morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-06-02
From: Jim Murray Cabin

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 13.6

Got a decent start today, trying to get to Unionville, NY for breakfast and before the heat. Stopped in at a place called 'Hand Rolled Bagels' great place. They have been open for three weeks now so it won't be in your handbook or companion. Hours are 6am-2pm. Worth the 0.4 miles over for breakfast or lunch. Then after breakfast it was a day of mostly boardwalks. The heat was really pounding again, at least it wasn't quite as hot as it has been the past several days. Arrived here in Vernon, NJ for lunch. Received a ride into town by a guy we met on the trail earlier today, NJ has been really good to me. Had some fast food, which I was not really that big of a fan of at home, but I love it out here on the trail. Something about fatty foods and cold sodas. YUM! And now I am here at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Joining me so far is Dr. John, we will see who else shows up tonight. I am finally updating my journal. I wanted to do this one first so people know where I am at, I will be going back to fill in the rest shortly. But you can only do so much on a shared computer with a dial up connection. But I don't want to complain, I am greatful for that. I haven't had internet in a VERY long time. Timed things poorly and hit every town with internet on weekends. ps. poison ivy SUCKS!
Date: 2007-06-03
From: Vernon, NJ

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Didn¢t leave the hostel until 9:30, but it didn¢t take to long to get a ride. Today is the coolest it has been in a long time. But still very humid. Stopped briefly at the Wawayanda shelter for a snack then moved on to the state line for another break. That makes 8 states down! By afternoon it started a light rain off and on. I swung over to the Bellvale Creamery for a strawberry sundae.   It really is worth the short walk over to the creamery. After that it was only 2 miles up to the Wildcat shelter. It is getting cool out which feels great. I am hoping it rains a lot tonight and the weather lets up tomorrow. Joining me tonight is Dr. John and Boy.
Date: 2007-06-05
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: William Brian Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Up and moving over tons of rocks and boulders. Through this section there are areas called ¢Agony Grind¢ and ¢Lemon Squeezer¢. The temperature is really nice but it is still humid. I am happy I didn¢t go through all these rocks in a downpour. It would have made things a bit more challenging. Stopped for a while down at Tiorati Circle for a break. Everything was closed (not open yet for the season) except the restrooms and a vending machine for sodas. After a nice break it was on for 4 more miles to the William Brian Memorial Shelter.Right before going to bed Boy noticed something moving around his pack, thought it was a mouse so he went to move his pack and then it rattled at him. Dr. John was sleeping on the floor so he got up and tried to get the snake to leave the shelter. It kept coming back so he ended up killing it and tossing it into the woods for the night. That¢s not the way to settle down for the night. At least there were no mice in the shelter.
Date: 2007-06-06
From: William Brian Memorial Shelter

To: Greymore
Miles today: 15.2

The day started out with a lot better weather, the heat seems to be gone for now. The hiking started with a few climbs and a few busy highway crossings. I temporarily lost the trail a few times around the Bear Mountain area. It is not that well marked and people were hanging around some areas and had apparently covered the one blaze that was there. After I got going on the other side I walked through the trailside museum/zoo. It was packed with kids everywhere.After getting out of there it was a hike over to Ft. Montgomery, NY for lunch and a short resupply. There was really nothing there. As I ws crossing the Bear Mountain Bridge over the Hudson River the wind was really blowing and I had to work really hard to keep my kilt from flying up. Dr. John who was hiking behind me could not stop laughing the whole way across the bridge. I just didn¢t want to flash on coming traffic and cause a wreck. Then the hiking was pretty easy the rest of the way to the Greymore Spiritual Life Center. The let hikers stay the night near there soccer fields and use the pavilion building as a shelter. Another good thing with this is there is a local pizza place that delivers. So we are eating good tonight. Tonight we have a decent size group: 8 section hikers, myself, Dr. John, Boy and Tapper. I just hope this weather holds, it was a beautiful day.
Date: 2007-06-07
From: Greymore

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter
Miles today: 27.9
Weather: clear sky

Up and moving earlier than usual. Hiked on until I reached the RPH Shelter. After a nice long break I got moving on and at Highway 52 we headed over to Stormville, NY for dinner. Then it was a short hike up to Morgan Stewart Shelter for the night. Joining us (Dr. John, Tapper and myself is Leader of the Pack. Today we crossed over 1400 miles!!!
Date: 2007-06-08
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: light rain

Hot and muggy from the get go and it held up all day. I had no choice but to just put my head down and keep going. When I stopped for breaks I didn¢t want to start hiking again. I did stop for a break at the Telephone Pioneers Shelter. The bugs are in force today. I keep having them fly into my eyes and its bothering me. I need to get some sunglasses. We passed the famous Dover Oak and then started going through a series of fields and marshy areas. This is particularly bad for me considering I am allergic to something that is in the fields and my arms and legs are completely broken out in hives. I took a nice long break at HY 22. Here is where the Appalachian Trail train station is. There is also a hotdog vendor there and I bought 3 hotdogs from her several sodas. Dr. John caught up and joined me as did two southbound section hikers. Tree hugger (one of the section hikers) bought me another hot dog and soda.         This was followed by more fields an more very hot temperatures. I was completely drained and broken out by the time I reached Leather Hill Rd. At this road there was four chairs, a cooler filled with ice water, and a cooler full of snacks and drink mixes. It was a the greatest trail magic to date. A much needed oasis on such a bad day. These wonders were all compliments of a local family of trail angels: Big Mac, Mrs. Mac and their daughter String Cheese. Dr. John and I spent a long time in those chairs downing the cold water. Then we just hiked the half mile up to the Wise Shelter for the night.
Date: 2007-06-09
From: Wise Shelter

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 12.7

Today is not as hot as yesterday, but still warm and humid. I stopped for a break at 10 mile river lean-to. Talked to a few sections hikers for awhile then pushed on down to Kent, CT. When I reached the road crossing to head into town I stopped and talked to a guy for awhile and he insisted on giving me a ride the 0.3 miles into town.Once there I dropped my pack off in front of the outfitter and went to the library. They were having a book sale, so I ended up buying 3 books before I went inside to use the internet. Unfortunately for me the post office is closed. So now I have to carry 4 books to the next town. Next on the list is dinner, we went over to Carries and then to resupply after that. Boy resupplied and was getting ready to head out. While I was walking home from the store I got a hold of Mrs. Mac and she offered me and Dr. John a place to stay tonight. I cannot say enough about their generosity and hospitality.We spent the afternoon/evening relaxing at their home with access to the internet and food. And if only the weather was as hot as yesterday I would have been in their pool. What a great family. Also lately I have been having really weird dreams, mostly of people I haven¢t seen or heard from in many years. I guess that tends to happen when you spend so much time out in the woods. Another ¢also¢ finished with NY that makes 9 states down!
Date: 2007-06-10
From: Kent, CT

To: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 17.0

Coffee and pancakes in the morning. What an amazing family. We finally got to hiking, more climbing than expected. Past the first shelter without even seeing it. After awhile later reached the Pine Swamp Brook lean-to. It is nothing special. There was a homeless guy living there when we got there. He was planning on moving on tomorrow. Nice guy, cleaned up the place and made it look nice. The water is not very good here though, looks as though its one beaver pond emptying into another. At least it is still cool.
Date: 2007-06-11
From: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to

To: Riga Lean-to
Miles today: 19.8

Today the hiking wasn¢t bad at all. It is threatening rain, but it was nice most of the day and didn¢t rain until the night. Sprinkled some while we were in Salisbury, CT. I was able to mail home the books I purchased in Kent, CT. I picked up some food and then hiked on to Riga Lean-to. I was just trying to beat the weather.
Date: 2007-06-12
From: Riga Lean-to

To: Hemlocks Lean-to
Miles today: 10.0

After the rain last night the rocks are all slick today. At one spot I slipped and re-strained my knee. I hope it doesn¢t hurt long. Today we started some climbing in real mountains again. We entered the Berkshires ... the mid atlantics really didn¢t give us much. After a hot and straining day I am in for the night at Hemlocks Lean-to. Dr. John is here too. Doing this section again, Sages Ravine Brook is a great place to camp. And its right at the MA-CT border ... 10 states down, only 4 to go!
Date: 2007-06-13
From: Hemlocks Lean-to

To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Up and moving, my knee still hurts. Relatively early this morning I was attacked by a grouse. I got too close to her nest and she came at me. I had to push her away with my trekking pole to get past. Don¢t worry, I was gentle. Then I was going down a rather steep rock face and slipped again. This hurt my knee even more. Plus when my kilt came up with the fall there was no padding at all. So I hobbled on. I flew through the next section after I got off the rocks. It didn¢t matter how bad my knee hurt the bugs were worse. The DEET did nothing. I was getting eaten alive by the mosquitoes and attacked by everything else as well. I was practically running as fast and my leg would take me. When I reached the road someone immediately pulled over to offer me a ride before I even had time to put up a thumb. He dropped me off in Great Barrington, MA. Once in town I got some lunch and stopped by the outfitter and bank. Things got worse, the ATM ate my card so now I have no cash. I just need to take the rest of the day off so I called around trying to find a reasonable priced hotel. I finally found a place at the Monument Mountain Motel and they came and got me. It is a close walk to food, laundry and resupply. Then it was all just resting with my leg up.
Date: 2007-06-15
From: Great Barrington, MA

To: Mt Wilcox South Lean-to
Miles today: 11.7

Real late start, always is when I am leaving a hotel. Instead of hitching I decided to stretch my knee out slowly walking through town. It is a beautiful day and I am not really pushing for miles until my knee is feeling better. It may just be that I am feeling a bit better and I am in a better mood but people seem nicer today. I met several nice people that I talked to for awhile going through town and then I was passing the SOCO creamery and one of the guys out front offers me some free ice cream so I sat and talked to them for awhile.I eventually got back on the trail. Met Dice and Hasty at the Tom Leonard Lean-to. Dice wasn¢t feeling well so they were staying there fore the night. It was still really early so I hiked on to Mt. Wilcox (south) lean-to. I met Renaissance man and his Gojo as well as 3 sections hikers who are at the shelter with us.
Date: 2007-06-16
From: Mt Wilcox South Lean-to

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

I was comfortable and did not want to get up this morning. The hiking has come as a chore lately and with my hurting knee its not going well. It decided to thunder storm today. It was brief and after the rain washed off my bug spray the mosquitoes came out in force. I had to stop and spray myself a couple times just to keep going. I reached the Upper Goose Pond Cabin relatively early. This is it for the day, it¢s a great place and that¢s as far as I can hike. This place has canoes you can take out, and a caretaker who makes pancakes in the morning. Full house tonight. Spike, Hasty, R.man and Gojo, 3 hikers who¢s name I don¢t remember, a couple section hikers and the caretakers dogs. Going to bed early, I am beat.
Date: 2007-06-17
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: few clouds

AYCE blueberry pancakes in the morning. After we all stuffed ourselves we gradually headed out. The hiking was not that bad even with my knee. I stopped by the cookie lady¢s house for cookies and water. Their well water was contaminated and had a sulfur smell to it, so I just I dumped my bottle back out. They have blueberry bushes. It would be great to come through in season. Not far to Dalton, MA. I was just going to go the rest of the way and get a drink when I got into town.When I got into town I walked over to the Shell Station to meet Rob Bird. Mystic told me to make sure I stopped there when I got to town. Rob Bird came and got me and brought me up to his house. I¢m staying here tonight. He is a great guy who opens his house up to hikers. Tonight, though, it is only me. Not only a place to sleep, there is a shower, laundry, use of the kitchen, TV and an awesome dog (Tink). Rob and I went down to the Country Buffet for dinner and that really filled me up. After that I watched TV and just rested.
Date: 2007-06-19
From: Dalton, MA

To: Cheshire, MA
Miles today: 9.3

Did a short slack today from Mass 8 (Cheshire, MA) back to Dalton, MA. It didn¢t take long and my knee was feeling ok. The Brain and Professor did a longer slack over Mt. Greylock. Wirenut hiked on and the other three took a zero. I met Scoops, biscuits and manynames today on the slack. Pizza, beer and Red Sox tonight.
Date: 2007-06-20
From: Cheshire, MA

To: North Adams, MA
Miles today: 13.1

Second slack. Started on the other side of Mt. Greylock near Williamstown, MA (North Adams, MA) and hiked back to Cheshire, MA. The climbing was not that bad to the top of Mt. Greylock. It was an ok view, it would have been better if I could have gone up to the top of the tower but everything was closed. Where as the uphill was fine for me, going down the south side of Mt. Greylock really took its toll on me. When I reached Cheshire Rob came and got me and brought me back to his house. Night 3 at the Birdcage. I swung down to the library and met backbend and dirty blonde and brought them back to Robs with me. Going to a Italian restaurant tonight. Then more rest.
Date: 2007-06-21
From: Dalton, MA

To: HOME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hike naked day! Too bad I am not hiking. Rob ran me up to Bennington, VT to pick up a mail drop that I had waiting there. I am planning on heading home for awhile and letting this knee heal. After the descent of Mt. Greylock it is not happy with me. Plus this will give me a chance to work a little and get some money to finish. This hike is costing more than expected. Rob drove me down to Pittsfield, MA where I caught a bus home.        On the ride home I was planning out logistics. Maybe head up to Katahdin and then hike back to Dalton, MA. Right now that feels like the best option for me. I wouldn¢t want to start until August or even September. I know I am going to finish, it is just a matter of when. I just left the trail and I already feel the pull that I have to finish. I am going to miss the lifestyle I had adopted over the past 4 months (today). But after spending several days at Rob and trying a few hikes without my pack it just wasn¢t going to work.         The greatest loss is saying goodbye to all the friends I had made. I am sure I will see some of them again, and I know I will meet new people. I wish all the other hikers the best of luck and I hope you have great summit days. You have all greatly impacted my life.
Date: 2007-07-29
From: Home

To: TRAIL
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Thank You every one who gave me encouraging words for my return to the trail. I have been in contact with Comer and Tau and will leaving my house Tomorrow (July 30, 2007) And will be hiking the remaining 3 states with Comer. I can't wait to get back on the trail. I am looking forward to meeting a whole new group of hikers as we finish our trip. I will however miss all the friends I made with our group.
Date: 2007-07-30
From: Home

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Comer picked me up today in Hagerstown, MD. Together we drove back up to Dalton, MA to get ready to start back on the trail and finish the last three states. It feels great being back and we recieved a warm welcome from Rob and Tink. I am starting to meet a whole new group of hikers, AT and LT for this section. And this is the first time I have been meeting SOBOs even though I know they have been coming through, I just haven't been here.Tomorrow is a logistics day, trying to figure things out. Then I will start on August 1st.
Date: 2007-07-31
From: Birdcage

To: Birdcage
Miles today: 0.0

Rob took us down to the swimming hole. Cold water, waterfall, rope swing. Awesome place. I need to remember to grab my camera more often. I miss a lot of pictures. More people added to the group tonight. Probably even more tomorrow. I decided to stay one more night and start on the 2nd. Tomorrow is the B-down in B-town. A small festival of sorts for hikers in Bennington, VT. Pretty much all the hikers in Dalton, MA are going up. It should be fun.
Date: 2007-08-01
From: Birdcage

To: Birdcage
Miles today: 0.0

Another day of rest. Eventually I will get back on trail, seriously.Headed down to Bennington, Vt for the hiker feed. It was fun to hang out with a few faces I had seen before and a lot of new ones. But it really made me miss the old crew. Tomorrow I start hiking ... this time I mean it.
Date: 2007-08-02
From: North Adams, MA

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: clear sky

Today was very hot and humid. I sure picked a day to start. The climbing is also very long. Welcome back to hiking. But I eventually crossed over the MA/VT state line. Officially only 3 states left to go. The climbing continued as did the heat, I was drinking tons of water but still felt dehydrated. Oh-well, it feels good to be back on the trail.
Date: 2007-08-03
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

Got up early to beat the heat, and made decent time. Reached VT-9 by lunch but decided against going into town. After I started up the climb away from the hwy I regretted not sticking around to soak in the stream. But it is nice to be in for the night and see a thunderstorm starting overhead. I managed to have just enough time to eat my dinner before the first wave of it hit. Another large group in the shelter tonight. Some the same from yesterday but a lot of other LT and SOBOs and I am getting bad with names.Should be some fun mud tomorrow.
Date: 2007-08-04
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: clear sky

A bit cooler today, which is nice since I got a late start. I stopped several times for snacks as I passed by shelters. I've been hiking off and on with the Flying Dutchman, great guy. I am sure I'll be seeing more of him up until he gets off in Hanover, NH. I have been trying to get a hold of TAU and Comer for a couple days now. Either no signal or no answer and it won't let me leave a voicemail. I hope things are still going well. Maybe I will see him or get a hold of him in Manchester, VT. But the hiking was easier today or I am starting to get back into some type of hiking shape. But I still feel good after today.
Date: 2007-08-05
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: VT 11/30
Miles today: 21.1

Got an early start and reached the top of Stratton Mountain for lunch. The view from the fire tower was nice. After lunch and answering questions for day hikers I hiked down to Stratton Pond for a swim and another snack. Alpine and Pony Whisperer (who I have been hiking with most of VT so far) also joined in for a swim. The water felt great. If these continue I am really going to enjoy VT. After the swim the Flying Dutchman arrived and really put the hike in perspective for me. While looking out over the pond he said 'Life sucks' with a big smile on his face. I am really loving it out here. The things we get to do and see are amazing and to have this oppurtunity is something else.After the swim it was between staying there for the night or heading to the Spruce Peak Shelter which would make for a short day into Manchester tomorrow. Alpine, Pony and myself opted for the next shelter. This shelter was inhabited by mice and camping was bad as well. So the three of us hiked on. Jbeard and ManG found a spot in the woods to stealth but the three of us ended up hiking all the way to the Hwy before we found a decent spot for the night. At least it will be a short hike in the morning.I finally got a hold of Tau. Comer hasn't contacted her yet either so we are gonna get a hold of eachother tomorrow and figure out whats going on. I'll take a day off if I need to.
Date: 2007-08-06
From: VT 11/30

To: Bromley shelter
Miles today: 2.0
Weather: light rain

Got up early (before the rain) and hitched into Manchester Center. The guy that gave me a ride into town dropped me off at a good bagel shop for breakfast. Which was followed by laundry. A shower will have to wait until Rutland, VT. Stopped over at EMS for a new pack cover and left my pack at the store while I stayed in town. I also weighed it fully loaded at 39 lbs. I need to fix that soon. Had lunch in town and was walking around when I got stung by a bee. My ankle swelled up pretty good. After an hour it wasn't feeling that bad, still hurt though. But I hiked on to the Bromley Shelter anyway. Which is not a flat hike, even if the Dutchmans map says it is. Decent shelter at least. We will see how Im feeling tomorrow.
Date: 2007-08-07
From: Bromley shelter

To: Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

Still no Comer and only three days before BBoogie? I will catch him.We hiked up to the top of Bromley Mountain where there is a platform and a warming hut. If I knew it was a nice hut I might have pushed on, oh-well. It was completely fogged in. I snapped off a few photos anyway. Of what views typically look like. Then it was down to Griffith Lake for another swim and lunch. This time Pony was the only one to join in. We were then joined by a large group who felt that they were excluded from rules and all went tramping through a revegitation zone. After hiking the rest of the way to the Big Branch Shelter we went down for water and a swim in the river. Which was of course colder than the lake but still felt great. Ankle is still swollen, more so than yesterday, soaking it in the river felt great though.Looks like rain tonight.