morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-11
From: Vernon, NJ

To: Tiorati Circle
Miles today: 20.9

Ok! This has been a full day! I had breakfast at Larry's Deli just a block from the motel and a guy pulled up and opened up the trunk of his mini-van just knowing that we would need a ride to the trail! Pretty cool! And, it's not raining! so a nice day for views from the Eastern Pinnacles and Cat Rocks. Found Hot Springs at Wildcat Shelter and hiked to Fitzgerald Falls. They were really neat. Found Bare Bear's note. He hiked on ahead. Trail angels left water at the West Mombasha Road. A whole school bus load of kids hiked south from East Mombasha Road. Caught up to Bare Bear, Shasta, H-Bomb, and AT Mouse. Tried to hitch into Arden, NY but no luck. Then entered into Harriman State Park. It started to rain. I put on my packa and then came up on a couple day hikers. The woman was talking on a cell phone. The guy was undressing. He completely undressed as I was passing them. I asked if he was going to take a shower, but he said, "No, I'm just keeping my clothes dry". He put them in a grocery bag and they proceeded to hike down the trail behind me. I passed another lady hiker who was moving very slowly. Her knees were bloody and she was out of water. I gave her one of my bottles. It rained all the way through the park. Passed through the lemon squeezer. Stopped at Fingerboard Shelter where I found Tex, Hot Springs and Mr Parkay. Ate cheese and crackers with Bare Bear and headed for the swimming at Tiorati Circle. Silverfoot and Donkey were there with Brains and Brawn and another couple. I swam, took a shower, cooked ramen which was too spicy, so Silverfoot and Donkey ate it. Oh, and the power was out so the vending machines weren't working when I first got there, but when the power came back on, I had 3 orange creamsicles and a gatorade. It started raining hard, so instead of pressing on, 5 of us stayed and played Yatzee. We then stealth camped under the vending pavillion. Four kids came down in the middle of the night to go for a midnight swim. And a cop spotlighted me when I was using the restrooms. Not exactly a restful nights sleep, but it was dry.
Date: 2006-07-12
From: Tiorati Circle

To: Peekskill, NY
Miles today: 15.5

Left early to avoid detection. Hiking at 5:30. It started raining and rained most of the day. My feet are really pruney. Caught up to SleepWalker and we talked most of the day. Went through the NY Zoo. Took photos at the Bear's pen, the lowest part of the whole trail. Went to Fort Montgomery to the Post Office and ate a burger at the Deli. While emptying the dirt and rocks from my shoes, I started talking to a lady with a sweet little dog. It turned into a ride back to the bridge over the Hudson River. More photos. Hiked on with SleepWalker and Mummy Toes and bailed out to a motel in Peekskill to do laundry and resupply. I was kinda looking forward to staying at the Graymoor Friary, but I know it's going to be crowded and there's no food there anymore. Peekskill is a little different. I'm used to small trail towns. This is like downtown with lots of taxis and police cars. People of all types, small mom and pop groceries on every corner. The laundromat was hard to get directions to, but we did find it. And the library is nice. Anyways, I'm dry and clean again and still hanging in there. Thanks Chuck and Shorty for all your encouragement!
Date: 2006-07-13
From: Peekskill, NY

To: NY55
Miles today: 31.7

Yes, I really did hike that far, though it was stupid. It was too late to hitch to town for a shower and I got lost and hike an additional 4 miles or so on the road following old white blazes. The good news is that there was a Shell station along the way so I got to wash up a little bit and get cold drinks. The day started out pretty good, I had a delicious peach and plum for breakfast with a danish and hot cocoa, then yogi-ed a ride back to the trail for the three of us, Sleepwalker, Mummy toes and I, with a van full of Army guys from West Point. The driver, I didn't get his name, had hiked three states and wanted to repay his debt. Anyways, it didn't rain, but my shoes were still wet and I had really pruney feet. I tried to dry them out a couple times on sunny rocks, but I got blisters under my old calluses anyway. I met Silverfoot coming out of the Friary. She said it was just a pavillion, so I didn't walk in to see it. I caught up to Bare Bear at a little waterfall and changed my socks. His feet are still slowing him down. I guess he made hot cocoa and ordered Pizza last night at Graymoor. Anyways, I'm leaving him behind, again. I dried my feet out again on Shenandoah Mountain where there was a flag painted on the rock. I went past Mr. Parkay again. It's leap frog day I guess. When I got to the RPH shelter, I decided to try and go farther to get to Kent in two days. I went into town at NY 52 for dinner of Lazagna and mint chocolate chip ice cream. I am surprised it didn't taste bad at all! Silverfoot was on her way in as I hiked out. It was dark when I got to Morgan Stewart Shelter, where Hot Springs, Mummy Toes, and Low Gear were already in their sleeping bags, but Mr. Parkay was willing to night hike with me to the next shelter. We ended up getting to old 55 and mistook old white blazes for the trail and walked along the road a couple miles before finding the shell station. When we lost the old white blazes, we backtracked to the shell, where they kindly told us where we had gone wrong. Back up the road to the trail, I was so exhausted, my feet were really tired. I got in the woods and hung my hammock in the first suitable trees.
Date: 2006-07-14
From: NY55

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 26.0

Yes, another long day. A really long day! But, I did make it before dark! I was up early as Mr. Parkay was kind enough to wake me as he hiked out. I'm moving a bit slow. Mummy Toes must have got up early though to pass me so quickly. On the boardwalk, I saw a racoon, then I passed by the Appalachian Trail Station where you can catch the train to NYC in two hours, but it only stops on weekends. Then there was a hot dog stand by the roadside where Mr. Parkay and I had New York hotdogs and dried out our feet again. I was really trying to get in some miles today, yet there were all these highlights to stop and enjoy! Anyways, how can I complain. If there just weren't so many bugs. I hate mosquitos. I hate Deet. But I hate mosquitos more! I have been lucky to find a place to wash it off every night so far, but I hope I don't have to do so many miles again anytime soon. There was trail magic at Leather Hill road. I had a bagel with peanut butter and jelly and a coke that really hit the spot thanks to "Mac" and "Cheese". By the logbook, I can see I'm right behind Montreal again. I crossed the New York/Connecticut Border. The sign is way up high in a tree. Kinda hard to take the milestone self portrait of entering a new state when the sign is way up in a tree and I'm hiking alone. I soaked my feet in a creek and Bare Bear called. I guess he got off trail last night and went to Kent. He said he had found a place to stay. I saw another bear. No photo this time, but the adrenaline helped me pick up the pace so that I got in by dark. I guess Montreal must have stopped at the campsite, because he wasn't at the shelter. I met the ridgerunner and Energizer Bunny and a lot of other hikers hanging out around the fire. I went on. The best part of the day though was the cold orange soda compliments of Bare Bare who unfortunately had to skip ahead to get new shoes. I'm going to have to get new shoes too. The rain really does wear them out faster. I was hoping to get another 100 miles or so, but I think Salisbury will be it for the second pair of Montrail Hardrocks. So anyways, Bonnie Bevans let us stay at her office and use her refridgerator, microwave, and hot water! But the absolute best thing was the air conditioning!
Date: 2006-07-15
From: Kent, CT

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 0.0

Great day to rest up after two very long days of hiking in hot weather and mosqitos. I managed to find a place to stay on the floor of an air conditioned house that was being converted to a real estate office. This is the stuff only hikers can appreciate. What a neat town. Went to the post office for my maildrop. The hiker box had canned soup and boxes of pasta. It looked more like a canned food drive collection box than a hiker box, but I'm sure they meant well. I got my town clothes back and a new wool sweater. (Well, I won't be needing it now, but it's going to really nice later and it's so much less bulky than my fleece was! Anyways, Got to see Montreal again and probably for the last time, since he's taking a few days off. We all hung out at the library and then ate lunch together. I also met Compost at Carolee's while I ate my chicken quesadias and two milkshakes, At 2:00, Montreal headed out to the ice rink to meet his girlfriend. They stopped by so we could meet her. Josee is really pretty and seems very genuine. I liked her immediately. They'll be on vacation for a week. Anyways, I took a short nap before going to the free music in the square and then the concert at the fairgrounds. It was fun, met Evelyn and learned to salsa, well I tried anyway! I can't dance. Ate pizza and watched the crowd. A great little break from hiker solitude.
Date: 2006-07-16
From: Kent, CT

To: Sharon, CT
Miles today: 15.9

It's still HOT!!! but I managed to get in a decent day of hiking. The trail crossed open fields with no shade, but then a few nice climbs and a long river walk. The trail in Connecticut is really different. Met Hellbender and Dinosaur at the shelter and swam in the Housatonic River. Lots of day hikers. Bare Bear is slow, but I'm staying with him for today anyway. A lady immediately picked me up when we got to the road and took us to town. Louise was coming from a concert. She sold her car and just gets a rental. Pretty good idea I thought. The Sharon Motor Lodge had a pool, unfortunately it was green with algea. The restaurant and laundromat were closed, but the hotel did a load for 5.00. The shell station saved the day with a huge turkey provolone sub, ice cream, soda, strawberry milk and a days resupply. Air conditioning and no bugs makes for a spoiled hiker. The movie was Forest Gump. And that's all I have to say about that!
Date: 2006-07-17
From: Sharon, CT

To: Village Falls, CT
Miles today: 9.3

The days are getting shorter, but they are not getting cooler! So, out early again, we got a hitch in a pickup with an anvil in the back. The driver offered it to us if we wanted to carry it! Got lost trying to find my way around a rock chimney. Mostly a river walk again today, but with the bugs and high humidity, it was a real treat to stop early at the the Iron Bridge for trail magic. I ate tons of food, Hot dogs, oranges, bananas, peanut butter and chocolate cookies, chips and dip, beer and sodas, bratworst, and I can't even remember what all. Thanks to PrivyBoy, Walkie Talkie, George and Dave for the great food and company. I counted at least 35 hikers that passed thru. Most spent the night. There was a free cold water shower and swimming in the Housatonic river if you didn't mind the leeches. Walked back about a mile where Dead Bear and Compost tried out the rope swing. It was too shallow. Compost probably broke his foot. I hope not, but it's pretty swollen.
Date: 2006-07-18
From: Village Falls, CT

To: Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: clear sky

The trail angels made breakfast for us! Sausage, scrambled eggs, and english muffins! On trail early to avoid the heat. Like that's possible! There's a heat advisory out for elderly and young people. I'm guessing they should add hikers! So when I went into Salisbury to get my mail, I decided to stay making today an even shorter day. Silverfoot hiked on! Checked into the White Hart Inn. I went to the country's oldest free library and used their internet. Then I went to the grocery store. They had deli sandwiches and all the kinds of good stuff. They even had feta stuffed olives. Got a milkshake at the ice cream place and then took chips and salsa back to Compost's room. He's laid up for a while, but he's got a great support group. Swansons, Kurly, and Dead Bear. Then settled in for Margaritas. Due largely to the heat and availability of towns. I've managed to successfully complete the New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut challenge of a shower every day! Mostly to get the deet off! But there are so many hikers gathered now primarily by the trail magic, that it is hard to break away and get hiking. Especially when it's supposed to reach 101 degrees. Nope, I think I'll stay right here for today! Oh, and I got new shoes and socks and I've got less that 700 miles to go! I'm going to get'r'done. Thank you everyone for your encouragement! It's all a mental challenge now. So many hikers are getting bored, hot, tired, and bugged. There's so many better things to do with a hot summer day, but I'm still doing it!
Date: 2006-07-19
From: Salisbury, CT

To: Great Barrington, CT
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: light rain

It was so close, I almost took a zero! It's gonna be another excruciating hot humid day, but it's not supposed to be as bad as yesterday. On trail by 7:30. Great views on the mountains today with pretty steep downhills. Climbed Bear Mountain, the highest in Connecticut. Stopped at the monument to take photos of Kurly and Swansons, Bare Bear and myself. Saw Dinosaur at the trail to the last shelter, I guess Hellbender was already there. Then hitched in with "John" to Great Barrington in time to get the last room with Swansons, Kurly, and Bare Bear. It wasn't cheap, but at least we could split it 4 ways! Snickers was there as well. He doesn't hitch from what I'm told, that's a long road walk! Whatever, I was happy to get a shower. Dinner at my now favorite restaurant, (Well, since there hasn't been an Applebee's in quite some time!) I'm eating at Friendly's. They have a great BBQ Chicken and Steak with mashed potatoes and brocolli. It was Raymond Re-runs for the evening entertainment.
Date: 2006-07-20
From: Great Barrington, CT

To: East Mountain Retreat Center
Miles today: 8.4

Another short day. Ate an omelette for breakfast at Friendly's, then tried to get a hitch. The motel usually gives shuttles back to the trail, but they said no one was available. It didn't matter though, it wasn't long before a guy showed up. He had a small car, but we managed to all fit in. Turns out he was the one who usually did the shuttles for the motel. He was trying to be helpful, I suppose, but he passed the trailhead where we hitched in. I tried to get his attention, but he was pretty sure he knew where we wanted to go. Well, it turns out there are two roads in the area that cross the trail and he wanted to take us to the far one. We talked him into turning around and he brought us back to where our feet had actually left the trail. Apparently not every thru-hiker cares about such things, but this year, I'm hiking the trail, the whole trail, and nothing but the trail! I know of hikers who already have to go back and try and hike small sections they missed. Some don't care, but what an inconvenience and I just don't want to go there. I almost wish I hadn't slack packed the couple times that I did, but then at the time, it was really fun and broke up the monotony. Anyways, The trail wound through corn fields. It was grassy and buggy. The pines were neat though. I met my first SOBO thru-hiker, Z-Hobbit. I asked if I could take his photo. Caught up to Kurly and Swansons at the shelter and left a note in the shelter log. The first in quite a while. Bare Bear is still hanging in there. Rather than make his feet suffer again, we stopped after a short day and hitched in to East Mountain Retreat Center. It's a very secluded hostel, but has most of the ammenities needed. Including pizza delivery. I consided hiking out again after a shower and pizza, but it's so nice to be clean, I didn't. It doesn't bother me as much to stop short now that all my friends are behind me. Montreal will probably never catch up. I haven't seen Burner and Fung Shui in quite some time. I'm thinking the only one close is Johnny Appleseed. All the other hikers in this neck of the woods are pretty recent aquaintances. Not that it matters, I just miss having a trail family.
Date: 2006-07-21
From: East Mountain Retreat Center

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: broken clouds

It was a mileand a half walk back to the trail. Then uphill, as usual. I'm fighting a cold from all the air conditioning of all things. Ate my last ramen for lunch and now I'm out of food. Found Johnny Appleseed and seen him off and on all day. At the cabin, we ran into a large number of hikers. Those that had passed us yesterday mostly. Snicker's was needing a ride into town to catch a bus or something so I yogied a ride to town and got more food! Pumkin squeezed in also. Of course, I was craving ice cream and managed to get two milkshakes at Freindly's while the caretaker got a coffee. Then I got a side of mashed potatoes and brocolli to go. Price Choppers for groceries and brought back fresh cobb salad, turkey, cheese and crackers, yogurt, and another milkshake. Hiked back into the cabin and then went swimming! The lake is great. Warm water and clear. There's even a canoe we can check out! Sleeping in the cabin though was not easy. Too many weekend hikers with a different schedule than thru hikers. They were up way past dark and quite noisy! With the extra trip to town I actually hiked 23.7 miles today and you'd think I really should have been able to sleep through it!
Date: 2006-07-22
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: haze

I should have hung my hammock. It didn't rain overnight and I'm tired! The screen door slammed all night. I didn't even hang around for the pancake feed. I just hiked out dragging Bare Bear behind me. It started to rain. It rained lightly most of the day. Passed Pumpkin near the first shelter where a group of volunteers were painting it. There are lots of SOBOs now and section hikers. It was raining hard by the time we got to town. We stopped at Tom's house and he was kind enough to let us use his porch, since all the motels in town are full for a wedding. Dinner at the Mill Town Tavern with alfredo fetachini, salad, soup, margarita, and a delicious peanut butter cup cake! Raining very hard now. No one is leaving the tavern! So, stayed and listened to the music, had a mudslide and met cool locals that were having a great time!
Date: 2006-07-23
From: Dalton, MA

To: Cheshire, MA
Miles today: 9.3

I'm enjoying the most luxurious bed and breakfast. I had breakfast this morning with our host Tom, Pumpkin, and Bare Bear. Tom was so kind as to let me use his shower and sleep on his porch last night. Thanks Tom. Really appreciated it since a wedding had tied up all the lodging in Dalton. I used my hammock though to keep the mosquitos off my face! Today, I hiked a short pleasant stroll over to Chesire with pleasant temps and few bugs. Then, a wonderful lunch at Diane's Twist, where we met up with Mike and Zan, Wild Bill, and Energizer Bunny. I dined on a Turkey sandwich, chips, milkshake and orange soda, everything I really like! Found there was no shower at the church hostel, so five of us called for a ride to the Harbour House B&B. The most luxurious accomodations yet. And not rediculously overpriced! I soaked in an old steel tub and got fresh laundry. How wonderful. She let us borrow her car to go into Adams for dinner of pizza and rootbeer. I may even come back tomorrow after hiking Mt. Greylock!
Date: 2006-07-24
From: Cheshire, MA

To: MA 2/ Cheshire, MA
Miles today: 14.0

What a wonderful breakfast! Homemade granola, breads, muffins, jams and jellies. Eggs, bacon, potatoes, Wow! Eva let us use her car again and we drove back to Dalton to get Bare Bear's bounce box. Then all five of us went to two different outfitters where finally, at EMS in the mall, I was able to call Leki and they told me over the phone, how to fix my poles. They took our photo and we signed in their log book. Headed back to the trail. Energizer Bunny got nominated the rental car return duty since she is supposed to be the fastest hiker! Bare Bear and I hiked up and over Mt Greylock today. It is an impressive monument! Made it in time to get a turkey sandwich, orange, cake, klondike bar and a patch. Eva from the Harbour House B&B picked us up from MA2 and let us use her car to go see Pirates of the Caribbean! It was very comical. I loved the last scene. You have to sit through all the credits to see it. Dinner at Friendly's. The milkshakes are very creamy. Anyways, it was the first slack pack since "Celebrate Virginia Day" and it was very nice on the feet to zip up and over the mountain. And the Harbor House is definately worth a second night! Eva is so kind and hospitable. I would highly recommend her to all travelers!
Date: 2006-07-25
From: MA 2/ Cheshire, MA

To: VT 9/ Bennington, VT
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: clear sky

A great breakfast send off from Harbor House B&B, and a shuttle back to MA 2. It's hot but dry. I crossed into Vermont today! It feels and smells like Oregon. Lots more evergreens and rocky stream beds. I found moose droppings and sat by a beaver pond hoping for a moose to show, but no luck. Hitched in to Bennington. Gave the guy 4.00 for his trouble. He had hauled up hikers and turned around to haul more hikers back to town. The Autumn Inn was a dump, but the Peppermill had a great chicken marsela and mudslide. Got a few snacks for tomorrow and went to sleep early.
Date: 2006-07-26
From: VT 9/ Bennington, VT

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: few clouds

Went to the PO and took photos of the moose on the sidewalk. OK, it's not a real moose. I want to see one so bad. Back at the Inn, found Mike and Zan and hitched up with them with a kind lady, Meg Campbell, and her two girls, Piper and Elsie. She says she always picks up girls that are hitching even though she was going the other way! Thanks Meg! I really appreciated the ride. Another good day, warm, a little buggy, but dry. Goddard was a nice shelter. Climbed a fire tower. Met lots of Long Trail hikers. Jay, from '04 or '05 and two ladies. Met Kutsa and "The original" Montreal, her husband. Ork and Bean, Rip and Tree Hugger, and Just Ed. Story Shelter was crowded and I'm very tired. Bare Bear made it, although he keeps saying he's done with the big miles. I cooked ramen and hung my hammock. We studied wingfoot hiding from the bugs and then I settled in for a good nights sleep. I love my hammock!
Date: 2006-07-27
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Manchester, VT
Miles today: 21.1

Another long day, but I intend to zero tomorrow if there are rooms available. Thunderstorms are on the way. I climbed the fire tower on Stratton Mt. Quite a view. and I saw a moose, no not a real one, but a guy who's last name is moose! There are lots of moose tracks. Swam in Stratton Pond. I felt so much better afterward. There was a moose swimming in Stratton Pond, but, once again, it was not the real thing. Gray Fox is his trail name! Ate a snack, then high tailed it to Manchester. I just barely got my pack off, and "Tom" picked me up and took me to Friendly's. Another creamy milkshake, burger, mashed potatoes. I don't think I'm losing weight anymore. I think I'm just holding my own. Bare Bear made it in and we walked to the outfitter. He just about passed out on the floor. Dehydrated I think! Jessica from the "Mountain Goat" outfitters out did herself finding lodging in the last room of the Barnstead Innstead. There we met Neil. It is a wonderful hideaway with a pool.