morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-07-20
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: Stratton Pond. VT
Miles today: 15.0

Crazy BritLast night was another cold one, I wore my long pants and my puffy Jacket, over my clothes so I was snug as a bug in a rug.Another muddy day in Vermont and it¢s not even mud season yet. Today¢s trail is rocky and muddy, throw in some big climbs and you have a day on the trail.Today we have a 15 mile day, so as usual the alarm goes of at 4:45 time to pack up the gear in the tent, then put the water on to boil. While this is going I take down my tent and pack it away, just in time to put the coffee in my cup, add boiling water, milk and sugar, hey presto great coffee.Once my bag is packed I can sit down and have a coffee and breakfast before hitting the trail.Today our biggest climb is Stratton Mountain at 3936 feet. Of course it¢s really rocky and the aforementioned Mud, it¢s hard going. There is a great stream where we can filter our water, ready to cook dinner tonight.On top of this mountain is a lookout tower the view is again fantastic. You can see up into New Hampshire and back into Massachusetts, it was a bit windy up on top, making the whole tower shake. Had my lunch at the base of the tower, all is good in the world.It¢s only a 3 mile walk to our destination for today at the Stratton Pond Shelter. This is a caretaker cared for shelter so there is a fee of $5.00 per person  which is ok with me. This caretaker is about 25 years old and he has just the job I craved for when I was his age. He runs two campsites at either end of the lake, between the two with a Canoe.Just been sat talking to him while he was having his dinner, after his dinner he paddles out onto the lake and has gone fishing for his breakfast, I looked all forlorn to have a ride, but to no avail.So now I am finishing my journal, watching the caretaker Flyfish and watch the sun going down.So will say goodnight see you tomorrow.Anyone can walk on the flat, try sitting on a beautiful lake shore, watching the sun go down on a Vermont lake shore, nothing to with being on the edge but close.Only got 549.8 miles to go before we climb Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-07-21
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: VT 11&30. Manchester Center VT
Miles today: 10.7

Crazy BritHad my usual 4:45 am alarm call and as we are staying in the shelter, we are trying to be quiet. So we pack up our gear outside the shelter, and then make our coffee and get ready to hit the trail.It¢s a great trail today not super big climbs and the mud is drying up so it¢s better to hike. We are making really good time, we are only doing 10.7 miles today as we are going to take a Zero on Sunday as we haven¢t had a full day off since Harpers Ferry so we are due.There are no views today except for Prospect Rock and it¢s a vertical climb up to the Rock View, we don¢t bother as we smell town food!!!! There are again some pine forests to hike thru, the smells are fantastic really fresh.We have a really big descent to the road VT 11 & 30. We will thumb up out to us and offerta lift at the car park into he road, BiManchester, as we walk across the road to the carpark. We are there met by the parents of two girls we have been hiking on a and of with, we talk to them for a bit, then we walk and start thumbing.There are 2 people checking us out from the carpark, they call us and offer us a lift into town, ¢Trail Magic was at it¢s best" we are at Macdonalds, but we are to early for Burgers and Dave wants meat, so walk up to the Outfitters and pick up some gear I need, then back to Macdonalds for Dave¢s Meat.Then we go to the store to get food for tonight.We get picked up outside the store and shuttled out to the Green Mountain House Hostel. This is the best place we have stayed at yet, more about that tomorrow as I have just been offered a pint of Ben and Jerry¢s ice cream.So will say goodnight.Anyone can walk on the flat, but living on the Edge is so much more Fun.Only got 539.1 miles to go before Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-07-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Crazy BritNo miles today a Zero in Manchester VTGreen Mountain House HostelLazy day had a lie in bed until 7:15am, that makes a change felt real good, I waited to make my breakfast as there were hikers going out this morning after having this we watched Tiger Woods go into the lead in the British Open, big day for him he¢s back!!!Got a ride down to the Orvis Flagstaff store and The American Fly Fishing Museum. What an awesome place even had lakes that were stocked with large rainbow trout, the fly casting coaches were teaching young guys casting techniques, then they could fish in the lakes.They were catching Rainbow Trout the largest I have seen at least 24 inches in length, beautiful fish I was really envious. The people in the store were really helpful, telling me all about the equipment they make here at this facility.After being there for 3 hours I made my way into the town to find a bar where I could get a beer, harder than you would think. Found one that I was comfortable in and had a couple of beers and some food.David called he was in town ready to get our restocking food.Now time for a Latte at Starbucks, then a shuttle back to the Green Mountain House Hostel. We are going to make bratwurst sausages with sour kraut, potato salad and macaroni salad a hiker feast it went down really well. Oh! forgot Fresh cold Water Melon.Now it¢s time to relax going to make a coffee ¢no alcohol allowed here¢ and read a book, after I have done my Journal of course.So will say Goodnight,It¢s been a tough day.Anyone can walk on the flat takes someone special to walk on the Edge,Of course that person has a lot more fun.Only got 539.1 miles to go before Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-07-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Crazy BritWent into the Orvis Rod Factory for a tour of their Manufacturing Process, what a cool place. I was surprised that none of their Fly Rods are made offshore, in fact most of them are made in the Manchester Facility which is Awesome.The Tour started at 10:00am, we went thru all the process¢s From Bamboo, hand made poles to Fiberglass, then on to Graphite. How they are cut and hand scraped on the Bamboo Rods, to CNC cutting of the pre-preg Carbon, rolling on the steel mandrel, cooking the Carbon, removing the Mandrel, checking for size, bending moments, then whipping the eyes on. This job is done by hand in the shop, and in fact they have 17 home workers whipping eyes at home, then the painting process and finally the cork grip shaped, then assembled with the reel grip and glued on the rod.Every rod is inspected by 4 people any slight imperfection and it is sent to the team that sorts out the imperfection, then it goes back to the team and goes thru the inspection process again, until it¢s perfect. I will never complain about the Cost of a Orvis product again, Highly, Highly impressed.Orvis has a huge presence in Manchester, with the Fly Fishing Museum, Casting School Flagship Store and the Outlet Store. Obviously with all the offices and engineering guy¢s, a big employer in a small town of this size.After all this excitement I had to find a bar. In Vermont there are no bars persay, they have to be a restaurant with a bar. So no problem found an Irish Bar Mulligans, with good Guinness, and food, so all was good in the World.Checked out the town again, back to the Outfitters to get a pack cover, lost mine and walk back to the Hostel, I got picked up about a half mile from the Hostel, Cool.Now it¢s time to read, have Dinner and relax , Oh catch a nap first, read some more, now it¢s time for bed.Goodnight catch you tomorrow.Oh Dave is doing good his burns are responding to the medication, so we will be out on the Trail on Thursday.Anyone can walk on the flat, takes a special person to hike with a fly rod, and Yes I will buy a permitStill got 521.5 miles to go before we stand on the top of Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-07-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Crazy BritDid nothing all morning but have breakfast, read a bit, generally just chill out. Then after lunch got a ride into The Orvis store to watch them Teaching Casting technique¢s, then up to the Irish Bar Mulligans for a Guinness and a Steak and vegetable pie, very good food. Walked into town to get some resupplies for the trail tomorrow, on the way back to the Green Mountain House Hostel I stopped by and fed the fish at The Orvis fish ponds, huge Rainbow trout, would love to catch one of these.Just as I was approaching Mulligans bar it started to rain so I had to take shelter in the Bar, Oh well might as well have a beer until the rain stops.When it stopped I walked back to the Hostel, had my dinner, now checking my phone and finish reading my book.Got to be up early as we are leaving on the shuttle at 6:00am to get an early start on the trail.So I will say goodnight and I will talk to you tomorrow from the trail.Anyone can walk on the flat, tomorrow we will be on the trail living on the EdgeStill got 521.5 miles to go before we are standing on the top of Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-07-26
From: Denby VT.

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

Crazy BritBack on the Trail to Test Dave and his Burns, problem is he is such a stubborn bugger that he will just push thru any way.We get a good start on the day have a good breakfast, and get shuttled out to the Trail head at Denby. We are headed out to Clarendon Shelter it¢s going to be a 15.8 mile day, which should sort out any problems.After all the rain the trail is really wet plenty of standing water and lots of Sticky Gooey Mud .We are in for a tough climb today at the end of the day, but at the moment it¢s nice just small ups and downs, some really cool Beaver ponds. I know I have said it before but these animals are amazing, they hate the sound of running water, so when they here the sound the dam must be leaking so off they go get more mud and twigs to block the leak.We pass a couple of shelters and go into the Government Clement Shelter for lunch, nice shelter.We now come to the Clarendon Gotge and cross a suspension bridge bit Wobbly, but safe as houses. The river has gone down a bit but it¢s still impressive, we now have a rock scramble to contend with, this looks really crazy getting us ready for the Whites in NH.It¢s pretty tough especially as the rocks are all wet and really slippery, it¢s a tough climb, made worse as it¢s the end of the day. We get to the Clarendon Shelter and lucky there is only one person there, a bonus.I am going to sleep in the shelter Dave is going for his tent. The water source is only 100 ft away, perfect, we cook our dinners and chill out. A few more hikers come into get water, one guy comes in and picks a bunk he is out for a week to get a break from work. He is a Bio chemist manufacturing the cells used in the fight against Cancer. Really cool guy talked to him for a while he had walked today with his family, tonight was his last day on the trail. Time for a Hot chocolate then Bed.So it¢s goodnight from me catch you tomorrow.Anyone can walk on the flat, really. Cool to wAlk on the edge in the Rocks and MudOnly got. 505.7 miles to go before we get to the top of Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-07-27
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: US 4 Rutland VT
Miles today: 16.7

Crazy BritHad Fun last night checking out the mouse in the shelter, this is the first one that I have seen yet. They are in every shelters after food and they get in your packs, even tho they are hanging up, little buggers are smart.Just hoping he doesn¢t want to nest in my beard. 4:30 comes pretty quick, Dave is up and getting all packed up, he grabs my legs just like a bear would, but I am not fooled no bear wear¢s a red light on his head. I get up and packed time for a coffee and breakfast, Dave is on his way, I will catch up to him later on the trail.It¢s a tough climb out, up Beacon hill, of course the trail is wet and muddy as you would expect for Vermont, or as the hikers call it Vermud.Now we have to climb up over Killington, this is a 4.5 mile climb. Thank God for Switchbacks, it¢s s tough climb up to the summit. Then worse is the descent over wet muddy rocks, very slippery. By the time we get down our legs are covered in mud, lots of ups and downs after the major descent.We come out on to US4 and try to hike into the Inn on the long trail. When we get there our friends MADD Paddy and Tea Pot have left a $100 gift for us, which is Awesome thanks guys! Then the bartender comes out and says the guy at the shelter last night had left a gift of 2 Shots of Irish Middleton¢s Whisky for us we are doing things right!Have a great dinner a few Guinness¢s and it¢s of to BedGoodnight from meAnyone can walk on the flat much better walking on the Edge with a Guinness .OH YES went thru 500 Miles todayOnly got 489..0 to go before Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-07-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Crazy BritNo miles, replenishment day in town at Rutland. Had a great breakfast at the Inn on the long trail, then caught the bus into town, cool ride and only $2.00.There was a Saturday Farmers Market going on so we checked it out. Vermont has lots of Breweries and Distillery¢s and a couple were here so we checked them out Tasting Gin and Whiskey, Nice.We got our supplies I picked up a pair of Sandler¢s, we had a great lunch at the 24 restaurant had the best sandwich, 3 eggs Fried with Bacon, tomato, lettuce, and mushrooms, Awesome.Time for a bus ride back, take a Nap and Chill Out, then time for Dinner and a couple of Guinness.Now it¢s time for Bed GoodnightAnyone can walk on the flat, but it¢s better on the edge especially when you have had a few shots of the hard stuff.Only got 489 miles to go before we summit Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-07-29
From: US 4 Rutland VT

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 19.9

Crazy BritOur day started out great big breakfast of French Toast plenty of Coffee, and I am ready to go! I get a ride on the bus down to the trail head, all is going good there are some NOBO¢s and SOBO¢s on the bus and we all get off get our packs on say goodbyes and off we go each our different ways.The two NOBO¢s are on the Long Trail and this divides from the AT about 2-1/2 miles up the Trail, so things will get a bit quieter on the trail now. Although we will start to see more AT SOBO¢s from this point on, they will have done almost 500 miles by now.Today seems strange just can¢t seem to get my speed going. David has a 3 mile lead on me as he went a different way at the start today, like I say can¢t get going or so it seems. I am still knocking the miles down, but the climbs and descents are so close together, Dave gives me a call he is about 2 miles ahead and going to have his lunch in a shelter.The Trail is in great condition just a few spots where the mud is laying. Most of this is near a spring so they never dry out completely, it¢s pretty cool hiking thru these woods the trees are so large. Strange today not a lot of birds singing, place seems dead apart from all the chipmunks and squirrels running around all over the place.I am catching up to Dave now and will meet him at the Lookout Cabin and Tower, by the time I get there Dave is up the tower checking out the view.Dave is mad because his Z pack Backpack has busted and now he has no frame to take the load from his hips. There are a couple of guys up the tower having a Safety Meeting, kind of dangerous up on the tower.We only have 2.5 miles to go to get to the Wintturi Shelter where we will stay tonight. When we get there there is a large group of section hikers there but only 2 are staying in the shelter. Dave has decided to tent, me I am going to sleep in the shelter, so we get our dinners going and a cup of hot chocolate.There is a guy there who asks is it ok to light a fire, help yourself we tell him. He is kind of strange every time he speaks when he stops he laughs, a really obnoxious squeaky laugh, still takes all sorts I suppose.I have had enough of his laugh so I decide to go to bed. By the way David left for his tent 30 mins before.I finish my hot chocolate sat in my sleeping bag, now it¢s time for bed see you all tomorrow.Anyone can walk on the flat , takes a Hero to listen to a guy¢s laugh for an hour , that is living on the Edge.Only got 469.1 miles to go before we climb Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-07-30
From: Wintturi Shelter

To: Tiger Town Rd at Linda and RandyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs hiker Trail Angel House
Miles today: 18.1

Crazy BritStrange night, I have now slept in the same building as the loudest Snoring person I have ever met. Bloody Hell it was awful plus he slept on the Worlds loudest blow up mattress, it was awful.After a bad night we were up at 4:30 am all packed, have Coffee and we are ready to go. I was kind and never woke up Mr Snore. Today is going to be a day of big long climbs and some long descent makes for a hard day. One good thing is that there are plenty of Raspberry's growing on top of the climbs, although they are small they are super sweet.It¢s pretty warm today when you come out on to a clearing with no trees it¢s really warm. Then as you enter the forest again it¢s like walking into The A/C nice and cool. The trail is in much better condition now it¢s gradually drying out, the leaves on the ground are all dry and crispy. Makes a great sound when you walk on them, and it feels like a cushion.This still doesn¢t take away from the fact that you have to still walk every step of the way. We are meeting lots of SOBO hikers at this time as Mt Katahdin opened up in June, so they are just now in our area.We have a big descent to the Tigertown road and our stop for tonight. It¢s always strange to me to all of a sudden be on a road with cars whizzing by. The AT Trail Angel House is just across the bridge. We are welcomed on to their porch where there is Coffee hot dogs and cold water melon lots of sodas in the fridge, it¢s a donation place, really cool.Lots of hikers coming in. We are renting tonight and there is already a heavy few, been told look out for the slugs, I hate those Bloody things.Now it¢s time for Bed so see you tomorrow nice and earlyGoodnightAnyone can walk on the flat , got to watch out for Slugs slipping in between your toes now that is living on the edge!!!!!Only got 451.6 miles to go before we make our assault on Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-07-31
From: Tigertown road West Hartford

To: Hanover Dartmouth College
Miles today: 9.5

Crazy BritThe alarm went of at 4L45am, I had left most of my stuff and pack up on the porch as it looked like we would have a heavy few. Darn I was right the tent was soaking wet, worse still there were loads of Slugs on the outer Fly the inner tent and the footprint. Bloody things I hate them. Worst still I had to find them in the dark with my Ted light, so as not to wake up my neighbors with a white light.I had to pack up a wet tent, this is one of the worst jobs. Hoping we can dry them out before we need it again. Job done pack all ready to go, we are sitting on the porch waiting for Linda our trail Angel to do some coffee.Dave as usual is chomping on the bit, coffee comes out with fresh grout, and home made cakes, Nice! David has a coffee and is on his way, me I have two cups a chat with Linda, Oh 2 cakes and a banana. It¢s still only 5:30 am and now it¢s light enough for me to leave.¢As a side note¢This house and all their belongings were lost in Hurricane Irene. When the white river burst its banks and swept away their house, they were lucky to escape with their lives and the clothes they were wearing.And still they put on a spread for the hikers, one hiker there last night helped them put up new sheet rock for four days, no charge to either board and food they all chipped in. Such is life on the AT it has refreshed my outlook on humanity, every one helps out. Linda does not ask for payment if you can afford it put money in the pot. Some of the young guys are strapped for cash so us older guys cover their payment, they are so grateful.Back to the trail, today we have one big climb out from the village then it flattens out to just some small ups and downs, so refreshing, like I said yesterday the leaves and pine needles are all dry and crispy, makes for great hiking.We are making good time, and passing lots of SOBOs out of eight of them there is only 2 men. There is a lot more of the fairer sex out here than you would think, would put it at 60-40 in favor of men, very impressive.Today we are heading for the Town of Norwich BT first then cross over the Connecticut River into New Hampshire a big step on our journey North. I have to have a photo taken at the Richardson house as a friend of mine Hobie went there. This done and it¢s off to the post office to collect my parcels, new shoes mine are falling off my feet 4th and last pair. A box From Trailwalkers Gear in Bradenton and my winter clothes from Janice.Mine is all there davids is not, our winter sleeping bags are missing, will report more later.Checked out the town and had dinner now it¢s bed time.Goodnight see you all tomorrow.Anyone can walk on the flat, pretty cool to try living on the Edge try it some time you might like itOnly got 442.1 before Mt Katahdin
Date: 2018-08-01
From: Grafton Turnpike on Dorchester Road

To: Hanover Dartmouth College
Miles today: 17.5

Crazy BritHad a good night at the Sunshine Motor Lodge, up at 5:30 am ready for our shuttle driver Andrew, he is a Trail Angel and shuttled us out to Grafton Turnpike before he went to work. He is coming back tomorrow to take us to the same spot so we can carry on North, Nice Guy.So today we are Slackpacking South back to Hanover, going to rain hard this afternoon and our timing has to be right to go over Mt Moosilauke when its dry and the rocks are not to slippery on the descent, this will then set us up for the rest of the journey north.We have 2 big climbs today the first up to Holts Ledge where I did todays FaceTime, down again to the valley then up again to Moose Mountain North Peak then over to the South Peak, great views from these places.We now go down the mountain, we are meeting our hiking friends who are going North, they always joke with us , hey look its the oldies Slack packing again, we like to call it Smart packing.The Trail is really good now just little ups and downs, we are waiting for the rain to appear, just as we were saying maybe it missed us down it came, we put on our wet gear and continue on, now being more careful of our footwork, one slip here on these slippery rocks and our adventure would be over.Its not to far now before we come out onto the Dartmouth College Sports field. We can then go to the Coop and pick up some supplies, by now it is really raining hard and we have to follow the White blazes up thru the town to complete this section of our hike.We are like drowned rats when we walk into the restaurant and Bar at Mollys Irish Bar for fish and Chips and a large beer. We catch the free bus out to our Motel and I am now sat outside having a beer, having an e-mail conversation with my good friend Hobie, and completing my Journal for today. Its all done apart from thanking my Good friends at Trailwalkers Gear in Bradenton for my Box of Trail Magic that I received. Put some of the goodies to test today, tasted great, Thanks!. Also want to thank my friends at Spot Tracking for their support and sponsorship it is really assuring that help is only the push of a button away, this gives my family a bit of reassurance about my Crazy Antics.We are about to Enter the Whites this Mountain Range and the Presidential range are not to be treated lightly.Now I can relax have another beer and I will see you all tomorrow, GoodnightAnyone can walk on the flat, but its better climbing on the Edge over slippery Rocks.Only got 524.6 miles to go before we stand on the summit of Mt Katahdin