morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-08-04
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Vermont 9
Miles today: 11.5

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear Right On, happy birthday to me. The big 3-0 baby and I am on the Appalachian Trail. It rained most of the night and was a yucky start to the day. I was fighting it for about the first 4 miles then I decided to take a zero day in Bennington. I got it together and started enjoying my birthday. The trail is absolutely amazing with mud and water. Forget dry feet, it is impossible. The mud slows me down quite a bit and can be quite frustrating when you slip and slide around. We stopped at Condgon Shelter for a small break and the Gambler gave me a Snickers for a Bday present - score, it was good! I had some Bday presents in the box that is wandering around in the postal service and then most of the other stuff is in Manchester Center, so I'll just have to wait. The clouds cleared briefly for my first view in Vermont and it was great, overlooking Bennington, sun and all. That was a nice treat. We came down to the highway via a very steep rocky downhill path, wow! .5 miles took 45 minutes. To quote Gray Jay about that section, "They have to be out of their freaking minds!" They, being the trail builders. It took us about 30 minutes to get a hitch into town. A woman stopped on the other side of the road and offered to take us the 5 miles into town. Aaaahhhhhh, a hotel at last, shower, clean clothes - everything Wooowooo! We sorted ourselves out, I made some phone calls for Bday wishes and then Gray Jay took me for dinner. Chicken parmesan, salad, tea, chocolate pie, the works! It was fantastico!Then we went back to the room and went promptly to sleep and wow, I slept good.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-05
From: Vermont 9

To: Bennington, Vermont
Miles today: 0.0

It has been 30 days since my last zero day, I think. I slept in late. At 8:00 am I went down and picked up coffee, donuts, soap, and Epsom salt at the local grocery. The Epsom salt was to soak my weary legs.The only things I did on this day was to go to the post office, got a haircut (it is real short), ate at Friendly's and went to the grocery for a resupply. My stomach was upset the other part of the day after my "Where's the beef hamburger" and shake. Ugggghhh!So I dealt with that too.Oh, yes, and dried all my gear out while I watched it rain outside.Zero days are nice.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-06
From: Bennington, Vermont

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

It was hard to get up this morning and even harder to put that pack on.We got a hitch out of town from a truck with lawn mowing equipment. It was a cold ride for me and I was onto the trail with some grumbles. Zero days are good, but sometimes you just want more. I knew it was up all day to Glastenbury Mountain. The mountains are slowly getting taller with longer ups, getting me ready for what is next. The weather is still yucky. We are in a weather pattern that predicts rain and humidity for a long time. Uuuggghhhh! I had no go today. I guess my bout with the upset stomach did more than I thought, because I was not strong at all today. It was a struggle.Then about 3 miles from the shelter a big thunderstorm broke and it poured for about 30 minutes. It soaked me and included lightening and thunder. Oh my!We finally got to the shelter and it was packed and chilly. We put up tarps to block out the wind and it seemed a bit warmer. I am hoping for a good night's rest. There are 12 of us here, so we will see.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-07
From: Goddard Shelter

To: Black Brook 
Miles today: 12.5

I woke up just like any other morning in a shelter. The early risers were packing up, the late sleepers were rolling over covering their ears and then there was me staring into space wishing for more time in bed. I was up and out after putting on cold wet clothes after a cup of coffee and a Pop Tart. We walked to the next shelter 4 miles away before our first break. The trail is a muddy mess after all the rain. Ankle deep, slimy mud in some places and in others just a running creek substitutes as the trail. At the shelter I found Bday messages from B Monk, Sure Step and Kokapelli. Cool!We trudged on knowing we needed to make some miles because of mail drops in Manchester Center and the post office hours. I have to get there Sat. morning before noon. I don't really care for schedules on the trail, but sometimes they are necessary. We ate lunch at the next shelter, then walked another four miles and started looking for a campsite. We came across a dandy one here on Black Brook. It is just me and Gray Jay. I set my tarp up for the first time. It is quite roomy and Gelert and I are very happy.I had a special after dinner treat of Jiffy Pop popcorn tonight. Tasty!Now I am contemplating sleep, with wonderful noise of the brook just 10 yards away. Ahhhhh! Happy trails!PS: We have been seeing moose tracks and moose poop, so they are out there somewhere.
Date: 2003-08-08
From: Black Brook 

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: moderate rain

This is the 2 month anniversary today of trail life. It seems a little unreal, but it is oh so real when walking through the mud and then stopping and eating a Kit Kat and Snickers back to back. The mud can only be described as...amazing. It is everywhere, on everything and slippery slimy. I guess it is similar to the rocks of PA, this mud of VT. My feet are wet all day, so I dream about taking my shoes off at night. It is the best. We went over Stratton Mountain today and at almost 4,000 feet, the highest I've been yet. There was no view but I hear it is spectacular from the fire tower. The caretaker made us coffee. It was very nice as I got cold sitting during my break. It was a tiring day, but we are set up perfect for Manchester Center.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-09
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: VT 11/30
Miles today: 2.7

Sleeping with strangers in shelters is not always a pleasurable experience. Most of the time everyone goes to sleep and just sleeps the night away, but you will get the occasional snorer or someone who tosses and turns. The shelter was packed and it had like bunk platforms in it. A boy was there with his father and he was doing flip flops or something all night. Sleep was sparse to say the least. Even with my little radio on an easy listening station I couldn't drown that out. I use the radio to cover up the little noises. We were up and out by 6:30 am. We got a quick hitch but they only took us 4 of the 5 miles, so it was basically another 1.5 miles to the post office. Other hikers that weren't even up when we left were whizzing past us in cars. Aaaarrrrgggghhh!We finally caught up with the mail drop box and it had lots of goodies in it for my Bday-thanks Jan that was great! Mom and Dad sent me those cool cookies that are in all sorts of shapes. Mine was a birthday theme with good icing. They also sent me a replacement for my lucky monkey, a little bear. I got cards and other goods. Thanks, everybody, it is fun to get mail. I saw "Seabiscuit" at the movies today, a nice treat, and washed clothes and did all my town chores. I even had McDonald's twice, cheap and filling. It is raining out and I am happy to be inside this boarding house. Love near zero days! Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-10
From: VT 11/30

To: Peru Peak
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: light rain

I slept like a dream last night as I heard it raining all night. I had a nice breakfast with Gray Jay, Buckeye, Daphne and Beth.We got a good hitch out of town from two nice ladies and were off - me in my new shoes and Gelert full of energy. Let me just tell you about that Brown Dog. She is absolutely amazing. I am so lucky to have her. She understands the etiquette of the trail and people love her around. One person in town asked if she was in training for a guide dog. She is also amazing on the trail going over rocks and trees. She even goes around the mud like us. She is an amazing companion. She has a sore spot on her elbow from the pack rubbing and being wet for the past 10 days, so we will watch that and baby that. My feet are a bit sore today, but they will simmer down once the shoes are broken in. We missed a huge thunderstorm today, how I don't know, but she was rumbling and threatening.My feet stayed 90% dry today with some effort on my part. That was a nice treat.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-11
From: Peru Peak

To: Little Rock Pond Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

What a wonderful walk today, mostly downhill(my favorite), ponds, rivers and no huge mud holes. The sun even came out for a brief stretch.I laid on a big flat rock on the edge of a rushing river, had lunch and took a wonderful nap with Brown Dog. Strolling onward we came across a beautiful pond. All of this on the first day back to work for teachers. All that time I spent day dreaming in those first of the year meetings about being out here- just can't believe how lucky I am! On the down side, it has been raining off and on for 11 days now. It is raining now as I type this in the shelter. I am ready for the sun to come out and stay out. Last night apparently this guy who is trying to break a speed record on the long trail(about 250 miles long) of 4 days and 15 hours whizzed past the shelter so fast I did not see him. I was just cooking dinner and he got past before I could even notice. I guess everybody is out here for different reasons, but wow that seems a bit over the edge. Sleep is calling.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-12
From: Little Rock Pond Shelter

To: Minerva Hinchley Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: light rain

It absolutely poured last night, but that is okay because I was inside the shelter. But then I woke and saw the trail out of the shelter was a river. Oh well, guess my two day dry foot spell was over. I feel bad complaining about the rain. Maybe it is because I grew up in the panhandle of Texas where rain is like gold. But I'm really tired of the rain and the wet, river like trail. They say it will clear by Thursday.I had a real test today crossing a stream. After all the rain it was rumbling down the mountain about 10 yards across. My feet were already wet; it could only clean them up, so in I went. The water came up to my knees at the deepest point. Wow, nothing like that to get your heart pumping.We crossed the third mountain, named Bear Mountain today... hummmmm could we get some nicer sounding ones like Butterfly Mountain, Puppy Mountain or Fawn Mountain? Something not so ominous sounding.It is raining again outside and I am in the shelter with 7 others tonight. Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-13
From: Minerva Hinchley Shelter

To: Cooper Lodge
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: moderate rain

It was cloudy and overcast this morning and we had a short 3 mile hike to the road where we could walk another half mile to get a hot breakfast at the Whistle Stop Cafe. We were crossing over the Clarendon Gorge on a suspension bridge that was like a fun house ride. It was roaring with water!   We got out in the middle and that thing was bouncing up and down and was only wide enough for one person. I loved it!! On the other side we met a trail maintainer, very friendly man, who offered us a ride to the cafe. You bet ya! The cafe was an old train stop with fantastic food. There were 8 hikers in all there, just pigging out. Seabee, a man from the Woodlands, Tipperary, an Irish Catholic priest(I later learned) and several others. It was so nice. I got to hike some with Tipperary later that day and he was at the Cooper Lodge. He was an absolutely hilarious man. I so enjoyed my time with him. We were pushing to close with 14 miles today so we could be closer to the inn at The Long Trail for the next day. It was a tough hike up Killington Mountain. I got light headed late in the hike and had to sit and snack for a while. Then I felt better and had a burst of energy to push me all the way to the shelter. Whew, was I glad to be there. It was a long ole' day.On to the inn tomorrow. Yahhhooweee!Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-14
From: Cooper Lodge

To: VT 4 - Inn at the Long Trail
Miles today: 6.3

What a beautiful morning, with a cool night last night to sleep. I even pulled out the long john bottoms and fleece coat. Yesterday we had a real pour down of rain and I guess that is it for now, I hope.We decided to hike the quarter of a mile up to Killington Peak. It was a steep, rocky one, but I was richly rewarded. The clouds were blowing upover the 2nd highest peak in VT, then they would clear and you could see for miles. Mountain tops were sticking out of the valley of low clouds. This is it!!! Right there, why I am here. I am alive, chasing a dream, truly living. There are so many mountains to climb.We went back to retrieve our backpacks and were sitting for lunch at the Inn, with Tipperary and Seabees. The Inn is famous for the Guiness beer and very much fashioned after rustic old pubs and mountain lodges, love it!!We rode the bus down to Killington to retrieve bounce boxes and get groceries. I don't recommend it for resupply, they charge an arm and leg. Go the other way to Rutland and a price that is cheaper. It was down there I decided to take a zero day at the Inn the next day. I am mentally exhausted. I am moving a little slower than anticipated, but it is a comfortable pace, so that is where I am at this time. The Inn is also very nice and the room is great, sooo, perfect. Gray Jay will be hiking on. I hate to lose a hiking partner, but I am exactly where I need to be and everything will be perfect.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-15
From: The In of the Long Trail

To: The Inn of the Long Trail
Miles today: 0.0

It was hard to watch Gray Jay hike out this morning, but I might see her before she finishes up in Gorham.I laid around, watched TV, then got up and went into Rutland on the bus. I got some odds and ends, ate fast food, then surfed the web at the library. It is cool to look at trail journals and see were others are that I have met before. I ended up riding the bus around for an hour or so before I got back to The Inn. Uuggghh! I had another shower and headed into the pub and had dinner. Then I scrounged around and found some videos for my VCR, and fell asleep watching movies. Aaaahhhh, zero days.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-16
From: VT 4 - Inn at the Long Trail

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Well, it was hard to peel myself out of The Inn this morning. The clouds were thick and there was talk of rain. We finally got out and on the trail. The first 4 miles was very enjoyable then it went down from there, or should I say a very, very steep up. Why am I still getting a whooping from these mountains, I mean a big, fat, ugly whooping? I struggled up this up that wasn't even named and sat, then walked, then cried, then walked, then laid down, then cried, then walked, almost barfed. It was one of the worst couple of miles in the short history of my journey. Oh well, it is over now and it will make me appreciate the times that aren't like that more. I found the shelter and ate the mac' and cheese and am going to read my book. Ahhhhhh! Tomorrow will be a better day.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-17
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 9.9

I have to admit I was a little nervous getting up this morning after my horrible day yesterday because I did not want a repeat performance. We started rocky nonetheless. There was a huge boulder and there was a ladder down about 8 feet. The ladder was very steep and made of rough timber logs from the forest. Gelert was not going to be able to maneuver this one. So I took her pack off and threw it down. Then I went down to take my pack off so I could come back up and brace her on the way down or find an alternate route. Well when I got to the bottom she didn't wait and came crashing down. I swear my heart about came out of my nose. She got up scared to death and I was sure she had broken something. She was holding her left leg up. I just hugged her because I was scared and she was too. Her heart was pounding. I looked at her leg and her paw was bleeding a little bit, nothing serious and nothing seemed to be broken. So we went on and she did fine, no limp or nothing, cool!Don't believe we were soooo lucky! We had a nice, uneventful hike the rest of the day and I had a much better day. The trail is starting to dry up and the sun is overtaking the clouds. I am going to reevaluate Brown Dog in the morning. After laying down for a while she is favoring her left arm. We will just have to see in the morning. Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-18
From: Wintturi Shelter

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

I have been getting up about 3 times a night to answer the call of nature. It is annoying, to say the least, but at least there were cool moon shadows. At about 4:30 in the morning a bunch of owls started talking back and forth, but they sounded more like monkeys and Brown Dog didn't know what to think. Not the normal hoot owls.Brown Dog's leg seems to be fine. She is running with no problem, just stiff at night. I am thankful for that. The last couple of days have been really hard, not sure why, just trail, and I am not doing that many miles per day. Huuummmm, guess I need to eat more.Tonight I am sharing the shelter with Patches, Journey, Pace, Moth Man, and Dutch. Good company is always nice. I do miss Gray Jay. Wonder if I will be able to catch up with her.Today was the first day of classes in Houston and I thought about how everyone was getting on. Hello, everyone at Pershing. It is strange not to be there, but I am happy to be out here on the trail. Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-19
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: clear sky

I was the last one out of the shelter this morning and it was 8:15 am. I guess we are all feeling the pull of New Hampshire and Hanover. So away we went. It was a beautiful morning with woods and open fields alike. Clouds were lying low in the valleys. I was enjoying my first break and Balance Bar when Guana and Sonic walked up. I had not seen these two ladies since Delaware Water Gap. What a nice surprise! So I got up and started hiking with them. The miles just ticked off as we walked and talked. Before I knew it we were in West Hartford having a burger and soda at the local store. Then we strolled down to the White River for a swim and some sun where I met Fly and Smoothie. I have to say there were many people jumping from the bridge over the river into the water, but just because everyone was doing it didn't mean I had to. See mom I did learn something. I sat there for what must of been an hour or two and then talk of slack packing came up. We asked a nice gentleman there, who was swimming, if he would take our packs to Hanover while we walked. He agreed. Yahooooweee! I was not planning on going to Hanover, but now it was possible with no pack. We did the next 10 miles in 3 and a half hours. I ran across the bridge over the Connecticut River into New Hampshire whooping and hollering!!!! I am in my ninth state.Guana found us good lodging out of town and a hiker from last year, Godiva, took us to the hotel with AC, sheets, showers, and a washer and dryer. Life is just too good sometimes.I slept like a dream. Zzzzzzzzzz!Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-20
From: Hanover, NH

To: Velvet Rocks Shelter
Miles today: 1.5
Weather: clear sky

I slept until 8:30 am. Ahhhhhh, nice! It has been awhile since I have had that good a night's sleep. I got up and went to get my continental breakfast with coffee and then went back to the room and crawled back in bed. That was a nice treat. We all milked the rooms until the noon check out when Godiva came back in her '77 VW van and gave us a ride back to town. Then it was on to town chores, the post office first, where I had loads of mail. There was the food box with extras in it, sausages from Liz with a extra green surprise in it for me, odds and ends from Mom and Dad, sausage balls from Jan, yummy, and some green from my brother. My debit card gave out on me in Killington and he has taken up the slack and will have another one to me by Glencliff, whew! It is truly a team effort to get us up the trail. Thanks everyone!!After the PO was sorted we got some souvenirs and food, then just hung out. Before we knew it it was 7:00 pm and the sun was sinking, so we saddled up and headed out of town, but not before stopping at Ben and Jerry's for some ice cream. That was dinner. I made it to the shelter just at dark and made myself set up the tarp so I could become proficient at it, for when I really need it. So today was what hikers call a "nearo" or near zero day, next best thing to a zero.Happy trails!PS: I'm in New Hampshire, can't believe it!
Date: 2003-08-21
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Brown Dog has not eaten for the past two nights, so my mission was to get her to eat this morning and it was a success. I was a little worried, but she is a creature of habit and we have been out of our routine a bit lately.I was moving slow today until the gang passed by, Sonic, Guana, Fly and Smoothie. I drifted along behind them for the day and made 6 more miles than I had planned. Cool! Good conversation and good people make it easier and more enjoyable. We did some blue blazing around the trail and some road walking to mix up the trail a bit. It was fun. I have come to realize the trail is a mental exercise for me everyday, not so much physical, but mentally challenging every step. My body is a lot stronger than my mind gives it credit for. The terrain is constantly raising the stakes day by day, so my mind is just gonna have to get tough and stay tough.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-22
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Jacob's Brook
Miles today: 10.6

We climbed a mountain named Smarts Mountain today. I am very tired after that journey. The humidity and the recent 90 degree days, added to my 35 pound pack, totally wiped me out, I believe. I am camped with several others near this beautiful stream. Right after camp was set up I went down and sat in the cold water. Ahhhhh! I even burned my dinner tonight so I fed it to Brown Dog and had a Snickers instead. Oh well! I am planning on a good nights sleep.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-08-23
From: Jacob's Brook

To: Kinsman Notch
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: clear sky

I slept nine solid hours last night. It was amazing!! I haven't slept that well on the trail ever. The humid air evacuated overnight and it was cool and crisp this morning. We got moving and I felt great!! Up to the top of Mt. Cube we went. Wow, fantastic views! I could see forever, mountain upon mountain. It was so chilly and windy on top I had to bust out the fleece for my Snickers break. I was hiking down the other side towards a road and I kept thinking how I wish there would be a soda at the bottom. I couldn't believe it when I walked out and there was trail magic, loads of it! A retired couple that did the trail in 1992 had homemade cookies, soda, bananas and juices. Holy moly, I couldn't believe it. I had two sodas, countless cookies and a banana. With all that sugar in my body I flew up the hill to Ore Mountain Shelter where I had lunch at 3:30 pm. It was only 7.5 more miles to Glencliff with a hostel and a slack pack over Moosilauke, the first big mountain of the Whites. So I just motored on and on and on and on. I rolled into the hostel a little after 8:00 pm. It was dark, but I was greeted with pizza from Gray Jay and more sodas. I feel invincible!It was really windy today which makes the forest sounds different. The hard wood forests roar with the wind and the pine forests almost whisper with the wind. I could hear branches cracking and old dead limbs falling occasionally. Then about 7:00 pm the wind just died completely, kind of made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Tomorrow up and over the big M and back here for a shower and laundry.Happy trails!------------------------------Local access to PocketMail mobilee-mail now available in Europe, NorthAmerica & Australia http://www.pocketmail.com