morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-09
From: Sam Moore

To: Bear's Den Hostel
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: broken clouds

Short day today. A NERO. It was a pleasure to find Amoeba and Torchie here this morning. Queen Deva greeted us at the front to get her quick fix of 'hiker funk.' Most people avoid the funk at all costs. Queen Deva is unusuall in that sense. But she's planning a big italian dinner tonight which i most excited about. After getting settled in, Skittles, Stride, and I all headed into town with Amoeba and Queen Deva for a trip to the YMCA and to do some errands. I wasn't expecting the chance to lounge in the men's sauna so soon after leaving the trail. What a pleasure it was though. Relaxing today, and then off to Harper's Ferry tomorrow. Pics later possibly.
Date: 2008-05-02
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: Sherman, CT
Miles today: 465.0

The online journal has obviously escaped me. Apologies to all who have been waiting for updates that never show. A quick synopsis: see Skittle's journal. What a cop-out right? I will hopefully find the time one day to go back and relay the ongoings of the past month or so, but all in all, things are well. I've met some MORE incredible people along the way as I am sure you can imagine. I am in good health, walking pain free, and my feet seem to be holding up just fine. Thank you all for your continued support. I will be posting photos later this evening so prepare yourself. This one is going to be a doozey! Painted faces, tired bodies, blooming flowers, draining blisters, insatiable rashes, wildlife, and a slew of other pics. Hope you guys enjoy.
Date: 2008-05-07
From: Sherman, CT

To: Great Barrington
Miles today: 52.0
Weather: overcast clouds

With Connecticut behind me now and only around 700 miles left, I am really beginning to feel like the trip is slowly coming to a close. Savoring the moment has become paramount. I am continuously delighted by the sight of new flowers and spring unravels. The elusive green tunnel now looms above, shielding my neck and the forest floor from the rays that used to penetrate like a needle through a blister. The climbs through CT and MA remind me of the past and what is yet to come. Mt. Graylock is within a day or two. Then I hit Vermont, which i hear is flat through the southern portion. Skittles will take the Long Trail to Canada from Killington, VT and will be missed dearly. Skittles has bigger fish to fry than Katahdin and I wish him the best in his endless journey of connecting foot steps. After hitching into Great Barrington after a measly 8 mile day, Sam dropped us off at the Co-Op to buy groceries. Why? Because "I am Worth It." Thanks 'Worth It.'! Thai cuisine for lunch, new tips for my leki poles, a quick drop at the PO, witnessed (2nd hand) a cat fight between two young hipster teenage girls at the local 'hang out' in Great Barrington, bought a field guide to birds by Peterson (Desperado's recommendation), sat on park bench people watching for an hour or so. Skittles was able to contact his friend 'Kitchen Sink,' who lived down the road above an old video rental. It's been a blast staying with K-sink and her boyfriend 'Nuckin.' Green drinks, dinner at Xicoh, Ginger breath mints, wood carving, and a little frisbee in the field spiced up our stay. I just woke up about an hour ago. Not to the 'cheese-bur-ger' call of the black capped chickadee, but the swooshing sound of cars on wet pavement as the 9 to fivers make their way to wherever they're going. Yes, wet pavement. Looks like another slippery slope to slide down in the ever withering soles of my sandals. Excellent. See ya!
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Great Barrington

To: Williamstown, Mass.
Miles today: 73.0

Made it into North Adams yesterday after a leisurely 25 mile stroll from the 'Bird Cage' back in Dalton, where i stayed with Skittles and Stride for the night, showering, eating, drinking, and playing the guitar. A great stop! Thanks again Rob. In the morning, after getting my fill on fresh local baked goods at the General Store in Dalton, I made my way north alone. Skittles and Stride slackpacked south from North Adams. We met halfway just north of the Noepel shelter for lunch.I arrived into the town of North Adams around 5, pleasantly greeted by the smell of charcoal grills fired up for mother's day. A part of me was anticipating an invitation into one of the many cozy homes i passed as i descended from Mt. Greylock. For I am a weary traveler, entitled to good food and abounding generosity right? Eh,...only sometimes. I finally made it to the grocery for resupply. The place was swarming with young, unsuspecting college girls. Could i coax one in? Aren't i entitled? I am surely tired and i've heard whispering that it could rain tonight.....Oh well. I left with 3 days of food and a fresh welt where i removed a tick from the back on my knee in the produce section. One man standing near, asked, "Sir! Are you ok?" He thought i was on the verge of falling over. "No, I'm fine. It's just a tick," I replied.After sitting outside the grocery, repacking my food bag, and annihilating a clam shell of strawberries and a few oreos, I made my way back to the trail. I found relatively flat area under some hemlocks to pitch my tarp. Out came the pad and sleeping bag and i was out like a light. The wind whipped hard that night. 15 to 20 mph gusts down the back of my shirt kept me from dreaming. the morning came cold. i was expecting to see Skittles and Stride that next morning on the trial. they called to let me know they'd be late. so i walked into williamstown for coffee and some people watching. williams college was nice. I had a coffee at Tunnel City and tried reading Don Quixote. The coffee was good, but the book was much too heavy for my tired eyes. I thought about refilling my decaf for a regular but they charge full price for refills. So i just starred off into space for about an hour, watching the churn of college life ebb and flow through the front door of the coffee shop. I don't miss college.Skittles, Stride, Sulu, and Rob showed up and we all took a ride to the library where i am writing you now. The williams inn, next door, is my next stop. Sauna, shower, hot tub, and free wifi for $6. I'll take all but the last, seeing that i don't travel with a laptop. This is the last HOORAAH for the group. We'll have a nice dinner tonight to celebrate. It's bitter sweet. Skittles is getting off in Bennington, VT in two days to start the Long Trail and Stride is taking a break from the trail for a couple weeks as she heads back down to North Carolina for Staff Training at Snowbird. So I'll be left to my lonesome. It's been real. I'll miss you guys. -vagus
Date: 2008-05-21
From: Norwich, VT

To: Smarts
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Hello again faithful readers. It is I, the walking Vagus, mindlessly migrating north to Katahdin amidst existential steps, left, right, left, right. The mental challenge of continually plugging away the miles each and every day has become a formidable burden. Yet I am here, in Maine at Pine Ellis in Andover, mustering movivation to post an update summarizing the last week or so.Ok......so,5/21 I said goodbye to Hanover as 'The Brain' dropped me off in the parking lot of the co-op. Immediately confronted with what felt like 'big climbs.' Met another hiker from Rhode Island (Brian). Nice guy, chronic blood testing,and the harriest hands i've ever seen (perpetual mittens so to speak). Pushed onto Smarts Cabin that night. Cold and Rainy. Inhaled my Ramen like a good little hiker and crashed like a dump truck.
Date: 2008-05-22
From: Smarts

To: Glencliff
Miles today: 0.0

5/22- Climbed the fire tower to send a photo to a few friends via my cell phone. Descended down into the ravine to climb back up Mt. Cube. Met another hiker who looked old and tired. Claimed he'd been on the trail since April 2006, was fed up and ready to be done. I pushed onto Glencliff as I finished listening to 'The life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid.' Cramped in hysteria! Read it! Arrived in Glencliff around 3 to find that the Hiker's Welcome Hostel had just opened the day before for this seaon. What luck. The place was abandoned and in apparent disrepair, so I sat outside to absorb some rays as I watched a couple of young kids next door hack at dandilions with golf clubs and toss old pieces of plywood into their father's bonfire.   An old fan showed up with a bearded passenger in the front seat. I recognize that beard! Dozer ol' boy. It was nice to see the ol' man after trailing him by only a day or two for more than two months now. We sat inside with Fatpack the caretaker, chewed the fat, ate some Ramen, watched Balls of Fury, and listened the packsniffer comments of how terrible the Whites would be. Our plan was to get an early start the next morning and head to Eliza Shelter.
Date: 2008-05-23
From: Glencliff

To: Eliza Brooke
Miles today: 0.0

5/23- Hit up the post office to pick up my boots and an extra layer, in anticipation of cold weather and copious snow. And copious snow there was. We made the climb up Moosilake (spelling from here on out should be taken with a grain of salt, everything in Maine has crazy names, like Lake Moosalikniguntik,.......i think). Above treeline, visibilty was nill. Temps plummetted and the wind howled. We found shelter on the leeward sides of the cairns to add a layer or two. The descent down Beaver Brook was interesting. The snow was covered in snow, with a sold frozen spine of packed snow about 12 inches wide down the middle of the trail and far less stable snow and ice to either side. The hiking was slow. I rode a good portion of it on my tuckuss, and often found that if i wandered too far from the packed snow, i'd fall into a fresh new posthole up to my hip. This is actually quite terrifying. We made it safely down to the notch and enjoyed a short snack. We finally rolled into Elize Brooke around 7:30 after getting completely soaked from the rain, snow, ice, and trees that were totally saturated. I once slipped on a root and fell into a mudpit up to my knees. I could hardly rescue myself. I'd pull on a leg and only feel the suction of the massive black pit below. Reminded me of a scene straight out of 'The Never Ending Story.' Sheltered with Goatman and hit the sack early. All my gear was soaked.
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Eliza Brooke

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 0.0

5/24- Trudged up Kinsman at a painstakingly slow rate and snailed our way down to Lonesome Lake. We decided to call it early today to dry out the gear and recharge our batteries. The rest of the day consisted of laying in the sun, flipping my socks, shifting my gear with the fading sun, and being amused by all the happy dayhikers trotting along around the hut in clean sneakers. Sean, the caretaker, hooked us up with some homemade pizza and brownies to die for. We slept in the main dining hall under some tables.
Date: 2008-05-25
From: Lonesome Lake Hut

To: Garfield Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

5/25- Left the hut around 6am with perfect conditions. Crisp, cool, and clear. A perfect day to take on Franconia Ridge. There was still lots of snow on the approach, but it was clear above treeline, with 100 mile visibilty. The alpine flowers were in bloom, specifically, Lapland Rosebay and Bunchberry. Pics will come later. The views were spectacular and I could see Washington off in the distance. Strolled into Garfield by 4ish with enough sun and time to dry my gear some more. Memorial day weekend has the Whites absolutely crawling with other hikers. I think i saw more people today that i have in the past four months. It is a spectacular place to come.
Date: 2008-05-26
From: Garfield Shelter

To: Ethan Pond
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

5/26- All but the last 4 miles of the day, consisted of slipping, sliding, sinking, slushing, and sledding through a snowy trail. This would've been the only day on the entire trip i could actually use my Yaxtrax without fear of mutilating them on an exposed crag. Stopped at Zealand Hut for a short break and enjoyed the relatively flat, snowless approach to Ethan Pond. It rained as soon as I arrived. Perfect timing.
Date: 2008-05-27
From: Ethan Pond

To: Mizpah Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

5/27- Original plan, hike from Ethan Pond to Lakes of the Clouds (1.5 miles south of the summit of Mt. Washington.) EHHHHHHHH, sounds the big red buzzer announcing the futility of that idea. The weather was miserable with 40-60 mph gusts as we climbed out of Crawford Notch, weaving in and out of treeline on the ridge to be faced with a wind that sent tears flying from the corners of my eyes. God I love weather! Massive, ominous black cumulonimbus clouds shrouded the sky above Washington. A couple day hikers i met atop Mt. Jackson gave me some pop tarts and trail mix of which i was eternally grateful. Ever since the first day in the whites, I've taken on a new level of hunger that seems to occupy a greater portion of my daily thoughts. Pop tarts silence the senselss commentary,...sadly only temporarily. Again, we called it short, and stayed the night at Mizpah Hut. Tommorow's forecast looked cold and windy, but we decided to give it a go.
Date: 2008-05-28
From: Mizpah Hut

To: Gorham
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

5/28- We left Mizpah around 5:30am, before the day's weather report from the summit had come in over radio. From Mizpah the weather seemed pleasant. Clear skies, lots of sun, no wind. We climbed 500 ft. or so to above treeline and progressed to the windward side of the ridge. WOW!!! Mizpah was sheltered from a raging torrent. It was like an Icey Hell from Dante's Inferno. We hiked due north as the wind hit us from the west. Rime ice formed over all services. The western edge of Dozer's beard was completely white and frozen. I swore it was going to snap off any minute. We finally made it to Lakes of the Clouds Hut. It was creepy. A helicpoter was tied down in the front and totally covered in ice. The emergency shelter, aka 'The Dungeon,' has frozen solid with 3 feet of ice, wall to wall. When we entered, our heads scratched the ice-covered roof. It only took 2-3 minutes for my body to be completely drained of the heat generated by the hike. I was shivering and needed to move. We could continue on northward into the icey jaws of the dead presidents, or head back the way we came and take another stab, another day. And so we trekked back 5.5 miles to Mizpah and 2.5 down Carter Path to the Notch where we caught a ride to Gorham. Golden Waldo picked us up and took us to the White Birches. The finest hostel i've come across yet. It was good to be down in the valley where things were warm, serene, and less horrible. I went to bed with the sour taste of my own mortality, which as it happens, has a rather pleasant aftertaste. It tastes like well,.......life, tomorrow, and another day out on the trail.
Date: 2008-05-29
From: Gorham

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

5/29- Our plan was to head south from Gorham for two days and hopefully by the time we'd reach Pinkham Notch, the weather would be ideal for another summit approach. Golden Waldo dropped us off at the trailhead and we made the push all the way to Carter Notch, where we were taken in by JB The Benevolent. He's been at the Hut since Oct. 31st! We helped him stack and cover some firewood for the fall crew. Again we encountered pizza and brownies thanks to the generosity of a school group that was there for the weekend.
Date: 2008-05-30
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

5/30- We hit the trail at 5:08am so we could make it to Pinkham Notch by 9:00am. When we arrived, I called the shuttle service and we arranged a ride for $26 up to the summit at 9:30am. I couldn't ask for better conditions. 34degrees F, winds 30mph and decreasing, and 120 mile visibility. We left the summit at 10am and headed south to Lakes of the Clouds to cover the 1.5 miles we abandoned two days prior. All the ice had melted. I could hardly recognize the Hut. It was like a whole new world, far less hostile and with greater views. We reached the hut, turned north back 1.5 miles to the summitt and then made our way 13.5 miles over some of the most rugged terrain, over the dead presidents, and back down into Pinkham Notch. All in all, today came in around 22 killer miles! We'll take a zero tomorrow! Golden Waldo picked us up and took us back to the White Birches in Gorham
Date: 2008-06-01
From: Gorham

To: Carlo Col
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

6/1- My four month anniversary. Not much to say here. Did see my fist Lady Slippers on the trail. Both pink and white. And the black flies are beginning to mount their forces. Used my headnet for the first time today and yes, I crossed my last state line. A sign on the tree said, welcome to Maine 'The way life should be.'
Date: 2008-06-02
From: Carlo Col

To: Speck Pond
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

6/2- Today was incredibly wet and slow. We struggled to make 1.5 mph. The Mahousac notch was filled with snow and ice, but i enjoyed it thoroughly. It was like a giant jungle gym of rock, snow, ice and roots. We were kids again. We were tired and slept at Speck Pond. Hopefully tomorrow won't be so bad.
Date: 2008-06-03
From: Speck Pond

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 190.0
Weather: overcast clouds

6/3- Today wasn't so bad. The trail had dried out a bit and the granite through this section was coarser and easier to grip. After summitting the west baldplat it all hit me like a ton of bricks. I was hiking in Maine, the symbolic terminus of arrival. I celebrated with a barabaric YAUP from the depths of my lungs, eyes locked shot, and ribs rattling. Caught a ride into Andover, hit up the general store for resupply, and got a room at Pine Ellis. Nice place. Comfy environment. Plan to summitt on the 18th. Bought my plane ticket from Bangor to Orlando on the 20th of June. About two weeks left now.I haven't been keeping track of the daily mileage, so i just tacked on the mileage from Hanover to Andover. This will help keep my cumulative mileage on track.
Date: 2008-06-04
From: Andover, ME

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

After catching a ride with Ilene and David from Pine Ellis, Dozer and I hit the trail in the rain. With four doughnuts sloshing around in my stomach, I stomped up and over the few hills to South Arm Road (10 miles). It wasn't all that cool out; however, I was supersaturated from two knee deep creek crossings, an incessant drizzle, and all of the water left on the spruce and fur trees from last nights rain. I layered up and pounded some chocolate at the first lean-to there south of Moony Mt. Dozer and I spoke of how tolerating miserable conditions is somewhat of an art form. We both agreed we were enjoying the day's hike, but we toyed with the idea of hitching back into Andover from South Arm Road to stay the night at The Cabin. I took two or three classic mud-slide spills on the way down Moody. Fortunately, the pack took the brunt of the impact. The creeks are swollen from last nights rain making it hard to cross without taking a knee deep plunge into the cooler tanic waters of Maine. Fortunately, I've reverted back to my Keen Arroyo sandals, which dry much faster than my old gortex Asolos. After reaching the road, I made a call to Bear at The Cabin. He was thrilled to take on old alumni (Dozer) and anyone recommended by Desperado (me). They are in the process of closing the hostel but still welcome old friends. Bear showed up 20 minutes later, popped us in the van, and shot us back into Andover where we were able to get hot showers and dry our clothes above a wood burning stove. It was good to get the 'chill' out of my bones and pick up the guitar for a bit of plucking around. Bear and his wife, Honey, are such excellent folks. They are extremely kind and I am grateful they have opened their home once again to a few weary travelers. The only problem,.......I only walked 10 miles today. Now that I have a ticket for the 20th, I feel under the gun. So it's time to tighten up and focus through this last section. May the creative juices begin to flow like honey as I practice the art of tolerating, neh.......embracing, the 'miserable conditions' ahead. It almost feels like i haven't seen the sun for at least 5 days or so. Hopefully the clouds will pass and the sun will shine, lighting the path before me. See you guys on the otherside.
Date: 2008-06-05
From: Andover, ME

To: Sabbath Day
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Bear dropped me and Dozer off at the trailhead around 7:40. The weather has still seen little improvement. At times, it is like hiking on what I call the Appalachian River. It's nearly impossible to keep your feet dry when the trail is flowing beneath you. However, it didn't rain today, so most of the gear above my knees stayed relatively dry. I saw my first moose today, and what a pitiful specimen it was. It wasnt' how i had imagined it would be, eating heartily in the serenity of lush glade with the sun beating down through the trees. No. This was on the shoulder of Maine 4, in a muddy patch of grass on a steep embankment. The thing looked like it hadn't eaten in weeks. I approached to get a closer look; however, it was spooked and scampered off down the hill. I thought moose in these parts were used to hikers. Maybe he wasn't excpecting to see NOBOs in the first week of June. Most people don't.
Date: 2008-06-06
From: Sabbath Day

To: Poplar Ridge
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: moderate rain

Again, the weather has seen little improvement. Still foggy and wet. At least it isn't 18 degrees with 45 mph winds, like we had seen a week prior on Washington. The weather is definitely warming up. I heard it was 105 in central virginia the other day. Glad to be in Maine, where the current highs only reach into the 80s. Today was another long day. TOtally socked in from hiking the Appalchian River. THe climb over Saddleback provided zero views and little time to enjoy the alpine environment, due to the cold easterly wind that carried immense amounts of moisture. My fingers went numb above treeline, so I couldn't zip up my rain jacket. THis was incredibly frustrating. So I trekked on, with intermittent gusts of cold, wet air occastionally strippng body heat as it flew insdie the open front of my jacket. I finally made it to Poplar Ridge Lean-To. This is a baseball bat design shelter, which means the floor consists of poles, rather than planks, lain side by side. FOr me, this is nearly impossible to sleep on. Back in the day, you could cut pine boughs and lay them across the uneven 'baseball bat' floor to create a comfortable and slitghtly aromatic mattress for resting weary bones after say, a 20 mile day. However, due to the increase of traffic seen alone the trail, it is no longer permitted and or practical to build such a mattress, as one wave of NOBOs in peak season could easily denude the surrounding area. So you'd assume they'd do away with the baseball bat foundation of the floor. Someone in the higher ups, of the MATC i suppose, has decided to keep the floor around for 'sentiment.' I wonder if they've ever tried sleeping on a boughless baseball bat shelter. Or hiked a 20 mile day for that matter. oh,....I'll end this now. My incessant blathering will only fall upon def ears. Not looking forward to putting all my frigid, wet clothes on in the morning. But for now, I'll totter on a few of these baseball bats in the warm confines of my stinky little sleeping bag. Off to hiker heaven,.......