morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-08-04
From: Liberty Springs Stealth Site

To: Chet's
Miles today: 2.8

Town day!Hitching in New Hampshire is next to impossible. I never thought I would yearn for Maine. Both times we have managed to hitch, it has been out-of-towners (awesome out-of-towners, don't get me wrong) but not the locals. Local New Hampshirians are probably too busy yachting or playing croquet while drinking Vitamin Water.We tried to hitch for over an hour (I even put my hair down) and no luck. We walked to a visitor center and were about ready to call town to try to buy a ride when a biker in biker garb walked over to us and struck up a conversation. We explained we were trying to get into town and he said "Hang on, let me check with my wife," and he ran away. For a moment we were wondering if we were going to get a ride on handlebars all the way to Lincoln, but as it turns out he is the biker and she is the shuttler, and she was kind enough to drive us to Lincoln and drop us off right by the local breakfast joint. A big THANK YOU to them, whose names we either neglected to obtain or forgot. We fail. But we appreciate it beyond words.At Mr. W's House of Pancakes we both ordered the "Big Breakfast," which we devoured in about five minutes. We then hiked to McDonald's for breakfast number two. For me, that meant two cheeseburgers, large French fries, root beer, and a sundae. Phil got a similar meal. We are hungry.We made the mistake of asking an employee the directions to Chet's house. Chet is a man who lets hikers crash in his garage (more about him later) and the crazy old man started telling us all about his various perverted excapades in the world of women. Thank you, sir. I really don't think you ought to date a 22-year-old whose mother you also dated. It sounded like that was what he was talking about. He also gave both of us tips for how to pick up members of the opposite sex when we are down south. As young eyes may read this, I won't repeat them here. (Nor will these methods be used. Well, they better not be, or Phil will be in trouble.) Always an adventure.We made it to Chet's - he's another story for another day.
Date: 2009-08-05
From: Gorham, NH

To: Lincoln, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Phil and I are alive and well in Lincoln, NH. We have had an amazing week going through the Whites. We managed to hit Mount Washington and Franconia Ridge on beautiful days. Looking forward to a time, probably in Hanover, when we have better internet access. This week: our last true stretch above treeline, the last big peaks til we hit TN/NC, and trying to eat a Vermonster. It's got to be fun. Details soon.
Date: 2009-08-05
From: Lincoln, NH

To: the woods
Miles today: 0.5
Weather: light rain

Chet.Chet is the most inspirational person I have met so far on the trail - and Bones was pretty darned inspirational. Chet is a young man who lives in Lincoln and allows hikers to crash in his garage where he has bunks. A few years ago his camp stove exploded and sprayed fuel all over, and he was severely burned. More than severe. He inhaled flames and he claims that not having health insurance saved his life, as his doctors were able to try experimental methods on him. Now he still has a wheelchair, but he is relatively mobile, and you'd never know he had the terrible accident talking to him. He has an incredible attitude, loves life, loves helping hikers, and is still healing. Someday, that man is going to climb mountains again. Til then, hikers REALLY appreciate crashing at his place. Last night we got Ben and Jerry's (revisiting BANANA SPLIT ice cream, the best flavor on Earth) and Phil had some $4 greeting card aisle wine. The Rite Aids here are pretty hip, or at least the greeting card aisles are. That's where the party's at. During this brilliant time of indulgence, we played Monopoly and Phil managed to win, even against me, the Monopoly queen. Sigh.This morning he made breakfast for Chet as part of our donation for work-for-stay. I managed to wake up just as breakfast was served (I am quite talented that way) but I did do the dishes at least. We set off to find a swimming hole, I got stung twice by a vindictive wasp, and suddenly after pizza and the library, the day was gone. We took a shuttle to the trail and set up our tent and collapsed. Town days are tough stuff.One other notable thing about Lincoln is that finally I have a trail name! I was telling Chet that "someday I'll get a trail name. Someday," and he looked at me and said "I think you already have it - Someday." If Chet gives you a trail name, you don't refuse it. So now we are Hungry Creepster and Someday.
Date: 2009-08-06
From: the woods

To: Kinsman Mountain Stealth
Miles today: 6.0

Today was another rough positive mental attitude (PMA) day for Jo. I had a bad fall and by the time we reached Lonesome Lake Hut (the last hut! hurrah!) I was not only questioning my sanity, but thinking of how to teleport my sorry butt back to the land of 10,000 lakes. I think the reason may have been that I was so depressed about losing Monopoly. That probably wasn't the reason, but it couldn't have helped. We were ready to head away from the hut when Phil mentioned that this hut happened to have Monopoly. We headed back inside and played another round. Three dayhiking kids watched us and made comments endlessly. This time I was able to thoroughly beat Phil and I have now regained my status as Monopoly Queen Extraordinaire. We hiked on eventually, tried to get work-for-stay at Kinsman Pond Shelter, but the caretaker didn't have work for us, so we continued up the mountain and camped near the top.Phil and I have a new tradition for when we spend many days at a time in the woods: surprise suppers. Tonight was his night to make a surprise supper, and it was spectacular: a stir-fry! He had packed in water chestnuts, snow peas, green peppers, and other stir-fry materials. It was awesome.And it made up for the fact that in hanging the bear bag, I managed to get one of our peanut butter jars wedged up in a rotting tree. RIP, peanut butter.
Date: 2009-08-07
From: Kinsman Mountain Stealth

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: scattered clouds

A nice long day. Kinsman was covered in clouds this morning and it was magical. The most magical part was the long descent. We had a brief thunderstorm in the afternoon which lasted all of ten minutes. We are definitely in DOC territory. Now that we are farther south, the AMC influence goes away (no more paying for shelters, no more huts) and the Dartmouth Outing Club takes over. DOC signs are hilarious. I basically want to hug whoever makes them.After we hit Beaver Brook, the trail started going UP. I mean that pretty much literally. The DOC put up a sign that reminded us to be cautious to "AVOID TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES." We never got a sign like that anywhere else. The DOC cares. Luckily, their trail maintenance has been the best so far: bars to climb on and to hang onto during steep climbs.A mile and a half UP later, we were finally at the shelter, and suddenly we found ourselves with THE HERD. For a long time we knew we were going to hit THE HERD of northbounders, and there they all were. The shelter was stuffed, there were tents everywhere, and we barely were able to find a spot to set up our tent. Phil thought it was kind of fun to have that many people. I was annoyed, especially when I heard THE HERD lighting their flatulence on fire. Really???
Date: 2009-08-08
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Stealth by incredible lake
Miles today: 10.0

Today was a great day. For the last time we headed above treeline, really above treeline. Moosilauke is a mountain we had heard about for weeks, and it was a bit rough. Luckily we climbed half of it yesterday, making today's ascent feel very easy. On top of Moosilauke the grass was blowing around making it look like an ocean, and we could look across to Franconia Ridge and see our progress over the past few days. I was on top for about an hour, chatting with two exceptionally cool NOBOs and enjoying the ridiculously gorgeous views. On the way down I was overcome with a strange euphoria - I'm done with the Whites! Phil and I have done the hardest parts! We graduated. We have trail cred.Phil is disappointed. He loves the stuff we've come through. Climbing for him is not difficult like it is for me. He gets his energy from the excitement of new climbs and new things to see. It's been greating having his attitude along for the Whites. Now, I think he thinks we've peaked too soon. I look forward to gentler terrain, so at least one of us will always be happy. I am very tired of feeling like the trail is beating me up.We had to go into Glencliff tonight to get denatured alcohol for our stove. We ran out yesterday. Luckily, the hostel in town stocks it. We chilled there for an hour or two and continued on the hike. I found an incredible stealth site on a lake with an utterly unpronouncible name.It was my night for surprise supper - rainbow macaroni, cashews, and parmesan. I'll be more creative next time.
Date: 2009-08-09
From: Stealth by incredible lake

To: Stealth by Brackett Brook
Miles today: 9.6

For the first time today, I really had to wait for Phil. Phil has been waiting for me ever since we started the hike. Now, I can make equal or better time than he does. The terrain is changing, quickly. This morning was BEAUTIFUL. I flew up Mount Mist and made it to a road. Phil and I heard stories of a Moosilauke Monster Pizza in Warren and being that we had a short day planned (for a VERY good reason - see tomorrow) we tried to hitch in. For almost an hour we tried to get a ride. Nothin'. Oh, New Hampshire, why?We found some rare NH trail magic today - a Coke can buried in mud along a road. I cleaned it off and split it with Phil. Now we get to carry the trash all the way to Hanover, but hey, it was worth it. Nothing goes with Coke better than some good ole New Hampshirian mud.The forest was eerie today. Part of it is because it has been so dark. The sun has not poked out today, and the air is so heavy that I feel like I weigh a million pounds. When I breathe, it is like I am swallowing the air and chewing it. We have also begun to pass a lot of old stone fences in the woods, fences that may be a hundred or two hundred years old. It's eerie.
Date: 2009-08-10
From: Stealth by Brackett Brook

To: Smarts Mountain Fire Tower
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was so ungodly muggy that even walking for five minutes, sweat would literally drip off of me. Bugs would land on my arm, get caught in the sweat, and drown. My bandana sweat rag was so wet I could wring it out.It was a short day today because of a certain obsession of Phil's. Ever since we met he's been talking about turrets and firetowers and such, and suddenly we are scheduled to go past a fire tower that sleeps 2 - 4 people. Heck yes.So we quit before 2PM and staked out a claim in the fire tower. It's a great view and there are tons of northbounders that we're enjoying visiting with.It's a nice muggy day to spend on top of the top of a mountain.
Date: 2009-08-11
From: Smarts Mountain Fire Tower

To: Moose Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

The fire tower leaks.That is all I have to say.Still, it makes a good story.Today was MAGIC thanks to Bill Ackeley - the Ice Cream Man. He gave us fudgesickles, water from his hose, and cheap soda. The funny thing is, allll morning I was craving Sprite for no reason. We hit his house, and there was Sierra Mist. It was a bizarre and wonderful coincidence.Phil and I had our packs on and were ready to go when he came up to us and said "Why don't you take off your packs and come play croquet?" So we depacked and played croquet with Frank N. Stein (northbound) and Bill.We made it to Moose Mountain Shelter. Tomorrow we will be in Hanover!!!
Date: 2009-08-14
From: Stealth site by road

To: Somewhere
Miles today: 0.0

Somewhere in here is when things started to go funky.There are a couple different kinds of funk. There's Funky Town, which has been going through my head off and on for about the past six years, and there's funky as in most of the hostels we've stayed at (Chet was a pretty funky guy, and that is a compliment), and there is funky as in, "I can't remember when I last washed these underwear, but they are fuuuuuun-ky."Unfortunately, this kind of funky is the last kind. Eww. Although happily not related to underwear, things got funky in northern Vermont. At least for me. Phil was affected too, of course, because when your hiking buddy is distraught it is rather difficult to enjoy life. I think what did it is that fact that all the northbounders were like, "Dude! Once you get into Vermont, dude! It's all, like, flat and crap." (Edited for young eyes.) (Also, apologies to the 12 northbounders I have met who did not sound like that. I mean no discrimination, dude.)And so, great! We got to Vermont. Yay, third state, yay, we gotta make miles, yay, we're behind but we can still catch up (thanks to our arbitrary but important Christmas deadline). Yay. Except . . . Well, Vermont continued to kick my butt. Here's the thing: in New Hampshire, or Maine, yeah, you'll climb a mountain. And it's gonna be a big one. You might climb 2,000 feet in a day. Or maybe 3,000. But in Vermont, that first day, we didn't climb a mountain like that. Instead, we climbed hills. 500 foot hills. And we climbed, like . . . six of them? So, although I stink at math, it seems that, uhhh, Vermont wasn't much of an improvement on the ease factor.And so I got very down. Very down. It was also super muggy again and I was sweating myself into a puddle every five minutes. I did not know my body could secrete that much sweat. It's been pretty disgusting. Combine mugginess with dissatisfaction with Vermont, plus general achiness (I hurt) and Jo was not a fun hiking buddy.A not-fun hiking buddy doesn't journal, so I officially give up trying to track my overall miles. It is a lost cause (sniff) so officially disregard total miles. It lies. The upcoming entry will be sad. But the entries after that will be happy. And no one kills Prince Humperdink.
Date: 2009-08-15
From: Somewhere

To: Somewhere else
Miles today: 0.0

Oh, and since things got funky and I'm not really sure what day was which (these things matter very little on the trail) I am going to travel back in time to Hanover. Come with me . . . (Twilight Zone theme). . . Welcome to Hanover! A small, snooty town near the Vermont border. Expensive food, lodging, and colleges. The first southbound town that the trail runs through . . . and yet there is no hostel in town! The Dartmouth Outing Club, which maintains quite a long section of trail, is housed in Robinson Hall on the Dartmouth campus, and allows hikers to store their things, use the internet, but NO SLEEPING ON CAMPUS.This left Jo and Phil with very few options. Not ready to hike out, we set off in search of "the abundance." We roamed campus and made friends with a northbounder. We had heard a rumor that certain frat houses would allow us to stay for free. "Yeah, dude," he said, "Look for the frat house with the straw in the front yard and dog [expletive] on the porch!" Easy enough. We found it and knocked and no one answered, but then we came back and guys were hanging out on the porch, so I worked my mad feminine skills and said, "Hey! I heard a rumor that you guys might let us crash." Totally suave, I know. "Come on in!" they called, and they opened the door for us and said "Have a beer!"Our night at the frat house was everything you would imagine it would be. It was incredible. The house was a total disaster, there were dogs running around inside, and it looked like 5 generations of parties had happened there without a single day of cleaning. (Probably, that was the case.) The guys partied all night but we were so tired that we conked out on their couches and managed to sleep, even with the drumming, electric guitars, random barking, and drunken chanting.Hanover. It was swell.PS.I also have to say how awesome it is to get mail. My sister has been supplying us with incredible snacks via the postal system. There is nothing like leftover Easter candy on a nice hot summer day lounging on the Dartmouth green. Phil got a lot of birthday mail and that made his day. Thanks to everyone who has sent us mail, and for those of you who want to be as super-cool as, say, my sister and her family or Wolf Ridgers, you too can get a call-out by simply sending mail to:Jo and/or Phil (whoever you like better)33969 E. Walta RoadAskov, MN 55704
Date: 2009-08-16
From: Somewhere else

To: Amee Farm
Miles today: 0.0

Today was the day when the funkiness ruled and we hitched out of some God-forsaken class IV road with lovely day hikers who took pity upon us. Thank you, Seth!We got to an actual road (as in, there weren't huge obstacles to drive around and the chances of getting a hitch were not 0) and hitched a ride partway with Asa, who was eating a sub after winning a softball game and on his way to milk some cows. God bless America.Then, wonder of wonders, a hiker picked us up! Child of Fortune passed us in Maine on his way up to Katahdin. He remembered us and said he wasn't going into Rutland (our destination) but he was heading to Amee Farm, a hiker hostel/WWOOF farm. Well, that sounded good enough.We got there and the place was incredible. A huge tree was in the center of the building and a spiral staircase wound its way around it. Sails separated the cots and the whole place had a strange new yet old vibe. We negotiated work-for-stay and chilled.Also, nearly as important, the hostel had the book STREGA NONA. A couple of nights before, Phil and I were making spaghetti that we had found in a hiker box. Unsure of how much to make, I voted to make it all (err on the side of too much spaghetti, I say) and he wanted to make half. (Phil wasn't convinced it would fit in the pot.) I won, and the result was an overflowing pot and two very full bellies. I made a Strega Nona joke and had to tell Phil the story, since he was unfamiliar with it. Then the next night we found the actual book. Magic.Alas, at Amee Farm we did not get to watch a Frank Zappa DVD due to a missing DVD player.The next day we got up somewhat early. Phil biked to the general store for breakfast and I raided his granola bar collection (shh. We'll see if he ever reads this.) Then we started work-for-stay.Wow. That is really all there is to say. I have never done more interesting work for a place to sleep. Richard and Selica who are in charge of that aspect of the hostel are former SOBO '09ers. Basically, they are like us, only capable of moving 30 miles a day and less lucky when it comes to broken toes. Richard broke his toe in town and they ended up staying at the hostel and they had so many ideas for it that they became in charge of it. Very cool. Now they are building a wilderness survival school, and we helped to make it. We started out building a path around these little huts in the woods, then we thatched the roof of a wikiup, and I was in charge of a fire to rid the area of random brush piles. It was a good time.Phil wants to note that he got to ride on an ATV.Many, many thanks to Child of Fortune for driving up to a spot where we could catch the bus. You helped us out at one of the darkest times on the trail.
Date: 2009-08-17
From: Amee Farm

To: Twelve Tribes
Miles today: 0.0

From one work-for-stay to another. Only tonight, we were at a cult!Now, to be fair, Twelve Tribes is only sort of a cult. Well, actually, who knows? They are called a cult by most people we've met, but really there is a big huge gray area between intentional community and cult. Where Twelve Tribes fits in, I can't really say. They were wonderful people. Amazingly kind. And Ranan is getting married!Twelve Tribes in Rutland runs a cafe/hostel. The women wear long dresses and the men have beards and ponytails (kind of sounds like my father). They work together and live together and dance together. Tonight was M night, which stands for Monday, merrymaking, music, and Israeli dancing! Booya. At 8:00 the cafe shut down and they fed the hikers a delicious meal. There was dancing and afterwards we worked for about an hour and a half cleaning. Then we were free to go to bed.Rutland was where the major funkiness hit. It's the first really "good" place to leave the trail and I was feeling awful. It's hard to be 1/3 through the time given to hike and less than 1/4 of the way done, and not feel capable of going faster. I was in a dark, dark spot. Phil and I spent time at the library researching final hurrah spots so that if I did leave the trail we wouldn't have to say goodbye in Rutland. There are some trail towns that would be okay to bid adieu at: Harper's Ferry, or Damascus, maybe, but Rutland is NOT an okay place to end an era. And even two months of hiking together has created an era between me and Phil. We've grown together to become great friends. He has seen me at my worst and still is my friend, and that is saying a lot. Also, his shirt sometimes really stinks, I mean it is seriously putrid, and I am still his friend. And so it goes.That night I was in my bunk (in the ladies' room, because the Twelve Tribes will not allow men in the women's room or vice-versa, which I actually appreciate. Even if they are hikers, women still smell better than men.) and I had a horrible feeling about leaving. Walking past the Amtrak station (ticket home: $223) felt bad, looking at online tickets to a fun goodbye location felt bad, nothing felt good. And so I am on the trail still. And hoping it gets easier.
Date: 2009-08-18
From: Twelve Tribes

To: Churchill Scott Shelter
Miles today: 2.1
Weather: clear sky

Today we got out of Rutland after eating at a Chinese buffet and finding POMEGRANATES at the local store. For anyone who does not know, pomegranates are one of the reasons for my existence. They are out of season from January to late August. There was much rejoicing when the first pomegranates of the season were found in Rutland.Churchill Scott Shelter is lovely, especially if you like shelters that have that "just nibbled" look. There is a porcupine whose favorite dish is Churchill Scott Shelter. He visited in the middle of the night and started chowing down on the shelter."Phil! There's a porcupine!" I said, trying to wake him up."Mmph," responded Phil."Phil. There's a porcupine," I said again."He bit me!" Phil cried, mixing dreams with reality.It's good to be back.
Date: 2009-08-19
From: Churchill Scott Shelter

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: broken clouds

This morning it was foggy and when we climbed Killington Mountain we were awed by how uninspiring the mountain was. Never have I climbed such an easy mountain nor been less impressed by one.We made it to the closed Governor Clement Shelter right before a big rain and thunderstorm and happily waited a couple of hours for it to pass.The highlight of the day is this shelter, which has a mowed yard (!), flower pots, a working window, and now, thanks to my sister, a lightswitch. She mailed one to Phil for his birthday (don't ask) and we took great pleasure in "installing" it at Clarendon.More exciting wildlife to report: our first shelter mouse! We have heard stories of Cirque de Soleil mice in shelters, but this is the first vermin-infested shelter we have come across. I'm not complaining.