morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-08-01
From: Belter's Campsite at AT mile 1474.3

To: Lower Coble Road (Salisbury, CT) at AT mile 1484.8
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: haze

 Total miles today 11.4Trail miles today 10.5Start at belter's CampsiteFinish at Lower Coble Road (Salisbury, CT) at AT mile 1484.8staying in hostel   Well I was a good little machine this morning. Up and gone by 0610 and out of the hills onto the highway to town by 1015. You could tell it was going to be real hot as I never quit sweating all night and all I had on was shorts and no covers. I drank 3 liters in the 10 miles to town.    It was a good thing I got here early as by 2 pm the actual temp was 100 and the humidity is very high. Any movement at all causes one to break out in a sweat. Tomorrow is supposed to be worse. I am considering taking a zero just to sit it out. It goes against my grain to do this and I likely never would for cold, but I am starting to get a little intimidated by my body's poor performance in bad heat. Back in VA when I had a couple of days that hit 97 I handled it ok, but this last week has been a struggle.   I am not sure what is causing the problem. The humidity may be a little higher now but I don't think the heat index is any worse. Maybe it is worse though and has crossed some threshold that I am not able to handle, or maybe I am just wearing out. I have talked to 5 or 6 other thru hikers and they do not have to drink as much as I am. I may be getting old! Though this woman in town looked shocked when I told her I was retired. She said that I only looked like I was 40.   Hmm...I always thought most other guys were much uglier than me. This must be some form of proof I think? It is sort of like when you and your buddies are being chased by the bear. You don't have to outrun the bear just your buddies. It is ok to be old as long as you're not as ugly as the other old ugly guys. You have to go with what works.   Big nasty thunderstorm this afternoon. But it does not count as my 38th day of rain because I was inside a building and did not get wet.   But all the poor hikers who hung around town till afternoon so that they could avoid hiking in the hottest part of the day undoubtedly got hammered. There were trees down in town so I can imagine the fun they had. I have had lightening hit close but have not had a tree blown down near me. That would scare you a little bit. The temp in town dropped 20 degrees but shot right back up into the 90's about an hour after the storm. Was watching the news for the first time in a long time. The middle east. I think they have made this movie about a dozen times and still can't get it right. Does any one really want to solve the problem? I actually think not. They prefer it the way it is.Wyoming Which way is North?
Date: 2006-08-02
From: Lower Coble Road

To: Glen Brook Lean-to at AT mile 1499.0
Miles today: 14.2

Total miles today 15.1Trail miles today 14.2Start at Lower Coble RoadFinish at Glen Brook Lean-to at AT mile 1499.0staying in tent I am in Massachusetts! 10 states down and 4 to go. Well I decided to hike after all. It was very hot, but not quite as bad as projected. Not that it was easy as it was still pretty brutal. One of the other hikers who was near me on the trail had dehydration problems (nausea, dizzy) and a different one in camp had problems as well. I was ok, but I went really slow. That is part of the reason that my miles were down. The other reason is that about 2 pm when I was changing socks I noticed that parts of the calluses on the back of both heals were coming off. This is bad news. I will have to rebuild them. This happens sometimes and was most likely due to my feet being wet all day from sweat and the heat. I considered going farther but decided that I should let my feet have a chance to grow some new skin. If I get blisters tomorrow I will have to recalculate a bunch of stuff. I have a mail drop in Dalton and I have to get there by noon on Sat. Having gotten slowed down by the heat I now have to do 56 miles in 2 1/2 days. I can do this, but not if I get blisters on my heels. If I don't make it by noon Sat then I have to lay over till Mon morning. That would be annoying. Tomorrow will be interesting I guess. At least it is supposed to be cooler.   We had 2 climbs back above 2000 ft for the first time since VAWyoming Which way is North?
Date: 2006-08-03
From: Glen Brook Lean-to at AT mile 1499.0

To: MT Wilcox North Lean-to at AT mile 1520.4
Miles today: 21.4

Total miles today 22.4Trail miles today 21.4Start at Glen Brook Lean-toFinish at Mt. Wilcox North Lean-to at AT mile 1520.4staying in tent   I went over 1500 miles walked today. Trudge...   It was hotter than it was supposed to be today, but it was not as bad as yesterday. The heat still drained me though. I did manage to get some miles in, but it was hard work.   In the last 2 days I have met a hiker (Model T- he has written 2 books about the AT) who is on his 4th AT hike and another (Ray-El) who is on his 3rd AT hike.    Sorry to cut it short but I keep nodding off.WyomingWhich way is North?
Date: 2006-08-04
From: MT Wilcox North Lean-to at AT mile 1520.4

To: Pittsfield Road at AT mile 1545.4
Miles today: 25.0

Total miles today 25.8Trail miles today 25.0Start at Mt. Wilcox North lean-toFinish at Pittsfield Road at AT mile 1545.4staying in tent I am tenting on the lawn of the bluberry farm owned by the "Cookie Lady" and her husband. They are very nice. There are lots of the tall kind of blueberry bushes and they also have a nice flower garden and a beautiful yard.    Well I managed to make up some of the lost miles due to having to slow down because of the heat. I needed to make miles today as I have a mail drop waiting for me in Dalton, Mass and I have to get there before noon tomorrow or wait till Mon. I still have 10 miles to go, but that should be straightforward.    Walked by several pretty nice and very large ponds today as well as some smaller ponds created by beavers. Lots of the terrain was very boggy. Spring water is pretty scarce in these parts.   As I try as much as possible to stick to springs and not take water from streams. I had couple of long hauls today. I started out this morning with water from 2 miles south of where I camped and got my next water 10 miles later. I cameled up good there and took off with just 2 liters to cross a 15 mile gap between the spring and where I am now camped. I could not have done that on a hot day but it was only about 80 today. But I survived, though it was a long day.WyomingWhich way is North?
Date: 2006-08-05
From: Pittsfield Road at AT mile 1545.4

To: Dalton at AT mile 1555.0
Miles today: 9.6

Total miles today 11.7trail miles today 9.6Start at Pittsfield RoadFinish at Dalton at AT mile 1555.0staying in tent   I made my mail drop on time so that was nice. Got several meals in me as well. Going to get one more. Then it is onward tomorrow. Have the first 3000 + foot climb since Shenandoah tomorrow so we will find out if the legs are in good shape or not. Wyoming Which way is North?
Date: 2006-08-06
From: Dalton at AT mile 1555.0

To: Mount Greylock at AT mile 1572.0
Miles today: 17.0

Total miles today 18.5Trail miles today 17.0Start at DaltonFinish at Mount Greylock at AT mile 1572.0Staying in Bascom Lodge   I am indulging myself today. I only did 17 miles and am staying in the bunkhouse in the lodge on top of the mountain. Pretty nice. I even have dinner reservations. This mountain is the highest in Mass.   Tomorrow I will enter Vermont. The end game is about to start. I am both excited and a little apprehensive. There are dozens of hard ups and even harder downs now. My knees have been aching pretty steady for a few weeks now and this will be very hard on them. I spent part of the afternoon talking with the first 2 flip-floppers I have run into and they both said that their knees were still sore. And they are young. My feet are a wreak, but I can hold on with them as I have been doing for more than a thousand miles. I have been contemplating buying a set of knee braces and having them in the pack. Tons of folks wear them all the time. I am not worried about the ups. That is just putting your head down and grinding it out. The downs are just inherantly harder due to the shock being much greater. Shoot maybe I will just fly up and down them hills like I would have 30 yeaars ago. Bout time to eat.Wyoming Which way is North?
Date: 2006-08-07
From: Mount Greylock at AT mile 1572.0

To: Condon Shelter at AT mile 1592.4
Miles today: 20.4

total miles today 21.4Trail miles today 20.4Start at Mt. GreylockFinish Congdon Shelter at AT mile 1592.4staying in tent Well here I am. It is 0600 and I am all packed and ready to hit the trail for another 20 mile day. Why am I not beating feet? Because it is pretty nigh impossible to walk out into a driving rain and 30 mph winds when one is warm, dry, cozy and has a nice cup of coffee that they snuck out of the lodge kitchen (all right... 3 cups, but who is counting). Civilization is so corrupting.   If this keeps up I my have to see if I can weasel in the 0800 breakfast I did not sign up for because I was going to be the manly hiker and do without. To be continued...   The rain sort of lost steam about 0700 and I tore myself away from the soft life and stumbled off down the trail. I was not in a great frame of mind today and just plodded along till I reached Rt 2. I hung a left and walked a half mile to a grocery store. After buying too much food I sat out front and read a paper and ate my sandwich from the deli. A couple of folks walked by who wanted to talk about the trail. And then it was back to work.   A little while later I crossed the border and entered Vermont. Three states to go. For the next 100 miles the AT and the Long trail (which is a north south trail that splits Vermont).Wyoming Which way is North?
Date: 2006-08-08
From: Condon Shelter at AT mile 1592.4

To: Caughnawga Shelter at AT mile 1611.1
Miles today: 18.7

Total miles today 18.7Trail miles today 18.7Start at Congdon ShelterFinish at Caughnawga Shelter at AT mile 1611.1staying in tent   It is so nice to be back in real mountains again. They are not big but we are high enough that it is cool (I will need my sleeping bag to keep warm tonight) and the bugs have mostly gone away.   I can feel that I need to rebuild my legs for doing big hills. I woke up to leg cramps this morning and have already had some tonight. The kind of trail it is also has some effect. The trail here in Vermont has lots of boggy areas that make you work harder to get around and through them. Added wear and tear on the legs. A week or so of this extra effort will help get me ready for the big hills that are coming up.   Had one really nice view from a fire tower on top of Glastenbury Mtn. Other than that it has been the green tunnel effect most of the time.    I am fading out. The last 2 days have worked me hard I guess. WyomingWhich way is North?
Date: 2006-08-09
From: Caughnawga Shelter at AT mile 1611.1

To: Campsite along stream at AT mile 16.31
Miles today: 20.0

Total miles today 20.0Trail miles today 20.0Start at Caughnawga ShelterFinish at campsite along stream at AT mile 1631. (just north of William B. Douglas shelter)staying in tent   Not much going on today. Just making miles. Not pushing hard but not slacking either. Nothing special about the day. Went up the fire tower on Stratton Mtn and took a couple of pics.   Will hit Manchester Center for resupply tomorrow. Will stay over if possible to get a bunch of town food in me. But the town is expensive and cheap lodging may not be possible.   Staying over night was not part of my original plan but I feel my strength ebbing some and I need to eat and rest.   I was talking to a couple of other NOBO thru hikers today and everyone feels drained. We are still strong but fighting nagging injuries, feel exhausted by the afternoon. Everyone feels driven at this point. Everyone wants to make miles north and is not interested in anything else. No one cares to go out of their way for anything but food. Three of us are camping along the trail tonight because the damn shelter is a 1/2 mile off trail and none of us are willing to walk that far off trail.    I am especially bit by this bug to move north. I know that I should take more time off but it drives me nuts. I want to go, go, go. I am trying to compensate by doing short days into town and staying the night. I am going to split a room tomorrow with another hiker; that commitment will make me stay if there are rooms. Otherwise I would probably get my food and turn around and leave. I am trying to build a little reserve for the Whites that are coming up soon. Or at least not arrive there any more worn out than I already am.Bed time.WyomingWhich way is North?
Date: 2006-08-10
From: Campsite along stream at AT mile 16.31

To: Bromley Mtn Shelter at AT mile 1638.8
Miles today: 7.7

Total miles today 9.7Trail miles today 7.7Start at AT mile 1631.1Finish at Bromley Mtn Shelter at AT mile 1638.8staying in tent Milestone: I am now over 75% of the way to Katahdin!!!! 536 miles to go. Well we had good intentions to stay overnight in town and really stock up on restaurant food but we could not find a place to stay. All the cheap places were full and everything else was too expensive. I had already done laundry and bought groceries so I bummed a shower in someone else¢s room. Then I hit a restaurant for some extra calories and hitched back to the trail. I did manage to get some food in me in the 6 hours I was in town; a breakfast of ham, eggs, hash browns and toast, a breakfast of french toast and bacon, a glass of orange juice, 5 cups of coffee, 2 donuts, 2 bananas, a pint of chocolate milk, some Gatorade, a half lb bacon cheese burger with fries and 2 lrg cokes. I was hoping for a couple more meals, but that had to do. Better luck next time I guess.   A week or so ago the scribe sent me an e-mail asking why I wanted my cold weather gear mailed to Hanover, NH when it was almost 100 degrees out. Well guess what...it is supposed to snow (yes snow) tonight on Mt Washington. With this cold snap coming thru it will no longer be summer up above tree line. More fun and games to come.   Speaking of fun and games. Today is my 40th of the trip with rain. It is beating on my tent as I type this.   Muddy boots tomorrow but dry tonight.   I decided that I just am not strong enough to make the full crossing from Manchester Center to Hanover on one resupply. That would be 96 miles and 5 or so days. I am running out og energy after about 3 days without town food. I had planned on going the full 96 miles, but I just got 3 days of food and will hitch into Rutland 50 miles up trail. Between the heat a week ago and the lack of energy I am about 2 days behind where I thought I would be but I have some slack now due to the big miles I did earlier and should be fine. I don't like to lose time now because I was saving it for the tough days to come in the White Mtns and southern Maine. All the southbound thru hikers I have been talking to say that southern Maine is harder than the White's. Well it is time to eat then sleep.WyomingWhich way is North?
Date: 2006-08-11
From: Bromley Mtn Shelter at AT mile 1638.8

To: along trail near White Rocks Mtn at At mile 1659.2
Miles today: 20.4

Total miles today 20.6Trail miles today 20.4Start at Bromely Mtn shelterFinish along trail near White Rocks Mtn at AT mile 1659.2staying in tent   It was cold enough to need a sleeping bag last night and will be tonight as well. The worm has turned I guess. Nice days and cool nights.   Walked by a nice pond today but they do not let you camp on the shores here. Kind of defeats the purpose of hiking to them. I find the way they set up the camp areas uninspired and uninteresting. Oh well I am just walking by anyway. Had some nice   views of the surrounding mountains and farm land below today. Met some nice folks on top of Baker Peak who fed me. I always like people who feed me    Later in the day Cornbread and I came upon a trail magic cooler near a road. We got all excited and ran over..but it was empty. We were too late.    Well it is dark and I am starting to shiver. Going to jump in the sleeping bag.WyomingWhich way is North?
Date: 2006-08-12
From: along trail near White Rocks Mtn at At mile 1659.2

To: At mile 1675.2 at a road in the woods
Miles today: 16.0

Total miles today 17.3Trail miles today 16.0Start at AT mile 1659.2Finish at AT mile 1675.2 at a road in the woods. Staying at a private shelter that former thru hiker have built on their property.staying in tent   This place is really nice. Swanne and her husband built it 3 years ago as the nearest shelter is overrun with town kids who party there. Swanee has hiked both the AT and PCT. It has been in the 40's the last 2 nights. Supposed to be low 40's tonight. I have had to put on my rain jacket to keep warm in camp as my winter clothes are at the PO in Hanover NH. 2-3 more nights to get there. I will resupply in Killington tomorrow vice Rutland. Swanee told me they would have what I need and it will save me about 4 hours or maybe even more.   I am ansy these last few days. I want to go fast and I know that I shouldn¢t. I went off trail today and walked down a road to find a place to eat. When I got to walking again I was starting to think about going over the top of Mt Killington even though I had earlier decided to do the big climb first thing in the morning. If I had not seen the little sign offering to let people stay as this private shelter I would have started up the mountain. I was lucky I guess as I was trying to make myself do a short day and my desire to make miles was starting to win out.   Killington will be about a 2100 foot climb. Not huge but substantial. Killington is one of the East's biggest ski resorts and the AT goes right threw it just like at Bromley 2 days ago.   I reach Maine Junction tomorrow morning where the AT and Long trails split. The Long trail continues straight north to Canada and the AT turns right and heads towards NH where it leaves the Green Mtns and enters the White Mtns.   Not a real milestone but today I dropped below 500 miles left of the trail. It is kind of amazing to me that I have covered 685 miles since my 2 days at home on the 4th and 5th of July. Something like 30 days to go.WyomingWhich way is North?
Date: 2006-08-13
From: At mile 1675.2 at a road in the woods

To: along side trail at AT mile 1694.1 about 1.5 miles
Miles today: 18.9

Total miles today 20.2Trail miles today 18.9Start at AT mile 1675.2Finish along side trail at AT mile 1694.1 about 1.5 miles south of Quimby Mtn.staying in tent   I must be getting sentimental. I was in town resupplying today and downloaded my e-mail expecting to get a few happy birthday notes. Not a one. Hmmpf.   Did a couple of good steep climbs today. Not huge (one 2100 feet and one about 1100 feet), but good prep work for getting my hill climbing legs back. The big hill in the morning was easy while the smaller hill was tiring at the end of the day.   Well if I can crank some good miles tomorrow I should be able to reach Hanover the next day.WyomingWhich way is North?
Date: 2006-08-14
From: along side trail at AT mile 1694.1 about 1.5 miles

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Total miles today 25.2Trail miles today 24.0Start at AT mile 1694.1Finish at Thistle Hill Shelterstaying in tent   Big day today at 24 miles. Lots of ups and downs. It was a good workout for the legs. The last couple of days the legs and been sore in the morning and I have been getting some cramps in them. A day off in Hanover will do the trick on that I hope.   Went over 1700 miles today but there was no special feeling about that. The big milestones now are getting through the Whites, 2000 miles, the mtns of southern Maine and the last day.    I would write more but I am toasted and I need to massage my feet before I fall asleep. Otherwise I don't get to sleep because of the pain.WyomingWhich way is North?
Date: 2006-08-15
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Hanover, NH at AT mile 1732.7
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: few clouds

Total miles today 15.8Trail miles today 14.6Start at Thistle Hill Shelterfinish at Hanover, NH at AT mile 1732.7staying in motel   It was a straightforward walk to town. Nice and easy. The last 2 miles or so were on pavement or sidewalk and the feet hurt terribly. But so did Cornbread's.    Hanover is where Dartmouth University is located. It occupies the center of town and is not a particularly attractive place for such a prestigious school. But everyone is very friendly and helpful. Though things are more expensive than normal.   There are a lot of hikers in town. Probably at least 30 as they are everywhere.   I am going to take a zero tomorrow to eat and rest.WyomingWhich way is North?
Date: 2006-08-16
From: Hanover, NH at AT mile 1732.7

To: Hanover, NH at AT mile 1732.7
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Zero day in Hanoverstaying in motel   Spent the day eating and reading newspapers. Bought a little bit of gear to be ready for the Whites.   I will take a nice slow 3 days to get to Glencliff for my next resupply.   I want to conserve my energy I have gained here in Hanover.   When I leave Glencliff it is into the big climbs. Wyoming   Which way is North?
Date: 2006-08-17
From: Hanover, NH at AT mile 1732.7

To: Trapper John Shelter at AT mile 1749.4
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: broken clouds

Total miles today 17.3Trail miles today 16.7Start at HanoverFinish at Trapper John Shelter at AT mile 1749.4staying in tent   It is getting harder to leave town. Those soft beds and ready food. But I managed it...after a good breakfast that is.   Easy hiking on the whole today. Had a couple of nice little climbs to help me get my hill climbing legs back.   Did not see any other thru hikers today. That is kind of odd, but I must have fallen in a gap of people.   Well I am a little tired and there is a pretty big climb tomorrow morning..and the decent which hurts the knees these days.WyomingWhich way is North?
Date: 2006-08-18
From: Trapper John Shelter at AT mile 1749.4

To: 4 tenths mile south of NH25 A at mile 1765.9
Miles today: 16.5

Total miles today 17.0Trail miles today 16.5Start at Trapper John ShelterFinish at campsite along trail about 4 tenths mile south of NH25A at AT mile 1765.9staying in tent   Well I am technically in the Whites now but I have not reached the big mountains yet. The first really big climb will be Mt Mooosilauke the morning of the 20th. I have been knocking off the smaller peaks the last 2 days. They are gradually getting larger with today¢s 2 climbs being 2300 and 1100 feet. Not real big and I did not have any trouble on the assents, though my knees did not like the decent. That being said though, today was hard work and I am definitely tired.    Tomorrow I will get a 2 day resupply at Glencliff to get me over Moosilauke and Mt Kinsman. I will then resupply at North Woodstock. I am doing a very short resupply to keep the weight down. Moosilauke is a big climb and some consider the descent the hardest park of the entire trail. It is very difficult and, if wet, dangerous. The south peak of Kinsman requires minor rock climbing on both the ascent and descent. Plus there is a very steep climb out of Kinsman Notch. The 2 days should be quite an adventure.Wyoming   Which way is North?