morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-28
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 16.6

Spoke with Bonnie earlier today and she¢s heading to the Cape tomorrow for the 4th of July and taking all next week, too. Part of that time will be spent with me as we¢re meeting in Cheshire, MA next Fri. afternoon. Gives me something to look forward to as I haven¢t seen her since March 9th. I felt a little spring in my step as I continued on my way¢¦ Today¢s geography included Depot Hill Road, Old Route 55, Poughquag, NY, NY 55 (720¢), West Mtn. (1,200¢) Telephone Pioneers Shelter, Pawling, NY, County 20 (West Dover Road), Appalachian Trail Railroad Station (480¢) NY 22 Metro-North Railroad, Hurds Corners, Leather Hill Road (750¢) and Wiley Shelter.Although it was somewhat dry when I set up camp at 6:30 PM, it poured around 7:30 PM confining me to ¢BA¢ (Big Agnes), which by the way, is showing signs of unnatural wear and tear as the seam is breaking apart at the mesh near my feet. I asked Bonnie to investigate solution with EMS.Familiar Faces: Cookie, Conductor, Ol GracefulNew York, New York is a wonderful town¢¦But CT is on the horizon! "A Passing Glimpse"         - Robert Frost - I often see flowers from a passing carThat are gone before I can tell what they are.I want to get out of the train and go backTo see what they were beside the track.I name all the flowers I am sure they weren't;Not fireweed loving where woods have burnt--Not bluebells gracing a tunnel mouth--Not lupine living on sand and drouth.Was something brushed across my mindThat no one on earth will ever find?Heaven gives its glimpses only to thoseNot in position to look too close.
Date: 2006-06-29
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Mt. Algo Lean-to
Miles today: 12.4

7:07 AM in my tent hiding from t-storms, wind and heavy rain ¢ AGAIN! Rain every day since last Friday. The mosquitoes prevent sleeping in the shelter, wet tents are no fun - smelly, smelly, smelly due to body and wet tent odor. Fungus laden wet soaks crotch and rash infests thighs¢¦ticks (lyme?)¢¦muddy trails with briars encroaching¢¦did I mention the poison ivy? I ask myself, ¢Are you having fun yet?¢I have a few things to mail tomorrow when I pass through Kent, CT where, earlier this year, the laundromat was closed and always rooms are ¢wicked¢ expensive. A ridge runner tells me Silver Hill Campsite has a pavillion in case of bad weather. I¢m loving life!Today¢s unexpected boosts:Trail magic at Bulls Bridge Road. ¢Socks¢ from CT, a 2005 thru hiker with   Ol Graceful, treated us to juice, fruit and soda. How sweet it is..Jim Keefe calledThe downside of this day¢s travel was repeated soaking rain and a most unwelcome chaffing beneath my shorts in my crotch as well as on my legs and hips. It can¢t be avoided as the sweat pours out and off of my body. Am going to buy ¢Body Glide¢ to alleviate this nagging problem.Sunday night at Graymoor several hikers were complaining of rash discomfort and I mentioned that I hadn¢t had to use my Gold Bond¢¦bad karma! For 2 nights ¢ ouch! Wore my underwear under my shorts yesterday and that was ok until late afternoon. When you are soaking, soaking, soaking wet and pouring sweat there isn¢t much you can do.Cookie, Conductor and Ol Graceful left Wiley Shelter about 20 mins before me and I didn¢t run into them again today in my travels as I trekked over Duell Hollow Road and Wingdale, NY on to Hoyt Road at the CT-NY Line (400¢).Tramp, tramp, tramp¢¦the trail my guide; Katahdin my dream¢¦Conn. 55, Ten Mile Hill (1,000¢), Ten Mile River Lean-to, Ten Mile River (280¢), Side trail to Bulls Bridge Road Parking Area (¢thank you¢ Socks for the trail magic), Schaghticoke Road; Schaghitcoke Mountain, Connecticut ¢ New York Line (1,250¢), Indian Rocks, Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite, Thayer Brook, Mt. Algo Lean-to. Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It¢s what   sunflowers do.   - Helen Keller -
Date: 2006-06-30
From: Mt. Algo Lean-to

To: Silver Hill Campsite
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Lots of clouds; no rain and no breeze. From Mt. Algo Lean-to I trekked into Kent and had breakfast at Caralee's Restaurant, read the NY Times over 3 cups of coffee, resupplied at IGA, mailed a box home, bought some Body Glide and 2 stuff sacks at the outfitters. Checked in with Bonnie from Kent School Rink area and ¢hit the trail¢.Steep up, but at Caleb's Peak (1,160¢)where I hung a line and dried out everything. At 4:00 I left for Silver Hill Campsite arriving just after 6:00 PM. It¢s now 9:14 PM and I might have to do 18 + miles tomorrow to dodge the swamp campsites where the mosquitoes convene to attack...sweet meat; a trail treat!My supplies should last the 3 days to Salisbury, CTToday¢s Geography: Kent, CT, Conn. 341, Schaghticoke Road (350¢), Skiff Mountain Road, Caleb¢s Peak (1,160¢), St. Johns Ledges, River Road, Steward Hollow Brook Lean-to (400¢) Stony Brook Campsite, River Road, Silver Hill Campsite (1,000'). I never caught up with Ol Graceful. He¢s finished his section hike from PA ¢ Kent, CT . I missed my chance to say ¢good-bye¢ to a friend so newly made¢¦            (Bilbo Baggins from "The Hobbit")                  -J. R. R. Tolkien-   I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less    than half of you half as well as you deserve...
Date: 2006-07-01
From: Silver Hill Campsite

To: Belter's Campsite
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Had a great breakfast today at Mountainside Caf© with friends of Bill W. before taking to the trail which took me to Conn. 4 at Cornwall Bridge, Old Sharon Road, Hatch Brook, Pine Knob Trail Loop, Caesar Road, Caesar Brook Campsite, Carse Brook; West Cornwall, CT, Cornwall Road (800¢), Pine Swamp Lean-to, Sharon Mountain Road, Mt. Easter (1,350¢), Sharon Mountain Campsite and Belter¢s Campsite.Nice day today. Not as hot as some had predicted and I hiked slowly enjoying the ups and downs. I also shifted to my ¢Crocs¢ (shoes) and forded my first swollen creek - only knee deep at the deepest. Then, I took a sponge (bandana) bath at 8:00 AM. Tomorrow I¢ll go .2 mi off trail for a 2nd breakfast and will resupply in Salisbury ¢ might even B&B at Maria McCabe¢s on the recommendation of some GA teachers. A hot shower and rest might do me good in the energy department. For almost 2-4 hrs. this afternoon I could hear the racing in the valley from Lyme Rock, CT. - took a very long distance photo.Called Bonnie from Prospect Mountain to check-in and got the good news that EMS is getting me another ¢Big Agnes¢. She¢ll have to be BA2¢¦There¢s a group of girls from CT Wilderness School about 200 yds away. I¢m sure it will be noisy. I¢m going to perform my ¢tick check¢ and put Tinactin on the tops of my feet (still combating fungus) and crash early. Random thoughts:I was in my tent at 7:16 PM (my watch is digital).The Body Glide is working ¢ amen!700 plus miles to go; tomorrow I¢ll be in the 600 mile range¢¦XOXO miss you and can¢t wait for next weekI¢d love to be at the Cape with you guys, bit I wasn¢t invited (joke)!If you set a goal for yourself and are able to achieve it, you have won your race. Your goal can be to come in first, to improve your performance, or just finish the race. It's up to you.   - Dave Scott -
Date: 2006-07-02
From: Belter's Campsite

To: Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

Hot and very sweaty hiking today¢¦talked with Bonnie about 5 miles shy of Salisbury, CT and had to make haste as bad t-storms were coming.Hiked over US 7, Housatonic River (500¢), Housatonic River Road, Spring, Prospect Mountain (1,475¢), Side trail to Limestone Spring Lean-to, Rand¢s View, Billy¢s View, US 44 (700¢) and in to Salisbury, CT.   Touraine didn¢t present any challenges.Arrived at Maria McCabe¢s B&B early and had all afternoon to chat with this feisty, spry and very talkative ¢80 something¢ woman who¢s been taking in hikers since the late 1990s at a rate of $35.00. She shuttled me to town so I could do laundry and I treated her to pizza. We had a delightful evening. At night she feeds the foxes in her yard and she¢s quite the storyteller¢, but I don¢t think this is the forum for sharing! I enjoyed her porch and conversation.New face at Maria McCabe's: Superman (no cape!)I¢m 6.7 miles from the Massachusetts state line and will probably be in Dalton by end of day Thursday (maybe I could take a quick right turn and head home to mow the lawn!)                  "The Tables Turned"      - William Wordsworth -Up! up! my Friend, and quit your books;Or surely you'll grow double:Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;Why all this toil and trouble?The sun, above the mountain's head,A freshening lustre mellowThrough all the long green fields has spread,His first sweet evening yellow.Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife:Come, hear the woodland linnet,How sweet his music! on my life,There's more of wisdom in it.And hark! how blithe the throstle sings!He, too, is no mean preacher:Come forth into the light of things,Let Nature be your Teacher.She has a world of ready wealth,Our minds and hearts to bless¢Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health,Truth breathed by cheerfulness.One impulse from a vernal woodMay teach you more of man,Of moral evil and of good,Than all the sages can.Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;Our meddling intellectMis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:¢We murder to dissect.Enough of Science and of Art;Close up those barren leaves;Come forth, and bring with you a heartThat watches and receives.
Date: 2006-07-03
From: Salisbury, CT

To: Glen Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 13.5

Home, home on the range...I¢m in Massachusetts! Is it my imagination or does the ground feel more familiar? Slept well last night; woke up; cooked eggs, toast, "oj" and coffee.Hit the trail by 7:45 AM and walked from Salisbury to Glen Brook without seeing any familiar faces ¢ it¢s been a while. I think about those whose paths crossed mine as I trek forward¢¦Encountered 3 big hills today. I climbed from 700¢ to 2,602¢ at Mt. Everett which was 12.3 miles into my trek. I took time to go swimming in a very cold creek and jumped from wocks with teenagers. Had lunch and trudged on up and up to Glen Brook Campsite.Before crossing the MA/CT line I traversed:Conn. 41 (Undermountain Road), Plateau Campsite; Lions Head (1,738¢), Riga Lean-to, Ball Brook Campsite, Brassie Brook Lean-to; Brassie Brook (South Branch), Riga Junction, Undermountain Trail, Bear Mountain Road, Bear Mountain (2,316¢)I spent the night at Glen Brook with Sampson 2004 woman thru-hiker who is now doing a large southbound section-hike from MA/CT to Delaware Water Gap (and her mom) as well as a group of 16 kids.Crossing over the line I stepped into Sages Ravine Brook Campsite, Sages Ravine (1,340¢), Laurel Ridge Campsite, Race Mountain, Race Brook Falls Trail, Mt. Everett (2,602¢), Guilder Pond Picnic Area, The Hemlocks Lean-to.Arriving Glen Brook, I briefly rested before setting up my tent and preparing another ¢trail meal¢. The sun set and I retired at 8:30 just before it started to rain. Tomorrow is another day¢¦How far I've come and still must go.The world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles¢¦only by a spiritual journey¢¦by which we arrive at the ground at our feet, and learn to be at home   - Wendell Berry -
Date: 2006-07-04
From: Glen Brook Lean-to

To: Ice Gulch, Tom Leonard Lean-to
Miles today: 14.3

Happy 4th of July! No fireworks where I am¢¦just still, hot and very humid air. Everything is wet and slippery and I fell twice today on slippery rocks and got eaten by ¢mossies¢(we¢ve become far more initmate over the past several miles!) I finally broke down and applied ¢deet¢ which did help.The mosquitoes chased me through Elbow Trail; Jug End (1,750¢) Jug End Road (Curtiss Road); into South Egremont, MA to South Egremont Road (700¢); to Sheffield, MA; along the Housatonic River; Homes Road; up East Mountain (1,800¢) and followed me right into Tom Leonard Lean-to where I am sitting at a picnic table with a raincoaat on to keep those blood sucking tyrants from biting through my shirt¢¦even now they want to bite my face where I have little or no deet. I might set up tent in the shelter if they bug me (no pun)! The only inhabitants at Tom Leonard: ME and the *%#@ ¢mossies¢. I¢ll try to do a tough 21 miles tomorrow; weather and dry rocks permitting. Good night¢¦I¢ll see you in 3 days.Every now and again take a good look at something not made with hands ¢ a mountain, a star, the turn of a stream. There will come to you wisdom and patience and solace and, above all, the assurance that you are not alone in the world.            - Sidney Lovett ¢
Date: 2006-07-05
From: Ice Gulch, Tom Leonard Lean-to

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: light rain

Nice on the trail today; no slippery ledges, muddy paths; sloping soaked slippery stone surfaces, no falls, no mosquitoes.I¢ve got maybe another 20 miles to Dalton tomorrow and the topographic map looks much more flat than today¢s geography which generally led me through Great Barrington, Tyringham and more specifically:Lake Buel Road, MA 23 (1,000¢), Blue Hill Road (Stony Brook Road), Benedict Pond, The Ledges, Mt. Wilcox South Lean-to, Mt. Wilcox North Lean-to (2,100¢), Beartown Mountain Road, Fernside Road, Shaker Campsite, Jerusalem Road, Tryingham Main Road (930¢), Webster Road, (1,800¢), Goose Pond Road, Upper Goose Pond, into Upper Goose Pond Cabin.It¢s 8:40 PM at Upper Goose Pond Cabin. I¢ve suppered, swam and the mosquitoes are out! Moat just arrived (as did Peggy, the caretaker).I've come to enjoy/appreciate the "little things" - a cabin with screens on doors and windows; warm lake for swimming; doing laundry in the lake without polluting soap.I think I¢ll call it a day¢¦see you in 2.A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it.    - George Moore -
Date: 2006-07-06
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Dalton, MA - Shamrock Village Inn
Miles today: 20.6

Up early at Goose Pond Cabin for breakfast and Peggy made perked coffee and pancackes. Hiked a delightful 20.6 miles across the Mass Turnpike, Greenwater Brook, US 20 at Lee, MA, Tyne Road, Becket Mountain (2,180) Finerty Pond, County Road, Bald Top, October Mountain Lean-to (1,950¢), West Branch Road, Becket, MA, Pittsfield Road (Washington Mountain Road), Stream, Blotz Road, Warner Mountain (2,050¢), Kay Wood Lean-to, Grange Hall Raod, CSX Railroad to Dalton, MA and got a room at the Shamrock Village Inn. I thoroughly enjoyed the delicious sirloin steak I ate while watching ¢Big Papi¢s¢ grandslam! Full belly, full pack, full day, full heart¢¦tomorrow I see Bonnie!If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.      - Henry David Thoreau ¢
Date: 2006-07-07
To:  Transcriber's Note
Miles today: 0.0

Life gets in the way!I'm feverishly working to get out the "good news". All's well and as ofThurs. July 13th Sandman is 43.8 mi north of Bennington, VT at Stratton Pond Shelter and will be in Manchester, VT. Friday.He is a "shadow of his former self", and though his weight is considerably changed, his health and spirits remain constant. Please keep him in your prayers.Though I cried at the sight of him, we had 3 wonderful days together. My heart was heavy as he ambled away from the top of Mt. Greylock on Monday morning.   42 years is a long time...He sends his love and thanks to all!You will have to move backward in his journal to "catch up".******************************************************************Greetings from Sandman's transcriber.I am on my way to Cheshire, MA to meet him.Have been on vacation and will update the journal when I returnand have the time. He's doing well and sends his hellos to all who are following hisjourney and all who have walked with him. Stay tuned!Bonnie
Date: 2006-07-07
From: Dalton, MA - Shamrock Village Inn

To: Outlook Avenue - Cheshire, MA
Miles today: 10.1

Leaving Dalton I walked to Mass. 8, Mass. 9 (1,200'), Gulf Road, Crystal Mountain Campsite, Gore Pond (2,050'), The Cobbles, Hoosic River, Church Street, Cheshire, MA, Mass. 8 (1,000'), Outlook Avenue.10 miles to Cheshire! Stopped for a snack at an ice cream stand and called Bonnie about 2:00 PM to see where she was and she said she was in Cheshire on Rte. 8 and would arrive shortly. It was an emotional reunion...she was overwhelmed at the physical change over the past 4 mos. and I was just glad to see her.After some driving to explore the area, and making a reservation for the night, we had a very late lunch (after 3:00) at Perdines and I stuffed myself on a dble cheeseburger, thick shake, fries and onion rings. We arrived Harbour House Inn, a beautiful historic 18th century Georgian Colonial nestled in the Berkshire hills, owned and operated by Eva and Sam Amuso. From its beginning in the late 1700s, the house has evolved from a small homestead belonging to the Richardson family, to a stately center hall colonial in the 1800s, and then in the early 1900s it was transformed by the Walter Penniman family into an elegant gentleman's farmhouse. According to local accounts the house, when first built, served as a stagecoach stop and tavern. In addition, Cheshire residents maintain that the house was used as a "safe harbour" on the Underground Railroad.The mountain, farmland and garden views were beautiful. We had a light dinner at The Forge Restaurant in Lanesboro (still full from lunch!)Met a family (mom, dad, daughter and grandparents) staying at the Harbour House who were visiting their son at camp. Tomorrow morning Bonnie will drop me back at Outlook Avenue and I will make the 7 mile trek to the summit of Mt. Greylock where she will meet me about 2:30 and we will spend tomorrow night in Williamstown.Great day together after long time apart...The supreme happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved.            - Victor Hugo -
Date: 2006-07-08
From: Outlook Avenue - Cheshire, MA

To: Summit Mt. Greylock
Miles today: 6.9

Beautiful weather day. Had a delicious breakfast, which included birthday cake, as the daughter of the family mentioned yesterday was celebrating her 7th birthday!I am grateful for the recommendation of other AT travelers who suggested Harbour House Inn...We said our goodbyes to the innkeeper and Bonnie dropped me at Outlook Avenue. I had a beautiful uphill walk in the woods while Bonnie spent the morning and early afternoon sightseeing before meeting me at 2:30 on the summit of Mt. Greylock (3,491') - Massachusetts highest peak.The paved road to the summit is 10 miles long and Mt. Greylock contains some of the wildest land in MA. In an area known as the Hopper, are ancient spruce trees (almost 200 yrs. old), and 1,600 acres of the Reservation hold National Natural Landmark status. From the summit, there are 100-mile views of the Taconic, Catskill and Housatonic ranges. The Mt. Greylock Reservation covers more than 11,000 acres and 50 miles of hiker trails.Bonnie and I met 2 hikers - Uncle John and Waterboy - at the summit and I made a reservation at Bascom Lodge for tomorrow night before departing for Williamstown.Today's geography: Outlook Avenue, Old Adams Road, Mark Noepel Lean-to (2,800'), Jones Nose Trail, Notch Road, Rockwell Road,Bascom Lodge (3,491')The purpose of life is to live it, reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.    - Eleanor Roosevelt -
Date: 2006-07-09
From: Summit Mt. Greylock

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Today is a "zero" day - no hiking - just getting myself ready to get back on the trail tomorrow. Spent most of the morning repacking my gear. Drew Kelly called and had us up to the house which was about 5 mins. from the hotel. I set up "Big Agnes" 2 on the lawn and coated the seams with silnet(waterproofing) and briefly visited with Drew, Sherry, Sarah and Thomas before they headed out to spend the day with Sherry's family as her Dad is visiting from FL. It was nice to see them and we were grateful for their hospitality.Bonnie and I drove to Bennington where we had lunch (dinner) around 2:00. I ate "large" while Bonnie had a chicken caesar salad - I live to eat; she eats to live! We also drove to the AT crossing on Rte 9 before returning to Drew's to talc (powder) the tent seams and pack up before heading up to Bascom Lodge for the night. Because I was full from lunch we brought sandwiches up to the lodge for dinner.I can feel myself getting anxious as tomorrow is "back to business as usual" and another goodbye...Bascom Lodge accommodates 34 guests. The rustic stone and wood lodge was built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the 1930s to provide accommodations for hikers, vacationers and nature enthusiasts. Stone fireplaces, high ceilings with hand-cut spruce beams and a porch with large windows provide an ideal atmosphere for dining, relaxing after a hike or just enjoying the beautiful views of the Berkshires.We spent the early evening on the porch playing scrabble, chatting with a PE teacher from Long Island, listening to the guitar playing of another guest and watching the beautiful sunset. The night was cool, windy and relaxing. ...the perfect spot from which to retake the trail Monday morning.To ease another's heartache is to forget one's own.   - Abraham Lincoln -
Date: 2006-07-10
From: Summit Mt. Greylock

To: Seth Warner Shelter 
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

Clear sunny morning temp 70s...Had breakfast in the Bascom Lodge Dining Room with 3 other people:Scrambled eggs, sausage, homefries, oj and coffee.Told Bonnie I thought 45 days would be the summit of Mt. Katahdin (time will tell). Tearful goodbye and was back on the trail by 9:30. The trail took me across Mt. Greylock Summit Road, Notch Road, Wilbur Clearing Lean-to (2,300') Pattison Road, Williamston, North Adams, Mass 2 (650'), Sherman Brook Campsite, Pine Cobble Trail, Eph's Lookout; VT-MA line, southern end of Long Trail (2,330'), Brook, Seth Warner Shelter and Primitive Camping Area.New Faces: Tree Frog and Show MeCalled Bonnie around 1:00 and she had just arrived home AT Facts:AT passes through 14 states2/3 of the population lives within a 1 day drive of the ATMt. Katahdin ME (5,268')Most thru hikers take 5-6 mos to complete the ATSpringer Mt.GA (3,782')The idea is in thyself.   - Thomas Carlyle -
Date: 2006-07-12
From: Town Common Bennington, VT 

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light rain

2:00 called Bonnie from Goddard Shelter (10 miles from Bennington) and told her my destination was another 5 miles north - I made the decision based on the fact that many people will be trekking from Bennington and looking for a place to rest tonite - better to go a bit further...it might be more restful at the end of a hot trail day.Familiar Faces: Eagle Eye and Water Boy (I met them at the topof Mt. Greylock on Saturday) just arrived Goddard Shelter.New faces today: Bert and Luke Schultz (father and son from Weston, MA). I learned that Bert is married to Elaine Power (former student of mine); "Biz" (former teacher of Luke) is a week ahead of us on the trail; AND, Pete Foley, (husband of Marilyn my administrative asst.) was Luke's middle school assistant football coach...BIG world continues to get smaller!Saginaw Bob, now known as Gut, who had to leave the trail due to a wrist injury some time ago in Hiawasee, is back, and had to take another reprieve due to a foot break weeks after his "combeack". He's now on the way to Katahdin from North Adams, MA and, in order to complete as a thru-hike, will later hike the portion of trail he had to leave. I hope our paths will continue to intertwine over the next several weeks and wish him good luck and a safe journey! I've also learned that Headin' Out and Taggin' Along are a few days behind be and Cosmic Punchline is several miles ahead of me.There are "few" familiar faces still on the trail although the memories of those faces linger with me as I look back while moving forward...and, I pray for the good health, strength and energy to continue.Geography before Kid Gore Shelter: City Stream, Vt. 9 (1,360') Melville Nauheim Shelter, Hell Hollow Brook, Little Pond Lookout (3,060'), Glastenbury Lookout, Goddard Shelter, Glastenbury Mtn. (3,748')Total change in elev. (2,388')Imagination decides everything.   - Blaise Pascal -