morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-07-12
From: Bear Mountain Bridge, NY

To: Graymoor Friary
Miles today: 6.0

Kevin and Laurie picked us up (Forrest, Nancy, and Laura)in their van and we headed for Bear Mountain, NY. A little after noon, we arrived at a parking lot near the Bear Mountain Park, stopping there so the guys could get their packs out of the back of the van. Then we got back into the van and drove them to a spot along the side of the road near the west end of the Hudson River Bridge. (Forrest and Nancy had finished a hike there after starting at the Delaware Water Gap in 1981) After a quick good bye, they started their hike. They had a very hot and muggy day but they still managed to do 6 miles for the day even with the later start. They stayed for the night at Graymoor Friary, sleeping under the pavilion. Friar Leo gave them a tour of the Friary, and also Tuna Wraps and watermelon to eat, and as much to drink as they wanted.
Date: 2005-07-13
From: Graymoor Friary

To: Stream crossing
Miles today: 14.0

Another very hot and muggy day. After getting wet in a rain shower, the guys stayed damp all day because there was no breeze to dry them off. They didn't see any other hikers until after they had stopped in the afternoon and set up camp, and then they saw 1 section hiker go by. They hiked til about 5pm, then set up camp near a stream crossing, about 3 or 4 miles south of the RPH Shelter. The trail was relatively easy today except for the heat and humidity. Forrest said they probably didn't see anyone else hiking because everyone else is smart enough to stay home in this heat! The views, when they did come to one, were very hazy.
Date: 2005-07-14
From: Stream crossing

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: haze

Forrest and Kevin hiked thru the "green tunnel" today. The weather was very hot and humid again. They have only been rained on once, but the humidity keeps them damp all the time. They stopped in at the RPH Shelter which was only a few miles from where they had camped last night. Someone had left a bag of carrots so they each had a few. I guess that was Kevin's first "trail magic". The trail was fairly easy again, no rocks, but the usual ups and downs. At vistas they could only see maybe a 1/2 mile because it was so hazy. Some places you are supposed to be able to see NYC, but obviously they couldn't. They haven't seen many animals, only a few deer. Forrest said there is a lot of Striped Wintergreen blooming in the woods, and they saw some Wood Lilies. When the guys crossed the road at Rt 52 they went the short distance to the "store to the right" and had subs and drinks at the deli. They had company in the shelter, Pac Man (or maybe Pack Man ?) He started at Springer on March 17, about a week before Forrest did, so he knew many of the same people that Forrest hiked with. He also is wearing the same shoes as Forrest (Vasque Zephyrs GTX)and is on his 4th pair!
Date: 2005-07-15
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: stream before Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The temperature was 90+ today. There was a lot of field walking which really had the guys "cooking" in the sun. For 'fun' Forrest kept track of how much water he drank today - 1 1/2 gallons! At Rt 22, at the Appalachian Trail Station (Railroad), there was a lady with a Hot Dog Cart! So, of course, Forrest and Kevin each had a hot dog and soda. One thru hiker went past them today but didn't stop to talk. Someone else told them about a lake near the Pawling Nature Preserve where they might be able to swim and camp, but though they looked for it they didn't find it. So they wound up going a little farther than they had planned because they went til they got to the next water source. They also passed the "Gates of Heaven". This is a cemetery which never apparently materialized because Forrest said there is a big gate with a sign on it, but then inside the gate there is just a big hay field. Though the guys have been on the watch for deer ticks they haven't had any on them so far. Forrest says there are signs about them, with photos and information, at every road crossing. Forrest did get his first blister though - guess his sock was bunched up. Otherwise he is doing fine, and Kevin is, too.
Date: 2005-07-16
From: stream before Wiley Shelter

To: Mt Algo Lean-to
Miles today: 14.0

Forrest and Kevin crossed from NY into Connecticut today. So Forrest has now completed the AT in NY. The highlights of today were hiking along a river and going for a dip, having some trail magic, and seeing a covered bridge. The weather was hot, so the dip they took in the Hoosatonic River where two rivers come together felt great. At a road crossing they had trail magic. Someone had left two coolers there. One had drinks in it and the other had goodies. Forrest and Kevin each had a soda and some Devil Dogs. Thank you very much to the nice people who do this. It really brightens a hiker's day! The covered bridge had a sign on it which read "George Washington Thrice Crossed"! Who was keeping track?? They also saw some other hikers today, some day hikers, and Pac Man (a thru hiker) again.The Mt Algo Lean-to is nice, in a grove of pine trees by a stream.
Date: 2005-07-17
From: Mt Algo Lean-to

To: Cornwall Bridge, CT
Miles today: 12.0

The trail was a pretty nice hike today, along a river for quite awhile but with a climb up and over Silver Hill before coming to the road into town. Very hazy again today though. Forrest said he thought there were probably some very pretty views - if they could see them! When they got to route 4 they got a drink at the gas station, then walked on to the Hitching Post Motel. They got their room and then went to the store to get supper. They had sausage, meatballs, chips, cucumber and tomato salad. Then they asked at the motel about having their laundry done. They were told they could have it done for $5. So they gave them their dirty laundry. Well, Forrest said, about a half an hour later, a boy came back with their laundry, in a plastic bag - still wet! The $5 was for "washed" clothes, which is what they got! So the guys hung their 'food-bag hanging' rope around their room and hung their wet clothes on it to dry!
Date: 2005-07-18
From: Cornwall Bridge, CT

To: Sharon Mt. Campsite 
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: light rain

We didn't have enough time on this trip to take a zero day so we are taking a "nero" day, a near zero day today. We only plan to hike 8.4 miles to the Sharon Mt. campsite. We walk up to Bairds General store and order a breakfast of eggs, home fries and bacon, what a treat. Kevin could have his morning coffee today too. We hang around the motel until 9:30 and then head up the trail. The trail begins with a climb up Pine Knob along a nice stream with lots of hemlocks. After we reach the summit we hear voices coming and about a dozen teenage kids arrive, they are from a local camp and are on a day hike.A couple of more miles farther north we meet a lady in her 70's going south. She is very hot and sweaty in her long pants and long sleeved shirt. She is looking for Pine Knob and when we tell her she has a few miles to go she isn't very happy. She decides to stop at the upcoming road. As she walks away she tells us to watch out for a rattlesnake she just saw, we never see it.We arrive at our campsite among dark skies, thunder and lightning. It is booming all around us but never rains on us. It has been another very hot and humid day.
Date: 2005-07-19
From: Sharon Mt. Campsite 

To: Limestone Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: few clouds

Today is our last full day on the trail for this trip. It is another hot and humid morning, the 8th day in a row. You sweat just standing still, so carrying a pack up and down hills is a very wet undertaking.After we cross the river today there is a nice woods walk with very large White Pine trees all around. It makes me think about reading a story in a book I have about the history of North American trees. When this country was first being populated the King of England claimed all of the towering, straight white pines for ships masts. It tells of them being marked with the Kings seal and cutting one of them with out permission could result in your death.At about 10am we pass near the Mountain Side Cafe and decide to pass it up in favor of the pizza shop coming up in Falls Village. As we approach Falls Village there is a power plant on the river that has a outside shower and spigot. We get water and rinse in the shower. On to the pizza shop! We follow the directions in the guide and find out in about 1/2 mile that the guide is wrong after asking a couple of girls walking along the road. We backtrack to the powerplant and then walk the 1/2 mile into town the other way.Once in town we find out that the pizza shop is closed on Monday and Tuesday! and today is Tuesday! We head to the package store to see if they sell cold sodas and thankfully they do. We each drink two 12oz sodas then get a 1 liter to drink on our way back to the trail. As we are walking back we meet Redwing and Hopeful, a couple that are thru hiking. We talk a while about mutual hikers we have met on the trail and catch up with some of the news about them.We walk the 4 miles to Limestone shelter again with thunder storms booming all around but it only rains lightly on us. It has been another very hot and muggy day.
Date: 2005-07-20
From: Limestone Shelter

To: RT 41, Salisbury 
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: clear sky

We wake up to a nice cool blue skied morning, the first of the trip. It is our last day it will be a nice day to end with. We come to Giants Thumb in a few minutes and it is a big thumb shaped rock sticking out of the ground. As we come to a couple of vistas and we can actually see quite a ways to distant mountains. We haven't had any good views for the past 8 days.We arrive at Rt 41 by 10:30 and walk the .8 miles into Salisbury. It is a nice looking town with lots of well kept homes and buildings, many very old. We find the grocery store and look at everything. We decide on Fried chicken, salad and drinks for lunch.Nancy, Laura and Laurie meet us at 12:30 and have fresh blueberries, cold drinks and most important, hugs and kisses for us. We sit a while and decide to drive up to the AMC parking near Bear Mt. and all of us will hike to the summit. It's a nice walk and the views are very good on all directions. The driving / hiking directions were provided by Keith, (who has a great website about the Berkshires) and it went well. This closes another chapter for this summers hiking. Kevin and I had a good time hiking even though it was not the best of weather. We did 97.4 miles and ended just 7 miles from the Mass. state line. I don't yet know what the rest of the summer holds as far as more hiking. After my daughter Sara arrives back from Papua New Guinea in a couple of weeks we may do a few days hike together. Then in September or October I may head to Virgina and hike for a couple of more weeks. I want to thank everyone who has been reading this journal and for all the support I have received from many people on and off the trail. My dream of a AT thru hike is still alive!
Date: 2004-01-03
To: Gearin' up
Miles today: 0.0

I start my hike in less than two months and i'm not sure if im over preped or under, i still need to go out on some shake down hikes to work out the rest of my gear. (is a homemade 5X8 tarp gonna work???) I thought i had all my food worked out (buy as i go, no drops) till i got a dehydrator for xmas and made some killer jerkey and dried fruit. Now, i debate, eat whichever i can find along the way, or start setting up maildrops, I may just have to stick to dehydrating for my shake down hikes.
Date: 2005-03-05
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Neels GFap Hostle
Miles today: 16.0

1.Rained over night.2.Awesome trail magic at Woody Gap, much needed chapstick.3.Beer and BBQ kickoff party at neels gap hostle, how could i not stay. (plus Blood mtn shelter was cold windy and infested with some kind of large rodent)
Date: 2005-03-07
From: Low Gap shelter

To: Tray Mtn
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: scattered clouds

1. Trail name is now four cheese from a bnag of "great value, Four cheese" that i got from neels gap hiker box, made a mess of shleter.2. Winter storm, My Tarp went over the shelter entrance. much warmer.3. Arches are colapseing.. i need some inserts, for now i have moleskin floded up under my arches for suport.
Date: 2005-03-08
From: Tray Mtn

To: Plumorchard Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

1.lots of snow, wind, hore frost everywhere.2. FOund a fwe unprepared college kids, helped them twards dicks crek gap.3. I now have the first 3 pages of the companion undder my other arch for suport, helps.
Date: 2005-03-11
From: Rock gap shelter

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: scattered clouds

1. easy Resuply at franklin this morning from Winding stair gap. 4 hr round trip, including the Shoneys AYCE... been dreaming of them fried french taoast sticks all week. And got Superfeet inserts.2. Flurries on the way back up the the gap.3. Tarp camu out again to barr off the entrance to the shelter. much warmer.
Date: 2005-03-18
From: russel Field shelter

To: Silers bald shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

1. lost holf the crew i left fontana with to the last shelter back.2. Ice and snow keeps increaceing on the trails.3. Shatter the ridge runner showed up at night to stay, moved our food bags from the mouse hangers to the bear hangers.
Date: 2005-03-22
From: Davenport gap.

To: walnut mtn.
Miles today: 23.6

1. Very long day, pushed hard the whole way.2. *RAN* over max patch due to wind and rain.3. new shelter not built, messed up my milage plans.4. blowin round 60 and raining tonight... tarp is out again to keep us all froms getting soaked.
Date: 2005-03-23
From: walnut mtn.

To: Sunny side inn, Hot springs
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: few clouds

1. Tarp was ripped last night in the storm, gonna need to fix it or get a new shelter.2. Hail storm this afternoon, luckly i was inside the minimart.3. Dinner w/ baltimore jack and the rest of the crew. Paladin, Cords, Train, Heidi, Feather, Chris, Mark...
Date: 2005-05-02
From: Miss. Janet's house

To: Waysborro
Miles today: 0.0

Ok, so im not going to try to give a day by day for all of virgina (and most of TN). Overall the hiking has been good, weather fair, and the people awesome. a few highlights, My stay with Scarecrow at Pearisburg, nice zereo, i got some new Kicks, that are starting to fall apart now, and so0me tips on my poles that were broken. I took a nice fall hikning into Kinkora, same day i got snowed on (again), and bent up a hiking pole, but its still working. Paladin, Senior NOBS, and the newlyweds had a hotdog roast one evening outside of Bland, after arm wressleing for the last one, i ate a solid 8.5 dogs. Ive seen more deer than you can shake a leki at, and several turkeys, grouse, and even a pair of beavers swimming in watuga lake. it is currnetly unseasonably cold, and ill be mostlikly swinging outside tonight, (as usual). Perhaps my next update will be soner so i can actually remember what i sogoing on... just walking north, havent missed a (white) blaze yet.4-cheese
Date: 2005-05-12
From: Waysborro

To: Trail days
Miles today: 0.0

had a nice hike thurough the Shenandoas.Now I'm at home at NC, but not for long. I left harpers ferry on tuesday, and drove home with me mum.Now my brother and I will be headed out to Trail Days to spend the weekend there, before i get back on at harpers ferry again. its a nice break from the trail after averaging 20+ thorugh the 'doas.
Date: 2005-06-13
From: Trail days

To: Kent
Miles today: 0.0

Well, ive spent a looooong time away from the computer. I think ive kicked the technology habit. Ive seen them computers and not even thought about trailjournals, or even checking email. the woods Heave been treating me well. I arrived at kent late last night after bumbling around in the dark and missing he shelter, so stealthed in town. the outfitter here is grand, i traded out my pair of NewBalance 471's for a pair of Ken sandalesque thinkgies. very comphy.I'l be out of CT in a day or two, a couple more for Mass, then onto VT Wahoohoo. Abosolouteyballyspiffinhunkydory.Notabale occourances include- traidays, HARDCORE, Finding Hare in Boiling Springs, Yuengling Brewery Tour, Party in NJ- THANKS HIPPIE+TRIPOD!!!, The palmerton SUPERFUND site- the greatest bit of trail ever (despite the raveges of zink smelting), lake swimming in NJ, crazy climbs in NY (without any water), bear Mtn playground, and sleeping in questionable locations. well, time to hit the trail again.4-cheese w/Hare
Date: 2005-04-27
To: Springer
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I am getting ready to leave for Springer in the morning and I will do a quick attempt at three journal entries so that I will have established my requirement for posting this site.Last night we had the family over for the last farewell before I start on my adventure. It was fun with all our kids and grandkids here to see the not so famous hiker off on his way.
Date: 2005-04-29
To: Springer
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we are leaving home for the thru hike and the adventure of this man's lifetime. I am looking forward to the total trip. I have all my gear and food packed, too much of everything but I still can't figure out what to leave behind. Maybe after a few days out there it will come to me what isn't really necessary.On to Springer.
Date: 2005-04-30
From: Springer

To: Three Forks Road: USFS #58
Miles today: 4.2

Today's the day - On To Katahdin!!!Yesterday, my fellow hiker, Mike Shepard and his wife, Jackie, and my wife, Judy and I drove to Dawsonville, GA - approximately 520 miles from Indianapolis. We stayed overnight at The Lodge at Amicalola Falls State Park. We spent a leisurely morning having the buffet breakfast at The Lodge and then repacking for the thru-hike. We stopped at the Ranger Station at the entrance to the State Park, signed in the thru-hiker's book, and listened to a ranger presentation on poisonous and non-poisonous snakes.Mike (Trail Name - TSquared for slow or turtle hiker) and I hiked the 0.9 miles to Springer Mountain from the Forest Service Road parking lot. After signing in at the top of Springer and taking a few pictures, we began the greatest and longest journey of our life. We arrived at Three Forks Road about 4:00 PM where the Trail crosses and set up our tents in the pouring rain. It was pretty windy and cold.One of the first rules you are told is not to leave food, drink or wrappers in your pack or clothes at night. Well, we witnessed the consequences of this rule when Wendy (no Trail Name yet) had a mouse in her tent because she forgot she had food in her possession.Until tomorrow .....
Date: 2005-05-01
From: Three Forks Road: USFS #58

To: Woody Gap, GA
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: clear sky

We packed up our tents and left at 7:00 AM for our 16.6 mile hike to Woody Gap. It was a cool, clear, sunny day. We saw a number of section and day hikers but no other thru-hikers (those attempting to hike all the way from Georgia to Maine or Maine to Georgia). Most thru-hikers have already been through this area (starting in March and April). We passed a couple shelters and ascended Sassafras Mountain (3340') and Justus Mountain (3225'). The only wildlife we saw today was a small lizard. We stopped around 4:00 PM, set up our tents, made dinner and relaxed a little before bed.Mike (Tsquared) and I talked about our increased appetites. For supper tonight, I cooked a can of ravioli and meatballs on my little Pepsi-can stove. Mike ate peaches, some kind of beef, potatoes, gravy, and applesauce (I think he ate almost 2 lbs. of food). We had both been on several practice hikes prior to this trip and never had a real appetite - except maybe for the last practice hike to Virginia. Until tomorrow.....
Date: 2005-05-02
From: Woody Gap, GA

To: Hog Pen Gap, GA
Miles today: 17.7

We left about 7:00 AM again and hiked in nice weather. Can you believe there is a building that the AT goes through? It is at Neels Gap and is a hostel, backpacking store and also has a small grocery section. What a place!Mike and I are camping between 2 mountains tonight. It is so windy and cold it's hard to believe our tents are still standing. I only had sausage and cheese crackers for supper as it was too windy to light my stove.Until tomorrow.....
Date: 2005-05-03
From: Hog Pen Gap, GA

To: Unicoi Gap, GA
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: broken clouds

Mike and I have been pretty spoiled so far with beautiful hiking weather. Only 13.7 miles to Unicoi Gap. When we got to the Gap, we hitched a ride into town (Helen, GA). We ate at the Troll Restaurant and had bratwurst, knockwurst, German-style potatoes, cabbage and sauerkraut. I remember that my Mom and Dad used to come to Helen to get apples and then eat at the German restaurant. We spent the night in a motel in Helen. A lady there washed all our clothes. Sure feels good to wear clean clothes again. We stopped at Betty's Grocery Store and got a few hiking supplies, cashews and a few other nuts. I seem to have left my stash of nuts at home in Indiana.Until tomorrow.....
Date: 2005-05-04
From: Unicoi Gap, GA

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: broken clouds

Good morning!I forgot to mention that we met a college student (Senior) named Stuey who is attempting to hike the entire Trail. His mom and her friend met him at the trailhead near Helen, Georgia to take him into town for the night. His mom also gave several of us hikers a ride into town in her van. We call her a Trail Angel.The waitress at the restaurant we ate at last night gave us her phone number and told us to call her in the morning and she would give us a ride back to the trailhead. Georgia is full of Trail Angels as she and her boyfriend did give us a ride. This was much easier than hiking the 9 miles back to the Trail.Our toughest hike today was the 1000 feet to Kelly Knob. What a great test of the vascular system.We're tired tonight so hitting the sack now.Until tomorrow.....
Date: 2005-05-05
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Deep Gap, NC
Miles today: 15.9

As I'm writing this I'm remembering my Dad singing "On The Road Again" as our family would leave him and Mom at their home in Georgia and head home to Indiana - or when they would head home to Georgia from our house. Only I think I will change the words to "On The Trail Again".Today is a big milestone for T2 (Tsquared) and me. We are leaving Georgia in our rearview mirror and heading into North Carolina.. What a feeling stepping over the state line. About 1/4 mile up the Trail into North Carolina, we saw the great "Bly Oak" - one of the largest and gnarliest and probably most photographed trees on the Trail.We stopped for a long lunch at Muskrat Creek Shelter where T2, Loon (of course, he's from Minnesota) and I met Sidetrack (from Northern Georgia). I especially enjoyed talking with sidetrack as he had recently read the book "The Hornet's Nest" by Former President Jimmy Carter. My wife and I had recently listened to the audio tape of this book while driving to one of the practice hikes. After talking with Sidetrack, it appears the book went into a lot more detail than the audio tape.T2, Loon and I actually had to walk a little past our goal for the day to get to Standing Indian Shelter where we spent the night -- and please note it was cold - the temp got down to 28 degrees (Loon was able to check the temp for us). T2 and I shared a spaghetti dinner.Until tomorrow.....
Date: 2005-05-06
From: Deep Gap, NC

To: Rock Gap, NC
Miles today: 21.0

Today was a pretty decent day - even though our mileage was a little higher.We had a short, steep ascent to Albert Mountain where there was a fire tower and gorgeous views. Plenty of pictures were taken. We then had a long, gradual descent into Rock Gap. Can't believe that even being on top of a mountain that my cell phone didn't work.We stayed at Rock Gap Shelter for the night with Sidetrack and a section hiker (can't remember his name). The nighttime temp got down to 30 degrees again. Until tomorrow.....