morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-18
From: Rt.7, Corn Crib Store gazebo in Massachussets

To: 2007-built Mt. Wilcox South Lean-to, Mass.
Miles today: 11.7

Great horned owl called during nt. Refilled our water with water jug put out for us by Corn Crib owner--thanks! Headed out under gray cool skies. Usual steep ups and ok terrain, not nearly as much rock sheet stuff and boulderclimbing as yesterday. Still have steroid-possessed mosquitos hovering around us, so headnets are on during morning. Saw a gfroup of 17 retirees dayhiking who scaled a hand-over-hand rock sheet just before we did. They were amazingly hearty and strong to be doing this section! Rain began about 30 minutes before reaching shelter, just after chatting with SOBO(south-bound) 3 ladies out for the nt who said they didn't know it was gonna rain(hope they had rain gear!). STarted pouring within minutes of getting into shelter. Next in were 2 guys from Maryland hiking together for 5 days(thonight is night one). They were very nice and interesting; both Apostolistic Lutherans, one who has wife & 13, yes 13 children! Listening to the rain pour down, we all jumped into our dry sleep clothes and into our sleeping bags to stay warm, and settled in for evening conversation as darkness and temperatures fell.
Date: 2010-05-19
From: 2007-built Mt. Wilcox South Lean-to, Mass.

To: Pilgrim Inn, Lee, Mass.
Miles today: 17.4

Rain poured, breezy and cold and bedtime, but rain quit during nt and temp moderated. I'm Alpha leader today. Goal today is to make it into Lee, Mass. Misting at start of day, 48-50 degrees. Spent most of day on very continuously steep(boy, do I use that word often!)climbs with many roots(pine and other evergreens) to watch for and to use as steps..beats stepping and leaping up and down rocks! Dozens of bogs to cross, some on bog boards(2 bds paralel-one for each ft), some bogs crossed by rock-hopping, some bogs plain ole had to be squished thru or skirted best we could...yucky muck all over our shoes. Bog boards were wet and slippery. Unfortunately, TIE plopped off of one into the bog, but got up unhurt, but messy with primal goop. Later on, one of my ft betrayed me(my rt ft) & kicked a stick causing it to pop up in front of my left foot, tripping me! Thud, down I went into wet leaves(not bog ) on my hands and knees. I got up unhurt & brushed the leaves off. My 1st fall over and done with. So today TIE & I record same # of falls! Today saw, cattle with dark chocolate colored front ends& rear ends and a large white ring encopassing their bellies & backs...what kind of cows are they? Looked like huge ice cream sandwiches. Crossed Mass. 20 using AT built hiker overpass bridges and waved at the drivers beneath who were honking & waving at us. Reached the rd to Lee, Mass and called taxi. After doing 17.4 trail miles there was no way would hike the 5 miles into town on hard rds! Taxi showed up 20 minutes later than taxi co said...we had to wait in chilling drizzle...then she charged us $17 for the ride! It's the only taxi co in town. She graciously announced she wasn't charging us for taking us on the 5 block loop tour around our hotel which she did to show us where restaurants are located. We were grateful for that concession..never heard of paying $17 for 5 miles! Got our lovely hotel room where we have a great bathroom & shower, the tv has Golf channel and CNBC(TIE's favorite stations)PLULS on-site laundry...bliss! Walked to nearby Athena's Restaurant for the best homemade meat lasagna TIE's ever had, the best homemade veggie lasagna I've ever had(we thanked the chef afterward)accompanied by large salads and warm little bread loaves. We'll sleep well after this long day.
Date: 2010-05-20
From: Pilgrim Inn, Lee, Mass.

To: Pilgrim Inn, Lee, Mass
Miles today: 0.0

Breakfast at closeby McDonalds whree we chatted with a licensed logger(he tags the trees that are ready for cutting), got laundry done, grocery shopped, got more moleskin for my blisters(blister count is down to 3 whoppers that think they're gonna be my constant companions...far better than the 6 I had a wk ago!), I gobbled up a lemon-filled doughnut from Dunkin Doughnuts across the street..soon to eat my left-over veg lasagna in our room, and now sit in the library. Small towns are great; everything within short walk of motel. Dinner tonight will be veggie-oriented for both of us. Right now TIE is back in the motel room eating some cans of vegs he got from grocery store. I'm heading back now to eat lasagna and bananas. Will get back on trail around 9 a.m.. We've spread the word that we'll pay $10 for ride back to trail(avoiding that expensive taxi ride). Hope someone will take us to trail. Hope all of you at home are well and happy.
Date: 2010-05-21
From: Pilgrim Inn, Lee, Mass

To: Tom Levardi's house, Dalton, Mass
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: clear sky

No takers on our offer to townies to pay $10 for ride back to trailhead. So we paid the taxi co $17 for the ride. Day warmed to near 80, a few short moderate uphills, miles of bogs, nice rood-bound roaming trail, not taxing at all if it weren't for the still, hot air. Only had occasional breeze. Lunched at shady October Mtn Lean-to in the forest where the 3 women hikers whom we'd met before were also lunchi breaking. Today they are south-bound . Highlts of today: talking to the ladies(one is from Florida & used to live in VA), seeing moone ladyslipper, several moose tracks, moose scat. Day was good so we kept on truckin past camping and shelter options, reaching Tom Levardi's house(he's well-known for his hiker hospitality for 30 yrs!!) where he was getting ready to serve 3 hiking guys a big dinner of corn on the cob, sausages, and I don't know what else. We declined the invite to join them, going across the st to a tavern, instead. Had great dinner, returned to Tom's at ice cream eating time(we declined-too stuffed from dinner), a were shown the bedroom in the basement where we(just TIE & I) were to sleep. It was cool, dark, and quiet, perfect to get a good night's rest. Tom said he'd be up early so not to worry about rousing him.
Date: 2010-05-22
From: Tom Levardi's house, Dalton, Mass

To: Mark Noepel Lean-To, Mass.
Miles today: 13.7

Got up before other hikers, talked to Tom, packed opur gear, talked some with other hikers just before leaving. Today's walk was rather boring, hot uphills, walked thru town of Cheshire(trail goes thru town). Highlight of day was arriving at this shelter to find inside Dorothy & her cousin(college students) & Johnny Blackbean--Johnny was the hiker we spent our last night in a shelter with last yr in NY!! Johnny is out in this area to cover a 100 miles or so. Neat to see him! Oh, and the hikers at Levardi's house said they'd met Snidely Whiplash and Applecore hiking recently--Snidely(New Orlean arch.student) and his girlfriend Applecore(geology student)! What a super small world out here! Tonight's shelter was filled with lively conversation and laughter from all, including Sherman a hiker who in reg life is a Coast Guard Search & Rescue man formerly stationed at Yktn, VA now stationed in a northern fishing port town(I forget which town, and 2 guys who just graduated from Cornell who are up here to hike with a thru-hikerchildhood friend of theirs-The Kidd-who is slackpacking today from Levardi's house til tomorrow when the Cornell guys and Kidd will reunite. Johnny Blackbean said he learned something from me last yr: he now totes wipes in his pack to freshen up after hiking-how neat!
Date: 2010-05-23
From: Mark Noepel Lean-To, Mass.

To: Sherman Brook Primitive Campsite, Mss
Miles today: 11.4

Rained for short time during nt, got cooler(good!). Overcast in a.m.. Johnny Blackbean took pics of us since it's so amazing to see each other again. Anopther boring roots and bogs day til as we almost summitted Mt. Greylock, heading toward us were our 3 ladies! Barb, Leslie(Florida resident), and Beth "Momma Bear" are staying at Bascom Lodge at the top. Bascom Lodge was charming to see(trail goes rt past front door). Best thing today: trail magic offer of bottled water from gardening lady in Williamstown(we declined) as we hiked the trail that went on town sidewalks for a mile or so, & receiving offer to swim in backyard pool from another family in town next to trail who let us fill our water bags from their spigot & gave us cans of soda to drink!(We didn't swim--too grungy, nothing appropriate to wear as swimsuit, and still had miles left to hike). Trail magic is a rarity up north So to get 2 offers within minutes is amazing! Weird thing today was during our lunch break on rocks with an overview near top of Mt. Greylock, we heard panting a running up the trail behind us...round the bend came a woman jogging(no pack or water bottles). She jogged down the trail back into the forest. After lunch we went down the same trail which was super steep, more than .3 miles, covered with dry dirt and dry, slick leaves. Ifell/slid twice(not hurt)while using poles to brace myself against the incline. Don't know how someone running without poles made it down in one piece! Very few birds sang in the forests today, they didn't find the forest interesting either, I suppose. Here at our tentsite there are robins, veery's, and lots of other birds singing, so things are looking up for a nice night(except the mosquitos are so bad we're forced to stay inside our tent instead of sitting outside).
Date: 2010-05-24
From: Sherman Brook Primitive Campsite, Mss

To: Congdon Shelter, Vermont
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: clear sky

Yippee! We're in Vermont now! Didn't get a super nt of sleep cause a young family arrived at the campsite last nt at dusk & their 2 yr old cried a lot before being put to bed about 9p.m. and awoke during nt to cry some more. We couldn't figure out why they thought that would be a fun family activity as many mosquitos as there are swarming around--the child had to be eaten alive. We can't believe we're in Vermont! It doesn't seem that long ago we were going into NY forests. Impressions of Mass: the state is held together by bog boards(usually 2 side-by-side), boulders(always come in groups, sometimes placed between bog board sections so we can try to successfully jump from end of bog board onto damp stone, then onto next set of bog boards), a little bit of dirt that's held together by roots for us to walk between or on. Oh, and the state symbol should be mosquitos,; they defy bug spray, don't care if it's chilly, and have probiscus' the size of Slourpee straws, leaving huge welts that last for 5 days on us. Had another fun encounter with the 3 ladies again, who added another friend to their group. Best thing about hiking this yr has been the nice people we're meeting and the towns, with the town of Kent, Conn being the most enjoyable town so far(Dalton where Tom Levardi lives might've made the list if we spent more time there). Here for the nt at this shelter are The Kidd, Emperor Nero, and one of the Cornell grads(the other one quit cause he got a blister). Neatest sights today: a couple of HUGE beaver dams, one where they've dammed up a pond, making the water level/side of the dam right at our eye lvel on the trail! Swimming in one of the beaver ponds were 2 Canada geese with 4 babies. Looked like a post card or calendar picture. Saw more moose scat and prints, but no moose. Moose can be territorial and dangerous so hope we don't have cone ever get too close.
Date: 2010-05-25
From: Congdon Shelter, Vermont

To: Autumn Inn, Bennington, VT
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: clear sky

We were only ones to get up and out, leaving the young guys asleep, we hit trail by 7:15. Gee, it's already hot and no breeze. Hiked thru several bogs, then down boulders leading to the rd to Bennington. Going down boulders, up came our lady friends! They say this might be our last mtg since they're only hiking tomorrow. Hotel owner shuttled us to hotel. Ate subs for lunch, showered, died wash at hotel laundry. Hit trail in a.m. having arranged for a shuttle service in area to pick us up. Hope to have good dinner and sleep. Both of us have lost wt & are feeling pretty good. Not looking forward to hiking tomorrow: forecast is for temps in low 90's! Today it's 89! n My glasses fell off the front of nmy shirt(I know--it's dumb to hang them there) on our walk back to the hotel after lunch. We retraced our path & found them set on the steps of a store! Whew! Even tho they were old glasses with frames I don't like, I'm so glad to have them back so I can see trailguide small print & better see what I'm eating. Don't need them during hiking cause it's easy to see, hear&feel the swarms of squeeters, and there's no missing boulders and roots.
Date: 2010-05-26
From: Autumn Inn, Bennington, VT

To: Kid Gore Shelter, VT
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

Got $2 per person ride to trailhead from Green Mtn Transport van man. On trail at 9a.m.., tummies full of zero-value Little Debbie pastries and junk from gas station food store since our motel doesn't have a brekfast. Day got hot, but frequent breezes made it tolerable. Forest changed from deciusous to evergreen(love the smell), saw lots of moose scat, then back to deciduous trees, many of which have dying shriveled leaves from some blight(?) causing the forest to be sunnier than it should be--yikes the forest is losing its upper canopy & the low growth plants are dying cause getting too much sun. Neatest thing today: after watering up midday, we ran into Leslie & Barb(2 or our 3 lady hikers group)! Chatted again, they told us they're heading to Manchester Ctr(a town) & we may see them again in a few days. Here at our shelter are Cake(turns 19 tomorrow & lugged a birthday cake in his pack up here to share!) & his hiking partner Stilts--they're both thru hikers who started from GA back in March. They both carry slingshots to amuse themselves with in the evenings- they are pretty good shots & quite funny and good conversationalists.Cake & Stilts told us about the knee-high snow they had to wade thru when they hiked thru the Smokies...brrr! Both will be going to colleges this August. The air is cooling down somewhat now the sun is setting. We've all been hiding out from the mosquitoes(yes, there are black flies, too) hoping the temps wil fall. Heat lightning is flashing in the distant clouds and a full moon is rising. Other neat thing today: TIE flushed out a grouse earlier today.
Date: 2010-05-28
From: Stratton Pond Shelter, VT

To: Sutton's Place, Manchester Center, VT
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Hiking out from our shelter the trail skirts Stratton Pond. I can't tell you if birds were singing while we hustled past the pretty pond because I couldn't hear for the racket the voracious mosquitos were making around my net-wrapped head. The flies & mosquitos were like our own personal 2 clouds, step by step as were hustled trying to create wind to dislodge their swarms. Finally after about 5 miles we entered a portion of forest that was bog-free, dry, and our bloodthirsty companions left us!Ran into 2 Vt Long Trail girls watering up. They said the bugs were not too bad at their shelter last nt...lucky them! It was so bad last night that I tightened the mummy closure on my sleeping bag, leaving just a 2 inch wide breathing hole(here's the picture..I, like TIE & the other hiker have our head nets on in our sleepingbags). I squirmed so that my sleeping bag was face down(breathing hole now flad against floor of sleeping platform). Then I wiggled out of my jacket(worn to thwart stingers that somehow pierce 1/2" thick material)& put my jacet over the breathing hole, covering that with my little pillow, topping it all off by resting my head on it. So the little devils couldn't sneak into my sack and get me! And do you know, even at 12:15 a.m. the whine of their wingborne missle stingers were still going strong! We all groaned and moaned, tossed and turned all night. Everyone got up early, frustrated by the unrelentless attack, we said goodbye thru our headnets. Sunny warm day today. SOOOO glad to be going to town to wash off layers of DEET spray. Got to road at noon, it's 5 miles into town, within 3 minutes a lady turned around and picked us up and drove us to Sutton's Place here in town. Turns out, Sutton's Place is a bed & breakfast home with a tv in the family room. It's beautifully decorated, plus it's within easy walking distance of all of the services we need(library-Frank Sutton gave us a ride here), restaurants, grocery, laundromat. Library is closed tomorrow for holiday so I won't be posting again til next town(Rutland, VT). We're spending tonight and tomorrow night here at Sutton's Place in Manchester Center to rest up and count our bug bites(mine look like marble-sized welts; TIE's look like he's getting over chicken pox...and that's even after multiple coats of Deet spray each day!!). There are about 50 trail miles between here and Rutland, VT. We plan on doing that in 4 nts, but if the bugs are bad we may be forced to hike extra miles each day to shorten up our exposure to those evil stings! Gee, we've hiked 19 miles on one big mile day this yr; maybe we can pick up our pace and crank out 25 a day so we don't have to give those nasty flies & skeeters much more of our blood. Say a prayer. I'm already hearing constant buzzing in my ears..I think I'm being traumatized by the bugs!!
Date: 2010-09-09
From: home in Newport News, VA

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

Hi! Fall is in the air and things seem to be cooling down. Take It Easy and I figure now's a good time to see what's happening in the woods up north. So Monday we'll drive up to Hanover, NH, park our car and start hiking southbound to Manchester Center, VT where we got off back in May.    It'll be kinda weird to hike southbound. I'll have reorient myself. I'm used to thinking of the Atlantic generally being to my right(even though the trail meanders along every compass bearing) and the sun setting somewhere over my left shoulder. Guess I'll adapt as we go along. The main challenge will be reading the guidesheets in reverse. Poor Take It Easy will be challenged patiencewise as he waits for me to figure out which shelter we're aiming for.    Given the cool night temps we have our fingers crossed that the mosquitoes will leave us alone so we can rest. Chilly nights are much better than hot, sticky ones tormented by skeeters!   Wondering how we're gonna get back to our car? We do, too! If all goes according to Plan A, we'll hitch into Manchester Center, VT on Saturday in time to catch the bus north to Rutland, spend the night in Rutland, then either rent a car or take a taxi or run into a trailangel with a car and some time on her hands to take us to Hanover, NH. Plan B, which is also very nice, will come into play if we arrive on Sunday, the only day of the week the buses don't run. In that case, Plan B dictates that we stuff ourselves silly with yummy food and margaritas at Candeleros Restaurant in Manchester Center before, during, or after lucking into a place to stay overnight. Either way, we'll be happy hikers. Our main goals are to have a wonderful, healthy hike from Hanover to Manchester Center, eat at least one meal at Candeleros, get back to our car and home again safe, sound, and full of marvel over this section hike.   We wish you all the best in your adventures!
Date: 2011-05-20
From: Manchester Center, VT

To: Bethel, ME
Miles today: 0.0

We're almost ready and set to drive up to Green Mountain Hiker Hostel in Manchester Center, VT to leave our car and hike north to Rutland, VT. When we arrive at Rutland, we'll take the bus back to Manchester Center to fetch our car. We'll drive to the long term parking lot at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH(where we parked last Sept. to hike south to Rutland). From Hanover, NH our goal is to hike northbound to Bethel, ME. Wish us luck!
Date: 2011-05-24
From: Manchester Center, VT

To: Bethel, ME
Miles today: 0.0

Whew! It's hard to believe that our start date is upon us. We leave tomorrow to drive most of the way up to Manchester Center, VT. Hopefully we'll be at the trailhead Thursday morning full of energy to take us 10 miles to Peru Peak Shelter. We hear it's been awful rainy up north. Having ample water sources is a good thing, but we sure aren't looking forward to living in our ponchos(me) and rainsuit(Take It Easy). Hiking consecutive days in the rain won't be unfamiliar; it's just a little more uncomfortable. When we reach Rutland, VT, perhaps on Monday, Memorial Day, we will have completed the entire Vermont section of the Appalachian Trail. The mileage posted to trailjournals.com at Rutland will reflect our full mileage(in Sept. we hiked Hanover, NH to Rutland,VT approx. 46.1 miles). You'll see our mileage change to 1736.5 miles done, 441.8 to go to get to Mt. Katahdin in Maine.I don't know how often I'll be able to access the internet to post entries. So check in every now and then to read how we're doing. Your support and encouragement mean a lot to us. Tonight we're going to feast on a favorite homecooked meal-leftovers and remaining vegetables, attempting to empty the refrigerator of all perishables. Tummies full, and packs heavily laden with sustinance for the trail, we'll be waddling up from the trailhead outside of Manchester Center. Hope winds are favorable!Today's full of checking off our "to do" list. May we all journey forward in wellness and joy.
Date: 2011-05-26
From: Manchester Center, VT

To: Peru Peak Shelter, VT
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Parked car at Green Mountain Hiker Hostel and got a prompt taxi ride from Joe LeBlanc to the trailhead. Started hiking at 10:52 a.m.. Temps reached 84 degrees per Take It Easy's thermometer, skies mostly sunny, with an occasional breeze--we could use more breeze, please! We were SO hot, drops sweat continuously falling from our noses and chins as we climbed Bromley Mountain, Styles Peak, and Peru peak with few level places except where bog boards were placed over the thick, black muck. Can't go fast on bog boards, or we'd risk falling into the primal stew. Saw lots of moose scat , some fresh, two wolf/coyote scat piles that were several days old, and didn't see any people. This shelter is smack dab in front of a roaring stream--no long walk to fetch water--yippee! Lots of hungry black flies all day long, those that found exposed skin stung like vampires, leaving puncture holes dripping blood---ewww! Wore our mosquito net headgear from start and even to sleep in. Sights: ski lift at top of Bromley with picture of ski slope layout(we actually hiked up part of one ski run to the top). Only us at the shelter. Lots of thunder and lightning as storm builds and approaches.