morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-09-26
From: Winturi Shelter

To: Mountain Meadows Lodge
Miles today: 16.3

5:30 start, sunny day, created song. Last mile in dark - nice guy here gave me great dinner - bra missing. I was actually on trail at 5:30 am with my headlamp. That was even earlier than I had planned but I woke up worried about the day and thought getting started was better than worrying. There were two nice views in the first part of the day, one a bit off trail and up a ladder to the roof of an old cabin. There was also a nice early stretch of old woods road. But after that it was just up and down and up and down and up and down again. There is a sameness, a sence of repition about long distance hiking, especially on the AT. Just step by step repeated all day long day after day. So I created a song in honor of that. My poles beat out a 3 tap rhythm on a 4 beat measure. (I move the left pole half as much as the right) Like my poles are saying "step by step rest, step by step rest." The rhythm is slow going up hill, but methodical, repetitive. Step by step. (rest) Step by step. (rest) Along the trail. Step by step. Step by step Way to get 'er done. Many long days on many long ways. That's the way it comes. The one long line can be changed to innumerable descriptions such as: Through Rhodie Forests and Hobble Bush Hills Or Some trail is easy some beats your butt Or Through snow, sleet or rain and sunshine too Or Up lofty peaks and through muddy bogs Or Down tree rappels and veggie belays Or Up another mountain and down another vale Or Through springtime flowers and autumn's falling leaves Or.... The permutations are endless. The tune is simple and gets in the head. It also helped me get through miles, especially uphill, while entertaining myself with supposedly clever verses - probably only clever to the mind numbed trail walker. I also called The Cheiftan Motor Inn as I seem to be missing my extra sports bra. They can't find it. Bummer! I thought through the day that the planned miles would be too much but I would do what I could do. Actually I only had to use the headlamp the last mile. The Mountain Meadows Lodge gets a real thumbs up. The guy wasn't concerned whether I would get there or not but if I did he would give me dinner. He gave me far more than I could eat, I got my shower and washed a few things including my ONLY bra, and fell into bed. I made it. Life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-27
From: Mountain Meadows Lodge

To: Cooper Lodge
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Bill fixed me breakfast and off I went shortly before 7:30. Walking along Kent Pond was very pretty. It reminded me of all the Maine Ponds which I so enjoyed. Then it was a day of mainly up, well some downhill too, to Highway 4. No shirt for Reboot. I was sad I could not find it for him. Either someone else picked it up or it disguised itself as a gray rock. I saw 4 German? hikers between 10 and 4, otherwise no hikers on the trail. I spent some time texting Reboot. It has felt like he and I are the only hikers on the trail and he is my trail scout. He is now a couple days ahead of me - would be farther but he takes time off to see his girlfriend. I also access my email on my PEEK - the same gizmo I type my journals on. I had a couple emails that needed answering. There was actually quite a bit of levelish trail on the way to Cooper Lodge- lots of roots and rocks though. Cooper Lodge is the highest shelter on the AT in Vermont. It is a bit more than 3 sided although the bank of windows on the west are all open. Nice to have a table "indoors" too. I got here early at about 5:30. But Reboot says there are challenging rocks the next mile or two and I did not want to tackle them worrying about a stealth site. And the book says there is not supposed to be camping except at shelters. So I stayed. I needed to add a couple miles to make days ahead more reasonable but I could not bring myself to go on. It has been a nice day and life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-28
From: Cooper Lodge

To: Minerva Hinchy Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: light rain

Good day, stream day, interesting day. Reboot was right about the rocks but wrong about where. They were there but not right away - after the Sherburne Pass trail. Not for very long though. I ran into Goat Boy, Old Geezer, Wildflower and Tom Cat again on the descent. They were doing another of their day pack AT hikes. I enjoyed talking with them and we exchanged trail information. I stopped at Governor Clement Shelter for mid morning trail bars and also enjoyed an apple from the many fallen apples right there. I saw the first real trail damage from Irene where a small section of trail was washed out as well as a few bridges, one of which cut off access to a house. A ladder made into a bridge went across that place. Hikers have bushwhacked the start of a trail up a tall bank to get around the washout. A few tiny cairns helped in a couple areas. This is all in the stretch below Governor Clement Shelter. The trail already had a series of PUDS (pointless ups and downs) by the brook, perhaps created the same way. Just before lottery road an evil rose bush reached out and impaled my arm with a couple of very long thorns. One took several minutes of digging to get out. Even the haft of the thorn was buried. I actually had to get out the first aid kit. Washed it good with clean water and smothered it with neosporin and put a band aid on. It did not improve my hiking speed but I don't need something to get infected. There were nice views just before going down to Clarenton Gorge but the steep rocks going down were no fun. The suspension bridge over the Gorge was nice. I somehow got a real burst of energy and powered up the hill to the Minerva Hinchey Shelter and got there before 6:30, in daylight with time to spare. Nice shelter. Covered area with sleep benches set back in, a window and a small table. Plenty big enough for me and I was the only one there. I celebrated by having a ziplock bath. Interesting day, not fast where I expected but faster where I did not. It all worked out and life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-29
From: Minerva Hinchy Shelter

To: Lost Pond Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: light rain

A very wet and soggy day although it started dry. It rained hard in the night and I thought the front may have passed by. Nope. Still, it was dry when I started. And I found a bit of that powering uphill in me and made short work of Bear Mountain - even got a nice view as I headed down. Not long after I started up the trail on the other side of 140 the heavens let loose with a gully washer. It rained so hard I had water misting through the umbrella from the force of the rain. But the umbrella earned its weight again by keeping my core mostly dry. Thereafter it rained most of the day with some brief letup for part of the afternoon. I think I might have liked this part on a day when I did not feel like someone was trying to drown me. Even the bright red leaves looked forlorn and drowned in the trail. The trail was often either a river or lake. Often I was ankle deep in water on the trail (not just mud bogs). I slipped and slid (fell once) all the way to Little Rock Pond for a late lunch. Nice new shelter there, multiple story sleeping loft covered table and benches - new. The rain made the creeks boil wth brown water. I was very thankful for all the bridges that were ok from steel girders spanning streams to another suspension bridge. Little rivulets had swollen to creek size and that was plenty for me. My gear, especially sleeping bag and long underwear for my jammies and bed socks and my down jacket, is kept dry with multiple layers of protection. As my mother might say, "I won't shrink." And as long as I am moving I will stay warm. The bigger danger, at least up to now has been over heating and sweating up clothes which will give me a chill when I stop. I must have dry, warm things for the night. Then I will live to hike another day. So I have an umbrella, a cuben fiber pack cover, a plastic bag and cuben fiber stuff sacks. So far everything essential has stayed nice and dry. The last mile and a half to Lost Pond Shelter it rained again, hard. I powered up to the shelter belting out "Lord said to Noah, there's gonna be a floody, floody." Seemed appropriate. When I got there, there was a nice surprize - people! I hadn't seen real thru hikers for days. Hard Candy and PackOff were there - hiking Vermont's Long Trail They moved over and made space for me. Nice. This is a new shelter but just the old simple design. Oh well at least we were dry. It was good to have accomplished the miles just as darkness fell. It is good to have company.. It is good to be dry. Life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-30
From: Lost Pond Shelter

To: Manchester Center
Miles today: 14.8

A little dryer day. I gave my shelter companions their wake up call (They asked) before heading out. It was not raining but there was standing water everywhere. I apologized to my feet and promised they would be dry on my zero day before going to the privy. The privy here is a disaster. The hole is filled with water which I am sure becomes part of the ragging brook. Everything is standing water! I did well going up Baker Mountain and was thankful the rocks were dry. There was even a view. The sky was even blue in the morning although it got grayer as the day progressed. But the trail was still full of water. I had been warned about Griffith Lake by my scouts but it was even worse after all the rain. The lake had overflown in 2 places and all rocks to keep one dry were under water. I just waded through. Peru Peak Shelter made a nice mid morning break. Another interesting design with sleeping area raised and tucked under low ceiling and gear area on lower level. There was a picnic table outside and even a log bench with back to watch the fire, should there be one. Nice. I didn't seem to have determination nor energy going up Peru Peak. Hard Candy and Pack Off caught up with me and we had a good time talking until they pressed ahead to meet their goals. They were excited because they saw a big moose near our shelter before they left. Two big labs wanted my lunch or my life as I ate near a road but their owners corralled them. I did better going up Bromley and made it down to the road before dark, passing 5 weekend hikers going to shelters. I got a hitch from 2 slightly scruffy good old boys. I was very grateful. They thought it was great that I was doing the trail (at my age) and insisted on shaking my hand like I was a celebrity as they dropped me off at Sutton's Place. (Green Mountain is closed for fall.) I splurged a bit for dinner and I must admit I was a little ashamed of going to a nice restuarant before taking a shower. They graciously served me but my closest neighbors might not have been too happy. Now I am not only fed, I am clean and dry. Clothes come tomorrow. And life is good.
Date: 2011-10-01
From: Stratton Pond

To: Zero Day in Manchester
Miles today: 0.0

It has been a very nice zero even if the weather is wet. People, walls, heat, electricity and felicitous transportation all help. I had a hard time sleeping last night as my right leg kept hurting behind the knee both below and above the popliteal space. What was that all about? But I did get to sleep late. I luxuriated in bed listening to the rain outside. Yep, more rain. In fact the weather forecast is for nothing but rain for the forseeable future. I have 5 more days. Guess they will be wet ones. I am very thankful for shelters in this climate. My tent will keep me dry but putting it up and taking it down in the rain is a pain. I am not looking forward to walking through 5 more soggy days but I am glad to be down to just 5 more. I eventually got up and got organized for breakfast and laundry. No one will look twice at someone in raingear today and I can wear my down jacket for warmth under rain gear. Everything else gets washed. I ate at the very popular and crowded Up For Breakfast. Since it was crowded it facilitated conversation. My near tablemates are on vacation from Minnesota and it turned out they were happy to give me a ride to the laundomat. I was happy because things are spread out a bit here. Hikers HATE walking in town. At the laundromat I ran into ODGreen, a past AT SOBO. We had a good time talking trail. He gave me a ride to the grocery (very near) and back to Sutton's Place (farther). And he is all excited about the project of finding me a ride from the Gathering to West Point after my hike.. In fact, if I don't find another, he is going that way next Sunday. We exchanged contact info. Cool. Then I sat around updating these journals and also slept for at least 2 hours. I am bone deep weary to have done so. It was a very good use of a rainy afternoon. So, onward to dinner and then to bed. Tomorrow the trail and life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-10-03
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: scattered clouds

A long wet and muddy trail with a bit of sun and clearing.Early up and out and up Stratton mountain. I made reasonable time up the mountain meeting 2 weekend hikers coming down. I made lousy time coming down. Go figure. I can't figure it out.It was umbrella weather in the morning but about noon that big yellow thing in the sky, oh yeah, sun, came out. I was glad to see it. It actually dried off the umbrella and some of the shrubbery but the trail was still a wet and muddy mess.I didn't think there was all that much mud in Vermont until after Manchester Center. Since then the trail has been 40% mud, 5-10% running or standing water, 10-20% rocks and roots. Generously, that leaves 30% walkable trail. My feet are tired of being wet all day but I see no end in sight on that score until I finish in North Adams.I am hoping my left shoe holds together that long. The toe bumper is separating and it is attached to the whole sole. I have been repairing it with duct tape which would normally be sufficient just as a precaution. But walking in water and sucking mud for so much of each day makes duct tape not stick. I had a strip all around the shoe sticking to itself since the shoe was so wet. It lasted most of the day and failed too. I'll try that again tomorrow.3 more days. I am so fortunate that the Gathering is at the end of my hike and that Amoeba is arranging to have me picked up to attend her pre-gathering todo. It gives me a positive way to complete this hike. Otherwise I think I am just focusing on getting the darn thing done.Step by step, that is happening, rain and mud and rocks and roots or no. But I am glad I will be ending on a positive note.There did turn out to be a couple nice views today, one looking back at Stratton Mountain and the other looking west. And the sunset was lovely.I pulled into the shelter after dark. Too bad I wasn't here to view the sunset as there is a clear view west from the shelter.But I am here, safely. I am fed and ready to snuggle into my warm bag. And life is good.
Date: 2011-10-04
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: Benington
Miles today: 14.4

Wet beginning. Dry ending.My alarm went off at 5 and the heavens opened up the day with a hard rain. It was hard to get motivated. I ate breakfast in bed and then got up and moving.I did not climb the tower at Glastenbury Mountain. It was raining and gray. Later in the day the sun made a brief appearance and the afternoon was mostly dry.I stopped for mid morning snack at Goddard Shelter. When I signed the trail register and read other postings I read that Stumpknocker said (coming from the opposite direction) that the walking was good. That positive comment set the tone.The walking was good. Not too many mud pits, not too many rocks, not too much water on the trail. Some of all, but the walking was good. A bit more color today too and at least a couple views.I met a NOBO today. That's right, a northbound thru hiker. I don't think I have seen a NOBO in all of Vermont. Peter Pan will be getting to the Whites and eventually Katahdin, quiite late but that did not seem a concern to him at all. He said he had lots of winter gear and had checked with Baxter about summiting as a winter summit. He was all full of good-cheer and testosterone. Best of luck to him.My new knee decided to be unhappy on the last little hill up today and I then babied it down to the highway. I hope it is happy in the morning.I left a wad of duct tape in the trail somewhere. I was very unhappy about that. I hate to leave litter on the trail. But when I looked down at my shoe all my duct tape repairs were gone. I did not notice them come off. I even walked back on the trail a bit to see if it had just come off. No sign of it. My apologies to the trail and to whoever finds it. Hitching was kind of hard but the guy who gave me a lift actually drove past and then turned around and came back for me. Very nice.The guy at the Autumn Inn, where I am staying, was particularly nice, even carried my little resupply box to my room for me.And now I am clean and fed and soon to sleep. 2 more trail days. And life is good.Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-10-05
From: Benington

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: broken clouds

A good trail day for my last full day.This morning there was blue sky in Bennington as I left. The Indian gentleman at the Autumn Inn drove me to the trailhead. He was very accomodating.I started up the steep climb and after a couple hundred feet I was in a cloud of fog which lasted most of the way to Congdon Shelter.The last mile or more to Congdon was a river or a lake. I so wanted to have my feet only a little wet today instead of soggy. But Mr Beaver declared otherwise. After a morning of bounce and weave over mud pitted or streamed trail, all was for nought as beavers have dammed up a stream and the punchion board walks were a good 8 inches under water. No way through but to wade. On the bright side: at least temporarily my shoes are much cleaner.After mid morning snack at the shelter I headed on. Before the crossing of Sucker Pond outlet I came to another Beaver work of art. But this time their work held back a sizeable lake and the trail on puncheons was about three feet away from the dam and three feet below on the dry side. It was really both weird and delightful to view the lake surface from a couple feet above the surface. Interesting fellows, the beavers - both bane and delight, depends on where you are standing.I saw no people but heard from and saw a huge flying wedge of geese far above me.The trail ranged from pretty good to absolutely crappy. There was lots of mud, rivers in trail etc. No views. Much of the trail on this trip has had puncheons, board walks. I have gotton so I call them death boards. Most have no cross hatching on them and when they are wet they are like wet glass. I slow to a little old lady on ice pace when walking on them. I have slipped but not fallen. A couple days ago a big burly day hiker fell on them. He was hurting. It would be easy to do. I have not done so. The sun tried hard today and it was nice to see it. But it means it will really be cold tonight on my last night. I got to the shelter nice and early and ate and am going to bed with everything on. This is the first night I have had to do that. I am glad my raingear is dry, even if the pants are muddy. I hate wearing them in my sleeping bag but tonight calls for evrything.I may not get dressed tomorrow until part way down the trail. I'll just get up and go. I'm wearing everything anyway.So, it is my last night on the trail, last night in a shelter. The day was a good one and life is good.Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-10-06
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: North Adams
Miles today: 7.1

Wow! What a day!Last night was cold! This was the first really cold night I had on the trail. It got down to the mid-30s. I was warm enough, just barely, with wearing everything I had. But it was hard to get up in the morning.But with the reward of the finish of the trail and transportation to get me to a warm place, I did get up and get moving.Best trail I have had for days. No rain, blue sky and limited amounts of mud and trail rivers. My feet stayed almost dry.I passed from Vermont into Massachussetts, recorded with pictures of signs. There was a pile of rocks called a cobble and after that pretty good trail all the way out. I sang old girl scout songs all the way. I didn't stop for trail bars but kept drinking the last cytomax. I got down to the first road and then to a green footbridge and here comes Bag Lady. "Are you Medicare Pastor?" Yep. She has celebratory balloons and gave them to me with congrats for completing the AT. How cool!We also picked up Patagonius who was hiking from the other direction and then drove on windy country roads to an already in progress pre-gathering party in an old family farmhouse of Amoeba.Oh, first we stopped in North Adams at a greasy joint for hamburgers.When I got to Amoeba's, I got a shower and borrowed clothes and spent the rest of the day eating and talking to the group of hikers gathered there. I could not have asked for a more wonderful ending to my hike.What a hoot! They all celebrated that I completed the trail and we all talked trail talk long into the night. Billy Goat is here, Captain America, Mamere, Gray Feather, Pipesmoke, Frog Caller, Queen Diva, Tiger Balm and many more. Fun also because many are in my age bracket.The house itself is amazing, a maintained old country dwelling from the 1800s with woodburning stoves, old victrola and organ and many fine little touches.Now it is way past bedtime and I am so keyed up I will have a hard time sleeping but life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2018-10-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello to my peeps on trailjournals. On September 8, 2017 I completed the Triple Crown of long distance hiking (Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest trail and Continental Divide Trail) as a long section hiker and aging adult at 76. The winter of 2017-2018 I wrote a book, Old Lady on the Trail about that journey. it is available October 22 on Amazon in Kindle and paperback. I hope you enjoy the read. I also now have a website: maryedavison.com
Date: 2020-09-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

After completing the Triple Crown at 76 and writing Old Lady on the Trail, I didn¢t stop hiking or writing. I am now 79 and have walked on the American Discovery Trail (ADT) from the Atlantic Ocean to Nebraska and wrote another book: Aren¢t You Afraid? It is available on Amazon in kindle or paperback. Come along with me to camp in the shadow of a pregnant camel, make new friends from strangers, and discover America. Along the way I reflect on fear and leaving fear behind: fear of strangers, fear while walking solo, fear of asking for what I need, fear of the unknown. On this walk half-way across America, as I leave fears behind, perhaps you will see ways to overcome your own.