morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-13
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

Rained all day today (and yesterday) - probably got 2 inches of water. Slippery roots, rocks and lots of mud - up over my boots mud! Tomorrow I will trek to Manchester, VT where I plan to have a good lunch, do laundry and probably get a room (will not be staying at the Equinox Hotel and Resort) I don't look like their clientele! It should be an easy day - 10.6 miles...I don't mind the rain, but the slippery rocks and roots can "take a hike" as they make for stressful and extremely cautious stepping. At this point I don't want any accidents!Quick call to Bonnie at 8:00 PM and had to hang up because caretaker was here collecting money($5). It's clearing as nightfalls; temps are low 70s - will probably be 60s overnight. Mr. Breeze, Moat, Eagle Eye and Kid Gore are my shelter mates. Really not much to report. As Bonnie would say, "there's more going on on her side of the trees."March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life's path.   - Kahlil Gibran -
Date: 2006-07-14
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Manchester, VT
Miles today: 10.6

High 89Low 62After a peaceful walk north past Stratton Pond, North shore Trail to North Shore Tenting Area (2,555'), Winhall River, Branch Pond Trail to William B. Douglas Shelter, Old Rootville Road, Prospect Rock, Spruce Peak Shelter and Spruce Peak I arrived Manchester where I got a room at Sutton's Place.I met Sleeper and his wife, who were shopping, and they drove me to get alcohol for my stove and back to Sutton's Place. They are staying in Bennington.I weighed myself at the hostel after pigging out on hamburgers, coffee, 2 donuts and a pint of Ben & Jerry's - 165 lbs...picture a once 40" waist that's dwindled to 31" (and all it took was a 4 mos. "walk in the woods"!) Called Bonnie while walking to a free concert on the Manchester Common and went to dinner at the Sizzlin' Sirloin - where I had lunch - met Moat and had some good conversation over dinner. I spent most of this day feeding...and some time plotting my week - looks like I could be in Hanover, NH (96 miles north) by next Friday, July 21st. I'll give my cousin who, lives in Plainfield, a call on my way through.I've resupplied and am ready to move on - a rolling stone gathers no moss -but wet slippery rocks do!Nothing was ever so unfamiliar and startling to me as my own thoughts.   - Thoreau's Journal: 10-Jul-1840 -
Date: 2006-07-15
From: Manchester, VT

To: Lost Pond Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Left Sutton¢s 6:30 AM and had to wait for ¢Up the Stairs¢ to open for breakfast, but it was worth the wait. Had 2 pancakes, bacon, sausage, coffee, toast and home fries ¢ and left Manchester. Great energy day. Trail was hot, but not as hot as predicted - it was overcast - and it¢s less sloppy as it dries out. Had slight showers this afternoon. Many southbound hikers...I¢ve met 10-12 prior to today and met another 5 today.Mr. Breeze and I hitched out of town together this morning and I haven¢t seen him since the first 200 yards of trail.Today's trek out of Manchester took me across VT 11 & 30 (1,100'), past Bromley Shelter and over Bromley Mtn, (3,260').Factoid: Bromley is the only mountain in Vermont with Southern Exposure. With sun all day long, even the coldest days feel warm.I continued through Peru, VT and on to Mad Tom Notch, USFS 21 (2,446'), Styles Peak, Peru Peak (3,429), Peru Peak Shelter, Griffith Lake Tenting Area, Griffith Lake (north end), Baker Peak (2,850') and in to Lost Pond.The ups are getting me ready for what lies ahead...Tonight I¢m with Bird Nut a sobo hiker who did a nobo AT thru-hike in 2002. and Doug, a student from Northeastern, who is doing a section of the trail from MA to ME at Rte. 23 just after the NH border. I¢ve set my tent up in the shelter and Bird Nut has a net he puts over him to keep the ¢mossies¢ away.Capacity of Lost Pond Shelter is 8. It's closeby the AT and maintained by AT Green Mtn. Club. Spoke with Bonnie at 8:30 and didn¢t know if I¢d connect as I couldn¢t get a signal all day¢¦asked her to send my fleece hat, mittens, monkey fleece jacket, trail mix and power bars to Hanover PO. She says she doesn¢t have my monkey fleece jacket¢¦I mailed it from Pearisburg, VA. ???? I wonder what happened??? I¢ll be bummin¢ big time if it¢s lost...It was expensive and very light weight ¢ kept me very warm. If she doesn¢t have it I¢ll have to borrow one of Curt¢s Patagonia fleece jackets (even though it will weigh more than I¢d like)¢¦I was thinking about Jay and Ginny Milliken today (long time Dolly Copp camping friends) who live in Townshend, VT southeast of "my side of the trees"...The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it.      - John Ruskin -
Date: 2006-07-16
From: Lost Pond Shelter

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: clear sky

Today these wet, weary, fungus ridden feet walked Old Job Trail, Big Branch Shelter, Black Branch (1,500¢); Danby, VT, Danby-Landgrove Road (USFS 10). Lula Tye Shelter, Little Rock Pond Tenting Area, Spring; Home Stone Brook Trail, Greenwall Shelter, Sugar Hill Road; Wallingford, VT, VT 140 (1,160¢).Spent the night at the Minerva Hinchey Shelter with 2 fellows from Burlington, VT who are hiking the Long Trail - a doctor, a psychologist - and a family of 3 from Tampa, FL. My tent is set up on the fire road and I hope nothing comes along in the middle of the night!It was very hot hiking today, but I guess that¢s to be expected at this time of summer! I¢m sure that my weight loss and the humidity have an affect on my stamina, not to worry, the doctor at the shelter told me I was in great shape. When he asked if I wanted my photo taken I told him no because Bonnie gets concerned when she sees me¢¦The integrity of the trail is much better now that it¢s drying out. The muddy conditions over the past several miles (due to the rain) have made for halacious walking. I¢ve been in mud up to my arse (well what used to be my arse)! The fungus on the tops of my feet was almost knocked out and then¢¦wet, sweat, rain, combined with soaked muddy shoes¢¦the perfect recipe for foot festering fungus¢¦not a pretty sight! What I'd learned on on the solitary mountain all summer, the Vision on Desolation Peak, I tried to bring down to the world and to my friends in San Francisco, but they, involved in the strictures of time and life, rather than the eternity and solitude of mountain snowy rocks, had a lesson to teach me themselves. Besides, the vision of the freedom of eternity which I saw and which all wilderness heritage saints have seen, is of little use in cities and warring societies such as we have...      Desolation Angels         - Jack Kerouac -
Date: 2006-07-17
From: Minerva Hinchey Shelter

To: Upper Cold River Road
Miles today: 8.1

Was eating breakfast this morning at the Whistlestop Restaurant when the 2 guys( Mirage and Phoenix) from Burlington, VT, doing the Long Trail, happened in and treated me. They then offered to drive me to the grocery store where I resupplied and they drove me back to the trail.It wasn¢t ¢til I started to hike and went to put my hat on due to the heat that I realized I¢d left my hat on their trunk ¢¦I hiked back to the road and tried to hitch a ride for half an hour without any success. So, I hiked back into the woods, wrapped my bandana around my head and continued on¢¦That hat¢s been with me from step one and I¢d added several fallen feathers to the band making it quite distinctive . It¢s the little things that upset the apple cart! I said a prayer to St. Anthony ¢ maybe it will find it¢s way back to me.Stopped at Clarendon Shelter (a short 3.7 miles from Minerva Hinchey Shelter) at noon and tried to call Bonnie, but no luck ¢ bad cell service. However, I did sit in a nearby creek to cool off. Finally managed to get Bonnie about 2:30 and told her of my plans to go into the outfitters in Rutland, VT tomorrow where I¢ll buy a new hat and a Patagonia fleece jacket. There¢s a guy who shuttles hikers in to Rutland from Rte. 4 and there¢s also a bus for a couple of dollars. Between the 2, I should be all set.Because of my sapped energy (humidity?), today¢s trek has 2 options: a ¢secret¢ (privately owned) shelter at Upper Cold River Road (7.8 miles) or the stone shelter Governor Clement (9.5 miles). It depends on how far off the trail the ¢secret¢ shelter is located.When this day ends, probably by 5:00 ¢ 5:15 I will have walked through:Clarendon Gorge, Mill River Bridge, No. Clarendon, VT, Vt. 103 (860¢), Clarendon Shelter, Beacon Hill, Lottery Road, Cold River Road (Lower Road), Gould Brook (1,480¢), Upper Cold River ¢ and maybe on Governor Clement Shelter (1,850¢) which is 1.4 miles further than Upper Cold River.Weather conditions today: hot, hot, hot... requires lots of hydration.Heat has really affected me. I¢m drinking Gatorade today to keep my electrolytes up.Humidity:        55%Wind Speed:        SW 5 mphBarometer:        29.92 in. Dewpoint:        70°FHeat Index:        93°FWind Chill:        88°FSunrise:5:26 AM EDT        Sunset:        8:29 PM EDT        TODAY                 TONIGHTMostly Sunny        Mostly ClearHi: 90°F        Lo: 65°FI¢m thinking about Jenna and Curt who will have another child at this time tomorrow¢¦When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.   - John Ruskin -
Date: 2006-07-20
From: US 4 - Killington, VT - The Inn at Long Trail

To: Framingham, MA
Miles today: 0.0

The wheels on the bus are temporarily flat! I had Bonnie pick me up at the Inn at Long Trail yeterday Wed. 7/19. What a great doctor I have, she saw me this AM and had an infectious disease doctor look at what I thought was a bite under my watch band. Blood letting for several tests to check for various tick diseases to the point where I'll need a transfusion! I had an ekg checking for heart block(faulty electrical pulses). Doxycycline 100mg 2 X a day for a while and we'll see if I can pump some air back into the tires!! Cosmic Punchline feels better after 5 days on the pills and he's doing light hiking beginning tomorrow. I'm going to continue the one day at a time approach. I have no choice, I can't hike. Please don't call until Monday, 7/24 as I'm going to rest, rest, rest!! and read a THICK HEAVY BOOK or two. English Proverb: A stumble may prevent a fall.
Date: 2006-07-25
From: Framingham, MA

To: Framingham, MA
Miles today: 0.0

My last trail mileage was 1 week ago today. I've been taking doxycycline and feel good enough to try limited trail miles again on Thursday afternoon. A former colleague, Harvey Gendreau, has volunteered to drive me back to Killington Thursday morning, July 27th. After lunch at the Long Trail Inn, I'll do a few miles back up into the hills.Got a phonecall from Sleeper and Afterburner this morning. They are outside Hanover, NH and told me Headin' Out and Taggin' Along are about 20 miles behind them. Maybe I'll catch up with them after the Whites.I understand Cosmic Punchline has gone home for a longer rest from his Lyme bout. Hopefully, a slow return to the trail for me will not necessitate another hiatus!!A bonus of coming home is seeing my newest grandchild, Caroline, and having a picnic in the backyard with another, Kathryn.Please excuse me while I go gather up the gear I've spread around and inventory the food and snack bags. I'll keep you posted through my talented transcriber and wife, Bonnie."Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open roadHealthy, freeThe world before me,The long, brown path before meLeading wherever I choose."Walt Whitman, Song of the Open Road
Date: 2006-07-27
From: US 4 - Killington, VT - The Inn at Long Trail

To: Kent Pond Lodge
Miles today: 5.0

Harvey, colleague, friend and ¢trail angel¢ picked me up at 7:30 AM in Framingham. At 11:00 AM he left me at the trail in Killington, VT about .9 mi from the Inn at the Long Trail where Bonnie picked me up last Wed., July 19th -¢back to the future¢¢¦After walking 5 to 5.5 fairly flat miles in high heat and humidity, I feel good. T-storms are threatening. And, so ends my day. Not because of weather; because it is the smart thing to do!I will spend tonight at Kent Pond Lodge where I will shower, eat, rest.It¢s been an emotional day. Tomorrow I will try 8-10 miles on this long brown path¢¦each step slow progress in a journey of miles toward the final ascent. I do not know the outcome; only the desire¢¦   The idea is in thyself.The impediment, too, is in thyself.      - Thomas Carlyle -
Date: 2006-07-28
From: Kent Pond Lodge

To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 15.6

Spent the night at Winturri Shelter (AT "Red Roof" Inn) after a 15.6 mile ¢walk in the woods¢.There were some ups and my left knee is now ¢talking to me¢¢¦It may have been more than I should have attempted. Or, it may have been the ups that haven¢t been part of the regimen for a while. Even though the changes in elev. weren¢t significant they may have been ¢just enough¢ to present a problem. Whatever it is; it is. I¢m hoping it¢s nothing more than a ¢twinge¢...Geography between Kent Pond Lodge and Winturri Shelter: River Road (1,214¢) Stony Brook Shelter (1,760') Chateauguay Road, Side trail to The Lookout; Winturri Shelter (1,900¢).Nothing happens to any man that he is not formed by nature to bear.   - Marcus Aurelius Antoninus ¢
Date: 2006-07-29
From: Winturri Shelter

To: Cloudland Road
Miles today: 9.3

My knees not talking; it¢s screaming!Left Winturri Shelter and trekked through Woodstock, VT before passing through South Pomfret and on to Woodstock Stage (Barnard Brook) Road (770¢) and South Pomfret ¢ Pomfret Road. At 9.3 miles I had to get off the trail at Cloudland Road. I just couldn¢t walk any further! I called my cousin Cindy (latest trail angel¢) who lives in Plainfield, VT and she drove about 45 minutes to pick me up. Thank you! I¢m going to spend the next 2 days resting my legs in hopes that will ¢do the trick¢. Before beginning this trip, I had my right knee checked and I¢ve been taking chondroitin as a precaution. But, this is the outside of my left leg from my knee area to my ankle. I hope the wheels haven¢t permanently fallen off the bus!When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it: this is knowledge.   - Confucius -
Date: 2006-07-30
From: Cloudland Road

To: Zero
Miles today: 0.0

If you think you are beaten, you areIf you think you dare not, you don'tIf you like to win, but you think you can'tIt is almost certain you won't.If you think you'll lose, you're lostFor out of the world we findSuccess begins with a fellow's willIt's all in the state of mind.If you think you are outclassed, you are,You've got to think high to rise,You've got to be sure of yourself beforeYou can ever win a prize.Life's battles don't always goTo the stronger or faster man,But soon or late, the man who winsIs the man who thinks he can!      - Unknown -
Date: 2006-07-31
From: Zero

To: Zero
Miles today: 0.0

It's all good!Yesterday I spent a great day weeding and tieing up tomato plants with Ralph and Cindy - least I can do for 2 days room, board and hospitality...Today I hiked Mt. Ascutney 4 miles r/t with Ralph. I didn't carry any weight, but my knee feels good (don't say a word)!Tonight we're going to visit Jason in Claremont, NH. The last time I saw him was 2000 when Bonnie and I had dinner with him in Germany where he was stationed. We will go to dinner tonight also...Remember, it's all about the food!Tomorrow I will "get back on the trail" at Cloudland Road and my plan is to hike to "Happy Hill" Shelter (no, it's not a retirement home or assisted living facility)! And, let's hope it's a happy day to Happy Hill...11.1 miles.I plan to be in Hanover, NH on Aug. 2nd (5.5 miles) from Happy Hill and will finally pickup the maildrop Bonnie sent off on July 18th which contains my fleece hat and mittens and that ever popular trailmix which is probably wilted from the heat! By the way, my monkey fleece jacket, turned up...I had given it to Adam to mail home. It arrived last week while I was recuperating...Mind melt; mystery solved!I have 2 options for the night of Aug. 2nd: I can come back to Plainfield with Cindy (at the end of her work day at Dartmouth Hitchcock Med. Ctr.in Hanover) or I can continue on to Velvet Rocks Shelter which is just 1.5 miles outside of Hanover. I haven't made up my mind, but if I should decide to come back to Plainfield it will make for 2 consecutive short hiking days (which might be a good thing...) and she would drop me off at Hanover on Aug. 3rd and I would continue on my way.But, I am getting ahead of myself - not a wise thing!"I have learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and eneavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him; or the old laws will be expanded, and interpreted in his favor in a more liberal sense, and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings. In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness. If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."            - Henry David Thoreau -
Date: 2006-08-01
From: Cloudland Road

To: Norwich, VT
Miles today: 15.4

Imagine my surprise¢¦I awoke to t-storms and didn¢t want to begin my hike in lousy weather. Am I getting ¢soft¢?After complaining to Ralph and Cindy and saying my grateful good-byes, Ralph dropped me at Cloudland Road where Cindy had picked me up last Friday hot, weary and hurting¢¦ Having lathered with sunblock, donned my hat and taken a 600 mg. Motrin, I was back on trail at 8:30. My leg was a bit sore early in the day, but the Motrin took care of that¢¦The early day was cool, but became hotter, as the day advanced and I walked amidst the shady hills, in high humidity, through several pastures, enjoying my fill of blackberries, red raspberries and cane raspberries while wending my way through: Thistle Hill (1,950¢), Thistle Hill Shelter, Joe Ranger Road, West Hartford, VT, Tigertown Road, Podunk Road, VT 13, White River (400¢), Happy Hill Shelter (1,400¢), Norwich, VT.I revelled in waters of the mountain brooks and made the time to cool myself (at least 3 times throughout the day) by splashing in the refreshing wetness while cool fog hung mid-air over the brook - "Mother Nature's" shower curtain! I met some SOBO hikers; exchanged quick hellos and we continued on keeping with our schedules.   Nothing is as constant as change¢¦I walked right by ¢Happy Hill¢ Shelter opting to go the extra 4 plus miles to Norwich, VT where I have a room at the very friendly and busy Norwich Inn (this is NO "Happy Hill" - a much better resting place!) When I arrived a woman (who happens to be the new inn owner effective today) asked me several questions about the trail¢¦Later, in the pub, she commented, ¢You don¢t look like the same person I spoke to earlier.¢ Amazing what some hot water and soap can do! The pub was packed on this Tues. night ¢ lots of noise - and I had a great meal in the bar: potato soup, angel hair pasta with chicken and tomatoes, apple crisp and ice cream. And, because ¢it¢s all about the food¢¢¦I ordered a hamburger, fries and some potato salad ¢to go¢ which I enjoyed while watching the Red Sox game.If you walk as far as I have you can eat like this, too!New faces today (NOBO hikers): Silverfoot (female) and Irish (male) both hiking buddies of Afterburner, who is currently sidetracked recovering from lyme disease, and hopeful of getting back on trail at Glencliff, NH (by end of this week) so that we can continue on together. I am keeping my fingers crossed¢¦Random Thoughts:I saw Don Quixote at Winturri Shelter 5 days ago and learned that Headin¢ Out and Taggin¢ Along are about a week ahead of me¢¦maybe I¢ll see them again.An overdue thank you to Joel Millman for the Lamasil, honey roasted soybeans, Thai ramen and warm wishes he so graciously sent along to me. It¢s long been on my mind¢¦It was nice to see Jason (after 6 yrs!) and meet his girlfriend (her name escapes me)- a condition of age!Ralph and Cindy were definitely "in the right place at the right time"...there are no coincidences.I am a lucky man.The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.         - Lao-tse ¢
Date: 2006-08-02
From: Norwich, VT

To: Moose Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: haze

Another state behind me; 2 remain¢¦Sunshine and heat were my companions today as I left NH behind at the the beautiful Connecticut River (400¢) and, although the heat and humidity increased over today¢s trek, it was not as bad as you were suffering at home.   Being shaded, in the higher elevations, it is cooler although I do get an occasional open area where I feel the sun and heat even though my head is always covered.The 11 plus miles today took me into Hanover (where I picked up my maildrop) and on past Dartmouth College, NH 120, Velvet Rocks Shelter, Ledyard Spring, Trescott Road, Etna, NH, Etna-Hanover Center Road (880¢), Three Mile Road, Mink Brook (didn¢t see any mink), Moose Mtn. (south peak 2,250¢) and into Moose Mtn. Shelter. I felt good throughout the day and am hopeful that will continue as I move on¢¦Met a couple of SOBO hikers (Lumps and Two Step) and engaged in some good conversation.Moose Mtn. Shelter mates: Sourdough and his dog ¢Action Jackson¢ (somewhere near GA/TN), Radley (NJ) and Lifesaver (?)Total Elev. change: 1850¢Temps:   95o high/70o lowFrame of mind: ExcellentPhysical condition: Great (considering)Spirit: InimitableAll human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire.      - Aristotle -
Date: 2006-08-03
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: Firewarden's Cabin
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Today¢s Facts: Mileage - 12.4 milesResting spot - Firewarden¢s Cabin New faces - Paul w/Bunions (section hiker) and CashTemps -   88o High/69o LowWeather ¢ Clear, hot (though not as hot as yesterday) and more humid with occasional cool breezesGeography: South Fork Hewes Brook, Goose Pond Road (920¢), Holts Ledge (2,100') Trapper John Shelter, Lyme, NH, Dartmouth Skiway (880¢), Lyme Dorchester Road, Smarts Mountain Tentsite, Firewarden¢s Cabin.Trail Statistics: The NH section of the AT spans about 161 miles from the Connecticut River in Hanover to the Maine state line.The Trail enters NH in Hanover along the Vermont state line and heads northeast into the White Mountains National Forest and exits at Grafton Notch near Bethel, Maine11 (of the 14 states), 8 national forests, 2 national parks and numerous state parks which constitute the AT are behind me; NH is now my host and ME beckonsI have walked 1754.8 miles of the 2176 miles stretching from Springer Mtn., GA421.2 miles stretch before me to Mt. Katahdin, ME Connecticut River (N.H./Vt. State Line) to Glencliff (NH 25) Section mileage: 43.9 milesDifficulty rating: 6 (strenuous ups and downs; only occasional flats)Elevation range: 400 feet (Connecticut River) - 3,240 feet (Firewarden's Cabin 5.8 Trail miles north of Lyme Center)Overview:Varied terrain at lower to mid-range elevations with fair amount of elevation gain and loss, and features several excellent views. A few strenuous ascents, and some rugged areas. The wheels are currently "on the bus"...may they continue to go 'round 'n 'round.What this power is, I cannot say. All I know is that it exists...and it becomes available only when you are in that state of mind in which you know exactly what you want...and are fully determined not to quit until you get it.         - Alexander Graham Bell -