me sage advice about many things including hiking. He urged me not to do foolish things on the trail, take the medications and vitamins he prescribed, and to hike with a good load of grace. That same year I had also visited Yellowstone and seen the geyser, Old Faithful. You can see where I'm going with this. The word "grace" has many meanings that I have come to consider during the many hours of hiking. One meaning for me is to think about being graceful as I clamber over the rocks and trees encountered on the trail without falling on my nose. Another meaning for me is to use grace in meeting and hanging out with the people I come in contact with on the trail. A very important meaning for me is considering the grace that God has given me for this life on earth and the next life beyond. So, it seemed to me a good trail name that I can remember easily..sort of like a good password.
Date: 2007-06-27
To: Gettin' Ready
Miles today: 0.0

Well, my wife and I are back from three weeks in England and Ireland, so I'd better be putting the final touches on my supply boxes and mail them this week. I did a four day training hike on the AT in Georgia in late May to check out all the equipment and my legs but I've missed some training days on the local mountain and for that I will suffer later. I managed to run about three times a week while traveling and will hike another ten miler on the mountain this weekend. On July 2, Monday, I fly to NY-LaGuardia, then Socks ..what a great trail angel!..will pick me up at the airport for the ride to the Kent, CT trail crossing I left from last year's section hike. I'll have time to get ready and hike a few miles north. I getting excited but my wife though tolerant of absences up to 25 days or so is not nearly so excited. I'm going to call more often and she is going to help with this journal. Maybe that will help?
Date: 2007-07-02
From: Marietta, GA to Kent,CT

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean To
Miles today: 7.0

Celia and I were awake by 4:30AM to drop me off at the airport for an 8:15AM flight to New York City. My trekking poles needed to be bubble-wrapped to check in. A kiosk there did the job at 6:30AM for $4.00. Socks was there at LaGuardia to make a smooth pickup at the curb. However a wreck on the George Washington Bridge that morning jammed traffic all over the city. We took several hours to reach CT. After lunch we crossed an AT crossing in southern CT and saw a red bearded hiker doing an interview to about a dozen school kids at a parking lot nearby. More about him later. At 2:30, Socks dropped me off at the trail crossing near Kent where I finished the section hiked last year. Weather in the 70's, clear skies, it was a glorious day to start off. Walked along the Housatonic River for several miles and stopped at Steward Hollow Brook Lean To. Met Maineac on her second thru hike. In the tent by 9:00PM.
Date: 2007-07-03
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean To

To: Sharon Mt Campsite
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: broken clouds

Sandman, AT'06, has been keeping up with me a bit and offered to buy me breakfast at the Mountainside Cafe near Falls Village, CT. Of course I wanted to catch up with him and get that breakfast also. We set July 4 to meet. Once again the weather was great when I awoke at 5:45AM and was off at 8AM.   Plenty of kingfishers kept me company as I walked along the river. Lunch was at Silver Hill campsite overlooking the Housatonic River Valley. Started to think too much and missed two trail junctions! At one on a steep climb, a vulture feeding on a rock at eye-level distracted me. Had to circle back to find the trail running up through a narrow crack in the rock - a kind of mini lemon squeezer. Deer, a SOBO (south bounder), alerted me to a black boonie hat left on the trail up ahead which I later recovered. Decided to eat supper(freeze dried meal rehydrated with a small pot of boiling water) at 4PM at Pine Swamp Brook Lean To and then push on to Sharon Mt campsite. Could hear the sports cars racing at Lime Rock on the other side. Saw one large garter snake. Found myself alone at the campsite on a good flat tent spot with a good stream,called brooks up here. Magellan decided to push on. To the bag by 8:30.
Date: 2007-07-04
From: Sharon Mt Campsite

To: Plateau Camp
Miles today: 14.0

Awake at 6AM. Privy is a small box with a commode lid in a thicket of small trees. Off quickly for the 3.5 mile hike to the Mountainside Cafe for breakfast with sandman, George Duane. Didn't recognize him without his beard. What a great sight. In the register at the restaurant, he had signed in on July 2, 2006 when he passed thru last year. Tasty blueberry hotcakes, eggs over medium, and crispy bacon. My favorites. He gave me more tips on where to stay. Also, Early Bird, a thru hiker from PA was having breakfast. We hiked together for awhile. Per instructions from Los Clores sp? in a journal at the hydroelectric plant, I left the black boonie hat at the CT 41 parking lot hanging on a tree. Later in the afternoon the drizzle turned to rain just as we got our tents up at Plateau, a small spot with sloping tent sites. Had my little umbrella up as I cooked in the rain. Early Bird cooked with his Jetboil in his tent. Early to the bag.
Date: 2007-07-05
From: Plateau Camp

To: Hemlocks Lean To
Miles today: 13.2

Rained all night. Tent still has small leaks. Awake at 6AM. Packed up wet tent and eat cold breakfast to be off at 7:45AM. Rain had stopped. Small favors.Early Bird was true to his name and he was meeting his wife and he was gone quick. Pumped water at a pleasant brook to hydrate for four mountain climbs. The elevations are generally below 2500' but are steep and rocky and slippery. Good training for Vermont and New Hampshire I guess. Near the peak of Bear Mt., I suddenly heard quick movement away from me, heavy footfalls, and breaking underbrush. Guess it was a bear....I was already breathing hard but that added some gusto to my effort. At Brassie Brook LT(Lean To), there were not one but two picnic tables, the first in a long time. Met Marked By The Hand Of God, a speedy hiker from Indiana. Race Mountain is one of the proofs to Seckenheim's Postulate and its First Corollary. You say, Huh?. The postulate says that there always more uphill sections than downhill sections. The corollary says that just when one thinks one has reached the top of a hill/mt. there is always over the rise one more climb. Mt. Everett is a good example of setting a trail straight up a mountain with no switchbacks. I understand we will have plenty of practice with this technique. More people now in the Hemlocks LT. Aquaman, Sister Act (2 sisters), Stand by Me and his wife Partner, Spence and his mom, Lily, Ninja, Marked, and Breadless Horseman (has allergy to wheat, rye, etc, and is the guy who gave the interview that I saw several days ago). This day was hard on my feet. Will spend a zero day in Great Barrington to rest because later on a zero day at Bascom Lodge is canceled because the lodge is closed for 2007. So much for using a year old guide.
Date: 2007-07-06
From: Hemlocks Lean To

To: Great Barrington
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

This was Friday, a big beginning to the weekend in Great Barrington. The motels would be full of people going to the Tanglewood Music Festival. Finding a place would be..I didn't want to think about it. So off at 8AM with some abraded spots on my feet. Rain overnight left the tent wet and the rocks slippery over the trail today. Really had to use the extended poles going down hill to get over the dropoffs. If I started daydreaming, then I started sliding. Found the spring off Jug End Road and thankfully the final four miles were flat. Noted Shay's Rebellion marble sign. Bee stung me on the achilles tendon when going over a blowdown. Eye contact with a local businessman on US 7 got me a ride to the town visitor center where a lady named Joy succeeded in getting me a room in Parry's B&B close to the center of town. Breadless Horseman and I said we would share a room and expenses if necessary. He was hiking further north to a trail crossing to Great Barrington, got a ride in, and met a local clergy woman who offered him a room for no charge. It all turned out great. My supply box was at the post office. I did some laundry. I had pulled pork, thin, crispy fries and a great beer for supper. Roberta at the B&B had pie and ice cream waiting.
Date: 2007-07-07
From: Great Barrington

To: Zero
Miles today: 0.0

Well, Breadless has the use of his host's car so off we go to the Norman Rockwell Museum 15 miles north. Marvelous works of this great, gifted artist are on display with articulate,enthusiastic docents telling the story. Caught up these journal entries, bought some shoe inserts, socks, had two hotdogs at the local Methodist church craft fair, a big ice cream cone, dinner at an Indian restaurant and watched NASCAR. Well, tomorrow its back o the ol' grind.
Date: 2007-07-08
From: Great Barrington

To: Wilcox Mt North Lean-to
Miles today: 13.5

Since Breadless and I were sharing a room the second night, we flipped and I got the floor. Stayed up late reading the book Celia had given me. I should say the first 6 chapters. The next installment has been torn apart and will be in the supply box I pick up in Dalton, MA. In the morning, Roberta the proprietor fixed us hard boiled eggs for the road in addition to a great breakfast and her husband Tom shuttled us to our respective starting points. Mass. was having what I call a heat wave and the day already started getting hot. I missed a turnoff to a shelter break for lunch and arrived at a road where I started to snack and was changing socks when a little ol lady in an aging compact car stopped and asked me if I knew the area. Well, I know the trail I just walked over but not the area. Turns out she wanted to get to Great Barrington and my map would help get her there. She turned around and I gave her the directions. If I would have had lunch at the shelter, I would have missed having the opportunity to give her some help. God's timing?Passed a pond with a beaver swimming near a lodge so big it had grass growing a foot high out the top. Into the Wilcox Mt North Lean-to at 6PM. Set my tent just before a rainshower. Had the place to myself and was asleep by 8:30
Date: 2007-07-09
From: Wilcox Mt North Lean-to

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: haze

Well this is day 8 of the journey and my feet are holding together okay. Slept in til 7AM but a brief thunderstorm delayed departure until 9AM. Mystery Chicken from Chicago passed while I was pumping water. He got his name from a loose chicken running around in Hiawassee, GA when he passed through. The trail magic at Jerusalem Road was cold Heineken beer. Judging that a mountain was about a half hour away I just had one. Others had more than one can and suffered on that mountain. Saw the wild flower called Turks Cap out in a marsh and met Jukebox from Hanover, NH with a broken pack looking for an outfitter in Great Barrington. Found a nice dry field, layed out my wet tent and dried it all in about 25 minutes. Reached Upper Goose Pond Cabin by 5:30 and went for a swim in a beautiful clear pond. Does wonders for the soul, smell, laundry, and cleanliness all at once. Numbers and his wife of 33 years, Butterfly Mama, from Abilene, TX were there as well as Mystery Chicken and Walking Cowboy (Dick Adams) from the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club. Dick is on a 2007 thru-hike and the couple were finishing the second half of their thru-hike started last year. I noted that Slow Barbara was through here 3 days ago. Wonder if she is the same Slow Barbara I met two or three years ago in VA on the trail. She may be slow as me...
Date: 2007-07-10
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kay Wood Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: few clouds

Still warm night Up at six amBeautiful across the pond at sunrisePancake breakfast prepared by Wayne the caretakerOff by 815Lunch at October Mt. Lean-toTook a long one hour restRob Bird waited in a van with trail magic for hikers crossing Pittsfield Rd.Mr. Wiley was at the Cookie Lady house but no cookie lady! He showed me his 1965 Sunbeam Alpine that he is restoringMet Zack, an ATC staff guy, with another trail maintainer, told me to look up his friend Adam at the first shelter in Maine--Speck PondFairly level trail today, but hot, hot!Into Kay Wood by 6:30 pmWeekend hiker named Jen, an art professor at local college, heard my trail stories as well as granddaughter Lauren's desire to go to FIT[Fashion Institute of Tech]Walking Cowboy also thereTo the tent by 9 pm
Date: 2007-07-11
From: Kay Wood Shelter

To: Cheshire MA B&B hotel
Miles today: 11.6

Off at 7:35 am, the earliest so farSaw Walking Cowboy in Dalton at the mail pick upHung out in local gas station for a cup of coffee and a piece of cakeafter resupplyMet Maineac [her real trail name is Magellan]who is south-bound slack packing N of DaltonFlies, sweat bees, mosquitoes, and gnats were pestering me full-timeI wear various arrangements of hat, bandanna, and sunglasses to keep them at bayOnce in Cheshire, Eva, who runs Harbor House Inn, picked me up at Diane's Twist, where I was enjoying an ice cream, and settled me in at her B&BHer husband Sam is a former USAF orthopedic surgeonThe pizza place was closed so she loaned me her car to drive downtown to Adams and ate at the Red Carpet RestaurantRained all night as I sat comfortably on the porch reading my novel
Date: 2007-07-12
From: Cheshire MA B&B hotel

To: Wilbur Clearing Lean to
Miles today: 11.7

Breakfasted at 8 am with a Canadian couple touring the BerkshiresShe is a family physician and he is a banker who grew up in IrelandThe talk was so good, I did not get off until 9:30Headed for Greylock Mt.The weather nowylock had lunch at Mark Nopel Lean toNoted that Slow Barbara had stayed there recentlyOn the summit of Greylock by 2 pmAdirondacks were visible to the west,The Taconics to the south, and the Green Mts. to the north!Into Wilbur Clearing Lean to at 6:30 pm to find Walking Cowboy and Slow BarbaraRan into Slow Barbara in Virginia in 2004 while hiking with Kenyon ShiverThat year she got to Delaware Water Gap; in 2005 she hiked to Salisbury, CT, and last year she did not hike at all.Slow Barbara is an elementary school teacher in Sanford, NCShe may be Slow Barbara, but she is keeping up with me! Ha!
Date: 2007-07-13
From: Wilbur Clearing Lean to

To: Seth Warner Lean to
Miles today: 9.9

Temperature was about 60 degrees overnight, so I was restless in the shelterOff at 7:40 amHiked with Slow Barbara to North Adams and brunched at Friendly's Restaurant, a great experience. I had my favorite, hot cakes, eggs over medium, crispy bacon and coffee.Started the climb out of N. Adams by 11:30 but felt really sluggish after that "Friendly" foodStopped at Seth Warner at 4:30--short day--I was tired.I have noticed that there's no more poison ivy in northern Massachusetts, and that there's a strange sounding woodpecker that I don't recognize.
Date: 2007-07-14
From: Seth Warner Lean to

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

The loud ATV crowd was nearby on the county road last night about 3 amThe earplugs got me back to sleepEight others were in the shelter area: three thru hikers--Breadless Horseman, Mystery Chicken, and a thirty-mile a day guy named DQ, two locals, one an Irishman, and a couple from NY and she was three months pregnant!Another section hiker was in--Route 66Off at 7:20 am, the earliest yetPast a great beaver dam with the trail routed downstream three to four feet below the dam; the beaver lodge was huge, stacked with sticks. INto Congdon Shelter for lunch with a resident chipmunk begging for handoutsStreams are tannin colored with some foamGot a good view of Bennington, VTMet a Columbia art professor, day hiker, with his two dogsThe hike to VT 9 was very steepThe steep uphill into the shelterShared the shelter with Breadless Horseman and Mystery ChickenBed by 8:30
Date: 2007-07-15
From: Melville-Nauheim Shelter

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

Every morning I'm waking at 5:45One of the luxuries is a hot cup of coffee and oatmealPack and off at 7:45 amAnother are my two handiwipes for a bath at night--one bellybutton north, one bellybutton southThe third luxury is my inflatable pillow!Met Walking Cowboy at nearby creek and hiked with him all dayInto Goddard Shelter for lunchClouds overhead, growing overcast, thunder in the distanceWe were close to the peak of Glastonbury Mt. [3750 ft.]Climbed up the tower and see that thunderstorm rolling inTwenty minutes later storm broke with pea-sized hail for the next hour or soThoroughly drenched, we pulled into Kid Gore shelter to dry out and await the clearingBy three o'clock the skies were blue and we made for Story Spring4.6 miles awayNo more rain that nightReached the shelter at 5:30Tented with new residents: Bird Man, a 63 yr. old section hiker from PA, Hen, 72 yr. old who just keeps pecking away at the trail, and a long trail hiker--Stealth and his friend Megaphone
Date: 2007-07-16
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: few clouds

Awake at 5:45 and off at 7:30 to a beautiful, cool, breezy dayHiking aloneReached the top of Stratton Mt. at 4000 ft. by 11:15 amTalked with Mitch, the Stratton Pond caretaker, and Bird ManGreat visibility from the old fire towerThe fire tower spotter, now maintaining the trail, because the spotter job, which he held since 1968, was abolishedFrom the tower I could see the White Mts. from the north, Mt. Greylock to the south, and Adirondacks to the westPaused to swim in Stratton Pond and pushed on to Spruce Peak Shelter because the weather was so goodDue to complaints of mice in the shelter, I slept on the porch. Heard a rain shower at midnight
Date: 2007-07-17
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Manchester Center, VT
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: few clouds

Up at 6 am and left shelter at 7:10 amAt the road by 8:30, picked up a ride by 8:35!Picked up my mail at the post office and went on to brunch at another Friendly's Restaurant by 9:3o Met SOBO named Ranger who started on June 2 at KatahdinChecked into Sutton's Place, repacked the food from the supply box, showered, met Wrong Turn and Rock Man, did laundry, updated this journal, bought some bananas and socks!At BBQ ribs for evening meal and called home
Date: 2007-07-18
From: Manchester Center, VT

To: Peru Peak shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: moderate rain

Up at 6 for breakfast at McDonalds with Magellantook an 8:15 shuttle to the trail headStealth and Megaphone decided not to hike todaySprinkle rain became heavier at Bromley Mt. ski areaWe found the emergency hut which was unlocked and hung out for an hourBut we left in a light rain at noonPulled in to Peru Peak to stay and dry out a bit, but decided to remain here overnightNew residents are Mooseburger, a 1999 AT thru hiker; Jedi, a SOBO; and Avid Birder; Lady Green and her husband, Sir Wounded Knee, both from Alpharetta, GAand Magellan
Date: 2007-07-19
From: Peru Peak shelter

To: Greenwall shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

Rained off and on through the nightAwake at 6 and off at 7:15 to cloudy skiesPassed Lost Pond shelter site at 11 am; it was burned down on 23 Nov. 2007Once again my last year's guide had no mention of the burned out shelterI would have been very disappointed to have walked to this shelter and found it unfit for shelter in the rain!Stopped at Little Rock Pond shelter for lunchWrung out my socks and got ready for my two hour rain hike to Greenwall shelterMagellan went on to the next shelter and a ride to Rutland for the nightLady Green, Sir Wounded Knee came in as well as Lakewood, a fast through hikerSleep early, rained during the night
Date: 2007-07-20
From: Greenwall shelter

To: Swansong shelter
Miles today: 14.6

All in shelter awake at 5; ate cold oatmeal and beef jerky to be off by 7The sun is shining!Early on missed a turn and had to hike along a road to get back on the trail[asked directions too]Decided not to go to Whistle Stop Cafe for lunch after noticing the steep climb out of the road crossingSky is clearing and my spirits lifted!Made several phone calls from Clarendon LookoutInto Clarendon shelter for a breakMet Dolly, a section hiker and her dog TyDecided to push on in the good weatherForded my first stream and a SOBO told me about a shelter on private land to avoid using the Governor Clement shelter used by local party-ersMet a French hiker at the shelter who actually shaved every day! So I named him Clean ShaveAnton, a Long Trail hiker, came limping in with a sore ankle at 7 pm, just as the rain started again