morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-07-11
From: Telephone pioneers shelter

To: schaghticoke mountain campsite
Miles today: 18.2

Nice day, good cool weather with light showers. Lots of flatter terrain and river walks which I really needed. Mosquitos doing psychological damage at this point. Probably going to be last day of above 15mi days since ill probably catch the bubble of people I know by tomorrow. Battery dead won't be updating for a couple days, not sure when next town is.
Date: 2003-06-14
From: Congdon shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: light rain

Poured last night but stopped by time we got going. REally cold this morning. Had a very tough, steep descent and then ascent to and from Route 9. Had a long 10 mile climb up to Lost Pond Mountain and Glastenburg. Stopped at the cool Goddard Shelter. You are supposed to be able to see Greylock from the porch of the shelter but alas the sky was white. Windy, cold, rainy and foggy - that's the pattern of the day and most others. Had a coast down to Kid Gone shelter. Hiked for a while with Miles to Go. Had a good chat and Trail gossiped. Took a break at Caughnaraga shelte which was a dump. I was planning on staying but it was in such disrepair and it was only 2:30 I decided to push on. Hiked the rest of the day alone. Got here and 3 ssection hikers were bedded down for the night. Very nice folks, and they treated me like a celebrity. They couldn't fathom that I did 23 miles today. Grunt and Yankee pulled in as did 2 southbound section hikers. Only time will tell if Squirts, Red Streak and Flick come in. Tomorrow we're getting up only to try and make Manchester. A shower and laundry is much needed.
Date: 2013-07-14
From: cornwall bridge, CT

To: toymaker cafe falls village
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Hot day, nowhere to eat in town. Talked to Holler most of the day which was good conversation, talked about everything, politics, religion, what we would do to change the world, fun stuff. Not much remarkable for scenery and very hot. Took a break in the shade of a highschool closed for asbestos removal and watched hundreds of show cars drive by. Finally rolled into Falls village which was a very picturesque town with huge colonial houses and generally amazing architecture. Everything was closed since the big annual car show had just ended but we had portapotties to use and the "toymaker" who turned out to be a custom triumph motorcycle restorer let us crash on his lawn. We were warned about bears and skunks in town, as well as informed the reason for the mosquitos being insane was recent bat deaths due to white nose fungus.
Date: 2003-06-17
From: Manchester, VT

To: Little Rock Pond Shelter
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: clear sky

Finally escaped town but not before another breakfast at the Best Diner. Got a ride from a massage therapist and on the Trail by 9:15. Tough climb up Bromley then Styles Peak, then Peru Peak an Baker Peak. Yep, lots of climbing, but a gorgeous day. Bugs were terrible today. Blue flies and mosquitoes, making me bleed! I got big on both wrists and they both swelled up. Had some weird allergic reaction. Scenery today was unreal. Kinda makes me realize what we've probably been missing with all this rain. Little Rock Pond was also amazing. Was tempted to swim, but its not quite warm enough.I have totally contrasting feelings about the AT at this point. I am ready to be done and have had enough out here, but at the same time there's no other place I would rather be. I am so lucky to be still out here but I am content with what I have done.The scenery has really taken a turn for the best.
Date: 2013-07-23
From: great barrington, MA

To: shaker campsite
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light rain

I'm back on trail after a much needed and wonderful break. Really miss all the people I'd been hiking with, especially after hearing sassafras quit the day after I left. Another reminder that each encounter and moment is fleeting. I definitely needed the time away to deal with some thoughts I'd brought to the trail, but which have been distracting me from meeting it head-on. Thanks to amazing friends I'm ready now. If the trail is 10% physical, and 90% mental, I made a lot of progress over the past few days and even if my mileage doesn't show it... my hair does. I kinda knew going into this that by doing a flipflop I wouldn't be able to keep up with most northbounders, but I can't help think the ones I shared the journey with thus far were put there not entirely by chance so I would like to be able to catch up somehow. Its tempting especially with my travels landing me within 2 miles of the AT in Dalton to skip the section between here and where I stepped off, not just to avoid 20 more miles of tricky off-trail transits, but to be able to "catch up" easier. I'm going back to where I got off though. This is my hike and I need to let things happen both by luck, and as a result of my own decisions, and learn to worry less but reflect more on which drives my experiences.Its been raining all night and all morning, but it couldn't be more beautiful right now. Let's go.
Date: 2003-06-18
From: Little Rock Pond Shelter

To: Cooper Lodge
Miles today: 23.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Spent last night with Crazy Squirel a Southbound Long Traileer. Nice guy who's moving pretty well. Got up this morning to clouds which I guess is better than rain.Moved pretty well this morning despite the ups and downs. Made it to Minerva HInchley shelter by 11:30 for lunch with Yankee. Mrs. Gorp oversees this shelter and keeps it spotless. I met her at the PA Ruck back in the winter and she was very helpful on advice. Hi Mrs. Gorp!About a mile or two out of the shelter I started feeling really run down and crampy. Just kinda hit me. Got worse all afternoon. I made it to the nice Clarendon shelter and almost collapsed. What is wrong with me? Had lunch #2 and felt a little better. Basically crawled to the next shelter. Took lots of breaks even with the easy terrain. Finally pulled into Governor Clement shelter where we all planned to stay. Got there at 4:30. This place was a dump! Right on the road. I've got low standards for shelter but this one was gross. Plus a sleeping bag and a pillow was there but no person. I didn't like the feelilng of the place and decided at 4:40 to move on. I know, I know. I said I felt like crap but I went along with my gut. Gulped down a candy bar and started the long climb up Killington Mountain. More like killing me. It was a 2000 foot climb and 4.4 miles. I actually maintained a 3 mile per hour pace. Got to this old cabin and no one here. It's really cold up here. I hope I stay warm. It's up at 3900 feet and the wind blows right in. I may spend my first night alone on the AT. I doubt any of my friends will press on. As I speak, it's clearing up a bit so I may run the .2 mile up to Killington. Supposed to have great views.
Date: 2013-07-24
From: shaker campsite

To: cookie lady farm
Miles today: 21.1

So the new bug shelter I picked up... leaks. Baby mosquitos can fit thru the mesh. Pretty sad about that. Hiked off and on with Button, figured out from her I am now pretty much behind the nobo bubble. She took 4 weeks off for MRSA and is catching up. Seeing more sobo's than north now. Almost at the 1/4 mark, so there's a chance I may see some of these guys again in a couple months when I flipflop. Long day, stopped at cookie ladys blueberry farm and hung out with her chickens. Did some tree limb cleanup and mowed weeds from a row of the blueberry bushes for stay. Cookie lady and her husband are in their 70s and run the farm on their own, using just AT hikers for farmhands. May come back here to work someday, super beautiful spot, and they seem like they can use some help.
Date: 2003-06-19
From: Cooper Lodge

To: Stony Brook shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, it was just me and mice last night. They sure were bold. I slept surprisingly well for my first night alone. Was very cold though. I was freezing this morning. Found out it was 40 degrees down in the valley, so much colder with the wind up at 4000 feet.Got up at 6:30 out by 8. Had a real leisurely and relaxed day. Stopped in at the new Churchill Scott shelter, very nice. Made my way down to Rt. 4 and the Maine Junction where the Long Trail and the AT split. I was temped to take the LT. 170 miles sounds better than 480 miles. I decided to hitch the .8 into a deli at the turn of Killington for lunch. I didn't want to be sitting at the shelter at 2 so I grabbed a big sandwich and ice cram. Phoned my mom but she wasn't around. Walked back to the Trail and slowly ambled up Quimby Mounnntain which was a touch one. Got to the shelter at 4:20 and met the Tortoise and her husband. She hiked the AT in sections over 16 years! Talked to her for a few hours. She does a lot of volunteer work for the GMC. I 'm gonna help build the Bromley shelter in September when I'm back up here in school.About 6:30 the gang pulled in. I enjoyed my night and two days alone but it's good to have company again.
Date: 2013-07-25
From: cookie lady farm

To: mark noepl shelter
Miles today: 18.3

Wow it went from 100+ to nearly 40 degrees last night. Super cold, had to stay in bed until the sun fully came up, don't have any cold weather clothes, sent them all up to new hampshire a couple weeks ago. Fun day so far, the chilly wind makes it almost refreshing to hike. Lots of dayhikers here in Massachussets, seems like hiking is popular even on weekdays. Eating an awesome hot roast beef sandwich in dalton, chargin mah fonez, should be in cheshire tonite.Resupplied sorta and ran up the hill at dark, found giant hiker potluck.
Date: 2003-06-20
From: Stony Brook shelter

To: Thistle Hill shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: broken clouds

Poured last night but very pleasant this morning. HUng around the shelter with the guys this morning. Didn't get going until 8:40. Tough, tough day. Up and down all day, really killed me. The Trail is going due East instead of North so I think it's made it more difficult since we're climbing across the ranges not up and down over them. The climbs have certainly been steeper. Although tomorrow's the first day of summer, today sure felt like it. Sunny and '70's made for nice hiking albeit a bit warm. Crossing over some of these grassy fields was very hot. I took many stops and lunch breaks. Also drank almost 6 litres of water. Flick and I sat down and snaked often today and it was pretty refreshing. The shelter which was listed at .1 off the Trail was more like .3 and the water was downhill a ways. Capped off the day pretty appropriately.Everyone came in tired and bitchy. A guy named Quasimodo was here when I got here. He's thru hiking but flip-flopping twice. It's very comfusing. He hiked with Red and Bono down in Pennsylvania, so he had heard of me.Tomorrow into Hannover and New Hampshire!
Date: 2003-06-21
From: Thistle Hill shelter

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

Hey all!      Well I made it out of the first boss state (vermont) and hit New Hampshire today at 1 pm. Flick, Yankee, Squirts, grunt and I are staying at a frat house, which interestingly enough, is coed...very strange. We couldn't find anywhere to stay as the only other frat was filled with hikers (goose, miles and pepper) and we were walking aimlessly around thinking about hitting the Trail, when John, our angel came up to us. John is in a frat here at Dartmouth college and hiked the Trail last year-so cool! He got us showered up, gave us sodas and took us around town. Man what a guy! We also found a cooler of snacks right by Norwhich Vermont this afternoon on the way into town.    We finally caught a break with the weather. 5 beautiful days of sun has spoiled us. Today, the summer solstice, sure seemed like summer, as the sun was beating down on us. Its also traditionally "hike naked day", although no one followed up on this tradition. I figured with the 3 miles road walk thru quaint new england towns, on a sunny saturday, 5 naked male hikers would not be appreciated by the locals. All the same, I gave yankee and squirts a little shocker this morning at the shelter, and we'll leave it at that    We've continued our string of 20+ mile days, and frankly im thru with them. Im tired mentally and physically and i've promised myself i'm slowing down for the last 440 miles. NH and ME are supposedly to be both tough and beuatiful and i want to enjoy every minute of it. I've loved this trek so far, but 20 miles each and pretty much every day has made me a bit tired of hiking. I've been stopping more recently to "smell the roses".    Journals will be coming soon, i promise. Took a "zero day" in Manchester, we all needed the rest. Also did a 24 mile day over Killington and stayed at the top by myself in the classic old Cooper Lodge stone shelter. Spent my first night in a shelter alone. Great sunset, not so great mice    Im getting off the Trail for 5-6 days for my brothers wedding. Ill hike 3 more days to Glencliff and then bus back to NY. From there on ill take it a bit easier and try to reunite with some people behind aways.   Thanks for following along and continue to think of me as I slowly make my way to Katahdin!
Date: 2003-06-22
From: Hanover, NH

To: Trapper John shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Didn't hit the Traail on this very cloudy morning until 10:a.m. Grabbed a big breakfast at Lou's Restaurant and then re supplied at the Food Co-op. I was looking at the advertisement board outside the co-op and saw someone is selling their 2000 Range Rover for $20,000. The little pull off tags at the bottom had a phone number and said "Bryson" next to it. Could it really be? Bill Bryson?! He lives in Hanover. It's sure make sense that he would have a fancy car such as that. I copied down the number just in case. Maybe if I can come up with some witty or intelligent thing to say I will give him a call.Long climb over Moose Mountain. We had lunch up over and got destroyed by mosquitoes. They're getting really bad. They swarm us while we hike and they love to go for underamrs and elbows where the sweat drips off. We had a short but steep climb up Holts Ledge where peregrine falcons often fly. On the climb up we spotted a porcupine. My second of the trip. But Yankee and Grunt's first. Got some great views from the cliff.Started raining on the way to the shelter. Quasimodo and two section hikers wree here. Pepper also showed up. WE've got a full house tonight and Flick's tenting behind the shelter. Tomorrow, maybe only 12 miles.
Date: 2013-08-01
From: clarendon shelter

To: thundering falls
Miles today: 22.8

Another 22.8 day. Spent the morning in the ski resort areas of killington vermont, would love to come back here in the winter. Was really cold in tshirt and shorts though, in the 50s but rainy and windy. A taste of things to come. Ended the day by headlamp at a simply amazing waterfall that had been made handicap accessible by boardwalks which was cool. Definitely one of the more beautiful places so far. slept on the side of the road to avoid climbing in dark and rain.
Date: 2003-06-23
From: Trapper John shelter

To: Hexacuba shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Got a real late start. WE all layed around knowing we had a short day. Hit the Trail at close to 10 a.m. Long climb up Smarts Mountain. Really wore me down. We took a 2 hour lunch break at the Firewarden Towers. We got a great view from the firetower. While we were all layaing around in the sauna-like cabin, who walks in but Subman. Apparently he's been doing big days to catch back up to us. Glad I got to see him before I get off. Can't believe tomorrow's my last day with the guys. It's pretty sad, but that's the way its gotta be. Grunt, Flick and Squirts are already talking about finishing. They set a tentative date of July 23rd. That's when Flick's wife Cindy and son Travis are flying up to summit with him. I think it's incredible that a big group of us have stayed together so long, and all met back in Georgia. We've had some great times together and hoepfully we can enjoy one last night together in Glencliff.
Date: 2013-08-02
From: thundering falls

To: woodstock, vt
Miles today: 16.9

Tried upping my pace to 25 miles/day by walking faster and hurt my left knee badly. Quitting early at the next road crossing to try and heal it. Got a ride from some Dartmouth grad students who dropped me at a motel in white river junction. getting up super early tomorrow for the trip across the VT border and into NH and Hanover.
Date: 2003-06-24
From: Hexacuba shelter

To: Glencliff, NH Hikers Welcome Hostel
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

Up by 6 with Subman rustling around at the early morning hours. I'm packedup and ready to go in no time and on the Trail alone at 6:40. For some reason I wanted to hike alone today. Maybe I thought it would make the operation easier or something, I don't know. I also got out early to beat the heat.It was 85 degrees and I was aiming to get miles down early. It was a beautiful pleasant morning stroll. I spotted two snaakes and a couple of frogs. When I reached the top of White Mountain I heard a yell or a grunt from a man close by. For a minute I wondered if someone had been injured, so I ran to see if I could be of assistance. I see this beat of a man coming my way bounding up the Trail like he is climbing the stairs out of a kiddy pool. The guy was outfitted in cotton sweatpants, no shirt and had a big beard. I knew he was the first Southbounder of the year and sure enough he was. He left May 15th but wasn't able to summit Katahdin. He started in the wilderness in 3 feet of snow. He was taking about hiking 36miles al lthe way into Hanover. This guy is an animal! That took us two days and we're in pretty damn good shape. I met him at about 7:30 a.m. and already he had done 5miles. With a puff he was goine, racing South to Springer. Flick later jokingly said, "I wonder if he's still gonna be that pumped up 1500 miles later."The rest of the day's walk was essy, except for the killer mosqitoes that attacked me while I trudged up Ore Hill, Let Mist and Wyatt Hill. I to into Glencliff at 12:30 and relaxed while the others eventually showed up.Pepper was there dreading his afternoon climb up Moosilank. The heat sure was intense. I was able to dry my soaking clothese in a matter of minutes. Packrat, who runs the place, is awesome. He's a laid back guy who hiked the AT, PCT, LT and CT. We listened to CD's and snacked while everyone arrived. Packrat threw 7 hikers plus himself into his mom's Buick and we drove 30 miles to N. Woodstock to visit the Wookstock Inn. Half price appetizers. WE destroyed plates of nachos and bowls of chili and most of the guys drank 1/2 price beer. It was a great time especially on this hot day. Supermarket stop and I destroyed a pint of the new Ben and Jerry's oatmeal cooky flavor ice cream. On the way back, Packrat pulls over and says everyone out. He takes us to a secret swimming hole. One of the prettiest I have ever seen. The water was freezing but it didn't stop us from rock jumping in. What a treat!When we returned, we all watched Mall rats together. A trulyl great last night with my Trail friends. Grunt, Yankee, Flick, Squirts and Subman, I'll really miss you guys. I hope to catch Quasimodo when I return as he is going at a more relaxed pace.
Date: 2003-07-01
From: Glencliff, NH Hikers Welcome Hostel

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, today I was supposed to be making my way up and over Mt Moosilauke, but i was dealt a minor set back. I took 6 days off to travel to Pittsburg to attend my brothers wedding, where I was best man. I was supposed to board a bus to NH yesterday morning, but i've come down with some sort of virus. I went to the doctor and got antibiotics so i should be good to go in a day or so, but right now im still feeling really crappy. I'll now be 8-9 days behind my buddies and may also be behind Dimples and Java too. I have no idea where they are since she hasn't updated her journal for a few weeks.    Its pretty frustrating to not be chugging along as I have for the past 4 months. On the flip side, its not a huge deal. I'll end up finishing 2-3 days later than I anticipated which is not a problem. I'm all geared up to hit the tough Whites, and Maine. It'll just be a little different without my buds. Im confident ill run into lots of other great folks who were behind me for a long time. For now, i gotta hang tight, and enjoy the simple luxuries that home has to offer!   If anyone on the Trail happens to read this, please sign my guestbook and tell me where you are!
Date: 2013-08-04
From: trapper john shelter

To: hexacuba shelter
Miles today: 12.0

Heard after I left trapper john a large tree fell and almost hit a couple tenting nearby. Scary stuff. Heavy rain all day and an hour of large hail over smarts mountain. Met a southbound military vet who had saved another soldiers life but it tore his spine so he had no sensation on the right half of his body. He had a removable arm cast and a leafspring device to make his leg go forward. Super inspiring guy.
Date: 2003-07-02
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Hey all   Well...I suppose the medicine I took started to kick in recently and I'm about ready to hit the Trail. I will probably grab a bus this morning or afternoon and be on the Trail the morning of the 3rd. I must admit I was getting comfortable at home to say the least. My parents altho they love having me home, want me out of the house and on the Trail so that I can finish and truly "be home". :)    I've began to have the mindset that I'll be somewhat alone for the remainder of the trip, but I signed on tonight to find two very encouraging messages on my journal. Shiftys dad wrote me and told me that him, java, dimples and ATV are close behind. They should still be a day or so behind when i get back on, but im confident they'll catch me. It really brightened my mood. Also Cindy, Flicks wife signed and told me "my boys" were on Mt Washington this morning. I can't help thinking i should be with them, but im so happy for them. They should hit the Maine border in the next 3-4 days.   The Trail is calling my name. I enjoyed being home but i yearn to have the simple life I've been living for the last four months. The thoughts of entering the whites excites me so much. It is there that I fell in love with the mountains.   Thank you Ken Stachler (shiftys pops) for sending me this msg. I truly hope to meet up with my old friends and finish off strong. Ken, hope to meet you and your family on Katahdin! Trail magic can happen off the Trail as well as on. Let the last leg begin!