morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-06-09
From: Glen Brook Shelter 

To: Great Barrington - NOBO Mile Marker 1522.8
Miles today: 7.9

Because of the grueling hike yesterday, I decided to make it a short hike today and get a hotel room and resupply in Great Barrington, MA. The trail to Great Barrington was fairly easy as it made its way through a few bogs and open pastures.  I always like hiking through the pastures because they are open and flat.On the way to Great Barrington, I passed through a historical area where the last battle of Shays Rebellion took place.  Shays Rebellion, for all of you who may have played hooky on the day you covered this in your history class, was mainly in Massachusetts and was started in 1786.  It ended on February 27, 1787 in the field I hiked through (see pic above).  The rebellion was lead by Daniel Shays, who was a Revolutionary War veteran, and was started over excessive taxation and property foreclosures by the Massachusetts government.  The rebels were mostly ex-Revolutionary War soldiers turned farmers.  As a result of the rebellion, the new federal government moved away from governing the states through the Articles Of Confederation, which gave the states great power and a weak federal government, to the US Constitution which give the federal government strong oversight.
Date: 2019-06-10
From: Great Barrington - NOBO Mile Marker 1522.8

To: Tom Leonard Shelter 
Miles today: 6.4

My short stay in Great Barrington last night and half of today consisted of a couple of nice meals, a complete resupply and a good nights rest, I finally got back on the trail by 1:00 pm today.  I was in no hurry because I planned on only hiking a short distance to the next shelter.The overall hike was non eventfully but I did get rewarded with a couple of magnificent views across the Housatonic River valley.  In the picture above, you can see where I came from over the last few days including Bear Mountain to the left, Mt. Race in the middle and Mt. Everett on the right.
Date: 2019-06-11
From: Tom Leonard Shelter 

To: Stealth Camp At NOBO Mile Marker 1544.4
Miles today: 15.2

My morning started with rain showers that were a continuation from last night.  I was woken up several times during the evening with the heavy rains pelting my tarp.  After I broke camp and got under way, my mood lighted a bit.  I¢m never too excited to getting going in the morning when it is raining.The hike today was the usual ups and downs but they were not extreme.  The sun finally came out in the early afternoon and the forest began to dry out.  The picture above is from one of the many meadows I walked through today.When I decided to take a break for lunch, I heard a crashing sound in the woods to my right about forty yards down the trail.   To my surprise a fairly large black bear popped out of the woods.  Because of my position he did not see me and turned to start walking down the trail towards me.  I wanted to get a picture but thought better to shoo him off.  I banged my hiking poles together a few times and he shot back into the forest.  So there you have it - my first real bear sighting.
Date: 2019-06-12
From: Stealth Camp At NOBO Mile Marker 1544.4

To: October Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 14.9

After two days in a row of fifteen mile days, my legs are tired.  I¢m trying hard to increase my daily mileage to fall between fifteen and eighteen.  Slowly but surely my trail legs are returning.The hike today brought me past Upper Goose Pond.  The setting is very quiet and peaceful.  See the pic above of the part of the pond near the AT.  The pond has a cabin on it near the trail which hikers can stay.  It also has a full time caretaker who will make you a pancake breakfast in the morning.  Unfortunately for me, the cabin was too far for me to get to last night so I just got to hear about the plush accommodations from other hikers.As tranquil as Upper Goose Pond was, in  the next mile plus, the trail crossed over the Massachusetts Turnpike.  You can imagine the noise from the traffic as it passed under me.  I picked up my pace to get back into the woods to escape the loud traffic.  Once I was out of earshot of the Turnpike, the rest of the hike was enjoyable.
Date: 2019-06-13
From: October Mountain Shelter 

To: Dalton, MA - NOBO Mile Marker 1571.1
Miles today: 11.8

Today I hiked into Dalton, MA.  I decided to get up at 5:25 am and was on the trail by 6:15 am.  This is the earliest I¢ve been able to break camp and get going.  Knowing that I¢ll be getting a shower, having real food and getting clean clothes is a huge motivator.The hike into town was fairly easy with most of the terrain relatively flat.  The picture above was taken from Warner Hill - elev 2050 looking  north towards Graylock Mountain - elev 3491.  Greylock Mountain is about twenty four mile away.  I will be summiting the mountain two days from today.
Date: 2019-06-14
From: Dalton, MA - NOBO Mile Marker 1571.1

To: Crystal Mountain Campsite 
Miles today: 4.2

After a relaxing evening and a lazy morning in Dalton, I finally got back on the trail around 2:15 pm.  I was in no hurry because I planned on a short hiking day today.  The uphill hike from Dalton to the Crystal Mountain Campsite - elev 1951, was through a mostly conifer forest.  The picture of the flowers above were one of the bright points of the walk.Over the last couple of days I met several flip floppers who were also heading north.  One couple - Luke and Michelle, started their through hike a few day¢s before my return to the trail and right around the Pawling / Wingdale area like I did.  Because they have only been on the trail for roughly two weeks they did not have their trail names yet.  Seeing that I have helped eight other through hikers with their trail names, I was up to the challenge to help Luke and Michelle also.  After a few beers together outside of my motel room yesterday afternoon, their new names were evident - Luke became Weeble and Michelle took Chrome.  Weeble was fitting for Luke¢s because he is very sure footed and never falls down when he hikes - even when he multitasks (checks his phone, looks at maps, etc) on steep downhill hikes.  As for Chrome (short for Chromecast - the streaming device by Google), Michelle brought her Chromecast device on the hike because she doesn¢t want to miss the opportunity to see her favorite shows when she is taking a zero and has access to a TV.  She believes the extra few ounces of weight are worth it even if she only uses it every few weeks.
Date: 2019-06-15
From: Crystal Mountain Campsite 

To: Wilber Clearing Shelter 
Miles today: 16.1

Thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes yesterday.  I was overwhelmed with all the calls, texts, videos and notes in my journal guestbook.  I appreciated each and every one of them.  Wow - what beautiful day to hike today.  The sun was out, the temperature was in the mid sixties and there was a light breeze all day.  My hike took me up and over Mt Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts.  From my campsite at Crystal Mountain, the trail passed through the village of Cheshire - elev 979, and from there it was all up hill for the next eight miles to the summit of Mt Greylock - elev 3491.  The views from the top of the mountain were spectacular.  The picture above is looking northward towards Vermont and Green Mountains, where I will be hiking over the next few days.  There were a lot of tourists, day hikers and a few of us hiker trash (an affectionate name we through hikers call each other) spending time on the mountain top on this glorious day.The Massachusetts War Memorial occupies the majority of the mountain top.  It is a 93 foot tall, lighthouse style tower built in 1931.  You can climb up to the top via a spiral staircase and look out a series of windows to get a 360 degrees view.  A pic of the Memorial is in the photo gallery.Also on the summit is the Bascom Lodge built in the 1930¢s by the CCC.  In addition to rooms to rent, it also has a bunkhouse for hikers, hostel style.  There is also a restaurant where I had a delicious hamburger and ice cold beer for my efforts to get to the top.  A pic of the lodge is in the photo gallery.The next three plus miles past the summit are all downhill which led to the Wilber Clearing Shelter where I spent the night.
Date: 2019-06-16
From: Wilber Clearing Shelter 

To: Congdon Shelter 
Miles today: 17.1

Vermont here I come.  Yesterday was a tough day to hike.  It rained most of the night and all day.  The only break I got was when I was packing up in the morning, it stopped raining for an hour.Midway through my day, I left Massachusetts and walked into Vermont.  The pic above shows the Vermont welcome sign.  Leaving Massachusetts makes my fifth state (GA, NC, TN, CT, MA) I¢ve hiked through.  Only nine more to go.Vermont is know affectionately as Vermud by the hiking community.  I can tell you first hand - it did not disappoint.  There was hardly a fifty foot stretch of the trail which did not have a giant puddle of deep black gunk.  One of the puddles was so huge that I swore I saw Big Foot riding the Lock Ness Monster across it in the distance.By the time I made it to the Congdon Shelter it was seven o¢clock and I was dead tired.  After I ate a few small items for dinner, I washed the mud out of my boots and socks in the near by stream and I jumped into my hammock for the night.  I had enough mud for one day.
Date: 2019-06-17
From: Congdon Shelter 

To: Bennington VT - NOBO Mile Marker 1612.8
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: broken clouds

It was a short day today.  I planned on going into Bennington, VT for an overnight stay and a resupply for the next five days.We were treated to trail magic today at the end of the hike.  Past AT hiker - Offcenter and his wife set up where the AT  crosses VT 9 just east of Bennington.  They had a smorgasbord of sausage egg sandwiches, fruit, coffee and various juices.  What an unexpected treat.  Thanks Offcenter for the great brunch.  The pic above shows Offcenter¢s kitchen setup.
Date: 2019-06-18
From: Bennington VT - NOBO Mile Marker 1612.8

To: Kid Gore Shelter 
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

The hike out Bennington was all up hill for over ten miles.  The elevation change goes from 1359 to 3748.  Although the uphill walk was long, only a few portions were really steep. One high point of the hike was Glastenbury Lookout Tower - elev 3748.  The view was a bit hampered by the rainy weather in the area.  A pic from the top of the tower is in the photo gallery.My hike ended at Kid Gore Shelter.  The picture above is from the picnic table in front of the shelter.  I¢m looking forward to seeing the sunrise tomorrow morning - it should be spectacular.
Date: 2019-06-19
From: Kid Gore Shelter 

To: Stratton Mountain Summit - NOBO Mile Marker 1639.2
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today started out like any other day on the trail.  I got up, ate my breakfast, torn down my hammock, and put it all into my pack and down the trail I went.Not more than fifteen minutes later, I ran into most of the other hikers who stayed at the Kid Gore Shelter with me last night. They were all gathered around one hiker who was on the ground and holding her right elbow, grimacing in pain.  Apparently she slipped on a slippery moss covered rock slab and landed on it.  One of the other hikers had some medical training so she put her into a temporary sling and another call for emergency care.  Because we were deep in the backcountry and she was able to walk, the best the emergency personnel could do was to meet us at the next shelter - 4.6 miles away.  Several of the hikers walked with her making sure she wouldn¢t fall and I and another hiker carried her pack.  By the time we arrived at the next shelter, members of the local fire department and a paramedic were waiting for us.  They examined the injury and suggested it was most likely a broken arm.  The fire squad took her back to their truck via a short cut, and off to the hospital they all went.  Hopefully she is doing well and her injury heals quickly.  A pic of the fire department at the Story Spring Shelter is in the photo gallery.I still had a few miles to walk for the day so I ate my lunch and started hiking again.   I finished my hike on the top of Stratton Mountain - elev 3936.Stratton Mountain is an important landmark to all AT hikers.  This is where Benton MacKaye, back in 1921, conceived the idea of a trail which connects all the scenic ridges of the Appalachian Range to form the Appalachian Trail.On top of the mountain is a fire tower from which the views are amazing.  Luckily by the time I arrived at the tower and climbed to the top, it was just before a heavy fog covered the mountain, so I was able to snap the picture above.I ended up stealth camping at the top of Stratton Mountain with Giggles, Cyclops, Jake and Ray.  We all enjoyed being at this historical spot for the evening.
Date: 2019-06-20
From: Stratton Mountain Summit - NOBO Mile Marker 1639.2

To: Bromley Shelter 
Miles today: 15.7

After all the excitement of yesterday, just hiking today was a joy.  The trail from the top of Stratton Mountain down to Stratton Pond was mostly down hill but not too steep.  From Stratton Pond until I finish my hike at Bromley Shelter, the terrain was relatively flat.  It did rain the last hour of the walk but nothing too terrible.I did stop mid hike at Prospect Rock - elev 2099, which is an outcropping overlooking the town of Manchester Center, VT.  The view of the surrounding mountains and valley was spectacular.  A picture from the overlook is above.
Date: 2019-06-21
From: Bromley Shelter 

To: Big Branch Shelter 
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: fog

Just another rainy day in the northeastern woods.  It rained all night and didn¢t quit until mid morning.  By the time it stopped and I packed up my gear, I finally got on the trail at 10:30 am.  And you can bet the trail was Vermuddy.  After an hour of hopping over and dancing around the mud puddles, I just gave up and walked through them.  I was a muddy mess from the knees down.  Vermud finally beat me.Eventually the sun came out by mid afternoon and the rest of the day was beautiful.  The picture above was taken from Baker Peak - elev 2642, looking west.  This peak came out of nowhere as I hiked through the green tunnel. The trail took a sharp right turn then up a 45 degrees slab of jagged rocks for one hundred feet.  As I turned around the view over the surrounding mountains and valley below appeared.  What a pleasant surprise.  I must have stood there for over twenty minutes taking in the warm sunshine and welcoming breeze.  This is why I hike.My walk concluded near the Big Branch Shelter on the Big Branch River.  I found a stealth campsite right next to the river.  The Big Branch River is one of those narrow mountain streams which flows quickly and is full of car size rounded boulders.  The setting was absolutely stunning.  After I set up my hammock, ate my dinner and hung my food bag in a tree, I took a quick hobo bath in the cold river, attempting to wash four days of hiking stink off me.  I¢m not sure I got it all off, but it sure felt good.
Date: 2019-06-22
From: Big Branch Shelter 

To: SR VT 103 Near Rutland VT - NOBO Mile Marker 1685.3
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

After a restful night along the Big Branch River, I woke up at 5:30 am to get an early start on the day and was on the trail by 6:30 am.  The only thing between me and a zero day tomorrow in Rutland, VT was almost sixteen miles of trails.The weather was excellent and the trail was fair.  I usually hike at a two mile per hour pace which includes any breaks I take. I made it to state route VT 103 by 3:00 pm and proceed to call a local trail angel and past through hiker who¢s name is Plans Too Much, for a ride to the Yellow Deli Hostel.On the trail down, I passed an outcropping of rocks - elev 1424, which overlooks the Rutland airport.  The pic above is the view from that vantage point.As with the other days which I get to spend some time in a new town, I look forward to getting a shower, doing my laundry and getting real food.  This time was no different.  The Yellow Deli Hostel has the reputation of being very inviting and accommodating.
Date: 2019-06-23
From: SR VT 103 Near Rutland VT - NOBO Mile Marker 1685.3

To: Rutland VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was my zero day in Rutland, VT.   Rutland was settled in the late 1700¢s and is the third largest city in Vermont.  In the early 1800¢s a large, high quality, nearly all white marble deposit was discovered near Rutland.  Because of the high quality of the marble, Rutland became one of the worlds largest producers of marble, out producing the famous marble quarries of Carrara in Tuscany Italy.  The marble quarries stayed active until the mid 1980¢s.  Because of the marble quarries, many Italian¢s with experience in the marble mining industry moved to the area throughout the years.  This is also evident in the elaborate stone work on the local church¢s and the downtown buildings of that era.Most of my day was spent planning for the hike next week.  I resupplied at the nearby Walmart and Price Chopper grocery store.  As I was finishing up my shopping at the Price Chopper, I took a wrong turn down the frozen foods / ice cream isle.  I strolled past the ice cream section, and much to my total surprise, I noticed that they sold two selections of Graeter¢s ice cream - Raspberry Chip and Cookies and Cream.  I let out the biggest wooooo hoooo you have ever heard.  The other shoppers in the frozen food isle didn¢t know what to make out of this homeless looking hiker trash dancing for joy in the store.  If your not from Cincinnati OH, you have no idea what or how good Graeter¢s ice cream is.  And the fact they sold Raspberry Chip - my favorite, was a huge bonus.  Of course I bought a pint of the Raspberry and proceeded to eat the whole pint as soon as I left the store.  The pic above is what you missed...
Date: 2019-06-24
From: SR VT 103 Near Rutland VT - NOBO Mile Marker 1685.3

To: US RT 4 - NOBO Mile Marker 1703.0
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

500 miles to Katahdin!!!I decided to stay one more night at the Yellow Deli Hostel and slack pack 17.7 miles between the two state routes that run parallel and into Rutland.  To get to the AT trailhead, I took the Marble Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA) bus which travels between the towns of Rutland and Killington.  For only two bucks, the bus picks you up right behind the hostel and drops you off at the AT where it crosses US RT 4, eight miles north of Rutland.  By starting my hike here, I hiked southeast towards my final destination for the day at SR VT 103.The AT between the two state routes, goes up and over Killington Peak - elevation 4236, where the Killington Ski Resort is located.  The trail up to Killington Peak is not too steep until it is within a mile of the summit, then it shoots upwards at a forty five degrees angle.  On the top of Killington Peak is the Peak Lodge.  This is where the ski lift deposits skiers in the winter.  The lodge is also open in the summer for hikers and anyone who takes a ride on the lift.  I stopped in to eat my lunch, have a beer, and enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.  A couple of pics from the top of Killington Peak are in the photo gallery.After an hour of enjoying the views, I started my decent down the other side of the mountain. The trail down was a bit steeper so I had to slow my pace.  At NOBO mile marker 1690, there was a sign on a tree which indicated there is only 500 miles to Katahdin.  According to my rough calculations, at my current pace, I should summit Katahdin within the first eight days of August.  The wild card are the White Mountains in New Hampshire, which slows everyone because of the difficult terrain.  A pic of the 500 mile mark is above.If you were wondering whether or not I went back to Price Chopper this evening to get a pint of the other Graeter¢s ice cream flavor - Cookies and Cream - I thought long and hard about it all day when I was hiking over Killington Peak, but even a starving hiker would have trouble eating another pint of this very rich treat from the Gods two day¢s in a row...
Date: 2019-06-25
From: US RT 4 - NOBO Mile Marker 1703.0

To: Stealth Camp Near Stony Brook - NOBO Mile Marker 1713.6
Miles today: 10.6

The picture above sums up today in general - rain on and off.  I woke up early to pack up my gear and catch the 7:15 am bus from behind the Yellow Deli Hostel, where I stayed last night.  The 20 minute bus ride took me up US RT 4 where it crosses the AT, just north of Killington Peak, the place where I started my slack pack yesterday.   When I started hiking the skies were overcast but I didn¢t think any rain was likely.  Low and behold two and a half hours after I left the bus, the skies opened up.  Luckily for me I was hiking through the Gifford Woods State Park at the time and I spotted a covered picnic table where I took cover.  I checked the radar forecast and it looked like storms were going to be here for a couple of hours.  I cracked open the ebook I had been reading on my phone and settled in.  After a couple of hours, there was a break in the storm.  I noticed on my map there was a deli/store a quarter of mile away.  I quickly put on my pack and made a dash for the restaurant.  Just as I arrived, it started raining again.  After a delicious sandwich, I looked at my radar and I was in for at least another hour of rain.Becoming impatient, when I thought the worst of the rain was over, I slung my pack on my back and down the trail I went.  Twenty minutes later it started raining again.  I put my rain gear on and keep walking.   The day wasn¢t a complete wash out.  I stopped at Thundering Falls which was just off the trail.  These are the highest waterfalls on the AT in Vermont.  A picture of the falls are in the photo gallery.  Hopefully I¢ll have better weather tomorrow.
Date: 2019-06-26
From: Stealth Camp Near Stony Brook - NOBO Mile Marker 1713.6

To: Stealth Camp Near Stream Past Woodstock Stage Road - NOBO Mile Marker 1729.2
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: broken clouds

Feeling the need to get some miles under my belt today, I quickly packed up my hammock and got on the trail by 7:30 am.  The sun was out and I was feeling upbeat.  My hike took me over several nondescript peaks.  The day was very warm and muggy so I had to stop several times to refill my water bottles.Half way through the day I stopped for lunch at a private cabin right off the AT which had a tower built on top of it.  The owners allows AT hikers to stay here as a bit of trail magic.  I grabbed my lunch and climbed to the top of the tower - elev 2355.  The 360 degrees views were unbelievable.  I could see Killington Peak to the southwest and all the way into New Hampshire to the northeast.  A pic from the view is above.  I stayed on the tower for an hour enjoying the sun and the views.  What a treat to be able to enjoy this scenery.
Date: 2019-06-27
From: Stealth Camp Near Stream Past Woodstock Stage Road - NOBO Mile Marker 1729.2

To: Happy Hill Shelter 
Miles today: 14.8

An unexpected thunderstorm storm hit the area last night.  I was treated to a light show with thunder all around me.  The storm did not last long but just long enough to give everything a good soaking.  In the morning the sun was back up and the temperature rose quickly to the low eighties and very muggy.My hike today took me over several balds where the views south were breathtaking.  The pic above shows one of those magnificent views.Over the last few days, as I hiked in north east Vermont, I have seen evidence of maple syrup production in the area. There have been several areas along the trail that have plastic tubes stretched from maple tree to maple tree.  They all seem to make their way downhill beyond my sight, most likely into a sugarshack at the bottom of mountains.  I can imagine the sweet smells in the late spring when the sugarshacks are boiling the maple sap.  A pic of the sap collection lines is in the photo gallery.