morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-08-21
From: Big Branch Shelter

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: light rain

So today was obviously not a long day, even though we feel great and want to make big miles. We got to Peru Peak Shelter just as it started to rumble and within a little while it was pouring down. Thinking it would pass we hung out and waited.And waited.And waited.Around 4:30 it was still raining but the thunder had settled so we packed up and started hiking. Three minutes later thunder boomed again. As fun as it would be to hike up Peru Peak and walk across a ridge in a thunderstorm, no thanks. We turned around and gave up.The nice thing is that we got to spend time with Long Trail hiker Loup from Canada, and two LT brothers. We played a good game of Snakes and Ladders and Spades. Nothin' else to do.We heard that a southbounder was hit by lightning about two days ahead of us. I haven't heard of him (or her?) but it is definitely a sobering fact. Thus, today will be short, but tomorrow we will be in Manchester Center.
Date: 2009-08-22
From: Peru Peak Shelter

To: Manchester Center, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Green Mountain House.This is possibly the best hostel I have ever been to. There is Ben and Jerry's in the freezer, a full kitchen, actually a full house and not just a kitchen, high speed internet, and no alcohol allowed (thus, a lot of the partiers pass this place up). Today we ate a lot. I had three cheeseburgers, a large French fry, three pancakes, sausage, a medium-sized pizza, a pint of Chunky Monkey B&J's, three root beers, cookies, bacon, a bagel, and I must be forgetting something.Tonight we're going to relax, watch the movie Southbounders (maybe we'll be inspired) and sleep on actual beds. And tomorrow, assuming it's not pouring down (thanks, Hurricane Bill, we hadn't gotten enough rain in Maine) we're heading to the base of Stratton Mountain.
Date: 2009-08-23
From: Manchester Center, VT

To: Stratton Pond
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light rain

TORRENTIAL RAIN.We left Manchester Center earlyish in the day with the hopes of just going ten miles. Two miles into the day it began to POUR on us. Buckets. We pulled over at the first shelter and made corn on the cob and mashed potatoes, and that made us feel better (and a little less ridiculous, since corn is kind of a worthless trail food . . . but oh so good.Eventually we decided to just hike through it, and a few hours later we dried out at Stratton Pond.Seriously, just when the terrain gets easy, the world decides to throw a tropical storm at us. Thanks.Also, we met up with Anya and Josh in the parking lot! They are heading into town and are sure to catch up soon! Very fun to see them again. Hadn't crossed paths since Monson. . .
Date: 2009-08-24
From: Stratton Pond

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We planned to go farther today, but hiking 15 miles in wet boots is about as much fun as getting your tooth pulled without drugs, so I vetoed the plan of going four more miles. The upside is that I'm no longer nostalgic for Maine - I feel like I am right back there! The trail is a stream. Also, I saw two moose today, so now Phil and I are even in the moose count. It was the least dramatic moose encounter we've had thus far. Since there's not much to say about hiking through mud, I want to share the first episode of . . . MISHEARD ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL!Many times while hiking we run into hikers who have outrageous accents, or perhaps we are just going deaf. At any rate, it's hard to hear when you've got a raincoat hood on over your head.Yesterday we met a couple hiking into town as we hiked out. The woman wanted to give us some tips on life. The conversation went like so:Lady: There are a lot of black bears in the clearing up ahead.Jo: WHOA!!! We haven't seen any yet!Lady: Oh, they are delicious. They should still be there, unless the hikers we just told ate them all.Jo: . . . It took a good 10 seconds to compute that she had not said black BEARS but black BERRIES. Though I am sure either one is delicious.
Date: 2009-08-25
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: few clouds

18.7 is a long way to go in wet boots. It was our longest day so far, and it would have been peachy if not for the wet boots. That is all I really have to say about that.And so it is time for another episode of MISHEARD ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL!!!This episode is a leftover all the way back from Avery Peak in the Bigelows of Maine. I was hiking ahead of Phil on a blustery day (the day I saw flurries) and I met a northbounder. . . Jo: On a scale of 1 - 10, how awesome is the trail up ahead?Northbounder: Oh, I'd say a good . . . 5. It'd be better with some Jews.Jo: WHAT?!Northbounder: It would be better with some views.Jo: OH. Right.I am pretty sure that is not what he said at the beginning. The whole day I had visions of Tevye in my head. The northbounder was right no matter what he said. Jews or views would have been an improvement.
Date: 2009-08-26
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Stealth by North Adams
Miles today: 16.0

Today was great, other than when we hiked 1.5 miles on the wrong road to Friendly's, other than the rain, except for the fact that Phil's boots have totally fallen apart, besides the fact that I had to hike 10 miles in crocs because my blisters are too bad on my feet, other than the times I wiped out in the mud, ummm . . . yeah other than that today was great.Actually, today was pretty cool. Sarcasm aside. We passed into our fourth state, an easy one, Massachusetts, which is almost as much fun to make fun of as New Hampshire was. (Nothing can ever truly beat New Hampshire.) I met two women on the trail today and one of them knew my name and knew all about our hike because she'd been reading the trail journal. Strange but fun. I hope Vermont dries out for them.And now, onto Dalton!
Date: 2009-08-29
From: Stealth by North Adams

To: Tom's
Miles today: 0.0

Dalton is one of those little towns that is so insignificant to the world that no one has heard of it, and for good reason. For hikers, however, Dalton is one of the most important stops and for two very good reasons: Tom and the Birdcage.Ever since the Hundred Mile Wilderness, Phil and I have been hearing about how awesome Tom Levardi and Rob at the Birdcage are. They are two men who have, for some unknown reason, decided that they like hikers enough to open up their homes to us. For free. Oh, and they'll likely feed you if you come.It's GREAT.And so we came for one night and ended up staying for three. We never did venture over to the Birdcage, but Tom has provided more hospitality than I can say. He is one of those generous souls that makes the AT more of a cultural experience than a natural one.Part of the reason we stayed so long is that all of a sudden, we are surrounded by SOUTHBOUNDERS! We are not alone! We are not the last! There are a bunch of us here: Anya and Josh (Smokin' Loon and Mountain Yogi), Peeps, Brotucky, FreeTree and Sasxl, Genius, and I also saw Crash and Lightweight in town. At last we have a chance at a trail family! This is awesome.Highlights of Dalton include watching Southbounders the movie with southbounders the people and making fun of it, watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail and finding hiker parallels, trusting Genius and FreeTree with a scissors and doing away with most of my hair, and trying to squeeze four of us into an admittedly large bed in Tom's basement.Dalton was great.
Date: 2009-08-30
From: Tom's

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: scattered clouds

WHEW.Today was the sad parting day of Jo's heart and Dalton, forever to be separated in person but never in spirit. I left the house around 7:30 on a mad crazy (but flat!) dash to Upper Goose Pond Cabin. The cabin is awesome because, rumor has it, the caretaker will make pancakes in the morning. Sold.It was a long and particularly boring day. The best part (and this is sad) was crossing the MA Turnpike - special because Phil and I passed under that bridge only months ago on our way up to Maine.I got to the cabin with just enough daylight to rinse off in the pond, enjoy the small cabin library, and chat with the caretaker. Then I got to wait for three hours for Phil to show up in the dark. He did come, eventually.
Date: 2009-08-31
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Mount Wilcox Lean-To
Miles today: 15.8

If every morning I was served pancakes, I would be a better person.Phil's boots have now completely disintegrated. There is nothing left. He came into camp last night in his Crocs, because there's just no hope left for his boots. Luckily he has a new pair coming to him in Great Barrington, which is not too far away, but for now he has to hike in his Crocs. Ugh.The only good part of his boots premature demise* is that tonight we share the shelter with Light Weight, Anya, and Josh, and what could possibly come out of this except a puppet show? Light Weight filmed, Anya was in charge of special effects, I ran the moderator Pomegranate Monster, and Phil and Josh each took a boot. Props to Josh for having the guts to touch Phil's skunky old boots. He is a braver soul than I.It is good to have company.*On second thought, those poor boots totally deserved that demise.
Date: 2009-09-01
From: Mount Wilcox Lean-To

To: The Hemlocks
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: clear sky

Today was a DAY.We had to get into Great Barrington to get Phil's boots. Thank goodness they were there! He's not 100% happy with them, but they were free and hopefully they will work out. We had to resupply at a gas station because apparently the grocery store is a mile away from anywhere and call us crazy, but we don't like walking when it's not necessary. It's kind of terrible. When I get home (if I ever get home . . .) I am going to become a couch potato and start watching Jerry Springer reruns and belching a lot.The day, however, was made much easier on us by a chance encounter with LIZ who gave us a ride back out to the trail and shared her dream of someday going on a long adventure like the one we're on. Thanks for the ride Liz, and hopefully someday you'll be sending us the link to your hike!We made it to the Hemlocks after a ridgewalk routed us to approximately 275 overlooks of the exact same view, and there was a fire already going. We cooked our hot dogs and enjoyed life. It is amazing how much hot dogs can help one's outlook on life.
Date: 2009-09-02
From: The Hemlocks

To: Limestone Spring Lean-To
Miles today: 18.0

I've got a great idea. Let's build the only shelter around down a freakin' ravine half a mile off the trail! Hikers will LOVE that!Let me start at the beginning.It was a long, beautiful day up Mount Everett. Race Mountain was amazing as well, with expansive views of fields and farmland that could definitely pass for almost heaven, even though we are nowhere near West Virginia. We soon passed into our FIFTH state! Massachusetts was wonderful, but now it is time for Connecticut, a state that does NOT allow campfires or camping in undesignated areas. (Note: every time our location has the word "stealth" in it, we have camped in a non-designated area. It's fun. And in most places, it's okay. Maybe not encouraged, but nobody really cares. In Connecticut, they are very uppity about it.)Connecticut started with a bang. We climbed up one of our biggest climbs in days, Bear Mountain. On top there was a huge pile of rocks arranged in a tower that we climbed on top of and relaxed on. The day was warm and wonderful. A sign told us that we were on the highest spot in the state. A dayhiker ruined the illusion for us and informed us that we, alas, were not the highest people in the state because the sign was wrong. How do you mess that up? I have no idea. Whoever spent their life arranging rocks on top must have been pretty upset.We dragged our butts the .5 off the trail to the shelter. After going so far, .5 to shelter was really an insult. Especially when it routed us down the ravine of death.And when we got there, there was a fire blazing. So much for no campfires allowed?
Date: 2009-09-03
From: Limestone Spring Lean-To

To: Caesar Brook Campsite
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, so far every night in Connecticut we've had a fire. We did not start any of them, but they've been there. I feel like Connecticut ensures that hikers will have fires by putting up signs against fires. Today was a tedious but not terribly difficult day. We made it to Falls Village to pick up my package (my cash card expired and my choices were A) mooch off of Phil for 3 months or B) have Mom mail the cash card to me). The postmaster gave us each a Coke unexpectedly, and we then enjoyed a leisurely meal at Toymaker's Cafe with Brotucky and Peeps. I got a Lonwich and a Waffle of Goodness and for the first time in days I felt not starving.Then came the Roadwalk Detour of Doom because apparently hikers are incapable of walking across a road construction bridge without getting run over. Genius made it across with no problem. Phil and I did the roadwalk. It was long, and hard on our feet. I was crabby. I am often crabby. Poor Phil.The upside of today was that no one got attacked by a poisonous snake! That's always a good thing! Phil nearly stepped on a rattlesnake and because he was zoned out in radioland, he didn't even hear its loud rattle. Nor did he hear when I screamed at the top of my lungs to get his attention so he too could witness this massive snake. The thing was bigger than my wrist and although it was coiled, I could tell that it was really long. And mad. Phil missed it, but I got to share the moment with Anya and Josh. So there. Mom says I should keep a rock in my pocket from now on - not for protection from any snake, but so I can get Phil's attention. It's a fair idea.
Date: 2009-09-04
From: Caesar Brook Campsite

To: Mount Algo Lean-To
Miles today: 16.5

What a glorious day.After a brief uphill, the trail routed us past the beautiful Housatonic for five excellently flat miles. If only we'd packed the roller skates! The sky was blue and the sun was so bright that finally it felt like a summer day. Phil was hiking ahead of me today because he has ridiculously long legs and my squat legs cannot keep up with him. I hiked alone on the whole flat section and up a crazy rock scramble that was right out of the Whites or Maine. Crazy rock scrambles can be really fun, provided they END after an acceptable amount of time, and this one did. My thighs did rejoice.I kept trying to catch up with Phil so he wouldn't have to wait for me at the end of the day. Our plan was to go into Kent, resupply, then head to the shelter .3 from the road. I knew he wouldn't go into town without me, and I had visions of him waiting impatiently at the road for an hour, so I was really hoofing it. About half a mile from the road I heard him shout "JO!" I turned around, and there he was. Apparently he had decided to sit and read by the Housatonic and figured he'd hear me go by and flag me down. I guess I am just a stealthy hiker, for he waited and waited for me to go by and never saw me, so he'd been trying to catch up with me all day. I'd been hiking as fast as I could all day for no reason.It worked out okay in the end - after a brief adventure getting lost we finally found where the trail went through a cow pasture. Phil promptly stepped in a fresh cowpie. He said he thought it was a rock.Kent, I have to say, is the least hiker-friendly town ever. The food is expensive, hitching is impossible, and I feel far too dirty to be approved of. I was really happy to hike out and up to Mount Algo Shelter.
Date: 2009-09-05
From: Mount Algo Lean-To

To: 10-Mile River Shelter
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Beautiful, blissful day.I was exhausted. If you look at our mileages the past week and compare them to our mileages, say, a month ago, you will notice a huge improvement. With mileages like we've been doing, yes, we can make it to Georgia before Christmas. We're doing really, really, well and making up for lost time. But it's really freaking tiring!So today we found a lovely shelter and at 2PM called it a day. I got to journal, write to my friend Fritz, and sunbathe.Peeps and Brotucky came in. Peeps ended up staying with us. A few hours later, two groups of two males came in and hung out. Phil and I decided to set up the tent because shelter space is limited and there's no way that many people can comfortably sleep in a shelter. We set up the tent, and mysteriously, an hour later, the four men dispersed. No idea where they went. Oh well. Dayhikers and section hikers sometimes have mysterious ways.It was awesome to take a day off, and the best part is that it felt like a day off even though we did 8 miles. Back in Maine, 8 miles was a DAY.
Date: 2009-09-06
From: 10-Mile River Shelter

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: scattered clouds

This is where we planned to sleep last night. Oh well. Today, for once, it's Phil who is feeling yucky, so a 12-mile day is going to be far enough. There's no point in pushing it and making him seriously sick if he's just feeling a bit yucky.We are not in the wilderness anymore. Maybe because it's Labor Day Weekend and maybe because it's New York, there are people EVERYWHERE and cars and roads and planes and it's a bit annoying, honestly.We passed the Dover Oak Tree today - the largest oak on the entire AT. Oak trees are, in case you didn't know, the best trees ever, so I was quite excited. We sat by the oak tree and realized that the only thing that could make the moment better would be pizza. We are now, officially, in New York, so why not?Using 1-800-GOOG-411 (the best service EVER) and extreme patience, I finally found a pizza place that would deliver to the big oak tree. We had to explain it in great detail and the delivery man said he'd never been there before. We are true trail blazers.The best part of New York so far has been sitting by the giant oak stuffing our faces with pizza and watching the cars brake and people stare at us with our pizza and 2-liter of Pepsi. God bless New York!
Date: 2009-09-07
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: overcast clouds

It is not necessary for drunken revelers to come to a shelter, shout, bang around their coolers of beer, shine lights in everyone's faces, and set off firecrackers. Last night was not amazing.Despite my lack of sleep, today was good. I found $10, which almost makes up for the extreme piles of crap on the side of the trail. I mean literally huge piles of human poo can be found within pretty much any mile stretch of trail, and toilet paper litters the woods. And there is garbage everywhere! I don't know how much of that is typical and how much of that is just because it is Labor Day Weekend. The trail has been gross. But hey, I got paid to hike it today!Additional gross factor: today for most of the hiking the trail followed a giant freeway. Noise filled my ears and I couldn't hear myself think. (Or maybe I just wasn't thinking.)We went to our first New York deli today and I treated Phil to Ben and Jerry's and coffee and we sat outside the deli and got an extra thousand or so calories. Well worth the .8 roundtrip. We got into RPH Shelter at dusk and I was thrilled to see that it's actually more of a cabin than a shelter. I got a bunk bed and actually slept.
Date: 2009-09-08
From: RPH Shelter

To: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center Ball Field
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Graymoor Spiritual Life Center's Ball Field would have been a great place to stay if we hadn't taken the wrong road and walked an extra mile or two after an already really long day. I was distraught. Then we got reprimanded by a mean man who clearly had control issues. Finally we found the place and once we ordered a pizza, life again seemed worth living. The end.
Date: 2009-09-09
From: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center Ball Field

To: Stealth by Beechy Bottom Brook
Miles today: 13.0

Last night I slept GREAT til midnight when I awoke and had to scratch myself for 15 minutes. I couldn't fall asleep after that til 3. It was very sad. This will come into play a few days later.Because hitch-hiking is illegal in New York, trying to get into towns is really a pain. Unlike in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, the trail never goes straight into a town in New York. So we were stuck resupplying at a gas station right on the trail. It could have been a lot worse.I was wandering around the store in a befuddlement and Phil was sipping his coffee when a VERY enthusiastic man came up to him and started talking all about hiking. I didn't overhear most of the conversation, but the man had a license plate that read "HIKE MAN" and he does a lot of hiking in Italy. After talking to Phil for ten minutes he pulled out his wallet, slammed a twenty on the table and said "Dinner's on me tonight!" And he ran out the door.Strange place, New York.
Date: 2009-09-10
From: Stealth by Beechy Bottom Brook

To: John and Susan's
Miles today: 0.0

I can't remember a thing about this day, except that when we came upon a phone booth right outside of Harriman State Park, there was a magical little card that said "Need a hearty meal? A soft bed? Shower and laundry?" Uhhh . . . yes, yes, yes and yes! Right after the phone booth the trail crossed the road of death. Cars were whooshing by at approximately 200 miles per hour, and there was a curve not far from the trail so seeing exactly who was coming was impossible. We crossed the road and continued hiking. For about five feet.We recrossed the road to get the number of the people offering us happiness.It was too noisy there to make a call so we crossed the road again.We left a message and wanted to be visible, so we recrossed the road to sit by the phone booth.We discovered we had no cell reception on that side of the road so we crossed the road.We got ahold of the wonderful people and crossed the road for the final time that day to wait by the phone booth.It was totally worth it.John picked us up, brought us to his enormous and lovely home, got our laundry sorted, gave us loaner clothes to put on after we showered (best shower of the trail I think), then he fed us.Hot dogs. Shrimp. Rice. Broccolli. Asparagus. White wine. And for dessert, cookies and a pint each of Ben and Jerry's. And he wouldn't take money the next day.Some people are true trail angels. I hadn't showered since Dalton, much less eaten such healthy food. It was a joy to meet people so generous with their time and resources. Phil and I have a ton of karma to repay.