morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-07-10
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

Thursday the 7th was my appointment with my primary care doctor. She took the staples out of the 3 small incisions, one my knee and two on the hip. I need to follow up with a orthopedic doctor, and the girls in the office are going to help hunt one down.We've been blessed with over a week of prepared dinners from our church family. Each afternoon one of the ladies brings over the dinner, hot and ready to eat!! We are so thankful, very fortunate and feel very loved. Big is doing a great job keeping up with other meals, laundry and general house duties.We've been so thankful to everyone for keeping us in their thoughts & prayers. We're getting some Guest Book notes and texts from readers & our trail family too.*Fiber is now in New Hampshire. *Sparks is doing well and also NH.*Chardonnay is ok, she is off the trail due to ankle injury and will be training for CDT and finishing the AT in the future for her Triple Crown*Subman & Suds are in Vermont and doing well. They stopped as close to my "crash" spot and said a little prayer for us. *We got a message from Candlemaker today, he is home in Michigan after summiting Katahdin on July 4.*As of July 6, Rabbit from Michigan, Crash & Leopard / all part of the Near Miss Group crossed over into CT. *4k Emailed us earlier this week. He was also part of the Near Miss, he got off the trail in Harpers Ferry. We learned Rooster got off trail too. Near Miss - they were in the Rock Gap Shelter in NC, when a tree fell on it*Rabbit from Connecticut is in Vermont and hiking with his wife, Beth. *Steady & Teach are in Vermont as of June 30. Could be in NH by now.*Mustard Seed is in Vermont*Unknown is in New Hampshire, as well as AK and I'm sure Rocky Cat & Shao are also.*Ghostwalker & Toothpick both sent regards and are doing great!*On July 4, AK from FL was at Killington VT. We hiked one morning for several miles in Massachusetts and talked about aquaponics and gardening. Time really flew by that day!!
Date: 2016-08-26
From: Home

To: Bennington VT
Miles today: 0.0

Hello everyone! Healing is going great, we have a follow up appointment with the orthopedic surgeon on Monday, after that we are hitting the road, destination Vermont AT NOBO mile 1607. We've been preparing for this for several weeks, we just didn't journal about it until we were SURE we were going!! Big Cypress needs/wants to complete his hike and will be accompanied by our youngest son, Shawn, (Trail name is yet TBD). I will be involved in the completion as much as I can. I will be providing trail support for the 582 miles. My still healing femur won't be in hiking condition for a year and ideally 2 years. So...knowing this and not sure I really want to finish, we have decided to press on Now!! We hope you will follow our journey again and resume prayers....Thank you to those who have reached out to us since my fall and all thoughts & prayers, since June 27, they have very much appreciated!! Subman & Suds and Unknown "took" us with them to the summit of Katahdin. We miss our trail family & look forward to growing its numbers!!
Date: 2016-08-31
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Kelley Stand Rd
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: broken clouds

Slept well, after an eight o'clock loud group of hikers stopped near by waiting for a ride to town. They didn't know I was in the truck and actually came back to the trail this afternoon and realized the loudness and apologized for being loud. I wasn't sleeping yet, I was journaling, so assured them it was problem. Oliver & I had a potty call at 1am. Man...the stars were amazing! No light pollution and it was obvious! God's awesomeness was evident!!We slept until 8:30. Chatted with Bumblebee, who was happy to have slept in also. I saw 2 other hikers, one a woman from Atlanta named Pocahontas, before a family came to do trail magic for their son, Zing & Sprinter. Clothesline (mom), Foto (dad)& Wolfsong (sis). Made quick work of setting up for pancakes & goodies for hikers today. They thru hiked as a family in 2004. We saw a mini bubble today. Musicbox & hubby Snorelax from Maine. Spam & Sniper from Wisconsin. Mama Bear, Hollywood, Tormund Giantsbane, Dayman, Flamingo, Kodak, Lil Griz, Great at 58, and Skyhigh & City Slicker from Massachusetts. Critter report: Chipmunks lots & lots as usual Cedar Waxing birdAnd ....didn't see it, but saw poo, a mouse found its way into the truck and tried to eat some crackers. Only chewing the ziplock bag!! Its 5:30 pm, quiet here now and praying Big Cypress & Shawn are doing ok. Weather was overcast all day!Met Turbo & Moose from Virginia SOBO, who will most likely see Big & Shawn shortly as its 6pm.Big Arrived at 6:15 pm, Shawn at 6:55 pm. From Melville Shelter to Kelley Rd for 21 miles. Last thru hiker I saw today was Turtle from PA. In bed at 8:09. Shawn survived a 21 mile day, foot report....blisters!
Date: 2016-09-01
From: Kelley Stand Rd

To: VT 11/30 Road Crossing 
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light rain

We woke to the dreaded buzzing at about 4am. Killed a few skeeters that got in when potty break in middle of the night. Officially got up at 6 am. I started making pancakes and my hiker men, started to get ready for todays trek.Big Cyress picked us some beautiful apples from a tree adjacent the parking area. Some for now, some for later.Shawn teneded to his blisters this morning instead of last night. Don't know if that was best idea? We'll see later today. So....Big left and Shawn needed to dig a hole first & was on his way about 8:15, only about 10 minutes behind daddy! I finished packing up and found that I should've started the truck last night as I did throughout the day, since I was charging hiker phones all day. I did not want to draw skeeters to the truck, they are attracted to the exhaust!! So...go to drive away...battery is dead! Luckily Big had us/me well prepared, we got a lil jump box/air pump contraption at Costco!! Save the day. Well...save me time, since we also have cables & this road was well traveled even though it's a gravel road. I stopped in Manchester for donuts for my hungry guys tonight. Ice for the cooler & loaf of bread. Hung out at Stewart's to udate TJ, check emails, call my mom (she's worried) & send some texts. Needed to let mom & dad B know all is well & our children. Emmett cried at dinner Tuesday night. Said he didn't want gramma & grandpa to live in the woods again!! I arrived at VT 11/30 parking area about 11:30 and Shaggy, Giantsbane, Hollywood, Dayman & Mama Bear were here. I made coffee & shared with them. We all had lunch & they went on. Turtle showed up for lunch & we chatted a bit. Its just about 4. Big just sent a picture, but i can't download it yet. No signal!! Big Cypress arrived at about 5:15 and Shawn did great and arrived 20 minutes later. The morning was turtle pace, but Shawn overcame it and they did 13 miles in 6 hours. Good day & good spirits today. Met Stonebridge from Phoenix, he had coffee & chatted!! 7:55 pm, in bed for the night!! Shawn is using ULA bag starting tomorrow, hopefully it fits better!!,Kelley Rd to VT 11/30 for 17.5 miles
Date: 2016-09-02
From: VT 11/30 Road Crossing 

To: USFS 10 Road Crossing
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Entry to come, its only 9:25 am. They hit the trail just before 7:30 am. I'm surprising them with hamburgers, chips & watermelon for tonight. We have a ton of dehydrated trail meals and nobody wants to eat them. I had ramen, chicken, saurkraut with veggies. It was good. Today will be chicken wildrice soup for my lunch. I believe my hikers will only snack all day. Left at 730 VT 11/30 and arrived at Forest Service Road 10 at 4pm. This parking area has a very nice privy!! Clean & not stinky!@ Griffith Lake they stopped for pictures and a rest.I back tracked about a mile to gas up and use better cell service. Stewart's gas station chain is very nice in this area. I got soda & maple donutsfor my hungry hikers then went to Shaws grocery this morning to get ice and burgers, buns, condiments, watermelon, bananas and chips. Big Cypress & Shawn arrived at about 4. I was sharing some soda with Casper a FlipFlopper & Terry SOBO thru. I wasn't planning trail magic for more than my guys, so after Casper & Terry left I commenced to cooking!! They had stayed to chat only a bit and decided it was time to press on. Big & Shawn were super excited about dinner. They made 9 burgers disappear in no time. I had one. (Not hiking, so needing to be vigilant on my consumption of calories). After our meal, foot soaks were had, yes we brought our footbath and epsom salts for weary feet. We have often "car/truck" camped in the past, so Big decked out our Tundra with an inverter hooked directly to battery, so we can make coffee, charge cell phones and plug in the footbath sent from heaven!! We call it glamping (glamorous camping)!! Tired with full bellies, sleeping by 630.Critter Report: Squirrels and a bazillion Chipmunks VT 11/30 to USFS 10 for miles
Date: 2016-09-03
From: USFS 10 Road Crossing

To: VT 140 Road Crossing
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Left USFS Road 10 at 730am. I arrived at VT 140 road crossing at 830 started campfire and picked up the trash in the area near the trail. Someone is "living"in their camper & not too tidy!I dried the tent, as the dew was so heavy it was as if it had rained. It took longer than i thought, since we were in the shade. Packed it up and not 30 minutes later I hear the clicking of hiking poles on pavement. Yep, there they are, fast as bunnies today! They arrived at 11 am. The fact that town food, shower & clean clothes are in range helped with motivation!!After they rested and I downloaded GoPro video to the laptop for Big, we headed out to Rutland and the Yellow Deli Hostel. We navigated our way around the farmers market road closure to park right out front of the Yellow Deli. Andrew and many hikers greeted us. We got our shower & laundry tour, I got Oliver situated on the back deck area and he was soon being loved up by hikers, many who miss their own pupies! Jane, from Ohio, with a love for Michigan (even had a necklace charm of the mitten & lakes, pretty sweet) helped me get our clothes washing, she was more than happy to let us wash or items with hers, as she was just about to start it. We walked to Gill's Deli. Not our intended eating spot, we were going to pizza place, but the line was SO long at the deli, we had to go here. All those people must know something! Yep!! Delicious!! Big & I shared a Giant size grinder of 100% Maine Crab meat. Shawn had hot & boiled ham grinder. We walked back toward the YD, SJ went to be with Oliver, we stopped at Walmart for couple things. One being 2 rolls of KT Tape for blisters & foot issues. Its not in pharmacy, but sporting goods area, who knew all this time. Paying 5 bucks more per roll at CVS. WoW!! At Yellow Deli we chatted a bit, had a couple slices of watermelon, while our clothes finished drying and then head out to trail head, where I met them this morning and we had a campfire, got water and went to sleep early, as tomorrow is planned for big miles day, so early start.Critter Report Robert had close encounter with a black bear. So, close he said it's coat was black as coal and very shiny! The bear was more frightened than Big and saw him and took off in a heart beat.USFS 10 to VT Route 140 for 8.5 miles
Date: 2016-09-04
From: VT 140 Road Crossing

To: US 4 NE of Rutland VT
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: few clouds

VT Rt 140 to US 4 for 23.8 miles.Great nights sleep last night, even though we had to tinkle at midnight and there was road noise. We woke this morning at 5:10 got up and started pancakes as requested!! My guys were into the woods and the "green tunnel" by 630am.Oliver and I went into Rutland to Walmart again, for a second camp chair for us and a Elk Antler for Oliver to chew. He's pretending to be a porcupine or other woodland Critter that naws on them. I then used the Irving gas station WiFi after we gased up and iced up our cooler. I mainly did trip planning, for me to park & meet them on the trail that lay ahead. Did some banking, got water and some family communication. Even texted Sooner or Later to let him know we weren't in position to attend church with him this morning at his church in Randolph VT, He's pastor at. We were 40 miles one way from here.Unfortunately spent so much time with trail plans I forgot to journal. Since time was getting late, 230pm, I head out to Hwy 4, arrived about 3:30, my hikers arriving at about 6pm. The parking area is very busy and I got lots of looks, as my camp spread look as though I'm homeless. We finally ate our dehydrated trail meals tonight. It was hard not to surprise them with pizza tonight. Shawn ate 2 meals of chicken, stuffing and gravy. Big Cypress had pesto tortellini and I had veg, chicken ramen. They had 2 good climbs today, of 2500 feet, one was first thing this morning and the second Killington. AWOL doesn't say it, but the sign on the Mtn does. Killington had a good boulder scramble for Shawn to "practice" on. As many many more are up ahead. They were tired but in good spirits. Shawn had a toe nail cut into its neighbor toe, little bloody but cleaned it up and will wrap with KTape in the morning. Big soaked his feet in Epsom salt till pack prep time before going to bed. We were in bed by 7:20pm. Critter Report:Big Cypress treed a porcupine, not on purpose, but the lil guy got scared, quills went up and he hurried up the tree. Big stayed to video it and watched as it made its way down the tree. Porcupines climb down exactly the same path they went up and do it going butt first. Yes, they climb down backwards or in reverse. I learned that years ago in Michigan at a porcupine sanctuary. Pretty funny & cute to watch!
Date: 2016-09-06
From: VT 12 / Barnard Gulf Rd

To: US Post Offiice Hanover NH
Miles today: 22.4

VT 12/Barnard Gulf Rd to for miles 23.7Olivers trail name wish bone! On our first day out, a couple of hikers called him Wish Bone. A PBS show for kids a few years back. So...I couldn't remember what they called him. Didn't write it down. Then yesterday Ontario & few other hikers called him Wish Bone! Done!! So...we slept well at Daniel's barn last night! Shawn slept in the loft of the barn. Ontario's group with TuneUp both military vets are hiking in a group like 30 plus strong. They all crashed at the barn. Some even slept in the flatbed trailer parked next to our truck! I took a picture!!Bacon & Eggs with Tortillas in loo of toast. And my guys were off at 625am. Daniel came out to visit. Everyone started to rise and visiting commenced! I met TuneUp...he's excited to meet Big Cypress. He's a Marine that got out, then wanted in, so since he has a family went back in, but into the Coast Guard.I helped Crash Pad & his wife slack pack. Also, gave Caveman, Pyro and TuneUp rides into Hanover. Dropped them off at the post office, in the heart of Dartmouth College. Went and got our room at Sunset Motor Inn. Then Pyro called me. Needed a ride to hotel. So....when I got back to the post office, they all piled back in & I dropped Caveman & TuneUp at the ball field for the college. They allow parking & stealth tenting (in woods near by). Pyro had reserved room about 4 miles past our sleep spot. I dropped him. Realized I missed a call from Big, by 30 minutes. I called Big back, he said Animal hurt his knee & needed to get off it, elevated & ice! I went to near where Big said he was & Animal was 15 minutes behind. No sign of them. So i went to Podunk Rd. Nope, not there. So...I drove the road walk they had to do, as the AT walks thru towns today. There's my Big Cypress. I stop, he refills his water and a van pulls up. It's Miss Bobbi!! She's been reading our journals & we've been in touch via email along our early AT journey. It was so nice to meet her. Big hiked on, Miss Bobbi & I went to where Animal would come out of the woods. Just as I get turned around, there he is. Animal sat on the tailgate & we chatted with Miss Bobbi, aka The Hat Lady. She said she shuttled Subman & Suds to the Sunset Motor Inn, where we r staying tonight. Miss Bobbi also helped us get in touch with Sooner or Later. He's coming here to see us in the morning!! So, showers, clean clothes, pizza from Ramunto's, in bellies, all before 6:55 pm. The Sunset Motor Inn, nice and reasonably priced for college town where tuition is 50k plus. Shawn's trail name...Animal it is! Plus, as Animal from Muppets...its also appropriate!!He's planning on more hiking with his friends in the future. He likes it!! He said!!
Date: 2016-09-07
From: US Post Offiice Hanover NH

To: Sunset Motor Inn Hanover area NH
Miles today: 0.0

We woke at 6 am, after a good night sleep. We were in touch with Sooner or Later, who we spent several days with off & on in Virginia. Last time we saw him, we think, was Thunder Mountain. I'd have to check our journal to be certain. Anyway, we were so very happy to see his smiling face this morning at about 730am. We visited with us for about an hour, as he had meeting at 930 am at church. It was so nice for Roger to drive out to see us! Boy oh boy, he really had an impact on us on the trail and we really enjoyed spending time with him then and now!It's now 3:52 pm. I made a run to walmart, it was a mini walmart, so...had to go to Price Chopper. We had our dinner, rotisserie chicken, mac n cheese, and greek noodle salad. I had some steamed dumplings & sushi. We all had a frozen Friendly's Sundae and now we are just watching some TV & resting!
Date: 2016-09-08
From: Sunset Motor Inn Hanover area NH

To: Lyme-Dorchester Rd
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: overcast clouds

REVISED PLAN to mile 1766.5 Lyme-Dorchester Rd for 19.5 Instead of the 17.4Hanover NH Post Office 1747.0 to Grafton Tuenpike/Dorchester Rd mile 1764.5 for 17.4 milesOn Tuesday, Big Cypress hiked a bit with Thistle. I heard about her, as she is hiking with a broken rib. She was one of the three of us, of broken bone discussion at Daniel's Red Barn, along with me and Scooch with broken arm.My hikers were on the trail by 6:05 am. The normally busy Post Office area of Main St & Lebanon St., was still sleeing! It was a calm beginning to the day. Cool & Cloudy at 64°. WishBone & I stopped to gas up & clean the back window, then head back to the motel. We rested until a little after 8, when the included breakfast was ready. After breakfast, we finished packing up, got a shower, and called my folks to tell them all is well. In case no cell service at next road crossing/meeting spot. We head out about 10:30 am. Arrived at 11:30 & no phone service. Todays hike consists of Moose Mountain, highest peak of 2293 feet. Also, Holts Ledge, described in AWOL as precipitous drop-off, with views.So, Bill Ackerly used to open his home & yard to hikers. He also had ice cream...a hiker treat! Unfortunately, Bill passed away in May & the family rented out the property and it's no longer open to hikers, confirmed by a sign posted at the end of the driveway. So, on this word TURNPIKE. Grafton Turnpike is not what we all invision. Its a sleepy lil road, yes paved, maybe a "turnpike" in the 17 or 18 hundreds, but not what we all see in our minds eye in 2016. It's a little 2 lane country road & Dorchester is dirt. There is a very large parking area and very near the Dartmouth Ski lift area, guess its overflow parking area, perfect for hiker drop & pick up.They met me very early, a few minutes before 2 pm. So, they had a sandwich, as we visited with Crash Pad & wife, 2Pak. Then we moved on the additional 2 miles. Arriving at about 3, with Sasquat 2 minutes ahead of them. He moved on up the trail.Critter Report: WishBone & I took the smaller roads to the Grafton spot. We saw a pond, with a lot of Canada geese.As we were almost at the crossing, a doe decided to not cross the road and head back into the woods to our right.
Date: 2016-09-09
From: Lyme-Dorchester Rd

To: 25C Lake Tarleton Rd
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Lyme-Dorchester Rd mile 1766.5 to NH 25C Lake Tarleton Rd. mile 1785.8 for 19.3 miles.Highlights of Hike today. Smarts Mountain & firetower @3230 feet. Mt Cube @ 2911 feet. Autumn reds & golds are just starting to dot the landscape. Just a hint right now!Met FF Painter from FL now PA, she started in Delaware Water Gap. She walked into Calamity Jane's restaurant in Warren NH, where I was using the WiFi and decided to have Bagelwich, breakfast sandwich. It was outstanding!! I also met Charlie, he offered to let us sleep in his field. We have been able to sleep roadside/trailside, until road 25C, where it says No Camping! There's a campground a mile & half from Warren, rates are $41 less 20% because its shoulder season. Those spots have water & electric. Not sure what we will do as of 1pm today. I hung out at Jane's until about 1230-1. Sat at the road crossing until Big arrived at 3. Animal arrived at about 345. We went straight to the camp ground, in Warren. Got nice shady spot #13, qent to the pool for swim & then to Jane's for dinner. My Hikers had AYCE Fish & I had Patty Melt. After a hassle with my phone & calling Sprint yesterday, getting NO where! Using WiFi at Jane's and searching the Internet, it seems our new Samsung Galaxy S7 phones have an issue connecting to Data while Roaming. My phone doesn't even show it as an option, like Big's. Nobody is sure how to fix it, so....we are out of luck. Frustrating!! It is a problem with Samsung phones I guess, somebody even got rid of S5 for S7 & found it to have same problem!! So, after dinner we went to Moose Scoops for ice cream and back to camp, feet soaking for Big Cypress and bed!! PS water or lack of it has been an issue on many sections of trail near here. Hiker, "digging" thru mud for water was even seen! I'm loaded down with it, so I can give it out if needed!!Something I learned today while listening to an audio book. A secret to a successful marriage, not having a Plan B. It distracts from Plan A, which all commitment should be focused. Do Not have a backup plan "if" your marriage doesn't work out, simple but makes sense!! The actor Will Smith said it was a simple thing his father told him about life in general. Critter Report:Big saw, bunny, red squirrel and lots of Ruffed Grouse, oh and a grass snake. I saw....Turkey - flock of them on Dorchester Rd and then couple Toms near Lake Tarleton.Ruffed Grouse on the dirt road, near the former Bill Ackerly home. No chorus of birds in the morning like months past. Maybe already migrating. We used to wake up at o'dark-thirty (430am-ish)to singing and a chorus of God's feathered singers.
Date: 2016-09-10
From: 25C Lake Tarleton Rd

To: Lost River Rd NH 112 Kinsman Notch 
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: scattered clouds

NH 25C 1785.8 to NH 112 Lost River Rd, Kinsman Notch 1799.7 for miles for 13.9 milesToday's hike is to conquer Mt Moosilauke @ 4802 feet.Thistle greeted me with a warm hello. She hiked Moosilauke south, instead of north this morning. The hikers mentioned below, some slack packed & were very happy to have done it. The rocks were slippery when it wasn't rainy, as the trail came down parallel a waterfall, so it was moist!!Stumbleweed and brotherMohican from Cleveland OH and Chipolte stopped to chat before hitching into town. As well as Crash Pad, 2Pak, Sasquat and another couple (names slipped my mind). Pyro & Polar Bear stopped to say hello at 3. They went 9 miles & left at about 8 this morning. So...my guys should be close. The super warm sunny skies this morning gave way to clouds & a short lived rain shower, more like sprinkles. My hikers arrived at about 4 today. Just as I suspected, close behind the other hikers we now have as trail family. The rain let up and we visited while they rested! Moosilauke was amazing and a "good hike." Slippery, even when dry, but more of a challenge due to the rain. All is well...thank you God for keeping them safe!!