morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-07-23
From: falls village

To: Laurel ridge campsite
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: scattered clouds

7.23.13 Tuesday day 114Falls village - Laurel campsite16.8 miles - 8.5 hours cross pedestrian bridge over Housatonic, barricade blocking bridge reads "You shall not Pass", along gentle rock falls, nice swim hole when not drizzling. Heavy rain afternoon. Come across Giants Thumb, a peculiar large oblong rock protruding from the soil in the forest. Duck into Riga Shelter to hide from the rain and eat to pass the time. Break in the rain, off we go only to find rain kick back up after 10 minutes, so luckily Brassie Brook Shelter is not far. There we evade the heavy rain for a short time before continuing on. Climb up white smooth rocks to highest point in CT. There is a plaque fastened onto a stack of rocks at the top. View is obstructed by low gray rain clouds. Steep descent, especially slippery with all the rain. At bottom hike along fast moving brook, cross over it, pics at welcome to Massachusetts sign. Massachusetts!!! My first time in this state. I smooch the tree with that sign. Up to Laurel ridge campsite, first night in MA, first time on elevated wooden platform tenting. Ring out all the wetness in my clothes before dinner time, eat then off to bed.
Date: 2013-07-24
From: Laurel ridge campsite

To: Great Barrington
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

7.24.13 Wednesday day 115Laurel campsite - Great Barrington12.9 miles - 6.5 hours6:30am start, gradual 2 mile climb in cool breezy morning among many blueberry bushes, at summit we walk on smooth rock face and are in cloud bright white with morning sun behind. As we walk ridge we begin to see lake with island and farms & forest below as clouds subside. Really pretty view while walking in refreshingly cool air right on the edge of the mountain. pretty easy hike down. Up Mount Everett, looks intimidating on guide but really fun hike up giant rock slabs, not bad at all. Timber, Little Engine, Carpenter, Sunshine were there hiking with us too. Guest appearance by Pundit who passed us mid day, haven't seen since Waynesboro, was way ahead then took few days off trail for business, now moving fast to catch up to Sno. descent down Everett is simple. Descent down Jug End is tricky, slow, steep & slippery spots. We were lucky things were mostly dry, we know of others doing this descent in rain, pretty scary especially with all the smooth angled rocks to walk across & down. At bottom, put on bug spray & long sleeves. Flat forest, swamps, boardwalk all the way to Great Barrington route 7 is a big mosquito party. Some nice walk thru pasture & farm fields, flat & fast 4 miles.Ran into Mellow Johnny & goose pond cabin caretaker in town. Johnny has cysts he is letting heal for few days, gross.Dinner at Gypsy Joint, a local kid hitched us into town, he recommended it, small bar with a few tables, decorated in gypsy hippie theme, lovely hip atmosphere, i heard it compared to a San Fran style bar - Blissfully Yours burger - gotta be in top 3 burgers I've had on trail so far easily, Wachusett Blueberry ale light beer but not so much blueberry flavor, wandering star ipa - pretty good local beer. It was also open Mic night on small floor in center behind where we were sitting at bar. Some cool blues & acappella acts, some not so good vocalists too. Great food, cool experience, fun time. In general Great Barrington is a good place near trail to spend night or zero. Wish i could try more of its bars & restaurants.Said goodbyes to trail mate Woodman who will be leaving the trail, flying home tomorrow to get medical treatment on knee injury. Sad to see him leave after crossing paths for so long. Glad he was in good spirits & proud to make it out this far, I'll especially miss your sense of humor (all old people look alike) & complaints of how expensive everything is, haha.
Date: 2013-07-25
From: great Barrington

To: Wilcox north shelter
Miles today: 13.5

7.25.13 Thursday - day 116Great Barrington - Wilcox North shelter13.5 miles - 7 hoursHitching in front of Days inn, we get a ride from Miss Janet & her hippie van. Surprised to see her up this far, guess she follows the herd since Erwin is empty for a while until south bounders arrive. Gravy is in front passenger seat answering her phone calls, she lets us out 3 miles down road at trail. After crossing farms simple climbs & descents thru pine forrest. Nice lookout rock, a group of high school kids known as the Greenagers are there resting after doing trail maintenance in the morning. The leader wears a Boston red sox B cap, he points out bear mountain, mount Everett & Jug end on the ridge across the way, where we hiked across the previous days. Pretty neat to see it from the outside. Down below can see farms and swampland leading to route 7. One kid remarked summer is pretty much over half joking but all understood, they talked of fall sports camp starting, picking classes etc. he is right, July 4 came & went, soon August & September. School starts, summer vacation ends. Us nobo thru hikers are the same way, soon our summer of hiking ends & we know it. Now that the heat wave passed, a new focus on schedule & renewed sense of urgency seems to be kicking in for many, including me. Less than one third of trail remains & desired end date is marked in calendar, simple calculations of miles per day average to end. Strange feeling of having this much trail completed already, hasn't sunk in yet, also having August so near is hard to believe. AS a kid you can sense summer winding down & want to cram in so much before school starts, i feel similar about experiencing & living more of the trail before it ends & its time to go home. Summertime is so valuable when you live in a cold winter state like me, this time on the trail is also so valuable to me, i want to get everything i can out of this experience while it lasts. I want to look back & say yeah that was the coolest summer ever, just like i did when i was a little kid. Further down trail simple terrain to nice lookout at the ledges. Arrive at Mt. Wilcox North shelter, water source is very poor so i go cold dinner & ration water tonight. Little Engine, Timber and Ambassador stay in the shelter, I set up tent around back on the flat soft soil.
Date: 2013-07-26
From: Wilcox north shelter

To: October mountain shelter
Miles today: 22.8
Weather: light rain

7.26.13 Friday - day 117Wilcox north shelter - October mountain shelter22.8 miles - 12.5 hours6:30am start, cool dry morning no humidity, overcast all morning, some nice walks through private farm fields & cow pastures. Wetlands at mile 1537.6 have nice views around, you are on boardwalk surrounded by ridges on all sides, don't look around & walk same time, some planks are loose, could trip fall, the big curved section next to stream is marked with danger sign & roped off, the support under planks fell down. just past road was trail magic of honey buns & little Debbie oatmeal creme pies!! no name on it however a couple miles later was toilet paper lay flat on bush next to trail reading something like trail magic pro miscuda, hard to read understand. After baldy mountain, nice flat fast terrain easy on feet due to soil & pine needles. Sun is now out. Later we hike down to and around big lake, the trail splits off to the left where Upper Goose Pond Cabin is. Lots of people stop and spend time there, its nice, has a beach and canoe, is free, has pancake breakfast too. As planned we decide to push on instead. We reach footbridge over MA turnpike, i pause in the center of the footbridge over the turnpike & look west & take photo, this is also known as I90 and goes west to Chicago then all the way to Seattle. I thought the next time i see I90 will be riding home from O'hare airport, hopefully after a successful Mount Katahdin summit. Learning seeing experiencing so much out here, i do miss the comforts of home every now & then. still alot of work to do though...October mountain shelter has multiple bunks, picnic table, bear box and stream next to it. Some section hikers there, they offer up some fresh fruit which i gladly accept. I set up tent in back behind large fallen pine tree. Night is extremely still & quiet. For the longest time I dont hear trees or wind, nothing but my own breathing. Moon makes shadows of tree tips on my tent walls. Nice cool quiet night perfect for sleeping.
Date: 2013-07-27
From: October mountain shelter

To: crystal mountain camp
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

7.27.13 Saturday - day 118October mountain shelter - crystal mountain campsite16 miles - 10 hoursTrail magic after about 2 miles, little Debbie snacks & gatorade jugs, from same person who left snacks yesterday, thanks! We reach the road and go to Blueberry Hill farm, home of the Cookie Lady. we arrived as it opened, she was inside the house so did not meet her but did meet husband very friendly. Said they moved in 30 years ago, giving cookies for 25, she was named by Wingfoot in his guide many years ago. More recently they were featured in the Appalachian Impressions movie. We picked 2 pounds of blueberries, separated into ziplock bags and carefully loaded into packs where they would be safe. Got a can of coke & Klondike bar too, breakfast of champions. Next miles are flat & fast, under the cool canopy of the trees. Some plank walking along the way. Some good views as i start to descend into Dalton through gently sloping forest floor. We pass several weekend hikers all curious about thru hiking. Dalton we walk over the dike, thru residential neighborhood to arrive at main street, hang a left walk past more quintecential new England homes with the ridge in the background before arriving at Angelinas sub shop, i get the cheesesteak and chocolate milk, eat it there as my phone charges & pack out an Italian sub, excellent. We walk thru another mile of residential area, literally across town, past the youth group, before climbing up to Crystal Mountain camp site, nice site with flat spots, water & privy. first cool night in a while. We are joined by a father and son local hikers with their dog. later on the youth group arrives and set up nearby.
Date: 2013-07-28
From: crystal mountain camp

To: Williamstown
Miles today: 19.4

7.28.13 Sunday - day 119Crystal mountain campsite - williamstown19.4 miles - 10 hoursDescent into Cheshire neighborhood & town, early Sunday morning, everything closed except church. Overcast foggy morning. Hike thru residential streets then across a corn farm with wooden planks to walk across. I get chocolate milk at Shell station, also i get my first taste of whoopie pie, an original new England pastry made of a dense cake shaped like a hamburger bun with a sugary filling in the center. Finish off my snacks, throw out garbage, then remount my pack. As we walk back to the trail, cyclists fly by on the open street, barricaded off for a race. Left turn back onto the trail. Long gradual climb up Mount Greylock starting with grassy fields up through pine forest, lunch on a rock hidden by pine trees with a nice overlook. Up more, starts to rain hard, we stay on trail under the pine trees, as it weaves uphill across road a couple times. Reach radio tower, further up is the road, we turn right to escape rain in lodge. Double D & other hikers on covered porch drying up. Dry up, ring out wet clothes in bathroom, put pack & hang wet shirts front of fireplace & go to cafe. Hot chocolate & burger as we wait rain to pass. Still raining, i order homemade ginger ice cream. Rain stops we go outside. The summit tower is right there!! Its a large brick tower with a sphere on the top. We were 50 yards from it when foggy rainy & couldn't see it at all, i thought we still had to walk 5 minutes to see it. You can pay to go into it and up to the top but we opt not to. Snap photos, go around see view then descend. Slippery slick steep some spots, finally arrive at bottom starts to rain hard. We walk fast down Phelps ave, take shelter from hard rain under Greylock school entrance overhang. Lightning strikes ground about block away can see bright light hear loud thunder crash. Call Williamstown motel, son picks us up. Great service, nice room nice bed. Son tells us go to Desperado restaurant across street, thru hikers eat free, no joke, we go entree is free, pay for drinks, a side salads, pretty good, great deal great Margaritas, server Susan is cool. Got another whoopie pie, watched Wolverine on cable then sleep.
Date: 2013-07-29
From: Williamstown

To: Congdon campsite
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: few clouds

7.29.13 Monday - day 120Williamstown - Congdon campsite14.0 miles - 8 hoursDelayed start due to late laundry submission at Williamstown Motel, $8 per load but had no choice, we walked to laundromat but building being renovated reopen in winter. Got a short ride back to trail. Here you walk up someones driveway, into their back yard the over a bridge, back into the forest. Perfect hiking weather, easy climb up, ground nice soft. Passed by Pony Bear & Indy but we meet again at MA - Vermont border. VERMONT!!! My first time to this state as well. There is a welcome to Vermont sign, also says AT & Long trail coincide for next 105 miles. I keep with tradition & give a Vermont ash tree behind the sign the old lip smackaroo. Lunch break here at the border, sitting on big rock near the sign, finishing a whoopie pie I started earlier. Pretty fast easy trail, some cool stream crossing & view of pond before Congdon shelter. Funky town is there - Rise & Shine, Fire Hazard, Hugs, Bootsy, Good fella & others. Double D there also, doing abdominal crunches on camp mat. Shelter & tenting full. Dinner sitting on rock at shelter, Bootsy sings plays guitar, duet with Fire Hazard also. Really packed and lively shelter tonight, haven't seen that for a while. No rain either, yay. Nice tent spot above babbling stream, easy to sleep in cool night air, great first day in Vermont.
Date: 2013-07-30
From: Congdon campsite

To: Bennington
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: broken clouds

7.30.13 Tuesday - day 121Congdon campsite - Bennington4.3 miles - 2 hoursShort hike down to road to Bennington. A friend picks us up there, we go to Cambridge, NY (home of the smallest public owned covered bridge) nice quaint train town with boutique stores maintained in the old fashioned original style. Eat @ Two Country Gals cafe, great food there. Drove to Manchester EMS store, got Wilcox ice cream Vermont's original organic ice cream. Some locals much prefer Wilcox over the more popular Ben & Jerry's. To the house, beautiful house on great country lot with view of green mountains to the west. Nice vegetable garden with huge zucchini. they have a book by Citric detailing a Bennington monster, mysterious disappearances of people on Glastenbury mountain, where we hike tomorrow, and a friendly big foot-esque creature named Pomeloo on Mount Katahdin. grandma Moses the folk artist, Norman Rockwell & winner of next top model are from this area, as well as the dad from Gilmore girls. I like the local organic farm stands in this area, i eat up as much i can. I love the whole hippie health conscious organic culture which Vermont is known for. Great bbq dinner with fresh fruits & vegetables. House we are staying in has an outdoor wood fire and diesel fuel boiler furnaces combined with a circulator. boiler water even circulates under basement concrete to heat floor & hot water heater. Excellent design, very efficient & keeps electricity low. What a great, refreshing nero day! Beautiful weather, full stomach, great company, thanks!
Date: 2013-07-31
From: Bennington

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

7.31.13 Wednesday - day 122Bennington - Story Spring shelter19 miles - 9.5 hoursNice breakfast of eggs, bacon, fruits, cheese & juice. Back to Bennington for quick resupply. Learned that Vermont fought hard against having Walmart stores in state. Walmart found a way around by opening under a different name. Since then, there are Walmart stores but they are small and dont have groceries inside, so usually a separate grocery is nearby. We then said our goodbyes at trail head. Would we see Bennington monster? Would we make it out of Glastenbury mountain alive? Easy climb out of gap, pretty soft gradual terrain in the sunny morning, alot of water & mud pits to walk around or tip toe thru on the rocks. Ferns! Sunny day but cool under tree shade. Forest is dense with different size trees & floor is lush green ferns, bushes grasses etc. Goddard shelter quick treat snack, privy had Dr. Suess the Zax written in inside wall. Glastenbury peak up to top of tower, cool view just above pine forest tree tops. Lake & other ridges at a distance. Cascade & Pretzel are laying down at base tower, napping enjoying refreshing cool breezes. Off to Kid Gore shelter, terrain is easy & fast, shelter has bunks, made of logs and indoor table between bunks. Terrain has dryer mud, no water easy to walk thru, mud does not stick to boots, feels like play doh. Met southbounders Coco, Banyan, Houston, Stinky Jesus, Magnet & Nectar on trail, exchanged good luck & best wishes. Leap frogging with Hunger, Pretzel & Cascade all afternoon. A couple of nice pond views (trail is lower than pond) before arriving at Story Spring shelter, full house: nobos, sobos, & Long Trail hikers too. Nice spring source here, clear cold fast moving water. Sun setting as i eat dinner & chat with sobos. Cool quiet night early bed for early start.
Date: 2013-08-01
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: broken clouds

8.1.13 Thursday - day 123Story spring shelter - Spruce Peak Shelter18.3 miles - 9 hoursEarly start, cool morning, steady gradual 2000 foot climb Stratton mountain. Good views from lookout tower despite overcast sky. This is the spot where the idea of AT was originally conceived many years ago. Gradual easy downhill, some rocks & mud to go around. Lunch at entrance to Douglas shelter, rain starts, we move ahead to Spruce Peak shelter in the rain & call it a day early. Going down another 3 miles to the road to Manchester Center was an option but I decline since rain is picking up, muddy slippery trail, don't want to hitch in the rain and dont need another hotel stay. Log cabin shelter with 5 platforms, a log stove, windows & big wooden sliding door. Mother & son Long trail hikers arrive as we are changing into dry clothes. Occupy & dog Hilda come out of rain into shelter. We finally meet the Florida Flip Floppers, mom & 2 daughters, started from Waynesboro, VA to Maine then back to VA south to GA, been hearing about them a while, finally meet Comomdo & daughters from Tampa. I think its great they are doing the trail, what an experience to share with your parent and stories to have for the rest of your life. Gonna be early dinner & bedtime for early start big mile day tomorrow. We crowd around the table making and eating dinner, chatting all the while. Funny how we all met just over an hour before but now can converse around a dinner table like we've known each other for years. Another new month (August!!!), number 4 for me (already???), glad I'm still here moving along. Glad to be in New England, terrain has been much softer on feet, weather cooler less humid, not so much flies in the eyes and mosquitos, water sources cleaner more abundant too. Towns we go to are small main street quaint ones not freeway Towns full of chain stores & restaurants. My first new England experience has been short & limited but already i like the feel of it & am enjoying being here.
Date: 2013-08-02
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Little Rock Pond
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: clear sky

8.2.13 - Friday - day 124Spruce peak shelter - little rock pond shelter18.5 Miles - 11.5 hours6am start, rained overnight but not now. Grey skies foggy as we make way through spruce forest across streams and down to road, very busy dangerous crossing, need to listen for coming cars especially around the hill, fog makes hard to see. Cross wood bridge then gradual climb up Bromley mountain, last part is up ski slope grass hill, can see water spigots for making snow as you climb. At top is warming hut for skiers, empty now since it is summer. Ski lift & observation tower at summit were closed. Indy & Pony Bear arrive, we let them descend first down rock pile and mud. they pull ahead out of sight. Later on a flat section was two parallel logs to walk over muddy area. As i walk across my left foot slips, hits right foot & fall off logs. Find myself landing left shoulder first sideways on my side on a carpet of green ground cover lucky not to be seriously injured. thankful no large rock on that side or slip between logs. Always takes a minute to check everything is not injured badly. Quite a scare, shook off the green moss on my face and shirt, slowed down after that wakeup call. I heard voices about 20 seconds prior to falling, later learned Indy fell same spot, voices were theirs as they cleaned up & moved on after falling. Nice climb up Styles peak, lots of cross country ski team running down. Many plank foot bridges across soft forest floor, dense spruce trees nice pine scent. Peru peak shelter for lunch - Pony Bear, Indy, Kokopelli, Stomp, Mellow Johnny & others there. I choose to sit on the empty wooden tent platform in the sun, allowing socks and boots to dry next to me as I eat my summer sausage, crackers, and cheese (Cabot, my new go-to brand when resupplying). Nice spot, nice vibe, hikers seem to be reinvigorated by sunny days following rainy ones. Baker peak cool climb on edges of vertical rock slabs, great views looking back. Descend to the street then hike along stream, passing up Kokopelli who is setting up nice stealth camp spot next to the flowing stream, up to Little Rock Pond shelter. Indy, Pony Bear, Mellow Johnny, Stomp, Wilson, others. Nice pond view with tree island & mountain ridge rising in back . $5 to stay here, if you stay at Stratton shelter, $5 there but keep receipt, no charge here. Nice large picnic table & benches under the roof awning. Good dinner & conversation into the night.