morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2021-07-06
From: High Point Shelter (1340.7)

To: Wawayanda Shelter (1364.7)
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: broken clouds

We had another crazy exhausting day of hiking. We went by lots of stone walls, some with big rocks. Who built all of these walls? How long did it take? They mostly seem to delineate farm borders, but some went across ridge tops, maybe fortifications?Then we hiked through the most boardwalks and planked walkways of any day. One especially long boardwalk through wetlands was called Stairway to Heaven. Besides wetlands, we also hiked through a number of fields.We went into the cute small town of Unionville to resupply and buy food to eat. Cash only. Later we stopped at a farm stand called Heaven Hill where they make their own ice cream.All the while it was hot and humid. We walked through a number of wetlands where you could cut the humidity with a knife. The temperature was forecasted to be 90 degrees today but with the humidity, the heat index was over 100. Then for the end of the day we had a 1500 foot rocky climb. That¢s when a thunderstorm came upon us and let lose. Luckily MoJoe and I had just gotten to the top and over the rockiest section when the rain let loose. We got to the shelter soaking wet and planned to stay in the shelter. But the mosquitoes attacked us, so when the rain stopped we pitched our tents, and now it¢s 9 pm, way past hiker midnight.Lastly, we don¢t know how to pronounce the shelter name, so we say Wakanda forever!
Date: 2021-07-07
From: Wawayanda Shelter (1364.7)

To: East Mombasa Road (1383.5)
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

What a day. Kitty Hawk¢s shin splints are getting worst so he is going to take time off near Bear Mountain. So today was supposed to be a short day, but we decided to make it long day and try to stay at a motel near I-87. The trail and weather had other plans.We did cross over into New York State from New Jersey. We went to the highest AT point in New York at Prospect Rock. MoJoe and I simulated flag raising at the rock. We saw lots of rocks and cliffs. The temperature continued to climbed into the 90¢s with high humidity. It was only broken by the two milkshakes I got at the dairy at the NY 17A road summit.We hiked past our original destination, and I got us a room at the Tuxedo Inn. The rocks kept coming, so I got a shuttle pick up for 5:30 to get us to our hotel. But by the time we got to West Mombasa road, I knew that we weren¢t going to make it. The trail looked tough so we regrouped and had the driver come for us at East Mombasa Road, a simple 1.5 miles away. But, we needed to climb cliffs with our packs on, and we sweated like we never sweated before in our lives. We made the shuttle ride.The motel is old but clean. The folks that run it are very nice, and they did our laundry for us. I don¢t how they did it, but they got the ammonia smell out of my clothes. That¢s one thing about sweating so much that I never knew, you smell like ammonia.Tomorrow we will be shuttled back to where we left off and continue, another even longer day is planned.
Date: 2021-07-08
From: East Mombasa Road (1383.5)

To: Bear Mtn Zoo (1406.3)
Miles today: 22.8
Weather: mist

What happens when you combine a cold front and a tropical storm, rain. We started the day dry with our shuttle driver taking us back to our pick up spot from yesterday. The trail, at first, was a little less crazy then yesterday, but we still had the humidity.We went through Hariman State Park that had old but nice facilities. We stopped at the shore of Lake Tiorati to get ice cream from a vending machine. We got ourselves to the Palisades Interstate Parkway, a high speed freeway, with minor sprinkles, but lots of booming thunder around us.Running across a freeway was crazy, but luckily there was a forested median. As we started the climb up the palisades, the thunderstorm let loose and the trail immediately got flooded. It was short lived but no views on Bear Mountain. In fact, you couldn¢t find Bear Mountain. We dropped down to the Bear Mountain Inn and lake next to the Hudson River, and I called us an Uber. Kitty Hawk had previously reserved a room at the Holiday Inn. Of course tonight we are also getting hit by tropical storm Elsa that will come over us around 2 or 3 in the morning and there are all kinds of National Weather Service (NWS) warnings. The cold front and the tropical storm are converging over us, but we are inside. Phew.
Date: 2021-07-09
From: Bear Mtn Zoo (1406.3)

To: Dennytown Camp (1421.2)
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: scattered clouds

We had a sad start to the day having to say goodbye to Kitty Hawk after making the decision to continue hiking today as he stays behind to rest his shin splints. But maybe we will see him again. It was touch and go to leave today as the storm moved out of the area. The rain finally stopped at ten. We got an Uber back to the Bear Mountain Inn and then we did the zoo walk. The AT goes through a small zoo and natural history museum which opens at 10:30. It was there that I saw my first bears on the AT trail. You also walk past a beautiful public pool.We then got to walk across the Bear Mountain bridge that spans the Hudson River, it was quite a sight. Onward up the mountain we hiked on trail tread more normal of the AT without crazy climbs. We stopped at a market/deli/gas station for a minor resupply, so we are good to go for 2-1/2 days. No rain today, amazing turnaround. We are camped at a group campsite but no one is around.
Date: 2021-07-10
From: Dennytown Camp (1421.2)

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter (1440.9)
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: overcast clouds

We got treated to special trail magic today. When we got to the RPH Shelter, Members from the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA) were making eggs and sausage for breakfast for any hiker coming through. There was also a work crew from the local AT society fixing up the shelter and making other repairs. If not for these volunteers, the trail wouldn¢t be what it is today. We also saw the president of ALDHA, Ken Bunning, who we last saw on the Blue Ridge Parkway and got lemonade from him then. Later we saw another work party building stairs and crushing rock, backbreaking work.It was another easy day with no rain. We did see and hike around Canopus Lake but were too early for any of the concessions. Our shelter tonight has an old hand pump well for water. The water is nice cool, and clear.
Date: 2021-07-11
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter (1440.9)

To: Ten Mile River Shelter (1461.5)
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: clear sky

The surprise of the day was Wendy (MoJoe¢s wife) driving 3 hours from their home to provide us some trail magic and bring MoJoe a new (used) pole to replace the one he broke about a week ago. Thank you Wendy.Another surprise is that the AT has its own train platform at mile 1451.8 where you can board a train to New York City. We were there using the trash can when I heard a train whistle. I stepped out to take a video and an express train going 60 mph came flying by. Whoa. Of course we left New York State and are camped in Connecticut. Tomorrow we cross back over to New York for just a bit then back on a ridge top. Another state done, nine altogether now, can you guess which ones? We passed the Dover Oak, said to be the oldest oak tree on the AT.  We also got more trail magic in the middle of the forest from Kayla and Catherine in the form of Gatorade floating in a cold creek. Thank you.Something I forgot to mention has been all the blueberries along the trail, especially just before Bear Mtn. I could just pick and eat blueberries as I walked. Yum. Not so many berries currently though. Tomorrow is a minor resupply day to get us through Wednesday noon when we pick up our next resupply boxes. Lastly, Kitty Hawk is back on the trail. He sent us a limerick.
Date: 2021-07-12
From: Ten Mile River Shelter (1461.5)

To: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter (1487.2)
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: moderate rain

The rain came pouring down last night and into this morning. We had to break camp in the rain, which is one of the least desirable situations. Of course, all that rain has to go somewhere, so the rivers were swollen and rose into the trees. It just so happens that today we did a lot of riverside walking along the Housatanic River. At one point, we just barely had room to go above the river water as the river partially flooded the trail, but it was fun to see all of the rapids.But...after we stopped for a bite to eat with a town detour to Cornwell, we climbed up a road then down to a creek only to find it impassable. We backtracked, then did a road walk around the creek, and continued on the AT. But...we kept encountering swollen brooks that we managed to rock hop or log walk or a combination of both. But...we almost finished a long trail section that ended at a road when we got to a raging brook that had no alternate way across. So, off came the socks and gaters, stow the phone up high in a zip lock bag, and into the creek we walked. By Sierra standards, it was no big deal but added to the inconvenience. Of course, the following hill climb had us climbing through a rock crack, while still sock-less and in wet shoes. I have what I call mash potato feet tonight from being in wet socks and shoes all day. And, of course, nothing dries either, so they will be wet again tomorrow, as well as my shirt and shorts.We also went by the town of Kent which has a very expensive looking boarding school. We also saw a restored one lane covered bridge.The forest started changing back as we entered New Jersey, with New York having more big trees and open understory. But now in Connecticut, we are hiking through forests that look like the oaks are just starting to leaf. Very strange. Lots of moths, and the waters are brown (from tannins?). Lastly we were passed by a woman runner who¢s doing the AT in 2-1/2 months.
Date: 2021-07-13
From: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter (1487.2)

To: Brassie Brook Shelter (1507.1)
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: moderate rain

Last night as we had on and off rains, I woke up and checked the radar at one point because earlier in the evening there were tornado warnings west of us, and I wanted to check on thunderstorms. Instead, I saw that the Housatonic River was at flood stage at Falls Village. Guess where we went.It was exciting to be right next to the Housatonic Great Falls and feel it¢s thundering power. We had at least one sketchy log crossing where the AT was under water along the river. And, we had lots of muddy trails from all of the recent rain. Today we were in fog or overcast skies all day, but no rain after the early morning showers. My feet have blisters from constantly wearing wet socks and shoes. We saw the Giant¢s thumb rock formation. We passed the 1500 mile ferns and sticks. Just keep walking.
Date: 2021-07-14
From: Brassie Brook Shelter (1507.1)

To: Sheffield Eregmont Rd. (1522.1)
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We had a few small thunderstorms roll through last night, so we had a wet pack up. We did three climbs in the morning, including Bear Mt, the highest point in Connecticut. This was followed by crossing into Massachusetts at a true creek crossing. No bridge here at the high creek, so I took off my shoes and used my flip flops to cross to try and keep my shoes as dry as possible. I¢m afraid of getting trench foot from continuous wet feet. Lots of rough trail this morning with wet rocks that were very slick.Later, MoJoe¢s friend, Bruce, met us at a road crossing which was also the site of the Shay Rebellion back in the 1700¢s. We hiked a couple of miles more to another road crossing before being picked up by Bruce and driven into the town of Great Barrington. We got surprise trail magic Snickers bars from a family with a young son. They were very nice, thank you.I picked up my resupply package at the Days Inn. Donna surprised me with some home grown and dried apricots and some homemade butterscotch shortbread cookies and some fruit bar cookies. Delicious. We did our usual town chores before driving on and retiring at a motel in Lee. I still need to finish drying stuff out and packing for tomorrow. We are going to slack pack tomorrow, and Bruce will meet us at the end of the day. We saw Smiles today, and her knee is doing better. She plans to leave with us in the morning. Jetpack is temporally off trail to let her infected foot recover.Lastly, I went back a few posts and uploaded a couple of videos of the falls and train I had mentioned earlier.
Date: 2021-07-15
From: Sheffield Eregmont Rd. (1522.1)

To: Shaker Campsite (1541.5)
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: few clouds

This morning we went into downtown Lee and had breakfast at Joe¢s Diner. Lee is a cute town and Joe¢s Diner appears to be an institution with a counter and red top chrome stools.After breakfast, we went to pick up Smiles in Great Barrington, and then Bruce drove us all back to where we left off on the AT. Bruce brought a couple of MoJoe's daypacks from home, and off we went slack packing carrying just food and water (and filters, first aid kit, etc). We started at the site of the last battle of Shays' Rebellion in 1787. Amazing history on the East Coast.It was a nice day with sun out and lower humidity. Bruce met us by Benedict Pond for lunch. Bruce then met us at a road crossing just 0.3 miles from the camp site we planned to stay at. We picked up our packs, and we all went, including Bruce and his dog Beau, to the camp site for the night. All and all a very good day. We are staying at an old Shaker site. The town eventually died when the Shaker population left after being shunned.
Date: 2021-07-16
From: Shaker Campsite (1541.5)

To: Blueberry Hill aka Cookie Lady 1562.6)
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: few clouds

Check all that apply:HotHumidTorridMuddy trailSteep ClimbsMosquitosGnatsBitting FlysYes, it was a tough day because of all of the little things that added up. The climbs were not the hardest or longest, but there were constant bugs, and because of all the rain, the trail is very muddy and slippery, thus you spend a lot of time navigating around bogs and puddles.However, at the end of the day we stopped at a blueberry farm that lets hikers camp on the lawn. The folks here are wonderful. There used to be an elderly woman that gave cookies out to hikers and let them stay, but she had to move away last year. Her family sold the farm to a young couple that have carried on the tradition. Interestingly, the former owner's husband built an airstrip and a hanger. When the young couple got the farm they got everything on it, including an old Cessna 170 and an Alpine Sunbeam (dismantled). I got to see inside the hanger, very cool. MoJoe also got to hand crank some vanilla ice cream for us, and we added blueberries right off the bush for dessert. We also all got freshly made cookies from Ellie.I think another thunderstorm is headed our way, and it has begun to lightly sprinkle.
Date: 2021-07-17
From: Blueberry Hill aka Cookie Lady 1562.6)

To: Outlook Ave. Cheshire (1582.3)
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: broken clouds

It was a thrill and nice night camped on the grass on Blueberry Hill. We even got a dry start under threatening skies. Soon after we started hiking, there was a short major downpour, but then a dry rest of the day. The trail was muddy at first, but after our coffee and second breakfast stop in Dalton, the trail got much better and we picked up speed. We got to Cheshire by 3:30, but Wendy and Michelle (MoJoe¢s daughter) were still on the road, so we picked up a few more miles, but only after stopping for a shake. Cheshire is known for giving President Jefferson a 1,235 lb wheel of cheese on New Year¢s Day in 1802. Amazing history.Just after Wendy arrived to pick us up, it started raining. All evening there have been severe thunderstorms rolling through while I¢m safe and dry in a motel room. The news said that this has been the third wettest July for both New York and Boston, and the month isn¢t over. Lots of rain and lots of muddy trail.Tomorrow is our third zero day. Unfortunately, because of the weekend and supposed bookings, we¢ll need to change motels (currently in Lee). So, we¢ll be in Adams tomorrow night. We still need to find a shuttle for Monday morning. We will be back into real mountains and headed to Vermont. Although people on the trail are calling it Vermud.
Date: 2021-07-18
From: Town of Lee, MA

To: Adams, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was our third zero mileage day of the hike. We needed to change motels because the one in Lee was booked, and we would also be closer to the trailhead where we left off. A shuttle will bring us back to the trailhead tomorrow leaving at 7 am. Wendy brought us here today. We spent an hour in Adams old town center which is undergoing a rejuvenation. There are rail to trails,  a tourist train stop, and old brick buildings. I read in the town historical newspaper that the largest elephant in the US around 1850 died here when the bridge it was crossing collapsed. It had also previously killed four people. The local news tonight reported that it has rained 14 out of the last 18 days. Also, an area west of here has had over 18 inches of rain in July so far, when the average monthly rainfall for the entire month of July is 4 inches. The forecast is for rain 3 out of the next 5 days. Just keep walking.
Date: 2021-07-19
From: Outlook Ave. Cheshire (1582.3)

To: Seth Warner Shelter (1602.4)
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: light rain

We had a nice stay at the Mt. Royal Inn outside of Adams. We had the ADA room so no tub. We watched Dunkirk on HBO, talk about hardships.We started our climb up Mt. Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet, in a heavy fog and drizzle after an all night rain. The trail was muddy and slippery. My shoes, socks, and feet were immediately wet and stayed that way all day even though the drizzle stopped after Mt. Greylock. The top was a disappointment as you could barely see the top of the 93 foot high lighthouse style monument built in 1931.Onward we hiked, sometimes the trail was a creek. We crossed into Vermont, and I almost slipped into the mud trying to take a selfie. I did slip climbing a rock pile and cut my hand by my thumb, so my hand is throbbing tonight. We passed the 1600 mile mark today. Hikers made numbers out of ferns, sticks and rocks. Lastly, apparently the Vermont Long Trail overlaps the AT over a long distance, so this evening a whole bunch of new hikers are camping near us. It will make tent spaces a premium. I think the VLT goes north to Canada.
Date: 2021-07-20
From: Seth Warner Shelter (1602.4)

To: Goddard Shelter (1624.0)
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: light rain

We finished a 12 hour hiking day and only covered 21.6 miles. Mud, roots, rocks, and more mud make for slow progress. You just try to avoid the deep mud bogs and try not to slip on the wet rocks that come at you every few minutes. We went through Glastenbery wilderness area. I got a notification that parts of the AT are underwater along the Housatonic River and there are reroutes. I checked radar and more big storms are on the way. The tent sites are very poor here, on slopes and roots with lots of evidence of big water flows. I hope I choose wisely.
Date: 2021-07-21
From: Goddard Shelter (1624.0)

To: Stratton Pond Shelter (1643.4)
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: light rain

I¢m sorry to say this may be one of my last AT posts. The mud and trail creeks are taking their told mentally and physically, especially on my feet. Just today I got three blisters on one toe, and one I think is infected. We had very, very intense but short thunderstorm last night followed by rain that added to the trail water flow. Only light drizzle during the day for a brief period.So I need to take a break, and I don¢t know if I¢ll be back. One of the guys at the shelter tonight has done this section three times and has never seen so much mud. He says it¢s always muddy but not like this. Tomorrow we hike out to a road for a planned resupply and overnight stay at a hostel in Manchester Center VT.
Date: 2021-07-22
From: Stratton Pond Shelter (1643.4)

To: VT Rt. 11/30 (1654.0)
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: few clouds

It¢s with a heavy heart that my time has come to leave the trail. I need time to physically have my feet recover from skin condition issues, and mentally I¢m just not able to continue hiking the miles at this time. Today I hiked out to a road and went to a wonderful hostel, the best I¢ve seen on the trail, Green Mountain House, in Manchester Center, Vermont. I booked flights out of Rutland through Boston to get back home to California.I¢m sorry to leave MoJoe, my wonderful hiking partner, but I know he¢ll continue on stronger than ever. He may even bump back in with one of our past hiking buddies. I plan to write an epilogue on the flight or once back home. If the feet heal quickly, and the wildfire smoke isn¢t bad, I¢ll do a fun short Sierra hike just to get that old feeling of joy back hiking in the mountains. Other trails await, if not one day finishing the AT.
Date: 2021-09-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Following my high ankle sprain on August 22 while hiking the CDT with Daddy Longlegs, I have decided to hike the AT through much of Virginia. I have booked travel to Richmond VA to visit my parents for few days before starting at the north end of Shenandoah NP and hiking south. I do not have a distance set but would like to make it to Damascus VA in my time limit of four weeks, but that will probably not happen. Pearisburg or Marion VA seem like more reasonable targets. I simply plan on hiking what I can each day and enjoying being on the trail again.  My ankle is doing ok and I will be using a heavy brace to keep it stabilized for my hike, taking it day by day. High ankle sprains can take months to heal and this will be about 5 1/2 weeks in but is doing well. More to come...
Date: 2021-09-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

It takes three entries to go live so I did them in a very short time today to get this going. Daddy Longlegs, (check out his journals), and I wanted to hike the CDT together and after we knew I was not going to get better in a week he went back to Atlanta and made other plans this fall. Following Dead and Company around just like we both did with the Grateful Dead many years ago. I have to admit I am a little jealous of him. We have discussed hiking plans for the future but nothing is concrete as of yet. I will be doing this one by myself but the AT is so populous that I do not expect to really be alone too often. Off to pack some more.
Date: 2021-09-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Putting everything together which has been much easier than hikes in the past. I contribute this to having done all the hard work on the CDT hike and still having everything ready to go. Afternoon flight out of Montrose CO with a late arrival in Richmond VA tomorrow will make for a tired Hodge Podge but looking forward to seeing my parents again. I have not been back since before Covid hit.