morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-07-11
From: Pochuck Shelter 

To: Vernon NJ
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: light rain

Ibex and I had discussed the possibility of catching the England/Croatia semifinal World Cup game and decided we would make it our mission to see it one way or another. Our best bet was going to be the road gap near Vernon which was only 6.5 miles out. We left early enough that the hike there would put us in before noon. The morning was mostly downhill through the pine forest before a boardwalk through some heavy swamp land. She arrived at the road ahead of me and had walked over to the Heaven Hills farm store to wait. They had ice cream so we indulged some of that while we contemplated our next move. There were a couple of winery/cidery places nearby but we couldn¢t find an Uber or lyft to get there. We found that the Appalachian motel just down the road did offer a free pickup and they had cable in the rooms. We grabbed a couple bottles of wine from the store inside and called the motel to get picked up. The owner came right down and we were soon checked in, showered, and drinking wine while the game started. We also found some local Chinese delivery so that we wouldn¢t have to go anywhere for a bit. The Chinese was good, England lost and we caught a slight buzz. After the game, we paid the owner of the motel to shuttle us over to the supermarket for resupply and got the necessities plus a few more beers before having her drive us back. We lounged the rest of the evening at the motel watching a South Park marathon and drinking beer. Kind of an unnecessary Nero today but worth it to get resuppied and enjoy the creature comforts. We should be able to get into NY tomorrow and hopefully Chef will be soon caught up again.
Date: 2018-07-12
From: Vernon NJ

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: overcast clouds

In typical fashion, we delayed departure until around checkout and got shuttled back to the trail around 10am. We knew we had a fairly sizable day ahead and some steepish terrain so we got into a rhythm right away. The last spring for a while was halfway up the first ridge climb and we took advantage of the good water. The day was a constant roller coaster of short but steep descents and ascents over rocky ledges in the forest. It was pretty fun terrain but it required more physical effort than straight hiking, I was using upper body strength to maneuver some climbing moves that you rarely see on the trail. After the ridge reached a higher point and the trail followed along the top, we crossed the NJ/NY border around 2:30. There were some decent viewpoints from up there and ibex and I found a shaded area to break for lunch. We still had some decent mileage to make and had planned to stop at Bellvale creamery for late afternoon treats so we got moving again. The trail stayed high on solid rock for a while and there were fantastic views down to Greenwood Lake. It looked like an idyllic lake resort town and we regretted not having pushed bigger miles early yesterday to post up in a hotel there for the World Cup game. Oh well, can¢t hit em all. I made it to the road crossing for the creamery and walked a short ways down there to find a couple other hikers and an entire tour bus load of a Latin church group. I stood in line, the only person not dressed on Sunday best and stinking of sweat. The wait was worth it though, I had a shake and vanilla cream soda that were amazing after the hot day of hiking. Ibex arrived not long after and a little while after, chef came rolling in. Since we were a little while in conversing and lounging, I went back in for a root beer float. I also had a couple beers and some baby carrots courtesy of a local trail angel that had passed through. We decided to hit the next shelter a couple miles up for the night and made it up there just as it was getting dark. I was furiously swatting at mosquitoes while setting up my tent and since I¢d had a dinner of ice cream and baby carrots, I opted to call it a night without cooking, a most adult decision.
Date: 2018-07-13
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Lake Tiorati camp
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: overcast clouds

For the first time on trail, I had breakfast inside my tent because the mosquitoes might have killed me otherwise. I got back on the trail and started a day of PUDs (pointless ups and downs) in the rising heat. It would be another day of tricky water options as the recent heat waves had dried up many seasonal water sources and I¢d be pushing more liquid under the hot sun. Luckily, local trail angels are keen to this problem and at almost every road gap we would find gallons cached for water bottle refills. I have no idea how we would¢ve made it through the day without their help. We stopped for lunch at a high point that looked down on the interstate and I could only be there long enough to scarf down lunch, it was too hot to bear otherwise. Ibex and chef were still lounging around when I started off again and we planned to rendezvous at Lake Tiorati where there was swimming and vending machines within the state park just off trail. The afternoon had more tough climbs and a feature called the lemon squeezer where I was barely able to wriggle through the narrow stone crevasse with my pack. I made the lake after a quarter mile walk down the side road and found a plug in to charge my phone at a picnic table near the vending machines. I got in the water just as the others rolled in and they had discovered a local pizza joint that would deliver to the lake. Dinner! They also grabbed a dip and I took advantage of the shower to rinse myself off and some of my clothes. I hung those up to dry in the sun and we waited for the pizza. We each had ordered a full large pie and of course Chef took his down in one sitting. Ibex and I packed out our leftover slices and after filling up water, we hiked on to find a campsite nearby. About a mile past the park, up on a ridge covered with blueberry bushes, we found some suitable flat space to stealth camp. Tomorrow we will hike down to bear Mt state park and ibex will meet her mom for lunch and head chef needs to go somewhere for resupply. I will see how far I get and hopefully we can reconnect after they¢ve done their errands.
Date: 2018-07-15
From: Graymoor spiritual center 

To: Canopus Lake
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I got packed up on the soccer field as groups of people were starting to arrive. What looked to be a day-long soccer tournament was taking shape and I was feeling out of place a bit. There were booths being set up, uniformed soccer players going through pregame warm-ups and an insane amount of chicken being grilled under the far veranda. One of the Hispanic guys setting up asked me in rough English if I lived there while I was eating breakfast under the pavilion. I laughed and said no, just here for the one night but judging by all of the activity, was starting to wish I could stay. I started my hike and planned on hitting the Canopus lake state park for the evening. There is free tenting there in a field and they have swimming and concessions near the beach. Ibex and chef were uncertain if they would make it that far and they were also probably waiting up for glow stick who was back on trail after her weekend at wine fest. I made good time over fairly easy terrain and made the beach around 4:30. The grill at the concession was open still so I got a chicken sandwich and fries. I went back in before they closed at 6 and grabbed an ice cream and they offered me the remainder of the fries they had left over as they were closing up which I gladly accepted. After a shower at the beach restroom, I found the tenting area behind the parking lots and set up. There was no one else there yet and I sat at the picnic table and enjoyed a tall boy that I¢d packed out from the deli yesterday. I¢ll be alone this evening again and it sounds like the others will make it here around 10 tomorrow. Of course they¢ll want to swim and eat concession food so I doubt we will make many miles in the afternoon but it¢ll be good to have the group back together.
Date: 2018-07-16
From: Canopus Lake 

To: Deli camp - RT 52
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: few clouds

The morning heat had me rolling out of my tent and it was almost stifling by 8am. I packed up and walked back over to the picnic area in front of the concessions to eat breakfast and wait for the others. They made it in just after 10 and we all went down to the water for a dip. Ibex had a visit from her dad and we all hung around and ate from the grill with no special urgency to get out again, the heat had drained much of our motivation. We decided we would shoot for a deli near a road crossing about ten miles out because they allowed tenting in the grass behind the shop and of course we wanted to sleep next to a sandwich shop. The hike out was kind of a drag and I had to pop in some music to get moving. I reached the deli first and checked my messages only to discover that the crew had held up at the last shelter because a local trail group was providing magic there in the form of a picnic feast. I had to merely settle for a deli sandwich and a couple tall boys, woe is me. I conversed with some other thru hikers that I¢d not yet met and the others came in after I¢d crawled into my tent at dark. We will be meeting up with Chefs folks tomorrow at a road crossing and they are graciously hosting us at their home in Redhook for the next couple nights.
Date: 2018-07-17
From: RT 52 Deli 

To: RT 22
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: broken clouds

The deli was open for breakfast so of course I grabbed a breakfast burrito, mini donuts and juice and coffee before breaking camp. The afternoon was supposed to get stormy so I wasted no time on the day¢s hike. I kept an eye on the hourly forecast and knew I needed to book it to stay dry which is exactly what I did. I emerged to the Wingdale road gap where the only train stop on the AT sits. I chatted briefly with a day hiker who was curious about my trek and took my photo and then I hustled a half mile up the road to a deli just as the rain began in earnest, thank god for the conveniently placed delis in the state of NY which have lately been a stand-in for shelters on the trail. I ordered a sandwich and Glow stick showed up right after. Ibex and chef had not quite beat the weather and they were hiding out under a gazebo near the road crossing until chefs dad came and scooped them up before coming to grab me and Glow. We drove 45 minutes out to his folks farm and talked with his dad along the way, him quizzing us about the trail and us grilling him on Chefs youth and upbringing. Their home out is a beautiful old farmhouse originally built in the late 1700s and we were greeted there by his mom, brother and two dogs. They welcomed us right in and we had beers and showers going in no time. His mom had graciously prepared a huge spread of burgers, salads, corn on the cob and all kinds of snacks. We all chatted after dinner and doted on the dogs, Diesel, a nine year old German Shepherd and Blackjack, a six year old mutt that used to be one of chefs boar hunting dogs in Hawaii before retiring to the farm life with his folks. The plan tomorrow is to catch a ride back to the trailhead with chefs brother and slackpack until his dad can pick us up in the afternoon at Kent, CT. Hopefully we will also meet up with Pony tomorrow and get him back in the tramily after he had stopped for a visit in NYC.
Date: 2018-07-18
From: NY RT 22

To: Kent CT
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: clear sky

Other than the dogs barking at coyotes last night, we slept well and Chef himself made an omelette and bacon breakfast for us before we hopped in the truck to get out to the trailhead for a slackpacking day. We felt pretty clever about being inside last night as the rain had continued overnight and we encountered a number of familiar faces on the trail that had been soaked from it. The hiking was good and the sun was out so we made good miles with less weight on our backs. Near midday, we crossed into CT and left NY in the rear view. The early impression of CT was a good one with nice rivers and forest to admire and the day rolled by smoothly. At the road crossing just above Kent, we found Show Pony and collected him for the ride back out to the farm when chefs dad arrived at the end of the day. When we got back to the farm, we donned swimwear to get a little bit of pool time as the afternoon sun slipped behind the trees. Pony initially griped about taking a nearo to wait for us but quickly came around after a dip and a beer. Diesel entertained us by racing laps around the pool and jumping over the diving board any time someone was about to hop in. We may have to take diesel with us when we leave because he is the funniest dog ever and we can tell he will miss us terribly.  Chefs mom made another fantastic dinner of bbq pork cutlets and grilled peaches along with all the side fixings like last night. This kind of living is sure to spoil us but how can we pass it up? We plan on getting in another day of slackpacking tomorrow courtesy of chefs mom.
Date: 2018-07-19
From: Kent CT

To: West Cornwall Rd
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

Slept well again in a bed and was awoken in the middle of the night by the dogs barking at coyotes-again. Chef repeated his breakfast prep for us and we had eggs made to order. His mom drove us back out to the trailhead and we agreed on a pick up time after a 16 mile day. The sun was out and the terrain was a mixed bag, hilly in the morning then very flat for a four mile stretch before more hill climbs in the afternoon. I kept a good pace and just snacked out of my pockets instead of stopping for full lunch. Chef texted us around noon that he had bumped our pick up time forward an hour since the terrain was faster than anticipated and this way we¢d have more pool time back at his parents house. We all made the road gap by around 3pm but the girls were perturbed that they had been made to hurry in order to get there on time. We loaded back into the family car and headed back out to the farm, donned swimwear and enjoyed more pool time with beers in hand. Chef said that we should probably get back on the trail full-time tomorrow and we all agreed that we had taken up enough of his parents space and grocery bill for the last few days and it was time to get going again. His folks were nice enough to order us pizzas tonight and we gratefully chowed down once more. We tried to get rid of as many beers as we could but it was clear that we wouldn¢t finish the ample supply that they¢d bought for our visit and eventually we called it an evening but not before taking a tramily photo while wearing matching sweatshirts from Chefs former company. Back out to the woods tomorrow after being spoiled rotten by Chef¢s generous parents.
Date: 2018-07-20
From: Cornwall Rd

To: Great Falls camp
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Enjoyed one more night of sound sleep in a bed and then prepared ourselves to leave the farm and get back out on the trail. As we were just about to get going, my Amazon package was delivered, some seam sealer for my tent to keep the top from leaking again. Only problem was that it was a spray can and not the smaller bottle I had hoped for, apparently I didn¢t read the package size closely enough. I crammed the full can into the top of my pack and will have to spray the tent in camp tonight and dispose of the spray can later. That, combined with the few beers I was packing out on the insistence of chefs parents, made for a bulky and heavy load. After Chefs mom drove us by the grocery store for food resupply, I was hating myself as I strapped up once back at the trailhead. We thanked Chef¢s mom once more for everything and began the hike up from the road. Given our afternoon start, we planned to only do about 10 miles before setting up for the evening. The hike was generally manageable terrain and I didn¢t suffer to greatly for my overburdened pack. After passing a set of waterfalls, we searched for a stealth site that had been described on the Guthook app. It took some scrambling and pond hopping to get there but were able to find suitable tent space for all. It was super buggy up there and despite having beers to drink, we deemed it a not ideal night to party in the forest. Zach came out for the weekend to see ibex and we assured him that we¢d find a more suitable spot tomorrow night and get wild in the woods. Guess that means I¢m carrying a few more beers until then. Also sprayed my tent with the seam sealer, hope that does the trick to get me to the end of the trail with dry sleeping quarters.
Date: 2018-07-21
From: Great Falls campsite

To: Race Brook Falls campsite
Miles today: 17.5

Slept somewhat chilly with only my bag liner and continue to think I should get my quilt sent back to me. Popped outside my tent to find that the dried seam sealer made my it look like it had been bombarded with bird shit weeks ago and I just never bothered to wash it off. Nice. As long as the stuff works, right? We hiked out and embarked on a substantial day that would see us hit both the 1500 mile marker and the jump from CT into MA. Milestones all around! The hike took us over a nice view on Bear Mt and through Sage¢s Ravine before another climb up and along a rocky ridge with views for days. We found a suitable campsite with reasonable water access fairly deep down in the woods and set up for what was predicted to be a rainy night. We finally got to have our tramily forest party and it was a great night. Music was played, dancing was did, hugs were had. The rain held off mercifully until we were all in our tents later. One for the books.
Date: 2018-07-22
From: Race Brook

To: Tom Leonard Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: moderate rain

Felt surprisingly OK this morning after the revelry last night, if maybe a bit cloudy. That mindset matched the weather which was all drizzle and fog. Hiked up and over Mt Everett and found a cooler full of iced tea trail magic on the other side. Kept pushing through the morning and ran into Ibex and zach who had met up with her mom and brother for a day of family slackpacking. They had bought us each a scone from the bakery in Great Barrington which I happily chowed down. Had to essentially run through a couple of thickly forested sections that had some of the hungriest and most aggressive mosquitoes I have seen yet. I¢ve lost count of the number of blood splats I¢ve created by smashing a skeeter, each time yelling, ¢Was it worth it, you bastard?!¢ or some similar variation. The final 5 miles up to the shelter was tough today and I was stumbling a bit too much by the time I finally got in around sundown, never a good thing.Pony had made it there too but the other three didn¢t show and have presumably laid up early to tent. With more heavy rain expected tonight, we are contented to hold up in the loft of the shelter and keep our selves and gear dry.
Date: 2018-07-23
From: Tom Leonard Shelter

To: Upper Goose Pond
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: light rain

The rain hammered pretty good a couple times last night and I was happy to be under the shelter roof. The morning was cloud soup but not raining even though we knew to expect more later today. I¢d made a commitment to be in Dalton, MA in two days to help my tenants figure out an issue with the air conditioning in my condo, so I needed to make big miles to get there. The hike was only an hour under way when the skies opened up again and the rain came down hard. Pony and I hiked through the misery most of the day and alternated between laughing maniacally and groaning with contempt for the weather. There was a roadside stand with help-yourself sodas and Gatorade so we stopped there to recharge for the next couple hill climbs. The afternoon drug on and we conversed about our resolve to finish the trail, favorite stand-up comics and various other topics. We made Goose Pond Cabin a little after seven and even though the bunks were all full, the caretaker offered us the floor in the living room in front of the fireplace. We agreed that would beat tenting out in the wet weather and happily laid out sleeping pads after everyone had gone up to bed. Would have loved to have been here a bit longer and with better weather but it¢s not to be. Will push another big day tomorrow to get down to Dalton and hopefully grab a motel room for an evening.
Date: 2018-07-24
From: Upper Goose Pond

To: Dalton MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We awoke early as we had set up in front of the fireplace and began to stir so soon as the first couple people were up and about. Upper Goose Pond cabin is known for serving pancakes to hikers and I looked forward to cooked breakfast. Unfortunately, there were so many hikers here last night that the process of getting pancakes made was suuuuper slow. I waited about 30 minutes for just one pancake and realized that getting full would take longer than I'd like to wait to leave. We had a fairly big day to get into Dalton and the allure of town was enough to make us scarf down some of our own boring provisions so that we could get back on the trail. We filled up on water from the jugs graciously provided by the caretaker, said our thanks and were on our way. The morning was overcast but starting to clear and the day looked promising weather-wise at least until later in the afternoon. Pony and I made our way up a few decent climbs and through some soggy trail and stopped for lunch at a shelter with about half the hike still ahead of us. Sometime after lunch, Pony and I separated and I put in some music to help the miles go by. The sun stayed out and I got closer and closer to town as my energy steadily dwindled. A couple miles before town there was one more significant elevation climb that kicked my ass and then it was a smooth downhill the rest of the way. Just before I broke the treeline before town, a massive tree came down in the forest above me, probably only 100 feet away. I stood in awe and watched the destruction of the falling giant and wondered if it had been much closer, how I might've reacted. I didn't ponder it too long as there was an ice cream shop just inside town limits and I had a milkshake on the mind. I arrived there to see a few other hikers I didn't know and sat down to inhale my well-earned treat. Pony arrived shortly thereafter and after he ate, we hailed an Uber to take us a couple miles over to the Econo Lodge. I failed to mention that Chef and Glow Stick had leapfrogged us yesterday by hiking into the night and arriving in town hours ahead of us this morning. They were posted up at the hotel already and Pony and I joined them. There was no pool even though one had been advertised and this was obviously crushing. Instead, we did the traditional stop-in to Five Guys and grabbed some beers to sip on while we waited for Ibex who was still hiking in. Eventually we were all reunited and went over to Friendly's for a late dinner of sandwiches and ice cream. I also learned that the full repair for the A/C in my apartment in Denver was going to be prohibitively expensive so I started pricing other options. Such a headache to have to deal with real life when on the trail but apparently the world is still turning without me so I'll have to get that figured out. Tomorrow we will hike out but in no great hurry, I'm sure.