morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-06-27
From: Pochuck mtn shelter 

To: Greenwood lake NY
Miles today: 21.6

So a weird thing happened in the night.I always put my banana on the peak of the front of my tent.When I woke up it was about 4 feet away and the front of my tent and the bandana was really wet and stunk of the strongest urine I have ever smelled.Not sure what animal would  do that.Very strange Another really nice and sunny day.Trail started early with a really cool boardwalk that takes you through a long swampy section filled with many different kinds of birds.My wife would have loved it.Shes really into that kinda thing.  After getting out of that section you start a climb called Stairway to heaven.Really fun steep climbing over many boulders the size of cars and trucks.I love this kind of hiking.Got to the top where it levels a bit and heard a branch crack to my right.I look over and there it is,finally,a bear close by.!!!He was a big one .He goes behind a big boulder and I see 2 more sets of ears poking up .3 bears!The first bear walks and crosses the trail pretty close to me.The other 2 stay put.It took bear # 1 a while to see me,when he did he stared for a minute and then slowly walked up the trail and away.I am so happy I saw him because he is the biggest one so far.Its really cool to be so close and watch them.   Pinwheels vista had a great view way back to Highpint mtn from yesterday.Looked so far away.Next cool thing today was crossing the NJ/NY border.Another state down!!!As soon as I entered NY the terrain was much harder.I heard NY is tough.Think I am ready for it though.Something hurts everyday so what¢s a little more hurt!  Got down to NY17a where we were done for the day and trail angel Tentman invites us over for a soda and fruit.He is a seriously funny guy.He is giving everyone a free pair of Darn Tough socks too.They are the best to me so I thought it was pretty cool of him.They aren¢t cheap so not sure how he does it.We laughed a lot.Jumping Moose and Rocky were there with us.  We needed to resupply food so we all went into Greenwood lake NY to spend the night.Had a really great time going to Fetch(a dog themed restaurant )with Rocky,Jumping Moose,Numb And Savage.They all decided to go back to the hotel and I hit another bar by myself.Met some more curious people about the trail.Lots of questions.Had a great conversation about marriage,family and life with a great lady who bought me some beers.Really caring lady who remembered me of my Beth.  Stumbled my way back to the hotel and laughed with Numb,Jumping moose and Rocky for a while.They all went to sleep and I ended up talking to some ladies a few doors down from me.Nice people and they were very interested in the trail way of life.Realized it was very late.Need some heavy zzzzzzzzs Goodnight All!
Date: 2018-06-28
From: Greenwood lake NY

To: Harriman park tent sites 
Miles today: 12.4

Rained. all night and thunderstorm this morning so really glad we decided to stay in the hotel.Realized I had way to many beers to carry in my pack left so I had 4 with breakfast.We didn¢t have to leave until 11 so it worked out nicely and got many things done with a nice sweet morning buzz.  A local church gave us a ride back to the trail.Super nice husband and wife.They have a son and daughter who have hiked the AT already.  Today was really rugged with lots of steep up and downs.Very warm and humid too which makes the rocks become slick.Today is the first day on the trail where I just felt like I had no energy or ambition to get anything done.I hate humidity it just destroys me when I hike.I am pretty sure beers for breakfast didn¢t help me out much either.  Wasn¢t much for views today.Did see some really cool wildlife.A really young tiny fawn and a lizard on a cliff.Lizard was brown but had the brightest blue tail.Really weird but cool looking.  Was kind of cool to cross the NYS thruway-and watch the cars zoom by.Cool to me because I have driven under this bridge and always wondered if I would get the chance to hike the AT someday and be the one walking across.So happy I am here doing this even on a tough day like today.Hoping tomorrow I wake up and have more energy.Jumping Moose and Rocky are here tenting with us again tonight.They said they felt the same as me today about the humidity.Next 3 days are going to be close to 100degrees so we may cut our miles back a bit and not stress about getting too far.  Hope life is good everybodyLong days and pleasant nights!
Date: 2018-06-29
From: Harriman park tent sites 

To: Bear mountain 
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Another quiet night.Woke early to try to beat some of the heat.One thing I am really good at now is packing up quickly without even thinking about it.  Pretty rugged trail .Lemon Squeezer was a pretty cool section of steep climbing.And the squeezer was a very tight ,wet dark slot I really had to work to get my hard body into.Had to really push back and forth before finally penetrating the wet and tight crack.Finally slid into the moist and dark slot and had to push hard into it to make it through the super tight spot.When I was in deep it was so nice and wet and cool inside.  Hit Seven lakes drive and walked down to a beautiful public beach.Was really looking forward to swimming on this hot day.I arrived about 45 minutes early though so decided not to wait around and get some miles done.Seriously looking forward to more swimming holes in the future. Stopped at a beautiful stone shelter for lunch where I met Tennessee,a hiker from Georgia.Cool guy who is working in spots up the trail to pay for everything. Next was a steep and rocky climb up Black mtn.Had a really great view of NYC skyline above mountains.Really puts in perspective how tall those skyscrapers are. Shortly after crossing Palasades parkway 4 lane highway I heard a rattling to my left.It wasn¢t a rattlesnake but a huge bullwhip snake.I get a closer look and see that it is chowing down on a good size garter snake.I didn¢t even know snakes ate each other.It was pretty gross really.The snake getting eaten was still very alive and moving around inside and outside of the killer snake.Such a weird thing to see  West mountain  was next.Steep climb with many great views on a blue sky day.Excellent view of Bear mtn and stone tower which was up next.Was very hot out so I took my time getting over to Bear.Hit the 1400 mile mark of the trail on the way!Really a good feeling to have that many done.The trail up Bear mtn is pretty amazing.Tons of hard work let¢s you walk up most of the way on a beautiful stone staircase.Really don¢t like climbing stairs ,but these were just so cool and winding.On top of Bear mtn is a stone tower and picnic area.It was all under construction so nobody was up here.So I decided to stealth cowboy camp under the stars on this beautiful night.The NYC skyline is all lit up.Really nice sunset a few minutes ago.A blood red moon just rose in front of me.Such a great spot.There is a young couple from Richmond Va who are really fun and cool to talk to.They have their own radio shows down there.Deep talkers,loved it.  I was just about to try to sleep up here and a big buck peeks through the forest just below me.He started snorting and stomping.This is the 2 nd time on this trip this has happened to me.Thinking they don¢t like me very much.  Wish you all could be here and see this tonight.Its  everything I could possibly want on this night
Date: 2018-06-30
From: Bear mountain 

To: Fort Montgomery 
Miles today: 1.9

Didn¢t sleep much last night.Only because I had a lot of thinking to do and it was a stunningly beautiful night .Really love looking at the stars.Simplest things can be the best  Sunrise was also great.Nice warm and clear morning. A very special friend came to spend the day with me today.Only hiked 2 miles down Bear mtn to get picked up.The trail down was even more beautiful than the trail up yesterday.Intense stonework and staircases.To me it was one of my favorite sections on the trail.At the bottom my special friend showed up within minutes and we headed into Fort Montgomery a little later after a nice little short hike we took.  When we arrived at the hotel Rocky and Jumping Moose were there.They looked sad.I asked what was up.They said they had to leave the trail and go back to Sweden.Just losing to much weight and the trail isn¢t really what they thought it would be.This made me really bummed because I really like these two so much.I will really miss them.Will not be the same for sure.We did have a nice dinner together and had fun.  Made a decision to go home off the trail tonight until July 4th.I can¢t stand the heat and am ahead of schedule so just makes sense.My wife will bring me back early that day.Will give me a little time to try to pack some lbs on too.I feel good but am definitely looking a little skeletal.Goong to eat,drink,and most likely miss the trail like mad while gone
Date: 2018-07-05
From: Stealth camp 

To: ?
Miles today: 20.2

Great sleeping last night.An owl woke me early but that¢s okay.Love the sound of owls.  Started pretty early to try hiking while cooler.Still muggy but not even close to yesterday.First cool spot today was Shenanadoah mtn.There is a 9/11 memorial flag painted on top.Nice breeze felt so great too.Next stop was RPH shelter.Got water and talked to T time and Peek.We met them before a few weeks back.Really nice young couple who are in total love.They are getting married in September after the trail.They have been together for 8 years but wanted to make this the final test on how they would get along living together .They are going to make it,happy for them!While there a cool guy who lives next to this shelter came and talked for quite a while.He was doing his own study and has asked over 1000 people ¢Do you think people are nice?¢And the second question was ¢what do you think most people answered?¢.Sounds like a simple thing but we got deep into it all and he was super interesting to talk to.My answer was Yes I do think most people are nice.Some people just don¢t know how to be.I have met some of the nicest people I have ever known on this trip on the trail and in towns.The people I have met I actually love more than the trail itself.  Trail was pretty rugged all day with not much to see.Lots of really cool old stone walls through the forest.Massive 4 foot wide ones.Guessing it must have been farmland way back.Saw a snake eating a frog too.Poor frog was suffering . It¢s whole body was in the snakes mouth and it looked terrified.I know your not supposed to mess with nature but I had to put it out of its misery.I put the end of my pole through it¢s head while still in the snakes mouth.Made me sad to do it but just had to.Wanted to kill the snake but it is just doing what snakes do.I am a frog and toad lover so it was hard.  Ended up doing a nice 20 miler today.Not going to say what I am doing for the next few days.Work related,causes problems if I say anything.Hoping to find a different job when I get back maybe.Will be back to journaling Monday. Later friends!
Date: 2018-07-09
From: ?

To: Log cabin at Bulls bridge
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: clear sky

Really nice morning today.Less humidity so I really felt like moving fast. Passed a really nice pond .Wanted to jump in but it was all on private land.Met Wanderer shortly after.Nice young thru hiker from Germany.Chatted away with him on West mtn where there was a really nice view.After that the trail takes you through some really nice open fields.One had a really cool old wooden water tower.  Hit the NU/CY border today!!!Kind of glad NY is over.Was nice but not a whole lot to see except the green tunnel.Did follow a beautiful river for quite a while.There was a really cool log cabin built right over part of it and I was wishing I could check it out.I will tell you more about this cabin in a bit!  We decided to go into Bulls bridge because it is Numbs birthday today.Went to a little country store and I hear¢hey Crazy Diamond what¢s up?¢I look over and ET,Bagel,And Tiny Bites were all there.Very nice young ladies to hang out with.I haven¢t seen any of them since Virginia.We had a great time having a few beers and eating for quite a while at the store.Bagel and Tiny Bites told us about a trail magic event that happened to them.When they were in NY at a store some random guy stopped and gave all the thru hikers 100$bills.And there were about 12 hikers there.We got talking some more and they were telling us about a lady that offered them a cheap room close by.I asked where and they said ¢do you remember that log cabin across the river?¢I was like you can¢t be serious!So we called and got in.It was beautiful.A cabin right over a river with rapids on a beautiful night.Had such a great night.There were 2 flip flopping thru hikers staying with us.Very nice young couple.My favorite thing about this trail is never knowing exactly what will happen or where I will end up
Date: 2018-07-10
From: Log cabin at Bulls bridge

To: Silver hill campsite 
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: clear sky

Nothing like waking up to the sound of a fast moving river to me.So glad we ended up here last night.  A pretty steep climb first thing today.Carried out a few extra beers in my pack so it was a little heavy but always worth it later!  Trail had lots of ups and downs today.And they are getting steeper up and down.St Johns ledges was about the only view today.Trail is really pretty in CT. though.Going down St Johns ledges was super steep.Had to really watch each step.After that we hit a road next to the Housatonic river.It was really hot so we decided to cool off.Saw Bagel and Tiny Bites for a little chat then found a really great spot.Stripped down and jumped in.Felt so amazing and refreshing!Really didn¢t want to leave.  Decided to stay at Silver hill campsite tonight.Its luxurious!Has a pavilion,swing,benches,and a hand pump.Really nice spot all in the open.Tiny Bites And Bagel And Loon seeker are here.Loon seeker is a cool old guy from Maine finishing up his section hikes this year.Really interesting guy who made all his own gear for the trip. Everyone is crashed out early and I am wide awake.This trail can get very lonely at times.Its kind of funny,I came out here to get away from people,now I crave conversations really bad!
Date: 2018-07-11
From: Silver hill campsite 

To: Rands view
Miles today: 18.1

Another beautiful sunny morning.I know I will pay for all of this great weather eventually. Trail didn¢t really have many views today.Just a long woods walk.Connecticut is a very nice state though.Went into Falls village Ct to a little cafe and had a great salad and milkshake for lunch.Met some really nice people who wanted to know all about the hike so far.Didgery,Freshfeet,Sprout and some section hikers were there too.  Came to a long flat section that follows the Housatonic river.Really hot out today so I decided to dip in for a swim.Was a really nice spot with waterfalls and a strong current.Felt so good to get cooled off and let the water slam against me.Almost as good as a good massage.Followed a road for a while past some really beautiful old houses.Tons of character in these older  homes all through Connecticut.Rrally nice section of waterfalls came next.  Chatted with Buscuits for a little bit there.   Decided to set up at Rands view tonight.Really cool open meadows looking north to the mountains I will hike tomorrow.Rrally nice open spot with excellent views.Watched the sunset and then the bright stars.Such a nice clear night tonight Constellations are so easy to see.There is an owl very close and coyotes making their crazy sounds not too far away.Nice cool breeze blowing through  my tent.No place I¢d rather be at this moment!
Date: 2018-07-12
From: Rands view

To: The Hemlocks shelter 
Miles today: 16.9

Coyotes kept me up quite a bit early this morning.They make the craziest sounds while hunting.Was a really beautiful night though of watching the stars and thinking about things.  Giants thumb was a cool spot early this morning.Its a huge glacial erratic sticking straight up out of the ground that does look like a huge thumb.  We decided to go into Salisbury Ct for a small resupply.Wanderer was there.Really nice young guy,always wants to share whatever he has.While in the store I see people gathering in the back looking out a huge window.There was a good sized black bear walking through town like he owned the place.Really didn¢t expect to see a bear in town on this trip.On the way out of town we took a short cut through a cemetery.Fresh Feet and Sprout were there and showed us a hose where we could get water.They are a nice young couple that shared the cabin on the river with us a few nights ago.Water sources have really dried up the past few days so we grabbed some.  On the way up Lions head mtn I hear¢Crazy Diamond is that you?¢It was Snicker bear who I haven¢t seen since the Shenandoahs.Crazy how long you can go without seeing people out here. Lions head was tough.Bear mtn was really steep and tough.Had a great lunch on top .Had huge chicken cutlets and some IPAs that I carried out from Salisbury .Tasted a little like heaven!Didnt realize Bear mtn is the highest point in Connecticut.Another state high point complete!The hike down Bear mtn was extremely steep and rocky.Took a while to get down for sure. My favorite part of today and maybe of this whole trip was Sages ravine.Just before passing into Massachusetts there are some amazing swimming holes through this area.Found a really deep,clear and hidden one and got in instantly on this hot day.It was way colder than expected but so refreshing.Really sweet spot with cliffs coming down on both sides into the crystal clear water.Had a really hard time leaving. Next came the Ct/Mass state line.Feels so great to get another state down!Trail then goes over my Race.Really cool hike looking straight down off of the tops of cliffs .Long and hard climb up Mt Everett was next.Another really steep relentless climb.  Ended up at the Hemlocks shelter tonight where there is nobody except Numb and I .Really cool shelter .I have the whole loft to myself.There is an owl hooting away.Another super peaceful place to sleep. The trail has been a little monotonous to me lately in the green tunnel.Was getting a little burned out.Connecticut and Massachusetts have made me fall back in love with it again.!I missed climbing .Feels really good again!
Date: 2018-07-13
From: The Hemlocks shelter 

To: Tom Leonard Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: broken clouds

Really nice shelter I stayed in last night.Except.....worst bugs I have ever encountered camping.They were biting me through my sleeping bag liner.So not much sleep last night.Awoke to the sound of an owl really close by. Nice trail again today.It kind of feels like walking on marshmallows after NY and Pa..I¢ve noticed my feet don¢t hurt nearly as bad as they did in those states.  Hit rte 7 and decided to go into Great Barrington for lunch.Really nice town.Went to Great Barrington brewery foe some really delicious solar power made fresh yummy beers.Tried 5 different ones.They were all excellent.Had a killer Rueben too.  Ended up at Tom Leonard shelter tonight.No way am I going to sleep inside though.The whole thing has been chewed up by porcupines.And I can¢t deal with the bugs buzzing in my ear all night.Didgery,and Georgia Peach are here with us  So 2 nice girls just walked up and brought up soda and some beers for trail magic!Lady Sherpa is one of them.She hiked the trail in 2016and said she still misses it every day. In my tent now listening to some more owls.I have a really cool spot next to some huge boulders.Kind of cool because all the noises are echoing
Date: 2018-07-15
From: Tyringham

To: October mtn shelter
Miles today: 15.7

Was a really nice thing to sleep in and wake up to a pretty face smiling back at me.Love my wife,I really don¢t deserve her.  We hung out at the cabin until around 10 and said goodbye to the awesome owners.We will definitely stay at their place again just because someday.It was one of my favorite nights on trail last night! Had a steep climb to start out with today but it wasn¢t so bad.Climbing is just at this point to me a routine mostly.Part of everyday forever until the end.Wanted to go to upper goose pond cabin because it was on my list of places not to miss on this trail.We skipped it tho because I knew if we went we would want to stay the whole day there.It would have made a 7 mile day.Not enough.I will go back and dayhike it and bring some trail magic next year for thru hikers.  So today on the trail we had so much trail magic.A guy called ¢the Commander¢had coolers set up all day long along the trail.Lots of Gatorade and quality cheese and pepperoni in most of the spots.We saw a big metal trash can in the trail and thought it was just trash.The thing was filled with all kinds of snacks .I filled my pockets with twinkies and pop tarts and chips.Later I was thinking if their was a camera set up out there I must have looked just like a homeless person rummaging through a garbage can.I guess that¢s pretty much what I am until this trip is over.What a nice guy for supporting us thru hikers! Tenting at October mtn shelter tonight.Another really nice area.Stars are so beautiful and bright.Time for a few puffs and drift away
Date: 2018-07-16
From: October mtn shelter

To: Cheshire Mass church 
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Very quiet and pleasant night.Started early to beat the heat.  Really nice and easy hiking early today.No big vistas to look at ,but I am really liking Mass .Trail is just so much nicer here and prettier.Came to a road crossing and there is a lady known as the cookie lady who gives hikers free cookies.We got water there but it was early and she was asleep so no cookies.Didgery was there camping in her yard.We also saw Firefly and Earthbeat who were camping there also.I haven¢t seen them since Hot Springs NC on my birthday.Really sweet young girls ,was great to catch up. The trail takes you through Dalton Mass so we decided to get some lunch there.Went to Jacobs.Best Rueben I have had in my life So much flavor ,was amazing.And a few beers with it.Dalton is another nice little town  to walk through. Had some good ups and downs today.Heard about a church in Cheshire that lets hikers tent free in town so we ended the day there.Nice little town.I did have a run in with a couple of seriously rude people at a store there.They looked me up and down and told the owner ¢why do you even let them in here?¢They looked at me like I was Charles Manson.It kind of shocked me.Never experienced anything like this on the whole trail so far.They has a serious problem with me.I was thinking later though that they probably don¢t get why anyone wouldn¢t want to look just like them,because they are so I¢m love with themselves.They can¢t open their narrow little minds to anything but what their materialistic little world is.Sad for them.  When I got back to the church a mother and her son pulled up and had trail magic for us all.Such nice people.The kid is 9 years old and it¢s his passion to help us hikers out.He goes to this church everyday and has done it for 2 years.All he asks in return is to sign his book and have a group picture taken after.He has a Facebook page called hikerhangout.He puts pics on everyday of who was there.What a cool kid.!I told his mom I have never met a kid that can just talk to strangers and be so interested in what they all have to say.She said it¢s a little scary but agreed she was a lucky mom.Earthbeat,Firefly,Groot,We¢ll see and Roadkill are all here tonight.  Some storms coming through.Church is locked up so riding it out in my tent.Had a great day .Mean people got erased by a generous cool little kid and mom. Hope you¢re all having a good night in the real world.Missing my friends bad tonight,and of course my Bethie and kids.I appreciate everything so much more than I used to