morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-07-31
From: Mt. Algo Shelter (in CT)

To: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter (in CT)
Miles today: 17.3

Day 117 - Today was supposed to be a 20 mile day, but I came to the realization that I didn't have enough food to last until I meet up with Mrs. Pockets. I'm pretty much out of stove fuel as well. I had to resupply, but where? Cornwall Bridge was only 0.9 miles off the trail and there's an outfitter in town too. After hiking on level ground along the Housatonic River and then some serious ups and downs, Gernot and I came upon Rt. 4, which leads into the town of Cornwall Bridge. As I was leaving the outfitter store, I noticed the Country Market across the street had tables and chairs on their porch - food!!! Gernot and I both gobbled down very large Reuben sandwiches, a half pound of potato salad, a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and a couple of sodas. I was able to get enough trail food to last a couple more days. Then a friendly local guy offered to drive us back to the trail! That's one of the best kinds of trail magic!! The last 4 miles of today's hike were pretty strenuous - steep, long ups and downs that wore us out and made us very happy to reach tonight's shelter. Tomorrow I'll pass the 1500 mile mark and head into Massachusetts on Sunday. The weather looks good for the next couple of days, so things are looking up. My sister, 'Spyder', invited Gernot to join me and Mrs. Pockets at her house for a zero day or two. He seems very happy to accept her offer of hospitality. This will in all likelihood be his first visit to an American home. It should be fun. Until tomorrow....
Date: 2015-08-01
From: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter (in CT)

To: Riga Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

Day 118 - Today started off with a 3 mile detour from the AT because the bridge over the Housatonic River is being replaced near Falls Village. So I thought, if the river can be forded, I can save myself a 3 mile, 1.5 hour road walk in the hot sun. If it can't be forded, I'll have to backtrack several miles to where the detour started and do the road walk. A southbound hiker said he thought the river could be crossed and he pointed out that I'd face worse river crossings in Maine. So that settled it. Gernot and I went for it - in our crocs. Needless to say, we didn't even lose our crocs as we crossed it. I came out here thinking that hiking from Georgia to Maine would not only be very challenging, but I might not take the most safe, easiest, or guaranteed way to get there. Although on life or death decisions out here, I do recommend making the safe choice! I crossed the 1, 500 mile point - only 689.2 miles to go! Riga Shelter, where I'm at right now, is about 4 miles from the Massachusetts state line. I'll add that state to the roster tomorrow morning. Right off the bat, I'll need to climb Mount Race, Mount Everett, and Mount Bushnell. My climbing muscles, which haven't been used much since Virginia, will be forced back into service. I expect them to complain loudly. They let me know they were not happy today as I climbed Bear Mountain! There's a great easterly view from Riga Shelter. Usually I tent at shelter sites, but tonight I'm in the shelter. I expect to see a great sunrise in the morning. Until tomorrow.....
Date: 2015-08-02
From: Riga Shelter

To: Rt. 7 near Great Barrington, MA @ mile 1521
Miles today: 18.0

Day 119 - Our climbing muscles screamed today as we crossed over 4 mountains - Bear, Race, Everett, and Bushnell. Today's original plan had been to hike 15 - 17 miles, camp for the night, get up and hike 8 - 10 miles in the A.M. before Mrs. Pockets would pick up me and Gernot somewhere along Rte. 23. A lack of suitable camping spots, hot weather, and ravenous mosquitoes forced us to reconsider that plan. We nearly ran the last 4 miles today trying to outrace a big swarm of mosquitoes chasing after us. Binjali, a guy we've been hiking with for a few days, suggested the 3 of us split a room at the Days Inn in Great Barrington. Taking two zero days (zero = no hiking) instead of the planned one zero day will give our joints, tendons, and my calorie deficiency a chance to recuperate. So here I am at the Days Inn - nice and comfortable for the night in an air conditioned, no mosquito room while waiting for Mrs. Pockets to arrive tomorrow. This part of the trail is special for me, though, because it is where my brother 'Cotton', my sister 'Spyder', and I did our first section hike in 2004. I was surprised to find that I had forgotten how beautiful Sages Ravine is - it's now one of my favorite places on the trail. It was here that we met hikers Dharma, No Dog, and No Beard - our first true interaction with thruhikers. Our packs were heavy that year, nearly 50 pounds. In spite of that, we caught the AT hiking bug while hiking this section and we've section hiked together every year since then. Those hikes led directly to my thruhike this year. They say a thruhike changes you. I don't know if I've changed - people who really know me may be a better judge of that. In any event, there's a lot more trail to be hiked. I've surprised myself at how far I've come. I thought my knees, feet, ankles or something else would have forced me off the trail by now. They still might, but the prospects of finishing are looking pretty darn good. Thanks, dear readers, for all of your encouragement!!
Date: 2015-08-03
From: Rt. 7 near Great Barrington, MA @ mile 1521

To: 'Spyder's' house
Miles today: 0.0

Day 120 - A zero day in Great Barrington, MA and Manchester, CT. Since it would take Mrs. Pockets several hours to drive from our home near Canandaigua, NY to Great Barrington, MA, Gernot and I had the rare opportunity to sleep in late at the Days Inn. That was followed by a large, leisurely breakfast at a local diner, a stroll around town and a sample of the wares of the ice cream store. Great Barrington is a nice little town with friendly residents. I'd like to revisit it again sometime in the future. After Mrs. Pockets arrived and introductions to Gernot and Binjali were made, Mrs. Pockets, Gernot and I headed toward Manchester, CT to visit my sister 'Spyder' and her family. Mrs. Pockets had downloaded the same translator as Gernot's to her phone. They chatted away the miles as we drove. I heard lots of laughter whenever the translator messed up and created some very odd messages. Shortly after settling in at my sister's house, our conversations turned back to the AT. Spyder and my brother 'Cotton' are leaving for a week long southbound section hike between New Hampshire and Vermont later this week. Right now, Gernot and I are hiking through a section of the trail my siblings and I have hiked before. They don't really want to repeat it and I don't really want to jump ahead. So unfortunately, we'll not be hiking together this year. There was just enough time before dinner to get in a quick trip to a nearby outfitter store to look for some needed replacements. A very pretty sunset view from their deck followed happy hour and a great home cooked meal by Spyder's husband, Tom. And zero again tomorrow...
Date: 2015-08-04
From: 'Spyder's' house

To: Stonington, CT
Miles today: 0.0

Dear Readers: This is Mrs. Pockets here. Apparently, Pockets is under the impression that if he takes a zero day that also includes me, he doesn't have to do his own journal entry for that day! Imagine that! It has a somewhat familiar ring to it, but all in all, I really don't mind. Pockets needs to rest. Today was a really fun day. It's always a treat to visit with 'Spyder' and her family, but today was extra special because Gernot was with us. None of us speak German, so that wonderful google translator surely saved us from looking like a bunch of monkeys or like we were constantly playing a game of charades as we tried to talk to Gernot. After chocolate milk for Gernot and coffee for us, Spyder and I cooked up a big breakfast of bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast for all. Then it was off to REI to get the few remaining gear replacement items Pockets needed and more shoes for Gernot. This time, though, they were a pair of Keen rugged sandals, which Gernot must have decided would be better for fording rivers than the strapless crocs he carries. When Pockets had tried to explain to Gernot where Spyder's house was located, Gernot asked if he could see the Atlantic Ocean. So we hopped in the car again and took off for Stonington, CT, a pretty little seaport village. The movie Hope Springs (Steve Carell, Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones) was filmed there. There's more photos of Stonington on Pockets' photo page. We got back to Spyder's house in time for happy hour, another great home cooked meal by Spyder's husband Tom, and again a lovely sunset. I'm off the hook now and Pockets' journal entries will resume again... tomorrow...
Date: 2015-08-05
From: Rte. 7 near Great Barrington, MA

To: Shaker Campsite @ 1538.6
Miles today: 17.6

Day 122 - I fully intended to leave Spyder's house and be on the road at 5:30 am so Gernot and I could hit the trail by 7:00 am. That plan fell apart - who voluntarily gets up that early? After getting on the road back to Great Barrington at 6:30 am, hunger hit us. We stopped for breakfast at a cafe in Stockbridge, MA and didn't make it back to the trail until 9:00 am. Gernot and I set off north into a fairly easy section of the trail. It had only a couple of significant climbs and a number of pine forests, which are easy on the feet. I was wearing my new, un-broken-in shoes so I was concerned about blisters. Fortunately none developed. In spite of the late start, we still did a respectable number of miles today. We crossed paths with a number of southbound thruhikers. They said they've been on the trail for about 50 days now. I hope I can finish in less time than that since those 50 days included their 'low miles getting acclimated to the trail' days similar to what the northbounders have when starting in Geogia. They also said that the White Mountains of New Hampshire aren't as bad as people fear because the trail is well maintained. All music to my ears! Looking ahead, I'll be climbing Mount Greylock and heading into Vermont this weekend so I am making some nice progress. I have a goal of reaching Katahdin by Mid-September - this great weather we're having should help make it doable. Until tomorrow.....
Date: 2015-08-06
From: Shaker Campsite @ 1538.6

To: The Cookie Lady's House 
Miles today: 21.0

Day 123 - Today was very special for me because I got to revisit some of my favorite places on the AT - Upper Goose Pond Cabin, the walkway over I-90, and the Cookie Lady's House. When I section hiked in Massachusetts in 2004, some of my siblings and I spent the night at Upper Goose Pond Cabin. We went swimming and canoeing on the lake, listened to the stories of the caretaker, and ate his treasured blueberry pancakes in the morning. The I-90 AT walkway is a favorite spot because I drive under it so often. Just as I did in 2004, I walked over it today. The 'Cookie Lady' has been giving away homemade cookies to hikers for 30 years. She and her husband also sell hard boiled eggs, blueberries, and sodas: all hiker favorites. They allow camping on their property and provide a spigot for water. Gernot and I are staying here tonight. Roy and Marilyn are true Trail Angels!! In spite of the shorter daylight hours, I still seem to have my 20 mile mojo working. That may help me and Gernot get to Katahdin by the middle of next month. The southbounders I've talked to say it's definitely doable. That gives us hope that Gernot can make it too as his visa expires about that time. The great weather continues - highs in the 70s are rare in August in these parts, but that's what's in the forecast for the next several days. I intend to take maximum advantage of it. When Gernot and I were zeroing at my sister's house in CT a couple of days ago, a huge storm hit the section I'm in now. There were reports of hail, high winds, severe lightening, and a drenching rain. We've encountered quite a few downed trees across the trail from that storm. We were lucky to have missed it. In spite of that, I'm appreciative of the overall good weather this year. Don't know where I'll end up tomorrow - I'll let you know in my next update.
Date: 2015-08-07
From: The Cookie Lady's House 

To: St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Cheshire, MA
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: clear sky

Day 124 - Today Gernot and I went through Dalton and ended the day in Cheshire, where we're staying at the church hostel tonight. What was remarkable about today was how much food I managed to eat. I started with half a bag of granola for breakfast (1000 calories), a cheesesteak bomb overload sub for lunch (3000+ calories), a large dish of ice cream, a huge steak dinner at The Bass Works Grill (another 3000+ calories), 2 beers and another 600 or 700 calories in power bars during the day. I'd better watch it or my weight might climb to 225 pounds again! The weather remains exceptionally nice - at least until Tuesday, when it will almost certainly rain. When Gernot and I were taking a couple of zero days at my sister's house, her husband, Tom, did a great job of temporarily fixing up Gernot's backpack. It's held up quite well. The manufacturer is sending Gernot a replacement part. We will pick that up tomorrow in Williamstown at the Willow Motel and resupply our food for the journey into Vermont. Thanks to all who've left me notes of encouragement and support. I read them whenever I can. They really do help to keep me going and mean a lot to me. Until tomorrow....
Date: 2015-08-08
From: St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Cheshire, MA

To: Sherman Brook Campsite 
Miles today: 15.8

Day 125 - Gernot and I started today off with a 2500 foot climb up Mount Greylock. It's the highest point in Massachusetts. That part of the day went according to plan, but then the plan just all fell apart. After eating lunch at Bascom Lodge at the top of Mt. Greylock, I thought maybe I should reserve a room at the Willow Motel. We'd have to go there to pick up the replacement frame sheet for Gernot's backpack. There were no rooms available at that motel or at any place else in Williamstown or North Adams. I didn't have a 'Plan B' and my mind freezes over when that happens. When it unfroze, I decided we'd hike to North Adams, hitch into Williamstown, get the part, then hike on to Sherman Brook Campsite. Then we could resupply in Bennington, VT tomorrow. Fortunately, Gernot and I had enough food for that to work out. As it turned out though, we didn't even need to hitch into Williamstown. Right where the trail enters North Adams, there's a house that offers free bicycles to hikers to get to town. Gernot and I hopped on the bikes, rode to Williamstown to get the part, stopped at Dunkin Donuts for a snack, returned the bikes, and hiked on to the campsite. Mission accomplished! Right now, we're about 5 miles from the Vermont state line and about 6 miles from the 1600 mile point of this journey. Tomorrow will be a special day for that reason plus getting a shower, doing laundry, sleeping in a real bed, and eating fatty food will make it even better. I'd better call for a reservation!Until tomorrow....
Date: 2015-08-09
From: Sherman Brook Campsite 

To: Rt. 9 near Bennington, VT
Miles today: 16.8

Day 126 - Another beautiful day - the great weather continues! Early in the morning, I crossed the Vermont state line. Vermont's Long Trail coincides with the AT for about 100 miles and is one of the oldest long distance hiking trails in the country. Shortly after that, Gernot and I passed the 1600 mile point on our way to the 2189 mile finish at Mt.Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine. The hiking today was fairly easy until the descent to Rt. 9 at the end of the day. It was a steep, long, rocky drop. By the end of it, my knees were screaming at me. I should have taken some ibuprofen (vitamin I), but didn't think of it until too late. The motel we're staying at in Bennington picked us up at Rt. 9 and soon I was showered, dressed in clean clothes and off to the Dollar General for resupply. I had a great dinner tonight of nachos, soup, grilled chicken, garlic potatoes, and asparagus. I topped it off with chocolate mousse pie alamode. Tomorrow, I'll start off with a big climb. I'd better remember to take some ibuprofen first! Until tomorrow...
Date: 2015-08-10
From: Rt. 9 near Bennington, VT

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 127 - Well, I didn't hit it out of the park today as far as miles go. I didn't get on the trail until after 9 am because that's when the free bus leaves Bennington. On the bright side though, that did give Gernot and me time to have a great breakfast in town. We got to Kid Gore Shelter about 5 pm today. Ordinarily, I would have kept going for another 1.5 or 2 hours, but I wanted a space inside the shelter because of the weather forecast. Shelters fill up fast when it rains. No one wants to pack up a wet tent in the rain! So 14.4 miles it is. I'll likely be hiking in heavy rain tomorrow with wet feet (damn!). I don't expect to set any mileage records tomorrow either. The forecast calls for an 80% chance of rain, but maybe I'll get lucky and the sun will come out. There's a big climb up Stratton Mountain tomorrow. I'll be approaching 4000 ft - haven't been that high up in quite a while. Not much else to report today. Mrs. Pockets is assembling my cold weather clothes. I need to remember what I was wearing in the Smokies, but that seems like a lifetime ago. Until tomorrow......
Date: 2015-08-11
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 128 - It was almost impossible to get out of my nice warm sleeping bag this morning because of the cold rain falling outside the shelter. I tried and failed several times before deciding that I had to be an adult and get moving. Starting a day in the rain is never easy, but at least I didn't need to pack up a wet tent. I didn't know if Gernot and I would make it to Stratton Pond Shelter as planned because of this weather. Stratton Pond Shelter is a nice one and is large, so it became the goal for today. There was a big climb up Stratton Mountain - it took an hour and a half to make it to the top. Then the rain changed to a slight drizzle and it was only 3 more miles downhill to the shelter. We did that in an hour, but to my dismay, the shelter was very crowded. Fortunately, we managed to find two small spots and quickly claimed them. I hate crowded shelters. Trying to cook and organize my stuff is difficult enough in a shelter. With everyone else's stuff strewn all over the place, it's even worse. How do you change out of your wet underwear in a shelter without being an exhibitionist? Anyway, I'm hoping that tomorrow will be dryer. Enjoy your warm, dry, comfy beds, my dear readers!!Until tomorrow....
Date: 2015-08-12
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: clear sky

Day 129 - As expected, I got a later than normal start since there was chaos in the shelter in the morning. Everyone was trying to pack up and eat breakfast at the same time. There are no skylights or windows in this shelter so everyone was using their head lamps as well. Such is life in a large popular shelter. The morning walk was fairly easy. I finally caught up to Scout and Tumbles, a 19 yr. old boy hiking the AT with his 16 yr. old sister. Tumbles makes artistic entries in the shelter registers that always made me laugh. They are quite an inspiration hiking the AT at such a young age. In the afternoon, I climbed over two mountains: Bromley Mountain (a mountain ski resort) and Peru Peak. It was sunny most of the day - a welcome change from yesterday. Just after I got to Peru Peak Shelter all hell broke loose with a large, loud thunderstorm. Gernot and I couldn't have timed our arrival better. I had a bad fall on Peru Peak - slipped on a wet rock and landed on my right shoulder. This is the third time I've fallen on that shoulder - the joint is taking a beating and it hurts. I've got to protect it better. Until tomorrow .....
Date: 2015-08-13
From: Peru Peak Shelter

To: Minerva Hinchley Shelter
Miles today: 19.6

Day 130 - Gernot and I are quite excited about tomorrow. Minerva Hinchley Shelter, where we're camped, is less than 3 miles from a restaurant located where the AT crosses VT Rt. 103. That means BREAKFAST!!! In addition, there's a bus that stops there and provides a ride into Rutland. In all likelihood, that means LUNCH as well. We can do a resupply in Rutland and then return to the trail. We had a good hiking day today. I finally ran into BonBon. She has hiked with Katwalk and with my sister, No Spring Chicken. We passed the Cairn Rock Garden. It's beyond description - you need to look at the photos. We also caught up to 4Be. I've hiked with him on several occasions only to have him get ahead when I've taken zeros for one reason or another. Tomorrow, I should pass the '500 miles to Katahdin' marker. That seems like a lot of miles still, but it feels like just a month ago, I passed the '1000 miles to Katahdin' point. My right shoulder still hurts, but there's not much I can do about it except take ibuprofen - at least I didn't injure it again today. Gernot is teaching me to count in German. It makes communicating a lot easier, especially when talking about distances, i.e. how far to the shelter, how far we've come, etc. I'm a slow learner and am having a particular problem with the number 5. I think it is something like 'femth'. We're moving out of the deer tick infestation zone so the risk of Lyme disease is rapidly decreasing - one less thing to be concerned about. Tomorrow after the resupply, we plan to cross Killington Mountain - a big ski resort in Vermont. That should be a good climb. That's all the news for today!Until tomorrow.....
Date: 2015-08-14
From: Minerva Hinchley Shelter

To: Governor Clement Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: mist

Day 131 - After eating breakfast at the shelter, Gernot and I hiked 3 miles to VT Rt.103 and had our second breakfast at the Whistle Stop Cafe. We were joined by BonBon, C.shell, and D.no. Then we split the cost of a shuttle into Rutland, where Gernot and I were able to resupply at Walmart. We had lunch at The Yellow Deli Cafe/Hiker Hostel in Rutland and caught up with Pocket Spider, Macdaddy, Sloppy Mud, Hollywood, and a couple of other hikers in our hiker bubble. The cafe/hostel is run by 60's style flower children. It's a commune type environment based on a religious organization called The Twelve Tribes. There was a low key pitch to join them or at least stay and work there for a few days. Lots of hikers do stay there overnight and even longer, but we needed to get back to the trail. A retired military 'trail angel' gave us a ride back to the AT. For most of the ride, he vented about the hippies and liberals in town that he thinks are ruining the economy of Rutland. I didn't take the conversational bait, after all he was kind enough to give us a ride. Besides, if he found out that I'm pretty liberal, he just might have kicked me out of his car! In spite of his concern, Rutland seems like a great city. I saw no sign of it being ruined. I was able to finalize plans to meet my sister 'Spyder' and her husband Tom, and my brother 'Cotton' at The Inn at Long Trail on Rt. 4 for lunch tomorrow. Cotton and Spyder just finished a NH-VT week long section hike and plan to be picked up by Spyder's husband Tom tomorrow. Gernot and I will need to get an early start in the morning to get there around noon. It'll be a 10.6 mile hike and a 2000 ft. climb over Killington. The temperature is supposed to rise and get hotter tomorrow. Hopefully, we'll complete the climb in the cool morning air. I hope the weather cooperates with our plans! I'll let you know how the climb over Killington goes tomorrow.......