morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-08-24
From: Lookout Cabin, VT

To: Rutland, Vermont
Miles today: 12.5

Got up at lookout cabin early and managed to leave by 7am. The trail is nice today, but it Vermont requires different muscles and it's kind of kicking my butt. I still am very much in love with Vermont, though.Started out pretty low on water, ending up sharing some with superman. Came to a small stream and got more water but it was pretty dirty. After .5 hours of lettting my chemicals do their thing, I took a swig of water but had to use my handkerchief as a filter to block out all the dirt. Afterwards my handkerchief was just covered in a layer of mud. Yuck! Wasnt too long before we came upon a nicer stream though.Stopped at a shelter for lunch and found some M-80's that where left behind, had fun lighting a couple off and scaring the wildlife. Met a cool guy called Tower, interesting story behind his trail name.Had more climbs through the day, the heat didn't help either. Made it down to a nice pond and met a couple from Grosse Pointe, small world. Then we came across Chris, a 2008 NOBO who finished his trek and was giving out some trail magic. Superman and I polished off two ice cold cokes each, a bag of pretzels, a whole box of cookies, and some blueberries. I felt guilty but was also suprised at how hungry I was. We had one more hill to climb after that. It was a tough steep climb but we flew up it, the afternoon snack really helped out.We came off the AT and took a side trail to The Inn at Long Trail. I had the absolute best glass of Guiness I have ever had in my life while superman told me tales of his world class tin whistle playing skills. Good times. Then we caugt a bus to Rutland to stay at 12 tribes, a wierd Jewish/Christian cult thing that runs a hostel in town. Everyone says they are really cool and we wanted to check it out.We got into town and ran into Macgyver, Godzilla, Bookworm and Mousetrap! It was a happy reunion and a great suprise. Macgyver was going home the next day to fullfill some obligations (she joined the navy before starting the trail). We dropped our stuff of at 12 tribes and filled ourselves at an all you can eat chinese buffet. When we got back to the hostel, superman and I were a little wierded out. They didn't have enough beds for us but still wanted us to pay $20 or do work for stay, and they wouldn't give us dinner either (supposed to be included in the price). We figured out that we could get our own room at a hotel for close to the same price (with an actual bed and AC!), so we told 12 tribes no thanks.Spent the rest of the night hanging out in downtown Rutland with all the SOBO hikers (Crazy Horse showed up too), it was a good time. It was nice to sleep in a non-cult hotel room too, i feel relaxed. tommorow is haircut time and then we hike south to the secret shelter!
Date: 2008-08-25
From: Rutland, Vermont

To: Secret Shelter
Miles today: 17.0

Had a nice sleep at the budget hotel, and even got a nice breakfast with make your own waffles. Delicious! Walked down into Rutland and got a haircut along the way. The lady's at the barbershop (NOT a salon, I swear!) told me about the 12 tribes and the weather, very nice people. Did some shopping and picked up a fanny pack so i could get to my camera, maps and snacks without taking my pack off. (For anyone from England, please use the American definition of fanny!)Superman picked up a delicious corned beef sandwich for me while I ran into the post office and sent more deadweight home, the roast beef was really good. Then we took a bus with crazy horse to the trailhead. The previous day we took the sherurne pass down to the road. This used to be the AT, but the AT has been since rerouted. We decided to continue on the Sherburne pass since it was supposed to be nicer than the AT. Stopped at Pico Camp shelter along the way, nice place that was more like a cabin. Then we had a gentle climb up to Killington Peak, or it was gentle till we got to Cooper lodge, another nice cabin. We tried getting inside, but someone had barricaded the door with a rock. I pushed harder and got in to find a hiker dead asleep at 3pm...thanks buddy. Used the nice privy (Cooper Pooper) and then took a really steep side trail up to killington Peak, well worth it.We decided to book it to secret shelter. This was a shelter built by some guy on his own private land and it was supposed to be really nice, but we had to hike fast to get there. Finally got in around 7 and set up my tent. Around 8 the second most obnoxious group of northbounders came into camp. there were 3 guys, 2 girls, and a nervous dog that liked to snap and bark at me. They were all arguing with each other and being loud (close to bedtime for us!) and generally being inconsiderate to everyone else there. I told them they were a bunch of jerks and they eventually moved on. I felt kind of bad, but not really - glad I didn't have to deal with them any more.Secret shelter was a cool place, even had "the nicest privy on the AT". Even the tenting spot was very comfy.
Date: 2008-08-26
From: Secret Shelter

To: Little Rock Pond Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

Took a picture of Secret shelter and the wonderful privy, then got moving. Superman and I having been moving too fast in the morning lately, its been getting really cold at night and its hard to get out of our sleeping bags.Not much happened today. Trail was kind of flat and not too hard, but I'm still recovering from my cold so I'm not moving too fast. At Minerva Hinichey shelter I took a break and told Superman to move on without me, he wants to put in some big miles and I didn't feel up to it. I met a section hiker who basically told me I was at the tail end of the Southbounders and I wouldn't make it, and that all the NOBO's around me wouldn't make it either. Nice, jerk! (I'm confident we'll all make it!)On my way up to White Rocks, I ran into Flop and Flip, a northbounding couple that had a lot of good info to share. Real nice people, gave me the number to green mountain house and told me to stop by. I made it to the top of White Rocks, it was kind of wierd. People took all sorts of rocks and made hundreds of Cairns (rock piles). Pretty cool but spooky.There was a shelter nearby, but I decided to push on. The sun started to set, and the way the light trickled through the young maple trees made for a beautiful scene. I wanted to stop and enjoy it, but it was getting dark. Finally I made it to Little Rock Pond shelter right before sunset, and Superman was there! I suprised myself by doing 18 miles today, the most so far!
Date: 2008-08-27
From: Little Rock Pond Shelter

To: Manchester, VT
Miles today: 20.2

Superman and I decided to hike 20 miles into Manchester, VT and stay the night at Green Mountain House hostel. We where going to leave by 6am, but didn't actually get out of bed until 8 am and on the trail by 8:45am.Overall the hike was a nice gentle day, nothing too bad. We kept on running into freshman from Yale, they can go hiking as part of their freshman orientation. We ran into a series of bog bridges around Griffith Lake that seemed to go on forever, it was a nice break from the rocks. We made it into Peru Peak shelter for lunch and ran into Grizz and Earthworm. They put in some killer miles, then took 3 days off, then got on the trail again. It was nice to see them again and exchange stories. We hiked the rest of the day together since they were going to Green Mountain House as well. They are still hiking pretty fast, and it was challenging to keep up with them, but I managed. Finally around 6:30 we made it to the road and hitched into town. We had dinner at Friendlys restaurant, I haven't seen one since they closed down one near my house over ten years ago. I had a ton of food then topped it off with a Jim Dandy dessert, nice!Jeff from the hostel came and picked us up. I think he runs the hostel as a hobby, its a real nice place. There are 2 houses right next to each other, one for Jeff and the other for the hikers. Nicest hostel yet, and it's donation only. I had to sleep on the couch, but it was a real comfy couch. I also ran into Bootstrap again, I haven't seen him since Hanover. Superman spent the night making egg, cheese and onion sandwiches. They were delicious. So much nice food in Vermont!
Date: 2008-08-29
From: Manchester, VT

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

Got a 8:30am start out of Manchester. I wasn't really sure how far I would make it, and the spacing between shelters isn't ideal: Either 5, 10 or 20 miles; 15 would have been nice. The hike was going great though and I cruised past the first two shelters so I kept going. I made it over Stratton Mountain easily, stopping by the firetower on top for a view. Up about 80 feet on top of the tower, I could feel the whole structure swaying in the wind. It was a little unsettling, but didn't bother me too much. I am suprised at how much heights don't bother me any more. Not that I was scared of heights before, I just had a healthy respect for them. Now I don't notice them, I think I can thank Katahdin for that.Soon I finished up another 20 mile day and hardly seemed phased. Needless to say, my rest at Green Mountian House was good and my cold is mostly gone. Unfortunetly, my plan of 3 - 20 mile days is pointless since that would put me in Williamston, MA on the Sunday before Labor day. Since the post office won't be open till Tuesday, I readjust my schedule to limit town days.I met up with Crazy horse at the Shelter, we made dinner, and went to sleep just as it started raining.
Date: 2008-08-30
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up to rain that had been falling all night long. Since I wasn't in a rush to get into town, I decided to make it a late start day and stay dry. I got up around 9, read "Travels with Charley", and left somehere around 11am. Crazyhorse left around sunrise to meet his parents in Bennington, so I hiked the day alone. Not much to remember. Ate lunch at Kid Gore shelter with Skillet and No Brains (NOBO's) and made it about 10 miles to Goddard Shelter. I hung out with two cool weekend hikers (Hi Cathy!) and decided to stay the night, even if it meant a 22 mile day the next day. Then a NOBO came in around 6:30. Before anyone could say hi, he anounced his name, that he was thru hiking, that he was 60 years old, that his packed weight 65 lbs, and that he did 20 miles that day. Then he said he could smell a bear from 1 mile away, and I decided it was time to move on and stealth camp before he drove me crazy. I felt bad for abandoning everyone else (Sorry Cathy!), but I couldn't stand the guy.I had less than an hour to sunset, and 2 miles to a stealth spot to camp. I made it just at dark to find a girl hiking the Long Trail already camped there. I camped across the trail from her and quickly fell asleep.
Date: 2008-08-31
From: Goddard Shelter

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: clear sky

After a restful night without a pesky old man proclaiming his hiking prowess, I was able to get up and going by about 8 am.I can't remember much about this day, but the climb down to Bennigton was rough, the climb up was rougher, and the rest of the day was a breeze. It was another 20 miler, and it felt great. Especially blowing by day hikers with light packs. I don't know why that makes me feel so good, but I guess I'm just happy I'm not the slowest hiker around anymore!Made it into Seth Warner by 6 and met another long trail hiker (forgot her name though!). Crazy horse made it in as well, we sat around and talked for time while cooking dinner and then it was off to bed.
Date: 2008-09-01
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Williamston, MA
Miles today: 7.0

Only a 7 mile day today, and it was a pretty easy 7 miles. Mostly downhill to Williamston. I did make it into Mass, although it was sad leaving Vermont.I made it to the road with Crazy Horse and we parted ways shortly thereafter, he continued on. It took me about 30 minutes to figure out I had taken the wrong road, but I quickly got back on course. I went shopping and had a lunch of a deli sandwhich, potatoe salad, and a pint of Ben and Jerrys. I was still mildly hungry and glad my appeteite was back.I tried hiking into Williamstown, but no luck. It was pretty hot and sunny, and by the time I made it into town (2 miles), I decided to get a hotel room. he desk jocky on duty was an idiot though, and I waited 10 minutes for him to get off the phone before leaving. Guess they didn't want my money. I searched out a local outfitter who was rumored to let people camp out behind their store. I found them (Mountain Goat Sports!) and they were actually open. The guy let me camp out back, and I was pleasently suprised to find a clean cool stream running behind the campsite. I was so hot and sweaty I couldn't help but jump in, very refreshing! I got my tent set up then went across the street for a nice stuffed Haddock dinner. $$$ but worth it. Then I wandered around town, found the post office and walked around the local college campus. Nice place. I went back to the outfitter, read a little, then fell asleep. The day turned out a whole lot nicer than I thought!
Date: 2008-09-02
From: Williamston, MA

To: Chesire
Miles today: 13.6

its a great day on top of mt. greylock in massachusetts. it was a pretty steep climb up from williamston, but it was worth it. i just had a delicous lunch of herb & garlic tuna with some "seriously sharp" cheddar cheese spread on a sun dried tomato wrap. all this on a perfect day with a beautiful view of half of mass. the road is closed, so ive got the place mostly to myself too. life is grand, my friends! on to chesire tonight, then dalton tommorow. more updates soon!(Marceen's note: checked off that Derek stayed in a Hostel, but it was actually a church)
Date: 2008-09-03
From: Chesire, MA

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: broken clouds

I spent the night at St Marys Church, which I found after getting lost again. Seems to be a nasty habit I'm picking up in Mass. The accomadations where nice, a room in the back of the banquet hall stocked with all sorts of hiker supplies. The priest told me the night before that there was a mass at 8am and I decided to go. There were only about 10 people in attendance and it only lasted 30 minutes, but I felt spiritually refreshed. I need to attend church more often on the trail. The neat thing about the service was the priest new everyone by name (including me) as we came up for communion.I left around 9 am, and immeadiately my left foot was killing me. I developed a sore on top of my middle left toe somewhere in New Hampshire, and it's just gotten worse. I ended up limping all the way to Dalton, where I knew I could find safe refuge at the Bird Cage. Every step was marked with excruciating pain in my left foot. I've been hearing about this hostel for a month and was really looking forward to it, I had to promise Blacksnake and Moses I would stop by. I finally made it to Dalton, and had a very hot 1 mile roadwalk to the first cafe I could find. I had a nice burger before I realized I had no cash and they didn't take credit cards, so I had to hustle to a gas station and get some money from an ATM. Rob, who runs the Bird Cage, met me at the ATM and took back to the cafe and then back to his house.A word about the Bird cage: It's Rob's house, he invites people in, lets them shower, washes and folds (!) their clothes for them, takes them wherever they want to go in town, and provides a clean bed to sleep in. He doesn't charge and makes everyone feel part of his family. He keeps a photo album of everyone passing through too, i am number 300 for the year. I can't explain how happy I am to have met Rob, he's really one of the nicest people I've ever met in my entire life.Rob took me to a local outfitter where I bought some new socks with more padding, I think this will cure my feet.A couple hours after I arrived, Superman and Crazy Horse came in after slackpakcing 20 miles fromt the south. (Rob dropped them off 20 miles south in the morning, and all they had to carry was water and food for the day). It was nice to see those guys again, but now they are a day ahead of me.I showed everyone my revolting left foot and they all encouraged me to take a day off and let it heal up. I really don't want to zero, but I can't afford for my foot to get any worse either. After pigging out at Old Country Buffet, we went back to Robs place and I soaked my foot in some epson salt. It looked better, but I think a zero is needed to really make it better.
Date: 2008-09-04
From: Dalton, MA

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Regrettably, today is another zero day. It's a beautiful day, I'm in Dalton, and I don't have a job - so things are actually good. Just wish I was on the trail. After limping 9 miles into town yesterday and surveying the inflamed red mass that was my left middle toe, I decided a little rest was in order. I'm confident my toe will be better tommorow and I plan on ripping out a 20 mile slackpack NOBO and returning to Dalton.I still staying at the birdcage (NOTHING like the movie, I assure you!), and Rob is a wonderful host. He had an old bike there, and after soaking my feet in epson salt, I took it for a ride. My mission for the day is to search for headphones for my MP3 player, I lost them while stealth camping a few days ago. Travelling by bike is a revalation, it's so blazing fast compared to hiking it blows my mind. I imagine its the same feeling people 100 years ago had when bicycles where more popular, and whose previous main mode of transport was walking. Everything is so much quicker and closer. Driving a car again is going to make my head explode.I rode about 3 miles, all downhill, to the local mall and picked some headphones and another cheap pair of sunglasses. I swore I wouldn't buy more sunglasses (this is my 4th set this trip!), but they where only $2. I spent some time at Barnes and Noble again before setting off for town. Even though the bike was old and decrepit, I flew up the hill. Amazing how much better shape I am in now than before the hike, can't wait to go mountain biking back home and actually enjoying it.Not much in store for the rest of the day, just lounging around and healing up. I still 2-3 days ahead or behind everyone, but Crazyhorse assures me I'll catch up to hime since he'll be taking some time off soon. My favorite line from "Flight of the conchords" keeps coming back to me: ¢When you're unemployed there's no vacation. No one cares, no one sympathizes You just stay home and play synthesizers.¢ I'm not playing synthesizers, but I'm having the time of my life!
Date: 2008-09-05
From: Dalton, MA

To: Mass 20 / returning to Dalton
Miles today: 19.6

Today was a slack pack day. Tom from the Byrd Cage drove me down to Mass 20 (actually, his son did) and I hiked north back to Dalton. This is the first time I've hiked in the "wrong" direction, and only the second time I've slacked. I started out with H and Canopener, two really cool guys who started their hike out of North Adams. Not much happened on the hike. Started around 9:15, finished around 5:30, completed around 20 miles. Very easy day, no pack weight and very flat terrain. Best part was my toe didn't hurt at all, at the end of the day it looked better than yesterday. I'm pretty sure my new smartwool socks have contained the problem. H and canopener were just a few minutes behind me all day, it was nice to take a break and converse with them, real nice guys.Got back to Tom's place and took a well deserved shower. Relaxed, watched TV, then everyone (Tom, H, Canopener, Flash, Kit and I) went to the diner for the famed "Godzilla" omlet. We ran into Miles and Prefontaine (NOBO's staying at Byrdcage and finishing a 23 mile slack over Greylock), so we brought them along too. The Godzilla omlet cost $15, contains 12 eggs (thats right, one dozen egg omlet!), and alll sorts of cheeses, vegtables (even spinach, popeye!), and a slew of meats. If you eat it in 30 minutes, you get a free t-shirt. Superman made a legend of himself a few nights before by eating the whole thing in 18 minutes, along with some beers and everyone else's fries, then going home and downing a pint of ben and jerrys; what a beast! I had no visions of Grandeur, I ate half and saved the rest for breakfast tommorow. Out of the other 4 hikers that tried, only Miles was succesful in finishing with 10 seconds to spare. Very impressive.Weather looking real bad for this weekend, just might have to zero to sit out the hurricane remnants.
Date: 2008-09-07
From: Mass 20

To: Mt. Wilcox Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: clear sky

after 3 great days staying with rob at the birdcage, it was finally time to move on. rob gave h, canopener, and i a ride to us20. we drove by arlo guthries house along the way, neat. we got our packs and said goodbye, but i know i will see rob again, great guy!i got going around 10:30, pretty late so i moved fast and didnt take too many breaks. the terrain wasnt too bad, but after slack packing my full pack fell like i was carrying a load of bricks. .made it into mt wilcox south lean too at 7pm, 17.5 miles for the day. the shelter was old but still ok. then i read in the shelter that there was a new shelter here too. jackpot! the new shelter is brand new, it even smells of fresh cut wood! i told my friend matt that its the hilton of lean too's, very nice.on the other hand, i've been on the trail for 69 days and 650 miles, and tonight is the very first night ive spent alone. different, but i dont mind. we'll   (MARCEEN'S NOTE - Derek's message was cut off last night. Matt did talk to him for awhile and it was so great to actually hear from him!! I know I still have to accurately put in Derek's miles and hope to do that before the end of the week! Things are crazy busy around here!!)
Date: 2008-09-08
From: Mt. Wilcox Shelter

To: Glen Brook Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: clear sky

09.08.08, glen brook shelter, 19.5 miles. I had trouble getting up this morning, its getting cold at night and my sleeping bag is altogether too comfy. i finally got out around 9am and was on my way. for some reason, i thought mass. would be easy, but its taking a toll on me. the day started out with lots of climbing and descending over rough rocks. then i dropped down into a valley and spent the next 7 miles or so walking through fields and swamps. it was flat, but very hot and the sun was beating down on me. i started running low on water too, all the streams looked like runoff from a cow pasture. yuck! i walked past a monument marking the last battle of shays rebellion, wish i remembered what that was. finally got to the climb up jug end summit, 1000 feet in a mile. not too bad, but i was tired. nice view, then i moved on to glen brook shelter. i got at 7pm, just in time for it to get dark. made dinner, put food in the bear box (after i ate, of course), then made my bed and called random people. odd, i get better cell coverage in the woods than in town. go figure!