morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2022-10-17
From: Telephones Pioneers Shelter 

To: 10 Mile River Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: light rain

October 17 - Telephone Pioneers Shelter to 10 Mile River Shelter - 12.8 miles (122.5 trip miles) - 29062 steps Nice trail today entering CT. Goodby NY, although the trail will go back and forth between the states along the border for a few more miles. I think I was asleep before 8 last night. It was just me in the shelter and one guy up above in a hammock. I never spoke to him. At about 6 this morning it started to rain lightly as expected. I brought my food bag in as it holds water when wet and I forgot to put a plastic bag over it. I knew today would be a shorter day so took my time packing up. I stopped at the creek on the shelter approach trail to top off my water and was hiking at 820. It was another day mostly in woods with no overlooks. The rain continued most of the morning but stayed light. In the woods it sounds loud as the rain hits the leaves then drips from leaf to leaf all the way down. Rocks were minimal with only a few short sections. There were quite a few swampy areas that had planks through the wet areas to help keep your feet dry. However, the planks were very slippery and extreme caution was needed. There was a half mile boardwalk through a swampy area that was very nice. Chatted with a guy out for some nature photography. Then the trail went up through some cow pastures where every step had to be watched to avoid land mines. After a good climb and some easy terrain I ate lunch at Wiley Shelter. The rain had stopped finally. After some descent and flat ground I climbed 10 Mile Hill. On the way up I ran into a very nice trail maintainer and we chatted quite awhile. I thanked her for the work all the maintainers do and shortly reached the summit. Then it¢s under a mile to the shelter. It¢s an older style like most around here but this one has a gap from the frame to the sleeping platform. I think that is to keep critters from getting in. I arrived at the shelter before 3. I thought of going on to a campsite but it¢s almost 6 miles; just too far.  The trail maintainer suggested I stay at the 10 mile campground area just past the shelter and located at the confluence of the 10 Mile River and the Housatonic River.  I considered it but knew light rain was forecast. Shelter it was. Boy, did I get that one right.  At about 730 it poured hard for about an hour.  Then, 2 SOBO flip flop hikers came running into the shelter soaked.One item I¢ve been meaning to comment on is the number and quality of the old stone walls in the forests, mostly in NY. They are everywhere. Some have fallen apart but many are still as they were hundreds of years ago. I believe they were created as boundary lines using the rocks from the fields the landowners were clearing. Some are high up on the mountains. I can¢t imagine they were growing things there. Maybe grazing cattle. Tomorrow is a short day into Kent, CT. Until tomorrow.
Date: 2022-10-18
From: 10 Mile River Shelter

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: broken clouds

October 18 - 10 Mile River Shelter to Kent, CT - 9.1 miles (131.6 trip miles) - 28425 steps CT is tougher than I expected. Was up at about 6 but didn¢t get moving until 7. The 2 other hikers were still sleeping and it¢s tough to pack quietly in the wooden floor shelters. I stuffed some food in my pocket and was hiking by 730. The ground was wet after last nights rain, but few puddles. All the formerly dry creeks were flowing strong today. The first 1.5 miles the trail meandered near the Housatonic River. It then let out on a road for a road walk. I went right instead up to the Bull Bridge Market. It¢s only .2 miles and takes you through one of only 2 covered bridges (this one being Bull Bridge) in CT. I got a danish and a huge iced tea. I also put a little juice in my phone as it was almost empty and my charger is empty also. Back to the trail that did a short road walk and there was a guy moving cattle down the road, probably to a nearby field. The trail finally re-entered the woods and began the almost 1000 foot climb up Schaghticoke Mountain. It was tough but the sugary danish and tea powered me through. The terrain continued to be rolling for a few miles after the summit. Then there were 2 tough rocky climbs up unnamed peaks. There were some decent views at the top. The drops from those peaks were very rocky, almost like PA. I finally reached the road to Kent and walked the .8 miles into town. I got a sub for lunch, showered, (much needed), laundry done (needed even more), and resupplied. Hiker Steve is going to come by and we¢ll go out for dinner and some beer. The next stretch is about 55 miles to Great Barrington, MA. I may go into Salisbury, CT if I don¢t think my food will last. There also seems to be a few restaurants near trail where I can stop for lunch if the timing is right. Until tomorrow.
Date: 2022-10-19
From: Kent, CT

To: Cesar Brook Campsite 
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: clear sky

October 19 - Kent, CT to Cesar Brook Campsite - 13.6 miles (145.2 trip miles) - 37365 stepsCT is kicking my butt. Today was hard. The Fife & Drum Inn was ok for the night, as well as expensive. Kent is small so everything is close and easy. I was up early as usual. Going to sleep by 9 will do that. Out the door at 730 and I headed to the Villager Restaurant for breakfast. It was good, and reasonably priced, unlike most of Kent. There was a guy eating at the counter like me and he was a talker. I struggled to eat he talked so much. Left there and walked the road back to the trail. Things started off with a steep 600 foot climb. It was cold this morning, around 34, with frost on all the grass and soccer fields by the trail. I did get to finally use the gloves I brought. About halfway up the puffy jacket and gloves had to come off. Also, the sun came over the mountains and started warming things up. After reaching the top, the trail rolled up and down for 2.5 miles. Then it went straight up to Caleb¢s Peak. This was a short but tough climb and descent. Some good views there and then from St. John¢s Ledges. Descending from the ledges was straight down over big boulders. Very slow going for 500 feet. The trail then meets up with a gravel road and an old service road for 5 flat miles along the Housatonic River. I was looking forward to this easy stretch. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. It¢s easy hiking and fast, but rather boring and monotonous. The river is nice but always looks the same. In this stretch is a shelter so I stopped in and ate lunch. While there the trail maintainer I talked to 2 days ago came by so we chatted again. I finished the flat section and it was another steep 600 foot ascent and a rocky descent. I repeated this 3 more times over smaller hills to finally reach my campsite. Before the third climb I had to cross Guinea Creek  there were warnings that a detour may need to be used to get over it.  I checked it out, and sure enough I couldn¢t quite make it across. Off to the 1 mile road detour. Luckily it did cut out some of a tough climb.I didn¢t realize how challenging CT¢s climbs were going to be. It seems similar to me of GA and NC on a slightly smaller scale. It¢s 6pm, I¢ve eaten, cleaned up and got in the sleeping bag in the tent. It¢s already getting cold out. Might get into the low 30s. I¢ll read a bit and probably be out before 9. Hiking life. Until tomorrow.
Date: 2022-10-20
From: Cesar Brook Campsite 

To: Limestone Spring Shelter 
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

October 20 - Cesar Brook Campsite to Limestone Spring Shelter - 14.7 miles (159.9 trip miles) - 36805 steps CT was a bit kinder today. It was cold last night. Likely pushing freezing. I was plenty warm in my 0 degree sleeping bag. I was awake by 6 but didn¢t start breaking camp until almost 7. I slept pretty well last night. I was on trail by 730. As is usually the case, the day started with a cardio workout up an unnamed peak. It wasn¢t too bad. Then back down only to climb again up a steep rocky ascent. Just before this climb a work crew was heading up a short way to add/repair some stone steps. I spoke to the leader for a few minutes and thanked him for the work they do. I got a lesson on the problems caused by the Gypsy Moth. For the PC crowd they are now called Spongy Moth. I also thanked the workers as I passed them and wondered when the escalator would be installed. From that summit it was about 6 miles of small up and downs in the woods. Not much to see today. I finally dropped down off the mountain, through a field then onto a road walk. The trail took a left down another road but I went straight to the Mountainside Cafe. It¢s a farm to table breakfast/lunch place. It was very good. Then back down the road to continue the AT road walk. The trail edged its way back into woods and came out a a large hydro power plant. After some more twists and turns I came to Great Falls. It wasn¢t so great. I think a lot of the water is diverted for the hydro plant. Then the final climb of the day. A 900 foot ascent up Mt Prospect. The guide made it look treacherous but the climb wasn¢t that bad. Maybe the big sandwich for lunch powered me through. Final stop for today is the shelter. It is .4 off trail with about a 300 foot descent. The thought of climbing out of here in the morning makes me sad. CT does not allow you to just set up camp anywhere you like. The next spot was almost 8 miles and that¢s too far when it¢s 330 and getting cold. It should get down near freezing again tonight and then a gradual warming trend. Hopefully I¢ll get to Great Barrington on Saturday. I now have less than 100 miles to go. Until tomorrow.
Date: 2022-10-22
From: The Hemlocks Shelter 

To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

October 22 - The Hemlocks Shelter to Great Barrington, MA - 8.0 miles (185.3 trip miles) - 23628 steps Town day. It was a few degrees warmer last night and pleasant. However, there was a lumberjack working all night in the shelter loft. He never stopped snoring. Since it was a short hiking day, I didn¢t get out of the bag until 730 and was hiking at 8. I stuffed breakfast in my pocket and ate later. The first few miles were rocky along the edge of the mountainside. It was slow going. Finally things went downhill over very rocky terrain and rock slabs. It was even slower going but not that difficult. Eventually things leveled out and I cruised for 4.5 miles. There were some fields, some board walking through swampy areas, a very dark pine forest, one fall on a slippery muddy spot, a dropped hat and I finally emerged at MA Rt 7. Earlier I had left a message for a local trail shuttle, Joe, and he called me back 100 yards before the road. Perfect timing. I am at the Quality Inn. I cleaned up, walked .8 miles to the Big Y supermarket for resupply, and relaxed. I found a restaurant, The Well, that was excellent. A couple of local beers and a huge portion of meatloaf hit the spot. And, of course, I had to have a big ice cream to end it all. Hey, I need the calories. To top it off, Joe will get me back to the trail in the morning. I¢ve got about 70 miles to go. I expect it to take me 5 days, maybe 5 and a morning. Weather continues to be good with a chance of rain the next 2 days. It¢s all good. Until tomorrow.
Date: 2022-10-23
From: Great Barrington, MA

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

October 23 - Great Barrington, MA to North Mt Wilcox Shelter - 13.5 miles (198.8 trip miles) - 31825 steps The big meal last night might have weighed me down. Up early as always. I got breakfast at the hotel. The usual fare of eggs, sausage and muffins. I walked out front as my ride, Joe, arrived. I was back on trail just after 9. Unlike most town stops, the trail was flat through harvested corn fields for about 2 miles. It paralleled the Housatonic River. It¢s much smaller here than a few days ago. After a short road walk up I went. The climb wasn¢t terribly difficult but I was struggling. I struggled all day on the ups. I suspect I ate too much last night and maybe had one too many beers. There were 2 long climbs today. There was only one view all day. Early on the view was to the west with a clear line back to Mt Everett. Seen from a distance it¢s a pretty good size mountain. I could also see to the Catskills in NY. I chatted with a couple of hikers but overall there were very few people out for a weekend. I had 2 shelter options today. First was the South Mt Wilcox Shelters. Yes, 2 in one area. An old and a new. Unfortunately it was only 3 and that¢s just too early. So I pressed on 1.7 miles to the North Mt Wilcox shelter. It¢s old with an uneven floor. The stream is right next to the shelter so that¢s convenient. I am the only one here now. I doubt anyone else will show up with so few people being out. The forecast is for light rain tonight and some tomorrow. We¢ll see. It spit earlier but doesn¢t feel like rain. Tomorrow should be about 15 miles. Until tomorrow.
Date: 2022-10-24
From: North Mt Wilcox Shelter 

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

October 24 - North Mt Wilcox Shelter to Upper Goose Pond Cabin - 14.2 miles (213.0 trip miles) - 33787 steps It took 17 days but the rain finally got me. I was alone at the shelter last night. It was quiet except for the constant tinkling of falling leaves on the shelter roof. I slept straight through from about 9 to 4. That¢s great for me. Slept again until almost 7. Packed up and headed out at 750 under overcast skies. The trail was uneventful today. Only 1 view at Tyringham Cobble, a rocky hill overlooking the (very small) town of Tyringham. The climb up to it was the first of 2 for the day. After crossing a very warped and shaky boardwalk was the second climb of the day. It was long but not overly steep. About halfway up I stopped for some lunch. Just as I finished the rain started. It was a pretty consistent rain, hard enough to soak me all the way through. I got to the turn off for the cabin before 3. There was no way I was going on the 8.8 miles to the next shelter. It was then .5 miles off trail to the cabin. It¢s closed for the season but there are tent pads, a privy and bear box. You are allowed to sleep on the covered porch which is what I¢m doing. 2 more guys showed up 10 minutes after me. Somehow we¢ll all squeeze into this small space. It should be interesting. I just hope my clothes dry out some overnight. It¢s less likely to rain tomorrow. If that holds I plan to go 18 miles to a shelter. The shelter before that is only 10 miles and there are no large climbs. I should make it 18 without too much trouble. We¢ll see. Until tomorrow.
Date: 2022-10-25
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kay Wood Shelter 
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: broken clouds

October 25 - Upper Goose Pond Cabin to Kay Wood Shelter - 17.6 miles (230.6 trip miles) - 41477 steps Rain, rain go away. The porch of the cabin worked out ok. Unfortunately, it rained all night. We stayed dry but none of my clothes dried in the wet air. I didn¢t get out of the bag until 7. Putting on those wet clothes was not a pleasant experience. Sunrise is noticeably later and sunset is noticeably earlier compared to when I started 18 day ago. Just before 8 I started heading back the .5 miles to the AT, in the rain. The trail had a small climb to start then dropped down to cross the Mass Pike (I-90). Then up to Rt 20 into the lone big climb of the day, 800 feet in 1.5 miles. After that the next 14 miles were pretty level with only a few small climbs. The rain continued until about 11. Everything I was wearing was totally soaked. This would be a problem later in the day. I stopped at the shelter 8.8 miles in for lunch. I was making great time with the easy grade. However, I noticed some chafing on my thighs. I addressed it right away with some Body Glide. I don¢t think it helped. The afternoon was spent walking over boards, through muddy ground, rock hopping, and just trying to keep my feet dry. At least the rain stopped. Maybe the ground is just so flat here water bars or diversions wouldn¢t do much good. The provided planks do help some. Thanks to the maintainers that do that. There was one view late in the day as the clouds lifted a bit. I didn¢t stay there long, I just wanted to get to the shelter and get out of the wet clothes. I got water, set up in the shelter and ate dinner. I¢m here with one other hiker, a NOBO planning to go to Katahdin in December. Tomorrow I¢ll go through Dalton, MA and then to the shelter most of the way up Mt Greylock, the highest point in MA. Until tomorrow.
Date: 2022-10-26
From: Kay Wood Shelter 

To: Mark Noepel Shelter 
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: overcast clouds

October 26 - Kay Wood Shelter to Mark Noepel Shelter - 16.7 miles (247.3 trip miles) - 38862 steps Going out with a bang. It rained lightly all night. Some of it may have just been the leaves gathering the moisture and then the drops dripping off them. The forecast called for improving weather and they got it right. I was out of my bag at 7 and hiking by 8. It was a short down then a short steep up leaving the shelter. I had the pack cover on and my rain jacket. On the up the jacket had to come off. It was warm today. After an uneventful 3 miles I reached the small town of Dalton, MA. There¢s a 1.4 mile road walk through town. After crossing the Housatonic River again I left the trail. There was a sub shop that was open. I got a large Italian to take with me for dinner. The thought of instant potatoes and tuna was too depressing. I then stopped in a quickie mart for a drink and a candy bar. I hadn¢t realized how expensive candy bars had gotten. Wow! I then got back to the road walk and passed through a neighborhood and back into the woods. It was now time for a 3+ mile climb. There were some short steep sections but overall it was not bad. I passed 3 flip flop thru hikers and chatted a bit with them. The descent was easy and dropped me into the town of Cheshire, MA. Not much here along the trail. There was a convenience store about a quarter mile off trail but I didn¢t need anything. I did notice that here and in Dalton, the people take their Halloween decorations very seriously. It was sort of nice to see that in such small rural towns. Leaving Cheshire the fun really began. It was nearly 3 and I still had 4 miles of climbing to get to the shelter. Much of it was very steep. In total I climbed over 1600 feet. It was also warm today, 72 when I was in Cheshire. About 2/3 of the way I finished my water. Luckily there was a small spring and I could refill. One final push got me to the shelter at 5. I¢m the only one here. The shelter faces east so I could get a good sunrise. By the way, the sub was good and I¢m glad I carried it. But, it would have been a lot better toasted and fresh. The final climb today was up towards Mt Greylock. It was a grueling way to end a long day. I still have 3.3 miles and 800 feet to reach the top. Then it¢s almost all downhill to MA Rt 2. The terrain today was mostly nice with just a few rocky/rooty sections. Not as many planks to walk over either. Until tomorrow.
Date: 2022-10-27
From: Mark Noepel Shelter 

To: Williamstown, MA
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: few clouds

October 27 - Mark Noepel Shelter to MA Rt 2 (Williamstown) - 9.6 miles (256.9 trip miles) - 28967 steps The final day. It got cold last night, likely in the upper 30s. It also got very windy. The shelter is at 2670 feet so that likely influenced the conditions. Today would be shorter miles so I took my time packing up. I got back on trail at about 820. It was up 800 feet to start. Skies were overcast and the strong wind continued. The trail up here was somewhat rocky and rooty. I kept a slow and steady pace up, crossed the tourist road a few times and finally reached the top of MA tallest point, Mt Greylock. At the summit is a tall tower honoring the war dead. I could have climbed to the top but there was nothing to see. We were in the clouds. I spoke to a few day hikers then headed down the other side of the mountain. Of course, not 5 minutes from the summit the clouds started breaking up. Oh well. The downhill was long; over 6 miles. It started off mellow but then had some very steep areas. Eventually I came out to Mt Prospect Ledge with incredible long range views into Williamstown and north into VT. After the ledge it was all down for 1800 feet. I popped out in a residential area and finally made my destination of MA Rt 2. I headed west to my HoJo hotel on the east end of Williamstown. My feet are a bit sore today. There are so many leaves covering the trail it¢s very hard to see the rocks and roots. My feet kept slamming into them under the leaves. That ends this section hike. I¢ll post a conclusion entry in a few days. Thanks for following along. Until next hike.
Date: 2022-04-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I live in Enterprise, Kansas with my wife Beth of 36 years. Enterprise is 6 miles east of Abilene, the birthplace of President Eisenhower. His presidential library, museum, and boyhood home are all on the Eisenhower complex. Eisenhower was the commanding general of the European theater in WW2. There are lots of interesting exhibits related to WW2, and his 8 years as president of our country from 1952-1960. The prairies of Kansas are a great place for quail and pheasant hunting, something that my dogs and I love to do. Though not mountainous, the Flint Hills of Kansas are certainly not flat. We don't have the trees that exist on the AT, but God certainly made a diverse and beautiful country that we call home.
Date: 2022-04-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today is our last day at home. Beth will drive myself, Pat, Brian Cook, and his wife Terri to Georgia beginning tomorrow afternoon. Myself, Pat (pictured pointing a covey of quail) and Brian intend on being successful thru-hikers of the AT. Brian and I each have backpacks that weigh in at about 32 pounds each. Pat has her own backpack, and her's will weigh 6 pounds at the maximum and decrease as she eats her food.