morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-06-22
From: backpacker campsite

To: Brink Shelter
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: light rain

The No see ums just about killed us last night before we got in our tents. They bite and draw blood and wouldn't quit. Today it has been mosquitoes.The trio hiked together for awhile today. We saw a large bear on the trail that didn't run away like the ones in Shenandoah. He just slowly loped away at his own pace. Irritated that he had to go the other way instead of us.We passed by the beautiful Sunfish Pond. Sunrise there would've been amazing I bet.Ww reached the Mohican Outdoor Center by 10:30 and I had a breakfast sandwich, a York peppermint patty, powerade, and some peanut m&ms. Not a huge outfitter, but they had a nice hiker lounge / room for us to eat and hang out. They gave us extra strawberries they had, and let us try small key lime pies they cooked. Orion did some foot surgery (he's had bad blisters the last few days) and then we all headed out.After a few hours I caught up to them at the Catfish lookout tower. First one in a long time,though the actual structure was locked at the very top. But great views from up there if you can stomach the strong wind and being up so high.Met two Germans today, Tortoise and Autobahn. Very nice. More Germans!The rocks haven't quit yet and my right Achilles is feeling it. I think I'm actually too tired to write more. Goodnight!
Date: 2016-06-23
From: Brink Shelter

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: clear sky

Andddddddd it's still rocky. These last few days have honestly been butt kickers. The tendon coming off my Achilles up the side of my calf was giving me some excruciating jolts of pain today. Vitamin I really worked on it, but I'm worried about what I'm doing to it. I hope it is better tomorrow or I may be forced to take a day or two off. Gotta listen to the body. I moved like a snail today but still reached the desired meeting point of the triumvirate (me, Echo and Orion).Went up another firetower today; the Culver tower. It was also locked, but the views from up there are great. New Jersey is incredibly natural. Lots of uninterrupted forest, as far as the eye can see. Very little farmland and housing. There is also more water and lakes down around the base of the ridge lines. I guess this is all left from a glacier a long time ago. The rocks and lakes.Struggled physically today, and the body being connected to the mind, I struggled mentally as well. I've come a very long way so far on the trail, but today I got a pretty big pang of homesickness. I really miss my wife. I miss my brother, my cats and even my bed a bit, haha. I know I'm still growing and learning out here, but some days I fail to see it. I'm not going to quit or anything. Chin up now like a good lad, I know.You see some people sort of crumbling out here, and I have to remember to watch out for myself so I don't break down as well. We have to take care of ourselves and as thruhikers sometimes that is difficult. We're so used to throwing everything we can and have our bodies pull through and surprise us, but we're 1300 miles in now. Small problems can become big problems.I begin to dip in and out of New York tomorrow. Woohoo! New England I am in you!
Date: 2016-06-25
From: St. Thomas Episcopal Church

To:  Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

This morning was a little rough. None of us were feeling top notch, but we all felt a bit better once we walked next door to a small, purple painted breakfast place called the Mixing bowl. It was fantastic and they made wonderful, fat, buttery pancakes. That's the cure for a lot of ailments, probably.None of us wanted to do much hiking, so we hung around the church hostel and tool care of chores, phone calls and just relaxed. While we were having lunch on the lawn, we were approached by another hiker staying there saying he needed help inside and that two guys were smacking each other around. Echo and I went inside to investigate and whatever smacking occurred had already happened. Autobahn was on the floor, his glasses knocked off, and na Australian hiker, who had hit him xmas eating ice cream. Tortoise was crying. Apparently there was a disagreement about their stuff being spread out, and tempers flared and the Australian began throwing their things so he could sit down and the situation escalated quickly. It was very difficult to determine the truth between both sides, but we can all agree it could have been better dealt with. A police officer showed up and we saw ourselves out. I hate for these things to happen, but the reality is that once in a while they do. You just typically don't see it manifest out here on the trail.Echo's boyfriend, Rob, decided he would come up to visit and slack pack Echo, and Orion decided to slack pack as well. This is when someone takes the majority of your weight, just leaving you food and water for a day hike. Usually one can make big miles this way. But at some point I decided that I hadn't done it yet, and that I didn't want to. My pack is my burden and that's just how I want my hike to go. I don't want to give myself any excuses or shortcuts. That said, I totally see the appeal of it and don't judge anyone who does it. Hike your own hike!So I decided I would head out during the hottest part of the day, (great idea dumby) while Echo and Orion took a zero and would catch up by slackpacking tomorrow.I started walking down the road and almost immediately a black truck came up and the driver asked if I needed a ride. The driver was Mike and shuttles hikers all the time. He dropped me off and I started the "Stairway to Heaven": a 900 foot climb straight up rock staircases and boulders. There were a lot of section hikers, which means lots of breaks as people that smell wonderful, like laundry, pass by.To give my ankle a break I only did 5 miles to Wawayanda shelter. I met two cool section hikers, Andrea and Manny.I keep seeing Red Wing Black Birds out here and they are quite striking. Apparently their call is unique, as they say "potpourri" over and over. Fun fact.I heard fireworks around 9:30 to 9:45 PM. Guess it's never to early to celebrate our independence.
Date: 2016-06-26
From:  Wawayanda Shelter

To: Tuxedo Motel
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: light rain

Today was a surprisingly tough day. The profile of New York doesn't look that bad, but the repeated up and downs are difficult and often going up and down on rocks or on rock slabs. The ridges up here have lots of big rocks that you walk across, maybe granite. It's nothing like bouldering in PA. These are larger and more curved and worn. But the constant up and down is tricky, especially when you're sweating profusely all day. Water is also scarce up here, which makes for more uncertainty and careful planning.When I crossed the footbridge at Longhouse Creek today, a day hiker named Kirsten told me that she was taking photos for some publication of the trail. She was big into the history and told me that it was called Longhouse Creek because Native Americans used to live along it in longhouses. The last native was seen living there in 1764.Had a few nice rocky ridgeline overlooks today. The wilderness of the North so far has been impressive.You know what's really nice? Picnic tables. As a thru - hiker it's just one of those amazing, rare gifts from a far off civilized world that allows you to "sit down" , which is when you get off your feet for awhile, or so I've been told. You can also organize gear and make and eat dinner. We will go out of our way for a picnic table. So this beer is dedicated to picnic tables all around the world (I'm taking a swig of water). Beacons of hope and civility in the dirty, untamed outdoors.Today I reached the road that leads up to Bellvale Creamery, the #2 ranked ice cream in the country, apparently. But before I walked up to it, I got amazing trail magic from "Tentman". He gave me an apple, asked if I take candy from strangers (Oh absolutely), gave me snickers, a meat stick, an Alpine Aire meal, a soda, a pair of Darn Tough socks (this is amazing and the first time I've encountered it!), as much water as I needed and even allowed me to charge my phone. Tentman has done lots of hiking, sells tents and gear for a living and gives out trail magic as often as he can. Not to mention he had good advice and stories. Thanks Tentman!After that, I hiked up to the creamery, ordered a huge sundae and a birch beer and devoured it all. Echo, her boyfriend Rob and Orion showed up after awhile and they all ordered theirs. Trekkeroni also appeared for a bit - he had camped at the drive in and got to see Independence Day 2 and another movie for free.After continuing to hike awhile, I got a text from Echo asking if we wanted to stay at the Tuxedo Motel. The price was right to split with Orion, so we did. Echo stayed with Rob. Orion and I watched Stat Trek: Into Darkness and ordered Chinese food, showered and slept like we needed it.
Date: 2016-06-27
From: Tuxedo Motel

To: William Brien Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: broken clouds

We all woke up and Rob drove us to World of Bagels. We all had delicious bagels in New York now, Echo said.It seems like a lot more stuff is cash only up north?But there does seem to be more water up here. More ponds and lakes and areas affected by glaciers in times long past. It's beautiful.You know what else is nice? Missing all of the political horror that's on the news and social media. It brings out the worst in everyone and I couldn't have a picked a better year to be away from the noise. I am reminded of this each time I hear or see a TV on in an establishment.Hiked, hiked and hiked until Rob, Echo and Orion were waiting for me at a dirt parking lot. Rob gave me ice cold water and he said his goodbyes and headed home, while we headed to Katahdin.Hiked a little bit with Funfact, who is a 28 year old flip-flopper.I have now officially renamed Pepperoni, Gasmeat.We all had lunch at Island Pond, which really should be considered a lake. Echo and Orion briefly got in the frigid water but Deadwood doesn't like cold water and was fine with only putting me feet in.After that, we all hiked until we reached the "Lemon squeezer", which is a very tight rock corridor that is difficult to navigate. We all struggled through it single file, me going last with the biggest pack and my smartwater bottles getting smashed on the sides.And then it started raining and didn't stop... So we did. We met Patriot in the shelter (a different, younger man from the one in Shenandoah) and we played spades in the shelter under headlamp light.
Date: 2016-06-28
From: William Brien Memorial Shelter

To: Random Campsite around Canopus Hill
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: light rain

It rained most of the night last night, but somehow, miraculously, with 1400 miles on my tent, it still kept me dry.Broke down camp and hiked out in the drizzle and fog. Lots of continued up and down on rocks, just like the last few days. Honestly, I didn't expect New York to be as difficult as it is. The miles aren't coming as easily as they did in Virginia, PA, Maryland or New Jersey. I feel like I haven't been winded so often since North Carolina.Once I hiked up Bear Mountain and reached the Perkins Memorial Tower, there was a deer that came within a few feet of me while she munched on grass.Descending down Bear Mountain brought me into the Bear Mountain Recreation Area and Hessian Lake. A pretty little lake with a concession stand, where I got a Nathan's Hotdog and Gatorade. Next, the trail did something it hadn't done yet. It went through a zoo. The AT overlaps with part of this trailside museum, where there was a red fox (he looked sad ), a porcupine, a bear cage, other animals as well as landscape information. It felt weird to suddenly be in a sort of small, melancholy zoo environment passing swelling groups of excited children.Then I crossed the Hudson River on the Bear Valley bridge, passed a suicide hotline payphone on the bridge, and then hiked straight up until I reached the Appalachian Market, where I resupplied and got a quesadilla. On the trail after that, I ran into Bryson, (now Oriole). He was with Juan Durer at a camp over a hill line, but I was moving on. I told him to pass along my regards though. People I met on Night 1. Amazing!Camping at a random spot with Echo, Funfact and Orion tonight, and I'm still sweating in my tent. Can I have permission to stop sweating now please?
Date: 2016-06-29
From: Random Campsite around Canopus Hill

To: stealth spot
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: clear sky

So the trio sort of split this morning. No harsh feelings or anything. Echo wanted to have some time to herself. We may see each other again, but they are both faster than I am. But no worries. It was fun while it lasted but these things never last forever. Honestly, I'm surprised I kept up with them for as long as I did. Good luck you two.Wow this terrain has been tough. I've been feeling as winded as I was back in early Georgia. These aren't especially towering peaks, but the grade of the trail is extreme, the steepness up rocky trail is very tough.Got to a road crossing with a parking lot where I could dry out my tent in the sun and eat a bite. Salami and Dirtybowl, a hiking couple whom have already done the PCT, showed up and liked my idea, following suit. It's important to dry things while you can, otherwise they can molder and get very funky. And not in a good, groovy way.It's tough being out here sometimes. On one hand, this is exactly where I want to be more than any other place on planet Earth. On the other hand, the person I most want to share it with and spend time with is my wife Jamie. And she's not out here. So I have these split dedications and desires. Like I'm constantly being pulled in two directions at once. I think this is why I can never fully be immersed in the hike and fully free to enjoy the hike. It'll never be perfect because a big part of my life is incomplete until I finish it. So even though I may be out here learning and growing and having a great time, I'll never be able to give all of myself to the hike. But you know what? That's okay. I'm still doing it. I recognize the value and import of this hike. I know it will enrich my life once I'm back home. Okay, rant over!Went to the concession grill at Canopus Lake in Clarence Fahnestock State Park today. Good, if a bit pricey, food. I can easily drink two Gatorade in a sitting in this heat and humidity. Funfact joined me, and later Radar (sounds like Radar from Mash) Curious George, Reading Man and Disco joined us.On my way out I passed Oriole and Wanderer! I haven't seen Wanderer in a long time. I met them both on the first night of my hike, when I was freaking out a little bit. How far I've come.I hiked the rest of the day with Funfact and we got about 20 in and set up camp. He's a nice guy who was a biologist in Florida but just moved to Wyoming with his girlfriend. He used to leave Fun facts in the shelter logs.Rolled my ankle painfully today, but I'm so very thankful I haven't been super sick or badly injured yet. And still no blisters! The welt on my toe just ended up being a callus. I am fortunate! I've seen feet out here that would give the faint of heart nightmares.
Date: 2016-06-30
From: stealth spot

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: clear sky

This is how a man finally loses his last shred of sanity. Sitting in his tent in the dying sun, listening and looking for the mosquito that came in with me. He's too fast, I can't seem to kill him. He lands on the wall of the tent and I use my best wild west gunslinger quick draw slap, but he disappears for awhile then reappears somewhere else on the inside of the tent. It's a Mexican standoff. If I go to sleep I'll surely wake up covered in welts. Or it will drink me dry. These are the types of problems I have out here. Ha!Early this morning I spoke with Jamie about getting new shoes delivered to me at Cornwall Bridge, which I can easily be at in two days. New insoles as well. Pennsylvania had it's way with my second pair of Hokas. They didn't stand a chance.The hiking wasn't exceptionally difficult today. Went through some swampy areas, has lunch with Funfact at Nuclear Lake (didn't bring my Geiger Counter), crossed a long boardwalk over an overgrown swampland, had second lunch at Roseann's Kitchen Food Truck and some ice cream from Native Landscapes and Garden Center. Filled up on water from their hose out back, slung the pack back on and did another 6 miles. Not the most eventful day, but it was good, simple forward hiking progress.Now back to mosquito hunting.
Date: 2016-07-01
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Mt. Algo Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: few clouds

Days like today I really don't want to journal. I don't enjoy being negative and I feel an obligation to my readers and to myself not to be. But today I really only experienced frustration and fatigue.Ive been sleeping in later and walking very, very slow. The uphills leave me practically breathless, I sweat from head to toe the majority of the day and am usually so thirsty that I'm not super hungry. It's so much hotter and more humid than I'm used to, but that can't be the only thing going on. I hardly want to consider it, but it would really suck if I had contracted Lyme Disease and didn't even know it. The problem with Lyme is they are the same symptoms that someone who hikes every day would get, with the exception of a fever, which I haven't had. Soooo, it's kind of tough to say. Maybe it's just 3 months of bad diet and strenuous, nonstop exercise is beginning to slow me down.One big thing was that I crossed into Connecticut today. Only Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine left.Today I came across 3 little, young birds learning to fly. They were running around the forest floor chirping and jumping and flapping. Probably startled by my presence but it was really special to see.Only did 12 miles today. Not only was I moving like Jabba the Hut (have you ever seen him move?) but I knew there was a bad thunderstorm rolling in. So I got to the shelter, set up my tent and listened to the thunder approach. Wow. What a storm it ended up being. Not sure I've ever been in such a forceful storm, and then the hail started flying. I was honestly worried that my tent would be ruined. I left the shelter when there was a break. The rainfly did fine but water is pooling beneath the floor. So we'll have to see how that goes. Might get wet tonight as I try to stay centered on my pad, one inch off the wet floor.
Date: 2016-07-02
From: Mt. Algo Shelter

To: Hitching Post Motel
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: broken clouds

Today was a day where all I could envision was the shower and bed at the end of the day, and I wasn't going to stop until I got there. Hike hike hike. Then sleep sleep sleep.When I was hiking along next to the Housatonic River, I passed a man and woman who turned out to be Susan and Hike man. They are the two who left tons of water as trail magic back in New York, and probably saved me from imminent death. So nice to meet them. Thanks you two!Hiked all day rather uneventfully and hit the road that took me into Cornwall Bridge. On my way to check into the Hitching Post Motel, I passed a Lemonade Stand raising money for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, which is the same charity that I am hiking for! So naturally I stopped to take a picture with them, got some delicious Lemonade and donated, and they decided to make me a burger while I was there. Erin, Brad and their children Quinn and Riley. Riley has done this for 12 years, every year around her birthday and has raised over 6000 dollars. Impressive. They were a very warm, welcoming, giving family and I appreciate my time talking to them.The rest of the day was lazy. I got a free beer at the Package Store for signing their register. "Anyone who hikes from Georgia to Maine deserves a beer." Thanks guys! In there I met McFly and Squints.Resupplied at the Country Market and went back to the motel, showered, did laundry, organized, back flushed my filter and passed out, finally getting my dream come true.
Date: 2016-07-03
From: Hitching Post Motel

To: Limestone Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Last night, I had a dream about my brother hiking with me for a day. He hiked in the front, wore a skirt so he didn't chafe and a black a button up shirt and tie so we could stop at a nice restaurant at the end of the day. God knows that I wish the trail worked that way.When packing up this morning, I remembered my block of cheese in the fridge. So when I opened the door, I also saw the 16 Oz beer I purchased at the package store. I poured it into a Gatorade bottle to pack out, but then decided I didn't want an extra bottle with me either. So I had a morning beer. I was scared people would smell it on my breath and rightly assume that I was an alcoholic. But we all know this is a calories game. I can't waste them. I don't have a drinking problem, I'm addicted to calories.I had a nice breakfast at the Country Market and talked to a couple about the AT and the sections they had done. We all finished around the same time and they offered me a ride to the trail head. A mile of road walking uphill in the heat? Not if I don't have to, sister!Lots of hiking up and over rock piles today, followed by a fair amount of road walking through the Housatonic Valley. Luckily, Connecticut's water situation has been better than New York's was. The end!