morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-08-10
From: Limestone Shelter

To: Silver Hill Campsite
Miles today: 18.1

August 10, 2016Silver Hill Campsite  mile 712.3    18.1 miles hikedRaining buckets this morning, its warm though so I do not put on my jacket. The rain is good and bad. It cools me down and gets all the grime off my skin and clothes (mostly), but my glasses are hopelessly fogged due to the wet and humidity. They are also slipping off my face. I am a blind hiker no matter if I am wearing my glasses or not! Between the foggy humidity, rain and my glasses problem, I have a murky view of whats ahead. Things close to me are fuzzy and things down the trail are blobs of who knows what! It¢s weird but diversionary at the same time. I am constantly amused to see what the actual blob is when I get close enough to see it. ¢That¢s got to be a trail junction sign!, ah crap, its just a piece of peeling bark!¢ ¢Tail Magic?!!, CRAP, just a big square rock.¢ I meet up with Walking Tree around lunchtime at the Pine Swamp shelter. I was happy to see him again, nice to catch up on his adventures. Walking Tree is really laid back but when his gear doesn¢t behave he lets out the loudest string of expletives in German that I have ever heard! He was packing up his pack from lunch and had set it carefully on the edge of the shelter. It teetered and then fell, spilling the contents onto the wet ground. WOW, Walking Tree let out a very long @@#%$^&***$#@$%$!!!!!!! I don¢t know what he said but even I felt better after that outburst. Walking Tree will never have an ulcer. The rain let up in the afternoon but the humidity persisted. I got some intel from northbound sectioners that the Silver Hill Campsite had water and was a sweet spot. After a long day of ups and downs, I reached Silver Hill. Excellent spot! Flat ground, a pavilion with 2 picnic tables, a hand water pump, deck with benches and a porch swing. oh and a view! YES!!! I set myself up, made my mashed potatoes with jerky and ate on the porch swing. I ate extra Little Debbie oatmeal cookie sandwiches (so good!) with my tea. Dry and relaxing. Another person came later, she was planning on hiking the AT next year and was shaking out her gear. We chatted a bit and I turned in early. Another good day on the AT.@#$%%$#^&&*##$@ what does that mean in German, Walking Tree?Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-11
From: Silver Hill Campsite

To: Mt. Algo Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

August 11, 2016Mount Algo Shelter  mile 722.8     10.5 miles hikedHot, Humid, Hot, Humid! At least I am not actually melting, I am able to hike despite all this hotness. My food situation is becoming alarming so I decide to take a short detour into Kent for resupply and hopefully to a cafe with air conditioning. It¢s a couple miles from the trail. I am up early so I can get to air conditioning as soon as I can. The hike to Conn. route 341 (Kent is a couple miles down the road) wasn't bad at all. Around 10 miles from Silver Hill. Basically a few ups and downs, back road crossings then road walking a bit, a nice mile along the Housatonic river, that was really nice and boom! I am at route 341. It is HOT HOT HOT! I know, so repetitive, but it really is so hot. I start walking the road hoping someone will pick me up but nope, it doesn't happen. The first shop I come to, miraculously, is an ice cream shop with air conditioning! Well, I spent a long time in there eating my ice cream very slowly, sipping a root beer very slowly reading the newspaper very slowly. It was awesome! I dragged myself out of there and found a shop that sold Darn Toughs (socks) and bought an extra pair. It is so¢¦..WARM, that I am changing my socks during the day and 2 pair aren't cutting it. I also find an air-conditioned restaurant and have a proper big lunch, chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries all eaten very slowly. Next, I resupply in the air conditioned grocery store and repack right inside the store. Ugh, I am not looking forward to going back to hike in the......oven. I decide to go back for ice-cream and dawdle until it cools off a bit, and just go to the shelter that is uphill from the road about .3 miles. That¢s a plan I can live with and that¢s what I did. As I walked the road I noticed grey clouds and heard rumbling a bit by the time I got to the shelter. Faye (from Atlanta) was there as well as Mojo, Pringles and Orpheus whom I had not met until now. Mojo was wearing a wild tie dye shirt that said ¢God Loves Gays¢, he said he was going to wear it specifically in North Carolina and Georgia, said with a sly grin!. Why? Well, I guess that is his story to tell. Pringles and Mojo had spent the previous evening at a Trail Angels house in their backyard swanky Cabana, it was really rich. That¢s Mojo and his luck, I gotta give it up for him, he gets the good stuff. I set up, ate, visited and then we all scattered to our tents as the thunder banged and the down pour started. I slept very well.I love air conditioning so much.Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-12
From: Mt. Algo Shelter

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

August 12, 2016Wiley Shelter    mile 735.2           12.4 miles hikedConnecticut = 3 daysWelcome to New York, state number 6!We had a flood of rain last night, I was looking forward to some cooling temperatures, however, I awoke to a steam bath. As the sun filtered in, I saw plumes of steam rise from the forest floor. It was beautiful to watch but sticky to feel. I got up early and waved bye to Faye who was emerging from her tent. Mojo, Pringles and Orpheus were snoozing still. There was an immediate climb up Mt. Algo. It wasn't horrible and there were views of the Housatonic River Valley. Today, the trail teases me into NY for 2 miles and winds back into Connecticut and finally back into NY to stay. NY, how dramatic! Down by Ten Mile River, at a road crossing I heard people sounds, perhaps this is a swimming area? Better check this out, I was rewarded by finding a beautiful swimming spot! There was a family with 2 young kids enjoying a dip, they soon packed up and I had the spot to myself. There was a wide waterfall, smooth rock river bank, pools and a deep area to really get some swimming strokes going. So perfect on this sticky day. I found a semi secluded spot, stripped and got in the water, I can¢t express how amazing that felt. Amazing enough that I spent 3 hours hanging out, in and out of the water. I celebrated crossing into NY with a Charleston Chew Candy bar, I could not find a Snickers bar anywhere when I shopped in Kent! Although not the official celebration candy, the Charleston Chew was quite satisfying. After the refreshing swim at Ten Mile, the hike didn¢t seem so horrid, and I enjoyed the views back to the Housatonic. I stopped at the Wiley Shelter and set up my tent, there were a few good level spots. Some North Bounders filtered in as well as Orpheus. One NB had a guitar and gave Orpheus some lessons in jamming. It was nice to lay in my tent and listen to their concert. Dinner was a disaster! I keep my lighter in my pot. I poured water into my pot as usual to boil it, as I reached for my lighter, it wasn't there. I usually take the lighter and put it next to my stove. For the second time this trip, I left my lighter IN my pot, drowning the poor thing. Ugh, it¢s too hot for cooking so I decided to eat a peanut butter and chocolate wrap. It¢s a good way to lift your spirits, chocolate lifted mine for sure! The jam session ended when big thunder booms moved in. Just a different kind of music.Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-13
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

August 13, 2016Telephone Pioneers Shelter  mile 744     8.8 miles hikedI would rate today¢s comedy factor a 10/10 and its overall difficulty a 9/10. I didn¢t go very far but I really had to cut the day into short segments and get from point A to B and repeat. The big problem today, please don¢t scream, the HEAT and HUMIDITY after days of living in an OVEN! Days of being so thankful that people cared about hikers enough to leave water caches at road crossings. I think I cracked. I drank a lot of water, but I would worry about the next water source being dry. UGH. The hiking was not difficult, up over one mountain and then up to a ridge with a view of Quaker Lake. I took advantage of ¢Native Landscapes Garden Center¢ offer to sit inside at a hikers table and chill out, charged my phone and texted my friend. They also had an outdoor shower out back, a cold shower but who cares? I ask to use it and the worker said sure, back that way. Its a hose mounted to the back wall and a little cart to put your clothes etc on. It was Glorious, I lathered up. Then I heard it, an unmistakable train rumble, it got closer, I heard train brakes screeching, hmmmm, louder, the train noise was right behind me. I turned and holy crap the train is RIGHT THERE! so close I could see what the passengers were wearing. A guy with a coffee and baseball cap looked right at me! THE TRAIN STOPPED! I¢M TAKING A SHOWER PEOPLE!!! I decide, what the hell, and turn around and continue with my awesome shower, these people must see naked hikers all the time. It¢s a commuter train for gods sake. I forced my self back to the trail, in about a minute I cross the train tracks where there IS a train stop (heh!). I made it a few miles to West Dover Road, where the large Dover Oak stands. There is a water cache and a large box of energy bars, and shade from the Dover. This is nice. I sit. still sitting. I went down the road to a house with an outdoor spigot that hikers can use. I got there and it looks like no one lives there. I put my head under the water and douse myself. I go back and do this 3 times while I am resting by the Dover. I just can¢t leave. A group of fresh faced people who smell like fabric softener arrive. They are from the city, took the train up here to walk in the forest. We chatted a bit, they had no idea of the AT. I hope I was a good ambassador. They took water and energy bars and left, thrilled with the day in the country. It finally cooled 1 or 2 degrees and I forced myself up a half mile and about 400 feet to this shelter. I found a semi-level spot to set up and collapsed. I fell right to sleep. Was I really naked in front of a bunch of commuter train people? or was that a dream?Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-14
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: thunderstorm

August 14, 2016RPH Shelter   mile 760.8   16.8 miles hikedPlease Rain! Please Rain! Please Rain! Please Rain! Please Rain! Please Rain! Please Rain! I heard some promising rumbles of thunder a couple of times today. I want rain and I want someone to turn down the oven that has become planet earth! I hiked by Nuclear Lake, strode up to the shore, jumped in and jumped out, continued hiking in my soaking wet clothes. That¢s better - for about 15 minutes. Crossed over Interstate 84, looking forward to a deli on rt. 52. I walk very determined down the blacktop road to the deli. Ahhh, nice inside, I get 2 root beers, chips and a large ham and cheese sub. There were No Whoopie Pies, so I was sad about that. There is a table in back in the shade and an outside spigot. Thank you Mountain Top Deli!!!!! This is a good place to linger, 2 sectioners were also taking a break and I enjoyed having some company. I tried not to complain about the SWELTERING ATMOSPHERIC CRISIS that I was having too much. After cooling down and fueling up, Hiked on under the Taconic Parkway and got to the RPH Shelter, used the outdoor water pump to douse my head- it was wonderful. The RPH Shelter is really nice, it has bunks inside and a table as well as a covered picnic porch in the back. It¢s close enough to the road to order from nearby restaurants. I grabbed a bunk as the place filled up with NorthBounders, very lively crowd. It¢s all right with me because I can sit back and its like watching a reality show! There was a 40 minute negotiation about ordering food and then a full critique of the buffet once it arrived. I cooked out back and this is the day my old faithful Pocket Rocket died. DEAD. It was so old that the threads for screwing onto the fuel canisters were stripping, making a tight seal difficult. Tonight, the flames were definitely shooting out the sides, below the burner. yeah, time to shut it down and give it a memorial service. A young North Bounder couldn't believe that Pocket Rockets had been around long enough to die of old age. I told him I have had my Pocket Rocket for 15 years and he gasped and I got the ¢Wow, you are really old¢ look. yes- it IS a look! It RAINED buckets all night, I slept a very happy sleep.My Pocket Rocket, old faithful, flamed out for good today. Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-15
From: RPH Shelter

To: Greymoor Spiritual Life Center
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: light rain

August 15, 2016Greymoor Spiritual Life Center mile 779.7  miles hiked 18.9The rain last night, what can I say, I felt so much better today. I got right up early, very early so I had to be super quiet since I had slept in the shelter. It was still warm but I had a good breeze most of the day. Had some climbs today but not horrible. First up was Shenandoah Mountain, there were some good view of the Taconics. I passed 2 water caches on my way to Dennytown Road. I can't thank the people who maintain the caches enough. It¢s one thing to put out a gallon now and then but these people put out 15 some times as much as 30 gallons. They also, from what I can tell make sure there is a supply of water every day. It really has helped. I took a clothes-on shower (sort of) at an outdoor spigot at the Dennytown Road. Is it weird that there are random outdoor spigots and hikers can just go and help themselves? I am a thankful hiker, thats all I can say. I took the .4 road walk to the baseball field at the Greymoor Spiritual Life Center. The Greymoor people let hikers tent here. There is a pavilion with ELECTRICITY, outhouses and an outdoor shower WITH WALLS. So I took a shower sans clothing this time. I met Szamauri Blue, another South Bounder. He was on a mission to get near his hometown in Pennsylvania, Waynesboro, I think. He was planning on staying at home and his wife, whom he missed dearly, would slack pack him while he was there. Also, a sectioner from NYC I believe, was taking a couple of weeks on the trail. Later a mother and daughter came and set up their tent. It seemed like the mother/daughter had been backpacking many times before this. They were exceptionally efficient.  They had everything set, hung up and were starting dinner in the time I decided what to have for dinner, potatoes and tuna or potatoes and jerky? My tent was in the shade, I had a good breeze blowing through, happy.I go to bed clean!!Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-17
From: West Mt. Shelter

To: Fingerboard shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: broken clouds

August 17, 2016Fingerboard Shelter mile 801.5    8.6 miles hiked After the big rain last night, the humidity left. Such a relief!! I watched the lights of the city and the heat lighting for a long time last night. Kun left about 8:30 and I just could not get moving. Kun said he woke up in a big panic, he knew he heard a bear growling! He shined his light out into the dark with trembling hands and heard the noise again. HA! it was just me, apparently I snorted-snored! He was kind of disappointed but at least he had the real FEELING of having a bear in camp even if it was just a fake out snoring person. Sorry Kun! It was so peaceful, nice breeze, great view and warm but not humid. I never left the shelter until 10:00. That¢s crazy, but oh so nice. I did some lazy hiking, I stopped a lot to look around at, ¢¦oh anything. I read in the shelter log that the visitors center in the median of the Palisades Parkway had an outdoor spigot and there were snacks to buy inside. This was really, weird, I walked out of the woods and then walked down the side of a busy highway to a small building in the middle of the lanes. Pleasant surprise, air conditioning and the person working was very hospitable and let me charge my electronics and stay as long as I wanted. So I did, for 1 and a half hours. Since water has been so scarce I now have a collection of water bottles. My liter bottle that I drink from, two - 1 liter bottles and two 3/4-liter bottles. Jeekers, its a lot of weight, but its hot and I just can¢t rely on the water sources listed in the guide. Its hard to pack all these bottles, I keep 3 inside my pack. Generally they fall out every time I open my pack and roll down the nearest incline. Such a pain! Ok, I will quit my complaining! Today was very pleasant, I slept late, sat in air conditioning for a while, saw 2 deer in the woods, saw the mighty Hudson River from above, good day on the AT. The Finger Board Shelter sits up on the side of a hill, I am tenting below the shelter in a tall pine forest. I watched the sun set behind the ridge where the shelter is. Nice. The Pallisades Parkway Visitors Center, quite a find.Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-18
From: Fingerboard shelter

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

August 18, 2016Wildcat Shelter mile 815.7  14.2 miles hikedToday may be the last full day in New York! I have heard promising things about New Jersey and I am stoked to move on! Up then down then up then down and repeat that ALL day. That sums up the topography for today. My thighs and butt got a workout for sure. The lemon squeezer was a bunch of fun maneuvering, not too bad at all. I like a good boulder puzzle. Good water caches all day, water angels really rock it this year. I stopped at Fitzgerald falls for a while, it was relaxing to sit by flowing water, it has been a long time. I have switched out my lunches from peanut butter and m-n-m wraps to tuna fish and wheat thins, eaten like party snacks, of course some m-n-ms for dessert. The problem with crackers is that it is very easy to eat more of them than your supposed to. A wrap is a Wrap, when you have eaten 2, that¢s it. I don¢t count crackers. Today, I only had 4 crackers left. Sad situation¢¦ Indeed. My tip for the day; count your crackers, avoid the sad. Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-19
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

August 19, 2016Wawayanda Shelter mile 827.9   12.2 miles hikedNY= 8 daysI did not plan this day well. I got up early as usual, and in 2 miles I was at NY Rte.17a. Its 7:00 in the morning. Right down the road is the Bellvale Creamery and Hot Dog Stand! A CREAMERY!! I go there hoping, really hoping it has a devoted organic egg eating early morning crowd and that they are actually open for business. ARRRRGGHH, it¢s not open until noon. Noon? Thats in 5 hours. I look in the window, the place is classic creamery. I bet the ice cream is probably the best, better than Ben and Jerry¢s. At the outdoor spigot, I fill up my water bottles, because I have to. Just another sadness, yesterday with the 4 cracker lunch, today a no cracker lunch and no Bellvale ice cream. I have to do better people. I carry my sadness to the trail where I get to walk a long ridge looking down at Greenwood Lake. I see a boat. I bet that person has crackers and some creamery products in the fridge. Reaching the NY/NJ State line does a great job lifting my spirits. I have a mangled State Line Celebration Snickers Bar, a family sized bar, and feel very happy, state number 7. I hope hiking the AT isn't giving me mood swings. Within a mile of entering NJ, I see 2 bear cubs scampering away, so I see their rumps basically. I am aware that Mom is near, I look but don¢t see her. I am hoping she is in the direction I saw the cubs go and not in the direction that I am going. Bears, first thing in NJ! Cool. The views are beautiful, woods and lakes and the hiking isn¢t too bad. Crossing the Warwick Turnpike raised my blood pressure a little but soon I was at the Wawayanda Shelter. There was no water at the shelter but I had carried what I needed from the last source. It was nice to take the pack off. I found a great spot for my tent, stuck my crackerless food bag in the Bear Box and relaxed reading the shelter log. A good first day in NJ. I regret not sleeping in today, I would have been able to have the worlds best ice cream. Insect SOBO 2016
Date: 2016-08-20
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: St. Thomas Church Hostel, Vernon NJ Rt. 94
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: light rain

August 20, 2016St. Thomas Church Hostel, Vernon NJ Rt. 94 mile 832.9   5 miles hikedTown day! I must do something about my sad food bag, my rank clothes and me, I am filthy! I head out for NJ Rt. 94, near Vernon NJ. It was a very pleasant walk with just a couple ups and downs and one downhill of about 700 feet. I caught a ride almost immediately, Thankyou!! My driver knew exactly where the church was and took me right there. He also pointed out the super market and post office. This church hostel is fantastic! Laundry, lounge area with cots and comfy couches and recliners, a nice shower room, a hiker fridge and use of the kitchen sinks. There is a list of chores, and you are expected to pick one and do it to help keep the place neat and clean. No problem, I mop and clean the shower room. It¢s early, so I get my resupply done and get cream cheese, tomato, avocado and tandoori for sandwiches and whoopee pies for my delectables today. Laundry is done and I get to the P.O. and mail some stuff home, and mail out a bunch of post cards. Its nice, I relax all afternoon, no one else comes along until late. When I first arrived, a father daughter ( 10 yr. old) team and their dog Balto were packing up and getting ready for the trail. The daughter was excited about walking the board walk. She was a whiz with the days itinerary, she recited the landmarks and milages perfectly. That is a good hiking partner to have. There is a notice that hikers are welcome to attend church and can get a ride back to the trail after the service. Its Saturday, so I decide, sure, I will go to church tomorrow. What a nice afternoon, relaxing in a recliner, doing not a whole lot. A young guy came after I was sleeping, he made a bit of a ruckus, but I was able to get back to sleep. The service was outside in the garden and it was pretty cool actually, very informal. I learned that this would be the last year for this hostel because the church was being sold, it was a done deal. The church people had known about this for a while and were moving on, sad, but resigned to the fact that this beautiful property wasn't theirs anymore. A parishioner (former teacher) gave me a ride back to the trail and we had a good conversation about our respective careers.I really enjoyed my stay in Vernon NJ. Insect SOBO 2016