morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-19
From: Shaker Camp

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: mist

It rained through the night. At times it was pouring and the spot where I was camped was muddy. My tent is a mess with mud splattered on the sides and bottom. It is still raining as the day brightens and I get going. I pack up my wet gear again. I put on my damp stinky clothes and socks and emerge from my shelter. When I retrieve my food bag from the bear container I find it has slugs attached to it I flick them off and think it can't get worse than this moment. I am off hiking solo northward. The trail is muddy and slick again today. Some areas are through bogs and swampy areas and the trail goes over boardwalks made of long pieces of wood nailed to short cross sections of logs to elevate you about ten inches from the mud. The boards are slippery when wet. The rain comes again and I try to be one with it. Eventually I reach a small spring and get more water. It's lunch time but it is pouring. I put up my tent under some hemlocks and get it, boots still covered with mud and on me. I need to escape the rain and eat lunch. I think about calling it a day right here, but as the rain lets up I get motivated to keep walking. I want to reach Upper Goose Pond. The hike improves and I am walking better. The insects even seem to cooperate. I finally reach the turn off blue blazed trail to the cabin and begin the 1/2 mile remaining hike. I reach the cabin and find many hikers there with their wet stuff hung all over the place. I meet the caretaker, Carrie, and claim a bunk. The cabin is screened and bug free. This place is special, it's on the pond and has a trail down to a dock. I go down and get in the pond. The water is warmer than I expected. I am refreshed and rinsed off. I get the mud off my calves and the slime off my body. I get naked and wash my clothes in the pond. When I emerge I am another person. I am whole again. We have a nice fire and dry our things. I hang my wet tent on the porch. Later I take another swim under the stars. This makes me happy. I end the day tiptoeing up the stairs in the cabin to my bunk. Sleep is sweet.
Date: 2007-07-20
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Dalton MA
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: few clouds

Everyone is up except for the caretaker. We are getting organized and waking up when Carrie comes down. We are treated to coffee and pancakes. Refueled, clean and ready to go, I hit the trail. The day is good for hiking. It's cool and there is a breeze. I hike with a spring in my step as I enjoy the gently rolling terrain. There are some nice hills and there are more boards and rocks to get me over the muddy sections. I go up and over Becket and Walling Mts at a good clip. I reach the October Mt shelter or Leanto where I take a lunch break. I have decided to try to make it to Dalton Mass. I pass by Kay Wood's leanto, a rare naming as Ms Kay Wood is still alive. The trail takes me through rocky rolling areas and then through more hemlock forests, then I come to the railroad tracks and into Dalton. I walk up the street and arrive at Tom's place where I am welcomed and told dinner will be in ten minutes and the shower is available now. I quickly put my stuff on the porch and get a shower. Tom has some loaner clothes and I have on a Matchbox 20 t-shirt and a pair of shorts that I am proud (and surprised) that fit. They are comfortable and I come to the kitchen table where I find a wonderful home-cooked dinner made by Tom. After dinner we all get acquainted and then it's time to sleep. I lay on the floor where I a more comfortable. This is a great ending to a very productive hiking day. It's amazing how things work out if you can just hang in there and keep the faith.
Date: 2007-07-21
From: Dalton MA

To: Chesire MA
Miles today: 8.6

I am at Tom's Place in Dalton. We all walk to a small restaurant called Duff and Dells for breakfast. The town is friendly to hikers. After breakfast the laundry opens at 9am so I am there. Then it is to the Post Office to mail home my journal entries, then to get a few food items, then back to get alcohol fuel for my stove and then it is hit the trail. I'm not taking a zero today but I feel like I need one, so I'm taking a half day hiking only to Chesire. I am clean and the day is cool so I feel good. It doesn't take long before I am warmed up and taking a short break. The trail always seems to climb out of towns. I hike through hilly sections, flat soft sections, and steep rocky sections. I pass Sniker hiking a southbound slack pack. I then run into Jazzy Nuts and Jew Dog doing the same. We sit at Diane's Twist and talk about our hike. I have decided to stay at St Mary of the Assumption church for the night. I walk up, sign in and throw down my bedroll, then return to Diane's for a delicious roast beef sandwich. While there I am greeted by Liar Face and a girlfriend. Liar Face was a 2005 through hiker and he wanted to do magic. He ended up giving me beer which I couldn't have at the church. I don't know what to do with it now. Tomorrow I will have much up hill climbing to go up and over Mt Greylock. Tonight I need to make a plan for next week.
Date: 2007-07-22
From: Chesire MA

To: N Adams MA
Miles today: 14.7

At the St. Mary of Assumption church I wake and prepare to head out, but first I visit with Father Raymond and thank him and his church for their kindness to me and the hiking community. I set out walking through and out of town stopping at a gas station for breakfast. The trail mostly goes up on its way to Mt Greylock, the highest peak on the AT in Mass. Along the way there is a variety of trail conditions and trail challenges. There are rocks, low areas with planks or boardwalks, there are wet areas where you feel like you are walking in a stream up the hill and there are beautiful soft ridge walks. I find my rhythym and keep pushing uphill finally reaching the trail section leading to the summit of Mt Greylock. I finally see the monument and come out into a large clearing on top of the summit. The lodge is closed and the roads to the summit are also closed, but there are many enjoying the views. The weather is splendid. It's clear with blue skies and little fluffy white clouds. I can see for miles and miles. I sit and eat lunch while enjoying the view. I eventually walk on north up the trail reaching another view point and then start down the mountain. Along the way I call Amoeba who I last saw at the Bear's Den in VA. She is in the general area and says she will meet me at MA2 in N. Adams. I head on down reaching town at about the agreed hour. We go to dinner at a nice restaurant and I end up staying in town while she heads home. Amoeba took a fall on the trail and has a temporary cast on and is walking with the help of crutches. After she leaves I change clothes and walk to the grocery only to be 5 minutes past closing. I'll have to stop tomorrow. Today was a good day with a pleasant hike over a beautiful section. Tomorrow I will hike on hoping the weather holds but the forecast is for a rainy week. Tomorrow I hike into VTm finishing another state. Three more to go, 600 miles more to go, actually I'm already under 600 at 596. If I can average around a hundred miles a week I can finish in approximately 6 weeks. This is exciting. I am not sure if the terrain and other conditions will allow this schedule or not. I have always walked trying to keep the hike fun. I have usually hiked with trail friends and it has been a wonderful hike. Now I am solo and I am not chasing or slowing anyone. I have only myself to decide where I go and how far I hike. I will have to be disciplined to keep this schedule. I am not sure and offer no guarantee. I want more than anything to finish this journey with completion. This hike is the hardest thing I have ever done, it is truly a challenge of my lifetime. I will cherish it and be very happy when I reach the terminus.
Date: 2007-07-23
From: N Adams MA

To: Congdon Shelter VT
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: moderate rain

Here I am in North Adams at a typical seedy hotel next to a busy highway. I will take one more shower before heading out. I have decided to forego laundry so I will be a stinky hiker again soon. I have found that even with clean clothes after a day of sweating you get stinky anyway. I better get going I can't work on my journal and watch the Today Show if I am going to make miles today. I leave the hotel and go to the grocery store which is a great long term supply opportunity. I am hungry and come out with a lot of food. It barely fits in my food bag which has to be pushed into my pack. My pack is now a heavy out of town monster. I hike out of town turning into the forest at the trailhead which looks like someone's driveway. The trail immediately takes me to a beautiful place. It goes up along a very nice stream which is part of the town's watershed. I break soon after to make adjustments to my hiking clothes. It looks like rain so I put on my rain pack cover and get my rain gear accessible. I hike on up into the forest. At first the trail is in good condition then it begins to be muddy. The rain starts and is off and on. The temperature falls and the wind picks up. It's another day in paradise. A wet day and the mud covers my boots and gaiters. I reach a sign which is at the VT border. I sign in the trail register and put on my rain jacket. It's cold and raining. I reach the trail to the Seth Warner Shelter which is .2 miles off the trail. I am ready for lunch and as I arrive the rain starts in earnest. The shelter is crowded for this time of day. I eat lunch and then Sniper, Jazzy Nuts and Jew Dog hike in. I also meet a southbounder named Lady with her dog the Tramp. After lunch I hike out and walk with Sniper, Jew Dog and Jazzy Nuts. We walk through some very muddy trail conditions. We are all tired when we reach the Congdon Shelter and it is late so we stop. The shelter is almost full with Long Trail hikers out for a few days. Most of the tent sites are also taken with a large group of young people. I decide to set up my tent and after washing off the mud from my boots and gaiters (and my legs) I get into my tent, my home, and am now writing in my journal. I have changed my clothes and it is raining. I still have to hang my food bag and eat dinner. I am waiting for a break in the rain but it is after 8pm and I will go out anyway so I can finish my chores.
Date: 2007-07-24
From: Congdon Shelter VT

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: mist

It rained most of the night but isn't when I wake. Everything is wet. After some creative packing and a few breakfast treats I am back hiking. My socks and shoes are wet but it is bearable. The trail is very muddy. I do not want to step in it. It looks like many before me have chosen their footing unwisely and have left deep footprints in some mucky mud. I was able to save a fall. Today seems to be more challenging. I climb over Harriman Hill and then down a steep path with many rock steps. Falling is not an option. I must be very careful because everything is wet and slippery. Crossing VT9 the trail goes up steeply to higher elevation. I stop at the Melville Neuheim shelter and it begins raining again. The area becomes foggy, or I am in a cloud. I break for awhile. Eventualoly I know there's just enough time of daylight left to make it to the next shelter if I leave now and book it. So that is what I did. I like this hike, it has challenges and new skills to learn after I complete the day. The climb up from the road is over 2000 feet. It's not a lot but more that I've done in awhile. As I'm walking over a section with rocks all over an eroded area I lose my footing and quickly fall on my left side. I can't get up until I unsnap my pack and use my pole to help me. I am up and unharmed. Feeling lucky I laugh at myself and wonder how this could have happened when I was being so careful. I hike a very short distance and come upon the Goddard Shelter. The shelter is full and I don't want to squeeze in so I set up my tent. The area is very pretty with trees similar to the ones in the Smokies. This elevation is about 3500 feet, the Smokies are about 6000 feet. The clouds are blowing by only we are in them. There's a good water source here. I have dinner and hang my bear bag in the shelter along with everyone else. I then get into my nice damp tent and lay out my wet clothes under my sleeping bag in hopes my body heat will help dry them. My boots are another story, with a wet ending. I am tired and it is cold tonight. What a difference from last week. Tomorrow I want to make it to the Stratton Pond Shelter. Today I ran into some sobos with good attitudes and very strong hikers. Tonight everyone in the shelter went to sleep early. I am up late, after 10, finishing up the writing and listening to the wind whistling in the treetops. It's spruce or balsam forest. It sounds like last winter. The wind is the only noise, coming from afar and seems to circle then head my way, when it finally arrives I can feel a puff of air as it moves on. I will turn off my headlamp and try to dream of tomorrow.
Date: 2007-07-25
From: Goddard Shelter

To: Camp by Kelly Stand Road
Miles today: 12.5

I wake and find the sun is out. I am glad, finally blue sky and sun. All my stuff is damp, some is wet, some soaked. I get my stuff organized and hang out my tent in a sunny spot. I also hang my socks, bandana and other wet things including my boots. I get a start after my things are dry. I walk alone along more muddy trail. It has improved much but there are still muddy sections. I reach some parts where I actually get a view. At the Kidgore Shelter I break for lunch and enjoy a beautiful long range view of mountains and a pond from the front of the shelter. The trail continues and at one point I am studying the rocks and roots looking for my next step when I aware of a wonderfully beautiful forest all around me. The birds are singing sweet songs in many styles. I walk next to a beaver pond with water three feet higher than the trail. I continue up and arrive at the Story Pond Shelter for another break. I find the spring is sweet and cold. I like it so much I refill all my water containers from this source. Of course I drink my fill. I sit outside the shelter updating this journal. It's very peaceful with a soundscape of at least 6 different types of songbirds. The light breeze rustles the leaves and a jet is heard in the distance. After the jet leaves I can hear a creek in the distance. I have my shirt off drying in the sun and it is a perfect temperature with no bugs. In short paradise in the forest. But I can hear the breeze picking up and I noticing more clouds rolling by. I walk on passing three more sobos. Just after the Kelly Stand Road I come upon Jazzy Nuts, Jew Dog and Sniper camping and eating dinner. I am welcomed and pitch my tent and join them for dinner. The mosquitos are back tonight and there is a fire pit begging for a fire. I quickly go into action, like that we have a nice fire and the mosquitos retreat outside the fire's influence. We chat and eventually it is bedtime so I am in my tent and must now prepare for sleep.
Date: 2007-07-26
From: Camp by Kelly Stand Road

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I wake hearing Wingheart and Castanets walking by. We greet everyone and everyone in their tents introduces themself or calls out a good morning. I began my hime with a nice warmup up hill. Of course, I don't need to warm up but it was a nice one. The ups all lead to Stratton Mts which has a firetower on the summit. Despite my fear of heights I climb to the top where I find a beautiful vista atop the fir forests to the other ridges and summits, to ponds and valleys, to a wonderful area. After the summit break I hike down and across ridges to Stratton Pond. It's a nice pond with a perfect place to enter the pond. I take off my clothes and wade out where I find the water warm. I feel rejuvenated and get ready to hike again. Along the way I run into Jazzy Nuts and Sniper enjoying the view from Prospect Rock. I hike on through rolling forest which is a joy to walk. I arrive at the Spruce Peak Shelter and make myself at home. There's a nice spring here and that's where I go to rehydrate and rest. I've run into more southbounders and they all seem to be having a good time. We all team up to gather firewood and there's a nice big campfire for our evening entertainment. I am thinking about sleeping on the porch but not sure if there's porcupines here. I know there's mice, mosquitos, ants, spiders and other bugs.
Date: 2007-07-27
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Bromley Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I wake on the porch of the cabin and begin the morning chores. I eat lightly and don't carry much water since I am hiking to the road and then hitching into Manchester Center to eat breakfast, launder, resupply. The hike goes up a few more hills before going down onto the road. When I arrive at the road crossing I see Sniper, Jew Dog and Jazzy Nuts talking to Mountain Squid by his truck. He is going to do magic for us and takes us into town where I get breakfast, do my laundry, shop at the outfitter and resupply before getting lunch and calling DaBeat who is enroute to meet me for some "trail world time." DaBear arrives around 4pm and we drive up tp the trail head. We hike together to the Bromley Mountain shelter where we have a special night. We have an awesome campfire and enjoy much fellowship and embibe many drinks. DaBear has carried out a piece of beef and we grill it over the coal base to perfection. We also have a 12 pack of beer to quench or thirst. Everyone else at the shelter has also carried out something special and we party in trail world. DaBear is camping in his hammock and I make a rare shelter appearance. I am comfortable and do not write in my journal until next night.
Date: 2007-07-28
From: Bromley Mountain Shelter

To: Camping area beyond Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: moderate rain

I wake early to see the early birds leave, pee, then return to my bag for a few minutes. It's time to get going and I get packed up. DaBear has breakfast plans and we make a morning breakfast fire, have bacon and eggs. We break camp and begin hiking. DaBear lets me set the pace so I am relaxed. We start up and over Bromley Mountain. We then go over Peru Peak and enjoy a nice vista and another break. Today's hike is gently rolling with some nice hills to summit. We hike up and over the rocky ascent to Baker Peak and enjoy some more views then hike through some special forest areas passing the site of the burned down Lost Mountain shelter and beyond down stream to a secret campground just for us. Jew Dog, DaBear and I set up camp and enjoy a swim in the river before starting a campfire and cooking dinner. We enjoy smores around the fire before I retire to my tent to catch up on this journal. DaBear has carried in a huge foodbag and prepared all the meals. I have had a great time hiking with him. I also know he and JewDog have hit it off nicely so this has been a good visit. Tomorrow he'll hitch from a road we cross back to his truck and drive home, Tonight I have a very special soundtrack with the loud river close to my tent. It's loud and reminds me of several special nights I had early in the trip where Taken, Caboose, Pegasus, CB and Mean Joe camped beside river sites. Those were special times. I am blessed and I am still having special nights and surely blessed still and for who knows how much longer I will be able to do this. The freedom, pleasures, the hugeness of this endeavor are overwhelming. I could never explain what is happening out here and how much it has changed me and the way I will live the rest of my life.
Date: 2007-07-29
From: Camping area beyond Big Branch Shelter

To: Minerva Hinchy Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: broken clouds

I wake to the sound of the river and the usual bird songs. It's late and we were up late last night. We get a morning fire going and pack our stuff, then eat breakfast by the fire. The hike is generally rolling with some hills. We arrive at Little Rock Pond and enjoy an afternoon swim before hiking on. We hike past an area with big boulders where many have stacked rocks in all different ways. It looks surreal and we decide to have a late lunch here. I add another rock stack with other mixed media additions to make a structure I leave behind. We walk and pass another rock art yard and hike on over White Rock Mountain and over Bear Mountain. DaBear reached VT140 and gets the first pickup to stop and pick him up. We say goodbye quickly so he can get the ride. Jew Dog and I hike on and reach the Minerva Hinchy Shelter where we decide to tent camp. I go down to the water source, gather water and cook dinner, then decide I need more water so go back down and steripen some more for tonight and for tomorrow's hike. I am now laying in my tent safe and snug away from the bugs. The forest is quiet, I hear no birds or water feature sounds. There is no wind tonight. I can hear a jet plane in the distance flying away and now I hear something falling from the trees which sounds like light rain but is probably a caterpillar eating leaves which reminds me of rain drops. I am tired and my body aches so I am going to roll out my sleeping bag and get some rest. The last couple days with DaBear were great, thanks for coming out, I hope your visit to Trail World was wonderful. I'm slowly getting this mission done - I am about to celebrate 500 miles to go tomorrow. I've walked 1666 miles and have 508 to go as of tonight.