morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-08-31
To: Goddard Shelter, VT
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up late as hell, around 1 or 2pm. As I was getting ready to go. A local woman and her 11 year old daughter, Hailey, came in. They were already hurting and had 8.7 miles to go. The mom needed some advil. I gave her some. They left before I did; but I soon caught them at Little Pond Lookout where they offered me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich which I declined. They would need that sandwich more than I. It was a pretty good climb up to The Goddard Shelter. It was just .2 from the top of Glastenbury Mtn. It looked like The Smokey Mountains up here with the Boreal forest and the first cold weather since Virginia in late May. This is a nice shelter and I decided to stay. It had a good water source. Also, I was interested in the mother in daughter making it here safely. I told them that if I did not see them at dark, I would bebin to worry. The arrived right around dark and I let them use my headlamp. A southbounder named "Seaweed Salley" came in. THere was also a woman going south who was finishing up the entire AT in Dalton, MAss. She had been section hiking many years to do this. There was also two late 40ish guys going north bound for a section. One of them looked like an old employee of mine, St Paul Bourgeouis. No relation, but the likenes was striking. I took a sleep aid and slept pretty well.
Date: 2007-09-01
From: Goddard Shelter, VT

To: 1.5 miles north over Stratton Mtn, Vt
Miles today: 17.8

Ok Kids and "O.G.", dont try to carry a 55 pound pack for 18 miles at a 2.5 mile an hour pace in mountainous terrain, at home; only do it with a trained professional. I woke up to a morning in the low 40's with wisps of clouds zipping right in front of the shelter. I talked with Hailey and Mom for awhile, then went up the mountain to an observation tower. What a view, I love Vermont. IT is good to be in some real mountains again. It has been since Va. Ok, I was getting serious about hiking now. I needed to do 12.7 miles a day for 45 days to get to Kathadin by Oct 15th. I was going to give it a shot. I went to the Kid Gore Shelter and read the trail register and saw that there were about 10-15 NOBO's right ahead of me. I wonder how many were behind me. I left a note for them to catch up to me and we could summit together. I really enjoyed this hike. Walking through a Boreal forest is so good for the senses, especially the fresh pine smell. The trail is well graded through this area. It is real popular with local hikers. I got down to a parking lot on the Kelley Strand Road. It was full of "weekend warriors"; none of which, even said hi to me. I noticed on a billboard that a post was up looking for a woman in her late 30's that went missing in the area. You see this from time to time out here. It is why I tell these ladies to not hitch hike alone. It just takes one mistake. Trust me, I am nearly always on guard: when I get around shelters; going around corners at night in town; hear people off in the distance at night; Walking by vehicles in these isolated parking lots; anytime I hitch hike; I watch peoples hands and eyes; and listen to the inflections in their voices. If I dont like "my gut feeling" in any of these instances; I try to get away and get comfortable. Anyway, at this spot, I decided to hike all the way up to the top of Stratton Mtn without stopping. It was 4 miles. As I started out; I was thinking that this was easy and a nice grade; but it just keep going and going. OF course at the top: I was just wet as person could be from sweating. I put on my winter cap and went up to the tower and looked around and took pictures. Absolutely beautiful, dont want to use beauteous again; but, damn it is good to be in the mountains again. As I was going down the steps off of the tower; I nearly slipped and fell a long way. I noticed that my legs were somewhat gelatinous and I said a prayer of thanks for what, Everything! I decided to walk down as far as I could handle and I made it about 1.5 miles down to a nice flat place that was out of the wind and much warmer than up on Stratton. I took a sleep aid; but, still had a restless sleep. There were alot of small animals running around waking me up.
Date: 2007-09-05
From: Beacon Hill, VT

To: Churchill Scott Shelter, VT
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

I woke up incredibly late(2 or 3) and took my time getting ready to go. I was now completely over my soreness and am a well oiled machine. It was good to do the math and set a daily goal and just do it. "Hawk" told me way back in Va that I would have to do this someday. I just put it off as long as possible; you know the whole, "Zero" thing. I woke up so late that my first 5 miles are just a blur and they were not too tough as the trail stayed at lower elevations across roads and along rivers. I did remember coming up to THe Gov Clement Shelter that is notorious in the guidebook for local partiers. Well, they were not here when I came by, dang it! I then went 6 miles up Killington Mtn(2600 ft) without stopping. I am just "sick in shape". I can do anything! As I was climbing, I noticed all kinds of good springs that I skipped because I did not want to stop and then BAM....."Lord have mercy Miss Percy!" The most beautiful hiker ever, SOBO, went by me. All I could do was say hi and introduce myself and ask her name, "Runway", as I sweatily zipped by and as we looked deep into each others eyes. It reminded me of times when I would see women in the windows on other airplanes on the tarmack at an airport while I was looking out of my window on my airplane as we taxied and would smile at each other, knowing that we would never see each other again; but, it doesnt hurt to wonder. Anyway, man...Runway model? I got to the Cooper Lodge Shelter at 3900 ft and was freezing. I read Runway's entry about her wild night in Rutland, Vt the night before. I had to get going and did. It was dark now and I was soaking wet and put on my rain jacket and winter cap to stay warm. I took it off I about an hour. As it was not just an easy descent of 5.5 miles down to the CHurchill Scott Shelter. It was up and down, rocky, with alot of roots. I did get there and the shelter was full with a dog laying in my place in the shelter. I went to the tent platform area and made a nice fire. Oh, it was awesome to have an old friend to talk to. A fire will just dance and listen(im losing my mind). Then that damn dog came up and just stood there barking at me. With its owner going, "is there something out there?" Then finally called the dog back to the shelter. Which it complied after 20 minutes. I will talk about dogs and dogs etiquette at a later date. I slept good and was very tired. I really pumped today.
Date: 2007-09-07
From: Brook next to road .5-1 mile after Stoney Brook Sh

To: Next(north) to South Pomfret Rd, VT
Miles today: 16.7

Woke up late again and took so long to get ready. I did my morning routine which consists of coffee, food, TMI, packing everything into my backpack, and putting on disgusting socks. My whole goal of getting from Bennington, VT to Hanover, NH without resupplying was going to be accomplished. My goal of getting there before Sat the 8th to get my maildrop was in jeaopardy. I would have to walk through the night to daylight to accomplish this; it would be 37 miles. I have not ever walked that far in a day. I would give this a shot; but, I am having a tough time dealing with how dirty I am. All my clothes have been drenched with sweat many times and then dried out. They are all visible dirty and caked with a salty sweat residue. Only for you Kathadin, only for you! Well I got going and was really movin. I am glad that I did stop last night as I did not have the juice, last night, to make the climb up to the Lakota Lake Lookout. Now that my pack was lighter, I could hike very strong. I was amazed at my power and again disgusted with my sweating as I climbed. I got down to The Wintturi Shelter and met a section hiker from Mass who let me have some Advil and some caffienated tea for later. I started a fire to allow myself, to kind of, dry out. I ate a big meal and descended down to VT 12. I noticed that the valleys were much colder than the mountain ridges and there was a heavy dew down low. I looked at the registers and saw my hiking peers just a 1/2 day or 2 days ahead. I have not seen a NOBO since I saw "Sweet Jella" on August 28th. I have been signing my trail registers as "Zero, The Last Nobo". There were some serious climbs between these roads. I really had no problem going up and down. I did have some serious mental issues with walking till daylight. I knew how my feet felt now, after 17 miles and new that I had at least that many to go; and I did not want that pain; so when I got to the South Pomfret RD, I put the tent up and kept thinking that I did not met my goal of sept 8th @ noon.
Date: 2007-09-08
From: Next(north) to South Pomfret Rd, VT

To: .2 miles north up from Cloudland Rd, VT
Miles today: 2.4

Did not get to sleep to soundly due to The South Pomfret Rd being a major dropping off and picking up point on the AT. I knew this when I set up camp here; so, I would just hear people walk by and then go back to dreaming. When I did finally get my wits about me. I noticed it was incredibly hot(90 degrees). I also was dealing with not meeting my short term goal "itis". I did get going up to the ridge before dropping down to Cloudland road. This was a beautiful stroll along a couple of century old lane with stone walls on either side with a full canopy of shade. It would be a great place to spend a day or two. I did notice over the last 5-10 miles that there is alot of logging pressure in these areas. Newly sawed tree stumps right along the trail and piles of stacked birch logs. Do we need a "Coup De tat" at the ATC? I thought the corridor was protected? The pressure was so intense in areas that there were these giant steel cables that were wrapped along giant tree thickets so that they could not be cut down. While I was up here it sprinkled just enough to put on my rain pack cover. Of course, once I put it on, it quit raining. I also had some superstition going on with the rain. I felt that god had allowed it to not rain for these 10 plus days; so, I could make it to Hanover. And since I did not make it; the lord was going to give me the rain. I then went down to The cloudland Farm that was .2 miles west on Cloudland rd. I talked to the woman of the farm and she told me some good history. THe farm had been in the family since 1909 and was still owned by her 90 year mother in law, who lived up the hill. Her mother in law had allowed her farm to be cut in two. SHe sold the middle section to the AT. There was also suppose to be an old shelter near the farm; but, I never saw it. After taking a short nap on the picnic table outside the farm store and a conversation with a farm hand about old ford trucks; I made a painfully tired walk .2 miles up from the road and set up my tent under some pine trees. I took alot of sleep aid at dusk and soon had a deep sleep going. I was trying to get my circadian rythym back to a daylight to daylight rythym vs the hiking deep into the night schedule.
Date: 2007-09-10
From: Soccer Fields, Hanover, NH

To: Sunset Motor Inn, Hanover NH
Miles today: 2.0

Man, It rained all night and I have been wet for 2 days now from rain and sweat wet for 10 days. I will get dry today and wash my clothes. I noticed the first signs of trench foot last night: a constant burning on my feet. When I got out of my tent, I looked over and there was "No Pain". You remember the Special Forces Veteran that I paried with outside of Kent, Conn. We talked for awhile and one story of note. Well, you remember that No pain is a man of color. Well, it seems that him an "Worldwide", another special forces veteran, were hanging out in Robinson Hall when security came and asked them to move on as soon as possible because they were making some students uncomfortable. I could tell in his story that he had a little trouble with this. He and Worldwide had fought overseas with "buddies dieing face down in the mud"; so, these college kids could smoke dope and have their little weird dungeons; and then come home and get run off by security. No pain also went into alot of race issues that he had experienced on the trail; but, I do not feel comfortable getting into them. I did get some cash from Colin via Western Union in West Lebanon, NH. and got a hotel room at The Sunset Motor Inn and the hotel allowed me to have free access at no charge to the washer and dryer. I washed all my clothes, my backpack, my tent, my sleeping bag, and fixed a slow leak in my sleeping pad.
Date: 2007-09-11
From: Sunset Motor Inn, Hanover NH

To: Sunset Motor Inn, Hanover NH
Miles today: 0.0

Spent the day staying out of the rain and trying to not let my "hiker goggles" go crazy; oh, momentary lapse...being Sept 11th and wanting to help our troops.....please read:This is your chance to show how much you love your soldiers, and contribute to their physical and mental health while they serve here in Iraq. This could be in the form of reading material (for me Deer hunting, fishing magazines, or backpacking, and with goodies (anything chocolate, and that would make the trip like all forms of nuts, sort of like me), and anything else that would fall under the supprise catagory. Just send something!!!1LT James F> SchmidtT.F. 325th Combat Support HospitalUnit # 73325APO AE 09333-3325(AT 2010)
Date: 2007-09-12
From: Sunset Motor Inn, Hanover NH

To: .3 miles south of Goose Pond Rd, NH
Miles today: 14.0

Woke up and ate a good continental breakfast with plenty of coffee. "No Pain" and "Blackfoot" showed up around 9:30am. I told No Pain to come by and have a shower as he was hanging in the rain up by the soccer fields. We caught a free bus into town where I bought some serious snowshoe gaiters and another jet boil gas cannister. It felt good to have those goofy looking gaiters on. I will be so much cleaner now. They keep dirt and debris from getting down in my shoe and causing rot foot. They also keep water from getting down in my shoes and making the boots water carriers. They also keep my calves from being caked in mud. It is also nice to go through meadows with dew, bugs, and caustic plants with gaiters on to avoid problems. In the evening, you unzip the gaiter and throw and wet muddy mess to the side and your calves and even boot laces are totally clean. I left out of town around noon and was really moving. 2 zero days is almost too much for my body. 1 zero is enough at this time. I also had alot on my mind with the direction of journaling. I was all the way to the 3 Mile Rd before I thought about needing a break to rest(about 8 miles). I then made the 2.5 mile hike up to The Moose Mtn Shelter. It was really breezy up here and a chilly. I ate 5 pieces of pizza that I carried in from Hanover. I also have a real heavy pack as I got some of my winter gear from my sister. My down jacket, OR mitt shells, wool socks, long underwear top and bottom, Turtle Fur Baklava, all came in the mail. I left out of the shelter an hour later with a backpack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and plastic tarp still setting in the shelter; just like when I arrived. It is unusual to see these items left unattended for very long. There are alot of Dartmouth freshman orientation students out in several groups and I figured the gear was one of theirs. I then struggled to go down 3 miles. I put on too much clothing and was too lazy to stop and strip layers. Also the speed in which I did my climb up Moose mtn with all the weight and not really sleeping well in the Motel room had me "draggin butt". So I found a nice camping spot a little off of the trail; but shaded from view and sun and right next to a brook. I was amazed when it was daylight that I went right to sleep and slept through to daylight.
Date: 2007-09-13
From: .3 miles south of Goose Pond Rd, NH

To: .3 miles down the northern summit of MT Cube
Miles today: 17.0

Woke up a little late as usual and heard several hikers go by and a large group of Dartmouth freshman. I was camped stealthily behind a big blowdown so no one saw me. I did get going and got down to Goose Pond road fairly quickly & I did notice that my legs were somewhat fatigued from pushing yesterday. I soon had the soreness worked out and was hiking with my normal 2.5 mph pace. After I got over Holt's Ridge, and walked through a singing session by a Dartmouth group; it was down and fairly level over to Lyme-Dorchester Rd where I would began a 4 mile climb up to Smart's Mtn and a Shelter called The Firewarden's cabin. I was hoping to get to the top before dusk to get a good picture from the Fire Tower. When I got to the cabin; I went inside and there was "No Pain". He had finally gotten out of Hanover and "blue blazed" to the cabin. It was chilly up here; so, I talked with No Pain(he said "BlackFoot" was just ahead) and rushed through a large meal. I was soon on a classic night hike. It lasted almost 3 hours with a dangerous crossing over South Jacob's Brook. I could not see where the blazes were on the other side of the brook; so, I went across where it was the least dangerous and followed the brook until I saw some white blazes. I felt good and continued up several open rock views on Mt Cube. It was simply incredible. I could see the "Milky Way" from horizon to horizon. There was no moon; therefore, I could see millions of stars. I can tell that I am getting much more remote than in the Mid Atlantic states because there is no light pollution to dim the stars. It was difficult to climb up and over Cube; but, very worth it. The first brook that I came to on the North side, after the summit, I stopped and ate two bagles with albacore tuna steaks and terriaky salmon. It gave me around 40 grams of protein which my muscles needed. After I ate, I was ready for bed and found a nice stealthy site and pitched my tent.
Date: 2007-09-14
From: .3 miles down the northern summit of MT Cube

To: Glencliff Hostel, NH
Miles today: 12.5

I tried to wake up a little early to try to get to Glencliff, NH before the post office closed. The smart thing to do would have been to wake up and get going when I saw daylight; but, I waited until I heard a few hikers go by and then I started breaking camp. My legs were feeling great and as I was getting ready to leave; a southbounder came by and he really liked my stealth campsite. We talked awhile and then I asked the time. It was 10:30 am. I got going at 11:00am. I thought I was real close to NH 25C; but, I was several miles away; so, I had to really hump to make the 12.5 miles in time. So as things go on these type of days: I just went off! It was the hardest that I have hiked yet(this year). I stopped once to drink water at a spring about 1/2 way. As I got closer to town: there it was: Mt Moosilake. The southern entry into the dreaded White Mountains. These mountains kill several people every year due to hypothermia and falls. I was completly psyched! Ever since I was 7 years old; I had dreamed of this! Right now I was panting from exertion as there was one more mountain before town: Mt Mist. It was not that tough; but, I just hate these last little climbs right before town. Anyway, I got to NH 25 at 4:20pm and instantly got a ride from a lady that just dropped a hiker off. She took me directly to the post office where I got packages full of winter gear. I got my 0 degree bag and some warm socks. I then went to the Hostel and there was "Blackfoot". "Chef" was here as well. He was done with his thru hike due to his knees and was hanging here until the ALDHA(American Long Distance Hiker Association) Gathering in Gettysburg, PA. I also met the guy running the hostel "Fat Chap". He gave me a ride to a larger town with a grocer. I then came back and updated my journal and reviewed my e-mails both good and bad.###OK "Scooby"; it's cool, just please dont cuss on the guest page and talk negative about my young friends....give me your e-mail, if you would like to talk more. I am motivated by negative reinforcement; as well as positive, just ask my old Coach Hulse, who once threw a basketball at me in frustration(Peace)###
Date: 2007-09-15
From: Glencliff Hostel, NH

To: Jeffers Brook Shelter area, NH
Miles today: 1.3
Weather: moderate rain

Did not sleep well at all. I just find it hard to sleep indoors nowadays. I was glad to be indoors, although. A large storm with high winds and alot of rain came in around 2am and lasted until 3pm. I just hung out watching college football. The Vanderbilt Commodores lost to Alabama. "Chef" kept wanting to watch Nascar, which was not going over very well. About midday, "No Pain" came in and we drank beers through the afternoon. Later in the Day, "Caboosey"(female) and "Blue" came in and No Pain went on & on with his stories about "Nutella"(female). It kind of made us all kind of uncomfortable as Caboosey and Nutella are friends and started the trail together. I am not going to get into the stories as I really like Nutella. I had a long conversation with "Fat Chap" about my situation about getting to Kathadin before October 15th. He said to not worry. He said that I must be doing something right to make it here. He said that it will probably snow and all I have to do is take a few days off and then continue on. This made me feel better. I guess it is what I wanted to hear. I also have "BlueBearee" AT 2002(Abol Bridge Maine Ridgerunner) telling to get to Kathadin by October 15th or even before or the weather could end you hike. All I can do is hike, right? Anyway, Chef went on and on about "SnackBreak" and some of her escapades on the trail. In an earlier journal entry, I transferred something that he said about her in a register in a shelter. I want to temper that entry with that is what he said. I do not know if his journal entry was true. It seems that he had alot of issues with her and her companion. I want to apologize to "SnackBreak" and let everyone know that I would not ever intentionally hurt anyone with false statements. I still have many things to learn as a journalist. OK, about 9pm; No Pain and I, walked with 6 or 7 beers in us; .4 down to where the trail crosses NH 25. When we came to Jeffers Brook, it was swollen to around knee deep water that was about 10 feet across. I did not feel real good about crossing here; but, No Pain just waltzed right across. Then I with my gaiters walked across and did not even really get wet. I was surprised; nothing like gortex boots and gaiters. We walked the 1.1 to The Jeffers Brook Shelter. No pain told me it was much closer and it seemed like forever. He gave me a long speech about how important it was to get out of the hostel that night because it would be difficult to get out in the morning, particularly with week 2 of the NFL season coming up. He was right. When we got to the shelter: it was full of Dartmouth Freshman; so, I set up my tent and No Pain went into the shelter and I heard him talking with the kids for an hour or so.