morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-07-30
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Manchester Center,VT...Green Mountain House
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Slept in slightly today. Only 3 miles until breakfast in town. More easy miles on trail and less than an hour later I was at the road crossing. I got a hitch with the 1st car that passed. Amazing. ILOVERMONT. I got dropped off at the parking lot at the grocery store and I was immediately met by a former thru-hiker from 2005 who gave me a couple beers. Even though its not even 10am I can't turn down trail magic. It was chill talking with him about his hike and what to expect and also a few helpful hits.In town I met up with Cleanshave, Rawdog, and Pigeon at McDonalds. Surprise Surprise. Hikers in town 1st to do is find real food. It's funny how I now consider McDonalds real food.Then went over to EMS to get a few quick supplies. More fuel and a new headlamp. Then over the grocery store. What do you know, I bought way to much food again. I have enough to easily get to the whites while my next resupply is about 5 days. Oh well, it will all get eaten. Then we all traveled back over the McDonalds for round two and awaited our pick up from Jeff at Green Mountain House. And the NERO tour of the North begins.Chilled at the Green Mountain House for most of the day. Lounging around watching movies and just relaxing. What an amazing hostel. Great bunk room, shower, laundry, A/C, access to kitchen, big tv, internet, sodas, and a pint of ice cream per hiker. What more could I ask for. Very comfortable place to chill for the day. A couple of Long Trail hikers are also in here and they made a huge dinner. Cleanshave, Pigeon, and I got all the left overs. Potatoes, salad, cheeseburgers, and brownies.
Date: 2011-07-31
From: Manchester Center,VT...Green Mountain House

To: Lost Pond Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: clear sky

Chill morning at Hostel. Some long trail section hikers made a big breakfast and shared with everyone. Very nice. Pigeon, Cleanshave and I got a ride into town and hung around until noon. Just procrastinating the upcoming miles. We were able to get a quick hitch out of town and started hiking at 12:30. We are all memebers of the crack of noon hiking club. A quick 3 miles up hill and we were at the summit of Bromely Mountain. Great views from the observation deck. It was funny hanging out on the summuit watching people get off the chairlift to enjoy the views. They were all amazed that we hiked up here instead of took the lift. After a good hour on the summit it was time to hike on. Very easy anad gradual terrain with a quick rock scramble up Baker Peak. It's nice that after a tough climb we are rewarded yet again with another view.Cruised into shelter around 6:30. Another great day on the AT.
Date: 2011-08-01
From: Lost Pond Shelter

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: light rain

Another lazy morning at shelter and finally hit trail by 10am. Cruised the morning section which followed along a calming river. Made it down to little rock pond for an hour long break. Funny sitting here. I've sat on this same log three times in the past three years.Trail continued up hill to white rocks cliff then meandered down hill. The climbs are getting longer and tougher every day. One more 1000 foot climb then a very easy ridge walk followed by a gradual down. Just before the suspension bridge the trail had a change of pace and got really steep. On the way down I started to get a headache and lost alot of energy. After the suspension bridge their was a tough 500 foot rock scramble that completly kicked my ass. Slow miles and finally arrived at shelter by 7. After drinking alot of water and big mac and cheese dinner I still wasn't feeling well. Crawled into my sleeping bag early and passed out.
Date: 2011-08-02
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 16.4

After a long nights sleep I felt much better this morning. Another late start on trail. A quick steady uphill really got me ready for the day. At the top out of no where about a dozen coyotes made their presence known. The started singing just off trail. Although I couldn't see them they sounded very close. I just kept moving along. After a quick 4 miles Cleanshave, Pigeon and I reached another milestone, 500 miles to Katahdin. It's a great feeling to be under 500 miles. After a quick break there the weather changed slightly and a light rain began to fall.I made into Governor Clement shelter just before the heavy stuff. Chilled there playing cards with Pigeon until the sun came out again then started the long steady climb up Killington Peak, our 1st 4000 foot mountain since central Virginia.They were very slow miles for me up to the top but eventually made it to cooper lodge just below the summit. dropped my pack their and headed up the steep .2 side trail to the summit which offered amazing views. Planned on going into the ski lodge to get a soda and snack but upon arrival the lodge that I had been to last year was gone. Damnit! However the guys operating the gondola said I could ride down the botton and back for free. Down there I could buy a soda. Ahhh the trail makes sense again. It was a fun ride.After a taking the gondola back to summit, which is much easier than hiking, Cleanshave, Pigeon and I retro blazed ( or took the orignal AT) down to the Inn at the Long Trail. It offered reasonable priced room, cold beer and good food, and also a free breakfast. Perfect. A very comfortable night.
Date: 2011-08-03
From: Inn at Long Trail

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

Up early mainly to make the free breakfast at 7:30. A big omelet, home fries, toasts, fruit, chocolate milk, orange juice, and coffee. Yeah i'd say it was worth getting up early. After breakfast packed up my gear and decided to head into Rutland because well why not. I don't have to be in Hanover until Saturday morning.I was able to get a quick hitch into town from a couple of former thru-hikers class of 98. They are also triple crowners which means they have completed not only the AT but also the PCT and CDT. Pretty impressive hearing some of their stories. When I got into town I realized I had no real reason to go so except to kill time so that's what I did. Just walked around town and ate more food. Rutland seems like a very cool town. After hanging out for a few hours decided I should probably hike a few miles today. Not as easy getting a hitch out of town but lucky their is a bus service that brings hikers back to the Inn at the Long trail. After 1 more beer at the Inn I finally hit trail at 3.Trail was very easy as it meandered around Kent pond and pass an impressive waterfall. One slight climb up Quimby Hill, they are not even called mountains anymore, and few miles later I strolled into shelter at 6. Clouds started to roll in and the forest got very dark. It was very strange end to the day. It was a very strange end to the day. The birds stopped chirping and the chipmunks stopped playing around. All the animals seemed to have bunkered down for the night in preparation for a storm that would never come. An interesting night at shelter as for the 1st time I was out numbered by South Bounders 4-1. It was funny listening to their journey so far and they think they have falling into the SOBO blues. Haha it's been less than 500 miles and they expected the trail to be flat after the whites. Haha silly SOBOs.
Date: 2011-08-04
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: light rain

Fairly early start on trail. Had to get away from the SOBOs and was on trail by 8:30. Felt great on trail all day. Perfect weather. Partly cloudy with cool temps a slight breeze and even a brief sun shower. Terrain was mostly rolling hills nothing to challenging. I took my first long break on the roof deck at the look out tower. Great views looking down into the valley with some low lying clouds.Cruised through the terrain. I didn't pass or see one other north bound hiker but passed several south bounders. They are everywhere. The trail was very quiet and peaceful. Took another long break at the farm stand only .2 miles from the trail for chocolate milk and cookies. Continued my trek north and arrived into shelter around 6:30. Ahhhh more SOBOs. Oh well these guys were very chill and gave me some good information about the upcoming terrain, how to get through the whites cheap, best times to get work for stays at the huts, best huts, and even some stealth campsites. I am extremely excited to finally get to the white mountains of NH. The best part of trail is here. I can't wait.
Date: 2011-08-05
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Hanover,NH
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

Late start again on trail. I don't have to be in Hanover until Saturday morning to meet my parents so I was planning a short day on trail. On trail a little after 9 and after some more rolling hills and easy miles I was 5 miles in by 10:15. A nice little deli was there for a long break eating a chicken finger sub, soda, chips, and even a blackberry frappe. After a long two hour break I decided to should keep on moving. Made it to Happy Hill shelter, where I planned to stay, by 1:30. Well the water source dried up and it's way to early to stop so I just kept hiking. Felt great on trail all day. The miles just seemed to fly by and before I knew it was at the road that leads me into Hanover at 3:30. With tons of time to kill I walked around near by Norwich,VT before crossing the border in my 13th state, New Hampshire, home of the White Mountains.Arriving in Hanover I made my way down to one of the local pizza places where if you sign the register thru-hikers get a free slice of pizza. Absolutely. Not planning on going anywhere I sat at the bar for a few hours and watched most of the sox/yankees game. Around 9:45 I decided to leave and find a stealth camp site somewhere on campus. I can only imagine what people thought as they saw me stumbling down the street with my pack on. I found a decent spot just, pitched tent and just passed out.
Date: 2011-08-06
From: Hanover,NH

To: Hanover,NH...Panachy 
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up just off campus around 7am and wandered back into town. As I was sitting outside enjoying my coffee Pigeon and Cleanshave roll in. They got into town last night at 12:30 and set up camp right behind the elementary school. Haha nice. My parents showed up into town around 9. It was great to see them and also introduce them to a couple of people i've been hiking with. After a breif tour of the town my parents, cleanshave, pigeon, and I set off to find wal-mart and resupply. Again I bought way to much food. Probally enough to last me into Maine. Oh well. After resupply my parents took us out for a big lunch which was very appreciative. We arrived back into town around 2 to unload my resupply and to change out my sleeping bag. After a realizing my 15 degree bag is much bulkier than the 45 degree bag im carring now and also heavier I decided to stick with the 45 degree bag. I can only imagine that pissing off my dad because changing out sleeping bags was the reason to come up to Hanover. Oops. Oh well. We said our goodbyes and I continued to pack all the food I bought into my bag. Not sure what my plan was after that. We had heard that frat house called Panachy allows hikers to chill, take a shower, and do laundry so we made our way over there. A huge house with giant pillars in the front and the rumor was true the people at the house were very chill and welcomed us in. After a shower and laundry however the landlord came by and said to Pigeon and I that we are not allowed to stay in any campus affiliated building. Hmmmm. So Swan, Pigeon, and I went down to the local bar to wait for our laundry to be done and cleanshave hiked out. free slices of pizza. Perfect. At the bar we drank a few beers for free and also had a couple When returning back to the house the house manager said we were welcome to stay and not to worry about a thing. So we did. An interesting night hanging out with Dartmouth students playing dartmouth pong for a while. Tomorrow I definitaly need to get out of this town.
Date: 2011-08-07
From: Hanover,NH...Panachy 

To: Moose Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

After a late night partying with Dartmouth students I still got up and out of the house before 8 for fear that the landlord would come back. I slowly made my way around campus to the bagel shop that gave thru-hikers a free bagel with cream cheese. After that I hit up Dunkin Donut's for another bagel and some coffee. I finally headed back to the trail around 10. Slow and lazy again on trail. Got to the first shelter only .8 out of town and really contemplated just staying there for the night. But I must move on.The weather was cool, comfortable, and overcast with threats of rain. A couple of quick showers did move through. A very short day. Arrived to shelter at 2:45. I talked with a southbounder who was chilling there for while. He told me no good water for a couple days. Perfect. I really hope it pours tonight. Terrible water at this shelter. From a mudhole. 1st time on trail I had to boil my water to sterilize it. Anyway didn't feel like hiking any further today and decided to stop here. Read my book for a couple hours then Swan, Pigeon, and Outbreak strolled in. Chill night.
Date: 2011-08-08
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: Firewarden's Cabin
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: light rain

Late start again. I was up at 7:45 but with a miserable cloudy raining start I didn't hike out. Swan and Outbreak left while Pigeon and I hung around shelter. The sun showed up around 10:30 the clouds started to break and I finally hike out at 10:45. Perfect weather all day. Cool and breezy.I strolled up Holt's ledges which unfortunatly offered no views. Then down for a nice break at the ice cream man's house. He lets hikers hang out on his front porch and gives every hiker a free ice cream sandwich. He also has 50 cent sodas. Perfect.After a long break I started the steep rocky climb up smarts mountain. The AT is giving us a little taste of whats ahead. Rebarb wiring in the rocks for footing and steep rock steps. However their were many great views along the way. I reached the top around 5. From atop the fire to their were amazing 360 degree views. It was too cool not to stay so thats what I did while Pigeon decided to hike on. A very chill night with a great sunset from the top of the tower.Later in the night another SOBO showed up. Chill night as he shared some of whiskey and informed me about the upcoming conditions. Really excited to enter the White Mountains.
Date: 2011-08-09
From: Firewarden's Cabin

To: Hiker's Welcome Hostel
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Up early for the 1st time in a while and on trail by 9. Great terrain. Really enjoying being in NH. Lots of rock slabs and pine trees along trail. Completely different from the previous states. Weather was great all day. Partly cloudy with more cool temps. Terrain was pretty gradual for most of the day. One steep climb up Cube mountain with a bunch of false summits but it also offered some great views.After that the trail stayed very gradual with just a few minor ups and downs. A couple minutes before I got to road it started to drizzle. Then as I was walking the .4 down to the hostel it really started to rain. Perfect. Made it just in time before the heavy stuff. And what do you know Pigeon and Cleanshave are here too, lazy hikers. Another chill night at the hostel watching movies and drinking soda. Perfect I love the AT. Entering the White mountains in the morning with the initial climb up the four thousand eight hundred foot mount Mousalauke. This is the part of the trail I've been waiting for.
Date: 2011-08-10
From: Hiker's Welcome Hostel

To: Beaver Brook
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Lazy day out of hostel due to some bad weather. We woke up to a cold rain and just hung around until 11 when finally the sun came out. It was then time to begin the long steady climb up Mt Mooseilauke at noon. The climb was in the clouds most of the way until we reached the alpine zone for the first time on trail and we walked through the clouds. A truly amazing experience. Moosilauke is such an amazing summitt with great views. Pigeon, Cleanshave and I chilled up there for over an hour in the sun.Pigeon and I decided to hike on while Cleanshave wanted to chill a little while longer. Pigeon and I were cruising down this well maintained trail just shooting the shit the whole time. After about an hour when we expected to be at the shelter we looked around and noticed we were very low in the hard trees. Ummm we never got to the waterfall on trail. Then it finally hit us, we went down the wrong trail. Perfect. First day in the whites and I already got lost. About 2-3 miles out of the way. So it was time to turn around and walk back up Moosilauke. A mountain so nice we will climb it twice. But just as we started going back uphill we, thunder started. Shit. Now the race with mother nature begins and so far she dominates.After hiking about an hour back up hill we found the turn off to hike back on the AT only .4 miles from summit. The actual AT trail was not even maintained. It was just like walking down a river with rocks everywhere and down trees. The other trail was so nice. Made into shelter about 6 and we just about to explain to cleanshave how he passed us when all of the sudden the clouds opened up and the rains came. And they poured. Their were only 6 people in the shelter and some dumbass section hiker said their was no room. I quickly replied this shelter sleeps 10 and pigeon and I made room. After dinner the clouds cleared and we had nice views looking towards Franconia's ridge. It's amazing to be able see what lies ahead of us. Great day on the AT.
Date: 2011-08-11
From: Beaver Brook

To: Chet's
Miles today: 1.5

Weather changes so quickly in the whites. Woke up to clear sunny skies, then rain, then sun, then more rain all in 2 hours. Hiked out of the shelter at 9:15 with a steep decent when at times the trail was steeper than the waterfall the trail followed. Welcome to the Whites. The steepest decent so far on trail with wooden steps and rebard railings for a little support. Intense downhill.At the bottom of the hill Pigeon and I met up with Muffin Man. We haven't seen him since Mass. Also, cleanshave left us a note on trail that said "going into town sparkplug said it was awesome". Pigeon already wanted to go in and that was really all I needed. So we went to the road to hitch in. Only had to wait for a few minutes, the fourth car picked us up. Chill day on town. Relaxed at Chet's Hostel. Neathawk gave us the rest of his beer and YUP not hiking anymore today. Epic 1.5 mile day. Chill night at Hostel.
Date: 2011-08-12
From: Chet's

To: Chet's...again
Miles today: 16.3

Left hostel at 7:30 to get breakfast in town. Walking down the road sticking my thumb out not really expecting hitch until past highways when I hear "Hey Mountain Dew why are you walking down the road?" It was pigeon who already got picked up and the driver also offered to give me a ride. Amazing. As soon as I jumped into the car I was immediatley met by 2 hyper dogs. Probally the most interesting hitch yet. At trail by 9:45 then hiked on in the White Mountains. Steep, rocky, wet, and slippery. Love hiking in the whites. Very interactive. Need to be careful watch my step. Felt great all day. Didn't see many hikers either. At the first shelter I caught up with pigeon for a break. Then we began the steep climb up the Kinsmans. Just before I was walking on some boards when they just ended and I went shin deep in mud up past my gaiter. Perfect. Oh well. Just got to keep hiking on. Steep climb up Kinsman. Great views of Franconia ridge and even the Presidentials. Then another steep climb down to loneslake hut where I planned to to get work for stay. Just then Pigeon says "it's only 3 more miles downhill to the road where we can hitch into town to get pizza and beer" Damnit Pigeon. I can't pass that up. I'm easy influenced. So we got down to the road and actually surprisinly got a quick hitch on a very unbusy road. Another night in town, another chill night at Chets.
Date: 2011-08-13
From: Chet's...again

To: Greenleaf Hut
Miles today: 6.4

Up and out of hostel by 7:30 to get breakfast in town. After breakfast Sparkplug picked me up and drove Pigeon, Cleanshave and I to the trail head. We all starting hiking by 10 to begin our big climb up Franconias ridge. It was a good steep climb up liberty springs, then up again to little haystack. Amazing views. It was a perfect clear day on the ridge and we all took our time meandering over the peaks for the two mile above treeline hike. Made to the top of Mt Lafayette and chilled up there for over an hour. Just amazing day up here. It was only 4 but Pigeon Cleanshave and I decided to try our luck at the 1st hut. We've heard greenleaf never sees thru-hikers and will accept everyone. So we took 1.1 mile side trail down to the hut and were able to get work for stay. We had to chill outside while the paying guest ate but we got all the leftovers from a huge turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, peas, salad, and brownies. Awesome. It was also a full moon tonight which provided great views of the ridge through out the night. It was also a meteroite shower and I saw one steak across the sky just above the ridge and towards the moon. Just amazing. About 9:30 the croo shuts out the lights and the guest head into their bunk rooms. Then pigeon, cleanshave, and I could set up our stuff in dinning room.
Date: 2011-08-14
From: Greenleaf Hut

To: Zealand Hut
Miles today: 13.6

We had to get up at 6am as the croo set up for breakfast. We also had to be up before the guests. Then again as the guest ates breakfast we had to wait outside. As guest start filing out of the dinning room to start their hikes we enter to eat leftovers. Some oatmeal, eggs, and coffee cake. Not bad. Then all I had to do was sweep the floor and my 1st work for stay experience was over.We finally left the hut at 9 to climb Mt. Lafayette, again. This time the summit was in the clouds. We passed a lot of hikers from the hut that left before we even started to eat breakfast and we beat them to the summit. Eventually we passed everyone staying at the hut. It was a unique experience being ontop of the ridge now in heavy clouds. Completly different from the yesterday. The trail that followed was very tough miles to galehead hut. A lot of steep ups and downs. Even down a waterfall. As your walking on this trail your thinking their is no way this is the AT. Then at the bottom of the waterfall is a white blaze. Yup I guess it is. Pretty crazy. Got some soup from the galehead hut and ran into Vegemite who I haven't seen since Virginia and Mikey D who I haven't seen since Hot Springs. Nice to catch up with them.Right after the hut a steep climb straight up South Twin Mountain. No views today. After that the trail mellowed out and we crusied into Zealand hut. Try number 2 for work for stay. When we asked one croo member said they have already taken two other hikers but they decided we could do some work anyway. I think mostly because it was the end of their stay at the hut and they wanted to party a little. Also the weather had turned for the worst as some nasty cold rain rolled through. Oh well worked out for us. Left over stuffed shells and turkey soup was amazing and all I had to do for work was wash some dishes. Perfect. Slept in the dining room again. Love the AT experience.