morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-15
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

Happy Father¢s Day! To celebrate, I decided to do something both my father and I enjoy very much ¢¦ I went hiking! Only 13 miles though. Bigfoot and I were out by 0700 and at the Manchester Center, VT road crossing by 0800. It was 6 miles into town, and I REALLY didn¢t like the idea of walking in. Bigfoot and I scoped out an ideal spot for hitching (wide shoulder, an area just beyond us for a safe pull in, and plenty of visible distance on the approach for drivers to feel sorry for us). We put on our biggest smiles and stuck our thumbs out. After a half hour, no luck. We finally conceded and planned to hitch/walk all the way into town, but I held out and suggested waiting for just 10 more cars. Well, Car #5 came to a screeching halt far beyond the pull in area and we went running. A lady in her mid 30s had already picked up a guy whose truck had broken down and she picked us up too! Thank you very much! We had been talking about a McDonalds breakfast the night before, so we gorged there and headed across the street for a substantial resupply (5 days) and an EMS visit for socks (me) and insoles (Bigfoot). We returned to Micky D¢s for lunch and decided to walk out of town and then start hitching/walking back to the trail. However, we weren¢t even close to being out of town and hadn¢t stuck our thumbs out yet when we hear a short beep and a pick-up truck (of course) pulls over and tells us to hop in. Thanks again! With still 10 more miles to go at 1230, we took our time, especially with our excessively loaded packs. Bigfoot and I hiked over a few beautiful mountains, including Bromley Mountain Ski mountain, which apparently has a 5-state view. We are at Peru Peak Shelter, which supposedly has a caretaker and charges $5 to stay. Since I see no caretaker, no place to drop money, and no unique awesomeness about this shelter, I see no reason to pay $5. I¢ve just been hanging out for a few hours, eating down my packweight, and doing a preliminary estimate of when I should be able to summit Katahdin. Once I get through the White Mountains (NH), I will have a more accurate guess, but right now, July 17th is looking to be very doable. We¢ll see. ¢Time is the great physician.¢ Benjamin Disraeli
Date: 2008-06-16
From: Peru Peak Shelter

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: moderate rain

It¢s amazing how after 105 days on trail that walking in the woods is still so enjoyable. Actually, it¢s not that amazing to me, but I¢ll bet it is to most people who haven¢t done long-distance hiking. At the beginning of this journal, I did my best to outline some of the reasons why hiking the AT appealed to me. But as I trek farther north, it gets harder and harder to explain to myself as well as to others. That¢s certainly not implying that I don¢t want to be out here; I just don¢t have the ability to give the type of ¢canned¢ answer that you would find in a book. This lifestyle, this simplicity, hard work, and companionship are all firmly part of me now, and it feels great. On one hand, I am becoming part of the AT family, but I do think it will be alienating to return home. As much as I try to explain trail life in this journal and recall trail stories to share with friends and family, I know it will be impossible for a non-hiker to really understand them. But that¢s OK too. Perhaps it will encourage others to hit the trail for ANY length of time. If not, I don¢t mind being my own island. I have always been an individual, and sometimes even cherish being misunderstood. It makes me feel unique. On the other hand, it has been (and still is) great hiking with Bigfoot these last few days. We understand this trail and the ups & downs of hiking it and we can instantly relate our trail experiences despite not seeing each other since mile 240. Another observation to appreciate is the metamorphosis of a thru-hiker¢s sense of humor while on the trail. Admittedly, my sense of humor has always been a little bit ¢off¢, but the stuff that really makes hikers laugh is funny in its own right. I recall a night in Virginia with CJ, Dorothy, and Hodown where we were just telling jokes and being ourselves. A weekender asked us: ¢Did you guys start weird or does the trail make you weird?¢ I think the answer is a bit of both. ¢And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.¢ ~ John 8:32
Date: 2008-06-17
From: Minerva Hinchey Shelter

To: Tucker-Johnson Shelter
Miles today: 21.1

Today was the day! I climbed a big mountain and it began with a ¢K¢. The weather was nasty and the climbing was tough. It felt like a real New England mountain. However, this was not the coveted Katahdin. It was Killington ¢¦ the massive ski mountain of Vermont. I¢m not sure if the trail was intended to be this way, but I saw zero evidence that Killington was even a ski resort. There was a steep side trail up to Killington¢s summit, where I¢m assuming there would have been ski lifts, but I stayed on the AT and declined to summit because the weather was cold and rainy. One thing that I really loved about today (and all of Vermont) is the omnipresent smell of pine. The scent is very refreshing and reminds me that I¢m climbing some fairly substantial mountains. In other news, I was once again hiking alone today (and most of yesterday). Bigfoot had to walk a 7-mile roundtrip into Danby yesterday to pick up a package from home, so he stopped a shelter behind me last night and pulled a 26-miler today to catch back up. Speaking of walking extra miles, my guidebook finally failed me stating that 1 mile south of here, there would be a road crossing leading to an Irish pub with good food .4 miles west. I walked .9 miles west, searching for this haven of relaxation and real food, but alas I couldn¢t find it. I walked .9 miles back to the trail and continued hungry and disappointed. I later checked Bigfoot¢s guide and discovered that I should have walked east, not west. Oh well. What¢s another 1.8 miles on the odometer? I guess it saved me some money. ¢Many¢s the long night I¢ve dreamt of cheese ¢ toasted, mostly.¢ ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
Date: 2008-06-18
From: Tucker-Johnson Shelter

To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 18.9

Wow. Tough day. With some goodies mixed in though. Last night, I technically stayed .4 miles down the Long Trail (a 272 mile north-south trail running the entire state of Vermont), which just branched off from the AT. Oddly, the Long Trail through Vermont and all the way up to the Canadian border is also marked with white blazes. Bigfoot and I decided to head into the town of Killington for a brunch. We hiked .6 miles off trail to a deli, which had awesome subs. I got a buffalo chicken wrap that really knocked my socks off, read about the Celtics domination over the Lakers, and listened to the store owner playfully taunt two of his Yankee fan employees for the whole place to hear. Bigfoot and I then headed up Quimby Mountain, which took us straight up in a hurry. The mountain wasn¢t extremely big, but steep so we had to take multiple breaks to get up it. The rest of the day was filled with PUDS. We eventually rolled into the shelter to find Offseason and Tinkerbell, who were both our age and are hiking their way to Maine. Offseason is from Athens, GA, started NOBO in Virginia and may flip-flop back down after Maine. Tinkerbell is going to grad school in the fall at McGill University in Montreal. We built our first fire in a long time and stayed up chatting around it until it started raining. ¢I¢m on a seafood diet. I see food and I eat it.¢ ~ Unknown
Date: 2008-06-19
From: Winturri Shelter

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: light rain

Man oh man. It¢s going to be tough here on out if 20-mile days take this much effort. After a late start, Bigfoot and I rolled through the first 4 miles without too much effort. Then the PUDS (pointless ups & downs) came one after the other. Big ones too, yet without many scenic views. Up and down we went until Cloudland Road, where we stopped at a farm that sold cold soda and organic ice cream. Although the ice cream didn¢t even compare to Ben & Jerry¢s, I still enjoyed an unusual flavor ¢ sweet maple. We finally caught Spruce, Yep & Vortex, who had been slackpacking out of Rutland for a few days. It was good catching up with them but we are all heading to the same shelter 11 miles away and it was already 1500. Vermont has been a good state, but not a great one. Views are here and there, but require lots of climbing to get them. One positive feature, which is very noticeable, is Vermont¢s lack of rocks. I¢m sure that is about to change in the White Mountains though. However, I¢m very excited to get into New Hampshire for a few neros and a plethora of NH license plates. The last 11 miles were much of the same as earlier today. But, we all stopped for a sub at a deli only 10 feet off the trail. Full shelter tonight.
Date: 2008-06-20
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Hanover, NEW HAMPSHIRE!! (Lawless residence)
Miles today: 5.8

Hello NH! It¢s so great to be here. I feel like I¢ve had an advantage over most other thruhikers in terms of home state. I have been able to ward off the inevitable Katahdin fever because my mental goal since Harpers Ferry (WV) has been to get into New Hampshire. Pending disaster, I just know I will have my perma-smile all through NH and virtually all thruhikers have a wide grin on their face through Maine. I¢m really looking forward to the Whites, especially considering that it¢s my home turf. Since we were neroing into the town of Hanover, Bigfoot and I were perfectly content with a late start, particularly after spending the night battling mosquitoes and another porcupine gnawing on the shelter. We strolled downhill through Norwich, VT, which is a really upscale town with more than its fair share of mansions. Next was the official crossing of the coveted Connecticut River, which signifies the VT/NH border. Following the ceremonial border photo, we walked up into the heart of Hanover. Following extensive scouting of some upscale restaurants, we decided on equally satisfying, yet less expensive, Quiznos Subs. However, Quiznos was located on the second floor of a mall-type structure, complete with expensive furniture and suit stores. We spared those establishments the pleasure of our presence and our odor. After consuming a large and glorious ¢traditional club,¢ Bigfoot and I made our way over to one of Dartmouth¢s libraries and became reacquainted with that thing called the internet. To make me feel even more at home, both Bigfoot and I have been invited to stay at my mother¢s cousin¢s home located just out of Hanover. In addition to staying in an actual home, it was especially great because there is essentially no reasonably priced place to stay in town. We called their 18-year-old son, named Connor Lawless, who recently graduated from high school. (Congrats!) Connor promptly picked us up and brought us to his home to chill for the rest of the day. Their home is truly a home. It is cozy, kids going in & out all the time, open pantry/fridge policy, and everyone gets along. The Lawless family is also hosting an All-American crew guy (not sure what they call themselves), who is trying out for a team at Dartmouth tomorrow. Both parents were out (working and hiking), so Connor made us burgers and we vegged out for the rest of the day. I¢m having difficulty uploading the photos from my camera, so that will have to wait a few more days. Bigfoot and I are having a thoroughly relaxing time watching the Red Sox, drinking Corona, and talking to Mike Lawless (father). He may have successfully convinced us to zero here tomorrow instead of neroing out. We¢ll see how tomorrow goes with resupply, etc., but it¢s not like we need too much convincing to take a breather. ¢Home is not where you live but where they understand you.¢ ~ Christian Morgenstern
Date: 2008-06-21
From: Hanover, NEW HAMPSHIRE!! (Lawless residence)

To: Hanover, NEW HAMPSHIRE!! (Lawless residence)
Miles today: 0.0

I have no idea what I¢m going to do after the AT. I know I will be immersing myself back into that thing called school, but it could be a while before I can mentally return to a ¢normal¢ American college lifestyle, filled with schedules, responsibilities, electronics, etc. Bigfoot and I woke up to find the Lawless house quiet. Everyone was out and about at those things called jobs. Our only tasks for the day were stops at EMS and a grocery store, so our whole morning was spent watching TV. It was amazing how boring it got. After a few hours, we both got cabin fever. We felt like we needed to be somewhere, needed to be productive, and needed to keep the legs churning. Eventually, the eldest son Matt (who will also be attending UNH in the fall) came home. We inquired about the possibility of a ride to Lebanon for resupply and some new shoes at EMS. I decided on a trail shoe rather than a trail runner for my last pair of shoes. Even though the shoes will be a bit heavier, they are more waterproof, more durable, and sport a Vibram sole. The Vibram sole is stiffer and will allow me to step on sharp rocks in the Whites without wincing. It is amusing how easily identifiable thruhikers are. The shoe guy at the EMS store saw me looking at shoes and simply asked how my thru-hike was going. I smiled and replied ¢excellent¢. Bigfoot and I headed over to a grill/bar where we hung out with Matt. Bigfoot and Matt discussed the nuances of beer that could have gone on for hours while I talked with some tourists about the AT. Pretty soon, Bigfoot and I were fielding the usual questions from several folks around the bar. After resupply, we headed back to the Lawless home where we were served steaktips, salad, and bread. Not too shabby I was impressed by the chemistry of the entire family, the well-mannered children, and their amazing hospitality. Thanks again! ¢We need wilderness whether or not we ever set foot in it. We need a refuge even though we may never need to go there ¢¦ We need the possibility of escape as surely as we need hope.¢ ~ Edward Abbey
Date: 2008-06-22
From: Hanover, NEW HAMPSHIRE!! (Lawless residence)

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: moderate rain

The Lawless hospitality didn¢t stop just because we were hiking today. Bigfoot and I planned to get an early start this morning in order to leave ample time for my brother Ryan and his girlfriend Kait to hike with us today, but there was no way that we could turn down a steak & eggs breakfast. Afterward, we needed to head ¢back¢ to Hanover (from Lyme, NH). I found it amusing that Mike inquired about why we had to go back to Hanover (where we got picked up on Friday) instead of getting dropped off on the AT just a short distance down the road from their house. Bigfoot and I attempted to explain our ¢purism,¢ which basically prohibits skipping sections, blue-blazing (use side trails instead of the AT), or slackpacking (without full pack). It can be difficult to understand and often warrants further explanation to those ¢what¢s the big deal¢ questions. However, this hike is about reality, and to me that means hiking every step of the AT with a pack on. Bigfoot and I hiked out of Hanover and almost immediately it started raining hard. Couple that with hiking through a few overgrown fields and we got drenched. At noon, we finally made it to Ryan¢s car (trailhead ¢ Hanover Center Crossing), where I switched out some of my gear. The Whites are cold. The four of us ate our subs and briefly sat in the safe confines of an automobile as the rain gushed outside. Nevertheless, we all managed to get out of the car and start hiking. I was impressed by Ryan¢s and Kait¢s pace. It was inevitably slower, but not too bad. The conversation started flowing, the rain eventually stopped, and it turned out to be a nice day. We met Stovie and Toddy Bear at Moose Mountain shelter waiting out the rain there and our first SOBO (southbound) thruhiker, who started at Katahdin on May 28th and was already pushing big miles. Ryan and Kait got off after 8 miles and I¢m glad they did as they were originally planning to hike 12. After they left the trail, they would have had a serious climb which would have meant hiking really late into the afternoon for them. It was great having their company though. I know Bigfoot also enjoyed it too. At the shelter, we found Spruce, Yep, and Vortex, so it looks like we might be rolling with them for the next few days. ¢Roast Beef, Medium, is not only a food. It is a philosophy.¢ ~ Edna Ferber PHOTOS TAKEN BY RYAN & KAIT to be uploaded soon!!
Date: 2008-06-23
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Ore Hill Shelter
Miles today: 19.3

Holy cow. Welcome to NH. We hit some tough climbs today, but it felt good. After some socializing, Ipoding, and reading sections of ¢Into the Wild,¢ which were left at the shelter, I was off to bed. In the morning, the rain started again as we were packing up so we took our time but finally ventured out into the rain at 0930. The hiking was tough. Wet feet, slippery everything, and two significant climbs up Smart Mountain and Mount Cube. Today reminded me of the reality and the truth I discussed in my prep entries. It wasn¢t exactly fun to be drenched in sweat climbing some big mountains with no visibility, but it felt very real. No switchbacks, tough climbing, rubbery legs ¢¦ yet a true feeling of accomplishment. I love feeling exhausted at the top of a mountain, looking ahead at my future and behind at my past. I can only imagine what it will feel like to stand on top of Katahdin, look north and realize that I will no longer be heading that way. For now, I will trek north through some of the most raw mountains in the east. It will be tough, but I expect that I will love every minute of it. ¢Up in the mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men.¢ ~ Daniel Webster
Date: 2008-06-24
From: Ore Hill Shelter

To: Kinsman Notch (One Step at a Time - Chet's Hostel)
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: light rain

So it begins. The mountains that we climbed yesterday were little molehills compared to Moosilauke. The weather was doing some weird things ¢¦ what a surprise, so I was really hoping that Bigfoot (and myself) could get a decent view from the summit. The climb was really long, but not incredibly difficult. We gained 3600¢ over a few miles, consistently steep, but rarely hand over hand. We hit a fake summit, where we could see the true summit off in the distance. The experience was amazing. The summit would get totally clouded in for 30 seconds, then clear up for 30 seconds, and repeat. Bigfoot and I made our way up, took some pictures, tried to identify some peaks, gave a few hoorahs, and proceeded down the steepest descent on the AT in light rain. We were on the north side of a mountain (less sun), it was raining, and the trail followed a gushing brook, so we were going extra slow. I set forth a rule with Bigfoot: Neither of us is allowed to get hurt for the rest of the trip. The descent of Moosilauke was the beginning of the most efficient town stop ever. We passed two ladies near the base, who had a car and were waiting in the parking lot. I inquired about a ride into North Woodstock for resupply, and they were glad to help. They dropped us off at the Post Office where Bigfoot forwarded a package just before it closed. We were planning to stealth camp in town, which would have sucked (no cheap lodging), but some guy in a pickup truck (of course) said there was a hostel over in Lincoln that is not in our books and offered us a ride. We eagerly jumped at the prospect of having a roof over our heads and ended up at one of the best hostels on the trail. It is run by Chet West, a lifelong Lincoln resident, who basically had a camp stove explode on him. He spent over a year in the ICU, mostly in a drug-induced coma. During this time, he flatlined 8 times and had several vital organs fail. His mother had died a few months before his accident 7 years ago. Chet started walking / bike riding one month ago. It is an inspirational story. He still has a blindspot in his eye as a result of the accident and he recently shattered his leg on a pole so he is back in a wheelchair for the time being. Chet still has an amazing outlook on life and truly earns my utmost respect. I will certainly think twice when tempted to complain about a tough mountain.
Date: 2008-06-25
From: Kinsman Notch (Chet's Hostel - Lincoln, NH)

To: Franconia Notch (Chet's Hostel - Lincoln, NH)
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

It was really hard to complain about the weather today. However, I did not expect a 16 miler to take so long. Bigfoot and I left Chet¢s around 0800 and walked down to McDonald¢s. In order to save some time and eliminate the possibility of getting picked up by a drunk guy (if we hitched), I decided to take a no shame approach. An older couple had asked us about the AT, So, I simply asked if they could give us a ride back to the trail. After resolving some logistical trouble (the dog), they agreed and gave us a ride. The hiking was damn tough. Not only were the trails rocky, but they were basically in bogs. I was dancing around huge puddles, tiptoeing over sunken logs, and earnestly trying to keep my feet dry. While it was extremely time consuming, I found it rather enjoyable. You learn to trust the trail immensely as a thruhiker. It has lead us this far and it will continue to still lead us north. I¢ve learned that there is ALWAYS a way over an obstacle; it is just a matter of finding it. NH is full of tough climbs and descents, but it certainly rewards us with incredible views. Having already hiked 1800 miles, I have without doubt seen several spectacular views, but NH is different. These mountains project an aura of raw power. The mountains are huge and the views are majestic. These mountains have seen every type of weather imaginable, yet they stand their ground and weather storm after storm. That appeals to me greatly. Back at Chet¢s hostel again where we met Spruce, Vortex, and Yep. We all ended up going out to a sub shop together and just had a great time getting to know each other.
Date: 2008-06-26
From: Chet's Hostel - Lincoln, NH

To: Chet's Hostel - Lincoln, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Three nights in one hostel and only one zero. Not too shabby. After yesterday¢s 16 mile day that took us ten hours, I had a conversation with Bigfoot about the speed of our hiking. He had wanted to summit Katahdin on July 16th, which requires a no-messing-around schedule. I basically told him last night that I didn¢t want to summit that quickly. For me, there was just no reason to. New Hampshire is the icing on the cake and I really want to enjoy my time through the Whites. I have both the time and the money. Perhaps CJ can catch up. But mainly, I think that the last 400 miles of the AT will remain the most vivid in my memory. So, taking it easy instead of pushing 25 milers will certainly help in that regard. Bigfoot still has to summit on July 19th at the latest, which is still a bit soon for me, but we plan to cruise through the Whites together for at least a few more days. In the spirit of slowing down, we decided to stop for the day. The weather wasn¢t looking too good and we wanted a clearer day for Franconia Ridge, so we are waiting it out. Spruce, Yep, and Vortex all zeroed as well, so we all pooled together for a barbeque and fed Chet and his friend Marco Solo (¢07) as well as ourselves. In the spirit of zeroing, I got some private thoughts down on paper while I was in the journaling mood, because sometimes I¢m not. I have been grappling with the validity even the existence of higher and lower truths.