morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-08-05
From: NY 52

To: Appalachian Trail Railroad Station
Miles today: 14.7

Appalachian Trail Railroad Station, 14.7   One thing that depresses me and has not help in the slump that I am in is all the hikers that are ahead of me. I am not taking about the thru hikers. I am referring to the hikers that started at Springer but have not done every mile of the AT. Some have jumped ahead 100 miles here and 100 miles there. There are some that are not even hiking full days. I will not name names here because I am just saying how I feel and not condemning them. I don't care that they do this, it is there hike. It just makes me feel bummed out because they are ahead and have not done what I have done, yet there going to claim there hike as a thru hike. I have gone out of my way and gone back and picked up every section I missed or did not do correctly. I ran into seven southbound thru hikers today. I must it in the general area of there hurd.   Bismarck, Bluesky and myself all met at NY 55 and started walking east where there was suppose to be a hot dog stand 0.2 miles down the road. When we got near where it was suppose to be I asked a car driving by where the hot dog stand was, they replied that it closed a long time ago. We were very disappointed, we were looking forward to some cold soda and hot dogs.   We passed by the Dover Oak today. It is the largest Oak tree on the AT with a girth over 20 feet and estimated over 300 years old.   The sweat has been rolling off me for the last two days. It has been running down my back and onto the back of my kilt. With the sweat being in my kilt it has been keeping my butt wet and it is starting to get really sore.   While getting water at a residence near the AT that allow hikers to use their outside spigot I rolled my ankle walking down their gravel driveway. It hurt like crazy but the pain soon subsided.   Tonight we are camped behind the Garden Center next to the Appalachian Station, it is a train stop. Some hikes take this train into New York for the day and come back from what I have been told. I am less then 20 from the tracks over a nice green grassy area. The train seems to come every hour, I am sure I will get use to it.   We went down the road to Tony's Deli tonight. I had a turkey and bacon sandwich and I think it was that best sandwich I have ever had.   I am laying in my hammock now and it is so hot the sweat it rolling off me. That is why I am typing now, it is so warm I am having trouble sleeping.   Tomorrow we will move into the next state, CT. Our plan is to be in Kent, CT tomorrow or the shelter 0.3 miles south of it. I am only going into Kent to get some food resupplies and then heading right back out. I have not need for a room there. As of right now I am hoping to be in Salisbury, CT on 08 Aug and taking a zero day at one of the hostels. That could all change between now and then.
Date: 2010-08-06
From: Appalachian Trail Railroad Station

To: Schaghticoke Road
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Schaghticoke Road, 11.3   I had to take a sleeping pill last night. The train rain every hour and with it going past my hammock 20 feet away at 60 mph it was keeping me awake. I waited until midnight to try and fall asleep without a sleeping pill. Then I could not wait any longer.   I slept until 8:30 this morning. I did not even hear Bismarck lower the bear bags that were hanging near my hammock earlier in the morning.   I went over to the benches and ate breakfast with Slightly Inapropriate. I ate half of the turkey and bacon sandwich I had made at the deli last night for my lunch today.   The hike started out walking through 0.7 miles of feilds in the hot sun. That was not fun.   The first part of the morning was slow going. For that matter the whole day was slow going. I was dragging ass because of my twisted ankle I got yesterday, it was swolen today.    I hit the trail magic at one of the road crossing. Someone had placed a large sports size cooler filled with ice and water, cookies, and powdered lemon mix. I sat there and ate the other half of my sandwich and made and drank three lemon drinks in my empty gatorade bottle. While I was there the owner of the trail magic showed up to replunish everything. I asked her if she had hiked the trail and she said no. I then asked her how she got involved in doing this. She said she had a friend that she knew that hiked the trail and that was how she got involved. I thanked her for doing the trail magic for us hikers.   When I got to the first shelter of the day Bismark and Bluesky were there. I was surprised to see them, I thought there were a ways ahead. They had all their gear laying out drying it out from last nights rain and said they were starting to worry about me. I explained to them that my ankle had swollen from my incident yesterday.   We sat around talking at the shelter and they had made some calls tryimg to track down a box that was suppose to be waiting for them in Kent that had not shown up yet. We then talked about our schedule for the next three days since we were planning to stick together. I left before them to get a head start because of my ankle.   I looked for the side trail to 10 Mile Shelter but never saw it. I came upon a sign post that had some screwed up looking map design that was even more confusing. Other hikers later told me they had the same problem so I did not feel so bad. I thonk this area would had been a great place to spend the night.   I stayed ahead of them all the way to Bulls Run Bridge. I found out later that they gave me a one hour head start.   When we got to the Bulls Run Bridge we decised to walk in to the resturaunt and eat. When we got done eathing it was to late to hike any further. I was originally going to hike to Kent and stay behind the church but I changed my mind and we all got on the trail and hiked north about one mile and set up astealth campsite.
Date: 2010-08-08
From: Kent, CT

To: West Cornwall Road
Miles today: 15.9

West Cornwall Road, 15.9   Last night throughout the night acorns kept falling on to the metal roof of the shelter and making one heck of a racket. I am glad I was in my hammock. When we got up in the morning they were no longer falling. I don't know what was up with that.   The temperatures have been getting lower at night now. I woke up a little chilly the last two nights. I might have to start phasing in my cold weather gear soon.   We made arrangements with the outfitter in Kent yesterday to pick our packs up at the trail head and bring them to the Sharon Motor Lodge in Sharon. This way we could slack pack today.   Coming down off Saint Johns Ledges was one heck of a climb down. They were make shift stone steps but they were very steep and a lot. The guidebook says there were 91 steps but I did not count. At the bottom of the steps and around the corner there was a large group of kids getting talk to by there instructors about repelling and there were ropes hanging from the ledges.   Once down off Saint Johns Ledges there was a four mile river walk. The river walk was awesome. I can add this one to one of my favorite sections of the trail. I missed the shelter exit on the river walk so I stopped for my lunch break at the next road crossing for my snack and to mix some powdered gatorade.   The rest of the day dragged on and on. I did not think the walking would ever end today. It also threatened to rain by sprinkling several time today but the sun came right back out.   When I got to West Cornwall Road at the end of the day I called Lodge and they did not have anyone to pick me up and I was five miles away. I stuck out my thumb and was lucky enough to get a ride from the second car that came by.   I am sharing a room with Chili and Pepper tonight. We ordered out and I got a double pepperoni pizza.
Date: 2010-08-09
From: West Cornwall Road

To: Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: clear sky

MA 41/Salisbury, 17.5   I arranged for a shuttle at 08:00. Buy the time the shuttle provider was ready it was almost 08:30. Then the shuttle provider did not know where to go to get us back to the trail head. He took the wrong way at one Y in the road which delayed our start date. By the time we finally got started it was around 09:00. There were five of us, Bismarck, Bluesky, Chili, Pepper and myself. We stuck together for about the first mile. We all passed through a crack in a large rock out cropping. The guidebooks refer to it as some similar to the Lemon Squeeze. I did not think it was similar.   I was going to go into Stewart Hollow Lean-To but when I got to the exit I changed my mind because the sign marking said it was a campsite and someone wrote in marker under it that the lean-to was 100 yards east. I did not know if it was accurate of not so I did not bother with it.   When we got to US 7 there was a three mile road detour that road walked us to Falls Village, CT. Ziggy Stardust and his wife Thin Mint and myself all did the road walk together. When we arrived at the Iron Bridge we Thin Mint stopped a vehicle and asked were we could get a meal. They directed us across the bridge and 1/2 mile past the bridge. We all walked about 1/4 mile to where the power plant was and one of the workers came out and asked if we wanted to leave our packs in the garage while we walked up the road. We took advantage of the opportunity. The worker also told up the Toymakers was closed and there was no place to get food. He said we could get sodas at the package store. We figured since we had walked this far we might as well walk 1/4 mile further and get some sodas. When we arrived at the package store we were met by Glen who seemed to be running the store. We asked him where we could get something to eat. He said we would have to go a mile further down the road. We told him we would not walk that far and proceeded to get sodas. He offered to give us a ride. We got in his car and the first thing he did was lift a beer up and drink if from his console. Then he dove us a ways to a gas station that had a deli. We all ordered sandwiches and then he brought us back. On the way back I thought he was going to pull out in front of another car but he stopped quickly and backed up.   Once back at the we sat in the center of town under the shade of a large tree and ate our sandwiches and drank our sodas. When we got back to the power plant we got our packs and talked to the workers.   The climb out of Falls Village was around a 900 foot climb but it did not seem that bad to me. When I got to the top Moment and Chickadee were at the top. They just got back on the trail at the last road crossing. I had not seen Moment since Waynesboro. They said they were stay on the top of the mountain for the night.   I move on after chatting with Moment and Chickadee. I passed by Giants thumb. This is a large rock in the middle of the woods that looks like a thumb. I took a picture and moved on. I was looking forward to the end of that day so I could just unwind and relax.
Date: 2010-08-10
From: Salisbury, CT

To: MA 41
Miles today: 17.8

MA 41, 17.8   I was walking and thinking today about the views I have been taking pictures off. People at home will most likey not appreciate all the pictures of all the views I have. To them they will probably all look the same. They are views of mountains, farm lands below, or ledges.   I missed the last two lean-to's of the day. I never saw the exit or any signage.   I passed three seperate conservation crews on the AT today doing trail work and thanked them all for the trail work they do.   When I arrived at MA 41 I walked west 0.1 miles to the ATC center which is the Kellogg Conservation Center.
Date: 2010-08-11
From: MA 41

To: Blue Hill Road
Miles today: 13.2

Blue Hill Road/Stony Brook Road, 13.2   Started off really great this morning with a five mile walk though fields basically. Then I passed by Shays Rebellion Monument. Followed by the climb up East Mountain, this climb started out easy but part way up the trail I ran into Bismarck and Bluesky who were heading back down. I asked what they were doing and they told me the white blazes were not on the trees anymore. I walked a little further to verify. They were correct. We stopped and had a stack before we headed back down. While we were sitting another hiker also came up to where we were. I walked back down the trail until I saw a white blaze again and looked around. I somehow missed the double white blaze on the tree that signaled for a turn in the trail. I was looking more at the ground then at the trees for the white blazes. Me on the other hiker threw some logs across the trail in hopes that no one else would make the same mistake we all just did.    I stopped into Tom Lenard Shelter to sign the registry. There were two tents there but no one came out of them. I quickly moved on. I crossed over MA 23 in the afternoon and there were Conservation Crews working on the trail. I thanked them for all the work they did.   Today was a nice day but very hot on all the climbs.
Date: 2010-08-12
From: Blue Hill Road

To: Goose Pond Road
Miles today: 15.2

Goose Pond Road, 15.2   The climb out of Blue Hill Road/Stony Brook Road was steep but it was short and sweet. When I got shortly over the top I arrived at Benedict Pond. That was siren.  It was very peaceful and quite. The only thing there was two fishermen in a canoe. I could have sat here all day. Somewhere around Swann Brook Bubalou came up behind me. I knew he was behind me but I thought he was a day behind me. It was great seeing him again. He got off the trail at Dismal Falls because while he was sleeping in hammock one night someone had stolen his pack and all his belongings right out from under his hammock. He went back home and got everything replaced and came back to the trail. While I walked with him we talked and he filled me in on everything that happened and we exchanged stories. I asked him if I had passed the shelter somewhere behind me. He told me I had and I was shocked. This is not the first time I have passed a shelter exit without realizing it. We arrived at the Mt Wilcox North Lean-to exit to find Bismarck and Bluesky taking a break. We stopped and chatted some and all had a snack.   I caught Hopper at Webster Road. We all made it to Goose Pond Road to have trail magic and sit around talking for about 45 minutes.
Date: 2010-08-13
From: Goose Pond Road

To: Country Road
Miles today: 7.0

County Road, 7.0   Today was not bad hiking day, it remained overcast all day and the temps were good hiking temps. We all got a real late start today.    I came upon a old stone fireplace along Upper Goose Pond and the foundation around it. I can only imagine how nice it might have been to have a cabin in this location. We ran into Tiger Lilly (formally Gearbomb) and Swift.   I caught Bismarck at Becket Mountain where he stopped for lunch. I stopped and made my lunch also and we waited for Bluesky to catch up. While were all eating The Professor came up. I was surprised to see him. I thought he was a day ahead. He informed us that Chili and Pepper were behind us and that Chili took a real good fall this morning and hurt his elbow. I called Peppers phone and was surprised when Chili answered because Pepper does not usually have his phone on. Chili said he did fall but he was still hiking. I told him that if he needed help for any reason to give me a ring.   While we were at Becket Mountain Gus came up. I met Gus heading out of Delaware Water Gap. Shortly after leaving our lunch spot we met up with Bee and 1.0. There were farther and daughter. She (Bee) started in Georgia and 1.0 meet up with her and he was getting off at Mount Greylock. We all met up again at trail magic at County Road.
Date: 2010-08-14
From: Country Road

To: Becket, MA
Miles today: 0.0

Becket, MA, 0.0We got another late start today. We sat around waiting for Bluesky and Bismarck. Bismarck had to sew a hole in his pants. It took him a while to sew it. I think he must have sewed it three times over for the amount of time it took him.Bismarck and Bluesky went back to the trail head. They were going to try to make it to Dalton today.Today turned out to be a great day for zeroing. I took a ride on the Bershire Scenic Railroad to pass the time,I was in the Price Chopper before and ran into Gypc Girl. I was flabbergasted. I had not seen her since Franklin when she had three more weeks of healing to do for her broken foot. When chatted in the middle of the grocery store for over 1/2 hour. I never thought I would see her again. She said has been doing a lot of big mileage days because her visa expires mid September and at the rate she is going now there is no way she can finish. She said if she does not finish this year she will come back next year and do it again. She was in good spirits and looking good.This evening Lisa and Kurt took me to dinner. They are geocachers from CT. I meet them in Eustis last year. We also me them in Gettysburg for dinner with Pete and Joanne Preble.
Date: 2010-08-15
From: Becket, MA

To: Cheshire
Miles today: 22.9

Cheshire, 22.9   I have not done a big mile day in a while. Now I remember why. It really tires me out and I know I will be dragging tomorrow.   I passed a person that I thought was a hiker sleeping on a rock with a blue WalMart type tarp over them with their feet sticking out. It was a strange feeling because it looked like a dead person laying there with a blue tarp thrown over them. I sure hope it was a sleeping person.   I ran into a couple of nice ladys section hiking southbound doing a 33 mile section. Turnip and Doctor J were very nice and friendly. I ran into them as Doctor J was getting ready to head into the woods to pee. They started chatting and I continued chatting with them until I noticed Doctor J dancing a little. I did not want her peeing herself so I politely excused myself and continued hiking.   There was a lot of brier bushes that completely covered the trail this afternoon. This was the worst section of overgrowth that I have had to deal with so far, it was similar to bushwacking. It sure would have been nice to of had some trail maintenance done in this area before I came through but I dealt with it. I passed four southbounders today and only got three names, Cloud, Wolverine, Daytripper. Wolverine was from New Zealand or Austrailia or one of those english speaking countries due to his accent.   A few other things have come to my attention since the start of my hike dealing with the guidebook that I co authored with David Awol Miller. This book was originally called Appalachian Pages. Awol and I split for reasons I will not get into here. Awol went on to publish another guidebook it under the name AT Guidebook with no changes except to add elevation scales to the side and other eye candy items. No disrespect is intended when saying this. I have discovered that there are a lot of inaccurate things throughout the book that have hindered hikers using it. I guess I was partly to blame for this when we both co authored it under the name Appalachian Pages. I don't feel so bad now that my name is not on the AT Guidebook. There is a decision for me to make after this hike now. The decision of weather I want to republish Appalachian Pages with all these corrections that I have found and other that have been passed on to me. The problem is It would still look like Awol's book. I have other great ideas of my own and I have received many from this years thru hikers about a different layout. I just need to make the decision on whether or not to move forward with it.
Date: 2010-08-16
From: Cheshire

To: MA 2, North Adams
Miles today: 14.0

MA 2, 14   Last night I stayed at the Redwood Motel in North Adams, what a dump and the price we paid was out of this world. It was the only place that we could find that would take a dog at the time. If we had known this we probably would have stayed on the trail for the night.   I Ran into Babalu at the top of Greylock today. It was really foggy at the top. I hung around the lodge for quite some time hopping the fog would lift.   I went up inside the monument. It really shocks me now how heights bother me. As a kid I was never bothered by heights. I did make it to the top of this one.   I ran into Grizz just before I left the monument. On the trail I ran into Special Needs and Giggles. They were doing the 23 mile slack pack south into Dalton.   Shortly after passing Special Needs and Giggles I started hearing thunder off in the distance. Then I made a wrong turn off the AT. When I realized what I had done I was a mile off the AT. Just after I realized it the rain started coming down. I quickly put my pack cover/rain coat on. Then it was followed by thunder and lightning. One lighting was so close I think I could have reached up and grab it. It stinks hiking with glasses. The heat coming off your body and the humidity along with the rain fogs my glasses up. Once that happens it becomes difficult for me to see, if I take my glasses off everything becomes a blur so I can not win or lose.
Date: 2010-08-17
From: MA 2, North Adams

To: VT 9
Miles today: 18.4

VT 9,18.4    I woke up this morning and could not extend my left leg all the way. When I tried walking my knee had extreme pain behind the knee. I was able to walk but it was a hobble. I did not want to take a zero day because I am starting to get a little concerned about making it to Katahdin on time. I would like to make it to Katahdin the first week of October or sooner.   I started this morning with a really bad limp and the knee did losen up some after about one hour of hiking. Throughout the day it became painful off and on but there was nothing I could do about it but hike.   I reached the MA/VT border somwwhere around noon (I think). There was a new sign there. This is also the start of the Long Trail. The Long Trail and thge AT run together for 105.2 miles. Then the Long Trail leaves the AT and goes up to the Canadian border. I originally wanted to hike the Long Trail imediatly after I finished the AT. I don't think that is going to happen now because I don't think I will have enough time before it gets to cold.   I now see what they call the state of Vermont the name of Vermud. I have run into more mud today in one day than I have in the 1,600 or so miles I have walked on the AT so far.   I started out before Bismarck and Bluesky today but I don't think it was more than 1/2 hour. They never caught me today and I was limping for the first three hour of the hike.   Tomorrow is the day I am really dreading. If I slack pack tomorrow I have to cover 20.5 miles. I have not done a big mile day for a while now. I had no intentions of doing more than 15 days for the reast of this hike if I could. The big miles I did peveiously to catch back up to this group I am with now really took a toll on me. I cannot do it anymore. If there was a way to break up the miles I would but there are not road crossings or side trails tomorrow. I am concerned that I will not be able to cover these miles tomorrow for this slack pack.