morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-07-23
From: Governor Clement Shelter

To: Wallingford
Miles today: 13.1

The last few days, there have been stinging nettles everywhere. Some hillsides have been covered with them. At least they only sting for a few minutes -- better than poison ivy.Today was a budget buster.The weather this morning was humid in the extreme. A little after noon, the skies let loose and I got drenched. So anyway, about 4:30, I'm hiking towards Vt. 140 and ruminating on the facts that 1) the Red Sox are playing the Yankees, 2) they have beer and pizza in Wallingford, and 3) there is a B&B listed in Wingfoot in Wallingford. So next thing I know, I have my thumb out. And I just finished a hot bath in an old-fashioned Victorian claw bathtub, and now I'm going to the sitting room to watch the Red Sox game. Then, I'll climb into an old four-poster bed. All for the ridiculously cheap price of -- oh, never mind.The hiking was pretty good today, but all views were obscured by intense haze. I met a lot of interesting people, mostly Long Trail hikers. All in all, a good day.
Date: 2004-07-24
From: Wallingford

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

I get a little bit of a late start because they serve breakfast at 8:30 at the B&B. It's worth the wait. They made something they call "creme brulee french toast." It's caramelized sugar on the bottom and fluffy french toast on top. Yum.It rained last night and the streams are swollen. Bully Brook turns out to be my first ford since Maine. But the weather is nice today. The trail is easy, so I'm able to do the 16 miles in 9 hours with numerous breaks to eat, chat with other hikers, etc.In the shelter are a young couple from New Hampshire and 21-year-old twins from Virginia, all of whom are hiking the LT. The twins actually did the AT two years ago the year they graduated from high school. All nice young folks.
Date: 2004-07-25
From: Peru Peak Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

A couple of hikers came into the shelter very late last night. About 11:30,a guy shines his headlamp in my face and says, "This your stuff?" My stuff wasn't really in anyone's way, so I'm a little annoyed that this guy would disturb me so late. But I try to keep a live and let live attitude, so I move my stuff a little and he's satisfied.Anyway, at 6 AM, this same guy is telling the story of his love life, rather loudly, to the two young ladies in the shelter. By the time I am alert enough to tell him to shut up, I'm too awake to go back to sleep. Oh well, nobody said there wouldn't be any jerks on the trail. To add insult to injury, the two young ladies head out early so Mr. Ladies Man decides to go back to sleep!It's a nice day again today, and the hike over Bromley is pleasant, with fine views. I need to resupply in Manchester and this takes about three hours, by the time I get on the internet and eat a pizza. I met a lot of nice people today. At Mad Tom Notch, I met a father and daughter who had had the misfortune of spending an earlier evening with the character I just complained about. They had stories of their own about him ("did he tell you how sad he was when his dog died?"), so we shared a good gossipy laugh.It being Sunday, there were a number of day hikers and families and everyone seemed in a good mood with the great weather.I arrived at Spruce Peak Shelter a lot later than I'd planned due to the long town stop. It's a beautiful spot, with windows, a piped spring, and a viewpoint. I'd hoped to get farther, but this will do fine.
Date: 2004-07-26
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The shelters are a little far apart around here, so I hike a little farther than usual today. In spite of the climb over Stratton Mountain, I'm not really tired until the last couple of miles.This is the fifth time I've been on Stratton Mountain, and the views -- a sea of green, mostly -- don't seem particularly inspiring. Some day hikers gave a me a little cheese and crackers and watermelon, and I'm afraid I acted like I hadn't eaten in a week. I felt like I just shoveled them in my mouth.I also met several hikers with journals on trailjournals.com, 30-30, The Wicked Lobstah, and Dragonslayer. We swapped war stories and trail advice and generally had an enjoyable chat.At the shelter tonight are a NOBO and a Boy Scout group. It's a little snug, but I don't blame the Scouts for using the shelter, as it's raining hard.
Date: 2004-07-27
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: mist

Today's rain made the other day's look like a little mist. I'll bet it's rained four inches today. I'm meeting my wife in North Adams in two days -- only 28.5 miles from here -- so I can afford to get out of the rain and I do.With me are 65 and Alive, a NOBO who's averaged almost 16 miles a day since Springer. (Wow, I hope I do as well!) Also here is Warren Doyle and a young lady he's hiking with. So now I've met two trail celebrities.This is the first time I wished I had my 20 degree bag since I swapped it for a lighter one in Hanover. It's tough to get warm, even though my bag and camp clothes are dry. Eventually I get warm, but I'd hoped to do a little studying, and that would require getting partway out of the bag. Too cold for me.The inclement weather is supposed to last until tomorrow, but hopefully it will taper. If not, I think I'll just head into Bennington tomorrow and do 18.4 the following day. But this isn't my first choice, as I'd prefer to get into North Adams early in the day.I met another old-timer today, Gray Squirrel. He has made respectable time from Georgia, just like 65 and Alive. He says he only averages 1.5 miles per hour, but hikes 15 hour days. 65 and Alive said his secret was to take very few zeroes. These guys are a real inspiration. Sometimes, this 52-year-old thinks long distance hiking is a young man's game (no sexism intended). But if 65-year-olds can do it, so can I.
Date: 2004-07-28
From: Goddard Shelter

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I conversed more with 65 and Alive this morning, and we discussed how we dealt with feeling low on the trail. It's good to know that I'm not the only one that gets discouraged sometimes. It rained all night, but it's only drizzling this morning. The trail is a mess, but eventually I get to Route 9, the road into Bennington.I feel like I haven't had a decent meal in days, so I hitch into Bennington. This takes 45 minutes. I have a big meal at Madison's. I met a very nice couple in the Whites who offered to put me up when I arrived in Bennington. I called the guy at work and explained that I only wanted a ride back to the trail (after my poor luck getting in). In about three minutes, he picked me up and off we went. Many thanks, Bill.In the shelter tonight are two young SOBOs I've apparently caught up with, Platypus and Spice Weasel, and a NOBO. I chatted with Spice Weasel a little and she seems very nice. Maybe I'll see more of them.
Date: 2004-07-29
From: Congdon Shelter

To: North Adams, Mass
Miles today: 14.1

Today, I'm just aiming to get to North Adams to meet my wife. Head down, charge. But I do meet some more NOBOs. A couple are very nice and I wish I could spend more time with them. Story of a SOBOs life, I guess.It is absolutely amazing how the vegetation changes in the course of about a mile south of the Mass/Vermont line. I had a conversation last year with a botanist from North Carolina who assured me that hobblebush grows in Massachusetts. I commented that I'd never seen it. It is extremely plentiful in Vermont, and continued to be the dominant shrub for about a half a mile south of the state line. But then, hobblebush completely disappears, and is replaced with vegetation I've never seen farther north on the trail -- pitch pine, sassafras, witch hazel, and oak. The dominant shrub becomes high bush blueberry. And this happens within a mile. It's remarkable. So anyway, I'm in Massachusetts, which promises to be as beautiful as northern New England, but in a different way. I'm pumped to be in my home state. I've done very little of the trail south of here, so it will all be new to me.I had poor luck trying to hitch into North Adams, but I run into someone waiting for a bus, which proceeds to arrive in about two minutes. So I'm in North Adams by 3. Time to take a nice bath, grab some grub, and wait for my wife. Life is good.
Date: 2004-07-30
From: North Adams, Mass

To: North Adams, Mass
Miles today: 0.0

Nothing much to report today. Mary and I have been hanging around North Adams and exploring the neighboring area. I did buy another pair of Lowa Renegade boots. I didn't like the new boots I bought in Rutland as I got a nasty blister on my left heel. Perhaps I could have shaken down Lowa for a free new pair as my old ones only lasted about 500 miles, but given how comfortable they were and the fact I knew I was buying lightweight boots, I didn't feel right about it. So anyway, I'm pretty confident my feel will be happier soon.Carl is joining me for two days from North Adams to Dalton. There is a new trail angel in town there (everyone on the trail knows this "secret", so why not the world?), and I'm curious to check out what's up.I really needed this zero. My feet hurt, and my ankles and knees were stiff. Serious hiker hobble. I'm feeling better now (it's about 4), and I'm sure I'll be back near 100% by tomorrow morning. Then it's nine days to Kent, where my wife will join me again.
Date: 2004-07-31
From: North Adams, Mass

To: Cheshire, Mass.
Miles today: 14.4

It was hot and hazy, so the views from Greylock and surrounding points were only OK. There were a few wildflowers left on top of Greylock; all the ones in the woods are gone now.The hike after Greylock was pretty uninspiring, consisting of a long, gradual slog down to the lowlands near Cheshire. At the end, the trail alternated between fields and woods. The deer flies were thick in the woods, so I broke down and applied DEET. Oddly, I rarely had to use the stuff in Maine, but dang, those deer flies are annoying!My hat is off to the Catholic church in Cheshire. It is very nice of them to let us stay in their parish hall, and the price is truly zero. I offered to make a donation, but the priest was firm that none was anticipated. For the price, you're out of the rain and have restrooms, water and electricity. Several other hikers took advantage of the arrangements -- Andante, Krispy Kritter, and several others. From Wingfoot's description, I was afraid the rules of the place might detract from the stay. This turned out to be far from the case. I arrived on a Saturday night, and figured I might have to be out early to accommodate the Sunday mass. But no, the priest said the parishioners were used to stepping over people in the parish hall, so don't worry about it! Leave whenever you want!Hikers be warned, Cheshire is rather spread out, in spite of the fact that it offers very few services. I ran into Andante (now known as Now or Never) on the road near town. Lucky for me, he gave me the good advice to eat before I went to the hostel. This saved quite a bit of walking.
Date: 2004-08-01
From: Cheshire, Mass.

To: Dalton, Mass.
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: light rain

Another rather boring day of hiking. There were some nice views of the Cheshire area from the Cheshire Cobbles, but other than that, it was strictly green tunnel and road walking today.I'm starting to lose interest in the hike. The loneliness of being a SOBO -- you meet NOBOs once, few SOBOs seem to walk at exactly your pace, etc. -- is getting to me as well. Moreover, the wildflowers, which I love, are getting few and far between. So I'm going home for a while until I feel like hiking again. I've promised myself I'd make it at least to Delaware Water Gap and I still expect to do that. There is no great rush, as I still have the fall semester off. I will post pictures from the last couple of weeks soon.
Date: 2004-08-09
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

When I got off the trail last week, my feet were numb, my joints hurt, my back hurt, and I may have had the beginning of shin splints again. I know there are people older than I who thru-hike without rest. But throw in the fact I miss my family and feel guilty about not studying more, and I fear the best I can do is go about three weeks on and one week off.Anyhow, my body and spirits feel a lot better, and this weekend I'm going back to where I left off. I've posted a number of pictures, mainly of Vermont wildflowers. BTW, for wildflower buffs, I recommend Kate Carter's "Wildflowers of Vermont." The pictures are good and the book covers the New England flora well. It's much less technical than Newcomb or Peterson and I find it a very usual reference.
Date: 2004-08-16
From: Dalton, Mass.

To: Upper Goose Pond
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: mist

Back on the trail, destination Georgia.I looked at the elevation profile south of Dalton and decided that this was my opportunity to do a 20 mile day. The trail went across a plateau with only a few minor hills.I met the two ridge runners for Mass. after they had just finished constructing a new relo. Apparently I was the first person to hike the new section. Isn't that special? They were two college students from Amherst who had hiked the trail in 2000. Their job gave them a "different" perspective on trail life, but they had a good sense of humor about people's foibles.Also met a pair of 50- or 60-something sisters section hiking. They said they could only get away for a couple of weeks at a time due to responsibilities at home. I asked them if they had small children, and it turned out their husbands were their "children." Resonates with me, I'm afraid.The last couple of miles to the shelter were a struggle. I had looked forward to crossing the AT bridge over the Mass. Pike. It turned out to be a pretty ugly concrete and steel structure. The two miles or so after the bridge, I was running on fumes. I got in about 6 and took a two-hour nap.But I don't seem too much the worse for wear the following morning. The famous pancake breakfast here at Upper Goos Pond definitely has helped.
Date: 2004-08-17
From: Upper Goose Pond

To: Mt. Wilcox Cabin (N)
Miles today: 14.0

The Upper Goose Pond Cabin is unique, as far as I know. It is maintained by the interest on money in a trust fund, and the funds are enough to pay for free pancakes for all the hikers that stay there. Not only that, you get a bunk, and a mattress too if you arrive early. The caretakers make the breakfast, and there is a waiting list to volunteer to be a caretaker. How cool is that?I'm tired after my long day yesterday, so I don't make very good time. But it's a beautiful day and not hot -- perfect hiking weather. The hike alternates between woods and fields, and there is one fairly long climb at the end of the day.I thought I'd have the shelter to myself when I arrived about 4. But a SOBO arrived at 6, and two NOBOs came in around dark. It's OK, there is plenty of room. The shelter was constructed by the CCC for use by local campers, long before the AT existed. You could probably squeeze in 16 if you had to.
Date: 2004-08-18
From: Mt. Wilcox Cabin (N)

To: Great Barrington
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: light rain

The lure of town is irresistable today. I forgot to pack a few minor items, and there is a reasonably priced motel. I'm also anxious to call home as one of our cats has wandered off and not returned. So Great Barrington, here I come.The hike is above average. South of Route 23, the trail winds around the edge of some cliffs overlooking the Housatonic River valley. It's a little hazy, so the views aren't too good. But the trail itself is lots of fun. It is reminiscent of some of the rock scrambles in Maine.Most hikers like ice cream. I'm not much of an ice cream guy, my favorite vice being a moderate amount of beer. But the lady at the fruit stand near the trail points me in the direction of a pint of the local super-premium product. A pint of high test was enough to send me off for a long nap.Great Barrington is not an ideal trail town. It has everything you need, but is very spread out. The drug store was 1.5 miles from the motel, and the outfitter is at least twice that. I'll get a late start tomorrow and stop by the outfitter on the way to the trail.
Date: 2004-08-19
From: Great Barrington

To: Laurel Ridge Campsite
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I slept in today until 8:30 first, because I felt like it, and second, because I need to go to the outfitter for a new T-shirt. After a big breakfast at Friendly's and a stop at the outfitter, it's 11:15 by the time I make it back to the trail. No matter, it's been a good town stop.The first few miles of trail are easy and flat, crossing the Housatonic River valley. Not a total loss, though. I saw an enormous barn owl in the lowland woods. I tried to take a picture of it, but it flew a little farther away when it saw me. It never entirely fled, but it kept its eyes on me until I went away. I'd never seen an owl in the wild before.The trail became much more difficult after Jug End Road. But difficult or no, this is an outstanding stretch of trail. There are frequent views, and the stretch on Race Mountain follows the side of a cliff overlooking the river valley. It was very hazy and humid, so it was difficult to see anything in the valley. But the overall effect was hypnotically beautiful. I was almost sorry to get to the shelter.The flora has changed considerably over the last 100 miles. The northern forest has been replaced by oaks, and instead of spruce on the ridges, there are pitch pines. I keep looking for the last of the hobblebush. I thought I'd seen the last near Benedict Pond, but there continue to be isolated bushes.Still no sign of our missing cat. I'll call our daughter again in Salisbury.
Date: 2004-08-20
From: Laurel Ridge Campsite

To: Salisbury
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: haze

I've decided that I need to average 13 miles per day, including zeroes, if I'm going to complete the trail this year. I am probably physically capable of doing more, but I find I enjoy myself much more if I keep my daily mileage at moderate levels. Well, 9.5 is pushing it as far as "moderation" goes, but I plan on doing 32 miles to Kent the next two days.I met an older couple from Prince Edward Island. I remarked that I had met a woman from PEI last year on the Long Trail. It turns out that Sumac, the woman I met last year, was the guy's daughter. Small world. Nice people.Salisbury is kind of a funny place. The locals seem quite prosperous. I overhear (all right, eavesdrop on) a conversation at the White Hart Inn between two older women who are reading the obituary of a Washington socialite. They gossip about her idiosyncrasies, her affairs, etc. I'm wondering if they are the wives of former politicians or diplomats who traveled in Washington high society. But no, it turns out that one of them was the cook for another Washington socialite! The town itself is quite compact. It's a short walk to the library and the store. I was able to get the hiker rate at the inn. Life is good.
Date: 2004-08-21
From: Salisbury

To: Kent
Miles today: 9.5

Today did not go according to plan. The plan was to hike an easy 16 miles to a shelter. But thunderstorms were forecast, and about noon a drenching rain started. I looked at my map and found that I was 1.9 miles from the Mountainside Cafe, so I got on my horse and got there in about a half an hour.Once I got there, I discovered that I had lost my reading glasses. I imposed on a couple in the cafe for a ride back to where I thought I left them, but they weren't there. The couple was very nice, and the woman suggested that they give me a ride to the pharmacy in Kent to get a replacement pair. Worked for me. The guy was a librarian with the New York Public Library, in charge of building new facilities, and he was very interesting to talk to.Unfortunately, when I got to Kent, I discovered that they had planned a one-way ride. So there I was, 20+ miles from where I left the trail, and it was still pouring. The long and the short is that I have apparently unintentionally yellow-blazed 23.2 miles. Arggh!
Date: 2004-08-22
From: Kent

To: Kent
Miles today: 18.5

I'm not skipping the 23.2 miles into Kent after all.I got a late start, intending to do an easy 14 south into New York. As I was leaving town, however, a woman poked her head out of the window of a pickup truck and asks, "Are you Bob?" She introduces herself as Socks, and husband as Blue Dog. They are following journals on-line and plan to thru-hike next year.I explained my aggravation at having yellow blazed, and they offered to take me back to where I left off. It took me a nanosecond to accept.I had hoped to do the entire 23.2 into Kent, but fatigue and darkness sent me on a road into town after 18.5. I'll go back to where I left off tomorrow.It was a nice day of hiking. The weather was perfect, and there were numerous views. I rand into a couple who told me where to spot a bald eagle on the Housatonic. I didn't see it, partly because I was in the must-do-miles mode that I hate.Pete from Wisconsin and Bulldog, two SOBOs, were in town. I'll probably see more of Pete. He does more miles than I do, but he seems to have a fondness for zeroes.
Date: 2004-08-23
From: Kent

To: Ten Mile Lean-to
Miles today: 13.6

Even though it has meant six miles of "bonus" hiking, I am glad I blue-blazed into town last night. The 4.7 miles from where I left off to the highway proved to be bruisers. I also saw a deer, my first large animal since Maine, on the road walk back to the trail.With only 13.6 planned today, I dawdled around Kent -- ate breakfast, went to the library, and didn't leave until 10:30. I don't get back to the beginning of the blue blaze until about 11:45. The hiking today was pretty, and mostly fairly easy after the inital climb. But Connecticut is not flat. There was lots of minor up and down, some of it rocky.The roads at the end of the day today are confusing, partly because Wingfoot's book has a slight bias towards NOBOs. This is not criticism, really, it's just that in the interest of brevity he sometimes lists what a NOBO would see as a landmark instead of what a SOBO would. In this particular case, you come of Mt. Schaghticoke onto a road, but it is *not* Bulls Bridge Road. You actually have to travel about half a mile down the initial road to *get* to Bulls Bridge Road. The map is confusing as well, as there has been a relo since it was published. Oh well, I eventually figured this part out.Then, Wingfoot says that if you turn down Bulls Bridge road it is 0.2 miles to a convenience store and 0.4 miles to Route 7. The convenience store is *on* Route 7. Go figure.But the side trip is well worth the effort in any case. You cross the Housatonic near a falls, and people are white water rafting. The convenience store is an interesting piece of Americana as well. Although Kent is not exactly what you would think of as small town America, the convenience store seems to be the town hangout for the locals who are not rich or famous. The roofer, the guy who runs the gas station, and several other people are passing the time outside and they are friendly and include me in the conversation.At any rate, after all the false moves I arrive at the shelter about 8. A fellow SOBO, Skeek Skeek, has arrived shortly before me and we soon turn in for the night.