morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-10
From: Rutherford Shelter

To: Pochuck Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: clear sky

Today was resupply day so we tried (and failed) to get up early to be able to do everything. The first part of the day was on difficult, rocky terrain. We passed near the Highpoint Monument at the highest point in New Jersey but declined to walk the 0.3 off-trail miles to actually reach it. We are getting lazy about anything that's not within sight of the Trail. Later on we passed through Vernie Swamp, a large, swampy area densely packed with vegetation and mosquitoes. We had to walk across large wooden planks which was fun. Vernie Swamp II We then reached the road to Unionville, our resupply point. The highlight of the day was the pizzeria. We ordered a huge and delicious square pizza overpacked with cheese and vegetables and ate part of it before packing out the rest for dinner. We knew the last five miles or so would be easy so we spent over two hours in town. The pizza was still warm when we reached the shelter but we had trouble finishing it since it was so large.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-06-14
From: Fingerboard Shelter

To: Hemlock Spring Campsite
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: clear sky

We saw our first bear today!... he lives at the Trailside Zoo!We woke up to the buzz of mosquitos. We left early because we knew that we wanted to pass through the Trailside Zoo which closes at 4:30 PM.We had many mountains to climb today: Black Mountain, West Mountain, Bear Mountain and a couple of unnamed mountains. The climbs were steep and the sun was beating down on us. The Trail was filled with day hikers. Notwithstanding the steepness and the rocks, we made good time.We finally crossed into the Harriman-Bear Mountain state park. The Trail leading up to Bear Mountain was beautifully maintained and we climbed stairs for the first time in a while. The Trail was also well blazed, which was nice because the last few days have been confusing due to the poorly marked Trail. Bear Mountain is 1,305', New York's second highest peak (Prospect Rock is the highest at 1,433'). Bear Mountain was crowded. Absolutely bustling. We bought iced tea and chips from a vending machine and we ran away. There is a tower at the top of the moutain where you can see a view over the Hudson River. You can supposedly see the NYC skyline, but all I could see was a small blip across the horizon.We went down the mountain and arrived at the Trailside Zoo, the lowest point on the AT at 124'. The zoo is home to many orphaned or rescued animals which cannot be reintroduced back into the wild. And, there was a bear, the mythical bear.We passed quickly through the zoo because we intended on staying the night in Fort Montgomery. I am DEEPLY in need of a shower and laundry - it is a matter of necessity as my skin rashes really need to get cleaned. We saw that we could take a road and walk 1 mile into Fort Montgomery, however, the footbridge was blocked. We called the motel we intended on staying in as it had a shuttle service. Shrugs called and got an anwsering machine. He left a message, we waited 10-15 minutes, then we called back. Still, nothing.Disappointed and crushed, we hiked on another 2 miles to a nearby campsite. Tomorrow we will nero and stay at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Centre, a monastery. The friars let hikers stay in a shelter that has outlets and... cold showers. Yay, I guess.- Axon
Date: 2015-06-15
From: Hemlock Spring Campsite

To: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: light rain

It was still raining when we woke up. We waited a bit for the rain to stop, but it just got worse. We waited some more and it got lighter so we finally got up at 7 (almost 2 hours later than usual).The hike was short and on slightly easier terrain than the past few days. We resupplied at the Appalachian Market right before the Graymoor Center and we will go again for dinner. We also had a cold shower. It felt really good afterward (not during though).- Shrugs
Date: 2015-06-16
From: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: light rain

Last night was one of my worst nights - it was partly my own fault, but also because of the circumstances.So, we slept under the pavillion at the Greymoor monastery. A deli was located close by so we bought sandwiches and soda for supper.My first mistake was drinking a bottle of specially flavored Mountain Dew. Unbeknowst to me, the drink contained caffeine. Wide awake, I decided to read my Kindle. However, as dusk fell, mosquitoes spawned out of thin air and swarmed around me. I hid under the cover of my sleeping bag while a low, muffled buzzing sound resonated through the shelter. I cowered in my bag, afraid to poke my head out although I did not manage to evade the mosquitoes; I think one stung me on the eyelid! Finally, there was some mightily powerful snoring going on. My ear plugs could not withstand such high decibels. Only the dead could know peace from such a cacophony... well, maybe not. This was the type of racket that could avert any wandering spirit.I woke up fatigued. Luckily, I had a coffee drink with me so I perked up a bit - hooray for stimulants!The sky was grey today and we endured many short showers. My boots were wet and my feet were unrecognizable from all the wrinkles. The terrain was difficult and frankly unenjoyable: steep, continuous cycles of short ups and downs. No views, no logical purpose. The numerous rocks slowed me down, which compromised my mood and morale.At one point, I was forced to hike even slower but for good reason: minuscule toads, the size of the tip of my little finger, suddenly covered the Trail. They jumped like travelling particles, too fast to see. The toads leaped along the Trail in erratic patterns trying to escape death by boot stomping, so it was very difficult to hike while avoiding them. Other than those small toads, there were mosquitoes. So many, so blood-thirsty. My sensitive skin overreacts to these pests' bite. For instance, my ear is now swollen up and an angry red color. It is quite painful - I FEAR mosquitoes and their vicious bite. The flying menaces, on the other hand, love to torment me by flying into my ear, buzzing intensely. As I madly flap my arms in a disorganised fashion, they navigate around me and latch onto my skin which they pierce to steal my blood. I hate them so much.We arrived at the shelter in time for supper, which was perfect as there is a nearby road where pizza can be delivered. Pizza: the eternal mood picker-upper.- Axon
Date: 2015-06-17
From: RPH Shelter

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

We got up late this morning, not feeling capable of doing a long day. The terrain has been difficult in the past few days, making the days longer than we expected. I've been wondering whether the terrain is staying more difficult than in our first few weeks on the Trail (and in my mind, the answer is "Yes, it most definitely is!"). It certainly seems like it's harder, but my memory of the early days is a bit blurred. That is discounting the fact that difficulty is also a matter of your mood when hiking. Early on I felt very hopeful, we walked more and faster than I had expected so everything seemed easier.Objectively though, we are taking longer to hike the same distances, so it *must* be harder now (since about Pennsylvania). From an average of sometimes over 2.5 miles per hour in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, we went down to less than 2.0 in the past month or so.In any case, the days seem really long and tedious. There aren't really more ups and downs than in the first month, but they seem steeper and are definitely rockier. This makes it very difficult to progress steadily while hiking and means our days end later.Not today though (after all this complaining). The terrain was smooth in the morning and we arrived early at the first shelter. We weren't discouraged so we pushed on to the next one (after a 90-minute break).The afternoon went smoothly too. The Trail went around Nuclear Lake, where a nuclear fuels research facility was located over 40 years ago. According to the Companion, it was given "a clean bill of health" so it's safe to walk there. It is a very nice lake anyway.The shelter is full and our tent spot is quite slanted, the most we've had so far. I hope we will still sleep.- ShrugsP.S. The next updates will be in a few days. We haven't been in town in a while and could not charge our phones. It has been cloudy so the solar panel is useless.
Date: 2015-06-20
From: Silver Hill Campsite

To: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Our intention was to wake up early, but we were very exhausted. The day started off poorly with a brook to ford. Our feet were hurting. It rained quite a bit in the last few days and our footwear has not stayed dry, which caused new blisters to appear on my feet. Shrugs has been dealing with an ingrown toe nail as well. Not wanting to purposely soak our feet and aggravate any problems, we took a detour around the brook. We added around a mile to our day, but I felt bad. I try to remain as purist as possible, but sometimes a slight variation is necessary. It is still not as bad as yellow-blazing (taking a car/hitch-hiking to skip portions of the Trail) or slack-packing (hiking without a pack). I always upset a few people when I tell them that I consider slack-packing a form of cheating. They get very defensive and say that they are still hiking the whole Trail. While this is true, our packs are an extension of ourselves, our homes; like snails, we carry them with us. I dislike slack-packing as it invariably involves hiring someone to shuttle your pack while you merrily skip along the Trail - having to rely on someone else (to transport your backpack) defeats the purpose of a thru-hike, for me. Of course, I still benefit from trail magic in the form of food and rides. These events are pleasant suprises, but I do not expect them or rely on them (for instance, we always try to resupply at a town that is within walking distance. It's not always possible, but we do try)Will you still be a thru-hiker if you slack-pack? Absolutely. But I don't want to do it.The morning's hike was dull. Rocky hills, pointless up and downs. Nothing to see.We stopped at the shelter for a quick snack, which turned into a prolonged rest. We decided we were too tired to move on, so we cut the day short. It ended up being a great decision because it started pouring rain. We set up in the shelter and read our Kindles. Luckily we arrived early because there were tons of hikers and the shelter filled up very fast.We ate our regular pasta sides meal. I have bought a small quantity of white pepper to spice up our meals (the store was out of regular black pepper). Shrugs had never seen white pepper, so he proceeded to completly drown the pasta with it. We ate what we could, but it was unedible. We buried the rest far away from the shelter and drank hot chocolate instead. No complaints!- Axon
Date: 2015-06-21
From: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter

To: Riga Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: few clouds

It rained hard all night. We woke up very early and forlornly watched the rain fall for a few minutes. We were restless and did not want to stay a minute longer in the crowded shelter so we set out before 6:30 AM.Walking in the rain is no fun. The climbs seemed steeper, the rocks were definitely more slippery and the small streams all swelled up and became strong currents. We hiked and hiked along the flooded Trail without any rest for over 4 hours, an amazing feat of endurance for us as we usually hike for 2 hour intervals between breaks.The Trail led to a road and was supposed to cross fields and countryside roads, however the intended route was detoured since the bridge was closed. The 3 mile detour only added a 0.5 mile and was on paved roads... Still, walking as the rain beats on your face, as cars zoom by, splattering your legs is highly unpleasant. The country houses were very pretty though (especially because they seemed so cozy and dry).We arrived at a small park near a hydroelectric plant where the detour finally caught up with the Trail. Suddenly, the clouds parted and the sun beamed. We stood in the grassy area, soaking in the sun, like a couple of dumb lizards. The sun came and went for the rest of the day, making it difficult to properly dry anything. My feet were soaking wet and my toes were painfully wrinkled.We met a couple of day hikers. They very generously offered to take us back to their home for laundry, a shower, a hot meal and a dry place to stay for the night. While the offer was extremely tempting, we declined. We have not had a hot shower since Wind Gap, PA (though we did have a very, very cold one at the Greymoor Spiritual Life Center) and our clothes will soon be considered a biohazard. We just simply could not cut the day short - we needed to hike. There was also the fact that I would have felt uneasy in someone else's home, very unconfortable, even if it was them who had offered to take us in. I only want to go back to my own home, not someone else's.The afternoon's hike was alright as it had stopped raining. The sun was fiercely shining and the humidity clung to the air. A thick mist was still present and dampening the forest. It was very strange to see light piercing through this damp haze that spread through the trees. Visually, very stunning, but I felt suffocated by the heat.We reached the shelter and set up our tent right before a thunderstorm unleashed a torrent of rain.- AxonP.S. I cannot upload any pictures for now (the camera does not have enough battery power). I will put them up soon.
Date: 2015-06-23
From: Glen Brook Shelter

To: Tom Leonard Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: clear sky

Today, we witnessed the "R trio": roots, rain and rocks.The terrain started out difficult, a continuation from yesterday's. We hiked through pine forests whose trees covered the Trail in knotty roots that were tangled together to form a large web. Between the roots, the Trail followed large, stratified rocks. We walked along these rocks until they abruptly stopped, leaving only a vertical drop, as if the rest of the rock had been torn off. While these drops were only a few feet high, they still required some effort to navigate down.We climbed down consistently until we reached an open field. We followed a long stretch of pastures and saw a herd of grazing sheep. They even had their lambs with them. SO CUTE. Shrugs mentioned that if this thru-hike had been a way for us of getting out of the city and immersing ourselves in Nature, a simple half-hour trip to a local farm would probably have sufficed for me. I can't say that he is wrong.Large, dark clouds followed us, emitting a deep, menacing rumble. We had just enough time to reach a parking lot where we shared a narrow space under a billboard awning with another thru-hiker, Frizzles. It rained impressively for 20 minutes or so. We were glad that we avoided the worse, but the grassy fields were flodded and the tall grasses were dripping. My only-recently-somewhat-dried boots were again soaked. Decidedly, I am to bear wet feet.We saw Shays' Rebellion Monument today. I love it when the AT passes through historical areas. After the rain, the mosquitoes came out. I was thankful that the Trail skirted farmland and otherwise flat lands because I RAN. I swatted countless mosquitoes and smeared their remains on my skin, hoping that the smell of their fallen brothers-in-annoyance would dissuade the other bugs. No such luck: the mosquitoes are insensitive to the scent of Death. Light rain continued on and the mosquitoes were unperturbed. They do not care.The sun came out later in the afternoon and the temperature rose. It was hot and muggy, the perfect conditions for a thunderstorm. Another reason to run. With all that running, we arrived at the shelter in good time. The shelter was packed with many, many section hikers. As summer progresses, we have been seeing less and less thru-hikers as they have been diluted by the masses. It happens frequently that we are the only thru-hikers, although there is an upside to this: people we meet think that we are cool. They usually recognize our thru-hiker status without us having to mention it. I think thru-hikers hike with purpose, not leisurely. We seem often tired and so accustomed to the surrounding scenery, the noises of the forest and the fresh smell of the air that we maybe appear unfazed by what most would consider beautiful. Our bodies are aching, slowly eroding away. We have swarms of flies following us for miles at a time. We are the Walking Dead. We set up our tent just in time for the anticipated storm. - Axon  Shays' Rebellion
Date: 2015-06-24
From: Tom Leonard Shelter

To: Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: few clouds

Short day today, which is perfect because we wanted to dry our gear, especially our footwear. The terrain continued to be rocky and rooty, with short, steep climbs up and down but it was manageable. There were a few parts where the trees were sparse and there was no clear trail so we had to guess the direction and hope to find a blaze. In a few other parts, the trail had become one large puddle because of the rain. People usually walk around these puddles, with the effect of widening them. It got to the point where we had to "ford" a few mud puddles.We did the whole hike in two stretches and arrived before 1pm. A youth group of a dozen people was already there, letting their stuff dry and doing some "leadership training". I didn't quite understand what it actually was but it involved telling stories and throwing a frisbee.The light breeze was enough to dry our clothes and shoes while we enjoyed a cup of tea and did pretty much nothing else. We tried using the solar panel to recharge our phones (we did get a few percent of a charge out of it) but it seems to have more and more trouble. Or maybe it's the phone batteries that are getting old.- Shrugs
Date: 2015-06-25
From: Shaker Campsite

To: October Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: few clouds

The disadvantage of writing my journal online is that it requires the use of my phone. Without it, I cannot write. I must be too modern for paper and pen because I can't seem to write (it also doesn't help that my handwriting is so horrendous that I can sometimes not even decipher my own notes). My cell phone battery has been chronically low and the lack lof sun made the solar panel charger useless. I am now writing this day's entry a few days late and I cannot remember what happened. I remember that it was a nice day as the sun was out, but it was cool; perfect hiking weather. We maintained a good pace. The terrain was nice. Why is it that the good memories fade and blur and I only retain a distilled essence of good feeling while the bad days are clear and minutely detailed in my mind?We crossed a road a couple of miles into the day and saw that we had to go through a pasture where cows were grazing. I love waving and bothering the cows: they always interrupt their meal to stare at us with a tired and annoyed look, as if they were saying "I'm getting real tired of your shit, man". We arrived at the end of the field and came upon an unexpected obstacle: rusted barbed wire. What is this, a self-serve tetanus station for hikers?!Later, we hiked around Upper Goose Pond. Tall, dark conifer trees shaded our path. We had heard about the Upper Goose Pond shelter which is a nice enclosed cabin, but sadly we did not stay there as we wanted to hike more than 9 miles that day.Since entering MA, I feel that the scenery and forests we see correspond more to what I imagined as being "Nature". It's the mixture of different tree varieties, the numerous small streams, the rocks and the roots. Much different than say the rhododendron tunnels we saw in North Carolina. My only complaint is that the water has been, since northern New York, discolored and odd tasting. Why?We arrived at the shelter and set up our tent as the mosquitoes were very active. It rained again during the night.- Axon
Date: 2015-06-26
From: October Mountain Shelter

To: Crystal Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

It was raining when we woke up, so we didn't get up. We waited. Which means we had a late start. However the Trail was on our side and let us walk really fast, so we arrived in Dalton in time for lunch (a pint of Ben and Jerry's each). We stayed for a couple of hours and went on to the campsite, which Axon thought was called "Crystal Meth" rather than "Crystal Mountain".It was a very good hiking day. We were in a good mood; I felt calm, comfortable, focused. I felt like we will be capable of reaching our goal eventually, rather than seeing everything as an obstacle to getting to Maine. Connecticut seemed as it was in the way, as did every climb or rocky stretch in the first half of Massachusetts. I know I shouldn't talk so soon, but I feels like we are slowly but surely getting there and not just struggling to stay on our feet.Also, we made a reservation to stay in Williamstown in two days, so this will be the first time in 22 days (since Pennsylvania actually, 300+ miles ago) that we sleep indoors and have an actual shower. It will be awesome.- Shrugs