morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-07-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I got up a little after 6 am, dressed, brushed my teeth and readied my backpack. I stripped my bunk and grabbed the broom from downstairs and swept our room. When I returned the broom River was with someone from the deli getting fresh sheets so we could make up the 4 bunks in our room for the next hikers. I cleaned the half bath on the 2nd floor that we have been using and swept the hall outside the dorm rooms. It was time for breakfast now so we went down to the deli and I helped out serving breakfast which was really fun. After that we finished making the bunks. Today my friend Kim F is picking us up to spend the day with her in Killington at her condo. I'm looking forward to spending some time with her and seeing Brian who will be coming for the day. It's nice to be so close now to my family and friends. River ran out for a couple of things and I hung out at the hostel cleaning and washing sheets for a while. I found these chores to be a reminder of normal life and really comforting. When Kim arrived we went to the farmers market together which was a half block away and had a good time buying berries and other goodies. Then it was off to Price Chopper, Panera, Comcast and Kim's condo where Brian was waiting for us in the parking lot. He brought us a resupply and our bathing suits so we could enjoy the hot tub and pool together. I was really happy to see him! After a snack we all enjoyed the hot tub and pool and had invited Wind Eagle and her sister Ruth to join us. It was very therapeutic and relaxing. After Wind Eagle and Ruth departed we went on a mission out a dirt road to see if could access the trail as it crosses Chateauguay Rd so Kim could slack pack us tomorrow and use that as a pick up point. We could get 2 miles from the trail crossing. River and I decided that the slack pack would be worth the extra 2 mile walk on a dirt road and agreed to the pick up point. We were of course all starving now so we stopped for dinner at a BBQ place on the way back. Brian stayed a little longer but around 10pm it was time to say goodnight to him and let him get on his way back home and I needed sleep. I brushed and put on my pajamas and rolled out my sleeping pad on the living room floor. The slider was open and the fresh air was really nice to fall asleep to. I've learned how Kim takes her tea so that I can make her a cup when I wake her up early to drop us at Route 100.
Date: 2018-07-16
From: Chateauguay Rd mile 1715.3

To: Bartlett Brook Rd mile 1728.3
Miles today: 13.0

I slept until a little after 6am. It was a late night for me. Sometimes the down side of town stays is a compromise on the hours of sleep I can get. I got up and packed up my quilt and sleeping pad and redied my backpack. I brushed my teeth, showered, started breakfast and made Kim's tea. Baci jumped off the bed happy to see us still here. Kim was up in no time ready to go but the maintenance man was there regarding the hot water issue from the day before when River and I took cold showers. We left condo at 8:20 and Kim dropped us off at Pete and Michelle's place. I hugged her goodbye and it was emotional for me. I can't explain it fully. It's just a heartfelt gratitude for the help, caring and concern. It happens to me with friends and family as well as total strangers. I met Pete, Michelle and their sweet 9 year old daughter Jana and we put our packs in the house and day bags in the Jeep. They insisted I sit up front because I'm taller. So I had a front row seat when we had to 4 wheel. River navigated Pete in with a combination of GPS and hand written directions. Pete was delighted when he saw the class 4 road sign. When we approached the trail head we saw Krista and Ryan there with their dog Iggy. They looked bewildered and also exhausted. They were having a tough day. It was after 10 when we started hiking. A climb first and then a snack at lookout cabin. A privately owned cabin available to hikers for overnight stay with a nice view from a platform on the roof. River went up, I didn't. We snacked there with Krista, Ryan and Iggy before descending. We stopped at the Wintturi shelter for lunch and water and they joined us again. Water was difficult but the comments in Guthooks and another hiker leas us to a second spring where we had more success and I pumped for myself and Krista and Ryan. I hiked on before River but stopped to pee and she passed me without knowing. For miles she was trying to catch up with me thinking I was in front and I was trying to catch her. But when I got to the climb at Dana Hill and there were no switchbacks I'd hit a wall. River was done too and it was 6:30 when Pete and Michelle picked us up at Bartlett Brook Rd. We drove thru Woodstock stopping for dinner but there wasn't much there and a nice pizza place in town had burned down that day. A local suggested a place on the way back to Killington so we stopped there and enjoyed dinner together. Jana was at her cousin's house visiting. When we got back to the house I showered and got ready for bed and climbed in exhausted. Everyone else was up. It won't bother me though, I can sleep through anything these days!
Date: 2018-07-17
From: Bartlett Brook Rd mile 1728.3

To: I-89 W Hartford mile 1738.5
Miles today: 10.2

I vaguely remember hearing the sound machine come on and River and Jana climb into bed. The sound of the ocean filled the room with a sense of calm and relaxation. I was so tired I just continued sleeping. I got up once to pee around 2pm then slept until 6am. Michelle spoiled us by cooking breakfast. Crispy bacon and scrambled eggs with vegetables. We filled up and hopped in the Jeep with Pete for a ride to the trail head on Bartlett Brook Rd. By the time we got there it was 8:45 and raining. The forecast is for rain all day. It's a good thing we're slack packing. I won't have to put on wet clothes in the morning!In a half mile we were at Pomfret Rd. The sign on the tree says Loon and Firefly live a short walk down the road and the back porch is open to hikers. The refrigerator is stocked with treats for purchase. I hit the steps in time with the thunder. Loon and Firefly were home and came out to talk with us. We enjoyed conversation while I drank a Starbucks frappachino. Okay, I guzzled it. It was awesome! The storm lingered and we waited it out for 1.5 hrs before hiking on. When we stopped at thistle hill shelter for lunch the rain was fizzling out. There weren't many hikers out today. In fact we saw no one until the shelter where 2 strolled in for lunch. Chili who is hiking with Stripper who we met at the Yellow Deli. Stripper is waiting for him in Norwich. Chili needs to see a doctor about an ingrown toenail. After lunch we hiked down and thru W Hartford. The general store is closed but the sign shop up the street is very hiker friendly. We ran into Chili again there. We continued our road walk under I-89 to the corner of Tigertown Rd and Podunk Rd and called it quits, saving a small climb for morning and fresh legs. Michelle picked us up and we stopped at the Town Butcher in Woodstock for a snack . When we got back to the house we took hot showers while Michelle started burgers for us. She left to go back to family in Rutland for dinner and River and I enjoyed our burgers and then I crawled into bed to get some journaling done and sleep.
Date: 2018-07-18
From: I-89 W Hartford mile 1738.5

To: Trescott Rd 
Miles today: 13.6

I slept okay, not as well as last night. It might be because Jana and the sound machine had a sleep over at her cousin's house. Darn! Once again Michelle made us a fabulous breakfast while we got ready. It was a bit involved trying to dry out our shoes...with the blow dryer and the electric baseboard heat. But I was able to put on mostly dry shoes and knew that I would walk them dry in a short time. Pete dropped us off at the corner of Podunk and Tiger Town and we climbed Happy Hill. I wasn't happy about it but it had to be done. I was however looking forward to the end of the day today when I would hike into NH. Because it's my home state and because I'd get a shower and laundry and because tomorrow I get to see the podiatrist. My foot pain has become almost unbearable. I hope there's a solution to making it better. When we emerged from the woods onto Elm St in Norwich I almost cried. At the end of the 1st driveway were 2 Adirondack chairs and a cooler with soda. There was also a mailbox with a hiker journal. We sat for at least 30 minutes and said hello to the owners when they returned home. After our refreshment we continued down Elm and eventually onto Main St to the trail angel putting us up tonight. Just before the house a silver Lab escaped it's owner and ran across the busy street to us. River and I both stepped on her leash and gave her love while her owner made her way across the traffic to us. Ellafreese loves hikers. Her owner Jenny is the pastor at St Barnabas church. Jenny and the church take in hikers for the night. We checked into our place right next door and after a brief rest resumed our hike across the Connecticut River and into Hanover NH free of our gear. We stopped for a late lunch at Molly's and connected with Bill Y. Bill has some zpacks that Eddyman and Alligator left for us to borrow. He's also a trail angel who helps hikers with rides. After lunch we hiked up over velvet rocks and down to Trescott Rd where Bill met us at 6:30. Bill brought the packs with him and drove us into town to the co-op so we could pick up dinner. We only had an hour to spend with him because we had laundry to do and to switch backpacks and we wanted to observe the 9pm quiet time for our host family. Bill was an incredible wealth of knowledge and provided us with a wonderful map and schedule for hiking thru the Whites. He bought our dinner which was above and beyond and we enjoyed coffee while talking with him at the co-op. We were at our accommodations just after 7:30 and got our laundry done before 9pm. I settled into bed and journaled a little. Tomorrow we will get up early and clean the apartment we're in and wash the linens so we can leave the place ready for the owner's parents who are coming in the afternoon. Brian will be coming to take me to the podiatrist and anywhere else we need to go.
Date: 2018-07-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

We were up early after a very restful night. I'm feeling so good right now except my feet. But today's the day I get to see if that can change. We cleaned and got the beds all ready. When Brian arrived around 10am he took the owners dog Rocky out for a quick potty break and we loaded our gear into the 4runner. We waived goodbye to Omar who was on the phone and texted Lilly to let her know that the apartment was all ready for her parents. We headed toward Lebanon for breakfast and I got an email from my podiatrist offering me an earlier appointment due to a cancellation. I accepted. We had an awesome breakfast and then a fiasco trying to get to the doctor's office but finally did. Brian came in with me which was a good thing. The doctor wanted to calm the nerve in my foot with a big needle and I'm certain I would have chickened out and the result would probably be intolerable pain that would likely end my hike. But he and the doctor both suggested that I accept the recommended shot of cortisone. I cringed and the doctor tipped me back in the chair and inserted the needle thru the top of my foot moving it around in there quite a bit. I focused on breathing. I hate needles. I was also prescribed new shoes and insoles. So after that nice needle I had to walk on my foot which was now feeling even more unhappy as we shopped. I got what the doctor ordered and wore them out of the store. A new pair of Hoka trail runners and soft fit insoles to support my high arches. Then Brian drove us to Eastern Mountain Sports and Riteaid.With our chores complete we went back to Norwich and checked in at Jenny's house for the night and then had dinner with Brian at Jessie's. It was then goodnight to my wonderful husband so that we could sleep and he could get home to give our cat his insulin shot. I made up my bed and journaled for a little bit. My foot has settled down now and I hope the shot is effective. I'm looking forward to trying out my new feet tomorrow! Bill Y is picking us up at 8am for a stop at Lou's in Hanover for a donut on the way to the trail head on Trescott Rd. River's feeling homesick today. Jenny's cats are a source of comfort to her and I hope it helps her to love on them.
Date: 2018-07-20
From: Trescott Rd 

To: Trapper John shelter
Miles today: 12.2

I woke up at 6am showered and got ready. I stripped my bed and headed downstairs for a quick coffee before Bill arrived before 8am and met Jenny. After a couple of pictures we rolled over to Hanover and took more pictures at the sidewalk plaque and in front of Lou's. I got a GF muffin which I washed down with a chocolate milk and a breakfast cookie for my 2nd breakfast later. Bill was generous once again and had us at the trailhead around 8:30. He's such a wonderful man and I look forward to keeping in touch with him. I'm sorry that we didn't meet his wife Sara but being from NH I will have opportunity. The trail ambled along for the 1st 4 miles. We arrived at Three Mile Rd and waited about 5 minutes for River's friends from NY to arrive to take us to lunch in Lyme. We had a great time with them and a wonderful meal at the tavern before returning to the trail at 1pm. We crossed Mink Brook and then the ascent of Moose mountain began. I've hiked it before but not with a full pack. After the climb the trail descends back down to Goose Pond Rd and then all the way back up to Holt's ledge. The falcons weren't out when I passed by but the raspberries were so I scarfed them down careful not to fall off the ledge but making River nervous. NH really knows how to greet AT nobo hikers...by lacking switchbacks. There's nothing that says Welcome to NH like a straight up and down climb or 2! I was very happy to reach the shelter. I had already wrapped my mind around sleeping in the shelter but when I saw it was pretty full I grabbed a tent spot and set up. The last non-sloping spot. It was almost 7pm and I hate getting to camp so late. Iggy and his parents (Krista and Ryan) arrived while I was getting water and I gave them my tenacious tape and needle and thread to make tent repairs. Wind Eagle arrived around 7:30. I rushed thru my chores of water, dinner, hanging my bag and got into bed. I'm exhausted from the climbing but my feet feel better. I have a blister on my pinkie toe from hiking in the rain a few days ago but my cramping is about 50% better and the general discomfort I think will be better once my feet are used to the shoes and insoles. Time will tell but so far I'm feeling happy to have taken a needle in the foot.
Date: 2018-07-21
From: Trapper John shelter

To: Hexacuba shelter
Miles today: 12.0

I slept well but could hear rustling in Krista and Ryan's tent most of the night so I don't think they slept well. I packed up my tent before making breakfast. Wind Eagle, Chili and Stripper are here also. And we met Dave a section hiker contemplating the trail name Oatmeal. I left camp at 7:45. Once again it was a full day of climbing without switchbacks. Up Lambert Ridge and Smarts Mountain. I met 2 red liners climbing Lambert Ridge and had lunch at the top By the time I made it to the fire tower I skipped the climb of it for views and opted for the steep .2 + hike for water because I was almost out. I didn't even have the energy to look inside the ranger's cabin which is open to hikers. I felt like the day was all work and no reward but the good news is my feet are even better today. I can't believe I lived with that pain for so long. What was I thinking? I descended Smarts Mountain only to go up again to Eastman ledges and finally hexacuba shelter at 6:30. I found Chili sitting at the bottom of the blue blaze trail waiting for Stripper. He knew her knees were hurting and it was a tough day for her so he would carry her pack up to the shelter. Tonight I'll sleep in the shelter with River, Wind Eagle, Chili, Stripper and Pirate. Oatmeal is in a tent and there is one other tenter we haven't seen. I got water at the stream .4 before the shelter and it's enough for tonight and tomorrow morning. I made macaroni and cheese for dinner and ate it all. Then I brushed my teeth and helped River with the bear lines and we hung our bags. The forecast tomorrow is rain after 8am. Everyone except Pirate is going to be up at 4:30 a.m. and hiking around 5:30. Stripper is a wealth of knowledge because she's hiked most of the trail twice. She said we shouldn't hike Mt Cube in the rain. Its a lot if rock and exposure. So we all agreed that we'd be up and over it before 8am and at the road for a shuttle ride to Hikers Welcome Hostel to ride out the rain. I wrote my journal and it's about 9pm. I don't generally sleep well in shelters but I hope tonight is different.
Date: 2018-07-22
From: Hexacuba shelter

To: Route 25C Hikers welcome hostel
Miles today: 4.9

I was up before the birds when someone's alarm softly and pleasantly sounded. I slept lightly all night, asleep but yet aware. I'm not feeling tired though. I was on the trail at 5:45 a.m. and I absolutely loved the climb up Mt Cube. It was very windy and cloudy but without rain. I sent Brian a text before I reached the summit so he'd know what the plan was for a nero. The summit provided a gorgeous view of layers of mountains. I stood on the tallest rock I saw and steeled myself against the wind to get a few pictures before scrambling down to continue north. The descent was really gentle with a few rocks but mostly pine needle carpet. Luscious on my feet. It's so wonderful to be back in NH! Within 5 minutes of reaching route 25A the shuttle pulled up. Bisquick introduced himself and we loaded our gear in. Chili and Oatmeal slack packed the 9.7 miles to the hostel but the 4 of us women enjoyed the van, especially since it was now raining. We checked into the hostel and Rainbow was there. I showered and made my bunk and River threw our laundry in the washer. I was sitting in the community room having a cup of coffee when I felt a loving hand caressing my neck. It was my wonderful husband. He drove up to surprise me! Always so great to see him. We went to lunch alone and it was so nice to have a few minutes in private with him. He brought a piece of burger back for Iggy who had arrived at the hostel before we left. Iggy is his new friend. I layed in my bunk resting and journaling in the afternoon. At 5pm River and I got a ride to the same snack bar I had lunch at with Brian and had dinner. Rain is the forecast for the week. Tomorrow I'll slack pack the 9.7 from 25C to the hostel.
Date: 2018-07-23
From: Route 25C Hikers welcome hostel

To: Route 25 hikers welcome hostel
Miles today: 9.7

There's an older man here at the hostel with some health issues. He is spending the summer in the area staying in hostels and state parks. He doesn't hike much anymore because of his health. He lives in Texas. He hiked the trail 22 years ago. He and 2 younger guys who chose not to shower when they got here were up past 10pm talking loudly. The 2 guys had bunks above me and River and when they came to bed the older man sat on the couch in the bunk room after scooting Iggy off it. He fell asleep and eventually laid down for the night but he snored loudly and had terrible coughing fits. Everyone's sleep was disturbed. If he's here tonight I may move to the other bunkhouse. I had oatmeal for breakfast and then packed a day bag with lunch, snacks, filter and other essentials. I was signed up for the 7:30 shuttle which took us back to the trail head at 25C so I could hike the 9.7 miles to the hostel. Just as we left the driveway it started to pour. Perfect. I started hiking around 8am and the first bit was a small climb. Today's terrain was easy with lots of flat trail and 2 small "bumps". It poured the entire time and I stopped only for 5 minutes to pee and throw some pepperoni slices down my pie hole. It was so miserable I couldn't look up, I just looked down at the trail the entire time and finished in 4hrs and 20 minutes. When I arrived at the hostel Chilli was already back from hiking moosikauke and he'd been scared at the top in the rain and cold and wind. Still, he'd knocked it out in 5 hrs. I showered and rinsed the mud off my gators and water logged shoes and put my sandals on to let my pruned feet dry out. Refreshed and accomplished I had a root beer and the lunch from my bag I had chosen not to eat in the rain, a tuna packet in evoo and cheddar crackers. I hung out in the common room half pretending to be interested in the movie Mud Smeller and her husband were watching, Space Balls. River and WE (Wind Eagle) came in about an hour and a half after me and we shared a dryer cycle to get our wet clothes dry for tomorrow. Just before 5pm we ordered from the snack bar a few miles away and the shuttle took 6 people for pickup. My burger, fries and root beer float were delicious! I learned about an incident with Rainbow from last night she's tenting here and had gotten a chocolate bar from the common room, eaten half and left her tent open with the other half in there to go do something quickly. When she returned to her tent it was occupied by a chicken consuming skunk. Thankfully he didn't spray! The older man from last night is gone. So I returned to my bunk to journal after brushing my teeth. I'm waiting for dark so I can sleep. I'm thinking about tomorrow and the 9.5 miles I'll hike over Mt Moosikauke. I'm nervous about the whites. I hope I have what I need mentally and physically to get thru this section well. I know it will be difficult because it's the most difficult section of the trail. I'll pray about it.
Date: 2018-08-04
From: Home recovering

To: North Conway
Miles today: 0.0

I stayed up late last night and slept in a little. It was luxurious! We made breakfast together and I bagged up the chocolate chip cookies and split the banana bread in 3 and put most of it in the freezer for Brian to enjoy a little at a time. Then I bagged up my food and made a resupply box to bring with me. I'm hiking the Presidential Traverse and hoping to be able to get it done in 2 days. My resupply will be stored at the AMC visitor's center in Pinkam Notch in the gear room. I'll stay there after completing the traverse and resupply myself so I'm ready for the Wildcats. Alligator and Eddyman are in the North Conway area and have invited us to a BBQ. It'll be great to see them and meet her fiance and his family as well as Eddyman's wife Susan. River and her friend Sarah will also be there and we're staying in North Conway for the night. Sarah will bring us to Pinkam Notch in the morning. We left the house around 2 for the drive. But the traffic was terrible as is usual thru Meredith. By the time we got to Moulton's Farm I asked Brian to please pull in. It was around 4pm. I was starving and couldn't wait for the BBQ to eat. I don't want to show up with hiker hunger and embarrass myself! So I ate a broccoli and bacon salad and some potato salad and was good for a while. We finally made it to the hotel and dropped my pack off in the room before heading to Friendlys for ice cream. Our contribution to the BBQ. We had a wonderful time seeing Alligator and Eddyman and their families. The food and company were great and it was hard to leave but it was way past hiker midnight. Brian dropped me off at the hotel and I changed and gave him my street clothes. It was a luxury wearing jeans for the day. He still had a 2 hour drive ahead of him. I'm going to miss him but I'll think of him eating chocolate chip cookies and I'll smile. River still had to pack her backpack and sort out a resupply box that she finally picked up at the Highland Center which had fallen victim to the USPS for many days and made 3 trips back to Michigan. Sarah was watching TV. I had trouble falling asleep and it was after midnight. The alarm will go off at 5am. I'm anxious about tomorrow and how my back will be. Brian was hoping I'd take a few more days to recover. I still have some pain, but sometimes movement helps and my head wants to get to Katahdin even if it drags my limp body behind it.