morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-07-16
From: Riga Shelter near Salisbury, CT

To: South Egremont
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

This looked to me like a wooden statue of a tree creature running through the woods. Or maybe I'm just seeing things. I awoke to a brilliant pink sunrise over a panoramic view right from the shelter I slept in. I lay there watching for almost an hour. Great way to start the day. Not long into my hike this morning I crossed into Massachusetts. This state greeted me with some fun climbs, a gorgeous ridge walk with a 180 degree view, a waterfall, and wonderful weather. It was perfect today for hiking: sunny, warm, dry and breezy. Some locals assured me that the weather is like this year round. Hmmmm. Someone asked me my favorite state so far. I had to say Connecticut with its nice blend of interesting ups and downs, along with some soft dirt trails. We'll see how Massachusetts stacks up. So far it has been beautiful but rugged. I ended the day with a long awaited delight...My daughter arrived to hike several days with me. This evening we've got a motel room, we'll have dinner, and then catch a movie. So glad she could get the time off to travel up here to experience some of this amazing hike with me. We start tomorrow.
Date: 2015-07-17
From: South Egremont

To: Stealth Camping off trail
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: broken clouds

Here's my daughter Claire, who was with me for a great day of hiking today. She's been telling folks so far that her trail name is TBD (To Be Determined). Kinda goes with 3D. We got back to the hotel last night after going to dinner, a movie (Inside Out), and then to an ice cream parlor. After sleeping in this morning, then breakfast and a trip to the grocery store, we started hiking around noon.The trail today took us across lowlands from one ridge to another. So we had a couple hours of flat and easy trail before encountering some interesting climbs. Claire just shot up and over everything that came up (a few 800-foot ups and downs), and still was full of energy and excitement when we set up our tents. It's so fun to have her out here with me. And what a trail magic magnet she is! We had three Trail Angel food stops today and were full our whole hike. We're up on a ridge with our tent doors facing each other so we can talk and joke around. It's sprinkling off and on, we're dry, and the clouds of mosquitoes can't get us!Nowhere I'd rather be.
Date: 2015-07-18
From: Stealth Camping off trail

To: Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Well hello there 3D's fan club! Today's post is being guest-blogged by 3D's daughter, yours truly, To Be Determined. (TBD hiking with 3D!)I'd like to tell you the tale of our trek today as well as lift the veil (...err mosquito netting) on Mr. "Nowhere I'd Rather Be" -- 3D.1. Yes. He IS that cheerful, and it's contagious! Last night a torrential downpour soaked our little tents and it continued to drizzle all day as we hiked. However, we were safe beneath the green tunnel and barely felt a drop once we got going. So we both just kept marveling at the peaceful silence while the birds stayed silent, tucked deep in their nests and the mosquitoes' wings were too wet to be buzzing in our ears. Rain? Perfection. (And the sun came out later in the day- yet another reason to smile!)2. He loves being silly, goofy and all about the jokes (even/especially the bad ones). That leaf in the photo that looks like a wincing smiley face? I dubbed that the AT's emoticon. He gave me a big, head-tilted back chuckle for that little commentary. Man, it feels good to hang out with this guy!3. 3D appreciates every moment, in the moment. We were stopped on the trail while my dad fished something out of my pack when we heard cracking, from up above. As soon as we turned our heads to look up, a giant 15 foot branch harpooned the trail barely five feet from where we stood! It crashed to the ground with such force that we would have needed some emergency trail magic to have made it out alive. (Hence the photo) This near-death experience? 3D said he was grateful to have experienced that, with me! His ability to be nostalgic for the present moment envelopes my soul and makes me feel loved and appreciated, and I hope you also feel the same, now that you're here -- in his circle.4. He loves writing this blog. And he's amazed at how when we ran into a group of thru-hikers today, whom he'd never met, they all already knew of him! Our conversation with these perfect strangers started with: You've lost weight! Ha! (which by the way- he hasn't lost that much. He's lost all his fat, yes, but replaced it with muscle. Now, he's as chiseled as someone half his age.) (Weird.)We're tented up right next to each other in Shaker Campsite, and we've dubbed the area between our two tents, which we pass our PB&J dinner sandwiches and chips across, "Main Street." Yesterday was magical. Today was wonderful. Tomorrow is ... To Be Determined.
Date: 2015-07-19
From: Shaker Campsite

To: Stealth Camping off trail, near Becket, MA
Miles today: 13.0

Guess who has passed the torch yet again for blogging rights? Sorry y'all, you're stuck with me, 3D's daughter ... TBD (to be determined). Except! I've been D'd !!!... Let me explain.Day one: Three trail magics. Day two: We came across two *perfectly* speckled bananas. And today? We turned the tables and paid it forward, providing trail magic!!We had been hiking in the shady, steamy forest all morning. On the lookout for our next water source, we emerged from the woods to find the warm sun beating down on a small bridge over a clear stream. We popped off our packs and I, as the resident "monkey," scrambled down the side of the bridge to fill our supply.While I was marveling at the life below the water (filled with fish and crawdads), 3D was appreciating every ray of sunshine up above. Always a family to take our vitamins, we decided this was the perfect opportunity to lay our outer shirts out to dry, while we soaked up some Vitamin D.The view was at once serene and alive with life. Sitting on the bridge with our feet dangling off, we paid our trail magic forward, and shared our afternoon snack with the fishies. While our motives may not have been entirely altruistic (because watching fish fight over a fruit loop is ridiculously entertaining), our trail magic was surely appreciated by all those fish (who I sincerely hope do not have a gluten allergy).So there you have it. My name was born on the trail. I am:Magic Monkey.
Date: 2015-07-20
From: Stealth Camping off trail, near Becket, MA

To: Becket, MA
Miles today: 8.0

Daughter Magic Monkey here. Today was our final day as the dynamic daddy-daughter duo. The trail + weather really pulled out all the stops to make today's hike from our stealth-campsite (see "Main Street" in the top right photo) to Becket, Mass maybe the most beautiful hike, yet. (In Becket, see the Cookie Lady's inviting front porch, lawn chairs, and checklist register of thru-hikers states' of origin.) Rooty ground that was spongy from last night's rain, dappled sunlight, and a cool breeze through the trees really had me on the lookout for fairies and David the Gnome. I am sad to leave my dad out here alone in the woods, one month out from any visitors and two-plus months from the finish... Not to mention that it's Ver"mud," then the increasingly battering hiking of the White Mountains in N'ampshire, and then racing Autumn to Mt. Katahdin's summit in Maine!However, after just my short time here- it's so abundantly clear that he's not alone. He is part of this unbelievable trail community. These are the friendliest people -- just about all the Nobo (North-bound) hikers know each other at this point. When they see each other (sometimes it's been weeks or months plus or minus beards and bellies), they pause to swap tales from their trek, divulge their mileage on deck for the day, and talk shop (especially related to their gear or systems they've painstakingly perfected little by little, day by day).It's odd to me to think that this community exists entirely along a single foot path stretched through fourteen states. No community center in which to gather; no day of the week that they try to clear their schedules to meet. This community exists entirely of people who have voluntarily sought out the challenge of trying to keep walking, through nature, for three seasons. And the only way for each of them individually to successfully reach his or her goal, is to support everyone within the community. Sometimes that support looks like offering to help charge a phone, point to a water source, or a heads up about the bees nest under the footbridge ahead. (Yes, happened, happened and happened!) They motivate one another to press on while respecting everyone's individuality, hence the oft-used saying, "Hike your own hike."Maybe all this time surrounded by pure nature has made me more contemplative, or it's that I'm on the threshold of my own great adventure as I prepare to embark on a cross-country move, but I return to civilization with more confidence in my strength and abilities, more appreciative of life's diversity, and acutely aware of the gift of TIME. Thank you all whom I met along the journey!!-Magic Monkey
Date: 2015-07-21
From: Becket, MA

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: overcast clouds

My daughter brought me new trail runners when she arrived a few days ago. Do you think I needed them? She was excited about bringing me snazzy yellow banana-like shoes. High fashion. This is my fourth pair of shoes although two of the pairs were already well broken in before I started.My daughter, Magic Monkey, caught a ride back to the airport this morning. I so enjoyed having her out here and the entire experience seemed almost magical. I was surprised when we hugged goodbye how emotional I felt. I had read that the top reason people leave the trail is loneliness. Well I certainly had my bouts of homesickness today following her visit. This was also the day of my anniversary. (Beth, I know we talked, but again, Happy 36th Anniversary.) In addition, I've been nursing some kind of bug that has diminished my energy for the last few days. The combination of physical and emotional strain made today's hike particularly difficult. It was a beautiful day and easy terrain, yet I just couldn't seem to muster my usual pep and good cheer. I knew there would be days like this so I just had to push through to get to my destination. Fortunately, I had planned ahead to have a relatively short mileage day and end up in a motel, which is always a treat.There's a saying on the trail to never quit on a bad day. That makes sense because making a decision at an emotional low point is never a good idea. Plus, inevitably there will be some amazing view or experience just around the corner. Not that I had even an inkling to quit (I didn't), but I know to push through on a bad day and not let it bother me, keeping the big picture in mind. I'm eager to see what tomorrow's amazing view or experience will be.
Date: 2015-07-22
From: Dalton, MA

To: Cheshire, MA
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: broken clouds

Occasionally the trail will go right through a small town. This is a scene from the quaint residential area of Dalton Massachusetts.One aspect of this hike is the logistics of getting groceries. Without a car, just a short drive turns into a distance to contend with. For instance, this morning before breakfast I walked about four miles total to a grocery store and back to the motel. It was practically next door in a car but a couple of hours on foot. I did actually get my first hitched ride for about half a mile. That was pretty cool.I have had mild flu like symptoms going on six days now. If it hadn't been such a beautiful day I probably would have taken a zero day. But I just had to take advantage of the mild and dry weather. However during my hike, my wife reminded me that I have the common symptoms for Lyme disease. I've kept waiting to bounce back, but it doesn't seem to be letting go. Even if the likelihood is small, letting something like that go untreated can have horrific physical consequences. I decided to not let the cloud of worry hang about so I decided to stop in my next town to see a doctor. I chose to stop in at a church that allows hikers to sleep on the floor. I hoped that the pastor would know where I could walk to a clinic or doctor, or more likely know who might be able to drive me to one. He wasn't in but I met a church volunteer, Wanderer, who is a former thru-hiker. He offered to drive me to the next town where there is a medical center. He waited the three hours it took for me to be examined and go through all of the paperwork. The test will take a week to have results so the doctor decided to put me on the medication immediately in case I do have Lyme disease. He also put me on medication in case I have Giardia. He predicted that I will feel fine in a couple of days now. Back to this amazing trail angel. Wanderer and his wife offered to let me stay in their guest room. I have now taken a shower and selected what I want for breakfast tomorrow morning! This couple is just so incredibly generous. I would have been so out of luck trying to figure all of this out on my own, locate a place that performs the test, and take a bus to the next town. But this trail angel swooped in and took care of me. I think the friendliness and generosity of regular folks is the best part of this hike. This experience has reminded me that most of the news and the media feeds on people's fears and even generates fear to sell advertising. It's not a realistic picture of day to day living or how genuinely good most people actually are.So back to the trail for me tomorrow with medications in hand and blue skies ahead.
Date: 2015-07-23
From: Cheshire, MA

To: Far off trail on a ridge near Vermont border
Miles today: 17.3

This is a picture from a foot bridge over the Hoosic River. Note the reflection of the clouds in the water. Pretty nice, eh?My day started with a good sweat-inducing hike up to the top of Mount Greylock, the tallest mountain in Massachusetts. The view was spectacular and the road that leads to the summit brought many day trippers. I found myself peppered with enthusiastic questions about my thru-hike by curious families. Folks were consistently blown away by the fact that I had been hiking for 4 months and started in Georgia. It's cool to see peoples' reactions to the mileage a thru-hiker covers.My trail angel host last night is one of the trail maintainers in this area. What they do is unbelievable. For instance, there had been reports of an active bear at one of the shelters and my host had a big heavy bear box (a box for hikers to safely store their food at night) in the back of his truck. He and another guy plan to haul that thing in by hand to that shelter. That thick metal box is big and heaaaavy and it's hard for me to imagine two guys hauling that thing up and over all of the rocks and other obstacles. Hugely admirable.My host did share with me his concern about stealth camping. The trail maintainers work very hard to keep up a pristine trail experience for all hikers. He shared that uninitiated people camping near the trail often leave trash, fire rings, and otherwise disturb the natural look from the trail. The trail maintainers clean all of that up and I can understand their irritation. I had not thought too much about that though I typically walk fairly far away from the trail because I like the privacy and solitude. He would prefer no one stealth camp but I believe it can be done responsibly. "Leave no trace" is a common phrase out here. I believe that can be done with stealth camping even down to stirring up the flattened leaves in the morning before you depart. Camping a good distance away from the trail, not disturbing the environment, and certainly not leaving trash or a fire ring is simple common sense.So I'm in such a place tonight - and being careful! I had been hiking in a muggy, buggy area for a long time but pushed a few more miles to get up on this cool dry ridge. Nowhere I'd rather be.
Date: 2015-07-24
From: Far off trail on a ridge near Vermont border

To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

Vermont! State number 12 out of 14. To me, Vermont is one of those really "up there" states. I mean, it borders Canada for cryin' out loud. I seem to be over whatever yuck I had, whether it was the meds or some bug that ran its course. I'll find out in a week if it was Lyme disease. So all systems go...All joints and muscles in good working order and I'm ready to tackle this next part of my hike, especially the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Very difficult, but high payoff in 360 views. Here's how my typical 4 or 5 day block of days go. It starts with hiking out from a town up a huge ascent. Once I get to the top of a ridge or a mountain then its up and down and across and up and down the backbone of the mountain range. The sounds are of the wind, the birds, an occasional eep from a chipmunk, the click click click of my trekking poles on rocks, my footsteps, my breathing, sometimes rain, and lots of calming woodsy quiet. On the food side of things, it's protein bars, crackers, and other gas station market delicacies day after day.After several days I come to a descent, usually very steep, to a town where I will resupply, and where I usually try to get a motel room. The main thing I know is that I will eat hot delicious food -- NOT trail food. What happens when I cross the threshold of the ridge is that I can start to hear cars and trucks on the road far below. First faintly, then louder and louder. That sound makes me start to salivate like a Pavlov dog because I know there is hot food down there just waiting for me. Who knew that the sound of cars would create that kind of excited craving for food?!Today, I had big plans for big miles, but late in the day I crossed one of those ridge thresholds. Mmmmmmm, the sound of cars. I caved. I totally caved! I looked in the trail guide and found a motel that offered to pick up hikers from the trailhead and drive them the 7 miles into town. I had planned to keep on hiking, but the sound of the cars was just too delicious. So here I am, on an unplanned town stop in a dive motel with spicy vegetable soup and other hot food in my belly. Feeling goooooood.
Date: 2015-07-25
From: Bennington, VT

To: Off trail campsite near Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

This is a view looking out from the top of a fire tower on Glastenbury Mountain. Those trees below are about five stories tall. It was a spectacular 360 degree view. The forest here is mostly fir trees and ferns, very different from the forests in the South and mid Atlantic states.A note about my blog postings:I write my blog every evening and upload a picture and the blog right then and there if I have data service. Occasionally I don't have data service, so the first time the next day that I do get the service, I upload then. I noticed as soon as I entered Vermont that the cell phone data service became spotty. There is just less population and the trail is more remote, I suppose. There may be days when I don't have any service at all, but I will continue writing every evening and will upload all missing days as soon as I am able. I suspect the remote nature of cell service will be even more pronounced in New Hampshire and Maine. So if you don't see an update on a certain day, you may be sure that it will show up eventually when I get cell phone data service again and post all missing days. I decided to sleep in this morning, have a leisurely breakfast, change all of my foot bandages, and make a few equipment repairs. Bottom line, I didn't start hiking until 10:30 this morning, which is about three hours later than I normally start. But it certainly felt good to sleep in and take care of those other things.Here are some of the names of the people that intermittently passed me today: Smiles (he does a lot), Ukalady (carries and plays a ukulele), Chameleon (I haven't asked her why), Tim (just not buying into the whole trail name thing...unless his name is not really Tim), Fiddler (has to do with a foul word expression he uses - "Where's 3D? He's Fiddle F**king around by the shelter"), Yoda (someone said they were trying to make it to Katahdin and she responded "Do or not do...there is no try" and she was immediately dubbed Yoda). That's about all the people I saw today. They all look to be in their twenties and they're all faster than I am. Come to think of it, I haven't seen anyone in my age bracket in quite a while.I found a flat little spot off trail in enough time for me to set up and eat before it got dark. I'm recording this tonight with no cell phone data service and hope to upload it sometime tomorrow. It was just sprinkling a little while ago and it's quite cool. I'm wearing a long john top and my balaclava and wool hat. You may be roasting in the July heat, but it's pretty chilly up here. Fortunately, I am quite snug and warm in my tent. Nowhere I'd rather be.
Date: 2015-07-26
From: Off trail campsite near Kid Gore Shelter

To: Campsite at Stratton Pond
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: light rain

VerMUD they call it, and for good reason. This is an example of what much of the trail looks like. (You're seeing about 25' of trail/mud.) By using my trekking poles and carefully stepping on roots, rocks, and fallen branches, I was able to keep my feet dry today. My shoes got fairly muddy but I avoided all of the really wet muck. I was lucky, too, that there has been dry weather most of last week, or it could have been MUCH worse. I wrote last night that it was sprinkling after I had settled in for the night. It turns out that it was just needles from the fir trees dropping on my tent. It sounded just like light rain. When my daughter was here, she brought a blow up sleeping pad. But since her tent floor was so slippery, I let her use my hard foam sleeping pad that I had enhanced with no-skid sandpaper on one side. So when I used her blow up sleeping pad, I discovered I got a great night's sleep. That, and knowing that the air cushion will be warmer in the upcoming cold weather, made me decide to send the hard foam pad home, and I'm sleeping on the blow up pad now. All that to say that I noticed an interesting phenomenon this evening. As I was setting up my tent, I was being hounded by mosquitoes as usual. But as soon as I started blowing up the pad, my CO2 was no longer signaling my presence and the little demons pretty much left me alone. One other mosquito tidbit. I use my headnet a good deal, but it's too hot to also wear a long sleeve shirt at the same time. I've noticed that with my arms exposed, I've developed a keen awareness of when mosquitoes land on my arms (which is often). But with my hands in the straps of my trekking poles I can't swat them. So I move my bent elbows up and down real fast, which (1) shakes them off and (2) makes me look like a duck. I'm in my tent near a large pond, happily listening to the steady whine of dozens of mosquitoes inches from me that can't reach me through the netting. Ha! It's going to be a comfortable night. Nowhere I'd rather be.