morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-16
From: VT 11/30

To: Griffith Tenting Area
Miles today: 10.3

Weather: Sunny, mid 80's slightly humid.Hike-O-Meter 10.3Great day to return to the Trail. I have returned with Charlie from Berea to re-hike the last 500+ miles NOBO from Manchester Ctr VT to Katahdin. You may recall I met Charlie last year on my thru hike. He lives about 45 minutes from me in Berea OH. He left the Trail in VT with a serious knee injury which resulted in surgery about 4 months ago. He is returning to complete his hike to ME and invited me to hike along...(well, I kinda invited myself.)So, we drove to Hanover NH yesterday and stayed at the Sunset Inn where we made arrangements to leave his car. This morning we visited the Dartmouth Outing Club and they were nice enough to help hook us up with a taxi service that shuttled us to where Charlie got off the Trail last summer.It did cost $125 but they did pick us up right away and we were on the Trail by 10. We had expected it would take all day to get to Manchester and we would have to stay in a motel tonight. Not so, we had a great driver Robin who chatted with me all of the way...Charlie couldn't get a word in edge wise.It was a great day to return to the Trail...a few bugs but I'll take the dry weather over last year.People Met: A couple of hours into the hike a thru-hiker named Silver passed us. He stopped and chatted for a few minutes. He said he remembered meeting Liteshoe and Stumpknocker early in his hike this Spring. (I sympathized with him.) Since we are on the part of the AT that is also the Long Trail, we met Terrapin, Lounger and A-Ron who were on their break at an overlook. The most fun was running into someone we had hiked with last year. We were walking along and up from behind comes Drifter (new trail name Trek) He started in February and is doing his 2nd straight thru-hike of the AT. It was great to see him. The 3 of us hiked on to the Peru Peak Shelter and chatted for quite awhile. He seems to be really enjoying himself and it's nice to know there are others like me who are adicted to the Trail.We are taking it easy until Charlie "gets his legs" And, I am here to enjoy it and not to "do miles." Today, we did 10 and Charlie is feeling pretty good. Food: I decided to "go cold" with the food this trip...in other words no cooking. There are enough towns up this way that we should be okay. Last year I didn't feel like cooking much of the time in warm weather. Tonight I had spiced tuna with miracle whip, peanut butter and cheese whip... all on crackers. We had a great breakfast in Hanover before we left and some Snickers and snacks on the Trail. I've got to pick up some Famous Amos in the next town.It should be a nice cool night in the tent. Se you tomorrow.On a side note...remember Mule who I hiked the Trail with early last year. He is now touring the country with 9 others in an old bus they made into a camper. They are doing a documentary and calling it "In Pursuit of Happiness."SkeemerGA>ME'03
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Griffith Tenting Area

To: Little Rock Pond Tenting Area
Miles today: 9.3

Weather: Mostly cloudy, some breaks in the clouds. 80's more humid...cooler towards afternoon. Rain early evening.Hike-O-Meter: 9.2Not a bad day but pretty uneventful. We decided we would take it easy for awhile until Charlie feels "broken in" and comfortable with his knee. Yesterday and today went well for him. He was telling me how painful it was when he tried to get back on last year after resting it. I told him he never complained when we were hiking together and he said "it would'nt have done any good." He's right...I probably wouldn't have slowed down.Slept well last night in my tent on a tent platform. Besides us, there was one other young man doing the Long Trail. He played the violin for awhile just before dusk...he's got a ways to go...with the violon that is.There were 4 shelters in the 9 mile stretch we did today...one .2m from the other...probably because the Long Trail is so popular. However, we did not pass one person on the Trail today. We stopped at all of the shelters and snacked.The mosquitoes and bugs were bothersome enough that we applied Deet.We got here and set up camp by noon. It was still muggy so we both took a dip in Little Rock Pond. It was great. I think I only went in for a swim once along the Trail last year. The timing was perfect. It was warm and muggy when I went in and an hour or so afterwards a cool front moved in followed by showers. Of course, I took a nice afternoon nap.Food: Pop Tarts for breakfast. I figured out why hikers eat poptarts...to get their packweight down. Had leftover Poppycock and a Snickers powerbar for lunch. BTW, the power bars are not as good as the regular Snickers.SkeemerGA>ME'03
Date: 2004-06-18
From: Little Rock Pond Tenting Area

To: VT 103
Miles today: 12.6

Weather: Hot and humid some sun and clouds, breif afternoon shower.People Met: Zippo...none...oh, there was this guy in the last shelter carrying a pistol on his side. He semed like a nice guy but we weren't taking any chances...we ate our snack and vamoosed. Surprisingly, we passes no one on the Trail.Hike-O-Meter 12.6 One tiring climb but more of "The Green Tunnel"It rained overnight. We again were on tent platforms... at Little Rock Tenting Area. We wiped our tents down and were on the Trail by 6.The hike went well today. We again took our time reaching White Rocks Mtn in an hour or so. There all kinds of rock formations here built by various hikers...nothing spectacular...just a bunch of rock piles...they were better last year.Later we came to a spring that wasn't in the book...it was right out of the mountain and was so good and cold after a long hot climb up Bear Mtn.We got to VT103 before 1 and went right to The Whistle Stop for lunch. Charlie asked for the largest Coke they had and got what looked like 10 ounces. Afterwards, we went next door for ice cream. We then hitched out to The Country Squire Motel (where I stayed last year) in the hot sun. When we got there it looked as though there were no guests. The rates had gone up $10 since last year and there was no air, pool, cable and most important no restaurant nearby. So, we hithed into Rutland where we got a room with all the above for the same rate.It took us a half hour to get a ride. Lynn, a hiker himself, was nice enough to give us a lift and show us around...Thanks Lynn!...much appreciated!The first thing we did was turn on the air, hang our tents out to dry and go for a dip in the pool. It was great as it felt like it was in the upper 80's...and humid.We then walked down the street for dinner. I'm not going to tell you what I had since last year I got razzed by certain followers for "eating too good" on the Trail and talking too much about food. Let's just say we prepared our bodies for our hard climb tomorrow.Before I sign off I'd like to wish my father a Happy Fathers Day this Sunday. Hope to be able to call you Dad.SkeemerGA>ME'03
Date: 2004-06-19
From: VT 103

To: Cooper Lodge shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

Weather: Warm and humid in the morning changing to partly cloudy and cooler by evening. Some light rain in the morning. Cold at night.Hike-O-Meter: 11.2 Not a lot of miles but a couple of long gradual climbs. Good gradual uphills to break in Charlie.We heard it was going to cool down today and drop into the 40's tonight. That's in the towns...up here on top of the mountain it will be even colder. Tomorrow looks sunny with a high of 72...perfect hiking weather.We stayed at the Rodeway Inn in Rutland. We got up early and were at Sewards for breakfast when it opened at 6:30. We knew it would be a tough hitch out of town and it was. I think we tried for 45 minutes before we started walking. We were headed a couple blocks to the bus station. (We had heard they offered free transportation.) when a guy meets us at a side street and asks us if we still needed a ride...he had seen us hitching. His name is Jeff and he not only gave us a ride, but he took us out of his way...all of the way back to where we had gotten off the Trail. Jeff is a hiker himself (and if you get the chance to read this Jeff...a big Thank You from both of us!)Thanks to Jeff we were hiking by 10. We had an immediate climb up Beacon Hill in some drizzle...but not that bad and the bugs weren't bad either.It took us until after one to hike 7+ miles to Governor Clement Shelter where we had lunch. (BTW, the shelter is a real dump) Also there was Rainwalker who we had met on the Trail Thursday. He is here in the shelter tonight. Charlie and I are tenting on top the mountain. It is windy and cooling down rapidly. People Met: During the hike we passed what looked like 4 weekend hikers followed by 2 guys just doing sections. Just after we crawled into our tents Rambler showed up. He is a genuine thru-hiker, the first one since Trek. He has been hiking with Good To Go and Willie Goat...two guys I met in The Smokies back in March and are here on Trailjournals. He said they both got off to meet family for a couple of days. There's a good chance we'll meet up as they do big miles and should pass us on the Trail if we aren't in town. I told them if we met up in town I would buy them dinner. Trek is probably in Hanover by now.Food: We stopped by the Grand Union on the way out of town and picked up some plums for lunch and hoagies for supper. They weren't too bad.It looks like another easy day tomorrow...around 10 miles until Charlie gets his legs.------------------------------
Date: 2004-06-20
From: Cooper Lodge Shelter

To: VT 100
Miles today: 9.5

Weather: It was damn cold last night. As I said yesterday, a cold front moved in and we were up in the thin air...and it was windy all night blowing right in the tent opening. I slept in my long underwear and even added my stretch top around 3 a.m. Charlie did not want to get up at daybreak...he was cozy in his tent. When he heard me moving around he got up and we were on the Trail before six.Hike-O-Meter 9.5 easy milesThe Trail: It was clear and cold. Charlie hiked the fastest I've seen him walk so far...said he needed to get warm.Pretty smooth sailing...some rocks in places but mostlty downhill and we reached US4 before 9. I remembered what a great breakfast they served hikers at The Inn on Long Trail so we hitched up there. Steve who runs one of the nearby ski resorts gave us a lift. Thanks Steve!Our destination for the day was Killington VT. Because of the "lay of the land," and shelter placement, we decided to stop here today and do 16+ tomorrow.After breakfast, we got to talking and found ourselves at Clifford Woods State Park and then route 100. From there we walked about a mile to Killington. Charlie knew the town well as he has done competetive biking here many times...showed me where he slept on the porch of a gift shop.Food: The breakfast at the Inn was outstanding...the French toast the best I've ever had. Next to the motel is a great deli...our dinner tonight and we'll pack out a sandwich tomorrow.People Met: Really saw no one on the Trail. Passed briefly a couple of day hikers and that was it. We met a young lady in the parking lot who was out for a day hike with her beautiful golden retriever.That's about it for today. Will get a chance to call Dad and wish him a Happy Father's Day!.
Date: 2004-06-21
From: VT 100

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 16.6

Weather: Pleasant. Excellent hiking weather. Sunny to mostly sunny, breezy, high temp around mid 70's.Hike-O-Meter 16.6 Good hike but tiring. Several good climbs and lots of ups and downs in between. I did this section plus 3 miles on my thru-hike last year and recalled it was a very tough day. We were on the Trail at 7:15 after breakfast and walking almost a mile back to the AT. By 11 am we had hiked almost 7 miles to Stony Brook Shelter where we ate an early lunch. Around 3:30 we reached a private cabin along the Trail called "The Lookout." It has an observation deck on the roof. They allow hikers to use it as long as they don't abuse it. Lots of hikers stop overnight for the view and the shelter of a cabin. We were pretty tired and considered stopping for the day, but Wintturi was less than 3 miles and mostly downhill. This was our longest day so far. We are tenting again tonight. So far, we have tented every night that we weren't in town. Have yet to stay in a shelter or hostel.Charlie got a trail name today. We were talking about hiking and I said something about his speed to which he said, "not on my wounded knee." I said, "That's it...Wounded Knee...that's your new trail name. So, from this point on I introduced him as Wounded Knee.BTW, today, the summer solstice, is "hike naked day." Sorry girls we did not hike naked...and we didn't see any naked hikers either.People Met: Didn't get the names but there was a lady out for the day with her beautiful black lab, Milo. He really liked being made over. Also, met two sectioners. Here at the shelter is a Boy Scout Troop and 2 leaders. There is also one SOBO sectioner in a hammock.We were walking along today when this guy came towards us holding an antenna in the air with one hand and some kind of meter or electronic device in the other. We asked him what he was doing, to which he replied, "Tracking bear." I asked him, "What for?" He replied, "The same reason you hike...for fun!" Apparently his dog wears an elontronic collar that sends a signal. We had not seen his dog...hope it didn't get eaten by a bear.Wildlife: Just yesterday I noticed Moose dung for the first time. So, this must be the furthest south they roam. We were hiking along today and WK yells, "Look up!" What looked like a young moose was running off in the woods to ur left. Last year, I did not see any Moose until well into Maine. I also forgot to mention the salamanders in the pond where we were swimming the other day. Also, have seen some toads and chipmunks and only one snake.Food: The deli in Killington was great. Had coffee, 2 donuts and a pint of OJ for breakfast. Both Wounded Knee and I packed out a sub which we had for supper. They were nice...almost too big for my appetite. Had Planters trail mix and a Snickers for lunch. We are both tired having done 16+. We're not sure about tomorrow...just take it as it comes.
Date: 2004-06-23
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: few clouds

Weather: The rain moved out overnight. Beautiful sunny day, highs in the low 80's...hot in the sun hiking into town.Hike-O-Meter: 14.6 Another good day on the Trail. Stairmaster, Wounded Knee and I were all packing up before daybreak, said good bye to Truck & Overload and on the Trail by 6 am. The Trail went through more standing pine forrests and grassy mountain tops and ridges. The tall timothy and weeds were wet from the rain. As I remembered from last year, the Trail itself was fairly easy, wide, pine needles, few rocks and gentle downhills. The climb out of Norwich was long, but gentle in my opinion. Speaking of Norwich, we were there in 2 hours. Had a great breakfast at the counter of the country store there with Stairmaster. A couple of hours later we stopped on the Trail for a short break at Happy Hill Shelter. I was listening to Imus on the radio from 8 o'clock on. I'm thinking of not packing my radio through the Whites...and picking it back up at Gorham.We were 4 miles further in Norwich VT by 11:30 and on into Hanover shortly after noon. We went to the Shell gasmart to get a cold drink and call the motel...there were Stairmaster and Trek. Chatted for awhile and went to the motel to get cleaned up and do our laundry.Food: Had some Famous Amos at the shelter but the treat was at the country store in West Hartford. There I had 2 english muffin breakfast sandwiches, OJ, coffee and a strawberry milkshake...all for around $6. Yes, a milkshake for breakfast. Last year everyone talked about the great strawberry shakes and when I arrived they were out of ice cream. So today, I had to try one and it was as good as expected. We will probably do pizza in town for supper.People Met: One young man SOBO and that was it. And we really didn't talk much...just the Trail and water.Wildlife: Nothing notableTomorrow we will drive to Gorham, find a place to park the car and find a ride back here to resume our hike to Katahdin.------------------------------
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Hanover, NH

To: Moose Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: clear sky

Weather: Mostly sunny, warm but not too humid.Hike-O-Meter: 10.8 Not too bad considering we didn't leave Hanover and begin hiking until 2:20 pm. Although there were a couple of good gradual climbs I felt really good. I believe it had to do with my changing backpacks. I didn't mention it before, but the Six Moons pack hung really low on me. I didn't really notice it on my spring hike but lately it has bothered me...hanging down past my waist and hitting my butt. I could live with it but remembered how good my ULA P-1 felt on the thru-hike last year. So, I had Julia mail it to me and it was waiting in Hanover yesterday. It felt so good.. even loaded down with food on the climb out of town. There were a lot of features in the 6 Moons I liked...the Z-Rest compartment, wide top opening & mesh front pockets. I may write them to see if I can get it replaced or altered...I believe it was made to fit a larger individual.We spent the morning shuttling the car ahead to N. Woodstock. Then I went to The Dartmouth Outing Club building to use the internet for a couple of hours. Got out about 1:30, grabbed a hotdog and stopped at Ben & Jerry's before hitting the trail in the warm afternoon sun.People Met: At the DOC met Red Dog, Fuzzy, Rocky and Hoss...all NOBO's I believe. Also met JT who works for the ATC. He said Moose Mtn Shelter is in bad shape and will be replaced.On the Trail we met a fine young man from Alabama, Mellow. He is also staying in the shelter here tonight while Wounded Knee and I are tenting next door.Food: Had "The Big Green" breakfast at Lou's this morning. Before we left, had a hotdog (from a street vendor) and a shake at Ben & Jerry's. Supper at the shelter was pita bread with crunchy Jif two plums and a Snickers.Well, it's already 9:30 and I'm tired so I'm gonna call it a day. See you tomorrow.
Date: 2004-06-25
From: Moose Mtn Shelter

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Weather: Pretty good hiking day...cool...started out mostly cloudy, then partly sunny, breezy then cloudy & sprinkles.Hike-O-Meter: 17.9 Our best day yet. We could have done more but still have to hold back until Wounded Knee "gets his legs." We were up again at daybreak and on the Trail at 10 after 6. It took 3 hours to do the first 6 miles and we took a break where the AT meets the blue blaze to Trapper John Shelter. After that we had a long and somewhat annoying climb up Smarts Mtn (900' to 3200') to the Firewarden's Cabin. I think it was 2 pm when we stopped there for a late lunch and to do water. The spring there was minimal...had fresh water but was drying up. We hiked on to Hexacuba (obviously an 8 sided shelter) and arived about 4:30. no one else was here,it looked like rain and the tent sites weren't the greatest so we decided to stay in the shelter. Shortly after we settled in Mellow showed up and it's just the 3 of us for the night. Mellow may hang with us and go into town with us at N Woodstock in a few days.The water supply here is a spring fed brook which is also minimal and not really flowing. This area could use some rain unlike last year. We have hiked 10 days this section with only one day of rain. The further north we get the poorer the water sources.People Met: We passed one older gentleman early on who looked like his clothes covered him from head to toe...he must have been worried about the mosquitoes. I learned later he was the 80 year old sectioner. It was a little cool but we were hiking in shorts and short sleeves. We saw no one else on the Trail.Food: I had poptarts for breakfast and a brownie and an apple at our break. At lunch I had a Snickers and a bag of honey cashews & peanuts. For supper it was hickory smoked tuna and miracle whip on pita bread. I really don't miss the hot food or the cooking.Wildlife: About an hour into the hike we saw a black bear...it was Wounded Knee's first as he hadn't seen one all last year. We did come to a small snake sunning himself in the middled of the Trail...non poisonious I believe. We also scared up a grouse along the Trail.Not much exciting happening with so few people. My platypus sprung a leak and I will need to replace it in town. Other than that, we enter The White Mountains day after tomorrow.
Date: 2004-06-26
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: NH Route 25 Hikers Welcome Hostel
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

Weather: The day started out cold and rainy. The rain began overnight and would stop and start up again all morning. We must have stopped at least four times to take off or put on clothes. By the time we arrived at the hostel at 3:30, it was partly cloudy and breezy in the 70's. Then when we went out to eat at 6, a storm rolled through and got our boots wet that we had left out to dry in the sun. The weather can change very quickly.Hike-O-Meter: 14.7 Today was an easy hike with wide trail except for the last 2 miles or so...that seemed to take forever. The Trail climbed Mt. Mist (which was not worth the climb) and the descent was winding, rocky, steep and annoying. We thought we were hiking 2 mph but either the Trail was longer or we were slower.The water supply along the Trail is really tentative in this area. The springs are drying up and you can see how the the water level is below normal in the brooks. Since the bulk of both NOBO's and SOBO's will be arriving here over the next 6 weeks let's hope things improve.People Met: No one on the Trail today. Here at the hostel is a sectioner, Iceman and several foreign hikers besides us. One guy, Aussie John, I had met in March outside of Fontana Dam. He was one of the people in the packed shelter that I walked into late. I then had to tent out back in the snow.Food: A Little Debbie brownie for breakfast and Snickers and Famous Amos for lunch. Iceman had a car here and drove us to the local cafe for dinner. I had a meatloaf dinner (huge portions) We then went to the store where I bought a pint of Cheery Garcia for desert and some breakfast items. Wildlife: Nothing unusual today. We were told upon check in at the hostel that the chipmunks have "the run of the place" and the rest of us are just guests.Tomorrow we enter The White Mountains. We will all be slower, especially on the steep downsides. It was tomorrow's section where I experienced my worst day of the entire hike...got caught in a 2 hour downpour.------------------------------