morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-27
From: Crystal Mountain Campsite

To: Wilbur Clearing Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: moderate rain

It was chilly last night, as it has been for many days now. With the exception of the stretch through the Shenandoahs and a few days in southern New York, I have been cold at night notwithstanding that I wear my warm base layers. I partially regret getting rid of my winter sleeping bag. We hiked for 4-5 miles before arriving to Cheshire, another small town where the AT runs right through. It really enjoy the countryside and the quaint houses in New England, it is very picturesque. We stopped at a nearby Dunkin Donut for a second breakfast.Mount Greylock, MA's highest peak (3,491'), was up next. We had a sustained climb, but we barely noticed it. The terrain was quite rugged, which suprised me as there were dozens and dozens of day hikers (it was Saturday after all); I had assumed that such a popular place would be more neatly maintained, although it did not matter to me. I think we have grown accustomed to the rocks, roots and steep elevation changes (that we have stopped mourning the loss of easy, flat terrain would be a better way to state it). We hiked up, through the pretty forest for over three hours without needing a break.During the climb we saw No Sew, a thru-hiker we first met in Harpers Ferry. It's so unexpected and fun to see a familiar face. We arrived at the summit of Mt Greylock. The Bascom Lodge, also situated at the top, has rooms, bunks and a restaurant. The smell of cooked food was alluring, but the place was so crowded that we decided it would be best to continue on. The sky was dark and a cold wind was blowing. The surrounding scenery was colored in a greyish tone which added a melancholic air to it. It was beautiful in a subtle, strange way. Overall, I enjoyed Mt Greylock (and Fitz, if you're reading, I agree with the good review you gave me of Mt Greylock and the surrounding area!). It has apparently been a source of literary inspiration for poets and writers such as Thoreau. I don't know if the mountain had the same effect on me.Prompted by the storm warning, we hurried down. The shelter was empty so we claimed our spot as we were uninterested in getting our tent (and possibly us) soaked by the incoming rain. The shelter quickly filled up with section hikers. The only other thru-hikers were Tortoise and Hare, a couple who began the same day as us but whom we only met at the half-way point. They decided to tent.I am so over sleeping in shelters. I have formulated a "Shelter Law" based on my empirical observations. It is an irrefutable fact of the universe, the same way that the Earth goes around the Sun:"The loudest snoring person will inevitably be the first to fall asleep"A consequence of this is that the light sleepers (read: me) can never sleep.The storm rolled in. It was violently windy and the rain fell down with great force. The wind blew the rain right into the shelter and I was extremely cold during the night. It was one of the most intense storms we have witnessed.- Axon  Mt Greylock Monument
Date: 2015-06-28
From: Wilbur Clearing Shelter

To: Williamstown, MA
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: clear sky

The storm lasted through the night. We woke up very early and left the shelter during a short respite. However, the storm started up again. The Trail was covered in leaves and branches and a few trees had been knocked down, forcing us to awkwardly go around them. I still wore all my layers as the rain was icy and the wind was strong. We waded through deep pools and thick mud that trapped our feet.We supringly made great time and arrived at the road crossing leading to North Adams/Williamstown. At the nearby parking lot, we saw a team of vans waiting for ultramarathoner Scott Jurek who is attempting to break the record for the fastest AT thru-hike. Apparently, he was climbing down Mt Greylock at that time. We contemplated waiting for him (which would not have been for long!), but we were too cold and wet and the call of the laundromat was too strong. Sorry, Mr. Jurek, I would have liked to send out some encouraging cheers. Here's a virtual high five instead.We did our laundry (*insert chanting angels and heavenly choirs here*), did our resupply and went to the motel.We have not been in a motel since Wind Gap, PA. We did try, but the motels were either booked up, not answering or too expensive. Shrugs and I have the terrible misfortune of arriving in town during the weekend when the motels are full and the room prices are high. This time, it was not only the weekend, but there was some type of festival going on. The room was STUPIDLY EXPENSIVE, way beyond what I was comfortable paying. However, our last real, hot shower was 22 days ago. TWENTY-TWO. Was it worth it? Yes. So much so that we are zeroing here tomorrow, our first zero since Waynesboro, VA or over 720 miles ago.Partial lessons from the AT: be rich. I know that many past thru-hikers claim that the journey made them less stressful about money matters. I disagree profusely. I will say that a thru-hike does highlight how little you actually need to survive. It also shows you that spending money on experiences (like an AT thru-hike!) has a more impactful, lasting and deeply rewarding effect that material goods cannot match. Still: be rich. It's so much easier.- Axon
Date: 2015-06-29
From: Williamstown, MA

To: Williamstown, MA
Miles today: 0.0

Today, we zeroed. We were tired and sometimes it's nice to have a bit more time to get the normal chores done. We were able to stay clean too, which really helps with my skin problems. The bug bites and other irritations suddenly become less swollen and angry looking. The previous day I had noticed a hard, red bump on my shin. It was warm to the touch and protruding from my leg. I was afraid I had some sort of horrible infection that would require immediate medical attention. Turns out it was only 2-3 clustered mosquito bites. We took a lot of time to update the journal. The lack of battery had been annoying, to say the least. I try to stay up-to-date because I dislike having to write out numerous entries in a row as it becomes quite time consuming. We also took the time to cut our hair. The hair salon was closed (we always have such impeccable timing when arriving in town), so we bought a cheap clipper and cut our own hair. Shrugs shaved his head completely bald!I have mixed feelings about zero days. I thoroughly enjoy not hiking - in fact, we tell day hikers who ask us about our experience that what we love the most is arriving at the shelter at the end of the day or stopping for a snack. However, I get anxious about our interrupted progress and continually revise our schedule. School starts August 31st and, while that still leaves me some time, I would prefer returning home a bit before that date to have time to prepare before classes begin and to relax. It sounds strange that I need a vacation from my vacation, but it's true. I suppose it's a combinaison of homesickness and the inevitable dull periods which crop up periodically after nearly 4 months of being on the Trail.We get so incredibly sluggish during our zeros too. I have trouble distinguisging between tiredness and downright laziness. We sit around doing nothing, browsing online with our phones, and procrastinate before going out to get food. Are we really that exhausted or are we stuck in a vortex of inactivity? It's a warning for when we return home: stay active and limit screen time.Also, it's always so hard to get back into hiking the next morning after a night in town. Zeros are meant to refesh us, but they seem to break my momentum as well.Zeros - the necessary evil. - Axon
Date: 2015-06-30
From: Williamstown, MA

To: Sherman Brook Campsite
Miles today: 1.6
Weather: light rain

So today was just one of those bad days. I did not sleep at all last night due to an unrelated-to-the-Trail-though-the-Trail-probably-doesn't-help medical issue. We left the motel late and I had absolutely no energy. Our plans for the day were obviously revised. We couldn't afford to stay another night in town, so we hiked 2 miles to a nearby campsite. We set up camp and took the afternoon to recuperate. It's a bad feeling when you see that your body is not cooperating and letting you down.There was a faint glow coming from the fire ring at the campsite and I managed to restart the fire. I spent a long time feeding the fire and watching it dance. Most thru-hikers never start fires as it is quite time consuming. I always assumed I lacked the necessay skills to start one anyways, seeing how I am the least outdoorsy person on the whole AT. We have seen a few kids doing small section hikes. It always struck me as an odd thing to do with a child as it would seem to me that any type of prolonged camping/hiking would be boring to them. My suspicions were confirmed as I saw the kids getting super excited about building a fire while showing little interest for anything else. But they are onto something: building fires IS one of the only fun things to do here.I am glad we stopped for the day as it began raining around 1 PM and it hasn't let up since (RIP my fire). I would not have been happy hiking in the rain while feeling slightly ill, extremely tired and mildly depressed from the set-back.I hope that tomorrow is a better day.- Axon
Date: 2015-07-02
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: light rain

Getting up this morning required tremendous effort: we needed to put wet clothes on. The night had been chilly so we were cold even before leaving our sleeping bags. The t-shirt was the worst part I found. Our shoes and socks were noticeably heavier than normal because of the mud/water they contained. I don't like carrying extra weight! Anyway we already knew there was no chance to keep our feet dry and clean.We expected rain and mud today, but instead we only got mud - lots of it. We happily walked through it, splashing it on our calves, adding more weight on our feet and keeping them permanently wet. At least my clothes got dry.Except at some point I slipped on a wet log. I caught myself with my right pole, but my backpack started pulling me on the side. I used my left pole to raise myself, but it landed on another wet log. In the end I just slowly fell in the middle of a deep puddle and got my clothes wet again.Fortunately, it was mostly sunny this afternoon. We had a pleasant hike through the beautiful forest and arrived early at the shelter. We set camp in an isolated spot and spread our gear everywhere to get it dry (even the sleeping pads and sleeping bags). There was a large family of chipmunks living there and they were boldly coming to us, probably asking for food. Axon was delighted.There have been a lot of chipmunks around since Connecticut. At the same time, the caterpillars seem to have stopped launching attacks from the sky. Can't complain about that.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-07-03
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: Stealth camp near Winhall River
Miles today: 17.0

It was so chilly early this morning, I couldn't get back to sleep. It takes a great amount of willpower to pull ourself out of your sleeping bag to face the sharp, crisp air and put on damp socks and cold, sodden boots.However, the sun appeared today and shone brightly in a cloudless sky. What a relief! The temperature was relatively low, so it was perfect hiking weather. Shrugs and I hiked as the sun was slowly rising high and the tall trees shattered its light into a hundred thin rays. The sun's welcome warmth tried, but it could not dry out the Trail. There was an impressive thickness of mud. "Vermud" is absolutly accurate. We splashed our way through puddles and fought off hungry mud wormholes that were trying to trap our feet. Sometimes, we had a break and walked over short boardwalks.My boots are permanently wet. Overall, I do like my boots and I think they are better at providing ankle support than trail runners. Even if it has been 2 months since my injury, my ankle is not yet healed. Pain is minimal at most, but the base of my ankle is slightly swollen. I think an uneven, obstacle-ridden terrain and the resulting trauma to my ankle is probably what maintains this basal level of inflammation. However, while my boots may be necessary, they never, ever dry. We arrived at Stratton Mountain (a bit less than 4,000') and began our climb. It is nice to finally have some "real" mountains to hike up. Not only for the views, but for the hikes themselves: climbing a mountain is a finite task with a clear goal as opposed to the streams of viewless and tiresome up and downs we had to endure in the past. We arrived at the top where there were already many peolple, mostly day hikers. I had forgotten that it is Friday AND it's a holiday weekend as tomorrow is the 4th of July. Shrugs and I climbed a fire tower to get a panomaric view, though we regretted that decision as the stairs were steep and narrow. We felt uneasy and quite awkward climbing up stairs after having spent months navigating through roots and rocks. At least the view was nice: the sky's pale blue contrasted nicely with the deep green of the forest below. We hiked down the smooth path towards the foot of the mountain and skirted around the very pretty Stratton Pond. The shelter, located near the pond, is one of the few shelters that demand an overnight fee. The fee is small, but we decided to push on to avoid the crowds. Ever since entering Vermont, there has been an noticable increase in hikers. Some of them are hiking the Long Trail, a footpath that crosses Vermont in a vertical axis. The AT and the LT share the same path for 102 miles until the LT continues north to eventually reach the Canadian border and the AT swerves to met New Hampshire. With all the extra LT hikers, section hikers and weekend hikers, we decided to stealth camp between shelters. We are beside a small river; the sound of its rushing waters crashing over rocks is quite relaxing.- Axon
Date: 2015-07-05
From: Bromley Mountain

To: Stealth past Little Rock Pond
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We left the ski cabin very early this morning. It was cold and a dense, white fog surrounded us, obscuring our path. We hiked down Bromley Mountain slowly as the sun was very gradually dissipating the fog. Luminous slits pierced through the grey clouds and the tall pine trees; as if by the intervention of a benevolent deity, the grey monochrome scenery we experienced yesterday was finally washed away and the Trail's colors were revealed. The forest was slowly warming up and a fresh earthy post-rain smell lingered. We were content and we hiked over many peaks (Styles, Peru, Baker). The last one required a steep climb along smooth layers of rocks which seem to have been formed by the fusion of numerous sheets. We took a break at the top. I ate some of my beloved granola, but I dropped the bag and lost all of it. It was a sad moment.At one point during the afternoon, Shrugs' shoelace broke. He has Salomon trailrunners which do not have typical laces. Instead, they are a sort of elastic that can be tightened when pulled. He is due for a new pair anyway as these ones have lasted over 950 miles - that's pretty good, they are great shoes!As we hiked towards Little Rock Pond, there was a noticeable increase in day hikers. Many were out swimming in the pond. The Trail skirts the pond and, for some reason, everytime we go around a pond, the Trail gets very, very rocky. There were many waves of brief up and downs over rocks and roots. We were getting tired at this point and my feet were aching. My boots were still not fully dry and the constant wetness causes more chafing and irritation, as attested by my red, swollen toes. We hiked a bit more and decided to stealth camp. We found a spot and started setting up the tent when we heard a loud "CREEEAAAAKKKKKK". We looked up and noticed a dead tree with a cracked base, partially fallen and only supported by an adjacent tree. Although it no doubt irritated Shrugs, I asked that we move location.We found another spot less than a mile away, though the surrounding terrain was quite swampy. I thought that the Great Flood had exterminated most of the mosquitoes, but they made a strong comeback. I enjoy stealth camping, although I realize that it goes somewhat against "leave no trace" policy: if everyone did it, the vegetation would be constantly trampled. Therefore, according to Kantian ethics, stealth camping would be immoral, though Kant never thru-hiked so he can't know.- Axon
Date: 2015-07-06
From: Stealth past Little Rock Pond

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: light rain

We had a warm night for the first time in weeks which allowed us to sleep well. We got up early, in order to get to camp early and dry our shoes in the sun. The day was beautiful and the terrain reasonable. We were cheered by a troop of girlscouts as we passed them - it was funny. We hiked over yet another Bear Mountain which gave us a view over a local airport. Just before getting to the shelter there was a very steep climb over some rocky pseudo-stairs. I hadn't sweat so much in a long time! We then had another view of the same airport. We spent the afternoon relaxing and not doing much.We only did a small day today because Axon's mom is coming to visit us tomorrow. We hope to meet at the top of Mt Killington. It is just in time; my other shoelace broke today and they are bringing my new pair of shoes.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-07-08
From: Inn at the Long Trail

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

The breakfast included with our stay at the Inn was the best we've had on the Trail so far. Axon had french toast and I had pancakes (with actual maple syrup), both with fruit and tea. Then we stayed in our room for a while because we didn't want to go out in the heavy rain.When we did get out, past 10 am, the sun was out and the air was cool. It was really nice, except that our backpacks were extremely heavy because we bought way too much food yesterday, as we frequently do. Will we ever learn? (It's unlikely.)It was great to have new shoes, they're so comfortable! (Thanks to Axon's Mom for bringing them.) I even managed to not get them too dirty. Although their frequency has slightly decreased, the mud puddles are still very present.Axon convinced me to go see some falls off-trail. I'm usually too lazy to walk off-trail but they were less than a minute away... After that we had one of the steepest sustained climb we have encountered so far, up Quimby Mountain. We reached the top after an hour and noticed the total lack of view from the summit. Oh well. We ended our relatively short day on the other side of the mountain.We are now using our winter sleeping bags. They are so much more comfortable than the summer ones!- Shrugs
Date: 2015-07-09
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: light rain

Yesterday evening the chipmunks were out and about again. They are quite daring and do not hesitate to crawl up to us, in hopes of finding food. One even had his cheeks full and he was still trying his luck to get an extra morsel. SO CUTE.The terrain was overall quite challenging today. The mud and the rocks seemed to have vanished; the terrain was smooth, frequently carpeted with a thick layer of fine pine needles. A terrain I have not seen in a very long time. The Trail followed a tight series of steep hills. It reminded me of the South, specifically some portions of North Carolina.There was an impressive amount of moose droppings along the Trail, but the offending moose was nowhere to be seen.We hiked at a decent pace and around 1 PM, arrived at a road crossing where we walked a few minutes to a small market named "On the Edge Farm". They were advertising freshly baked home-made pies and Shrugs was particularly interested (pie is one of his favorite foods). We bought a strawberry and rhubarb pie with some ice cream when the clerk, after hearing us speak French between ourselves, exclaimed in French that she was from Qu©bec too! We talked for a bit and ate our delicious treat.After, we set off and began hiking while talking. For some reason, we were discussing VERY LOUDLY federal and provincial politics as a southbound runner was approching us. He smirked and said in French "heyyy, Quebecers!" as he flew by. I was suprised, yet pleased: we are getting so much closer to home! Also, Shrugs and I will have to be more careful about what we say/how loudly we speak.The afternoon's hike was particularly brutal as we had to face an endless stream of vertical up and downs. The Trail's profile ressembled the ECG of an abnormal heart rhythm, a type of tachycardia anyway: close succession of very steep ascents and descents. We were both exhausted at the end of the day, especially since we had pushed for 20+ miles. However, we will hopefully arrive in New Hampshire tomorrow, so today's burst may well be worth it. We were setting up the tent when rain began to fall. The day had been overcast though the forecast predicted no rain. Notwithstanding, it was raining quite heavily. 0% chance of rain, yet you still pull through and beat the odds, AT. No rain is expected? You say "NO" to that. NEVER! As long as you are there, AT, there WILL be rain! [cheering intensifies]- Axon
Date: 2015-07-11
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

We slept in until 6 this morning since we were only planning a short day. It was warm and sunny and the hike to the first shelter went without incident, except that we had trouble with the final not-too-steep climb. I guess we are getting tired of those. There was a resident chipmunk near the shelter. It was the boldest we've met yet; he would pass right beside our feet to get food on the ground.We decided to get to the next shelter in order to have a shorter day tomorrow. This involved a (very) steep climb down Moose Mountain and an even steeper climb up the next mountain. It was difficult. Fortunately, a nice couple from Lebanon, NH were set up in the gap cooking hot-dogs for hikers. They also had sodas. Thanks!- Shrugs
Date: 2015-07-12
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We woke up today feeling fresh and ready, but our resolve and stamina dissolved after an hour or so when the terrain started gradually climbing. Failure to launch. We stopped and sat on a couple of boulders to eat a second breakfast. A fifteen minute break (our original intention) turned into an hour long one. Second failure to launch.I think we are feeling a bit worn down. We have been putting in some good miles notwithstanding the difficult terrain. Ever since Vermont and the re-introduction of series of sustained, steep climbs, my calves have been sore and stiff. I think the long stretches of wading through the viscous mud was also quite demanding on the joints (especially the busted ankle).We eventually found a rhythm and climbed up Smarts Mountain. Shrugs is adamant that this particular mountain was far steeper than the rest. We arrived at the top where we stopped for lunch at a run-down cabin. The nearby fire tower was closed; the dilapidated structure was not enticing anyway, although it was our only chance at getting a view on top of Smarts Mountain.The rest of the day was easier as it was mainly all downhill to the shelter. Well, except for a very, very steep 0.3 side-trail to get to said shelter. The shelter is called Hexacuba; it is shaped like a hexagon and located on the side of Mt Cube. The privy is shaped like a pentagon, but someone drew a pentagram on it, I guess confusing the words. There were many inflammatory comments about religion scribbled on the walls. It was entertaining.- Axon