morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-08-04
From: Fort Montgomery, NY

To: Greymoor Friary
Miles today: 6.3

It was an easy hike today which was good as they predicted temps of 96 degrees and a heat index of 105. Hiking is no fun in weather like this! The owner of the motel gave me a ride back to the bridge this morning where I rejoined the trail. The trail crosses the Bear Mountain Bridge on a pedestrian parkway. Two hikers got stopped for taking pictures of the bridge. Apparently due to Homeland Security, it is forbidden to photograph the bridge. The police made one of the hikers delete one of his pictures. By 1:00 p.m. I was to Greymoor Spiritual Life Center, formally called the Greymoor Monastery. There was a pavilion set up by the ballfield where hikers can stay with showers and electricity. In July and August, they feed the hikers as well. Tonight, they brought down sandwiches and juice. Some evenings they give tours as well, but unfortunately, tonight was not one of those nights. The shower felt good but it was cold! It will be tough to sleep tonight because it is so warm. But you know what they say, it's not the heat, it's the stupidity (or was that humidity?)
Date: 2005-08-05
From: Greymoor Friary

To: Shenandoah Tenting Area
Miles today: 17.6

Why can't somebody come up with a way to eradicate mosquitoes? And for that matter, gnats, sixteen thousand species of flies, and no-see-ums as well? We managed to eradicate the do-do bird on the Indian Ocean Islands in no time. How proud can one be to claim to kill an animal with "do-do" in the name, anyways? Besides the insects, it was a good day of hiking. Some people got up at 4:00 am to hike before it got hot this morning. It was warm and humid again, but the cloud cover made it more tolerable. We yogied some food off of some day hikers that were leaving the trail at lunch today. I got nuts, an apple, and Good and Plenty candy. When I came to NY301 at Canopus Lake it started to look threatening with thunder. I decided to walk to a nearby car camping area to ride out the storm. I was in luck, however, as a former thru-hiker, named Elvis Trailsley ('75 and 2000) stopped and gave me a ride. He had a convertible BMW and the ride was heavenly. I could have ridden with the wind blowing on me all day. Very little rain materialized but it did cool off and hiking was pleasant. Pam will be here in less than 48 hours.
Date: 2005-08-06
From: Shenandoah Tenting Area

To: Corbin Hill , NY
Miles today: 19.5

When people ask me what one has to do to hike the Appalachian Trail, I am going to tell them, the first thing you have to do is stop your anti-psychotic medication. You have to be a little touched in the head to brutalize your self day after day and then lay in a tent afterwards with squadrons of mosquitoes trying to get you. But as Zip-lock told me today, it is time to finish and go home! I agree! I am getting drained physically and mentally. Today is day 140 since I started, but Pam comes tomorrow. Two days off will do a lot to recharge my batteries. I will enter my tenth state, Connecticut, tomorrow and finish New York! Today was a pleasant day of hiking with only minor ups and downs. I went by Nuclear Lake. It got it's name when they considered building a Nuclear Power Plant at the site. I have seen several southbounders (SOBOs) this week. About 90% of the people who do the trail do it as I am from Georgia to Maine, but 10% start in Maine and go south. However, they generally can not start until about June 1st waiting on the weather to clear in the northern mountains and bogs. I have some mild urgency pushing me north to beat the weather. I have to get through the White Mountains in New Hampshire and Mount Katahdin before the wind and snow come again in the fall. It is hard to imagine cold weather again while I'm in this heat, but I will start getting my cold weather gear sent back to me soon.
Date: 2005-08-07
From: Corbin Hill , NY

To: Bull Bridge, CT
Miles today: 13.0

To go along with white blazing, blue blazing, etc., I have learned a new term -Pink blazing. It is when a person (usually a guy) alters his hiking cadence to pursue a romantic interest on the trail. Since the ratio of guys to girls is probably 9 to 1, it is usually a guy chasing a female. For the female, the odds are good, but the goods are odd! It was a good day of hiking. I had trouble going to sleep last night. Several trains went by on the tracks below me. I also heard multiple loud booms coming from the direction of Pawling. I decided it was fireworks. Apparently, it was the last night of their fireman's carnival. This morning, I went by the stop for the Appalachian Trail on the metropolitan commuter railroad. It stops at the AT on Saturdays and Sundays for hikers! I was short of food this morning. I only had a jar of peanut butter for breakfast. I was glad there was a deli near one of the road crossings. I got a breakfast sub and then sat at their picnic table watching the rats foraging in their garbage... (I was starved, so I ate the sub anyways!) I got to Bulls Bridge, CT where I waited for Pam. She flew into Albany today and we're going to go to a bed and breakfast in Pawling, NY. I plan to do some "pink blazing" for the next 2 days!
Date: 2005-08-10
From: Corbin Hill , NY

To: Stuart Hollow Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 14.1

The time with Pam went way too quick. We stayed the first night in a B&B in Pawling, NY. Unfortunately, the owner's brother died and she was out of town, but she graciously let us stay there anyways. We had the house to ourselves. In a nutshell, we drove Monday to Albany, NY and met Pam's sister, Patsy, and her 2 friends, Jay & Nancy. We had a wonderful evening of food and socializing at the Olive Garden with them. The next evening, we went to New Haven, CT (the states are small here!) and met my cousin, Bennie and her husband, Evan. We had another night of food and laughter with them. Their 22 month old daughter, Emily, is quite a walker. I see a future thru-hiker in the making! But alas, Pam left today and it is back to the trail. I immediately climbed Schaghticoke Mountain where I saw a coyote. My hydration system's bite valve was leaking badly, so I went into Kent to buy a new one at the Outfitter's. It was quite warm so I sat in the shade at the Mobil gas station in town drinking soda! Wouldn't you know it, as I sat there, I witnessed a car accident. No one was hurt, but one of the driver's saw me and asked if I would be a witness. Being the good citizen that I am, I said sure. I told him I can be reached by calling, "Trampas" at 1-800-GoodLuck. Thanks for the wonderful evening, Patsy, Nancy, Jay, Evan, & Bennie.
Date: 2005-08-11
From: Stuart Hollow Brook Lean-to

To: Belter's Camp Site, CT
Miles today: 15.2

The trail in CT has been fairly pleasant and well graded until I descended from St. John's Ledges yesterday. Then it became a steep, time consuming rock scramble coming down. The trail was then a pleasant walk along the Housatonic River for nearly 5 miles. After that, it's been up and down all day. The worst thing that happened was I went up a rock scramble that appeared to be the trail only to get to the top and not find any white blazes! Minnie, who I had followed up, graciously went back down and found the trail so I was able to walk across the top of the ledges to the trail at another spot. In case you're wondering, Minnie got her name because mice seem to be attracted to her! I had planned to cook lunch at Pine Swamp Lean-to, however, when I got there the mosquitoes were bad. The communication book was full of complaints about the mosquitoes (I know I should have anticipated mosquito problems at a lean-to with "swamp" in the name!) I decided to forego cooking, but it was a long afternoon without water.
Date: 2005-08-12
From: Belter's Camp Site, CT

To: Brassie Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 15.8

It is the dog days of summer. As I sat in Salisbury, CT today, the temperature was 90 degrees and I was staring at a 1,000 + foot climb. It ain't fun about then! And now it is raining. However, I am alone at the shelter so I set my tent up in the shelter (to keep the bugs away). It was a good day of hiking. I am in the northwestern corner of Connecticut and only 2 miles from the Massachusetts border tonight. I started by hiking along the Housatonic River this morning. I then went into Falls Village for breakfast and ate at the Toy Makers Cafe. When I asked about the name, the lady told me they started in British motorcycle parts and expanded... someone will have to explain it to me! The vegetable omelet was delicious though (except the ball bearings were a little crunchy). I then left the river and headed toward the higher mountains of CT. I went by one interesting 15 foot rock formation, called The Giant's Thumb. It really did look like a thumb and it appeared to have a fungal infection in the nail. It was a very steep drop down the mountain to US 44 and Salisbury. At one point, I had to go down a ladder. I went into Salisbury to eat and rest (two town stops in one day... that will have to stop!) It was somewhat lonely today though as I saw no northbounders.
Date: 2005-08-13
From: Brassie Brook Lean-to

To: Glen Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 8.9

It was a short, but strenuous day. It rained steady for awhile last night. It makes the brush wet as you hike through it the next morning. It also makes the rocks slippery and it was a steep drop off Bear Mountain. It's very time consuming having to carefully choose your steps. Except for briefly touching 2,000 feet in PA, this is the first mountain over 2,000 feet since Virginia. It was up and down all day. First, Bear Mountain (2,316'), then Race Mountain and finally Mount Everett (2,602'). The biggest problem was the heat and humidity, with the heat indices predicted to be in the 100 degree range. There was some awesome views from Race Mountain, but I will have to do it again as all I saw was haze (humidity). I got to the lean-to at 2:00 p.m. and decided to rest. I then called Pam and she checked the radar on the internet for the local area. She told me thunderstorms were moving into the area so I decided to stay here for the night. Some may think it's cheating to use cell phones and the internet when you're supposed to be in the woods roughing it! But as I say... If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying.
Date: 2005-08-14
From: Glen Brook Lean-to

To: East Mountain Retreat Center 
Miles today: 16.3

First impressions and the assumptions one makes from first impressions can sometimes be very deceiving. I know that, but I have to laugh at myself when that lesson has to be reinforced through my thick skull. It was a hot, steamy day again that gave way to afternoon thunderstorms. Fortunately, I was at Tom Leonard Lean-to to ride out the first thunderstorm. However, there was a hiker hostel at the next road crossing in 2 miles, called East Mountain Retreat Center. My guide book tells me hikers are welcome there but to not disturb the "silent retreat" groups. When I got to the main highway, I immediately got a ride with a mom and her kids. Partly being nice, and partly out of curiousity she drove me up the mountain to the center. At the entrance, it says "Buddhism Retreat Center." I got out of the car with some trepidation, but with thunder in the background, I was anxious to get out of the weather. No one was around. The first building was an auditorium with a rug and cushions on the floor and the next small building I could see someone sitting at a table with only a candle burning. I thought it was a monk in prayer and meditation. The last building appeared to be a private residence. After walking around a few minutes, scraping the dirt to make noise, the "monk" emerged. It turns out, the monk was a nun, named Maureen from Boston here on a spiritual retreat. The storms had knocked out the electricity and she was eating supper by candlelight. She's a delightful lady and apparently this is a retreat for all faiths. I am lying in bed now hoping the electricity god hears my prayer! I stink and I need a shower. I had one other wonderful experience today as well. When I got to US 7, south of Great Barrington, I was hot and out of water. I went to a place, hoping it was a fruit stand. Instead it was an antique shop. The owner, Frank, went in and got me water and invited me to sit and chat. He and his wife were delightful people. Frank then offered to drive me to a convenience store to get food and drink (does this count as yogiing? I will need to get an official ruling.) Oh well, I'm heading north again, anyways. It is only 659.3 miles to Katahdin!
Date: 2005-08-15
From: East Mountain Retreat Center 

To: North of Webster Road, MA
Miles today: 14.2

Thanks to the good Lord's help, things have gone very smooth on this trip. This morning was the biggest snafu to date and it resulted in an unplanned town stop. The electricity came on at 10:30pm last night. I got up this morning and threw my laundry in the washing machine with detergent. However, the water pump was not working at the hostel. Only enough water went into the machine to soak my clothes. Hiker's carry town clothes when they do laundry. For me, that is blue hospital scrubs, as they function as PJs as well. Lois, the lady at the hostel, told me to get my gear and she would take me to a laundro-mat. She dropped me off at the main street in Great Barrington. I was a sight, I'm sure! Unshowered and unshaved for 5 days, wearing blue hospital scrubs and hiking boots, a backpack on my back, hiking poles in one hand, and my drippy laundry bag in the other! I felt like Richard Kimball, from The Fugitive. I wanted to start walking up to people and ask them if they had seen a one armed man. I thought I better not push it though or I might wind up in a psych ward in four point restraints. I have enough friends in San Antonio who would be more than glad to testify that I'm certifiably bonkers. I did get my laudry done, though and went to a diner for breakfast. I put my hiking clothes on back on in the diner's bathroom. I still felt grubby without a shower, though! I felt like a Pharisee when Jesus said, they were clean on the outside (my clothes) but still dirty inside (me!) I had to walk part way back to the trail before a real nice retired gentleman, named George, picked me up. He went out of his way to take me to the trail. It was very much appreciated. There were a few steep pulls up mountains today, but for the most part, it was very easy walking with no rock scrambling. The weather was much cooler and the streams are flowing again. That means I won't have to scrounge for water. They got 2 1/2 inches of rain at the hostel last night. I am camped by a rushing stream tonight, but alas, I don't have cell phone coverage!
Date: 2005-08-16
From: North of Webster Road, MA

To: North of Blotz Road, MA
Miles today: 19.2

Massachusetts, almost home of the BOSOX and BOTOX president. I've completed 10 states with four to go. There are 90.3 miles of the trail in MA and I have 33.1 miles to go. So far it has been one of my favorite states. It has pretty woods and lakes and relatively easy trail. I have been impressed by how polite the bugs are to one another. The mosquitoes, gnats, and flies have divided feeding times up among themselves as to when they feed on my flesh. The mosquitoes get mornings and late evening. The gnats get early afternoon and the flies get the afternoon to feed on what's left of my carcass. It was a good day of hiking... the weather was nice and relatively cool. Though there is a light rain outside now. I hiked with Nimblefoot from Wisconsin, a girl named Lisa from Massachusetts and her dog Marietta. Lisa is in her third year of Vet school at Michigan State University (GO Spartans!) Nimblefoot and I also went to get water at the home of the "Cookie Lady." We got there just in time for chocolate chip cookies just coming out of the oven! Marilyn (the "Cookie Lady"), and her husband Roy have helped hikers for years where the AT crosses Pittsfield Road. They were delicious!
Date: 2005-08-17
From: North of Blotz Road, MA

To: Dalton, MA / The Bird Cage
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: clear sky

It was a short, but gorgeous day for hiking. It rained last night but I stayed dry. The weather was clear and crisp for the hike into Dalton, MA. Dalton is a small, but interesting town for two reasons... The Bird Cage and the Crane Company. The Crane Company has been here for years and they are the exclusive maker of the paper used for U.S. currency. They give tours in the afternoons but unfortunately don't give out free samples. The Bird Cage is the home of Robert Bird where he has hosted hikers for years. It is his family home... He showed me the corner where his mother was born on Christmas Day, 1912. I walked to the Shell station where he is a manager... Rob was there with his van and asked if I was looking for a room. When I said yes, he had me hop in and brought me to his house. I finally got my much needed shower!! He takes your picture and keeps it in a journal. He guestimates that I am the 1,070th hiker he has hosted in his home. This afternoon he took us to Wahconah Falls to swim. Tonight, we will make a trip to Wal-Mart to resupply and go out to eat. Rob exemplifies the friendly people in this small town in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts.
Date: 2005-08-18
From: Dalton, MA / The Bird Cage

To: Mt. Greylock
Miles today: 17.0

Everyone knows the Catholic line in confessionals (Father, forgive me for I have sinned). I feel like I need to say this to all the AT purists out there because I "slack packed" today! Let me explain the hiker jargon... Slack packing is basically doing a hike with a day pack - with the day's essentials. Today, Rob drove 3 of us to the top of Mount Greylock and dropped us off at about 10:15 am. We then hiked the 17 miles back to his house. I left my backpack at his house and he will drive us to the top of Greylock in the morning to resume our northword trek. For many, including some here now, they intend to carry their packs all the way from Springer to Katahdin. That was my intention until today as well. However, the pragmatic side of me told me I might need to do some slack packing to finish this year. The past 2 mornings have been brisk and cool and reminded me that Fall and snow are not that far away here. It was a beautiful hike. Tonight there are about 11 of us at the Bird Cage... both north and southbounders. He has several beds throughout his house. My bed is in the basement. Finally, I want to thank Rob again for everything he's done.
Date: 2005-08-19
From: Mt. Greylock

To: North of MA/VT border
Miles today: 11.0

Vermont! State #12 of the 14 states on the AT hit parade. Home of the vermontsters, also home to Larry and his brother Darrell and his other brother Darrell (from the Bob Newhart show... in case you have forgotten). Vermont comes from the French phrase, Ver Mont, which means green mountain. Though the French usually put their adjectives after their nouns, so shouldn't it be Mont Ver? In either case, green mountain aptly describes what we found when we crossed the line into Vermont at 6:30 tonight. We got started at about 10:30 this morning after Rob drove us to the top of Mount Greylock. The ranger pointed out the route we would take over the next few days from the lookout. He showed us Stratton Mountain, 45 miles away (51 miles away on the trail). As I came down Mount Greylock, I saw a small weasel-looking animal in a tree that I got to within 5 feet. It was funny watching him sniff all around. I am guessing he was a ferret or a sable, but I'm not sure. I had to go off the trail to go grocery shopping this afternoon. Pam is also mailing me some warm weather clothes. It is getting chilly at night.
Date: 2005-08-20
From: North of MA/VT border

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

I pushed northward into Vermont... started wet today. It rained some as I broke camp and was very foggy this morning (I know I live in a fog but it really was foggy!) I hiked with the foot gang (Nimblefoot and Tevafoot). Tevafoot is from Tucson and is doing a section hike for the next month. The hiking was very pleasant except for a steep drop down rock steps to state route 9 and then immediately back up to the shelter. I was going to stay in the shelter tonight, but it's pretty full. I pitched my tent and hoped the storms won't be severe tonight. I continue to be amazed at the generosity of people to thru-hikers. I met a nice gentlemen, named Ed hiking with his daughter and her cousin. After talking with him, he offered to let me stay in his trailer at a campground in NH. I may take him up on the offer. I asked people about the weasal-like animal I saw. After I told them I was sure it wasn't an attorney, the consensus seems to be it was a Pine Marten. It was a treat to see.
Date: 2005-08-21
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: light rain

I hummed Christmas songs to pass the time today. I hummed Western songs. I hummed Belinda Carlisle songs (One of the young girls asked me what I was humming... When I told her, she had never heard of Belinda Carlisle... Boy, I feel old!) It stormed through the early morning hours, so I packed up wet again. It was a drippy, foggy morning. I went up in a fire tower on Glastenbury Mountain (3,748 feet) but just about all I saw was fog. The mountains are gradually getting taller with more vigorous climbs. For the most part though, the trail is very pleasant. It is easy to see why Vermont is called the Green Mountain state. I went by a beaver pond with a big beaver den this evening, but no beaver in sight. It is pretty with the hemlock forest... It smelled like Christmas trees. That, with the cold has put me in the Christmas spirit. It is time to finish and go home.
Date: 2005-08-22
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Vermont is quickly becoming my favorite state on the trail thus far. I have already mentioned the ponds and hemlock forests. The view from the fire tower on top of Mount Stratton is quite impressive. You can see Mount Greylock to the south in Massachusetts and Mount Washington in NH to the northeast. By trail, Mt Washington is 219 miles away. I hiked up Mt Stratton with Cucumber Boy who is a girl. Like her name, the AT is full of paradoxes. Take the name Appalachian Trail... for the first 1100 miles it is pronounce the "apple-latch-un" trail, but north of the Mason-Dixon line, it becomes the "apple-a-shun" trail. The overnight buildings are "shelters" until you reach CT, then they become "lean-to's" until Vermont when they become "shelters" again. But in NH, they are "huts" ... then "lean-to's" in Maine. Low places in the mountains are "gaps" in the south, but "notches" in New England unless you are in Sherburne Pass in VT. On the trail, there are "privy's" but we used to call them "outhouses" as a kid. I passed two groups of kids from Yale University today. They were doing a f.o.o.t. (freshman outdoor orientation trip). Apparently, it is a chance to get acquainted in the out-of-doors.