morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-06-14
From: Hammersly Ridge

To: St Johns Ledges
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: few clouds

The rain lasted longer than expected last night as it was still sprinkling when I got up to do a nature call around 3am. So when I woke up in the morning it was still obviously damp. Every bit of equipment I had was inside my tent and it has started to become smelly and rank. I really needed to think about getting into a town for laundry and a shower as it has now been over a week since my days off in Vernon, NJ. It wasn't long however till the sun came out, and also till I hit my 9th state. Connecticut. I'm finally in New England! Seems like the trail and the conditions changed instantly. Maybe it was because the sun finally came out, but it seemed like I was transported to another part of the trail. Just cleaner I guess. With the sun came the weekend hikers and also the snakes! They love the sun especially after about 5 days of rain, I must of seen 6 of them today.Not far after the border was a .8 mile road walk off the trail to Kent, CT and a care package that was waiting for me from my awesome friend Monica! She did a great job putting a whole bunch of goodies for me some of which I inhaled right at the moment. Thank you Monica! At the outfitter was also a ice cream place as seen in picture as I ordered the coffee milkshake with 2 shots of espresso. $8.59! Welcome to Connecticut! I did my best to get out of town cause it's just hard sometimes to leave the luxuries of a town and head back into the wilderness. But I did make it! Even though I stopped in Kent I finally got in a good mileage day of hiking. There was not really any shelters in sight that I was going to be able to reach so I kept my eyes open for a stealth site to camp. I try in these warm months to find something up high instead of low in a valley. The higher elevation means cooler temps and usually a breeze which for me is great to sleep in. I found a spot on Caleb's Peak, but the book told me if I went .3 further there was a view and some water. Now there was water but I was now down in a valley with absolutely no view. I was taken astray by AWOL's book. Need to send that boy an e-mail! It was getting real dark and I needed to find a place quick hoping that St John's Ledges would do. Fortunately it was a great spot! I set up camp while off in the distance you can hear some very bad karaoke going on. I mean why would you choose an Earth Wind and Fire song to sing to. Don't you know you can't hit those high notes? Choose something dumb and predictable like Friends in Low Places. Anyone can sing that crap.Overall today put a smile on my face. It was a very good day, and tomorrow I am planning on taking a big Nero in a motel room somewhere and watch golf. It's my Father's Day present.Song of the Day, September, -Earth, Wind and Fire.
Date: 2014-06-15
From: St Johns Ledges

To: Cornwall Bridge, CT
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: few clouds

Happy Father's Day!Was happy for today cause I received a motel room called The Hitching Post in Cornwall Bridge, CT for my Father's Day present. As I love to do on all Father's Days is watch the final round of the U.S. Open. Too bad it wasn't much of an Open to watch, but relaxing it was.Before I was to get to the motel I still had about 7 1/2 miles to go and most of it was flat along the Housatonic River. There was a trail magic cooler sitting along the beginning of the flat stretch with Fireball cinnamon whisky inside. What? Now that's interesting trail magic. There was not much to this town. A Citgo gas station, a small country store and this hotel. Very bad cell reception due to being down in a valley I guess. The shower and laundry and a nice bed was just what I needed. A relaxing calm day doing nothing.
Date: 2014-06-16
From: Cornwall Bridge, CT

To: Stealth Camp 1494.0
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: light rain

*I know a lot of you have requested a gear list of stuff that I have taken on this trip. I will do a very honest and detailed job of this when I am through with my hike. Some good, some bad. But it will be honest. If you want to see what I started with you can check out my YouTube page. Rob Figulski. Please keep in mind that I'm not an expert in video or video editing. This is all new to me so I'm learning it all on the fly. I have a whopping 6 videos on my channel all for hiking, but a gear video is there as well. So go check it out.*I lost my guide page. Again. These things keep falling out of my pocket for some reason. I tear out a page or 2 and place them in a quart size baggie and stick them in my pocket so I don't have to carry the whole book. However, I just keep losing it. Good thing Missouri Mule, and older gentleman who is trying complete his hike from last year let me take a picture of it so I had it on my phone. Lucky me. Missouri Mule broke his leg in Maine by falling off one of the slippery board planks that seem to be everywhere. Good for him to come back and try to complete what he missed last year.I ran into the Jersey Brothers again who I haven't seen since, well, New Jersey so it was good to catch up with them a bit. Running into a lot of new hikers as the fast ones are now catching up, some even started in April! Goodness!The weather is nice but warm, so I took my share of breaks in the heat of the day. I will say that I have really loved hiking in Connecticut. It's just very beautiful, and clean compared to some states and it gives you a taste of everything. There are rocks, but not many, there are big climbs but not that intense, rivers, and streams, and views, and great trail towns. This state has always surprised me with it's beauty and I wouldn't mind living here if it wasn't one of the most expensive states in the Union.I was looking at a shelter to stay at for the night but when I got to the trail to lead to it the sign said .5 down a steep hill to get to it. Nah. No thanks, I'll pass. Stealth camping is my thing anyways, so as soon as I find some water I will set up for the night. It is illegal to camp in a non-designated space in this state, and there are more ridge runners here than I have seen since the Smokys. Finding a spot is not as easy, and even when I do I have to pretend I don't know any better. Oh well, I made it without any altercations. Not like I had a camp fire going or anything. Song of the Day, Streets Have No Name, -U2
Date: 2014-06-17
From: Stealth Camp 1494.0

To: Riga Shelter
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: scattered clouds

4 months to the day I left Springer Mountain at 9 am in below freezing temps, today in Salisbury, Connecticut it could be the hottest day so far.I got up from my stealth camp which could of been frowned upon if a ridge runner saw me there, but I was up and packed in record time hoping to get a good breakfast in Salisbury, only .8 off the trail. This is a quaint northeastern town with a bunch of mom and pop shops that are expensive. Thats why they are mom and pop. I went to the Country Bristo at about 8:15 and was greeted very kindly to a window seat with an outlet. I ordered the pancakes and bacon and got a scrambled egg on the side. Oh don't forget the coffee. Now these are some of the tastiest pancakes I have ever had but for $9.99 I was hoping for them to be on the bigger side. Overall, the food and service was fantastic, but the $18.50 with tip bill was too much. This is why there are Dennys, I Hops and Waffle Houses of the world. You know how much I can eat for $18 at Waffle House? That's why I love them and they can build as many as they like. I stepped out of the bistro into a warm, sunny air and happen to see Andy and Windscreen sitting outside enjoying breakfast of their own. Supposedly they ended up staying the night at some ladys house in town. Andy mentioned that he was going to hit the library which is something I should do as well. I walked across the street and got an iced mocha for $5.50...... sigh, then over to this old castle looking library. About 2 hours later the temperature outside was downright toasty, and even though I didn't exactly want to, I knew I needed to hike on out of this town. Andy was still sitting on the same chair as he was before and not looking to good. Bags under his eyes and a defeated posture led me to think he was going to be here awhile. I walked back in the grocery store for a sandwich before I hit the woods again with now a heavier backpack than when I came in with this morning. Humid and sticky I walked through the town cemetery to fill my water bottles up and up the hill I went with John Denver tunes playing on my Spotify. The heat was just too much to bear with a 35lb pack on so I stopped many times to rest. Seems I wasn't going to get a huge chunk in today so I stopped at the Riga Shelter to set up camp. It was quite earlier than I usually stop, but this shelter had a nice view to the east which should make fir a good 4:45 sunrise.2 section hiking girls that I have been running into from time to time named Ivy and Scar came in after me to settle in go the night. They are both heading to post grad school, Ivy to Harvard and Scar to Yale. Impressive! They didn't seem too intimidated when I told them about my associates degree from The Golf Academy of the Carolinas but oh well.I don't normally sleep in a shelter but I'm hoping for the awesome reward in the morning sunrise. Song of the day, -Sunshine on my Shoulders, -John Denver
Date: 2014-06-20
From: East Mountain Retreat Center

To: US 20 Lee, MA
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Well rested and well hydrated, I was up and going around 8. Reverend Lois was a great host at the Retreat Center and it was an awesome place to just relax. But now it's back to the business of hiking.I felt way better. It was a nice, lower humidity day so off I went. This part of Massachusetts was a lot better than the first half. The mosquitoes are out but not terrible. I only had to swat every couple of minutes, which is tolerable, and the higher elevations came with a nice cool breeze.With the new mindset and physically in good shape it was a recipe for a good milage day. Even though the day was good nothing really stuck out as memorable. I leaped-frogged a new thru hiker that I met named Cupcake. Not sure how he got that name but he seems ok with it. I mean what can you do about it anyway? Also met a ridge runner that was extremely nice, and everyone seemed to be heading to the Upper Goose Pond Cabin. A place that I have heard from the grapevine for weeks now about being a "can't miss" However, I missed it. It was late and getting dark, and my mind was in somewhat of a zone that I must have blown right by the side trail. Instead of turning back I just kept going heading towards who knows what."Who knows what" ended up being US 20 heading into Lee, MA. It was very late even though the twilight at this time of year last a long time. There was a motel on the side of the road .1 of the AT, and I had no intention of getting a room, but I snuck around back where the lake was and pitched my tent. Wasn't the best decision I made cause my sleep was never deep. I always was wondering if someone was gonna come up and tell me to leave. Either way my alarm was set for 4:30 and I was positive I wasn't wasn't to sleep through this one. No rain fly tonight, the temps were perfect. Song of the day, Your Making Me High, Toni Braxton. Oh ya!
Date: 2014-06-21
From: US 20 Lee, MA

To: Tom Lavardi's, Dalton, MA
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: clear sky

Yep! I didn't even wait for my alarm to go off. With one eye open most of the night I was out of my tent and packing by 4:25 am. Believe it or not, it was light outside, and also in the mid 40's. Chilly! Crazy, yet awesome!I wanted to just get out of there without any problems and was on the trail at 5:07. (I always look at the time when I start for the day) Other than the 1st climb of 800 feet coming out of Lee, most of the elevation gain was minimal for the day. My mind was on Dalton, Mass and a stay in town at Tom Lavardi's. But 1st, another 20 miler to complete. Today I felt great! I will just have to realize that some days are good while others are bad, just have to get up and hike regardless. It was one of those days that made me glad that I am out here. Great weather, and high expectations of the weeks to come till I finish. Today is the summer solstice, which is "Hike naked day." Some decided to do just that while others, myself included, made the choice to put clothes on. I mean who wants to see these people hike naked? Well... except that south bound section hiker girl with the back tattoos that I ran into at October Mountain Shelter. .... but anyway.......Today was also "Cookie Lady" day. At mile marker 1555.7 on Washington Mtn Rd, a house to the west with a sign out front that says "Fresh Farm Eggs" is home of the Cookie Lady. Unfortunately she wasn't there but the Cookie Hubby was. I sat on the porch, signed their guest book and Roy came out to say hi. I ordered a Coke and a Klondike Bar which of course came with a few cookies. This place is cool. It's a working blueberry farm but of course I was too early to enjoy the fruits of the berries. I devoured the goodies filled my water bottle and headed back on the ole dusty.Around 3pm I arrived in Dalton, MA and Tom Lavardi's. He is one of the original trail angels as he has his back yard open for tenting since 1979! I was the 1st there and had enough time to head to the Y for a free shower. Tom has 6 bikes for hikers to use to get around town for whatever, and to be honest I was a little weary getting on this 2 wheeled 10 speed. It's been a while. When I came back I see some familiar faces. Moaglee, Andy, and Trillium. Yay! We all jumped in Tom's Honda CRV and headed to a hikers paradise, Old Country Buffet! I'm not really a huge fan of all you can eat horse troughs but it's perfect for our needs. A hiker resupply at a supermarket afterwards and back to the backyard. About 10 of us were there. I ran into Noodle who I haven't seen since the Blueberry Patch in Georgia. Of course he wasn't Noodle then, but was glad to see he was still hittin it. Most of these guys were pounding PBR's, and the next door lady brought over some already put together smores. What a great night!Song of the day, Rock you like a Hurricane, Scorpions
Date: 2014-06-22
From: Tom Lavardi's, Dalton, MA

To: Tom Lavardi's Dalton, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It was an unexpected zero due to some banking issues that I had to take care of, but being Sunday I had no choice but to stay put and wait till Monday. There is a few misconceptions about the AT that I have discovered, one of which is the amount of money it takes to thru-hike. Hiking is not cheap. Along with the gear that I had to buy, and the 6 months of food and occasional in-town things to do, I could of gone on any 7 day all inclusive Sandles Resort with all the Bahama Mamas I can drink and all the Bahama Mamas I can look at. ..... If you know what I mean. The cheapest I have heard anyone spend (Not including gear) is $1200. Most spend about $3-5k with some upwards to over $10,000.I met a 67 year old named Fifteen while staying at Lavardi's and he also took a zero on Sunday. A very interesting man from Boise who hiked 1900 miles of the trail last year before face planting on to a rock in New Hampshire. He got off the trail but came back this summer to complete what he couldn't. You can also check out his journey on trailjournals. Just look for Fifteen. He spotted me $40 till I could get the money transferred Monday.I took the bike and just rode around town which included a Starbucks in Pittsfield about 5 miles away. Later Tom took some of us to an outfitter at the local mall as I needed to get my pack looked at and decided to get a new/smaller hip belt free of charge. Feels sort of better. .... for now.Fifteen and I went across the street to the Mill Town Tavern for an excellent pizza and a beer. Cupcakes and Raven later joined watching USA choke away the lead in the World Cup.... sigh..soccer. When I got back to Lavardi's I saw Dorothy for the first time since Virginia. So cool to see him again. Rocket Girl was also a few miles behind as well. Not as many here to stay tonight as last, but I was asleep before the sun set. SOTD, Dream Weaver, -Gary Wright
Date: 2014-06-24
From: Thunderbolt trailhead

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Should I even mention this? Oh My. But I have no proof! No pictures or GoPro video.The porcupine did come back in the morning and I got a very good look at it's ugly face before I shooed it off for one last time. I packed up quick, ate my birthday cake Pop Tart and Iced coffee and hit the trail. Down hill for the 1st part of the day till I hit Williamstown, but it was starting to get humid none-the-less. I sweated out the 1st couple of miles, passed a road crossing and sat on a nice, clean, convenient rock to drink some more of my Starbucks iced coffee. I see from my right corner something coming down on the trail towards me. Nothing to be alarmed at, probably another hiker. I took another drink of my coffee preparing myself to say good morning to whoever is enjoying the hike as I am. So I turned my head. It seemed like it took minutes for my brain to comprehend what I am looking at. 20 feet in front of me, still walking southbound on the AT, was a full grown, adult black bear! Oh my! I stood up with my pole in my hand, when I guess he finally saw me. I lifted my pole and yelled, "bear! bear!" as you are supposed to. The big beast looked up and bolted to my right into the woods and hid, then made a couple of hissing noises. I grabbed my pack and got my GoPro and tried to find the thing in the woods but to no avail. It took awhile for me to regain my composure, but I was really upset that I didn't have any pictures more than anything. Just a story now, No proof.Straight downhill I go as we usually do before town and I see a little laminated note on a tree that offered bikes for in town supply runs. Sweet! I was going to go in anyway for a late breakfast. I came to the guys house and no one was home, but took a bike anyway and headed out. Love this random, unexpected treats like this. After all it was about 2 miles into town. I didn't want to stay too long for today is a very special day. It's Vermont Day! Another state! After a 4 mile uphill battle I see the sign. Welcome to Vermont! I must be in the Arctic Circle now being this far north! So excited! 3 more states to go! 3 more simple yet gorgeous miles led me to Seth Warner Shelter. It was only 5:00 but I felt an early day was fine with me. Stayed in the shelter with Cupcakes, Raven, Dorothy, Finn and Kamikaze.SOTD, Sweet Cherry Pie, -Warrant. :/Song of the day
Date: 2014-06-26
From: Bennington, VT

To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The forecast called for rain and thunder showers again all day. Plus for some reason when I woke up my phone was not working properly, It said it was the 20th of June. So after spending about 2 hours on the phone with the Verizon guy, we figured out that it just needed updating, and it was at that time Fifteen came in from a ride to the Catamount Motel. It was afternoon and with the chance of bad weather I decided to take a zero and share a room with Fifteen.I just took the day to be lazy. I went to the library again, and to the local pizza joint with Fifteen for some wings and a coffee stout......or 3.
Date: 2014-06-27
From: Bennington, VT

To: Stealth Camp 1623
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

Fifteen and I got back to the trail head about 9:30, which is a little later than I was hoping for, but I was geared up and ready to go. Said goodbye to Fifteen, but most likely we will see each other again. The next 10 miles was a 2500 foot climb up to Glastenbury Mountain and look out tower. It was my first big climb of any distance in a while, so even though it took a while, it felt good to open up the lungs a bit. Vermont is just what it said it was, very muddy, especially after this ridiculous rain we have had over the last couple days. The temps were quite reasonable, as I could actually see my breath when I first started the trail, but it doesn't take long to burn up when you start climbing, and eventually I was sweating. It feels good to get up to higher elevations too, I always try to find a place to camp higher in elevation in the summer where the breezes are stronger and hopefully the bugs at bay. The winter time you try and do the opposite, a low lying bowl trapped between mountains. Even though the sun doesn't hit it too long the wind is down and for the most part that is the worst part of the cold. I stopped at Kid Gore Shelter for dinner at around 5 but I still felt like getting in more miles even though this shelter had a great view to the east. Should be a nice sunrise. Limited tent space also made it easy for me to move on. I figured if I made it to the next shelter 4 and a half miles away then that was fine, but if I found a great campsite on the way on top of a hill....even better. And I did! Love finding these jewels, and I also love eating at a shelter before I camp. Shelters have a luxury called picnic tables. You just don't realize how nice these wooden tables are until you try to make dinner on a rock. Plus, when you get to camp you can just concentrate on getting your tent pitched without worrying about making dinner.Again I decided to sleep without my rain fly which is preferable. A cool stary night will make for a good sleep, but the strange noise I keep hearing in the darkness keeps me wondering. Oh boy! A porcupine again. Go away! I wonder if it comprehends? I just don't know enough about these creatures to know if I should be concerned or not, perhaps it's better that I don't know. :/SOTD My Sharona, -The Knack
Date: 2014-06-28
From: Stealth Camp 1623

To: Prospect Rock
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: light rain

When I got out of my tent this morning I noticed my shoes, which were securely stationed on a rock last night, was now a couple feet away near my tent. Hummmm? Porcupine? The last thing I usually do before I leave camp is put on my shoes, and wouldn't you know it? Both of my laces are chewed and snapped. Damn you porcupine! Today was a good day to get in some miles. The climbs were high yet very steady, nothing terribly severe. I came up to Stratton Mountain which is quite significant for it was where Benton MacKaye, when hiking the Long Trail, got the inspiration to create a long distance trail that connected the deep south to the high north along the Appalachian Mountain Range. Now, 92 years later, I get to enjoy the fruits of Mr. MacKaye's vision! A tower at the top of the mountain had clear views of 4 different states, very cool!I'm not sure the trail in Vermont is ever dry, even some parts near Stratton Pond was underwater with one small misstep would mean a unplanned dip in the water. The trail stayed steady at 2500 feet for the next 10 miles as I skipped several shelters to take my chance at Prospect Rock. The guide book says there is a view which should mean exposed, cool, and breezy spot. This place did not disappoint! Overall this could be one of the best sites I found to camp on the entire AT. Now you not supposed to camp at a non-designated site in this state, but there was no signs around to say otherwise, and there was strong evidence of past visitors spending the night here. The sunset was fantastic as you can see from the pictures. I even made it a point to get up at night (as I always do)to look at the stars which couldn't of been more brilliant. A faint shooting star to cap the night off. You didn't hear it from me, but don't miss this stop for overnight camp. Another cool night with no rain fly to sleep! SOTD, The Gambler, -Kenny Rogers