morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-08-11
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: clear sky

We hit 2 lookout towers today with great views all around. We also hit a wave of 16 NOBOs. The shelters we hit were pretty equally spaced and we had breaks every 4 to 5 miles, which was nice. So one thing about being in the ¢long green tunnel¢ is that you no longer have distracting views to keep you from your thoughts. When hiking southbound, you first have distractions of analysis of your gear, your routine, and the amazing views that Maine and the White Mountains have to offer. For some, thinking slows their hiking pace and for others it has no effect. For me it does not slow me down as far as I can tell. Southward HO!
Date: 2007-08-12
From: Goddard Shelter

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: clear sky

Eric¢s trailname is now ¢Music Man¢. He is carrying a backpacker guitar and was named at the PICO Shelter by yours truly. Today was the first day that he admitted that the name was fitting. Today was our longest day mileage-wise. Tomorrow we hit 2 milestones; both the VT/MA border leading us into our 4th state AND 600 miles! We end the day listening to Music Man play music around the fire ring (no fire though ¢ too dry.)
Date: 2007-08-13
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Wilbur Clearing Lean to
Miles today: 9.9

The rain started sometime between 3 and 4 am and we were tenting. It decreased by morning but was still lightly raining as we headed out. The VT/MA border was less than 3 miles from camp and we stopped for photos. The plan was to stop in N. Adams and have 2nd breakfast at the Friendly¢s Restaurant. Only problem was that we had yet to set up a ¢plan of action¢ for the procedure to go from trailhead to said dining establishment. I waited at Highway 2 and the guys (just a few minutes behind me) got an unexpected ride and had ¢assumed¢ that I had gone directly to Friendly¢s. Needless to say, after 45 minutes of waiting I left a note telling where I was and headed off. Halfway there I ran into Music Man (formerly known as Hot Toes and Eric) and he told me the story and that they had already eaten. So I was a little grumpy for a while at them and the situation. We now have a protocol for adventures off the trail.After leaving town and starting our ascent of Mt. Greylock, the sky went from sunny to thunderstorms very quickly and we got drenched, as the tree cover was minimal. So we stopped early for the day to relax and dry out.
Date: 2007-08-14
From: Wilbyr Clearing Lean to

To: Dalton Massachusetts
Miles today: 20.3

Early cold start up Mt. Greylock. We passed the 600 mile mark on the way up and celebrated with a pound of Swedish fish candy on the summit. We were the only ones there at the time and it was a bit eerie being surrounded by tourist infrastructure for hundreds of people¢¦yet all of it deserted. They are doing construction and the place is closed until 2009.Midday we stopped in Cheshire, MA and picked up my food box at the post office (it was right on the trail) and sat with Music Man and Hedgehog eating ice cream and joking around in the sunshine. We pushed on to Dalton, MA, another 9 miles up the trail because they had more services available. An hour after arriving at TOM¢s place we were whisked away by Tom to Old Country Buffet. Nice way to end the day. I went to sleep as soon as we got back to the house.
Date: 2007-08-16
From: Kay Wood Lean to

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: scattered clouds

A ¢late¢ 7 am start to our day. Nice cool weather. We tried to stop at the ¢Cookie Lady¢s¢ place but they were closed for the day. The routine is for SOBOs to get U-pick blueberries and then carry them another 10 miles or so to the Upper Goose Pond Cabin where they will add them to the morning pancakes.At 2:30 pm we (Hedgehog, Music Man, and myself) stopped to toast Hedgehog¢s grandfather who had passed away last Sunday. We had Yagermeister to toast. A NOBO passed by and asked if we were getting ¢hammered¢ on the trail. We explained what we were doing.We arrived at the cabin about 4 pm and went for a great swim in the pond.TNadine rolled in around 8 pm.
Date: 2007-08-17
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Mt Wilcox South Lean to
Miles today: 15.8

The morning started with a glorious "bath" in the Upper Goose Pond with TNadine, followed by pancakes cooked by the caretakers at the cabin (with coffee!). The clouds were increasing all day long and we had heard from some section hikers that a cold front was moving in tonight and was to last a few days. When we arrived at the South Mt Wilcox lean to the plan was to make dinner then press on the next 5 miles or so to the next shelter. However, the shelter was brand new and we were feeling pretty comfortable with a 15.8 mile day. The group consensus ended up being to stay the night and just make a bigger day for tomorrow. Sometime during the night the front rolled in and brought with it a dramatic thunder and lightening storm with heavy rain. The temperature dropped considerably and the rain eventually subsided. It was very hard to get out of my sleeping bag in the morning.
Date: 2007-08-18
From: Mt Wilcox South Lean to

To: Sages Ravine Brook Campsite
Miles today: 26.3
Weather: broken clouds

Our first marathon day! But this was somewhat by accident. We arrived at the Laurel Ridge Campsite at dusk-thirty to find all the tent platforms full with no hope of pitching our tents on the ground (it is not allowed). So at least for Music Man and I got to experience our first night hiking. It turned out to not be as scary or hard as I had imagined it to be. You just have to be more vigilant about trail signs and distance to the next landmark/waypoint.The day started with a dramatic drop in temperature as the cold front had move through overnight. In addition to the cooler temps (which is SOOO nice for hiking) there was a blustery wind all day long. Luckily it had started overnight so a lot of the branches that were going to fall off the trees had done so prior to us hitting the trail. Trail conversation was tricky as well, your words were carried away by the wind before it would reach the person only a few feet away.Mid-day we had a great lunch break at the Corncrib, a produce stand/plant nursery only 0.1 miles off of the trail on the US7 highway. Ice Cream and peaches were bought and consumed in relatively large quantities. We were cold eating the ice cream with the wind but nothing that could not be fixed by putting all of our clothing on (which is not terribly much at this point).Great day overall.
Date: 2007-08-19
From: Sages Ravine Brook Campsite

To: Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

So here is my first great animal story (the dead moose in the Mahoosuc Notch was great but had been over hyped at least for us southbounders). We try to do all our camp chores before going to bed so we can get going in the morning. This includes collecting and treating the water for the following morning's breakfast and hiking (at least for the first section of the day's hike). I use a Platypus water tank which is like a heavy duty ziplock bag with handles that holds 4 Liters of water and can stand upright. Most of the time it stands up on the ground and does not tip over (if it does the ziplock closure at the top does not hold and all the water spills out - it has happened once and got a lot of stuff wet). Music Man was on water duty and had hung the water tank on a branch in a tree because there was no super flat space to stand it up.So I was the first up in the morning (not too surprising) and I was going to get water to make coffee. The walls of the water tank are clear and as I walked up to it I could see that the top had opened up and it looked like a leaf had fallen in, ok no big deal. I got closer and found that it was not a leaf but a dead mouse floating in the tank (not upside down, though). I announced loudly to Music Man that there was a mouse in my water tank. I don't think he totally believed me until he finally got out of his tent to check it out. And after that, all three of us were up for the day, despite the very chilly weather. It did not help that the campsite was somehow placed in a sizeable ravine and thus prone to settling cold air at night. But it was town day and we were motivated.Needless to say, the water tank was placed on permanent decommission status, emptied by Hedgehog and he also volunteered to pack it out to town (I had wanted to bury it).That morning we also had the Mass/Conn border crossing to celebrate with some mini bottles of Hot Damn - cinnamon schnapps. However, there are funny jurisdiction rules between Mass and Conn trail maintainers and the AMC so the sign is early, and we had passed it while night hiking pulling into the campsite (which it also confused us greatly as we were trying to navigate in the dark).So instead, we had a celebration on top the huge stone monument on top of Bear Mountain. The cold front cleared up the air and the views were endless.We rolled into town a few hours prior to our pickup by Music Man's cousin, and we hung out in the sun in the courtyard behind the pharmacy eating food, enjoying a delicious cup of coffee, playing guitar and chatting with a very nice AMC ridgerunner who was also relaxing in the courtyard.
Date: 2007-08-22
From: Salisbury, CT

To: Limestone Springs Lean-to
Miles today: 3.4

3pm or so start out of town after 2 glorious zero days at MusicMan's Aunt's house a few towns from the trail. We stopped at the Salisbury post office as we headed for the trail (we had arrived sunday and could not get our packages before we headed to Bristol - so we picked them up as we left town) to get our packages. The postman made a comment when MusicMan asked if there were any packages for me, he laughed and said "you are so loaded." I had several packages, including one from trail angels Anne and Tom. What a great surprise! It felt good to be hiking again, as MusicMan said "it feels so normal to be walking."We passed the Giant's thumb rock thingie, took several photos and arrived at the turnoff to the shelter a short hike later. The catch was that it was 0.5 miles off trail. Now there is a sort-of an unofficial cutoff for us as thruhikers that we won't go more than 0.5m off trail for anything (except for a specific trail town). So this shelter was right on the edge of our cutoff. We arrived to an empty shelter but "Dozer" a NOBO thruhiker arrived a little later and set up his hammock. After we had gone to bed and it was dark, Sugar rolled up to the shelter! He chatted with us a while then set up his tent down the hill. And the next morning he was actually packed but without eating breakfast yet before MusicMan was out of his sleeping bag. Now that was an amazing sight to see.
Date: 2007-08-25
From: Ten Mile River Lean-to

To: Telephone Pioneers shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

It was sooo hot and humid today. We found out from a section hiker "Falcon" that it had been 94 degrees. Three miles before the shelter we had a road crossing that led us 0.5 miles off trail to Tony's deli. This was to mark the first deli stop in what is dubbed the "deli run" in New York state. Almost everyday there is a road crossing that leads you to a deli a mile or less off trail. We had ditched our packs in the bushes and headed off. Sugar followed shortly behind but limping as his shin is causing him great pain. I think that we have convinced him to take a zero or two at the next shelter to try and heal. We are all theorizing that it is shin splints, but who knows.After dinner, a local section hiker by the name of Sasquatch showed up to check on the shelter, bring water, chocolate pudding, even offer his Blackberry for anyone that wanted to send an email. He even offered to pack out any of our trash! He lived nearby and watched this and the next shelter. Really nice too because this section of trail is a bit low on the availability of good water sources.We all tented at the shelter because the bugs seemed a bit on the annoying side. About an hour after going to bed, we were awaken by a loud 'crack' from a large tree breaking and then an even larger 'crash' as said tree crashed to the forrest floor 20 paces or so behind my tent. Even MusicMan woke up with his earplugs in. Hedgehog said he could feel when the tree hit the ground, and Falcon got up from the shelter and walked down to where we were tenting to check on everyone. Needless to say I could not fall asleep again for a while.The temperature dropped finally around 2am, enough to need my silk liner for warmth.
Date: 2007-08-26
From: Telephone Pioneers shelter

To: Shenadoh Tenting area
Miles today: 17.9

Both Music Man and I have been asked by several people for what we would like in care packages and we finally sat down to make a list, and this is what we came up with.1. a self addressed stamped envelope (for a return letter)2. baked goods3. Swedish Fish4. dried/dehydrated fruits-veggies-herbs5. recent reading material (newspaper, magazines)6. a letter or photos or both7. anything else you can think of is great, we hikers are pleased easily!
Date: 2007-08-27
From: Shenadoh Tenting area

To: Fort Montgomery, NY 
Miles today: 23.9

Talk about squeezing into town under the wire. First we ran out of water 6 or so miles from town and assumed that the campsite on the 2007 NY ATC map with the water symbol was a safe bet to refill (NY does a great job of putting signs at road crossings but has very few shelter mileage signs). But we were wrong. Hedgehog was hiking ahead of us and assumed the same thing and also ran out of water. It was also maybe in the upper 80's I would have to guess, but luckily the humidity was slightly less than in the ridiculous percentile range.So we were also able to somehow manage without our timepiece (i.e. Hedgehog) to walk into the post office lobby at 5:02pm (it closes at 5pm) to have a super nice postal worker go into the back just as he was locking the door to get our general delivery packages (after walking 1 mile off trail to get there). He was a funny guy and yelled out twice "you don't have anything!" and of course he comes around the corner with 4 packages. Again, very funny guy. (Thanks Katherine and Lora for the packages!)Today was the first day I can remember that we actually set an alarm to wake up and get going in the morning. You could say that we were motivated to get to town and showers after spending the last week sweating all day long. Usually we get up whenever we are done sleeping (which was 5:30a but is now closer to 6a with the days getting shorter). The campsite was nice with 2 picnic tables, large mowed lawn, and water pump. Bonus was that we made it into camp the night before with plenty of time to relax, play and listen to guitar and just hangout with the others in a non-hiking mode.
Date: 2007-08-28
From: Fort Montgomery, NY 

To: William Brien Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: broken clouds

We hung out at the hotel until minutes before the checkout time of noon. It was hot outside and the A/C was sooo nice. We walked back to the Bear Mountain Bridge that crosses the Hudson River, and where we left the AT to get to town. On the other side of the road is the service entrance to the Trailside Museum and Wildlife Center. Basically a zoo that the AT runs through! It is a place where they keep animals that have been injured and would not otherwise survive in the wild. We saw bears, black and turkey vultures, a beaver, owls, and lots of plants and such with interpretive signs. Pretty interesting, and did I mention you follow the white blazes right through the park!We spent quite a bit of time there, and when we headed out you go past the tourist park and lake of Bear Mountain, NY. The INN was under construction this year so we could not have yet another ice cream serving (darn!). The trail then quickly starts to climb Bear Mountain at 1,305 feet elevation after being at the lowest point on the AT just in front of the bear cage in the zoo at 124 feet, only 0.7 trail miles apart.I personally thought it was kind of erie that we were around so many hoards of people down at the base of the mountain and there were only 2 other people that we saw on the trail. Granted you can DRIVE to the top of said peak, but there were no people (maybe because in the Seattle area you might see several people out for a jog on that trail even if the weather was hot). Who knows.We ran into Faithful at the shelter, whom we had last seen June 25th on our first day into the 100-mile wilderness in Maine.
Date: 2007-08-29
From: William Brien Memorial Shelter

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

Another very hot and muggy day. This is also a section of trail that has virtually no water sources along the trail (including shelters which is new for us). So, some very kind trail angels from Tuxedo, NY left out several jugs of water at both the East and West Mombasha Roads. It was so great! We had crossed several dry creek beds and even dry swamps. You know the area is dry when even the swampy areas are dry. Not sure though if it is the time of year or the trend of weather over the last few years.We also passed the 800 mile mark, in which of course we celebrated by making our own mile marker sign out of Swedish Fish to commemorate the occasion.For dinner was ramen noodles with tuna (a first for me), which was excellent due to all the salt. And delicious spring water from a source near the shelter. Faithful rolled into camp a few hours after we did for the night.
Date: 2007-08-30
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: NY17A
Miles today: 2.1

We got to sleep in for the first time on the trail because we had until noon to hike only 2 miles. MusicMan's parents were picking us up to take us off trail for the night. We left camp around 9:45a, which is the latest start for us to date.We got to the rendevous point early and filled our time by eating a "bucket" of local peaches (2 each) and some ice cream from the Bellvale Farms creamery next door. Then off to to errands, get MusicMan some shoes as he has been hiking in his crocs the last 3 days, eat, and to the hotel for showers and laundry. Back on the trail tomorrow.
Date: 2007-08-31
From: NY17A

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Noon start from town and a leisurely 10 miles to the shelter. Ran into Rambo, Dreamer (2 SOBOs) and their two dogs a few times along the trail that followed the ridgeline for miles. The water source was a half mile from the shelter at a park headquarters building. NY and NJ have scare water sources so we sometimes have to travel that far to get it. Lucky for me it was MusicMan's turn to collect water. Nice! The bugs were kind of on the annoying side so we all tented. MusicMan went to bed at a crazy early hour and was rewarded by not being able to sleep through the night. No one else at the shelter other than MusicMan, Hedgehog and myself. -- You have to see the world before you can change it.
Date: 2007-09-01
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: The Secret Shelter
Miles today: 19.1

Easy trail again today as the elevation stays between 1,000 and 1,500ft along a ridge. A "cold front" of sorts rolled in around 4am and cooled the air and brought down the humidity finally. We stopped in Unionville, NY towards the end of our day for a resupply and to possibly meet the mayor. But alas, it is a holiday weekend and no-one was around. We bought our food, took a short break and then hiked another 2 miles south of town to stay at the secret shelter on the Murray property. Jim Murray thruhiked the AT several years ago and now allows thruhikers to stay in a small cabin/shelter on his property. It had running water, a shower with hot water!, and electricity. It even had 2 donkeys named Jake and Jake, respectively that kept us entertained with their classic donkey noises. They were also protecting the yummy looking apple trees. Great place to stay. And we met Jim the next morning when he drove up to the property. -- You have to see the world before you can change it.
Date: 2007-09-04
From: Mohican Outdoor Center 

To: Hiker Hostel, Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: clear sky

A NOBO section hiker is here at the church hostel and volunteered to take our laundry with him and wash it (he had to get a taxi to the next town to do so, no laundry in this cute but only 700 person town). To walk into PA we walked along a pedestrian walkway inches away from I-80. Kind of scary! But we did get to walk over the Delaware River. Only resupply in town was at the gas stations, and they charged 1 dollar for a pack of ramen! -- You have to see the world before you can change it.
Date: 2007-09-06
From: Leroy A Smith Shelter

To: Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 15.8

The last several miles of the day traverse over the Palmerton Superfund site. A hot day to be doing this section as the site looks like what I imagine the moon to be like, including no trees. The decent off of the ridge into town was climbing over and around huge boulders with an amazing view of the river and road below.Stayed in Palmerton for the night in the basement of the the town hall building. Was even given little care packages that a local girl scout troupe made up for hikers that included toothbrush, toothpaste, calling card, postcard, those sorts of things. Took a shower in their old gym lockers that were in the building and it was like pins and needles it has so much pressure. Resupply, dinner at a local cafe, and we enjoyed the sounds of late evening firing range practice in the adjacent room near the basement. We all had to laugh at the situation. Ahh, the wonder that is the AT.
Date: 2007-09-08
From: Allentown Hiking Club Shelter

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Sept 8, 2007Start: Allentown Hiking Club ShelterFinish: Windsor Furnace ShelterMileage: 16.5There was thunder and reports of thunder-showers so we pressed on to the shelter (but then tented because the bugs were annoying.) Lightening rolled through but not rain. It was still muggy in the morning
Date: 2007-09-09
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter

To: Port Clinton, PA Ye Old Backpacker Shelter
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: light rain

Easy few miles into town. Not much in Port Clinton though for a resupply, except the peanut shop, a fancy candy store. Had lunch and did our laundry at the Port Clinton Hotel. For the night we slept at the free hostel that opened just this year at Ye Olde Backpackers 6 miles outside of town.While waiting for a ride to the hostel, Music Man, Hedgehog, and I consumed a pound of fudge from the peanut shop. Yummy! A late night downpour rolled through and quit by the morning.
Date: 2007-09-10
From: Port Clinton, PA Ye Old Backpacker Shelter

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: light rain

Sept 10, 2007 Start: Port ClintonFinish: Eagles Nest ShelterMileage: 8.6Before hitting the trail, the guys wanted to tour the Yuengling Brewery in nearby Pottsville, PA. So we got a ride there and I wandered the town while they toured. Pottsville is a neat small town with lots of old brick building and friendly people. Very picturesque.Before electricity, the brewery had dug into the rock below the building to store and chill their beer. Also, the day that prohibition was repealed the brewery sent and entire truck of Yuengling beer to the White House. You cannot make this stuff up!We hit the trail mid-afternoon and hiked a few sweaty miles to the shelter for the night.It started pouring around midnight and continued on into the morning. We all stayed in the shelter because of the threat of rain.br>--You have to see the world before you can change it.