morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-07-17
From: RPH Shelter

To: NY - 22 -- The Garden Center
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: overcast clouds

It was less humid but still hot today. We stopped at a deli right off the trail for 2nd breakfast. I'm still drinking out of water faucets. I've seen more water on the trail but it isn't flowing well and doesn't look fit to drink. I cooked dinner at the Telephone Pioneer shelter then moved on because there wasn't any water there. I had Squash take my picture at the Dover Oak which is the largest oak tree on the trail. We ended up camping at a tree nursery which is right by the Appalachian Trail train station. Marcus took the train into New York because we is from Germany and had never been to NYC before. We found out later that he ended up sleeping on the steps of some church with a bunch of homeless people.While hanging out on the front porch of the tree nursery there was a flock of geese flying in rather low. Squash pretended like he was pumping a shot gun and shooting at the geese. At the exact moment where he made the pretend shot, the lead goose flew right into a powerline and dropped out of the sky like it had been shot. We kind of just sat there like "did that just happen?"
Date: 2010-07-18
From: NY - 22 -- The Garden Center

To: Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I was awoken several times in the middle of the night by passenger trains flying right by my tent headed into NYC. We were camped just feet from the train tracks. Woke up this morning and walked to a deli right down by the road and had breakfast with Squash and Captain Slick. The girl working there was absolutely gorgeous too so needless to say we hung out there for a while. Delis are a big thing in NY. They are just like convenience stores except you can also buy sandwiches and breakfast food. They have really good food for a really cheap price. After breakfast we went back to the Garden Center which opened at 9:00. The owner lets hikers use his shower. It was one of the top 5 showers I've had on this trip. Didn't get out of there until about 11:30 and had to make a lot of miles for the amount of daylight that was left. Entered into Connecticut today and left New York behind. Walked a nice section by the Housatonic River. There were giant oaks, maples, poplars, and some evergreens that are either firs or spruces but I'm not sure how to tell them apart. Shelters are now referred to as a lean-to. Someone had left some trail magic at 10-mile River Lean-to which was much appreciated. A bottle of wine and some Hershey bars. The wine was half drank but since I'm a seasoned thru-hiker now, I don't care that I drank after somebody. It was a nice little welcome to Connecticut gift. A lot of the scenery today reminded me of the Georgia and North Carolina section of the trail. I camped at Schaghticoke Mountain campsite with Marcus, Squash, and two section hikers.
Date: 2010-07-19
From: Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite

To: Stewart Hollow Lean-to
Miles today: 10.2

After some pretty steep ups and downs I made it into Kent, CT this morning. I went to the grocery store to resupply and ate lunch at a Chinese restaurant with Able who I just met. I love how you make friends so quick out here. I sat around town relaxing for a while before heading back to the trail. There were rumbles of thunder and some sprinkles but I didn't get wet. There was a really steep downhill from St. Johns Ledges down to the Housatonic River where I walked right next to the river until I got to the lean-to. I was swarmed by millions of gnats on the way which drives me crazy. I had planned on going a little further but it was pretty late so I just decided to stay. I'm camped with 2 Rings, So Far, and Jaybird at Stewart Hollow Lean-to.
Date: 2010-07-20
From: Stewart Hollow Lean-to

To: Falls Village, CT - Toymakers Cafe
Miles today: 18.2

It sprinkled all night long and quit about the time I woke up so that I wouldn't have to pack up in the rain. I'm convinced at this point that there is a higher power that doesn't want me to get wet. I finished up the river walk section this morning then it was all steep ups and downs all day. I haven't been using my climbing muscles much until NY so I'm starting to get some soreness and will probably have to cut back on my mileage a little bit so I'm not so beat at the end of the day. I got my first water from a stream today since Rattlesnake Spring way back in PA. It looks like the water situation is much better from this point on. Right before Falls Village there was a major re-route of the AT where you had to road walk for about 3 miles. Road-walking is really tough on your feet. I had been hearing what sounded like a drag-race all day long and thought I could make out a race track from an overlook on one of the mountains. On the roadwalk, sure enough I walked by a race track where they were racing exotic cars. I met Tree today who had done almost a 30-mile day in the time it took me to do 18. I'll probably never see him again which is too bad because he's a really cool guy. I set up camp at the Toymakers Cafe which is a restaurant where the owner lets you camp in his back yard. They were closed until the weekend so we didn't get to eat there which was a major bummer. Me and Tree walked down to the package store in town and split a 6-pack of Long Trail Ale which I had never had before and found out that we could order a pizza and have it delivered there. After getting the pizza, we went back to our campsite and stayed up until the mosquitoes drove us to our tents. I camped with Tree and Jaybird.
Date: 2010-07-21
From: Falls Village, CT - Toymakers Cafe

To: Riga Lean-to
Miles today: 11.6

Today I hiked into Salisbury, CT and resupplied at the grocery store, went to the library, and hung out in town for a while. On the way out of town I ran into Funk who offered to give me a ride to the trail head. He is from CT and is going to attempt to hike the entire state starting at midnight. It started raining about the time he dropped me off. There was thunder off in the distance so I practically ran the 4 miles up to the shelter. Shortly after I arrived the bottom fell out and we had quite a storm. I'm probably the luckiest person on the trail. After the storm, we played this stupid game where you throw rocks at a stick that was hanging off a tree limb and tied to a string. It was obviously somebody's failed attempt at hanging a bear bag. A pretty common sight on the trail. 2-Rings was declared champion and Captain Slick tried for about an hour to hit the stupid thing before he finally got it. I had my stuff laid out in the shelter which would have been the first time to sleep in a shelter since Partnership just north of Damascus but the mosquitoes drove me to my tent about the time it got dark. I camped with So Far, 2 Rings, Tree, Yahtzee, Captain Slick and 2 section hikers.
Date: 2010-07-22
From: Riga Lean-to

To: The Corn Crib
Miles today: 18.0

Everyone else ended up setting their tents up last night too because the mosquitoes were so bad with the exception of Yahtzee. She doesn't carry a tent so she got up around midnight and walked to the next shelter. One of the section hikers thought she was a bear and started banging his cooking pots and yelling. He was obviously terrified. I couldn't go back to sleep for a while because Me, 2 Rings, and So Far were laughing hysterically.I crossed into Mass today at Sages Ravine. CT was a lot tougher than I thought it would be because of the steep downhills. It was also more scenic than I thought it would be. You can tell that we are in the north now with all the evergreens. I fell going into Sages Ravine and landed on a sharp rock that jammed into my lower spine. It brought blood and I can tell it's going to be sore for a while. So I made a little rhyme about my accident today. It goes: Today I crossed into Mass and the first thing I do is fall on my a$$. I crack myself up sometimes. Today the weather was just about perfect and the views were amazing. Bear Mt and Race Mt were especially nice because you can see Mt Greylock off in the distance. It was my first time over 2,000 feet since way back in PA. Mt Everett was a pretty tough climb up a steep slope of solid bedrock. I don't know how it could have been done had it been wet. We passed the spot where the last battle of Shay's Rebellion was fought then passed through an area where we had to endure swarms of mosquitoes for about 5 miles. Our destination tonight is the Corn Crib which is an odd combination of antique store and greenhouse. They also have a tenting area and room added on to the greenhouse that you can sleep in and has a bathroom. When we got to the Corn Crib Yahtzee, Captain Slick and I hitched a ride into Great Barrington for dinner then got a ride back from one of the guys who worked there. It was just us camped out behind the greenhouse for tonight.
Date: 2010-07-23
From: The Corn Crib

To: East Mountain Retreat Center
Miles today: 8.4

Did a short day into East Mountain Retreat Center on a rainy day. It is a nice place to relax, get a shower, and do laundry. It is also one of those hippy, silent retreats where people go to spend a week and don't talk. I wouldn't last long there. The caretaker needed to go and pick up one of her cars at the mechanic's shop in town so I got to ride with her then drive her other car back from the shop. It was a 5-speed which I haven't driven in a long time. It was rush hour when I pulled out of the parking lot and had to really concentrate on not stalling the car when I had to shoot a gap in the middle of traffic. I was the only person at the Retreat Center for the night. I guess since it is 1.5 miles off the trail that not a lot of people stay here but it really is a great place to stay for cheap.
Date: 2010-07-24
From: East Mountain Retreat Center

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

Got out early today because I wanted to make it to Upper Goose Pond Cabin at a reasonable time. The trail was muddy from last night's rain plus there were lots of roots so I didn't make good time. There was a big thunderstorm that hit around noon and I got soaked then it got hot and muggy and the mosquitoes came out in full force. I was wore out by the end of the day and didn't make it to UGP Cabin until a couple of hours before dark. I didn't feel like going swimming or paddling the canoes around and I know I'm going to regret that later because it's really an awesome place. I caught up to Tree who took a zero here today and Hotfoot who I haven't seen since Max Patch. I got to sleep on a mattress in the bunkroom and there are a big group of us here tonight. Squash, Cpt Slick, Tree, Hot Foot, Yahtzee, San Gabriel, Ladybird, 3 Southbounders, and the caretaker's family are all here.
Date: 2010-07-25
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Dalton, Mass
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: few clouds

Blueberry pancakes and coffee for breakfast. I'm in heaven. It was a really nice hike today through predominantly evergreen forest. I stopped by the Cookie Lady's house at lunch time for hard-boiled eggs, a Coke, and cookies of course. Today is much cooler and made for a great day. I cruised into Dalton and am staying at Tom Levardi's house with Squash, Tree, Cpt Slick, Yahtzee, Stretcher, Hot Foot, Kumquat, San Gabriel, Ladybird, and a southbounder.
Date: 2010-07-26
From: Dalton, Mass

To: North Adams, Mass
Miles today: 23.3

Tom slackpacked Tree, Hot Foot, Stretcher, Kumquat, and I today. The climb up Mt Greylock was about 2,500 feet which put us at just under 3,500 feet of elevation. The climb up Greylock wasn't all that bad without the heavy pack. The views were phenomenal of the Green Mountains in Vermont and the Whites of New Hampshire way in the distance. It was even a bit chilly on the summit which was great because the blood-sucking insects were absent. I saw a lot of folks that I haven't seen in a while today on the trail because I was hiking south today. When I got back to Dalton, Stretcher was sitting at the trail head with some beer that he was giving out. I got to stay at Tom's again with basically the same crew from last night plus, Krispy, Hollywood, Stix, Steve, Jake, and about 6 others that I havent' met yet. I'm taking a day off tomorrow because it's been since July 4th since I've had a day off.
Date: 2010-07-28
From: North Adams, Mass

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: few clouds

I got out on the second shuttle today back to the trail after breakfast at the local diner. I resupplied in North Adams then hit the trail. Today I crossed into Vermont which is known for its muddy trail. Wouldn't you know it there is a huge mud pit right at the state line. There was some mud today but it was not even slightly annoying. I'm told that it's been a dry year and the mud isn't nearly as bad as it usually is. The southern section of the AT in VT follows the Long Trail. We should be seeing lots of Southbounders and Long Trail hikers so the campsites might be packed. I camped at Congdon Shelter with Stretcher, Hot Foot, Hollywood, Stix, Tree, Kumquat, and Yahtzee.
Date: 2010-07-29
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Glastenbury Mountain
Miles today: 14.4

Took it easy today by taking lots of breaks and even got to camp early. I stayed on top of Glastenbury Mountain where there is a firetower with a view of all the mountains we have crossed and some that we will be crossing. Very cool trail today, it just keeps getting better. It was a bit muddy but once you got high enough in elevation mud disappeared. I stayed up for the sunset and we had 12 of us watching it from the firetower. The sign said no more than 4 people on the tower. It is a chilly and windy night. It's going to feel good to wrap up in my sleeping bag tonight. I'm camped with basically the same crew from yesterday.
Date: 2010-07-30
From: Glastenbury Mountain

To: Winhall River
Miles today: 21.1

Pretty easy 20 mile day today. Had another great view today from yet another firetower on Stratton Mountain which was a relatively easy climb and descent. We stayed on Stratton then cooked dinner and hiked down to Stratton Pond, watched the sunset then hiked another 2 miles to a campsite by Winhall River which is more like a stream. We didn't get there until after dark and Kumquat was already there in her tent and probably asleep when we came crashing in. I camped with Tree, Stretcher, Hot Foot, Kumquat, and Yahtzee. Yahtzee cowboy camps a lot because she doesn't carry a tent and as I'm writing this she is screaming. I can hear something moving around outside and it turns out that there is a frog jumping around all over the place.
Date: 2010-07-31
From: Winhall River

To: Manchester Center, VT - Green Mountain House Hoste
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Did a nero day into Green Mountain House Hostel. Took a couple of side trails to some views at Prospect Rock and Spruce Peak. I heard some large animal running through the woods and assume it was either a moose or a bear. Got a ride at the road crossing into Manchester Center from the guy who runs the hostel there to the grocery store. I did my resupply in town then called him to get a ride back to the hostel. There is a big group of hikers here tonight. I saw Cohoda and Wild Poodle who I haven't seen since Georgia. We wathched 3 movies and cooked steaks that we had bought from the grocery store.
Date: 2010-08-01
From: Manchester Center, VT - Green Mountain House Hoste

To: Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Climbed up Bromley Mountain then me and Yahtzee decided to take a side trip to ride the Alpine Slide at the ski resort here. It was so awesome! You sit in a sled that has wheels and ride down a half-pipe ramp. It is kind of like a luge and I would guess the speeds can get up to 30 MPH. The only catch is you have to walk back up the mountain which is about a 1.5 - 2 mile climb. Luckily Yahtzee has some pretty serious Yogi skills and we got a free ride up one of the ski lifts most of the way back up the mountain. The rest of the day was pretty easy and I camped at Big Branch Shelter with Yahtzee, Tree, Hot Foot, Stretcher, and Kumquat.
Date: 2010-08-02
From: Big Branch Shelter

To: Clarendon Gorge
Miles today: 13.2

The woods were really cool looking today. Open, evergreen forest is the best way I can describe it. I took a long break at White Rocks Cliff then hiked down to the shelter where I ran into Kumquat who was getting the celebrity treatment from a bunch of girl-scouts. They thought it was so cool that she had a trail name and where trying to think of trailnames for each other. We had heard that there was a lake in the area so me and Kumquat set off to find it. We walked down a gravel road and came up to a drug-rehabilition center and got directions from there. Made our way to the lake and swam for about an hour and then Tree, Yahtzee, and Stretcher rolled in. It was a nice location and there was a diving platform in the middle of the lake though it was a bit off the trail. The last few days have been a lot of fun so I'm going to try to keep the miles pretty moderate from here on out. From there we really had to book it to get to Clarendon Gorge before dark. We camped down at Clarendon Gorge at a really nice campsite with Hot Foot, Stretcher, Yahtzee, Kumquat, and Tree.
Date: 2010-08-03
From: Clarendon Gorge

To: Inn at the Long Trail
Miles today: 17.5

We went to the Whistle Stop which was just down the road from where we were camped at for breakfast then waited out a rain shower before getting moving for the day. There was a long gradual climb up Killington and then there was a really steep side trail to take to the summit if you wanted to. It was a pretty cloudy day so I didn't get good views from the summit which was a bummer. The woods on Killington were green with moss and undergrowth and thick with fir trees. I had to night-hike the last mile and a half into the Inn at the Long Trail where I camped across the street. We had dinner at the bar in the Inn and hung out for a little while before going to bed. Same group here tonight that I have been camping with plus I caught back up with Stix.
Date: 2010-08-04
From: Inn at the Long Trail

To: Inn at the Long Trail
Miles today: 0.0

Took a bus into town for a resupply and hung out in the parking lot across from the Inn drinking beer. Everyone took a zero today and Skippy who I haven't seen since Dick's Creek Gap in Georgia, Hollywood, and Krispy came in. Saw some fighter jets doing some training exercises. Wonderful day of not hiking.
Date: 2010-08-05
From: Inn at the Long Trail

To: Lookout Cabin
Miles today: 17.5

I took off before everyone else because I am the slowest. About lunch time I checked my phone and had a message from Skippy that everyone was taking another zero. I was beginning to wonder why I hadn't seen anyone today which also means that I'll be hiking by myself for the next 3 days until Hanover. No big deal, I will have to zero there anyways to wait for my cold weather maildrop so everyone will catch up. Today was a little warm which made for a little tougher hiking than I expected. There were some nice sights at Kent Pond, Thundering Falls, and Lookout Cabin where I am camped. I decided to try to cowboy camp on a platform that is on the roof of the cabin here. I have a steller view of the surrounding mountains and have seen a plane get refueled mid-air. The only other time that I have cowboy camped on this trip was right outside of the Fontana Dam Shelter.
Date: 2010-08-06
From: Lookout Cabin

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Had a beautiful, clear, and starry-sky night until a little after midnight when I felt rain drops. The wind was picking up and the rain getting harder so I quickly packed up and set up shop inside of the cabin. It only rained for a few minutes and was clear by morning where I was treated to a grand sunrise! Nice hike today in cooler weather. Stopped for lunch at VT 12 before settling in for the night at Thistle Hill Shelter. So Far, 2 Rings, and Squash came in later so I am no longer hiking by myself.
Date: 2010-08-07
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Norwich, VT - Short 'n' Sweet & Greybeard's House
Miles today: 13.1

Woke up before sunrise to get an early start on the day and had breakfast at a deli in West Hartford, VT. Nice trail today that took me over rolling hills. I forgot to mention that back at the Inn at the Long Trail that the AT and Long Trail split at Maine Junction with the AT taking a northeastern path and the LT continuing north to Canada. Since splitting the AT is out of the mountains and crossing the rolling hills of Vermont. There are many stone walls that marked property lines back in the 1800's lined with huge Maple trees. It feels like being back in time.The trail leaves the woods at Norwich, VT and the first house you come to has a cooler outside with watermelon in it. 2 Ring's girlfriend came by in one of 2 Ring's friend's truck and surprised him. He and So Far are going to take some time off the trail. I hope to see those two again as the are hilarious. The homeowners were outside moving some firewood when I came up and offered to let me stay at their house for the night. I had planned on going into Hanover and I actually had to consider it first. Sometimes you get locked into a plan and don't consider alternatives but I eventually came to my senses. I helped them move the firewood into their garage which turned out to be an awful lot of work but was kind of fun too and was treated to a wonderful stay complete with dinner, breakfast, shower, and laundry. Their son "The Brain" hiked the trail in 2007 and was once taken in by a family and this is their way of paying it forward. Thank you so much Betsy and Jim for your wonderful hospitality.
Date: 2010-08-08
From: Norwich, VT - Short 'n' Sweet & Greybeard's House

To: Hanover, NH - Phi Tau House
Miles today: 1.5
Weather: clear sky

As I was leaving Norwich, I ran into Wizard who I haven't seen since PA. He had found some shorts and was glad that they turned out not to be mine(he's the one who mistakenly had my hiking poles in PA). I only did the 1.5 mile roadwalk into Hanover today. Nothing special to report. Hanover is where Dartmouth is so it is a college town. The Phi Tau Fraternity let me, Kumquat, Hollywood, Rock n Roll, Cowgirl, and a SOBO stay in their basement. I hung out at the Dartmouth Outing Club for most of the day because that is where all the thru-hikers congregate.
Date: 2010-08-09
From: Hanover, NH - Phi Tau House

To: Campsite by Trescott Rd
Miles today: 4.0

Today was frustrating. The guy at the PO couldn't find my maildrop with all my winter gear that I have to have before entering the White's. He said he would have to check around and told me he would call me if anything turned up. I was kind of panicking but there was nothing I could do about it so I went off and explored town. I went back after lunch and a different guy was working the counter and he found my package. The guy that I originally talked to was there also and I could tell he was really embarrased about it. I know how it feels to mess up so I didn't give him any grief about. So I didn't get started until about 3:00. The rest of the crew is supposed to be heading out today too but there is some bad weather coming so I'm skeptical as to whether or not they will make it out or not. I knew from looking at the Weather Channel approximately when the storms would be coming and timed it perfectly. I waited out a nasty thunderstorm at Velvet Rocks Shelter right outside of town. Then hiked until I heard more thunder off in the distance and just threw up my tent at the first decent campsite that I could find. Not long after setting up camp the storm came through and I was very pleased with how my plan turned out.