morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-07-23
From: Glen Anderson Shelter

To: Wantage, N.J.
Miles today: 11.3

Start Glen Anderson ShelterDestination Wantage New Jersey Surprisingly there rain held off last night. But this morning the foggy mist hangs over the forest like a damp blanket. Breakfast is a bagel and peanut butter, and Gatorade. The water sources are few and far between today, so I filter some water for the days hike. It is twelve miles to the next water source. Of course within an hour of starting out the rain begins to fall. I stop and put my pack cover on and hike on. The rain feels good as it washes the dried sweat and dirt from my arms and face. Of course the rain makes the rocks slippery and the hiking is slow. I come upon a flock of wild turkeys on the trail. I do not know who scared who the most, but the adrenalin rush I got as they took off kept me hiking for awhile. By noon the rain was coming down in sheets, and I stopped at a shelter right on the trail to fix lunch. There is no water here, so I carefully ration my supply. It does not look promising for the weather to improve, so I grab my pack and hike on. At the next road crossing there are several bottles of water on the trail, placed there by Desperado, a trail angel who provides snacks and water to thru hikers along several miles of this section of the trail. As much as I am enjoying hiking without my raincoat, the yellow flies are attacking me with a vengeance, so I reluctantly put my coat on. In no time the coat is soaking wet on the inside as well as the outside. Just before hiking into the state park, I come across an ice chest on the side of the trail. It is filled with cold sodas, snack cakes and hard candy. It has been left here by thru hikers from last year, on their way through. The forecast is calling for torrential downpours this evening, so Trail Dog, Spincycle and I decide to share a room. It is against the law to hitch hike in New Jersey, so Spincycle holds his hiker to town banner out. The very first car that comes by stops and picks us up. It is just a few miles down the road, but we are grateful for the ride. The High Point Inn is owned and ran by Carla and Mike Hauck. It is an older motel, but proof that one can run a nice, clean motel which is a refreshing change from the dumps in days past. The room is very clean with country quilts on the beds, freshly laundered towels and sheets. Carla volunteers to take us to the local pizzeria for dinner and picks us up later. Hot wings, garlic bread, salad and lasagna with a liter of cr me soda to wash it all down. I will hike in the rain tomorrow and who knows where I will be, but for tonight I am well fed, warm, and dry. Total miles 11.3
Date: 2004-07-31
From: Great Barrington, Mass

To: Mt. Wilcox Lean-to
Miles today: 2.8

Start: Ma.23Destination: Mt.Wilcox South Lean ToEven with the medication from the Emergency room last night,I was still itching, not as bad, but itching just the same. I ran a tub of hot water and took another long soak before going down to breakfast. As soon as the pharmacy opened I dropped off my prescriptions, then headed down town to the post office to mail some film home, along with some other things I no longer needed. The library was just across the street so I went over there and got some time in on the internet, checking emails, sending some and doing some research for Rotary Clubs that might be in upcoming towns. Back in my room, I took note of food items I needed for the days ahead. Trish had graciously agreed to bring me another bottle filled with denatured alcohol and wrapped with duct tape to replace the one I had to leave at the bus station. It was just after noon when Trish and her husband Jim knocked on my door. As I opened the door, we we both started squealing and hugging each other while Jim looked on in bewilderment. As soon as we let go of each other he stuck out his hand to introduce himself. Being the person that I am, I bypassed the hand for a hug, catching him off guard. Lucky for me, he didn't get upset for me invading his boundary when as he said, "I don't even know you". We went to grab a bite to eat, of course I had to stop at the ice cream shop. When I was here last year I fell in love with a wonderfully handcrafted bed. It's headboard and foot board and painted with mountain scenes, and detailed with wood etchings. It is still in the window and it is just as dazzling to me as it was last ear. But then, so is the price tag on it. At least I got to touch it again and drool over it one more time. We went to the grocery store for last minute supplies and headed down the road to where we would get on the trail. As soon as we pulled into the parking area, there sat Tinker with more trail magic than one could ever imagine! No, I was not the least bit hungry, but after Jim and Trish said their goodbyes, Tinker pulled up chairs for us to sit in, and I managed to eat a Nutty Buddy Bar and drink a glass of ice cold milk. I just couldn't resist a oatmeal cake for later. Our late start gave us little time for hiking, so we hiked to the first shelter, Mt.Wilcox South. The campsites were very limited, but we both found a place to set up our tents. By late evening the shelter was full as other hikers came in. By midnight the lightning from the distance moved in closer followed by thunder, then plenty of rain. I was thankful that the rain held off as long as it did. Total miles 2.8
Date: 2004-08-01
From: Mt. Wilcox Lean-to

To: Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: light rain

Start Mt. Wilcox Lean to southDestination Shaker CampsiteIt was still drizzling rain this morning, but eventually stopped long enough for me to wipe the tent dry and pack it up. It was so good to be ale to drink a cup of hot tea at a leisure pace after breakfast. I did almost panic when I looked at my watch and realized it was 9:30. I had to stop and tell myself, its okay, you don't have twenty miles to do today. The zero day yesterday did wonders for my feet. Today I had Trish lead the way. That way I could stay in back and force myself to slow down. I have been booking it for so many days; my body just thought we would continue that. There were some climbs, but for the most part the trail was level and not as muddy as I thought it would be after the night's rain. Occasionally the sun would peek through the grey clouds, scattering patches of sunlight along the trail in front of us, then pull itself back in as if it were playing hide and seek with us. We stopped for lunch and continued jabbering, just as we had all morning. It is really great to have someone to talk to and be able to hike a slower pace. I could even look around and take in more of the scenery. I can relax and not have to worry about keeping up with anyone. Even though there are rewards to hiking the same pace as other people. Our destination came in sight by mid afternoon. To my delight, there is a privy here complete with toilet paper. There are also tent platforms, but I could not get my tent to fit one, so I just set it up on the ground as usual. The water source is a tenth of a mile north, but without a pack it was a quick walk, and a great place to wash our faces and cool off. We fixed an early supper and had to make ourselves eat, but with thunder rumbling in the distance, it was better to eat before the rains came. We sat on one of the platforms and talked about our desires to hike, the whys and what ifs of it all. By early evening we had to make a dive into our tents where for the rest of the evening, the showers came and went, just light enough to cool things off and set the bugs to biting. I am trying to convince Trish not to worry about the drop in my mileages for the next few weeks. I found out last year, that it really isn't about the miles. At least not to me, it is all about the smiles. And I have to tell myself from time to time, that I can slow down and enjoy the hike, along with the great company I am keeping. Total miles 5.9
Date: 2004-08-04
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: October Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: broken clouds

Start Upper Goose Pond CabinDestination October Mountain Lean-to This morning I smelled the coffee percolating, followed by the smell of pancakes. I had been awake long before it was time for breakfast. One of the drawbacks to sleeping in a hostel is that the early risers, who really try to be quiet when they pack up, always wake me up. There is just no way to quietly scratch around a trash bag inside a pack, trying to pack things up. It really sounded like a convention of huge rats, as trash bags rustled and pack covers put on. The best part of breakfast this morning was watching the group from Taiwan eat pancakes with chopsticks! I watched them last night as they made supper, fresh tomatoes, peaches; they knew how to fix a meal! And the rest of us with our instant potatoes, and Ramen Noodles. Of course, they weren't hiking 10 miles to day either. Last night's rain seemed to turn the trail into one long, swampy bog. It was already boggy and buggy, and now it was just worse. The mud was ankle thick in some places and it would almost suck your boot off as you lifted it from the mire. Of course there were the usual planks of lumber nailed to cross logs to keep your feet out of the mucky mess some of the time. The rain had seemingly unleashed a whole new band of biting bugs. I needed two more hands to swat the bugs off as I hiked. One time during the afternoon, the trail went up and over first Becket Mountain, then Walling Mountain, finally crossing over Bald Top where the trail followed the ridge line all the way to the shelter. Most of the day however, the trees were so close and crowded that very little sunlight could get through, and everything was damp and covered with soft green moss. Little boggy areas became big swampy mushy places, where just one slight misstep would send you sprawling over the ground. On top of Bald Top however, the ground was dry and covered with pine needles. Huge trees stood here and there, most of them completely dead, and the sun shone through like a welcoming burst of warmth. It was early afternoon when I reached the shelter. Flat tenting spaces were for the most part were only a dream. I found a relatively flat spot, the term is relative, and set my tent. By 5:00 I had fixed supper and was yawning, ready to go to sleep. There are two young men here, who we saw last night at Upper Goose Pond, we sat around and talked about our favorite restaurants, and our favorite meals. I think it is time for a visit to town! The trail register here has several entries about hikers seeing a moose. I think someone was in bad need of a town visit also, since I have not heard or seen any sign of a moose this far south. Not that I wouldn't love to see a moose, mind you. The sky looks promising for another thunderstorm tonight. If so, I may make a mad dash into the shelter to escape the rain if need be.Total miles 8.8
Date: 2004-08-07
From: Dalton, Mass

To: Dalton, Mass.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Dalton Mass. Zero dayPoor Trish does not know what part of her body hurts her the most. Probably just the part between the top of her head and the bottom of her feet! We walk down to the Java Coffee Shop where fresh bagels and smoothies tame the hunger pains we have. A little farther down the street we go into a convenience store and get what we can to re-supply our food bags. Then as Trish ices down her ankle that is swollen and blue, I head to the library where I spend an hour checking my email at home, reading the journals of hikers I know are out here. It is wonderful to spend the whole day just hanging out, pigging out and chilling out. I took out my tent and hung it over the porch rail to finish drying it, along with my ground cover. We found an old Katherine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy movie and spent the rest of the evening watching it.Total miles 0
Date: 2004-08-21
To: Gt Barrington, Mass.
Miles today: 0.0

After an absence of almost a full year, Verity (aka 'Thistle') and I are back on the AT., with much greater ease than last time. From NY Penn Station in mid-Manhattan, a Bonanza bus ride of four hours took us up to Gt Barrington, Mass. It had been extremely muggy in NY and, about half way through our journey, the storms arrived and the heavens opened. We looked out, thankful to be on a coach and hoping this wasn't a taste of what was to come for us (we've only just dried out from our 2003 hike!).This weather seems to be the last throes of first Hurricane Charley and then Tropical Storm Gaston, and, to judge from all we have heard about how wet New England has been through July and August, we can expect "the going to be soft" I think.No matter, I feel good and I'm looking forward to it. I've regained all my weight from a year ago, and I'm packing lighter than in 2003, about 38lbs incl food and water I believe. How different from our start in Georgia!
Date: 2004-08-24
From: Upper Goose Pond

To: Pittsfield Road
Miles today: 11.0

A pancake breakfast set us up for walking today and we were off quite early. Too early when, almost back on the trail, I realised I'd left some washing from last night hanging on a line. A little over a mile onwards we crossed US.20 via a caged footbridge, and after that a decent climb up Becket Mt at 2140 ft. That revealed an early energy problem - maybe pancakes weren't all that energising after all - and at the top we took a break to shovel some food in as 'No Pain' passed us yet again. From then on we picked up though most of it has been a slog through swampy land and semi-mangrove conditions. Lots of rocks, big long roots, mud, and the occasional python hanging down from the branches. Still, we reached our destination, October Mt Lean-To, at 3.00 pm and decided we should push on and passed through a few areas of meadow. Goldenrod and tansy seem esp prominent right now. We seemed to be getting clear of swamp world by the time we came out on to the Washington Mt or Pittsfield Road. A short way down this road is the Wiley's blueberry farm which offers blueberry cookies (Mrs Wiley is widely known as 'The Cookie Lady') and water from a spigot to passing hikers. When we arrived a hiker was already there at a picnic table and he told us no one was at home. He eventually went on his way, and as we sat resting, I finally decided to take a look round the back. There, sitting on their verandah, were Mr and Mrs Wiley. They are both very hard of hearing and simply hadn't heard their doorbell. We spoke to them at length and they were happy for 'Thistle' and I to throw up our tents on the grass - in return we volunteereed our services to mow grass round their blueberry groves, and that's what we did for the next couple of hours until it began to get dark. Many of the blueberries are ripe nad we sampled only just enough to confirm that they were delicious.
Date: 2004-08-25
From: Pittsfield Road

To: Dalton, Mass.
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

We were wakened by a menagerie of birdlife in the trees on the Wileys' property this morning, and then a crowing cock put paid to any idea of getting back to sleep. This has been a cloudier day, but still dry, the terrain has been excellent, we seem to be well away now from yesterday's swamplands. We kept going well through the morning, struggled a bit in the early afternoon as we pushed to get to Dalton as early as we could. The AT passes right through town and we got here about 2.30pm. We haven't yet managed to resist the charms of a town in these circumstances and we have settled into the Shamrock Village Inn for tonight.
Date: 2004-08-27
From: Cheshire, Mass.

To: Wilbur Clearing Lean-To
Miles today: 11.0

A more overcast day today we have put in eleven miles and climbed almost 2,500 ft to get to the top of Mt Greylock which, at 3490 ft, is the highest peak in Massachussetts. There is a large stone tower at the summit, with a globe at the top that lights up at night, a memorial to the state's war dead. A road comes up here so the area is quite busy with tourists but the views today aren't good, it's very misty. A lodge is also nearby, but what most took our interest was a cafe that served burgers (very good ones) and some other things that make a hiker's day. Rested and very well filled, we have walked on to the shelter at Wilbur Clearing, another 3.4 miles on.
Date: 2004-08-28
From: Wilbur Clearing Lean-To

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: haze

This morning was all pretty much downhill, about 1800 ft over almost five miles, to bring us into North Adams, Mass. about lunchtime. We have been doing very well in eating 'proper' meals each day instead of exclusively trail fare and today was no exception. Heading east on Mass.8 for almost a mile we expected to find a pizza restaurant. We didn't find that but even better we came to a Chinese restaurant offering an excellent AYCE at a very reasonable price. We left there absolutely stuffed and not in great shape for immediate hiking. The afternoon involved climbing every bit as much as we came down earlier and in about four miles brought us to the Mass/Vermont state line. This point is also the southern terminus of the Long Trail, which runs all the way to the Canadian border, and is said to be the oldest 'official'/maintained walking trail in the United States. For the next 100 miles this trail and the AT are as one. All that said this was not a very distinguished place for a terminus. It was gloomy, in dense woodland, quite muddy, a mouldering wooden post and sign announced that we were at the state line, not the kind of place you would really want to hang about but we took pictures of ourselves anyway.Almost three miles on we have arrived at the Seth Warner Shelter which is quite busy. The air is quite heavy, a little buggy, and we are opting for our tents, or the hammock/tarp favoured by Riff Raff. Among those at the shelter are Blackfoot whom we met earlier on the trail, and a father and son and his 'Uncle Mike'. They didn't look terribly experienced, we helped them a bit here and there, but 'Uncle Mike' seemed a little wierd since his main interest was in a set of large juggling pins that he had brought along, and sure enough, on several occasions, he would start juggling. I don't know what to say about that.
Date: 2004-08-30
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Bennington, Vt.
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

Yesterday we put in a decent 11.5 mile shift to bring us into Bennington. The morning's profile had its ups and downs, but in the afternoon, after Harmon Hill, it was a 1,000 ft descent down to Vt.9 and a hitch into town. The last 6-700 ft of that descent was very steep, virtually a natural staircase of rocks and boulders at times. You couldn't say it was difficult but you needed to be very careful - any fall would have consequences that's for sure. So we have arrived at the Autumn Inn Motel, on Vt.9 getting on for a mile from the heart of the town. We're taking our first (and only) zero day here. Round about midday the sky became very dark and for 2-3 hours of this afternoon we have looked out on a thunderstorm and cascading rain. It was forecast. For evening meal and refreshment we went to the Madison Brewery Pub and Restaurant which has proved to be excellent. A good selection of amber and wheat beers, generous helpings of good food, and several TV's overhead showing sports, weather or news, you take your choice. This evening the weather has cleared and we seem well set for our hike tomorrow. There is only one hitch and it's not a small one. Ben and Tyler calculate that they will need to be heading back to Ohio and their jobs on Thursday (2nd Sept). Tyler's car is in Manchester which we won't reach in time. We have devised a cunning plan. We have prevailed on one of the motel owner's family to give us a ride out to Kelley Stand Road, about 22 miles ahead. From there we will hike north and should reach Manchester on Wednesday. Next morning Riff-Raff will drop us off back at Kelley Stand Road and head home, and we will hike south from there back to Bennington.
Date: 2004-08-31
From: Kelley Stand Road

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: broken clouds

We were duly dropped off at the trailhead on Kelley Stand Road this morning. Stratton Mt. ahead was a major climb, about 1600 ft to the summit at just short of 4,000 ft., but we dodged it. A side trail slips round the mountain instead of over it and comes out near Stratton Pond, our destination for the night, and that's the way we went.I don't feel guilty about doing that. I developed a point of principle last year that we are walking OUR Appalachian Trail, not Benton McKaye's, Earl Shaffer's, or the ATC's, though of course they provide the basic template. The lunatic, totally illogical routes we sometimes took in southern Appalachia because that was the 'official' route was something I found increasingly silly and made me question more and more what it was we were trying to do.   None the less, having done it, I now regret it. We arrived at Stratton Pond Shelter very early, and have heard from others that the firetower at the top of the moment not only gives a fine view (obviously) but is also quite an experience.As it was the Stratton Pond Trail and the Catamount X-C skiing trail were very rooty and rough, and it was hard to imagine how anyone could ski over this.We settled in very early at the shelter which is one of the finest we have seen, with a spacious deck at the front with table, and inside, bunks and a loft above. We set off for a walk round part of the lake in the afternoon sunshine but it was very rough ground - lake side paths usually are - and we didn't really find any suitable spot to stop and relax. Later, myself and Riff Raff went down to the water source to fill up and returned to find 'Thistle' a little concerned about a quite large, cat-like animal she had seen lurking in the dark shadows of the trees around the shelter. She couldn't figure what exactly it was, and, while not scared, she said she was quite glad when the rest of us returned.Postcript: When we later returned to Bennington, and saw the statue near the battle memorial, she is now quite certain the elusive creature was a catamount!