morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-08-31
From: Shaker Campsite

To: Great Barrington
Miles today: 9.2

Today is Puffin¢s last day. We have both enjoyed each other¢s company!We hiked four miles uphill to the Mt. Wilcox North Shelter. But it¢s 0.3 miles off trail, so we skipped it and went four miles farther to the Mt Wilson South Shelters for lunch.TRAIL MAGIC!! Some kind soul had left trail magic in the metal bear box at the shelter. Not just Snickers and soft drinks¢this was stuff that a thru-hiker might actually need and/or use! Tortillas, peanut butter, toothbrushes, toothpaste, snacks like cookies and nuts, wet wipes, ¢airplane bottles¢ of peach and apple whiskey, etc. Very cool!After lunch at the shelter, we hiked past Beartown State Forest to Highway MA 23 and hitched a ride into Great Barrington. Phlatlander helped us hitch a ride; and, in no time, we arrived at the Travelodge.Puffin called his friend who was picking him up, then took us to the pub next door to the motel for lunch. Great salads, great clam chowder, great beer, great sandwiches, great desserts! Thank you, Puffin!Then showers, laundry, re-supply, then sleep.
Date: 2015-09-01
From: Great Barrington

To: Stealth campsite at M/M 671
Miles today: 11.2

Phlatlander and I slept in till about 7:00 AM. Then we did our best to get our money¢s worth at the ¢free¢ Continental breakfast at the motel! Coffee, OJ, waffles, bananas, and whatever condiments we could sneak into our pockets. I got enough butter to last me until the next town.Then we packed up and walked back to MA 23 to practice our hitchhiking skills. Phlatlander came through again, and in no time at all, we were back at the trailhead.We got to the Tom Leonard Shelter and checked the register. Willow (who Phlatlander hiked with since New Hampshire) had signed the register just before us this morning. So we spent the rest of the day trying to catch up with Willow. The few NOBOs that we met reported that she was less than an hour ahead. All I know is that Phlatlander hiked like she was on a mission and is definitely faster than Puffin.We¢re stealth camped tonight at about mile 671, just before Highway MA 41. We didn¢t catch Willow today, but hope to tomorrow.Twelve miles, and we¢ll cross over into Connecticut!
Date: 2015-09-02
From: Stealth campsite at M/M 671

To: Laurel Ridge campsite
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

We camped ¢dry¢ last night¢no nearby water sources. So we woke up, packed up and hiked until we found water before cooking breakfast.Then we climbed¢Mt. Bushnell and Mt Everett and Mt. Race.We stopped at Glen Brook Shelter for lunch and water. Phlatlander got a text from Willow. We thought that we were behind her, but now we¢re ahead. So we waited for Willow and Bear Attack to catch up.We stopped early because the girls wanted a campfire to roast marshmallows, and no fires are permitted in Connecticut.So now the ¢family¢ is Willow (from middle Tennessee), Bear Attack (from Georgia), Phlatlander (from Kansas) and myself.
Date: 2015-09-03
From: Laurel Ridge campsite

To: Limestone Spring Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Bear Attack left camp first this morning, heading to Salisbury, CT to pick up his mail drop.Willow, Phlatlander and I left a little later. We hiked through Sages Ravine and across the state line into Connecticut. We climbed Bear Mountain, which is the highest mountain in Connecticut. Great view from the top!The girls and I decided at lunch to go to Salisbury and visit the deli to get sandwiches and cold drinks. We walked to the road (US 44) and got an easy hitch into town. Phlatlander and I shared a half-gallon of cold ruby red grapefruit juice and cold chocolate whole milk. We watched a sports car parade on Main Street. Then we hitched back to the trail. I packed out a deli sandwich for dinner.Limestone Spring Shelter was 3.4 miles uphill out of Salisbury. We checked into the shelter about 7:00 PM. There is a group of freshmen from Williams College here, but they let us have the shelter. The shelter has a good piped spring.
Date: 2015-09-04
From: Limestone Spring Shelter

To: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: broken clouds

We climbed up and out from the Limestone Spring Shelter¢it was one-half mile off trail and down in a steep rocky little valley.We hiked down to Falls Village and encountered a three-mile detour because an old iron bridge over the Housatonic River is being replaced.TRAIL MAGIC! During the road walk we passed a farm that had set out a free watermelon for thru-hikers. The four of us ate until we couldn¢t hold any more!
Date: 2015-09-05
From: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Our primary goal for today was to get to the Cornwall Bridge post office before it closed, so that Phlatlander could pick up her next maildrop. Up at 6:00 AM. Packed up and ready before 7:00 AM. We figured that we could get coffee and breakfast at the Cornwall Bridge Country Market. We made it to CT 4 by 10:00 AM. 0.9 mile roadwalk to town (downhill). Made it to the PO by 10:30 AM!Then we went over to the market for breakfast and resupply. The market had electrical receptacles by the table on the front porch so that we could recharge our phones while we ate and shopped. I had pancakes, eggs and sausage (and coffee!). And purchased a half gallon of orange juice for our group of four!Then we went to the outfitter store¢which turned out to be a top-end fly fishing store.Then we stopped by the Cornwall package store and signed the register. It proved to be a ¢refreshing¢ interlude, as they give each thru-hiker a cold adult beverage. When we were ready to leave, a lady at the store gave us a ride back up to the trailhead. It was only a mile, but backpackers who have just resupplied in town hate to walk uphill on pavement! It was much appreciated!Back on the trail, we had to hike uphill for long enough to get hot and sweaty again and then down to the Housatonic River. Willow suggested that we take a swim. So we did! At that point in our lives, we all four needed a shower and laundry, so why not? It was the highlight of our day!Two more flat, easy miles to the Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter. Willow and I claimed the shelter. Bear Attack and Phlatlander are in their hammocks outside. We were joined by Chips¢a young SOBO from Pennsylvania who started after us.
Date: 2015-09-06
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter

To: Ten Mile River Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: few clouds

We packed up in the morning and finished our nice easy, level hike along the Housatonic River. Then we had to climb up St. John¢s Ledges.After seven miles we got to CT 341, which goes into Kent, CT. Willow wanted to get orange Super Feet for her shoes, and a store in town had them in stock; so we hitched a ride into Kent. We got her Super Feet and walked back to the trail.Then we walked as fast as we could to Bulls Bridge Road (7 miles) to go to the Country Market Deli for a cold drink. But the deli closed just before we got there, so we went next door to the Bulls Bridge Inn. I had the salad bar, French onion soup, and bread pudding for dessert.By the time we had finished dinner, it was dark; so we night hiked one mile to the Ten Mile River Shelter. Fortunately, there was some space left in the shelter. SOBOs Torch and Topsy Turvey were there. By now it was late, so we went straight to bed.
Date: 2015-09-07
From: Ten Mile River Shelter

To: TonyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Deli, Pawling, NY
Miles today: 9.7

We were slow starting, since we were up late last night. Had a good visit with Torch and Topsy Turvey. The original plan for the day was to go thirteen miles to the Telephone Pioneers Shelter, which is near a road into Pawling. I have a package to pick up at the post office in the morning. (Today is Labor Day, and the PO is closed.) Willow is being picked up by a friend tomorrow in Pawling for a visit to New York City.It turns out that the Telephone Pioneers Shelter has no water, and hitchhiking is illegal in New York. So we solved the problems by camping in a field beside Tony¢s Deli. They have promised us a ride into town in the morning. The only problem is that the field is right between the Amtrak main line and a busy highway! I¢m cowboy camping tonight, since I don¢t think that it will rain tonight¢it hasn¢t rained in New York all summer!
Date: 2015-09-08
From: TonyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Deli, Pawling, NY

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter
Miles today: 9.9

Willow and I set alarms for 5:00 AM! It was the first time that I set an alarm on this trip. One of Tony¢s guys was giving us a ride into Pawling at 6:30 AM on his way to work. We packed up and got a cup of coffee at the deli.Our ride was right on time, so we were in Pawling by 6:45 AM. The post office opens at 8:30 AM. We went to the bakery for coffee and fresh cinnamon rolls. Then to CVS for Ramen and tuna to resupply. Then to the PO for my mail drop.I went back to the bakery to get Willow, and Caprice was there. He had been to New York City and just gotten into Pawling last night. Called a taxi. Left Willow at the library to wait for her ride to pick her up for the NYC visit. Caprice took the taxi back to Tony¢s Deli, picked up Phlatlander and went back to the trailhead.We hiked over the hill to County Road 20 and saw the Dover Oak¢huge! Got water from a nearby house. Hiked up to the Telephone Pioneers Shelter for lunch.We hiked three miles to Nuclear Lake and took a swim (counts as shower and laundry!). Stocked up on water and hiked on. Halfway to the shelter we met Clue; he¢d been to New York City for five days. I last saw him at Mt. Greylock in Mass.Hiked on to the Morgan Stewart Shelter. Got water from a hand pump/well. Build a fire¢they¢re legal here in New York! Clue brought lots of fresh garlic, so we all had lots of garlic in our dinners.
Date: 2015-09-09
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: Clarence Fahnestock State Park
Miles today: 14.2

Last night¢s fire was still going when we got up this morning, so we must have had a really good fire last night!The trail wasn¢t too bad today, but it was hot and dry! Someone left gallon jugs of water at a road crossing, and it was greatly appreciated! To make matters worse, my 2-liter Platypus has sprung a leak at the very time that I need it most.We got to the RPH Shelter, and Clue ordered Chinese food. The water from the pump at the shelter was red with iron oxide. Supposedly okay to drink, but gross to look at.We went on to Clarence Fahnestock State Park, thinking that a state park would at least have decent water. Wrong! Water here is saline and unfit to drink, so we¢re drinking water from the lake tonight. The restrooms are locked. Shit! Not a very hospitable state park¢but it¢s free. (You get what you pay for!)Torch and Topsy-Turvy are also camped here tonight, as well as a German backpacker.There¢s a chance of thunderstorms tonight. New York needs the rain, but we don¢t!
Date: 2015-09-10
From: Clarence Fahnestock State Park

To: Graymoor Friary
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

The trail wasn¢t too difficult today but water was a problem. It was cloudy, so we didn¢t get as hot as yesterday. We stopped for lunch at Dennytown Road, where there is a water faucet on the side of a stone pump building. I drank two quarts at lunch and got one to go.We had eight miles to walk after lunch. It rained off and on throughout the afternoon. Tom, a trail angel from Drew United Methodist Church in Carmel, NY, left me a note on a sign at Highway NY 301. I gave him a call. He promised to bring us trail magic at the Graymoor Friary at 6:00 PM.While I was walking in the rain with my umbrella, I saw a deer. Apparently the deer had never seen an umbrella and didn¢t recognize me as a human, so I was able to get very close to take pictures.Phlatlander and I got to the pavilion at Graymoor at about 5:30 PM. We were surprised because the three guys who were ahead of us weren¢t there. At about 6:00 PM I called Tom. He said that he was at the pavilion with the backpackers. But he wasn¢t at our pavilion. Apparently there are two ball fields and two pavilions. Tom and the boys were at the wrong one! So finally we got everyone together and had some great trail magic! Thank you, Tom and Drew United Methodist Church! We had eleven backpackers at the pavilion, and everyone really appreciated the fresh fruit and soft drinks!
Date: 2015-09-11
From: Graymoor Friary

To: Bear Mountain, Highland Falls, Dan HowettÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs apt.
Miles today: 6.4

It rained all night long. We were very glad to be in the pavilion!In the morning we got up, packed up and walked less than a mile to the Appalachian Market for breakfast.After breakfast we hiked just over five miles and crossed the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain Bridge. We went to the Fort Montgomery State Historic Site. I phoned Dan Howett and Mary Jane Pitt, who is editor of the Highland Falls newspaper.The backpackers and I did an interview with Mary Jane Pitt for an article in the local paper.Then Dan Howett arrived and drove us to his apartment in Highland Falls. Showers, laundry, cold drinks! Dan grilled hamburgers for us for dinner! It was a great day!
Date: 2015-09-12
From: Bear Mountain, Highland Falls, Dan HowettÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs apt.

To: Highland Falls, NY, Dan HowettÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs apt.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Zero day today! Time to rest and relax! Slept until 8:00 AM.Phlatlander and Caprice fixed omelets for all of us. Coffee and orange juice. We ate breakfast outside overlooking the Hudson River.Later Dan took us to West Point, where he went to school and now is teaching; he gave us a personal guided tour of the campus. Then we attended a women¢s rugby game. None of us had ever been to a rugby game before. We had planned to stay for the men¢s game, but it started raining; so we went back to Dan¢s apartment.We did laundry #2, watched TV, used the Internet and relaxed. Later Dan and I went out and picked up three huge, delicious pizzas for ¢the family.¢ After dinner we watched Tennessee vs. Oklahoma football. Two overtimes put us way past hiker midnight! As soon as the game was over, we went to bed! It was a great day¢thank you, Dan!
Date: 2015-09-13
From: Highland Falls, NY, Dan HowettÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs apt.

To: William Brien Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: scattered clouds

We slept in¢8:00 AM. Several of us took showers¢not because we needed to, but just because we could...awesome! Breakfast was leftover pizza, cereal, etc.We packed up, and Dan shuttled us back to the trail at Bear Mountain. We hiked through the zoo and the park up to the Perkins Memorial Tower before the crowds from New York City arrived. The bear cage is the lowest point on the AT: 163 feet above sea level.We only did ten miles today, because we wanted to give Willow a chance to catch up with us after her visit to New York. Then we found out that she is getting off the trail and going back to work at her previous job. We will miss her, but wish her the best! That is what this is all about¢to help people figure things out!We hiked up to William Brien Memorial Shelter. I carried five quarts of water (10 pounds) for two miles (uphill) because water is scarce in New York. Clue did find water here, so we¢re in good shape. We had a campfire, so Phlatlander could pop the popcorn that her mother mailed to her. We thought that it was going to rain tonight, but I guess that it decided not to.
Date: 2015-09-14
From: William Brien Memorial Shelter

To: Little Dam Lake (stealth)
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

Phlatlander¢s alarm went off at 6:00 AM. I thought it meant that it was time to get up; but obviously, it just meant that it was 6:00 AM! So I had breakfast and was ready to hike before the others. I even had time to enjoy two cups of coffee this morning.We hiked seven miles to the Lemon Squeezer and had lunch there. The Lemon Squeezer is a narrow crack in a huge rock. That AT passes through the crack.We passed the 800-mile mark on the trail today.We¢re camping out tonight beside Little Dam Lake. I¢m cowboy camping¢the others aren¢t yet comfortable with that concept¢but they have the rain flies off their tents and hammocks. They¢re making progress!Apparently Phlatlander¢s assignment for today was to slow me down and distract me so that Clue could go 3.5 miles into town and get chips & salsa for appetizers and cupcakes for dessert for the big party tonight. Caprice made a really nice birthday card; and he, Clue and Phlatlander all signed it. It was pretty special!
Date: 2015-09-15
From: Little Dam Lake (stealth)

To: Cascade Brook
Miles today: 12.0

The group talked about cowboy camping last night but I saw that I was the only one who did so.After breakfast Caprice went on ahead. He wants to pick up a package at the Unionville, PA post office. He¢s planning to do 19 miles today. Phlatlander and I are thinking of something less, considering the rocky terrain. I left next. Phlatlander said that she¢d wait for Clue to finish packing. After a couple of miles, they caught up with me. The three of us had lunch together at the Wildcat Shelter.During lunch Clue realized that he was running low on food and decided to hitchhike into Warwick, NY and back to the trail so that he could re-supply. Keep in mind that Clue is the same person who hitchhiked into town yesterday to buy supplies for last night¢s birthday party!Then Phlatlander announced that she doesn¢t want to get to Delaware Water Gap too soon. She¢s supposed to meet a section hiker (that she met in Maine) at DWG after September 21st, so she¢s going to just spend the afternoon by herself at the Wildcat Shelter.So suddenly I¢m hiking by myself this afternoon! There was water magic this afternoon¢gallon plastic jugs of water left for backpackers where the trail crossed Highway NY 17A.I¢m camped by myself tonight beside Cascade Brook. It¢s not ¢cascading,¢ but there is some water for cooking tonight and tomorrow. I could have hiked a couple of miles farther, but I don¢t know if Furnace Brook has any water.I do have a good fire to keep my company!
Date: 2015-09-16
From: Cascade Brook

To: Vernon, NJ, St. Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

It looks like a nice day¢headed to Vernon, NJ!I stopped at Prospect Rock¢the highest point on the AT in New York¢1433 ft. above sea level. I took some pictures of the flag.I continued on 0.4 miles to the HY-NJ border and took some more pictures. Then I walked to the Wawayanda Shelter for lunch. I¢m glad to have New York completed!Over Wawayanda Mountain and down to NJ 94 to hitch a ride 2.4 miles to Vernon, NJ. I need to go to the post office to pick up a package from Cascade Designs. My 2.0-liter Platypus hydration system has sprung a leak, and they are replacing it. I made it through New York¢the driest state on the trail¢with just a 32-ounce Gatorade bottle for water.Going down Wawayanda Mountain I meet a day hiker with his dog. His name is Squid (Gary Bond) and he hiked the AT SOBO in 1980. I followed Squid down to his SUV in the parking area, and he gave me a ride to town. He got Lyme disease last year and is still not fully recovered.No package at the post office, so Squid/Gary drove me to the hostel. This hostel is in the basement of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Shower, laundry, and a place to stay for $10.00 donation¢very nice! Also staying at the hostel tonight are: Burn and Striker (who I had met at Tom Levardi¢s place in Dalton, MA), Optimistic Dreamer (who I not met before), and Harvey Wallbanger (a tall German man who had passed me earlier today on the trail).I spent the rest of the afternoon resupplying at the A&P and doing laundry. The hostel has a set of scales. I now weigh 175 pounds¢which is what I have weighed at the completion of my three previous hikes, and what I weighed when I graduated from high school and college. I¢m guessing that this is what I really should weigh!I visited with a lady from the church about the Appalachian Trail Chaplain program and showed her the trailjournals.com website on the computer. Her son hiked NOBO this year. Short Stop also stayed at this hostel last year.
Date: 2015-09-17
From: Vernon, NJ, St. Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel

To: Jim MurrayÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Secret Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: few clouds

Squid/Gary Bond picked me up at the bagel store at 7:00 AM. He had offered me a ride back to the trail yesterday. Harvey Wallbanger rode with me.The trail was fairly flat today, except for Pochuck Mountain. Phlatlander passed me at about 10:00 AM. She has decided that she wants to do 20+ mile days now to get to Delaware Water Gap ASAP to visit her friend.I arrived at Jim Murray¢s Secret Shelter at about 4:00 PM. This is a privately owned shelter for thru-hikers. I stayed here in 2004. It is a really nice cabin with a good well and a warm shower outside the cabin. It is not advertised as a shelter¢only as a water source. It is about 0.2 miles off trail.Several other SOBOs stopped by for water, but I was surprised to be the only person staying here tonight. Oh, yes¢it also has electricity for recharging your electronic devices! Thank you, Jim!
Date: 2015-09-18
From: Jim MurrayÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Secret Shelter

To: Mashipacong Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

I was slow to leave the Secret Shelter. As I drank my coffee, I watched a flock of wild turkeys up on the hillside. Just a really awesome place to stay!But I packed up and headed south. Gentle uphill to High Point Shelter where I stopped for early lunch.High Point is the highest point in New Jersey¢1610 ft. elevation. Then I walked on down to the park headquarters and got water.Mashipacong Shelter is dry. Water is carried in by trail angels. Hikers told me that it was dry this morning. Fortunately, when we arrived at 4:30 PM, the trail angel had just resupplied the water cache and there were four 5-gallon bottles of water! You just gotta have faith!Gonzo and I were the only ones in the shelter. There were several other weekenders who tented outside.
Date: 2015-09-19
From: Mashipacong Shelter

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: few clouds

Gonzo and I slept until the sun woke us up. He packed up and left before me. I hiked up to Sunrise Mountain. In the parking area a car pulled in, and the driver jumped out. It was Shane Green and his daughter Annalisa. ¢Are you an AT thru-hiker?¢ he asked. I replied that I was. Shane said that he was hoping to show his daughter a ¢real¢ backpacker. They gave me two bottles of ice cold water and a Cliff bar.I stopped for lunch at the Gren Anderson Shelter. There was water in the spring at this shelter, but I didn¢t need to get any yet.A mile later at the Culver fire tower, I met Shane and Annalisa again. Once again, they gave me two cold bottles of water and a Cliff bar! I could see the High Point Memorial Tower from the fire tower. They are 13.5 trail miles apart.I walked on down to the town of Culver Gap and looked for denatured alcohol at a couple of nearby stores. Stopped for a hamburger at Gyp¢s Tavern. A young guy sitting next to me at the bar introduced himself as Billy Goat/Brian and told me that he had hiked the AT in 2000. He offered to drive me to Dale¢s Market 1.5 miles away and back to the trail.3:00 PM and four miles from the Brink Road Shelter. I met some NOBO section hikers who warned me that there were boy scouts at the shelter.Fortunately the scouts and their leaders tented outside! Joining me tonight in the shelter are father and son weekend backpackers; Solar Body (a Korean SOBO thru-hiker from New Jersey), and Margie and Danielle (two ladies from Port Clinton). Margie and Danielle want Solar Body and me to stay with them when we get to Port Clinton!