morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-07-20
From: Greymoor Friary

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

A quiet night at the Friary ballpark. A lot of dew outside and condensation inside the tent. I heard coyotes yodeling in the night.Up and out by 6 AM with some steep ups and down as we crossed multiple ridges on our way east. Started out solo but ran into Lonesome Dove and hiked the rest of the way with her. Critters noted 1) Wild turkeys on the Friary grounds as I left.2)Southbounders! We met three thruhikers who started in May and June from Katahdin. These young people are speedsters, on the leading edge of the wave and are doing 20 to 30 miles a day. We pumped each other for trail info ahead, and for people ahead of us we wanted to hear about. This will become a daily eventWe rolled into this shelter around 4 PM and set up camp. Half Moon and two others came in later, making us five in all. The shelter has a big porch and picnic table which made for quiet, enjoyable evening.Some hikers were reviewing the party behavior of the BLAHS, founded and led by Lint. One stunt was "Chilly Willies" when almost out of liquor. A little bit is poured onto the bottom of an upturned shotglass, then snorted up one nostril. It stings, but enters the bloodstream quickly giving a satisfactory buzz.Half Moon, Lonesome Dove, and Now or Never at the Franciscan FriaryThen there is "Edward Fortyhands," in which each contestant has a 40 ounce can of beer duct-taped in each hand, so he can use his hands only for drinking alcohol. There are two goals, one to finish both cans first, then later to be the last to beg to have his hands untaped to be able to go to the bathroom. These things get written into trail registers and result in vigorous protests from certain other hikers. HYOH? Fairly good miles tomorrow, including a store visit for snacks and provisions. Hope the weather holds.G'nite!
Date: 2004-07-21
From: RPH Shelter

To: Telephone Pioneers Leanto
Miles today: 16.6

16.6 mi. in 11 hrs.Last night friends of Rainy Jay, a fellow thruhiker, showed up late with ice cream and pizza. I was dead to the world so heard about it in the morning. Everyone else seemed a little groggy.Out solo by 6 AM, but soon met Half Moon and Lonesome Dove. First important stop was a deli market where we stuffed ourselves and I got two days' provisions. Around midday we lunched at a shelter, then shortly after that stopped in at a snack stand at the next road crossing. The heat was brutal and water sources here are unreliable and far between, so we drank all we could at a good source then tanked up again.Late in the day I was hiking solo. The trail led past a good-sized pond called Nuclear Lake. It was the site of a nuclear research faciity in the 50's and 60's, then shut down, then cleaned up by the government. I showed my trust by taking a swim, rinsing my clothes, and loading up on water. Not glowing yet!Ground out the rest of the miles in hot, muggy conditions.It's a sweaty evening, too. G'nite!
Date: 2004-07-22
From: Telephone Pioneers Leanto

To: Mt. Algo Lean-to
Miles today: 21.4

21.4 m. in 11 hrs.Should have tented last night. The shelter was mosquito central. Out by 6 AM intending to get as close as possible to Kent. I hiked solo, then with Half Moon, then with Lonesome Dove. Company makes the miles go by faster, especially when radio reception is poor.We first came to an enormous roadside oak tree, then shortly afterwards to a train stop on the trail! Weekend service only, but right into the city. Wonder how many hikers used the service.The weather made this our toughest day yet, temperature pushing 90, 100% humidity, drenched in sweat at the least exertion.Had a great swim and clothes-rinse at Ten-Mile Creek where it flows into the Housatonic. The relief was gone in minutes after resuming the hike.Lonesome Dove checks the schedule at train stop on the ATTwo welcome side trips to general markets saved my day. I drank buckets of Gator-Ade and had some Ben and Jerry's ice cream as well. Also I kept putting down good food, like eggs and breakfast sandwiches of bacon, cheese and eggs. Sweet goodies just can't do it alone.Made a late arrival to this campsite, which has a broad, open forest floor ideal for tenting. Diesel is with us after several weeks off. The ridge runner for this sector stopped in for the night as well. Everyone's feeling the heat. Dryer cooler weather is due in later tomorrow.Tired and ready for bed. G'nite!Now or Never
Date: 2004-07-23
From: Mt. Algo Lean-to

To: Kent, CT (Fife & Drum Inn)
Miles today: 0.3

0.3 mi. in 10 min. plus a 1-mile road walk (as close to a zero-day as a near-o can get)Had a quiet bug-free night in the tent. Out of camp by 6 AM,on the darkest, dankest morning yet. The scenic little town of Kent lies atthe foot of the mountain and I was soon there. First stop was the yard of theEpiscopal Church rectory, where hikers are invited to tent. That was where I'dhoped to reach yesterday, but ran out of gas. Easily eight or ten tentsthere, and also Raven preparing to leave town. He'd arrived there yesterdaymorning, so did all his town chores by the afternoon. We had a breakfasttogether at a restaurant across the way. His hike is going well and he finallyhas shoes that seem to work. it was good catching up however briefly. I'll be ahalf day behind, but each of us will do some more zero days ahead, so we maystill end up in sync. He's been hiking with a loose coalition of young folkscalling themselves the Cocaine Aliens. Lots of energy and good cheer, but it'swearing him down. Glad I'm with smaller crowds. Had a busy morning scurrying from churchyard to restaurant to post office togrocery store to hardware store to laundromat to library for internet, thenlunchtime. Town stops are very intense. Finally a visit to the localoutfitter. Just as I was stepping off their porch to resume the hike, thunderrolled and the heavens opened up. The rain grew heavier and I knew it wasn't apassing shower, so back on to the porch I stepped. Just then a hiker my age, Allegheny, walked in off the trailsoaking wet. We talked a bit then decided to hole up in the local inn. We werelucky to get the last two rooms. It bothered me at first to miss out on theseven mile walk to the next shelter. That would have made it a 7.3 mile day, nota .3 day. A near-o almost a zero. But during the rain as I sat on theoutfitter's porch I ran some statistics on my hike to date. Even with the seven ormore zero days I've taken already, if I maintain my current pace I'll reach Katahdinaround Sept. 15. That's over a week earlier than I'd planned. So I feel less guilty about staying out of the rain today and tonight! Had a good but pricey meal at the Inn's restaurant with Allegheny. He's a retired insurance man, engaged to marry in the fall. He has three kids. Enjoyable company, but is hiking bigger miles than me, so he'll most likely pushon ahead. The rain's lifted now at dusk, but the haze and jungle humidity aredense as ever. I'm ready to hike out in that stuff tomorrow. G'nite! Nowor Never
Date: 2004-07-24
From: Kent, CT (Fife & Drum Inn)

To: Pine Swamp Lean-To
Miles today: 17.0

17.0 mi. in 10 hrs.A cool, dry night indoors did me a world of good, as well as dry out all my gear. Said good morning to Allegheny then hiked out at 7 after snagging a breakfast sandwich at the deli mart, plus one for the noon break.At the deli I finally met the couple thruhiking with their infant son: Cerveza, Sierra and baby Sultan. Mom breast feeds so that takes care of the baby food problem. They plan to hike around the scarier stretches of trail, to avoid spills. They've had a good experience so far. Wish I'd taken their picture.What a difference in the weather: cool and overcast, the trail all dried out from yesterday's downpour. As morning went on, the sun came out and a fresh breeze sprang up from the west. Hiking became a pleasure again!Lots of steep hills to scramble up, as gnarly as any in NY or PA. I'm getting into beautiful hemlock groves now, huge trees and bare brown open forest floors. These usually grow on the north slopes of these hills, while the hotter southern exposures go more to sandy soil and scrubby bushes and oaks. I feel I'm back in New England.The trail led along the banks of the Housatonic River for four miles. It's a lively, broad, shallow, rocky River resembling the Kennebec at Caratunk with no release.Hiked solo during the day but met several day trippers who were full of questions about the trail, and a lively personable SOBO named "Fort Wayne." Allegheny and Goose came in after dinner. I heard a tree fall over by itself a few days ago. First a loud crack, then a rending, crunching noise, then a whoosh, then a loud crash. a few hundred yards off, out of sight, with no chainsaw noise or voices heard. That same day I came across large trees down across the trail, with leaves still fresh. It happened a day after heavy rain and violent wind. One hiker who came into Kent from Mt Algo a day after me during that same storm said he was almost crushed by a falling tree. He heard a cracking noise behind him as he was going down an easy slope. He looked back and saw a tree coming right at him. He ran the only direction possible, downhill, and just escaped. Quite a tale. That reminded us once again to always look up when pitching a tent to see what might come down overnight.More ups and downs in store for tomorrow, but I'll throw in a town visit for fun late in the day before heading out to tent. No more overpriced New England Inn rooms unless in another flood!Tired, and full of hiker food, so time for bed. G'nite!Now or Never
Date: 2004-07-25
From: Pine Swamp Lean-To

To: Riga Lean-To
Miles today: 20.2

20.2 mi. in 11 hrs.Pine Swamp Lean-To lived up to its mosquitoey reputation. Happy to be out by 6 AM and heading up Mt. Easter. Then the trail descended to a long scenic walk along the Housatonic River. Stopped for a big breakfast at the Mountainside Cafe, then headed back up in the hills.Started out solo, but ended with Lonesome Dove. Miles go quicker with company. Later in the afternoon we roadwalked into the New Englandey town of Salisbury for snacks and provisions.Once refreshed it was easy to do the remaining miles ever uphill to the Riga Lean-to. L. D. wanted more miles and went on to the next shelter. I was happy with Riga. At the shelter were Cervesa, Doodles, and a speedy NOBO whose name I forget. I pitched my tent to stay mosquito-free. Hope to get all the way to Gt. Barrington tomorrow, but the trail's too unpredictable to count on easy miles. We'll see. G'Nite!
Date: 2004-07-26
From: Riga Lean-To

To: Gt. Barrington, MA
Miles today: 17.6

17.6 mi. in 9.5 hrs.I'm writing this in the warm family oasis of my sister's home in Gt. Barrington after a long tiring hike. Clean again, full of real food and the laundry's running, so it's journal time.I've been hearing barred owls again in the wee hours, and wood thrushes again. I was up, fed and packed in time to catch a glorious sunrise from the shelter. I was listening to Haydn's joyful "Te Deum" on PBS, perfectly tailored to the start of a sunny day. The shelter's parked on the ridge facing east over the Housatonic valley.The first half of the day was hard work, scaling Bear, then Race, then Everett Mountain. Each had great views of the flat countryside below and Adirondacks far to the west.With so many steep ups and downs, the miles came slowly. I grew hot and thirsty. Hiked solo and saw only a few people, NOBO's and SOBO's.Then the trail descended onto the flats, passing through swampy, buggy land. Many hikers say this is the most mosquito-ey stretch along the entire trail, but today they spared me. Do I really smell that bad? I was ready to call it quits by the time the trail crossed Rte. 7 outside Great Barrington, where my sister Sally lives. I walked to the nearby Corn Crib Garden center to call her and to sample the juices and ice cream they sold. Nice place.Rain's coming tonight, so it's good to be off the trail for a day or so. Haven't really adapted to hiking and camping in the rain, the way some hikers have.I broke a pole today. both had severely bent tips for quite a while, prompting all sorts of comments. Time for a change, as well as new socks and new shoes. I'll be stepping out in style!Was planning on slack-packing a few miles tomorrow until the family rolls in, but I may simply hang out and laze. Town life is addicting, and I'm still on schedule.G'nite!
Date: 2004-07-27
From: Gt. Barrington, MA

To: Gt. Barrington, MA
Miles today: 0.0

Spent an enjoyable dry day at my sister Sally's home, then with Gloria and our two youngest kids, who came in from Long Island on their way home to Maine. Also visited a good outfitter in Lenox to replace worn or broken gear. New socks, new shoes, new poles, new rain gear... bring on the trail! Rain set in by afternoon and is supposed to continue into tomorrow. With luck I'll be underway by mid afternoon. Had my first professional foot and leg massage from Sally's local expert. How good it feels! I tried to remember some of the moves to improve my solo technique each night before turning in. It's raining harder now, at dusk. Glad to be off the trail for now, at least.G'Nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-07-28
From: Gt. Barrington, MA

To: Rte 7 Crossing
Miles today: 8.0

8.0 mi. in 3.5 hrThe family got off to Maine by midmorning, and Sal dropped me off at a road crossing to slack-pack south, testing my new gear before launching out northwards. The miles flew by under the light load of my day pack. Another damp day, with mist rising from the heights, and damp trail and slippery rocks.Little orange newts were out by the dozens. I really like these little guys, looking so snazzy in their orange suits and spots arranged in a racing stripe. They don't scratch, bite or stink, but just sit there on the trail waiting to get squished. I made a point to pick them up, caution them, and set then down off the trail.Right at noon I heard a barred owl give its eight-hoot call over and over. Noon whistle on the AT, but from an owl?I met Poppins and Skippy hiking with some family members for the day and enjoying it. We'll probably end up at the same shelter tomorrow night. Crash Bang also tore by.Everything worked fine on this short run. Hitched back to Sal's in time for a great birthday meal at a fine local Japanese restaurant. Then back to pack and get ready for a long run to Upper Goose Pond tomorrow. It's been a great stay. Thanks Gloria, Sal, James and Sarah.G'nite!
Date: 2004-07-29
From: Rte 7 Crossing

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: broken clouds

19.1 mi. in 9.5 hrs.Sal dropped me off at the trailhead at 7 AM, after a most enjoyable andrestorative stay in town. Gray, muggy weather as usual, with a steamy mist inthe heights. But the sun came out and a breeze sprung up. Hiking solo, I wasfrustrated by the usual spotty radio reception. Met a few section hikers andSOBO's. Not a stimulating day on the trail. The fun began when I rolled intotonight's shelter. It's a big screened-in cabin overlooking fine little pond.First item of business was a swim. Aaahhh! Then relax and make dinner on theporch. Hikers are turning up one by one, NOBO's and SOBO's. This place has aresident caretaker whose family is here with him. It gives a homelike feel tothe place. Sort of a dull day on the trail. SOBO's are great for cluing us inon what's ahead. It helps us plan our day, such as how far to try for, or goodplaces to stop. I'll be into Vermont by August 1. Tired and sleepy. All'swell. G'nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-07-30
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kay Wood Lean-To
Miles today: 17.6

17.6 mi. in 9.5 hrs.Awoke to the birds, and to a barred owl not donehooting in the night. By 6:30 Wayne, the caretaker, had piles of pancakes on thetable for us early risers. I packed, rinsed off in the pond, and was the firstout by 7 AM. The trail was flat and easy except for Becket and WarnerMountains. I must have picked up over two dozen little orange newts, parkingthem off the trail out of harm's way. The first big milestone was crossingover the Mass. Pike, I-90. I'd driven under it any number of times, and now itwas my turn to do the bridge. It's my own Mason-Dixon line on the way backhome. I fell in with another NOBO, a 22 year old college student fromWorcester, trailname AWOL. Together we hit two trail magic sessions. The firstwas at a you-pick blueberry farm at a road crossing. The owner provided soda andcookies, a picnic table on his lawn under an apple tree, and fresh water. Thesetting was lovely perfect for a midday meal. At the next road crossing we came upon a cooler filled with cold sodas and Snickers bars. The sodas really hit the spot since the day was so hot and muggy.AWOL's a perfect example of a young person wrestling with his future choices. He's in ROTC at college, and has been called up twice, once for six months in Afghanistan. He's to be called up again next spring, so will not be able to finish his courses in to graduate this spring. He's with an MP unit, which has decided him against police work. He's taking prelaw tests, got a realtor's license, and is still pondering. He likes working with kids, would like to teach, but feels he would be frustrated by all the politically motivated imperatives laid on teachers these days. He hiked on to Dalton and I pulled up at this shelter. The feet and stomach said enough for today. Megabite came in toward dusk. He's a recent graduate of Union College who I'd met back in New Jersey. He too is deciding what to do when off the trail. Full and cleaned up, tent's up, maybe a grumble of thunder far away, but I'll be asleep by the time anything happens. G'nite!Now or Never
Date: 2004-07-31
From: Kay Wood Lean-To

To: Cheshire, MA (Church Hostel)
Miles today: 11.8

11.8 mi. in 5.5 hrs.Awoke, again to the daytime birds waking up and a barred owl shutting down. Out by 6:30 AM on a totally gray, sticky morning.One hill, Day Mtn., to top, then it was downhill into Dalton, MA in time for a big breakfast at a little diner popular with the locals. Then came a meandering trail walk through town with numerous wrong turns because of sporadic white blazes. Then someone across the street saw my confusion and pointed the way out of town.Back up into the hills again, with conditions getting ever gloomier, and occasional sprinkles coming down. Not much to report in the woods.Down I came around noon into Cheshire, MA, right behind Krispy Kritter who was nursing shin splints and hiking slow for a while. We went to the local Catholic Church, where hikers may sleep in the community room and use the bathrooms. KK and I looked around town a bit, then hopped a local bus to an outfitter a few miles out of town to replace some items I'd lost along the trail. Then came some reprovisioning at a supermarket near the outfitter, then back here.The rain never really set in, leaving us feeling foolish about not hiking on farther today. I'd hoped to be in Vermont by August, and I know I overreact to threats of steady rain.I'm composing this in an Italian Restaurant around the corner. Then it's back to the hostel to repack the food, and hit the floor. With luck, the expected rain will pass by in the night.Tonight's company: Lead Dog, Heat Miser and Choco (SOBOs), and Lorax and Friar (NOBO).Enjoyed meeting Lead Dog. He is a Math Instructor at Tufts, so may have met our two Tufts sons. He retired from a career in accounting then decided to do something he really enjoyed. He took a PhD in Math, then went to work at Tufts. Nice late career change! He took the coming fall semester off to complete his hike.Tomorrow brings a short climb up Mt. Greylock, which has a large visitor complex at the summit including hiker facilities, showers and hot meals (plus a view). Another short day, unless I decide to crash on. We'll see. We heard tornado warnings for this area tomorrow morning. Listening to Prairie Home Companion's annual joke show. It must be impossible to come up with brand new material. Some of them my parents told me as a kid. G'nite!
Date: 2004-08-01
From: Cheshire, CT (Church Hostel)

To: Mt. Greylock
Miles today: 7.7

7.7 mi. in 4.5 mi. Awoke in the church hostel sometime in the nightto hear thunder far off. I learned later that the storm hit Mt. Greylock. Upand out by 6 AM on yet another grey, sticky, threatening morning. The trail ledout of town, through pastures, then into upgrades in hemlock woods. It gotdarker still, to where I thought I'd need my headlight, then it started to rain.Nothing to do but put on my pack cover and hat, then press on. The rain gotheavy but stayed warm, so again I hiked "wet." Much of the trail became flatbog-walks once I'd gained all the elevation. The trail became a series of widedeep mud puddles, hard to walk around. Only occasionally did I meet bog boards.Off the flat sections, the trail became a stream-bed. SOBOs we've met say thetrail stays this way all through Vermont because of the constant rains and theterrain. That's disheartening, since I hoped to shoot through Vermont on my wayto the White Mountains and Maine. Now I can't count on big easy miles.At the top I met Megabyte, who I'd met in New Jersey when he was hiking with his Dad. His parents were taking him back to Cheshire for a hiker's barbecue that afternoon. He invited me along, and Krispy Kritter as well. No point in spending the rest of the day at the top anyway, with the fog swirling all around. They set up the grill and broke out the snacks, and sure enough, a dozen hikers appeared. A lot of old faces, plus a lot of SOBOs. It was a relaxed enjoyable occasion with a lot of trail talk, and good chats with Megabyte's Mom, Dad and sister. At the end, his folks ferried KKand me back up the Mountain. Then came another big meal up here at the lodgeon Mt. Greylock. I'm in the lodge's bunkroom, all clean and fully fed. This willbe my last clean night over the next 100-odd miles of muddy Vermont trail unlessI haul off while resupplying. I heard an upsetting tale at dinner tonight.Allegheny, the older hiker I met back in Kent, was bitten by a snake only hours behind me on the trail out of town. He felt a huge whack on his calf as he was hurrying up a hill, and saw the bite marks in his leg as a burning sensation set in. He blew on his whistle, drawing another hiker to the scene in minutes (no, I don't have a whistle).He was helped out of the woods and was soon helicoptered to New Haven. From the findings, they felt he hadn't gotten a full dose of venom, but it was scary enough. Don't know when he'll be back on. I could easily have been with him at the time, having to deal with the situation. On that cheerful note,G'nite! Now or Never