morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-05
From: Mt Wilcox North Shelter

To: Glen Brook Shelter
Miles today: 21.4

Mt Wilcox North Shelter to Glen Brook Shelter - 21.4 miles; on trail for 13.5 hours; 1.6 mphSunny, comfortable temperature, breeze, low humidity - what a contrast to yesterday!This was a long day - 21.4 miles in 13.5 hours which works out to 1.6 mph. This was a little slower than the last two 20+ mile days. This was partially due to the step, rocky last stretch. I was also a little tired (sleepy) today.Up at 5 am. On the trail at 6:30 am. The weather today was perfect. Great views of the Housatonic River Valley from both north and south. I had lunch at one of the overlooks.   The Housatonic River was very high. There was a 6 mile flat stretch through the valley. When I called home I learned that yesterday's rain was the remains of Hurricane Arthur. I was wondering what had happened to it. I'm glad that it has come and gone. I got to the shelter at 8 pm. I'm tenting tonight. There are four other people tenting. Saw 14 or so through hikers including one a day, who was meeting up with his parents for a night off the trail.
Date: 2014-07-06
From: Glen Brook Shelter

To: US 44 near Salisbury
Miles today: 14.2

Glen Brook Shelter to US 44 near Salisbury - 14.2 miles; hiking for 8:05 today; 1.76 mphSunny, comfortably hot, slight breezeI slept very well in my tent last night. I think I sleep better in my tent than in a shelter.Three mountains with great views and wonderful waterfalls - this was a great day. Up at 5 am and on the trail at 6:40. This was a little later than I wanted because I needed to filter water - too tired to do it last night. The first order of business was climbing Mt Everett. Great views to the north including Greylock. Next it was down and up Race Mt. 360 degree view from the summit. This included a north-south range in NY with a peak higher than I was on. The next stretch followed a ridge with spectacular views of the farmland and forest below. The water was high at Sages Ravine so it was a ford. There were a series of spectacular waterfalls. Some where along the way I passed the MA-CT line. The final climb was Bear Mt, the high point in CT. More great views.   I texted Hudson from Bearded Woods Hostel from Lions Head. He picked me up at US 44 at 3:45. Today I gave nobo happy feet info on hiking through NH. Maybe a dozen nobos passed me. There were lots of day hikers and backpackers out for a few days. Tonight I'm at Bearded Woods. They are treating us very well.
Date: 2014-07-08
From: Caesar Brook Campsite

To: Schaghiticoke Mt Campsite
Miles today: 16.9

2014 ¢ Day 7 (07/08/2014) Caesar Brook Campsite to Schaghiticoke Mt CampsiteDaily Mileage: 16.9 miles on ATHours on trail: 7:50 AM to 7:30 PM = 11:40 hoursSpeed including breaks: 1.45 mphWeather: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy; hot; very humid; occasional light breezeI slept well in my tent last night. A thunderstorm came through during the night but it woke me only enough to close the tent fly. I got up at 5:40 but was slow getting out of camp. I needed to do some maintenance on the blisters on the bottom of my feet, especially the right one. I also needed to filter water. I was on the trail at 7:50. The early part of the day was an easy descent followed by a long walk along the Housatonic. The river is still flowing very fast. After this, there was lots of climbing. At two locations the trail dropped back down to the elevation of the Housatonic River. Each time I needed to climb back up to the elevation of the ridges. The first climb, up to St Johns Ledges, was very steep and rocky - the most challenging so far. This was about 750 ft of elevation gain. Then the trail dropped back down to Schaghiticoke Mt Road at the elevation of the Housatonic. This was followed by a 1,000 ft climb up Mt Algo and an unnamed higher peak. Along the way I passed a ¢gathering¢ of small snakes. There must have been 10 or so of them. Some were contentedly coiled, while others were slithering about. Maybe the gathering was for the purpose of mating?Today was my slowest pace so far. In part it was because of the heat, but my sore feet and the two climbs were contributing factors.I talked with several nobos including ¢Politician¢ who is from Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Then there was ¢Acorn¢ who was traveling without a map or guidebook. ¢Grinder¢ is an elementary school teacher who is out for a long section hike. Late in the day I talked to two nobos who were determined to get to Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter. This would require descending St. Johns Ledges in the dark. I suggested that this was a bad idea, however, they said they got a late start and were determined to get in their mileage for the day. They clearly had some combination of too much bravado, too little sense, and/or too much testosterone. A wilderness adventure group from East Hartford is at the campsite with me. There is an excellent water source. This gave me an opportunity to soak my feet and wash up a little.The forecast is for severe thunderstorms during the night. We will see.
Date: 2014-07-14
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

2014 ¢ Wrap UpOn July 12 I had an uneventful trip back to Maine. A taxi picked me up at the Holiday Inn Express and brought me to the Hertz office in Mohegan Lake. Then it was a pleasant drive on the Taconic State Parkway most of the way to Pittsfield, MA. The parkway is quite nice, with no trucks. I passed right over the AT crossing where I had been just two days before. My car was in my trail angel¢s driveway and they provided a shuttle to drop off the Hertz car. We then had lunch at Subway. I greatly thank these trail angels. Other than needing to take a half-hour nap in a rest area on the Mass Pike and an ice cream break in Kittery, it was a non-stop drive back to my home Maine.It is now my second full day home. The blister on my right foot is healing a little, but I¢m going to my doctor later today to see if anything can be done to help it along.As I think back on this year¢s 192 mile trip, overall it was outstanding. I climbed two state high points (Mt. Greylock ¢ MA and Bear Mt. ¢ CT). Except for the remains of Hurricane Arthur on July 4, I didn¢t really get rained on while hiking. However, there was rain several nights so I often put away a wet tent. There were several locations with great views, but the best were surely those from the ridge just south of Race Mountain. Overall, the woods were impressive. I clearly saw the change from the dense northern forest of mixed hardwoods to the sparser oaks of the New York highlands. For animals I saw six deer, 100+ salamanders, more squirrels than I could count, two turtles, and many snakes. I also saw a red cardinal.I did five, 20+ mile days. My legs can certainly carry me this far each day, but these make for long days, with one more than 14 hours on the trail. Near the end, my speed was slowed by my sore right foot. On the last two 20 mile days, both my feet just pain hurt from pounding them on rocky trails. Unless there is a good reason, in the future I should try to avoid 20+ mile days on rocky trails.The disappointing part of this trip was the blisters on my feet. At the end of last year¢s trip, with the same shoes, my feet were in perfect shape. Hiking with soaking wet feet on July 4 and 5 was a prime cause. Also the shoe inserts would not stay put. They kept sliding toward the back. Before next year I need to experiment with different shoe inserts. The blisters were the prime reason to cut this trip short at Bear Mountain Bridge rather than continuing to Delaware Watergap, however, I¢d had my fill for this year of hiking in such hot temperatures.The true highlight of the trip was hiking across the bridge that carries the AT over the Massachusetts Turnpike. This bridge brought back so many memories of my dad.Including my end-to-end of the Long Trail, I've now completed 786 miles from Mt. Kahtahdin to Bear Mountain Bridge.Next year I may continue on the AT or I may complete the second half of the Colorado Trail. I¢m somewhat favoring the latter for a change of scenery, but the final decision will depend on available time and logistics.That¢s all for this year.
Date: 2016-07-04
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

In 2015 I completed the Colorado Trail. This year I'll be picking up on the AT at the Hudson River, where I left off in 2014. Hopefully I'll make it to Port Clinton, PA, 186 miles. Today is my last day at home. Tomorrow I drive in rental car to N.Y. I start the hike in earnest on Wednesday.This year I am wearing a Garmin Epix watch that I will use to record the total miles traveled each day, as well as the total elevation gain and elevation loss. I will record this in each journal entry along with the official trail miles covered.
Date: 2016-07-05
From: Bear Mountain Bridge 

To: Bear Mountain Inn 
Miles today: 0.9

2016 - Day 0Trail miles: 0.9Total miles: 3.22Total time: 1:40Elevation gain: 587Elevation loss: 557Calories: 410Weather: Mostly sunny, hotStart: Bear Mountain BridgeEnd: Bear Mountain InnToday was mostly getting from my home in Maine to the Hudson River. I rented a car from Hertz and dropped it off in the town of Mohegan Lake. Then I took a taxi to the east end of the Bear Mountain Bridge. Even though I hiked across the bridge in 2014, it is such a spectacular view and the weather was great, so I had to cross again. Two nobo thru hikers passed me on the bridge. I met another four at the west end. I took a detour to Fort Mongomery before going through the zoo. There was a Revolutionary War battle in 1776. British ships forced their way up the Hudson and overran the fort.I went through the zoo just in time to see two cinnamon colored black bears before they were taken in for the night. I also saw a very healthy beaver. I'm now at the Bear Mountain Inn. Tomorrow I start the hike in earnest.
Date: 2016-07-06
From: Bear Mountain Inn 

To: William Briem Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 9.3

2016 - Day 1Trail miles: 9.3Total miles: 16.2Total time: 9:58Elevation gain: 3800Elevation loss: 2877Weather: Mostly sunny, 90's, humidStart: Bear Mountain InnEnd: William Briem Memorial ShelterNice hike to the top of Bear Mountain. It is a heavily used trail but I had it mostly to myself. Disappointingly, there was more litter strewn along the trail than I've ever seen before.  Clear view of the Hudson River from the top, however, it was too hazy to see NY City. After crossing Seven Lakes Drive, I managed to get off on a side trail. It was white blazed, although the blazes were smaller than on the AT. I went 1.7 miles before I realized my error. With the hike back, this was 3.4 miles. The added time and distance meant I was getting low on water, so I did another mile round trip to a rest area with water on the Palisades Parkway. When all was said and done, plus the heat, this prevented me from making it to my intended destination of the Fingerboard Shelter. Today I saw a flock of turkeys with chicks, a young buck just sprouting horns, and mature doe. There were too many squirrels and chipmunks to count. Many NOBOs passed me. I helped a day hiker who was trying to get back to the Bear Mountain Inn, but was going the wrong way. It was about 4 pm so he had a long hike ahead of him. At shelter, spoke with Redwood and Boomerang, section hikers who hail from Sacramento. I'm in my tent.  The area around the shelter is a mature oak and maple forest with little undergrowth. It is majestic! It is going to be a hot night.
Date: 2016-07-07
From: William Briem Memorial Shelter

To: NY 17
Miles today: 0.0

2016 - Day 2Trail miles: 9.7Total miles: 11.1Total time: 6:26Elevation gain: 1912Elevation loss: 2365Weather: Partly cloudy, hot, after noon showersStart: William Briem Memorial ShelterEnd: NY 17I slept well last night even with the heat. I just lay on top of my sleeping bag.I got up a little before 5 and had my pack on my back at 6:10. I wanted an early start to get in as many miles as possible before it got really hot.Much of the hike was through mature oak and maple forest. It was outstanding. In a few places there were ripe blueberries - yum.Twice I came within 70 feet of does. They were completely unafraid of me. They just kept munching away. I got a great picture of one of them. I saw a third doe from further away. I filled up on water just south of Seven Lakes Road. I filled my maximum capacity of 3.5 liters since water ahead is scarce.I got to NY 17 a little after noon. I was probably not going to be able to make it to Wildcat Shelter today, so I decided to take an easy day. I called the Hampton Inn in Harriman. They came out with their van and picked me up. This gave me a chance for a much needed shower. I also did laundry and got a replacement battery for a heart rate monitor that links to my smart watch. I'm hoping this gives me an estimate of how many calories I burn in a day. I'm just going to relax for the evening. I'll be back on the trail in the morning.
Date: 2016-07-08
From: NY 17

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 9.9

2016 - Day 3Trail miles: 9.9Total miles: 11.6Total time: 7:50Elevation gain: 2919Elevation loss: 2385Weather: Partly cloudy, hot, rain starting at 3 pmStart: N.Y. 17End: Wildcat ShelterI slept well at the Hampton Inn. Amanda, the manager, shuttled me back to the trail. I was hiking at 7:30. Overall it was normal ups and downs. Some limited views from some of the highpoints. Passed by Small Dam Lake. I like the name. There was beaver activity as evidenced by the chew marks on the stumps. There was a sign that said "Stay on Trail Reforestation Area". Well, the beavers were the problem and they are not reading the sign. There was water left by trail angles at every road crossing. There was also a stream with a weak flow above Fitzgerald Falls. I refilled there. I passed a trail crew getting ready to rebuild bog bridges. They knew Lester Kenway, President of the MATC.It started to rain just as I reached the Wildcat Shelter. Since it was 3 PM and the next section of trail is supposed to be very rocky, the right answer was to call it a day. Several NOBOs have stopped to wait out the rain. Most seem to be moving on. There is one SOBO, White Buffalo. He start on Katahdin on June 1, he is making amazing time.
Date: 2016-07-09
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Hill at mile 835.7
Miles today: 20.0

2016 - Day 4Trail miles: 20.0Total miles: 22.0Total time: 12:15Elevation gain: 3600Elevation loss: 3854Weather: low clouds and fog in am; overcast in pm; 70's; evening thunderstorm with heavy rainStart: Wildcat Shelter End: Hill at mile 835.7I slept very well in the shelter last night. In total there were 7 in shelter. All were very quiet. I got up a little after 5 am along with White Buffalo. I was on the trail at 6:30.The first part of the trail was easy walking except for two rocky sections each a couple of hundred yards long. The treat were the rhododendrons in bloom. There were also a few ripe blueberries. No views because of low clouds.The early afternoon was more easy walking. There was a big descent of the "Stairway to Heaven" just outside of Vernon, NJ. There was a great spring, 2/3 of the way down. I refilled on water there. There was a major motorsport event at the bottom,thus lots of noise. After that it was an easy walk on the boardwalk through the lowlands. I'm tenting on a hill just south of CR 517. There is a nice flat spot in the woods. The rain storm hit just as I was closing things up for the night. It is still raining as I complete this entry. This was a good day, my first 20 miler. I'll see if I can repeat tomorrow.
Date: 2016-07-10
From: Hill at mile 835.7

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 16.0

2016 - Day 5Trail miles: 16.0Total miles: 17.0 plus 2.5 round trip to NJ highpoint Total time: 8:30Elevation gain: 2526Elevation loss: 2224Weather: Sunny in am becoming mostly cloudy in pm, comfortable temps, breeze at timesStart: Hill at mile 835.7End: High Point Shelter I slept poorly last night. I was invaded by large black ants. I think I brought some in with shoes that had been out drying. Others found their way in where the two door zippers met. I discovered that they were especially attracted by the sweat soaked straps of my hiking poles laying just outside the tent door.  Then it was the pounding rain followed by tree rain. Finally it was the heat and humidity.   I did get in a few hours of sleep once the temperature cooled a little. I got up at about 5:15 and was on the trail at 7:00. Overall it was easy hiking today. In midmorning I came to an expansive view of the NJ Highpoint. This was the best view of the trip so far.Just south of the Pochuck Mt Shelter, I passed a NOBO thru-hiker who had made a wrong turn leaving the shelter and headed south. After a while, he realized his error, turned around and headed north. He then gave me pointers on wayfinding for my upcoming day. Given his lack of direction, I decided I'd better double check with my map. I went into Unionville, N.Y. for lunch. It was just 10 minutes off the trail. It was a great decision. I had a turkey sub - yum.  Much of the afternoon walking was through farm fields and woods. It was very pleasant. I arrived at the High Point Shelter at 4:15. I'm here with SOBO section hikers: daughter and mom team from UK (Brick and Wall) and Red Jack also from UK as well as NOBO thru-hikers Pixey Dust and Flannel. I went up to the highpoint. Great views including down to the Delaware River. There is also a summer camp group here. They are a loud, disorganized bunch. They had no way to light their stove and then ran out of gas. Thus, no dinner for this crew. Half the kids are sleeping under the stars. On the plus side, the temperature is cool so that should aid sleeping.
Date: 2016-07-11
From: High Point Shelter

To: Brink Road Shelter 
Miles today: 19.6

2016 - Day 6Trail miles: 19.6Total miles: 21.2Total time: 11:30Elevation gain: 3126Elevation loss: 3280 Weather: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy, upper 80s, a breeze at timesStart: High Point Shelter End: Brink Road Shelter I slept well last night. Even though the summer camp group was making noise, my exhaustion combined with earplugs did the trick. I was up a little after 5 am and on the trail at 6:40. My first stop was the wooden viewing platform just down the trail. Great view looking back at the Highpoint Monument with the mist clearing around it. Today's hiking was relatively easy. Only minor ups and downs with moderate rocks. There were periodic views to the east and west.  The surrounding area is mostly forest. Not what one would expect for New Jersey. I had lunch on Sunrise Mountain. Later in the afternoon I went up the Culver Fire Tower. Along the way I met Broken Badger from Winterport, Maine. I arrived at the Brink Road Shelter at 6:10. White Buffalo is here. He made it all the way from Unionville in one day.  Many NOBOs are here.  I'm in my tent. There is a great spring as a water source.
Date: 2016-07-12
From: Brink Road Shelter 

To: Mohican Outdoor Center 
Miles today: 14.0

2016 - Day 7Trail miles: 14.0Total miles: 16.8Total time: 8:30Elevation gain: 2234Elevation loss: 2089 Weather: Low cloud and light fog in early am and then mostly sunny, 80s, a light breeze at timesStart: Brink Road Shelter End: Mohican Outdoor Center Didn't sleep all that well last night. Too hot and humid in tent. Up at 5:15. On the trail at 6:45.No views in early am because of the low clouds. About a mile from camp, as I was heading south on the trail, I encountered a black bear coming around a bend heading north. As soon as we made eye contact, the bear was gone into the woods. It was over before I had any chance to react or my heart to even beat faster. The clouds were low early in the morning, so no views from the ridges. Later in the morning the trail was near the edge of a ridge with potential for views to the east, but there was always a line of trees in the way. I encountered a group of a dozen Roads Scholars from Oxford. These were middle aged folks not to be confused wit Rhodes Scholars. At lunch time I encountered three ladies from an NJ hiking club who were providing trail magic at a road crossing. I had a hamburger, chips, banana, and cookies. What a treat!The afternoon walk was outstanding. I went up the Catfish Fire Tower. There was a 360 degree view including back to NJ Highpoint. Then the trail followed the edge of a ridge with multiple views down to NJ farmland and forest. There were several places to sample blueberries and blackberries. I arrived at the Mohican Outdoor Center at 3:30. I booked a bunk, chatted with several NOBOs, and took a shower. Brick, Wall, and Red Jack showed up after a 20 mile hike and are in the same bunkhouse. We all had sandwiches for dinner prepared by the AMC staff. Outstanding!
Date: 2016-07-13
From: Mohican Outdoor Center 

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 10.0

2016 - Day 8Trail miles: 10.8Total miles: 11.6Total time: 5:40Elevation gain: 1013Elevation loss: 1797Weather: Partly cloudy, warm, a breeze at timesStart: Mohican Outdoor Center End: Delaware Watergap, PAI slept well last night. It was good to sleep with a roof over my head for a change. I got up at 5:30 and was on the trail at 6:45. Today's hike went along a ridge with spectacular views down to the Delaware River.   At times my hike was slowed by the need to pick wild blackberries by the handful. There were also a few blueberries.  As has happened most days, I saw two does.One NOBO noticed my SW Cole hat and asked if I was from Maine. His trail name is White Owl. He lives in Monroe, Maine. He used to work for SW Cole. The lower part of the trail followed Dunnfield Creek. The canyon had many small waterfalls and the walls were covered with ferns. At the motel, I met a long distance cyclist from the UK. His name is Paul and he is about 72. He is cycling from Boston to Harrisburg, PA. He likes to bike about 30 miles a day. I had dinner with Paul, Brick, Wall, and Red Jack at a local restaurant.
Date: 2016-07-14
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Leroy A. Smith Shelter 
Miles today: 20.1

2016 - Day 9Trail miles: 20.1Total miles: 22.4Total time: 12:07Elevation gain: 3366Elevation loss: 2214Weather: low clouds and fog in am, sunny in pm except for major thunderstorm, hot, humid, occasional light breezeStart: Delaware Water Gap, PAEnd: Leroy A. Smith ShelterI was up at 5 am after a good night's sleep. I was out of the hotel a 6:05 and back at junction with AT in center of town at 6:20. The climb out of the valley felt like a hike in a tropical rain forest with vines and rhododendrons everywhere. All the vegetation was dripping wet. However, no views of the valley because of fog. Much of the trail beyond the top followed an access road, so it was easy walking. I was at the Krikridge Shelter at 9:30. Wolf Rocks was tricky with many slippery boulders. A major thunderstorm hit before I reached Wind Gap. My socks and shoes were soaked. After the storm passed, there was hardly a cloud in the sky. Great views of the PA country side. I reached the Leroy A. Smith Shelter a little after 6 pm. I'm in my tent. It is going to be a hot night. There is one other hiker tenting in the area. No one in the shelter. It is a 1 mile round trip to the water source, a spring that was flowing strong.