morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-06-07
From: Trail Angel's Home Dalton, MA

To: mt.Greylock, Bascom Lodge
Miles today: 17.0

Woke up around 7am to have an egg breakfast and PJ, Free Spirit and jay shake down myu pack. they managed to take 100 ounces off of my back. I got lost walking from Rob's house to the post office but managed to find my way after wandering mmore than half an hour in the residentials. At the post office i found the "small" food box my mother sent was much larger than i anticipated. I gave a lot of the food to Rob, mailed my items gutted from my pack and was off on the trail by 10 AM. When i walked into Cheshire, ma around 2 pm I came across another thru-hiker by the name of Red Lilly. He has hiked the trail 3 times already and it seemed like he was trying to jogi me as he told stories of how he has no money. I wished him luck, ate my icecream and started my ascent of MT. Greylock. The climb wasn't as tough as i anticipated, i'm sure the reduction of my pack weight helped a lot. I climbed about 2500' in 8 miles with the trail getting steeper as i reached the summit. Starting from teh cobbles, aviewpoint south of chestire, i was given glimses of Greymont with its stone tower crowning the peak. Nearing the summit i came to a clearing and the tower sprung out of nowhere just before me. I walked to the lodge, made arrangements to stay in th ebunkroom for the night and prepared dinner overlooking the tower. a gentelman was walking infront of the towerplaying the bbagpipes as i ate and watched the sun begin to set. It is now within 20 minutes of sunset and i want to watch from the top of the tower. You know youre jelous.
Date: 2005-06-08
From: mt.Greylock, Bascom Lodge

To: Cogdon Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: clear sky

Got a family style breakfast this orning. afer evveryone got their fill, i cleanded the rest of the pates. Full from a massive meal i headed down greylock to North adams. IN town i picked up a 1/2 gallon tub of ice cream to celebrate my upcoming arrival into Vermont which i had determinded would be as close enough as a halfway point from harpers ferry,wv to Katahdin, Maine. I finished in 188 minutes *see photo* on some mint ice cream. all that dairy left me feeling kinda full/sick so i took it slow up the climb to the vt line. I arrived at the 1st shelter around 5pm but decided to go another 7.2 miles to the next shelter so i could catch up to scrubs/chino. it looked like a thunderstorm was o n the way so i hurried. within an hour of when i planned to arrive at the shelter rolling thunder sounnded in the distance. I stepped up the pace, halfrunning down the trail to beat the storm. Whith less than a mile to the shelter the rain started poiuring and lighting sounded all aroudn me. soaking wet i arrived at the shelter to find scrubschino as expected, got my dinner and look forward to manchester center in the next couple of days.
Date: 2005-06-09
From: Cogdon Shelter

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

I was the first to wake up and the last to leave the shelter this morning. I hiked down to VT9 and decided along the way that i had to go into town and mmake some phone calls. Tomorrow my mom will already be on a plane and woulld not be able to get my father to find items for me. For some reason I was able to reach everyone except her. Im getting ahead of myself. I was planning to wait 15 minutes to hitch a ride and then continue hiking. after 13 minutes Ryan stopped an dgave me a ride to a 7-11 type store where i got some donuts an dmade my phone calls. By the time i started back to the trail it had been 2 hours. Walking ack to the trail i was unsuccessful in getting a ride but noticed a stream w/ people swimming. It was far too hot to be walking along the road so i took this opportunity to cool off. The water was ice cool and fabulous. Back on the road i hiked topless for a way before a car fuull of girls pulled into a driveway and another car with just one girl stopped on the side of the road. As i passed she asked if i needed a ride, "sureee" I replied, put my shirt back on and hopped in. She introduced herself as Meliane and mentioned always wanting to hike the AT for more than just day hikes. It was 1pm when she dropped me off at the trail an dthere was about 19 miles to the shelter cchino and scrubs were heading to for the evening. About 3 miles in I stopped for lunch at Hell HOllow Brook. I sat on a rock in th ecenter of the stream w/ waterfalls all around me. Here I ate and wrote a couple postcards which took a total fo 2 hours. Story Spring Shelter was out goddard of the question and Kid Gore Shelter seemed like a better optioni. I reached Goddard Shelter jus tbefore 7pm where i met Linda, Sandra and Christina. I decided to stay the evening instead of pushing on an dpotentially getting caught in the rain. I had plenty of time to enjoy my dinner an dgood company. Christiana is hiking the long trail (75 miles through VT, most of which is along the ATand plans to hike south through PA.) Tomorrow I will have to hike 27 miles or so to catch Chino/Scrubs and get back on schedule. Dunno if that'll happen I'll probably end up stopping early and staying at a cabin in about 23 miles.
Date: 2005-06-10
From: Goddard Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 27.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I started later than i woud have wanted to but managed to keep up a quick pace and limit my breaks throughout the day. Around mid day i began the ascent up Stratton Mtn. It looked like a thunder storm was approaching so i hurried up the mountain, passing a troop of boyscouts, to the top. It was just a little windy and wasnt going to rain for a while so I walked to the top of the fire tower. The view was a bit hazy but i managed to make out some mountains and lakes in the distance. Around 6:30 PM I reached Prospect Rock which was only 2 miles away from the shelter. IN the distance I heard rolling thunder so again i picked up the pace to beat the storm. When I arrived at the shelter i found a naked asian guy bathing infront of it. He appoligized for his nudity, introduced himself as hosher and continued bathing. He was given the name kosher by Chino/Scrubs because he had packed out a 5 pound ham from town. By the way Chino and scrubs were nowhere to be seen. The must have gone into town after arriving at the shelter early. Kosher eventually put some clothes on and we discussed trail life.joked around. Funny Guy. In the morning I will head into town to meet my mom and hopefully get slackpacked to Danby,VT. Then take a couple zero days to let my body regenerate. I need some R&R as well s catchhup with friends/famile & enjoy modern forms of entertainment.
Date: 2005-06-11
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: South Lee, MA
Miles today: 20.6

After the quick walk to VT 11, I managed to hitch a ride into Manchester Center. I go tbreakfast and waited for my mom at the friendlys but found Mishugana and AK Walker instead. The three of us shared stories untill my mother arrived , who was delayed by traffic. She drove me north to USFS 10 so that i could slackpack south to Manchester. Going south felt weird, like i was going the wrong way. Somewhere i decied that I could'nt use the alias Lopsided and instead signed the registers as Even Steve'n. I made fun of the day taking a swim in Griffith Lake and enjoyed all of the views. I didn't enjoy the view from Style's Peak or at leas the slippery rock while coming down the other side.. My Trekking poles were securly planted but my left boot apperantly wasn't. as i fell onto my backmy left arm was scrapped/bruised and luckily nothing else was damaged. I didnt bring a first aid kit so i let the wound bleed out, trying not to touch it so it would stay clean. 3 hours later with 2 miles to go i took a quick break at Bromley Shelter. I realized that my mom had given me some brownies that had gone uneated so i hung them from a mousetrap to make some great trail magic for a lucky hiker. My mom was in the parking lot as expected and told me that she had met PJ who was given a ride inito town. We went to the super market to try and find him but i didn't see his bag outside. We went to EMS where PJ and Kosher were shopping. Kosher told us that Chino and Scrubs were at Sullivan's Place for the evening exactly where i expected to find them. The 4 of us drove to Sullivan's and had a litte reunion. Then I went with my mom to dinner where we both got hamburgers. I ate all of mine but she was unable so i finished it off. nice and full from dinner we were ready for the 2 hour drive back to the timeshare where i took a hot bath and am ready for some quality sleep. Sadly we found PJ's trekking poles in the back of the car and will have to ship them overnight to Killington, VT. hope he gets them...
Date: 2005-06-13
From: South Lee, MA

To: South Lee, MA
Miles today: 0.0

another great day of relaxation. found the hottub and sauna which i enjoyed with my dad. Mail got mailed but PJ's poles wont get to killington until 3pm tomorrow. it would suck for him to get there and the poles have not arrived yet....   um.. this is my last entry so please send love letters and naked photos to: John BehallGeneral DeliveryGorham, NH 03581(i ask only star send me photos but i know brian will probably do so as well. those that send me mail will get postcards!!! also be sure to give me a return address otherwise it would be hard to get back to you.) I'm looking forward to getting back on the trail and hope that I wont be too tramatized by all these luxuries. Now i must prepare my bag for the morning and watch late night television.
Date: 2005-06-15
From: South Lee, MA

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: moderate rain

Got a late start out of the hotel because of a large breakfast and lazy packing. I stopped in Manchester Center to get new shoes at EMS, a pair of trail runners by Montrail. I finally got on the trail at 1pm and was nagged by stiff legs and a leaky hydrator pack. It rained on and off most of the day but thankfully my mother made me bring my rain jacket which kept me dry and warm. When I got to the Trail to White Rocks Cliff there were formations of rocks piled up by people which seduced me into walking the 0.2 mile to the viewpoint. It was kinda hazy but i managed to catch a break in the clouds enough to make the view worthwhile. Later after I crossed VT 140 I found AK Walker and Mishugana seeking shelter from the rain in their cars. AK Walker offered me a ride but I told him that I was planning on meeting my parents ahead on VT103 and didn't need it. They wished me luck as they drove away and I walked off into the woods. Durring the last steep section just before VT103 I noticed my dad struggeling down the hill. After yelling "Hey there," I got him to turn and recognize me and we walked together for the last 25 feet of the downhill to Clarendon Gorge, Mill River Bridge and another tenth of a mile to the road. My mother, who was waiting in the car, then drove us to Wallgreens where I picked up a new watch because the old one died; There's no way I walked the 2.7 miles from the last shelter to the road in 20 seconds. We then went to Friendlys where i ordered the Black and Bleu Colossual Bruger and a 5 scoop sunday. Mildly satisfied from my meal, my parents dropped me off at the trail around 9 PM, already dark due to the heavy clouding. We said our goodbyes as I double-checked my pag and my mother bribed me to pack out some brownies so she wouldnt eat them. It was only 1 mile to the shelter but the trail was a steep rock climb for the first 1/2 mileand it had started raining. I walked as carefuylly as possible up the rock steps guided by my flashlight through the dark fog. Somehow I managed to find the shelter just before lightning began flashing in the distance. Three hikers were already sound asleep at 9:45 when I arrived so I unpacked my bag quietly and repared for bed.
Date: 2005-06-16
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: Churchill Scott Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

In the morning I found Pacer was one of the 3 snoozing companions at the shelter. He had gotten heat exaustion and taken a couple zero days to recover. About the time I woke up, he was preparing to leave so I asked where he was planning on staying this evening. He was heading to a hostel about 16 miles away on US4. I didn't leave the shelter until just before 9PM and moved much slower than expected through the mud, rocks and roots. When I climbed Killington Mountain, the clouds had filled inbetween the trees so it wasnt worth the climb up a steep side trail to the peak. I wish it had been a better day because I hear it's a great view. Hopefully I'll get better days in the Whites and can look back at Killington. Coming down from the Mountain, a sobo gentelman informed me that the inn/hostel Pacer was heading to wouldnt open until tomorrow. When I reached Churchill it seemed pointless to move on. The Hostel in 2 miles was closed, the shelter in 4 miles is 0.4mi off the trail and the shelter 6 miles away charges $21 to spend the night. I called it quits at 4pm and plan to rest up for a 22 mile hike tomorrow to make up this short day. While finishing dinner I met DayTripper and Traction, Thru-Hikers that hitched north and are hiking south back through Mass. It's not quite 7pm yet but i'm gettng sleepy so i shall go to sleep. Hope no one arrives just before 10pm as i did the night before.
Date: 2005-06-17
From: Churchill Scott Shelter

To: Inn at the Long Trail
Miles today: 1.9

yes... 1.9 miles. I woke up around 8pm packed my bag and began the walk in the rain. Just before I hit US4 I decided that I dont like hiking in the rain and wish to stay at the hostel just down the road. After the 1 mile road walk to the Inn at the Long Trail I found that they wouldnt let people in until 4pm and i was to wait in the wood shed until then. A couple, the other 2 in the shelter 2 nights ago, arrived and said his father and her mother were arriving shortly and could drive us into Rutland. Not less than 3 hours later they arrived and I am now at the Library in Rutland. I'm not sure if they were planning on sharing a room with me or if when they asked the rate for 3 hikers they meant her mother. I hear there's a hotel somewhere that charges $25 per person if the Inn has unreasonable rates. So far after how they've treated me I doubt i'll give them any money. Third option would be to continue hiking and stay at a shelter. Only time will tell. Until next time you'll just have to wonder what i'm up to... muhahaha *cough* sorry that's mean. I just sent 4 postcards, remember if you want postcards you have to send me something I posted the address a few messages ago, too lazy to check and only 30 minutes left on this computer....I got food at th eChinese Buffet which was a terrible idea. The food was lous but I did get a fortune cookie that told me "The difficult times are now behind you." This eiher means life on the trail will get easier or that I won't have fun expelling the food I just ate. Good News: I just came from the bathroom and it was a cake walk; New Hampshire here I come. Hmm... where was I... ah Rutland... visited the Wallmart to humor myself in the Outdoors Isle where I found nothing usefull. The Army/Navy Surplus store proved itself to be equally useless. A woman informed me that there was an Eastern Mountain Sports somewhere a couple miles outside of town. I felt too ill to walk that far after so much chinese food. I decided to get a gatoraid to replace the bottle I left in my parents hotel and wait for the bus back to the Inn. The couple and mother were there waiting (god i cant remember their names... *runs downstairs to check the register* ...Kathy is the mother and the other two didnt sign in. His name started wih a P and her's I dont remember... lets say it's an I) Back at the Inn I got my own room and met Kathy, P & I at the bar before dinner. The hamburger was kinda small but the bartender was entertaining. It's approaching 11pm ...ponders... The Daily Show or sleep... ZzZzZzZ
Date: 2005-06-18
From: Inn at the Long Trail

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 19.9

Woke up to find Breakfast downstairs along with Kathy, MT, and Crystalized (I finally asked for their names). Got the blueberry pancakes adn chef's omlet as well as Kathy's remaining pancakes. I put on my almost dry shoes and socks, pack cover and hit the trail. The rain was off and on for most of the day but my upper half managed to stay realitively dry. The trail and subsequently my feet were not so dry, infact they were pretty wet. M shoes would start to dry out then I would hit another patch of puddles only to get wet again. As I was told, the trail starts to get more difficult after Killington which has proved itself to be true. Most of the day was either hiking up or coming back down. It felt good to get some miles in though as I grow closer to New Hampshire. I reached the shelter around 5pm to find Chase resting, half insided his sleeping bag. He gave me a # to a gentelman that might be able to put me up for the night in Hanover. 26 miles to Hanover... maybe tomorrow
Date: 2005-06-19
From: Wintturi Shelter

To: Trail Angel's home along/near VT 14
Miles today: 16.4

I wanted to get an early start today but fell back to sleep after initially waking up at 5 AM. I didnt manage to get out of the shelter until just before 8 AM and felt sluggish throughout the day. I reached a shelter ~15 miles from Hanover where I decided to take a quick break and let my feet dry off. While waiting for my feet to return from their prune-state, Chase arrived at the shelter to join me in relaxation. He let me use his cell phone to call the Hostel caretaker in Hanover but I didnt manage to get a hold of him. All I got was an anserwering machine message that confirmed that there was indeed a hostel in Hanover. Inspired by thoughts of real food and a bed, I pressed on. HIking grew increasingly painful after each downhill as my knees, especially my right knee, begain to bother me. The trail came to a road that took me over a bridge and left to a General Store that just so happens went out of business. Chase had told me it was closed but I still had hopes. Chase had caught up to me by this point and out of nowhere a man riding a bike pulled up to us offering a coke at his house. I took him up on his offer, going to his house where I found him and his family hosting a yard sale. His son had hiked the trail a number of years ago and everytime he sees hikers wandering by feels obligated to offer some trail magic. After drinking he mentioned the cabin build behind his home where he allows hikers to spend the night. With no desire to hike further, again I took him up on his offer. I spent Father's Day with his family, playing horse shoes, eating pizza and enjoying the sun. He mentioned the bridge I crossed earlier as being a spot that many hikers jump off of into the water as a right of passage. I went to the bridge with him and one of his daughters who waited at the riverside just under the bridge with my camera. Hart jumped first after recommending not to look down. I stepped up the the rail, felt a rush of fear, looked down for an instant only to remember his warning so i jumped without heisatating. It was about 30 feet to the water so i had time to feel the freefall before I splashed down into the river. The water was cold but it felt great after being out in the sun all day. 2 step said she got the photo and recommended trying the rope swing. She could only reach the bottom knot so when she swung her legs dragged in the water before being lifted back up only to splash down after letting go. I grabbed the rope and swung from the second highest knot, floating in the air for an instant after letting go before i splashed down in the water. Kinda wish I had gone back up to the bridge and jumped again but i'm sure i'll have another chance to hurt myself in the future.
Date: 2005-06-20
From: Trail Angel's home along/near VT 14

To: Velvet Rocks Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

I got a fresh egg breakfast supplied by the chickens they kept in the backyard. Said my goodbyes to those that were still awake and hit the trail. A real breakfast makes such a difference while hiking. I felt none of the pains experienced yesterday through the ~10 mile hike into Hanover. Crossing the river from Vermont into New Hampshire was emotional as I only have 2 states left to hike... only is an understatement. Into Hanover I visited the DOC office before hitting a pizza place for some garlic knots, and a 12" Greek Pizza (feta cheese and olives). I Picked up my parcel from the post office and now am enjoying the splendors of intertnet and air conditioning. To my dismay the hostel is actually 16 miles away in Canaan, NH where the owner charges $45 for pickup and a room for the night. I'd rather just hang around here and hit the shelter just north of town. Plans for today: Eat more and hike 1.5 mile north of town where I will stay at Velvet Rocks Shelter. Plan for Next Few Days: stay in the Firewarden's Cabin and then at Hiker's Welcome Hostel in Glencliff before going into the White Mountains. Plan for the Whites: dont die coming down Moosilauke and maybe do work-for-stay at the AMC Huts. Is 6 hours work worth a bed and breakfast/dinner? Quite possibly or i can just pay the $10 to stay in the dungen and whatever they charge for food....(after leaving hanover) walking out of Hanover I passed a group of girls coming the other direction. As they went by one of them exclaimated, "OH GOD! OH GOD, OH GOD, OH GOD!" I hope it wasn't a reaction to seeing me unless she was saying, "OH God that's one sexy thru-hiker." I can dream right? right? Oh well, back to the woods I go from whince I came.
Date: 2005-06-21
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter

To: Smart's Cabin
Miles today: 21.9

Last night the mosquitos were out in full force as it has finally warmed up again. It was too hot to sleep inside my sleeping bag so I crawled out and layed out in the open. The mosquitos took full advantage of my exposed legs as they ravaged me again and again. Defeated I crawled back into the bag only to endure the excessive heat and rub my legs together trying to soothe my itches. The day went well enough, I made good time and managed to catch up to Kosher who is hiking with his cousin for a few days. The cabin i'm staying in for the night used to be home for the firewarden while he was not on lookout in the firetower just south of the cabin. Great panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, arguably better than that of Mount Greylock.
Date: 2005-06-22
From: Smart's Cabin

To: Hiker's Welcome Hostel; Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 20.0

I woke up to the noise of rain on the tin roof around 7AM this morning. I ate 4 poptarts, layed back down to wake up again at after 8:30 looking over to Easy, who arrived late last night, and said, "I dont want to get up." I got up eventually to find the rain stopped and decided to get moving. My shoes had been left carelessly close to the edge and were soaked by the time I found them. This was not as great a tragedy as I thought at first due to most of the trail was a minimum of 2 inches of mud. At the hostel I caught up to Easy and met Phat Chapp and Mud Elephant. Phat insisted I take a shower on account of my incredible odor. "I've taken a shower within the past week," I replied.
Date: 2005-06-23
From: Hiker's Welcome Hostel; Glencliff, NH

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

I took my time this morning only expecting to do 8 miles to the first shelter. LOeaving the hostel aroudn 10 AM I made wicked good (this was printed on the chocolate milk got last night) time up Mt. Moosilauke, summiting before 1PM. The weather was perfect;clear blue sky, warm sun and a light breeze. From the summit I could see Franconia Ridge where I will be climbing tomorrow. I reached the shelter at 2pm with 6 1/2 hours of sunlight left. Plenty of time to hike another 9 miles to the next shelter. The down hill after the shelter was incredibly steep with re-bar and wooden blocks sunk into the smooth sheets of rock. The 1.6 mile to the bottom took me about 1.5 hour which disapoints me as it wasnt very technical, just crazy steep. The 2nd Mountain, Mt. Wolf annoyed me as the trail meandered up and down; false flat after false flat.