morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-07-08
From: Tent site

To: South Wilcox shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: light rain

The mosquitos were wicked bad. Perhaps because the AT passed through a bog, but even in the woods until late afternoon they swarmed around me. I used the plant based repellant I got from Bearded Woods and my bug net but I couldn't stop or they would be all over me.Found a great place for lunch with a great view of the mountains I'd been climbing the few days.In the afternoon Freebie passed me. It was good to see her, I thought she was well ahead of me but she had taken a couple zeros. Couple hours later Turbo and Peace Dog who I hadn't seen since Four Pines hostel months ago passed.Got to the shelter and worked on my broken pole ad I've been told duck tape fixes anything. I think it helped. Next Year came in a little later. He had been at Bearded Woods and is finishing up the AT this year.A little later as I was setting up my tent I could hear the unmistakable voices of Bud and Bud Lite down the access trail. I walked down to say hi, and the other couple there reconized me from Woods Hole, Magnus and Coco. Freebie, Peace Dog and Turbo came in a little later. They had stopped for a swim and came in close to dark.So funny the ebb and flow of hikers on the trail.
Date: 2015-07-09
From: South Wilcox shelter

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

Got going pretty early. Freebie passed me shortly after I got going, she said she liked an early start too.Trail was pretty good early and I made good time. Even better was the small number of mosquitos. Not sure why but was so glad.Found anther great spot, one of the few scenic overlooks today, where i had lunch. Early afternnon I met my first southbounder, Just Will. He said he thought he was number two, that there was a guy already in Harper's Ferry. He and another southbound section hiker warned of yellow jackets ahead on a boardwalk.As warned I came on dozens of angry bees with no way around. I put my bug net on, rain jacket and sprayed deep on my legs. Made it by them unscathed. A little down the trail I came upon Bud and Bud Lite, they hadn't been as lucky, both having been bit a few times.Made to Upper Goose Pond Cabin, run by AT Massachusetts Club. Decided to tent though the place was packed. Pizza Man from Bearded Woods was there. Bud and Bud Lite came in and tented also. Eighteen young teens decided that were we were tenting was were they want to celebrate the great outdoors. May be a while before we get to sleep tonight. Did jump in Goose Pond which wasn't freezing but was pretty chilly. Got the sweat and bug spray rinsed off so there was some good tenting.
Date: 2015-07-10
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kay Wood shelter 
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: light rain

Rained all last night sometimes pretty heavy. Made the trail very wet with run off all day. A lot of the trail was already churned to mud and bit was a day of tugging through quagmires.Made for very slow going.Debated whether to take the .1 mile walk to see the cookie lady as I was running really late but wanted to get to Kay Wood. Decided to take the time and had cookies, a coke and a Klondike bar.Got to the shelter at seven, tired from a long day.Tomorrow is about the same distance, hoping for better trail.
Date: 2015-07-11
From: Kay Wood shelter 

To: Mark Noelle shelter
Miles today: 16.9

Much better trail today. Still a lot of mud and water but I was able to make good time and got to the town of Dalton about eight. The trail goes directly through town and luckily Whorton passed me before I'd gone to far and pointed out the restaurants where up a block. Got some nice food and hiked on. Nine miles further is the town of Cheshire and the trail again goes through town. Two milkshakes, a roast beef sandwich and a root beer later I hiked on.The last four miles was mostly climb toward Mt. Greylock. Mark Noepel shelter is about two thirds the way up, so I was happy to call it a day about six.Lot of people at the shelter. Because there was little level ground I decided to sleep in the shelter. Two nights in a row now. Several southbound hikers and a few section hikers filled up the shelter. All of the other northbound thru hikers found somewhere to tent. Bud and Bud Lite, Spooner, and Iso. Iso came up and shared an airplane bottle of scotch, a nice trails to finish off the day.
Date: 2015-07-12
From: Mark Noelle shelter

To: Williamstown motel
Miles today: 9.6

Slept in a bit this morning. There were six in the shelter and I was still first up, but I didn't what to wake people with my normal five o'clock wake-up. Climbed up to the summit of Mt. Greylock, highest point in Massachusetts. Let me say Massachusetts knows how to do it. A really impressive monument on the summit, a lodge and really nice areas to observe the countryside.The lodge had a cafe, so I stopped for breakfast being it was a short hike day. Really enjoyed just taking it easy.Last six miles were mostly downhill with occasional mud puddles. Not too bad, though it was very warm. Got to the trail head on Route 2 about two, called the motel and they came and picked me up.Laundry, food resupplied, a shower and a good night's sleep and I'll be ready to start up tomorrow.
Date: 2015-07-13
From: Williamstown motel

To: Congdon shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: light rain

Williamston motel ower got me to the trail head after coffee and doughnuts around eight, not to bad.About a mile out of town I came upon a body laying across the trail. After yelling if he was aright I roused Hawkeye. Slurring his words and a little wombly I was sure he was okay. My first thought was homeless but he seemed to have a story of starting at Springer that was almost believable. As I started to leave he asked if I'd like a nip, but I told him it was a little to early for me and I hiked on.About ten I entered Vermont. Had two steep long climbs during the day. I had a lot of energy and did pretty well on them. I could definitely fell the calorie intake from town food yesterday and this morning. Found a spot for lunch under a power line. It was nice and breezey and the view was nice, but siting under all that high voltage was a little unsettling. Got to Congdon shelter about five. A boy scout Troup and a lot of father's had the place full, but fortunately there were plenty of tenting spots. As the day went on more and more hikers came in and the place really got crowded. Clink who I hadn't seen since Virginia came through but hiked on, it was a little early for him to stop. Wye Knot, Peace Dog, Turbo and several I didn't know came in and found places to tent.
Date: 2015-07-14
From: Congdon shelter

To: Tent site
Miles today: 16.3

Leaving the shelter I stopped by and chat ed with Wye Knot, Black Bear and her husband Batman. Batman is not hiking the AT but is doing support for Black Bear as they live in the northeast. He hiked in from the road to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. It was good to see Wye Knot again he's a neat guy, hiking the AT with limited vision. I believe Black Bear is hiking with him to help keep him on the trail and not to get lost.They passed me a little later but I caught up to them at Woodford Hollow parking area where Batman had parked his car. I was rewarded with a Pepsi, organ juice and a Snickers. Wye Knot was dealing with a blister problem so they were all headed to town.Afternoon Peace Dog passed me but I caught with him a little later as he was waiting for Freebie and Turbo to catch up. It wasn't long before they too passed me and we're making for a big mile day.Couple other hikers I didn't know passed later. Congdon shelter was very full last night.It was mostly all up climbing today other than the steep down to get to Woodford Hollow early in the day. Got to the top of Glastenbury Mountain where there is a fire tower and I had planned to tent. Climbed to the top of the tower snapped a couple pictures and went back down, it looked like rain coming in from the east. It was only four thirty and I had a long day scheduled for tomorrow so I decided to hike anther hour to gain a few miles. Found a tentsite about five thirty and called it a day.
Date: 2015-07-15
From: Tent site

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Morning started off trying to rain but it only sprinkled a bit and remained cloudy until mid morning. It was cool all day with a nice breeze that made it easy to hike.Had a two thousand foot climb to look forward to after lunch. Primed myself with a three musketeers bar and started only to be reward with trail magic. After a root beer I was off. I did quite well and was proud of myself, I hiked up non stop until I sumitted. Climbed up the fire tower for some spectacular views. The wind was quite strong and it was actually cold so I didn't stay up for very long.Trail down to the shelter wasn't too bad nor actually the trail up. Three days without rain and some of the mud is firming up. Still there was lots of pooled water and mud but learning to deal with it.The Stratton Pond shelter is a large one and I met lots of new people. No one here that I knew though.Tomorrow it's into town to the outfitter for new shoes and resupply.
Date: 2015-07-16
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Manchester Center Suttons Place
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light rain

It got cold last night. Cold as I put on everything I had to wear and was just barely comfortable. Many of the hikers had nothing but shorts and tee shirts, so they had a cold night.It was only ten miles to the road into town. One medium climb and pretty good trail got me there a little after noon.Took about ten minutes hitching and I got a ride into town. Made the outfitter my first destination took care of three big problems. They had my shoes I'd called to have held, got my trekking pole tip replaced, and a new buckle for waist belt on my pack. I was well pleased in my accomplishments.Decided to stay in town for the night even though the highly recommended hostel was full yesterday when I called. So I walked down a block and half and stayed at Suttons Place which was at least near the middle of town. A bit of a walk to the grocery store but got restocked with food. Always makes for a heavy pack when you resupply.Found a place for dinner and headed back to my room. I'll try to get an early start tomorrow.
Date: 2015-07-17
From: Manchester Center Suttons Place

To: Tent site
Miles today: 16.3

Had a nice breakfast and got a ride to the trail head early. I was hiking by seven.If I have a large climb, I like it early in the day. Fourteen hundred foot climb to the top of Bromley Mountain started my day. I was full of energy from a high carb breakfast so it went well. About ten thirty after decending from Bromley I had a nice thousand foot climb up to Styles Peak. Still was going pretty strong and felt good. Weather was great, nice and cool, bright and sunny. The cool temperatures had driven most of the nats and flys away. Four days without rain and most of the water on the trail was gone. What mud remained was thicken to consistency of play dough so it was easy to make miles.Finally, in the late afternoon I climbed up to the top of Baker Peak. Not a lot of elevation, but there was a few hundred feet of wicked rock to get to the top. Kept thinking as I made my way up, so glad I'm not doing this in the rain. Was rewarded when I got to the top with some fantastic views.Stopped my day a tenth of a mile short of Big Branch shelter as the guide said there weren't any tent sites there. So I tented next to Big Branch stream, which is pretty good size stream. Nice sounds of flowing water to sleep by.
Date: 2015-07-18
From: Tent site

To: Clarendon shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Started raining last night. No too hard but on and off most of the night. Luckily it stopped while I packed up. It was very rocky the first five miles or so, and the rain had gotten them very wet, so it was slow going and slipping a lot.Went by Little Rock Pond which was very senic with a couple out canoeing.Started to rain at about ten, and came down pretty hard for a couple hours. Things became very wet with standing puddles of water to walk through.Was making good time and checked my phone app and it said 1.7 more miles to the shelter. Off course the trail turned ugly immediately. A steep slippery down followed by a very steep rock climb up to Clarendon Lookout.Got in to the shelter and was diappointed with no cell service, which has now been two nights in a row.Long day tomorrow as I try to get where I can resupply.
Date: 2015-07-19
From: Clarendon shelter

To: Tenting at The Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: light rain

It was a hard climb up to the top of Killington and I didn't do so well. Had to stop several times and made slow progress. I just didn't have a lot of energy and mentally having to do another 2000+ climb weighed on me.Finally got to the top early aft we noon. The rear of the day went better as the trail leveled out and I got moving better.Made it to Route 4 about five and walked the mile down the road to The Inn at Long Trail and had an enormous dinner. Camped for free across the street at the trail head of a blue blaze trail.
Date: 2015-07-20
From: Tenting at The Inn at Long Trail

To: The Lookout
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: broken clouds

Late start had to resupply in Killington and get back to the trail.After the huge calorie intake from breakfast and dinner the night before I felt full of energy and made good time. Had two good climbs and handled them well. Crossed a nice boardwalk and had an extension ladder climb down. Don't know how hikers handled climbs like that before ladders were put out.Stayed at a private shelter open to hikers a tenth of a mile off trail called The Lookout. The owner had built a observation deck on the roof of the cabin which gave spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Got some very nice pictures of the sunset.One northbound hiker Mosey was there and six southbound hikers.
Date: 2015-07-21
From: The Lookout

To: West Hardford Randy place
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up pretty early, and a couple of the southbounder did too to catch the sunrise. Got one picture, but was in a,hurry to get going. Had a lot of miles to do to get close to Hanover.Mostly good trail during the day. Several steep climbs but they were short elevation change. Most of the day was decent on pretty good pine and leaves and not too many rocks. Moved in and out of forest and meadows throughout the day. The meadows were full of wildflowers and the sets and aromas were dazzling. One of the takeaways from my hike will certainly be the amazing smells i've experienced. Four miles from the end of my day I was hit with a thunderstorm. Got my poncho on and pack cover. Never know whether to put my rain pants on or not. Summer they usually become to hot and the rains usually don't last long. Not this time. The rain came down hard and harder all the way into West Hartford and the wind and temperature drop was having me miss not having rain pants on. But there was no way to stop in the downpour and try so I just hiked faster to stay warm. Going out in the open meadows was a bit worrisome with the occasional close lighting but it also hurried my step to get to the tree cover.Got into West Hartford and crossed the White River where trail angel Randy has opened his house and garage to hikers to stay for free. Also provides a meal and breakfast all on contributions, so I had hot dogs and pasta salad for dinner and coffee and muffins for breakfast.I tented but the other eight hikers sleep in bunks in his garage.
Date: 2015-07-22
From: West Hardford Randy place

To: Hanover NH Sunset Motel
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a cup of coffee and a muffin with Randy before I set out. Most of the others had already left but I wasn't in much of a hurry. It was less than ten miles into Hanover and the trail was pretty easy with a,couple small climbs. The hardest part was actually a,rather long street walk into town. The sun at mid day was hot and most of the walk was up hill.Got to the center of town, where I grabbed a hot dog and a coke and waited for the free bus to come by. It was a few miles to the motel and taking the bus would have been great except he forgot to drop me off. So I had a nice twenty minutes tour of the outskirts of Hanover.Motel was okay, but not much is close to it, so Iafter checking in and a shower I took the bus back to town and had a big lunch/dinner.Back to the motel and called it an early night.Zero day tomorrow as I try to rest up for the upcoming White Mountains.
Date: 2015-07-24
From: Hanover

To: Trapper John shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: broken clouds

Had to wait until seven to have the motel breakfast. Standard fare with the make it yourself waffle, bagels, and coffee. Guess it was worth it, had little other options.Got a break with the shuttle bus, only had to wait a minute. Walked out of town to the woods where there were three people tenting. With the lack of rooms and rooms high cost in town surprised there weren't more. Fresh legs from taking a zero and the three climbs today weren't too bad. Velvet Rooks was just the climb out of town. Twice as high was Moose Mountain South. Nice view when I got to the top. Pretty nice trail after that. Mid day got trail magic from Sooner or Later at Goose Pond Road.Final climb was of course at the end of the day to the top of Holts Ledge which had some spectacular views and a ledge that dropped of to eternity. I didn't get very close to the edge. One of the views you could see the rock walks were the Periquine falcons nest. Hiking to the shelter I could hear some of them.
Date: 2015-07-25
From: Trapper John shelter

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: light rain

I was the only person at the shelter, second time that's happened since I've been on the trail. Missed The Ice Cream man. Trapper John shelter is only a mile away from Bill Ackley's house, so I passed about six thirty and missed out on free ice cream.Got to Lambert Ridge, where I could see off in the distance Smarts Mountain with its fire tower, where I was hiking to. It looked a great distance off but actually it was a little more than three miles and about two hours hiking time.Climbed up to Smarts Mountain and a nice collection of section hikers north and southbound had gathered under the fire tower. There was a sign on the steps that said the tower was closed, but it kept no one from climbing up. I went up a couple flight above tree line for some amazing views. One on the southbounders thought one of the mountains was Mt. Washington off in the distance.Rest,of the day was avoiding mud and puddles. Most of the mud was dry enough to walk over but not all. Passed over a bog where the boardwalk had lost its foundation and you slowly sank into the mud and water.Finally made it to the shelter Much later than I had thought. Really didn't make very good time today.
Date: 2015-07-26
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Glencliff Hikers Welcome Hostel
Miles today: 14.6

Started raining in the middle of the night, slow steady rain that had the trail soaked when I started hiking. Got to the summit of Mt Cube pretty early but it was soaked in with cloud and mist so no real views. Climb down was on wet slippery rocks and my feet came out from under me a few times.The trail got quite muddy for most of the rest of the day. There were some nice sections later and it alternated between good and bad with some wet slippery rocks mixed in occasionaly.Took a long time to get 15 miles in but finally got to route 25 where the Hiker Welcome Hostel is a short distance from the trail.Lots of junk food and off to bed.
Date: 2015-07-27
From: Glencliff Hikers Welcome Hostel

To: Tent site next to Beaver Brook
Miles today: 9.2

The Hikers Welcome Hostel was okay, not the worst but I should have stopped in for food and hiked on a mile. Jeffers Brook shelter was an easy mile, but just before next to a nice stream was pine flat space on crushed pine needles. Would have been much nicer than in the yard of the hostel.My plan for today was,to do a nice short ten miles and get into North Woodstock early, resupply get to the post office and check into a motel early. So much for making plans. I climbed Mt. Moosilauke instead. 3,779 foot climb it took about three hours. I think I did pretty well, legs held up and I really only stopped out of necessity three times. I did stop a couple others to take breaks figuring I had bunches of time.Still I reached the summit a little after eleven. Unfortunately the weather gave few views as the mist and clouds were pretty thick.Started downs little before noon. Four and a half hours later I got close to Kinsman Notch and route 112 and called it quits for the day. Too late to get to the post office and not wanting to get checked in that late at a motel, I decided to tent and go in tomorrow.Don't know what to say about the decent. It was I guess the hardest one I've done. The streams and moisture of the woods had all the rocks wet. It was incredibly steep decent of about three miles and three to us and feet. In many places blocks of wood and rear had been attached to the granite. With the wet rock there'd been no way to get down without those being there. It was very slow going for me and many hikers passed me by, but I just wanted to be very careful, granite is very hard to fall on.So tomorrow I'll head into Woodstock and perhaps spend the day before I start the Whites.
Date: 2015-07-28
From: Tent site next to Beaver Brook

To: North Woodstock motel
Miles today: 0.3
Weather: overcast clouds

There was a pretty big thunderstorm in the middle of the night. Actually didn't rain long or all that hard but there was a lot of lighting and thunder.I had camped close to the road so I'd slept in a bit and still got there before seven. It was a very nice road with no traffic on it. Waited about ten minutes and saw my first car who stopped. The guy was very excited about hiking but said he'd only started about a month ago. In conversation I mentioned he could come out and hike tomorrow and he took me up on it. Took my number and promised to call in the morning. Rest of the day I did the usual town tasks and consumed a lot of calories.Hopefully GP gives me a call and I can get to the trail early, a long hard day tomorrow.
Date: 2015-07-29
From: North Woodstock motel

To: Eliza Brooks shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: light rain

Had a big breakfast at the deli across the street from the hotel.GP cancelled our joint hike, said he was too sore from yesterday's hike. So I walked down to route 112 intersection to hitch a ride. Roadadendrrn was there already hitching so I joined him. After about fifteen minutes of no ride he called the guy who gave him a ride yesterday and he came and got us.It was slow going with a two thousand foot climb that took most of the morning. I had gotten a pretty late start so I was well behind where I wanted to be at noon.Chet, a guy I'd met in Virginia caught up to me. We got talking food and the rate at which we were hiking and I soon realized I wouldn't have enough food to get through the whites. Chet had mailed himself some food boxes further up the trail, so I'll try to get a call out tomorrow and do the same.I stopped well short of where I'd planned to get, bot it was two thirty when I got to Eliza Brooks shelter and looking at another two thousand foot climb and four more miles I called it a day.It's going to take a while to get through these mountains.