morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-09
From: Crystal Mtn Campsite

To: Cheshire, MA
Miles today: 4.0

15 + 6 = 21 pts (based on 18.6 mile day) It started raining shortly after dark last night and didn't let up until after 10:00 am this morning. It got down to around 50 last night and never got above 55 today. Even after 3,000+ miles of hiking, I still don't have a very good way of handling cold wet weather. A young section hiking couple I've been hiking the last few days with offered me a ride and I accepted. So I'm in North Adams getting ready to go into Vermont tomarrow. I've hiked this section twice now, once during my '04 thru hike and a 2nd time on my way to doing the Long Trail, so I figure I'm still on track for having done the AT twice by the end of this summer - except for the 18 miles I missed due to heel problems in PA.I was thinking about taking a zero day in North Adams, but the Redwood Motel's prices destroyed that idea. They charged me $150 dollars for one night! When I checked in, I was freezing and the option of walking to the next motel or waiting a half hour for the bus wasn't really open to me. I didn't mind so much, until I saw the room. I'd be embarrassed to charge more than $45 for this room. The shower has several tears in the wall and the drain is broke, there aren't any curtain for the windows, the beds are noisey and no refridge or microwave I've come to expect from high priced motels. I trully do not recommend this place, even though it's close to the trail.So it'll be a regular day of hiking tomarrow.
Date: 2009-06-10
From: North Adams, MA

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: scattered clouds

21 + 1 = 22 pts. Welcome to Vermud! Longer than expected day. But a really nice day, not too cold and not too hot. Sky was overcast, but it never rained. Hope it keeps up tonight & tomarrow. The trail was either nice to walk on or muddy, maybe 50/50 mix. Saw three thur hikers, all as they passed me by. One had a dog which had been with him since Hot Springs. The dog looked very healthy, not too skinny like some of them get. Also saw a day hiker going the other way, an English lady from the sound of her accent. Todays hike may have taken a long time, but it was the sort of day we all dream about - except for that small rock boulder field we had to go thru on the way up to the Pine Cobble Trail junction - should have taken the bypass.
Date: 2009-06-12
From: Bennington, VT

To: Caughnawaga Tentsite
Miles today: 14.4

13 + 1 = 14 pts. Another long day. When I checked out of the Autumn Inn Motel, about eight am, the owner gave me a ride back to the trail. It was raining, but all the forecasters said it would end by seven am. I figured it wouldn't be too long. I think the rain stopped between ten and elevan. There was a very steep climb from route seven up to the first shelter. Fortunately, the trail maintainers have put in quite a few rock steps since the last time I came through here. There was quite a lot of rock work done on the trail all the way here. It's much appreciated. Not much else to report. It's late and I'm ready for bed.
Date: 2009-06-13
From: Caughnawaga Tentsite

To: Statton Pond tentsites
Miles today: 15.2

14 + 2 = 16 pts. Lo day, started raining about 5:00 pm. Decided I would stay in the shelter for a change. Unfortunately, one of the other hikers had a mean dog and it wouldn't let me in. So had to set up my hammock in the tent area in the rain.
Date: 2009-06-14
From: Statton Pond tentsites

To: Old Rootville Rd
Miles today: 5.6

16 + (-3) = 13 pts (based on 10.5 mile day) I Figured I'd take the short cut to Manchester Center, VT. Was thinking aboit skipping to Rutland, but decided not to and just take a zero day in Manchester Center.
Date: 2009-06-17
From: Griffin Lake Tent Sites

To: Trail to Danby, VT
Miles today: 2.0

(-2) + (-11) = -13 pts. Leg was still swollen, so decided to try and get to Rutland, VT to maybe see a doctor. Got a hitch from the trail head to Danby, VT bus stop. Have to wait until 4:15 pm for the bus to Rutland.
Date: 2009-06-28
From: Kinsman Notch

To: Elisa Brook Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: broken clouds

Good hike today. Leg was fine, body kinda wore out and was glad to get to the shelter. Hiked with Trail Gator and Curly. Weather was cool & overcast. Trail was a little wet, but not bad. All three of us are slow & so it took eight & half hours to go seven and a half miles. When we got to the shelter, I hung my hammock out back.
Date: 2009-06-29
From: Elisa Brook Shelter

To: Elisa Brook Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It was raining all day today, plus I had a lot of cramps in my leg last night. Trail Gator and Curly weren't too keen on hiking in the rain either. Plus they didn't get as much sleep as they'd hope for - one or two racoons started bothering them around one or two am. So, we decided to take a zero day. About a dozen or more hikers showed up in the evening. Four kids and their dad stayed in the shelter with Trail Gator & Curly, the rest were in tents and bivies. The tent pads were also full, so two hikers had to pitched tents outside the tent pads.
Date: 2009-06-30
From: Elisa Brook Shelter

To: N Woodstock, NH
Miles today: 8.8

Trail Gator, Curly & myself started out in overcast, cool weather. Everyone said it was going to rain all day. Fortunately for us, it didn't rain at all and by noon - midafternoon the sun came out. We got to highway 3 about six pm and were able to hitch a ride to N Woodstock where we got a room at the Carrage Motel.
Date: 2009-07-01
From: N Woodstock, NH

To: Liberty Springs Tentsite
Miles today: 2.6

Short hard day. Kind of a miserable day. Trail Gator, Curly & myself had breakfast at Pegs Resturant and then got a ride to the trail. It was a light drizzle when we started, which turned into a hard driving rain by the time we got to Liberty Springs Tentsite. We were planning to go on to Garfield Campsite, but it was looking like we'd get there in the dark. Plus there was a chance of thunderstorms, so we opted to stay here. Good news - Cuppa Joe is the caretaker here. I met him on my 04 thru hike, plus I've seen him at various Florida Trail functions. He gave us some alternatives to make sure Curly makes it to Crawford Notch by Friday. We'll goto Garfield tomorrow and if we can't make it to Crawford Notch on Friday via the AT (Cuppa Joe thinks we can), Curly will take the short cut down Zealand Falls Trail. Trail Gator & I will continue on the AT. At least that's the plan - assuming we survive the high winds and cold tonight.
Date: 2009-07-02
From: Liberty Springs Tentsite

To: Mt Lafayette
Miles today: 3.8

We're not having much luck with the weather. Cuppa Joe thought we might be able to make it to Garfield Ridge CG. Unfortunately, it started raining about the time we got to Little Haystack Mtn. We're not taking about your average summer shower. It pored and the wind was blowing about 35 to 40 mph. I was almost blown over serveral times. Curly decided her hip hurt too much and would get off at Mt Lafayette. I was ill prepared (to few cloths for this sort of weather) and decided to get off there as well. Trail Gator decided she had enough cold rain for now. We are now at Greenleaf Hut doing work for stay. I wanted to hike down to the road, but was suffering from hypothermia and it was out of the question. Tomorrow, Trail Gator & I will start making our way to Hanover, hike south and Curly will head back home.
Date: 2009-07-04
From: US Forest Rd 10

To: Little Rock Pond
Miles today: 2.0
Weather: light rain

What a trip getting here. Yesterday, we hiked about three miles down from Greenleaf Hut. We went down the bridle path. It's supposed to be less steep than the other choices since it suposedly was used by mules & horses to get stuff up to Greenleaf before they invented helicopters (Greenleaf Hut was built back in the 1930s). I'm not sure, but I think they were telling us a fairy tale. No way a mule could make it up that trail. Anyway, all three of us made it down safely. We then got a ride to N Woodstock from Curly's friend, said goodbye to Curly and had lunch at Peg's Restaurant to figure out what to do next. Trail Gator's golf bag was in Gorham, so we hired a guy to take us there. We checked into the Hiker's Paradise in Gorham for the night and went down to the outfitters for more rain gear. Come morning we got a ride from Burt, the owner of Hiker's Paradise, to Hanover, NH and then a ride from a guy called "No plans" to Danby, NH. We didn't get to the trailhead until 5:30 pm, which is why we only got two miles in.
Date: 2009-07-05
From: Little Rock Pond

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: broken clouds

Nice day for a hike, probably just to confuse us. We saw this strange orange ball of light in the sky. I know we've seen it before, it's just been such a long time ago! Trail was good. We met up with Mrs Gorp, who was out doing trail work (she's supposed to be out on the CDT with Stumpknocker, but he got a bad case of Planter Facitus)(sorry, I don't know the proper spelling). She invited us to stay at her house, but when we got to the Minerva Hinchley Shelter, she had written us a note in the trail register that her plans had change and had to recind her invitation. So instead, we went to the Whistle Stop restaurant for dinner at Hwy 130. The food was great, but I think we should have declinded the strawberry short cake desert. Both of us were having a little stomach problem after that.
Date: 2009-07-06
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: Churchill Scott Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

Another really pretty day - well almost. We had decided to stop at Cooper Lodge, since it was ten miles and Trail Gator tends to be very slow climbing hills - in this case Mt Killington. When we got about half way up, I decided maybe I could use a bit more water. So I stopped and Trail Gator hiked on. With the added water, I wound up being even slower than my usual self. Plus, Gator tried this 5 hour energy drink for the 1st time. The stuff didn't seem to help me at all, but she seemed to get a lot from it. The result is I didn't see hide nor hair of her until Cooper Lodge. It was only four pm, so we decided to go on to Churchill Scott Sheter. About half way down, the skys open up. Luckily, I had gone and got more rain gear (I've kinda given up on the poncho and now have jacket, pants & pack cover)(YES, I hear you - get a Packa - when the guy who makes them decides to make the whole thing and not make me, the customer, complete his jackets by having to seam seal them, I'll think about it) and arrived at the shelter fairly dry. We both set up inside the shelter, ate dinner and went to bed. About midnight, I'd had enough of the hard flooring and set up my hammock in the "porch" area of the shelter. I was comfortable, dry and content the rest of the night.
Date: 2009-07-08
From: Sherburne Pass Trail

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: light rain

We only had eight miles to go, so we took our time getting started. We had breakfast at the Inn on the Long Trail, packed our stuff and checked out. Was glad to be in the Inn last night. It thundered and lighting most of the night. As it was, the trail was extremely wet and muddy the whole day. It didn't help when it started raining pretty hard about three pm. Trail Gator has a bit of a cold, but wanted to hike anyway. Now I've got a sore throat, but don't yet feel sick. Hopefully these things won't effect our hike. We had hoped to pitch tents & hammocks when we got to the shelter, but it was still raining and muddy when we got here. So we're sharing the shelter with Seattle Sailer & Knee High, retired brothers out hiking the AT together. Hope I can get some sleep tonight, they've already warned us one of them snores. That, plus the floor got a little too hard, so I set up my hammock around 8:30 pm. It rained and the tarp got wet, but that was all.
Date: 2009-07-09
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 9.9

Not a bad day. We got a late start since we didn't have far to go. We're taking it easy so Trail Gator can hike until the 15th, when her plane leaves for Colorado. But, my figures show we'll be done by the 14th, so not sure how we'll fill in half of the 15th. Anyway, the weather was great and the trail was muddy. Knee High and Seattle Sailor left an hour before us, which is why we were a little surprised to catch up to them before lunch. I think we finally found a couple guys slower than us. They stopped for the day where we had lunch. At least they're having fun. We stopped for awhile at the "lookout". It's a small building on private property with a platform on top of the roof. We had 360 degrees of sight and could see the White Mountains, along with all the clouds around them. Then we got to the shelter. Trail Gator set up her tent & I set up my hammock.
Date: 2009-07-10
From: Wintturi Shelter

To: Cloudland Shelter
Miles today: 9.6

Felt like a long day. The weather was warm and dry. Most of the trail was dry, but there were a few wet spots. We particularly liked that there was something to see on top of most of the hills we climbed. We stopped for ice cream & sodas at "On The Edge Farm" on Route 12. We didn't like that they wouldn't let Trail Gator use the bathroom. After that, back onthe trail, a day hiker gave us a couple bananas and there were sodas at two road crossings. We saw half a dozen day hikers and one thru hiker. We were going to hike to the Thistle Hill Shelter, but had enough of hill climbing when we got to the trail at Cloudland. We didn't make it all the way to the shelter, electing to set up our tent & hammock about half way there. All in all, it was a very good day for a hike.
Date: 2009-07-11
From: Cloudland Shelter

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Good day. We started out earlier than usual, no reason, we just semed to be ready. The trail is getting dryer, but we still got our feet muddy. Weather was warm and sunny, with some clouds rolling in this afternoon. We stopped for a real lunch this time at the West Hartford General Store. The trail went right by it. We tried to resist, but we just couldn't pass it up. We then passed under I89, into the woods and at the next stream, got some trail magic in the form of cans of Sprite. We each took one for dinner. We got to the Happy Hill Shelter a the clouds started to roll in. I found I could set up my hammock inside.   Trail Gator wanted to set up her tent, but didn't want to get rained on. Good thing she decided to stay inside, it started raining and thundering about seven pm and still hasn't let up. Da'Leader, came into the shelter with us.
Date: 2009-07-12
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Velvet Rocks Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: broken clouds

After a long night of rain and thunder, the weather cleared up nicely. We had a nice hike into Hanover, NH. We had lunch, got ice cream at Ben & Jerry's and resupplied at the Hanover Co-op. Then we climbed up to Velvet Rocks Shelter and set up our tents and hammocks. Only two more days of hiking with Trail Gator and she'll be off to Colorado. Going to miss her.
Date: 2009-07-13
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter

To: Moose Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: broken clouds

Nice walk today. Trail Gator got a little tired toward the end, probably because of her cold, but I seem to be fine. The trail was either rocks going up or on top of hills or bogs.   By rocks, I mean the nice kind you can walk on, not the PA rocks I tend to complain about. I did manage to fall down in one of the bogs, but managed to only get my arms wet, not all my clothes. The hike up Moose Mnt was not too bad for me, but Trail Gator lost a little steam. But we made it to the shelter and set up our tent & hammock. We're not too happy about the privy though - it doesn't have any walls and your in full view of anyone walking on the shelter loop trail and at one of the tent sites. Note to trail maintainers - if your going to go to the trouble and expense of building a privy - PUT SOME WALLS ON THE THING!
Date: 2009-07-14
From: Moose Mtn Shelter

To: Lyme-Dorchester Rd
Miles today: 8.6

Last day with Trail Gator. There was a little rain last night, but neither my hammock tarp or Trail Gator's tent was wet. On the other hand, the trail was a bit boggey in places.   Weather was cool, with a little rain. We went by the Perrigin Falcon rookery and heard a falcon, but were unable to see it. Plans too Much was supposed to pick us up around four pm, but didn't show up. Apparently got his dates mixed up and there was no way to call since there isn't cell phone service at the trail head. We started walking down the road and a very nice lady picked us up and drove us over to the city of Lyme and left us at the Lyme General Store. We were able to call out there. Plans too Much appoligised and sent Bugbite to pick us up. She drove us to the Comfort Inn in White River Junction, but it was past 7:30 pm and we still had to shower and do laundry before we could be presentable to a restaurant. By the time we were ready, Trail Gator didn't want to eat, so I went over to McDonalds.I'll probable take a train down to Harpers Ferry and hike south. It'll be a few days before I post again.
Date: 2009-07-24
From: US 340

To: David Lesser Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: broken clouds

Guess I'm comitted now. Plan to hike to Damascus, VA. Guessing it'll take about one and a half to two months. Not planning to set any speed records. Anyone who wants to join me for all or part of this hike can, so long as they understand - I'm not a fast hiker and don't plan to become one anytime soon. So there!Todays hike is the sort of hike I've been wanting all along. Nice weather and nice, dry, easy trail. I took it easy today, didn't want to overdo it my first day out. I thought about going on to the Blackburn Trail Center, but they have a lot of people there taking a rock class. A "lot of people" generally means no sleep because about one out of five people snore loudly & all night long. Tommorrow I may stay at the Bears Den Hostel - depends on how crowded it is. The main thru hiker bubble has gone already, but there are still quite a few of them around. You can tell them from the others by throwing m&m's on the ground. They're the ones who not only pick them up and eat them, they dig in the dirt to see if there are any more of them!
Date: 2009-07-25
From: David Lesser Memorial Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Got a late start this morning. I seem to have caught Tail Gator's cold. Will have to think of a way to thank her for that. Finally got off about 9:00 am. Pretty good weather today, at least until about an hour before I got to the Bears Den Hostel, then the rain just fell like cats and dogs (always wondered what it would be like to really have it rain cats and dogs)(or where the phrase came from). The trail was pretty good, there were two or three climbs I had problems with. Plus there was a little more rocks at some places than I like. But it was all dry and except for a little tiny bit all hikeable. Took about two hours of breaks, 45 min for lunch and a 45 min nap (boy is it nice to hike alone - I can nap whenever I want to). I was going to go down and say hi to the people at the Blackburn Trail Center, but didn't relish the idea of having to climb back up to the trail. Saw quite a few deer, including a fawn who I guess I almost stepped on. He took off like a grouse does, only he couldn't quite fly. Saw a snake who had just had something to eat. Didn't see any thru hikers but plenty of other people including a young girl with a parrot in a pet carry thingy with straps so she could wear it like a backpack in front of her. It started thundering and rain just after she passed me, wonder what the parrot thought. Got to the Bears Den about 6:30 pm. This place is nice, the bunks actually have mattresses on them and the place is clean. There are two other hikers in the bunk room with me, plus quite a few other people who are camping out. REI has a group here who are learning to climb - I guess so when a climbing customer comes in they will know what they are asking for. Not much else to tell. I guess I'm about two or three days from Front Royal, VA.
Date: 2009-07-26
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: stealth cs, about a mile s of VA605
Miles today: 7.0

Still have a cold. Left the Bears Den a bit later than I'd like. Didn't get much sleep because of the sinuses filling up everytime I'd lay down. In case I didn't mention it, the Bears Den is a trully nice place to stop for the night. It's not their fault I have a cold - that's Trail Gator's fault. Anyway, the trail was good. Several people said there was a dead or dying fawn on the trail, but I never saw it. The last person to mention it said he removed it from the trail. It had a broken leg and blood all over it. Sounds to me like maybe a bear got it. The weather was good until about five pm when thunder & lightning started up. I didn't feel like walking in the rain, so I set up my hammock at a stealth site.
Date: 2009-07-27
From: stealth cs, about a mile s of VA605

To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

Long arduous day. The weather was nice, the trail was great, but this cold saps all my strength. But, on the bright side, it feels like it starting to get better. Did the "roller coaster", this time without falling. Went thru the Sky Meadows State Park, which maybe should be renamed the "We Don't Want You Here Sky Meadow State Park". Every single sign started with "NO Camping". Enough already. There was a camping place just outside the park, but I couldn't find the water spring, so decided to hike on to Dick's Dome Shelter. On the way down the hill, found the spring, but it had a resident frog and the spring itself was very slow. Got to the shelter about 7:00 pm. Got water, cooked dinner and saw a few beers in the stream. Normally, I don't like beer, but it seemed impolite not to take one left by a trail angle. Turns out the beer belonged to a couple Finnish guys, Olif and his friend (who, I guess, doesn't speak english), who had been using the shelter as a base, but they didn't mind. Good thing, it probably wouldn't have tasted as good after going thru my body.
Date: 2009-07-28
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Mosby Campsite
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Much better day today. The cold is almost gone, still have a bit of a basketball nose, but otherwise fine. I started out at 8:00 am and made it to the next shelter, 4.7 miles in two hours. Had an early lunch and while leaving, met up with Olif and his friend. One of them went into some bushes and pulled out an enormus plastic bag full of beer. They offered me one, but I decline since I didn't want to carry it and wasn't prepared to start dinking that early. I then made the next two miles in one hour and had a second lunch at a picnic table near a road. Then it started getting too hot and my new found speed dropped a bit. About a mile down the trail I came across a bench over looking a meadow, so took a half hour nap. Then stopped at the Dick & Molly Denton Shelter. It's supposed to have a solar shower, but the solar part is below the tree leaves, so I don't see how it can ever get warm. Plus, it's not connected to anything, so I don't know where the cold water was coming from. About all I could do was rinse out a few things, just too cold for a shower. Then I slowly made my way to here, the Mosby Campsite. Was kind of nice, but at 8:00 pm, a group of kids showed up. Looks like a summer camp type group, they're headed north to Maryland. At least I don't have to get up early. Going into Front Royal tommorrow and it's only 3.2 miles to the road. Hope it won't take to long to get a ride.