morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-05-25
From: Wind gap

To: Delaware water gap
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: broken clouds

Since I was by myself I got up at 4 am and hit the trail at 5:30. Made it to the gap by 11:15. Tomorrow I walk over the bridge into New Jersey and out of PA..no love lost here about PA. The boulders and big rocks are great, but the fist-sized, razor edged, tripping over them, cutting your boots rocks suck. Got to the hostel at Delaware Gap run by the church and it is nice and clean. I've got my next two days of food as well. I think I'm going to starve. I don't buy enough food and they don't have a grocery store here. They do have the pie store and I have a mini apple pie on front of me. Mini as in about a 1 lb pie - dinner, I guess. Not certain how many miles I'm doing tomorrow but foot was better today. That's two days in a row - looks like hell though. Hiking in here was like taking a zero but I got 15 miles in, so all is good. Two milestones today; I went over 700 miles for this trip and less than 900 to Mt Katahdin - slow but steady. Now I have to sit down and figure out logistics for NJ and NY. Amazing to be here doing this.
Date: 2013-05-26
From: Delaware water gap

To: Brinks road shelter
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: clear sky

It was a fantastic feeling to walk over the bridge into NJ. I remember seeing a picture of Daystar passing over it last year on her blog. Unfortunately I just took a picture of the bridge as I hiked solo. I have an alert for NJ - PA rocks have invaded the first 20 miles of your trail. The rocks sucked today as well most the day. Saw some pretty valley sights from, you guessed it...the highest ridge line around all day. If it's rocky, and high the AT will be there. The sunfish pond was beautiful. It is a glacier cut lake. One of NJ's seven protected areas in the state. Naturally, in the no camping area two tents were set up. Trail wasn't hard today, just rocky. I had no idea how far I was going to hike today. I had thought about doing only 10 miles to a nice campground, but the legs kept going. I'm thinking real hard about taking a zero and going into NYC when I get close. I have an invite, I just need to figure out the logistics. I would like to sleep for a day and only venture out to go to the Donut Plant Doughnut shop. This is the best doughnut place in the universe! The sleeping part I need. I'm still only sleeping about 4 hours a night. Haven't a clue how far I'm going to go tomorrow....except not 25. I've been told it levels out soon.....I'm waiting for soon. I was encouraged today with the way the body is working.
Date: 2013-05-27
From: Brinks road shelter

To: Jim murray cabin
Miles today: 25.0

Trail today was more of the same. Rocky, but it was over grown with brush - the worst I've ever seen on any trail. Weeds were neck high and you couldn't tell trail from forest. Saw a deer and yesterday I saw a porcupine on trail that gave me the eye. I reminded it of his cousin I fought with a broom and he moved on. Logistics for me gets a little tougher now. There are a few stretches of zero water so I'm going to go with dry meals and a few more water bottles for a few days. It may rain tomorrow...nice weather today. I've got to pick food up in Unionville and then hit trail in the morning. If it's going to rain I want to stay in a shelter. Some real pretty views today. Also walked by the construction zone on the mountain where they are clearing the area to set in huge gas pipes I believe. Hell of a job. I imagine those folks are in shape hiking up and down the hillsides doing that job. Other than that, my right foot seems 90% and getting stronger. Take care, wish the rain away. Again, hiking forward until I stop for the night.
Date: 2013-05-28
From: Jim murray cabin

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: light rain

Murray's cabin was great to relax in. Resupplied in Unionville for three days. Hiked a lot of short ups and downs and then got to walk the boardwalk over marsh land. It started pouring rain about then. I had another 5 miles to a shelter and the weather said thunder storms due about the time I would have gotten to the ridge, so I called a motel and got a ride to them. Also got a ride back to trail tomorrow. My feet were real sore so I looked at my boots and the tread had fallen off them. I ordered some new ones from EMS and they should be in a town ahead of me on Friday. I'm going to be careful for the next few days. So I guess I can say I was so fast I hiked out of my shoes. Hope they stay together. Take care.
Date: 2013-05-29
From: Vernon, NJ

To: Wildcat Shelter, NY
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Done with NJ. Updated by Debbie, spotty cell coverage here. Walking with the beat up boots beat me up on the wet boulders. I fell about 10 times. Luckily I kept all bones intact. Got to climb rocks and they had a ladder tied to the rocks to climb up. After that it went downhill. My shoes were soaked and the rocks wet....ice skating and I'm clumsy. A few f'n shoes comments were made, probably loud enough to be heard two states ahead. Going to take a few days off on friday thanks to a trail angel. More details on that as it goes. I figure I've done about 800+ miles and its about that far to Mt K. I need a break to recharge. Trail was rocky with ups. Flat trail with no rocks for about three miles. Then NJ/NY sign forward is a tough, slow go. Plan on slow travel. I stayed at the Appalachian Motel in Vernon yesterday. Great place, great people. They will pick you up and drop you off in the morning. I know vernon has a hostel but this place was quiet and clean. If you want a few hours to rest, try it out. Today mentally was better than yesterday for me. Yesterday I missed my family and friends, cabin and dog a ton. Love ya Jess....you've been quiet. Take care.
Date: 2013-05-30
From: Wildcat Shelter, NY

To: Stealth camping past fingerboard shelter
Miles today: 15.4

HOT! HOT! HOT! It was a struggle all day but I made it to where I wanted to be. I walked down to take a shower but the place was not open yet. The shelter was filthy, even to a hiker. I had mud and dirt caked on me from the sweat and I was cleaner than the shelter. While in the park I was talking with a triple crown hiker (AT, PCT, AND CDT). After some discussion I headed back up the hill and he drives up and asks how a beer and a burger sounded. As I jumped over the car into the seat, I said great. Thanks a ton JB! I'm looking forward to reading your journals. At the restaurant I pulled out my wallet to pay for my meal and he said nope it was on him. So on the hottest day so far I did the hardest section in NY. It wasn't even close; both kicked my butt. Some names of the places- lemon squeezer, agony's grind, and I renamed one WTF? If I couldn't find a blaze today I just looked up a rock cliff. I looked up a lot today. I'm meeting a trail angel from NYC tomorrow and I'm staying in a cabin for a few days to take a mid term break. I'll go into more details tomorrow as I still can't believe it's happening to me. Fantastic is all I can say for now. My new boots shipped yesterday so I can get them tomorrow. Walking around in my old ones has been an adventure to say the least. One moment walking fine, next moment sky watching, although today no falls, which is good considering the terrain. NH scares the crap out of me, if this stuff in NY is termed easy. As I stated earlier in my journal, I wanted to see the other side of people, not the side we see in the news. And boy have I, people like Mercy, JB, Steve, folks that stop to give a smelly dirty person a ride, the good is out there. As I've told many a person, my cabin is open to all that have befriended me. I have a house close to skiing as well. The hikers I've met, 99% of them are fantastic, driven people. When deb posts some of the pictures, you'll see easy trail and some hard. Usually on the hard ones the camera is put away cuz I'm busy either praying or cussing. I'm certain God understands.
Date: 2013-05-31
From: Stealth camping past fingerboard shelter

To: Zero day at cabin
Miles today: 0.0

Got picked up at the park at 7am and them we went to breakfast and then shopping for here for a few days, then went to the cabin on the lake. Steve and Adele are great folks. Can't wait until they come out to UT. Heat is on for three days. I'm hoping to hit trail monday morning. Trail won't go anywhere without me, I'll be there. The trail is like when you have passed the last gas station...can't turn back, closer to go forward..Picture is from my buddy who"documented"the battle of the porcupine. Living the life. Take care see you in a few.
Date: 2013-06-01
From: Zero day at cabin

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0

New boots came in and I'm breaking them in a bit. Not leaving till monday morning early. After looking at next few weeks, probably will get to Hanover around the 25th. Think I may turn the miles down to under 20 a day. All depends on terrain, weather, and heat. It would still put me ahead of my original schedule. Flipping after Mt K depends on budget, energy, weather, but not going to be my concern until Mt K. I'd like to spend some summer days with family and friends, so right now I'm inclined to just finish what I started. Hoping I can beat the heat for at least another two weeks. I think that would put me in/near Vermont. Woke up looking at a lake and getting to hear geese flying overhead. I'm eating a ton of food. Told Deb that I bought new hiking shorts and they are a size 32, and they are loose.
Date: 2013-06-03
From: Zero day

To: Graymoor
Miles today: 19.5

Got a way early start on trail this morning. About an hour into the hike the sky opened up and didn't stop for several hours. When I got to Bear Mt Park, I went to the restroom and used the hand dryers to dry my socks and shoes so I could leave again. Rest of day was nice, got humid for a while and the trail was great. Spending three days at a lake was fantastic. Too bad I'm not a kayaking dude because I could have played on the water for three days. Supposed to be down to 44 tonight. In the 70s during the day time for the next week. Crazy weather but at least not crazy hot. Two more days in NY. Break did me good. Stopped at my first deli along the trail and had lunch and toted in dinner to the shelter as well. Tomorrow is another day, supposed to be dry. Today literally, I have been dryer taking a shower. Shoes dried out pretty good. I must have been a sight hoarding the hand dryer. Two older guys came in, looked at me and walked out. Big time drug stuff sitting on floors and in urinals. Not a place to be at I guess at night. Right before the storm hit I saw four small white tails. They looked at me for a few minutes, probably thinking silly human doesn't know enough to get out of the rain and then moved on. Take care. I added two pics yesterday of my daughter with my folks just before they got real sick. Figure they are on this journey in spirit with me.
Date: 2013-06-04
From: Graymoor

To: RPH shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

I've been on trail before 530 last two days. Nice and cool walking. I know the weather is going to be bad in a few days and I should walk more miles, but my feet hurt after 20 miles and I don't want to push my achilles, which has been letting me know its tired of rocks. So on one hand I could do five more miles a day or I can listen to parts of my body that tell me enough. And I hate walking in downpours so...shit. I've gone with doing 20s and stopping. Trail today had a ton of small ups....tons. Trail got rocky today as well, but trail folks had actually leveled the rocks into steps in a lot of spots. I guess they don't have time to cut blow downs though. Trail did flatten out in a few spots as well. Funny, some kids are doing a section from South Highland Road to Kent, Conn. When I got into the woods they were leaving as well and I heard one say "come on let's go pass the old guy". Never did see them, or hear them the last 14 miles..."old guy" has been walking a few days youngster. Get your trail legs and then let youth kick my butt. With breaks, about 8 1/2 hours to do 20. Aiming to do 20 tomorrow, keeping wth logic talked about above. I'm kinda back in my own world again. Fast folks are ahead of me and there aren't many slow ones up here yet. Heat did slow them down though as some are only a day ahead others about 2+. RPH shelter once was an old cabin. To comply with some rule they opened one side and now it's an AT shelter. Cars drive by on the road. Weird to have cars go by after you walk twenty to get here. Pizza comes at 4. I'm tired of pizza but it has stuff I need for my body. "Body by pizza"- I can see the work out tape now. Not many will buy it when the opening line states "go homeless and walk 2000 miles". Take care, thanks to everyone - got the comments. Keep them coming, it's nice to know there is a world yet out there.
Date: 2013-06-06
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Posted by Debbie - spotty cell coverage. Crossed into Connecticut today. Am holed up in the Hitching Post Country Motel waiting out tropical storm Andrea. Weather report calls for 3 to 5 inches of rain in a couple of hours tomorrow and the next day. Ran into Norseman today on the trail and hiked with him for about 10 miles. He is going to spend a couple of days at his aunt's house.
Date: 2013-06-07
From: Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut

To: Cornwall Bridge, CT
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: moderate rain

Went out early and did a quick six or so miles getting a ride with some section hikers from the hotel going south to north and then hiked back to the hotel before the big rain hit. They drove back after doing their thing. Will get a ride from the hotel owner to the starting spot tomorrow. I can hike in my rain gear not carrying a back pack. Worked out ok. This is also another cold storm/rain. It's in the mid sixties I think. Drying out stuff and hitting trail tomorrow to get to Salisbury. It's been raining hard since noon and is supposed to get worse. Trail was already soggy and brooks getting higher. Tomorrow should be interesting just walking. I hope all hikers are safe. Include them in your prayers tonight. Most have sent their cold gear home. Wet, slick, cold; if I would have seen any I would have grabbed them and they'd be in the room with me. But folks left early and I didn't see anyone. Heat stroke weather one day, hyperthermia the next. Life of thru-hiking. I'm lucky. Thanks Deb for everything. I think my fun money for the next decade is spent on this trip
Date: 2013-06-09
From: Salisbury, CT

To: Barrington, MA
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: broken clouds

Got up and left the hostel by 4 AMish. I kept hearing the brother in law yell out stuff and it reminded me of how my mom suffered and I had to get out. Left Conn and now I'm in Mass. Probably about 5 days at least (?). Going to see a movie tonight-Star Trek. I'm tired, but popcorn and a movie will be nice Anyway trail had everything today, marshy, boardwalk, climbs, steep downs, flat walking, tons of water still running down the trail. Had to wear my crocs and cross Savage Ravine due to water being over the rocks. A lot of slab walking, both up and down. Shit is scary when wet and one slip is a header that could end hike. Saw a young female ridge runner today--young male thru-hikers won't be leaving the area now! Today actually was a great day to hike. Weather remained cool, semi hot in afternoon, no rain. Tomorrow now can be a shorter day. I'm going to see a movie.
Date: 2013-06-10
From: Barrington, MA

To: Mt Wilcox North Shelter
Miles today: 13.5

Porsche Club was staying at the same motel that I was staying at last night, so I yogied a ride to the trail in a Porsche this morning. Awesome! Nice trail. Rained all day and is supposed to rain all night. Trail is now a marsh. Can't wait to see what it will be like tomorrow. Saw my first bear on the AT tonight - came out of the trees near the shelter. Wonder if he will come back tonight while I am asleep?
Date: 2013-06-11
From: Mt Wilcox North Shelter

To: Upper Goose pond
Miles today: 14.0

Rained all night and was in the shelter at 7am thinking about the hike, whether I wanted to go or not For an easy 14 it was tough going with the trail being a River from 2 in of rain. Met a person AJ who started at springer on 22 april. He's doing 30s every day. He blew by me on the trail like I was standing still. Got to the cabin which is on a lake about 20 min before it started pouring. I mean pouring, a shower in a hotel couldn't have that much power. I've been "hiking" with a few couples. We seem to meet up or pass on the trail or in the shelters. Lefty and his wife Hush, and Wide Load and Moose. Wide Load is far from wide. It's a reference to her pack. All are great folks. I've been doing ok, but the trail has been real shitty from the rain. Boots are soaked big time. More water running down the trail than in most streams. Thanks for all the comments. I love them ALL. Take care. Saw a bear by the shelter yesterday!
Date: 2013-06-12
From: Upper Goose pond

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 20.6

Trail was wet, running water everywhere. Trail was easy though. Am in Dalton, MA taking a zero tomorrow letting things dry out. Two milestones today - today marked 2 months on the trail, and in the last 30 days I've hiked 500 miles. Not bad for a 58 year old man! Hotel is clean and one actually owned by some one not from India. Dalton so far has been hiker friendly. Jacobs had cold beer and great chicken wings.
Date: 2013-06-13
From: Dalton, MA

To: Dalton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Damn I'm sorry to change the weather! Last year GA had the hottest March when I started hiking. This June is the wettest in NY history and we are what - half way thru the month? In the last week from friday to what is expected to fall today it has rained 10 inches. It's supposed to rain 2 inches today. The trail is a river now, so ok debating to wait another day and leave Saturday morning early and do a longer day. It sucks. Rain is rain but.... If I leave tomorrow the trail won't be that enjoyable. If I wait a day, at least the running water turrets should be gone. Mud I'm dealing with - ankle deep water coming down the same rocks I want to climb piss my wimpy ass off. I did catch a nice rainbow trout as it passed down the trail like a bear does....ok maybe stretching that a tad. I am growing gills though. Rain is killing my budget but ok. Talking with the hikers that stayed in the shelter 3 miles away from town, they had a rough, cold night. All are in town tonight. Mt Greylock is next on the agenda. It's a nice hike up and great views. I don't want to get bogged down, but life has these tough choices. I still want to get to Hanover by the 25th so my butt needs to hustle soon. have. It's an experience that will last a life time. Met folks that I'll remember forever. Seen things that for only that instance are unique and then they change again. I've also pushed myself some days harder than I ever have, sometimes mentally, others physically, or both. Take care.
Date: 2013-06-15
From: Dalton

To: Mass 2 north adams
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: few clouds

Anyway time to get back to hiking. Left dalton at 350 am. The clock struck 4 chimes as I headed down high street. Got to Cheshire at 720 and had to wait until 830 to get into the post office. Hike up Mt Greylock wasn't as bad as I expected. The down to Mass 2 was wicked so I expect the hike up tomorrow to be real bad as well as the elevation looks about the same as what we came down. This is probably the last of my big mile days. My body handles 15-18 ok, after that my knees ache and my left foot starts hurting as well. Mercy, thanks for the box, but I sent it forward and will pick it up in three days. I wanted a light pack today. So, after coming down to resupply I thought I'd call it a day and stay at the Redwood Motel across the street since no other place was close. What a mistake. I've learned my lesson. There is a reason I'm the only one here on a Sat night. Wasted money on this. Sometimes I get stupid and this was one of them. Live and learn. I had to cut one of my toenails off at the Upper Goose Cabin, the blisters were oozing stuff and the dirty wet socks weren't helping. Thus I had a big hole in my toe. Another reason I stayed put yesterday. The redness is gone from the toe and I can touch it without pain. The rainy shoes though did make my heel blister act up. Always something. Saw a lot of section hikers today and weekend hikers. Weather was nice for once. In closing I could give a damn if someone flew from Springer to Mt K; actually at times it makes sense. This is just a trail, some love it, some don't. All my life I've based friendship, marriage, work, life in general on honesty. There are a lot of hikers skipping small sections, others hit every blaze. Hell even on the books on the AT they jumped big sections. Life goes on. If I offend folks with what I say, reading this journal isn't mandatory. I'm done talking about other hikers skipping trail. Each and every one has to deal with their own stuff. I can say this - with a torn achilles I hiked every inch of trail last year. This year I'm thinking the airline ticket isn't a bad idea. I did go over a thousand miles on this section, and under 600 left to go.
Date: 2013-06-16
From: Mass 2 north adams

To: Melville Nauheim 
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

Guess what? It's raining! Trail didn't need any more water, streams are still running down every inch of trail. Hopefully it's just a quick shower. A lot of climbs today. The down into Vt 9 made me happy again that I was northbound - until the climb up the other side. Actually it was easier than the down. You know the down is bad when it takes longer to get down than back up. Walked by what used to be a small lake, but it looked like when a big tree blew over it crushed the dam. The other day at one pond I got to see a beaver swimming. It was pretty neat. I think it's going to be a long cool night tonight. If anyone has an anti rain dance, please feel free to do it. Finished up Massachusetts today. Have about 135 miles of Vermont left. It started raining 10 seconds after I got into the shelter. It was a slow slog today. Gave up trying to miss the mud, just looked for the stuff not ankle deep. Tomorrow I'm hoping for a short 17 miler. Got to check weather. Take care. Thanks for sending comments. I'm hiking alone so it's nice to know folks are out there! For those reading the journal, Debbie has started posting some of my pictures to the earlier journals (up to the end of April so far). You can get to them by clicking on the 'photos' tab on the left.