morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-06-26
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Arden Valley Road
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: few clouds

I can't believe how difficult NY is in comparison to NJ. There were some pretty tough scrambles up some pretty tough mountains today...as tough or tougher than anything I've seen so far. The climbs and descents seem to be getting more frequent and more severe. It probably didn't help that it was 95 degrees or higher with matching humidity today. All combined, it was a pretty brutal day. That's one reason I decided to get off the trail early and do some swimming, then stay at a local camp over night. I had met a young husband and wife team just starting out on a 6 day hike. He had hiked some each year for the last 6 years but this was her first backpacking adventure ever. All I can figure is that he doesn't want her along and he picked this section of the trail to make her decide she doesn't want any part of this hiking stuff. It was a pretty tough day for me...I can't imagine what it was like for her. I got to Tiorati Circle at about 1:30 and spent the afternoon there drinking sodas, swimming and visiting with people interested in my hiking adventure. I got picked up at a little after 5 and taken to the camp where I spent the night. Not a bad place, but I get the impression they are in need of money and just see hikers as a revenue source. They tried to charge me $12 for the "free pickup and drop off". As of today I have less than 800 miles to go...798.8 to be exact. Another milestone passed!
Date: 2007-06-27
From: Arden Valley Road

To: Peekskill, NY
Miles today: 18.9

I slept really well last night...it cooled off nicely and a nice breeze came off the lake into the cabin. I had a stack of pancakes for breakfast and they ferried me back to the trail. I started hiking at about 8 AM. The ups and downs werejust as frequent today but didn't seem nearly as severe. It seemed to be a little more overcast too, keeping the temps down some, although it was still probably 90 or more. I got to Bear Mtn at about 1 and stayed there an hour or so drinking cold cokes and eating a sandwich at the concession stand. Thunder storms were threatening all afternoon, but nothing dumped on me. After leaving the concession the trail takes you through a nice little zoo then across the Hudson River Bridge. That bridge was a little scary with thunderstorms being in the area, but I made it. Boy...the climb out of there was pretty stiff, but the thunderstorms had cooled things down a bit and created some intermittent breezes. My "hitch hiking" luck ran out when I got to the road crossing for Peekskill. I wound up walking the whole way in to Peekskill (4.5 miles) thinking all the way that the next car would stop to see if I needed a ride. Oh well...what's 4.5 miles when you've hiked almost 1,400 miles already? The walk takes you through some less than desirable neighborhoods...I'm sure glad it was broad daylight. And the book said there would be several motels to choose from...there was one! The AT Thru-Hiker's Companion was way off on this one!!!! I got a room for two nights and decided top make the best of it. The motel is actually pretty nice, but I'm paying "very" nice prices for it. Oh well...I'm safe and have been indoors during two pretty severe thunder storms since I got here. I plan on calling a cab on Friday to get back to the trail.
Date: 2007-06-28
From: Peekskill, NY

To: Peekskill, NY
Miles today: 0.0

Typical zero day activities...laundry, restaurants, motel room, grocery, library, journal updates, etc. Great couple of days to be off the trail...severe thunder storms in the area...saw some high winds and heavy rains from the comfort of my motel room...Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-06-29
From: Peekskill, NY

To: Stormville, NY
Miles today: 24.5

Good night's sleep last night after a not-so-good one the night before. Made the best use a thru-hiker could of the continental breakfast in the lobby. Got a cab back to the trail and was hiking by about 8. Awesome hiking weather today. The climbs are getting more steep and more frequent but the trails are great. I got to my shelter early (about 2:30) so I decided to press on to Stormville (about 5 more miles away). There was a pizza place and a deli near the road crossing for Stormville, so I stopped for supper (a stromboli and ice cream) then slept under the stars near there. All in all a great day!
Date: 2007-06-30
From: Stormville, NY

To: Ten Mile River Lean-To, CT
Miles today: 24.2

I slept well under the stars last night. I was at the deli at 6 when they opened and had a breakfast sandwich, a pastry and coffee for breakfast. The weather and trails were great all day long. I passed the AT Train Station today...there is actually a platform right there by the trail and I could have caught a train into NYC. I stopped long enough to grab a couple of hot dogs at a stand near there then kept heading north. Five miles later I came across some trail magic left by "Mac & Cheese". I had a turkey wrap, nutty buddy, chocolate bar, watermelon wedge, orange, chocolate chip cookies, and cold water. What a great little surprise that was...Thanks Mac & Cheese!!! I crossed into Connecticut today and got to my shelter. It was very busy in this area. There were 2 families at the shelter I was staying at, but many more people in the general vicinity. The folks I was with were very nice. They shared drinks and a pasta supper with me. We also saw an awesome firefly display over the field in front of the shelter that night. Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-07-01
From: Ten Mile River Lean-To, CT

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-To
Miles today: 15.7

There were some pretty severe thunder storms (high winds) last night. I awoke several times to the sound of limbs hitting the shelter roof. Glad they were small limbs. I passed the 2/3 mark in the trip today. I met a hiker named Lily not long after heading out today. She got on the trail in Deleware Water Gap and plans to flip flop back to DWG and go south to GA once she makes it to ME. I got off the trail in Kent, CT for a few hours today. I ran in to Hawk as I was walking into town. He picked me up in his new jeep (he's done hiking) and took me the rest of the way into town. He is in the area because he's helping Alleycat do some slackpacking and he was supposed to pick her up there later in the day. I found an outdoor table at the Kent Market and made my self at home for a while. It was a great place to eat and watch the world go by for a while. The town was really busy with tourists, so the people-watching was a lot of fun for me. lots of motorcycle clubs stopped there at or near the market while I was there too. I eventually hiked on and still got to my shelter at a decent time of the evening.
Date: 2007-07-02
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-To

To: Salisburg, CT
Miles today: 25.6

A father/son came in after dark last night. Let's just say I am really glad I had my ear plugs last night. The morning was pretty chilly...cooler than I have seen in quite a while. Not long after I started hiking, while still following along the Housatonic River, I spooked up several deer with two fawns that still had their spots. It was a pretty site. The elevation changes are getting even more frequent and more severe, but the trails are still very nice. I ran into Magic Horse as I was entering Salisbury. He was staying at the same place I stayed. I had a burger and fries for supper and turned in pretty early. I had no cell service there so I decided to wait til tomorrow to make my phone calls.
Date: 2007-07-03
From: Salisburg, CT

To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 22.2
Weather: broken clouds

I had strawberry pancakes and coffee for breakfast as soon as the hotel restaurant opened up. They were very filling and stuck with me for quite a while. I've noticed a marked difference in my energy levels when I eat a bigger (usually town) breakfast then when I eat my trail breakfasts. Guess I need to beef up my trail breakfasts a little more. I'll see what I can come up with on my next grocery stop. I hit peaks of over 2,000 feet today for the first time in a month and over 400 miles. The trails, views and weather were spectacular all day long. I saw some of the best views I have seen since leaving the southern mountain states. I ran across some more trail magic at the CT/MA border. Geoff & Danielle, ridge runners in the area, left gatorade and fresh fruit in a cold stream for thru-hikers. I had a drink and an apple and left them a thank-you note...but thanks again Geoff and Danielle. I crossed three peaks over 2,000 feet today with the highest being Mt Everett at 2,602 feet. I met Jay Bird near there, another ridge runner, trail angel, trail maintainer, as well as former section and thru-hiker. He had some cold drinks in his backpack, so he and I stopped when we met and I drank one while we sat there and chatted. Thanks Jay Bird! When I got to the lower elevations I found myself in the middle of mosquito country. It was horrendous...I have never seen so many mosquitos per cubic inch of space in my life as I did in some of the spots I hiked through. Fortunately I can hike pretty fast when I want/need to, so I created my own "breeze" and got only a few bites as I went through that couple of mile stretch. I was afraid to stop to dig out my DEET for fear of being eaten alive while I was standing still. I still get the heebie-geebies when I think about how many mosquitoes there were swarming around me. When I got to US 7 I hung a left and went to the Corn Crib. Ruth (works there) was just loading up her car to leave for the day, but she sold me an ice cream anyhow and offered me a ride into town. Thanks Ruth...you were wonderful! She took me to my hotel and I got myself settled in for the night looking forward to a zero. Weather forecast says the timing was just right again...severe thunder storms and steady rain all day tomorrow.
Date: 2007-07-04
From: Great Barrington, MA

To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Happy 4th of July everyone. May God Bless you and may God Bless America on this very special day in the history of our nation. I took it easy today...but still did all those normal zero day activities. As I was looking over my log book I realized that in the first two weeks back on the trail after my family reunion break (Wed, 6/20 - Tu, 7/3) I hiked in 5 states (PA, NJ, NY, CT & MA) and covered over 240 miles. Not a bad two weeks after taking a week off the trail. Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-07-06
From: Great Barrington, MA

To: Mt Wilcox Shelter, MA
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

Back on the trail after 2 zeros in Great Barrington. It was a costly stop because it is holiday time and there is a big race in the area. Hotel prices were at a premium...bummer. I had a rough start this AM. The bus took me within a couple miles of the trail...no luck hitching the rest of the way, then I somehow walked past the trail and went a LONG way before I realized it. Turned around and went back to find it so I didn't hit the trail until 10:30...really a late start for me. Then I went right in to another mosquito infested area, but luckily it wasn't nearly as long as the previous one. It was really humid today, so I was soaked before it ever rained. I just couldn't get it together this morning, but eventually I hit a hiking groove. We had light showers off and on all day long but the heavy stuff didn't hit until I was in camp for half an hour or so. I was thankful for that. The mosquitoes were terrible at camp, so I got in my bag early, put my mosquito net on my head and settled in for the night. Milestone today...70% done.
Date: 2007-07-07
From: Mt Wilcox Shelter, MA

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin, MA
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up at about 5:30, but stayed cuddled in the bag for a while because I knew I had a short hiking day ahead. I took off just before 8 and just felt tired all day for some reason. I had been in a rut for a week or so now...just worn out and missing home I guess. It all started to change after I got to my shelter today. I got there at about 2 and the people there were super. They made me a coffee/cocoa mixture, then gave me crackers and jam, then made me some hot pasta, and told me they were fixing AYCE pancakes for breakfast in the morning. And the place was great...it wasn't a shelter, per se, it was a cabin with bunks and a fireplace...I slept upstairs. I had a very enjoyable afternoon/evening and the tide seemed to be turning for me.
Date: 2007-07-08
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin, MA

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: clear sky

Up before 6 for coffee and pancakes. A great start to a great day. The trails and terrain were super today, my spirits are up, and I'm feeling like my old jovial self again. I stopped by the cookie lady's house today. She has been feeding cookies to thru-hikers for 20 years. I chatted with her and her husband for half an hour or so, then hit the trail again. I got to my target shelter at 2:30, but was feeling so good I decided to hike on in to Dalton. When I got to Tom Levardi's house, I was expecting that he would let me sleep on his porch or tent in his yard...that's what my guidebook said. When I got there he gave me a cold soda, then asked if I wanted a dab of ice cream. I said I can't turn down ice cream and he brought me a huge ice cream sundae. As I finished it he showed me to the shower and told me I could sleep on the couch in his house tonight. Then he said he has some bikes out front and I could use one to run around town if I wanted to. What a great guy and what a great stop. I ran into a lot of old friends there that I hadn't seen in a while too. All four Riders of the Storm, and Ben and Amanda. That was a nice surprise and a fun reunion. Things are really looking up and I'm loving life.
Date: 2007-07-09
From: Dalton, MA

To: Mark Noepel Shelter, MA
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

Got up at 6:30 and headed for a coffee shop on "my" bike. Once there, the skies cut loose with a lightning, rain and thunder display that I was really glad I wasn't hiking in. It lasted about half an hour and I watched cozily from inside the coffee shop. I eventually went back and got packed up to leave. I thanked Tom for his incredible hospitality and headed down the street. I stopped for a BLT at a diner and had them make me a turkey wrap to go for my lunch. I forgot I'd be in another town at about lunch time. So...when I got there I ate my wrap and had them make me a sub for supper. What can I say...I love to eat and this hiking thing has created an insatiable appetite in me. I got to my shelter before 4 and got comfortable before others started arriving around 5:30. All in all it was a wonderful day.
Date: 2007-07-10
From: Mark Noepel Shelter, MA

To: North Adams, MA
Miles today: 9.6

I got going at about 7:15 this morning. Lots of steep up and down today but a short day. When I got to North Adams I went straight to the laundry, cleaned up a bit in the bathroom, changed into my rain suit and washed ALL my clothes. From there I put some clean clothes on and walked next door to Friendly's for some lunch, then caught a town bus to my hotel. Today was the first time I hiked up over 3,000 feet since North Marshall Mtn at the northern end of the Shenendoah National Park some 600 miles back. Higher and more frequent peaks is the theme for the future. I had lasagna for supper and a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream for dessert. I hit the sack early at the end of another great day.
Date: 2007-07-11
From: North Adams, MA

To: Congdon Shelter, VT
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: haze

Had a great day yesterday in North Adams. Slept like a baby last night, have clean clothes and a clean body, am well rested and ready to hike. I took my time leaving town. I had breakfast at a local diner then stopped by the grocery to get supplies for 6 days on the trail. Boy...my pack was heavy when I left there. I finally hit the trail at about 10:30. I crossed into VT today. Eleven states done and three to go. Thirty minutes into VT I startled a sleeping bear cub by the trail. I was right up on him when he heard me...he bolted for the hills and I stood there watching him make his way up and over this pretty high hill. Once he was out of sight I started looking around for momma bear. Fortunately I didn't see her anywhere. Boy...he could sure move though. I got to my shelter at about 3:45 and got settled in before the afternoon rains hit. It rained all night making for a peaceful, secure, content night in the shelter.
Date: 2007-07-12
From: Congdon Shelter, VT

To: Kid Gore Shelter, VT
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: broken clouds

Happy birthday Kim...I miss you. I had a great night's sleep...I had the shelter all to myself last night. First time for that in quite a while. The rains cooled things down quite a bit and I reluctantly got out of my sleeping bag at about 7. I left camp at about 8:15. I had just gotten north of Goddard Shelter when I turned a corner in the trail and came face-to-face with a moose. At first I thought...what's a horse doing way out here...but then I realized what it was. I stopped in my trackes and it just stared at me. It stood between 5 and 6 feet at the shoulders. It didn't move until I unzipped my pouch to get my camera out. Then it trotted up the trail until it was around a bend and out of sight. I readied my camera and walked slowly up the trail until I could see him again, and he did the same thing again. We did this dance three times until he tired of it and took off deep into the woods. I got a couple of pics but haven't been able to upload them on a computer to get a good look at them. Don't know if you'll be able to tell it is a moose or not. Anyhow, from that point on, I have been seeing moose droppings on the trail pretty regularly. Now I am constantly craving Ben & Jerry's Moose Tracks Ice Cream while I'm hiking. Dumb moose!!!
Date: 2007-07-13
From: Kid Gore Shelter, VT

To: Spruce Peak Shelter, VT
Miles today: 22.9
Weather: light rain

Saw a beautiful sunrise from my shelter this morning. It was really cool, so I stayed in my bag and didn't get out to take photos. I came really close to 4,000 feet in elevation today at Stratton Mtn. I have been really surprised at how boggy the land is, even up here in the mountains. It sure makes for some soft, even spongy hiking...I love it!!! I've also seen several beaver dams...I even walked behind one for a while. It felt really wierd to be below water line with only a pile of sticks separating me from the water. Pretty cool though. The big milestone for today is that I passed the 75% mark. Well...I think I've squeaked every minute I can out of the internet police here at the library. The rest of the updates and any picture uploads will have to wait until my next stop. Cheers...357 Magnum Guess what...I found a way...let's see how much more I can get done before getting tossed...
Date: 2007-07-14
From: Spruce Peak Shelter, VT

To: Near Greenwall Shelter, VT
Miles today: 27.4
Weather: few clouds

Got to my target shelter after a long (27+ mile) day. It was late in the evening and found it full of teenage girl scouts...hiked on a mile or so and found a quiet spot in the woods to pitch my hammock. Johnny Mud; whom I hadn't seen since, I believe, Pearisburg, VA (about 1,000 miles back); was in the same boat. He showed up a few minutes after I got my hammock hung and he pitched his tarp there with me. We ate our supper and before we knew it darkness had fallen. I crawled in my hammock for the evening. I heard what sounded like an awesome fireworks display. Couldn't see anything, but it sure sounded like a lot of fun. I'm really loving trail life in VT...what a beautiful state and what great trails!!! The soft forest floors, the lakes, ponds and streams, and I came across some very interesting rock gardens a couple of times. Someone had stacked many white rocks in strange configurations at certain spots along the trail. They were both really cool and really eerie. Having a great time out here...Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-07-15
From: Near Greenwall Shelter, VT

To: Cooper Lodge, VT
Miles today: 18.9

It was cool again last night (and this morning). I slept very well in my hammock. There were lots of steep climbs again today, the last of which was 2,000 feet in under a 4 mile stretch. but...it was well graded and was actually quite a pleasure to hike. I saw a gorgeous sunset from my shelter at nearly 4,000 feet. I have also run in to quite a bit of trail magic in the last couple of days. Some trail fairies (Isabel, Farely and Kelly) left lots of candy bars, cookies and other candys in one of the shelters. Then, I found cold sodas several times along the trail in the last couple of days. I stopped at the Whistle Stop Cafe for breakfast this morning. It was about a half mile off the trail, but worth the walk. I actually stayed there for about 2 hours. It's a good thing too, because it fueled me up very well fpr a pretty strenuous day of hiking. I took the 2/10 mile side trail up to the top of Killington Peak (well over 4,000 feet) and the views were spectacular. I got several pics but didn't stay long because it was quite windy up there. I went over the other side of the mountain to a ski lodge with a restaurant on top of the mountain. Unfortunately everything was closed down. Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-07-16
From: Cooper Lodge, VT

To: Rutland, VT
Miles today: 6.3

I only hiked 6 miles from Killington Peak to Route 4 this morning. Tom Shanahan picked me up as I was waiting for the bus to come by. We went to Denny's for breakfast and ran in to his in-laws there. We sat and ate with them...I had a very nice meal and some very nice conversation. Tom offered to run me anywhere I wanted to go after breakfast, but I just wanted to get to the hostel and get a shower, so he obliged. (Thanks Tom for the generosity) Loving life on the trail, but really missing home...Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-07-17
From: Rutland, VT

To: Rutland, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Guess what...I decided to stay another day. Rutland is an awesome place to zero. The hostel is great and the people that run it are as well. All the services you need are within walking distance, but there is an inexpensive bus system to use if you want to branch out further. I looked over my itinerary and realized I was going to get to a mail drop too late on a Saturday to get to the post office in time, so I decided I'd zero here instead of there waiting for the post office to open. I'll still have to spend the night at the hostel there, but shouldn't have to zero there. I've really enjoyed my day off here. I'm going to go to Sal's Italian restaurant tonight with Peter, a SOBO from New Zealand I met yesterday. It's always good to get all carbed up before hitting the trail again. Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-07-18
From: Rutland, VT

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: moderate rain

Got up about 6, got my stuff together, then walked down the street to Clem's for breakfast before hitting the trail. "Plans too much" met me there, then drove me to the trail head. It started raining during breakfast and I almost decided just to zero another day, but I kept going. I had planned on hiking about 20 miles, but I stopped at the Stony Brook Shelter at lunch to rest and dry out a bit. Turns out, I didn't leave after getting dry. It rained all afternoon and I just didn't want to get back out there in it. I hate the feel of water gushing up over the tops of my toes with every step I take, not to mention what it does to the skin on your feet to let them stew in water all day long. So...I only did 10 today and enjoyed the afternoon in a shelter watching the rain fall. Cheers...357 Magnum