morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-04-28
From: Fingerboard Shelter, AT mi 1390.1

To: Bear Mountain Inn, AT mile 1404.5
Miles today: 14.4

Day 64, Day 8 of Section 6, 4/28 Sun.From: Fingerboard Shelter, AT mi 1390.1To: Bear Mountain Inn, AT mile 1404.5Statistics:AT 14.4 mi, +2626, -3818, 8.5%; plus road walk down Arden Valley Road to Tiorati CircleCommentary:Light rain overnight, breaking camp, and off and on til early PM. Left ~0830. Met NOBO flip flopper Tortoise leaving camp. Walked down Arden Valley Road from AT crossing to Tiorati Circle to meet Asta. Exchanged poles and rain jacket, and Asta drove me back to the crossing. (ZPacks jacket needs wash to restore its waterproofing.) Tortoise mentioned he was going to Bear Mtn Inn. I had planned on a short day to West Mtn Shelter, 8.7 miles. Checked Guthook and AWOL, decided to follow Tortoise to inn. Called and made a reservation for a room. Shortly thereafter, caught up to Tortoise, mentioned I made a reservation. He had not, but now did so, but had to get a cabin, more $$$. Felt a little bad about that. Trail and treadway much better than farther south. Thousands of steep rock steps installed on AT on West and Bear Mtns, strenuous but much easier and faster than scrambles. Looks like trail crews are building rock steps working southward, passed 2 work areas. At Bear Mtn summit, lots of cars and people. Skipped climb of observation tower; thousands of rock steps is enough. Lots of tourists climbing the AT on N side of Bear Mtn. Not sure how many make it to summit and observation tower. From Hudson River to summit, trail is 4X-wide, gravel the whole way, with full-width, consistent height cut stone steps instead of slopes. Talked with a few tourists who had questions about backpacking, etc. Arrived at Inn about 1715, checked in, showered , had dinner at Inn.
Date: 2019-04-29
From: Bear Mountain Inn, AT mile 1404.5

To: Stealth campsite AT mi 1418.8
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: clear sky

Day 65, Day 9 of Section 6, 4/29, Mon.From: Bear Mountain Inn, AT mile 1404.5To: Stealth campsite AT mi 1418.8Statistics:AT 14.3 mi, +3401, -2604, 8.0%; maybe a bit less because of blue-blazed bypass around zoo; plus a bit hunting for trail off road N of bridgeCommentary:Had breakfast at Inn restaurant. Checked out ~0945 for zoo opening at 1000. But, a sign saying zoo closed today when approaching entrance. Unannounced. Took blue blazed bypass, not shown in Guthook, and shown incorrectly in AWOL: blue trail is not on road, it is down the embankment between the road and the zoo fence and rejoins AT at road crossing S of bridge. Zoo gate was open at AT N end, so I talked to employees just inside. Tree maintenance day, decided yesterday since weather window and no school groups scheduled. N of bridge trail is on road up the Hudson for a bit before climbing the mountain. Few blazes. And no blazes (single or double) at stone steps and no indication on signboard up the steps a bit that this is the AT, just state park info and regs. Very unusual. After continuing down up the road a bit, seeing no blazes, checked my location in Guthook with GPS, decided the steps must be the AT after all, and returned to steps. Indeed, after the steps and a turn, there was a blaze not visible from the road.Passed Tortoise. Said he was going to Franciscan campsite not very far. Stopped at Appalachian Trail Deli, but lunchtime line too long, got a Gatorade and left. Passed ruins of George Washington¢s inoculation station with plaque.On climb to stealth campsite on ridge at S end of Fahnestock State Park, stopped for water. Could have waited, streams running most of the way to top. Good campsite for 1 2-P tent (though probably illegal) since within park boundary.
Date: 2019-04-30
From: Stealth campsite AT mi 1418.8

To: Taconic Parkway, AT mi 1431.1
Miles today: 12.3

Day 66, Day 10 of Section 6, 4/30 Tue.Fr: Stealth campsite AT mi 1418.8To: Taconic Parkway underpass, AT mi 1431.1Stayed with Debbie & JoelStatistics:AT: 12.3 mi, +1917, -2371, 6.6%Commentary:Moderate rain overnight, drippy and foggy in morning, overcast in PM. Wet feet early on crossing high stream below beaver pond. Caught up to Man Scout, a flip flopper who started 3/31 at Harpers Ferry, but has skipped some along the way. Hiked with him and talked for a couple of hours. Arranged with Debbie for pick up at Taconic Parkway AT crossing. Waited at RPH Shelter for pickup time, talked a bit more with Man Scout who arrived a bit later. Debbie picked me up, an hour to their house. Did laundry, took a shower. We (including Joel) went out to dinner at super restaurant, Lucas Local. Oysters, salad, NY strip. Lightened pack a bit. Left polar weight top, edited down to 2 days food.
Date: 2019-05-01
From: Taconic Parkway, AT mi 1431.1

To: Telephone Pioneer Shelter, AT mi 1447.6
Miles today: 16.5

Day 67, Day 11 of Section 6, 5/1, WedFrom: Taconic Parkway, AT mi 1431.1To: Telephone Pioneer Shelter, AT mi 1447.6Statistics:AT: 16.5 mi, +3093, -2676, 6.6%; plus trail to shelterCommentary:Debbie dropped me off ~0700. Broke tip off pole early on, on traverse along across steep slope between houses on ridge above and I-84 below. Able to adjust pole to full length. Rest of day relatively easy. 2+ hrs, 5 miles of continuous gunfire from gun range polluting soundscape around Nuclear Lake. No noise ordinances? Why not indoor ranges only?I arrived first at shelter. Ended up with 5 people: first, young couple LASHing from DWG to Katahdin, post-college, Laura? & ??; next Man Scout; finally Tortoise. 4 in shelter, most since Thunder Hill in the fall. MS in hammock out back. Woman, not used to crowded shelter etiquette, complicated pee breaks and clothing changes.Rained overnight.
Date: 2019-05-02
From: Telephone Pioneer Shelter, AT mi 1447.6

To: Bulls Bridge Road, AT mi 1461.2
Miles today: 13.6

Day 68, Day 12 of Section 6, 5/2 ThuFrom: Telephone Pioneer Shelter, AT mi 1447.6To: Bulls Bridge Road, AT mi 1461.2Stayed with Debbie & Joel Note: Using Guthook milepost for BB Rd., believe AWOL has typoStatistics:AT 13.6 mi, +2252, -2751, 7.0%; plus trail from shelterCommentary:Day warm, no rain, even sun in PM. Trail in NY very wet, stretches of unavoidable ankle deep mud. Lots of plank walks but needed more. Wet feet all day long aggravated persistent blister on 4th toe of right foot. (Leukotape came off, was somewhere in sock.) Passed Tortoise, said he was trying for Schaghticoke Mtn campsite, well N of BB Rd. Man Scout and young couple were headed for Ten Mile River Shelter a bit S of BB Rd. Passed Hopscotch and Deja Vu SOBO ¢ haven¢t seen them since PA. Spent a few minutes catching up. Got to pickup point at 1415, exactly my estimate. Debbie with Patti were in Kent, picked me up when I texted them. Showered, did laundry. Added velcro to new shoes Asta sent. Ate a great home cooked dinner.
Date: 2019-05-04
From: Bulls Bridge Road, AT mi 1461.2

To: CT-4, AT mi 1480.2
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 70, Day 14 of Section 6, 5/4 SatFrom: Bulls Bridge Road, AT mi 1461.2To: CT-4, AT mi 1480.2Staying with Debbie & JoelStatistics:AT 19.0 mi, +4210, -3879, 8.1%Commentary:Slack-packed today. Warm, foggy at start, lifted but mostly cloudy most of day, threatening rain by end. Wet trail after yesterday¢s PM rain. Debbie & Joel dropped me off at 0650. New shoes, size 11 (old pair 10.5) worked well. Tough, super-steep descent from St. Johns Ledges. Passed several day-hikers, including Toe Jam. On the river flats, hiked around 4 section hikers. I arrived at the original pickup point almost an hour early, so moved rendezvous to CT-4, 1.6 mi farther, but over a steep hill. Joel picked me up at 1640.
Date: 2019-05-06
From: CT-4, AT mi 1480.2

To: Limestone Spring Shelter, AT mi 1497.4
Miles today: 17.2

Day 72, Day 16 of Section 6, 5/6 MonFrom: CT-4, AT mi 1480.2To: Limestone Spring Shelter, AT mi 1497.4Statistics:AT 17.2 mi, +4045, -3429, 8.2%; plus high-water detour and long descent past and return to the shelterCommentary:Debbie dropped me off a bit before 0700. I descended to Guinea Brook, which was raging after yesterday¢s rain. Looked like thigh or waist-deep and very fast. An info sign gave a high-water detour via roads, so I climbed back up to CT-4 and road-walked back to the AT, an additional 1.1 mi.The day was sunny, and warm in the PM. Some road-walking, crossing the Housatonic River twice. Passed the Housatonic Valley High School at dismissal time, with lots of traffic. Passed the Great Falls (topped by a dam) on the river.The trail down to the shelter was a long 1/2 mi to the shelter, with a very steep rock staircase down a cliff next to a small waterfall in the middle of the descent. My sun hat restricts my peripheral vision, so I missed the seeing the shelter itself, despite seeing the beautiful wooded campsite: tent pads, space for many more tents, a privy, and a bear box. The shelter itself is up the hill from the campsite, hidden as you follow the access trail down. And not shown on any Guthook map, the access trail continues on down the mountain, (according to AWOL, which I checked later, to a road). Guthook¢s data shows the trail ending at the shelter. I probably walked another .3 mi before it dawned on me that I might have missed it. Checking my location in Guthook, I turned around and back at the campsite, sure enough, headed uphill, the shelter is visible above and off to the side of the campsite. I got there around 1730. The shelter itself is a disappointment given the rest of the site: small, low, relatively crude, and a sleeping platform only ~7 feet deep. Plus it badly needs a new roof. I considered pitching my tent, but decided not to. Fortunately, I was alone, and was able to choose a likely dry spot in the shelter. It rained a bit in the night, and I did stay dry.
Date: 2019-05-07
From: Limestone Spring Shelter, AT mi 1497.4

To: The Hemlocks Shelter, AT mi 1514.8
Miles today: 17.4

Day 73, Day 17 of Section 6, 5/7 TueFrom: Limestone Spring Shelter, AT mi 1497.4To: The Hemlocks Shelter, AT mi 1514.8Statistics:AT 17.4 mi, +4146, -3506, 8.3%, plus trails from & to sheltersCommentary: Left ~0615 trying to beat predicted afternoon rain on notorious descent from CT¢s Bear Mtn. Lots of peaks today: Lions Head, Bear Mtn (CT), Race Mtn (MA), and Mt. Everett. Plus entering MA at beautiful Sages Ravine after Bear Mtn. The descent from Bear Mtn was hairy and wet in a few spots, with several backwards hand-over-hand descents over steep rock faces. (But less time backwards than the super-steep rock staircase descent from CT¢s St. Johns Ledges.) Glad it wasn¢t raining.At the ford at the north end of Sages Ravine, passed the young couple I met at Telephone Pioneer Shelter near N end of AT in NY. (I didn¢t see them at all in CT.) Hiked up and over Mt. Everett with them. Rain held off until after 1600, nearing The Hemlocks Shelter. Rained, heavy at times, until around 2000. A reunion at the shelter with Man Scout and the young couple.
Date: 2019-05-08
From: The Hemlocks Shelter, AT mi 1514.8

To: Tom Leonard Shelter, AT mi 1529.2
Miles today: 14.4

Day 74, Day 18 of Section 6, 5/8 WedFrom: The Hemlocks Shelter, AT mi 1514.8To: Tom Leonard Shelter, AT mi 1529.2Statistics:AT 14.4 mi, +2325, -2651, 6.5%Commentary:Tough day despite stats because of heavy rain yesterday. Cool, clear morning. Left TH Shelter ~0645. Shelter mates sleeping in, headed for resupply at Great Barrington. Wet feet all day, starting with submerged stepping stones. The trail across ridge to Mt Bushnell and steep descent to Housatonic valley were rocky and super slippery, slow going. Then lots of muck, flooded fields , etc. in valley. The trail on the climb and ridge on the N side of the valley were very rough, lots of boulders, steep slabs, short, steep ups and downs. I missed two sharp right-hand turns climbing in boulder fields due to lack of peripheral vision under sun hat, losing time and  backtracking. My toes were sore due to wet feet, making the hike even harder.I decided to call it a day at the first shelter, TL, at about 1530. Soon after I arrived, a trio of hikers trickled in, two former thru hikers who SOBOed from Katadin (one a flipflop) and strongly advised I do the same after I do GA to VA. Better weather that way. They were just taking a break and headed for the next NOBO shelter, hopefully before dark, to make it easier to get to Upper Goose Pond hut tomorrow, before a rainy Friday. Water from the stream in the ravine was tannic, OK when filtered, but still a bit brown. I washed my socks and attempted to dry them in the sun, then on a line I hung in the shelter. (Still a bit damp the next morning.) I Leukotaped the persistent blister on the 4th toe of right foot, and a hot spot on the big toe of my left foot.I went to bed about 2000, alone at the shelter.
Date: 2019-05-09
From: Tom Leonard Shelter, AT mi 1529.2

To: US-20, Lee MA, AT mi 1552.1
Miles today: 22.9

Day 75, Day 19 of Section 6, 5/9 ThuFrom: Tom Leonard Shelter, AT mi 1529.2To: US-20, Lee MA, AT mi 1552.1Statistics:AT 22.9 mi, +4436, -4651, 7.5%Staying at AirBnB, Lee, MA for 2 nightsCommentary:I had 2 days to make it to Lee, MA tomorrow (Friday) afternoon. The original plan was 2 easier days to cover the 23 miles, staying at a campsite about half way today. In light of tomorrow¢s forecast, I decided to try to make it to Upper Goose Pond cabin, 21 mi, to make a 2 mi NERO day on Friday in the rain.Up at 0400, left at 0530. Cold overnight, mid 30s? Mostly good trail today, faster and mostly much better treadway than yesterday, despite some significant climbs and descents. Cold and cloudy most of morning; warmer, some sun in the PM. I reached the trail junction to the cabin ~1630. The sign there said cabin closed. (Guthook and AWOL say it is scheduled to open mid May, so that was a known risk.) As opposed to tenting in the rain, I called my AirBnB hostess, Pamela, who agreed to extend the stay to include tonight, and agreed to pick me up. She met me ~1730 on the AT and we walked back to her car taking a shortcut trail just off the highway shoulder. I am taking a rain zero tomorrow.
Date: 2019-05-10
From: US-20, Lee MA, AT mi 1552.1

To: US-20, Lee MA, AT mi 1552.1
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Day 76, Day 20 of Section 6, 5/10 FriAt: US-20, Lee MA, AT mi 1552.1Statistics: 0 miStaying at AirBnB, Lee, MA for 2 nightsCommentary:A rain zero. Worked on this blog and vegged awaiting UPS truck with resupply.
Date: 2019-05-11
From: US-20, Lee MA, AT mi 1552.1

To: Kay Wood Shelter, AT mi 1568.1
Miles today: 16.0

Day 77, Day 21 of Section 6, 5/11 SatFrom: US-20, Lee MA, AT mi 1552.1To: Kay Wood Shelter, AT mi 1568.1Statistics:AT 16.0 mi, +2488, -2011, 5.3%, plus trail to shelterCommentary:AirBnB hostess Pamela dropped me off about 8:10. A beautiful, clear, cool day. After the climb to ridge, the trail was relatively flat but beautiful. Lots of hemlock groves, fir groves, and dogwoods in bloom. Passed the 3 NOBO section hikers that I met at Tom Leonard Shelter on Wed. They were headed to Dalton. Passed 2 more NOBO hikers, father & college-age son, who arrived at shelter a bit after me. Arrived at shelter around 1630, with a boy scout troop in residence, maybe 15 total including adults, in a shelter for 10. They did offer me a bunk. I declined and set up the tent. Rain predicted for morning. Asleep early; the troop was relatively quiet.
Date: 2019-05-12
From: Kay Wood Shelter, AT mi 1568.1

To: Cheshire, MA, AT mi 1579.8
Miles today: 11.7

Day 78, Day 22 (the End) of Section 6, 5/12, SunFrom: Kay Wood Shelter, AT mi 1568.1To: Cheshire, MA, AT mi 1579.8Statistics:11.7 mi, +1948, -2769, 7.6%, plus trail from shelterCommentary:Up early to pack break camp before rain started. Left at 0540 in rain pants and jacket. I got the weather forecast for the planned next shelter on the phone: cold rain and snow all day, no accumulation. It started to rain during the walk through Dalton, MA; I passed tents in the backyard of a Dalton trail angel, no one stirring. The rain picked up and mixed with snow after the climb to the ridge N of Dalton. Lots of puddles on trail, slippery rocks and logs at stream crossings, and rain led to wet feet and cold hands, so I put on gloves and rain mittens. By the Crystal Mountain campsite, snow was sticking to ground. Given similar forecasts for the next few days, I decided it was time to bail and head to Georgia, 2 1/2 days before the planned end of this section in VT. I called Asta, who arranged a hotel in Pittsfield and a shuttle from Cheshire, MA.  Debbie and Joel called to offer a ride to their house later in the afternoon. (I called back later and declined.) I estimated 2.5 hours for the 3.5 miles to Cheshire. Stops for multiple phone calls and texts ate up the time. Phone rings, stop, drop poles, remove right mitten and glove (hard because polartec is sticky when wet), unfasten chest strap and unzip jacket to retrieve phone, answer phone and deal with call/texts, getting wetter and colder in the meantime; then reverse the process to get going again. (Getting the glove back on is even harder.) My wet hand and glove despite rain mitten led to a very cold right hand. In the end I met the shuttle at about noon, thanks to an easy (not too rocky or steep) descent into Cheshire, where the shuttle was waiting.
Date: 2019-05-21
From: Springer Mtn, GA, AT mi 0.0

To: Hawk Mtn Shelter, AT mi 8.1
Miles today: 8.1

Day 79, Day 1 of Section 7, 5/21, TueFrom:  Springer Mtn, AT mi 0.0To: Hawk Mtn Shelter, AT mi 8.1Statistics:AT 8.1 mi, +1124, -1704, 6.6%; plus 1.0 mi SOBO from USFS-42 AT trailhead to AT mi 0.0, and trail to shelterCommentary:Flew from Baltimore to Atlanta on a 0700 flight and got a pre-arranged shuttle from Richard Anderson, from the airport to the AT trailhead at mi 1.0. Arrived Springer mi 0.0 about 1300. On the SOBO walk, observed 2 people whose had problems there: one from a bad fall, one with a turned ankle. The guy who fell had moved on by my way back NOBO; the guy with the turned ankle was still in the same place. When I asked if he was okay, he explained what had happened, got up and started to limp back to the trailhead parking area. ¢Not broken, I can put weight on it.¢A third guy missed the side trail and sign to the Springer Mountain Shelter and water; I gave him directions. I saw him later at the shelter; he had intended to stop at the campground 0.7 mi before the shelter, but missed the sign and trail there as well. He is relying on the AWOL profile cards to navigate the AT, not even the guidebook. I suggested he might want to get Guthook. At dinner at the shelter picnic table, I learned he was starting his thru-hike, as was one girl who had just graduated from college. Both plan to flip-flop up to Katahdin and head S at some point due to their late start.The day was warm, no rain.When I arrived at the shelter, there were several people there. I set up my hammock nearby. Over time, more and more hikers arrived, occupying the large number of tent sites around the shelter. Among the last was 2 30s-something sisters with a bunch of kids. One sister had thru-hiked with her kids (!) a couple of years ago. The kids were noisy well after hiker midnight (2100) but the long, long day that started in Baltimore allowed me to sleep regardless.
Date: 2019-05-22
From: Hawk Mtn Shelter, AT mi 8.1

To: Woods Hole Shelter, AT mi 27.7
Miles today: 19.6

Day 80, Day 2 of Section 7, 5/22 Wed.From: Hawk Mtn Shelter, AT mi 8.1To: Woods Hole Shelter, AT mi 27.7Statistics:AT 19.6 mi, +4680, -4189, 8.6%; plus shelter trailsCommentary:I got up around 0445, planning to be off by 0600. In MA, there was plenty of light for hiking by 0530. In GA, at 0600, it was still pretty dark, barely light enough to hike without a headlamp to see the treadway. A lot farther south and west, I guess.Another warm day, no rain.My plan was a 15.9 mi day to the Lance Creek tent site. I got there ~1400 and it was full already, and not a very nice spot. It looked like the forest service had turned a gravel road into a campsite: no shade, heavy underbrush on the edges, no privacy between tent sites, dusty, no trees to pitch a hammock. I considered going SOBO a bit back to a couple of sites but decided to press onward instead. The reason Lance Creek was full is that it¢s the last formal site before a 5 mi stretch closed to camping until June 1 unless you carry a bear canister (which I do) so hikers tend to pile up on either side of the closure.Before Jarrard Gap (the S end of the closure) where the trail sidecuts a steep slope, I passed a mother bear and her cub 20 yds up the slope. They took off farther up the hill.I stopped at the first shelter in the closed area, Woods Hole, a long 0.4 off the AT, at ~1600. It is on a beautiful, if isolated, side ridge. The  shelter was empty and very clean. Not many visitors, I guess ¢ too far off the AT for a lunch  stop, particularly with the Blood Mtn summit and its views just 1.3 mi ahead. I spent the night alone, in the shelter. No bears.
Date: 2019-05-23
From: Woods Hole Shelter, AT mi 27.7

To: Low Gap Shelter, AT mi 42.8
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: mist

Day 81, Day 3 of Section 7, 5/23 Thu.From: Woods Hole Shelter, AT mi 27.7To: Low Gap Shelter, AT mi 42.8Statistics:AT 15.1 mi, +3705, -4334, 10.1%; plus shelter trailsCommentary:Summited Blood Mtn in the morning with no views, just fog. Stopped in Neel Gap at Mountain Crossings outfitter (the AT runs through their breezeway) and bought a small pack towel to replace the one I didn¢t see when I packed before leaving Balt. The day was warm. In Tesnatee Gap, got my first trail magic. A father & middle-school son were serving water, sodas, bananas, apples, and oranges. I had a 0.5L ice-cold water and a banana. I met two other hikers already there, a father and college-age son. Father had an old-school outside frame pack (very much like the one I had in high school); son had a huge army desert camo rucksack (turns out he¢s in ROTC). With others present, the hiker father did almost all of the talking; on the trail (and later in camp) the son talked continuously to his father or on the phone to his girlfriend. You knew they were there whenever they were in earshot.In the afternoon, had a bit light rain off and on, barely enough to justify digging out rain gear, particularly given how warm it was.Arrived at Low Gap shelter ~1545. The shelter area has several big blow-downs making the trail a bit tricky to follow and requiring detours through tent sites. A couple of people were on tent sites along the trail, but I was first at the shelter, and decided to stay in the shelter. Later father and ROTC son were heard and then showed up. They tented farther down the creek. A bit later two 40s-ish women arrived, exhausted, and also chose the shelter. They met on a Facebook group for hikers and teamed up (with one other lady who dropped out the second day) to do the GA section of the AT. They¢re from FL, so no place to train for the climbs. One of the women had not been able to keep any food down since Springer (she surmised altitude sickness?) so things are getting desperate. They are planning a zero day in town after tomorrow.