morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-30
From: RPH Shelter, NY

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter, NY
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: 0

It was nice to hike today without the threat of rain. The humidity was low and the temperature was mild. All in all, it was a comfortable hike. Today also had another Deli stop for lunch. I'll take advantage of them as long as they last. I figure this is a mid-hike energy boost. This isn't going to last much longer, and I'll be back on a strict trail food diet again.New York has been a tough state for me to hike. The rain has made the rocks slick and easy to slip on. I now have a scrape on each knee and elbow. Hopefully the rocks will be less and the trail dry down the trail, but I won't hold my breath waiting.I'll be getting off the trail tomorrow for two days at home. I will resume the hike on the 4th. I'm going home for some rest, see friends and family, and to adjust the food and gear in my final mail drops.I'm resolved to complete this hike on Katahdin in Maine. I still have many challenges ahead, and I'll have to be at my best to meet them. I'm looking forward to the White Mountains in New Hampshire, and all of Maine. I hope I get to see Moose in the ponds and walking around. I've seen Moose before, but this time it will be different. I'm not sure why either - maybe because of all the pictures I've seen of them. It would complete my wildlife triple crown moose, bear, and rattlesnake.Old GoatSue's Note: When Old Goat called this evening, he was alone at the shelter and inside his tent. While we talked, he heard noises that sounded like someone else had arrived at the shelter. It turned out to be Sputnik. That was a surprise ¢ Old Goat though Sputnik was about a week ahead of him! I met Sputnik when I went to Damascus, VA ¢ he¢s a very nice guy. Old Goat's Dad and sister, Terry, met him, too. Sputnik said he zeroed a couple days in a town because of the bad storms.
Date: 2006-07-03
From: Schaghticoke Road/Bulls Bridge Road, NY

To: Schaghticoke Road/Bulls Bridge Road, NY
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: 0

Cell n/a.Today was consumed working on my gear and the maildrop menu and schedule. I've set aside cold weather gear I'll need in New Hampshire and Maine. Sue will send them to me as I reach there. I've also rearranged food items and added some new items to the remaining plan. I'm now ready to go for the end zone and score the touchdown!Two major things I got done today was to spend time with my grandchildren, Kyle and Natalie. The time I spent with them is priceless, it made this trip home worth it. The other was to have John and Kim over for dinner, and to have real good conversations with them. Thanks for coming - I really enjoyed having you here.Well all is set for an early departure tomorrow morning; I hope I don't forget anything. We'll be driving back to CT, and I'll get back on where I got off. Tomorrow night should be interesting to see which hikers I'll be grouped with. It would be great to see people I haven't seen in a long time. It will also be nice to meet new people, too.That's it for now, early wakeup tomorrow. GoodnightOld GoatSue's Note: It was a wonderful day. I love having Old Goat home - it's going to be so hard to have him get back on again tomorrow, but we both know we have to part for him to finish his dream.   An interesting observation from when we arrived home Saturday evening. In the past week I had replaced the carpeting in our basement. We have a semi-finished basement - no drop ceiling and just pieces of old carpet (from when we had new carpet installed upstairs years ago) covering the concrete floor. I've been wanting to get better carpet for a long time now, and decided that now was the time to do it...since we were having friends over this weekend. I found cheap carpet and installed it myself. It's not perfect...but it's perfectly fine for the basement and I'm satisfied. I didn't tell Old Goat I did it - when he came in the house through the basement he noticed the different carpet immediately. The surprise was that it felt "normal" to him. When he went upstairs (no changes up there), he commented that it felt odd to be there....hmmm! My guess is that the new carpet made the basement feel like some of the motels he's been staying in, thus..."normal" for him for the last 3 1/2 months.
Date: 2006-07-05
From: Mt. Algo Lean-to, CT

To: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to, CT
Miles today: 17.3

Cell good.I spent last night with two new thru-hikers. They started at Bear Mountain heading north to Katahdin, then they'll get a ride back to Bear Mountain and head south to Springer. Good luck Lily and Bob, you'll get the hang of it.I hiked alone all day as I'm out of sync with all the others. I'm not concerned though, I'll come upon a group and I'll have new partners. I checked Coyotebec and Gumby's Trail journal, they're a day ahead of me. I'll see if I can catch them in a few days. The hiking in CT is about the same as NY. The big difference is the rocks are not wet and slick.I was hoping to go further than I did today, but I just ran out of energy. I shouldn't feel bad, I did hike 17 miles.The excitement for the day came when I crossed the Guinea Brook - I walked across a fallen tree. About halfway across I got scared and had to make a decision...go forward or go back. I decided going back was more dangerous, so I went forward. I made it across safely and I'm proud of that. Someone wrote in the shelter journal that he had the same feeling, he went back and walked around by using roads.Old GoatSue's Note: Old Goat told me today that it turned out to be a good thing he stopped short at the Mt. Algo Lean-to yesterday. This morning he met up with a SOBO section hiker who experienced the wrath of the storm last evening. The guy had planned to camp on a cliff and watch fireworks last evening, but he had to take shelter when the storm came through (not the kind of fireworks he was hoping to see!). The best he could do was to crouch under a rock for two hours, and he got soaked anyway. He said it was awful.Old Goat said the couple he met at the shelter last night started at this time of year because she (trail name "Lilly" - from a kids book she likes) just retired as a teacher. Bob (no trail name yet) retired in the winter, so they waited until she retired to start hiking the AT. They asked Old Goat a lot of questions and he enjoyed giving them advice and encouragement. I feel that one of the most important messages he gave them was to not get intimidated or discouraged when they see thru-hikers blow by them. Lilly and Bob are just starting and it will take a while for them to become "seasoned" hikers. Nearly all of the thru-hikers started slow and had to overcome aches and pains to get where they are now.Old Goat talked about the white blaze markings on the AT. Some sections aren't very well marked. He said that if he hasn't seen a blaze in a while he turns around and looks back. Often he'll see a white blaze in the SOBO direction, and that's enough to confirm he's still on the correct trail.
Date: 2006-07-06
To: Sue's Note - Special Friends!!
Miles today: 0.0

I have to take some time to thank Dean, Brenda, Wanda, Jeff, and Tim. Old Goat wrote about friends a while ago, and he talked about how special Dean, Brenda, Wanda, Jeff, and Tim are. I echo his sentiments, and I want to let you know some of the special things they are doing while Old Goat is on his adventure.I know I can call on them ANY time, day or night, for ANYTHING. It is such a comfort to know that!A few days ago I wrote about putting new carpet in our basement. The rest of the story is how I got it here. Getting the carpet was a spur of the moment decision - I had to move stuff to get to a small refrigerator we have downstairs to put sodas in for the party. The fridge was way in the back corner behind lots of stuff, so I had to move many things to get to it. Since I had to move so many things, I decided to check into the price of carpeting and consider getting it now. I went to Home Depot and found carpet I liked (happened to be the cheapest - cool!). I was excited and wanted to buy it, but I wasn't in a vehicle that could get it home. I called Dean. He claimed he wasn't busy and Dean, Brenda, and Tim came right over and brought my carpet home for me right then. THANK YOU!To help me get ready for the party, last week they put up a huge tarp cover in our back yard, filled two large coolers with ice and brought them over. THANK YOU!They went to Old Forge for the weekend, but came down from Old Forge to be here Sunday with Old Goat!!! That was so special because they had just visited him the weekend before. After the party, they went back to Old Forge for the rest of the weekend! We are so touched that they came back for the party, and we loved having them here! THANK YOU!!Today they gave me a wonderful surprise! They came and took down the tarp, packed up the picnic tables, coolers, and other chairs they loaned us - but that's not the surprise...they had told me they might do that today. The surprise was that they mowed our lawn, too! I was approaching the house and wondering how I would be able to mow the lawn this evening because Old Goat hadn't called yet, when I found the lawn beautifully mowed!! I called to thank them, and Brenda said "we did trail magie last weekend, and decided to do some home magic today." Magic it was, and it made my day! THANK YOU!!So, as Old Goat said, some friends are very special. Dean, Brenda, Wanda, Jeff, and Tim are those friends. THANK YOU, friends, for being the special people you are. We love you! I love you!
Date: 2006-07-06
From: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to

To: Sages Ravine Brook Campsite, MA
Miles today: 23.2

Well I'm through with Connecticut and I'm now in Massachusetts. I went from one state who's name I couldn't spell, to one I do even worse with. I'll be glad to get to Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine I don't have to look them up every time I type them.Today's hiking went very well. I actually hiked farther than I thought I would. The terrain was either flat or the hills gradual, except for one. Bear Mountain, CT, had a gradual south side, so I was able to climb it without much trouble. There is a pile of stone monument on top, so you certainly know you've reached the top. Leaving there heading North becomes a challenge. The trail is then a steep downhill rock climb. I couldn't immagine doing it on a wet day. Fortunately the rocks were dry and I had a decent footing most of the way down. At one point I threw my hiking sticks down and climbed down. When I reached the bottom, I was then in Massachusetts. That make ten states completed and four left to do. A while back I wrote how amazed I was that I only had 1000 miles left, tonight I have 682 miles left.Tonight I'm at a campsite with a caretaker onsite. Most sites are remote and unstaffed. I don't know why there is someone here though. It may be for rescue or something like that, I'll try to ask the guy in the morning if he's awake when I leave.Old Goat Sue's Note: Old Goat was very surprised to see ¢Afterburner¢ today. (His trail name, ¢Afterburner,¢ comes from the guy¢s job and how fast he hikes. He used to work on jet engines.) Old Goat hasn¢t seen him since early on the trail. Afterburner lives in CT, so he had gone home for 8 days. His son had just come home from Iraq and Afterburner spent some precious time with him. He didn¢t think he¢d see anyone he knew after being off the trail for 8 days, so he was pleasantly surprised to run into Old Goat. Afterburner is hiking slow for these first three days back on, figuring he¢s out of shape somewhat after 8 days. Old Goat said Afterburner will blow by him soon after he gets going up to speed again. Old Goat enjoyed hiking and talking with Afterburner for a while today.
Date: 2006-07-08
From: Tom Leonard Lean-to, MA

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin, MA
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: 0

Cell good.My hike today lasted about 12.5 hours. I started at about 7:00 am and ended at about 7:30 pm. I took breaks, and at one point I walked 2 extra non-counting miles for good water. I walked into Tyrington, MA, for the water. I then made Gatorade and drank the whole quart to rehydrate.About a mile after I returned to the trail I came upon trail angels "Short Job" and "Green Lantern." They had come in from Saratoga Springs, NY, to do the magic. Unfortunately there wern't many hikers that came through though. I stayed a while and enjoyed talking with them.Green Lantern said he had section hiked Georgia around the time I was there. He mentioned that he hiked from Springer Mtn to Deep Gap, NC. I remembered a New York car there and described his car. It's things like that that makes me think "What a small world."I'm in a trail cabin for hikers. There are bunks, a kitchen, and it's all enclosed with screens on the windows. Hopefully I'll get a good night's sleep - I have a real mattress under me. I initially thought this bed was taken. I thought I would have a bed without a mattress, but I lucked out.I spoke with DieHard this evening and hopefully we'll get to see each other tomorrow. I think I mentioned he'll be heading out on the trail again on Monday. He's starting further up the trail than where I'm at. There was a chance we wouldn't have seen each other. I hope it works out tomorrow.Old Goat
Date: 2006-07-12
From: Seth Warner Shelter, VT

To: Goddard Shelter, VT 
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: 0

Cell broke.I started today early, and was off by 6:30 am. The morning hike went well under cloudy skies, with a threat of rain. The rain started about 1:30pm, just after I committed to hike 8.3 more miles. At first it came down as a light shower, but it soon became a torrential downpour! By that time I was between shelters, with only one option ¢ to hike to the next shelter.By the time I arrived here, the shelter was full, and I was soaked to the bone! I proceeded to make supper, as I needed something to warm me up. I then set up my tent in between showers. I'm now inside my tent trying to stay warm and dry.I met my first SOBO (southbound) thru-hikers today. They started on Katahdin and are heading South. They've done what I have to do, and vice versa. We talked about our experiences, and offered advice from our experience.I hiked so hard to get here I'm exhausted and brain dead. I'll try to include more tomorrow. Old Goat Sue's Note: We didn't talk today, but a few days later Old Goat told me about these couple days we didn't talk. He was so cold when he arrived at the shelter this evening, that he was glad the food he had on hand was beef soup and chicken stew. The weather has been quite hot lately, so he dreaded hot foods like the soup and stew, but it was perfect for tonight's supper. Eating it warmed him, so he was okay to sleep in his tent this night. The biggest thing about this date that he doesn't write about is that the SOBO's he met today started on the AT (at Mt Katahdin) in early June. He did some calculations....taking into account that they started slow, like he did at Mt. Springer - making it so he has about 40 days to go to be at Mt. Katahdin! He's thrilled to know that!He said it was pretty frustrating to find that the shelter was totally full, and the only spot he could find for his tent had a big lump, making it feel somewhat like he was in a lounge chair when he laid on his back, but was extremely uncomfortable when he tried to lay in any other position. He slept extremely well, however - because he was so tired.
Date: 2006-07-13
From: Goddard Shelter, VT 

To: Story Spring Shelter, VT
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: 0

Cell broke.I ended my journal entry rather quickly last night, so I'll resume that story first. When I bedded down in my tent, I was warm and dry. The tent held out the rain, and in spite of everything, I was comfortable. The spot where the tent was set up wasn't very smooth, but it had good drainage around it, and I felt the water wouldn't run under me. Fortunately, I was right, and I stayed dry. I felt good when I woke up, and I was ready to hike on today. The weather report on the radio said the rain would slow down this morning and stop this afternoon. I waited out the hard rain to stop before I starting hiking. When I did start hiking, the rain was coming down in the form of a mist - it was almost like I was inside of a cloud. About mid-day, the rain came down hard for about an hour, and then things got better. Right now the sun is out, and we are trying to dry our clothes and equipment out. Rainy days are rough on my morale. Now that the sun is out, I'm a happy camper again.Vermont has a trail called The Long Trail. The Long Trail goes north from the Massachusetts border, all the way to the Canadian border (about 287 miles long). For 97 miles, the AT and the LT are one and the same. Just after Rutland, VT, the AT splits from the LT, and heads east to New Hampshire, and the LT continues north to Canada. We are now sharing the shelters and trail with LT hikers.I'm will be sleeping in my tent again tonight. I had more time to find a good site and set it up. I sleep better on the ground in the tent than I do in the shelters. I also like not being bitten by mosquitoes.Old Goat
Date: 2006-07-16
From: Manchester Center, VT

To: Lost Pond Shelter, VT
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: 0

Cell good.It was difficult leaving Sue at the trailhead and entering the woods to hike. We had an excellent zero day together, and I didn't want it to end. This is the third time Sue has met me in trail towns, plus the weekend at home. She knows my chores routine, and helps me get things done. The only drawback with the chores is that they get in the way of our time together. I enjoy being with her and would prefer centering our attention on us instead of the chores. Oh well, this isn't going to last for ever, and we'll be together at home again soon.Once I entered the woods I ran into a cooler of sodas that were put out there by children in a day care center. I took a minute to write a thank you note in the notebook they had there. I know kids enjoy being a part of an adventure, and this surely qualifies as one.The trail started to climb soon after entering the woods. This climb would eventually bring me on top of Bromley Mountain, which also happens to be the top of a chairlift for a ski slope. I was shocked to see an observation tower, the chairlift, and a building up there. I took a few pictures of all of that because they looked cool.I soon descended back down the other side of the mountain and onward towards my destination. I had a few more climbs to do, but they went weren't as bad as we stayed at a decent elevation all day. I hiked until about 8:15 pm tonight in order to make the miles I felt I should do. I thought I would get here sooner than that, but I misjudged how long it would take. Once I realized I would be hiking late, I decided to have dinner at the last shelter while it was light out and not wait until I got here. My dinner was some leftover Prime Rib from last night¢s dinner on a bagel, washed down with a quart of Gatorade. This had to be my best trail dinner yet. It sure beat the Pickle and Pimento sandwiches.The weather today was perfect, the sun was shining, the temperature was warm but not too hot, and the humidity was bearable. I'm not sure what the forecast is for the next few days is - I hope there is more of the same.Oh, with getting all wet coming out of Bennington, I forgot to mention a note I found at the trailhead on Route 9. It was from Mike, a fellow I met at the Hiker Hostel in Georgia. He's from Albany, NY and he figured I'd be passing through soon. We didn't hook up, but it was cool to see the note addressed to me. Thanks Mike, I appreciated it. I put it in my pocket, but it got ruined in the rain.That's about it for today.Old Goat
Date: 2006-07-17
From: Lost Pond Shelter, VT

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter, VT 
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: 0

Cell good.Today the temperature reached 94 degrees, which made hiking a little more difficult. I started hiking at 6:45am when it was still cool, and ended at 4:30pm when it was really hot.Vermont has the fewest road crossings of any other state. The road crossings give us markers of where I'm at. I can then look in my Handbook to get an idea of how far I've gone. It feels more remote here in Vermont than anywhere else on the trail.The mud is starting to dry and the walking is better now. I'll be all right if there isn't any more rain to bring the mud back.Sorry I'm drawing a blank tonight. I guess the heat took a lot out of me. Hopefully I'll be more talkative tomorrow.Old Goat
Date: 2006-07-19
From: Cooper Lodge, VT

To: Stony Brook Shelter, VT
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: 0

Cell none.I slept pretty good last night, the temperature cooled down and the humidity was also lower. The only thing that puzzles me is the condensation on everything was heavy. I don't remember if I mentioned I set the tent up on a wooden platform. I remembered to get some pictures this morning, so they'll be posted in the future. I made a planned stop in the town of Killington to pick up my mail. Right next door to the Post Office is a Deli. Their lunch special was barbeque ribs, corn, and cole slaw. I've had a number of subs along the trail, so I decided to get the ribs. They were oka,y but most of all filling.Now that the rain has stopped, the trails in Vermont are pretty nice. I am again stepping on the mud as it is softer than the rocks and roots. Speaking of the mud, today I saw foot prints of moose - they look like deer prints. The reason I know it¢s moose is because the size of them is big - in fact the circumference is about the size of horse hoof prints. I've also seen moose poop; it, too, looks like deer, only bigger. I hope I get to see a moose on this adventure.The mosquitoes weren't as bad as they've been on other days. The temperature reached 84 degrees, the sun was shining, and the humidity was low. I guess it was too nice for them to pester us. Also, with those conditions, hiking was comfortable. The first half of my day, before Killington, was mostly downhill. After Killington it was a lot of uphill climbing. I don't particularly care for the hills, but I take them in stride and keep heading for Maine.Also, I am no longer on the AT that is also the LT. I'm heading east towards NH now, the LT is still going north. I was taking a picture of the sign telling me the trails were separating, when along came Orangeman. I've never met him before, but I knew he was close by. The reason I knew this was because when I was home a few weeks back I went to the EMS store to pick up some supplies. When I mentioned I was hiking the AT, the clerk said another guy, Orangeman, had been in earlier. He told me where Orangeman had left the trail, and that was about the same place I did. Well, anyway, it has taken this long for us to meet. He told me he grew up in Cazenovia, and he went back to visit family on July 4th.Old Goat