morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-22
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: The Inn at the Long Trail
Miles today: 16.4

I woke up refreshed this morning in part because I had been able to camp on top of a bed of pine needles, very comforting indeed.As I lay on my mattress and looked at the AWOL guide I noticed the trail profile went steadily upward from 1390 to 3928 feet. We were going to climb the famous Killington ski peak today. Hooah - better have that second coffee packet before we go. Up we went - very nice weather and terrain - but still winding up until we got to the last .2 miles which seemed like it went straight up over some slippery rocks. But finally we were on top and surrounded by beautiful views.Some families were up there looking awfully fresh and clean and we were told there was a gondola on the other side that one could ride up ("Wait a minute, we could have taken a gondola up?"). Among the visitors to the top were a couple of English football players who were running a training camp for American teenagers learning to play. We spoke with them and when we told them we had been hiking since March up the Appalachian Trail they peppered us with questions and comments: (Using a British accent) Are you staying in hotels every night? Whot, are you serious? What do you eat? Whot, you're kidding right? Where do you charge your phone? This is crazy we must have a picture with you to send 'ome; do you mind? Great fun with these two.Finally it was time to go and back down we climbed and then hiked on to US 4 where we hitched a ride to the Inn at the Long Trail to set up our tents across the street from the Inn and an Irish pub - which of course we needed to investigate to test the quality of their Guinness. It passed with flying colors. Then we retired to our tents having traveled through people and places from the AT to England to Ireland and back again. Once again you never know where you will end up on the AT. A good day.
Date: 2014-07-23
From: The Inn at the Long Trail

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

We packed up and made our way to Rutland to resupply. Before heading into Price Chopper, we stopped at the Yellow Deli, an eclectic restaurant and hostel, for some breakfast. While drinking some great coffee and jamming down cinnamon buns, eggs, bacon and bread, I was able to speak on the phone with our son David to discuss his packing list as he prepares to join us up in Maine. Now that he is back from Kuwait it is quite nice being able to ring him up and hear his voice on a more regular basis. Left the Yellow Deli in a good mood.Hit the trail right after noon and in a few miles passed through Gifford Woods State Park, famous not only for being right on the trail, but having coin operated showers - 50 cents for 5 minutes can you believe it? After getting our quarters from the office - I decided to splurge and spend a dollar for 10 minutes - we headed off to take the first shower in multiple days. I think the staff at the park was actually happy to see us head to the showers for some reason and I get the sense they would have paid the buck just to get us to take a shower. Not sure why.Then we moved on - and of course within the hour it started to rain. And I mean rain. It first got dark at 5:10 p.m. and by 5:15 the skies opened up. We got caught in an open area when the major thunder and lightning started so we quickly scooted through and back into the trees for cover. The rain found us though and we slogged up the side of Quimby Mountain with thunder and lightning cracking down around us. Keep moving or stop? We made the decision to keep moving up the hill in the cover of the trees but also decided we would stop well before the ridgeline to not test fate. By the time we arrived near the top, the thunder and lightning had moved on but the rain continued all the way to and into our campsite at Stony Brook Shelter. We set up in the rain and cooked our meal under the shelter overhang. Never has hot mashed potatoes, tuna, and Sleepy time tea tasted so good or been so successful in getting us back in the right frame of mind. Back to our tents and into warm, dry clothes and comfortable quilt listening to rain patter against the walls. Nice and once again we felt we had experienced a great adventure and thrived in good fashion. Did I mention another good day? It was.
Date: 2014-07-24
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Totman Hill Road
Miles today: 16.0

Woke up to a clear morning. Mike introduced me to a couple he had set up his tent next to the previous evening. A Czech couple with their dog ("be careful, he is a guard dog") who had escaped from Czechoslovakia in 1983 and had lived in the US since then. He definitely had some strong political views notable because people on the trail generally stay away from political discussions. After we were introduced, without prompting he opined that President Obama was really a communist and later asked me if I had heard about Benghazi passing on what he is hearing on Fox News and the internet. Time to go.We hiked over some good terrain with some interesting sections. I took this picture of a ladder that had been wired to a rock to help hikers negotiate a particular big rock. We stopped for lunch at a cabin with an overlook platform (see photos). Very nice views but I was particularly happy since I was able to get climb up and actually get a Sprint signal. Most of this trip has involved me trying to find a signal while those with Verizon and AT&T watch movies and old Seinfeld episodes in their tents. I am the new "Can you hear me now?" guy. On we went pushing until 8 pm when I managed to find a decent site and we stealth camped. Stealth camping is camping on usually previously used but unofficial sites along the trail. Most thru hikers are good about camping in spots under the Leave no Trace concept and we did that for the night. With mosquitos starting to track us down, we retired to our respective tents and in for the night listening to a nearby brook babble. I lay in my tent thinking some deep thoughts: Was my new Czech friend right - is the President really a communist? Should I have switched earlier to Verizon? Should I come down future ladders facing out or in? Is that mosquito inside my tent? I fell asleep without resolving any of these questions except perhaps the one with the most import: I confirmed that the mosquito is outside my tent. I nodded off to sleep thinking what a good day.
Date: 2014-07-25
From: Totman Hill Road

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: few clouds

A bit of a late start this morning, 7:45 AM, knowing that we were going to have to go only 14 miles and would be stopping in two places to recharge our batteries.The first was Cloudland Market right off the trail after 3 miles where we enjoyed homemade ice cream, root beer and beef jerky and this picturesque Vermont horse and farm scene. Then off we hiked to make West Hartford, Vermont where there was supposed to be a grocery store with deli. Along the way, Chance came up behind us and told us he had heard that the grocery store was shut down. What? OK, let's not panic, keep moving.We came out into the town and as we were turning west after the bridge, a man signaled us over and we went over to find other hikers sitting on his lawn enjoying ice cold sodas and some nice shade. We relaxed there a bit - again, trail angels can pop up anywhere to make your day - and then moved out to try to get to the Happy Hill Shelter 4 miles on. A wee bit of a climb and we made our way into the site. Since it was a Friday night, the shelter was hosting some weekend hikers, clearly there to party. We moved off a bit and got set up. The highlight was our setting up our cook site on top of some wasp holes and paying a price for that mistake. The wasp that got me went through the top of my sock with what felt like a nail gun. We moved to a different cook site.A good meal and we enjoyed our time there knowing that tomorrow would be a relatively short day as we enjoyed a twofer: We would enter a couple of great trail towns, Norwich and Hanover and pass into New Hampshire. Off to our tents and thankful for both a good day past and the idea of a good one coming.
Date: 2014-07-26
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Norwich home stay
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Up and out today and a quick hike where we came out into the town of Norwich, Vermont. A quaint town and we stopped at the community center to enjoy a great breakfast and share stories with some of the locals. Very enjoyable and the coffee was especially notable. Then we continued on crossing into the "live free or die" state of New Hampshire. 12 down and 2 to go, we are for the first time getting the sense that we might actually be seeing the finish line way off in the distance. But of course we must first tackle the New Hampshire Whites and Maine's rugged terrain and 100 mile wilderness. All in due time, one day at a time.We had been told that the Dartmouth Outing Club in Hanover had a list of people willing to host thru hikers for free overnight in their homes, some for up to 3 nights. We called down the list and sure enough, a woman named Lizann said she could come pick us up and we could stay with her. That started a phenomenal trail angel day with her shuttling us around, putting us up in her home and cooking a great steak dinner for us which we ate while sharing stories on her back porch. She was a great hostess and representative of the great people we have met in these two communities.Went to sleep, showered, laundry done, a good meal eaten and a roof over our head. Did I mention it was pouring outside? A good day with good people once again.
Date: 2014-07-27
From: Norwich home stay

To: Hanover
Miles today: 0.0

Today we basically played catchup shopping for food, eating, and as a special treat spending 2 hours in the local library reading.Near the end of the day we did our shopping in the local co-op and, at the checkout counter, we met a guy named David, a retired ophthalmologist who now teaches retirees on various subjects. After a bit of a discussion, he said we had to come to his house to meet his wife Fay. Once over there they asked us to stay for dinner and we had a wonderful discussion. We then received a grand tour of the remodeled house they lived in in Hanover. Among the many nice things in their home, we were shown a wonderful library/man cave with a eclectic mix of books and then down to look at a model train setup in the basement that he had built over 2 years. Classic!We were then taken back to Norwich and our home base where we wrapped things up and got ready for the next day to move out. Another good day.
Date: 2014-07-28
From: Hanover

To: Moose Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.9

We now head out in the pouring rain to make some tracks to Glencliff and then into the Whites. Thanks again to Lizann for a fantastic stay in her home and giving us the opportunity to rest our legs.Onward and upward. Late trek out of Hanover since we stopped at the library to catch up on blog. It was raining so we were not that upset at the late departure. Finally time to go and we pressed on out of town and made good time to settle in at Moose Mountain Shelter. Although a great stay in Norwich/Hanover, it feels good to be back on the trail. Got settled in late, cooked and ate in the dark in a light rain and into our tents. Another good day on the AT.
Date: 2014-07-29
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: South Jacobs Brook
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: broken clouds

Made good time today along the trail. A high point was stopping in at Bill Ackerly's home just off the trail, a man known as the "ice cream guy" since everyone who stops by gets an ice cream. On our walk in I noticed that he had a "Free Tibet" bumper sticker on his car and Tibetan prayer flags over his porch. In speaking with him, I found out that he had been to Tibet and that his son had been former head of the International Campaign for Tibet. We had a wonderful discussion about our trips to Tibet and Buddhism and I found Bill to be a thoughtful listener befitting his previous experience as an Army psychologist. Great visit and another turn on the AT in which the unexpected can happen anytime.Pressed on to get the miles in and, as it was getting dark, I found a couple of sites next to a bridge over the South Jacobs Brook. Mike joined a few minutes later and we cooked and ate our dinner on the bridge before hanging our bear bag from its railing over the water. A good day.
Date: 2014-07-30
From: South Jacobs Brook

To: Hiker Hostel, Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 16.2

Q: What was the AT like? A: Oh, it's got its ups and downs.Today we had our ups and downs - prep I think for the Whites. We made good time in getting to Glencliff where I hoped 3 packages were waiting for us at the Hikers Welcome Hostel - cold weather gear for the Whites from Kim (thanks Emily for your great note and Kim for sending all!); a replacement shirt from Minus33 for the one that fell apart; and a new wool hat. Good to go in prep for weather in the Whites. We set up our tent outside and for a $15 fee got the site and a shower with soap, shampoo and a towel. We also were able to do our laundry there and got a shuttle in to Warren to get some additional food. Picked up some pizza to eat back at the hostel while watching a DVD. Tonight's feature: Platoon. Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe in some classic acting that was truly appreciated in the wilds of New Hampshire. After movie and pizza, we retired to our respective tents surrounded by other thru hikers north and south bound. Tomorrow we enter the Whites and our first challenge: Mt. Moosilauke, a 3800' climb right after breakfast. Can't wait - upward and onward! A good day of prep.
Date: 2014-07-31
From: Hiker Hostel, Glencliff, NH

To: North Woodstock, NH
Miles today: 9.3

Mt. Moosilauke. Those words are sure to bring back interesting memories for years to come. Out we went and up we went. Good, steady upward climb - a hump but doable. The big concern was going down the north side which dropped steeply from Beaver Brook Shelter to Kinsman Notch - a drop of 2000' over 1.5 miles (Our hostel manager: "I can take you over to the other side and you can slack pack up that side - much safer and that is the way 80-90% of the people do it. If it is raining, do not go down, stop at Beaver Brook!") These words as well as others we had heard made us rethink whether we were doing the right thing in coming down this steep downhill and filled our thoughts all the way over. The light rain also made us think about how slippery the rocks might be on the way down.Finally we arrived at the shelter and ate a quick lunch and decided to go for it. Steep does not accurately do justice to this drop. With a waterfall just off to our left, we descended rock by rock. In some places, wooden steps and rebar had been emplaced to help get down. Believe me, it had our full attention. About 200 meters from the bottom (I had gone on ahead), Mike slipped on a rock and was about to go over the edge on his stomach and down over a cliff when he was able to grab a tree root to stop his fall. He watched as his Gatorade bottle plunged over the edge and landed among the rocks. As he lay there thinking what a close call, in his head he heard someone talking about Justice David Souter. His audio book on the Supreme Court continued to play in his ear phones as he held on just short of the abyss. A close one but luckily he was not hurt.We decided to call it at the road and hitched into North Woodstock, NH and checked in at the Carriage Motel where we bought sandwiches and a couple of beers to relive the day and were also rewarded by Caddyshack playing on TV. Mike made it and we are in the Whites - a good day, all things considered.
Date: 2014-08-01
From: North Woodstock, NH

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We hitched over to Lincoln for a resupply and to mail our summer gear on to Gorham, NH, which we were unable to do in Glencliff.There we (1) ate at McDonald's; (2) stopped 100 meters later at a Dunkin Donuts and ate again; (3) mailed our goods out at the post office; (4) resupplied at Price Chopper; (5) picked up some food and fuel canister at an outfitters; and (6) stopped at Dunkin Donuts on the way out. Unable to get a hitch we called a shuttle and for $20, she drove us 5.5 miles to the trailhead. Late start so we did not get far stopping at the nice Eliza Brook Shelter on a very nice evening. The sound of the water rushing by lulled me to a nice sleep. Important for tomorrow, we are seriously into the mountains. A good day once again.
Date: 2014-08-02
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Above Liberty Springs campsite
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was all about moving up and down Kinsman Mountain and then up out of Franconia Notch to position ourselves for the Franconia ridgeline and climb above treeline. Stopped in at our first Appalachian Mountain Club hut, Lonesome Lake Hut, for a quick water stop and to see what the huts were like. Very nice bunks with people hiking in for a day or week and staying in a place that has dinner and breakfast cooked for you plus some nice side hikes. More on the European model, these huts allow folks to hike with a day pack and stay in nice digs for the night. Running water and a toilet - nice.Sailed down into Franconia Notch and made the long climb to Liberty Campsite. After getting some water we pressed on another half mile up a steep grade and found some nice sites still within the treeline. Tomorrow we go on to the Franconia ridgeline and into the alpine. A good day.
Date: 2014-08-03
From: Above Liberty Springs campsite

To: Stealth camp mi 1827
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: fog

Broke early and hiked up to Mt Lafayette along the Franconia ridgeline. We were treated to a beautiful day and fantastic views in every direction. Here we are above treeline and mostly among rocks although I notice a few plants and flowers fighting for survival at the top and in the winds. I walk stopping often to take in the views and watch other hikers off in the distance hiking along the ridge. It is really a great hike, one of the best on the AT. We make our way back down below treeline and stealth camp in a tight spot in the forest. What a good day it has been once again.
Date: 2014-08-04
From: Stealth camp mi 1827

To: Saco River
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

Pushed on through the Whites. We were treated to a nice relatively flat couple miles near Ethan Pond before dropping into Crawford Notch. There we had 3 treats. First, a former thru hiker was waiting there with some trail magic. Sodas, sandwiches, fruit, veggies and chips. We hungrily accepted his offerings and spent some good time talking with him. We noticed a few guys standing around. They turned out to be Karl Meltzer's support crew. You may remember me mentioning Karl in an earlier blog entry when we ran into him doing a recon for his speed attempt of the AT. A short while later he came out of the woods having covered 26 miles in 11 hours in the Whites and then pushing on to do another 14 that evening. I snapped this picture of him and his crew. We will see if he breaks the 45 day, 10 hour record. He will have to average over 48 miles a day to do so. Humbling. Finally we headed to a campground where we restocked on food, took a shower and did laundry. A nice treat as well. Then back to the trail where we camped next to a bridge, had our dinner and went to sleep to prepare for another rigorous day in the mountains. Yes, a good day.
Date: 2014-08-05
From: Saco River

To: Lakes of the Clouds hut
Miles today: 11.1

Beautiful day on the ridgeline walking among the "Pressies." Past Mts Eisenhower, Monroe, Jackson, and other nice peaks. Passed the Mizpah Spring Hut where we stopped for a quick break before pushing on to Lakes of the Clouds Hut. On arrival we asked if we could do a work for stay. This allows thru hikers to do some work around the hostel and in return we are allowed to eat leftover food from the paying guests and get a space on the floor to put our air mattresses on and sleep. They did have a spot and Mike and I cleaned dishes and scrubbed a pantry and in return were treated to some fine dining: chicken, quinoa, peas. mushroom soup, bread and excellent brownies. While there we were treated to this scene of fog rolling up a saddle from the valley below. This picture was taken just before we were enveloped by the cloud. At around 10 it was lights out and I set up my space under a long table. Laying in my sleeping bag, I thought about my family and also how lucky I am to have this opportunity tucked away high on a ridgeline snug in a hut and with a hot meal in my stomach. A good day.
Date: 2014-08-06
From: Lakes of the Clouds hut

To: Stealth camp, mi 1863
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: scattered clouds

A hard day in the fog and rain over the top of Mt Washington and along the ridgeline. We got an early start and hiked to the top of Mt Washington. Very slippery among the rocks and along the way we passed the Cog rail train chugging up the mountain (see photos). The peak was completely socked in so, after coffee and a sandwich we headed out. Rough going past Madison Hut with winds kicking up hard at points, covered in fog and intermittent rain. Still, there was something surreal about traveling above treeline in this weather making it a memorable one. Finally we started down. We passed a couple of camp spots and got caught hiking in the dark with our headlamps for about an hour and a half below treeline looking for a spot. Finally, found a tight spot for our two tents. Dinner at 10 and into our bags after a challenging but great day. Slept very well.
Date: 2014-08-07
From: Stealth camp, mi 1863

To: Zeta Pass
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Pushed into Pinkham Notch where we had a great all you can eat breakfast just before they closed down at the lodge. We then moved out for a tough hike up and down through multiple peaks of Wildcat Mountain. In the last part of the day, went over Mt Hight where the weather had come in hard. Very windy, foggy, blowing rain. I got a bit twisted around up there and went off on the wrong trail and spent about 15 minutes in that rough weather trying to get my bearings and back on the AT even heading back south on it for a few minutes before realizing my error.Finally made my way to a calm setting at Zeta Pass where we set up tents among the trees and had a good dinner and some tea before settling in. Another good day on the AT.
Date: 2014-08-08
From: Zeta Pass

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

Our last day in the Whites; what an adventure it has been. Today was filled with falls, big and small, and neither Mike or I could seem to get our heads in the game. Just a slog. Realized that we were likely feeling the cumulative effects of multiple hard days in the Whites so I proposed to Mike that we zero in Gorham tomorrow. My big fall off a boulder into the trees convinced me that a good rest would position us better for the final push through Maine. After pressing to the trailhead, we were picked up by Doc, our host at the Libby House where we got cleaned up and did our laundry before heading out to a nice dinner. Looking forward to a rest day tomorrow.
Date: 2014-08-09
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Took it easy today. Coffee, read a newspaper, took another shower, sat in the sun. April, a friend of Mike's from work came up to visit and graciously drove us around to get our resupply done. The highlight of my day was our son David rolling in from Boston to spend a few days hiking the AT with us. I had not seen him since he deployed last October to Kuwait so it was a real treat for me to see him up here. Really looking forward to hiking with him. A nice dinner and back to our new motel, the Royalty Inn. A good day.