morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-05-03
From: Wawayanda Shelter, NJ

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

As we headed out from Wawayanda Shelter a fellow hiked up and introduced himself. He's Mooseguts, slackpacking(means he got dropped off at a trailhead and is carrying only food and water in his pack--not all of his gear--this makes the pack VERY light--then he'll hike back to a destination where he can take refuge--a hostel or a pickup point to be taken to a hostel or hotel). Turns out Mooseguts was slackpacking courtesy of the Mayor(Dick), Butch & Bill. Mooseguts knew to look for Take It Easy and me from hearing about us from the Mayor and crew. Mooseguts has hiked north from Front Royal, VA up to Unionville, where he's staying with the Mayor for a couple of nights. Lucky Mooseguts will hike back to the Mayor's south from the road where Butch dropped him off and can look forward to a dinnertime feast at the Mayor's house tonight! It was delightful that Mooseguts took the blue blaze trail off the AT to come over to this shelter to see if we're here and to chat. After that we headed out into the ALL..DAY..DRIZZLE. Some interesting forest, a few 2 boards nailed parallel for walking over bogs, more than an hour on rocky slippery crests going up and down. Take It Easy had some bad slips, but stayed intact. One of the rock scrambles(that's where you use your hands, knees, feet, not poles to propel yourself up/down and over boulder piled mountain slopes/peaks) actually had a tall wooden ladder to enable hikers to scale a huge boulder! Using our hands and arm muscles to pull ourselves along and to keep our balance was challenging. Uggghh...too bad it's so rainy. That makes it slick, treacherous, slow going. Would've been kinda more fun if dry. Did have a few great views of Greenwood Lake waterside homes in NY(we're in NY now). But attending to our footing and balancing took priority over taking in the views. Sad. Arrived at this shelter to find/meet Johnny Black Bean, a former 4-star chef. Johnny Black Bean is out for 8 days, heading south. Conversation was cheerfully lively til after dark.
Date: 2009-05-04
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Harriman, NY
Miles today: 9.9

Gotta be vigilant with regard to ticks. This morning a Scout dad had to remove a tick that had attached to the inside area of his son's ear! We're glad that Take It Easy's infectious disease doctor sent us out here with some antibiotic to take if we find an attached tick that may have been attached for a day or so. We are finding ticks on ourselves, but are managing to find them before they attach. Since Take It Easy contracted Lyme disease at the end of our hike last year, we know what longlasting awful effects Lyme disease can have.Rainy and slippery all day. Short hike to Fitzgerald Falls was nice; falls were pretty. Immediately had to scale the rocks and dirt out of the fall's gorge.Ran into Doc, whom we met a few days ago. Doc is closing in on finishing the AT in a couple of days. Congratulations! Remainder of day full of rainsoaked ups and downs with good footing on the climbs, but lengthy slipper "whaleback" rock sheets covering the extended crests we had to traverse. Awfully worrisome in the rain. Because so few hikers are out, the lichen, fungus and algae on all of the crowned rock sheets that lay along the lengths of most of the crests, balancing, footwork, and keeping upright is scary. Falling can result in debilitating injury. We both lost our footing a couple of times, Take It Easy having a bad fall. Thought for sure he'd broken his left arm in at least one place, but result was very bloodied arm, elbow, and hand with swelling, of course. When we got to a road crossing, knowing that about 4 miles up the road was a hotel and refuge, we opted to exit the trail for the season. It's supposed to rain for several more days. The trail rocks ahead are reputed to be challenging(the Lemon Squeezer and other spots particularly) when dry, much moreso when wet. It's just not prudent for us to continue on now. We've been pushing our luck for a couple of days, and have been blessed that each slip, slide, and fall hasn't resulted in serious injury. The occasional views through the rainy haze haven't justified the risk. We did have a great time meeting wonderful people along our journey and enjoying trail towns, each with its own character. Tonight we'll celebrate the fantastic times the trail has given us at the T.G.I.F. Restaurant across the street from the hotel. Tomorrow we'll rent a car from the Stewart, NY airport and drive home.Are we done with hiking the AT---no. We're sure we'll be back. Not this year, but sometime in the future. Maybe sectioning picturesque miles we've already done, or ones we've heard about and want to experience. Who knows? That's the wonder of living: options and opportunities abound!Celebrate life!
Date: 2009-05-07
From: Harriman, NY

To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Here we are, watching tv weather reports of heavy rains in the northern AT region. After hiking 236.6 miles this yr on the AT we're content with our decision to come home. We've accomplished Apringer Mt., GA into NY, met many lovely people, seen much beauty and experienced many kindnessess. We've hiked a total of 1371.9 miles of AT! That's amazing! Our pictures are posted to this journal now. They don't do the trail or folks justice; people, places, and conditions truly are larger than life and the photos don't adequately reflect their qualities.We thank you all for your support and encouragement. The AT enriched our lives.
Date: 2010-05-03
From: home

To: Harriman, NY
Miles today: 0.0

Woo hoo!! It's time to go hiking! In just 2 days, Take It Easy and I will be driving up to Harriman, NY to meet our trail angel who's offered to drive us to the trailhead on the road in Harriman where the telephone stand is. Getting there in early afternoon should give us ample time to make it thru the Lemon Squeezer(rock formation challenge)followed by hiking several miles to the first shelter. Weather forecast is for warm daytime temps, near 80! It'll be interesting to see how long the hot weather holds. Typically, no sooner are we on the trail than monsoons and freak snowstorms head our way. We're ready for it. This leg of the AT we hope to go thru New York, Connecticutt, Massachusetts, Vermont, and into New Hampshire. That'll leave us some beautiful territory to look forward to for next year when we will summit. So it looks like Cinco de Mayo will be our day to celebrate life on the trail again. Wish us luck, moderate temperatures, and wellness...here we go!
Date: 2010-05-05
From: Harriman, NY

To: Fingerboard Shelter, NY
Miles today: 4.4
Weather: clear sky

Left home at 6 a.m., arrived at Nj/NY Trail Conference Office in Mahwah, NJ at 2 p.m.. Our trailangel, Christine was there as planned, and drove us up to our last yrs's endpoint, the phone stand on Rt.17 near Harriman. We really appreciate Gail arranging transportation to the trail for us with Christine. The day was hot, 80 degrees. Sunny skies, too, so we sweated out numerous ups and downs, Saaw a large lake(Island Pond Outlet) where someone was kayaking, also saw lots of shady glades full of ferns, and managed to hoist our heavy,full(of food)packs over our heads to make it throught the stone walls of the Lemon Squeezer--whew! At this shelter is Trek, now doing his 8th--yes, 8th, consectutive thru-hike! What a glutton for punishment! He starts every yr in January, but had to get off for a few wks this yr due to the heavy snows that fell in the Smokies. It was fun talking with Trek,; he knows many of the hikers we've shared some miles withduring our past yrs' section hikes. Around 8p.m. 2 guys who are out for 6 days(today being day 2 for them) came to the shelter(Pete & Kent). We all only greeted each other briefly as darkness fell. Then Kent went looking for the distant stream, was gone more than 40 minutes, worrying Pete, who had to borrow my headlamp to search for him as they only had 1 working headlamp which Kent had. We all worried about what he'd find since Kent didn't answer Pete's yells. About 45 minutes later they both emerged from the dark forest, never finding water, but both safe and sound. Clear, cool night with just Take It Easy, me, and Trek in the shelter, the 2 guys tenting nearby.
Date: 2010-05-06
From: Fingerboard Shelter, NY

To: West Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.4

Trek and us all slept quietly til about 6 a.m.. We got up and out by 7:30 under cloudy overcast skies. Drizzled enough to put on pack covers, but not enough to don raingear. Nice flat good walk. Only negative is the lack of good water sources for the next couple of days--stagnant water pools around but good streams are infrequent. Walked past a shelter where we could see a guy looking like he was napping. Later fopund out that he's a guy who flew here from Norway to hike, has been out for a couple of days and doesn't have enough food & feels terible, per Partly Cloudy whom we met on the trail later today. Partly Cloudy actually went up to the shelter, talked with the Norwegian & gave him some food. The Norwegian says he's gonna go into a town asap and rest up. Partly Cloudy is hiking from Harpers Ferry to Maine this yr. Today's animals: chipmunks, one deer, heard male & female turkys talking. Had brutal steep rocky climb after filling our water containers-no surprise though-always a bad climb after making packs heavy!Met 2 men placing markers on the trail for a marathon to be held this wkend. Glad to miss it as it would be discouraging to have people racing by us as we plod along. This shelter haas a fantastic view of NYC which is about 34 crow flying miles away per sign, alaso can see Hudson River, towns & villages. Today got breezy after 12p.m. but didn't warm up to the 80's, thank goodness. Lots of busy carpenter bees here around the shelter. No bear box, no shelter register, no privy, just a basic shelter, no Bible even!(most Southern shelters have Bibles). Also no water here. Clouds of pollen spew from the pine trees as the wind blows. Now here are Pete & Kent from last nt-they're tenting here. Man with a black lab stopped by and walked on.
Date: 2010-05-07
From: West Mountain Shelter

To: Graymoor Spipritual Life Center
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Take It Easy's today's highlts: 2 mile stretch of soft dirt that we didn't expect. My highlts: Bear Mtn Zoo that the trail walks thru(got to see bears, coyote, possum. We lost some sleep last night thanks to a whipporwill who caalled ALL NIGHT long nonstop, never breathing, and even sat smack in front of our shelter to sing predawn! Sunny day, not too hot at all. Graymoor S.L.C. has a roofed picnic pavilion thats open for hikers to sleep in next to their soccer field. Next to the pavilion is a cold shower bldg(I braved it for a quick wash up, TIE just did a briefer session--water very cold!) & best of all: a pizza joint delivers here! So we dined on a pizza which we shared with Partly Cloudy when he showed up for the night(he tented, we slept in our sleeping bags on the concrete floor under the pavilion roof). Never saw any Graymoor folks, just a couple of people out waking dogs in the morning who stopped and chatted.
Date: 2010-05-08
From: Graymoor Spipritual Life Center

To: Dennytown Road campground
Miles today: 8.1

I didn't sleep much last night due to hourly chime song(several stanzas each hr) PLUS donging for each hour at the conclusion of the chime songs. TIE said he never heard a thing after the 9 p.m. clanging! Hike was on some rocky stone areaa, lots of stone fences deep in the woods from pre-Rev.War days. Warm enough that the skeeters, May flies, & no-seeums were out. Wind picked up at last to drive them away from tormenting us. This campground is an open field surrounded by woods, has 3 picnic tables, a freshly serviced porta-john, and one gabage container a has its contents strewn all about by a bear(small animals don't sprread trash out in such a large area). Pete & Kent arrived later in the day, preceed by Cyron & his iguana Moe. Yes, an iguana with a hiker! Cyron is a former Air Force young man, Quite talkative, who's hiking south from Mass to GA with his iguana who rides on the top of his pack or inside his coat in a deep pocket he has to keep Moe warm on cool days. Cyron was quite entertaining and informative about the trail ahead of us. Sun disappeared, wind picked up to gale force. I'm getting 3 blisters on left ft, one on rt ft; TIE has no blisters, lucky hiker!
Date: 2010-05-09
From: Dennytown Road campground

To: RPH Shelter,NY
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Forgot to say that Cyron is carrying a 95 lb pack!! He is dwarfed by his pack which he says he knows is packed with way too much food and gear, not food for Moe who forages for grass and insects. Last nt's winds w\were 40-5o mph(we later found out), and our tent stood the battering without a prob. Woke to 40 degree temp and strong winds still, not much sunshine. Hiking saw ladyslipper flower and amazing tall, thick stone wall spanning a gully(wall built 100's of yrs ago). Wall was so thick the trail actually ran along its top. This shelter is actually a cinderblock cabin that has the wall on one end torn down so its open to the outdoors. Inside are 3 sets of bunk beds, some benches, too. Soooo cold and breezy inside the shelter that we set up our tent and are sleeping inside the tent inside the shelter to share body warmth. Highlight of the day was talking to Mother, wishing her a happy Mother's day.
Date: 2010-05-10
From: RPH Shelter,NY

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: few clouds

Woke to 35 degree temp, but sunnyy, still windy. Saw lots several blow-downs that fell across the trail that we had to walk around. Short ups and so\downs, a snake that crossed the path smack in front of me. Temp may've hit 50 degrees today. Read in the RPH shelter journal that a hiker who stayed at Dennytown campsite a few nts ago had the police come to tell him the campground is closd cause of bear activity. Why didn't the police stop by the nt that FIVE hikers(including us) were camped there to warn us? Oh, well, we made it thru without a bear scare. Here inside the shelter with us is Pokey Man who is an older man who's hiking a few days with his friend(Dave) who's tenting next to the shelter.Neat fellows, Dave a retiree from Penn State. Heard 2 barred owls at dusk. So cold we aretenting inside the shelter to stay warm and Pokey Man is in his sleeping bag next to our tent inside covering himself with on original space blanket(he says) taht looks like it weighs a ton.
Date: 2010-05-11
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke to sunny skies, low wind, temp in low 30's. FAirly nice walk, lots of long gob board walks(2 boards side by side followed by another set, creating a trail across the swamps that're full of swamp cabbage. Flushed a pretty pheasant from the underbruc\sh, saw the huge girthed Dover Oak(300 yrs old), and ate hotdogs and cheesburgers at the stand at a road crossing. Amazed to see Pokey Man and Dave drive up while we were lunching-turns out that's where they left one of their cars to get at the end of their hike vacation! Waved goodbye to them. Cold here at shleter, heard snow is expected in Albany tonite. Tenting at this shelter is Wandering Jesuit, a yound man who began his pilgrammage back to Montreal-he was delivered to Bear Mtn south of here with a backpack, tent, and very little hike equipmt by his Montreal Jesuit leaders and most make his way back to Montreal by soliciting blessings(Water, food, supplies) from townies or others. He has tremendous faith and a delightful spirit, been hiking for 5 days, never hiked before in his life, learning much daily. We heaerd barrred owls at bedtime. Cold, TIE loaned me his longjohns to keep me warmer...ahhh!
Date: 2010-05-12
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 12.7

We both slept well. Wandering Jesuit said he was a bit chilly in his tent(his sleeping bag fell off of his pack a few days ago-lost it- and only has his clothing and a wool blanket given to him by a kind lady in a town he went into seeking water. Rain downpoured during the nt, still raining, very cold in mid 40's. Not easy to gear up to head out, knowing we'd be in rainsuits comfy, but with frozen wet hands. Luckily, it warmed maybe 5 degrees, enough to unstiffen our hands. Stony, steep ups and downs all day after we bridge crossed a beautiful raging river. Constanly had to watch footing, slow going over slippery rocks, wet leaves, and mud slicks, and creeks. Ran across 2 men hiking to a campsite together...turns out we know one of them, Quick Toes, from back when we hiked thru NC! How amazing to run into someone we know when we only see less than 10 hikers a day! We pl;anned on stopping today's hike when we rerached the shelter about a .5mile from the road to Kent, but at 4:30 it was still misting, dark in the forest, and very cold and breezy, so we trotted the mile into town and are staying at the Fife and Drum Inn. Small town with all amenities such as grocery store, library, and several restaurants within a block of each other. So nice to have warm bed, hot shower and hot food!
Date: 2010-05-13
From: Kent, CT

To: Kent, CT 
Miles today: 0.0

Strolling around town on sunny but cool day, laundry, resupplying, and eating top prioity. Back to the trail in early a.m.. Let's see what northern CT looks like from the mtsn! Probably won't be going into another town for at least 6-9 days. Hope to get to alibrary in next town to update journal.
Date: 2010-05-14
From: Kent, CT 

To: Pine Swamp Lean-to
Miles today: 17.0

chilly & cloudy, left hotel at 7a.m. Got a bagel & cream cheese from shop along the way.Had to hike 0.9 miles from town to trail. After 20 min. of steep up, we both peeled off our jackters. Met 2 SOBO fellows who warned us to be very careful on The ledges that are ahead f us today. The Ledges turned out to be a steep down won boulders that you had to watch your footwork to descent; time-consuming but not too tricky. Partly Cloudy came up behind us as we descended Ledges & said he spent 2 nts camping outside Kent. After TheLedges we had 4 mile flat walk along Housatonic River shere flyfishing men were out in the water, their kayaks dragged up on the shore nearby. Next cme almost constant, breezeless hot ups & ups which tuckered us out as the day warmed up. Reaching swollen ragin Guines Brook we saw Partly Cloudy wading across(no bridge here, you just have to wade the boulder-strewn wide brook. Partly Cloudy had to cross wearing his hike boots, but we changed into our fake Crocs, changing back into our dry socks and shoes on the other side after letting our feet dry. Sitting still we realized that we stink! Hot day and hard hiking wiped out that clean-town feeling. We shuffled to the shelter after easing our way thru the Connecticut version of Lemon Squeezer. We're only ones here at the shelter. Today: no parula birds(sing scles upward), blue heron flew over Guinea Brook, heard lots of veerys(sound like whistle spiraling down a well), lots of merlot-colored centipedes & mayflies.
Date: 2010-05-15
From: Pine Swamp Lean-to

To: Limestone Stpring Lean-to
Miles today: 12.3

Both slept well-cool but not cold. Today winds 15-25 mph, sunny, high around 65. Walked beside Housatonic River for several miles on flat trail & over the river bridge to Falls Village. Heard a pee wee bird singing, robins, clack & white warblers reveling the pretty day, spooked 8 crows into taking flight in one gloomy spot of dark forest. hike was pretty good, only on hard climb up Prospect Mtn just before turnoff to this shelter which is 0.5 miles off the trail on a steep descent into a gorge(ugh, more work) with open area for tenting in an area overlooked by the shelter. Coolest thing today: before lunch we read a note poked onto a tree branch from Half-Pint warning to be on the lookout for a big onery rattlesnake next to the trail that almost bit her. Take It Easy said he'd take the lead(I'm supposed to be the Al;pha leader today) and within 10 feetthe rattling began with fury...there smack 4 inches from the trail was the coiled, head extended upward, rattle end a-wagging 2.5inch thick bodied rattler! We stepped back, TIE took some pictures, then took a log and poked it about 20 ft or so back into the forest away from the trail. Thank goodness it was chilly enough that the rattler just stayed poised and rattling for the relocation, had it been warmer he would've no doubt quickly struck. Everything after that was interesting, but unthreatening. Met a man in the forest hunting for morels, met former thru-hiker Strolling Astronomer. We arrrived 1st at the shelter, followed by 3 guys out for a night who would tent, later followed by Dave(a college student who just got out of school, being picked up by parents tomorrow a t a rd crossing), and at dusk the Boy Scout troop 20 boys strong,4 adults riding herd. Needless to say, they were noisy til 10 p.m. after their dinner of chicken noodle soup(all of us hikers questioned the meal choice--doesn't sound like camp food to us). The wooden edge of the shelter platform looks chewed...found out porcupine are eating the edges cause they like the chemicals in the wood.
Date: 2010-05-16
From: Limestone Stpring Lean-to

To: Sages Ravine Brook Campsite
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Everyone woke up early- way too early thanks to the Boy Scouts rising by 5:30 a.m. to holler and pack noisily. TIE & I were last to leave this a.m.. When TIE crossed the log bridge(2 long logs laid across the stream-Conn. version of a bridge), he slipped off about a foot short of reaching the shore...down into a dead bush that had lots of broken-off dagger-like branches! I was sure some parts of his body would be punctured. He got up out of the water, wet, of course, butstabbed by branches. Whew! Onward for a nice walk. Saw trillium, pachysandra(sp.?) with red berries, The descenct into Sages RAvine was tricky and steep, just as the guidebook promised. Taking time with our foot placement kept us safe. The sun & some fluffy clouds with a mild cool breeze graced our hike today. This campsite has signs warning of bear activity. Food & toiletries are now in the bear box. The Stream flows loudly immediately down the hill from our tent, sounding like people murmering, so we'll have trouble hearing a quiet bear. 6p.m. I'm in the tent writing this while TIE sits outside in the cool air cause he says he thought he smelled bear(they smell awful). Hope the bears and varmits stay away from us!
Date: 2010-05-17
From: Sages Ravine Brook Campsite

To: Rt.7, Corn Crib Store gazebo in Massachussets
Miles today: 14.6

Heard coyote & barred owls during nt, TIE heard heavy rustling in the underbrush near our tent, but we weren't disturbed. We were the only humans at the campsite last nt. It got cold & our fingers were stiff with cold this a.m. as we packed up. Sunny, cool initially during day, thaen got hot during hiking what seemed like dozens of miles on mtn-top rocks with lovelyl views. Saw one fresh-killed bird uneaten & one fresh-killed mouse uneaten...what's up with that? Reached the rd crossing where we called the Egermont Inn where we hoped to stay & shower, got a disconnected recording, ran into a family walking who told us the Inn burnt down. Called ahead to Corn Crib Store where the guidebk says the owner lets hikers tent under gazebo. We marched thru about 4 miles of bog accompanied by mosquitos in droves...the worst swarm we've ever experienced-it was like something out of a horror movie! We put on our mosquito head nets as fast as possible, sprayed our exposed skin with bugspray, then swatted at our faces to kill the ones that were inside of our head nets before they dined upon our blood. Eww! Finally reached Corn Crib which was bug-free, dumped our gear, hiked 0.25 down the rd to a marvelous meal at Rt.7 Grill we'd heard about from locals. It was neat to meet a young woman there who is a 2008 grad of Wm& Mary. Ate clamari, TIE a hamburger, me veggie quesadilla while talking to a couple from CA who have a vacation home in the Berkshires.