morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-08-28
From: Governor Clement Shelter, VT

To: Lula Tye Shelter, VT
Miles today: 19.7

Ran into two old (girl)friends, Persistance and Milk. Terrain was fairly flat with the only mountain being White Rocks, 2500 feet. Spock has enough food to make the next 60 miles into Bennington, where he has a map drop, which includes a credit card he needs to activate. Hoping to roll into town around Sept 1. Today's highlight was at route 103, where there was a restaurant called the Whistlestop. As you might guess, it is an old train station converted into an eatery, and has a caboose for an ice cream shop. Spock took a picture of the owner, Holly, and hopes to post it up on here soon.
Date: 2007-08-29
From: Lula Tye Shelter, VT

To: Bromley Ski Resort, VT
Miles today: 16.5

Today met old friends Tony the Tiger and Handyman. Tony was held up by the same thing Yonder had, some treatment for Lyme Disease. I met both these hikers at the Econo-Lodge in Dalville VA. You can't miss Tony, he wears a bright orange shirt (hopefully not the same one he started in). Spock called from Mad Tom Notch, which has special significance for me. If you follow Mad Tom West it comes off the mountain and into the tiny town of East Dorset. I've stayed at a bed and breakfast there several times. His destination is the ski lodge at Bromley, which is supposed to house hikers. Spock describes much of the terrain as "rocky" and he hurt his feet hiking over it. While staying in Rutland, he missed Chuck Norris and Tigger, whom he was looking for. He also says there is a Norman Rockwell Museum in Rutland, but it didn't get to it. Another notable he crossed paths with was Soduku. His plan after Bennington is to met with his friend, Nancy from Great Barrington, MA, after the 5th.
Date: 2007-08-30
From: Bromley Ski Resort, VT

To: Story Spring Shelter, VT
Miles today: 24.1
Weather: scattered clouds

The big climb today was up Stratton Mtn, topping off at 4,000 feet. Spock said he made the 2 mile ascent without stopping. It's rumored that the founder of the Appalachain Trail, Benton McKaye, received his inspiration for the trail hiking on Stratton Mtn. Saw Moose up close and shot video, although it's hard to say how it came out. Also saw first bear since flip-flopping. Ran into thru-hikers Sunshine and Google, a married couple. Only 19 miles left to Bennington, so may reach it tomorrow.
Date: 2007-08-31
From: Story Spring Shelter, VT

To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Good mileage the last three days left me set up to make it to town today and the weather cooperated, so arrived here in Bennington in time to get my maps, and more importantly, my new credit card (the old one turns into a pumpkin at midnight) at the post office thanx to brother Dave's (Bones) timely assistance. Got a ride into town thanx to two   s, who told me they had some hiking experience, and knew just how it feels to get all the way to the road into town, and then have to depend on someone taking the time to help you to the finish. I sure appreciate you taking the time to help out a thru hiker. Will be staying in town Saturday 1 Sep 07 to explore this town which looks real interesting. It is the local Garlic Festival this Labor Day Weekend here. Looking for some milestones to keep motivated ... today should get me to 1,900 miles, so I can start the countdown to my second thousand miles which should come just after Great Barrington Mass. In Great Barrington I will be looking forward to visiting Nancy Hahn, a friend from my days in Annapolis who never got tired of returning tennis balls I tried to put past her. Thanx also to Alex, and Bill for birthday greetings. Alex ... what's the latest project with your restoration?Shopped for new shoes here, as these are starting to show their 600 miles, but the store did not stock any double E widths, and these EE shoes seems to have helped make my sore toe something I can manage with the help of ibuprophin.Sorry to Holly at the Whistle Stop Cafe, but the Library here won't let me download your picture using their computer, so I'll have to wait until next week when I get to Great Barrington.
Date: 2007-09-01
From: Bennington, VT

To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

I should let you know that up in the mountains, though only a few trees have turned, leaves are fluttering down onto the trail and give the feeling that Fall is here. I have been feeling that there is something profound forming in my mind having watched the plants of the forest breaking thru into the sunlight of Spring with their bright fresh green colors growing to flowering, and now looking brown and ragged in the heat of the late August sun (Especially the trilliums and the ferns which were so bright a green in April. The trees which had no leaves when I started out in the spring, will soon be without them again. We see this every year, but somehow, being out in the mountains thru the whole cycle has made quite an impression on me.
Date: 2007-09-03
From: Seth Warner Shelter, VT

To: Mark Knoepel Lean-to, Mass
Miles today: 16.5

Another short report. Spock called me from Mt. Greylock, the highest peak in Mass, at just under 3500 feet. Greylock is topped by a war memorial, a tribute to the state's dead. The mountain has inspired literary giants from Thoreau to Hawthorne, so maybe Spock will pen a novel when he finishes. His aim is to reach Dalton tomorrow, which is Tuesday, motel and Veronica Mars day.
Date: 2007-09-04
From: Mark Knoepel Lean-to, Mass

To: October Mtn Lean to, Mass
Miles today: 25.5

Left shelter around 6:30 am. Passed through village of Cheshire after coming down off mountain. Reached town of Dalton around 1:00, so decided not to stop. Had sub sandwich and packed one to go. All day the trail was smooth and weather was beautiful. Finally reached the October Mtn shelter at 7:15, just before nightfall. There were two groups of ten tented there, so Spock had the shelter to himself. Enjoyed sub and hot chocolate for supper. The mileage is correct, he was a half-mile short of a marathon.
Date: 2007-09-05
From: October Mtn Lean to, Mass

To: Mt. Wilcox North Lean to, Mass
Miles today: 22.8

No towns passed through today. Again good weather, comfortably cool. More ups and downs than yesterday. Near end of day, Spock missed the campsite he was looking for, so decided to hoof it another four miles to the next shelter, making it another 20 plus mile day. Only 13 or less miles to US 7, which he where he'll meet up with Nancy and go into Great Barrington. Spock ordered a new pair of shoes which he hopes arrive by Friday. The next journal entry should be by him. Maybe he'll be able to download some more pictures, as I have finally posted all the ones he had saved.
Date: 2007-09-06
From: Mt. Wilcox North Lean to, Mass

To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The Wilcox North Shelter's stream has run dry, so if you're heading there, think about the South Shelter instead, or tote up your water. I was thinking I might have to stealth it somewhere, so had enough water to cook, etc., but not as much lemonade as I had a taste for. Word must be out that the spring is dry as I had the place to myself. Lots of acorns and other nuts falling from the trees these days along with the first of the fall leaves. When an acorn falls from high enough, it can make a pretty loud noise in the woods, or louder yet if it hits the tin roof of your shelter. If the trail was part of the Navy, I'd probably have to wear a hard hat to be allowed to walk in it, but thank god it's not. The other night I had a shelter to myself as well, but that night there were two groups of college age "kids" of about 10 each tented near by. They broke things up about 9:00 and I happened to look up that way. The voices and laughter of the group changed to just a few hushed voices as the campers went there separate ways to their tents. It was dark since about 7:30, so they all had their lights or headlamps on and it looked like spirits of the woods from A Midsummer Night's Dream as the lights flickered here and there in the woods. Today's photo is from one of my favorite lunch stops. The Whistle Stop Cafe is a converted train station with some great food just a half mile off the trail in East Clarenden VT. The adjacent authentic caboose serves some really tasty ice cream...Thanx for making me welcome Holly.
Date: 2007-09-07
From: Great Barrington, MA

To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Today is a first for the journal, the picture displayed was taken just a few minutes ago at Nancy Hahn's in Great Barrington where I am taking a zero day today. The new shoes I ordered on the internet in Bennington have arrived here, and I feel like the William Hurt character from "The Big Chill" who says of his new shoes, "These feel great.   I am never taking them off." No ceremony for the old shoes which brought me all the way here from Katahdin...almost 700 miles. I simply put them in the trash. I did once have a ceremony for my shoes when I heaved my flight deck boots into the foam of the wake of the USS Constellation on our last day at sea before my retirement. I still miss working on the flight deck, and I am sure I will miss being on the trail. I can of course go hiking anytime, but thru hiking is almost a career while you are doing it, which is something different and special. Less than 200 miles to go to complete my thru hike at High Point NJ. I wonder if others have completed their thru hikes there. The next milestone may come as soon as tomorrow as I complete my second thousand miles. (Seems incredible even or perhaps especially to me!!!)
Date: 2007-09-09
From: The Hemlocks Lean-to, MA

To: Limestone Spring Lean-to, CT.
Miles today: 17.5

Nice having new pictures to put with these journal entries. Weather today was muggy, foggy in the morning. Spock passed the 2,000 mile mark in his journey and also entered Connecticut. Came out on CT 41 near Salisbury and hiked along road for about a half mile. There was an Antique show along the way that had refreshments, but when Spock tried to go in, he found out there was a $7.00 cover charge. He appealed to the woman's softer nature, but it didn't work, so no refreshments.
Date: 2007-09-10
From: Limestone Spring Lean-to, CT.

To: Stewart Hollow Lean-to, CT
Miles today: 22.3

Spock is delighted with his new, extra-wide shoes. He reports no problems with his toe, which has pretty much given him a problem the entire hike. The first part of today's hike was flat, the middle part he described as a saw-tooth. It was miles of constant ups and downs, followed by another flat section to finish the day. The flats were next to the Housatonic River, which the trail follows for miles. In fact, the shelter he is staying in looks like its right on the river. The weather he describes as very humid, which makes for especially stinky clothes. Tomorrow the plan is to go into Kent, just across the river, and do some resupplying, then move on to the next shelter. If he can find reasonably priced lodging he might stay. After all, it is a Tuesday. Kent is only six miles from the New York state line.
Date: 2007-09-11
From: Stewart Hollow Lean-to, CT

To: Mt Algo Lean to
Miles today: 8.0

Drizzly morning turned to a downpour about 1.5 miles before I reached the road to Kent CT, and was waterlogged before making town. Found the laundermat and while that was going did a resupply of food. As I suspected this is a bed and breakfast town, and I am more of a motel 6 kind of guy. As I was telling Bones, my brother, I wouldn't enjoy paying that much for a night, when for the same price, I've had a room at the Outrigger Reef in Waikiki, and they had a Jimmy Buffet channel on the cable to boot. So despite the rain, I'm going to enjoy my lunch, and head back into the woods with my new (used paperback) book "Seventh Son" by Orson Scott Card. Don't know if I'm cheap, or have some twisted sort of morality, but it feels like the right choice for me. Enjoyed hearing from Megaphone, have run across several hikers from that shelter more than once along the way, the last being Flying Turtle just north of Vermont. Also to Rodknee Dangertrails, congratulations on finishing your second thru hike. Would love to catch up with you in P'cola, but I will be staying north thru into the begining of October. Also to Neil Doran, I can't believe you read the whole thing, and yes I do have quite a brother.
Date: 2007-09-12
From: Mt Algo Lean to

To: Wiley Shelter, NY
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: broken clouds

Spock called while I was in the shower, so I didn't get to talk to him. His message said he left late this morning. He was at Wiley, but didn't want to risk darkness by trying to make the next shelter. By now, he's lost the luxury of having daylight until eight or nine o'clock. He said the hiking today was pleasant, and he crossed into New York State. Had lunch by the Housatonic river. The AT in New York runs only about ninety miles and then he'll be back in his home state for the final stretch.
Date: 2007-09-13
From: Wiley Shelter, NY

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter, NY
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

A beautiful weather day. Crossed NY 22 and NY 55. Ran into volunteer trail maintainer who was trying to clear a log off the trail. Spock asked her if she would like help, and spent about a half hour sawing and using an axe to move the log. The volunteer was so appreciative that she left a little pin for Spock at the next shelter, an ATC volunteer pin. Hopefully the weight of it won't be too much for him. At NY 22 he saw his first Metro train station, aptly named the "Appalachian Trail RR station." Tenting near shelter tonight as he judges the other four shelter occupants to be snorers. Looking forward to deli visit tomorrow in Stormville, just .3 miles off the trail. Spock says as he hikes he has to speed up and slow down to avoid the many acorns falling from the trees, and wonders if it is the squirrels taking aim at him. I told him if you stay out on the trail long enough you eventually go "nuts." (Sorry)
Date: 2007-09-14
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter, NY

To: Dennytown Road campsite
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Overcast day, humid but no rain. Spock heard there's a good chance of rain tomorrow. He has no definite plans when he reaches Bear Mountain. Might stay in town or hike to the next shelter. When he called today, he was a mile from the Dennytown Road campsite. Had lunch at the Shenandoah Tenting Area, which he describes as beautiful. It had a pump that supplied cool, delicious water and an apple tree. The apples were good, but repeated on him later as he hiked(you can supply your own joke here). He stopped at the Mountain Top Market deli on Route 52 and had what he described as the "best" roast beef sandwich ever. He also bought some short-term resupply items and an Italian sub for dinner. Sounds worth going .3 miles off the trail for. As a side-note, the Maintenance volunteer who gave him the pin a couple days ago is from Wappinger Falls, which is also the home of one of our journal readers.
Date: 2007-09-15
From: Dennytown Road campsite

To: FT Montgomery NY
Miles today: 16.0

Washington Crossed the Delaware, and now Spock has crossed the Hudson. Crossing big bridges makes for memorable milestones, so today was a thrill for me. Now just 66 miles to go. I am treating myself to the Holiday Inn tonight, probably the last motel stop for this journey. It rained all morning, but cleared up right around noon, and now it is gorgeous outside. Around 0800 this morning, it was so dark on the trail under the canopy of the forest, that seeing was difficult. Then a strange thing happened. The wet ground, the wet rocks and the wet roots all looked about the same color, just shapes in the dark, and then I went thru an area where bright yellow leaves had fallen, and my mind just saw patterns of bright yellow. I had to literally shake my head to shift my focus back to the ground and all those things waiting to trip me, or stub my toe on, or slip on, and even then I couldn't help constantly going back to seeing the patterns instead. It was kind of like when your vision shifts and you can see those 3D pictures. Anyway I didn't fall though I did stub my toes a few times. Some near misses lately from acorns, so since I have to walk along the trail, and can't go much left or right, I started to randomly speed up and slow down to make a more difficult target, but then had a direct hit today, and it hit me that instead of being apart from the forest by trying to dodge acorns, I must become one with it. What do you think...besides he's been in the woods too long, because it's my opinion that there is no such thing as too long in the woods)Saw lots of deer this morning, but not much of anything else, except when I got close to the Hudson River, I caught a glimpse of West Point up around the bend thru the trees. I was also taken back to my Great Loop sailboat trip 2 years ago when I sailed "SS Minnow" under this same Bear Mountain Bridge and seems to tie things together somehow in a good way. If the weather holds, should arrive at High Point NJ before the end of the coming week. I am ready to finish and yet, don't completly want to...there is something fundamentally good about waking up in the woods, with nothing on your agenda, but hiking up around the bend, or over the next hill, and the point is driven home every time I visit someone who has more stuff to do, than hours in the day, or when I come down from the woods and cross a busy highway with all those cars and people speeding by going where?
Date: 2007-09-16
From: FT Montgomery NY

To: William Brien Memorial Shelter, NY
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: broken clouds

It was two miles to the food store to resupply this morning, but Spock made the walk after finding out a taxi would cost $30.00 each way. He had to buy some rubbing alcohol for his stove, for he couldn't track down the pure stuff. Left motel at check-out time after good Continental breakfast. Bought sub that he'll carry along and have at the shelter for dinner. On trail by 1:00. Very busy area with lots of day strollers around Bear Mountain and motorcyclists on the roads. Hiked past zoo and saw two bears, but it didn't count because they were in cages. Beautiful day weather-wise with lots of vistas. Saw skyline of New York City. This area at Bear Mountain is the earliest section of the AT to be completed, back in 1923.
Date: 2007-09-17
From: William Brien Memorial Shelter, NY

To: Wildcat Shelter, NY
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: clear sky

Spock saw two bears today, bringing his grand total for the hike to 27. No good places to camp, so he decided to go to the next shelter. I'm familiar with this area, it's the furthest north I've hiked on the AT. Spock said he crossed Warwick, which he remembers being on from his cross-country bike ride. At a rock formation called the Lemon Squeezer, he was forced to take his pack off and push it through ahead of his body in order to fit, hence the derivation of the name. The shelter he stayed in last night was an old stone creation, put up by the CCC in 1933. Also, when he was crossing the Hudson River, it was the lowest point on the entire trail, at 124 feet above sea level. Less than forty miles to High Point.
Date: 2007-09-18
From: Wildcat Shelter, NY

To: Wawayanda Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

A short day as Spock crossed into New Jersey. Great views of Greenwood Lake, which the mountain ridgeline follows for miles. Last night, Spock tented near the shelter and lucked out, as hikers he remembered from several days ago came in and stayed in the shelter. When he got up to go to the bathroom he could hear them snoring extremely loudly, mimicking the three stooges.
Date: 2007-09-19
From: Wawayanda Shelter, NJ

To: Pochunk Mountain Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

After 162 days since he left Springer Mountain in Georgia, this will be my last journal entry for my brother, Spock. I have thoroughly enjoyed his daily updates and passing them along to you. Although I only hiked a couple hundred miles with him, I feel as though I've shared his entire journey, as have all of you. I believe the highlight for many has been the amazing array of pictures Spock has provided us. Tomorrow he arrives at desination's end: the ranger station at High Point, where his mom and dad will meet him. It's only fitting that that entry come from him. Now for today.         At the Wawayanda shelter several people wandered in about 9:00 pm, but they were courteous enough to set up tents and not bother Spock. They did build a fire, which they put out before going to sleep. There was one bear spotting today, as well as a nice view from the ridgeline of the High Point Monument, about 22 miles away. At a big produce store on route 517, Spock added a Coke, cookies, fresh tomato, and ice cream to his lunch fare. He's enjoying eating up everything in his pack so he arrives at High Point tomorrow with nothing left over. Tonight at the Pochunk shelter he'll have the rest of his cocoa and more cookies. Interesting walking this afternoon, as much of the trail was a boardwalk built over marshland. It's amazing the work the trail builders put into making the trail as accessible as possible. Spock reported no water at any shelters, so he has to be prudent with his supply and get it elsewhere. He also wants Southbounders to know that the blue blazed trail on Wawayanda Mountain where the mailbox is doesn't lead to a view, at least not one close-by.       Well, that's it for now. Maybe in a couple years we'll reverse roles and Spock will be reporting on Bones' thru-hike. You never know....