morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-28
From: Dennytown Road

To: RPH Shelter 
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a big day in that I was so fortunate to come across a group of volunteers called the Jolly Rovers Trail Crew that specializes in stonework on hiking trails. I saw about 6 men and women with hard hats on focusing on something on the ground off the trail. My first thought was that someone was seriously injured and this was a rescue group. They were actually having a workshop on splitting huge rocks into stepping stones that will be placed on the trail as steps on eroded trail. In two weeks they will come back with more volunteers and carry the stones over cables to be placed as steps. I have often wondered who came out into the forest and meticulously placed stones steps up a steep section. Now I know. This group is based in NYC and is comprised of about 40 volunteers who give a minimum of 80 hours a year of their time. Artie and Mark gave me one their black and white bandana with their logo on it. They are the volunteers who placed the 72 stepping stones up Fitzgerald Falls that I hiked up earlier in NY. Such a treat to meet this unique group who do so much. Thank you Jolly Rovers!I got a late start this morning waiting for the rain to stop and wouldn't you know it as soon as I got my pack on I had to take it off to get my rain pants and jacket on. It started pouring again. Aft er half am hour I decided I was too hot and took the gear off again. Never sure what works best. The day had its ups and downs and I was exhausted, cold and wet and had very sore feet when I started seeing things. I saw someone at the end of the trail holding a cold beer for me in greeting. The best part was that he was real and insisted he carry my pack the rest of the way to the shelter. I made it the rest of the way to the shelter in good spirits.This shelter is extra special with wooden bunk beds and water pump and four walls with doors. The best part is it is strategically placed next to a road and a local pizzeria makes deliveries. I ordered a large pie with artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and garlic. It is out of the world delicious and I have extra for breakfast and lunch tomorrow. All and all a great day despite the rain. Hard to believe that it is so cold in the evenings in late June. I am bundled up in my down bag and silk liner and down jacket as I am almost every night.I finally figured out how to download photos from my cell phone to this journal thanks to instructions from Proud Foot who is doing a trail journal as well. I am slowly adding photos to all my previous entries. I have found one of my greatest enjoyments on the trail is taking pictures of anything that catches my attention.
Date: 2015-06-29
From: RPH Shelter 

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

Today was another rainy day climbing up and down endless slippery rocks. Everything stays wet and smelly. I can't wait until my next shower in town. It is pretty bad when you are almost knocked out by your own smell. So today was a real treat when I hiked around Nuclear Lake towards the end of the day and took a nice long swim. It felt so refreshing and invigorating. The lake was large and scenic with the mountains surrounding it and wildflowers were abundant. Great day for photography. I'm also seeing a lot of blackberries that should be ripe soon. The flowers continue to amaze me with their beauty and bright colors. The bumblebees like them too. The first half of the day brought me by a big beaver dam which was cool to see. It was close to the railroad tracks which seem to be all over the place in New York which makes it easy to get to the city. The trail went over a bridge which crossed a small river or brook with some small waterfalls. The wooden planks took us to a spot where someone left some trail magic in the firm of ice cold water and bags of potatoe chips. So delicious! I had just said I wish I had a bag of chips yesterday. The ice cold water bottles worked double duty as a young hiker named Tuck was bit by a hornet crossing the bridge. We heard his screams and ran to his rescue. We had just met him and his mother, Mama Bear and his 5 year old brother and sister last night at RPH. Quite amazing and their energy levels are even more amazing. I wish I had some of what they have. I guess it's called youth.Gummi and One Boot are here again along with a few other hikers. I am very tired and my feet are quite sore again. I haven't done this many miles in awhile, and I am feeling it. My two little toes are not doing so great and I was wincing with every step. The downhills are much harder on my feet than the uphills. Early to bed tonight and early to rise tomorrow.
Date: 2015-06-30
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter

To: Ten Mile River Shelter 
Miles today: 12.8

Today was a big day in that I crossed into my 6th state so far. Hello Connecticut. Only 8 more to go and I'm still short of completing 25% of the trail. It was uneventful except for more rain and more hills and slippery rocks. The state line was shortly after the Appalachian Trail Railroad in Pawling, New York. This is where I considered catching the train to go to NYC then to Connecticut to visit my daughter. The tracks and access point are right on the trail.Had my share of beautiful flowers and berries again today. We are hiking next to more water sources these days which means I can carry less water and refill more often. There are also large rivers and lakes which are perfect for swimming if you can handle the cold and hike nearby at a convenient time, such as when it is not raining or storming. It is a nice change and makes for great pictures. We did less miles today in order to make it to the shelter before a monstrous storm that was forecast for the evening and morning. The miles were not big but the ups and downs sure we're making for another challenging day. The trail right before the shelter was full of large stepping stones and lots of fences made from rocks that looked like they may have been crafted many years ago when families lived here and built them to keep their cows coralled. The Ten Mile Shelter had a very large and fast moving river along side it. It looked perfect for swimming and I changed into my swimming attire and was ready to go until Little Prince let me know how freezing cold it is. The cold water never used to bother me until I got the nerve damage in my feet while climbing over sharp pointed rocks in Pennsylvania. I decided to pass.We found our spots in the shelter and after cooking the rain did not disappoint. It appeared right on time exactly as shown on the radar. It sounded like a Tropical Storm from those I experience in Florida. It is going to get much worse tonight. The trail will be slippery tomorrow. I can't sleep tonight so I am up wathing a spectacular light show courtesy of hundreds of fireflies. Very magical! The rain didn't seem to deter them.Tomorrow promises to be another day of more rain.
Date: 2015-07-01
From: Ten Mile River Shelter 

To: Kent, Connecticut 
Miles today: 8.6

It stormed throughout the night so we waited until it disipated enough to get on the trail midmorning. Last night was a real delight watching the fireflies for hours from the shelter. It was amazing they stayed out all night flickering light throughout the storm. I watched as one made its way into the shelter.Today was a relatively short hiking day as we are stopping in Kent to do laundry and resupply. The hiking was long and tough because of the rain and slippery rocks. I am so afraid of falling that it takes me forever to climb the steep downhills. Today was particularly challenging for me. The trail was beautiful in the morning hiking alongside a wide and scenic river I believe is called Housatonic River. We soon came to Native Landscapes and Garden Center that provides some great services for hikers. We were able to sit in their colorful gardens and sip on organic ice tea they had for sale. It's so nice to have use of restroom facilities and garbage cans. I am spending the night in the charming town of Kent. It was about a mile walk through the town and over a bridge. My feet weren't hurting today until I started road walking. After all the ups and downs my feet aren't happy walking 8n the flats. Funny how that works. We were starving so we walked into the Fife and Drum for lunch at 3:00 not realizing it was fine dining. There was a grand piano, french music and white linen tablecloths. We were treated very well and no one acted like they noticed our smell and messy hair and overall hiker trash appearance. I had the best kale and sausage soup, arugula salad and veggie sandwich. It was pricey but a real treat! We are staying at the Fife and Drum Inn, and I look forward to exploring this town as much as I can and finding another great restaurant for dinner. This is probably the only time in my life that I will be able to eat anything and everything I want and still lose weight.
Date: 2015-07-02
From: Kent, Connecticut 

To: Kent, Connecticut 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The laundromat and grocery store were closed yesterday afternoon when we tried to do these chores, so it made sense to spend an extra night in this lovely town. It didn't take much arm twisting to justify this decision. We went to two great coffee shops this morning and I had a cup of tea at both and a tasty bagel with salmon and capers. Little Prince struck up a conversation with a customer who happened to have a similar career and knew some of the same people so he promptly invited us to his home in the afternoon for swimming and conversation. After attending to all our chores and lunch Mark picked us up and drove us to his beautiful 250 year old home with spectacular gardens that his wife Jen late and maintained with tender loving care. I would never want to leave if this was my home. We had the pleasure of also meeting Mark's son and two grandchildren who are quite the swimmers. The hospitality was amazing again and this was another afternoon with new friends that will not be forgotten. A great evening was spent in Kent and I enjoyed another fabulous meal. I wish I had more time to spend in this town but I need to get back on the trail if I want to finish.
Date: 2015-07-03
From: Kent, Connecticut 

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter 
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: clear sky

I had another salmon bagel with capers and melt in your mouth blueberry muffin on my way out of Kent. This is after a pint of blueberries I had purchased from the grocery store. I really did not want to leave this town. It has been the most expensive town stop by far as nothing is cheap. I can't do this often but the splurge was worth it. Again, my pack is heavier than when I came into town and it takes awhile to get used to my pack again and all the weight on my feet. The road walk back into the woods was enjoyable this time with fresh feet and it's enjoyable to see something different like all the artsy stores and cafes with locals enjoying each others company. After a short walk through the woods we came to our first road crossing of the day and encountered some trail magic. Ahab who is a NOBO was taking a week or so off to visit her parents and had a table with a huge bowl of fresh fruit and cookies for thru-hikers. We declined because we told her we had just eaten and had come off a zero day. She still insisted so a had a fruit cup. Thanks Ahab! I have a friend back home in Tampa who is thru-hiking NOBO named Fozzie and his Dad told me is right behind me except that he was in NYC to visit his cousin. I asked Ahab if she knew him and she said yes, her friend Trick was hiking with him. I am so excited about seeing him. Fozzie worked at the local health food store in my hometown in Tampa. I would go in almost every day to get my Wheatgrass juice from him.Tomorrow is the Fourth of July. Thinking of the beach, picnice and hotdogs as I go to bed. Would have loved to have stayed in Kent to see the fireworks.
Date: 2015-07-05
From: Town of Lime Rock

To: Riga Shelter 
Miles today: 12.9

Last night about 11pm when we were tucked into our sleeping bags in Eliza's cozy barn she brought us a cooler with with left over goodies from the 4th of July picnic with watermelon and a couple of beers. She said it was for us to take with us on our hike. I was still in awe of her thoughtfulness. Around midnight we decided we were hungry again and made a dent in the yummy food. We awoke early thus morning with the chickens in the barn and had more leftovers. We had asked Eliza for her address so we could keep in touch and thank her one day. We found it taped to her front door. After leaving the cooler we were on our way walking through the town again before the trail took us into the dark and damp woods again. Everyone waved hello from their homes as we walked by with our oversized packs on our backs.We stopped at a picnic table at Cornwall Falls and were told there was going to be a big hiker feed at 11 today, but we kept going as that was three hours away. Upon entering the forest we were treated to a picturesque view of Great Falls. I got many great pictures and I marveled at the beauty and power of the rushing water. The trail today continted with many ups and downs through piles of rocks that requite steady footing and some butt blazing for me since I'm a scared cat. We walked past a big cemetery that had a water spigot hikers were allowed to use it came at a perfect time. Next was the big climb up Lion's Head that was straight up. I had to take my pack off, and I can't imagine how I would have done it if it was raining. The views were spectacular of Salisbury below and a local dayhiker pointed out all of the landmarks for us.We made it to Riga Shelter and I am amazed at the perfect view from the shelter. I'm able to take pictures of the mountains and town below right from my sleeping bag in the shelter. Whistles is here with us. Can't wait to see the sunrise in the morning.
Date: 2015-07-06
From: Riga Shelter 

To: The Hemlock Shelter
Miles today: 10.0

The sunrise from Riga Shelter was gorgeous just as I hoped it would be. Views like this are one of the reasons I love to hike. This is by far the best view I have ever seen from a shelter so far. I have noticed that none of the shelters in Connecticut have picnic tables. It sure would be helpful for cooking food. I noticed last night a big burned section in the front of the section where sone one had tried to cook. The table would have prevented the problem. There is a large gao with about a three foot gap from the stairs to the actual sleeping area.The day started off beautifully as the river was alongside the trail for hours until we reached Massachusetts. The current was pretty strong and offered views of many waterfalls. The trail was rocky but worth it because of the spectacular view. It soon ended after getting into Massachusetts and the trail was covered in Pine needles again. The trail was very nice for a couple hours and then turned very steep and rocky again. My pace slowed considerably. We climbed up Bear Mountain and stayed on the Ridgeline for awhile and enjoyed amazing views. We went to the top of Mt. Everett and met a couple section hikers.It was another tough day for me because of the steep climbs that too forever. We did not make the 15 miles we had planned but stopped here for 10 miles instead. Croc Rocket is here again. Saw him last as well. He made a great fire going. We haven't been allowed to make a fire in the last several states.Early to bed for me tonight. Thank you to everyone who is reading my jour balance and signing the guest book. Your encourage is appreciated!
Date: 2015-07-07
From: The Hemlock Shelter

To: Hwy 41
Miles today: 4.4

The plan today was to get off the trail in Great Barrington and get a ride into town for a resupply. I was extra tired this morning for some reason and had very little energy. I realized again that I'm not getting enough protein and I ran out of trail snacks. There was more climbing and then the trail turned into a nice walk in the woods with pine needles on the fprestigious floor. Part of the trail went through cow pastures and some boggy muddy areas. A big storm was scheduled for the afternoon. Our guide book showed a small country restaurant 1.1 mile off the trail along Hwy 41, so we decided this would be a good stop. Walking along the road is hard in the feet after being on the trail and we walked all the way into the historic town of Egremont. The destination was Mom's Cafe and breakfast was delicious. Freshly squeezed orange juice and omelet with hash browns filled me up. We purchased sandwich wraps to go for our next meal. We only has a few more miles to hike after getting back in the trail and then we would need to get a ride into GB to resupply. So much centers around food it seems. Not enough or too much and what am I craving now. We walked as far as the ATC Kellogg Conservancy Center and it started raining. We stopped to get water and were surprised with the less than friendly greeting we received. Still, we say on the big gorgeous green lawn and made the decision to take a cab to Great Barrington from here and stay at the Days Inn. We are in The Berkshires which I have heard so much about. It is beauty and I can see why it is such a popular vacation destination. I also discovered the Kripalu Yoga Center is only 13 miles from here. I would love to go for a visit but won't have time.I got laundry done and grocery shopping done today. The Big Y was a fantastic family owned store that I would love to have in my hometown. Lots of organic fresh produce and gourmet delicacies. I got a small tub of almond nut butter and local honey to make sandwiches. Lots of nuts and dried fruits sold in bulk. It was a grocery shoppers paradise. Going to rest up for tomorrow.
Date: 2015-07-08
From: Hwy 41

To: Great Barrington 
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up in the morning still tired and really wanted to visit the Kripalu Yoga Center so I'm spending another night here in Great Barrington. I would like to further my yoga certification after this hike with a 300 hour program and am seriously considering Kripalu so it just didn't feel right to pass it by. I spent $80 in cab fares but it was well worth the visit. It is a huge facility that houses over 650 guests. I stayed several hours and toured the facilities and talked to several students. The views from the lawns are breath taking even though I am lucky to have similar views almost every day on my hike. I bought a pass to the dining hall which was serving an unlimited lunch buffet from noon until 2:00 of fresh organic mostly vegetarian fare. I must have had every green leaf that could be eaten and I sampled almost everything within this two hour period. I could feel so much healing and positive energy from all this deliciousness and being surrounded by likeminded yogis. I think I could go to Kripalu just to have this incredible food every day. I also bought a book of quotes from Swami Kripalu to read in the evenings. After coming back to the hotel I rested a bit and then headed out to Main Street which is the center of town for dinner at Mario's, a very tasty Italian restaurant with excellent spedini and fried calamari and red wine. After walking a few blocks we stepped into the Gypsy Joynt, which is an eclectic hippy spot that has great deserts and fancy drinks. It happened to be mic night so it was hopping tonight and the music was excellent. Definitely a great day! So glad I took this opportunity to visit Kripalu. Back on the trail tomorrow morning.
Date: 2015-07-10
From: Tom Leonard Shelter 

To: Cobble View Bed & Breakfast 
Miles today: 13.1

Today was a beautiful hike through the Beartown State Forest with the pine carpeted trail through quite a few miles. Quite a bit was muddy and boggy from all the recent rain. At times my poles would sink about a foot into the mud. Hiking through mud slows me down as well. If it's not rocks to slow down it's always something. Vermont is supposed to be very rocky so maybe this is just a taste of what's ahead. We hiked through what's called The Ledges which offered some beautiful views. Today had a nice share of gorgeous overlooks and glimpses into the towns below.Massachusetts is my favor state so far because of the abundant waterfalls and river flowing through with pleasant views and open forest. Less rocks make it less intimidating for me as well.The last climb of the day was up Cobble View which seemed to go on forever and kept my heart rate up. More rock outcrops and the rewarding view. The blazes were confusing at times and I had to redirect myself several times.We got off on Jerusalem Road in Tyringham to walk almost a mile to get to the post office to pick up some resupplies. It is a tiny town with no restaurants or much of anything. My package was there but Little Prince's was not and the post office did not have a computer or a way to track it even with a tracking number. We were going to walk back to the trail and stealth camp but saw a bed & Breakfast right across the street from the post office and made plans to stay here for the evening and check back with the post office in the morning. We are ordering food from the town of Lee and enjoying the amenities of this charming place. Making friends with Rocky, the owners adorable dog. Looking forward to a good night's sleep again.
Date: 2015-07-11
From: Cobble View Bed & Breakfast 

To: Cobble View Bed & Breakfast 
Miles today: 0.0

We decided to spend another day and night at this relaxing and charming bed and breakfast. The weather was sunny and gorgeous and there was no good excuse for not hiking today other than it felt good to enjoy the sun and nap. I had a very lazy day and slept in and did some yoga on the big grassy lawn. It felt really good even though my knees are stiff all the time and the standing poses are almost too much for my body. The sitting and reclining poses are more my style now because I am so stiff and inflexible now. I am always hobbling when I walk and getting up from a sitting position requires me putting my hands on the ground and pushing myself up. It is very pathetic at times. I enjoyed a nap on the gazebo and hammock as well. The zero days go by so fast and I don't get neatly as much done as I should. This B&B is a great resting spot. It it in another small town that I never would have had an opportunity to visit. These small town stops have unexpectedly become one of my favorite aspects of this thru-hike. Thanks again to everyone reading my journal and all the encouraging comments in my guest book. I think I may be the slowest thruhiker on the trail this year.