morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-07-12
From: Cobble View Bed & Breakfast 

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

We got off to a leisurely start after saying our goodbyes and indulging in more hot tea again in colorful tea cups which seems to make it taste better. Even though our host had been terribly sick when we arrived she made me eggs and toas for breakfast with the best homemade raspberry jam she made herself from the berries growing on her property. What a treat!We walked a mile to get to the location where we got off the trail. I wish all these extra miles into town and to shelters counted towards trail miles, but they don't. I will probably estimate how many additional miles I did when this is over.The trail started by going up and over some kind of stepping style over barbed wire to keep someone's cows from getting lose. It is still amazing to see how the trail winds through the forests and private properties and farmlands. It is usually dark and dank in the forest with tall trees and sunny and open full of wild flowers in between. I love the grassy meadows full of beautiful flowers and sun with mountain views in the distance.My pack was very full today from my resupply sent by my Mom. Thanks again! I keep saying I need to carry less food. It is so hard to guage how much to carry because I lIke your stop at the little restaurants along the way if an opportunity presents itself. The trail was diverse along the way today which made it more interesting. Today's destination was a very popular spot for hikers called Upper Goose Pond Cabin. It is situated on a large pond which looks like a lake to me surrounding by mountains. It is a large two story cabin with bunks for 18 hikers and a caretake who makes pancakes in the morning. Yummy. Can't wait. Downstairs has a rustic feel with a fireplace and dining room table and chairs. We went for a long swim to an island from the beach. It Felt wonderful and invigorating. Such a perfect feeling swimming in the mountains and still looking at the top from the water. Getting ready to cook my dinner now and tal talking with a large group of thru-hikers who are all spending the night here.
Date: 2015-07-14
From: Kay Wood Shelter 

To: Shamrock Inn
Miles today: 2.5

Today was a short hike into Dalton which is a popular town stop for thru-hikers. The trail was very muddy, rooty and rocky after a night of rain. Small portions of the trail have wooden planks to walk over through muddy sections but they are usually slippery and I've had some near accidents. This morning I lost my footing on a rock and fell in the mud and twisted my knee and cut it up a bit. Hopefully it's nothing too serious. The trail walks a couple of miles in residential neighborhoods through Dalton. We headed to the home if Tom Levardi who lives right on the trail and has been letting hikers camp in his backyard for 37 years. He asks for nothing but respect of his property and to avoid disturbing his neighbor. He has a water spigot available and the use of his front porch. I am completely amazed and blown away that Tom has shown such generosity for so many years. Such a pleasure to meet him. We met Iron Maiden who is flip flopping with her husband Mr. Peanut Butter. They got as far as Mt. Greylock a week ago until he fell and cracked his ribs. Tom has been letting them stay in his home while Mr. Peanut Butter heals. Tom is driving them back to Greylock in the morning and has agreed to drive Little Prince and I to the top of Greylock as well so we can slackpacking 18 miles back to his place and then will drive us back to Greylock again the following day and we will continue nOrth bound again. His generosity just astounds me.I am spending the night at Shamrock Inn which caters to hikers. I enjoyed a couple good meals today and lots of rest. L [look forward to tomorrow.
Date: 2015-07-15
From: Shamrock Inn

To: Dalton, Pennsylvania 
Miles today: 18.0

Tom drove us to the top of Mount Greylock which is the highest peak in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet. To was cloudy and misty and we couldn't see 10 feet on front of us. The clouds were so thick we had no idea the famous monument was 50 yards in front of us. It reminded me of hiking in the rainforest in Alaska years ago. We headed to the Bascom Lodge for a quick cup of coffee and hot tea and the best blueberry muffin I have ever had. What a great way to start off a long day of hiking. We were hiking south today because we were slackpacking back to Tom's backyard. We were going downhill instead of up Greylock which most hikers prefer, but not me. I am extremely slow downhill and can actually hike faster uphill.I was quite impressed with the alpine forest coming down Greylock and it felt somewhat mysterious hiking in the clouds.   The trail was covered in Pine needles and the feel of Christmas was in the air as it smelled like freshly cut Christmas trees. I liked this much better than my oral scent. The first five miles felt great and I really started thinking slackpacking was going to be a breeze and this might be a great way to catch up on some miles. Eventually the roots and rocks got to me again and my feet felt just as sore as they do every day.The trail had a lot of diversity today and the forest opened up even though I didn't witness much sunlight. Eventually we walked through a charming town called Cheshire and it just happened to be lunch time. As luck would have it the trail went right by a tiny ice cream and sandwich shop situaTed on a shady grassy field with three picnic tables. I had a bowl of chili and a maple pecan ice cream cone that I will never forget. We saw other NOBO'S stop by as well. Such a nice spot which reminded me of something out of a movie. Again, it was a little part of small town America that I never would have experienced except for this hike but so glad that I did. Back on the trail we walked through town some more and then started climbing up the next mountain. So glad I didn't have the second ice cream cone I had gone back inside to get. We saw Flip, Rise, Apple Cider, Frog, Toad and anot her hiker who was backtracking 7 miles because he had lost his wallet. The trail got very muddy again and my foot sunk into the black gunk and I thought I had lost my boot. What a sinking sensation to be stuck and the more I moved the deeper it sunk. Finally all I could do was laugh and finally dug it out with my trekking pole. I had mud all over my dress, face and hair. The rocks and roots then became more prominent again and I didn't feel any different than when I carried a fill pack.It was a long day but happy I got in 18 miles. It was about a mile walking back to Tom's house and I was so tired I could barely set up my tent. The backyard looked like a tent city. So thankful to Tom for his generous heart and spirit. Sitting on Tom's porch waiting for my pizza to be delivered from the local pizzeria.I want to say a special hello to my sweet niece Ellie who I know is reading my journal. Thank you for reading and joining me on this fun adventure.
Date: 2015-07-16
From: Dalton, Pennsylvania 

To: Mount Greylock 
Miles today: 0.0

Tom dropped us off at Mount Greylock again and we had every intention of hiking all day buy the skies were clear and we had a perfect view of the Berkshires below and I knew it was a once in a lifetime experience to spend a day and evening in this lodge so here I am having another incredible zero day. The lodge is built of stone by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the 1930's and is comfortable and restful respite from the woods with gorgeous views from every windiw. A large fireplace with comfy leather chairs and sofas adorn the sitting areas for guests. I spent some time outside taking pictures and walking around. I found a large grassy area in the sparkling sun to lay out my tyvec for Yoga with a majestic view of the Berkshires while all my wet hiking clothes dried in the sun. What a perfect and beautiful day.There was a fabulous chef at the lodge who came up with a creating and very tasteful menu which was surprising for a lodge tucked away in a remote area. We had a group dinner and shared a table and great conversations with two sisters Diane and Chris who were dayhiking together and another lovely woman who's name I can't remember but is a school teacher who is glamping, in her own words, and loving it. It was such a pleasure to meet these wonderful people and an evening I will always remember. So glad to have made the decision to spend some time here.
Date: 2015-07-17
From: Mount Greylock 

To: Seth Warner Shelter 
Miles today: 13.2

Today was exciting because I walked into another state today. I always look forward to a new state for obvious reasons, but I especially look forward to taking a picture of the state sign at the border. So I was disappointed Vermont was the only state so far with no sign. I knew I was in Vermont because of the sign indicating I was on the Long Trail which traverses 273 miles from Vermont to Canada. The trail foolish the AT for 105 miles. The AT guide book that I am using for my hike warns of the muddy trail, and I did some more research on the ATC website. I'm not sure what to expect but that is part of the thrill and anticipation. I've only been in Vermont for three miles so far, and it is black and muddy but so has the northern end of Massachusetts. A portion of today's hike was along the Hoosick River which was running pretty fast and had small picturesque waterfalls. Another notable spot was climbing up pine cobble. It brought me back to a couple of states ago where I had to rock climb through jumbles of rocks and seriously consider each foot placement.I finally made it to a small crowded shelter before dark and before the rain started. Everyone very kindly offered to move over and let me squeeze in so I wouldn't have to tent in the rain. I met Banana Bread who is a grad student at Northeastern in Boston and section hiking about 300 miles. It is so great to talk to all these young enthusiastic hikers and hear things about life from their point of view. I really wish I had considered thru-hiking when I graduated from college instead of at my change, but I had never even heard of the AT at that time. Now it seems to be a rite of passage for so many. It is great to see but I need to stop comparing my hiking pace and patterns with them.So another night of rain begins...so happy to be in this shelter snuggled up with strangers who are just as crazy as me.P.S. Okay, I am tired and crazy and apologize to Vermont because as I upload this picture I now notice it welcomes me to Vermont right above the Long Trail. I almost didn't take this picture because of my disappointment on the trail but so glad I did. I can now add this to the collage I plan to make of all the state border signs I pass.
Date: 2015-07-18
From: Seth Warner Shelter 

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a productive day as I managed to get in 13 miles on a very wet and muddy trail with roots that look like they are growing high up out of the ground in order to better grab hikers and pull them into the mud. The rocks do not want to be left out so they space themselves out in such a way that they can still compete with the mud and roots to trip up a hiker and make their day. One thing I immediately noticed about Vermont is that the wooden planks that are sporadically placed over the muddiest bogs are rotten and broken in many places. I had the unfortunate but laughable indigent in which I stepped up onto the end of a 10 foot wooden plank that had come separated and lifted straight up into the air and hit me in the head and knocked me face down into the mud. Luckily I was not hurt just mortified at how I must have looked even though I was alone. I made my way to the Congdon Shelter for lunch and was able to clean up some in the stream. Hot Sauce was there as well and we talked for a bit. I've seen him and his group of 8 or 9 hikers quite often lately. They have been hiking together since Georgia.I was on pace to meet Little Prince at Vermont 9 to try and hitch a ride together or get a cab into the town of Bennington to go to a grocery store for a resupply to last a couple of days until Imade it to the last mile and practically came to a screeching halt. I was expecting a downhill but nothing like this knee jarring climb down steep steep rocks. I thought it was never going to end and I was exclaiming the ridiculousness of it when I saw a man running up the climb. It was unbelievable to me and again made me question my ability and confidence of hiking this trail that is not a walk in the woods. I finally made it down safely and only one hour behind schedule.   I was a muddy mess according to Little Prince, and I worried about someone letting me into their car. After 10 minutes a kind Irish couple who were camping offered to drive us to Walmart where they had to get a few supplies. Anthony and Olive waited for us and drove us to shop and then drove us back to the trailhead so it was a quick and easy stop compared to most. We even left our backpacks on the trunk of their car while shopping.   While inside it occurred to me that we had left several thousands of dollars worth of gear in someone's car we had only met 20 minutes earlier. What a testament to the kindividual of wonderful people we are meeting that have made the logistics of this long distance hike possible. We ate some snacks at a bridge by the river before hiking 2 miles to the shelter. It felt more like 4 miles because of the steep unhill, heavier pack and of course the mud. All was good in my world again when I reached the spring right before the shelter and found this spider nestled in the center of the amazing and intricate web he had weaved. I am mesmerized by spider webs and this is the first one I have seen so far on the trail. It was perfect glinting in the sunlight at night right before dusk. What an awesome sight!
Date: 2015-07-19
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: clear sky

My spider was gone this morning when I passed the stream out of the shelter. Too bad. I thought I had left one of my new gatorade bottles by the stream last night when I filled up on waterror but I didn't see it this morning and I couldn't find it in my pack. It turned out to be a disaster for me because water was scarce and I only had the one bottle and became dehydrated again my own fault. To make matters worse when I got to Goddard shelter for lunch and was able to fill up I found the full bottle in the side of my pack. I felt like an idiot because it was there all the time and I was really hurting. I'm used to having smart water bottles that stick out of my pack. The maid through them away at the last hotel and I had to get the shorter bottles. THE shelter was full of NOBO'S. It was nice hearing their stories.The trail was muddy again today bUT a lot to look at along the way. Very happy to make it to the shelter again with all this rain.
Date: 2015-07-20
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: Stratton Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 15.0

It rained again all night but why am I not surprised. I should be used to putting on wet smelly socks every morning and then sliding them into my wet or damp trail runners, but I still revolt every morning as if I expected something different. I love the trail and am so happy to have this opportunity to fulfill a dream, but I would welcome drier less challenging conditions. Despite the mud and rain I am in awe if the incredible beauty of Vermont. The forest is full of spruce and the smells are tantalizing at times. The mountains I am catching glimpses of are breathtaking and I am trying to soak it all in without focusing on the constant pain in my feet. I am wondering if I have a love hate relationship with the trail. I love being here but some days especially today it is a challenge to keep putting one foot in front of the other. The numbness in my toes and throbbing pain from swelling in my feet are forefront in my mind a lot of the time. I feel like I take too many breaks and then feel guilty because I am so much slower than most thru-hikers. I want to breath in all the beauty and experience and need the frequent breaks to rest my feet. Today's hike offered much to look at and photograph, but my feet were killing me when I finally climbed up and over Stratton Mountain. I fell three times today in the mud and landed face down all three tines, so I am a muddy mess again. Cell service is very limited in Vermont so I made use of the service I was able to get on top of Stratton. I had an enjoyable conversation with my friend Norma and caught up with the swim team news. I miss swimming and my swimming buddies. The majestic Green Mountains put a smile on my face, and I was happy to reach the two story cabin before sunset. This shelter has a caretaker and there us a five dollar charge as does a few others in Vermont. It was the same kind of shelter that is typical on the trail except larger. I had a delicious meal of my dehydrated veggies and beans I had prepared myself and had sent in a resupply box. Not much time to do anything else tonight except sleep and crawl into the loft on a very high ladder. I'm worried about injuring myself in the night when I have to make my way down the ladder to go into the woods to use the "restroom." I am always torn between hydrating the way I know I should before I go to bed, or drinking as little as I can so I can minimize my bathroom stops in the woods at night. After yesterday's dehydration nightmare I am drinking up tonight.Tonight the shelter is fairly full and the big group of NOBO'S we have been leapfrogging are here including Jacoby, Hot Sauce, Mow, and Chip to name a few.
Date: 2015-07-22
From: Vermont 11

To: Bromley, Vermont 
Miles today: 0.0

Today was spent exploring the town of Rutledge, Vermont and having some pampering done at Stella's Beauty Salon. We took a cab ride into town and went to the post office where I mailed home a few things to cut down some pack weight. I found Stella's in awol's guide and they were kind enough to make room for me even though they were quite busy. Stella's daughter Amanda washed and trimmed my hair and combed out all the snarls that I haven't been able to get out for a few weeks now. She even showed me how to braid my hair with two pony tail holders to hopefully avoid more knots. I even had my eyebrows waxed and now feel like a million bucks. Next on the agenda was drinks and nachos and guacamole at a fabulous joint called Gringo Jacks. What a fun day and great people in this town. I wasn't even bothered by the rain. A trail angel gave us a ride back to the lodge, and then it was rest and relaxation and gazing at the views. The beauty of Vermont was really starting to sink in.The resort does not have any food options except on weekends, and we couldn't find anyone to deliver food. The irony of being hungry for dinner and being at a lodge in town and not being to get food. We actually had to dig into our food bags and are half the sandwiches we had just made yesterday with meat and cheese from Price Chopper. Now we had less for the trail. Oh well! I have thoroughly enjoyed this stay and am looking forward to getting to know Vermont better on the trail. I even heard the trail is less muddy further north. Yay!Truck, you and Overload are so right about Vermont and it's beauty. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I am really enjoying your comments. The next time I visit my sister and her family in Orange Park I'd love to meet you both and treat you to dinner.
Date: 2015-07-23
From: Bromley, Vermont 

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

This has been the most spectacular day on the trail for me so far and Vermont has moved up to my favorite state status with Massachusetts now in second place. Words cannot adequately describe how I felt climbing up to Bromley Mountain and experiencing the mountain views as far as my eyes could see with just the perfect amount if sunshine added to the mix. The ascent was gradual enough to be considered pleasant. The climb to the top was open grassy fields with a narrow path that made me feel like I was in the Sound of Music. If I didn't have such a heavy pack on my back I would have skipped my way to the top. It was a magical feeling indeed and after posing for this picture I plopped down my pack and explored the ski lifts and small lodge. I was surrounded by majestic views in all directions and I wish I could have stayed here all day. I ate two more of my salami and provolone sandwiches I had made. All I can say is that everything tastes better on the trail. I saw a young mother day hiking with her five month old baby. That is awfully brave but she looked like she knew what she was doing.The trail continued to impress me as the day went on, and I felt like I had an extra spring in my step. Maybe it's because there was considerably less mud on the trail today. What a nice change. Eventually I made it to Style's Peak which had a comfortable rock formation and perfect view. I had a cliff bar and talked to my son on the phone while watching two chipmunks play nearby. I was late getting to the shelter again because of all my stops, but it was well worth it. Turtle and his son Breakaway were at the shelter as well. They are section hiking and we had met them a couple weeks ago in the shelter we shared with Banana Bread and had kindly made room for me in a very crowded shelter. Their wife Carla is having her own adventure ad she follows along in her car stopping in these small towns and resupplying for them. I think she has the right idea. Turtle overheard us talking about going into Darby tomorrow to pick up packagea at the post office and offered his wife's services to drive us there and back as she would be meeting them at the road crossing. How perfect as we didn't realize Darby was so remote and not convenient to get to.Today was a great day!
Date: 2015-07-24
From: Peru Peak Shelter

To: Greenwall Shelter 
Miles today: 14.5

This day was magical and is two favorite days in a row because of the beauty I am witnessing. The spruce trees surround the trail and smell of Christmas. They all look different to me so I keep snapping pictures which cut into my hiking time. For a Florida girl this is a sight I will never forget. It just feels like the trees can hear my thoughts and are one with me. The carpet of Pine needles are a gift to my feet when not covered with rocks and roots.The morning brought me to Griffith Lake which was a real treat to my eyes and soul. There is nothing like a mountain lake and my pictures will never capture tree the true beauty. I imagine I am as intrigued with these mountains as are those who are yearning for the beach and ocean who do not experience that lifestyle. I am hoping this hike will make me never take things for granted again and that I have an even deeper appreciation for small comforts and inner and outer beauty.We found Carla at the road crossing and thanked her but did not need a ride into Darby anymore as Little Prince's packaged had not arrived. I am going to have my food resupply forwarded to Hanover as I am good with food now. Carla was so sweet and gave me fresh blueberries and a plum she had just gotten from a produce stand. She even took my garbage and offered to charge my phone. What a pleasure to meet Carla.Even the rain this afternoon did not get me down, but I sure was tired and my feet were sore. I came upon the most incredible sight in the forest about a mile before coming to the shelter. A small area was full of every size and shape of rock cairns imaginable. I could not believe it. This picture truly does not do it justice. There were even two of them up in a tree. Had it not been for the rain and late hour I would have created my own. I have seen many of these cairns along the trail but not such a huge group with such creativity. I wish everyone could see what I saw today...and everyday for that matter.