morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-07-22
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: The Birdcage Hostel
Miles today: 20.5

Fun day with a super early start. Night hiking, the cookie lady and the Birdcage, all packed into a twenty mile day.So I woke up around 3:45 this morning just before my alarm went off. As I am shuffling around I noticed Veto was already up and I heard his tent poles so knew he had already packed up. Was a bit suprising to see that he was actually getting up as well. I packed up as well and he left before I was ready but Fiber was still getting ready. Waited for him before leaving at 4:30. Had to hike with headlamps until about 5:30 before the sun gave us enough light. We made some quick miles and made it to the cookie ladies place by nine. We sat there a while before her husband came out and talked to us. We ordered some cokes and I got a half dozen boiled eggs. He brought out the drinks and eggs along with salt and I ate half a dozen boiled eggs. Was awesome second breakfast, but since we wanted to get the miles done we passed up picking blueberries. Headed out and again pushed our miles quickly and arrived at the shelter 18 miles in by noon. Just before getting there though said there was some trail magic at the bottom of the hill. We decided to go there for lunch that we though was at the road a short way away. It wasn't so we had lunch and then headed to Dalton and the Birdcage that the southbounders also told us about. 1:30 we were in town and picked up by Rob Bird and taken to his house. We were given clothes and he took ours to wash them and then we took showers. Pappy showed up later and had started feeling good and got over his dehydration he was dealing with. Later in the evening he shuttled us to a AYCE buffet and WalMart for dinner and resupply. Staying in the basement tonight where it is cool. Was a good interesting day today and it never got quite as hot as yesterday. Tomorrow we will zero here and rest up for our climb over Mt. Greylock.
Date: 2011-07-23
From: The Birdcage Hostel

To: The Birdcage Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Well today was just a rest day and avoiding the heat.So slept in till 6:30 before getting up and sitting around a bit till Pappy woke up then we went for breakfast at a general store. Then back to the Birdcage we went and I managed to update my journals. I had to type them all in from the last week and then post them, not a fun thing to do. Then lunch came and we went back to the general store. Back at the Birdcage I took a nap in the basement where I am staying. That was the only cool place in the house since most places don't have AC up here, not sure how they handle that. For dinner Veto, Fiber and I went to a grinder shop and I had a corned beef reuben. After dinner i layed around and read till midnight before going to bed. That really was pretty much the extent of the day. Tomorrow we will start climbing Mt. Greylock, our first climb over about 1000 ft in a long time. We will only do about 1800 of the 2500 ft before finishing the next day. Cooler weather coming, can't wait.
Date: 2011-07-24
From: The Birdcage Hostel

To: Mark Noepel Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

Ah cooler weather is all I can say.Got up and got ready and left the hostel this morning around 8. It was still pretty humid but much cooler. The miles went by pretty quick over the first mountain to Cheshire Massachusetts where we had lunch and then got ice cream at an ice cream shop. By this time the humidity had dropped as well and it actually seemed cooler than it had been in the morning. After Cheshire we started the last four and a half miles to the shelter up Mt. Greylock. The climb wasn't to bad and went by pretty quick. With the short miles we were in camp prerty early and pretty much everyone took a nap. Could actually get in your tent without sweating, so nice. Trail maintainers had just done some work here and we passed them on the way in, they left a bunch of wood by the fire pit and we actually started a fire. Cooked dinner with the fire tonight, or should I say boiled some water with it. Was pretty tired so went to the tent around 7 to read and write. While laying here I found I had a hole in my airmatress. Taped it up with duct tape for now and it seems to be holding. Though I just came back from a zero it seems I might be getting another shin splint, bah can't they just go away. Will have to watch how I walk very carefully tomorrow and hope it goes away. Well here is to a cool nights sleep and hopefully a better leg in the morning.
Date: 2011-07-25
From: Mark Noepel Shelter

To: Sherman Brook Campsite
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Short rain day with a missed maildrop.So got up to a pretty cool morning with fog and headed out. Had about ten miles to do to get to Williamstown, Massachusetts. A few miles I finished the climb of Mt. Greylock which was covered in fog. The mountain had a huge monument on top and a bronze relief of the topology of the area. The relief was really cool and was about ten feet in diameter. Right after starting down I an into an old shelter that I took a break in. After starting again right as I started down the trail I heard someone coming down the hill. It had to be Fiber and Veto so I jumped into the bushes and waited. As they got close I jumped back out and scared the crap out of them. I should of gotten a video of it. We get to town and I had to get a hitch three miles to the post office. Got a ride pretty quick but when I got there my box had not arrived yet. Had to fill out a change of address for general delivery, was a little confusing and worrisome. After that I walked about halfway back before getting a hitch to Desperados restaurant that offers your first entree for free. They where closed for lunch during the week, doh. So on to the grocery store where we resupplied. We got random lunches from the deli and snacks and sat out side charging our phones and eating. During that break it started raining and we ended up sitting there for several hours. We finally headed out for a mile and a half to a camp site for the evening and avoided anymore rain.
Date: 2011-07-26
From: Sherman Brook Campsite

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Second day of rain, Vermont, and 1600 miles. Started the day to more fog this morning just after 7. Two and a half miles in I reached the Vermont border and also the start of the long trail which runs along with the AT for 105 miles. Vermont is sometimes nick named Vermud because of all the mud and it seemed the minute I stepped into the state I found it. Climbed up over the big climb of the section and made it to a stream about thirteen miles in for lunch. Just after lunch i passed the 1600 miles mark but didnt do any celebrating. Headed out for the last five miles and as I was heading down to a road about two miles from the shelter it started thundering. About a quarter way up the last mile and 1100 ft climb it started raining but not to bad. I was already soaked with sweat so just felt good. Three days ago Fiber and I were talking about how little ran we really have had and I said we could get rain everyday for the rest of the trip and have less than some years have had for the entire trip. Two out of two days its rained now. At the shelter tonight I decided to stay in it since the rain and cool weather has kept the bugs away. First night in a shelter in quite a while.
Date: 2011-07-27
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

No rain today but got a great view on Glastenbury Mountain. Was really cold this morning and hard to get going.So woke up to a really cold morning and my bag was on the limits of not being warm enough. Then I had to put on wet clothes, ouch that sucked. Finally rushed and hit the trail around 7:30. Then the day went by quick with an up to Glastenbury mountain. On top there was a fire tower so got some great views up there of Vermont. We then hit the next shelter for lunch and on into the following shelter for the evening. Arrived around 4 and read in my tent until dinner at 6. Dinner sucked tonight because I put way to much junk into my mashed potatoes and there was hardly any potatoes. Managed to get them down but won't do that one again. After dinner I just went back to the tent and reaad some more and didn't journal. Doing the next day which has been happening more often lately. I managed to dry out my clothes by not changing for the evening until my body heat dried them. Much better that way then putting on wet clothes in the morning. Tomorrow, Stratton mountain the birth place of the AT.
Date: 2011-07-28
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Another chilly night, Stratton mountain the birthplace of the AT, and three quarter mark.So normal time again today but with the chill it was hard to get moving. The short climb out of the gate warmed me up quick though. After that it was downhill for several miles before starting the climb up Stratton. It turned out to be a pretty easy 1800 ft climb. Veto, Fiber and I spent some time at the top in the fire tower taking pictures and looking at the mountains that where labeled on the windows. The flys were horrible though and we moved on to get to a lunch spot. A mile after lunch we passed the three quarter mark with 545.25 miles left on the trail. I used everyones poles and made a 3/4 sign for a picture. We then rolled on to the shelter where the same routine as yesterday happened. Read eat read sleep. These days we rarely see other northbound thru hikers, we pass a fair amount of south bounders now though who started about two months ago. Seems that everyone has spread out quite a bit and definitely thinned out as well.Tomorrow we are neroing into Manchester Center Vermont to resupply and such before heading out to Hanover and where we get our winter gear back before the White mountains.
Date: 2011-07-29
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Green Mountain House Hostel
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: light rain

Nero into town to stay at a super awesome hostel. Great dinner, and everyone I have hiked with is here it seems. So I got up and did the 3 miles to the road to town at normal time. Fiber, Veto and I stood around about twenty minutes before a guy picked us up and dropped us off at the shopping center where the grocery store and EMS where located. We actually wanted breakfast so walked across the street to the McDonalds and had the two egg mcmuffins for $3 special. Got four of them and a soda. We sat around there for quite a while and Pappy showed up as well. Afterwards we visited the outfitter where Pappy got some new shoes which are his second pair in the last two weeks. He has gotten some pretty nasty blisters lately after switching. Didn't need anything myself so went next door and resupplied. After everyone was done we then got the ingredients to make burgers for the four of us. Three and a half pounds of beef for eight burgers. While sitting around Shaka and A Game showed up and also said Blackfoot and Smiley were in town as well and all of them are staying at the Green Mountain House as well. After everything was taken care of in town we called Jeff and he came and picked us up and took us out to the hostel. Two separate houses, one for him and his wife and one for the hikers. The house is very clean and nice with showers, laundry, full kitchen and actual beds for everyone. Also had a computer and tv with tons of movies. While driving out he informed us that with our twenty dollars we also got a pint of Ben and Jerrys, cereal and milk for breakfast and sodas. Was a super deal for an extremely nice place. We did the shower and laundry thing then sat around watching X Men Origins. Afterwards we started making the burgers and Fiber and I had to work the grill as a team. It had started pouring rain so he held the grill cover over us while I manned the grill. We had to walk around the house to the grill so ended up making multiple trips around the house and it reminded me of the horse costume you always see. Was a great dinner for real cheap. After dinner others watched another movie but I read for a while before going to bed. The room I was in had an AC unit so was nice and cool. Tomorrow we climb Bromley mountain with the ski slopes we saw yesterday from Stratton or one of the other mountains.
Date: 2011-07-30
From: Green Mountain House Hostel

To: Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

Sad to say we left a man behind today, but it will be for the better for him.So woke up in the hostel this morning after a hot second half of the night. A guy sharing the room with us woke up in the middle of the night and turned off the AC on us. Went down stairs and had breakfast of cereal when Pappy told me he was going to take a day off. He mentioned he might last night but wasn't sure. I know its a tough decision to make especially when he knows he will most likely not catch us and he's pretty sure Hover and Bear Bag won't catch him either. He's definitely been struggling with problems so in the end its the best choice so he can at least finish. You never know what will happen on the trail though. We could all be united before the end. So now its Fiber, Veto and I left ahead, but more or less all the group is still on the trail except Memphis who left so long ago. Once every one woke up and we started leaving we all said our goodbyes and got our ride to the trail.On the trail we had our big climb up Bromley mountain right away and at the top are ski slopes and a tower. Great views from the top with view of five states it says. Got some pictures and headed on. At some point we got to a bog bridge which was floating it was so flooded in the area. Was an interesting time crossing and I videoed the event in case anyone decided to go swimming but nothing exciting happened. The trail today was really muddy due to the rain last night and very slippery. Took a slip down a mud section for another fall which I can't count how many that is so far. Tonight the shelter is next to a river and there are no good tent sites and we are setup right near the shelter. Tomorrow we climb our third bear mountain in recent weeks and will be sitting just shy of 500 miles left on the trail.
Date: 2011-07-31
From: Big Branch Shelter

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: few clouds

A bunch of walking as usual but then started feeling bad at the end of the day. Think it is some dehydration and it feels like I have a fever tonight.So started out with a normal day and got a bunch of miles in early. Was nothing special but as the day wore on I started losing energy fast. By the last few miles I could barely climb a mountain and was constantly sweating like crazy. I figured out it was probably from the instant tea packages I got in the last town since they did not have gatorade. So with that combination I couldn't hold in my water despite that vast amounts I was drinking. The constant sweat also made me start to get rashes under my arms which just adds to the pain. After a 600 foot climb that I had to stop at least three or four times I made it to the shelter. The Clarendon shelter is a very nice spot with green grass all over and pine needle forest floor all around it. Since we got there early I decided to do some cleaning. Took my pack apart and washed it along with my sleeping pad and some clothes and layed out in the grass to dry. The pack didn't get quite dry but at least it was clean. Sat around and read a little after that and that is when I started actually feeling bad. Couldn't finish dinner and went straight to be around 7:30. That is when I noticed it felt like I had a fever, my head was burning up. Just one of the few bad days I have had on the trail so far, hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Date: 2011-08-01
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: Gifford Woods State Park
Miles today: 19.6

Still felt bad and climbed Killington mountain today. Also saw a porcupine and a bear today.Well I slept good last night but still didn't feel any better this morning. I think I still had a slight fever and my stomach was still churning. Despite all that I left early around 6:20 to try and get a head start. Right away I had a short climb and knew it was going to be a long day. Right after the climb I came upon the porcupine that didn't care that I was there in the least. We stared at each other a bit and I got so really close up pictures from about 3 feet. A few more miles later just before the Killington climb a bear ran off the trail in front of me. That is the first since the one that ran me out of the shelter in New Jersey. Took a break at the shelter just before the climb, on the way out it followed an old road bed for a very short time before turning off into the woods. Half a mile later I realized I missed it and had to walk back to find the trail. Was a frustrating moment to say the least. On the way back Fiber and Veto saw me from the actual trail and they got ahead of me. So the climb of Killington was a bad climb but in my condition it was horrible. Had to stop quite a few times before making it up. The trail doesn't actually go to the top so you have to take a side trail up which today I just wasn't interested in doing. Took several more breaks before getting to the planned spot for the evening but Fiber and Veto where waiting and wanting to move on to the state park. I was actually wanting to do the same so I could go into town and get gatorades to rehydrate. So we did another two miles to Gifford Woods state park where we split a campsite along with Rawdog for $1.25 each. We made a trip to town and got our resupply for the next couple days and I grabbed four gatorades. Two today and two for tomorrow. After dinner I took the coldest shower so far on the trail. The shower was much needed with all the sweat today and more rashes in unmentionable places. I borrowed Fibers DrBonners peppermint soap and let's just say it really burned. Don't feel as bad tonight and hopefully I am over the problems but we shall see. Three days and we will be in New Hampshire and another in the Whites though I will probably take a zero or two in Hanover before the Whites.
Date: 2011-08-02
From: Gifford Woods State Park

To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 16.7

Feeling better today and tonight was like a sobo nobo crossing.So after packing up I had breakfast which consisted of a woopie pie that I got from town yesterday. Over 700 calories in a little package. After that I got moving around 8. Actually went back to bed this morning after waking up at the normal time knowing others where going to sleep late and didn't wake up again till 7:20. Had some steep climbs before lunch that I did well on. A little after lunch we stopped at an old cabin that had a tower on top of it which had a great view. It was nice and cool and windy which felt great. If I had water or it was near by I might have stayed there. Eventually moved on to the shelter for the night where a ton of people have shown up both Nobo and Sobo. We all talked a bit but as the night went on it split into the two different groups. Its actually pretty cool here tonight already so it will be a good nights sleep hopefully.Tomorrow is A Games birthday so I will probably stick around where they go tomorrow. We also pass a pie shop a few miles in tomorrow. One of the Sobos brought some with him and it looks really good. The plan was to do 20 tomorrow but we shall see what that turns into. Two more days and I will be in Hanover and I am going to start slowing down dramatically for the Whites. After that we shall see how it goes.Morning song tomorrow
Date: 2011-08-03
From: Winturri Shelter

To: Hartford Sign Company
Miles today: 17.0

Ate some pie today and threw it up, felt like crud again all day today and fell back from Fiber and Veto.So woke up late again with a headache that would not go away with ibuprofen. Because I woke up late that only put me at the pie place 3.5 miles away thirty minutes early. We split a blueberry peach pie between the three of us and I had a quart of chocolate milk. After leaving there it took almost three hours to walk the next two miles. It was at this point I got sick and sat there for quite a while. I eventually moved on another mile and a half and took an hour nap. At this point I had done 7.5 miles and it was already 2. Finally made it four more miles to a shelter and started feeling better. At this point it had been about six hours since eating and it seemed to be helping. The next five miles to where I am now where pretty much downhill so decided to get those done and not have a huge day to get to Hanover tomorrow. On the way I ran into Smiley, Blackfoot, Shaka, and A Game who told me about the sign company who would let you tent in their backyard. We setup our tents and went back to the deli for dinner. Still not wanting to eat much I had some fries and that is it. If I don't feel better tomorrow I am going to have to make another trip to the doctor and see what the problem is exactly. Its been a real struggle to get up any climb the last few days and my stomach has just been hurting the whole time. Fiber and Veto where way ahead of me all day so let them move on to the shelter about twenty miles in and will probably see them tomorrow in town. I will also probably be taking to zero and going much slower for quite a while so will most likely be splitting from them now. That leaves everyone in the group split up all along the trail. After I get my guide book for the rest of the trip I will probably beging trying to put some plans together for a tentative finishing date, but you never know what the trail will have to say about that.
Date: 2011-08-04
From: Hartford Sign Company

To: Velvet Rocks Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

New Hampshire, two states to go. Resupply and a short break along with changing back to my winter gear.So this morning I woke up to a very wet tent though it didn't even rain. Packed up and ate one pop tart for breakfast and headed out for Hanover, New Hampshire. One good climb out of town then an easy downhill into Norwich, Vermont which borders Hanover. While in the town I stopped at a general store that give hikers the day old sandwiches if they have any left. They didn't but I was pretty hungry so got a sandwich and drink anyways. Didn't feel to bad afterwards but still planning on visiting a doctor in town. Last nights crew showed up and we crossed the Connecticut river and walked into New Hampshire together. My first stop was into the post office to pick up my packages. Only received two of the three I was expecting. Next stop was the outfitter to pick up another. I sorted all my gear here and repacked everything and then sent home some summer gear and such. Crazy that I need my winter gear I know at home its just now beginning the hottest months of the year and they have been in the 100's already for a month. After all the gear change over I meet Fiber and Veto at the pizza place for a free slice of pizza for hikers. Not sure if it is because I am sick or it just isn't very good pizza but I thought it tasted pretty bad and glad it was free. I then left them and went to the rec center to shower and do laundry. When doing laundry in a huge multi option washer don't choose every option to try and get extra clean clothes. The washer took almost two hours with second rinse, pre wash, heavy duty and some other options. Finally made it out of there and walked out of town 0.7 miles to the next shelter for the night. Zeroing here so I can go back into town over the next two days. First double zero for me that wasn't because of injury. Fiber and Veto are here as well doing the same but only taking one zero. Tomorrow I will spend the day going to see a doctor and getting fixed up hopefully. Also talked to my mom and she is overnighting the third package which is my guide book.