morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-06
From: NJ94

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: overcast clouds

As we were packing up our tents Lucy started barking and growling. We didn't see anything so I tried to get her to stop just as two bears came strolling through the woods. We yelled and Lucy barked and they slowly circled around our camp until reaching the other side and continuing on their way. Our 3rd and 4th bear sighting in NJ! It ended up being a very tough hiking day with rocks and a lot of abrupt ups and downs. We made it to the NY border around mid day, our 9th state! At the end of the day we stopped at a local hot dog stand just off the trail (Lucy had two) followed by ice cream at a local creamery. We then hiked 2 more miles to the next shelter. I could really get used to ice cream at the end of each day!
Date: 2015-06-07
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Tent at Mile 1391
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

Another tough hiking day with a lot of steep up and downs where we had to use our hands to pull ourselves up. We went through the Lemon Squeezer in the afternoon, it starts with a narrow tunnel followed by an 10 ft vertical rock climb. I had to take off my pack to make it through the tunnel and up the climb. Boyd went up the climb first and I boosted Lucy up to him. She seemed to enjoy it! We got 3-4 trail magics during the day. This section of trail is known for having poor water sources so local trail angels keep gallon jugs of water filled at various road crossings. They truly are life savers!
Date: 2015-06-08
From: Tent at Mile 1391

To: Bear Mtn Bridge
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: broken clouds

Very tired when we woke up after a couple tough hiking days. It rained for the first three hours of our hike before clearing, just long enough to make sure we were nice and soaked. We went over Bear Mountain before dropping down to the town of Fort Montgomery where we passed the Bear Mountain Zoo. I walked Lucy around the alternate trail outside the zoo (dogs are not allowed inside) while Boyd followed the trail route through the zoo. We then got a room at the nearby Overlook Lodge for the night to shower, dry out our stuff and of course order in a lot of food!
Date: 2015-06-09
From: Bear Mtn Bridge

To: Zero at Overlook Lodge
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

The forecast called for rain with a chance of severe thunderstorms so we decided to take a zero and rest. Lucy slept the day away, she's been keeping up but the heat is tough on her and ticks continue to be a nuisance! We will jump off trail and go home once we reach the MA/CT border. I can't wait to see my wife after being apart for 3-1/2 months, and Lucy and I need time to rest & recuperate.
Date: 2015-06-10
From: Zero at Overlook Lodge

To: Clarence Fahnestock State Park
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: broken clouds

Crossed over the Hudson River on Bear Mtn Bridge a little after 6:00 AM. We stopped at a convenience store next to the trail mid morning for a snack and some caffeine. Ended our day at a state park, no one was around and the main building was closed for the day so Boyd, Lucy and I tented near the beach. A beautiful place to spend the night!
Date: 2015-06-11
From: Clarence Fahnestock State Park

To: Telephone Pioneer Shelter
Miles today: 21.8
Weather: overcast clouds

A screech owl perched right over our tents by the beach let out a blood curdling cry in the middle of the night, not conducive to a good night's sleep! We were up and hiking by 6:00 and had a long, hot and humid hike. Made it to the shelter by 6:30 PM and ended up tenting on uneven ground. My air mattress, Lucy on her blanket and all our gear ended up piled on the downward side of the tent by morning.
Date: 2015-06-12
From: Telephone Pioneer Shelter

To: Ten Mile Campground
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Stopped at the Garden Center a couple hours into our hike so I could pick up my last mail drop before reaching home. The place is friendly to hikers and has a water faucet and outdoor shower for hikers to use. It was another hot and humid day hiking so we decided to call it a day at around 13 miles and camped at a campsite next to a river. A beautiful place to spend the night.
Date: 2015-06-13
From: Ten Mile Campground

To: Silver Hill Campsite
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

Thunderstorms moved through during the night but it had stopped raining by morning. We hiked into Kent, CT around mid day which is 0.8 miles from the trail. We had hotdogs at a local hotdog stand (Lucy of course had two) and re supplied at a convenience store. Saw a hiker couple, Tacos and Snickers, for the first time since North Carolina. They had been in front of us but had been off trail for 4 days since she got Lyme disease. I've heard of quite a few hikers getting Lyme this year from mid-Virginia onwards. We hiked on to a nice campsite on top of a hill where a number of people were out camping for the weekend. Of course everyone wanted to pet and say hello to Lucy! She's getting very good at Yogying food (getting people to give you food without asking).
Date: 2015-06-14
From: Silver Hill Campsite

To: Giants Thumb
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Another hot and humid day hiking. Stopped in Falls Village, CT in the late afternoon for some soda. Ended up drinking a liter of Coke plus bottles of Gatorade and ginger ale. No matter how much water I drink I always feel dehydrated on hot and humid days. We pushed on over Mt Prispect and found a place to tent near the Giants a Thumb. A large rock that looks like a thumb sticking out of the ground. Our last night on the trail before heading home for some R&R!
Date: 2015-06-15
From: Giants Thumb

To: Undermountain Rd, CT
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: few clouds

It rained hard all night and was raining steadily when I packed up the tent. Lucy tried to sit on my lap in the tent to keep us from going out in the rain, I tried to explain we only had a short hike to where we will catch our ride home but she didn't seem convinced. Boyd headed out before we were packed up since he will continue on through MA. Lucy and I have hiked with him since Atkins, VA which is over 950 miles. Getting to meet and know people like Boyd is one of the best parts of the trail. Our shuttle ride picked us up at 11:00 and we were back home two hours later after 3-1/2 months away. Some key numbers: 1,500 miles hiked, 104 days on the trail including 8 zero days, an average of 15.6 miles hiked a day when excluding zeros. I have lost 32 lbs and I'm now down to 153 lbs, I haven't weighed this little since high school. So what's next? I'm still not sure if Lucy and I will jump back on the trail after a week of rest or if I'll finish the rest of the trail in sections later on this year.   I want to give Lucy some time to see if she's ready for the remainder of the trail or needs more time to recuperate. Either way we will finish the trail at some point, we've come too far now to quit!
Date: 2015-07-01
From: Undermountain Rd, CT

To: Rt 9 Vermont
Miles today: 1611.0

I had a great great two weeks off at home with my wife! I gained back some weight and the Vet has said Lucy is in great shape. We are starting back on the trail tomorrow from Rt 9 in southern VT. Last fall we section hiked all of MA from where I got off trail to this point.   It should take us around 5 weeks or so to make it to Katahdin!
Date: 2015-07-02
From: Rt 9 Vermont

To: Glastenbury Mtn
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Marilyn (the Cookie Lady) and her husband shuttled Lucy and I to the trailhead on Rt 9 in Vermont by mid-day. The trail was VERY muddy after a lot of rain in June and heavy rain the day before. One footbridge over a river was closed but we ended up using it anyway since there was no place to cross without getting wet. We ended up tenting on top of Glastonberry Mtn near the fire tower. A beautiful pine forest location for our first night back on the trail.
Date: 2015-07-03
From: Glastenbury Mtn

To: Stratton Pond
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: light rain

A lot of mud in the morning but the trail improved in the afternoon as we hiked up and over Stratton Mtn. I'm not sure if it was the increased elevation or another day of sun that lessened the mud, probably both. Lucy is getting very good at walking on the edge of the trail and leaping from rock to rock to keep out of mud. Saw a thru hiker I had not seen since Damascus, VA but he had to go into Manchester to resupply. He planned on catching up that night but texted me that he was going to the local clinic to get tested and treated for Lyme. I resprayed all of our clothes and equipment with Permetherin while we were home and so far I haven't seen any ticks in VT.
Date: 2015-07-04
From: Stratton Pond

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: moderate rain

Hiked over Bromley Mtn and Peru and Styles peaks during the day. Had a steady drizzle from mid-morning until mid-afternoon but stopped by the time we got to the top of Bromley. Unfortunately we were in the clouds/fog so no views. There is a ski warming hut on top near the chairlift that is left open for hikers, Lucy and I stopped in to dry off and have lunch. The sun started to peak out by the time we got to the shelter and set up the tent for the night. The shelter and tent area in a pine forest with a river running in front of it, had a great night sleep listening to the burbling stream.
Date: 2015-07-05
From: Peru Peak Shelter

To: Greenwall Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: broken clouds

Tired from a couple long days hiking so didn't get up and hiking until 7:30. Stopped at a new shelter at Little Rock Pond for lunch, a beautiful place for a break. Stopped for the day at the Greenwall Shelter after only 14 miles. My feet were too sore to push on another 6 miles to the next shelter. I think they're sore due to a combination of walking on rocks to get through all the muddy areas and breaking in the new shoes and insoles I got while home. Hopefully the short day will get me back on track, Lucy of course could have kept going!
Date: 2015-07-06
From: Greenwall Shelter

To: Cooper Lodge Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Hiked over Bear Mtn to start the day (I think every state so far has had a Bear Mtn). We ran into Shadow during the morning, I last saw her in CT. It's always fun to run into other thru hikers and catch up on how each other's hike has been going. We then hiked up Killington Mtn in the afternoon which was over a 2000 ft climb over some very rocky and root covered trail. The shelter is in very bad condition and the official tent spots were already taken by a group of Boy Scouts by the time we got there, luckily there was a piece of flat ground just big enough for our tent down the trail.
Date: 2015-07-07
From: Cooper Lodge Shelter

To: Inn at Longtrail
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: light rain

Neroed into the Inn at Longtrail getting there by noon. Passed the junction where the Longtrail and Applachian Trail split (they were the same trail since the MA/VT border). The Longtrail is older than the AT and heads north from here to the Canadian border. The AT Heads northeast from here to NH and onward to Maine. The inn is very hiker friendly and has a Irish pub inside so looking forward to good food and a good nights rest!
Date: 2015-07-08
From: Inn at Longtrail

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Enjoyed my stay at the Inn at Longtrail, strongly recommend it to other hikers. It rained overnight so we waited until mid-morning for the rain to stop before checking out and heading north. We stopped by Thundering Falls mid day, a beautiful water fall, and didn't get to the shelter until almost 8PM due to our late start.
Date: 2015-07-09
From: Wintturi Shelter

To: Podunk Brook
Miles today: 17.8

Had a rough night with Lucy waking four times during the night to get out of the tent due to having the runs. I'm not sure if it was something she got into when I wasn't looking on the trail or it's the new dehydrated food I got her. But she's still drinking water and her energy level is good so we headed north. We took our time and stopped at the Cloudland Creamery where I had a pint of ice cream. We ended up stealth tenting at Podunk Brook for the night. It was threatening to rain all afternoon and started to drizzle as we got in the tent for the night.
Date: 2015-07-10
From: Podunk Brook

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 8.5

We slept in until 7 AM since we had a short day ahead of us. It rained most of the night but it cleared and was a beautiful sunny morning. Lucy was up a couple of times during the night again with the runs. We hiked the 8 miles into Hanover, New Hampshire. We have two states left and just under 450 miles to go! We are staying at the Sunset Inn and will take tomorrow off. Lucy seems a bit better today so I'm hoping after a zero she'll be ready to continue north.
Date: 2015-07-11
From: Hanover, NH

To: Back to Hanover
Miles today: 2.0

Lucy seemed to be feeling better so we headed out mid-morning. We got around two miles out of Hanover when it became clear that Lucy was just not up for it. Her energy was low and she kept laying down. We turned around and went back to town. We stayed the night at the Hanover Inn and got a ride back to our home in MA the next morning (7/12). Lucy is already doing much better after a day at home but the White Mountains are the toughest section of the AT so she needs to be at 100% before we continue. SomI'm not sure at this point when we will be able to finish the trail.
Date: 2015-03-02
From: Springer Mountain

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 31.4
Weather: clear sky

On February 28, my wife, brother, and I set out from Springer to hike the AT. It had been a long time dream of ours although none of us had extensive backpacking experience. I am a youth pastor and my church is giving me some time to hike as far as we can in about 3-4 months. I am hoping to learn more about my faith and grow closer to my Savior. My wife, who goes by Mouse, is an aspiring art teacher. She has recently earned her certification and is in between jobs hoping to challenge herself and see natures beauty. We knew it would be an adventure to get to Maine, but we have experienced a crazy ride!! This journal outlines brief snippets of our day to day travels and thought. Mostly I'll share highlights and milage, but I'll also share things I am learning along the way. The next 2-3 entries will catch anyone up to where we are now. Then I'll try to post in real time. February 28 - March 2- Day 1- left for Springer. Beautiful snow-topped mountains! Felt like I was walking through Narnia! Got to Gooch Gap on day 1. 16.8 miles. Slipping everywhere and knee hurt. Met Ohio/ speedy spike.- Day 2 - made it to woods hole shelter campsite 12.4 miles in. Everything frozen. Spirits low but will is strong. Ran into a lost girl, a scared Asian and abandoned dog which only made the horror of walking in snow and ice worse. Gotta hold off due to hurt knees. Going home to rest and wait out weather.- Day 3 - Called in the calvary. Made it to Neel's gap 2.9 miles away. Trip 1 total - 31.7 miles
Date: 2015-03-20
From: Neel's Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 78.1
Weather: light rain

Sorry about any grammar mistakes ... Just typing simple notes quickly...After coming off the trail due to weather and knees we've decided to realign our goals and set our sights on Harper's Ferry. Arrogance and pride don't really have a place on the AT. We want to work smarter and harder to have a good experience that we will remember. Also want to take things easier for my knees. Brother decided not to come back out but that's ok! I support his decision. Mouse and I came back out on March 15. March 15- Started back at Neel's Gap. Hiked in about 7 miles. Met 'Sixties' and 'Bloodhound'. - Called into my church youth group (I'm a youth pastor. I call in to update youth) - told them to never give up... God's love never gives up. March 16- Up about 7:30. Talked a bit with Sixties. He works in film.- Hiked about 15.5 miles today. Ended at Rocky Mountain campsite. - Met a couple from Texas, Gruffalo, and a couple from New York. - Thought a lot about prayer today; trail sure gives you time to do it... March 17- up about 7:30. Packed up and went out about 8:15. Hiked until 5:15 and went 16 miles. - hike was really tough today. - ended at campsite above dicks creek and met a father and daughter. The father was a UGA grad students too! We shared stories and retired around 8:15.- the people and views really make the experience. The hiking is tough March 18- Slept in until 8 and got hiking about 9. We hiked a total of 11 miles to Muskrat Shelter. Arrived early about 3 but decided to stop to rest body and have shelter from rain. - crossed over to North Carolina!!- Have quite a few hikers at shelter. We have shell and taco, green tourtuga, Martha Stewart and Dr.Pepper, and copperhead. - taco and shell are pretty cool kids! - green tourtuga is a neat thru hiker. He shared a poem about finding a dead body. Not the poem you want to hear before bedtime.March 19- got up about 7:30 and was out by 8:15. I knew it would be a tough day cause it was raining, but it was real tough indeed!- We were setting a 2.5 mile per hour pace. We wanted to go to the Carter shelter 12.5 miles in but shelter was full... Total disappointment but we pushed ahead 3.7 miles to Betty gap. There was a camp ground.- last night for a while. Proud of accomplishment! Total week trip will be 80 miles. Met so many people and learned so much! Not sure what's next but I know prayer and love and humility and hope and Jesus are important messages ... learning about all of it on the trail.March 20- packed up around 7:30 and hit the trail around 8:15. Had 3 hills and gaps to come go.- first mountain was highest point yet. We intended to go around but didn't. Glad we didn't. - hiked 12.2 miles. Got to Franklin to get picked up by in-laws. We watched some hikers try to hitch into town unsuccessfully... Actually kind of funny ... But sad ... So I helped. - Got ride on shuttle into franklin to huddle house to get coffee. Decided to wait out weather at home. Trip 2 total - 78.1 miles Total trip - 109.8
Date: 2015-04-02
To: Riley's House
Miles today: 0.0

Today I started training to log some miles and condition myself with some pack weight. I haven't decided on footwear and realized sneakers are not going to cut it. Today I hiked 5 miles on the road with 33 lb pack (maybe a bit too much to start with). I was also surprised when I got my first trail magic, a man came from his house and offered me a bottle of water.. I have a lot more work. Since I retired I thought I was done with dead bodies but this little guy didn't stand a chance against a 2 ton vehicle. Laid him to rest in the bushes off the side of the road.
Date: 2015-04-06
To: Out and back loop
Miles today: 0.0

Logged more miles today, cool and cloudy but a nice day for hiking, making me think that I want to start earlier. Many spring birds out so started recording their songs so I could ID them later, tufted titmouse, red breasted woodpecker, Cardinal and chickadee. Also found a lichen (bio fact) for Mary my soon to be trail boss and some lucky pennies for the trail. Still need to find some footwear what I'm using is not going to cut it. I am also going to return to Rei and exchange my top three to drop some weight
Date: 2015-04-19
To: Pachaug Park
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Hiked the Nehantic trail from Hopeville Pond to Pachaug Park over Mt Misery. At the intersection of the Pachaug trail and Nehantic trail found this Pileated pair of woodpeckers making a nest. 7 miles today short of the 12 I had planned.
Date: 2015-04-27
To: Baltic Res
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Did a quick 7.5 mile hike around the Baltic res . Where I saw some nice signs of spring, see my pics of violets and fiddle heads. I also met Bubblehead who had hike from GE through the Smokies last year and is going to complete his hike in 2016. He gave me some pointers to use in my hike. I hadn't posted this previously but have changed my plans. Itching to get started and have been told that Maine is going to be tough going in early June so I am going to change plans and do a flip flop. I am going to start at the Delaware Water Gap next week and head north to Maine. Upon hitting the northern terminus I will returned the the NJ / PA border and head south. I should be posting from the trail next week.
Date: 2015-05-03
To: rattle snake spring - went beyond
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Well the adventure has begun. There some highs and some lows. The lowest was leaving my love at the parking area. I took off like a scared rabbit, one because I didn't want to make my love sadder and two because there were way too many people. It is a good thing I'm not a rabbit because a quarter mile in I startled a good size rattle snake that was sunning himself. He was a decent gent just looking to get to the other side on the trail. I allowed his passage- not much else I was going to do, and then went on my way after snapping his photo of course. The day went well, I logged 15 miles. In addition to the rattle snake I saw a prairie warbler and some kind of towhee. I want to shout out to Mrs. Smith's 6th grade class at Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy. I will answer any questions you care to ask about the trail, it just might take a few days. The only thing I ask of you is that you take care of my trail boss because without her I'm lost. I may also ask you plant and animal question as I go along and I'd appreciate any weather reports you can let me know of. Look at photos for more pics. I also climbed a fire tower and met Bob - just like Uncle Bob both in name and stature.Moving one day at a time.
Date: 2015-05-04
To: Grin Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Today I got up early as I didn't sleep well. I woke in the middle of the night having a dream that something's snout was pushing against my tent near my face. I passed it off as a dream but tonight I found out from the guys that had camped next to me that there had been a little black bear in camp and it might not have been a dream. I did 15 today and am sore for it. I broke trail today and spent most of the day wiping webs from my face which had been set up at night by the webcasters.I saw two deer today, surprised a grouse, and saw two garter snakes. I guess I'm a friend of snakes.We will see what tomorrow brings.
Date: 2015-05-05
To: High Point shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Spent the night at the shelter with flip-flopper Psycho, and the section hiker the Duke of Wellington (sorry if I got the name wrong, he told me twice but I forgot what Duke he was. I had gotten a bit nauseous the night before but thought I was just over tired. I got out first but it wasn't long before the Duke passed me. I also like was passed by Bluejay and another through hiker. I began to feel week and everything I drank water I would get more nauseous. Psycho passed as I was trying to recoup at the High Point ranger station. I forged on to the shelter but the nausea didn't get any better. I was going to try to go further to spend the night with Psycho and the Duke again but had nothing. At the shelter I set up shop. Saw my third type of snake, I think a black rat snake, and shared accommodations with a nesting Phoebe. See additional pics. I also took a pic of an insect I was wondering if the CBers could identify. Not feeling well so went to bed at 1630, the trail boss is not happy and may come to check me out tomorrow.13 miles today