morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Brink Rd. Shelter, NJ

To: Rutherford Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

I know I'm hanging out with a lazy gang when I'm first one up in the morning, that happened today. I got ready pretty quickly as the camp was still infested with mosquitos and it was unbearable to stay still for long.No sooner had I got back on the trail when a huge bear sauntered through the woods about 50 yards to the right. It was really big, by far the biggest I've ever seen; I'm not sure if it clocked me at all, if it did it wasn't bothered and casually strolled out of view. I struggled for my camera but was too slow.Later, that afternoon I saw a second bear, this one much smaller. It was great to see two in one day, the first since the Shenandoahs.Today was almost lost to a lunchtime drinking session at Delmonicas bar in Branchville. The plan had been to visit the bakery there, but it had closed down due to the death of the proprietors. Naturally, in order to get over the disappointment it was necessary to go to the bar have a full meal and an ill-advised 3 beers. I only paid for 2 beers as I'd avoided putting any country music on the juke box, unlike Slainte who had to pay full whack. The food was good, I think the place is new, I'd recommend it.To round off the day we met Desperado, who maintains all of the shelters in New Jersey and stocks most of the bear boxes with an ample supply of magic. We ended up hanging out with him for ages and got the lowdown on virtually every facet of the trail between here and Katahdin. He kept us plied with sodas and 4 different varieties of Little Debbies - he's a true trail legend.
Date: 2004-06-25
From: Rutherford Shelter, NJ

To: Pochuck Mountain Shelter, NJ
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

I enjoyed today's hike and have gone on being impressed with the NJ scenery, even though things have become a little busier, I've encountered more roads and the mountains are lower, just big hills really, they remind me a lot of home; the kind of country you find around Bristol and Bath.I got some more magic this morning. At the High Point State Park a trail Angel named Butch Cassidy was dispensing sodas, candy, cakes, apples even beer, he was really loaded up. I'm not sure if there was any magic to speak of in PA at all, but since I arrived here in NJ things seem friendlier - thanks to Desperado's efforts with the goodie-filled bear boxes my 3 days worth of food is stretching to nearly a week.I found the 'secret shelter' maintained by a nice guy named Mr Murray. Now, the secret shelter is not that secret because everybody seems to know about it, but it's only signposted as 'well water' and it's not mentioned in any of the books;   Mr Murray wants to avoid a flood of campers. It turned out to be a great place with a shower, electricity and sinks. Master Pain (Betty), Slainte and Medium Pace were already snoozing on the porch. I showered, washed out my T-Shirt and felt a whole lot better.I walked in to Unionville with Slainte and Medium Pace to find it wasn't the most hiker-friendly place on the trail. On the plus side, there was a pretty good grocery store that sold 'Dublin Mudslide' the Ben and Jerry's concoction I've been trying to track down for a while. On the down side, some jerk yelled at us for standing too close to his flower beds or something and the bar was not the most welcoming. We had some food but it was only OK, certainly nowhere near as good as Delmonicas in Branchville.Another short day with frequent stops for refreshment. Ahh! now that's the way to hike the AT.
Date: 2004-06-26
From: Pochuck Mountain Shelter, NJ

To: Wildcat Shelter, New York
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: light rain

A big day today, the joint second longest ever I believe. If I had counted the miles more accurately, I'd probably have tented earlier. My big days are simply the result of my dodgy maths.I saw another bear in the late afternoon, just before the point where New Jersey became New York. This one was a little worrying, it was unconcerned by my presence and even took a couple of tentative steps towards me as I was fiddling with my camera. I didn't get the pic, figuring yelling at the bear and making a slow retreat was the prudent course of action.Some surprising scenery in NY as the trail traversed a long ridge around Prospect Rock. There was even a little hand to hand climbing in places, I surprised a big, black vulture on one outcrop, it very slowly flapped away. I enjoyed the hike, even though it was tough. It reminded me of some of the long ridges in central Virginia and was probably the best looking country since that time.   There were even a few pines in amongst the trees giving it the look of the really high country, though the mountains are small here.I was expecting to find Slainte and Medium Pace at the shelter but they weren't there. Later that night there was a massive fireworks display coming from the direction of Glenwood Lake, I wondered if they hadn't of got talking to a local by the road who told them of that and gave them a ride in to town. There was also an Irish pub and numerous food options in Glenwood, it seemed - that'll do it.
Date: 2004-06-27
From: Wildcat Shelter, New York

To: Rough Camp, NY
Miles today: 18.1

A strange day in which I've helped others out and been helped myself. I have lost Slainte and Medium Pace, which is odd as I've been with No Dog and No Beard all day and they were with those guys 'til late yesterday. They should have been able to catch up even if they went in to Greenwood Lake for the night.   I have been in pretty good spirits; the weather has been bright, blue, good for hiking. I like the trail in NY, though it's very up and down and frequently rocky. The mountains are small at less than 1500 feet, but feel peculiarly authentic with rocky summits and decent views. The forest is thick with access roads and quite a few day hikers but is old: mature trees with breathing space between them to allow the sun rays through. It seems alive in patterns of shadow and light. In PA, the forest was often dense, dark and stunted, kind of claustraphobic.I lost a lot of time this afternoon to some excellent trail magic. I spent well over an hour hanging out on the end of a pick-up with No Dog, No Beard and the trail angel. He had sodas, peaches, cookies, Baby Ruths, crispss, cheese, the works. Some Southerners like to say the magic stops with the Mason-Dixon line, well that hasn't been my experience in NJ and NY, though PA was fairly barren.A solitary camp tonight pitched just before nightfall. It meant cooking in the dark: Ramen, TVP and taco mix, a smelly concoction that must have set every bear's nose twitching for miles around. I cooked away from the tent and hung the food (badly) as usual, but the bears around here seem pretty fearless - I hope there's no nocturnal visitors.I now have confirmation of my week off in NYC from July 5th-12th. This was always planned and, of course, I will be returning to the trail. This is not one of those veiled departures - oh no.
Date: 2004-06-28
From: Rough Camp, NY

To: Rough Camp Nr. NY 403
Miles today: 16.2

A laborious day of tough hiking, to my mind the hardest since the 'rollercoaster' in N. Virginia, or maybe even the Priest/3 Ridges day. Of course, I was generally lacking energy anyway; not sure why, I keep checking for 'bullseyes', the tell tale symptom of Lymes Disease, nothing there.I'm not too impressed with the water situation in NY, it seems to be the dryest state so far and some of the sources that are listed, like Hemlock Springs Campsite, are barely more than a trickle to a bird bath. Added to the fact that most of the shelters have no water and no privy and you don't have a wonderful state of affairs. I walked through the famous Bear Mountain zoo today. I was glad it was a Monday as I've heard the crowds can be horrendous at weekends, especially for poor hikers who haven't seen more than 20 people in one place in almost 4 months. In fact, it was pretty quiet. God knows how I'll cope in NYC on my week off. I saw my first timber rattler at the zoo, but of course it doesn't count.I got an email from Slainte to say they took a zero at Glenwood Lake. Mystery solved.I had hoped to stay at Graymoor Friary tonight, because bunking down with monks sounded cool, but I was knackered and it took me past NY 403, a road I need to take tomorrow to go in to Peekskill to get hold of my bounce box. I found a flat spot not far from the road with lots of fireflies, I camped there.
Date: 2004-06-29
From: Rough Camp Nr. NY 403

To: Dennytown Rd Campsite, NY, 8.7 miles
Miles today: 0.0

I had to go in to Peekskill today to redirect my bounce box to New York City. I was on the road by 9.30 and in town by 10.00. I got a ride with a Mexican who hadn't heard of the AT and couldn't get his head around the idea of hiking for pleasure. I don't think he'd been in the US that long, I suppose for him walking was something you did when you couldn't afford a car, or at least a donkey.Peekskill is the largest town in the AT data book and felt like it. It also had a surprisingly gritty, not to say rough, feel. It's the only place I've been where the idea I might get mugged went through my mind. But there was a lot there in a spread out kind of a way and I ended up getting things done - I even got my hair cut. It's not the slick, Manhattan cut I was hoping for but I won't appear a complete tramp in NYC. I felt bad for the barber having to cut my sweaty, dirty hair, no doubt interestingly decorated with the crushed remains of dead caterpillars and mosquitos; I asked him to wash it, then realised he didn't have a sink: it was a classy joint.I spent a long time in the library and there were two good diners, I managed to eat both breakfast and lunch whilst in town. There was also a really cool coffee shop that was quite out of place in the generally run down centre. I spoke to a few locals but noone seemed to have much idea about the AT: it's not much of a trail town.I had one bad experience just before leaving Peekskill when I bought an ice cream from the Italian place close to the railway station. They were very friendly in the shop helping with directions back to the trail, even giving me an extra large scoop of mint choc chip, but when I got to the flavour at the bottom of the cup it tasted rancid and off, a closer inspection yielded a dead fly. Urrrrgh! It takes a lot to disgust a thruhiker foodwise, but there you go. I would have taken it back, but I'd already wandered to my hitching point.I hit the trail at gone 5.00 PM, hence the practically nero mileage. But I enjoyed the evening hike, the weather was nice and I felt strong. Near the beginning, I happened upon a short side trail that led to what appeared to be an Equadorean shrine to mark the site of a visitation of the Virgin Mary. I don't know the details as everything was in Spanish. Most peculiar, hitherto I hadn't realised there were any virgins on the trail...I pitched my tent late at this huge and grassy campsite. I am the only one here. A short while ago I heard the sound of trash being raided and feared the you-know-whats were around, but a pitter patter of little feet right up to my tent revealed that the critters were, in fact, raccoons. Yet again I can sleep soundly. What would I be like in grizzly country?
Date: 2004-06-30
From: Dennytown Rd Campsite, NY, 8.7 miles

To: Rough Camp, NY
Miles today: 15.8

Today ended badly with me making one of the classic balls ups that are kind of my hallmark. Apart from that, it was a nice day and I was in a good mood.I made it to Canopus Lake in Fahnestock State Park around lunchtime. There was an artificial beach and quite a few mums and kids. I had a swim in the confined, buoyed area and made my way to the changing rooms, showered and washed out my T-shirt and shorts. It felt great. Afterwards, I sat for quite a while with Spot, another Thruhiker, ordering a chickenburger and fries. I got back on the AT by way of a perilous vertical ascent from the lake shore.Later in the afternoon, I got in to one of those terrible space/time continuum, trail loop, groundhog day things. In short, I climbed all the way up Hosner Mountain, somehow misread the blazes and found myself back at the base of the mountain again. I tried again, this time marking the trail with arrows, sure enough after almost reaching the summit I started back down the mountain, 'til I saw the handy arrows. Eventually, the spirit of the forest grew tired of this sport and I was released from purgatory - several hours late.I slapped on the Petzl and started nighthiking, reaching NY 52 at gone 10.00 PM, much too late to visit the legendary local deli. I found a flat bit at the side of the trail and pitched the tent, immediately falling into an exhausted sleep
Date: 2004-07-01
From: Rough Camp, NY

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up early, 7.00 AM, and made good my resolve to visit the Mountain Top Deli. It turned out to be worth the wait, I had an excellent breakfast bagel, chocolate donut and coffee. These New York delis really are 'da bomb' as folks say around here. And I was on the trail at 9.00 AM. It has been the easiest day in NY so far, not so many climbs and scrambles. Even so, by the late afternoon I was lacking in energy and feeling lethargic. I keep wondering if I'm going down with Lyme Disease. I do have something like a 'bullseye', the tell-tale rash, but I think it's just a mole with a mosquito bite in the middle.I went to a hotdog van for lunch. The van was actually an old school bus run by a very nice young lady with winning ways. She had a few chairs dotted around outside and I got talking to a retired guy who ended up paying for my food, he said that anyone who was crazy enough to walk to New York from Georgia deserved it!Today's highlight was a swim in Nuclear Lake, so called because there was a reprocessing plant there once. Now it's safe to swim, the water was much warmer than I expected with none of the restrictions on where you swam as with Canopus Lake yesterday. I met Spot and a British woman who lived in the area. It sure feels good to get in the water, even if I was glowing like the Ready Brek man when I climbed out....I made it to this shelter in the hours of daylight for a change. It was good to see No Dog and No Beard again and to meet Satori and Nails.
Date: 2004-07-02
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Kent, Connecticut
Miles today: 0.0

Everyone had left camp before the time I dragged myself from the tent this morning. It's kind of relaxing to potter about the shelters on my own, but always makes me slower than ever, but it wasn't a long hike in to town.It was a beautiful, clear, sunny day but, as I sat at the mountain viewpoint eating lunch, a massive storm rolled in, sweeping across the valley below and deafening me with resounding bangs of thunder. It was a little scary and seemed to come from nowhere. The rain set in and I was soaked instantly. The trail was surprisingly rocky and steep and it wasn't much fun negotiating the slick rocks in driving rain. But, as soon as it had arrived, the sky cleared and the sun came back out, it's amazing how quickly things return to normal after these brief but violent storms.First impressions of Kent were good, it's a clean, wealthy looking town lined with elegant, clapboard New England houses and populated with some good looking residents. I spotted No Dog and No Beard by the church and found they had already negotiated with the reverend to spend the night on the floor of the church hall. That night we went to the restaurant/bar and had a meal and a few beers. Betty showed up too, it was good to see him again. There was an OK band playing in the bar and a few drinks went down. It was a fun night.
Date: 2004-07-03
To: Kent
Miles today: 0.0

I had good intentions of hiking today, I wanted to make it a few more miles into Conneticut and yet and yet....I like Kent, I hadn't heard the best reports about it on the trail, some had said it's not hiker-friendly and is expensive but I haven't found that to be especially true. It has great coffee and lively cafes, stores and bars in a tiny, but busy downtown and I don't ask for more than that in a place.The day got off to a slow start, we left the church hall fairly early but I spent a long time over breakfast, I was with No Dog, No Beard and Betty outside the deli reading various sections of the New York Times and watching loads of sophisticated types drive up in swish cars to buy the papers and a breakfast bagel or whatever. It was obviously a prime spot and you could sit there for hours, so that was what I decided to do.People kept showing up, Stumblebum rolled in to town, then Bandicoot, who I haven't seen since the end of Virginia and finally Medium Pace, Slainte, Meerkat and Chigger turned up, so I knew I wasn't going anywhere.It wasn't a bad plan to stay in Kent. It has loads of commuters going in to NYC who I could possibly blag a ride with on Monday and, failing that, there's a town called Wingdale not too far away with a frequent train service to the city. It was a fun rest of the day, we went out to eat and bought a 32 pack of beer in the evening which we discreetly transferred in to soda bottles in the American way. We were unable to stay at the church hall as it was in use but the Reverend very kindly let us camp in the grounds. It was a late, boozy evening.
Date: 2004-07-04
From: William B. Douglas Shelter, VA

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 0.0

Zero Day.In which I:1. Met up with Stumblebum, Slainte, Medium Pace, Chigger, Meerkat and Bandicoot, who finally caught up after taking a week or so off the trail a while back.2. Went for a dip in the Housatonic River. It felt great, now I'm all set for Manhattan where, I believe, a quick dip in the river is considered the last word in personal hygiene.3. Went out to 2 different places for lunch and dinner, generally spending too much cash. 4. Went in on a 32 pack of beer especially for Independence Day, you understand, and 'stealth drunk' in Kent ever so discreetly from cream soda bottles.
Date: 2004-07-05
From: Kent

To: New York City
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I went to NYC to meet friends from the UK for 1 week. It was very kind of Bandicoot's girlfriend, Jennifer, to give me a ride all the way to the city limits where I jumped on a commuter train. In the end I was away from the trail for 11 full days including the extra time it took me to get back, and the 2 zeros in Kent. I also took a break from journalling, but this was my itinerary.July 5th - NYCJuly 6th - NYCJuly 7th - NYCJuly 8th - NYCJuly 9th - BostonJuly 10th - BostonJuly 11th - Cape CodJuly 12th - Cape CodJuly 13th - Danbury, CT
Date: 2004-07-14
From: Kent

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter, CT
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm back! After 11 full days off the trail I got back on in Kent at around 5.00 PM today. My journey back from Cape Cod to Connecticut was a nightmare, it was crazy such a short trip took so long. I ended up going Hyannis to Boston to Hartford to Danbury (where I had to stay over in a motel, it was already 10.00 PM.) Today I got a local bus to New Milford, hitched a ride about 11 miles, then walked the last 3 in to Kent. I know for a fact my friends made it back to England before me.Back in town I had to pick up the new waist belt Granite Gear had kindly sent me, then do laundry, re-supply, eat Ben and Jerrys, all the normal things. Getting back on the trail had a peculiar 'first day of term'feel to it, I was worried it would be a whole new experience and I'd know no-one, so it was very reassuring the first people I bumped in to were Sevy, MC and Willow, all folks I knew. Later at camp, there was Selma. I'd arranged to meet him last night in town and was feeling guilty I hadn't kept the appt.
Date: 2004-07-15
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter, CT

To: Belters Campsite
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: light rain

Oh sh*t! First full day back on the trail and I was not in good shape at all. I hadn't really expected to feel things physically to any great extent, but today really kicked my arse. The terrain has been pretty rough and I've been puffing and blowing just to get up the hills, it hasn't been especially hot but I was soaked in sweat all day, my thighs are chaffing and I finished off the day with a pounding headache that left me feeling too weak to cook, so I raided by bagels once more and took an early night.Selma also feeling the strain after an even longer time off, almost a month for him.Things will pick up, I'm sure.
Date: 2004-07-16
From: Belters Campsite

To: Riga Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

Today was fun! After yesterday I was really worried my form was completely shot and the next few days would be drudgery until I was up to speed, but today just seemed to come a lot easier.We went to Salisbury today, a nice, well-heeled town not unlike Kent. There, we ran in to Wicked Lobster and Dragonslayer, I hadn't met the former since we ran into 3 bears at the same time in the Shenandoah. There are a few people coming up I'm looking forward to catching, Tyson and Vapor Trails and Pilot, for instance.There was a big mountain coming out of Salisbury, on top we met 2 'true southbounders' who began on Katahdin 33 days ago. They believe they are the first of the pack and are setting a pretty hectic pace to get here in 33 days. They want to be finished by the end of August in Springer which sounds border line impossible to me.The Riga shelter has a beautiful aspect overlooking the valley but there's a big group here tonight including some summer camp kids with there British counsellor. Of course, I camped, it was a fairly cool evening, but wre are high here. Just relieved to be still enjoying the hiking.
Date: 2004-07-17
From: Riga Shelter

To: rough Camp, Nr Route 7, Massachusetts
Miles today: 17.4

Today was pretty tough, it involved the climb over Bear Mountain, Everett Mountain and Jugg End. Everett is 2600 feet making it the highest peak climbed since Virginia. Some of the sections were near technical with almost vertial rock walls. It was tricky but I enjoyed the beautiful views down in to Massachusetts (hurrah! another state line crossed) and it was bracing stuff, there was a sense of physical challenge and a portent of the trickier country still to come further north.Not many thruhikers on the trail today, in fact, only Selma and I. Lots of weekenders though. At the end of the day we descended in to the valley and crossed some lush, green farmland. It proved to be mosquito heaven and, for the first time, I cracked open the 100% DEET. It worked like a charm and made the whole thing bearable. Tonight we are camped semi-illegally on some private-looking grass on the othe side of a deserted road crossing.