morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2022-05-23
From: Canopus Lake Beach Shelter

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a great day. A day that I fell back in love with the AT.  The main reason for this was a shorter day of 13.5 miles. I had a lie in, sauntered to the lake rest rooms for my morning ablutions and checked in with Fi at home.  I had coffee and danish apple pastry and took in the sunny morning. I left the shelter at 7.30. The terrain was easy to begin the day, a short up and over and then a long lazy descent. After 4 miles, I came across a delightful old shelter which I took the time to explore whilst eating a snack.  I also met Easystreet there doing the same thing.  And we walked on together for the next few miles chatting about the trail, other trails and life at home.  I ate lunch in a car park lying on the back of a pick up truck.  The guy who owned it had been at the shelter last night and he said I could leave my rubbish by his truck.  He was a bit taken aback to see me actually lying on his truck eating lunch but he was very kind about it. Even giving me the remainder of his water. The afternoon was a lovely hike warm in the dappled shade of the sun, with the occasional light breeze. I bopped along and all was good again.The shelter for tonight is a lovely old fashioned one, well tended by local rangers and volunteers. It has a little library for hikers. Best of all there is a bird¢s nest in the front  rafters where eggs are being incubated, and the parents have been in and out all evening.  Delightful
Date: 2022-05-24
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: Ten Mile Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: heavy intensity rain

I like white tailed deer, they are such gentle creatures. I¢m lying alone in Ten Mile shelter in Connecticut - yes I am now in my 5th state - watching deer graze at the end of a meadow.  The sun is going down, birds are chirruping and I¢m about to go to sleep after another good day on the AT. The walking started at 7am as the previous day had left off. Some gentle climbs, some flat ¢AT superhighway¢ and a long easy descent. Then an eerie walk by Nuclear Lake - not kidding it used to be a nuclear fuel research site! I caught up with BigEasy ,who¢d left last night¢s shelter 30 minutes earlier than me, and we walked on loosely together until we¢d done 11 miles and hit NY Route 22. At the road junction, there was the option of a deli and pizza place half a mile down the road, or a garden centre next to the trail. We chose the garden centre, where the lovely owner let us sit in her gazebo to eat lunch, use her rest rooms and fill our water bottles.  She also had coke and ice creams for sale which were a good bonus. Plus it was a gorgeous natural garden centre that only sold plants growing wild in the area.  After lunch there was some easy meadow walking with good views. All a bit little house on the prairie in a good way. It¢s nice to escape the trees for a bit though it also reminds one of how much shade from the hot sun they provide. I pushed on from BigEasy because whilst my plan A was to walk 16.6 miles to the Wiley shelter, I wanted the option to walk on another 4 miles to the next shelter if I had the energy. I got to Wiley shelter by 3pm, ate and drank as much as I could and enjoyed a restorative 20 minute nap. The next 4 miles were lovely as the sun weakened and the woods became a near dark world apart.I made the Ten Miles shelter about 5.45, got some food on, chatted online to Fiona and then went for an early night. Just 9 miles tomorrow morning to get to Kent and a hotel room for 2 nights!
Date: 2022-05-25
From: Ten Mile Shelter

To: Kent
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: moderate rain

Woke up at 5.30am with a swollen left ankle plus a painful big right toe, caused by multiple toe stubs during the past few days. Glad to only have 9 miles or so into the town of Kent, where I have a room booked for two nights of comparative luxury. Left the shelter at 6.45, and the first 3 miles were much as the day before, enjoyable hiking on rolling woodland trail. The middle section was a bit more taxing as the rock count increased but my average speed was good and I hoped to be in Kent by noon.  Wishful thinking!The final 3 miles were tough, with some nasty steep rocky ups and jagged, leg sapping downs. It¢s the descents that show up all my various foot, ankle and knee issues and encourage me to hike tentatively. My main thought is to be careful so as to get to Kent in as good shape as possible. Sore is ok, injured would make for a less restful off day  On the final descent to the road crossing that will lead to Kent, I stop in the final shelter to take some pain killers, put my pack down, have a snack, and drink a lot of water. The tough last section means I get to town about 12.45.  My hotel room isn¢t ready so I drop my pack and head to a diner for lunch.  Fresh food joy! I have a cobb salad, with orange juice and cherry pie and ice cream for dessert. Laundry, some resupply, and a slap up dinner with a glass of wine at the Fife and Drum restaurant. Not a bad day, and tomorrow I have a complete day of rest.
Date: 2022-05-26
From: Kent

To: Kent
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I had a well earned day off - a zero - today.  Slept until 9.30!  Banana, apple, yoghurt, coffee and fresh juice for breakfast. Iced my sore ankle and big toe and headed out to the diner for lunch.  Ate lunch and made a rough plan for the next 5 days or so. There are some tougher days coming up so I need to plan for less mileage a day. Plus it¢s my birthday soon and it would be nice to be in town that day. Packages arrive from REI (US outdoor outfitters) and I¢m super happy with my new light sun hoody and ultralight Patagonia joggers/trousers. For me, long sleeves and trousers are the way to go in the heat with lots of mozzies around. Cooler to walk in and saves the hassle of needing sun cream and insect spray.  Keeping shorts for lake swimming and hostel/hotel stays. I¢ve sent a lot of kit home and I¢ll update my kit list (a very early post) with comments as soon as I have time. Kent is a very well heeled and clipped town; with some fine eating and drinking options.  And a nice hiker welcome centre, that includes a coin operated outdoor shower. Kent's affluence is hugely different to the grittier ex mining trail towns in Pennsylvania, such as Duncannon.  On occasion whilst in Kent, I've felt like an extra on The Truman Show as everything feels a bit too perfect.  But it's a great place for a rest day and the locals have been kind and welcoming (with special mention to Blondin Shea opticians who fixed my glasses and gave me cleaner fluid and a cloth with no charge and best wishes for my hike).  For dinner, I had an expensive tuna salad, a few craft beers and some enjoyable bar conversation in an upmarket tavern.I get a lot of joy from Americana and the kindness of strangers in trail towns.
Date: 2022-05-27
To: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I¢m sitting in the Pine Swamp Brook shelter at the end of a long day watching heavy rain fall outside and listening to it on the tin roof. I left Kent about 7am and road walked back to the trail.  I cruised up the big ascent to start the day, running through lots of bits of good news from home in my head.  Before I knew it I was at the summit and descending to the Housatonic river valley. And what a descent it was, probably the most technical I¢ve done so far -  huge chunks of rock, tumbling down the mountain. All wet, mossy and very slippery. I had to do a few sections on my butt.  It took me some time but I managed it unscathed. I got new hiking shoes delivered whilst in town and I was glad of their extra grip. The trail then followed the river for a good few miles. After 7 miles, I stopped in a shelter to rest my back and have a snack. Heavy pack today as it¢s loaded with food for three or four days. Despite packing heavier stuff lower in my pack it still made my shoulders ache enough to take a break every three hours or so.The last 10 miles were a rollercoaster of big ups and downs that tested my legs and overall resilience. The second to last climb of the day I called ¢the imposter¢ (for not being the last climb of the day) and it fought back with three or four false peaks to test my resolve. I shot up the last steep ascent of the day, keen to get the shelter before the predicted rain. I succeeded by staying dry and arriving  at the shelter about 5.30pm. 17 miles closer to Mt Katahdin.
Date: 2022-05-28
From: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter

To: Limestone Spring Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I¢ve been threatening to rein back my daily mileage for some time now.  And today was a good opportunity to do that. It rained heavily overnight. So the choice between my two options for today was easy. 11 miles with one big climb at the end of the day and a slap up brunch/lunch at 8 miles. Or a 21 mile day with three big climbs (2 of which are over 2000ft) and two very tricky rocky descents.  Plus more rain was forecast. I chose the 11 mile option. The lure of proper food led me to walk an undulating 8.1 miles in two hours and forty minutes.  The Mountain Cafe was excellent and I had two breakfasts, coffee, juice and a turmeric tea over two long hours of warm relaxation - enjoyed in my dry town clothes - that included reading the Saturday paper.  The lovely folks in the cafe also allowed me to charge my power block, phone, ear buds and kindle. Big win!I left the cafe at noon for the final 3 miles of the day; a short section by the Housatonic River (again) and the big climb of the day. The climb was fairly easy with a lot of switchbacks though persistent heavy rain made it a sweaty endeavour in full rain gear.  The shelter turn off was less than half a mile after the summit.  The day¢s toughest test was a perilous descent by a raging stream to the shelter. I arrived at the four to six person shelter to find 5 hikers already hiding from the rain.  A bit of shuffling up by fellow flip floppers - Silver, Splash and Earlybird - and space was found for me.  No fun setting up a tent in the rain, so I was relieved. The next hiker to arrive was not so lucky.
Date: 2022-05-29
From: Limestone Spring Shelter

To: Race Brook Falls campsite
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: broken clouds

I am writing this after deciding to leave the trail. More about why in my next post. I was last to leave the shelter at about 7.30am. Another crowded night in a shelter with snorers and noisy sleeping mats (thermarest neoair...grrrr)  made for a broken night¢s sleep.  The holiday weekend has brought lots of day and section hikers on the trail.  They smell SO clean I get hit with a huge odour punch every time I pass someone.  Even a short waft provides notes of apple shampoo or Sure anti-perspirant.  As hiker trash, I have a deeply engrained pungent body odour that I notice most as I sweat uphill.  It¢s not unpleasant to me but I am sure it is to the clean scrubbed day hikers.  The Lion¢s Head is an easy enough climb with a final rock scramble; probably less fun to descend than go up.  Bear Mountain is slightly tougher uphill - a lot of big stone steps- and an absolute nightmare to descend.  I get down very slowly, picking my way through the boulder jumble.  And sliding down on my bum on the really scary bits. I escape with nothing worse that grazed hands.  But there¢s a life changing, potentially mortal danger to these AT descents that make me apprehensive.  Having an arthritic knee and two sore rolled ankles does not make me a graceful descender.  There¢s another big climb, a longish rocky ridge with some fine views and unwelcome exposed edges, and then another horrible descent before I reach my campsite for the night. The lack of views on the AT makes the climbing and descending feel pointless at times. I didn¢t take much notice of the ¢green tunnel¢ tag applied to the AT before I came, but it¢s most apparent to me when climbing the mountains out here. Mostly, there¢s no view at all.  There¢s been a couple of great views today, particularly at the summit of Bear mountain where I had lunch.  But these view areas are tiny rare platforms - often crowded with day trippers - in a vast ocean of trees and rocks.  I pitch my tent and fix dinner. I call home and chat to Fi and the boys who¢ve been out to watch Top Gun 2 and eat pizza.
Date: 2022-05-30
From: Race Brook Falls campsite

To: Great Barrington
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: few clouds

I decided to quit the trail last night after my phone call with Fi and the boys. I realised I had sounded low on the call and that¢s because the trail has been grinding me down over the past week. I¢ve been making great progress and walking good miles; well ahead of my schedule. But I¢ve not been enjoying the hiking which has become a daily chore. The humidity means that nearly every morning starts with putting on wet clothes.  And checking for more mosquito bites which I now have all over my face, on my neck,wrists and legs. I have no serious injuries but I have two swollen ¢rolled¢ ankles and my usual stiff arthritic left knee. Once I get going, I have generally enjoyed the first 3 or 4 hours of every day. But the rocky terrain, formidable steep ups and terrifying descents are starting to wear me down in the afternoons. And the constant mosquitos usually have me hiking with a head net in the lower terrain. Despite these challenges, I¢ve kept making good miles and amongst my fellow flip floppers I am considered a strong hiker, some jokingly call me a machine. But as the trail wears me down I don¢t feel like one.  I feel all too human. The worst bit of the trail over the last few weeks has been the complete lack of views despite regular days ascending over 4000 feet.  Staring at scrubby bush and trees in the ¢green tunnel¢ has become boring for me, making the grind of hiking big miles every day harder, and that has made me question whether I want to do this for 4 more months? The simple answer for the question for me is no.  The opportunity cost is too high. I have a lovely wife, two boys and a home in a beautiful bit of the world. And that makes the bar for an adventure away from home very high. For me, the trail has been an incredibly positive experience but after 500 miles and 34 days it¢s time for me to say goodbye.  Maybe, I¢ll comeback and hike another section? Maybe another trail in a different bit of the world will be more appealing.  I¢ll write an after trail summary of my reflections when I feel a bit less raw about deciding to quit.  I am happy.  I am healthy. I know I am making the right choice to leave. And I walk away from the AT glad of the experience.
Date: 2022-07-18
From: Eastbourne Uk

To: Great Barrington 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hello folks!I will be back on trail on 5th August. The AT is an itch I can't stop scratching.  And I hate to quit on a challenge.  It may prove beyond me, but I have not yet given up on my goal of 'thru hiking' at least 2000 miles of the AT in 12 calendar months.I'm going to pick up where I left the trail, a few miles from the town of Great Barrington in Massachusetts.  I had completed 499 miles northbound from Harpers Ferry in my first 34 day adventure.  My aim on this trip is to hike the remaining 669 north to Mt Katahdin in Maine within 8-9 weeks to complete the northern section of my AT flip flop.  If - and it is a massive IF - I complete this section then I might come back in the Spring to try to complete the southern section, from Harpers Ferry to Georgia.  But at present that's just wishful thinking, as I know the next 669 miles are some of the hardest on the AT, including the White Mountains in New Hampshire, in which the AT goes over 9 mountain summits higher than Ben Nevis (the highest mountain in the UK).  I was homesick when I left the trail. And It was great to get home to spend my birthday at home with Fiona, Jack and Louis.  I generally float positively through life but I have always suffered from periods of depression, usually a couple a days a month when I need to hide to regroup.  I've learnt to be pretty good at spotting the signs of these looming lows but the last few days on trail I missed the signals and put my low morale down to the constant physical grind of the trail.  In retrospect, a few more days or even a week's rest off the trail would probably have been enough to get me back buzzing for the challenge.  If home was in the USA, I may well have been itching to get back on the AT in a week or two.  In any case, I needed to recharge and being home has been wonderful. The big learning for me is to keep pushing hard when I feel good but also to give myself much more physical and mental recovery time when I need it.  I'm sticking with most of the kit that worked well earlier in the summer. I'll update my kit list - on my original journal post - in the next few days with comments on new items, and those that I left in hiker boxes, sent home or lost.  Be helpful to hear from US friends/followers about likely night time low temperatures on the AT in NH and ME in September and early October.  I probably going to bring a summer quilt for August but keen to know when i should post my 20F quilt out to the US for colder nights?Apart from updating my kit list entry this should be my last post before i get back out on the trail.
Date: 2022-08-05
From: Great Barrington

To: North Mt Wilcox Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up at 3.30am raring to go and finally got out of bed at 5.  I got on the road at 5.45, grabbing a coffee from a gas station on the long road near 3 mile walk from Great Barrington to point where I¢d left the AT. The day started with a steep climb and then eased off into rolling ups and downs. Hard enough for me but kind by AT standards.I met Kung Fu Kitty, a southbounder at the Tom Leonard shelter after about 5 miles. Apparently, KFK has moves and once ate cat food for dinner on trail when he found other resupply options too expensive.  He didn¢t recommend it!It¢s in the 90¢s today, making uphill stretches more painful than usual. I¢ve also lost my trail legs and I just plodded along most of the day. I had lunch at the South Wilcox mountain shelter and the ascent up to it had me pretty much at a standstill. I collapsed into the shelter hot and bothered with jelly legs. After a rather posh wrap - featuring cheese, red pepper and micro greens - and half an hour lying down. with my legs up on my pack I was ready to go again. Not for long though.  A slow 2 miles later at North Wilcox mountain shelter, I stopped for the day at 13.4 miles. It was only 2pm and I could have probably managed another few miles but I judged it better to rest up out of the sun and go again tomorrow.The shelter is mosquito infested so I am grateful for my new silk sleeping bag liner which allows me to completely cover up whilst not getting too hot  Good to be back on the trail.  And I¢m loving the chickadee nest with 3 hungry chicks being fed in the shelter roof. Not loving the Swiss guy wandering round in his big baggy pants but you can¢t have it all!
Date: 2022-08-06
From: North Mt Wilcox Shelter

To: Goose Pond Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: moderate rain

Had a great night¢s sleep on my new Exped inflatable pad.  I must have been mad to sleep on just a foam pad for a month! Had the company of a frog in the privy for my morning constitutional. Someone had written on the door ¢remember you are on vacation¢ and I smiled because that¢s true but it¢s not exactly a pool and Margaritas experience.   Perhaps a working holiday?First shelter I¢ve stayed in with no water as the stream was dry. Thankfully, I¢d read the warnings and packed enough in.   Water situation is tough, as in 95F you need to drink a lot of it.  And even some water sources marked as reliable in past years have run dry. My day started with a 4 mile or so descent to the Shaker Campsite.  Then a nice but hot sweaty climb up to Tyringham Cobble, where I met a Trail Angel called ¢wheels¢ who asked questions about the best trails in the UK. And then she told me about the water and trail magic spots up ahead, including some that she provides every day.Had a second breakfast on a bench in the shade at the top of the Cobble.  Still rocking the cheese, red pepper and micro greens wrap.  A steep descent to a road, where 50 yards to the left was a Trail Stand that people with a house next to the trail have set up. A little shack with a fridge/freezer stocked with coke, ice cream and various sweets to buy, and free water and power sockets. Genius!  I sat down (again, it was hot!) with a coke whilst I got some juice into my power bank and phone. Next up a tramp across an open pasture in full sun for a mile or so before I found the trail magic from wheels. Water flagons - as the next water a long way off, plus bananas and apples. Such kindness is lovely and reminds me of the huge community that supports the trail, mostly volunteers. Without their kindness it would have been a much more difficult and potentially dangerous day for hikers on this section.  I spent a long hot afternoon pushing on with tired legs, listening to some classic 80¢s disco and soul. This is new for me to help with the late afternoon slog. Made it the 14 miles for the day to Goose Pond shelter, which used to be a private house. It was gifted to the trail and now volunteers look after the house and hikers on weekly rotation. I had a wonderfully refreshing swim in the lake (too big to be a pond?) and slept like a log in my bunk. This place is off grid with no power or mains water.  Perfect! The volunteer family made awesome blueberry pancakes and coffee for breakfast at 6am. All of this was free, with a very gentle request for voluntary donations. Great day. Almost felt like a holiday!
Date: 2022-08-07
From: Goose Pond Shelter

To: Kay Wood Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

My day begins at 6am with blueberry pancakes and coffee in the living/dining room of the Goose Pond lake house by gaslight.  Our little huddle of hungry scruffy and frankly smelly hikers eating in the half light has a slightly Dickensian air.  Back to reality, it is a half mile trudge uphill to the trail.  I amble for a mile or two and then through an upmarket country house lodge hotel and then climb Beckett Mountain. It¢s hard work in the heat but it¢s the only real climb of the day so I put a bit of effort into getting up quickly.  Despite walking 18 miles in near 100F the rest of the day was easy by AT standards. No major climbs and lots of opportunities to rest. At October Mountain shelter at 8 miles, I meet unicorn, book couch and maximus and stay much longer than intended as the company is enjoyable. Unicorn and maximus have hiked over 1500 miles of the AT and they are inspiring company.  There¢s a tiny dribble of water in the stream and I use a leaf and my mug to collect enough to keep hydrated for the next few hours. Another 3 or so miles along the trail, I visit the Cookie Lady at a blueberry farm.  Other younger hikers collect a can of blueberries each in return for a free lunch. I lounge around, enjoying the free pink lemonade and cookies.  I sit on the porch chatting to other hikers and struggle to leave. Another example of great trail community support for hikers and I make a donation. The afternoon¢s hiking has no major ascents or descents, but it is hot and I still have another 7 miles or so to cover. I listen to music and try to keep moving fast. It rains for the last the mile of the day and I arrive wet at the Kay Wood shelter. It¢s a modern shelter with separate bunks, and a picnic table covered by the front or the roof. For a rainy evening it¢s a perfect retreat and the company is good too. Gummy Bear and The Mechanic are around my age, perhaps older, and have hiked the whole AT northbound to this point, mostly together.  All the hardened hikers sleep in their tents so I have the shelter to myself.