morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 6.3

August 11th. 6.3 wet slippery miles.The storms last night were wild. Got up a tad later than usual and tried to dry my tent out but it was so humid nothing wanted to dry. So I packed it up and left. Back to a slippery trail. I walk so different when it is wet. I hate being so cautious but the minute I try and pick up some speed I slip so I slow back down.   The mosquitoes today were hungry as were the biting flies. The sun was out for about a half an hour and I decided to try and dry out the tent again. Then I start to hear lots of thunder. I didn't want to stop but I didn't want to walk either. I listened to the weather. Severe thunderstorm warnings with high wind and hail. I decided to put the tent up.   I don't know what time that was but I am still here. Ughhh. I am dry though. And boy is it windy. I think this is residual stuff from some storm on the coast. So, I guess I'll stay here tonight and off in the morning no matter what the weather. I decided not to carry books with me anymore cause I have !been stopping to read too much. Now of course I wish I had a book. Thank God I have a radio! I hear branches dropping here and there.....hope they all miss me tonight.In for a long night.....sparepocket------------------------------
Date: 2004-08-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

August 12th. My oh my what a wild ride last night and most of today was. No miles. Didn't I say I was going to go no matter what the weather? I felt like I was in a hurricane in a tent. I have never hid my head under a sleeping bag before.   I was trying not to see the lightning and not count how long it took for it to thunder. The sleeping bag over my eyes didn't help. And there was so much thunder and lightening that I couldn't seperate them all to count. And I have never seen it rain so hard over so long a period of time.   When the weather radio said turrential I guess they mean it. At one point this morning I saw my camp shoes floating by the tent. No kidding I realy did. I laughed and than I was stunned. It looked like a lake outside my tent. Don't ask me how but I stayed dry. And my sleeping bag did too.   A few times when it was raining so hard I packed my bag in it's stuff sack so no matter what I would have a dry bag. About 3:30 p.m. the sun just peeked out. !I hopped out and put up a clothes line and started to dry everything. Everything was soaked EXCEPT my sleeping bag. By everything I mean just my tent really. I had a ground cloth under my tent and a ground cloth in my tent and boy I know it's extra weight but it's the only thing that helped keep me dry. It took a long time to dry everything out so I stayed the night. Ughhhhh.....a long long day....and no book! And not a sole on the trail. I listened to the weather.   Big mistake! More turential rans and storms. I am so sick of being in this tent. I love this tent and I am so happy with it BUT.....how long can I stay in here? [hank God there is tv on my radio. Just CBS but at least it was something. Big Brother at 8:00...CSI at 9:00 and I couldn't stay awake for the 10:00 show.   My life is so full! Yawn.Sparepocket
Date: 2004-08-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

August 13th.Woke up to the rain. Of course! Why wouldn't it rain? Was out of camp at 7:30. Very slippery but a light pack because I ate all my food. The bugs were crazy. The deer flies were biting. They were taking chunks out of me and I am running on this slippery trail flailing my arms and kicking my feet trying to get them to leave me alone. I was miserable and wet. Not happy one bit. I get to route 7 and take a right cause that's what the book says to do and no resturaunt.....I walked an extra mile for nothing. Some guy in a car flew by me too close and yelled for me to get off of the road. Something about that car gave me the creeps. Like it was trying to look like a police car but it wasn't. I turn around and head the other direction and find an old gas station. I went to ask a man directions and there was a dog chained up....and this man starts screaming at me...."What's wrong with you! Can't you see the dog....." blah blah blah.....I just turned around and left. Now I've had it. Just had it today. No fun. I'm wet and dirty and stinky and people are yelling at me. That's it. No food....no water. Out goes my thumb. I got a ride with a man who was headmaster at some school. We passed by a school that looked bigger than colleges I have seen and holy moly was it fancy. The guy told me that it has it's own swimming pools and ice rink and golf course. I asked him what the enrollment was and only around 500. It was a huge place for 500 9-12th graders. I got to town and walked to the local Inn....I knew when I walked in that it was not for me. It was an incredible place. During the week they have a hiker special for 80 dollars but the weekends are higher. Guess how much higher? They told me they had a "room around back" which I took to mean not very nice for 210.00. I hope my mouth didn't drop open. I asked if there were any other places and they gave me the name of a bread and breakfast but their min. was 160.00 and I find out later that she doesn't like hikers. Well, I get out my book and find a local woman who takes hikers in. Maria McCabe. 75 year old german woman who made me feel so welcome. She was waiting outside her house for me when I walked up. She had lots of great stories. About hikers and about the second world war when she was 10. She made me some wonderful pancakes....but I am not supposed to tell hikers that. She was making them for her son and I just got lucky. I can't tell you the last time I had homemade blueberry pancakes though.Then I walked to town and saw Diane Keaton. Yep, it had to be her. And later that day I saw that guy who was married to Liza Minelli......what was his name? Maria says that Meryl Streep lives two miles up the street. This is some place. White steepled churches and lots of antiques and tea rooms. What is a tea room anyhow? Just a fancy place to drink tea? I should have went inside but I was scared about how much a cup of tea costs. It can't be the same tea we get in Ohio, that's for sure! Anyhow
Date: 2004-08-25
From: Ohio

To: Great Barrington MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Tomorrow evening I am hopping on another bus....woohoo. A 16 hour ride will get me to Great Barrington MA. I will spend the night in town. Hike the next morning and then meet Shoe and Yogi at the hostel off of rt 23 in the evening. I hope it works out that way anyhow. I am so excited to hike with Shoe and Yogi for a few weeks. It will be like old times....back in the smokies....except now I am a much better hiker. And no 20 miles days.....woohoo. Get your arms ready Yogi cause you are getting a big hug for that trail magic! Not sure how far North I will travel.... Yogi has lots of friends up north so we will have places to stay and maybe even....dare I say....slackpacking???? Oh, I would love some slackpacking.My gear is a tad heavier again. I went back to my warmer sleeping bag and some longjohns.....and another shirt.....I am at 30.8 pounds with 4 days of food and no water. Not bad but not good either. What I need is someone to carry my gear. And sherpas out there who would like to carry my gear???? Brenda???? ;-)Hmmmmmm she's a good cook too.....you would make a good sherpa Brenda. I am glad I came home for a week. I was needed here. I am am glad my hiking isn't over yet too. Larry seems to think I can hike well into december down south. I hope he's right. Sparepocket
Date: 2004-08-26
From: Ohio

To: Great Barrington Mass
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

8/27/04From the Editor:   Sparepocket left Ohio on a Greyhound bus last night and should be arriving in Great Barrington, Mass. this afternoon. She will be hiking north with Shoe and Yogi.   Unfortunately her pocketmail device quit recently, but you can email her at   "me31461@aol.com" and she will respond when she gets to a library with a computer.Harriette
Date: 2004-08-26
From: Great Barrington Mass

To: Somewhere in Mass
Miles today: 0.0

From The Editor:You may remember Sparepocket's pocketmail device is not working so I have not been able to update her Journal - but I have put some photographs in. These were photos taken right before she came back to Ohio on 8/17.   Most are taken in NY and Conn.   She experimented with back/white film.   Sparepocket should be updating her journal in the next week (we hope) so we can read more exciting adventures!HarrietteOhio
Date: 2004-08-27
From: Great Barrington MA

To: Eastern Mountain retreat
Miles today: 8.2

Back on the trail again. The first couple of hours was tough but once I found my pace it was perfect. My pack feels a little heavier but it may just be my imagination.. I found my way to the Eastern Mountain retreat center around 1:00 p.m. and spent most of the day reading. I had a great room with two double beds and carpeting. It was one of the cleanest places I have ever stayed. Shoe and Yogi made it and I gave Yogi a big hug for all of his trailmagic and it turns out that it wasn't him. Sooooooo.....who was it???? The curiosity is killing me me and whoever it was it was perfect and how did you know what kind of gatorade I like? Fess up so I can thank you!
Date: 2004-08-28
From: Eastern Mountain retreat

To: shaker campsite
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Hot hot hot!! Well, I don't knwo what the temp was but the humidity was horrendous. So glad I brought my warmer sleeping bag! I have never seen so many mosquitoes in my life. Ever. When you stopped they would come in clouds to your body. Thank God for 100% deet. That is the first time I used it on the trail and it works! It may not be good for you but my other choice was insanity...so I chose Deet. Yogi met us at the first shelter. It felt like old times the three of us hiking together. We just need Big foot and wild thing and Keisha and Annie.....any of you want to join us???? I did something stupid with my boots. I switched to super feet again and I thought my toes needed more padding so I cut my old inserts and put them in my toes. Why do I mess with something when it is not broke????? My toes hurt and I bet I lose at least two toenails. What an idiot huh??? I will never learn I swear. Next time I go to change something that isn't broke...please someone kick my butt!!!! 8:15 p.m. Thunder and lightning. I am nice and dry but I hear shoe yelling some bad words and Big Agnes so I think his tent is leaking. Big agnes get ready for shoes phone call!
Date: 2004-08-29
From: shaker campsite

To: Upper Goose pond cabin
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: haze

The humidity is just staying with us and I don't think any of us is happy. All of my gatorade is gone already. The heat just wipes me out. It reminds me of working in front of the old 28" furnace at Timkens. Two climbs that would normally have been nothing for me kicked my butt. On the second one my hands started shaking and I threw off my pack and laid on a rock for about ten minutes. We came to upper goose creek pond road and decided to take a blue blaze to the cabin. The heat was so miserable. We had to talk Shoe into it but he was glad we did it. It turns out it was the old A.T. anyhow. We turned a corner and had to ask directions and a nice family out barbecueing gave us sodas and directions and cheese and crackers and the use of his phone. He said he missed seeing the hikers. We had to ford a canal between the two lakes and that was so fun. I love the little side adventures the A.T. takes you on. We got to the cabin and hung our wet tents and jumped in the lake. A fabulous lake and swim. Yogi and I took the canoe out and had a great time and then that evening when the full moon was coming up I had to skinnyu dip. What an incredible night. We met some wonderful hikers including Mad Mike. The caretaker was slow foot and he was a fabulous host. He had great info and stories about the trail and he was a great cook. He said we could stay the next night for free if we wanted to. A big storm front was moving in. I wathed a mouse in the wall in bed that night and Recon was there and wow, what a snorer! I finally took my stuff down to the front porch and slept outside. It was a great night to do it.
Date: 2004-08-30
From: Upper Goose pond cabin

To: upper goose pond cabin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Big storm was headed our way so we decided to zero here. Yogi and I took two southbounders via canoe across the canal to the old trail. I guess would be considered aqua blazing huh? Then we took the canoe to a spring and filled up the water bottles for the house. When we got back I took the canoe out on my own and went to an island there and I went swimming. I could get used to this. What a great day. Slow foot cooked us lunch and dinner. Some southbounders came in and then in the evening right before the big storm hit a group of freshman from Princeton came in. They are in a freshman orientation group. They are a great bunch of kids. The leaders and the school should be proud of how they are being represented! Noisy in the cabin that night and way too many people for this girl. I stayed upstairs and finished my book. My memory is so bad I think I actually read the book twice. Anybody who passes up Upper goose pond cabin is a fool.....that place is incredible.
Date: 2004-08-31
From: upper goose pond cabin

To: october mt lean to
Miles today: 9.3

What a difference the weather makes. The cold front came in and made for fabulkous hiking. It was an easy easy day. I carried in Yogi and Shoe a beer that I found and they enjoyed it although they bitched that it wasn't very cold! LOL. We had a fire and the kids from Princeton came and life is good! And they gave us Oranges which tasted like a bit of heaven!
Date: 2004-09-01
From: october mt lean to

To: Dalton Mass.
Miles today: 11.8

Another great day for hiking. Cool and windy. We stopped at the cookie ladies first and had some cookies and soda and some fresh water. People along the trail are so interesting. Then we stopped alot to eat blackberries.....mmmmm....I hope I didn't eat too many! Into Dalton around three and hamburgers and root beer and a hotel for the three of us. This weather has really lifted our spirits. And some trail magic from Greylock and Scamp....not sure about the names but we really appreciated it!Onto Cheshire Mass tomorrow. Woohoo!
Date: 2004-09-02
From: Dalton Mass.

To: Cheshire mass
Miles today: 9.3

Nice stay at the hotel last night even though the town food kindof got to our bellies. It was an easy hike out of Dalton. The day was beautiful with blue cool skies and few puffy clouds. Mostly we hiked together today which was fun. Yogi and I sing alot....we both know alot of old goofy songs. We got into Cheshire around 1:00 and promptly had icecream and then went to the general store which was one of those old ones.....I took lots of pictures there and we all enjoyed a birch beer. Mmmmmmm, I love those things. Tomorrow is Mt Greylock. My first serious climb since.....since I am not sure when. It is the highest point in Mass. It kindof scares me but I am sure it will be fine. The downhill looks far more grusome then the up!over and out
Date: 2004-09-03
From: Cheshire mass

To: Ethans house in Williamstown
Miles today: 0.0

Last night was great at the church. It was just the three of us. The father came in late with his German shepard "princess" and that dog scared the crap out of Yogi. He came in barking and it was a BIG bark. She was a friendly girl and the Father was very hospitable. That was a great little town. And the computer at the library was so slow that it made me homesick. :-) We hiked to route 8 and went to a convenience store to make some calls. Yogi called his buddie Ethan and arranged a slackpack. We were thrilled....especially since we were climbing mount Greylock. It was so nice to climb without weight on your back. It was a long climb.....up about 3,000 feet but it was'nt nearly as bad as the profile map looked. It was suprising how muddy it was. Anyhow Mt Greylock was beautiful and the views were incredible. I took lots of pictures. Ethan met us up there with food and drinks. It was a great day. Willaimstown is a beautiful little college town. Very pricey. I don't know how people live up here!Shoe decided to go home cause of the hurricane getting ready to hit Florida. His sister is down there and is in need so Shoe will lend a hand. There are lots of things more important than hiking. Yogi and I will continue on.Life is good!
Date: 2004-09-04
From: Ethans house in Williamstown

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Beautiful zero day in Williamstown. We went to the post office and strolled the streets a bit. I just can't imagine being able to live here. A pizza is on the way......mmmmmm.......I am a hungry girl.   Back to the trail tomorrow though. Sometimes I get so tired and discouraged when I am out hiking but when I am not hiking I want to hike so bad. And not hike just anywhere.......hike the A.T. I hope I can get the rest of VA. and PA. done this year. I guess I need to face the fact that I won't finish this year. That's not quite ok with me but I am getting there.....and what choice do I have anyhow???? I will save the best till last. Mt Katahdin......get ready cause I am still coming......it just might be next year. over and out
Date: 2004-09-05
From: Ethans house in Williamstown

To: View Entry
Miles today: 3.0

What a big hike huh? :-) Got up this morning to grey skies and a few drizzles and Yogi is not feeling well. Stomach ache and acing body.....he wanted to hike and I know he felt bad thinking he was messing up my hike but I know all too well how it feels to hike when you don't feel good. I had to do a three mile stint down part of Mt greylock though so he slacked me up there and I walked down. Don't let the profile map fool you. Yep, it's steep but not that bad and the trail is nice and wide.I think Yogi has the flu and cross your fingers that I don't get it! We still have some hiking to do. And Yogi, I hope you start feeling better soon!over and out
Date: 2004-09-06
From: Great Barrington MA

To: hemlock shelter
Miles today: 11.2

Yogi was still feeling sick. The way we planned things we would have hit the rain from the hurricane and neither of us wanted to do that. So, I decided to finish up from Great Barrington (where I met Shoe and Yogi) to Salisbury Conn. The weather was perfect. &0 degree, sunny, a little breeze. The mosquitoes launched another all out attack though so I am glad that I still had the 100 proof deet. Walking next to the Housatanic was not fun with the bugs so I booked it. Once I started climbing they started to leave me alone. I heard gun shots for a while while hiking.....I hope it was just someone target shooting! I kept getting nearer and nearer and I wondered if that was the smartest thing to be doing. I passed by a memorial that said something about Shaw's rebellion. I guess I should look that up. It is pathetic how little I remember about American history. It would be fun to hike with a hstory buff. I did some climbing but my body cooperated just fine. When I got to the shelter there were two local guys sectin hiking. And they had their 13 month old puppy. A good sixty pound puppy though. He carried on when I first came into camp but once I took off my pack and dropped my hiking sticks he warmed up. He was a rambunctious pup. There was a loft in this shelter and bunks. I grabbed the loft. A great place to sleep...it's like you have your own room. We had a big fire and one of the guys had a crank up radio and we listened to some jazz. And not that white man Kenny G kind of jaZz. I loved having jazz and cooking and reading. And a dog. Life is good!
Date: 2004-09-08
From: hemlock shelter

To: some shelter that I forgot the name of
Miles today: 9.0

Holy Moly! I did some major climbing today but I was rewarded with spectacular views. I nearly stepped on a six inch little gardner snake which by itself was no big deal but I was on the edge of a cliff and I nearly jumped off. No goodsky.I was taking a break and a doe bolted by me. That's the first deer I have seen in a few weeks. I hit the Mass/Conn border. Right at the border you enter something called sage's ravine. My God was that beautiful....one of the best hikes I have had. After that I climbed Bear Mt. Not the NY one but the Conn. one. It was a long steep climb. I think the climb would have been much easier had I been going North but I am thankful I didn't have to go down what I climbed. It was much steeper than I had anticipated but the views were amazing. I took a bunch of pictures so I can string them together for a 360 degree photo. I hope it turns out well.Into the shelter by three. It's an older shelter and I can't remember the name of it. The water source is nice though. I hung up a line to dry some clothes and decided to read a while. I was laying on my belly with my hands down in front of the shelter. It was a comfy way to read but I doubt I will ever do it again. I got up to check my my clothes and as I turned around to return to the shelter there was this ominous, "rattle rattle". Thank God my hearing is OK. Otherwise I would have stepped right on that snake. And a big one at that. I was wondering earlier in the day how come I scream when I see a snake with other people but I don't scream when I am alone. Oh, nevermind....I screamed like a four year old and did a little I hate snake dance. I promptly hopped up on the picnic table and then once I got my wits about me I got my camera and took some pictures. I bet it was around four foot long and at at it's thickest it must have been three inches in diameter. Have I mention before that I don't like snakes??? I have never had a phobia about them but I would just rather not see them. I had to go to the bathroom but that snake was headed right towards there. My butt will never see that seat.....I love to sit down when I use the bathroom but not in THAT privy!yuckooooooooo!
Date: 2004-09-09
From: Brassie brook shelter

To: Sllisbury Conn.
Miles today: 5.0

Ahhhhhh, I made it through the night with no snake attacking me. Except in my dreams of course. I kept hearing squirrels though...high in the trees and I wondering if snakes climbed trees and then fell on you??? Of all nights for no one to be in the shelter except me. The two section hikers and their pup Tootsie showed up they tented. Tootsie was much more tired than the previous night. She hopped on my sleeping bag and mat and fell asleep. I would love to hike with a dog but I think it would be too much of a hassle. And only if you are not doing big miles. I think it's too hard on the mutts. I had a great wake-up call though. He ran to the shelter and gave me a great big lick on the face. I loved it. I needed to use the privy but no way was I going near that privy. I know it's silly but it freaked me out. So, I go in the woods.....that's just plain silly cause snakes are in the woods, right?Easy walking this morning. Into salisbury by 10:00 a.m. and the rain started right when I entered town so I timed it perfect. I stopped by Maria Mc Cabes house and she recognized me instantly. I had soda and cake and she offered me the shower. I called my sis to pick me up and sat and listened to Marias stories. She tells great stories!I am now at my sisters. We are going to re-do the kitchen in a four day....hurry up project. I hope her measurements are right or we will be in deep doo-doo. Law and Order added another scene to the episode she is in so we are rehearsing lines tonight. I play Mc Coy the detective. I hope I can fall a sleep without hearing those lines! LOLNext Monday I am taking a bus to Charlottsville VA where Shoe is going to pick me up. Then down to route 60 where I took a left turn and continue hiking. Shoe will slack pack me into Waynesboro which should be about three days. Shoe is a good guy! And then I am talking Larry into hiking the Shenendoahs with me. I would love to get all the way to Delaware water gap before bad weather starts. We shall see though. As long as I am having fun I will continue on. And next year I will finish. I am NOT a failure, right???? ;-)