morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-04-27
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: A bit Past Rattlesnake Spring
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up early, cooked coffee and got my food list together. Slip and I hit the local breakfast house that just opened for business, great food and within walking distance...the Apple Pie Caf©. Next I hit the Mini market for a big bite and some mayo packets then got a ride over to the Walmart for my resupply. Kenny gave us a ride, he's a 70+ retired Army Guy so we got along great, I wasn't hungry so I gave him my big bite. We stopped at the outfitters on the way back and I got some new trail runners. Thanks again Kenny for the ride and for waiting. Got my food organized back at the church, made my donation, then moved on. This is a great little town and the Church has all the numbers for your resupply resources...plus, the bar and grill is 2 blocks away. I left about noon and crossed the Delaware River on the bridge. Painted on the ground half across is the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border. So long Pennsylvania, the first half was beautiful, I don't know about the second half, I only saw the ground.I started the climb up to the ridge and stopped at the Sunfish Pond for a break then moved on. Hiking today was very pleasant, once on top I had views for days. The trail would take me out to the edge from time to time but I could see from the top since there are no leaves on the trees yet. I took a lot of photos and the afternoon went fast. I had to take it slow today to break in my new shoes but I'm almost there. Hiked ridge all day and stopped for the day a bit past Rattlesnake Spring. The spring was in a Grove of Rododidym so it reminded me of North Carolina. I was falling asleep when Slip and Boomerang showed up at my camp. we talked a bit then I fell asleep. It was overcast until late morning then it turned into a beautiful day on the trail.
Date: 2016-04-28
From: A bit Past Rattlesnake Spring

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 30.0
Weather: clear sky

I woke up a couple of hours before first light fully rested. I was laying there in my bag and heard my first Whipple Will and there was also an owl going to town. I listened for a few minutes, then packed up and took off.As I was hiking the bird was getting louder so I stopped and made a recording of it, cool bird call. Hiked on and watched a beautiful sunrise. Grabbed some water and when I got to the top of Rattlesnake Mountain I stopped for breakfast. I've been hiking by a number of lakes and I'm wondering if they're connected. The last one Culver Lake, was pretty good size and had a lot of big homes around it. I dropped down and crossed US 206 and started up top and I kept hearing a cry, like a baby bird. I turn around and go back and I see this snake with half a frog sticking out of its mouth. I've never seen anything like this before so I take a couple photos and watch a bit. Nature in action, pretty cool.I get up top and I see 3 very large ant hills, they look like fire ants and I haven't seen any hills like this since leaving Texas. Hiked a bit farther and stopped at the Gren Anderson Shelter for lunch. Boomerang showed up so we had lunch then hiked together a bit in the afternoon then he went on. Most of the afternoon was rolling climbs switching ridges. The morning sun turned to afternoon clouds and it started to rain mid afternoon and continued. Crossed into High Point State Park late afternoon.It was slow hiking on the wet rock and I ended the day at the High Point Shelter. When I got there, Boomerang was there and set up so we had dinner and talked trail and hit the bags before hiker midnight. Had a good day on the trail.
Date: 2016-04-29
From: High Point Shelter

To: Just short of the NJ and NY Border
Miles today: 28.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up before first light, Boomerang was heading out early because he needed big miles to catch a train home. Off the trail for a couple weeks, we said so long and he was off. I packed up slowly then got going about my normal time. It rained most of the night and still overcast in the morning. Once I left the state park I started hiking through farmland with rolling hills and I left the rocky trail behind me.I crossed a number of roads and the plan was to go in to Unionville for some breakfast and snacks. When I got to the road junction, I started the walk in and decided to look up the place and I googled it...closed for good. I hate it when that happens so I turned around and got back on the trail. Stopped for breakfast at few minutes later.I did a short stretch of road then into a wildlife preserve I think for birds. There were pairs of Canadian Geese sitting in the trail. You know what you get with geese...Yep, all over the trail. As I approached them, they flew off together, I didn't know they would pair up like that. Left the farmland and started hiking residential with a lot of ups and downs. Crossed County Rd 517 and got on a Boardwalk that was almost a mile long over a marsh. About halfway there was a suspension bridge over a creek...real nice walkway.Went by another farm and then started up to the ridge on a almost straight up on 90 percent rock. when I got to the top there was a huge rock pile with a sign over it that said "The View", I had a good laugh. Did some ridge walking then entered Wawayanda State Park, stopped for water then moved on. I did a couple more miles then it started to rain again so I stopped and setup. I had dinner inside enjoying the rain. I'm camped just short of the NJ/NY border. It was a pleasant day hiking but I'm hoping for some sunshine tomorrow.
Date: 2016-04-30
From: Just short of the NJ and NY Border

To: William Brien Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 28.0
Weather: light rain

It rained most of the night but stopped a bit before I got up so I packed up in a hurry and got moving before the rain started again. I passed the border a few minutes later then I started rock climbing. Passed over Prospect Rock, the highest point on the AT in NY and took a couple photos. There was a US flag on a tree limb up there. Continued the rock climbing for a couple hours. It was a lot of fun and I had some nice views. My Mini Sawyer died on me so I'm using just MSR tabs and finding a clear stream here in NY and NJ has been a challenge. I ran into an old timer that has hiked this area a lot and told me where one was so I took off and stopped at the Fitzgerald Falls for breakfast and to tank up on water. Took a long breakfast and dried my gear because the sun came out. YEAH!! I also got some photos of the water falls which was very nice. The water is brown here and in NJ there are bogs and the water coming out of them is black. I don't know what the deal is with these bogs but they're pretty nasty looking. Hiked to Mombasa High Point and stopped to call my mon...Hi again Ma! Got going and started a series of steep ups and downs at each road. I was surprised that a couple of the climbs were part of the AT, they seemed too steep but I caught up to that old timer again and he told me this section is original trail, that the folks that put it in had the mindset of let's fix those hikers. I just can't believe that but what would explain no switch backs or the trail going up and down the hardest path when clearly there's an easier way. I need to look into this. Stopped for lunch on top just before the Sapphire Trail and enjoyed the sun. I had my Tyvek drying and these two slack pack flip floppers that I met earlier told me it was going to rain tomorrow...I said thanks a lot...Dropped down after lunch and crossed the interstate then entered the state park and the steep up and downs stopped. Had to take my pack off to get through the Lemon Squeeze then continued the up and downs the rest of the day. This has been the most challenging day I've had in a long time. In fact, the trail tried again to open a can of whopass and I sat on the lid and laughed. I say bring it on so I'll be ready for the Whites. Camped at William Brien Memorial Shelter. It was a very good day on the trail.
Date: 2016-05-01
From: William Brien Memorial Shelter

To: Ft Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I slept great and woke up to sprinkles on my tent. I packed up in a hurry to keep my gear dry and got hiking. Continued the roller coaster over to the Palisades Parkway and when I crossed over, I saw a sign that said NY city 34 miles. The trail got so nice after I crossed with amazing views. When I got to Bear Mountain, I dumped my trash and put on all my rain gear, had a coffee and bar then moved on. The trails were so nice through this area. All the steep climbs had stairs made from rock, pretty amazing how they made them. Today was the first time that the weather has completely disappointed me. Hiking down to the Hutson River on these manicured trail with the amazing views would have been wonderful on a sunny day but instead, I got fog and rain. Made it down and the trail takes you through a zoo then to the bridge over the Hutson River. I made a detour before and headed to Ft Montgomery for my resupply and decided I am in need of a ZERO. I grabbed my 4 day at the Chestnut Market then called the Bear Mountain Bridge Motel and they had one room so I took it. Don and Ingrid have been here 40 years and have helped lots of hikers and they took care of me. Checked in and got my gear squared away, did my laundry and rested a bit then had some BBQ across the street...very good BBQ. The rest of the day I did nothing but stay in a horizontal position. Its still raining but who cares...rain on. Ft Montgomery is a nice place to rest up but not a good place to resupply. My food bag is full of willy nilly food.
Date: 2016-05-02
From: Ft Montgomery, NY

To: Ft Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept in and walked across the street for coffee and some donuts and a breakfast sandwich. Another day of nothing and I'm looking forward to it. Forget about decent outfitters past Harpers Ferry. I've been in a couple since then and they're more geared towards hunters and fishermen. Looks like unsettled weather until Saturday. Back on the trail tomorrow but I had to have BBQ one more night.
Date: 2016-05-03
From: Ft Montgomery, NY

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hiker Monday! Grabbed some coffee across the street then packed up. Don gave me a ride back to the trailhead and I got hiking about mid morning...thanks again Don for the ride. Probably won't be taking anymore Zeros until I'm finished with the trail, I just don't feel right after sitting around for that long. It started raining at midnight and continued all day and once I climbed away from the Hutson River, I got the fog too.I hiked a bit and crossed US 9, there was a Mini Mart, gas and deli. I wasn't going to stop but I needed Ziplocs, Ft Montgomery had none so I went in and to my surprise there was a pizza shop in back that sold by the slice. I hadn't had my daily allowance of protein or caffeine so I got a slice of meat lovers and coffee. I can't leave NY without having at least one slice. They just don't make it this way on the left coast, it was wonderful. Got my Ziplocs after and got going.Did a bit of ridge running but mostly still doing the up and downs. Had no views because of the fog so I just put in the miles. Stopped on top of Shenandoah Mountain and took a photo of the 911 Flag painted on the rock then moved on. Finished the day at the RPH Shelter. It was a wet foggy day on the trail.
Date: 2016-05-04
From: RPH Shelter

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 26.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I slept great and woke to another day of the same, slippery rocks and roots, mud and fog. Packed up, bundled up and got going. Got to Mt Egbert a bit past mid morning and stopped at the Morgan Stewart Shelter right after for breakfast. Met up with the old timer again and found out what his trail name is, Just Plain Ray...has hike the PCT, CDT and the AT multiple times, just what he does.Hiked by Nuclear Lake a bit after noon and took a couple of photos, I wonder why they named it that. Hiked on and stopped at the Telephone Pioneer Shelter for lunch. As soon as I started hiking again, I saw 3 baby Newts on the trail so I messed with them for a bit, took a photo, then moved on.Dropped down and crossed the Swap River on a boardwalk and then the Appalachian Trail Railroad then the highway and started through a series of pastures. The first one had cows, so I kept my eyes peeled for Bulls and trail bombs. After the pastures, I got back on the ridge.  Less up and down today and more on the ridge. The fog left about noon and it just drizzled most of the afternoon. Camped at the Wiley Shelter. Today was wet and it was muddy and it was cold but it was another great day on the trail.
Date: 2016-05-05
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I got a reprieve from the rain this morning, only overcast so I packed up, had some rocket fuel and a pop tart and hit the trail my normal time. I left NY a short time later then climbed the Ten Mile Mt and started down and ran into a great little spring so I tanked up then continued down and hiked along the Ten Mile River where 2 rivers converging into one at the Ned Anderson Memorial Bridge. Made it to the road for Kent, CT about noon and walked into town. I've never seen a town so clean and manicured, I didn't even see a piece of trash anywhere and I felt like I was entering the Twilight Zone. First stop was the outfitter and I got a new Sawyer, they didn't have fuel so looks like I'm eating cold for a few days. Next I walked to the grocery store and bought a couple things. Last stop was the ice cream shop for a hot dog, popcorn and a very large piece of cake and ice cream, I made it back to the trail early afternoon.Started up and passed over Caleb's Peak a bit later then by St John's Ledge, then down some steep stone steps that I wouldn't want to take a header on. I've looked at the elevation profile coming up and I think the cake walk is over. Time to start huffing and puffing again.I made it a short day and camped at Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter next to the Housatonic River. Rain never got started today so hopefully it's done for a while. It was a very pleasant day on the trail.
Date: 2016-05-06
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter

To: Riga Shelter
Miles today: 29.0
Weather: light rain

When I woke up this morning it was raining. I was excited about that because it meant another cold wet day on the trail stomping through mud and climbing up and down on slippery rocks and roots. I packed up and had my customary jolt and took off. Six days with no sun and 5 days of rain...boy oh boy it just doesn't get any better than this.Continued hiking along the Housatonic River for a mile or so then through some very green open fields then I climbed up to the ridge and hiked ridge most of the morning. Push through another Fat Butt Squeeze just before I stopped at the Pine Swap Brook Shelter where I had an early lunch and drip dried my gear, changed socks and munched on a tuna and cheese burrito.After lunch, the sun came out a few minutes and it stopped raining for a couple hours so I made up some lost time. Came down at the US 7 and found out I had a detour, 3 miles of road walking so I got it done and got back on the trail and passed over Mt Prospect about the time the rain started again. Pushed on and came down at the road for Salisbury, CT. Followed the trail out of town and up the hill where I passed over Lions Head and camped a few minutes later. I had a great view but the fog has moved in. I'm camped at the Riga Shelter.Passed 1500 miles today as I left Salisbury...Another fun day on the trail.
Date: 2016-05-07
From: Riga Shelter

To: Tom Leonard Shelter
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: light rain

It rained most of the night and I woke up to fog. I was exhausted and didn't sleep well so I laid there for a few to get myself motivated. I had 3 big climbs this morning and the first was Bear Mt. Made it up about an hour later then started down, steep class 3 rock in some sections so it took some time getting down. It started to rain about that time so I threw on my rain gear and moved on. Got to the bottom and followed this beautiful stream for a ways, there were some great waterfalls. Crossed the stream and hit the CT/MASS border so I stopped and signed the book.Next was Mt Race, I would have had great views because at the top you hiked the Ledge for a while but there was fog. There was a pile of rock at the highest point so I found a small piece of marble and added it to the pile. I ran into a section hiker on the way down and we talked trail and the weather and he said it's supposed to be rainy till Tuesday. Last was Mt Everett, boy what a climb up and down. I went through Guilder Pond picnic area after and found 2 trail bars on a table with a note...Trail Magic. I was starved so I took both. Whom ever left these thanks a lot, it made my day. Stopped for a late lunch and update my journal at the Hemlock Shelter. Got to the bottom and crossed a couple roads and hiked through some fields. Passed a couple of mansions with tennis courts and pools then into some dense forest which smelled great.Last climb of the day was up June then East Mountain where I stopped at the Tom Leonard Shelter. Met a section hiker named Green Light at the Shelter. Cold rainy day on the trail.
Date: 2016-05-08
From: Tom Leonard Shelter

To: October Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 30.0
Weather: light rain

Happy Mothers Day Ma!I had a visitor last night...I woke up to a chewing sound and had no idea what the heck it was so I turned on my headlamp and there was a porcupine about 5 feet away chewing on the shelter. I had seen these chew marks when I got there but didn't think nothing of it. I went round and round with this thing chasing it out and it would come back...finally it gave up and didn't come back. I woke up laughing this morning thinking about how it climbed down out of the shelter.Late morning I called my mom to wish her a happy Mothers Day. A few minutes later the sun came out so I dropped my pack and did a sun dance. It only stayed out a couple minutes so I got going again. About 30 minutes later, the wind started blowing and before I know it...POW! The storm clouds are gone and I got a beautiful day. It's amazing what a little heat on your face will do for your attitude.Crossed 9 roads today before lunch. About 99 percent of the time, the trail will take you over the highest point the quickest way and down the quickest way. If you have some distance between roads, you may ride the ridge or sometimes you get 2 or more high points, this has been happening since NJ. I also crossed a couple of fields, I really like how green and lush they look.Took a late lunch just before the Upper Goose Pond Cabin and dried my gear, it felt great sitting in the sun. After lunch I hiked around the lake then dropped down and crossed the highway. The landscape hasn't changed much, I'm seeing more Pines and Birch trees and not many Rododidym.The last 2 peak I went over after crossing US 20 were Becket and Walling Mountain. Passed another pond and also a beaver bog, grab some dinner water and camped at October Mountain Shelter. Met a section hiker there named King Fisher.
Date: 2016-05-09
From: October Mountain Shelter

To: Shamrock inn Dalton Massachusetts
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I didn't have any visitors last night so I got a great night sleep. It was chilly and cold this morning but it's better than being wet. King Fisher told me yesterday that there's 2 days with low 30s then it will warm up but I called BS on that, the trail is creating this weather to screw with hikers. Over the last 2 and a half months I've developed a love hate relationship with this trail. I understand now why there is such a high attrition rate, it uses the weather, the proximity to the towns and a number of other things to break your resolve, it keeps you guessing all the time...you think you're going left, you go right. You think up, nope...down. This is the most challenging trail I've hiked and there won't be any repeats after I finish. The hike over to Dalton had 3 hills and some swamp, I preferred the hills. Got to town late morning and walked by some very cool building and a church. I found the stores weren't very good, I needed whey. I decided a shower and bed for the night was in order, plus I'm not feeling good. Checked into the Shamrock Inn, cleaned up then took the bus over to Walmart in the next town. Got back and did the town stuff and took it easy the rest of the day. This is a very good hotel and has everything a hiker needs. Tina, thanks again for your hospitality.
Date: 2016-05-10
From: Shamrock inn Dalton Massachusetts

To: Wilbur Clearing Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

Packed up and then went to the coffee shop for breakfast and after that I walked down to the Cumberland Farms and got another breakfast of fruit, yogurt, an apple fritter and another coffee. I haven't been eating enough is why I didn't feel good. I left town with a lot more food today a bit past midmorning.As soon as I was on the ridge, I stay up there all the way to Cheshire and just before I started down, I had a great view of the Hoosic River Valley and Mt Greylock which is the highest point in Massachusetts, I'll be there this afternoon. Got to Cheshire about noon and stopped for lunch. Hit the trail again about an hour later and it's an absolutely beautiful day.Started up towards Mt Greylock and made the summit late afternoon. The lodge was closed and the memorial was shutdown for repairs. It was made in 1932 for the fallen soldiers from this state and is quite impressive and on a clear day, you can see 90 miles from the top of it. Got some photos of the views then started down.Crossed over Mt Williams next then camped at the Wilbur Clearing Shelter. There was a section hiker there named Moe already setup so we talked trail and had a pleasant evening. It was a perfect day on the trail.
Date: 2016-05-11
From: Wilbur Clearing Shelter

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: clear sky

I slept great and woke up to a beautiful morning. It was 3 miles to SH 2 and when I got there I made a right turn and walked to the convenience store and got a large coffee and and some chunky butt food. It was about a half mile back to the trail and I followed a crystal clear stream almost to the top of the ridge. There were signs along the way that said "No camping, public water supply". When I got to the MASS/VT border, I stopped for breakfast. The AT and the Vermont Long Trail merge here and are one trail for about 100 miles. The Long Trail is on my bucket list so now I get to hike some of it. Hiked over Consultation Peak then down along a stream to Congdon Shelter for a late lunch. I got to use a skill I learned in Pennsylvania today, the trail was a mud hole or a stream in some sections so the way to get through was rock hopping. Just about all my hiking was ridge running today but the road crossings are taking longer because the Mountains at getting taller. Crossed VT 9 and when I got up top, I stopped for the day at Melville Nauheim Shelter. Was a great day on the trail.