morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-07-25
From: October Mountain Lean-To

To: Crystal Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: broken clouds

A quick in and out of town today but I didn¢t want to repeat the misery of the walk into Kent so got up bright and early and was on the trail before 7am to discover that I was doubly rewarded for my efforts by, shock horror, an easy walk into town.I stopped for water at the Cookie Ladies and had a nice chat with Roy before continuing on my way to Dalton.Now Dalton is a bit like the exact opposite of Doctor Who¢s Tardis (tenuous late 70s Brit sci-fi link) in that it appears to be much smaller on the inside than it would seem from the outside ¢ but then again my needs were few and I was only moving through anyway.As it was it held my attention quite happily for 4 hours as I checked out my e-mail at the library, bought a new toothbrush, visited the post office to send some journals home and then, saving the best for last, took a visit to teh Shamrock Inn for food and drink.The food was excellent, particularly the clam chowder that I got instead of the ususl salad (which I declined). Folks remember that you heard it here first but it is a myth that vegetables are necessary for a full and happy life. It¢s all one of those conspiracy things like JFK and the Moon Landing. One day the truth is going to come out and you¢ll be shocked when you find out who¢s behind it all.But anyway did I mention that the Newcastle Brown Ale was most acceptable and very resonably priced and that¢s no myth - that is a fact. But then again David Basset once said ¢Football is not about facts it about what happens¢What was I saying?Oh yes, well it was time to get on the road again and a short walk to tonight¢s campsite. Unfortunately my right shoe started to cause some irritation and my heel is a little skinned but I¢ll tape it up tomorrow and I¢m sure that all will be well.Thought I¢d be here all alone but ¢Wannaredleaf¢ just wandered in and we had a bit of a chinwag before I decided it was time for beddybybyes.
Date: 2003-07-26
From: Crystal Mountain Campsite

To: Wilbor Clearing Lean-To
Miles today: 15.6

Today was bright and warm and virtually mosquito free.I got an early start and planned to stop for breakfast (2 cereal bars) at the Cobbles ¢ a rocky outlook with views of Chesshire and the mountatins to the north. This includes Mount Graylock Massachusettes¢ highest peak (and an obstacle I would be going up and over later this afternoon).I had my breakfast as planned but unfortunately felt compelled to leave earlier that I might otherwise in order to visit the toilet at the church in the town below. Once the necessary was taken care of it was off to the garage for milk and snacks befoer the haul up to Graylock.I wasn¢t looking forward to it ¢ as well as the obvious physical challenge of the 2,500ish feet of vertical gain I was dreading the crowds at the top. This is another of those ¢paved¢ mountains with a car park at the top and this was the weekend (bad memories of Bear Mountain are still fresh in my mind).Oh well no need to loose any sleep over it and I filled the walk by trying to choose my favourite goal celebrations of all time. For those who are interested I don¢t like the choreographed stuff and came up with (in reverse order):3rd ¢ MaradonnaHigh as a kite running to the camera that he actually thought was a 6 foot tall pink rabbit called Larry.2nd ¢ Denis LawFor City v United when he didn¢t celebrate1st ¢ Yekini (I think it was)Nigeria USA 94 when he put his arms through the net and started praying.By now I had got my first good view of the top of the mountain and the war memorial/lighthouse built on top. One short sharp plod later and I found myself on top and was surprised and pleased to meet Sundance and Skippy there. I last saw Sundance when we split a hotel room in Front Royal, 600 miles ago).It turned out to be OK, although there were quite a few people it wasn¢t mobbed and was a reasonably chilled place to spend some time. I bought some snacks at the lodge (that is also up there) and had a look in the memorial where the room at the bottom was very peaceful.
Date: 2003-07-27
From: Wilbor Clearing Lean-To

To: North Adams, MA
Miles today: 3.0

Just back from dinner at the chinese and I feel compelled to say something about portion control.I had a hankering for some sweet and sour chicken and the choice was large or small. Well the small was $3.75 (about £2.50) including rice and I¢m thinking ¢you don¢t get much for £2.50¢ so I guess it¢s got to be the large. How wrong I was. Honestly it was about 4 meals worth. I forced my way through about a third of it but could do no more.(Back in Duncannon a small pizza was 14 inches and there was nothing smaller)I mean if I¢d actually tried to eat all that stuff I ¢d have done myself an injury.Sitting here in a hotel in North Adams having come in for a wash and brush up after ten days of grime and to rest before heading thruogh Vermont. It¢s nice to put the feet up with one or two of the comforts of home and my now traditional beer in the bath.I¢ve just realised that it¢s not the US gallon that¢s different from an imperial gallon but it¢s the pints that are smaller. Actually the US pint of 2 fluid ounces seems more sensible but as for their date format of MM/DD/YY ¢ that¢s just silly.I know none of this seems very important but the small differences are often teh most noticeable when you travel and I¢ve spent many a dull mile mulling over such things.Now I need to sit down and work out a tentative plan to see me through to Hanover (about 150 miles) by the 8th of August and in first glance this may well be my last wash and brush up until then.Oh well hold your noses folks!
Date: 2003-07-28
From: North Adams, MA

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Check out wasn¢t until 11am and I was in no particular hurry to get back on the trail so I took the opportunity to avail myself of the facilities until the last possible moment.I woke reasonably early and put the finishing touches to my latest batch of journal entries before heading to the Post Office and sending them on their way to Dear Old Blighty and eventually, I hope, to this website. It was then off to Burger King for breakfast.Now have I really lost my appetite or is it just the establishments I choose to dine in? Whatever it is it wasn¢t very appealing but I forced it down none the less.It was still before 9am so I had plenty of time to head back to the hotel for a shave, bath and a shower, pack my bag and catch an old episode of ER before I had to say ¢goodbye¢ to my little piece of luxury.Now, planning ahead, Vermont looks a little tricky with respects to resupply and may be one of the places where mail drops might have been beneficial. However, I¢m sure it will work out. It just means that I need to carry about 6 days food initially and wing it from there.I headed to the ¢Big Y¢ for food (which for some reason always has me singing an old Elvis Costello song ¢ ¢the big light came through the window and it opened up my eyes......) for the week aheads grub.So, what does the not very hungry hiker buy for 6 days anyway?Breakfasts        12 pack of strawberry pop tartsLunches        Packet of crackers                Packet of gingersnaps                Cream Cheese                (I¢ll also eat some of the tortillas (see later))Dinners        20 Tortillas (see above)                4 packs tuna                2 tins chicken6 packs of beef jerky                8 pack mandarin oranges in jelloSnacks        12 Milky Way bars (Mars Bars)                6 Twix bars                1 pack fo Old Fellow type thingsWhat more could a body ask for?All packed up I head on my way but not before lunch at ¢Friendlies¢ (more ice cream), then it was off into Vermont. 11 states gone and 3 to go , apparently.Now this bit of the AT runs along the same trail as the Long Trail ¢ a 290ish mile trail the length of Vermont up to the Canadian border.It¢s great spending time here with people still feeling their way on just the first day of their trips. I¢m really envious ¢ to be starting out and be so full of wonder and having picked what I now believe to be a better length of trip to fully appreciate what you are doing.Anyway, good luck to Brooke, Corrine, Darren and Jeff. I had a lot of fun talking to them as well as with Dreamcatcher, Morning Star and Gimp (all walking at least part of the AT).
Date: 2003-07-29
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

A Day in the Life Of.......5.20        Wake for first time ¢ resolve to get up at 6.457.15        Get up and break camp7.45        Breakfast at shelter with Brooke, Corrine, Morning Star,Dreamcatcher,Humming Bee, Jeff and Gimp8.20        Write in register8.30        Hit trail for morning walk9.30        10 minute stop to write in diary10.05        5 minute stop at stream to filter a little waterNoon        25 minute lunch stop on rock by stream(5 crackers and cream cheese, 1 tortilla and cream cheese, 1 milky way, 2 dry crackers, some sweets)12.35        25 minute stop at shelter ( I didn¢t realise it was so close when I stopped for lunch). Used privy, write in register1.0        Hit trail for afternoon walk2.0        40 minute stop at view point to write yesterday¢s journal3.30        50 minute stop at Burger Van for Cheeseburger and soda4.55        Arrive at destination shelter5.0        Speak to folks at shelter, pitch tent, fliter water, hang bear line (in preparation for later), write in journal6.30        Diner(2 tortillas and chicken, mandarin oranges, beef jerky, twix, milky way)After dinner chit chat 7.30        Filtered yet more water. Hung bear bag8.00        General chit chat round table        Gave geography lesson to Morning Star        Played cards9.15        Into tentRead Hitch Hiker¢s Guide to the Galaxy9.45        Night All!
Date: 2003-07-30
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was memorable for the return of clean, fresh spring water and two lovely shelters with nice views and ambience.The morning¢s walk was OK but one particular section of the trail was ¢sparingly¢ blazed and although I was ¢sure¢ I was correct the lack of blazes convinced me to double back and check. Half a mile back and I was pretty sure I hadn¢t missed anything obvious so, therefore, had to assume (rather than know) that I had indeed been correct all along.I continued, as reassured as I could be, and eventually the blazes did reappear.I was glad to reach the shelter (Goddard Shelter) and even happier when I got into it as it had a great location with the sun streaming in onto the deck in front. I sat down and got started on lunch while talking to Smiles and Chuckles, a really nice couple from Austin,TX, who are out to do a chunk of the AT through Vermont and New Hampshire.It was hard to pull myself away ¢ both from the location and the company but I still had quite a few miles ahead of me.Another 4 miles brought me to Kid Gore Shelter and once more I found myself in a wonderful location. I can¢t imagine that all the shelters in Vermont can be so appealing but they have certainly set themselvees high standards if they are to compete with these two.The last 4.5 miles to Story Spring turned out to be hard work but eventually I arrived. This time the shelter was nothing to write home about (although I appear to be doing just that) but functional none the less. The water, however, was wonderful. I had hoped for a spring from the name of the shelter and was not disappointed as I gulped down all that clean, clear, cold, delicious water ¢ you can¢t really beat it.
Date: 2003-07-31
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: broken clouds

What a pleasant evening!I¢m enjoying these days in southern Vermont ¢ nice walking, nice weather, nice shelters, good camping and, most of all, all these nice new Long Trail hikers. It¢s a real shot in the arm to spend time around them and share their excitment.Tonight I¢m here with Josh, U-Haul, Fancy Pants and Karen who are on the Long Trail and Dan and another Josh out for a couple of nights.When I arrived here I wasn¢t too talkative as I still had to finalise my plans for getting to Hanover on the 8th of August. I never did finalise my original plan and have come further than that said today anyway. I think I¢ve got it now though and it even looks like I shouldn¢t go hungry along the way.And speaking about hungry, I was just starting to feel a little peckish after finishing my planning and about to start on dinner when Dan and Josh offered me a considerable amount of their uneaten pasta. They had made too much and out here if you don¢t eat it you are carrying it out as trash for the next few days. So while I was most thankful for the food they got something out of it too. It was great and then when the other Josh handed out fun size twixs I was made.I went to hang my food and found a quiet place to read for a while before heading back to the shelter and the fire young Josh had started. We all chatted before heading to see the sunset when the conversation turned to music. U-Haul had asked about ¢The Old Blind Dogs¢ who she had seen live and from there we somehow ended up on early 80s rap (I¢m not as young as I used to be you see). Seemlessly we moved on to Roadrunner cartoons, Tom & Jerry and my contributions ¢ Bagpuss and Fingerbobs.Apparently (and I don¢t know if this is true or not) some parts of Vermont don¢t receive a TV signal although I am assured that they do have mains electricity!
Date: 2003-08-01
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Lost Pond Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: heavy intensity rain

There is surely something strange that brings us out here and some strange common threads that bind together the odds and sods that make up the AT hiking community and something very odd indeed about the lives we find ourselves living that if you don¢t stop to take a second look might pass for completely normal.There are 4 of us here tonight (myself, Gazer, Brother Buzz and Lightening). We have been here since about 4 (it¢s 8 now). We are all sitting here staring out of the front of the shelter through the incessant rain towards trees at the other side of the clearing (except Brother Buzz who has become fascinated by two insects who¢s whole universe seems to be the size of the one small puddle that they are skating over).We all sit here huddled in clothes and sleeping bags making small talk as evening turns to night. Shoving in the remnants of the day with next to nothing to do. We have little in common yet we have this in common. If you looked at it in isolation then it¢s no life at all yet here we are 4 strangers living this life and all delighted to be out of the rain, looking out at the rain.Just one other day of many ¢ so what of today?Well today started chilly and wet. The weather prophets of doom forecast rain and here it is but what else is there to do but walk, or as the rain got heavier walk, walk, walk.There is little point, or opportunity, for breaks and as I plodded on up Bromley I felt very much at home as the wet and biting wind reminded me of Scotland at its best.The promised 5 state view at the top of Bromley turned out to be 150 yard view into the mist and rain but what can you do? Needless to say I didn¢t tarry and it was still raining 5 miles later as I reached Peru Shelter for a quick (and I mean quick) bite of lunch. I didn¢t sit down and wanted to keep moving before I cooled down too much. Unbelievably 3 kids out with their dads went for a swim in the pond and although each to their own I certainly didn¢t envy them.The weather forced me onwards and I arrived at tonight¢s shelter at 3.15pm and spent no time getting into dry clothes. Only once I was dry and warm did I realise that I could have kicked on another couple of miles tothe next shelter but by now it was too late.The other 3 arrived and we hunkered down for the night. Gazer is playing a tune on his bamboo flute ¢ usually his tunes have meaning ¢ hopefully this one is for tomorrow and the sunshine.
Date: 2003-08-02
From: Lost Pond Shelter

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: light rain

Today was another good example of why you shouldn¢t listen to the ¢Weather Channel People¢ who seem to delight in telling you all about the bad weather to come. I don¢t want to know but they sure seem to want to tell me.Four days of rain they said, and fair¢s fair yesterday certainly was one day of rain, so this morning when I woke at 6am to find it dry I thought I¢d better get going and at least have a couple of dry hours walking.So it was on with the damp (well wet actually) clothes and off into the woods. Of course I need not have rushed. After an overcast start the day was great (bright and hot) and I dried out along the way (although still splashing through puddle after puddle). Needless to say none of the prophets of doom ever come along to say ¢Oh looks like I got it wrong, sorry for wasting you time and speaking such tosh¢ No, that would be too much to ask.Anyway today had its ups and downs.This morning was fun when I stopped at a shelter to find a bunch of summer camp kids. They were good fun and interested in my adventure. The rain yesterday had convinced them to go no further today so I ate their gingerbread and they took my photo before I headed on.Then the trail took me to an area where people had built lots of stone cairns (some very intricate). I hate these, they are (in my opinion) out of context and in this natural setting ugly. Folks come out here and say yes we practice ¢leave no trace¢ but a stone cairn or two, that¢s OK.Well I don¢t agree ¢ to me definitely leaving a trace.Oh well, because of the early start I found myself way ahead of schedule and decided to go on further today. This meant that I¢d hit town today instead of tomorrow and therefore get some milk and ice cream. I was in no hurry but this was all the incentive I needed.After doing the necessary in town it was quite a steep walk up from the road. It didn¢t take long for me to start sweating buckets but the walk was good fun and it wasn¢t far to the shelter so when I got there I set up my tent to give it a chance to dry out.A couple of folks are in the shelter listening to a radio. It¢s not really what I came out her for but what can you do? Each to their own I suppose.
Date: 2003-08-03
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: Cooper Lodge Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

Over the course of this trip I¢ve been called most things (with regards to my accent that is) ¢ English, Irish, Australian, a New Zealander, even Canadian as well as Scottish. I thought I¢d heard it all but that was before tonight.I reached the shelter to find five folk already there and started on the normal greetings and small talk. A young lady who was there asked where I was from and I did my usual ¢have a guess¢ thing which can be quite humourous. She thought for a moment and said ¢I¢m not sure, I don¢t think that English is your first language¢STOP!!!!!   REWIND!!!!!¢I don¢t think that English is your first language¢Now looky here - I¢m not saying it¢s the Queen¢s English but I do like to think I¢ve gotten a reasonable grip on it over the years.It turned out Marie-Claude was French Canadian so I could appreciate that perhaps I sounded a bit strange. This also gave me an opportunity to trot out my 5 or 6 phrases of schoolboy french ( Voila! La sienge est dans l¢arbre)Today¢s walk had been a short one to Killington Mountain and I had planned to get to the shelter and then head up to the summit with my book and my dinner but once again the weather has put paid to that. It started raining in the afternoon and we are pretty much surrounded by cloud now. So dinner was in the shelter and once again I was the grateful recipient of some excess pasta which, despite containing one or two more vegetables that I would have liked, I happily wolfed down. (I¢m starting to wonder if I¢m looking malnourished or something).Today I now have less than 500 miles to go but for the moment I¢m just concentrating on getting to Hanover next week and the Kelly Joe Phelps gig.
Date: 2003-08-04
From: Cooper Lodge Shelter

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 8.2

Awoke this morning with plans for a short walk and then shower, laundry and Long Trail Ale at the ¢Inn at Long Trail¢.The short walk got a little bit longer after talking to Adam (a ridgerunner who works along this section of the trail). He suggested that if I walked a little further I could take a different (shorter) side trail to the Inn. This made a lot of sense as it also meant that I¢d be shortening tomorrow¢s much bigger walk by a couple of miles.I arrived at the Inn and enquired about a room. There was no problem and before you could say ¢Newton¢s Third Law of Motion¢ I was up the stairs and in the shower. After having done about as much cleansing as is possible without the aid of a wire brush I felt presentable enough to face the big wide world, or rather the bar, for beers and lunch.When I went downstairs I met 2 guys form PA who had stayed at the shelter last night and I settled down to try the ale. It was more than acceptable and was a nice accompaniment to my Shepherd¢s Pie (or was it the other way round?)As the afternoon rolled on a few other hikers appeared and another couple of ales disappeared . However, it was time to get around to laundry before it got forgotten about and I took the opportunity to lie down for a bit.The Inn is fairly isolated so the evening offered little more than the afternoon had (which was just dandy with me). I went down to the bar to find Strappy, Hover, Tadpole, Big Red and Euchre already there and joined them for what turned out to be a most enjoyable evening of chat ¢ most of it complete nonsense.People started to retire so I took the opportunity to throw a few darts before heading to the land of nod myself.
Date: 2003-08-05
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 18.0

So what about Vermont?Well it¢s OK. It seems to me like you spend an awful lot of time deep in a tree lined corridor. The trees seem thicker here somehow and there is a lot more undergrowth in the forest with lots of fern like things everywhere. Generally it¢s been pretty peaceful, not too strenuous but certainly giving a bit of a hint about the ups and downs to come.The views are scarce though and the opportunity to just come across a rock in a nice place and take a weight off seems to have passed me by. This in turn has led me to arrive at (and, therefore, spend more time than usual, and than I would like) the shelters. The shelters though have been nice enough with lots of good camping and fresh clean water so I have nothing to complain about.Today turned into a ¢if you didn¢t laugh, you¢d cry¢ type of rain day. The thunder and rain started early in the afternoon and ¢Is Anybody Going to San Antone¢ bounced around inside my head as the rain was indeed ¢dripping off the brim of my hat¢. The gortex shoes don¢t make much difference in these conditions as the water soaks my trousers, then my socks and works its way down, forming nice puddles inside both shoes ¢ but that just gives me more to laugh about.There was a little lookout and cabin along the afternoon¢s walk and although not my final destination I headed there to dry out. As I sat there out of the rain Euchre appeared and miraculously the sky cleared up. The view from the look out was indeed pretty good but we headed on, taking advantage of the break in the weather.We just made it here when the heavens really opened. It lashed down. Euchre was sitting 6 feet away and we were both shouting to be heard over the rain battering against the roof.It¢s then that you count your lucky stars. We may have got rained on, we may be wet but at least we missed this. (Small mercies indeed).Tomorrow I pass a small store so I ate every last morsel of food that I had, then said ¢goodnight¢ to Euchre and Dirt and headed off to my tent.