morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-19
From: 1311.8

To: Mashipacong Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

RW MEANS Ryegrass WavingLast night was uneventful. I left early this morning and arrived at Branchville by 10 o'clock. I couldn't get a ride into town so I walked the 1.5 miles and bought food for 3 days at the local market. I caught a ride back out of town. Since there was a bar and grill right at the trail I stopped and had a nice lunch there and got to the shelter at 4:30.Again I hiked alone all day. I thought about hiking further but the shelter has a beautiful lawn and there is a Ridge Runner named Zedd who had lots of water and potato chips. It looked like a good place to stop for the night and I was getting tired after the long day yesterday.I received lots of trail magic today. I caught a ride out of town and on the trail I ran into several people who shared fruit, and lastly, the trail magic at the shelter tonight. I also saw one bear today that ran away as soon as I got close.The shelter area is crowded with people who I've met at the last few hostels.
Date: 2014-07-20
From: Mashipacong Shelter

To: Pochuck shelter
Miles today: 19.6

RW MEANS Rest wantedToday turned out to be an easy hiking day. New Jersey is much better for hiking than I ever thought. New Jersey is also far more beautiful and scenic than I imagined it would be.I started the day early and by 9 a.m. I was at the High Point State Park Visitor Center. I was the 342 thru-hiker to sign the guestbook. I stayed a while with Braveheart and we charged our phones. Only stayed a little while, and then left to head back to the trail alone. It was an interesting day. There were a great many scenic views and a number of wildlife refuges and farms. Because these trails are used by the public, the trail was often flat and well-maintained. The trail today also included paved road for great distances which also increased my mileage.Braveheart is a 36 year old woman from Washington State with MLS. She is hiking the trail before her disease progresses too far and she cannot hike. She left May 1st and after completing the Appalachian Trail she will then hike the Long Trail this season.I met many nice people along the way. I spent quite a long time hiking and talking to a couple named Lou and Jean. They have hiked many parts of the trail in New Jersey and love to meet to thru-hikers.
Date: 2014-07-21
From: Pochuck shelter

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: broken clouds

RW MEANS Rock Wall given to me by a local hiker.I decided to do a short day today because it has been a high mileage week with me doing 117 miles. I had planned to stop for lunch at The Haven Hill Farm & Deli but when I got there the deli was closed. So I just got a cup of coffee and some donuts and rested for an hour. This morning the trail was wonderful, mostly walking through marshes and wetlands. In the afternoon the trail became rocky and very difficult with many steep climbs. The shelter here is average but the mosquitos are terrible and have driven me into my tent very early.Most of the day I hiked with Rambler, at least until I got to the shelter. He went on another eight miles or more and will be getting off the trail tonight. He is going to a wedding in Texas. Rambler is a 29 year old lawyer from Atlanta who started on April 1st.The first week back has been hard on many parts of my body. The heat and humidity have caused lots of chaffing on my shoulders and hips from the pack. The new boots have caused 2 blisters on my feet. The forecast calls for more heat and humidity. I sweat all day and my clothes are wringing wet at the end of each day. They do not dry by morning.
Date: 2014-07-22
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Fitzgerald Falls
Miles today: 13.9

Actual miles 1371.8 RW Means: Ruckus at Wawayanda shelter. Last night a bear tried to get into the bear box at the shelter and made a lot of racket in the process. We chased it away. I left camp early and was in the State of New York by 9:00am. The mosquitos and gnats were terrible and I had to use Deet for the first time. The first 4 miles of New York were very difficult and rocky. At one point someone installed an aluminum ladder for hikers to climb the cliff face (see pictures). After this section the trail smoothed out and was nice walking. The forest here is slightly different than New Jersey. The trees are small and thin, and the forest floor is grassy. For lunch I stopped near the trail at a hot dog stand and the Creamery, a great homemade ice cream place. There I met 2 southbound thru-hikers. A young couple who started May 31th in Maine.The trail seems deserted. I hiked alone all day and I am camping by myself at Fitzgerald Falls next to the trail. I have been here for hours and only one hiker walked by. While this is a great spot with good water, it is not listed in the guide as a designated campsite.
Date: 2014-07-23
From: Fitzgerald Falls

To: William Brien Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: light rain

RW Means: Repelling WashboardI started at 5:30 after an uneventful night. I started early because I suspected the trail would be tough today. It wasn't long before my suspicions proved to be true. The first 8 miles took me across many steep bluffs. Often I felt more like I was mountain climbing rather than hiking. It took 6 hours to do these 8 miles and mosquitoes and gnats hounded me frequently. This part of the trail is known as Agony Grind, aptly named.After this the trail became manageable and my hourly mileage increased. Still I stopped before I planned because I am beat and tired. I had hoped to do at least 3 more miles today.Again I hiked alone all day. After the bluffs the ground became grass and the trail felt like I was hiking in a park, except on a very rocky park trail.Part of the reason I was so tired was the tough trail, but it was also a very hot and humid today. According to the Weather Station App on my phone, it was 91 degrees with a heat index of 100 degrees today. I was drenched in sweat all day and struggled to keep the chafing to a minimum. There was plenty of water trail magic today so I didn't suffer from dehydration, thank goodness! At the shelter there is a youth group camping and 2 other thru-hikers, a north bounder named Ireland and a southbounder named Conner. Ireland is about my age and I have seen him off and on for the last 30 miles. Conner is young and did 30 miles today. There is also a homeless man with his dog and two locals just out for a few days of hiking. So the shelter is full. I am sleeping in the shelter because there is an 80% chance of thunderstorms tonight.
Date: 2014-07-24
From: William Brien Memorial Shelter

To: Trailside Museum
Miles today: 9.6

Actual miles 1399.2 RW Means: Reeking and Washing clothes. The thunderstorm that was forecast with 80% accuracy did not materialize, but it did rain a little and there was a nice lightning show. I didn't sleep much because the overnight female hiker from New York City seemed to be uncomfortable sleeping in the shelter. Several times during the night she woke everyone up (except her boyfriend who slept through everything!) She was sure there was an animal in the shelter. No animals were found. I left early uncertain of my destination this morning. When I arrived at the Trailside Museum in Ft. Montgomery I met Stan Goldblatt. He is a professional photographer who is making a book about thru-hikers. He asked and I agreed to be photographed at his studio. It was a very pleasant time and I think he will create an interesting photo book when he is done. A couple of his photos of me are in today's photos. www.StanGoldblattPhoto.com. He fed me lunch and time passed pleasantly. I decided to stop for the day and do laundry, some chores, and get a good night's rest, so I checked into the Holiday Inn Express.Tomorrow I will pass the 1400 mile mark and walk through the Trailside Museum, a museum devoted to local animals which can no longer survive in the wild.
Date: 2014-07-25
From: Trailside Museum

To: Clarence Fahnestock state park
Miles today: 20.7

RW MEANS Reaching where.I left early and hiked long today even though I didn't sleep well last night. As soon as I left hiked across the Hudson River Bridgeand crossed the 1400 mark. I hiked with Flint all morning and with him and his wife Gunpowder in the afternoon.   They are 26 and from North Carolina. He was a missionary in China and she worked in China as a trail guide. the trail was fairly easy today and passed through many stone walls. It was very new England feeling all day hiking.The weather was great. I felt good until the end of the day when I was getting very tired. We all stopped at the State Park for the night. survivor joined us after a little while.During the hike we stopped at the Appalachian Market but it was earlier in the day so I did not get any deli sandwich. I just bought groceries. I had hoped to have dinner at the concession stand at the state park but we arrived too late and the concession stand was closed. We found a brochure at the campground and ordered a pizza.The park is very noisy with cars and will be an adjustment after living in the woods for so long. I am sleeping in a campsite next to Ireland.
Date: 2014-07-26
From: Clarence Fahnestock state park

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter
Miles today: 14.0

RW MEANS Ron Weasley we talked about Harry Potter today.         After a noisy night at the campground we hit the trail by 7:40.   The day was cool but humid and I was soaked in no time.   The trail was mostly easy again today but I was very tired and sore after the long miles yesterday. Just didn't feel like making a long hike today so I stopped after 14 miles at 3 o'clock.   I hiked with Flint, Gunpowder, and Survivor again today and they stopped too. They stopped because I did. Survivor wanted to go on but stayed. While hiking I got a little careless and dragged my left arm across a raspberry bush and it quite scratched me up. Add the scratches to the mosquito bites and I'm looking a little beat up. For lunch I walked 0.4 miles off trail to a deli and had a great sandwich. All day signs warned that the water in the springs, streams and wells were polluted with the Coliform Bacteria, a strain of E. Coli.Because of the mosquitos I am sleeping in my tent in the shelter. A section hiker is also in the shelter.
Date: 2014-07-27
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: Ten Mile Shelter
Miles today: 20.6

RW MEANS RaceWalkerIt rained last night so I was very glad to be in the shelter. We all got up early and left early because we wanted to get to the Appalachian Trail railroad station by 11 o'clock. It was 11 miles away. On the way we passed the largest tree on the Appalachian trail.                                 It rained off and on all morning but the trail was reasonably smooth and dry despite the rain. We made it to the Appalachian station on time and I said my goodbyes to Flint, Gunpowder, and Survivor who were going to the City of New York for a couple of days.                I went to the Outdoor Center near the station to dry off and have lunch. There I met a man named Race Walker and another man named Obsidian.Race Walker is 64, from North Carolina, and a professional walk racer. Obsidian is 46 and from Germany.   I decided to hike with them and went further than I had planned because I enjoy their company so much.We made great time hiking in the afternoon because the trail was good and the rain stopped. By 4 o'clock we were in the State of Connecticut.The rain made all of the colors vibrant especially green. We walked through some fields and there were lots of flowers in bloom.      This is a nice shelter in a good campground. I have hung up my clothes on a clothesline because everything is so wet.
Date: 2014-07-28
From: Ten Mile Shelter

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: overcast clouds

RW MEANS Riddle Without solution.   Recommended by Obsidian.   It was a good thing that I took extra care in staking out my tent last night. It was a very stormy night, so I'm told. I slept through the whole thing I was so tired. I packed everything up in the rain this morning. Hardly anything dried from yesterday, so everything was wet except for my sleeping bag, which is now damp and clammy.   After we left camp we went to Bulls Bridge and had breakfast at a gas station and some hot coffee.                                    The terrain today was more difficult than it has been in a while.   There were lots of up and downs but the ground was quite soft. The forest seems to remain damp and wet all the time and the forest floor is thick with mushrooms.   No flowers. It rained off and on all morning. During the afternoon we had a very very difficult and steep climb down a cliff. The rocks were slick from the rain and Lichens and our boots were muddy. As soon as we completed the climb down a heavy thunderstorm hit us. We were thankful that we just made it off the cliff before the storm hit. The already dangerous and difficult climb would have been that much more treacherous. The forest is changing again. Today there was a fair amount of pine trees and I saw birch trees for the first time.Tonight we are again camped in a wet wooded area with little sunlight and no breeze next to a river. I doubt anything I have will dry tonight. We all had hoped for a sunny area to dry some of our equipment but no luck. I fled to my tent at 7 o'clock because of the mosquitos.   I am sure this is a beautiful spot in dryer times with less mosquitos.   I am laying in my sleeping bag hoping my body heat will dry out the dampness.In my second full week of hiking since returning to the trail, I have completed 230 more miles and walked out of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Nine states done!
Date: 2014-07-29
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter

To: West Cornwall
Miles today: 8.9

RW MEANS Ruptured WaistLast night it really stormed hard. That makes it three days and two nights of rain. This morning we packed up early and headed to West Cornwall. We hiked fast in order to catch the noon shuttle to the Bearded Woods Bunk & Dine Hostel. This hostel has one of the best reputations on the trail. The trail was moderately difficult today with no particular problems except for a long detour around a flooded part of the trail.While at the hostel, Frankie the Sleeper arrived. We will hike with him some tomorrow. I dried out my tent and all my gear here today. This hostel is run by Hudson and his wife Big Lu. It is just beautiful, a centerpiece of hostels for the trail. It is so nice, I have decided to spend another day and slack pack tomorrow. Dinner was outstanding!Hudson is also hiking the AT and is posting in Trailjournals.com.
Date: 2014-07-30
From: West Cornwall

To: Salsbury
Miles today: 16.6

RW MEANS Reverse in the Wash.Today I laughed harder than I can remember laughing in a very long time. This morning I got up and commented to everybody about how tight my pants had gotten from the great meal last night. As the day wore on my pants seemed to be very tight. At lunch time I looked at Race Walker and realized his pants looked just like my pants. So we both looked at our pants more closely and discovered the pants had been mixed up in the wash. He was wearing mine and I was wearing his! I laughed for nearly 10 minutes and tears came from my eyes. I still laugh even as I am writing this entry.The trail today was just beautiful. It was a pleasant trail that often went through groves of pine trees and the ground was covered with soft pine needles and there were few rocks. We hiked many roads and trails next to the Housatonic River with beautiful waterfalls. In open areas the fields were covered with flowers and the houses had fantastic flower gardens. The weather was beautiful all day which was so nice after 3 days of rain. Today was just a phenomenal treat.I like Bearded Woods Hostel so much that I am staying another night with Race Walker and Obsidian.   Frankie the Sleeper also spent another night.
Date: 2014-07-31
From: Salsbury

To: Glen Brook Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: light rain

RW MEANS Run Witch because I like the combination.Another great day! While it sprinkled in the morning it was dry and comfortable the rest of the day. The trail was a bit rough with several steep climbs but we walked across cliffs that had spectacular views.We didn't do very many miles because of the terrain and because the campgrounds or shelters are spaced awkwardly but we also wanted to take it a little easy as well.We had one instance of trail magic today where someone left lots of water.
Date: 2014-08-01
From: .Glen Brook Shelter

To: Mt Wilcox South Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

RW MEANS Red WeltsHikers are calling Massachusetts the mosquito and mud state.It rained last night and it rained this afternoon. The trail is frequently mud and swamp with 1000 foot climbs spaced between them. It was a long and exhausting day climbing these hills and fighting mosquitos. In the swamps we wore our raingear and bug nets to protect ourselves but it was of little use.   The mosquitos were voracious and ignored all insect repellent. The forest just hummed.  Stopping for water was just torment as they divebombed us.The rivers are overflowing and we had to take a bypass today because a river had flooded the trail. When we did climb to the peak of the mountains the views were spectacular.   We walked along cliff edges for long distance and enjoyed the views... and the mosquito free zone!
Date: 2014-08-02
From: Mt Wilcox South Shelter

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

RW MEANS Rambunctious WalkerIt did not rain last night. Cellphone communication is poor.   I am having to enter these entries several days after I hike. We left about 8 o'clock for the trail because we wanted to go to the Goose Pond Cabin because they serve pancakes in the morning.   It's the first shelter that I have ever been to that serves food in the morning. The weather was nice all day and the trail mostly dry. Very few swampy areas. The forest is thick and mostly maples and oak trees with an occasional stand of pine trees.   Not many views today but because of the cool weather the mosquitos were minimal. The 3 of us did not say much today, we just hiked and enjoyed the trail.   Upper Goose Pond Cabin is beautiful and situated on a lake. The cabin is 2 stories and totally enclosed and has 3 caretakers.   There is a swimming beach and free canoes. But it is so cold today that I am not going to take advantage of them. The cabin is overflowing with hikers and many are camping close to the cabin.I may get my winter gear back early because it has been cold the past few nights.   It is in the low 60s at 5:00 now.
Date: 2014-08-03
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Dalton
Miles today: 20.6

RW MEANS Ring Worm so says Frankie the sleeper.Last night the cabin had 38 thru-hikers staying in the cabin and camping area. I got up early for breakfast which was pancakes and coffee. At 7:30 Race Walker and Frankie the Sleeper left and I was 10 minutes behind them. Obsidian was hungry and stayed for a second helping and some conversation with other Germans. He left about an hour after me.During the morning I walked with a variety of hikers and had many pleasant conversations. In the afternoon I hiked alone until I caught up with Race Walker and Frankie and walked into the town of Dalton with them.The trail was mostly flat and mud free today but not entirely free. While it started to sprinkle in the morning it did not last long and the Sun came out and it was a beautiful hiking day. At noon I passed the location and house known as the Cookie Lady. She gives cookies to thru hikers. I had a few cookies and continued.I originally had planned to stay at the shelter before town but I arrived at the shelter so early that I decided to walk into town and stay in a motel.The forest is changing again slightly. Birch trees are becoming more plentiful. It is still dominated by maple and oaks but they are beginning to diminish.The motel is full of thru hikers. most are getting drunk and the rest of us just want a good night's sleep. Tomorrow the four of us will eat a good breakfast and resupply for the trail. I would like to upload photos but the connection is poor here.
Date: 2014-08-04
From: Dalton

To: Cheshire
Miles today: 8.8

RW MEANS Running to WilliamstownWe left late today at about 9:30. We had a nice breakfast in town before hitting the trail. The trail was good and the 4 of us walked by several beaver ponds. We arrived at Cheshire about 1:00 and joined other thru-hikers at a deli/ice cream shop for lunch. Obsidian needed to get mail in Williamstown tomorrow so we planned to stay the night there. We learned all the lodging was sold out due to a festival. It is a full day's walk and we are nearly out of food.   Obsidian and I decided to stay at the Catholic Church Hostel in Cheshire. Race Walker and Frankie the Sleeper continued on and we said our goodbyes. While we were explaining our dilemma to Father David, who didn't know how we could get a ride into Williamstown, a van pulled up and stopped. It was a shuttle driver looking for mail for a hiker he was picking up in Williamstown.   He gave us a free ride to and back from Williamstown.   It took hours because we had to stay with him while he shuttled hikers but we accomplished our goal. St Mary Catholic Church is nice and about 10 other hikers are here.   We sleep on the floor but it is warm and clean.
Date: 2014-08-05
From: Cheshire

To: Philps Ave Williamstown
Miles today: 14.2

RW MEANS Righteous Wonderer given to me by a lady at the church. We woke this morning to a heavy fog. We slept late and went to the church service. Then went to the post office and to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. The fog burned off and we hit the trail about 10:00.We climbed Mount Greylock today, the highest peak in Massachusetts and the highest mountain we have climbed since Virginia. The climb was strenuous but at the top of the mountain the views were spectacular. While at the top of the mountain we called a trail angel to ask if we could stay at his place tonight because all the accommodations in the town where we were going were sold out. This resulted in us hiking further than we anticipated and faster. It worked out well because trail was dry. We were able to purchase food and take a shower. We also went to a nice diner for dinner.About 6 o'clock in the evening severe thunderstorms started and it has not stopped raining hard for the last 4 hours. We had to put our tents up in a downpour. I have been rained on almost every day in Massachusetts. I am fed up with rain.
Date: 2014-08-06
From: Philps Ave Williamstown

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: scattered clouds

RW MEANS Raising water Two milestones today.   I crossed the 1600 mile mark and entered Vermont.   11 states done and 3 to go.It rained hard until 3 AM last night and I stayed dry.   I started late today, 10:00. It just took forever for everyone at the trail angel's camp to get moving. The trail was tough today and I am very tired.   The mud is unbelievable.   All day I hiked in mud, sometimes ankle deep. The trail up and down the mountains was frequently like a muddy stream.   I was filthy at the end of today.   I also hiked up and down several mountains near 3000 feet. I am climbing higher every day. I am now in the Green Mountains.There were several great views today and it was sunny all day.   During lunch I laid out my tent to dry.The shelter is crowded with at least 24 hikers.   But not all are hiking the Appalachian Trail.   The Long Trail starts in Vermont and is the same trail for about 120 miles before it splits off and heads to Canada.The ground is soaked here and I can feel the wetness and cold below my sleeping bag.   I feel like I am sleeping in a mud puddle.