morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-06
From: Tom Leonard Shelter Area

To: Goose Pond 
Miles today: 21.0

What a day!! After sleeping next to a ledge I got up and hiked 21 miles to Goose Pond Cabin! What a great place! We must of hiked approximately 5000 feet of climbs total. Some long gradual and not so gradual ups! I definitely prefer these climbs more than the extreme ups and downs! The weather was great again!We stopped and hitched a ride into a small town to resupply and get food for Goose Pond. Luckily a very nice hiker friendly couple drove myself and Pippin, and Jo Hawk 6 miles to a real grocery store!! It was overwhelming!! Ha!! We bought some food and 36 hot dogs for tomorrow! I figure between 5 people, 4 dogs a piece sounds about right for lunch!! And a few to share? Maybe!! LolFinally got to Goose Pond at 8 pm and I immediately took a swim! What a beautiful place! Think "on golden pond"! Very nice. After a swim I immediately set upmy tent, ate and then off to bed!! I'mBeat!! But a very satisfying tired! Text Awesome Wife, very little cell service ! Good night!50/50 Out!!
Date: 2014-07-07
From: Goose Pond 

To: Cookie Ladies Farm
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Had a great day at Goose Pond! Swimming, eating hot dogs, and just relaxing! The Berkshires have been beautiful but not easy.We all carried a lot of food weight in our packs so we would have food for our cook out! 24 hot dogs between 5 people! Jo Hawk got humus and carrots! Awesome! We also each carried two bottles of coke! Weight! But worth it! The trail was very muddy and very rooty! Hard to hike! Lots of slipping! So, as I was walking today, I was asking The Lord, Lord, why did you make Mosquitos, ticks, and horse biting flies? That is one question I want to ask when I get to heaven! I can't figure anything good can come from those pesky critters that won't stop biting me!!!Our goal was to hike 11 miles to the famous "Cookie Ladies" farm. She has been baking cookies for hikers and letting hikers tent in her yard for over 30 years! What a treat! A few of the guys offered to help mow around the rows and rows of blueberry bushes they grow on the farm! Unfortunately the famous blueberries weren't ripe yet. Man that would have been good!! I think every book written about the Appalachian Trail mentions the Cookie Lady!We had a huge thunderstorm and huddled up in her garage until it passed! The good news was my tent held up well. No major leaks!!Tomorrow, Jo Hawk, Pippin, Murphy, Mombo and I will hike into Dalton, MA for a Nero. Showers, laundry, food and a bed! Yes!! Well needed rest day after 11 mile hike in. Not sure if I'll do a zero yet. A full, no hiking day. The toe has healed, the feet are doing ok. The Achilles is swollen and sore but manageable!We also need to resupply, hit the outfitters for some items, and we all plan on going to a movie and see The Planet of the Apes movie which Mombo and me really want to see!! By the way, Jo Hawk and Murphy have done nothing but give us grief over our movie selection! They have been making monkey calls all through the woods for days! They actually sound like monkeys!! Ha! A movie really sounds like a civilized thing to do! Ha! We have several other folks, Dirty Harry and his wife Fran, Pippin, and a few other hikers excited to go too!! Now off to bed. It's hiker midnight, almost 9 pm! 50/50 Out!
Date: 2014-07-08
From: Cookie Ladies Farm

To: Shamrock Motel, Dalton, MA
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

Left Cookie Ladies farm at 6:30 am after a night of more rain. The trail was very muddy and very difficult to walk due to all the slippery roots! We hiked 10 miles into Dalton, MA excited to get to town and dry out! Today's hike was all about finding the Emu! Yep, an Emu! Right Here was hiking into Dalton yesterday and a stray Emu must if got loose from a farm. He shot the funniest video and passed it onto Jo Hawk who sent it to me! Hilarious ! The Emu actually walked with Right Here for a while! We jokingly said, Right Here finally found someone who would put up with him! Lol! As we were crossing a road crossing a guy pulled up and told us to be on the lookout for the Emu! I decided to name it, Right There, after Right Here! We had a good laugh but never saw it!Well, noplanet of the Apes movie! Not out until 10 July! Bummer! So we decided to go to new Transformer movie!
Date: 2014-07-09
From: Shamrock Motel, Dalton, MA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Just a great zero day! 2 naps, good food and looking forward to hiking up Mount Greylock! Murphy and Jo Hawk decided to take a zero also, so the gang is all here! Ran into Garmele, Pippin, Gazelle, Neck Bone, and met Mio, and Tandem and Buz, a father daughter team. Not sure about spelling! Ha!Plan is to hike out at 7 am and go about 15. Big ups but should be fun with great views! BackInto 3-5 thousand foot climbs! Yes!! Excited to get into Vermont. Otherwise known as Vermud! I've got new shoes, and some new socks! Excited! PA wore out my shoes!! Lived up to reputation! 50/50 Out!
Date: 2014-07-10
From: Dalton

To: Wilber Clearing
Miles today: 21.0

Left Dalton and the Shamrock Motel at 7am. Hiked a gradual up most of day and reached Mount Greylock, the highest elevation in MA. Beautiful views and really cool monument at top! Almost 3500 feet! I figured it would of been much tougher hiking but I really enjoyed the 21 mile day! Must of finally gotten trail legs. Talked to several tourist who wanted to know all about thru- hiking and the AT. One lady brought us a big bag of chips which we all devoured! Camped at Wilbur Clearing Shelter area with about 10 other folks! Good to be hiking with Taz again. We all prepared dinner on his tent platform! Thanks Taz! Oh, some of the tenting areas have a few wooden platforms to set up your tent. Really nice and level, but a little difficult to secure your tent. I need to learn how to do this before New Hampshire because platforms are pretty common. You don't use tent stakes, but rope to secure the tent. We only have 7 miles until we finish MA and enter Vermont! Our 11th State completed! Unbelievable! The time is really flying now! I know NH and Maine will be tough but I'm really looking forward to the scenery and hopefully see my first Moose! I'm really enjoying the whole experience and feel so lucky to get to do this! Thanks Awesome Wife for supporting my 35 year dream!!I'm also really enjoying hiking with my trail buddies, Jo Hawk, Murphy and Mombo! We really make a good team and support each other well! We cut up and have a great time picking on each other! Especially the ladies who don't give Mombo and me the slightest break!! Ha! We also hike off and on with several other folks such as Taz, Solo, and many others! I'm really surprised how many people are currently in our hiking bubble this far into the trail! Well it's after 9pm and passed hiker midnight so I'll say goodnight!50/50 Out!
Date: 2014-07-11
From: Wilber Clearing

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: few clouds

Today was the tale of Vermont mud, fighting flies, and slips and falls!!We crossed 1600 miles, finished MA, and started the wonderful State of Vermont or Vermud, Vermuck!!The highlight of the day was walking into North Adams for Friendly's Restaurant! Awesome Wife's favorite ice cream joint!After lunch we headed back to trail and walked next to some beautiful streams for a few miles! The water was clear, cold and delicious! Then the mud of Vermont began! Unbelievable amount of mud, slippery roots and rocks! I sure hope it gets better!!Then the battle of the biting, fighting horse fly! I swear this one fly followed and fought me for over three miles! It kept biting one ear then the next! After several attempts to wack it and almost give me a concussion, I finally landed what I thought was a deadly blow! It landed in the mud, got up and continued to fight me! round 14, then 15! I hit it again and still it came back for more!! Finally, after feeling sorry for me it left! Oh, it wasn't over! Then I got attacked by Mosquitos! They saw that I was wounded and came in for the kill! Did I say, I'm not liking Vermont much, yet!!After one more face first fall and one painful hit on my healing leg wound, I finally limped into the shelter! No decent tent sites so Mombo, Jo Hawk and Murphy are staying in the disgusting, dirty shelter! Only my second shelter stay this year!! Oh I need an attitude adjustment after today! Please Lord help me!!Did I say the mud was awful! The kind of mud that try's to take your shoes off! Okay! I promise to tomorrow I'll have a better attitude! Maybe! Ha!50/50 Out
Date: 2014-07-12
From: Goddard Shelter

To: Glastenberry Lookout
Miles today: 15.0

After a hard day of hiking in ridiculous muck and mud all day we finally got to shelter just at dark. We decided to stay in shelter (nasty), because the tenting areas were very limited. None if us like to sleep in shelters if we don't have to. It seems we can't get to camp before 7-8 pm lately. This doesn't leave much time to prepare dinner, clean up and set up tent! I've got to get better at this.Just a really rough day especially on feet and achilles! Yes, the Achilles finally revolted and is really swollen! I think it was the weird stepping all day from root to root and rocks, trying to stay out of mud!!I'll have to be careful with Achilles and maybe back down on miles for awhile! I did soak foot in cold stream that helped a little. Camped at lookout tower tonight. Great tenting area and very pretty! We saw a bunch of moose droppings today and I saw my first moose track yesterday! Sure hope I see one!!Will be hiking past Stratton Mountain tomorrow where Benton MacKay conceived the use of the Appalachian Trail. Elevation 3936.
Date: 2014-07-13
From: Glastenberry Lookout

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Left fire tower area at 6:30 and planned to hike 19 miles to Stratton Pond Shelter. My goal was 12 miles by 12. Then after soaking feet in cold stream I started the hike over Stratton Mountain! The highest peak in Vermont, just about 4000 feet. I thought the hike would of been harder than it was, but the gradual 4 mile climb wasn't too difficult! Hiked alone all day and just took my time. By 2:00 the weather changed and by the time I got to the top of mountain, fog and mist enveloped the mountain and I couldn't see much! Didn't even get to take a picture.Tomorrow is town day for a Nero!! 5 days out and I'm ready for a shower, food and a bed! We alsoplan on going to the Planet of the Apes new movie!
Date: 2014-07-14
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Manchester Center, Red Sled Mitel
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

After an eventful night in shelter with the gang and several day hikers the plan was to get up early and get to town!! After 5 nights and a lot of mud, I was ready for a shower and laundry!!In the middle of night a day hiker lady had a bad dream and yelled out Bear, Bear! The whole shelter exploded into yelling, and lights turned on! It was like the "Rocky Horror Picture Show"! It was a crazy scene! After which we all couldn't stop laughing! It was crazy!! Needless to say, very little sleep. Rule of thumb, don't sleep in shelters. If you have to, don't sleep where day hikers are! Thru-hikers are in bed at 7-8 pm and respect quiet because we are whipped from the days hike! Just saying!!It down poured during the night and so I was glad, even with the craziness,to have a shelter for protection. Hoss hiked in late from the storm! Next morning we beat feet out of there! Got to road for shuttle by 11 am. Staying two nights at Red Sled Motel! Not bad! Kind of hiker far to town but got a ride to town quickly. Re supplied, and we finally got to watch the Planet of Apes movie! Felt good to sit and do something normal.Jo Hawk and Murphy were hiking out tomorrow. Mombo, Hoss and Taz were taking a zero also. Hopefully will see girls in Killington, VT Friday or Saturday. They will be missed. I can't tell you how much fun and help they were to me over the last month and a half! Restarting the trail where I left off last year has been really tough physically and mentally. The first couple of weeks it was really hard to get my head right and back to hiking mode! I can't really describe the feeling of loneliness and lack of confidence I had at the beginning. Not that I wasn't committed to finishing the hike of my 35 year dream, but, just really hard to get my head and body back into it. Make sense? I'm finally at a point where I'm really excited and loving the adventure again. I can't explain how important it is for me to have Awesome Wife fully supporting and cheering me on! I also have had some great support from so many friends, family, and fellow thru-hikers. I have had so many great e-mails from 2013'ers who I hiked with last year. Thanks, Woody, RC Slowpoke, Great Legs, and Karma! Special thanks to Fidget and Dot Com, Pam and Mike! Some of my favorite Trail Angels from last year! Vermont has been tough because of rain and mud but it is pretty! I will be ready in another 100 miles or so to get into NH. I'm really looking forward to the views, lakes, and changing forest in NH and Maine. Tough climbs, but great views for a reward for the tough ups!!I sure hope I see a moose for Eli! I miss my grandson and new granddaughter Abi! 59/50 Out!
Date: 2014-07-15
From: Manchester Center, Red Sled Mitel

To: Red Sled Motel, Manchester Center
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: overcast clouds

21 mile correction. Just to get my miles corrected for the Journal. No, I didn't hike today on my Zero. For the record, I'm considered a long 2 section hiker, who because of previous mentioned reasons, I had to skip 62 miles total. I hope to go back with my son and hike the 2 sections I missed because of foot infection, and broke pack and replacement. I can't be considered for accuracy a true thru- hiker, but I will easily be a 2000 miler?So what is a thru- hiker? Someone who completes the whole trail, blaze to blaze, in one calendar year. What is a purist? One who literally doesn't miss a blaze! I've been told that a true Purist, doesn't ever slack pack. Slack pack? One who only carries a light pack with only food and water for a day or so to give body a break, or to hike tough, faster, longer miles. Or something like that. Many experienced hikers have told me, who cares whether you are an ultralight hiker vs a slack packer. Both packs are light! I really don't care one way or another, but some do. I've also been told the term, hike your own hike, isn't about pack weight, but, the miles, pace, you keep! In other words, hike your own hike! We all have different paces, and as I know, trying to keep up with someone else's pace is painful! Ha! These descriptions are only for Friends and Family, not Purists!! Ha! So relax!Great day for a zero! Ate a bunch, took a nap, and just rested! Didn't rain as much as they predicted, but still a good day for a break! Plan is to eat breakfast at diner up the road and get shuttle back to trail early.   50/50 Out
Date: 2014-07-16
From: Red Sled Motel, Manchester Center

To: Little Rock Pond
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

What a great day! The weather cleared and stopped raining about 10 am and was cool all day! I left the Red Sled Motel after a good breakfast at diner up the street. Started hiking late (9:30) and still made almost 20 miles! The first big climb was to Bromley Mountain about 3300 hundred feet. It's actually a ski area and had phenomenal views. We sat in one of the chair lifts for a snack and pics! The trail was really nice all day. The woods smelled like a Christmas tree farm. Walked past one stream after another all day with some really nice water falls! Ok, I take back what I said about Vermont! It is really beautiful and very green!!! I'm really excited to be hiking again at elevations with views! Called Awesome Wife from one of the best vistas and talked for awhile. Always good to hear her voice and encouragement. Hiked off and on with Taz, Mombo and Hoss. Also saw Marshal Art. Tomorrow plan a 20 plus mile day depending on terrain, which I haven't even checked yet. Oh, I did get off on the wrong trail for a few minutes but quickly recognized my mistake before I hiked too far! Loving my new AT App with GPS!! Can't get too far off trail with that!! Ha!!Want to get into Killington Friday before noon so I need to knock out some bigger miles. Really all depends on Achilles and terrain! 50/50 Out!
Date: 2014-07-17
From: Little Rock Pond

To: Governor Clement Shelter Area
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: broken clouds

19.4 miles to Clement Tent area. Left camp and immediately started climb to Shrewbury Peak at 3512 feet.   Beautiful day with cool temps. Tough day with climbs but excited to get to Whistle Blow diner after 12 mile hike. Great food and very friendly service. I got turned around a few times today and even my GPS wasn't much help in one area! But the views were terrific. The waitress at the diner drove us to pharmacy and convenience store. Mombo injured knee on a down and was really hurting which was the reason for pharmacy visit to pick up a knee brace. I checked his knee out and hope it's just a strain. It did slow him down to my speed! Ha!! I really expected to see him take off and I probably wouldn't see him again as he wants to pick up his pace until completion of trail. I'm glad to have him around for a day or so more! I've really enjoyed hiking with him! As far as how I'm doing, the Achilles is still very sore and swollen but I'm fighting through it. Awesome Wife is mail dropping me some meds in Killington so I hope they will help. I also added some heel lifts to shoes today to hopefully take some pressure off. Other than that, I'm feeling great. I plan on slowing down through NH and the White Mountains to ease some of the pain. Also, every body's mileage drops through NH due to the difficulty of the White Mountains and Mt Washington. The elevations are crazy but beautiful and exciting! A lot of hand over hand hiking! Put your walking sticks away!!! I've waited a long time to finally get to NH and Maine! I'm really excited to see everything and experience some of the most beautiful parts of the Appalachian Trail. They say, 80% of the effort is in the last 20% of the trail!!!! Oh no!! I can't believe I'll hit 1700 miles tomorrow with less than 500 miles to go. What a journey! Thank you Lord for all you have done to protect me! 50/50 Out
Date: 2014-07-18
From: Governor Clement Shelter Area

To: The Long Trail Inn
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: light rain

What a nice night! The stars were so clear you could almost touch them! The air was cool and great to sleep by. Got to Governor Clement Shelter area and found a nice flat tenting area. Camped near Mombo and Hoss. The site was near a really nice large stream. Took a stream bath, ate dinner, and off to bed. The plan was to hike up Killington Peak at over 4000 feet for first time since The Priest in Virginia. It was great to be at higher elevations again. Once I reached the top there was a ski lift and a really modern restaurant that I of course had to try. Had a fantastic Cuban sandwich and coffee with a great view! What a surprise I wasn't expecting! The views from the top were impressive. One of the locals pointed out Mt. Washington in NH! I couldn't believe I could see it already. Less than 488 miles or so to Kathadin! The miles are really stacking up now. After some logistically planning Mombo and I decided to take chair lift down to Killington Ski Recreation area which was really close to The Long Trail Inn I decided to stay at. I needed to pick up a mail drop from Awesome Wife very near motel. It all worked out really well. PlanOn Zero tomorrow and rest up and then head to Hanover, NH for resupply and final push into NH and the White Mountains. Awesome Wife is sending a food resupply to Post Office to help. A great surprise, Jo Hawk and Murphy along with her friend from Florida came to visit her and they all ended up staying at the same motel. Her friend Karen and husband took us to store and we all had dinner together at the motel restaurant where an Irish Band played some really good music. It was fun and great to see the gang altogether again, even for one night. They plan to hike out tomorrow for the push to Hanover and Mombo and I plan on a zero then a push to Hanover the next day. Mombo is still resting knee a bit. First day that I hiked faster than him! LolLook forward to rest tomorrow and then onward!! Weird thing happened last two days. For some reason my left ankle and lower leg has really gotten swollen with some pitting edema. Not sure what is going on. The rest should help. I'll have to keep an eye on that. Maybe too much salt intake? Very nice day! 50/50 Out!
Date: 2014-07-19
From: The Long Trail Inn

To: none
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Zero Day! Not much to report other than the Long Trail Inn sure knows how to make a great breakfast and make you feel welcome! Thanks Guys!!Heading out in morning. Hope to get to Hanover in 2.5 days for resupply. Getting really excited about the White Mountains. I know they will be some of the toughest hiking to date but really looking forward to the change and scenery and mountain views! 50/50 Out!
Date: 2014-07-21
From: Norwich Inn

To: same
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

What a great Anniversary day! Except I wasn't with the love of my life! Had a great conversation with Awesome Wife! Had a great stay at Norwich Inn! Very nice! And great dinner! Plan on heading out at O- Dark thirty and doing about 20. Looking forward to New Hampshire and as tough as it will be, but beautiful 360 views! Can't Believe I've made it this far!! Almost 1800 miles! I'm really looking forward to all the great lookouts, the Whites, Presidentials, and of course the infamous Mahoosic Knotch! (Sp) I sure hope the weather is nice and dry!!!
Date: 2014-07-23
From: Norwich Inn

To: Fire Wardens Cabin
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Started out early with Mombo after a great Zero! Mombo bought me a fantastic steak dinner for my Anniversary! Thanks Mombo!Hiked hard all day with a really big up at the end of day! Hustling to beat the thunderstorm the last hour and made it to Fire Wardens Cabin! The cabin was empty so we decided to set up camp there. We were joined by Nick Nack another NOBO from Israel! Nice fellow who was obviously concerned with everything going on back home. I was able to tell him what the current news was saying about the conflict.Quickly made dinner and got ready for bed as the rain was really coming down. The ladies, Jo Hawk and Murphy had stopped here earlier but pushed on another 4 miles or so. I hope they didn't get too soaked but I'm sure they did! We tried our best to catch up but looks like it will be tomorrow at the soonest. Mombo and I plan another 20 plus mile day tomorrow to try and get to a Hostel in Glencliff to maybe stay at the Hikers Welcome Hostel. They offer slack packing over Mt. Moosilauke which is over 4800 feet and very difficult! Might take them up on a slack packing day!I did see a bear today from Lamberts Ridge. Actually 2 Sobos pointed it out to me. I was recovering from the climb and not paying attention when they said, there is a bear in front of you!! Lol!! First bear I've seen in awhile. It was walking on a very steep ledge. 50/50 Out!!