morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-08-15
From: Vt. 11 & 30, Manchester Center

To: Manchester Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

From: Vt 11 & 30 Manchester CenterTo: Manchester centerMiles: 0.  Total Miles: 1638.4I woke to overcast skies and the weather radar was showing precipitation on the way. I'm not sure if I slept on my neck wrong or the effect of carrying my pack, but I woke with a real pain in the neck. Decided this was a zero day and try to work on my neck with anti-inflammatory pills and just take it easy. Breakfast was at Bob's. As I enjoyed my waffles with banana and walnuts, in walked two other hikers Zen and Zero Zero. I noticed Zero Zero was using a blind persons stick. I was very curious and asked why he was using such a stick.  He laughed and said because I am blind.  I was shocked and found it hard to believe. This was based on what I had seen the night before. Both he and Zen had been at the Stratton Pond Shelter. He was doing everything just as a sighted person would do. He was preparing a multi-ingredient cooked meal. We talked about how my son and he went to same college, CU. Amazing is all I can say.  I still don't see how he is able to negotiate this most punishing of trails.  He did say that there were times when he will sit down and wait until someone comes and tells him which way to go. He is planning on writing a book that you can bet I will read. Someone was nice enough to lend their car to Zen. He offered to drive us to town where we did laundry and all the little chores. This is a cute town with many name brand outlet stores.  What made these different were they each had a separate house fashioned in a New England style architecture. As I was at the outfitters, Long We True surprised me. She was taking a zero day waiting for Willow to return from a family wedding. I knew they were ahead by a couple of days.  Long We true knew about a great place to eat, The Lawyer and The Baker Honest Foods.  It was all homemade, and great tasting. After doing a few more chores, it was back to the motel. Watched a little of the Olympics. I really wish there was a way to follow more of this event. It was a good day to zero. Fly Right,Ravon
Date: 2008-08-16
From: Manchester Center

To: Silas Griffith Inn
Miles today: 17.8

Today was a day of numerous peak climbs. First up was Bromley Mountain. When I reached the peak, it was shrouded in fog. There is a warming hut, where some hikers spent the night. Next to it was an observation tower, but no view this morning. There was a lonely chair lift waiting for the turn of the seasons. I could feel that fall was fast approaching. The feeling comes as I was seeing the first colored leaves on the trail. Among all the green, a bright orange maple leaf tree stood out in sharp contrast. Soon this New England forest will be a blaze of colors. There is a shimmering quality to the sunlight coming through the trees. Already I notice a slight shortening of the day. What all this means is a sense of urgency.. I know my hike needs to pick up in order to reach Katahdin on time.  The second and third peaks were Styles and Peru.  As is often the case, you really don't know when you have reached a peak except the trail begins to go down hill. This part of the trail was among balsam fir trees, which help to soften the footing with their needles. The last peak was Baker. This one was different because of the exposed 45 degree angled rocks. They looked like pieces of thinly layered cake in shades of blue and grey. It had rained, but by the time I got there the sun was out and had dried the surfaces otherwise it could have been a very slippery ascent.  Griffith Lake tenting area looked like a fisherman's paradise. I was thrilled to see that wooden boards were down covering the very soggy footing. The rest of the trail was slightly down hill and along Big Branch, a fast moving, cascading stream. A very old shelter overlooked the stream. What a wonderful location. I'd wished I had my pack. We were picked up at Danby road by Kathy, owner along with her husband Brian, of the Silas Griffith Inn. The name comes from the founding father of the town, and quite the character. The Inn was his house.  It was a beautiful Victorian, complete with multi-colored painted gingerbread decorations and a real slate roof. It did have a gazebo that contained a modern hot tub. It took me less than ten minutes to be in that tub, the first since leaving home. Mando said I'd miss my hot tub and he was right. Fly right,Ravon
Date: 2008-08-17
From: Silas Griffith Inn

To: Vt. 103
Miles today: 14.5

We have found a previous hiker of the AT, Plans Too Much. He now shuttles hikers around at a very hiker friendly rate.  He picked us up at the Inn.  I sure hated to pass on the breakfast, but Kathy was kind enough to make us a bag breakfast and we could make coffee. Today we were promised good weather with a low chance for precipitation. Little Rock Pond was a good size and as the sun began to bath it in light, there was a solo loon. It dove under the water and I never saw where it surfaced. White Rock Mountain was one of the few we needed to climb. As I ascended the slope, either side of the trail was lined with small Christmas tree type of pines. I could almost see myself trying to pick one out for decorating. My eyes were drawn upward and I saw a whole forest of very old straight trunked pines that formed a canopy way above my head. Within a few steps, I began to notice piles of rocks.  These were fashioned in very creative cairns, some atop and aside large boulders. The forest floor was covered deeply with pine needles that deadened any sound. You definitively felt you were in a special place. I and others found a suitable rock and added it as well as my blessings to this altar of nature. It was such a contrast to the forest we travel in most of the day There were a few more short but steep hills. The last three miles were downhill to the Clarendon Gorge.  Through it flows the Mill River in a big enough volume to cause rapids and un-runnable drop-offs. Across this gorge is a suspension bridge. When I arrived I could hear saws and lots of people working on replacing the dry rotted boards on this wobbly bridge high above the water. Surprise, I knew most of the volunteers who were working on this project. Bigglesworth, Chainsaw, Duck and Buttercup (Who had a beautiful engagement ring.) They are getting married in October after they summit Mt. Katahdin ....romance on the trail.I was allowed to go across the bridge in one place where there were only two boards! Katherine, Plan Too Much's wife, came and picked us up at Vt 103. Tonight I'm at The Long Trail Inn which is near Killington Ski Mountain. It's an old lodge with an Irish pub playing Celtic music. Peregrine, Long We True, Willow and I had dinner in the pub. Sure was good to see them.  It was a very good day on the trail.  Fly Right,Ravon
Date: 2008-08-18
From: Vt. 103

To: Menden Mountain View Inn
Miles today: 17.4

Today was a slack pack day. I have developed some pain around my ankle. I am trying to help by icing down the area at night and use Ibuprofin to keep the swelling down. I was able to hike today and it didn't seem to get any worse.Plans Too Much shuttled us to Vt 103. On the way he gave us a tour of Rutland and stopped so I could get coffee and a Dunkin' Donut. He also told us some interesting history about Vermont. I thought the state was one of the original thirteen colonial states. It was the fourteenth state added to the Union. It is also in the state constitution that every household must own a gun and know how to shoot. This goes back to pre-Union days. Citizens were given land deeds in Vermont.  New York thought that the land was theirs. As a result there were a lot of land disputes and landowners needed to defend their land.Right away the trail started straight up. Halfway up a boulder field, I met coming down a runner, Karl.  He is trying to beat the record for completing the entire AT. He has total support and I am not sure what it means.  The whole thing is so foreign to us regular thru-hikers who are struggling on a daily basis. The big mountain today was Killington. It went from 1400 to 3900 over eleven miles. It was difficult and a struggle to hike, but a nicely treed mountain. I never saw the gondola or chairlifts that were supposed to go by the Cooper Lodge, which is a shelter at the peak. . Climbing Killington brought back memories of years ago when my husband and I skied this mountain. It looked a lot different then. I'm not sure which was harder, skiing it in our beginning years or climbing it today. Reached another milestone today. At Upper Cold River Road, I now have less than 500 miles to go. Yes! When I reached the road, Judith and her daughters were completing a hike. She graciously offered to drive me to my motel a little over a mile down the road. She is my latest trail angel. Thank you. Fly Right,Ravon
Date: 2008-08-19
From: Menden Mountain View Inn

To: Menden Mountain View Inn
Miles today: 0.0

The decision to take a zero day was made early. The thunderstorms that were to have come through this area yesterday did not materialize until the middle of the night. It began to rain around 1:30 am and continued most of the morning. I was still feeling pain around my ankle. Thought that getting out on a slippery steep surface was not the best thing I could be doing.  R and R was the order of the day. Took the opportunity to make reservations up the line. Made lists of equipment and iced my ankle. The restaurant was closed, but there was a bus tour arriving and we were nicely included with their dinner. Having real hot food sure makes a difference in energy level. Time to sleep. Fly Right, Ravon
Date: 2008-08-20
From: Menden Mountain View Inn

To: US 4
Miles today: 14.7

What a difference a day makes.  It was a beautiful day, but cool. We did not get an early start because of some confusion with some other hikers. Serene and Brushstroke were also getting a ride to Hanover. They were hoping to do eighteen miles, but it was going to be tough. Our plan was to hike southbound back to US 4.  It was interesting to get a ride and see some of the Vermont country side. Farms with large red barns were next to the road. An old covered bridge spanned the river running into Woodstock.  It would have been fun to just stop and check out some of these places. It was a good thing Tom was there or Peregrine or I would have headed out in the wrong direction.  The day was feeling like fall and great for hiking.  I am seeing more color in the leaves. They say because of all the rain the trees are stressed and some are loosing chlorophyll early.  Another nice thing about this day was the variety in the terrain. The beginning was mostly pine forest with a rolling pine needle trail. There was a 2700 foot climb up Quinby Mountain. The descent looked to be steep on the profile map, but it didn't really seem that bad.  Once down, the trail went across an open meadow that led to the Mountain Meadows Lodge. They had posted hikers welcome signs. I wished I'd known about this.  It looked like a very nice place to stay. Kent Pond was nearby and we saw people canoeing.  Ducks were swimming and preening near the edge of the pond and I spooked a Great Blue Heron. Thundering Falls is a recent relocation costing $300,000 that laid down an extensive elevated walkway over a bog area. It went next to a local hydroelectric project. Good to see such small electricity generators being used. I liked the way they left the old buildings to house the equipment. As I was nearing the end of the trail, it was the junction of the Long Trail which continues onto the Canadian border.  The Appalachian trail continues to Mt Katahdin in Maine.  We had been sharing the trail for the last 103 miles. At this junction, I ran into Zero Zero. He was solo hiking and is almost completely blind. It is just amazing that he is hiking out here. It¢splenty hard enough for the rest of us.We are staying at the Mendon Mountainview Inn. I had to walk another 1.4 miles along US 4 to get to the Inn.  Another good day of hiking made better by having a great meal at Heli's in house restaurant. Fly Right,Ravon
Date: 2008-08-21
From: US 4

To: Cloudland Road
Miles today: 14.5

Many thanks to Tom or "Plans Too Much". He has been driving numerous hikers around, enabling us to slack pack some sections.  I have noticed that the muscle around my left ankle is sore and slightly swollen. My thought was to ice it down at night and carry a light pack.  I am trying to do as much as I can to finish this hike. You still go by every blaze. As our bodies start to protest and even begin to break down, you try to do what you can to make it. I am seeing less wildlife and hearing fewer bird songs. Not sure if some birds have begun to migrate back south.  It may be that the AT trail may have too many hikers. I'm still seeing southbound hikers. I talked to one who had summitted Mt Katahdin on July 12 before heading south. The forest did not seem so open today... there were more weeds. One stretch did go through some farm meadows. In one I passed a herd of cows with cute faces and fuzzy ears. They were very friendly. No, I haven't gone off my rocker. I was looking forward to a cold soda at the end of the trail.  There was supposed to be a farm selling drinks and snacks, but they were not home. Other hikers (Naked Time, BurrAss, Chuck, Motor Butt, and two others) were also hoping to buy some treats. Tom was there to take us back to US 4. The weather has been wonderful. Such a welcome change from the rain we were experiencing a week ago.By the way, if you've been missing photos, Mando has now posted many, going back to June 24th.  Fly Right,Ravon
Date: 2008-08-25
From: Kinsman Notch

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 14.6

Today was the hardest part of the trail that I have hiked so far. They say it does get harder, but I wonder how.  It was my first day in the White Mountains among the big peaks.Fat Chap was our shuttle driver. He came at 5:30 a.m.  Bulldog and Peregrine were going to slack pack from 25A back to a hostel. They were dropped off first. My starting point at Kinsman Notch was a lot further drive. Fat Chap took my photo at the trailhead and I was hiking by 7:00. The trail was all serious today from start to finish.  For 30 minutes it was like a medium stage stairmaster. At first I thought the trail was well planned with stone steps. Once over the first ridge, the trail entered a boggy area. For most of the day, the trail was muddy, rocky and rooty.  It was obvious that volunteers had worked hard to try and repair some of the damage from all the recent rain. Once past Eliza Brook shelter, the trail paralleled a fast flowing photogenic stream with lots of waterfalls. Shortly after that it was the most difficult climb I've done ... 2000 feet in two miles. This was the ultra stairmaster. What made it so hard were the huge rocks that I was having to jump up to. In addition there were ladders and 10 x 10 steps fastened to vertical boulders. I sure would like to know what kind of adhesive they used to hold the steps in place.      Most of the rocks were very mossy, giving them a velvet texture.  The predominate trees were pines. There were some birch, but they are being replaced by the pines. The wind was blowing at a speed to make the pines whisper. To me they were saying hurry. I found I was doing one mile an hour in this section and needed to be faster in order to make the hut.  On a newly placed log that was placed as a water barrier, I slipped side ways and have jammed my ring finger. At first, it didn't seem too bad.  Now it's swollen. I won't be taking my ring off anytime soon. Made the Lonesome Lake hut at 5:10. Long We True and Willow were standing out front. They debated staying, but decided to head to town for supplies. I was glad to be staying and to have made it in time for 6:00 dinner. This hut has a main cabin with a kitchen and dining area.  Picnic tables were used and tonight there were twenty-six guests. Three workers that stay here bring all the trash down the mountain and all the food up on back boards!  Dinner was cooked by the crew starting with chicken vegetable soup and homemade rosemary bread. This was followed by tossed salad with raisins and stuffed chicken wrapped with ham and couscous as a side. Dessert was apple crisp. After dinner they were going to tell ghost stories, but I was way too tired.  The bunk rooms were in another building with four to a room. My room mates were two sisters, Sandy and Donna, that come to hike every year and stay in the huts. There was a guy named Jimmy who was sectional hiking. Quiet time starts at 9:30, but I was in bed before that. Fly Right, Ravon
Date: 2008-08-27
From: Greenleaf Hut

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: clear sky

No serenade this morning. There were more bunks at this hut. They were stacked three on top of each other. Breakfast was at 7:00 again starting off with oatmeal and followed with pancakes and bacon. There was another comedy skit again pointing out how to fold your blankets and pack out your trash. This time they used Frankenstein characters.  Left at 8:00 and had to climb back up to the Mt Lafayette summit 1.1 miles. This does not count into the days mileage because it is a blue blaze and not on the AT. Then there was more ridge walking which gave wonderful views of mountain peaks and the valley below.  The descent was more boulders before climbing up a steep Mt Garfield. I took a side trail to the summit where the foundation of an old fire tower stood. The wind had died down with lots of sun. From this peak, I was able to see The Presidential Peaks I had climbed the last two days. Hard to fathom that I had walked that long ridge. From this peak I could barely see the roof of my next hut... Galehead. It was supposed to be 2.8 miles, but looked a lot further. Had a snack before descending the back side of Garfield. This turned out to be a rocky decent, but with a stream running down it. It wasn't too much volume, but at times this could be a real slippery path.  The last .6 of a mile was all uphill over yet more large stones. Some of these were at a 45 degree angle you could walk up, but many more were large step up rocks.  I love arriving at a hut at 3:00. It gives you a chance to relax and dry out your clothes. Brushstrokes and Serene were lounging on the front porch when I arrived. I changed clothes and was able to send a few emails before dinner was ready.  As I sat on the porch, Gates walked in. He was one of the crew and was carrying food and supplies on an ancient backboard like I think I've seen sherpas carry. He was carrying fresh and frozen food over 102 pounds. He could have carried me. I think he said he walked 4.5 miles in 2 1/2 hours! I guess at the beginning of the summer and fall a helicopter brings in multiple tanks of propane and non-perishable products, but everything else is carried up and the trash is taken down. Dinner was again delicious: homemade honey wheat bread, vegetable soup, tossed salad, and ham with pineapple glaze, and mashed potatoes and broccoli as sides. Dessert was applesauce cake. The food has made me feel stronger. Tonights' dinner was a great chicken vegetable soup, and ham as the main course with mashed potatoes and broccoli as sides. Dessert was an applesauce cake.  Tomorrow is a big mileage day and I am meeting my son, Sandy.  It's 8:45 and I am ready for bed. Fly Right,Ravon
Date: 2008-08-29
From: Crawford Notch, AMC Highland Center

To: Mizpah Spring Hut
Miles today: 6.4

When I woke this morning, I really wasn't sure what I was going to do.  Breakfast was a la carte with all the usual choices. Sandbagger and I ate with Serene and Brushstrokes. They were going to take two zero days to rest up before climbing Mt Washington. There is a report of a storm due to hit on Saturday.  I should probably be doing the same, but the day was sunny with warm temperatures. I hate to waste a beautiful day.  Sandbagger had traveled for two day to do some hiking so off we go. After checking the reservations at the other huts, it was obvious that we needed to stick with the plans. Sandbagger took the rental car around the mountain to Pinkham Notch.  This is where we will be on Monday.  We were able to order bag lunches.  At 12:10, we headed up the trail. It turned out to be a good decision. There was sun shining off and on through the heavily forested path. For part of the way, the trail followed a creek with some waterfalls. My knee was a little sore, but I could go up the fairly steep somewhat rocky path. Thank you Pam for the new pairs of toesocks and Sandbagger for the new super feet insoles.  I had bought a new pair of hiking poles and felt a lot more stable with two poles. This time I am trying Leki poles. Sandbagger was easily able to keep up the pace. About halfway, a log became our lunch place.  The Center made good sandwiches. They included lots of snacks we'll use in the next couple of days. Mizpah is the biggest hut so far. It had some masonry walls in front, flat log construction in the other walls, and tongue and groove ceilings. When we arrived in mid afternoon, it was sunny and nice to just relax reading, napping, and sipping on some drinks.Mary, an AMC volunteer, found out about my sore knee. She brought out a large bag of mixed chopped frozen vegetables to put on my knee.  Ten minutes on and ten minutes off for a couple of times.  Surprisingly, it did help the knee. Another great meal: homemade foccacia bread, Portuguese mushroom soup, pasta alfredo, and a broccoli side. Dessert was blondie bars. Sandbagger was very glad that we persevered and are on our way to the summit of Mt Washington. I feel very fortunate to share some of this adventure with my son.   Fly Right,Ravon
Date: 2008-08-30
From: Mizpah Spring Hut

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: fog

It was a good nights sleep....right by an open window, a small room with a family and no major snorers. Except for the first night, I have been more than warm enough using the three blankets they give you and my bag liner. This morning¢s skit was well done. It was a take-off on Saturday Night Live, Arnold and Hans doing a muscle routines about how to fold your blankets and arm curls picking up trash. The crew had their accents well imitated.  When we awoke, we were totally socked in with fog. As we stepped out the door, it began to sprinkle.  Lucky for us it never really rained hard and we were taking off our rain gear several hundred feet up the trail. The trail was steep, mixed with large rocks and boardwalks, but still not that bad, probably because of the major amount of hikers that are walking these trails. The views were supposed to be spectacular, but not today. I like the soft quiet feeling you get walking in fog. The small alpine plants come in a variety of colors making a mosaic on the forest floor.These mountains are known as the Presidential Peaks. We went over, or nearly over, four of them today: Mt Clinton, Mt Eisenhower, Mt Franklin and Mt Monroe. We'd hoped to bag Monroe, but it was fogged in. Most of our hike was a ridge trail with sections of Krummholz trees. The trail was mostly marked with stone cairns. Lake of the Clouds is one of the largest huts... accommodating over ninety guests. This has a bigger crew because of the numbers. Sandbagger and I settled in to our bunkroom of twelve. We were able to read our books and played gin rummy as we looked out on a very foggy scene. We really are hoping for some sun to summit Mt Washington tomorrow. Dinner was a thanksgiving treat: tomato soup, garden salad, homemade oatmeal bread, turkey breast with cranberry sauce, corn relish and mashed potatoes. Dessert was chocolate chip bars. We had dinner with two other thru-hikers, Boogie and Bacall. This is their second time thru-hiking the AT! They had encouraging words about Maine.  It's going to be interesting to see how the night works with all these people. Fly Right,Ravon