morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-07-29
From: Hampton Inn in Binghampton, NY (via Hudson River)

To: Campsite near Dennytown Road
Miles today: 14.5

Got a slow start leaving the hotel this morning. I tried to shave my head, but it was harder than I thought. I was able to resupply almost entirely off of the food my parents had brought me. I got some ramen and peanut butter at the hotel store though. After a couple hours of driving, I was dropped off near Bear Mountain Bridge, over the Hudson River. It would have been hard to leave, but I had to go to the bathroom badly. It was a bit of a climb after the river, but today's hiking was mostly pretty easy. Much better than the first half of New York--with its super steep ups and downs and rock scrambles. As I passed the Appalachian Market right on the trail, I saw Duck Soup and Tennessee Tom. I wasn't going to stop there since I had only been on the trail for a couple hours, but I bought a drink and talked to them a bit. Glad I did because I'm camped out alone tonight. Saw a turkey a couple hundred yards from that store! Then I came across a manhole right on the trail in the middle of the woods. Also saw a snake in New York for the first time--just a small black snake. I later talked to a friendly local walking his dog up the mountain. He said he had gotten Lyme disease before. I filled up at a water spigot by the road here, then set up my hammock just up the trail in the woods as the sun set. Didn't eat much for dinner: I'm still running off of town food. This is the first time I've set up my hammock since Tennessee (1000 miles) and it is so comfortable. I'm gonna sleep so good.
Date: 2012-07-30
From: Campsite near Dennytown Road

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 27.5
Weather: light rain

Slept in a bit, since it was so comfortable in my hammock last night. Put in a long day. Another late dinner. Didn't see a lot of people today. I think I'm between clusters of thru hikers. However, I did pass a group of at least 30 teenage girls headed south, on Shenandoah Mountain (familiar name). Stopped by RPH Shelter for water. Its one of the really nice ones, where you can order pizza and there's a caretaker. Crossed over I-84 today (5 lanes). Also met some people doing a tick study. They caught over 50 ticks on one sheet. This is apparently one of the worst sections on the trail for ticks and Lyme disease. I need to check more often. The trail went around a couple beautiful lakes today (Fahnestock Lake and Nuclear Lake). Apparently there are sometimes porcupines around here. I'd like to see one. Someone said there were warnings about them in a shelter in Pennsylvania--apparently they eat your shoes. Looking at my schedule, and I can do 21 miles a day 7 days a week and be on track. I might try that. These are long days.
Date: 2012-07-31
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter

To: Mt. Algo Shelter
Miles today: 21.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I made it to Connecticut, and am 2/3 done with the trail! Saw the Dover Oak this morning--the largest oak on the trail. I've seen a few other massive oaks in the last few days, but this one was as big as 10 typical trees. Also saw a large heron in a marsh. At one roadside, I saw a pizza truck and had to get a few slices, even though it was 9:30 AM. Been seeing more southbounders lately. Also saw a sign prohibiting picknicking on the trail. Does that mean I couldn't eat lunch? It was beautiful just into Connecticut, where the trail followed the seemingly remote Ten Mile River, with forests full of evergreens. Also saw an awesome house perched precariously on a cliff above the river--the only sign of civilization. I think the trail passed close to an Algonkian reservation. Got to this shelter by 5:30, left my pack, then went down 0.3 miles to a road, then walked down the road 0.8 miles to the town of Kent, CT. Got a half gallon of ice cream, then went to the Villager restaurant for dinner. Glad I did. I passed by the Kent School and a boathouse by the Housatonic River. I'm pretty sure we raced them in high school. I hitchhiked for the first time ever leaving town. I'm still alive. Got back to the shelter before dark. Lots of hikers here. We talked about the White Mountains ahead of us in New Hampshire for a while.
Date: 2012-08-01
From: Mt. Algo Shelter

To: Belters Campsite
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Wow, its August. Tomorrow I should cross into Massachusetts, finish 1500 miles, and hit 2000 ft elevation for the first time since the AT midpoint. Today, after crossing the road to Kent, the trail went up the ridge again, then dropped very sharply again at St. John's Ledges. The trail then followed a big river for almost 5 miles with no civilization in sight. Ate lunch at Silver Hill campsite, which was very nice. Had a picnic pavilion, water pump, privies, swing, and a deck with a great view. I hoped this campsite tonight would be just as good, but it only has a privy. They've been calling for thunderstorms today, but I managed to miss them. I also took off my shoes and forded a creek for the first time at Guinea Brook--the stepping stones were broken, and I didn't take the detour. I think usually only Maine requires fording. Saw a lot of SOBOs today. There's several people at this campsite, but I'm off in an odd corner. Mosquitos are covering my body. I might be putting in some long days ahead, in order to spend the night at Mt. Greylock. We'll see. Hope I can get started earlier tomorrow.
Date: 2012-08-02
From: Belters Campsite

To: Camped just south of Jug End Road
Miles today: 28.1

Mosquitos are so bad at night. Covering my whole body. Put up my hammock sloppily in a hurry. Saw a dead rabbit near camp last night. It was gone 5 minutes later. There have been a lot of slugs lately--yellow ones. There was even one on my hand sanitizer. Another river walk today near Falls Village. The falls were beautiful. The trail has been following the Housatonic River on and off for a while. Connecticut seems to like rivers. Got water today at a hydroelectric plant and a cemetary. Saw a road marked with a single solid yellow line at the centerline. Then I climbed Bear Mountain, the highest peak in Connecticut (but not the highest point), before descending into a pretty gorge and entering Massachusetts. Some beautiful views and a steep climb after that. I saw two snakes on the steep climb. With the 5 foot black snake I saw in Connecticut yesterday, I've seen a snake in every state but West Virginia. But I haven't seen a poisonous one since Pennsylvania. The woods are slowly changin. There's lots of evergreens and mosquitos. Cooked dinner at Guilder Pond Picnic Area (where someone left ice water!) before rushing down the mountain and camping out. I'm racing to stay at the lodge on Mount Greylock Sunday night. I'll try to get up early tomorrow. Hope the bugs are bearable in the morning.
Date: 2012-08-03
From: Camped just south of Jug End Road

To: Camped near Knee-Deep Pond
Miles today: 27.4

Another long day, and again, the mosquitos are ferocious once the sun sets. Started the day walking across a valley area nearer to civilization (close to Great Barrington, MA). Mosquitos were so bad this morning until I bathed myself in DEET. Then I realized that I was walking along a swamp, so it made sense. Found the best trail magic in a while by a road--ice cold cherry pepsi. Walked along the Housatonic River once again. Saw a trail crew building stone steps. Broke down and had an early lunch, so I needed to stop for a second lunch at the Mt Wilcox South shelter before dinner. Not much water on Mt. Wilcox--both shelters were dry. I was relying on good water at Main Road near Tyringham and planned to cook dinner there. Bad idea to go 9 miles without water, hoping on one source. So I had to hike another couple of miles up Baldy Mountain before I could get water here. It's still yellow after I filtered it--oh well. Talked to some SOBOs today. One said he met a NOBO quitting in Vermont. She had gotten giardia and Lyme's disease. I need to check for ticks more--I hope I don't get Lyme's. These last couple days were rough, but I'm excited for the Cookie Lady tomorrow and Mt Greylock on Sunday. Getting new shoes; pieces of my soles are coming off. I also need new socks--oh well. The trail is almost 1000 feet higher now, with ridges at 2000 feet and gaps and valleys at 1000 feet. Tomorrow will seem long, due to anticipation, even though its only 21 miles.
Date: 2012-08-04
From: Camped near Knee-Deep Pond

To: Levardi's place (Dalton, MA)
Miles today: 24.9
Weather: haze

Saw a porcupine this morning! It came right up to camp and climbed a tree. Thought it was a raccoon from a distance. First time on this trip that I've seen an animal for the first time in the wild. Unfortunately I never saw any hogs, elk, or wolves. I was camped next to a German guy who didn't see it and had never heard of porcupines, so I was trying to explain it to him. Pretty flat hike mostly today, except for a small gap near I-90. It was probably my favorite interstate crossing. It was a scenic spot and the A.T. had its own footbridge. Apparently I'm in the Berkshires. Wish I had made it a few more miles to Upper Goose Pond Cabin last night. Sounds very nice and there's a pancake breakfast. Made it to the cookie lady's house around lunch. I picked up my new shoes I had mailed there. Also got a half dozen boiled eggs, cookies, and a Klondike bar. One of my socks has a big hole, and the other pair is old. Hope I can get more soon. I was originally going to the next shelter, but went 3 more miles to the town of Dalton. I'm staying at Tom Levardi's place, who has hosted thru hikers for 30 years and even met Earl Shaffer. He invited me over as I was walking down the sidewalk through town past his house. It was a great decision to stay. I showered, got laundry done, ate at the Milltown Tavern, and am sleeping inside on a mattress. Got Entemann's donuts for breakfast tomorrow from Cumberland Farms. There's some chain stores I've never heard of up north here. I never would have guessed Cumberland Farms was like a 7 Eleven looking at the name listed in the guidebook. Found a deer tick--hope I don't get Lyme's...
Date: 2012-08-05
From: Levardi's place (Dalton, MA)

To: Bascom Lodge on Mt. Greylock
Miles today: 17.4

Got an early start this morning, powered by Entemann's donuts. Climbed over a long hill, before the trail went through the town of Cheshire, MA. I had called ahead to the outfitter there about socks. Good thing I did, because it was more like a guy's house who had a lot of gear. He wasn't around but he left the socks with his mom so I could still get them. Everything in town was closed, but I got a pizza and a burger at the Cobbleview Pub as soon as they opened. Finally started up Mt Greylock around noon. It was a long but fairly gradual climb. All the southbounders were saying the north side is much steeper. It was ominous then started raining 3/4 of the way up. By the time I got to the top, it was very foggy. Could barely see the tower or the lodge. Decided to have a nice night at the Bascom lodge on the summit here. Its the highest point in Massachusetts. I'm only 10 miles from Vermont and 600 miles from the finish. Its kind of an odd place here. Its sort of fancy, but in the woods. Theres some kind of African drum show going on. Such a random place. Castaway is here, along with some section hikers. I met Castaway at Levardi's last night and had dinner. He had met my dad hiking on the roller coaster in Virginia. I hope I'm not underdressed for dinner. It was very expensive, but I heard it was very good from some section hikers in PA. I don't think any other hikers are splurging for dinner here. It was a very interesting dinner. I was seated with a bunch of color yankee characters I've never met. There was an engineer, a wood engraver, and a landscaper. Good conversation and great food though.
Date: 2012-08-06
From: Bascom Lodge on Mt. Greylock

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

It was hard to leave the lodge this morning on the cold, exposed summit of Mt Greylock, even though the continental breakfast only consisted of toast. It was a steep downhill at points, but trail crews were moving it to switchbacks even today. Several times today I saw two women who were section hiking and stayed at the lodge last night. It was a shame to say bye to Castaway. I don't often see people for mroe than a day. Not sure what happened to Lobster or the guy from Maine. I think they sped up. Got a bunch of groceries, including croissants (a first) at North Adams, MA, a half mile off the trail. Got new toothpaste and deodorant for the first time since starting in Georgia. Leaving town, the trail went up someone's driveway and around the edge of their yard, which seemed weird. After a long but gradual uphill, I finally reached Vermont and the southern end of the Long Trail. The Long Trail runs the length of Vermont from Canada to Massachusetts. It's older than the AT, and shares a route for half of it in Vermont. Met some Long Trail thru hikers and a lot of SOBOs. The mice are really bad here. Haven't stayed in a shelter in a while. Saw a snake already in Vermont. I have maps for the 1st time since Fontana Dam, but I could've had them for Connecticut--there were free ones lying around everywhere.
Date: 2012-08-07
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: few clouds

Last night, one of the SOBOs had a wood burning stove that charged a battery. The battery ran a fan to stoke the fire, and could charge electronics. Ridiculous. The mice were everywhere. Chewed through some people's food, but I prayed fervently and mine was untouched. I'm in Green Mountain National Forest now, and went through a wilderness area today. Both for the first time since Central Virginia. There was a steep up and down by a road this morning, but I didn't mind. I had croissants for breakfast. Didn't see much today, but its nice to be in the woods again. Met a guy from Holland who had no accent. On Glastenbury Mountain, there was a cool lookout tower, one of my favorites. It was dark, evergreen woods, with a big metal tower jutting out, and was cool to slowly climb above the trees as an endless expanse of forests, lakes, and mountains came into view. Also, last night was very cold. Drew my sleeping bag up tight at my head. Hasn't been that cold since the Smokies. Hope this isn't usual. I don't want it to be this cold the rest of the way, and it would only get colder as I move north. I heard its supposed to warm up though. The water's been good. I backwashed my filter for the first time today--kind of helped. Got a late start this morning because I was shut in the dark in my closed sleeping bag. Met some nice section hikers. I see mice again.
Date: 2012-08-08
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Bromley Shelter
Miles today: 23.1
Weather: clear sky

Got to this shelter really early--5:40! Mice last night stayed in the walls, but were loud. I hung a bear bag, so I wasn't worried. Best bear rope throw ever too--no rock, first try, and even with branches in the way. Got some great views today. Stood atop a firetower on Stratton Mountain, the highest point in southern Vermont. Forests and mountains as far as you can see in every direction. Below that was Stratton Pond, which was clear, quiet, and beautiful. Actually had about a mile of trail on a dirt road--didn't expect that in Vermont, but it was common in PA. Met a woman with an angry dog. She shouted "I have a dog!" from a distance and I didn't know how to respond. I fed it a treat and it was ok though. At one point, there was a foot bridge over a creek near VT-11 that was simple a large I-beam (Jonathan would appreciate it). Met some day hikers with heavy yankee accents coming down as I was going up to the shelter. They asked how far to the parking lot and were devastated to learn that they still had a mile downhill. They said they weren't used to being out of the city. They were shocked that I was sleeping in the woods and said I should let my mother know where I was. Hit a nice shelter for once. Nobody here when I got here! 2 guys--Bones and Shifty--stopped by on their way to camp on the peak. They are going a comparable speed to me (or maybe not) and know Lobster. Apparently he's a couple of days behind me. I keep hearing voices, I think there's a lot of day hikers on this mountain. Going to bed early (8 pm).
Date: 2012-08-09
From: Bromley Shelter

To: Greenwall Shelter
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: broken clouds

For the first time in forever I was alone at the shelter all night. Kind of nice to spread out. Nobody here tonight yet either. After a short climb this morning, got to the top of Bromley Mountain, with ski lifts and lots of ski slopes--not in use of course. Passed some cool areas today, that looked nice to revisit on a shorter trip. The trail followed Big Branch and crossed on a suspension bridge. Then crossed a road and went around Little Rock Pond, where lots of people were swimming and jumping from the rocks. The last stretch over White Rocks Mountain was a beautiful section of woods. Vermont's starting to look pretty cool in places--a thick, mossy forest floor below tons of firs and spruce. It smells like Christmas. Other stretches look like how I picture Maine--ponds and bogs. Apparently beavers can be a headache for trail maintainers, flooding sections of trail and wrecking havoc. I must still be between NOBO hiker bubbles or something, because there are less lately than before. THe SOBOs have definately died down too. Someone said there are more SOBOs this year than he's ever seen. Seems like a record year over all for thru hiking. Ok, big thunderstorm, and a bunch of hikers ran here. It's pouring. Lots of lightning striking very close.
Date: 2012-08-10
From: Greenwall Shelter

To: Churchill Scott Shelter
Miles today: 25.2
Weather: light rain

Dreary all day but the storm hasn't hit yet. Today definately went better than I thought it would. Crazy lightning storm last night, with one strike very close to the shelter as 4 more hikers rushed in. Got up early for once (6 am), hoping to go to restaurant. But I heard thunderstorms were coming and it was starting to rain when I reached the road, so I kept hiking in case of a shortened day. Some well graded sections of trail on Bear Mountain, but very rooty for a bit near the top of Killington. It was a steep climb up from VT-103, where there was a beautiful wild river and suspension footbridge. There was 3 miles of trail closed along Gould Brook, due to damage from Hurricane Irene last year. I hiked it anyway instead of the road walking detour. It was quite passable and pretty cool. The stream had obviously been crazy flooded. A couple sections of trail had become part of the river, but I was able to follow rock cairns and blaze tape along a partially scraped trail up the ridge along the river. A couple bridges were out, but logs and even a ladder made it so I didn't actually have to ford. At one point an entire steel and concrete road bridge was gone, which the AT had used to cross. The road was still cut off a year later--crazy. Long climb up Killington, but 2.5 mi shorter than the guidebook says. It was a pleasant surprise, because I was in a hurry and worried about approaching thunderstorms. It was very rooty though and halfway up I snapped a hiking pole in half. The shelter at the top was cool, with a good view--wish I could've stayed there. A little later, I got to this shelter dry--no rain yet. Two guys here (Thumper and Goat) are going about my pace. They started about a week or so before me. They said they met a couple guys who started May 24th. First I've heard of someone starting after me. There's also a Long Trailer here. In 5 miles tomorrow there's an outfitter, deli, and post office. I'll probably get new poles and socks. I'll also wear the new shoes I've been carrying for a week and throw out the old ones that I've been wearing. It'll be nice to drop that extra weight. The new shoes only need to do less than 500 miles, since I scraped another 150 miles out of the old pair since I got the new ones south of Dalton, MA.
Date: 2012-08-11
From: Churchill Scott Shelter

To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 19.9

Last night a porcupine was chewing on my hiking poles, but I chased it off. Hiked to Maine junction this morning, where the A.T. and the Long Trail part ways towards Maine and Canada. AWOL's book was definately wrong again. Afterwards, went to the tourist village of Killington-not uch there. Mailed the broken hiking poles home with some Vermont maple syrup, ate at the deli, then bought socks and new poles at the outfitter. It was a great hike after a big meal, new shoes, and new poles. Lots of up and down the rest of the day, but I was energized. Saw a deer, and a mouse. The trail detoured twice today. Both were blazed so I took the detours. One was only like 50 yards, taking a road where a footbridge was gone. The other was a long road walk around a marshy area where the boardwalk was washed away. At one point the trail went to the edge of a cliff, and there was just a metal ladder to get down from it... Kept running into Thumper and Goat--they're at the same shelter again, along with two others who started in May. Its been a long time since I've someone who started in May--maybe almost since May. LIke yesterday, its been wet, rainy, and dreary. But yesterday was the first half of the day, and today it was wet the second half. It was nice today until the afternoon. No thunder, but very misty up on the ridge. Not sure how far I hiked today. The maps, AWOL, and the trail signs all differ. It'll even out in the end.
Date: 2012-08-12
From: Winturri Shelter

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: scattered clouds

The day started dreary, but cleared up. The day was mostly a series of shorter but sometimes steep ups and downs. Under the Dartmouth Outing Club's maintenance, there were a lot of overgrown fields today. One stretch near Totman Hill Road was really overgrown, muddy, and the trail was everywhere. Almost got lost. Blazes were sparse. I think I've seen a bunch of moose sign, if its not really large deer. THe trail has been really well graded lately, with few rocks or roots. I've been able to jog downhill for the first time in a while. There was a long road walk near West Hartford and I-89. People were jumping into the river from the highway bridge--glad there are places in America where that's still allowed. The roadwalk was probably the sketchiest so far. Traffic was heavy and there wasn't much shoulder. I had to step aside into the bushes when a car drove by. Got a burger, sub, chicken and biscuit crackers, and donuts from the deli there, then hauled it the four miles up the mountain to this shelter. Got here real early. Good evening. Goat and Thumper are here again, along with Stumbles. We seem to be going the same pace. Will reach Hanover and New Hampshire tomorrow.