morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-07-21
From: RPH Shelter

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I'm sitting here alone in the shelter, enjoying listening to the rain around as I sit here in dry clothes. Today was a relatively uneventful day. The trail was nice, the scenery beautiful. For many parts of the day, I'd find myself surrounded by huge boulders that (for once) I could just look at, but not climb. After 5 miles, I hiked .3 off the trail to the Mountaintop Deli and got a huge sub to have for lunch a bit later (Yes, it was delicious!). Later on was lunch at a shelter with Stillwater, who had decided to stay instead of push on as he planned. I wasn't feeling very well, so I ended up taking almost two hours for lunch. That still left me plenty of time to hike the remaining 8 miles. I hiked in yet another thunderstorm, but this one stayed fairly distant. I didn't even get the heavy rains. The big highlight of the day came when I got to Nuclear Lake (which is not, in fact, nuclear). I didn't have much time, but I took a short, refreshing dip in the water. Hiking in this insane heat all day makes it utterly amazing to surround my body with water. I was the only one there, and the lake was still and breathtakingly beautiful.I arrived at the shelter just before another t-storm, and am able to really enjoy them now that I'm not out in them. My evening has been wonderfully peaceful. Life is good.
Date: 2010-07-22
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter

To: Ten Mile River Lean-To
Miles today: 12.7

Nine states down, only five to go!   I am sitting right now in a lean to, NOT a shelter. That's right, folks, I am officially in New England! I'm here not just for the first time on this hike, but for the first time in my life! And I walked here! On my own feet! Pretty awesome...   I've had a really good day. As always, I loved waking up alone at the shelter. It was incredibly peaceful. I hiked an easy 3 miles past the beautiful, magnificent Dover Oak (the largest on the AT) and to the AT train station. There is a Metro North train station specifically for the AT. This has always seemed like such a cool concept to me, but as I grew nearer, I began to worry that it would be a disappointment compared to my expectations. It wasn't at all! It was exactly as I pictured it and totally magical! It came out of the woods (wetlands, actually) and there was this tiny wooden platform, where on weekends you can wait for a train that takes you straight into New York City. I was simply delighted! It's probably good that today was Thursday, or I might have just hopped on and gone.   As it were, I went to Native Landscapes, a very hiker-friendly business right there. I picked up my mail drop, took a great shower, and left all my stuff there while I went into Pawling. The folks there even ended up giving me a ride to town and back! I took care of tons of errands, had a great lunch, and got yummy pastries while in town. It was a nice break, and I finally started hiking again after about 5 1/2 hours. The trail has been really nice and beautiful! I walked into Connecticut a few miles back and have had a nice (but short) evening at the shelter. I'm a little worried that the mosquitoes may eat me alive before morning, but I don't want to give in and set my hammock up in the dark. Wish me luck!   Update: The closing line of this journal entry was exactly what happened. I was being eaten alive by the mosquitoes and other bugs. I got some sleep, but kept dreaming that Connecticut was just a horrible state with giant mosquitoes everywhere. Around 12:30, I finally got up and set up my hammock. It felt so good the second I was in my protected oasis, and I slept like a baby the rest of the night. I'll try to actually learn this lesson this time!
Date: 2010-07-23
From: Ten Mile River Lean-To

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-To
Miles today: 15.7

Two-thirds down. I'm amazed at how far I've come, and a little scared (okay, a lot scared) of how far I have yet to go. Today has been an incredibly tough day. I had one of the biggest meltdowns (maybe THE biggest) of the entire hike. I couldn't even motivate myself to leave until 10 this morning. I cried. A lot. I cried off and on all nine miles into Kent. I wanted nothing more (again) than to hop a train for home. But...   I made it through the day! At one point, I had decided to change plans and stay in town. Lodging, however, is crazy expensive in Kent (as is pretty much everything), so I made the tough decision to eat lunch and pick up a few things at the IGA, and then head on out. My late start backed me into a bit of a time crunch, but I managed to get my stuff done in town (after a long, tearful conversation with Mom) and then hike the seven more miles to my original planned destination. I can't say that much about today was particularly fun, but I'm proud just to have made it to the end of the day. It has rained all day, so I'm currently sitting under my hammock fly, with the hammock itself pulled off the the side. It's been a long time since we've had a full day of rain, and I had almost forgotten that 'can't escape the rain' feeling.   Today was incredibly hard for me emotionally, but a number of people contributed to making it a little easier. My heartfelt thanks to Braids, Mom, the kind folks at the Panini Cafe, Edie and Dahlia, the father and son who gave me a ride back to the trail, Knees and Curio, and Little Aspen and Toothpick. Thank you all.   Tomorrow is another day.
Date: 2010-07-24
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-To

To: Belter's Campsite
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: light rain

Today was emotionally easier, but physically harder than yesterday. I have the worst chafing I have ever experienced. Walking and sitting down are both excruciating. I'm willing to bet that lying down is going to be pretty painful, as well. If I could like on my stomach in my hammock, I would!   There was a serious storm last night.   Apparently, I was one of the only people (maybe THE only) who stayed totally dry during the night. It was very hot today and all the rain from yesterday and last night left the air like a wet sauna. That, combined with lots of steep ups and downs, made for an extremely difficult day. Theoretically, 15 miles should be (and used to be) my ideal day - long enough to feel like I've made progress, but short enough that I could handle it without too much pain. Well, this one left me totally beat, and my body aches for bed.    I tried to battle the chafing with a full-body fresh water rinse and clothes that aren't soaked in sweat, but that can only do so much when the skin has already been tortured. We'll see.   Can't wait to see Storm tomorrow and Braids on Wednesday (she moved her visit up a bit), but now I must sleep.
Date: 2010-07-28
From: US 7/Dolls & Dwellings

To: Mass. 23/October Mtn SF CG
Miles today: 8.4

Today has been fabulous! I expected to get up and pack my stuff, hike 8.4 miles, and show up around noon or one at Mass. 23 to find Braids there waiting, all the way from Georgia. this was still the basic series of events, but with one major difference.   At about 5:30 AM, I was awakened from a deep sleep to see a giant wolf wearing a cloak standing outside Storm's side of the tent, saying, "Looooosie," in a high-pitched voice. It was not, in fact, a giant talking wolf, but Braids, in an amazingly realistic articulated mask. She basically drove straight through and got into Great Barrington around 1:30. I was, admittedly, a little grumpy at first after being awakened, but soon was fully awake, hugging my girl, and meeting Tyson and Tucker, my "step dogs." We drove, basking in one another's presence, to get breakfast and coffee, and then just sat in the car talking until Storm and Trooper were up. I took the two hikers for bathrooms and bagels (fun to drive again!) and then we were off for the day. Braids took all three packs and we headed off to slackpack the 8.4 miles to Mass. 23. It was a lovely hike, and it was even more lovely to see Miss Braids at the end of it. She was there handing out trail magic. She came up with quite the set-up - a cooler full of sodas and snickers, a box full of resupply items, and a fully-stocked med-kit. She must have worked really hard on that last bit, because she had a well thought-out assortment of medical items, duct tape, hair ties, and lots of other practical items that hikers may need. It was pretty amazing trail magic. We hung out for a while with the Canadian Geese and a SOBO sectioner named Saxy Lady. Then, Trooper headed on and Braids, Storm, and I drove up to the October Mountain State Forest Campground.   This is a nice, fairly quiet little campground. We got our camp set up and then I took off to get groceries for supper and breakfast. There was a fire rollin' when I got back. We cooked delicious foil dinners (I made, and ate, the biggest one I've ever seen!) and sat around the fire chatting for a while. It's so wonderful to be with Braids, and the three of us (with Storm) are having a great time together!
Date: 2010-07-29
From: Mass. 23/October Mtn SF CG

To: Tyringham Man Rd./October Mtn SFCG
Miles today: 12.1

Predictably, I have fallen behind on my journaling while Braids has been here. I'll catch up the next several in bullet points.-Another good slackpack!-Took forever getting out-Made funky-looking, but delicious blueberry pancakes & bacon.-After morning organization, shuttling, and all, didn't get on the trail until almost 12:30.-Great time hiking with Braids, Tyson, & Tucker, enjoyed not having to cut our conversations short, as we have for the last 2 months.-Flipped with Storm, she picked us up around 6:45, with Royce in tow.-We shuttled Royce to another point, then all decided it was far too late to cook.-Great, fun dinner at pub in Lee.-Got a little overwhelmed in the morning by the complexity of putting away all our stuff (when I'm used to just the stuff I carry on my back). Is this what adjusting back to off-trail life is going to be like?-Saw "Santarella", or the Gingerbread House - amazing!!! (Curious? Google it.)
Date: 2010-07-30
From: Tyringham Main Rd./October Mtn SFCG

To: Tyringham main Rd/October Mtn SFCG
Miles today: 14.0

Another fabulous day with Braids & Storm! - SOBO slack for me - no-cook breakfast, but still were lazy and got away late. - Drove crazy, rough backroads to get to County Rd., and saw a young bear   on the way. (I've been the primary driver, and it's been lots of fun!) - was almost 11:30 by the time we got to the trail, and Storm & I were both a   little worried about doing a 14. (Braids decided not to hike more due to   knee problems.) - Eventually....they dropped me at County Rd., and I hiked as fast as   possible to US 20, where Braids and Storm waited with trail magic. Then,   they and the dogs joined me to hike to Upper Goose Pond. - UGP = beautiful! We lunched and all swam. Brr..... - They hiked back, I hiked on (fast again). Was about 3 miles from the end   when I found the car keys in MY pack. I called, and Braids said it was    okay. - They picked me up, and I got the scoop - she climbed on top of her car, got   her arm in the cracked (ie, partially open, not broken) window, unlocked   it, disabled audible part of alarm, and used the spare key inside to start    the car. The lights-flashing part of the alarm was still going when I got   to Tyringham Rd. - Girls had gotten groceries already - went back to camp and grilled    bratwursts (with mustard!), corn on the cob in the husks, and banana    boats. Delicious! - Thanks for being so good to me, ladies!
Date: 2010-07-31
From: Tyringham main Rd/October Mtn SFCG

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

- Beautiful hike today! - Camp packed up pretty quickly, drove to Dalton for Storm's package, then down   to County Rd. - Great stop at the Cookie Lady's - chatted with her, she brought out fresh   cookies, and we bought a half dozen hard-boiled farm-fresh eggs. Also picked   incredible, HUGE blueberries! - Braids was waiting at Tom Laverdi's house, right on the trail. - Got a toom at the Shamrock Inn, and she unloaded dogs and stuff while we   hiked the trail on through town. - Relaxing night, ordered in pizza and pasta and watched you-tube videos.
Date: 2010-08-01
From: Dalton, MA

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

- Great hike today! - Braids drove us up Greylock, to within about a mile of the top - Hiked SOBO thru beautiful evergreen forests, down the gentle descent into    Cheshire, MA. - Found enormous blackberries on the trail coming into town. AMAZING! - Went to Diane's Twist, right on trial in Cheshire, for lunch. Got sandwiches   and then the most absurd banana split ever - HUGE SCOOPS - black raspberry    with hot fudge, maple walnut with caramel, and moose tracks with homemade    marshmallow cream, all topped with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles. - We both hiked up the next mountain stuffed and feeling rough. (But, it was    worth it!) - Kid at a nearby table at Diane's said to his friend, "I don't know why so   many hobos come here...." LOL! - Got back around 5:15, ended up going to Wendy's for supper. - Good day!
Date: 2010-08-02
From: Rockwell Rd/ Dalton, MA

To: Mass. 2/Mason Hill
Miles today: 7.3

I now have a measley 596.2 miles to go! - Under 600 - woohoo! - Packed up this morning and drove up Greylock again - this time NOBO hiking - Hiked up to the top and took a brief break, enjoyed the view, climbed to the   top of the monument - worth it! - Hiked down to Mass 2, went to Chopsticks for a delicious lunch, (Thank you,    Storm!!!) - Said goodbye to Storm. Sad to see her go, but so grateful for the time   she spent with me/us. You rock! - Drove to Mason Hill in Cheshire, where Braids had already unloaded our stuff   earlier. - Have a tiny cabin in the woods, smaller and more primative (no electricity)   than we expected, but really cool! When we were lying there before bed, the    sounds of nothing but the creek below and other natural music were amazing -    complete privacy. - Hostel and outdoor shower there were very cool!
Date: 2010-08-03
From: Mass. 2/Mason Hill

To: Mason Hill
Miles today: 0.0

Zero, glorious zero!   Today I took Red Hat up to Mass. 2, grabbed resupply at WalMart, and then had the ultimate lazy day. - Cooked pancakes and bacon - Took a great nap - Organized stuff - Sat around - Ended day with a fun dinner with Braids and Red Hat at the Cobbleview Pub. - Great day!   (But, don't want to say goodbye tomorrow....)
Date: 2010-08-04
From: Mason Hill

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: haze

Today has been really tough, though that was somewhat expected. Braids, Red Hat and I drove to the trailhead on Mass 2 this morning (by way of Dunkin Donuts). Red Hat hiked on while I had a small-child flashback and fought strong urges to just climb in the front seat and beg Braids to take me home. She said she would take me wherever I needed to go, but that she also knew I wouldn't be happy. We both knew that, so eventually, I pried myself loose and hiked on. Very shortly up the trail, still crying and coughing, I ran into Tom Thumb. He immediately pulled me into a big hug and helped my talk it out. I wasn't automatically thrilled to be on the trail, of course, but I started to fell jus a little bit better. Tom, thank you so much. We don't even know one another that well, but we are hikers.   I hiked my 14 miles and am now at the shelter, about to go to bed. I still want pretty badly to go home, but today brought me into Vermont and 14 miles closer to Katahdin, and therefore 14 miles closer to home. Tomorrow will almost certainly be better. Besides that, there were some really good things about today.   The first couple of miles were right beside Sherman Brook. It was stunning! The water was crystal-clear, as though it was all a sculpted fountain, running distilled water. It may have been the most beautiful brook I have ever seen. At the shelter for lunch, I met Cool Shoes, a woman about to end her long summer section from Katahdin. When I told her my trail name, she asked if I knew there was a song with that same name. She was delighted when I told her that that is how I got my name and that I sing the song every day. It was a really cool moment between the two of us. I also hiked by some really neat beaver ponds and got a very quick introduction to the Vermont mud. It was almost like they turned on the "mud switch" right at the state line. It was also really nice chatting with Red Hat when I finally got to the shelter. Oh yeah! I also saw an animal I've never before seen today - a porcupine! It was climbing a tree right on the trail. So cool!   The best thing today was an amazing surprise when I got to the shelter. Red Hat told me someone had left me goodies, and I was tickled. I assumed it was from Storm, but no, my crazy and incredible girlfriend drove to Bennington and then hiked in 4.2 miles (each way, and over a VERY steep climb out of town) to the shelter after A) seeing how sad I was and B) realizing that she still had my AAA card from a few days ago. She left me a wonderful, loving letter, 2 donuts, some Nerds Ropes, and of course the AAA card. How amazing is that?!!! I cried, of course, when I realized it was from her, but I was so thrilled! Everyone else at the shelter was amazed that she would do that. I am a lucky girl, indeed.
Date: 2010-08-05
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: haze

1600 miles; rain; mud; slick, steep rocks; horrible chafing; and an unexpected town stop. Oh yeah, I'm sick, too. This is the hardest thing I've ever done. I may not have made many miles today, but I'm still going.   Red Hat and I planned to do 19 miles today in order to set ourselves up to get into Manchester Center before noon on Saturday to get my maildrop. I got up and out before 8, and the rain started in right as I started hiking. I was dealing okay with the insanely muddy trail, but the chafing that started last night got worse quickly. It occurred to me that if we went into Bennington today, we could do a couple 15 mile days and then an 11 to get into Manchester Center on Sunday, and I could get my mail and resupply on Monday. I found myself wishing that Red Hat would be waiting at the road when I got there. I actually caught up to her right before the road, on the steep, rocky descent. Her first words to me were, "This isn't fun, Loose!" I started to present my idea, and she jumped on it, having been thinking the exact same thing herself. We got down to the road and got a hitch in pretty quickly.   We had a yummy lunch and ice cream at Friendly's and then went next door to the house of Arla and Chris, amazing trail angels. They open up their house and a beautiful barn to hikers for showers, internet, kitchen use, and sleeping in the barn. This place was absolutely amazing, but, crazy as it sounds, we both still felt like tonight needed to be a motel night. We said our thanks and goodbyes to Arla and made our way, by walking and bus, out to the Knotty Pine, a really nice little motel. I've felt pretty awful all day (sore throat, achiness, general yuckiness) and have stayed in the room all afternoon and evening. I took a nap and have gotten my TV fix - hours of Scrubs, Law and Order, and NCIS.   I still feel crummy, but am hoping that a good night's sleep (to commence shortly) will help both my sore throat, etc. and my chafing. I only have 14.5 miles tomorrow and should be able to handle that regardless!
Date: 2010-08-06
From: Bennington, VT

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: scattered clouds

From Trail Funk to Trail Spunk!   Today was an incredible day! I still have the sore throat funk going on, but it's better, and the body aches are gone. My mood got better and better fairly quickly as I hiked. The trail, though still quite muddy, was much nicer without the rain. We were on trail shortly after 9, so it was great not to feel rushed hiking. As I said, my mood got continually better, but I really turned the corner and found my spunk/spark/groove again right as I hiked up to Goddard Shelter.    It was after a hard climb, .3 miles form the top of Glastonbury Mountain. The forest had just begun to change to a diverse selection of evergreens, with ferns and moss covering the ground. I began to see the shelter through the trees. I hiked right by a crystal-clear piped spring and then into the clearing with the beautiful shelter and amazing view out from it. In my mind, I was suddenly back in the true majesty of the AT. I could not contain my huge grin and soaring spirit as I stopped for a break with Joe, a section hiker. Red Hat was right behind. As I was telling her how great I suddenly felt, I literally did a little happy dance in the shelter. We were soon joined by Butter, Sixtoes and family, as well as Freeman and Damascus. I met Freeman at Kincora on the second day of Hardcore and have not seen him since. The AT is so cool!   I finished the climb up the mountain and climbed the firetower, which took me up out of the trees. It was stunning!   The weather today has also been fantastic - cool, no rain, constant breeze. The wind up on the fire tower was incredible. Right now, I'm sitting in the shelter in my long underwear, Montbell jacket, hat and socks. It's delicious! I hiked fast today and got to the shelter right around 5. There's a fun group here, and it's been a fantastic evening. This shelter has a beautiful view to the east overlooking a reservoir, so it should be a beautiful sunrise. Dinner tonight was even great - delicious vegetable soup, hot cider, candy from Butter, and Mountain House blueberry cheesecake from section hikers Bill and Picklesneezy.   Today was one of those days that hikers dream about.   For the record, in my opinion, the true Vermont beauty starts at Glastonbury Mountain.   Great to feel good again....
Date: 2010-08-07
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: Starton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: few clouds

I climb mountains!   I attended a reading of a play about the AT at Trail Days. It was not amazing, but it was good, and mostly, it spoke to me as a thru-hiker. More than anything, this one line stuck with me: "I climb mountains!"   It's what I thought as I reached the top of Stratton Mountain today. It was incredible! It was a nice 2,000 foot climb up, and I loved it. I listened to a Barbara Kingsolver book as I watched the trees transition from deciduous to evergreens. The view from the top of the firetower was incredible, and I loved talking with Jean, the caretaker who lives in the tiny cabin each summer. I love mountains!   Mornings are often the toughest times for me, and today was no different. I wander through my off-trail dreams for 8-10 hours, and then I wake and have to get myself back into trail life all over again. It didn't take too long, though.   When I got to Stratton-Arlington Rd., I came upon trail magic from Tom Thumb's family. There wasn't a lot left, but I had some yummy marshmallows! I walked down the road and was about to start the 4-mile climb up Stratton Mtn. when I saw a beautiful blue tent. Why was it beautiful, you ask? Because inside, Short Job and Green Lantern had incredible trail magic. There was a huge selection of goodies. Out of them, I had a beer, a delicious turkey, ham and cheese sandwich, grapes, carrots, a pickle and a fresh, juicy cherry tomato. I stayed chatting for over an hour. It was absolutely amazing!!! If you read this, thank you SO much!!!   All in all, a great day on the AT.