morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-07-08
From: stewart hallow shelter

To: just outside of Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: clear sky

This morning my phone was delivered to me by car at the next road crossing along with 2 egg sandwedges, 2 gatorades, and 4 bags of trail mix. All free of charge. The resurant cook who dropped it off would not accept a dime from me. He had hiked the trail a few years ago. Now a hiker friendly town in my book. 2 miles later a cooler full of ice cold lemonade. The next town we came to was at the end of the day. This place was a ghost town. It was quaint and looked like an old new english town. It was historic looking but weathered, there was just no one there. The only place that was open was the ABC store. Go figure. We stopped in and got some cold ginger ale. It was the only thing they sold that was not booze. Then a beautiful gradual 1000 ft climb on a ridge. The forest here was full of ancient white pines. the ground was soft from the needles and the whole area seemed to be under a blanket. It was very quiet with a light breeze, the smell of pine sap lingering in the air. It gave me a very comforting and calm feeling. I think this is what county songs are talking about when they say in a hallow. Long one but a good one.
Date: 2012-07-09
From: just outside of Salisbury, CT

To: hemlock shelter
Miles today: 16.0

Today was a great hike. Firsts we went to town to resupply. First some trail magic. Cold pepsi at 9 am..We did the usual. Coffee and food. We were out of town by 11am. That's pretty good considering all of he things you can find do to waste time in a small new england town. The white pine forests continued in he morning. Then we hiked 2 peaks that finally made us feel like we were really getting back into the big mounains. We also crossed into Massachusetts today. The peaks we crossed both provided the best views. since max patch. We could see very flat landscape two the east and large mountains to the west and north. The trail went along large flat patches of rock right on the edge of a cliff that seemed to go straight down forever. Between the 2 peaks I managed to grab a swim in a nice cold stream. We also caught a few people I have not seen in weeks. Mad scientist, only bryan would remember him and Saunter. Also, sorry about the lack of photos in he journal so far its hard because I have to take the photos with my phone and I don't turn it on during the day to conserve battery.
Date: 2012-07-10
From: hemlock shelter

To: mt wilcox north shelter
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was good ran out of water though. Got dehydrated. Will pay for it tommrow. Today I am going to write about a guy I have been hiking with for around a week. His name is Saunter and he is a 66 year old retired high school physics teacher. He is 6 foot 5 and has a slender build with short grey hair and very defined facial features. He always has more energy than all of my hiking buddies combined, never hesitates to laugh loudly at any joke. He is usually the life of the group whenever he is around. His current running joke is that he is going to go so ultra light hat he is going to stop carrying food and start bumming it off people. The neat thing about saunter is in 700 miles he will have his triple crown. Meaning he has hiked the PCT, AT, CDT. If you don't know what these are then google it. Truly amazing.   He also has one knee that has been replaced and has hiked all 3 trails with his metal knee. (though you would appreciate that poppy). He is also not slow considering his age. Neat guy.
Date: 2012-07-11
From: mt wilcox north shelter

To: upper goose pond cabin
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was tough and I spent most of it recovering from yesterdays dehydration. Drinking as much water as possible throughout the day.   I arrived at the cabin around a quarter till 2. The cabin is 2 stores with bunks upstairs and a common room and lichen downstairs, as well as a front porch with chairs. There are also about 10 hikers here, most of them I know by now. I spent the day writing post cards and doing laundry/swimming down at the crystal clear lake below the cabin. After dinner we all read books and chatted, recovering and preparing for more hiking to come. I like this place it is like some sort of vacation home someone would have in the mountains. It is old and restored but still has an early century feel and smell. I hope the water gets better most springs have been dry. All hydrated now and getting spoiled on this mattress with a roof over my head. Tommrow we go in for resupply.
Date: 2012-07-12
From: upper goose pond cabin

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today we hiked our 22 before 3pm and our mission was to get to the Bird Cage! Ony by trail rumors we had heard that a local Dalton man offers up his house to hikers. He provides free laundry, sodas, beds, and rides to town. Finding this place was like some sort of underground crime ring. We had to go to the shell gas station and ask the attendant in a 50s gangster voice/whisper. "Yo, were looking for the bird cage." (This was the rumored way to find the bird cage) He didnt say a word and nodded, then got on the phone. 5 minutes later a large white work van pulls up and the driver says "hey get in. " So we did. As soon as I opened the back door I was greeted by Blue skies, Knief, Bad Dinner, and Johnny Rocket. We had found it. We got there and I was assigned a bunk mate, Danish. (Who is actually German) We then did laundry, went to a country buffet, and did some grocery shopping. I picked up some fresh fruit, ceral, and some ravioli. I also got my package from Justing and Monica today! Thanks you 2! That made my week! Then back to the Cage for a night filled with food, beers, singing, and guitar playing. I like this place and have decided to take a 0 tommrow here.
Date: 2012-07-13
From: Dalton, MA

To: Bird Cage Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Today i slept in and watched enemy at the gates! Ate a box of srawberrys and relaxed. I was having trouble with shin splints and decided to rest for a day. Blue skies, kneif and johnny rocket hiked on. I went and changed my insoles in my shoes and then went to the library. My full meal count by the end of the day was 5. I also helped rob, the hostel owner, do some odd jobs around his house. It was a quiet and restful day. Tough to sit sill though. Oh at the end of the day hot shot showed up!
Date: 2012-07-14
From: Bird Cage Hostel

To: wilbur clearing shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: clear sky

Today was a relaxing hike and the first one with hot shot in almost 2 weeks. He had hurt his ankle but caught back up since i took a day off. He is now beter. We hiked over mt. Greylock today, the highest point in MA, at 3491 feet. On top there was a large war memorial with great surrounding views. This place was packed with tourists. They came in by the mini van load via the paved road. They sold gatorade at the lodge on top so we stopped in for a round. After we picked them up fom the crabby lady at the drink counter and drank them outside the lodge. Several tourists asked us a dump load of questions. Most did not understand why we would want to walk this far but some thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. One lady even made sure we had enough money to finish, we assured her we did. This was also a popular spot for cyclists and we stopped and chatted with a group of them. They thought our shoes were "too light duty" and our packs "looked to heavy". I guess they wernt aerodynamic either. Typical things a cycler would say. (If your reading Eric Gardner or Brad Beggs) It was fun talking to these folks. They were all very nice but would have kept us there all day if they could have. Made camp around 7. Another one bites the dust.
Date: 2012-07-16
From: mass. highway 2

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Walk seemed fast today except the last 2 miles. We had 2 1000 ft climbs. The first was about mid day and was gradual. The second was right before the shelter. It started with an abrupt decent that lasted about 3/4 of a mile. It was made of of boulders that ranged from bus size to beach ball size. The kicker was all of this was wet from yesterdays rain and had a light layer of green moss on it. It might as well have been a slip-n-slide. I made it down without falling but hot shot was not so lucky. He took 2 falls, one of which being pretty bad. He only got a few scratches but was luck that this was not his last day on the the trail. As soon as we got down we crossed a road where the speed limit had to of been around 100 mph. The we went straight back up the other side in similar dangerous terrain. No falls this time. Oh yeah, welcome to vermont! Only 3 more states. This is going by way too fast.
Date: 2012-07-17
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Arlington/Kelly Stand Road
Miles today: 19.0

Slept in until 630. Hike was overcast and breezy all day. Water is getting better now. I saw 2 springs today that you could drink from without treating. Have not seen that in a few hundred miles. After lunch we came upon a 60 ft fire tower tucked in a large pine forest on a ridge. I climbed first and then with much coaxing hot shot came up. The wind was gusting 40 mph above the tree line and made us seem a lot higher and more exposed than we really were. The views were great, a little haze hung over the 3 and 4 thousand foot peaks. The view was 360. We could see the pine forest below us spilling into valleys and wrapping around lakes fore miles and miles. The best part was watching hot shot white knuckled on the handrail with both hands. Heights are not really his thing. After we got down he was glad I talked him into coming up. The forest here is very different than home. It is full of evergreens. There are also a bunch of frogs and salamanders. Big green frogs down by the steams and large brown toads on the trail. The only reason I can even see them is because the hop away when I walk by. All of the salamanders I have been seeing are bright orange and about the size of a chicken nugget. Camped down by the stream tonight with a 1700 foot climb looming over us. Ill save that one for the morning. Giving my legs a pep talk before bed.
Date: 2012-07-18
From: Arlington/Kelly Stand Road

To: Manchester Center, Vermont
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: moderate rain

There were some bad thunder storms last night.   I left my shirt and hat outside too. Put those on wet this morning. The 1700 foot climb was not so bad it was fairly gradual. On the summit of the mountain it was so hazy we could not see 50 feet. There was another fire tower on top but due to the haze we decided not to partake. The forest was very thick with evergreens up here. The trail seemed to be made up of flat smooth stones and roots. Everything was soaking wet. We descended to a large lake that was just below the haze at the top of the mountain. This thing was a giant mirror showing us a refection of the heavens and surrounding mountains. The rest of the day was all small ups and downs. One of the shelters in this section was nice! It was basically and enclosed log cabin with a front porch. It even had a wood stove. It was only 3 miles out of town so we pressed on. We got to town and I grabbed a half gallon of chocolate milk. Then got some new shoes! Grocery shopping, then to the hostel. This is most likely the nicest hostel I have ever stayed in. Everything is so clean, nice and new. I am afraid to touch anything. For dinner I baked a round of asparagus and a 22 oz steak. Sated (spelling?) veggies on the side. Then a pint of ben and jerrys ice creme for desert. 10,000 calorie succes. It looks like monica is coming to hike with me right after the whites! That will be just over 2 weeks from now. Im excited! Wohoo!
Date: 2012-07-19
From: Manchester Center, Vermont

To: big branch shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

We left the green mountain hostel this morning and hiked to the top of bromley ski mountain. There was no snow of course. Every thing else was there. We ate lunch on he ski lift and looked at the 360 view. From here we hiked with Big Happy. He is doing a 2 week trip on the AT. This is one of his bucket list items. Hot Shot gave him his trail name 2 days ago when we met him getting water.   Then to the shelter where we met some long trail hikers. The long trail starts at the MA line and goes to canada. Around 300 miles total. It runs right along the AT for 150 miles or so. Little did hot shot know what he would experience on the long trail in the coming days.
Date: 2012-07-20
From: big branch shelter

To: clarendon shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

This morning we hiked past little rock pond. This place had a caretaker that cocollected 5 dollars per night per camper. This place had a very nice shelter. The pond is like a giant mirror that reflects the surrounding mountain ridge and the sky. There was also an archelogical team here in one of the camp sites digging for arrow points and tools. This was a site where nomads traded and lived during the last ice age. Later that day we walked through another evergreen forest. I found out these evergreens were balsam firs. They are the same trees that grow only 5000 ft and above in NC. In this fir forest people had stacked flat stones elaboratly creating hundreds of statue like sculptures in 2 different sections along the trail. I am ready to get my sleeping bag. Getting cold at night now.
Date: 2012-07-21
From: clarendon shelter

To: killington, vt
Miles today: 21.0

This morning the trail was rerouted on the road due to flooding during huriccane irene. I took the trail any way. It was not bad. There was some washed out sections because the trail was down by a large stream. That just made it interesting. Then passed the 500 miles to go mark. Then climbed killington peak. This involved more than 4000 miles of elevation change. The top was all balsam firs again. The trail was riddled with roots. They were like ankle snares. You could easily loose a foot in between roots. Then hiked down to Gifford woods state park. As I was waiting for hot shot to catch up some campers in the park invited me to eat with them. I ate 4 brats and had a beer. They then offered me a ride to where ever I needed to go. About that time hot shot called and said he was still hiking. I had been there since 5, it was now 8 pm. He missed the turn for the AT and hiked 7 miles down the long trail. He decided to camp tonight out on the long trail. I caught a ride to the yellow deli hostel with the friendly Connecticut couple that fed me earlier. The hostel is a neat place that will let you stay in trade for doing work around the hostel and deli. Ate a huge plate of fries at the pub next door. My right shin also has a lump about the size of half an egg where my shin splints have been hurting. Icing it then sleep.
Date: 2012-07-22
From: killington, vt

To: killington, vt
Miles today: 0.0

By morning my swelling was down. I ate breakfast at a local place. 2 pancakes, 2 bacon, 2 sausages, a large helping of home fries and 2 eggs over easy. Then 2 cups of coffee. After that I cleaned the hostel area. Bathroom, then mop and sweep the bunk room. Then went and got some wrap and tape for my shin. Rest and ice. Hot shot showed up around lunch time. He had hiked a total of 14 miles out of the way. I felt bad for him. I got the best sleep I had in a week last night. I was supposed to pick up a box of food, my new thermal rest, my sleeping bag and some letters in killingon. Too bad it is Sunday. I guess I will wait until tommrow morning. For lunch I ate at another corner deli and had iced coffee and a road beef sandwedge. Then back to the hostel to sweep and and mop the floor in the deli down stairs.
Date: 2012-07-23
From: killington, vt

To: stony brook shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning showed me how kind people can be. A guy i met, jeff, coming down killingon peak came and picked me up from ruland and took me to get my maildrop in killington, then dropped me off a the trail head. He and his wife talked to hot shot and i on the trail and are now thinking about doing a thru hike. They are both true trail angels in my book wether they realize it or not. If you two are reading this thank you again. Your selflessness and help has taught me a good lesson. I got my trusty goose down sleeping bag and new sleeping mat from therma rest. Got to love those life time warrantys. I also got some letters from monica and some brownies from mom. Love those ladies. Just this morning made me super happy. Then hiked a short 7 miles into the shelter, followed by a 3 hour nap. Dinner and then back to bed. Really bad thunderstorms all night though. I am warm and dry inside my tent. One of my favorite feelings.
Date: 2012-07-24
From: stony brook shelter

To: cloudland lake road
Miles today: 19.0

Packed up a wet tent and was out an hour after hot shot this morning. I have started wrapping he shin splints in my right leg and adds onto my getting out of camp time. Todays hike was great! The trail was flat and soft for most of the day but we did a lot of elevation change. The woods were beautiful we went through more fir forests, some white pine forests (these reminded me of home because we have one in our front yard), cow fields perched high up on steep peaks with great views, and mixed woods. there was a cabin today with an observaion deck on the roof like the ones on beach houses. that provided 360 views of mountains with low hanging thunderstorms tucked in between high dark green peaks. The mountains here are beginning to look more and more rugged. Toward the end of the day we walked by a farmers market where we ate fresh fruit, a whole pie, muffins, and soda. This was the first time i had seen hot shot for the day as well. (about 15 miles in) then we hiked on to a farm right off the road where we are camping tonight. It is a cow farm with 1000 acers of beauiful vermont land. They run a store here where they sell what they raise and make. We are camped out by a huge horse barn with a hay loft up top with playful kitties. There is also a friendly dog here that makes me miss dodger and porter. A nice place to camp. I wish i didnt have to leave tommrow. Fingers crossed for no rain tonight.
Date: 2012-07-25
From: cloudland lake road

To: hanover, nh
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Was the last camper to leave the farm today. I took my time waking up and left an hour behind hot shot. I hiked all day by myself for the second day in a row. It was nice. Around mid morning 5he trail crossed right by a deli. I got the best bacon egg and cheese sandwedge I have ever had there. Then hiked into hanover. As soon as I got into town hot shot and caveman were there waiting for me. We went to the Dartmouth outdoor center for info on the town. This was the first ivy league school I had ever been to. We found a shower and laundry then I went to faterniy row (the road where all the frat houses are) and went door to door looking for a place to stay. I found one. This place was huge but lacked cleanness. Hot shot decided to stay with a local trail angel. The frat guys grilled us up some chicken and burgers then we went and got pizza. When we returned to the frat house everyone was in the basement and pretty drunk. Even though their high level of eniberation they were playing a spur of beer pong that involved paddles and alot of skill. It was very impressive to watch. The basement was a large room lined with wooden benches. THe middle of the room had 3 of these beer pong tables each divided in 2 by a snow ski. The floor had hundreds of empty plastic cups and it smelled pretty bad down there. Dozens of fly sticky papers hung from the ceiling. the purple drink they were using for this game was dipped from a 50 gallon trash can. I didn't try the stuff looked kind of potent. Instead cave man and I retired to the living room up stairs for some zzzzzzzz.
Date: 2012-07-26
From: hanover, nh

To: velvet rocks shelter
Miles today: 2.0
Weather: light rain

Today we woke up late and had a large breakfast at a local place some of the hung over frat guys took us to. We then went and saw the new batman. Awesome movie! Maybe I have been on trail too long. Then late lunch at a bbq place. Not like they do it at home but it was good. Then to the store for resupply and a short walk to the shelter. This shelter was built by the Dartmouth outdoor club and looks neat. It is 3 sided and built out of light colors logs. The roof made of clear plastic. We bought that was neat until it started raining. Caveman and I have spent the last hour hanging our tent flys to catch the water leaking through the roof to divert it outside. There is no stream here so we are catching rain water right now for the morning. We are using some old water jugs left here by day campers. Hot shot decided to hike on this morning and I will meet back up with him in glencliff. The white mountains are days away and I feel like a kid at christmas. Just with sore feet.
Date: 2012-07-27
From: velvet rocks shelter

To: wardens fire cabin
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: light rain

Last night we finally got to sleep after we stopped the leaking shelter. I left camp around 7:30 and caveman was still eating breakfast. I hiked alone today until the late evening. I met a guy named the flash. Shortly after we came a across a guy giving away free ice cream. We sat and talked with him for awhile on his front porch. After describing a bird I saw today on the cliffs right before his house, I found out I had seen an endangered Paraquin Falcon.(Spelling) Then we hiked up to the fire wardens cabin. It was a 2500 ft elevation gain. That was our biggest yet. The trail was very steep and some parts had re bar mounted in the rock like a ladder so we could get up. There was also a fire tower on top where the flash, myself and a few south bounders watched the sun set. The cabin was small, old and smelly but we liked it fine because it might rain tonight. One of the south bounders was from morehead city, nc and the other went to App. State! Caveman sent me a text saying his feet were hurting bad and he was going to the doctor. He said he would keep me posted. Hoping he is ok.
Date: 2012-07-28
From: wardens fire cabin

To: New Hampshire Route 25
Miles today: 21.0

Left the cabin around 7:30 I passed the flash around 9 and didn't see him for the rest of the day. I crossed a few mountains today. The more interesting one was Cube mountain. The top of the mountain was covered in huge flat sections of white stone. They reminded me of a stone floor in a large banks lobby. They were almost polished. They were also wet. I took a pretty good fall today on one of the downward sloping ones. It was one of those falls where I had to lay there for a minute to make sure I was ok before I got up. Just got dirty. At the end of the day the thunder was rumbling and I had less than a mile left to go. I was meeting hot shot at a hostel just off the road. It was a race against the thunder storm. I walked in the door just before the rain started. I win. Tomorrow we climb Mt. Moosealake, it is the first mountain in the Whites. With a 4000 foot climb tomorrow morning I should get some sleep. In the WHITES!!!!
Date: 2012-07-29
From: New Hampshire Route 25

To: lincoln,nh
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: moderate rain

We got a later start today and right before moosilauke hot shot and I found an old grave yard where we found a grave stone that dated to 1713! the mountain was wet and it rained as soon as got to the summit. We ate lunch in the rain and moved on. The decent was very steep and wet. This was easily the hardest mountain so far. When we got to the bottom a fella in a jeep pulled up and gave us some chocolate milk and a ride into town to the mac donalds. He was a hiker and his trail name was amigo. Then to the hostel called Chets place. This is a house where he has refurbished a garage into a hostel. Cool place. It was very full and I decided tent in the back yard.