morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-30
From: Blowing Rock NC

To: Back to Trail
Miles today: 0.0

I was going to take a Greyhound bus back to the closest town to the trailhead. It was a 26 hour ride with 3 bus changes (it takes 7 hrs in a car). I have a great buddy and childhood friend (Doug Dagrin) who just happens to be visiting his daughter and son-in-law who reside just a few miles from where I am going and has invited me to stay at their house. He also offered to drop me the next day at the trailhead once I arrived. My mother has offered to drive me to Doug's. I agreed to the ride and I could do all the driving at least going up. My mom will enjoy seeing Doug and his family too. The drive went ok but I could hardly stay awake. I was growing very tired as the day wore on. This is not like me. We arrived about 3 in the afternoon and had a nice visit as well as a very nice home cooked meal with Doug's fabulous family. The trouble was I could tell my fever was back and so was my fatigue. Nuts! What is going on! After supper I had to tell Doug I could not start the trail tomorrow. I knew I still had problems. My mother and I stayed at the hotel tonight. We will be driving back to Blowing Rock in the morning. I can't believe this!
Date: 2015-07-01
From: Back to Trail

To: Blowing Rock
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Believe or not I got a really good nights rest last night. I even feel pretty good. But I'm still driving back to Blowing Rock to see if I can figure this out. I drove the 7 hrs back to BR with my mom. I didn't get tired or sleepy this afternoon at all. This is very frustrating. I'm going to continue to rest up and see if I continue to improve. I'm done with the clinic. If I can just hold together for about 11 more weeks I can finish this thing. Some are saying I just pushed too hard and my body has had enough. I don't buy it. I was getting stronger every day since I started and then in one day I started to go the other way. That is bad water, a bug bite, or something like that. It has to be.
Date: 2015-07-04
From: Blowing Rock

To: Blowing Rock NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Happy Birthday America! It's July 4th! I feel great! No chills, no fever, no fatigue. I feel good enough to exercise each morning. My plan is to keep monitoring my condition for several more days (I don't want any more surprises). I think Monday I'll go do a 12 or 15 mile trail (there are many steep mountain trails nearby) and see how I feel. If all goes well I'll head back to the trail about Wednesday or Thursday. I'm really worried about all the time I've lost here. I figure I lose at least a hundred miles a week. I will have lost about 250 to 300 miles since this started by then. I have a real fear of getting into the White Mountains and Maine too late and possibly experiencing really cold weather and even blizzard conditions. Just consider the White Mountains has the worst weather in the entire United States. Mount Washington has on average only 16 days of sunshine per year. And more hikers have died on Mount Washington than on any other Mountain in the country (more than 200). I think I'm going to have to skip up 2 to 3 hundred miles to get back where I would have been. And then after I summit Mount Katahdin I will jump back down and complete what I missed. It wasn't the way I wanted to finish but you gotta do what you gotta do. I will still do every mile within one calendar year which qualifies me for a AT thru-hike. I can't imagine anyone would argue with that. Keep your fingers crossed.
Date: 2015-07-09
From: Blowing Rock NC

To: View Entry
Miles today: 280.0
Weather: few clouds

I think I'm finally ready to get this thing started again! I rented a car (one way) to get back to the trail head. I am skipping over Pennsylvania and starting in New Jersey. I will skip up 276 miles. That is about what I would of done if I hadn't been delayed this 2 1/2 weeks. This missed section is probably the easiest section of the entire trail. It shouldn't take me more than a couple of weeks to do this section after I summit Katahdin. Keep in mind, when I give mileage in future journal entries it will be miles remaining to the end (to Katahdin). It will NOT include the mileage skipped. You will have to mentally add the 276 miles to the total. I drove up to New Jersey. It was storming when I arrived. I'm staying in a motel and will return the car in the morning. I rented from Enterprise because the commercial says they will give you a ride if you need one. I hope so. I have about 16 miles to cover to get to the trailhead. I don't want to walk it if I don't have to.
Date: 2015-07-10
From: Unionville NY

To: NJ
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

I dropped the rental car off this morning. And guess what...they're going to give me a ride to the trailhead. What a great company! They dropped me about 8:15 and I headed into the woods. New Jersey is very pretty! The terrain wasn't that difficult but I'm taking my time. I don't want to push it. I crossed a road about 7 miles in and walked about a quarter mile down the road to a mobile hot dog stand. I had 3 chili dogs and a root beer and a yoohoo. Boy that was good. I might not need supper! I had a pretty tough climb at the end of the day. The trail up the mountain was called "stairway to heaven". I'll let let you imagine how rocky and steep it was. Other than that the day went well. I think I'm past my health issues. I hiked through a really large swamp today on a board walk. The walk was probably more than a mile long! That was cool! I only hiked 12.7 miles. That's enough for the first day. I found a great little camp site right next to a beautiful mountain stream. I really love these settings. Not a soul around...the sound of the stream nearby...relaxing in my little tent. Nice! Only 831 miles to go.
Date: 2015-07-12
From: NJ

To: Wildcat Shelter NY
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I slept really good on the floor of the church on my sleeping pad and sleeping bag. I walked to Burger King for some breakfast,then hitched a ride to the trailhead and was hiking by 9 o'clock. It was a tough day due to all the rocks and boulders I had to climb. Some of the other hikers said it was the hardest so far. I crossed from the state of New Jersey into New York and hiked to a shelter called Wildcat Shelter for the night. All things considered don't think I'll be camping alone for awhile. I am really exhausted but it was a good day.
Date: 2015-07-13
From: NY

To: Fingerboard Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up early because the guide said this was a really difficult day... and boy was it! I don't think I've worked this hard since the start of this trail. It wasn't due to long climbs but these were 3 or 4 hundred foot climbs many being nearly vertical! Hand over hand up the face of rocks. I thought this was a hiking trail? It just never seemed to end! I counted 6 climbs on just the last 3/4 of a mile. I am more tired than I ever remember. I am staying near a shelter called Fingerboard Shelter, could hardly muster up the energy to eat. Tomorrow is supposed to be more of the same...ugh!! Only 801 miles to go.
Date: 2015-07-14
From: Fingerboard Shelter

To: Presbyterian Hostel
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: few clouds

I slept good in my little tent. In fact I slept in till nearly 7 o'clock! I really needed that after yesterday. I did a "nero" today which is a short day but not a zero. I stumbled upon a Presbyterian Hostel just a few miles from my camp. It will be good to rest up this afternoon and eat some good food in their AYCE (all you can eat) cafeteria. Besides, a storm moved in this afternoon. The folks here are really nice and anxious to please. In fact, they just started accommodating hikers. I am their second customer! The director asked if I would mind sitting down with him and discussing how much to charge and what hikers generally expect based on my experience on the trail. I was glad to do it. Tomorrow is supposed to be the last of the extremely difficult terrain for awhile. I'll believe that when I see it, hah!
Date: 2015-07-15
From: Presbyterian Hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 17.5

I got up early and had a nice breakfast in the cafeteria. Rick, the director dropped me at the trailhead. I'll be slack-packing today and spending one more night at the hostel. Today didn't turn out that bad after all! It was supposed to rain all day and it didn't. And believe it or not most of the steep parts they had carved steps in the rocks! Thousands of steps! I couldn't believe it! The real bonus was from the ridge of the (small) mountains I got some fantastic views of the Hudson River! At one point I was supposed to be able to see New York City which was 35 miles away... but it was too hazy. My hike ended in Ft. Montgomery, NY. Right now I'm laying under a tree in a median strip, typing in my journal while waiting for my ride back to the hostel. I wonder how many people passing me now think I'm homeless, hah!
Date: 2015-07-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

I hit the trail a little late this morning. Got started about 9:30. It was a beautiful cool and dry morning. A cold front has moved in. It's supposed to go down to the mid fifties tonight. I really don't have the gear for this. All my warm stuff I sent home and I didn't think I would need it again till Vermont. I can sleep in my rain jacket. That will help. Half way through the day the trail crossed a busy road and there was a New York deli there! I had the best Philly Cheese Steak I have ever had. I also had a cherry coke, a gatorade and a vanilla shake. I also got a foot long turkey and cheese hoagie to take with me to eat for supper. I surely can't eat like this once I finish the trail. But it's sure nice while it lasts!
Date: 2015-07-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

I was really cold last night despite sleeping in my all my clothes and my rain jacket inside my summer bag. There was no shelter available but I camped in a field with 4 other hikers. That definitely lowers my chances of encountering a bear by 20%. I had a hard 15 mile day today. About 5 miles out I came to a state park that had a concession stand and grill. I ate lunch there. It saves me having to fix something. The next hundred miles or so there are a lot of choices to eat along the way. That doesn't mean the terrain will get any easier. I finished the day by walking a half mile down to a deli/convenience store. Of course I ate supper there. I think the nearest town is Stormville, NY. The real bonus was they allowed me to camp out behind the store. Several other hikers joined me there. It worked out really great! Only 755 miles to go.
Date: 2015-07-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Started the day in a pouring rain. The Mosquitos come out with a vengeance when that happens. It wasn't particularly hard today. The interesting thing is the only place to camp was a Garden Center where we came out of the woods at a road crossing. The owner has been catering to hikers for years. You can shower in his hose...what luxury! The down side to it we camped only 20 feet from a railroad track. And commuter trains came by about every hour at probably 60 miles an hour blowing its horn all night! Also the highway out front was extremely busy with trucks all night. On top of everything else it has become so hot! I am laying in my bunk sweating! I did not get much sleep.
Date: 2015-07-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

I was so glad to leave that garden center. Worst night on the AT. Boy, today kicked my butt! Very difficult terrain and the heat is almost more than I can take. I have been wetting myself down at every available water source. I learned something today. Some large rocks seem to hold moisture and you can tell because they are growing a thin layer of green moss. I started taking my shirt off and laying on the rock. It is so cold on my back! It helps bring my core temperature down. I'm going to use that trick every chance I get! I left New York today and entered Connecticut. One more state behind me! I'm camping at Mt Algo Shelter tonight. Going to be a hot one again tonight! You wouldn't believe the hundreds of Mosquitos that are on the outside of my mosquito netting right now. Only 722 miles to go.
Date: 2015-07-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: clear sky

Great place and great people at the Bearded Woods! I am slack packing today. I'm staying another night here after my hike. Really easy hike today. Except for a steep climb at the beginning and end of the day it was really a pleasure to hike today. I had a 3 mile road walk to detour around a foot bridge that had washed out. Also passed a beautiful waterfall that was at least a hundred foot drop. This waterfall flows from the Housatonic River. I ended the day near Salisbury, CT. What a cute little town! Looking forward to more vittles at the BW!
Date: 2015-07-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

Still hiking. Very hot. Very steep. Very very rocky. Productive day. The mosquitos did well...the horse flys did well...and I made good miles. I'll be staying at "The Bearded Woods Hostel" tonight. Looking forward to that! They offer a full dinner and full breakfast too! I am closest to West Cornwall, CT. (I think)
Date: 2015-07-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light rain

The supper last night at the Bearded Woods was fantastic! We had bar-b-que chicken, baked beans, corn on the cob, potato salad, tossed salad, corn bread and strawberry short cake with a huge scoop of ice cream for desert. I sure hate to leave this place! We were dropped at the trail head near Salisbury. I did, I think about 17 miles. Lots of "puds" and many extreme verticals today. Kinda getting used to them really. I guess it's what I signed up for. I passed the 1500 mile point today and also left Connecticut and entered Massachusetts. Only 4 more states to go! There were no shelters to camp near so I picked a spot on the edge of a cow pasture. Actually it turned out not to be cows but some strange long haired looking sheep or some sheep-looking species. They looked really cool and were mostly a brown color. Curiosity got the better of them so they came over and checked me out. I've noticed not only are there lots of Mosquitos here like there was in Connecticut but they are a lot bigger in size here. Boy are they annoying. I've heard of one case of a hiker getting West Nile Virus and two cases of Malaria! There certainly are no shortage of ways to be knocked off the trail.
Date: 2015-07-24
To: South Egremont MA
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

What a bonus I got today! There was a road crossing near where I camped. And about a mile and a half away was the town of South Egremont, MA. I got out there on with my little sign and got a ride right away! I had a huge breakfast at Mom's Cafe. There was a Deli next door so I got two big sandwiches to go... those are for later. I stuck out my sign and the first car that came by picked me up and dropped me at the trailhead. Yea! It was a normal day of hiking. Hot, bugs, tough, and many aches and pains...especially my feet. I think they're wearing out. They have already swollen to almost two sizes larger than normal. I got hit with a nasty lightning and rain storm. Rain seems so routine now. It really is no big deal. The Shelter I was heading for is called North Wilcox Shelter. There was a sign posted saying there is an aggressive on the area. Oh great! Not again! It's nearly dark and I have no other choices. On top of that, the only level tent sight I could find was about 200 yards into the brush! Great...gonna get a good nights sleep...NOT! I sure made certain there wasn't anything that a bear could smell that would attract him. I hung my bear bag way away from my camp site. Creepy...
Date: 2015-07-25
To: Lee MA
Miles today: 15.0

I didn't get eaten last night! Actually I slept really well. I did wake up a few times to noises in the woods. There are always animals moving around at night. Today was pretty routine. I think I only did 14 or 15 miles today. That's because I'm stopping at a place called "Upper Goose Pond Cabin". It's a hiker hostel in a log cabin out in the middle of nowhere. It's of course on a pond (a lake actually). They have kayaks and canoe's to use. They don't serve supper but they offer a free pancake breakfast with coffee. Yippie!! When I got here I claimed a bunk and then went right out to the lake and went swimming. Brrrr... Really cold but it felt really good to wash some of the funk off of me. Simple pleasures. ) Tomorrow I'll hike only a couple of miles to a road crossing near Lee, MA. My childhood buddy, Doug Dagrin is picking me up there. He lives in and raised his family in Massachusetts. I am looking so forward to meeting him and spending the day with him and his wife. I'll stay at their house and he will drop me back at the trail the following day. Only 641 miles to go
Date: 2015-07-27
To: Dalton MA
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: moderate rain

We got up early to head back to the trail. Barbara fixed me a wonderful lunch to take with me. It was about a one hour drive to the trailhead. We said our goodbyes and I headed into the woods once again. I did about 20 miles on moderate terrain. I ended my hike in Dalton, Mass. It's a hiker town since the trail goes right through the middle of it. I'll stay in a motel tonight.
Date: 2015-07-28
To: Mt Greylock
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: light rain

I got up early (I always seem to wake up about 5) and got my pack organized and loaded up. I walked to a little diner and ate a nice breakfast. It turned out to be some really steep climbs today. At mile 9 the trail went straight through the middle of Cheshire (pronounced "Chesher") Mass. There was an ice cream shop right on the way so of course I stopped in. I ordered a coke float, a cup with two scoops of ice cream, two gator-ade's and a can of coke. That should get me up the next mountain. I climbed about 2500 ft to the top of Mt. Greylock, the highest point in Massechusetts. It's an amazing view! I got there just about dark. There is a lodge up there called Bascom Lodge. They rent rooms and also rent bunks in a bunkhouse for 35 bucks. Of course I took it. It also included a shower and continental breakfast in the morning. I can tell we are much higher than its been. It's a little cool up here. Boy that feels good!
Date: 2015-07-29
From: Bascom Lodge

To: Williamstown MA
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I really enjoyed staying at Bascom Lodge. Today is a short day day, only going 6 miles (all down hill) to the town of Williamstown. I have to pickup some important mail. It's not supposed to arrive till the afternoon so I'll stay the night. Plenty of time to wash some clothes this afternoon. People are starting to avoid me...lol! Tomorrow will be a long tough day.
Date: 2015-07-30
From: Williamstown MA

To: Bennington 
Miles today: 19.0

The stay in Williamstown was good. It's a great little town. Very neat and clean. Very "New England". I got a ride to the trail head. Hiked about 19 miles today. These trails are very overgrown. You can hardly tell where the trail is much of the time. There must of been a hundred "blow downs", trees that have fallen across the trail. Many are very difficult to maneuver around. There hadn't been any maintenance done on this section for a long time. They also use few white blazes marking the way. Once I went approximately a quarter mile before I realized I was off the trail. I backtracked and luckily found the trail again. The brush here is very sturdy and tough. It scrapes your legs and arms as you push through it. And since the terrain is so rocky you trip a lot more since you can't see the ground or your feet. I crossed into Vermont today! Yea! Only 3 more states to go! I also crossed the 1600 mile marker. I hiked for about an hour in an extreme thunderstorm. It's funny, I actually like walking in rain and storms. At the end of the day I hiked into another little town...the town of Bennington. This town isn't nice like Williamstown. The people I encountered were not friendly. Many run down buildings...at least the part of town I was in.
Date: 2015-07-31
From: Bennington VT

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: broken clouds

I got a late start this morning since I had to walk over 2 miles to get breakfast and buy some provisions. I hiked 19 miles again today. The terrain today was simply awful! Thousands of sharp rocks and oh so many cracks and crevices twisting your feet all different ways, causing much pain. The roots were terrible. They hurt your feet just like the rocks. And mud and mud bogs were everywhere. Let's not leave out the Mosquitos too! You can't believe how much more exertion it takes to maintain a reasonable pace in these conditions. I am thoroughly beat up after today. If all of Vermont is going to be like this I'll go mad! In fact a hiker told me today that he heard of another hiker that got so frustrated with the condition of the trail that he just dropped his back pack right in the middle of the trail and walked off the mountain and quit! He wasn't going to carry his pack one more step! Another hiker did pick it up and carried it to the nearest town. I completely understand how that could happen. I took a bad fall today. I had to walk over a large sloping rock that had water running over it. I knew it would be slippery but the slope and with no handholds I went down hard on my butt. Ouch!! Man that smarted. Then I got soaked besides. One interesting thing, when setting up my tent, I unrolled my ground cloth which goes under my tent, apparently when I rolled it up the last time it was covered underneath with a bunch of worm/leech like bugs. I hadn't noticed them since it's always covered with leaves and such. Well, when I rolled it up last I must of smashed most of them and now after several days they are starting to decompose! What an awful smell! I have no way to clean it. I have to sleep with the smell. Yuck!I'm camping near Story Spring Shelter. Only 559 miles to go.
Date: 2015-08-01
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Manchester VT
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: clear sky

I have to clean that ground cloth! I got up about 5:30 and was packed up and hiking by 6:00. I said to myself, "self, if you can hike over Mt. Stratton and hike a total of 21 miles you can stay in town tonight and take a zero tomorrow and rest up!" Well that's what I did. Mt Stratton was a pretty good climb. It has a watch tower at the top which you can climb and boy, what a view! This is this summit in which Benton MacKaye was inspired to propose creation of the Appalachian Trail. I can see why. I hiked past a beautiful lake called Stratton Pond. If I wasn't in such a hurry I would of stopped for a swim. The clouds rolled in and I encountered another thunderstorm. I finished my hike by 5:30. Eleven and a half hours with only two 15 minute breaks. I'm in Manchester, VT. Now this is a really cute little town. I will spend some time exploring tomorrow. Only 538 miles to go.
Date: 2015-08-02
From: Manchester VT

To: Manchester VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I zero'd today for some much needed rest. I walked around town enjoying my surroundings. The people here are really nice. Everyone is so polite and friendly. I think there's a lot of money here too. I purchased everything I needed to resupply and ate plenty of food today. Tonight I'll be staying at the Green Mountain House. It's another Home converted to a hostel. It's quite comfy and has everything you need.