morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-06-17
From: NY Rt 55

To: Hoyt Rd
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a beautiful day for hiking and this morning we came across the lake you can see in today's photo. Before long we were hiking along a wooden boardwalk that took us through a cat tail filled swamp and then around lunchtime we got reached a hiker friendly landscaping business. I was excited to see that several of my fans had sent me some notecards and even several nice gifts. Thank you very much to all of you who were incredibly thoughtful and kind to send along some things to me while I'm on the Appalachian Trail. It was interesting to see a nursery/landscaping business that was so willing to help out Hikers even though they didn't have much to sell to Hikers. They had a rack with fuel, some protein bars, and some hiker food. They also allowed hikers to get water from an outdoor spigot. We heard that there was a lunch truck just down the road so that's where we headed. It turns out the lunch truck had only been in business for three days. The new owners proudly cooked us some delicious hamburgers and french fries. I made sure to get a ton of ketshup for my fries. We then headed out across some beautiful hayfields picking up the pace so that we would be able to reach the road where my wife was going to come by and pick us up. She had decided to surprise me by coming up and visiting me for a few days. Well, it was supposed to be a surprise but she ended up telling me just to make it easier to be able to find us on the trail.So anyways, she took me to a wonderful bed-and-breakfast and Dr. fix it headed out to test out a local hiker motel. He said it was a decent place to stay but didn't appreciate that they advertised an $85 price in the guide and ended up charging him $120 or so. It's wonderful to see my wife and I'm feeling quite cared for by her. The idea to come surprise me on the trail like this is really special.
Date: 2016-06-18
From: Hoyt Rd

To: Bulls Bridge Rd
Miles today: 4.5

I started the day today by playing the electronic piano that was in the bed and breakfast my wife and I stayed at. At breakfast it was fun to talk with the other guests who had many questions about the Appalachian Trail.Joanna wanted to hike part of the trail with us and fortunately, the next few miles were not too steep or rocky. After reading AWOLs book about taking his wife out for a 21 mile first day I made sure to keep the distance short. Joanna admitted later that she felt she had her fill of hiking about 1.5 miles into the 4.5 mile day today.We stopped by the river to rest for a bit and Joanna took the opportunity to sit and enjoy the experience of being right by the water. For some reason by the time we got back to the bed and breakfast, I was completely wiped out. To deal with this issue, I took a 2 or 3 hour nap before dinner. It is awesome to have Joanna here and it's very nice of her to have enough interest in my hike to come out and experience some of the trail herself.
Date: 2016-06-19
From: Bulls Bridge Rd

To: Mt Algo Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning I had another nice breakfast at the bed and breakfast before saying goodbye to my wife who had come up to surprise me by spending a few days with me. By the time we finished breakfast and got back to the trail it was past 10:30 am. Cheddar's parents had set up some trail magic to congratulate their son on finishing his thru hike. I'm not sure how he ended up finishing in this spot, but it was nice to see the effort that was put into recognizing his achievement. I wanted to eat some of the food they provided but was too stuffed from the baked french toast that I had filled up on at the bed and breakfast.The trail took us uphill today in the heat - probably not a great idea to start a day like this so late in the morning but that's what we did. I've discovered that I don't have much energy when it's hot which caused me to move along at a snails pace. Today is Father's day and (almost... ) all of my kids called to say "Hi". I really enjoyed hearing from each of them and appreciated having a reason to sit down and rest while talking with them. Because of the late start, the heat, and the Father's day phone calls we didn't do too well on mileage today. Dr Fix-it said "This is just one day out of many and it's ok to have some shorter days". It's interesting how he is able to help keep me focused on the positive aspects of our hike. Well, we're camped in our tents here near the shelter and just finished making dinner. There wasn't a picnic table here so we sat on a log and talked with two other thru hikers who are going to knock out 17 miles tomorrow. One of them said that he might have a hard time "staying focused" if he was only covering the 10 to 12 miles that we are doing each day. At times I'm quite content to plug along at our slower pace and at other times it bothers me to hear how other hikers are going much faster. For some reason this guys comment bothered me. Oh well...
Date: 2016-06-20
From: Mt Algo Shelter

To: Silver Hill Campsite
Miles today: 10.4

We had several good sized climbs today and I struggled to move along in the heat. It was only about 80 degrees but the humidity must have been high today. We stopped for a 1.5 hour mid day siesta and I hung my shirt out in the sun to dry. Within an hour or so of restarting my shirt which had completely dried out was soaking wet again. The afternoon got easier with about 5 miles of flat, smooth trail along the Housatonic River. Despite this my thoughts were along the lines of "What the heck am I doing out here?""I could be home taking it easy.""This trail is starting to look all the same."I was ready to call it quits today. I was feeling hot, tired and worn out. I tried to remind myself that any long journey like this must include days like today. At the end of our hiking day we climbed up about 400 feet to get to the Silver Hill Campsite. It has a water pump that - if you push the handle down about 30 or 40 times - will provide you with a nice stream of cool water. I'm just finishing up cooking my dinner and Dr Fix-it is sitting on a nice porch swing talking with his wife. There is a gentle cool breeze which feels incredible after today's heat.
Date: 2016-06-22
From: Bearded Woods Bunk n Dine Hostel

To: Lions Head side trail 
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we slack packed along with help from Hudson, the owner of the hostel. As we were coming downhill in the afternoon I could hear the rushing water from Great Falls. I climbed out on the rocks to take a few photos along with shooting one of my "trailside update" videos. If you'd like to see some of these videos you can find them on Youtube by searching for "flash 52 thru hike" or on "Secrets to a successful hike". It was interesting to see the power plant along with part of an old turbine which was attached to one of the signs along the trail. I sent the photo of the substation to Slipknot, a thru hiker I met early this year, since he used to work for the power company in Vermont. I was feeling much better today. It wasn't as hot and the humidity was down. The waterfall was incredible to see and I'm no longer thinking about quitting my hike.
Date: 2016-06-23
From: Lions Head side trail 

To: Guilder Pond Picnic Area
Miles today: 10.6

Today we slack packed again deciding to head South up over Bear Mountain so we would ascend the extremely steep face rather than coming down it. This takes more energy to climb going this way but is somewhat safer to go up rather than down a steep section like this. I decided to try hiking without my elevate foot drop brace today. This is a device which helps to hold my left foot up so that I don't trip on it. The muscles in my foot are slowly getting stronger as I recover from my injury 3.5 years ago. The brace also limits how far my foot can move which helps to avoid excessive strain on it. We hiked over quite a few ledge type rocks this morning. That's what I called the glacier scraped dolomite rocks, many of which look like a whales back. These rocks don't have many flat places that I can put my foot down on so by mid day my foot was starting to really hurt. "Why don't you put your brace back on" Dr Fix-it suggested. "Great Idea" I responded. You see, I had been thinking about putting my brace back on but for some reason I didn't. I don't know if it was that I just didn't want to stop or what. I can be pretty bull headed that way for some reason. Then, when someone like Dr Fix-it suggests an obvious solution, somehow the "I'll just keep going" part of me shuts up and common sense has a chance to prevail. My foot really did feel much better this afternoon : ) As we headed downhill today I looked out at the Connecticut countryside and felt a cool breeze coming up the mountain. I just stood there trying to take a few minutes to soak in this experience. I've discovered that I can take a photo or video but there's something ethereal about moments like this that can't be captured. I know that as much as I try to save this experience in my head, I can only enjoy it fully right now, right here, today. I want to live all of my life like this. Taking in each moment appreciating the people and experiences around me knowing that I can't save or fully recreate any part of my life.
Date: 2016-06-24
From: Guilder Pond Picnic Area

To: Homes Rd
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

Today we did a key swap hike. I dropped Dr Fix-it off at the North end and then drove down to the South end of our hike today to reach the point where we finished up hiking yesterday. We spent last night camped out behind Toymaker's cafe, a hiker friendly breakfast place in town. Dr Fix-it was able to get Zpacks to sell him another tent. It turns out that they had one on hand that had a slight blemish in color so he didn't have to wait the usual 6 weeks time to get another tent. I offered to let him use the one person tent that I have. It's the tent I used last year - lightweight but rather small. He was concerned about being able to fit in it so I offered to sleep in the small tent and let him use my Zpacks, the same version of tent he had before leaving it behind forever at the Silver Hill Campsite the other day. "Oh, no, I'll be fine" he said. I had just settled down for the night when I heard the Dr say "Hey Flash, I'm wearing the tent"I guess it was a pretty tight squeeze. He said that his head and his feet hit the ends and that his face would hit the sides unless he looked straight up. This morning he found an inexpensive hostel where we can stay for the next few days until he gets his replacement tent. The Dr didn't sleep well last night for some reason and didn't enjoy his day but today was a great hike for me. Water was somewhat scarce - at one point today I was eyeing a cow trough considering wether or not I should filter some of the water out of it!I decided to skip the cow trough and came across some great trail magic - Water in gallon jugs - that Dr Fix-it had seen while hiking South. Thank you so much who ever provides this!I called Mom late in the day and saw a baby fox running across the field.The Dr wants to zero tomorrow so we are going to rest up in Great Barrington Massachusetts.
Date: 2016-06-25
From: Homes Rd

To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 0.0

Dr Fix-it was feeling worn out yesterday so we decided to take a zero today. The spiritual retreat place we are staying at is interesting. Most people who come to the retreat pay $30 a day to stay there while not talking or making any noise. No meals or instruction of any kind is provided so attendees need to purchase and cook their own meals. This seems like an easy way to run a business... you just provide clean beds and linens, and you don't have to even talk with anyone. I'm probably missing something because to me it seems kinda funny... As thru hikers we get a better deal - $10 a night for a shower and a mattress with clean sheets on the floor. Everything here is thread bare. The washer and dryer is broken and the towels have holes in them. Despite this it's quite clean and the owner even talks to us! Just another chapter in our Appalachian Trail adventure. It felt great to sleep in today until 9 am rather than waking up at my traditional hiking time of 5:30 am. On the way to breakfast we picked up a hiker from Holland named Oompa who was heading into town. He joined us for breakfast and we had a good time learning about his country. Since it was almost impossible to make room for Oompa to sit in the back seat of the car we decided to clean out the car. It's gotten so full of hiking stuff that I can't seem to find things when I'm looking for them. We found a place next to a dumpster, pulled everything out, organized things and created a pile of trash to go in the dumpster. Dr Fix-it went inside to ask permission to use the dumpster and when he came out he told me to back up the car and get ready to tear out. He can keep a pretty straight face when he's pulling my leg, so good in fact that I can't tell when he's kidding me. I'm pretty sure the guy in the business said it was fine to use the dumpster but I was still looking over my shoulder to see if someone was going to come running out and yell at us. That's the thing with Dr Fix-it. He's always got something going on. For example, yesterday when I got to the car he said that he added a new feature to my Honda accord while he was waiting for me. He said he changed the wiring so that if I turned the key in the door three times in a row the windows would go down. "Sure they will" I responded. I mean, I don't think he really did anything with the wiring and I've owned this car for over ten years. If there was some trick like this I would surely know about it. So then later, when he wasn't watching, I tried it and presto - all 4 windows go down just like he said. I just don't know what to think. The interesting thing is that Dr Fix-it keeps me guessing. Since I like surprises that's probably a good thing.Hobbling around town today I have a hard time believing that I'm out hiking the Appalachian Trail. Back at it tomorrow. Oh yea. We drove past this "flower bed" today so I took a photo of it for you.
Date: 2016-06-28
From: Beartown Mountain Rd

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Our shuttle was right on time at 7 am today. This was quite a change from our experience the other night. We started out this morning heading North from Beartown Mountain Rd with a goal of getting to the Upper Goose Pond Cabin.I forgot to pack my lunch and snacks for tomorrow but I think I¢ll be ok because I hear that we can get pancakes and coffee for breakfast from the caretaker at the Upper Goose Pond Cabin in the morning. Perhaps I can eat a few extra pancakes in the hopes of making it without a lunch. Dr Fixit has been teasing me about being my sherpa. He offered to carry my two person tent along in case the cabin was full tonight. In addition to this he offered to pack my cookstove since he lost his stove along with his tent the other day. The Dr usually brings some extra food so I¢ll probably get a food bar or two from him to make it through the day tomorrow. He also has a really nice first aid kit, so all I carry is a few bandages. So as we¢re hiking along today the Dr is adding up everything that he¢s ¢carrying for me.¢ He includes the old hiking poles of mine that he¢s using (Says he¢s got the tent poles for me) and even mentions the duct tape wrapped around the top of the poles.This afternoon I caught up to Dr Fixit when he was taking a break and hiked down the trail ahead of him. I¢ve discovered that for some reason I prefer to be out front. It must be my competitive nature or something. ¢I¢m going to catch you when you stop to relieve yourself¢ taunted the Dr as I headed down the hill. ¢In fact, you probably have to go now¢¦ ¢ he added. ¢Your bladder is getting really full, isn¢t it.¢ ¢Is that a rushing waterfall that I can hear just ahead¢¦ ?¢ The funny thing is that his suggestive powers were working on me. I waited until the trail narrowed through an area with bushes on both sides, then stopped in the middle of the path to go. To further enforce my ¢No passing¢ zone I turned uphill spraying back and forth like a lawn sprinkler so that there was no way the Dr could get by me. Then I hear him say ¢Hi, this is Dr Fixit here on the Appalachian Trail¢ (I look up to see him taking a video) ¢and this is Flash 52 blocking the trail¢Ha ha. I don¢t think he was really taking a video, at least I sure hope not. Well anyway, we made it to the Upper Goose Pond Cabin in time to get bunks for both of us. There are about a dozen hikers here along with the caretaker. I can hear the rain coming down on the roof overhead which is a sound I¢ve learned to love. Inside, warm and dry is a good place to be tonight.
Date: 2016-06-29
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Washington Mt Rd
Miles today: 11.1

Today was a nice easy hike with a decent trail surface and very few hills to go up or down. We met a lady this morning at the Goose Pond Shelter that was getting off the trail because her knees were hurting so much. Dr Fixit pointed out the oversized knee brace that I wear and came up with this tale about how I went to see a doctor about my knee. ¢There¢s no question about it, if you keep hiking then your leg will probably fall off¢ He quotes the imaginary doctor warning me. Then he adds for good measure ¢The worst part is now I have to carry dry ice to keep his leg fresh if it does fall off.¢ Now this gal is looking at me wondering if MY story is true and of course I¢m expected to play along with it. I simply give her a smile, wish her best of luck and turn to head up the trail.We drove to Albany, NY tonight where I got us a great deal on a hotel using hotwire.com. In the morning I¢m flying to Denver to see my oldest daughter get married! Dr fixit had told me that he was going to fly home for a few days while I was gone and then come back to continue his hike towards Maine with me. Something must have changed as he¢s packed up every bit of his gear and offered to let me have his left over trail food since ¢I¢m probably not coming back.¢This isn¢t really a big deal¢¦ what I mean is, I¢ve hiked most of the trail by myself and can continue to do so, but it¢s hit me as quite a surprise that the Dr isn¢t going to keep hiking with me. I think the biggest reason is that he¢s made dozens of comments over the past few weeks like ¢I just bought a replacement tent, so now I¢ll have to go all the way to Maine with you.¢ or ¢I got a non-refundable ticket back to Albany so I¢m definetly coming back.¢ In hindsight, all these comments should have given me some kind of idea that maybe, must maybe, the good Dr might be wavering about continuing his hike. The problem is that he jokes so much that I can¢t tell when he¢s really saying something or if he¢s just making something up to be funny. He is pretty darn funny. I¢m going to miss him.
Date: 2016-07-05
From: Dalton, MA

To: Cheshire, MA
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: light rain

Yesterday I flew from Denver back to Albany to continue my adventure on the AT. It was wonderful to see all my kids and my daughters wedding was sensational. It was really hard to say goodbye to my wife - I've been fretting about it all day today. I met Tator Tot at the church where I stayed last night. He had a similar injury to mine about 12 years ago. He has a spinal implant to help with his nerve pain. I almost got one of these but decided to pass on having the surgery. This morning I left my car in Dalton so the repair shop could fix a few more things for me while I'm out hiking. They were nice enough to shuttle me up to the trail. I'm only hiking 8 miles today as I've found that my leg usually hurts me more when I start back after a break. You'd think that a five day rest would be good for it but it's been squaking at me all day. I felt out of sorts today getting used to being back on the trail and also adjusting to hiking by myself after a month of hiking with Dr Fixit who decided to go home. It usually takes me a few days to get back in the swing of things.
Date: 2016-07-06
From: Cheshire, MA

To: Mt Greylock
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: light rain

I was up by 5:30 this morning and out hiking by 6:30 am so that I could avoid the middle of the day heat while hiking up to Mt Greylock. I felt lethargic today and my injured foot was killing me so I was moving pretty slow coming up the hill. I thought often about quitting today - my leg hurts, I miss my wife, what the heck am I doing out here?I reached Balsom Lodge at the summit of Mt Greylock in time to get a hamburger before the restaurant closed for lunch. I took a nap, showered, and joined three other hikers for a nice dinner. I'm going to finish watching a movie on Netflix and get a good nights rest.
Date: 2016-07-07
From: Mt Greylock

To: Pete's Spring
Miles today: 9.4

Guests at Bascom lodge get muffins and coffee for breakfast - which I wasn¢t too excited about. So I was surprised in a good way by the freshly made, stuffed with blueberry muffins this morning. I ate as many as I could without looking like a total hog. I used the take 2 or 3 at a time, but don¢t take the last one technique. After filling up on muffins I ordered an egg, cheese and bacon sandwich to take with me on the trail today. A Southbounder yesterday was complaining about how steep his climb up to the lodge was and I thought he was being wimpy. I discovered that he wasn¢t kidding - The terrain was pretty steep and long coming down from Mt Greylock. Before long I came to a sign marking the Massachusetts Vermont border. I can't believe that I've made it to Vermont and feel like I should be really excited. I'm mostly just tired. The best part of the day was after hiking through North Adams an AT friendly resident had a water hose with a sign that said ¢For AT hikers¢. I sprayed cool water over my head and arms and rinsed off my upper body before filling up my camel bak.I surprised myself by reaching Pete¢s Spring campsite with some gas still in the tank. There¢s just one other tent up the hill from me but no hikers in sight anywhere. I¢ve been struggling the last few days to remember why I¢m hiking the AT. At some point before I fell asleep I looked out at the night sky through the forest and realized that¢s it.. that¢s why I¢m here. To savor and try to remember the image, the feeling and emotions that are there for just a moment in time.