morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-06-02
From: baked oven knob

To: baked oven knob
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked thru Lehigh gap and made sure to fill with water because as we went over the mountain that is contaminated from the zinc mining years ago. 1000 feet up a wall of loose boulders and hot and sunny. It actually was a fun climb and we are in good enough fitness level now that it wasn't too bad. A couple times I had to throw my poles up to be able to use my hands and pull myself up the rocks. Each water source past the contamination area was dry and I soon had to accept that it was going to be a 24 mile day. The rocks beat my feet up something awful and at the shelter I had to walk a tortuous half mile to get water but all is good.Met another hiker named blue ox and we talked till after 10 which is way later than usual and I felt it in the morning.
Date: 2016-06-03
From: baked oven knob

To: kirk ridge shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Decided to hold up a bit with miles since I have a mail drop on Saturday to pick up. The lower miles worked good considering my blisters and the horrid rocks and the rain all day but all was good. Getting desperate for a shower after 2 weeks and to do laundry after 3 weeks. It always smells like something dead is following me. We met an old hiker that used to make trails in Pennsylvania back in the 60s and 70's who told us that none of the trail blazers back then actually hiked and they purposely went through rock veins to prevent having to do future trail maintenance. We were not impressed about Pennsylvania Hiked today with a young man from Quebec who quit his job as an engineer and started hiking and plans to try to work with kids someday to teach them how to camp and hike. He said the stress of the high paying jobs just were not worth the strain emotionally.
Date: 2016-06-04
From: kirk ridge shelter

To: Mohican outdoor center
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: clear sky

Decided to do a big day so started hiking at 6:00 and went through the Delaware water gap and across the Potomac into new jersey. First impressions of NJ, beautiful and even the people seem to smile more than in Pennsylvania. Saw a big bear as it charged a day hiker but it was looking I'm sure at the little dog as a possible tasty morsel. As I climbed the gentle slope on the other side of the valley a ridge runner told me that would be the hardest hill in new jersey.Stopped at an outdoor center where I plan to zero to let my feet heal and to do laundry and shower.
Date: 2016-06-05
From: Mohican outdoor center

To: Gen Anderson shelter
Miles today: 13.6

Walked entire day on ridges where we could see east and west and it was amazing how wooded the country is here in new jersey and the trees and wildlife is so beautiful. Did 20 today but my total miles didn't reflect reality so I put down 13. Only 2 people here at this shelter and they are a mother daughter team that are section hiking 600 miles. I think tomorrow will bring the boardwalk sections of the trail and that means no rocks, at all.
Date: 2016-06-07
From: Gen Anderson shelter

To: high point shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

From the moment I started hiking I knew this day would be hard. I must have hiked too far yesterday with my full food bag and with the rocks, my hips were just burning. Just went slow and took lots of breaks, even napped at one stop although not a Johnny rocket nap. Johnny rocket hikes till he feels like a nap then lays down on the trail with his jacket over his face and sleeps for an hour or so. All the hikers have to step over him and eventually someone wakes him and he continues. Anyway, a day of rocks and small hills did me in. When I passed the high point of New Jersey and got to the 13 mile shelter I knew it was the end today.Had a big rain after I put up my hammock but I kept dry in the shelter and now it's cool and beautiful out while I lay in the hammock and listen to the birds and probably tonight also listen to the bears trying to get to our food bags locked in the bear proof boxes.
Date: 2016-06-08
From: high point shelter

To: waywayonda shelter
Miles today: 25.5
Weather: broken clouds

Felt much better today and was able to fly even with the heavy load of food. That didn't keep me from buying more in Unionville, NY though. Got 2 boxes of Granola bars and 8 snickers, a box of Ritz and peanut butter, bag of pretzels. Then later we stopped at a natural food store and bought 8 cider donuts (gobbled those down in 10 minutes) and got a huge cheese danish that I ate probably 1500 calories of that for supper with a sleeve of Ritz crackers with peanut butter and a Granola bar and about 500 calories of trail mix. Today's hiking highlight might have been the m I les of boardwalks through the swampy areas with no rocks or roots but then we did the 1000 foot stairway to heaven with its thousands of rock steps and straight up the mountain. Weare I good enough physical shape now that we can knock setting like that out in no time and it's just a nuisance compared to the near cardiac arrest a few months ago after doing a hill like that.
Date: 2016-06-09
From: waywayonda shelter

To: Wildcat shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Beautiful day, entered new York and not impressed. The shelters are filthy and decrepit and the trails have not been maintained. To make matters worse, as we follow the ridges we go up and down 50 to 100 feet and it's always up rock scrambles that after 4 or 5 hours just kill the legs.
Date: 2016-06-10
From: Wildcat shelter

To: William brien memorial shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Amazingly brutal day but really, does it ever get easy? We got on the trail at 5:45 and some of us wake when the birds start partying which is 5 sharp. The younger crowd usually wake at 9 or 10 and by the time they get on the trail I've done 10 miles. Had some awesome steep rock scrambles such as the stairway to heaven and the drop into the abyss and of course can't forget the lemon squeeze which any good thru hiker can squeeze thru with no problem.Met a young woman from Germany who found out her hiking partners of 2 months were leaving the trail and she was bawling her eyes out. We told her to not hike upset because of how treacherous the terrain was. We all know by now how fun it is to meet new people each day and not get to trapped into the same partners every day because inevitably people leave the trail or get injured.Again the shelter had no privy and no bear box and filthy.
Date: 2016-06-11
From: William brien memorial shelter

To: Gray moor spiritual center
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: clear sky

Started once again before 6 this morning and went up 4 mountains before 10 o clock. From the top of bear mountain we saw the new York City skyline 40 miles away which is rare to have a clear enough day to do so. Went over 1400 miles today and tomorrow should get to the 2/3 done mark. The Franciscan at this monastery allows for hikers to stay at the Pavillion and the hikers keep coming. right now there are 23 tents, 6 hammocks and 4 on the ground. Had a little rain but that didn't stop us from having a great sandwich at a deli which in this area seem to be on every corner.
Date: 2016-06-12
From: Gray moor spiritual center

To: RPH shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: mist

Kept getting lost today. Some days it's hard to just keep putting one foot in front of the other never mind the fact that you can't daydream or hike head down for long and have to keep track of the white blazes on the trees or rocks. Unfortunately in NY the white blazing is horrible and sometimes your left scratching your head. The toughest sometimes is getting to an intersection of trails or coming out of the woods on a road and you would think straight ahead but not always the case and no matter how hard you look there is nothing until you try one way or the other. I did that and thought I saw a white blaze but after over a half mile realized I went the wrong way. That was only one of probably 4 or 5 times. Rock acrambles are also tough and in NY there are so few blazes and you can't see a worn trail over rocks so who wants to climb rock scrambles only to find you didn't have to.Pulled into the shelter with 19 miles by 2:30 and promptly ordered a pizza. This is called a pizza shelter where local shops will deliver to the road nearby. The wind picked up and temp dropped and soon everyone had warm gear on but a good night for sleeping. There was a dog in the shelter so that was good to keep the vermin at bay.
Date: 2016-06-13
From: RPH shelter

To: plant man
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

With all the sleeping last night I woke at 4 and was on the trail by 5:15 which is a record for me. Did 15 miles by 12 and 20 miles by 2:00. The plant man picked me up and brought me to his house for a great vegan dinner and smoothies and shower and laundry. Tomorrow morn he will drive me back to the trail and I'll be refreshed and fed. The trail today was vastly improved with less rocks and less hills so felt good. I still have one troublesome blister on my pinky toe that won't go away for some reason and I might have to Lance it though I hate to do that for infection reasons. Met very few people on the trail today and it was very lonely.
Date: 2016-06-14
From: plant man

To: ago shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

Not sure which is more exciting, to go over the 2/3 mark on the trail or finally cross over into new england. The trail these last 2 days have been wonderful which translates to virtually rock less and the hills seem much tamer. Stayed the night at the plant man's house and had a great dinner that was vegan and gorged till I couldn't eat anymore. Showered and did laundry which had been over 2 weeks so feel halfway human again.Supposedly there is no chance of rain tonight so sleeping without the rain fly and the moon is beautiful overhead.
Date: 2016-06-15
From: ago shelter

To: Stewart hollow brook
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Came into town today and it a hiker friendly town but we did have fun. Resupplied with a mail drop and made the stupid decision to buy extras. Then I got some gators to keep garbage out of my shoes. Before we pulled out had some good coffee at the coffee shop and a chocolate muffin. We planned on a light day so went 7 miles to the next shelter and camped. Very beautiful day but very buggy and humid.
Date: 2016-06-16
From: Stewart hollow brook

To: Falls river village
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: light rain

Felt very off today with my hiking. Felt like my pack weighed a ton and the trail was 18 miles of up and down and every climb was tough to just put one foot in front of the other. Hiked into falls river and not supposed to rain so I'll sleeping under the stars behind a restaurant with about 10 other hikers. So humid today with absolutely no breeze so a bit dehydrated.Saw a huge rattlesnake that I almost walked into if it weren't for the rattling. The hikers 5 minutes before me saw a copperhead in the same place.
Date: 2016-06-20
From: Falls river village

To: somewhere Connecticut 
Miles today: 100.0
Weather: clear sky

Had a long spell hiking with no good signal and then have to keep conserving on battery to be able to contact my wife. After New York the trail turned pretty tame with a lot of deli's to stop at and get those badly needed extra calories. Even went crazy one day and cheated big time with the vegan diet and had some hot dogs and then walked up the road and had homemade ice cream, so oo good. Been walking with Ron Jon and Brawny and averaging some big miles. Hadn't taken a day off for awhile so the knees are feeling it but no major hills and the 500 footers now feel pretty easy. Spent maybe 4 days in Connecticut and passed into Massachusetts.
Date: 2016-06-23
From: somewhere Connecticut 

To: Goddard shelter
Miles today: 25.4
Weather: clear sky

Elevations starting to go up again and this shelter was at 3500 feet so we felt the cold. Actually shivered last night but felt good and definitely keeps the bug keeps the bugs down. This is one of the shelters on the Vermont section that a hiker has to pay 5.00 for but there are no caretakers till July 1 so free. Capacity is 12 but could fit 16 unless raining then the friendly hiker rule kicks in and could sleep 20+. Actually did 18.7 for the day and very pleasant hiking.
Date: 2016-06-24
From: Goddard shelter

To: Stratton pond shelter
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: clear sky

Camped up from a beautiful pond this night. Had a lot of trouble finding water again and the source for the shelter was dried up so had to use the pond water. Filled the shelter with 16 hikers and again no caretaker so it was free but on the other hand the privy was overflowing and mice galore. Limited camping space and even more limited on hammock space. Had a couple of steep climbs and then an 1800 foot mountain with a good tower view. Beautiful country but the roots and mud of Vermont have shown themselves in full force. Soon the rocks from Pennsylvania will combine with roots of Vermont to equal north Vermont and new Hampshire.Got chased down the trail by a ruffled grouse that I was fending off with my poles but gave up and just ran.
Date: 2016-06-25
From: Stratton pond shelter

To: Peru peak shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: few clouds

Went slower today because of how tough the terrain looked but the hills were okay though my total climbs totalled over 3000 feet but pulled into the shelter feeling good. Started seeing a lot more injuries lately with people who can't keep a close watch on their physical well being and keep pushing. Interestingly enough I figured out what my average would have to be per day to finish august 7 taking 3 zeros and come up with 12.6, way less than my 20+ days I've been doing.It was a really humid day but felt good. Knees are getting really stiff at night and been taking vitamin i, iboprofin and Naproxyn so by morning they feel good.
Date: 2016-06-26
From: Peru peak shelter

To: Minerva hinchey
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Actually did 20+ but trying to get the total miles to sync. After figuring what I need to do for a finish date of august 7 and since I've pushed the miles to test myself I see no reason to do any crazy miles anymore. That being said I felt really good and couldn't sleep so was on the trail at 5:00 and did 12 miles by 10:00 and over 16 by 12:00. I was really starting to lose it in the last 4 miles and went all the way to the bottom of a mountain before realizing I was on a blue blaze trail so had to go back up 500 feet to find the correct trail. I was so angry but sat on the trail cooling off and met several people as they passed.Should have slept in the hammock but was tired but wow, the bugs were horrid and it never cooled and mice were everywhere. Luckily left all zippers on my pack open for the mice to have free access then they don't chew holes in the pockets.Kept flushing out ruffled grouse from the weeds and a couple had the nerve to chase me down the trail as I ran backwards fending them off with my poles. Quite comical I'm sure.
Date: 2016-06-27
From: Minerva hinchey

To: Rutland, VT
Miles today: 2.7
Weather: light rain

Always told myself I wouldn't do nero's (a near zero day) before doing a zero but I needed some recovery time so here I am at the twelve tribes hostel. Did my laundry, showered, shopped for junk to eat while zeroing and unfortunately ate all of it. Actually saw a movie to spend some really worthless time. A good place to stay considering how expensive things are in the north and here we pay 20.00.It's amazing to think that we have only 506 miles left and in 6 days we will be hiking the White Mountains. The first big mountain is 3000 feet but some will climb 4000 feet and Temps will be in the 30s. Last week there was a day with 100 mph winds and wind chill was below zero so we have to be very sure to have a bailout plan if things get too dicey. I have to get my winter gear back next mail drop.
Date: 2016-06-29
From: Rutland, VT

To: Churchill Scott shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: light rain

The day after the zero, heavy pack with 10 pounds of food. Ate like a pig for 2 days so feeling ill and the first hill is 2500 foot climb that is so steep and rocky that thought I was going to have an aneurysm. Went 16 miles and the shelter before the one I was going to stop at for the night I stopped to take a break. The guy I was hiking with decided to hike the quarter mile to the peak and I hiked on. I was just strolling along till I saw the sky and the dark clouds so I literally ran the last mile to the shelter and filled my water bottles and then it poured. Ron Jon pulled in soaked and I felt so good about my decision to continue and not get wet.
Date: 2016-06-30
From: Churchill Scott shelter

To: lookout cabin
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: clear sky

Staying at a private owned cabin that the owners let hikers stay at. You can go up to the roof that has a platform and you can see the white mountains in the distance. The day was all hills, some high some short but all super steep and my knees are feeling the miles and the climbs. Did a lot of praying today about the knees and hoping they don't get so bad that I can't finish this adventure.Pulled up at the 12 mile shelter and napped bit couldn't do only 12. Need to stop that attitude and slow down to rest the knees. Saw a lot of moose scat on the trail today which looks like deer scat but wayyy bigger. Would hate to meet a moose on the trail, much more so than even a bear.
Date: 2016-07-01
From: lookout cabin

To: West hartford, VT
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: scattered clouds

A weird day where I was going to pull up short at 14 miles in response to getting my daily average down and my knees throbbing but I pulled into the shelter at 12 and napped for 2 hours. When I woke I couldn't sit and leave well enough alone so I packed and off I went hiking like a madman. Now it was supposed to storm at 5 or 6 and after 4 miles and 2 big hills to go I was walking through a small village and somebody rang a bell and waved me over. This guy on his porch gave me ice cold sodas and ice cream sandwich and offered his garage room to stay in. AND he cooked me dinner with potato salad and a steak (yuck) that I'm paying for today (which is tomorrow on this blog entry.) Well 1 hour later we had a storm that just dumped rain for 4 hours and I was dry. How awesome is that?
Date: 2016-07-02
From: West hartford, VT

To: velvet rocks shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

Got on the trail at 5 and hiked into Hannover, New Hampshire where I had a really expensive breakfast but good and Resupplied with some basic snack foods. Granola bars,bagels, peanut butter, handful of Snickers and hiked out to the next shelter just outside of town. Took another nap and when I woke walked 3/4 mile to a dried up spring. Amazing considering all the rain last night but I came across some day hikers who gave up their water for me so that was awful nice of them. Only couple more days before the whites and everyone is pretty nervous about weather issues and climbing over a mile each day for a week but this will be a culmination of experience over the last 4 months.Nobody here yet at this shelter so I might be alone..
Date: 2016-07-03
From: velvet rocks shelter

To: trapper John shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

Flushed out a bear that I think was napping because it jumped up and ran like mad from little old me. Last few days I haven't put too many miles on. Knees are loving the lower miles but the hills are getting worse and 3 days for the first of the whites and that will be a killer with 4000 feet of climbing. Had some good views today. It mazes me that you can be on top of a mountain and still hear voices from the valley.In camp tonight and meeting guys that I hiked with many weeks ago. Blu bandana showed up after taking off 3 days with Giardino which is contracted from not filtering water when your in a suspect area like close to pastures or farms.Figured that I can alleviate some of the pain in my hip by tightening the shoulder straps on uphill to take weight off the hips but have to put the pack back down on the hips when I get to the top or my shoulders cramp.
Date: 2016-07-04
From: trapper John shelter

To: hexacuba shelter
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: clear sky

Another light day while letting the knees heal but the hills are definitely getting harder. It makes a person laugh when you walk around the corner and look up a straight stretch of mountain and it seems to be nearly impossible to actually walk up that, but head down and grunt it out and soon there you are on top. The shelter was located in a funny place where you went up more steep hill for a third mile and then the privy is even higher up a hill. Funny thing about the privy, I found it the first time but the next two times could not find that privy again and got lost both times. The shelter is a hex formation and that is a funny time figuring out how to pack everyone into that shape. The last 3 days keep hearing that there is trail magic waiting for me after Cuba mountain but just couldn't go that far.
Date: 2016-07-05
From: hexacuba shelter

To: happy hiker hostel
Miles today: 14.8

It was a good day. First we went under 400 miles to go and are at the edge of the White Mountains. Then met another hiker that is really cruising. His name is future dad and he started at the end of april and has hiked past all the bubbles and was going to do mount moosalauke after already doing 15 miles. We had a good conversation about the benefits of South bounding on the PCT (pacific crest trail) which he did last year. As we were hiking we found the massive treasure trove of trail magic and a special note to me from Carl or Carli concerning my knees. Thank you so much from all of us hikers for that awesome morning treat. Hard boiled eggs, orange juice, sweet tea, candy, crackers and peanut butter.The last hills before the Whites were teasing us with how easy they were. I stopped at the happy hiker hostel 1 mile before the massive moosalauke mountain. Still trying to determine if I will slack pack tomorrow. Slack packing is when you get driven to a place ahead on the trail and hike back to the hostel while carrying a minimum of weight.
Date: 2016-07-07
From: happy hiker hostel

To: Eliza brook shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a good zero yesterday and time to bite off the 4000 foot clb of moosalauke mountain. Actually started hiking at 4:45 and right off the bat lost the trail because of it being too dark. Felt good and it took 3 hours to climb and the views from the top were spectacular. This is the first true above treeline mountain. Coming down the backside though was gruesome and steep with much of the rock being wet because the trail paralleled a brook. Made it to the shelter at 4 and soon after it poured so everyone else showed up soaked. The day was only 16 miles but I wouldn't want to go this far often with these climbs and decents.