morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-07-22
From: NY 17

To: Bear Mountain Inn
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: haze

Another Tough Terrain Day.   Another Hot, Hazy and Humid day.   Are we having fun yet???Yea, I guess so... gosh darn it!!Knowing that the day had a two-night stay at the Bear Mountain Inn, I took my time and took lots of breaks to cope with the heat.   Fortunately today, unlike yesterday, I had a nice breeze.After the harrowing escapade with the two rattlesnakes, I¢m afraid I let a harmless five-foot rat snake scare me more than it should; I¢m embarrassed to admit.One awesome sighting was two big deer bucks. One was a ten-pointer, the other an eight.   Frankly, I was surprised to see two bucks hanging together, didn¢t know they did that. I seem to be getting wild life in pairs lately, Curious?New York seems to be water challenged. It¢s far from readily available. Today, for the first time since beginning, I had to ration my water for several hours until I found a good flowing brook.   I bet I drank close to six liters today.   Probably close to seven yesterday.   This heat in combination with the terrain is tough stuff¢¦ if you couldn¢t tell from my writing.   I most certainly will need to dial back the miles or face a horrible, miserable death.   The zero I¢m taking tomorrow was unplanned, but I know it¢s the right thing to do.   Doing twenty plus mile days with no regard to the terrain is just asking for trouble, so tomorrow when I pick up my mail drop and go grocery shopping, I¢m going to slow my pace.This adventure is about fun not misery; it¢s about adventure not desperate moments.   All those days and miles in my past have given me the option to slow down, to linger more. There¢s time enough to get to Mt. Katahdin before the middle of October.   In fact, I think the third week in September is more likely. I should still get to enjoy the colors of the fall foliage without fretting about getting there.   Accidentally, I glanced in my book at the mileage remaining in this 2,174.3-mile journey¢¦, which I¢ve avoided beautifully until tonight.   It read 786.8.
Date: 2004-07-23
From: Bear Mountain Inn

To: Bear Mountain Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

It¢s called The Lemon Squeezer and its bitter!New York isn¢t all-bad as I¢m making it out to be, its just full of texture.This morning I got a great look at the huge Bear Mountain Bridge that spans the Hudson River¢¦ can¢t wait to cross it tomorrow.It¢s nice not doing anything¢¦ just watching TV in the room.   This zero couldn¢t have been better timed, its pouring rain outside for the last six hours.   Those rocks and steep ups and downs get a whole lot more interesting when wet!I want to hike shorter distances through this section, but the shelter distances are way, way far apart.   I¢d have to do 25+ miles tomorrow if I want a shelter.   Since the forecast tomorrow is rain and the distance is long and the terrain tough, I¢ve seriously thought of another zero.   However, I will still hike tomorrow and hope for the best!
Date: 2004-07-24
From: Bear Mountain Inn

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 26.0
Weather: few clouds

The last several days have been challenging due to the heat, humidity, terrain and trail rockiness. I¢ve noticed how its been influencing my outlook in my writing, I seem to be talking much about the hardships. Well, today that stops because the trail was simply glorious all day!   The hard rain of yesterday was the result of a cold front down from Canada.   Say goodbye to the heat and humidity.   On top of that, the trail itself grew smoother thanks to all the years of oak, maple and countless other leaf¢s over the years that have piled up to make a nice mulch.   Wonderful on the soles.   And¢¦ and the weather front moved all the way through last night giving all us hikers sunshine and cool breezes.   What a difference a day can make as the saying goes.Why, even this shelter is unusual, it¢s sort of a house with an old fashion water-pump. I have one of the six bunks for tonight and if that wasn¢t special enough, this place even has chairs!   Chairs, can you believe it?A road passes only 100 feet from here, so it looks like we¢ll be able to order and get pizza delivered as well.   Did I die and go to heaven?   Glorious!   Glorious!   Glorious!Before I say goodnight, I¢d share with you one more good fortune.   Before the Italian food showed up, a pick up and two people get out with lots of bags.   It¢s ¢Socks¢ and her husband and they¢ve driven 45 minutes from their home to bring trail magic to all of us pathetic hikers.   They¢ve brought dessert, two kinds of ice cream with various toppings, fruit blend sodas and cookies!Can you believe this day?   The kindness of great people like them makes the whole adventure all the more special!
Date: 2004-07-25
From: RPH Shelter

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 25.6
Weather: broken clouds

So much for doing shorter mileage days.   It was so nice to head out this morning with the cool weather; there was a definite feel of Fall in the breeze.The highlights today involved some really big oak trees.   The first was early morning; it had a trunk circumference of about 16 feet. Guessing it was about 250 years old¢¦ it was right on the A.T. In fact, all the big ones were right on the A.T.  The second oak was so big it has a name: Dover Oak.   Its circumference is larger than the Keffer Oak back in Virginia. The Dover Oak is estimated to be around 350 years old, it¢s massively large! And later in the day the trail took me past some oaks I¢d guess were 150 years in age.When I arrived here at the shelter I met a hiker who thru-hiked two years ago and kept a trail journal where I¢m keeping this.   I enjoyed reading all about his journey, his name is Big Red.   We sat and just talked trail for hours, it was great fun¢¦ he¢s an awesome person.   He¢s out hiking some miles with a trail buddy.The conversation with everyone was wonderful, finally, a group of people who are my age or older.   A nice change for once.   In the morning, in only a short 1.2 miles, I leave New York behind and walk across another Stateline.   Connecticut here I come.   Yahooooo!
Date: 2004-07-26
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Kent, Connecticut
Miles today: 12.7

I do love this part of the country.   The trees are big and mature, the houses are all clabbered board with shutters¢¦ and when not painted the traditional white and black, they¢re all sorts of colonial colors perfectly matched with color accents and trim.   This is the land of early Americana, affluent and very Norman Rockwellian.   The towns have village greens and teak wood park benches, which have all turned silver with age. Kent, unlike Sharon, is a bit more bohemian with all the youth running around in tie-die and piercing.   It is also home of The Kent boarding school for high school years at a nice $32,000. A year!I reached the road into town early about 11: am and started to walk in rather than hitch.   That¢s when Big Red found me. He¢d hitched in from an earlier road crossing to pick up his car and help his bud, Sunset get the town chores done and back out to the trail.   Big Red as I mentioned before is just a great, warm human being.   I could definitely see myself hanging with him if not for his hike being over.He, Sunset and I all went for cheeseburgers before we parted, Big Red would start the long drive back to Ohio after he got Sunset back to the Trailhead.   Within a short five hours in town, I managed to polish off eggs benedict with mashed potatoes and vegetables, A cheeseburger and vanilla malt and then a big salad and a bigger entr©e of chicken and shrimp picata with rice and veggies. Of course, a beer or two or three also helped to boost the calorie count!   Hey, if I don¢t eat there might not be any of me left to climb Katahdin, so I eat eat eat because I must!Not surprisingly, the prices of rooms and food in this yuppiedom are higher.   But what the heck, I¢m working as hard as I ever have¢¦ I deserve it!The weather channel is predicting heavy rain with flooding for the Northeast tomorrow¢¦ Great!   All this water is good for the skin.
Date: 2004-07-27
From: Kent, Connecticut

To: Sharon, Connecticut
Miles today: 16.0

Despite the forecast, I saw my shadow today several times.   It was sort of soft and fuzzy for a shadow, but still there was enough glare from the sun to have one.   After a climb up and over a mountain ridgeline, the A.T. descends to parallel the Housatonic River for nearly five, beautifully flat miles.   It was a great stroll; lots of groups of children were out for day hikes with school out of session for the summer.Since I resupplied in Kent, the pack weight was up a bit, I had planned on a shortish 17-mile day.   The next several days would all be twenty; twenty, twenty they¢re after.   With most of the journey done by 1: pm I started to climb what would be the first of seven mountain ascents that would deliver me to my nights destination.   Well, that was the plan.About half way up the mountain I was joined by a Springer Spaniel.   She was a sweetheart of a dog and apparently was adopting me as her hiking buddy.   After the first mile I was sure she¢d turn back and go back home, I only assumed she must live close by?   Anyway, one mile became five or six and she wasn¢t going anywhere without me.   Her collar said ¢Kona¢ and she had tags with a phone number.   After she hung with me for a couple of hours, I was pretty sure she was lost.   Of course, seeing countless postings on trees of lost dogs from here to Georgia, I was fairly predisposed to recognize one when I saw it.   I came upon a road crossing and flagged a car down; the woman understood my plight and lived nearby.   I tied my bear bag rope around Kona and we waited for the woman to go home and call the phone number on the collar.   Quickly she returned and said that Kona lived a town or two over the mountain and she didn¢t mind taking her over. I was so relieved.   I was sure there was a little girl somewhere wondering with sadness as to where her Kona had gone?   The delay in the day was enough for me to decide to hop in the lady¢s minivan and get dropped off in Sharon and out of the rain, which had been falling for the last several hours.   Another night dry and another dinner in town.   Two of my most favorite things.Here in Sharon, there¢s only one restaurant opened on Tuesday night and it doesn¢t open till 5:30 pm.   So, for the last hour I¢ve been sitting on the marble stoop of the Sharon Town Hall to get out of the rain, write today¢s journal entry and let the time pass till I sit down with a bottle of red wine and ineey meeny myiney moo over the Italian menu.   I wonder if anyone else will be wearing raingear in there?So, from beautiful Sharon, Connecticut, I¢ll wish you all a good day, good eating and a warm bed.Just another Postcard from The Appalachian Trail
Date: 2004-07-28
From: West Cornwall Road

To: Salisbury
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: haze

I awoke without the normal fretting of rain.   The stalled front (stalled, meaning ¢pain-in-the-ass¢) was promising hard rain for the morning. But with a reservation for night in a dry, quintessential Connecticut Inn, I didn¢t have a whole lot of worries.   The taxi service arrived at 7: am and by 7:15 am I was back at the road crossing where Kona and I had left the trail. Helping her had given me an inner smile¢¦ if that makes sense?The first six plus miles had several up and downs, I was careful with my footing all day. Rocks and roots become ice when wet.   I¢ve gone nearly 1500 miles without an injury, no reason to start now.All morning I hiked in the clouds with company. My ¢company¢, thanks to all the wetness were those little orange-red Salamanders I¢d met states ago.   First there was one, then two and three¢¦ before long I was counting number twenty with no stop in sight.   Before I left that mountain section, I surpassed that record number of 46 back on Roan Mountain.   Seventy-one of those little critters came out to hike the wet trail with me.As the rain subsided, once again I got to see my shadow.   The miles flew by¢¦ I some how have lost track of how fast I can now walk this rugged trail.   Whether it¢s up or down or the pleasant flat¢¦ I just go.   But all the while, ready to stop at a vista, or pause near a picturesque stream.These past couple of days I¢ve been shortening the miles to accommodate my planned four town escapade.   It¢s added a lot of variety to the adventure.   I love how the unplanned (finding Kona) has led to a new plan full of texture.This sure is fun!
Date: 2004-07-29
From: Salisbury, Connecticut

To: South Egremont, Massachusetts
Miles today: 18.5

Welcome to Massachusetts!Don¢t blink or you may just miss another Stateline.It was a morning that echoed the feeling of fall. A nice breeze had the low 60-degree temp¢s hovering near the 50¢s.   It was crisp, brisk and altogether awesome!This section of America is so rich and dense in foliage.   One of my favorite trees, the bright white birch trees are massive out here on the trail. They, with their white bark have such a purity.   The day provided some great views from Race Mountain and Mt. Everett.   The climbs as I move north are starting to get higher again.   Although we¢ve had many up¢s and downs, the collection of them has remained at a lower elevation. That now is changing.I left Connecticut on Bear Mountain (A different one from New York).   It¢s their highest point, which also had great views.As I reached MA 41, I whipped out the Hiker to town bandana and Boom, the first car pulled over.   My those words have power.Had a great dinner here at the Egremont Inn and went to bed early for a long nights snoooooozes.Getting a bit of a late start here this morning since they don¢t start breakfast till 8:30 am   Then the owner will run myself and another hiker back to the trailhead.I think I¢ll go see if some coffee has been put out early?
Date: 2004-07-30
From: South Egremont, Massachusetts

To: Mt. Wilcox North Lean-to
Miles today: 17.1

Never since leaving Springer Mountain have I witnessed such an explosion of mosquitoes. It¢s as if I crossed the Stateline into Massachusetts and someone said release the sqeeters! At one area when I stopped to adjust some straps at least 50 or more landed on me.   My face and hands were covered in 100% deet, as well as the entire underside of my hats brim is covered in it too.   It helps.Three months ago today, I said farewell to my folks down in Georgia and began the Approach Trail.The question that I¢m getting most now from strangers I meet along the A.T. is ¢when will you finish?¢   The answer to that question is anyone¢s guess.   I still am only focusing on each day, one at a time.   I¢m not counting down or leaping ahead with guesses.   I want to stay in the moment and guard my expectations.   It¢s still a long way and a lot can happen if I shift my thinking.As I get into Maine, possibly three weeks close, I may have a better sense of it.   For now, its northward to Maine and letting this grand adventure grow and grow.One surprise today just five miles short of this lean-to (that¢s what they call the shelters up here in New England), I was sitting by a busy road eating since there were no sqeeters.   A car abruptly stopped and pulled into the roadside parking area and yelled out his window ¢Trail Magic!¢   Yahoo!   His name was skipper and he thru-hiked in 2001.   But today he was sticking an ice cold Bud in my hand and some peanut butter crackers and cookies.   That first swallow of that icy cold beer on this extremely hazy, hot & humid day was pure bliss!Tomorrow I wake to my official three-month anniversary on the trail.   WOW!!
Date: 2004-07-31
From: Mt. Wilcox North Lean-to

To: October Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 22.8
Weather: light rain

For my three month anniversary, the trail gave me a present of sorts¢¦ a renewed hiker friendship.   I was sitting on a rock having a snack when I heard hiking sticks coming up behind me.   It was Rainy J, who I hadn¢t seen since Fontana Dam just before entering the Smoky¢s, two and a half months ago.   Bilbo came around the corner next, hadn¢t seen him in a month¢¦ and then good¢ol Goose showed up.   I yelled ¢Goooose¢ and he said ¢Oh My God!¢   I¢ve been 3 to 4 days behind those guys forever.   I wasn¢t trying to catch them; I just figured they always would maintain that distance.   Apparently they all took 3 days off at Bilbo¢s house and then there they were, like magic!We were all stunned, they as much as me that I was in front of them!   That¢s an unusual aspect of the Trail that does happen a lot.   Hikers disappear then reappear like magic constantly.   Wonderful trail surprises. After crossing over the Mass Turnpike, Rainy J¢s parents had driven up to give out sandwiches and sodas and, well, everything.   Awesome Trail magic.Tonight we¢re all here in the shelter.Happy Anniversary to me!!But tomorrow I head into Dalton to pick up my next mail drop, Monday morning.   Most likely I will take a zero to get these seven-day smelly clothes clean, so they move on ahead.   I may or may not see them again, come what may it was good to see them!
Date: 2004-08-01
From: October Mountain Lean-to

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: light rain

I¢ve heard Maine was dense, dark foliage where if you plan it wrong during certain seasons, you¢ll be eaten¢ alive by all the mosquitoes.   Well, if Maine is worse than Massachusetts, I¢ll be forgoing food and carrying a gallon of 100% Deet!   I can¢t wait to get to higher elevations where the air is colder, or maybe we can have an early cold snap to kill them all off!   It¢s offering a whole new challenge!!Anyway, made it through the bog, swamp, flooded area today on the way to Dalton.   Being Sunday, the only thing I can get done is eating and resting, so tomorrow will be a zero.
Date: 2004-08-03
From: Dalton, MA

To: Mt. Greylock Summit
Miles today: 17.0

It's a dramatic night to a surprising day. With the prospect of climbing up Massachusetts highest mountain - Mt. Greylock, and doing it on a day the Weather Channel forecasts thunderstorms rolling in around 5 pm, I embraced my "move with purpose" attitude from the start. But when I arrived at the summit with 17 miles done, most of them up hill by 1:30 pm, I was still surprised at such an early arrival. I honestly don't know how the miles are clicking off so quickly. A pair of other hikers I met and moved on past on the ascent - "Beagle" and "Moo juice" later would tell me that I move very smoothly, without effort. My own observations think it's attributed to my nimbleness of foot. I've always been very coordinated, it seems that has benefited my feet. Regardless, I was here early, which offered a lot of quality relaxing time. I even took a nap! The drama of tonight is coming from that thunderstorm that's moving thru. Here on Mt. Greylock, we're on top of the world, so the lightening and wind is unobstructed. We're getting the full force of nature's power. I Love it! Bascom Lodge sits here on the summit and provides rooms and bunk space for about sixty people. But tonight for the Lodge dinner, there were only six of us and one of the guests who comes here often, is sharing his red wine. How nice is that?! Just perfect with the Italian planned menu. The rain and lightening are putting on a great show! Hopefully the force of the front means it may blow on past, giving me cool, favorable hiking weather tomorrow? One can only hope!Sitting in front of Bascom Lodge is the real point of interest up here. A war memorial by the people of Massachusetts. With its internal spiral staircase, you can climb up this lighthouse-like monument to 360 degree views. I was particularly struck by the vast distance to the southern horizon. It was only a few days ago that I was there. It truly was looking back in time. Something not many of us can do. It also allowed me to look to my future and know that there was nothing before me that I could not conquer if I so wanted to. Step by step anything is possible.In the successful Bill Bryson book A Walk In The Woods, he wrote that upon seeing a particular four foot tall by six inch wide map of the Appalachian Trail, he and his sidekick Katz realized that after one month on the trail and only traveling a mere two inches of its four foot height, they'd never be able to finish. That very same map that burst their optimistic bubble was hanging in my room at the Lodge. It too left me speechless, but for a different reason. Instead of two inches, it seems I have traveled more than three feet! Take that Bryson - you candy ass! (yuk yuk)
Date: 2004-08-04
From: Mt. Greylock Summit

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: broken clouds

With breakfast served at Bascom Lodge at 8 am, I got on the trail later than normal. But I felt really strong all day and was able to put the miles quickly behind me. Along the way, I came upon a hiker whose name I'd been seeing in the registers for 3 months. Her name is "I need a hug" so we met today. A real nice woman.At 1 pm the trail led me over the Massachusetts-Vermont Stateline. That's number eleven! So I'm now in Vermont, the land of maple syrup. Mistakenly, I somehow thought the trail would be pleasant... WRONG! The AT joins another trail called The Long Trail for 97 of its 263 miles. I believe The Long Trail is the first long distance trail ever made in America, unfortunately, the condition of it is abysmal! Simply dreadful! Not quite a trail as much as a mud bog. The rocks and roots I've whined about in the past now were a blessing. If it weren't for them, there'd be no place to put your feet other than in ankle deep muck. So Vermont isn't making a very good first impression!One curious thing I saw today was a rather large hoof print in the mud...A Moose. How cool is that? I would love to see a moose in the wild while being on the trail. Moose are so funny looking with there long skinny legs and cute face.In the morning I make a detour at the next road crossing into the town of Bennington to pick up my third pair of hiking shoes. The first pair lasted 600 miles. This second pair has lasted 1000 miles. Hopefully my third will be enough to get me all the way to the top of Mt. Katahdin. I'll put them on and ship the old ones back to the folks and hitch out of town so I can still make a bunch of miles. That will allow me to either make Manchester on Friday or early Saturday morning where I can get my other new item... a new tent. My current tent has a big condensation problem -- to use it means having a wet tent by morning, and wet means heavy! It doesn't offer good ventilation that results in my breathing being turned into soaked interior tent walls. Not good.Met some other nice new Thru-hikers today other than "I need a hug" and we're all here together in the shelter waiting for another big line of thunder showers to move in tonight. Here are April Showers, Alleghany, Don't Mind & Don't Matter and Speak Up.Twenty mile days does have a way keeping the faces new.Getting sleepy, so I'll say good night to you all! Welcome to Vermont everyone!