morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-07-12
From: Greenwood Lake

To: Fingerboard Shelter, NY
Miles today: 16.4

Today was the first day that I had no blister pain in weeks. We got a fairly early start at 6:30 and our first four miles went fast. We even began to speculate that we could do a twenty today. Unfortunately it was not to be as we soon hit some really rocky climbing up and down four different mountains. They would not have been bad if they weren't so steep with large talus blocks to navigate. We climbed through the Lemon Squeezer. It was a narrow opening between two very large blocks of rock that was about two feet wide. I had to take my pack off and hoist it up and forward to get it through. I met a 71 year old lady who was hiking with a guy from the West Indies about my age. We crossed a trail to Manhattan, NY some 55 miles east. Camped by a shelter again tonight and it has started to rain.
Date: 2013-07-13
From: Fingerboard Shelter, NY

To: Hemlock Springs, NY
Miles today: 17.6

It rained all night, everything wet again, so I got a late start. Woodman never made it to our camp last night. He was having problems with his artificial knee. Hope he is ok and can catch up tomorrow. My nice healthy feet are again wet. The trail is covered in over hanging vegetation. Picked a few ticks off me and one off Rabbits head. There were a lot of climbs over Fingerboard, Arden West, and finally Bear Mountain. Plenty of day hikers on Bear Mountain as it was a weekend and we are only 34 miles from New York City. The rain finally quit around 11:00am. There was supposed to be a skyline view of New York from West Mountain but we were in the clouds. Descending down to the Hudson River area there as a large Park with probably a 1,000 people enjoying the warm afternoon. There were boom boxes playing every kind of music imaginable at three picnic area. It was all very festive. The At goes right through a little zoo and is the lowest point of the AT at 165'. The white blazes go right through the zoo and the low point is the bear cage. The Bear Mountain Bridge crosses the Hudson River. It is a very busy bridge and the Hudson River is a very wide and dirty looking river. We climbed up to our camp some two miles from the river. Rabbit and I were eating dinner when it started to rain again. Rain hammering my tent. Looks like another wet day tomorrow.
Date: 2013-07-14
From: Hemlock Springs, NY

To: Canopus
Miles today: 17.0

Woke to a clear sky but our gear was wet and the trail muddy. Wet socks and shoes again today. All I could think about was another round of blisters. About noon my shoes started to dry out so I changed to dry socks and did some hot spot taping and hoped for the best. The day started with a 3.5 mile walk to a road crossing with a Shell gas station and convenience store. I had a roast beef Danish and a large cup of very strong coffee for breakfast. I know it doesn't sound all that great to anyone not on the trail, but to through hikers, its a treat plus no clean up. Rest of the day was PUDs but nothing big just endless. Had at least six busy road crossings today. Nothing too interesting today. Tomorrow I should reach the 2/3 mile mark.
Date: 2013-07-15
From: Canopus

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter, JY
Miles today: 15.0

It is very hot and humid again today. I was told by a day hiker that the wet bulb temp was 102. He said that was temp + humidity. It looks like a war zone out here. People sitting under trees trying to cool off. I have been dragging for the last few days. The heat is supposed to last the rest of this week. Even the kids are suffering and for some reason that makes me feel better. It looks like 15-18 mile days will be about it through the dog days of summer. I have another problem that has been bothering me and caused some sleepless nights. I have a rash on my backside and it seems to be getting worse.
Date: 2013-07-16
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter, JY

To: Appalachian Trail RR Station
Miles today: 10.9

Everybody was up and packing before 5am trying to beat the heat. This was the first time I've seen this kind of early morning activity from the young people. I had another sleepless night, the fifth one. Rabbit is a pediatrician and says its a cyst on my buttock (Forrest Gump). I need to get to a clinic and have it taken care of. Heading to Wingdale, NY where I can get a taxi to the Urgent Care Clinic.
Date: 2013-07-17
From: Appalachian Trail RR Station

To: Wingdale, NY
Miles today: 0.0

Was able to be seen at the clinic yesterday afternoon. Dr. Rabbit was right. It is a cyst. She also said the procedure to remove the cyst wouldn't be fun. Right again Dr. Rabbit but I immediately began to feel relief. The bad new was that it is infected and I have to go back today for a follow-up to make sure it has drained. Back from my second trip to the clinic. Doctor said it appears to be healing. He knows I want to get back on the trail and is used to hiker trash so just encouraged me to wait until it stopped draining, keep it clean, and if it gets worse get to another clinic. I hope to start hiking tomorrow. This has been a very expensive stop but what can I do. I had the best nights sleep in a week despite the noisy air conditioner blasting on high and still not able to cool off the room. Rabbit left this morning. Hope to see her again. The forecast for tomorrow is record high heat and humidity but then a cooling trend begins. Everyone has low points and I hope I have hit mine and things will begin to improve.
Date: 2013-07-18
From: Wingdale, NY

To: Wingdale, NY
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I don't want to stay but I need to take another zero day here in Wingdale. I'm still having a lot of drainage and I don't think I can keep it clean on the trail. The forecast is for record temps again today, heat index 108, so at least I won't have to deal with that. The most interesting thing in town is an old abandoned psychiatric hospital. It was built in 1924 and operated until the 1960s. The buildings are red brick with bars on the windows. Grounds are overgrown but it must have been a showcase at one time. There are 80 buildings, a golf course (where the patients caddied for the doctors), and ball field. Originally it was called the Harlem Valley Insane Asylum and they performed lobotomies and used shock therapy. Its a very spooky but oddly beautiful looking place and some of the locals told me it is definitely haunted. There have been plans to renovate the buildings but they are full of asbestos and lead paint. I hope to leave New York tomorrow and start the state of Connecticut. Connecticut will be my 10th state and only a little over 50 miles. Right now these low mileage states are the only thing keeping me motivated. Connecticut is known as the home of Lyme Disease and I have heard that at least two people have left the trail and are being treated. People definitely take it seriously out here whereas in the west there is still skepticism that it even exists.
Date: 2013-07-19
From: Wingdale, NY

To: Mt. Algo, Conn.
Miles today: 18.0

I overslept this morning. Something very unusual for me and I really wanted an early start to beat the heat. The trail was great for the first ten miles. This is just what I needed as the antibiotics I'm taking make me lethargic. I am feeling better just tired and only seven more days on the pills. I got to the New York/Connecticut border about 10am. Only five more states out of fourteen left. I was at the 10 mile mark by 11:30 and started to dream of being in camp by 4pm if the trail stayed the same. I had lunch at 10 Mile River Bridge. Everything changed after lunch. I climbed up Schaghtioke Mountain most of the afternoon. That was followed by Mt. Algo which was another rough, rocky climb followed by a steep, rocky descent down to Mt. Algo shelter. I'm camping at the shelter with two section hikers from New Orleans. Early to bed as I'm dead tired and need an early start tomorrow. I can hear cars so I must be close to Kent.
Date: 2013-07-20
From: Mt. Algo, Conn.

To: Pine Swamp Shelter, Conn.
Miles today: 17.0

The forecast for today is calling for a major thunderstorm and 1.5" rain beginning around 3pm. With this in mind I got an early start. I tolerate mosquitoes better than most but they really got to me this morning. Had to slather on the Deet right away and pulled out my moldy smelling head net. All climbing until 11am to the high point of St. John's Ledges. From there the trail dropped down about two hundred stone steps to the Housatonic River. It looks like I will parallel this large, wide river for several miles. I crossed several paved roads leading to the villages of Cornwall Bridge, West Cornwall, and Sharon. My last mile was straight up through another Lemon Squeezer type crack in a huge rock formation and then down to Pine Swamp shelter. I decided to stay in the shelter tonight because of the forecasted heavy rain and that didn't work out very well. For one thing, it didn't rain! How could this happen on the AT. It always rains when it is forecasted. The through hiker aroma reached every mosquito for hundreds of miles and they descended on us to feast all night.
Date: 2013-07-21
From: Pine Swamp Shelter, Conn.

To: Salisbury, Conn
Miles today: 16.0

I may need a transfusion after playing host to the most vicious mosquitoes I've ever seen. I was off before 6am trying to outrun the critters. I'm an animal lover but I hope those mosquitos overdosed on my antibiotics. The water source at the shelter came out of a feeder stream between two swamps. It was not very appealing so I did not have much to drink last night after a very hot day. Besides not having an ounce of blood left in my body I am cramping up. The next water source was another 2.4 miles and I needed to get there to tank up. After climbing Sharon Mountain the trail descended back down to the Housatonic River and Fall Village for some more river walking. It was fairly flat and nice walking. The air today is much fresher but still very warm. I had lunch along the river where it cascades over huge slabs of granite. People were picnicking along the falls and playing in the pools. The trail next climbed up over Prospect Peak and down to the road leading to Salisbury, Connecticut. In Salisbury I rented a room from Maria McCabe, a feisty 84 year old woman. She drove me to the grocery store and laundry. A wonderful woman who enjoys taking in thru-hikers. She is a great asset to the AT hiking community.
Date: 2013-07-22
From: Salisbury, Conn

To: Glen Brook Shelter, Massachusetts
Miles today: 13.2

This was another hard day. I had planned to walk an extra hour or two tonight but I just wasn't up to the task. Three long, steep, rocky climbs and descents were on the agenda today. The highest peak in Connecticut, another Bear Mountain, was my first climb. It was a very steep and dangerous descent into Sages Ravine. A great stream cascaded towards the valley below. After crossing Sages Creek the trail climbed up to Race Mountain and then down about 500 rocky feet and back up to Everett Mountain at 2,700'. I found a nice campsite in a pine forest at 4:45pm and decided to call it a day. It was a very pleasant setting with the sun filtering through the trees and a light breeze keeping the bugs away. I didn't see the thunderstorm coming until it was overhead. Luckily I had my tent up and dinner made before it hit. It's raining hard and I feel fortunate that I decided to stop early. Met a couple of SOBO's that left Katahdin seven weeks ago. Mosquitoes and bugs were their biggest complaints. Also met a group of ten deaf day hikers heading up to Race Mountain. They looked pretty tired but in good spirits. This would not be my choice for a day hike but they didn't seem to mind the rocky scrambling. Today was a great day for blueberries. Bushes lined the trail seeking the sun. I'm wondering if there are any bears in Massachusetts as I haven't seen any signs. Entered Massachusetts, my 11th state, and only four left. Still raining hard. Will it quit tonight?
Date: 2013-07-23
From: Glen Brook Shelter, Massachusetts

To: Massachusetts 23/Great Barrington
Miles today: 16.4

Rained hard all night. It's not raining now but I am in a thick cloud bank heavy with mist so it may as well be raining. Rain means slick rocks and I was faced with a 1,300' muddy descent to start the day. It was brutal. I fell several times and the going was slow. I have been hiking with several young people who also fall but it doesn't seem to bother them as much as the older hikers. They just bounce back up and keep going. The camaraderie of the younger hikers is keeping my spirits up. Wish I had attempted this at 25 instead of 65. Had breakfast and took a break when I reach the low point. The rest of the day was spent at low elevations in mosquito hell in swampy areas. A stone marker commemorated Shay's Rebellion in 1787. I think Shay was a Loyalist to the Crown and fought to the end for the Crown. At Massachusetts 23 I hitched a ride with a guy that thru hiked the AT twice 30 years ago. I'm in motel drying out my gear. Forecast for tomorrow is for much better weather.
Date: 2013-07-24
From: Massachusetts 23/Great Barrington

To: Upper Goose Pond
Miles today: 19.1

I managed to yogi a ride first thing this morning saving myself a long road walk to the trailhead. On the trail by 5:30am. The weather was great today for hiking, probably in the low 70s. The whole day the path was good with few rocks to navigate. I hiked by several ponds and swampy areas where at times the mosquitos were fierce. Fernside, a Shaker commune, dating back to the 1780s had an old 4 story cheese factory with walls four feet thick. They also produced maple syrup and built furniture. Fernside lasted about 150 years. It is said they didn't have sex but had dances to get rid themselves of sexual urges. They did not believe in procreation so depended on converts. I camped by Upper Goose Pond. The moon is out and I think it may be a nice cool night.
Date: 2013-07-25
From: Upper Goose Pond

To: Kay Shelter, Mass.
Miles today: 17.6

Last night was nice and cool. I even wore my down jacket packing up this morning. The trail stayed high all day after crossing I-90 early in the morning. Traversed four mountains and a couple of large ponds or lakes. There were several large swampy wetland areas which seems to be the norm as I head north. The day was cool and perfect hiking conditions. A nice breeze kept the bugs at bay. The highlight of my day was stopping at the blueberry farm where the "Cookie Lady" lives. I bought a coke, Klondike bar and two organic hard boiled eggs. I also picked 2.5 pounds of large blueberries for $2. They were a great treat and I had enough for dinner. I'm at the Kay Shelter, named for a 71 year old woman who hiked the trail in 1988. Tomorrow I only have four miles to Dalton, Massachusetts, my next resupply. I have hiked seven straight days so hope to take a zero day before tackling Mt. Greylock. Mt. Greylock is the highest peak in Massachusetts at 4,000'.
Date: 2013-07-26
From: Kay Shelter, Mass.

To: Mark Noeple
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I met Mongoose, a teacher who has taught in Saudi Arabia and traveled the world, at the Kay Shelter last night. Looking forward to a shower and real food in Dalton today but it didn't happen. The hostel was closed for the day. I did manage to find a nice place for breakfast and pick up my resupply box. Dalton seemed like a nice quaint New England town. Very old but well kept homes and friendly people. There are places to stay in North Adams and Williamstown in less than two days so around noon I took my dirty sweaty body back to the trail and continued on. Mt. Greylock, the highest mountain in Massachusetts, with 2,500' of climbing stands in my way. Crystal Mountain was the first mountain I climbed and then dropped down to the little town of Cheshire at the foot of Mt. Greylock. Diane's Twist had deli sandwiches and ice cream. The daily special was a meatball sandwich called a slider so twice in one day I'm eating real honest to goodness food and feel full. She also had a water spigot to fill water bottles so I filled up and decided to take the first campsite I found knowing I can't make it over Greylock today. Fueled by two good meals I was amazed that I climbed 1,700' up to the Mark Noeple Shelter fairly quickly. Looks like rain tonight so I am staying inside the shelter tonight with Mongoose and two 50ish section hikers from Philadelphia. The section hikers are sitting out on the picnic table smoking cigars, playing cards, and listening to the Philadelphia/Detroit Tiger baseball game on the radio. They recommended the lodge on top of Mt. Greylock for breakfast tomorrow.
Date: 2013-07-27
From: Mark Noeple

To: North Adams, Mass.
Miles today: 9.6

The climb up Mt. Greylock was very steep and slow going. I was rewarded at the top with great views of the mountains heading north. I was told that you can see Mt. Washington from here but nobody could point it out so not sure. Bascom Lodge was right on the summit and I had an expensive so-so breakfast. Paid for the view and it was very nice. I was bummed that the stone observation tower was closed for remodeling. Pulling myself away from this pleasant summit I knew I had to face the long 2,500' descent down to the town of North Adams. It was as bad as I feared. A real knee jammer. I left at 11 and I didn't get to town until 2:30 for six downhill miles. Calling around town the cheapest room I could find was $160 + tax. I really didn't want to spend that much so looking at AT Trail Companion I noticed that the YMCA allowed hikers to use their showers. I went to the Y and showered and sat in their lounge for two hours watching CNN until they kicked me out for the night. Next I found the laundry and a diner for a leisurely dinner and caught up with journal entries. Back three years ago in this situation I would have been anxious but now I know I can make it work. I knew that once I got to the trailhead it would be straight up so the goal was to find someplace to stealth camp before the trail started to climb, perhaps on the outskirts of the city. My energy is low and I am enjoying being clean for at least one night so I'm off hoping the trail will provide.
Date: 2013-07-28
From: North Adams, Mass.

To: Congdon Shelter, VT
Miles today: 14.1

Walking out of town last night I came across a bar with a large grassy area behind. The barkeep was outside and I struck up a conversation and asked if he would mind if I pitched my tent out back. He didn't, so I headed out back and was surprised to find a nice Little League field. It was a great place to camp and reminisce about my years of coaching Little League and soccer. My homeless stay in Dalton turned out to be one of the more relaxing town days on the trail. I thought today would be a nice short day but as usual the trail had other ideas. The hike out of town started with a huge ascent up a long boulder field that required some careful walking and to add to the difficulty it started to rain. Now I had to deal with slippery rocks and mud. It was downright treacherous. Seems like every day I fall at least once. This is something I rarely experienced in the west but I'm getting used to it even though every time it happens I wonder if I will be able to get up. Eventually it began to level off and I reached the Massachusetts/Vermont border by 9:30am. I was just taking a break and having breakfast when hikers started showing up from both directions. SOBOs and NOBOs all happy to start a new state. By the way this is state number twelve and only two more to go. It was a nice hiker gathering and the beginning of The Long Trail heading North. The Long Trail and AT are the same for the next 105 miles. At that point The Long Trail heads North to Canada and the AT turns toward New Hampshire. The Long Trail was the first long distance trail built in the early 1900s and runs north/south the entire state of Vermont. It is supposed to be more rugged but after today I don' see how it could be. About 1pm the sky let loose and the light rain turned into a downpour all afternoon until just before I reached Congdon Shelter. Of course, since it had been raining most of the day, it was full already. There was a family of five with a five year old and two other young kids. They had clothes and gear hanging everywhere. Luckily it wasn't raining so I quickly set up my tent, made dinner, hiked to the water source, and was able to clean off most of the mud from my legs before it started to rain again. The trail was a quagmire most of the day. Vermont is living up to its muddy reputation and is called Vermud by thru-hikers. Forecast is for more of the same for tomorrow.
Date: 2013-07-29
From: Congdon Shelter, VT

To: Goddard Shelter, VT
Miles today: 14.4

A wet start at 6:30am this morning. It wasn't raining but I was in a cloudbank for two hours with heavy dew. The vegetation on the sides of the trail had collapsed over the trail and made for wet shoes and legs. About 10 the sun broke through and slowly burned off the cloud cover and I began to dry out. Had another long 1,300' descent that is very painful on these old knees. At Highway 9 I sat in the AT parking area on the pavement. Had breakfast and spread out my gear to dry. A lady about my age stopped by to chat. She has hiked the AT and now looks after the shelter above Highway 9. I sat there for at least an hour soaking up the sun. Vermont has been the "green tunnel" people refer to as the AT. The trail today was better than yesterday. Not as many swamps but still a lot of boggy spots. Its hard to get a good rhythm going because you always have to stop and make your way around the bogs. I am not trying to push it because my knees are so sore. I think 14-16 miles will be the norm until the White Mountains, then less. Staying at 3,500' Goddard Shelter and I think it will be a cold night.
Date: 2013-07-30
From: Kent Pond, VT

To: Stratton Mountain, VT
Miles today: 18.3

Stratton Mountain has a no camping zone near the summit. Because of this I wasn't sure if I would have a short day or a long day. The trail was the same as yesterday. Not maintained at all. Or maybe it is and just grows back so fast they can't keep up with it. I was surprised that out of the twelve hikers at the shelter last night only a handful passed me today. There were some huge ponds with beaver huts/dens?. Southern Vermont has a lot of wetlands. Most of the hikers on the trail now are southbound. The trailhead parking for Stratton Mountain was very popular with at least ten cars. From there it was 3.5 miles to the top. I went for it knowing there wouldn't be a decent place to camp until I got over to the other side. I arrived at the summit, 4,000', around 5:30pm and climbed the fire lookout tower. The 360 views included the Green Mountains coming up next. I was told Benton MacKaye conceived the idea of the AT here and I can see why. It is a very special place. I left around 6 and started down the trail. To my relief it was in much better shape due to some recent trail work. Around 2,700' it began to flatten out and I started looking for a place to camp. Found a nice spot not far off the trail to spend the night. I'm almost out of food so hope to get to Manchester Center early tomorrow to resupply. I think it will be another cold night.