morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-08-01
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I didn't want to get out of my sleeping bag this morning. I was warm and dry and horizontal. My hiking clothes were damp and my shoes wet and covered in mud when I reluctantly put them on and headed out of camp just after 7:00. The trail was still wet from yesterday's rain and is overgrown in this section. The slippery roots and moss covered rocks, and the forever mud made for a frustrating morning. Walking through mud is not hiking to me, but an exercise in futility as I hopelessly try not to literally, get bogged down in it. The afternoon was a different story and renewed my spirit. I hiked up Stratton Mountain, an almost 2,000 ft elevation gain. The trail was well maintained and started with a gradual climb. As the trail got steeper, I ascended over a short rock scramble and root steps. The trail leveled out several times giving me a chance to recover before the next spurt up. At the summit, I was rewarded by a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains from the top of the fire tower. I took off my shoes and socks and aired out my feet. The 3 mile descent was an easy one and went quickly. I'm sleeping in the shelter tonight with I Believe and one other weekend hiker. He offered to make Starbucks Via coffee in the morning. I was excited for a moment and then remembered I sent home my cup since I don't have my stove. Instead I am looking forward to getting my coffee in town tomorrow. This is a newer spacious 2 level shelter with bunks and a caretaker who came by in the evening to collect the $5 fee to stay here. The mosquitoes are thrown in for free. Actually, they haven't been bad at all the last few days. My shoes began to dry out this afternoon since it never did rain today. Today was a good day. Tomorrow is a short 11 mile day into Manchester Center and The Green Mountain House hostel for a rest and reunion with my niece, First Gear. I can't wait!
Date: 2014-08-02
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Green Mountain House hostel
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I was anxious to get to Manchester Center to see First Gear and take a shower, so I was up early, and I Believe and I were on the trail at 6:35. The woods were dark and damp, and it would seem never dry out in this section by the looks of all the wet moss covered rocks. The only break from the green tunnel today were 2 looks at the sky walking under power lines. There was little elevation change, and motivated to get to town and keep my shoes dry, I maneuvered around the mud with a vengeance. Jeff, the Green Mountain House Hiker Hostel owner picks hikers up in Manchester Center, so I Believe and I stuck out our thumbs for a hitch into town. I told her someone in a Subaru with VT plates should stop, and sure enough two very nice women in just that gave us a lift. The first stop was McDonald's. I hate to admit that, but it still is meat, salt, and fat I crave in town. Our next stop (across the street) was EMS where I splurged on a new hiking shirt. This will be my 3rd short sleeve hiking shirt. I needed a morale booster and felt it a just reward for the 1,600 plus miles I have walked. I am so tired of putting on the same clothes every day, dirty and smelly to boot. I Believe and I then walked next door to the grocery store for a 3 day resupply and food to eat at the hostel. Chores done, I called Jeff and he came and picked us up. I can't say enough good things about this hostel. It is a beautiful, modern, immaculately kept home. I am in a 4 bed room with a private bath with I Believe, First Gear and Cozy, an AT hiker I met last year sectioning with my son Toretto. Jeff shuttles hikers into and out of town and back to the trail. Included in the $27 charge is soda, a pint of Ben &Jerry's, breakfast fare, laundry and linens, and lots of cushy furniture. Green Mountain House is a gem and I highly recommend it. Here tonight also is Trotter. He saw me at EMS and came over to me and asked if I were Flinch. His father, David, follows my journal and has been telling Trotter that he was closing in on me. Trotter recognized me. How fun is that?It feels like a slumber party. I Believe and I are zeroing tomorrow. We couldn't have picked a better place.
Date: 2014-08-03
From: Green Mountain House hostel

To: Green Mountain House hostel
Miles today: 0.0

As the miles add up and the body wears down, as the novelty of living in the woods has long since past and the simple pleasure of washing my hands with soap under a faucet after using a flush toilet seems like a luxury, as my trail family gets me through the tough days, but they can't replace home and family, precious zero days help to replenish and sustain me. I think about quitting and what that would be like. Let it be known I am not quitting, but the longer I am out here and the closer I get to home, the more I want to be done. This has been the most physically demanding 5 months of my life and I have probably another 5 to 7 weeks to go. Mentally, I have to remind myself that I am doing this because I want to do it. I want to prove to myself that I have it in me to do it. I knew what to expect and that it would be hard. I know I am fortunate to have the opportunity and be healthy and fit enough to do it. I received a text this week from 80 Dollar, a section hiker I met the 1st or 2nd day on the trail, and it seems a lifetime ago that we shared a cabin together in Neels Gap. I also received an email from Sir Laughs a Lot, a fellow Mainer I met in February over coffee. He started a week before I did and he summited Katahdin July 22nd. Just this morning I received a text from Salty Hat. He and No Name have gotten off the trail. They were a huge part of my trail family these past many weeks and I am saddened by their departure. I am still out here, putting one foot in front of the other, both excited and flinching at the same time over the upcoming last 2 most difficult, challenging, and fun states. As an Occupational Therapist working in an acute care hospital, on a daily basis I would have patient's whom I'd recommend an inpatient rehabilitation stay before returning home. To patients who wanted to go home even though they would benefit from rehab, I would say, "What is a week or two (at rehab) in a lifetime, if it will mean you will be stronger and safer when you do go home?" I am giving myself my own advice. What is another 7 weeks away from home in my lifetime? It is nothing compared to the accomplishment of achieving this goal I have set for myself. I had a wonderful relaxing zero today at Green Mountain House. I spent time with First Gear, and Houdini drove down for a quick 3 hour visit with my new boots. Tomorrow, it's back to work. I can do this!
Date: 2014-08-04
From: Green Mountain House hostel

To: Danby-Landgrove Road (mile 1664.8)
Miles today: 17.6

Today was a good day. I was up at 6:00 making the first pot of coffee in the hostel's kitchen just like I'd be doing at home. It felt so good to do something normal. Then I made scrambled eggs. I haven't done that in 5 months. Kozi's mom is visiting for a few days and offered to slack us today. There was room at the hostel for I Believe and me to stay a third night, so this morning I packed a day pack and Jeff dropped I Believe, Owl Bear (who got to the hostel yesterday and is our roommate along with Wing It) and me off at the the trail at 7:45. It was a pleasant and easy day of hiking with a gorgeous view at the top of Baker's Peak this afternoon after having had no view this morning at the summit of fogged in Bromley Mountain. It sprinkled for about 5 minutes in the morning. Once the fog burned off it was a mostly sunny afternoon, probably about 80 degrees. Longbow, Little Spoon, and Bison slacked too and Cyclone and Sherlock were on the trail with us as well. It was fun to be hiking with my hiking compadres after having been separated for several days. Talking while hiking makes the time go by so much more quickly. The last few days I Believe and I had seen very few if any NOBO's, though quite a few SOBO's. It felt good to be back in boots today after 600 miles or so in trail runners. They are a new pair of Solomon's just like the last pair I wore the first 1,000 miles. I definitely prefer the added padding and support of a boot over my trail runners. Back at the hostel, I had rotisserie chicken, salad, and Annie's mac 'n cheese for dinner and my 3rd free pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. It is such a treat to come back to the hostel after a day of hiking, take a shower and sleep in a bed. I am a day hiker at heart. Tomorrow, Kozi's mom will slack us 11 miles. Then we will get our packs back and hike 3 more miles into the woods to the shelter. Goodnight.
Date: 2014-08-06
From: VT 103 - Yellow Deli Hiker Hostel

To: Cooper Lodge Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: few clouds

I Believe's cut closed up nicely overnight, but she decided to zero today at the hostel. After breakfast at the Yellow Deli Owl Bear, Kozi, Bison, K9 and I climbed into the hostel owner, Aysh's Corolla for a clown car ride back to the trail. Owl Bear, Kozi, and Bison were slacking themselves and either taking the bus or hitching back into Rutland to the Yellow Deli Hostel tonight where they left their packs. I had my pack since I planned on a shorter day and tenting atop Killington Mountain. Tomorrow, I am hiking down the mountain and being picked up at noon by a friend for an overnight at his home with all the luxuries of a shower, bed, laundry, home cooking and car ride to the grocery store to resupply. I didn't start hiking until 9:00, and there were two short, but steep climbs before the gradual, and long almost 3,000 foot gain up Killington. We haven't had that big a climb in months. It is a reminder of elevations to come. I felt like I was dragging the last 3 miles as the trail got steeper and the roots more abundant. There was a mix of wet leaves, rocks, mud (not a lot), pine needles, roots and dirt. I hiked alone, but met Toasted Toad and Shellback on the trail. Cyclone and Sherlock were behind me, but I didn't see them until the end of the day. I only saw a couple of SOBO's. There was trail magic at one stream where someone had left soda cans in the stream to stay cold. I stopped and had a snack with my ginger ale. I reached the shelter by 4:30 and am tenting with Toasted Toad, Cyclone and Sherlock, and a section hiker. This is the first night I have needed to wear a poly pro top and bottom layer to bed. It is cool enough here near the summit to have tucked myself into my sleeping bag right after an early dinner. It is shades of things to come. I will be getting the rest of my winter gear within a week. It's hard to believe. Oh, and I passed the under 500 mile mark today!
Date: 2014-08-08
From: US Route 4 Rutland VT

To: The Lookout (mile 1714.3)
Miles today: 17.3

My day started with a hiker breakfast of coffee, eggs, grapefruit, and cereal with blueberries and raspberries from Jerry and Lindi's garden. I said goodbye to Lindi, and Jerry and I headed out. It was an hour drive back to the trail. Lindi called while we were on the road to tell me I had left my spoon at the house, my long handled titanium spoon I have had since day #1. I'm still stoveless, so can get by without it, but Jerry has decided to hike the next section of the trail south tomorrow and he's going to have my spoon with him. This morning Jerry walked a mile in with me to the Maine Junction where the Long Trail splits off from the AT. We took pictures at the Junction Sign, said goodbye, and I continued north. Wiki, and later True Story caught up with me and I hiked and chatted with each of them for part of the morning. There was one 1,200 ft climb, but otherwise the trail was tame today, with a series of small ups and downs. I am camping tonight in a new rustic cabin at "The Lookout" with one other hiker, K2, a SOBO. I got here by 6:30, and within minutes about 8 day hikers who took a 20 minute walk to reach this lookout, showed up. They brought wine, and cheese and crackers which they graciously shared with K2 and me. Thank you Mark, Erin, and Noah. I sat on the rocks with a glass of cold white wine and took in the 360 degree view from the rooftop deck. K2 and I just watched the sunset from the rooftop. Life is good.
Date: 2014-08-09
From: The Lookout (mile 1714.3)

To: stealth campsite at mile 1730.5
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: light rain

I was up and out of the cabin this morning at 7:00. I have to put The Lookout on my list of top 5 places I have camped on the trail. It's private, the view was magnificent from the rooftop deck, and the cabin was a great place to sleep. Today was about steep up and downs of a few hundred feet to 900 feet. The trail was primarily dirt, but steep up after steep up was tiring by the end of the day. Several times the trail came out of the woods over fields with views or into underbrush that was as tall as I was. I had trail magic twice today. Jerry hiked south and we met on the trail. He gave me my spoon and some cookies, and took my trash. I definitely got the better deal. Thanks so much Jerry for going above and beyond. I know it was a beautiful day to take a hike and bike ride (he left his car at his end point and bicycled to his start point), but I appreciate your efforts. I also came across a cooler with cold Long Trail Pumpkin Ale. I sat and drank the beer and ate my cookies. It tasted wonderful. I played leapfrog with Wiki and True Story and stopped and had lunch with them today. I met Rocky and Swamp Fox. Rocky has thru-hiked before and is sectioning with Swamp Fox who at 75, has only 175 miles, before he finishes a section hike in the entire AT. I am stealth camping tonight by myself. Tomorrow I cross into NH! I will catch up with I Believe who hiked into Hanover today.
Date: 2014-08-10
From: stealth campsite at mile 1730.5

To: Hanover NH
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

It is always a good day when I get up and break camp knowing I am walking into town. Today in particular it felt good because my destination was Hanover, a town I know and a state line I had to cross to get here. It has taken me 5 months and 1 day to walk from GA to NH. It was an easy day with a mostly dirt covered trail and "all down hill." I put that in quotations, because hikers always joke about a day that looks predominantly downhill, but never truly is. There were 2 road walks. Wiki and True Story had given me the heads up about trail magic along the first one. Linda and Randy live just off the trail on VT 14 and have a bell they ring from their porch when they see hikers coming down the hill. The bell ringing this morning was an invitation to stop for breakfast. Wiki and True Story were there and had tented in the yard overnight. What a treat to sit on Linda and Randy's porch with coffee, eggs, and toast. Thank you so much. The last 2.4 miles of the day was a road walk into Norwich VT, over the CT River and into Hanover, NH. My first stop was Starbucks for a venti coffee frappachino, a just reward for having come so far. I am staying at the Six South Street Hotel, an upscale hotel right off Main St, thanks to a gym buddy of mine whose company manages it. It is too upscale to have guest laundry. Weekdays there is laundry service, but my hiking clothes aren't worthy of such treatment so I washed my hiking shirt out in the sink. Thank you Sean for this luxurious room. I have a king sized bed with lots of pillows to lie on, a couch to sit on and ice for my feet. I had a delicious dinner of salmon over a couscous salad at Molly's Restaurant where I ate with First Gear a year ago when she was hiking through Hanover. I Believe had originally planned to zero today, but instead chose to take a shuttle north with Owl Bear to slack southbound over Moosilauke, then hike southbound back into Hanover. I will see her on the trail as I head north. Houdini and I made plans for him to meet me in Wentworth on Wednesday for some slack packing, R&R, and to deliver the rest of my winter gear. Finally, last night was the first night I have stealth camped by myself. I wasn't flinching, but Houdini was. For me it was empowering.
Date: 2014-08-11
From: Hanover NH

To: stealth campsite at mile 1756.9
Miles today: 13.7

I took my time leaving Hanover this morning. The Coop where I needed to resupply didn't open until 8:00 and is right on the trail heading out of town. I had breakfast in the hotel, lingered over my coffee and was packed up and on the street at 9:00. I met 3 NOBO's at the store, saw them again at the trailhead leading into the woods, and never saw another NOBO all day. I did see a handful of SOBO's. I am definitely between bubbles. I have hiking buddies 1or 2 days ahead, and 4 days behind. I Believe and I should pass each other tomorrow. It was sunny and in the 80's today. The weather the past several days has been perfect hiking weather with no rain, low humidity, mostly sunny and in the 70's and low 80's. There is rain in the forecast for mid week, so all that may change.I enjoyed the trail today. It was a day of easy terrain. There was nothing technical, and the ascents and descents for the most part were gradual, with a few steeper ups and downs tossed in for good measure. The trail took me over pine needles, dirt, intermittent short rock slabs, roots, and a little mud. In spite of the easy terrain, I managed to fall on one of the few slick rock steps. I have fallen a couple of times that I've neglected to mention, so let's just say my fall count is up to 20. I met Robo today who thru-hiked on '05, '07, and '09. He had just set up a cooler for trail magic. I sat down, had my lunch with a really cold coke, and we talked trail. He wants to do the trail a 4th time. The coke hit the spot with my hummus and pretzels (one of my favorite same day out of town snacks), string cheese, and dried mango. Thanks Robo. Enjoy you're 4th thru-hike. One is going to suit me just fine. The spacing of the shelters has not been conducive to my staying in them as of late, so I am stealthing again tonight.
Date: 2014-08-12
From: stealth campsite at mile 1756.9

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: light rain

I am exhausted. I was packed up and on the trail at 7:15 and it was a day of climbing. I'd better get used to it. I had a 2,000 ft climb in the morning and a 1,500 ft one in the afternoon. Some of it was steep and interesting with rock slabs, some just steep over dirt and roots. It took me until 5:15 to do today's miles.I Believe, Owl Bear and I met this morning on the trail as I headed north and they south. They will get into Hanover tomorrow and I am hiking 5 miles to NH 25A where Houdini is picking me up. I had planned to slack additional miles tomorrow, but heavy rain is forecast, so we'll be heading straight to a motel in Lincoln. I had trail magic today thanks to Bill Ackerly. He lives just off the trail and has a sign on the trail inviting thru-hikers to stop at his house for free ice cream, and water from his spigot. Bill wasn't there, but left instructions for accessing his freezer on the porch. I sat on the porch and enjoyed a creamsickle. I would have liked to have met him and thanked him personally. I am in the shelter tonight. If the rain starts overnight, at least I will be dry and not have to deal with packing up a wet tent in the morning. This is a log frame shelter shaped like a hexagon with 2 of the 6 sides open. I am here with Appman.
Date: 2014-08-13
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: NH 25A
Miles today: 5.0

With a 100% chance of rain and flash flood warnings for today, I wanted to start hiking at 6:00. Houdini and I had pushed back his arrival time, hoping I'd get off the mountain before the worst of the weather arrived.It started raining lightly at 4:30. I was awake at 5:30, but in the woods with an overcast sky, it was still quite dark. I wasn't going to hike in the dark so I lay in my sleeping bag until 5:45. It was almost 6:30 by the time I'd packed up and it was light enough to tackle a wet, slippery trail. I had a climb up Mt Cube. The trail took me up over exposed rock in rain and wind that tried to knock me down, over slippery roots, through standing water and mud. I was painstaking careful with my footing, so as not to fall, and it took me an hour and 20 minutes to hike 1.6 miles. Fortunately, the trail leveled out towards the bottom, and though wet, was not slippery; and I made up some time the last couple of miles. I could have been miserable, but I liked the climb today, and I took on the challenge of navigating it smartly and safely under the conditions. It didn't hurt either that I knew Houdini would be at the road, and I was not facing a full day of hiking in the rain. He pulled up just as I came out of woods. I was soaking wet and pulled my own Houdini act changing into dry clothes in the car. We headed to McDonald's for breakfast. Coffee and a hot meal tasted good, even if it was fast food. We couldn't get into our motel room until the afternoon, so we drove to the laundromat and got that chore out of the way. By afternoon, there was a steady rain and by this evening, it was raining hard and the wind was howling. The flooding from this weather system made the national news. I am so glad to be in a motel tonight, not stuck in my tent or a shelter waiting out the storm. Thanks for the rescue Houdini.Tomorrow I am going to slack 10 miles to Glencliff, and the start of The Whites. Bring 'em on!
Date: 2014-08-14
From: NH 25A

To: High Street (mile 1787.8)
Miles today: 11.0

Today I slacked the miles that I would have done yesterday were it not for the storm. Houdini and I started the day at Flapjack's. I had merely scrambled eggs, home fries, bacon, sausage, 2 blueberry pancakes, and coffee. Well fueled, Houdini dropped me off at the trail. The order of the day was hiking through debris, mud and standing water. On the windward side of Orr Hill and Mt Mist, there were lots of downed branches, and in a number of places I had to maneuver around and over felled trees. I passed Dad slacking southbound and he said Longbow and Little Spoon were on Moosilauke during the peak of the storm. After the wind I encountered at the summit of tiny Cube Mountain earlier in the day yesterday, I can't imagine being at the top of Moosilauke during the height of the wind and rain. Longbow, it will make a great story, and I'm looking forward to hearing it. Better you than me, my friend. I would have been flinching. After a shower back at the motel, Houdini and I went to The Rustic River Restaurant and had a very good Italian dinner. Tomorrow, I'm taking a zero and will slack Moosilauke on Saturday.