morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-07-10
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: William Brien Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: clear sky

Up and downs today with good weather and our long day like I mentioned. Vending machine at one of two lakes today.So I was too tired to finish the rest of this last night. Started the day trying to get some quick miles in but the terrain was up and down over rock faces all day. About seven miles in I stopped at trail angel water and took a break and had some water. Fiber caught up to me and we walked to the pond where lunch was planned. Fiber swam to the island and back and I sat there. No one else ever showed up and as we took the side trail back we ran into Pappy. He took a lunch there and a few miles later we found Veto having lunch near the next shelter. From the shelter it was a couple miles to the lake and vending machines where we had a break and cokes. We finally made it to our destination after a short half mile detour Veto lead us down and had to go back to the trail. Despite a long hard day we made it to camp around 5. Started to cook dinner tonight and my stove decided to break and I lost half my gas trying to put it together. So tryed getting a hold of my mom to send me one in the next town. Had horrible signal for the first time in weeks. After finally getting it working I cooked the hardest mountain house, chicken and dumplings, its not a soak and eat. Finally went to sleep after reading a few minutes. New York has been pretty tough with constant rock scramble climbs. The blazes have also been horrible and there are multiple trails everywhere. It is nice views and such never the less and much different so far.
Date: 2011-07-11
From: William Brien Memorial Shelter

To: Graymore Spiritual Life Center
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: broken clouds

Triple trail magic today, two super ones, it was a very hot day though and really took its toll. Got up and left camp at 7 and within thirty minutes I knew it was going to be a hot muggy one when I was already soaked within an hour. It was probably the hottest day on the trail so far with mid 90's at the lowest elevation on the trail at just over 100 feet when we passed through Bear Mountain zoo on the trail, yes the trail goes through the zoo. Its small though and nothing like the Fort Worth zoo. It was hot enough that my shorts where dripping at one point, I was actually a little dehydrated and it was hard to drink enough water and it doesn't help there are not many good water sources. After a few climbs we made it to bear mountain and Perkins memorial tower. They had vending machines here and I had two cokes, while sitting there a park ranger came by and gave us some Clif bars, trail magic one. I also got a call to my mom who couldn't locate a stove lighter than a Whisperlight at the Academy sports near my house, she actually took a trip to Rei to get one and sent it out today to our next town. Next we made it to the Lake Hessian where a family friend and family meet us with lunch of subs, DrPeppers, humus, bagel crisps and lots of assorted fruits. We sat there for several hours enjoying the shade, food, company and not hiking. We finally left around two and walked through the zoo which is about as big as the local animal section of Fort Worths zoo and that was about all they had, it is a free zoo though. Afterwards we crossed the Hudson river and headed to a gas station a few more miles down the trail. Got some chocolate milk and some breakfast items to get me to the next town. Sat there a bit efore doing the last half mile to Graymore Spiritual Life Center. While heading for it on a side road I managed to wander around the complex for half an hour before reading the guide book for a clue I missed to where I was supposed to go. At the camp finally I set up and washed some stuff and took a shower in their cold outdoor shower. Fiber meet a friend here who brought us a ton of snack foods and more DrPeppers for round three of trail magic. Was a great day for food and drinks for sure. Bugs got real bad around 9 when I climbed into my tent, inside the tent though I just lay here sweating like crazy which doesn't help the previous issue of dehydration. Its also very humid and moisture is building on the walls like it rained. We are told it is supposed to rain after midnight though which probably accounts for the humidity. Tomorrow we are probably going to modify our 18 mile day to 12 and stay at a state park with a lake. Its supposed to be just as hot before cooling down the next day.
Date: 2011-07-12
From: Graymore Spiritual Life Center

To: Clarence Fahnestock State Park
Miles today: 11.6

Another very hot day, but we stopped early at a lake to beat the heat. Got started at normal time and made my way back to the trail and was drenched in sweat shortly later. Last night we had heard of the state park with free camping, showers, swimming and a concession stand at 12 miles in, didn't know if we could talk Fiber and Veto into going there though. After walking what seemed forever I finally made it 8 miles to a road with a water faucet at it that had pretty cold water. Sat there for a bit drinking water when I asked Fiber "so you don't want to go swimming?" He was a college swimmer so he likes to swim and replied enthusiastically "yes I want to go swimming" so that settled that we were going swimming. Four more miles later we had a side road to walk one mile to the park and tried hitching for a while but walked the whole way in the end. All the thru hikers are setup at one site right by the restrooms and shower. After setting up we went to the beach and swam around a bit which felt super great and really relaxing. Afterwards we stopped at the concession stand and had burgers, fries and ice cream. In the store I found a wooden dominoes set that I have been looking for since the beginning of the trip and we sat around and played that for a bit last night. Had dinner a little later and took a shower two in two days pretty impressive. Tonight it might rain and the temperature has dropped a lot so it should be much easier to sleep tonight. Not much else happened but it was definitely a good day to stop short and everyone was feeling the heat.Hover and Bear Bag will be leaving us to go home for Hovers sisters wedding for a few days in about a week and is worried about trying to catch us. Since I usually plan the days I told her stay in contact and I will slip a bunch of zeros and neros in to give them time to catch up before the end. I know first hand its not fun trying to catch up (maybe a little) so will provide some guiding to the group incognito. 767.6 miles to go
Date: 2011-07-13
From: Clarence Fahnestock State Park

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Well the weather finally cooled off and we were able to do some good miles. Stopped for a calzone for late lunch/dinner. So I slept great last night and passed out pretty early. I forgot to mention but the night before I laid in bed sweating till around two in the morning, and didn't really sleep until about four. So last night was a very welcomed night, and tonight feels like it is going to be quite chilly with possible rain. Right before camp it sprinkled just a bit. Started the morning pretty early and hit the trail after sitting around for fifteen minutes at 6:20. Had to walk the mile back to the trail and couldn't get a ride but most of the others managed to get one. Actually passed up some trail magic right after getting on the trail, someone had hung a ziplock that had a bag of ruffles and a bag of oreos. I had just eaten and just really didn't want anything. I think it was karma because 7 miles later at the first shelter I found a slice of pizza and some rootbeer and orange soda. I ate the pizza slice and last of the root beer. There was also some frosted flakes and a bit of milk. This was the shelter we were going to last night and had we gone we would of had trail magic with pizza for dinner and cereal for breakfast. Took a hour break which was way longer than I had planned but eventually walked the next 5 miles to a deli and pizza restaurant. Let me tell you it is rough out here, showers everynight, deli's everyday, trail magic all the time. I don't know how I am going to make it. So at the stop I got a really good pepperoni and green pepper calzone. Pappy got a family sized one which weighed probably 3-4 pounds and he gave me some of that at dinner. Resupplied some snacks and two pepsi's for tonight and in the morning. Despite a good nights sleep last night I was really tired so actually went to my tent about 7:30 to journal and get to sleep early. With the cooler weather I might even sleep in a bit tomorrow and make it a late day.
Date: 2011-07-14
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Good weather and a hot dog stand plus trail magic from Pappys friends. Left the shelter this morning with an easy 16 mile day planned and the weather stayed cool. Last night it actually got pretty cool down near 50. Others actually got cold and didn't have enough to stay warm but I just zipped up my bag and stayed toasty warm. With the cool weather it made hiking easy again and the day flew by. We passed two spots today that I had read a lot about in other journals. First was the Dover oak, a 300+ year old oak tree that is twenty feet in diameter. The branches are bigger than the trunks of most trees. Got some pictures and talked about the crazy stuff it has seen and made up stuff, pretty cool. The next stop was the AT railroad station. A train stops at the bench stop on weekends I understand. Took a picture pretending to hitch hike standing in front. We then stopped at a mobile home hot dog stand for lunch, Tims Tasty Dogs. Finished up the last few miles around 2 and wanted to do more miles while the weather was good but Pappy had his friends coming out to this shelter which was by a road. They arrived around 4 or 5 and brought sodas, pickled fiddleheads, homemade pepperoni rolls and cinnamon rolls, snickers and a huge bowl of banana pudding which they didn't think would get eaten. 7 hikers with 3-4 servings each finished off everything they brought except half the fiddleheads. Eventually they left and it was to late to move on so stayed there. Didn't need dinner so again my food bag has a ton of stuff in it. I did manage to eat all the perishable items when we had lunch at the hot dog stand. Did you know pepperoni, kiebalsa, and velvetta last over a week in the heat opened and unrefridgerated, its great trail food Bread doesn't quite last as long but you just tear off the moldy stuff and enjoy. Its cool again tonight so hopefully it will be a good nights sleep again. We enter Connecticut tomorrow back to New York then in again for good. About three days later we get to Massachusetts. We also will resupply and do laundry, don't know about showering though. Prices are super high now for anything with rooms ranging most times around $200. Not in a thru hikers budget so we take what we can get. Hostels are now around $35 vs $15-20 down south, church hostels have dried up after leaving the south as well. All this makes for interesting logistics.
Date: 2011-07-15
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Mt. Algo Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: broken clouds

Zero tomorrow, talked the others into a zero to go along with my plan. We also said goodbye to Hover and Bearbag who are moving forward to get ahead for their departure. So woke up at normal time but didn't really want to get out of bed with to cool morning, just wanted to sleep despite the town day. Towns just don't have the same appeal as early on when they where many days apart. Everyone was in the same boat and we hung around a bit before leaving. Hover had to get a group picture before she left though because she is still afraid of not seeing us again. They will be moving past our planned twelve mile day since we are going to town for resupply and laundry. After the picture I proposed just zeroing at the shelter tomorrow and they agreed. Saw Hover later in the town and couldn't believe I had pulled it off, that buys her a full day plus a few more miles lead before she even leaves the trail. So back to the trail, it as a little hotter today and midday it was getting tough with some good climbs. New York was definitely full of the PUDS (pointless up downs) everyone talks about. We walked two miles climbing around a mountain to end up about a quarter mile from the start of the climb after coming down to climb the next hill. All for no view and didn't even go to the top. Oh well maybe the 50 or so miles of Connecticut will be better. We make it to the shelter just before the road to town, drop off some gear and head to town with more or less empty packs. First stop was at the outfitter where I got a canister of fuel. Second stop was lunch at a pizza / grill, where Pappy, Fiber and I stopped for burgers, they were really good and filling. Third stop was laundry, to bad no showers. While there though we talked about stopping at the bed and breakfasts in town and seeing if we could pay for showers but came up with the plan to just make a shower and use all of our water bladders here at the shelter. Above was out of order because stop three was the post office to pick up my new stove which I had forwarded from the last town to here since we didn't need supplies and it was 4 miles. away versus less than a mile here. The package had not arrived, it took two days to go from Texas to here, but three to go twenty miles to the next town. Final stop was the grocery store for food, bought some large sausage patties and bagels to eat them on for dinner and breafast. At camp it took forever to cook them and was getting chewed up by mosquitos. Had dinner and went right to the tent, which was around 9:30. Tomorrow I will have to go back to town to get my maildrop and charge my phone at the library. Will also get my shower in but none of this will happen before I sleep in late
Date: 2011-07-16
From: Mt. Algo Shelter

To: Mt. Algo Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was our zero but still had to do some walking, other than that we sat around, ate and played some dominoes. So because I didn't have to go anywhere fast, when I woke up at 5 I went back to bed. Didn't actually wake up again until around 9 and moved slowly. Had some breakfast of sausage I cooked last night on bagels with cheese. I then had to make my post office run. Got there and received my new stove along with some food. After that I sat in the library for a while charging my batteries for my phone, I noticed I only had two so at some point I have lost a battery. While at the library I ran into Rawdog and Mountain Dew who did a full day then started again at midnight into Kent and where still going on, had done 38 miles so far. Headed back to the shelter and that is when all the snacking and playing dominoes happened. Eventually went to bed to prepare for walking again tomorrow. Pretty average zero but taken at a shelter.
Date: 2011-07-17
From: Mt. Algo Shelter

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: broken clouds

Epic trail magic from Pappys nephew along with some good miles. Getting hot again though so was tough at some points.So got up after my zero yesterday and had to get back to work. Started at normal time and made food time for the hills we had to climb. About 5 miles in I passed Rawdog who was passed out on the middle of the trail in his tent. Apparently he got to tired and just setup there at some point. Talked with Big Ben later this afternoon who said he had passed him yesterday evening and at that time he didn't even have his tent setup, he was just lying in his sleeping bag on the trail. The middle section of the day was a long flat trail that ran along or near the Housatonic river. As we started this section we ran into a southbounder who we talked to for a while and had talked with Hover and Bearbag. He was told to stall us and tell us they where flying along. In the end though we found out they had stayed at Silver Hill campsite which is 10 miles from where we zeroed, so much for giving them a head start, they did 10 miles in a day and a half which we did in 4 hours this morning by 11. So after lunch break we did another 5 miles and meet Pappys nephew who brought us lunch/dinner/hiker killer. He meet us one mile before the shelter with the biggest grinder(sub) that I have ever seen. The meet was piled on probably an inch and a half thick. I had an italian along with a bunch of sweet peppers. There were chips and drinks to go along with it as well as a dessert of a peanut butter covered brownie. Sat there for a good hour after eating before walking the last mile to camp. It was extremely hard to make the climb with so much food in us weighing us down. Eventually made it to camp and setup and everyone skipped dinner. It is hot here in the tent but better than getting eaten by the billion misquitos. Veto is texting back with Hover now and it sounds like we will catch back up to them tomorrow so the zero didn't do much good.We pass the point tomorrow for only 700 miles left and will shortly be done with Connecticut. Then a short time in Massachusetts before entering the last three longer states for the final push. Onward!
Date: 2011-07-18
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: Campsite mile 1492.4
Miles today: 17.0

Showered on side of road today and passed under 700 miles left.Normal morning today with nothing to report till we got to Falls Village, CT. Here they had a a shower on a wall at the hydroplant right before town. We took a lunch break and used the shower, you had to keep your clothes on though since its outside so laundry was also done. About the time we were leaving it started to rain a little which just made the humidity sky rocket. Shower wasn't muxh good with all the sweating. We eventually made it to Salisbury, CT to resupply. We resupplied then sat around all afternoon charging our phones before heading out a mile to a campsite. It rained a little more while in town as well and the library was closed so there was no where to go. Heat was pretty bad today and the forecast shows only hotter with a guy at the hydroplant saying triple digits.Tomorrow we make some big climbs and get back above 2000ft in elevation, but only temporarily. Tonight I am also having to write my journal on paper as I have lost one battery and one of the others won't hold a charge anymore. I purchased a notepad and pen in town and will have to transcribe the journals at a later time.
Date: 2011-07-19
From: Campsite mile 1492.4

To: Campsite 1508.6
Miles today: 16.2

We entered into Massachusetts today and crossed the 1500 mile mark as well. 4 more states to go.The morning started off muggy for the first climb up the second Bear Mountain. Didn't have to much of a problem with it but Pappy stuggled with it and all day today. Shortly after that we passed into Massachusetts, and then passed 1500 miles a mile and a half later. Two big milestones in one day. Can't say I really celebrated much and just took some pictures of the border sign. We had two more good climbs left with Mt. Everett at 2600 ft. Around noon I took a lunch on a ridge line and at that elevation you could feel an occasional cool breeze. The elevation can really make a difference. We finally made it over the climbs and stopped at a shelter where we caught up to Hover and Bear Bag. They were going to do another 5 miles but decided to stay with us 3 miles farther. They are stopping in the next town to get picked up. Tonight we are at a piped spring by a road with my tent about ten feet from the spring and its noise. Hopefully it will be good white noise tonightTomorrow we have some climbs but they don't appear to be as bad, which is good considering the weather is just supposed to get hotter. I am considering getting a very early start if I wake up at some point early.
Date: 2011-07-20
From: Campsite 1508.6

To: Mt. Wilcox South Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Great trail magic from Hovers family friend Jennifer, and another hot day though it didn't seem that bad to me.So I got up early like I said and was on the trail shortly after 6. Everyone else was just getting up as I was leaving. Didn't make much of a difference because 4 or 5 miles in I hit trail magic from Jennifer who was here to pick up Hover. Sat there until everyone else arrived and said our goodbyes. Jennifer provided DrPeppers because she knew of my addiction to them. She also had gatorade, water, fruits, candy bars of all sorts, protein type bars, and even had hard boiled eggs. Thank you so much for all the great stuff. Eventually headed out for a big climb and stopped at the first shelter for a long break. Mishka and Meehow and her father were there with their german shorthaired dog. Reminds me of Snoopy (my dog) except theirs was all liver colored. We finished off the day with about five miles of mostly climbing. Arrived at camp at 4, so pretty early finish. Did all the normal night time routines before bed time. Headed to the tent for a while but was too hot and had to get out till the bugs put me back into the tent.It seems not a lot is going on lately with no major changes or exciting landmarks and such. Just states and miles counted down which have lost their excitement after so many. Soon though the mileage will be to a point where it comes back as we get close. The White mountains will also be a huge change that we all are waiting for. 650 miles looking from before the trip seemed like so far but now with that left it seems like so little.Tomorrow we head to Upper Goose Pond Cabin where we can go canoeing. Will be a good change of pace and who knows maybe I can work in a zero.
Date: 2011-07-21
From: Mt. Wilcox South Shelter

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Brutally hot day today with even hotter expected tomorrow. Desite the heat we rushed to the cabin to swim and canoe.Normal wakeup time this morning but it was to low clouds and high humidity. First thing was a climb so I was instantly soaked in sweat. A little ways in I went to town with Veto 0.6 miles off the trail for a soda and ice cream at the bed and breakfast while he went to the P.O. Shortly after that we had a very big climb right before noon in aweful heat. Was a tough climb but eventually made it to the spring near the top for lunch. 4 more miles later I made it to Upper Goose Pond Cabin and went for a swim and then Fiber and I went canoeing around the lake for a while. The water was nice and cool and a good wind which made canoeing a little tougher, especially when we went out on the big lake. Was a great day to have a lake on this hot day. After getting here I found out they serve pancakes and coffee in the morning. Unfortunately I probably will be leaving before they even serve it. So since tomorrow is suposed to be five degrees hotter than today, I am taking different measures. I am going to actually set an alarm and try and leave by 4:30 in the morning. I am hoping that will put me near the cookie ladies house around 8 or 9 where I can get hard boiled eggs, a free cookie, pick blueberries, and she has sodas. Then a few more miles before finding a cool stream to nap by, then towards the end of the day get to the next shelter or maybe push to Dalton and take a zero. The next day is supposed to be the last hot day before the temperature drops back to the 80's and low 80's at that.Well time to sleep!