morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-03
From: 10 Mile River lean-to

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 8.7

I walked with NIck this morning for a while. He was parked at Bulls Bridge and had a supply of white gas so I filled up my bottle. When the rain came down a little heavier he stopped to don rain gear and I kept moving. I got to Mt Algo lean-to for a break. The rain didn't look like it was letting up so I decided to head for town.In town I found out the the church no longer runs a hostel. The bad news was compounded by the fact that the other lodging options were overpriced B&B's (which were full anyway because of the graduation ceremonies at Kent Academy) and the laudromat was no longer open. My fortune turned however, when I met a trail angel who offered to put me up for the night and volunteered to do my laundry. When I said that I was going to write about him he said "don't write too much". So I figured he wished to remain anonymous. In any case, Mr Trail Angel, if your reading this, I thank you immensely.Kent reminded me a little bit of Pinehurst, NC without the golf courses. Lots of shops, art galleries, antique shops, etc. Odd thing was I could not find a pay phone on the street anywhere, not even at the convenience store/gas station. I had coffee and some goodies at one place and got dinner at Kent pizza (where else?).
Date: 2006-06-04
From: Kent, CT

To: Pine Swamp lean-to
Miles today: 17.0

8:05 a.m.:It was really nice to dry out and get all my clothes cleaned. I bought a Hartford Courant, the paper I deleivered and made a "living on" when I was a kid and stuffe pages into my boots to try to dry them out too. I slept really good too. I went to Caralees for dinner. The cook seemed to be amazed that I was able to eat a whole order of pancakes and delicious french toast which had been dipped in cinnamon sugar.After breakfast I went to a church service followed by more coffee at the coffee shop. Sitting on the sidewalk I met Millipede, a previous thru hiker. Naturally we talked about the trail and how it was going for me. There was another who had some questions for me too. Millipede gave me a ride back to the trail.9:00 p.m.: Today I noticed all the remnants of leaves on the trail that the catepillars are eating up. Some places of the forest seemed brighter than others because there are so many leaves gone from the trees. I met up with Abandon and Bluebird at Pine Swamp. They took a trip to NYC (that's where they are from). Along the way I passed Una Mas and Suds, 2 NOBO's who started in DWG.Had to cross the rain swollen Guinea Creek. It is on private property so the AMC is not allowed to build a bridge. They did put in some stepping stones, but they were submerged under the current.
Date: 2006-06-05
From: Pine Swamp lean-to

To: Brassie Brook lean-to
Miles today: 21.0

Todays Milestone: Have less than 700 miles left!I had a good day making mileage today. Left at 8 a.m. and arrived at 6 p.m. I took 2 breaks and a 1 hr side trip to Salisbury (which turned out to be a waste of time). I went into town to use the library and it was closed on Mondays. All the restaurants were also closed. They were only breakfast/lunch joints. Scoops, the ice cream shop, was open so I indulged in a brownie and an ice cream. I saw Bluebird and Abandon in town too. They passed me on the trail after stopping at Mountain Side Cafe in Falls Village CT. I thought there was a pizza shop in Salisbury, but it was actually in Falls Village.My boots are really taking a beating. They are bursting at the seams everywhere. They'll never make it to Maine. Between walking in wet boots and nasty socks, I am starting to fight blisters again. My middle back is acting up too. I cracked it on a bench in a riverside park in Falls Village and 2 times on the picnic table at the shelter.I passed Great Falls (from which Falls Village gets its name) and they were great indeed, like a mini Niagara. The water level of the Houstatonic is really high from all the rain. I can hear Brassie Brook crashing down the mountain from the shelter. Also passed over Lions Head which offered the best views in CT so far.There is a bear box here. Guess there has been some bear activity between here and the Sages Ravine area up in Mass. Chestnut came in before dark. Last saw him just into New Jersey. Also met Ray, a SOBO section hiker. Nice guy. He let me use his cup for maple syrup. I made pancakes for dinner. I snet my cup home in Waynesboro on my last equipment purge.
Date: 2006-06-06
From: Brassie Brook lean-to

To: Campsite
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Todays Milestone: knocked off CT. 10 states down, 4 to go.It was a typical morning for me. Last one to leave the shelter. Even Ray beat me out and he is doing a short day. I met lights Out on top of Bear Mt. He is sectioning to Maine. Bear Mt. is the highest point on the trail in CT. There were pretty good views all around.So yesterday was a good day travelling, today was not so good. Seemed like the miles were hard to come by, which is why I camped. Couldn't quite make it to the next shelter. There were several steep descents and some good climbs. Also, if I could find the right direction to travel would be helpful. The trail takes a turn on top of Mt Everett in Mass. After stopping for a break by the remains of an old fire tower, I started out by heading south on the trail and didn't realize my mistake until I had travelled about a 1/4 of a mile. I said to myself "Self, that view up ahead looks pretty familiar". When I turned around I began to recognize some of the blazes and parts of the trail I passed over the 1st time I was going north.Still having pizza withdrawals, I walked into South Egremont, MA. I got a ride into town from Dave, who met Pa Bert a few weeks ago. But my other luck held out. Got to Mom's Restaurant, which was supposed to have pizza, and it was closed. Dave offered to drive me to Great Barrington, but that was farther than I wanted to impose on him for gas reasons. Settled on a deli sandwich, fritos, apple pastry and a Ben & Jerrys ice cream from the general store.Had to walk back to the trail. Between there and my campsite, I crossed more wetlands on bog bridges. I had been thinking that it was odd I had not seen any water mocassins with all the bogs I had been over. Well, I saw one, or half of one, as it plopped into the water about one section of bridge ahead of me. I'm glad it didn't get agressive, as cottonmouths are known to do. My places to run away were limited!I passed a lady walking 2 black labs along the Houstatonic River. They were having a blast and had been swimming, but they didn't mind there owner too good. They wanted to play with me instead.The mosquitos are out in swarms tonight. Just about used up all my bug spray. Last few nights seemed a little chilly so I am going to sleep with my rain jacket on again. It isn't so much the tempature, but the moisture in the air that seems to be keeping things cool.
Date: 2006-06-07
From: Campsite

To: East Mountain Retreat Center
Miles today: 5.6

Woke up to rain at 3 a.m. Threw my tarp (the tyvek I got from Gourmet Dave in Waynesboro) over me and hoped for the best. From 5:30 to 7:30 I drifted in and out of sleep trying to convince myself to get up and hoping the rain would stop. It didn't. So I reluctantly got up, packed up, and headed for Tom Leonard lean-to (or maybe "shelter"; for some reason, shelters are called lean-to's in CT).I was cooking breakfast when Abandon & Bluebird came in. They had been to a motel in Great Barrington. They, like me, were having a miserable morning and grumbling about the wet. They checked their Wingfoot book and it said the Retreat Center was open, so I decided to head in there and dodge the rain again. Bluebird said rain is expected thru the weekend. Seems like it has been raining a whole lot since crossing the Mason Dixon line. Must be a Damn Yankee thing! Before leaving I met Judy and Jess, a couple of hard core dedicated day hikers to be out in the rain. They were just passing thru. Jess wants to hike the AT after college.I got a ride to the hostel from Doug the Painter (not a hiker, just a local guy who is a painter). He said he has lived in the area over 20 years and had never seen the Center. At the hostel, which is a non-denominational type of silent retreat, I found the a pair of 34" shorts to wear while I was doing my wash. Now, I have to tell you, it has been a long, long, long, long, long time since I have had on a pair of 34's. So once again, hiking the AT the best weight loss program I have ever tried. Especially since I can eat whatever I want and eat as much as I want whenever I can get my jaws on some real food. My trail food is real food, but it just doesn't compare to good town food.I met Rev. Lois after she came back from business in town. She had to go back out to Lee to the veterinarian with her dog Pepper. He sat on my lap on the way. Kind of. He stood on my lap with his nose pressed on the front windshield. She droppped me at the Stockbridge Library, but I didn't get much done, cuz I only had 30 minutes.From there she dropped me at the Great Barrington Pizza restaurant so I could satisy my pizza craving while she did an errand at the store. She also picked me up some trail mix and snacks so I could make it to Dalton. My belly told my brain to order a pizza, which was huge, 18". Instead of force feeding all of it to myself, I saved some for breakfast. I also got a meatball grinder (that's Yankee talk for "sub"). That was for an evening snack and lunch on the trail tomorrow.
Date: 2006-06-08
From: East Mountain Retreat Center

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: overcast clouds

7:10 a.m. Breakfast time. Cold pizza...mmmmm.Was thinking about my conversation yesterday with Bluebird and Abandon about hitting the mental wall I suppose lots of hikers hit around this part of the trail. The weather has seemed to be the same for days and weeks...cloudy and rainy a lot. The trail is tougher, no more ridge line to walk. Plus those 2 are from NYC and had just got back on the trail from a visit home. Yes, thru hiking is a once in a lifetime adventure for most folks, but not every day is fun. At this point, it is harder mentally than it is physically.I read an entry in a shelter journal recently about a hiker returning to the trail in Great Barrington to hike to Maine. In a thru hike attempt last year, that is where he got off. A fleeting thought passed through my mind. Why don't I finish next year? I hope I don't dissapoint too many of my readers, but I am probaby going to get off the trail in Manchester Center, VT and yellow blaze to Hanover, NH. I have already section hiked all of VT. I did that in the late 1990's when I lived in MA. I really miss my wife and want to go home, but I don't want to quit. My rationalization for yellow blazing is that, in the end, the certificate I get from the ATC will be the same as any other thru hiker. It will say that I am a "2,000 miler". I will miss about 100 miles of trail in VT.Lastly, as some hikers say, "hike your own hike". It's my hike and I'll do it the way I want to. I am not a purist. I am a human being striving for progress, not perfection.8:15 p.m. I got back on the trail at 8:30 in a light rain, which stopped, but then started again around 3 p.m. While it is raining, the mosquitos don't come out and I stay a little cooler. Tha is the good thing. The bad thing is that my water logged boots are eating up my feet. By the end of the day, my feet were pruney, sore and blistered.At the cabin, I met AMC caretakers Penny and Mike. Really great folks. (Everybody I have met on the trail pretty much falls into that category). Penny offered me some cocoa, which was just what I needed at that point in time. I am the only hiker here so they also offered to share their dinner with me, which was an extra treat. Some good hot soup and baked cheese bread.The cabin is larger than I expected. The upstairs has about a dozen bunks and the caretakers room. Downstairs is a kitchen and a larger sitting area with a fireplace and dining area. There is also a large covered porch which can be used by hikers when the cabin is not open in winter. Everything here is carried in, one way or the other. One method to get heavier stuff here is to canoe it in from lower goose pond, which has road access. The trail is a disaster. I've never seen it like this any other time I have been on it. Standing and/or running water everywhere has created a muddy mess everywhere. This of course, is the worst kind of conditions for my boots since they do nothing to keep water out anymore. I hope it dries up some. My feet need it.
Date: 2006-06-09
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Tom Levardi's, Dalton, MA
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

After getting up this morning, Penny made a pancake breakfast at the cabin. This is a standard treat at the cabin. Before cooking, she had a bad slip on the slick back door stairs outside. I heard her cookie she clang and she yelled. Fortunately she did break anything but she did skin her upper arm good. Probably will get a nasty bruise. I was 1/2 way back to the trail when I returned to the cabin to put money in the donation jar. Penny & Mike are volunteers and the cabin operates on donations.It didn't rain on me today, but the trail was still wet everywhere. Walking in my still wet boots made my feet worse. I arrived in Dalton with about a 1/2 doz blisters and several hot spots. It was hard to tell what was what they were so wrinkled and wet. As I got to the edge of town I had to wait for a freight train to pass by. Then a passenger train came in the opposite direction on the opposite set of trax.The trail goes right by Tom's house. I saw William on his porch. (Last saw him near Caledonia State Park getting pizza). Tom is gracious enough to allow hikers to stay with him and William highly recommended staying at his place, so I did. Found out Chestnut was here too. Everybody was just getting done getting cleaned up and Tom drove everybody over to Pittsfield to an AYCE Chinese buffet. Don't think they made a profit on us!After getting back to Tom's I tried taking care of my feet. Also decided to take a zero day tomorrow in hopes that the rain starts to clear out and give my feet a break. Maybe my boots will even dry out.
Date: 2006-06-10
From: Tom Levardi's, Dalton, MA

To: Zero Day (Tom's) 
Miles today: 0.0

2:00 p.m. Sitting at the laundromat cleaning my nasty, wet stuff. Again. I slept pretty good on the couch last night. He took us to Old Country Buffet for breakfast. Once again, no profit for the restaurant!He dropped me off at the post office. I got my bounce box and mailed my camera home. Found out last night the last camera I sent didn't make it home. Linda was delivered an empty envelope. That stinks. All the pictures I took from the largest tree (the Dover oak) to the Great Falls are gone. I went to the library and after 1 hr got thrown out. I asked the librarian if somebody was waiting because I was from out of town and..."Nope. Those are the rules!" she replied sharply. So I asked if I needed to pay for the page I printed then wished her a good day.Went back to Tom's and got my laundry. The Tennessee Boys are doing their zero day right, sitting at Tom's watching videos. While it was being done I went to the carnival next door behind the American Legion and spent $4 for a piece of (cold) fried dough. The wind was blowing so hard, think I was wearing more powdered sugar than I got on the dough.Tom made a delciously huge plate of pasta and sausage w/ corn on the cob, salad and bread. That was really nice. We all did the dishes afterwards. He also let me use his PC so I could do this update. Thanks, Tom, really appreciate everything. Now that were all fat, happy and dumb, were gonna watch another movie. Best part is that later tonight game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals is on.
Date: 2006-06-11
From: Tom Levardi's house

To: Bascom Lodge, Mt Greylock
Miles today: 17.0

Tom, the Tennessee Boys and I went to the Dalton Restaurant for breakfast. Went back to Tom's and the Boys got ready for another slack pack and I got ready to head out. Team Steve walked into town right about then and Tom gave him a lift to the restaurant.I passed The Boys just north of Cheshire on their hike south. That section was pretty easy then it was a 6 mile climb to Greylock. It really wasn't that hard except for the 1st mile or so, which was kinda steep. Near the top where the trail ran over a few hilltops and dipped into a few saddles the trail was a mess. Water and mud everywhere.At the summit it was like a mini Mt Washington, foggy and windy, about 45*, colder with the wind chill factored in. I checked in at the lodge and got the "deal of the century". Can't really put all the details out there in public but it was a sweet deal.Went down to Thunderbolt shelter off of the parking area to cook dinner. The snack bar was already closed. The shelter is an emergency only shelter. Met 10-Speed there. He started April 1st and is really moving. He is a veteran hiker. He already hiked the PCT. A ranger came by and agreed to let him stay there. The weather conditions were kind of an "emergency" and I had suggested that Thunderbolt, which is a 4 walled shelter, would be better than the next regular shelter about 3 miles down the trail.For general interest, here is a list of books I have read since starting.The Stand - standard Steven King yarn of doom and gloomEnders Game - award winning sci-fi/fantasy by Orson Scott CardThe Hour Game - bestselling mystery by David BaldacciBlind Courage - autobiography by Bill Irwin, a blind thru hiker (the best book I've read on the trailSavannah - A civil war period story by John JakesVelocity - standard bestselling Dean Koontz thrillerThe Colorado Kid - crime/detective story by Stephen King (just bought it today)
Date: 2006-06-12
From: Bascom Lodge, Mt Greylock

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Today's hike took 10 1/2 hours compared to yesterdays hike of 17 miles in about 8 hours. Seemed like I would never get to the shelter. Finally arrived about 7:30 p.m. This shelter is one of the few that I have never used on the AT in VT.The $7 breakfast I got at Bascom Lodge was well worth the money. It was served family style, but was AYCE. My "family" comprised a group of Canadiens who are HAMM radio operators participating in some kind of North American contest.I met jolly Green Giant just north of Wilbur Clearing shelter. He was slacking SOBO from North Adams, MA to Dalton, MA. He described the SOBO ascent of Greylock as evil. He also told me that Pebbles, Fatcamp and Moleman should be coming up behind me but I didn't see any sign of them all day.On the way to Congdon I passed 2 hikers, Sliver and his daughter Jennifer, from FL. They stayed at the shelter with me. Sliver is hiking for about 30 days. He is a section hiker who has been at it several years. He started this trip in Pawling, NY.The trail in VT is a bigger mess than it was in MA. Lots of sections of trail had running water on it and huge bogs of mud. I'm talking the kind of mud that will suck your boots off if you step in it. I almost pulled myself backwards off of the rock I hopped on when my hiking pole didn't come loose. There was a pond formed by a beaver dam and the dam looked ready to bust. Below the dam was a bog bridge and one section of the bridge had water running over it. I managed to skip across without getting too much water in my boots.The weather was finally pretty nice today. Lots of sun, low humidity and temps in the mid 60's. It wasn't too buggy either, but I did have to use some Repel when I stopped at a spring to cook dinner.Can't wait to get my new boots in Manchester, courtesy of my sister, who is now a bonefied, qualified Trail Angel. I tired of walking in wet sox.
Date: 2006-06-13
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Bennington VT/Wallingford VT
Miles today: 4.3

Recent Milestones: Less than 600 miles to go. Knocked off MA; 11 states down, 3 to go (VT will be easy since I'm yellow blazing most of it).Decided to get off the trail in Bennington. I am having pizza withdrawals. I got picked up not too far from the trail on Rt. 9 by Pat. She also offered me a juice drink when I got in the car. That hit the spot. It has turned out to be a really warm day. It seemed like a long 5 miles into town. Glad I didn't have to walk. Thanks a lot, Pat! She was actually on the way to pick up some hikers in North Adams, MA.Pat dropped me off in front of South Street Cafe, which turned out to be great. In the cafe, I got a coffee, and some sweet treats. This is also one of the places that has the "yellow bicycles" that hikers can use, free of charge, to get around town. Robin, who works there, offered to let me stay with her and her boyfriend. So, I toured around town on the bike with my pack on my back. Hit the library (where I am now), the ATM (of course), a book store, post office and Dominos pizza. While riding down Main St, Tom Levardi drove by with the Boys. Their tent came in and they are getting back on the trail on Rt 9. They had slack packed N. Adams to Rt 9 yesterday.I checked my e-mail and Mrs Gorp had a message for me. I am gonna call her. She said I could stay at her place. I would have to say there is definately some trail magic happening in ole Bennington, VT.Another list.(Disclaimer: I really do appreciate questions asked by tourists. They make me feel like a celebrity!)10 dumb questions asked by "tourists": (answered with the "have fun with tourists" answer, followed by the real answer):Q1: Are you thru hiking?A1: No, I always walk around with a pack on my back. (yes)Q2: When did you start? which leads to "Wow, you must have seen snow".A2: Feb 15th, Yeah, I had to walk thru 3 blizzards. Wish I would have brought my snow shoes (tell them how the weather really was)Q3: Where are you from?A3: Well, I'm wanted by the authorities, so I have to move around a lot (grew up in CT and now live in NC).
Date: 2006-06-14
From: Wallingford VT

To: Zero day, (Wallingford VT)
Miles today: 0.0

Well, when I was on the net at the library yesterday, Mrs Gorp and I were tradin' e-mail. She came to Bennington to pick me up. We then went to the trail crossing at VT11/30 near Manchester Center to pick up Bluebird and Abandon. On the way we stoppped at The Mountain Goat Outfitters in Manchester to tell them I have some boots coming in from REI. Ironically, they sell the very same boots I wanted. They are the only outfitter I have come across that sells Lowas besides REI. Last night Mrs G made a tasty dinner (egg plant parmagian, I think; can't spell it either) and this morning made blueberry pancakes. After breakfast we dropped Bluebird and Abandon off on the trail for a 17 mile slackpack. We then headed to Manchester again to do a few errands like develop photos, get my mail drop, went to Rite Aid and the grocery store. Went back to the Miller Inn (Mrs G's house) and had some lunch. Found out later in the day that my boots didn't ship until Tues or Wed so I might be here a few days.For some of the readers who may not know what the terms I use in the journal mean, here are a few defintions:Zero day - a day with no miles hikedNero day - a "near zero", or low milage dayNOBO - north bound hikerSOBO - south bound hikerBlue blaze - means following a connecting or side trail which is blue blazed and not part of the official AT route. Technically, everybody blue blazes because side trails to shelters are blue blazedYellow blaze - means getting ahead on the trail by means other than your feet, like by car or bus. this really makes purist's madPurist - a hiker who insists on walking past every white blaze and on every part of the trail. I'm not a purist.Since I have about 120 entries, there may be other terms I've used but can't recall right now. If you have questions on any of them, drop me a note in my guest book.