morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-06
From: NY 52 (Mountain Top Deli)

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up early behind the deli, but we were in no rush to leave. Fresh bagels were delivered at 6 am and we knew we were in for a treat. We both had Grand Slam breakfast sandwiches in addition to bagels with cream cheese. Full and finally ready to go we hit the trail around 8am. The skies had cleared up and the forecast was for nice weather. The first shelter we reached was good for a snack break and to check the register and see where everyone was. Squeak and WD-40 had signed two days before us. We hiked on and around noon stopped under a powerline to eat lunch in the sun and dry some gear. In the afternoon we ran into a baby rattlesnake that was about 5 inches long. To compensate for its size it was the most aggresive snake we've seen on the trail. Lunging, snapping, and shaking its little non-existent rattle. After that we hiked through some fields and came to the Appalachian Trail train station. It is part of the NYC commuter rail system and comes out three times every morning and goes back in three times in the afternoon. We were fascinated to discover this but decided we did not have time to visit the big apple. We did stop at the next road where a hiker friendly garden center let Birdman shower and let me cook dinner in the kitchen. We had another 5 miles to go and a southbound woman gave us great news...she had run into Squeak and 40 only hours before! With good spirits we pushed out the last 5 miles and all though we did not catch up we read that they were staying in a town nearby. Alone at the shelter for the 5th night in a row.NY birds: 10 NY list: 62New York birds: Red-eyed Vireo, American Crow, Ovenbird, Black & White Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood Pewee, Prarie Warbler, Common Raven, Indigo Bunting, Blue jay, Gray Catbird, Scarlet Tananger, Eastern Towhee, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal, Chipping Sparrow, Black-throated Green Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, Canada Goose, Worm-eating Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Waterthrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Veery, Cedar Waxwing, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Kingbird, Common Grackle, Baltimore Oriole, Brown-headed Cowbird, Barn Swallow, Yellow-throated Warbler, Winter Wren, American Redstart, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Field Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Hooded Warbler, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black Vulture, Carolina Wren, Herring Gull, Wild Turkey, Barred Owl, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, Turkey Vulture, Downey Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Lousianna Waterthrush, European Starling, Common Yellowthroat, Dark-eyed Junco, Hermit Thrush, Cooper's Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yelow-bellied Sapsucker, Least Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Bobolink, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, American Robin (62 species)
Date: 2009-06-07
From: Wiley Shelter

To: CT 341 (Kent School)
Miles today: 12.7

Broke camp early as we were excited to get to Kent. The weather was beautiful again which helped us to move along. After the first mile we entered into Connecticut, our tenth state. We walked down into a gorgeous river valley and had a quick break at the shelter there. We then crossed a bridge and walked along the Housatonic. It was the prettiest forest scenery we've seen yet. We came down to a road around 10 am and went to look at Bull's Bridge, which is one of the few covered bridges still in use in the country. We took some pictures and then headed back into the woods to finish our last 8 miles of the day. We had to go over two more mountains before we could go into Kent. It was hot and there was a lot of vertical. We stopped on top of the first mountain and had lunch. It was the fastest lunch we've had yet because the flies were so annoying that we practically didn't eat. The last few miles went fast and we met three thrus that we've been behind since the start. They were headed south on a slack pack. There names were Canada and the Chicago Sisters. We will probably see them at some point tomorrow. We also left a note for Squeak and WD-40 who we think we passed during the morning! We got into Kent around 2:15 pm which was right at the end of the graduation ceremonies for the boarding school that Birdman went to. We are lucky enough to stay with the Headmaster Dick Schell for the night and so we went to the house there. He had left us a note saying that the fridge was "stocked" for us. Delighted we showered, started laundry, put on bounce box clothes, and eat well. We then walked into town (that is to say got some graduate to drive us) and picked up some necessities at the outfitters in town. On our way back we walked through the school and let pop experience some nostalgia. Once back at the house we spent the afternoon watching golf and then the Phils on ESPN. Ordered Chinese delivery and then pop went to bed early. I stayed up until Dick Schell arrived home around midnight from what I'm sure was a long but successful graduation day. We had a great talk before I went to bed as well.CT birds: 46 CT list: 46
Date: 2009-06-08
From: CT 341 (Kent School)

To: Pine Swamp Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Good nights sleep in bed and a fully stocked kitchen for breakfast. Pop had I tag teamed a eggs, bacon, toasted bagels, and cream cheese breakfast that was ready right when our host got downstairs. Birdman had a good time catching up with Dick Schell over breakfast. We then had to do a few things before getting ready to leave. I went to the grocery store to pick up some food while dad collected our stuff from the laundry machines and dishwashers. We both spent a good amount of time on the computer (and watching the 45 inch tv) so we didn't leave until 1pm after we'd had a little lunch at the house. On our way out we met a new thru named Sharptooth and hiked with him for the majority of the day. We all stopped at a nice spot on the Housatonic and went swimming as it was hot. It was here that we met Big Boots, another thru who had been hiking with Sharptooth. The hiking after the river was pretty tough with lots of ups and downs. We staggered into the shelter around 8:40pm and found Squeak and WD-40. We've caught them at last. Had a good time catching up and went to bed. Sharptooth, Canada, and the Chicago Sisters were also here for the night.CT birds: 11 CT list: 57 Trip list: 137
Date: 2009-06-09
From: Pine Swamp Shelter

To: Brassie Brook Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: moderate rain

The sound of pouring rain kept us in our sleeping bags longer than usual. We ate some bars as breakfast and packed up in the rain around 8:15. We left at 8:30 and hiked in hard rain for about an hour and a half before it stopped. Planned to go to a restaurant after about 6 miles. When we reached the first road crossing there was a sign for an AT detour because a bridge was closed for construction. If we took the detour we wouldn't be able to get breakfast so we just put our heads down and walked right across the bridge (the workers didn't seem to care). Ironically when we got to the restaurant we found it to be closed. We ended up having to eat peanut butter sandwiches on the porch instead. We later crossed the Housatonic again for the last time. We had a great view of a big waterfall. In the afternoon we stopped to make a few gear calls because this morning my pack randomly ripped a huge hole as I was packing it. They will be sending me another in Williamstown, my fourth pack of the trail! The Dan's (Squeak and WD-40) caught up with us at 5pm and when we got close to the town of Salisbury we ordered delivery pizzas and spaghetti to the road crossing. It was great food that unfortunately didn't fill me up but it made it easy to pump out the last 4 miles in the fog. The four of us found Big Boots already at the shelter.CT birds: 4 CT list: 60Connecticut birds: Blue-winged Warbler, American Crow, Eastern Towhee, Indigo Bunting. Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downey Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwing, Scarlet Tananger, Veery, Gray Catbird, red-eyed Vireo, Northern Cardinal, American Redstart, Carolina Wren, Common Yellowthroat, White-breasted Nuthatch, Worm-eating Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Wood Thrush, Yellow-throated Warbler, Ovenbird, Black&white Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Piliated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, American Robin, Black-capped Chickadee, Chimney Swift, Winter Wren, Hooded Warbler, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Prarie Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-throated Vireo, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Barn Swallow, Warbling Vireo, House Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Yellow Warbler, Canada Goose, Willow Flycatcher, Common Grackel, Baltimore Oriole, Northern Parulla, Eastern Kingbird, Morning Dove, Winter Wren, Blackpoll Warbler, Least Flycatcher, Blue Jay, Wood Duck (60 species)
Date: 2009-06-10
From: Brassie Brook Shelter

To: Thomas Leonard Lean-to
Miles today: 23.2

I'm starting this entry by calling this day gear failure day. We woke up and left before Squeak and WD-40 even stirred. Even with a hour head start they caught us after just 5 miles at the first shelter. Shortly after they had pulled ahead we started a big down called the Jug Handle. Near the top I fell and crunched my left pole. When i picked it up the end snapped off. Obviously upset I then asked Birdman if I could use his little pliers to remove the bit of broken piece from the middle section. On the first twist one of the sides of the pliers snapped off! Then as I was trying to figure out how to attach the two pieces of my pole to my pack I noticed that the small tear, that had been made yesterday morning, had grown. It now extended the full length of my pack. Were it not for the two compression straps and the trashbag liner that I put my stuff in it would not have been usable. Called the companies to arrange the new gear and then pressed on. We went across this 7 mile flat section before reaching Rt. 7 that leads to Great Barrington, MA. During this section the Mosquitos were absolutely fierce. At one point they got so bad that even walking fast could not avoid constant bites so I dove into the pack for bug stuff. By the time I had it out it was pointless anyway. I did take pleasure in rubbing the 100% DEET over the mosquitos as they bit me. When we got to the road we wanted to stop into the Corn Crib to get some Ice Cream. Unfortunately the place was no longer doing that business so we instead got a hitch down the road a mile to a hot dog place and got a great meal. After the meal we only had 6.4 miles to go but it was up hill. We got to the shelter around 8pm to find 3 section hikers heading to Maine. Squeak and WD-40 showed up shortly after because they resupplied in town. Slept in the tent to avoid the still bad mosquitos.We hit the 1500 mile mark today as we left CT and entered Mass!MA birds: 50! No new species.
Date: 2009-06-11
From: Thomas Leonard Lean-to

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Again were the first on the trail this morning but took a long break at the first shelter and had everyone catch up. Hiked the whole day with Squeak and WD-40. It had rained during the night but was just overcast and foggy. The profile (ups and downs) was fairly easy but there seemed to be a lot of slippery rocks and roots today. We went over some cliffs where had the weather been nice we would have had some views. Sharptooth caught up to us late in the day and the five us rolled into the Upper Goose Pond Cabin around 6pm. It is an interesting place because it is the first "shelter" we've hit with a caretaker. It is a enclosed building that has bunks upstairs and a kitchen and sitting room around a fire downstairs. It is on the edge of a nice pond where you can swim and canoe. We had a great time using the stove to cook our meals and then enjoyed some fresh vegetables brought in by a friend of the care taker. Appreciated the fact that spring water was available in jugs. Again it poured all night...hearing that sound on a roof over your head is the best. Mattresses are great too.MA birds: 7 New species: 3 (American Black Duck, Blackburnian Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler)MA list: 57 Trip list: 140
Date: 2009-06-12
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Dalton, MA (Tom Lavardi's)
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: light rain

Woke up early in anticipation that the caretaker prepares a pancake breakfast...with coffee and fresh strawberries. Sure enough she brought the food out around 6:30 am and we all crowded around to chow down. After we had eaten it all I then went and got our original breakfast to eat. We sadly packed up getting ready to hike. Thankfully the rain had stopped and it was warm enough to make a swim sound appealing. So we all went skinny dipping (not good to start a day with wet shorts). After that we were ready to hike. The Dans (Squeak and WD-40) wanted to do a little canoeing so we left them to their fun and set off. It only took them a few hours for them to catch us. It was a tough day for them though because the rain of last night had fully saturated the trail in "Marshachusettes". Birdman and my boots were alright but the Dan's running shoes didn't keep them dry as well. We ate a snack in the late morning at a shelter and then went on to the next road to visit the cookie lady. She lives .1 down a road and all you do is show up and if she is there she gives hikers cookies and water. They also sell fresh blueberries (in season) and hard boiled eggs. We bought lemonade to go with our cookies and eggs and also had lunch there. Birdman got to talk birds with the Cookie Lady (who is a birder) and then we set off for Dalton. The four of us arrived around 6pm and part way through town we saw Tom Lavardi's house. Sharptooth was already there so we went and checked it out. Tom invited us all to dinner and showers. We graciously accepted and got cleaned up before dinner was served. It was a great meal that involved sausage, corn on the cob, potatoes, carrots, salad, and great peach ice cream sundaes! After that we sat around talking to three section hiking girls that were also spending the night at Tom's. Decided we would stay put as it was such a nice place. We all had a great time getting mroe food at the restaurant down the street and watching the Phils play the Red Sox. Unfortunately we also got to watch the Penguins win the Stanley Cup. Oh well...next year is the Flyers.MA birds: 7 MA liat: 64
Date: 2009-06-13
From: Dalton, MA (Tom Lavardi's)

To: Mt. Greylock
Miles today: 17.0

Went shorter than we expected today but thats ok. Started off with an early breakfast with Tom Lavardi, Squeak, WD-40, and Sharptooth at Duff and Dell's. Stuck with the choclate chip pancakes and did not regret it. We got on the trail around 8 am and immediately made a detour to Cumberland Farms to get some snack food. We were also packing out sandwiches made at Duff and Dell's. There was a good up out of town that was made slow by a full stomach. Eventually we got going and the sun was out which was nice. Came down into the town of Cheshire just around lunch time and found a great picnic table in the shade to eat our sandwiches. It was conveniently located next to a little shed that sold ice cream and cold drinks. I got a banana split that didn't have bananas and as a result had 3 times as much ice cream as your normal banana split. It almost killed me to eat the whole thing but I managed it. This yet again made hiking slow this time as we started up Mount Greylock. It is the highest peak that we have been up since the Shenandoahs. Halfway up we ran into Sharptooth and the Dans headed the other way (Tom had driven them up to Willamstown so they could hike back to his place and spend another night). Talked briefly and then pressed on. It was already late afternoon so we gave up our plan to go all the way to Williamstown. Our friend Phil Speare instead picked us up at the top of Mount Greylock which has a lodge, tower, and parking lot on top. The views from the top were spectacular and the hike up was enjoyable. For the first time in awhile you could feel the high elevation's cool air and smell Balsam fir. Our friends took us back to their home outside of Williamstown where we took showers before eating a great home cooked dinner. After that it was time to watch the Phils again and take care of internet stuff. Had a great night relaxing and snacking once dinner wore off.MA birds: 8 MA list: 72
Date: 2009-06-14
From: Mt. Greylock

To: North Adams RT. 2
Miles today: 6.3

If I'm not mistaken this was our shortest hiking day yet on the trail. We are truly getting spoiled by our friends here in Williamstown but will be back to business early tomorrow morning. Slept in a little this morning and then had a nice breakfast with lots of fresh fruit. Hung out around the house in the morning and then did a little sight seeing around Williams College. After a hamburger lunch cooked on the grill we decided it was time to hike. We made a quick stop by the outfitter in town and tried to replace my broken pole. The guy behind the counter was a little clueless but said he would call to get more details. In the meantime we drove back up to the top of Greylock and did our section for the day. It was a long downhill and with our luck it rained for the majority of the 3 hours we spent on the trail. The sun was out again by the time we got down to North Adams and I managed to only fall in the mud once with my one pole. The good news was that when our friend came to pick us up he came bearing the necessary parts to fix my pole so I will be good from here on out. I also used the brand new (and fourth) pack of the trip today and it worked well. We got back to the house and showered. Then we went out to dinner at a nice little place in town. Came home in time to watch the Lakers win the finals and will now get a good nights sleep in a bed again. Tomorrow its back to the real world. It has been a good three days though.MA birds: 6 MA list: 78
Date: 2009-06-15
From: North Adams RT. 2

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: thunderstorm

Woke up early in our comfy beds again. Packed up and had another great breakfast. Then it was back to reality and hiking. We thanked our good friends the Speares and hiked over a bridge and out of town. Went up for about three miles before crossing into Vermont! For the next 100 miles we will be hiking not just the AT but the Long Trail which runs from Mass to Canada. As we entered this new state we noticed a sign that said "Welcome to Vermud" this could not have been more accurate. It was like walking through a swamp...all day. Had lunch with John from east Tennessee and his friend Bad Humus (both thru hikers). In the afternoon we started to hear lots of thunder so we stopped at a shelter to take a little break. It was a good thing we did because shortly after we got there it started to rain hard and then came the hail. A little smaller than marbles but by the end of the hail there was a half inch layer on the ground. Once the storm had let up we figured we should hike on as we had 6 miles to go. Of course five minutes after we left it started pouring again. We had a tough hike down to VT Rt. 9 but were rewarded with wild starwberries at the bottom. Hiked up to the shelter by 6:30pm and found it full of section hikers. The Dans had hiked on but we tented and got to bed relatively early.MA birds: 1 MA list: 79VT birds: 25 VT list: 25 New species: 1 Yellow-rumped WarblerTrip list: 141Massachusetts birds: Eastern Towhee, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Veery, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Winter Wren, Scatlet Tananger, Ovenbird, Hooded Warbler, Blue-headed Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, American Redstart, Black&white Warbler, Rore-breasted Grosbeak, Worm-eating Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, Eastern Wood Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing, Blue Jay, Prarie Warbler, Pine Warbler, Chimney Swift, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bobolink, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Crow, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Tree Swallow, House Wren, Northern Cardinal, Northern Waterthrush, Gray Catbird, American Robin, Chipping Sparrow, Belted Kingfisher, White-breasted Nuthatch, Warbling Vireo, Canada Goose, Morning Dove, Tufted Titmouse, Downey Woodpecker, Rock Pigeon, European Starling, Yellow-throated Vireo, Cerulean Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, Least Flycatcher, American Black Duck, Blackburnian Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Bay-breasted Warbler, Common Loon, Canada Warbler, Broad-winged Hawk, Brown Creeper, Purple Finch, Pine Sisken, House Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Barn Swallow, American Goldfinch, Blackpoll Warbler, Common Raven, Dark-eyed Junco, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Northern Flicker, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, White-throated Sparrow, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Mallard (79 species)
Date: 2009-06-16
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 27.9
Weather: light rain

Left early trying to catch up to the Dans at the next shelter. Unfortunately it was 8.5 miles and even they had left before 10:45am. Early on we passed the 1600 mile mark and took our picture. The weather was nice and we got a great view from the top of a fire tower on Glastenberry mountain. For the first time we saw lots of moose poop on the trail. We decided that we were gonna try to catch the Dans so we ate lunch and then went two more shelters. This brought our day close to 28 miles the last 11 of which were over Stratton Mountain. Got up to the top of Stratton close to sunset and had another great view from a tower. Got to the shelter just before dark and found Boof there. Had a good time talking to him and avoided the section hiking girl who was getting sick over the rail every hour. Very afraid of stomach viruses now so we gave her a wide berth. No Dans at the shelter so we planned to hike early and catch them then.VT birds: 14 VT list: 39
Date: 2009-06-17
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Griffith Lake Campsite
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept in a little because all the other hikers weren't moving. Left around 8am and found the Dans tenting a mile down the trail. Waited for them to get ready and were joined by Boof. The five of us set off for the road about 9 miles away on which there is a nice town. At the road the Dans hitched to Manchester, we got a ride the other way to Bromley where we had a mail drop, and Boof hiked on. We decided not to stay at Bromley for the night so once we had the package we hitched back to Manchester. It took longer than usual but ironically it was a young woman in a small Honda that picked us up. We caught up with the Dans outside a pizza place and we all went to Ben and Jerries. We also hit up with McDonalds and the outfitter before going back to the trail to hike 10 more miles. In those ten miles we went over Bromley Mountain and got to hike up a ski trail. At the top there was a great observation tower where we could see Killington and Stratton. We ended up arriving at the shelter at dark and then realized it was another half mile to the tentsites. Got there via head lamp and had dinner fashionably late (11pm).VT birds: 11 New species: 1 Wilson's WarblerVT list: 50 Trip list: 142