morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-07-19
From: Pond Mt Natural Area, just before Skiff Mt Rd, CT

To: Caesar Campsite, Housatonic Meadows St Pk, CT
Miles today: 11.0

This morning I was filtering our daily water by a beautiful river. I sat back on a rock near the shore and a silky river otter just walked right by my feet. It didn't even look at me but seemed focused on where it was headed...back in the river. If you are wondering how we get water read on. We have tried a Steripen which emits a light that kills the bacteria in the water. It must be a sensitive device because we've gone through 5. We switched to Aquamira, which are chemical drops like bleach. The girls hate the taste. We met a guy who was using and loved the Sawyer system. We just fill thin plastic bags with water from lakes, streams or puddles. We then screw on this plastic tube and let the water flow through it. Takes more time than you'd think to get water ready. It's a big part of our day because we are drinking so much in this heat. But hey, what else do we really have to do?!The absolute highlight of our day was seeing our friends from Florida, the Gaies family. Lord of the Flame and Really! started us out on our AT adventure. Today the brought us heaps of delicious food. We ate right on the trail with them. Really! even took a natures bathroom break just for old times sake. It was very uplifting and motivating. We needed friendly faces after all this heat and bugs. We left them by walking over a big waterfall. They cheered when we safely made it across. We felt like celebrities. Off we went, back into the foliage and of course straight uphill. We met this adorable couple, recent USF grads named Papa Bull and Mama Bull. They are from Plant City. We talked Parkesdale Farms and got ourselves very hungry. Cub had just opened some strawberries we dried before the hike and they were from Plant City. Yesterday we found out that Mama Bull got very sick and had to leave the trail. Needless to say Papa Bull looks so forlorn. He hopes she can come back later, even promising to rehike the sections she missed. Today we found him collecting rocks by the river shore because Mama Bull likes rocks. I told the girls that if a guy is willing to add to his backpack weight that is true love. So Mama Bull know your man misses you something fierce. We hope the heat lets up a bit tomorrow. We want to try a big mileage hike so we can get tograndma and grandpa who are in Lee, Mass. Though CT has had some big rocks to climb it has been a really nice path. There are only scattered rocks and roots. We call it "walking on pillows". It's so much better than PA. New Jersey was the buggiest. New York had lots of ups and down with limited views and a fair amount of rocks. No real trail magic but good delis and pizzerias on roads off the trails. We are hoping for a bit of a break so we can make some mileage
Date: 2013-07-20
From: Caesar Campsite, Housatonic Meadows St Pk, CT

To: Just Shy (0.4mi) of Limestone Spring Shelter, CT
Miles today: 15.2

A deer was in the woods beside us. We are used to them just staring or running in the opposite direction. We stopped and looked and then Cub moved on. The deer cut in front of her and she kept walking. Cub is getting so nonchalant about the wildlife. Badonkadonk and I thought the deer was charging her, it came so close. She didn't even flinch. We really like CT. It has nice paths with bearable climbs. The woods are subtly different with each days progression. Maybe because it is later in the summer the greens have deepened. Everything was that lime, new growth green but now it is a deeper blue green. Often we wind through pines which leaves the forest floor soft and fragrant. Everything smells so strong out here, probably because we smell so bad. The flowers are heavy with perfumes that fill our noses with overpoweringly good fragrances. Tonight we had the most picturesque perfect dinner. The trail led over a charming blue metal bridge. Under us were large rocks and waterfalls. We found a small side trail to the rocks. If you've seen the movie "Hunger Games" it looked like were Katniss finds Peeta. The girls loved that. We sat in the cascading water, later cooking on the rocks and eating dinner. It was the only time all day we weren't attacked by vicious bloodsucking skeeters. We were also finally cool! We were so happy because we had tortellini to cook and eat. Food makes Badonkadonk the happiest.   We were on the dammed end of the Housatonic River. Gorgeous! I said to the girls,"Life can't get any better than this". We are certainly learning that simple pleasures are monumentally wonderful out here. I hope the girls can carry this with them forever. The girls are already asleep because it has actually cooled down a bit tonight. Hope it doesn't mean rain! Good night from a small tent under a tree canopy of wind-rustling leaves with a starry sky and blindingly bright moon.
Date: 2013-07-21
From: Just Shy (0.4mi) of Limestone Spring Shelter, CT

To: The Peak of Mt Race (elev 2370ft), MA
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: moderate rain

You could even begin to imagine where we are this very moment...the very top of a Mt. Race on a ledge, in a blueberry patch on a wee thatch of grass in our tent. We really feel like we are on the top of the world! This is the most spectacular campsite we've ever popped our tent up in. We could see the sunset from the front and in the morning we will see the sunrise from the back of our tent. We can't wait to see the stars with no tree canopy over us. We are above the treeline. We cooked couscous and ate dinner on a rock ledge that over looked the whole undeveloped valley, filled with lakes and rivers. Couscous never tasted so goodWe loved CT but Massachusetts appears to be gorgeous as well. We passed several cascading waterfalls, all natural, not a dam. The weather has cooled a bit,Last night being one of our best sleeps yet. We climbed our second Bear Mt. There was a rock tower structure we climbed for another stunning view. Happily we found two NOBO hikers we'd met before, Clever Girl and Dumptruck. They were talking to our second SOBO, Squint. Clever Girl realized we were the representation of the ways to do the trail. We all jumped up and got a local to take photos of 1 SOBO, 2 NOBOs and 3 FLIP FLOPPERS. Earlier we ran into our very first SOBO, Righteous, coming out of Salisbury,CT. What an adorable town. We love seeing the houses that are so unlike Fla houses. Turrets, wrap around porches,... We ate at Country Bistro. Maybe I'm starved but they were the best pancakes we ever had, sorry honey dripple! Then we ordered a second breakfast and ate Toads in a Hole(egg in toast). Then we went to the grocery store and drank down a Muscle Milk and an Amp energy drink and a Gatoraid. Then we stopped by the Bakery on the way out. Great day! When we get a big caloric morning the Mts are easier. We had two big climbs today and a huge one tomorrow morning, Mt. Everett. We plan to eat fresh, organic blueberries from our little ridge tomorrow am. Hopefully no bear beats us to it or gets mad that we are in its patch. Sweet dreams from the Top of the World!
Date: 2013-07-23
From: Bridge on Kellogg Rd, Sheffield, MA

To: Tyringham Cobble Park, MA
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: light rain

Woke up late, 8am, to a big pancake breakfast. Our ever gracious grandparents dropped us back off at the bridge on Kellogg Rd that spans the Housatonic River. We practically ran today we felt so light. Actually Cub did run a bit and we tried to catch her. I think she wants to outrun the Mosquitoes. We ate an early lunch at the Tom Leonard shelter. Everyone was griping about the heat and bugs in the shelter journal. There were hilarious sketches of villainous Mosquitoes dive bombing innocent hikers. Some hikers were seriously thinking about quitting they were so miserable. A few went home to wait out the heat. It's that badWe ran into more trail angels, a group of teens, building a rock stair case. We thanked them profusely. They were shocked that we were thru hikers, a typical response. We get lots of questions all day. It's fun to talk to everyone we meet. People are wonderfully interesting and unique. I'd say the majority are college educated young men doing this before they decide exactly what they want to do with their lives. Lots of young women are hiking too. Recently we've been hiking with an older gentleman who hiked the whole AT in 2011!!! He has hot pink hair, socks, shirt, shorts and bracelet. He is hiking for breast cancer awareness, bless him! He goes by the name Second Time Steamer but everyone else calls him the Pink Panther. He is quite a sight to see coming down he path. We are passing SOBOs all day now. That's cool because we might actually run into them when we flip. We scared a huge wild turkey today because we hiked up so fast. She had a little baby with her. Cub also found a tree covered in slugs and other bugs that totally fascinated her. We walked on several lengths of board walks that were made by splitting trees down the middle length wise. They didn't grow straight so the walkway is a bit curvy. We actually like that though. Badonkadonk and I managed to miss a step each and got one shoe covered in black muck. We theorize the Mosquitoes build the boardwalks over the swamps because we have to slow down to walk on the usually slimy, wiggly boards. Good feasting time for them. Short day tomorrow because I found out that Norman Rockwell's studio is here. We hope to visit it and then pull a quick 10 miles. The next day we will go for another 20. Love to all! And a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Whoops back in Boone!
Date: 2013-07-24
From: Grandma's Vacation Home, Bradley St, Lee, Mass

To: The couch in Lee, Mass
Miles today: 0.0

We got in the car to be driven back to the trail and Cub got very sick. She has a bad stomach ache and is vomiting. Poor baby. Both girls actually look a bit relieved and happy. They are currently under a fuzzy blanket with Disney channel on. We are very lucky to be with the grandparents, to have a couch and a tvLuckily we had a late start. We went to the Norman Rockwell Museum. I always admired his work. I loved seeing his brushwork close up. Brilliant. The art world loves to snub him but I think he was genius. He had a great sense of humor. They say you can walk around town and see the faces in his paintings walking around. He used all the locals as models. His children are also artists, there was an exhibit by his son there as well. Very different from his father but still with a sense of humor. He had portrait sketches that were very good and showed an ability similar to his dad's. He went into a more modern method of expressionWish us luck and let's hope Cub is back to her old jovial self, barreling down the trail with us rushing to keep up.
Date: 2013-07-25
From: Tyringham Cobble Park, MA

To: Jacobs Ladder Rd, Becket, MA
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

Cub felt fine this morning so we did a very quick hike. We started at11 and were done by 3. Grandparents Weisbord didn't expect such a fast hike so they were at an art museum far away. No worries, we will just hike to McDonalds and increase our fat as it is much needed right now. We were told it was 1 1/2 miles away. It was over 5 miles. I never walked so far for fries and a McFlurry. Lovely hike around a river and later a pond. The path is still a dream for out feet, some rocks to climb and lots of roots and boardwalks but also lots of packed dirt and pine needles. It was so cool we started out with goosebumps, novel and better than sweat rivers. The Mosquitos haven't entirely left by our bite numbers were slightly downWe saw the infamous Upper Goose Shelter but didn't visit as we had to get off the trail so the GPs could attend a musical event. Our humor today came from signing mocking songs about Disney princesses. Cub loves to sing falsetto and act like animals will light on her outstretched finger. She plans to dress up in full princess regalia and act like a Disney princess in the woods on Halloween. She figures it will either crack up or freak out the other hikers. Probably in the end she will be a zombie hiker because she's never been a pretty Halloween dresser upper, she's always gone for the gore. Trying for that twenty tomorrow. The GPs have so kindly consented to drag our weary bodies to the trail and pick us up one more time. It's been wonderful to be with them. I know we will always cherish the memories of this time that we spent together. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa. We love you!
Date: 2013-07-26
From: Jacobs Ladder Rd, Becket, MA

To: Corner of North St & Main St, Dalton, MA
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: overcast clouds

A nice breakfast of pancakes (and toast, for me) was enough to start the twenty miles that we were doing today. It was a quick drive to our starting spot. Of course, 5 miles is about 2 hours of walking for us. In a car, 5 miles is about 5-10 minutes. Crazy, right? We were just walking and we were not talking, because we were so focused on going fast so that we would not appear in Dalton at 8:00-10:00 PM. Honestly, all of us were surprised at how fast that 20 miles went. Next thing we knew, it was 4:30 and we were several miles away from Dalton! Possibly only 1 mile! Excitement coursed through us as we started out last down. We encountered a Ridge-runner who had done the Trail 30 years ago. We talked with him. Then he informed us that we were 47 seconds away from the road. We practically ran down the hill. Keep in mind that we are slack-packing. We walked into a store to ask directions and where our meeting place was when the store worker informed us that Dalton was the currency maker! They make the papers for our currency. Cool, right? Soon after that, we ran into Grandma and Grandpa who were slowly driving around, looking for us. It was a great slack-packing and always meeting our lovely grandparents at home. Well, temporary home in Massachusetts. We are sure going to miss them on the Trail! We had such a great time together! --Cub and Badunkadunk
Date: 2013-07-27
From: Corner of North and Main St, Dalton, MA

To: Crystal Mt Camping area
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: moderate rain

Grandma Janet kindly took us to get our new crocs as I conveniently lost one on the trail somewhere last week. Crocs are my feet's reward for carrying all this extra weight up and over these rocks and mts. As soon as we stop anytime, anywhere we put them on. A must for those twice a night pain-in-the-butt bathroom breaks my 50 year old bladder full of water insists on. A friend who hiked the whole AT last year even hiked 500 miles in his. We will try that if our feet get worse. Right now we still have all our toenails. We also got Badonkadonk some long pants since all she has are shorts. The temps are dropping. YEAH! Now if only the blasted Mosquitoes would follow. I don't know why auto correct always capitalizes Mosquitoes when they don't deserve the honor. When we loaded our backpacks into grandma and grandpa's car my pack was soaking wet. My full bladder had sprung a leak. In spite of dance tickets and a long drive Grandpa insisted he take me to a place to get a new one. How lucky I was to have it happen here! Grandpa Lee, I really appreciate what you did. I would have been in a bad situation without a big bag of water since I drink so much each day. We were sad to say goodbye to the grandparents but I know we needed to get our heavy packs back on before we got too weak or too lazy and they needed some peace during their vacation time. I bet it's quiet at the house tonight compared to our noisy troop being there, eating everything in sight. So we asked them to drop us off in Dalton where we got picked up after our twenty miler. The trail went through the town of Dalton, right through a neighborhood. We got out on a corner and spent an hour getting groceries broken down and our packs fixed just right. We realized we were near a movie theatre. The idea of a possible slurpee, popcorn and most gloriously, AC was too tempting. The girls begged and I caved. They promised some long hikes so you will see how that goes! We saw Monsters University. We thought it was hilarious but don't judge by us, we were just overjoyed to be sittin down. We ate Chinese food in the mall and decided we'd put it off long enough and headed back to the trail. We surprised ourselves by making it here before dark, around 8 pm. We didn't have to cook. We were full but crammed down pop tarts because our stomachs growl all night so we overeat now. It's cooling off rapidly so sleeping ought to be great only now my problem will be getting the girls out of he bags at 6am! Wish me luck. Gotta go, putting on crocs so guess what I will be doing shortly. Such fun in the woods. Tonight I brushed my teeth and spit into the woods. I hit a camouflaged large toad. It jumped. He scared me when I scared him. Poor thing. His frog mates probably think he reeks. Love to all, happy trails for us.
Date: 2013-07-29
From: Wilbur Clearing Lean-to

To: Near 2nd Pwr Rt of Way After Seth Warner Shltr, VT
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

Thrilled to see a quote from our journal on the homepage of trailjournals. I feel like we've really made it in the big times!! Hiked the highest mt in Mass yesterday. It is called Mt. Greylock. The woods leading up to the summit were mystical and fairy-like as we were mostly in the clouds. It gave the woods a soft hazy appearance. Sadly when we got to the top we had absolutely no view. The clouds that blocked the sun and kept us cool had fully descended. It was a bit chilly so we didn't linger. We did go in a large tower that looked like a huge chess pawn. It is a war memorial with a surprisingly beautiful mosaic tiled dome in the main entrance. We were congratulating ourselves for the cool weather and lack of bugs. We were about 1 1/2 miles from the shelter we wanted to camp at. Suddenly the most wicked storm dumped a heap of cold, bone chilling rain on us. The path turned into a muddy river that swallowed our shoes. No need rushing because we were soaked and dripping. I can't ever imagine running in rain again, that impulse has been washed out of me. Luckily it slowed and we got our tent up with minimal wetness to the interior. We've gotten good at holding the fly up and having Badonkadonk set the tent up underneath. We slept on our first raised wooden platform. It was good because it drained well so we stayed dry through the heavy rains throughout the night. Badonkadonk was brilliant at modifying our stake system for the platform. Her creative side works even in the woods. Today we hiked 2 miles out of the way for a Friendly's. Mammaw Anderson addicted us all to the place so I totally blame her. Cub ate a full lunch and then downed 8 scoops of ice cream. She is in pain now.   We are also hiking in Crocs, as per our friend Bearhat's recommendation. He hiked 500 miles of his thru hike of the AT last year in them. It beats puttin on soaking wet, nasty, 10 pound boots. They really work, much to our joy. Okay, gotta get our ice cream bloated selves to Vermont!! Bye
Date: 2013-07-30
From: Near 2nd Pwr Rt of Way After Seth Warner Shltr, VT

To: Porcupine Ridge before Goddard Shelter, VT
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke the girls up at 6:15 am but yelled ,"Oh my gosh, it 8 am, hurry, we gotta get going. It worked until we'd been hiking a few hours and they thought it was lunchtime. I had to tell them it was only 10. They quickly deduced that they'd been tricked. We all had a good laugh. The temp this am was 50 degrees! Cub said,"If we were home in Florida we wouldn't even go out in this." Badonkadonk said,"No, I'd be happily putting on my cowgirl boots and sweater but now I am ridiculously putting on shorts. Needless to say we started off with a brisk walk just to warm up. It's crazy to think about the horrendous heat we've been through. This is definitely better. We sleep so good now. We've decided that being out here gives you a joy you'd never have. When we crawl into our fluffy sleeping bags we are all so excited and happy. It is the best feeling and we anticipate it all day. Right now you could offer us a beautifully wrapped gift and we'd take the bags. Pure bliss. Blueberry asked if the hiking is getting easier as our bodies get in shape. Definitely yes but still the up hills leave me with a suffocating feeling as I try to gulp air into my old lungs. It's embarrassing, I pant like a dog. Inevitably we met someone coming down who feels chatty. My latest strategy is to stuff my heavily gasping mouth with candy. That way i just appear to be in the middle of chewing. At night my lungs sometimes ache. Guess they are being stretched to the max. I should live forever with these fit lungs and heart. Excitedly we met our very first mom with kids! We had a great chat. They call themselves "crowd control". They have their own blog. They are from Seattle. There is a mom, two daughters around ages 16 and 12 and twin boys age 7, though one twin went home because he was so obstinate often throwing down his pack and refusing to hike. It was a thrill to meet another mom! She said their biggest hike has been 14 miles though usually they do around 10. They've taken time to see lots of the East coast, getting off the trail to visit cities and tourist sites along the way. We were tempted to camp with them but we promised Blueberry a 20. Admittedly we stopped for a waterfall swim and a few chats today. Okay. Gotta run up Porcupine Ridge now. Moon already up.