morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-04
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: William Brien Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was the exact opposite of yesterday. It was as if the trail gods needed to balance my amazing day with an absolutely horrible one. It was the trails version of Yin and Yang.It rained all last night, which meant any rocks I encountered today were going to be slippery. I took my time leaving camp this morning, I was on trail at 6:20AM dreading the day to come.The climb up to "Mombasha High Point" was a slippery one. This made for slow walking because I had to carefully place each step to ensure stability.At the top there was a register to reflect over the view that exists n a clear day, but not today. Supposingly you can see the Manhattan skyline on a really clear day. Today I saw a cloud.On the ascent of Buchanan Mountain I had my first "oh shit!" moment of the day. This is when you know you are going to take a nasty fall and there's nothing you can do except say "oh shit!" as you proceed to fall to the ground.This first one came on a steep rock scramble going up the face of the mountain. I went to put my left pole between two boulders, when I realized there was nothing there supporting the pole I already had most of my body weight on the pole, so I proceeded to fall to the ground. This fall consisted of smacking my head against the side of another large boulder and also scraping my left arm against it. I walked away with a minor headache and some wounds on the backside of my left arm.My second moment came when I had my feet pulled from underneath me as I was walking down an angled boulder face. This lead me to slide on my backside for a few feet before I regained control.The descent off of Arden Mountain was steep with one switchback. I had a couple spots where my legs were pulled from underneath me.After crossing the NY thru-way and climbing 600 feet I came upon the "lemon squeezer". This is where the trail takes you through a narrow corridor between two rock faces tilted towards one another. The idea is that you feel like you are being squeezed, which I certain did.The very short, but steep, climb that followed involved placing my feet on two rocks and using a tree as a wrap around point. I used one big swing to wrap around the tree, which brought me to the top of the rock face.After lunch at Fingerboard Shelter, I began the final 5.3 mile push to the next shelter.I am now at William Brien Memorial Shelter. This shelter, to put it bluntly, is a piece of garbage. The walls are angled and it leaks. It's dark inside and since there's no broom it's difficult to clean out effectively.I received a text message from my friend Ossie today that made me realize how close I am to being done. It stated, "I heard your in new Jersey! Will you be home early?". It's hard to believe this trip will be over at the end of next month. As o today I have less than 800 miles to go. It will be hard to say goodbye.And that's the way it was.Kirby
Date: 2008-06-05
From: William Brien Memorial Shelter

To: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

NY does not receive enough credit as a trail state. The problem is that it's overshadowed by the trail in the deep south and the far north. I have enjoyed this state immensely thus far.I was on trail at 6:15AM. Right out of the shelter the trail sends you right up a rock face, seemingly just because it wanted to. The rocks were still slick, so I had to be careful ascending the face.One of the first summits I crested was that of Black Mountain. The summit offers views of the Hudson River Valley. My eyes then focused on something in the distance. I then realized what it was: Manhattan. NYC seemed so close, yet it was over 30 miles away.After descending 600 feet, I reascended another 600 feet to the top of West Mountain, which had views of the mountains the trail just meandered me through.I then began the descent which represented the approach to Bear Mountain. The climb up Bear Mountain was not all that difficult, but you must know that the rail follows the road leading to the summit for a bit.The summit of Bear Mountain afforded views of the surrounding Appalachian mountains. This was a view consisting of many ridge lines on each side of the mountain.After another 1,100 foot descent, I walked into the "Trailside Museum and Zoo". That's right, the trail walks you right through a zoo. This is where I saw my first bear, three actually. What struck me the most though was the pathetic living conditions the zoo provided to these animals. Four legged animals such as foxes and coyotes were confined to what seemed like 6x6 cages. It's as if the zoo does not actually care about it's animals and simply wants to make a profit.Cookie and I then walked .7 off the trail to a small grocery store where I bought lunch and a couple of things for resupply.This section of trail is the lowest of the entire thing, I was at a mere 124 feet about sea level when I crossed the Bear Mountain Bridge over the Hudson River.This meant one thing, there was going to be a climb to get back on the ridge. The climb was not all that bad, although I did curse the local trail club quite a bit. I kept myself distracted by noticing all the Mountain Laurel in bloom.After a couple hours of walking and chatting with Cookie and Rabbitsfoot, I came across the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, which offers their ball field picnic shelter as a place for hikers to stay. There are rumors that it will break 90 degrees this weekend, which would be absolutely miserable to walk in.Tomorrow is uncertain, the only thing that is certain right now is that I need to sleep.And that's the way it was.Kirby
Date: 2008-06-07
From: NY Route 52/A-Train's House-Brooklyn, NY

To: NY Route 52/A-Train's House-Brooklyn, NY
Miles today: 0.0

Mind boggling. Tremendously overwhelming. Culture shock of epic proportions.Hello New York City.Even though I was not hiking today, my body still insisted on having me up at 6:00AM, I noted my objections with my internal alarm system and prepared for the day ahead. After coffee at Connecticut Muffin and breakfast at John's Bakery, I returned to command headquarters, where A-Train and his girlfriend helped Cookie and me lay out an assault plan for Manhattan.Thanks to Fran(A-Train's Dad), we were able to ride the subway for free, courtesy of his metro card. The subway was a nice ride, although I was still, for some reason, used to it from my NYC trip in 2005. We took the Q to 57th street, which is where the adventure began.First we walked around central park. We then cut down 6th Avenue towards Time Square. In the Time Square region we walked by the Rockefeller Center and meandered into Grand Central Station. Time Square was an explosion of neon lights and flashing digital screens proclaiming an assortment of information and advertisements.In the course of our travels we hopped on Madison Avenue and cut down to 31st street. At this intersection is where I stayed on my last visit: The Roger Williams Hotel. Right next door is Keno Cafe, which is where I ate breakfast each morning while I was there.The next couple of hours involved wandering through Washington Park and Grennich(sp?) Village and being caught in foot traffic through SoHo, China Town, and Little Italy.While eating ice cream at Whole Foods near Union Square, we chatted with some locals about life in the city and life on the trail.As we were being typical tourists and looking at the Subway map in Union Square, a local asked us where we wanted to go. We told him we wanted to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. He told us to take the Express 6 to city hall where we needed to be to start walking the bridge.Walking the Brooklyn Bridge was the best part of the day. This bridge is embedded was endless amounts of history. This bridge offers views of the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Manhattan skyline.Once in Brooklyn we hopped on the 4 and transfered at Atlantic Avenue to the Q to get back to A-Trains neighborhood.After eating cheeseburgers and chips courtesy of A-Train, I determined it was time to sleep.NYC has a very effective mass transit system. Between the bus system and the subway you don't need a car for day to day travel.To be honest, I could live here. In fact I might look into going to school here, there's something about NYC that appeals to me.Something to think about.Good night, and good luck.Kirby
Date: 2008-06-08
From: NY Route 52/A-Train's House-Brooklyn, NY

To: Stealth Camp North of NY 55
Miles today: 8.0

There's something about NYC that makes it hard to leave. It's as if I belong there.I met Cookie at Connecticut Muffin for coffee. We chatted about Manhattan a little and discussed the day ahead. Over the next hour I resupplied and purchased half a dozen NY style bagels.Back at headquarters Cookie and I cleaned up and began packing our bags to leave. I also added a couple entries to my journal.After saying our thanks and goodbyes to A-Train's parents, A-Train had us on our way around 11:50AM. It was interesting watching the Manhattan skyline zoom bye as we drove away from the city that never sleeps.It was an odd feeling going from the city to the mountains in such a short period of time. Instead of looking forward to walking again, I was missing the city and the madness that it brings.We arrived at the trail head at 1:50PM. After saying our thanks and good byes to A-Train and his girlfriend, Anna, Cookie and I were walking at 2:05PM.I owe a HUGE thanks to A-Train and his parents for welcoming Cookie and me into their homes. They were tremendous hosts and my NYC trip would not have been possible without them.I was paying no attention to the trail or my surroundings today, I was still absorbed in NYC moments. There's something about that city than beckons me back, but I'm not sure what or why.Cookie and I rolled into Morgan Stewart Shelter at 3:40PM. We determined it was too early in our hiking day to stop. We decided we would walk a little longer and stealth camp somewhere. As I drank some water a hiker named Rat Sandwich rolled in. He's going NOBO, but right now is SOBO to Wind Gap, PA.We were back on trail at 4:20PM. At 6:00PM we found a spot to camp for the night. I know I'm north of NY 55, so that road is what my millage is based on.It feels weird having gone from the excitement of NYC to the simplicity of the AT in such a short period. My body is on the AT while my mind is still riding the Subway in Manhattan.Something to sleep on I suppose.And that's the way it was.Kirby
Date: 2008-06-09
From: Stealth Camp North of NY 55

To: Schagticoke Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: broken clouds

It was 4:55AM as I glanced at my thermometer I refocused my eyes to make sure I was reading it right: 68.9 degrees. It was not even 5:00AM and it was already almost 70 degrees. That's when I realized it was going to be a long day.I hit trail at 5:45AM this morning in hopes of covering as many miles as possible before the heat and humidity became completely unbearable. Cookie and I set a goal of covering at least 14 miles by lunch.The trail out of the campsite was a gradual climb to the dull summit of West Mountain. Afterwards the trail followed the perimeter of Nuclear Lake, I'd like to know how this lake got its name.At County Road 20 I passed Dover Oak, which is supposingly the largest oak tree on the trail. It apparently measures 20ft, four inches around. I will say this, it was an awfully large tree.At the Appalachian Trail Rail Road Station I chugged a liter of water. On weekends you can take a trail from here to NYC, something I highly advise future hikers to do.After a climb and some traversing of a ridge I rolled into Wiley Shelter around 11:00AM. By this point I had already consumed 2.5 lters of water, and I consumed two more during this break.Ten minutes after leaving the shelter I realized I was missing a croc. I had no intention of looking for it, I just assumed it would be gone forever.1.2 miles north of the shelter I crossed into Connecticut, closing the chapter on NY. I'm now also in New England, which I consider to be my home. I've lived here all my life and it sure does feel good to be back.After going up and over ten mile hill I rolled into Ten Mile River Lean to around 1:00PM. By this point I had gone at least 15 miles and it was an exhausting 15 due to the heat. As I was settling in for lunch, Sinker rolled in and gave me my missing croc. It seems I dropped it just north of Wiley Shelter, and he was kind enough to carry it for me.Lunch consisted of eating good and taking a nap, which Cookie took part in as well. At 2:30PM we collected our things and walked down to the river for a swim, which is just what the doctor ordered.This is also where the necklace one my teacher's gave me came off. I determined it must of happened while I was swimming. This is upsetting because he had the necklace for 15 years before giving it to me for this hike.After a 1,000 foot climb to the summit of Schagticoke mountain, Cookie and I rolled into camp around 6:00PM.It's time to sleep, I can't write anymore.Good night, and good luck.Kirby
Date: 2008-06-10
From: Schagticoke Mountain Campsite

To: Silver Hill Campsite
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

Mother nature is causing massive amounts of havoc in the northeast with this heat wave, including right here on the good 'ol AT. It makes short days like today feel like death marches through the fiery depths of hell.Cookie and I meandered along this morning knowing we had town coming, so we were not marching until 6:30AM. What was the trail like this morning? Well it was a whole lot of uphill of course. These were climbs with no view or merit. It spent a lot of time cutting up and down the side of the same ridge for what felt like an eternity.I rolled into the road crossing for Kent at 8:00AM knowing full well I was going to be walking the .8 into town.Kent is a hosh posh town, to say the least. It sits in a part of the state that is home to a whole lot of wealthy people. Hikers naturally stand out like soar apples here, and we received a lot of perplexing looks when we finally arrived.After picking up some maps at the post office and calling my dad, Cookie and I walked to the grocery store for resupply. I only needed a box of oatmeal and some nutri-grain bars to get me to my next stop for resupply. As I was walking out of the store, having already made my purchase, I had the following interaction with an employee.Employee:"You need to leave your pack at the front of the store."Me:"Well I've already made my purchase and was preparing to leave."Employee:"Well you need to use the other door as an exit."Before saying anything else I glanced up at the sign that said "exit" above the door I was about to walk out, then glanced back at her.Employee:"Well you can use that door, but we'd prefer you to use the other door."Good morning to you to.After consolidating our food outside, Cookie and I walked to a coffee shop and bought some ice coffee. I also purchased a New York Times to catch up on the news.We were back on trail around 12:00PM. The climb out of the road was difficult due to the 90 degree heat we were marching uphill in. After traversing a ridge with a couple of views, the trail sent us down "St. John's Ledge", which is a series of 91 stone steps leading to the Housatonic river. At the river Cookie and I had lunch and went for a refreshing swim in the river.We rolled into Stewart Hollow Lean to and determined it was to early to stop, so we decided to push on for three more miles.The trail follows the river for a few miles, which made for easy walking, which is nice on a day like today. We swam one final time before starting the one mile ascent to the campsite, where I am tonight.This is a nice spot to camp, it has a pavilion with two picnic tables.Tomorrow I shall try 23-24 miles, a very full day in comparison to today. Hopefully the heat won't be as bad.And that's the way it was.Kirby
Date: 2008-06-11
From: Silver Hill Campsite

To: Plateau Campsite
Miles today: 23.4

It was 9:45PM when I awoke quite suddenly to a bang of thunder and a crack of lightening. When I looked out the front door I could barely see 100 feet. Rain was blowing sideways through the bug netting of my front dooe. The wind was gusting and the sky was constantly being illuminated by the jolts of lightening descending from the heavens. I was trembling in fear as I sat upright in my tent, wondering how long the beast would linger above me. Another jolt of fear went through me when I heard a town siren in the valley, generally used to warn of tornadoes. By 10:30PM the storm had calmed down, and I was asleep by 11:PM. It was the most powerful storm I've ever seen.I re-awoke at 5:10AM, still trembling in fear. I talked with Cookie about the storm in an attempt to grasp what happened. He told me lightening was illuminating the sky 30 minutes before any rain came. He could tell I was shaken by the storm and told me it was the worst storm he had seen in a while.We were walking at 6:30AM. The first 13 miles of today were spent going up and down view less mountains that seemed to exist simply to torture us.The most noteworthy thing about these 13 miles was all the damage. There were quite a few downed trees and numerous newly fallen branches from trees that lived to see anther day.At some point in the early afternoon we rolled into the Housatonic river, and we had lunch just north of here. We were tired due to the lack of sleep we received last night, courtesy of the storm. It felt nice to relax and eat some food.We then came to "great falls", which is a fairly large and powerful waterfall. This was easily the most interesting thing the CT AT has offered thus far.When I reached the summit of prospect mountain, I turned my phone on and listened to a message from my dad telling me a new debit card would be waiting for me in Great Barrington, MA, my next town stop.The stretch from Prospect mountain to Plateau campsite had 13 blowdowns, that's and enormous amount for a five mile stretch. Clearly mother nature was raising an extra amount of hell here last night.It felts nice to roll into the campsite and end my day.Tomorrow I hope to do 21-22 miles into the road crossing for Great Barrington, but things change out here.The storm last night was the first time where I felt like I might legitimately die. For a period of 30 seconds I saw my life flash before my eyes. It was a feeling I hope to never have again.What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.Kirby
Date: 2008-06-12
From: Plateau Campsite

To: US Route 7: Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: scattered clouds

You must know that I am still being emotionally rattled by the storm that hit two nights ago. It was a beast that rattled the trail and the region beyond comprehension. It was a storm that rattled me to my core, and most likely will for quite a while.There was no storm to fend off last night, and camp shores went as they should. I was on trail at 6:30AM.The first part of the morning was spent marching to the summit of Bear Mountain, which is the highest point in all of Massachustts. The summit had a view of the surrounding ridge lines from a rock pile constructed on top to recognize this land mass as the highest point in the state.About one mile later as I traveled along the shore of Sage's Ravine I was greeted with a sign that stated: "Welcome To Massachusetts". I spent the first ten years of my life in this state, so it felt like I was home when I crossed the border, which represents the start of my 11th state on trail.The summit of Race Mountain offered views of the eastern ridge lines and gave me a glimpse of Mount Everett, where I would soon be.The climb up Mount Everett was a classic New England climb, meaning it was straight up on a rock face. I had a blast cutting up this rock face, it made me realize I'm truly home. The summit had no views, so I descended straight down to Guilder Pond, where I had lunch with Sinker.From there it was cruise control to US route 7. There were some bumps along the way, but most of them had views so it was worth it. Once in the valley I cruised along, although the 8/10ths between MA route 41 and south Egremont Road must have been the national headquarters for The Mosquito Action Committee, because I was practically forced to spring this section to avoid them. If I stopped once, even for a second, I was immediately swarmed by hundreds of mosquitoes. Once I rolled into route 7, I hithced into Great Barrington where I hit the post office to discover my mail was not there. I called dad and he said according to his tracking number it was waiting for me there. My dad gave me the tracking number and I will bring it to the post office tomorrow morning to clean up the mess.Tonight I am staying with Kathy and Dave. This couple takes hikers in by word of mouth and gives us a place to stay for the night. When I arrived Kathy gave me a tour of her enormous house. I owe them a huge thanks for taking me in for the night.After showering and making some phone calls, I began the tedious process of updating my journal, which I will hopefully complete tomorrow.I am completely exhausted. Good night and good luck.KirbyAddendum added 7/29/08: This would be the last time I see Sinker, he left trail for a day to receive treatment for Giardia and never caught up.
Date: 2008-06-13
From: US Route 7: Great Barrington, Massachusetts

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: clear sky

Let me explain. I've done the section between US route 7 and MA route 23 severl times and given the circumstances of the day felt no need to do it again. Let the debate begin.I was awake at 5:30AM and added some more entries to my journal. This think takes way to much time to update.Afterwards I took a shower, packed up, and had a conversation with John about thru hiking. Kathy offered to drive me to the post office, where I picked up my debit card. It was there all along.Back at the house Kathy cooked up some breakfast for the family and me. I chatted with the family while I ate a hearty meal.I was then driven to the grocery store where I bought enough food to get me to Maine and then back to Georgia, or at least that's what it felt like.Kathy had me on trail at 10:30AM. In town I received a voice mail from Cookie stating he stealth camped north of town and that he was going to Upper Goose Pond Cabin. Onward I went.Between I started walking Hit and Miss zoomed by, I ended up playing leap frog with them all day long. The climb out of the road was long, tedious, and had exactly zero views. In other words, it was a classic Appalachian Trail climb.At Fernside road I caught Cookie in the midst of lunch. I ate some lunch and relaxed.Onto the cabin we went. First we needed to descend down to Main Road, then ascend a nameless mountain. This climb was long and hard, it felt like it would never end.After some more walking we came to the junction for the cabin around 6:20PM. The cabin is 5/10ths off the trail, but it was well worth it. The pond it sits on has great swimming and the bunks have comfortable beds.Tonight I am here with quite a few hikers. This group includes Cookie, Warpaint, Hit and Miss, California Joe, Fester, and Five Bags.Tomorrow we shall be treated to an AYCE pancake breakfast courtesy of the Bershire chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club.Dalton is my goal for tomorrow.Sleep is my goal right now.Good night and good luck.Kirby