morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-07-19
From: NY 55

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a wonderful sleep in nice soft sheets. I also got to make some phone calls, that was nice. Gene was there at 7:30 am sharp with a smile on his face and we were off. We had all decided to carry our packs, so no more slackpacking. That meant we would not see Gene anymore. We said our goodbyes and were all very thankful for the gifts that had been sent our way over the past couple of days. It took about 30 minutes to make friends with my pack again, then I started thinking about how to lighten my load. In Kent I am going to lay it all out and take a good look. Gray Jay and I hiked together all the way until lunch. We had an exceptionally nice break at Nuclear Lake, a beautiful, smooth as glass body of water. We also saw the Dover Oak, the largest oak on the trail. Holy cow, it is one BIG TREE. We hiked down the road to Tony's Deli and I had roast beef again with a soda, of course, and some cupcakes. I'm not sure why I am carrying food through this section. I haven't eaten anything but breakfast out of my food bag. We passed the train stop for the Appalachian Trail just before the deli. Yes, there is a train that stops at the Appalachian Trail from New York City. Gray Jay took the train in after lunch because her son was in NYC. So I had to say goodbye for now to a wonderful hiking buddy. She will be back on the trail tomorrow and we hope to meet up in a couple of days.So onward I walked, through hay fields and nice trails, then down into the shelter. I arrived and guess what? There were hamburgers waiting! Can you believe it? Two hikers from 99 FAL and Hercules, with their three grandchildren, have been going up the trail spreading magic. So another night of being spoiled. New York has really been good to me. I am here tonight with Cakalkie, Light Brite and some other guys who are big milers. One is going to walk 50 miles tomorrow, so he can cross CT in one day. Hummmm, not sure about that. Another good day on the trail. This is my last night in New York; CT here I come!Happy trails!
Date: 2003-07-20
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Mt. Algo Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I didn't leave camp until 9:00 am. I had coffee(a treat), a donut from the trail angel children and a granola bar. I hiked four miles to Ten Mile River, a beautiful spot. Cakalaki, Ruby and I all went for a swim. It was awesome. It was hard to get out and dry off. I headed a little further down river to have lunch and ran into a guy who is doing a documentary on the trail. He asked us to walk up and over this bridge. We tried to but Gelert had stage fright. Actually the steps up to the bridge were those steel grate kind and they hurt her feet. So we sat and had lunch while he filmed us. As we were leaving he filmed Cakalaki and I walking over the bridge, I'm gonna be famous, ha ha ha! The walk turned a bit harder, but none the less we made it to the Algo lean-to. In CT they call shelters lean-tos. Oh yeah, I crossed into CT today, cooool! Tomorrow we go into Kent to do laundry. It has been 7 days and I wear the same clothes everyday, so it is time!
Date: 2003-07-21
From: Mt. Algo Shelter

To: Stewart Brook Hollow Lean To
Miles today: 7.3

I was up and out early this morning with only .3 mile of trail and a mile walk into Kent. I knew I had a lot to accomplish in town. When I got into town I headed for the laundry mat and proceeded to get my laundry together, then I had a problem. What do I wear while doing my laundry since I don't have an abundance of clothes and where do I change when there is no bathroom? Well, the raincoat and some shorts I was mailing home was the answer to the first question. The second solution was to go onto the back porch and swap clothes fast enough so nobody sees you. It worked! The laundry mat was conveniently located next to the grocery and post office. I picked up some odds and ends from my mother and a letter from my brother. I then supplemented my food bag and that was that. I made another quick change into clean clothes. Let me define clean - no dirt, still stinky. I saw a hiking buddy, Thor, who recently finished the trail in Mass. and got a lift to the outfitters. It was real expensive, but I picked up some water treatment that I needed. Then it was time for breakfast. My favorite breakfast now is pancakes and ham. I also had coffee. What a treat! I made some phone calls and I was out of town and on the trail. I saw Slow Ride during a break and he said I just missed Gray Jay in town. What a bummer, but I should see her before Salisbury. I set my camp up and then decided the skies looked threatening and tore it all down. Now I'm in the shelter all alone in a huge thunderstorm and happy to be in out of the rain. I also have my new bug headnet on to keep the bugs from swarming my face while I type this. It works great, but it is quite the fashion statement. I'm off to dreamland.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-07-22
From: Stewart Brook Hollow Lean To

To: Pine Swamp Brook Lean To
Miles today: 10.0

I have a very healthy respect for mother nature and her thunderstorms. Boy did it come down last night and I just must say how happy I was to be in a shelter dry and safe. The shelter had a tin roof so it sounded like we were in a drum. It just drummed me into a great night's sleep. I woke at 6:00 a.m. to another round of storms and went back to sleep. When I woke 2 hours later they were gone. I didn't get out on the trail until 9:30 am. Today I had a series of ups and downs, real steady. They were just getting us ready for what is down the trail. It has been really humid and it has been taking it out of me. Hopefully it will rain it all out in the next couple of days. Tonight I am sharing the shelter with Nimble, his brother and a friend. It's always nice to have company. To everyone out there reading and sending me good vibes, thank you. It keeps me moving down the trail!Happy trails!
Date: 2003-07-23
From: Pine Swamp Brook Lean To

To: Limeston Spring Lean To
Miles today: 12.3

I finally got an earlier start today at 8:00 am. I always do better if I get out early. It was overcast and humid with a chance of rain from now until who knows, so off we went. I wanted to get some miles in before lunch. I kept up a steady pace and took breaks every hour and a half. I managed to have 7 of the 12 miles walked by 1:00 pm. I am feeling good about that. Then the rain started as I started a road walk. You may wonder what the difference is - rain in the forest or in the open. In the open you get drenched. In the forest you only get mildly drenched because the trees are like a big umbrella, but the rain continues in the forest after it stops falling from the sky. I'd still rather be in the forest during the rain. The rain broke and the sun came out and it was steamy!! I was sweating buckets and I think it would take two hands to count how many days it has been since my last shower. I smell like a wet dog with a swirl of gym/locker room. Hummm, the funny thing is I can't smell the other hikers or even myself most of the time. I only smell dayhikers fresh from the shower or whatever and they smell good!I got into camp at 4:30 pm after taking a half mile trail DOWN hill to the shelter. Whew! It is going to be hard getting out of here tomorrow. When I got in I took a little nap and got water from a really nice spring.I had managed to stay dry all day and then my Camelback water bag sprung a leak all over my sleeping bag in the shelter, nice! Oh, well, I am drying it as best I can before bedtime. Good thing I have a synthetic fill bag and not down. Down doesn't dry as quickly and does not insulate when wet. There is always a positive.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-07-24
From: Limeston Spring Lean To

To: Salisbury, Conn.
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: few clouds

I was up and out quick this morning just using 45 minutes of pack up time and eating my Pop Tart. I climbed the steep side trail out of the shelter, which I found challenging instead of a pain. I have found that in the past several days I have found the ups more of a challenge than ominous and undoable. So I guess my mind set is changing a bit. "Free your mind and the rest will follow."It rained off and on into Salisbury. Then when I got to the road walk into town it started POURING. I was contemplating camping a mile out of town until the rain came. But after that I treated myself to a nice hotel, cushy with soft sheets, towels and a nice shower. I checked in at 10:45 am and proceeded to drape all my wet stuff everywhere. I walked down to get my maildrop and got side-tracked by the grocery store and a soda. When I got the mail drop there were honey buns and dog treats from Liz, my trail angel from PA, a new set of tights and socks, as my others have worn out, and my food box that was leaking dog food. I toted that back to the room and spread that all out. I found some cup cake treats and quickly scarfed those down, then hopped in the shower. Meanwhile it was raining off and on outside so I was not second guessing my choice of lodging. With my maildrops I have decided to divide the food in half and mail it to towns in between so I do not have to carry so much weight. Make the postman do the work! The food is probably the heaviest item, but it is reduced with pleasure by eating.The day went on with laundry in the sink, TV and naps.Jan and I had a maildrop summit and discussed some of the changes in gear and food preferences. I can't stand stuffing, but love spaghetti, and am getting tired of summer sausage for lunch etc. She has made the changes. Also I have asked for all my winter gear so I have it up here and can bounce it along and take what I need when I need it. I have also made some gear changes thus reducing weight and really seeing what is important. You just don't need very much to live really.I finally got to talk to my buddies Carrie, Lori and Emma. It was so nice to hear their voices and what is going on in their world. I am working with Lori and Carrie for them to come up and hike with me. Carrie has also agreed to make me a soda can stove that burns alcohol and get some odds and ends for me. It is sooo nice to have the support from home in so many different areas. It brings me back to my vision here and the generosity and love that is there. So thanks!Happy trails!
Date: 2003-07-25
From: Salisbury, Conn.

To: Riga Lean To
Miles today: 3.4

Well I have really enjoyed my time in Salisbury, almost like a zero day. The town is a beautiful, picturesque New England town and the people super friendly. I slept well last night after I got used to the bed. It was nice to sleep in this morning and enjoy another shower. I almost felt like a normal person. Gray Jay arrived at 10:30 this morning and it was really good to see her. We caught up and mailed our bounce boxes, then went for lunch. It was a fantastic lunch. We sat outside as the weather has cleared, humidity is low and the sun is shinning. Just picture perfect! We finally pried ourselves out of town and had a fantastic walk up here. It was a beautiful view from Lion's Head, first I've had in CT. Then it was on to the shelter, which has a view right out the front. Fantastic! We have just had an enjoyable evening. It should be a good sleep tonight with cool temps.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-07-26
From: Riga Lean TO

To: Hemlocks Lean To
Miles today: 10.3

Wow what a day!!! I woke up 5:00 am to the sunrise right out the front of the shelter. It was a nice crisp morning and I just sat up in my sleeping bag and watched the slow rise of the day. It was absolutely amazing. There were two little lakes down there and the sun came up as a big red orb. What else can I say? I started with a cup of coffee, had oatmeal and just soaked it in.We got off at 7:00 am and had three good climbs today.   What a beautiful day with beautiful vistas! We took tons of breaks and I really enjoyed it. I also crossed into Mass. today. Amazing! I have walked across 6 states and am in my 7th state. My feet have brought me all this way! Today was just a picture perfect day, challenging ups with beautiful views and a creek for Brown Dog to play in. It makes all the rain and pain worth it. So I wonder, what could be next? I'm pooped. Goodnight to all.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-07-27
From: Hemlocks Lean To

To: East Mountain Retreat
Miles today: 8.8

I slept like a rock last night; even went to sleep before the sun set with my walkman on to mask all the voices of the hikers. We got up on Gray Jay's time today, early, and were off with an overcast sky and misty weather. The rocks were just wet enough, kind of like the streets when in barely rains, that I slipped and fell several times and became frustrated because I just wanted to move faster. Oh, well, sometimes it just goes that way. We were walking near some kind of a firing range and the guns were just incredibly loud and a little disturbing. It made me think a lot of hunting season in the south and made me a little nervous.We hiked on and came to a road crossing indicating the bog bridges might be under water and showing a road walk alternative, so we took it. We got to see rural Mass. I have never thought of Mass. as being rural. We came up on a home with a yard sale going on. I said, "Look really hot and tired," so they will offer us something. Well, we got a coke and a candy bar, wahhooo!! We sat and talked to these wonderful people and it was just really nice. I love meeting new folks and talking about their home and what it is like around the area. We were offered a ride around to this retreat center and wow, here we are rested and fed. We are trying to make Cheshire by Thursday. We will see.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-07-28
From: East Mountain Retreat

To: Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: few clouds

I woke up early and it was chilly. We needed to go into Great Barrington to get a bounce box and I needed fuel for my stove. We walked to the highway from the retreat center and caught a hitch real quick in the back of a truck. It was quite cool zooming down the road at 55 for 5 miles. We promptly found a diner and I had pancakes, ham, coffee and orange juice. Yummy! We went to the post office and resupplied from the bounce box which makes the pack heavy. Ugh! I got my fuel and it was time to hitch to the trail. We were having no luck so we just kept walking thumbs outstretched and the nicest lady stopped and away we went zooming up the highway to the trail.The walking was nice today, not many rocks and loads of pine forest. We had a break at a nice glacial pond. Brown Dog swam until her heart was content and down the trail we went. We made it to the Shaker Campsite and pitched camp along with many others. Gray Jay got the water and filtered it tonight. I was hurting for about the last 2 miles of walking, my ankle and up my right shin. I am not sure what that is all about, but tomorrow is a new day. I tried the shoes at Chesire, but they were killing my feet just walking around town, so I have another pair of shoes, just like the ones now, coming to Cheshire. That should help with the leg. My shoes now have gone way beyond the call of duty. I have met 3 other girls that are doing the same thing I am, flip flopping. Cool! I met my first female southbounder today. Another day in the life of the trail. Today was day 50, can't believe it.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-07-29
From: Shaker Campsite

To: Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

The really important thing is not to live, but to live well.----SocratesLife is good. I had a nice hike today - coffee was perfect this morning and I had a fantastic swim with Gelert in Goose Pond this afternoon. Tomorrow morning promises of pancakes and coffee here at the cabin.My ankle and shin did not hurt today so I was real happy about that. I am enjoying the company of late.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-07-30
From: Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kay Wood Lean To
Miles today: 17.6

Wooowwweeee! I can't believe I did 17.6 miles today and those were just trail miles, they don't include the .5 from Goose Pond back to the trail, the .2 to the Cookie Lady's house or the . 2 off the trail to this shelter. So really I have walked. . .18.5 miles today and am very excited about that. I know I can do big miles now, not that I want to continue it everyday, but I have the ability. We did the miles so we can get to Chesire tomorrow to sort maildrops and have a hotel. They were booked all weekend. I have a ton of stuff coming and am changing some gear, birthday stuff and food.I slept out on the porch last night with Brown Dog. No dogs were allowed inside and I couldn't stand to leave her on the porch by herself. The pancake rumor was true today; they were good and so was the coffee. I ate six pancakes. I also read part of this month's Backpacker Magazine that said hikers with 30 pound packs, hiking with trekking poles expend 957 calories per hour. Holy cow! Maybe that is why I had to stop an hour later and eat again, and almost every hour today. We stopped at the famous Cookie Lady's house off Pittsfield Road, but no cookies; she wasn't home. She serves cookies to the hikers. Oh, well, I settled for an oatmeal cream pie and some blueberries from their blueberry bushes.I have been in a really good group of people hiking lately. Diggin' it!Happy trails!
Date: 2003-07-31
From: Kay Wood Lean To

To: Chesire, MA
Miles today: 12.3

I had a great start this morning with the promise of breakfast in Dalton 3 miles away. The trail runs right through the center of town. We rolled in and I had my second breakfast of the day, 2 pancakes, ham, home fries and a coke. Aaaaahhhhh! There must have been 10 or 12 hikers in their little restaurant pigging out. We rolled out of town ready for Chesire and our maildrops. The walking was good, but I could tell I had done a big day yesterday. We plugged along on this beautiful day and made it to town at 3:30 pm and got our drops. I had 7 boxes total. Wow! My food box was not there unfortunately...hummmm I guess I am getting farther from home. It is taking a long time for my Snickers and toilet paper to get here. So I am certain it will be here in the morning. In the mean time, Gray Jay and I found our way to the Harbor House Inn. It was built in 1799 and is a beautiful house. We had a beer on the porch straight away and then it was off to the claw foot tub in the bathroom! I filled it full and loved every minute. After we got all settled we had to deal with food for the hike. Eva, the innkeeper, let us borrow her car to go to the grocery store. Wow, haven't driven a car in 6 weeks. We zoomed to the store in what seemed like warp speed and sorted out food, and more importantly, food for Gelert. So tomorrow is Mt. Greylock. It is an 8 mile up so I am signing off for the night.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-01
From: Chesire, MA

To: Mark Noepel Lean To
Miles today: 4.4

I woke to thunder and lightening while I was in the super comfortable Harbor House Inn. Well, I thought, more water to drink and pretty flowers. Then I rolled back over and went to sleep. I finally got up for breakfast at 7:30 am. I was greeted by a long table with a white tablecloth, real silver cutlery, and real people sitting there ready for breakfast. Well, I guess I will have to pull out some Emily Post for this. I remembered my manners and the food was quite nice. I called the post office, no box. Frown! So I decided to go buy some different shoes and borrowed the innkeeper's car again. I found some shoes and was happy for the meantime.After mailing all the stuff at the post office we finally got on the trail. It was raining pretty good and was cold. We started our climb up Greylock. I had my raincoat on, not to stay dry, but to stay warm. About 30 minutes up the trail my toes were hurting so bad I had to stop and put my old shoes on. Thank goodness I didn't toss them. We stopped at the first shelter instead of going to the bunkhouse on Greylock because I wasn't sure dogs were permitted inside. So all in all I am being challenged by different things everyday on the trail.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-02
From: Mark Noepel Lean To

To: Wilber Clearing Lean To
Miles today: 6.6

I woke up this morning after a beautiful sleep on my Therma Rest that I just got in Chesire. It was chilly, but we were excited to get to Bascom Lodge on top of Mt. Greylock. It rained most of the night and was just overcast, so no great views from the top. Bummer! Today the trail resembled more of a creek than a trail. Water was running down it to whereever it goes. I didn't mind, my shoes and socks were wet anyways. Let us just talk about wet clothes for a moment. Okay, so when you are backpacking you always keep one set of dry clothes in your backpack. They never get wet so you will always have something warm and dry to put on in camp. The other set of clothes is fair game, dirty, wet, whatever. The problem is that in the morning you have to take off the nice dry warm clothes and put on your smelly, cold, wet, dirty ones. There is nothing like that in the world. Try it at home. . . go to your dirty clothes bin and get a stinky pair of clothes out, socks too. Put on some sneakers. Now go outside, wet your self really good with the hose, get some dirt in there too, and go put the clothes in the frig. Get nice, warm and dry. After 30 minutes go retrieve the clothing in the frig and put them on... refreshing, huh? Have a trail experience right at home. It is not that bad, but something that I will not miss.We walked the three miles to the lodge and found it to have a fire, nice cushy chairs, food to eat and flush toilets. We managed a solid 4 hours there, drying stuff out, talking to other hikers and eating. The day was clearing a bit and we had a nice stroll to the lean to. Tomorrow is Vermont!!! The forest is changing and so are the mountains; they are getting bigger. And so the trail goes.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-03
From: Wilber Clearing Lean To

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: haze

Wow, wow, it was humid today! We got up and headed downhill off Mt. Greylock. We had several wipeouts. First Gray Jay and then I did the splits. Ouch! Then I stepped off a bog bridge and flipped completely on my back. Wow, just like in the cartoons. We came into North Adams and took a detour to the Price Chopper grocery store and got Brown Dog some treats. Then we went and pigged out at Friendly's - kind of like a Waffle House or Denny's. What did I have? Pancakes, ham, home fries and soda, and I ate every bit of it. They even had free refills. Then we headed out and had some road walking to do. It was steamy hot and wow, I feel for you guys in the city. We got back into the shade of the woods finally and I promptly went down to the stream and sat in it. It cooled me off quickly. We hiked on and thunder started up so we were trying to hurry up this rock pile. Gray Jay fell and cut her shin really bad. The rain didn't hit then so we stopped on the top and fixed her up. Finally we crossed into Vermont. Yipppeee! We took a nice break and some pictures. The Appalachian Trail and the Long Trail share the same paths for 75 miles. The Long Trail is a classic trail and goes from the south Vermont border to the northern border with Canada. So that is very cool. Vermont was a mini goal of mine and next the Whites of New Hampshire.Today I have been reflecting on my first 29 years, since tomorrow is my 30th birthday. I am a fortunate individual and very satisfied and happy with my journey this far. I have been resisting 30 like the plague, but I have realized that there is so much life left. Many of the people I have met recently on the trail are over 50. Wow, who knows what other adventures await?It is cool and raining and I am dry in the shelter. Smiles! Tomorrow will be Bennington, Vermont, for a hotel and Mexican food if I can find some. That will be living on the edge - Mexican food in New England!Happy trails!