morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-06-09
From: Upper Goose Pond

To: Kay Wood Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: scattered clouds

6/9Kay Wood shelter17.6 milesLong day. Long, long day. Over eighteen miles if you add the half mile trail from the cabin back to the AT. I slept well in the bunk, barring a midnight trip to the woods. I woke up at first light and changed into my salty hiking clothes. I wouldn't have minded sleeping but I knew I needed all my hiking time today. Downstairs the caretaker offered my coffee and pancakes, which tasted heavenly. I filtered a little more water and was underway by 6:30. Two miles in we found the cache that Gucci Girl had left. I had cherries (OMG) and chugged a coke. Thus fueled I buzzed up the first mountain. I didn't pay much attention to scenery today. I watched my footing and I moved. At the first shelter, halfway, I ate quickly and taped my feet. My arches are feeling the strain of the back to back long days. I spent a little time coordinating my stop in Dalton. I'm super excited to see both friends and family. I'll stay with Laurie, and my brother and family will drive out to meet us for a meal on Sunday. I don't see any of them often so this is a big treat for me. This afternoon I also put my head down and walked, stopping to get water and a couple of cookies from the cookie lady. I didn't get a chance to meet her in 2010 so I was pleased to do so today. I think I'm going to sleep like the dead tonight.  Zzzzz.
Date: 2017-06-10
From: Kay Wood Shelter

To: Dalton
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: clear sky

6/10Dalton / Laurie's house4 miles Amazingly, I neither fell out of bed nor crushed any hapless sleepers getting in or out of my upper bunk last night. There was a lone mosquito who harassed me and for all I know bit me while I slept, but I slept pretty well. I restrained myself from murdering the people who were loudly practicing card tricks at the picnic table in front of the shelter and was rewarded when they eventually, nonviolently shut the hell up and let me sleep. I may or may not have crinkled everything in their direction when I packed up this morning. My hike was uneventful with the exception of a slippery muddy section about half a mile long. I stayed upright, but only just barely. I caked more mud onto my shoes and pants, but at this point it would be hard to tell the difference after it dried. My pants are a panoply of mud layers from Connecticut to Massachusetts. I bet geology students would love them. Laurie and Beth showed up at four minutes to nine, shortly after I got to our planned meeting point. We had an excited girly squealy hug and then I dove into the car to get away from the voracious mosquitoes. Laurie drive to the Creamery where she also had taken me on my last thru. I got a toasted everything bagel with lox, cream cheese, onions, tomato, and capers. As usual the capers continually rolled off and pachinkoed their way down onto my plate. Still, that was a damn fine bagel. At Laurie's I started laundry and a shower. Laurie and Ray went off to an equestrian event while I napped and did laundry. Mostly I napped. Whenever the machines made a significant sound I got up and took appropriate action. When the dryer finally sounded, I collected my armful of warm, good smelling laundry and didn't want to let it go. So I took it back to the bed and slept cuddled around it. Honestly warm laundry is a pretty good bed partner. I have no complaints. In the evening we drove out to the Blind Pig in Athol for extremely tasty food and beer. I got a beer flight before deciding on a blueberry beer to have in a full sized glass. My roast beef sandwich was literally finger licking good. Once I had demolished everything, we headed back to their house. I finally pulled the trigger on ordering a new backpack. My old one is worn out. It still holds contents, mostly, but it is abraded and frayed and torn, and I was nearing the lower limits of the hipbelt. The new pack will have a replaceable hip belt. I don't think that I will probably need to get an even smaller hip belt, but if my iliac crest somehow shrinks, I will be able to address the problem. At least from the backpack perspective. Tomorrow we're meeting some of my family for brunch and I'm so happy to see them! We don't live very close to each other and I don't get to see them enough. Plus my brother has never observed me with hiker hunger so that should be fun.
Date: 2017-06-11
From: Dalton

To: Dalton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

6/11Dalton / Laurie's house0 milesI slept comfortably and awoke around six. Ray heated me up some of last night's coffee to help my brain start. Laurie toasted some bread and put out a variety of toppings. I chose lemon curd, which is essentially delicious yellow crack. Mmm, curd. We trooped out to Crimson Acres to check on Nicky, their mule. He is still adorable yet feisty. He didn't mind being groomed but when training got between him and his hay consumption, he displayed a little mule 'tude, swiftly corrected. It was a little reassuring to see him acting like a mule. He's generally way better behaved than any mule I've ever met. We returned to the house for a little break, then drove to the Gardner Ale House for brunch with Dan, Lynne, Sandy, and Logan. Brunch was delicious but too short. I just wanted to sit and feast my eyes on my family. But eventually they had to go live their lives, so we said goodbye. Laurie took a nap while Beth came to get me. She showed me her home, including parts we've discussed and many other amazing things that her husband has built. He has a gift for building beautiful structures. I also got thoroughly snuffled by her mare Breezy and fell in love a little. I love a horse who likes people. This evening we are having a quiet, relaxed time. I can't pack up until I change into my hiking clothes in the morning, so I'm free of chores for now. I'm looking forward to the next few days. Tomorrow Cheshire. Tuesday Mt Greylock. Wednesday Bennington. (In all likelihood. It doesn't pay to assume any plan will remain unchanged. ) Vermont is a great part of the trail - both pretty and relatively easy, at least in comparison to New Hampshire. It's not that I'm not looking forward to New Hampshire and Maine. It's just that I know that they will take all my strength, chunks of my skin, an uncomfortable amount of my fingernails, and likely the seat of my pants. Whereas Vermont is the sort of place where you can walk without a rope assist.
Date: 2017-06-12
From: Dalton

To: Mark Noepel Shelter 
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

6/12Mark Noepel shelter12.9 milesI really didn't want to leave this morning. Ray and Laurie feel like family, and I truly enjoy spending time with them. But my little holiday had to end. Fish and guests start to stink after three days, after all. That goes double for malodorous thruhikers. And the trail isn't going to hike itself. Beth showed up at seven to drive me back to the trail. We stopped at the Old Creamery on the way where I bought myself a solid breakfast. It turned out to be a good thing, because it was so hot today that I didn't much feel like eating. I ended the day with most of my snacks uneaten, and I had not packed a lot of them. I drank my water and stopped three times to filter more. I added electrolytes, but I still ended the day with a headache. A highlight of today's hike was stopping in at Diane's Twist in Cheshire for a soft serve cone and a Gatorade. Together they were cold enough to give me brain freeze, and they left me feeling refreshed for about twenty minutes. I had planned to get a sandwich but knew that I wouldn't eat it in the heat, so I moved on instead. The last miles, up a steep mountainside of course, came hard. When I got to the shelter two sisters were cheerfully making dinner, and it was nice to absorb their positive attitudes. I got water immediately, hoping for a cold drink. The water flowed strongly but after the heat of the day it wasn't very cold. However it was better than running dry. I drank the water with drink mix added, and I forced myself to eat some. Not a full dinner, but some dried mango and the remains of a Greenbelly Bar. So far they remain palatable when my appetite is suppressed and I'm too tired to cook. Not even my salty snacks appealed. That kind of pisses me off because it means I have to keep carrying that food. I'm doing better than the guy who arrived after me, though, who I heard puking behind the shelter. I felt a pang of sympathy, thinking of my own episode on a hot day weeks ago. I took him his water to rinse out his mouth and collaborated to make sure he had enough water and some electrolytes. I hope he feels better in the morning. Hell, I hope *I* feel better in the morning.
Date: 2017-06-13
From: Mark Noepel Shelter 

To: Williamstown
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: broken clouds

6/13 Williamstown / Willows Motel9.6 milesPoor fellow on the other bunk was up repeatedly to ralph, based on my occasional blurry nighttime sightings. I sincerely hope he feels better today. He was unsurprisingly tired today and was planning to recuperate at the shelter - though he intended to set up his tent to get away from the inevitable bugs. I suspect the heat wasn't fun either. I left him with more electrolytes and my leftover water. The hike up to Bascom Lodge was as pretty as I remembered, but less fragrant. It was very quiet - no cars, virtually no hikers. I arrived at the lodge at 9:30 and went directly to the cafe. I ordered pancakes with berries, which I didn't realize would be cooked in. Waste of raspberries. They should be eaten fresh or not at all.  Berry issues aside, I wasn't able to finish the plate. There were only three pancakes but each was about an inch thick and filled the plate. After this filling second breakfast, I walked out into another hot day. It was supposed to rain but never did. I was looking forward to the rain on this day, anticipating that it would help with the heat. As I did yesterday, I unconsciously walked very slowly in the heat. By 3:30 when I reached route 2, I had not quite gone ten miles. I had heat rash in multiple locations, and it was quickly getting worse. I called the Willows Motel and they very quickly sent somebody to pick me up. I was checked in within about two minutes. I walked over to the room. The AC was set to 60 degrees. I collapsed on the bed and soaked up the coolness. After a time I stripped and was amazed at the sheer variety of locations in which I found heat rash. After I showered, I applied ointment and climbed back onto the bed, willing the rash to diminish. This actually sort of worked. When it seemed like it wouldn't hurt to move, I walked to the restaurant next door and ordered one of everything. Or at least I really wanted to. I really ordered some wine, potato skins, and a broccoli and chicken dish. I debated pizza but the broccoli sounded healthier. In retrospect I wish I had gotten the pizza. My entree was fine, but pizza still sounded good. I left the diner and stopped by the gas station next door to get some breakfast and an ice cream cone. I was disappointed when I returned to the motel to find out that my room fridge doesn't work. Warm coke is less appealing. Old Growth walked up to where I sat outside the motel eating my cone. We chatted for a while until he brought out pictures of his adorable dogs and told me their stories. Unfortunately the sky opened up before I could show him Dulce's underbite or the essential dogness of Beauty. I should probably figure out what I'm doing tomorrow. It's complicated by not having guidebook pages. I don't know, maybe I'll go for a walk in Vermont.
Date: 2017-06-16
To: Goddard Shelter 
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: moderate rain

6/16Goddard Shelter 10.1 milesI should have stayed in bed. I woke up at six and fiddled around. I don't even really know what I did but I wasted an hour until I figured the gas station would be open, then went and bought a coke. And a coffee. And a spare protein bar. Back at the motel I ate my poptarts - breakfast of champions. I packed up and headed for the post office, where I mailed forward my fleece top and silk bottoms. Guess what would be nice to have with me right now?I called for a ride to the trail and got walking around 9:30. I stopped to eat at the first shelter. While I was sitting there it started to pour. Sigh. I walked in the rain for hours. I stayed just barely warm enough with everything thing possible zipped / tightened / enclosed. I did somewhat enjoy splashing through puddles. But in the rain I couldn't really stop to look around, and there wasn't much to see if I did. All of my being was focused on walking. Unfortunately my being apparently sucks at focus. I went TIMBER! Twice. First time I nailed my right knee, left wrist, and sternum. Second time I nailed my left knee, right hand, and forehead. At least the second fall seems to have jarred back into place two ribs that had been hurting after the first fall. So that was nice. When I finally arrived at the shelter, there was a spot left and I claimed it. I ate a greenbelly bar and called it good - time to hang food and put on my jammies.  One more hiker showed up and we all shuffled to make room. There are a lot of people camped in the woods around us, many of them illegally. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It's a fairly awful day, but it's the Friday of a summer weekend. Definitely section hiker time.
Date: 2017-06-17
From: Goddard Shelter 

To: Stratton-Arlington road
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

6/17Stratton-Arlington road tentsite12.5 milesI counted 14 red efts today. They might be endangered somewhere, but not right here. They appear to thrive in Vermud's damp environment. I awoke this morning feeling surprisingly fine. Between my all day soaking and the bad falls I took, I expected to be sore or bruised or headachy. But apparently sleep cured me. I got along just fine without my fleece and silk, as well. And I sure did appreciate not having to carry their weight up the mountain this morning. The bugs were really bad today. Only my hands were uncovered, and I had to spray them several times. This evening I'm secure in my tent, away from the ravening hordes. Sleeping in a shelter held zero appeal. Predicted rain never arrived, and between the sunshine and the bugs, my tent is a far more attractive option. Before I unfurl my sleeping bag I'll have to do a little housekeeping. I didn't realize just how muddy my pants were until I sat down and it started flaking off. I estimate I was carrying an 1/8" layer from the knees down. My feet look awful from being wet all day, but they don't feel too bad. I'm the only one set up at this site so far. I hope more people camp here. It's too close to the road for comfort, but I don't have another seven miles in me to get to Stratton Pond tonight. I'm wondering if people stayed at Story Spring instead. It was under nine miles from Goddard Shelter, but it's fairly slow trail thanks to mud and blowdowns. Mostly mud.
Date: 2017-06-18
From: Stratton-Arlington road

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

6/18Spruce Peak Shelter14.7 milesThis shelter is amazing. Four walls, a door, and a functional wood stove. Not that the stove is useful when it's still 80 degrees at 7 pm. I'm going to have to sleep in my bag liner. The weather for today was predicted to be bad. It was sunny. It's predicted to have 2-4 inches of rainfall tomorrow. I'm withholding judgment until it actually rains. I was thinking of going the extra three miles into town today but I chafed in the heat, so stopping sounded very appealing. Also the thought of calling around for a reservation and then finding my way to a motel sounded like I would have to interact with many human beings.  Whereas at the shelter I could lie down right away, eat food I don't really enjoy but which fills me up, and antisocially not talk to anybody. That sounded great. I stopped in at Stratton Pond shelter to use the privy today, but the poop was already up to the lid. So gross. Where's the maintainer? Then the next shelter was half a mile off the trail, so that wasn't happening. I ended up walking fifteen miles to use a privy today. I'm so proud of my sphincter. That was some serious bowel control going on. Clearly I have a magnificently competent asterisk. I don't know what to tell you, man. Things get weird in my head on the trail.
Date: 2017-06-19
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Manchester
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: scattered clouds

6/19Manchester / Madeline's house2.8 milesI woke up at 5:30 and ate a leftover chunk of protein bar. My smoothie did not appeal. Stupid appetite. Those are expensive smoothies!The trail between the shelter and the road is not as represented on my map. The map shows it going mostly downhill. There was a lot of uphill. But my food bag was mostly empty so it was still a pretty easy hike. Odysseus (the first sobo I've met) had mentioned trail magic at the road. It was still there when I got there. I had Gatorade, fresh cherries, and a donut. A donut! The cherries were the best though. There was a Toyota RAV4 in the parking lot with the driver's door wide open. It didn't look broken in to. When Madeline arrived, she looked too. Based on the dog gear we're assuming the driver just forgot to shut it. We closed the door to keep it from running the battery down. Madeline drove me to town and we grabbed some breakfast. I was on third breakfast by then. She showed me where some things were in town, intending to leave me with the car while she taught riding. Then the heavens opened up and riding was cancelled. After that I had her all to myself. I got a few things at Mountain Goat Outfitters, and ran into quite a few hikers that I knew. It's always entertaining to walk into a business in a town you're visiting and see it full of familiar faces. We also visited Rite Aid, Shaw's Grocery, and a state liquor store. So I'm pretty much stocked up. Should be fun trying to wedge everything into the pack tomorrow. When we got back to her place and I undressed to shower, I found that my bruises, chafes, bug bites, and other skin injuries were worse than I realized. I hope that my feet benefited from my nearo, but they still look pretty rough at bedtime. I'm not sure what to do for them. Wish them luck. Tomorrow I'll head up Bromley Mountain, entering a really pretty area of Vermont. I can't wait!
Date: 2017-06-20
From: Manchester

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

6/20Peru Peak Shelter10.1 milesMan yesterday worked out well. It was quite pleasant watching the torrents of rain fall from Madeline's. And I got to soak up some doggie love. And eat a lot. Today it looks like it might not rain, and between rest and coffee, the morning miles are coming easily. My shoes are sort of turning into sandals so pebbles are an issue, but it is nevertheless a great day. As I summited the peak after Bromley, Lazer passed by and I commented that Vermont felt like my reward for surviving Pennsylvania. Then I got to the zone of amazing smelling firs and thought "Oh my god YES!"  I wondered if this euphoria is what it feels like to be high. My red eft count hit 12 today, in 7 hours. Pretty sure my eft rate was higher going into Great Barrington, but it was still pretty high today.  I spent my day listening to my wedding reception playlist as I walked. It brought back all kinds of great memories, both of falling in love with JD and of getting married. I also spent some time thinking of things for which I am grateful:Having the opportunity to visit with Madeline at her beautiful house.Stepping stones. Not a metaphor, but actual stones you step on so you can avoid mud or water. The lessons of the Bhagavad Gita. Not sure I spelled it right. Understanding is coming slowly for me. I'm not rereading it right now, but it's one of those texts which seep into your consciousness. My husband, without whom I would not be doing this hike. Sunny weather. Mass quantities of food. Health. I'm enjoying the contrast between this hike and the one in 2010. I still struggle, but I have more patience with myself and with the trail. The mental aspects of thruhiking far outweigh the physical. Not that it's particularly easy, physically. I think that after last year, which was a very long exercise in suffering and healing and accepting, my ability to accept the hand I'm dealt on any given day is vastly improved over previous years. Given that there is absolutely nothing you can do about the trail or the weather, acceptance is a vital skill to have here. Or at least that's the way it seems to me. There is a group from Oberlin here doing a training, after which they'll take groups of kids out on trips to various places including Iceland or Costa Rica. They built a fire to help combat the bugs, bless 'em. Thruhikers almost never bother, but it is nice to have a fire.
Date: 2017-06-21
From: Peru Peak Shelter

To: Greenwall Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

6/21Tented at Greenwall shelter14.5 milesHappy solstice! Also Happy Naked Hiking Day! Not a joke, this is a real thing. FYI I was completely dressed as usual. Haley got moving first and it eventually shamed me into getting up. Well, that and the thought of poptarts. I put on my hiking clothes, packed up my sleeping bag, and proceeded to the picnic table to make coffee. I haven't been doing that most mornings, but yesterday demonstrated just how much more effective coffee is at getting me going than my energy drinks are. It was delicious. Actually they were delicious. Coffee, poptarts, pretty much anything I could find to put in my pie hole. I started walking right around 6:30, and probably started snacking before I was out of sight of the shelter. The rock climb I remembered was in fact before the next shelter, so I was glad I stopped when I did last night. Also because it poured torrentially for a while in the evening and I would have been between shelters then. Probably on that rock climb. I played leapfrog with Phat D ("That's my rap name") in the morning. We met up at Little Rock Pond and walked together in the afternoon. I had started seeing naked hikers as soon as we crossed the road before the pond, and the trend continued for a while. I saw two individuals and then a group of about eight. Mostly it was older men. There was one woman, young and fit. Several of the men had all over tans so I concluded that today was not an anomaly for them. I was morally fine with all of this. Mostly I just had issues with where to look. Look away entirely? Glance and look away? Maintain a desperate eye contact?Most days I keep an eft count in my head. I use The Count's accent from Sesame Street whenever I see one. Sometimes I do it out loud. Instead, today I counted naked people. "Ten! Ten naked wieners! Hah hah hah hah!"I've never seen so many naked wieners in one day before, and that includes the time my dormitory floor collectively rented and watched Dickman and Throbbin'.