morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-08-04
From: Silverhill Campsite Via Kent, CT

To: Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Despite our big mileage and the many awesome experiences I have been having on the trail, the last few days have been tough. Convincing my body to get out of bed day after day is not easy but after walking around a bit this morning, I warmed up and felt better. My body seems to know when we get back on the trail because it instantly starts to sweat. My already soggy t-shirt quickly became soaked again and the only thing that kept me moving was the though of a nice lunch in town. We walked into Falls Village, Connecticut and went straight to the town's small post office. The package Frodo was expecting was not there and I could tell he was frustrated. A bit peeved because the zucchini bread we had been awaiting was not to be had, we toddled to a local eatery for some lunch. At the Toymaker's cafe I munched on a ruben, chips, and a homemade cinnamon bun. It was exactly what I needed to get me through the rest of the day. As I walked on the highway, towards the quaint (quaint is a nice way of saying expensive) town of Salisbury, Connecticut, my feet kept telling me it was time to stop walking. After picking up our mail, we resupplied at the local supermarket and had a pizza delivered. Sitting outside of the grocery store, beer in one hand, pizza in another, gear strewn about, looking like a fraternity party had been moved outside, we were approached by a man who looked to be in his late 40's. He introduced himself, plopped a box of ice cream treats on our table, and explained that his daughter had been a thru-hiker. We thanked him for his kindness and ate the ice cream with smiles on our faces. Oh the life of a hiker Lodging in town was not only expensive but also booked up for the night, so we had no choice but to hike out. The next shelter up the trail was too far to reach before dark so we opted to stealth-camp in the local cemetery. Don't worry, we pitched our tents at dusk in an empty corner or the cemetery, so as not to disturb any of the other folks trying to sleep.
Date: 2011-08-05
From: Salisbury, CT

To: Great Barrington, Massachusets 
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: broken clouds

Not wanting to be discovered tenting in a cemetery, we rose early and packed our gear quickly. The trail greeted my tired legs with three long, steep, rocky climbs and unfortunately all of the views were of the clouds. At the bottom of our last mountain I spotted a sign indicating that "golden nuggets" of trail magic were to be found in a trail-side creek. After a little exploration, I plucked three cold Miller Highlife's out of the water and the three of us enjoyed a refreshing morning brewski. For lunch, we paused at a trailhead with picnic tables that happened to be loaded with trail magic water. As I hydrated, I practiced my German with section hikers Too Tall and Good Grip, who came over from Bonn to walk a section of the trail. We walked through a mosquito infested bog as fast as we could to get to the road crossing. Frodo and Sweet Tea secured us a ride into town and after resupplying and doing laundry, we checked into the Days Inn to rest for the evening.
Date: 2011-08-06
From: Great Barrington, Massachusets 

To: Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: overcast clouds

After a continental breakfast and some confusion about how we were going to get back on the trail, we started walking and it felt good. Frodo's feet are giving him some trouble, so we rearranged our planned mileage and are shortening our day. Just as we began pulling into camp it began to rain. I quickly pitched the tent and Frodo made dinner as it drizzled. Going to call it an early night.
Date: 2011-08-07
From: Shaker Campsite

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

I woke up to the sound of rain and took my time packing my gear. The terrain has definitely changed, we are encountering a lot more marshes, bogs and muddy trail. Instead of big rocky climbs, the last few days have been rolling hills and ridge-walking. Last nights rain made the many bog-bridges slick, which caused our pace to slow until the sun has a chance to dry them off. We planned to stop at the Upper Goose Pond cabin for lunch but upon seeing the place we knew we had to stay. A bunkhouse, a lake for swimming and canoeing, pancakes and coffee in the morning and great weather made the decision easy. I got excited for some spontaneous relaxation. We dried out our gear and took full advantage of the lake, even canoeing across the lake to a rope-swing.
Date: 2011-08-08
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Dalton, MA (The Home of Tom Levardi)
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up with the pancakes on the brain and quickly packed up my bag. I headed down to the first floor of the cabin and helped the care-taker mix some of the batter, for the complimentary pancakes that are served every morning. I devoured a few blueberry, strawberry and chocolate pancakes, washed it down with some strong black coffee and hit the trail with Frodo and Sweet Tea. In the morning I like to look at my guidebook and pick out a few landmarks for the day. It helps me break the daunting, all-day task of walking 20+ miles into small segments. My first landmark for today was a lovely place known, in hiker circles, as "The Cookie Lady's." We arrived at our first stop of the day and were excited to discover that the cookie lady's is also a working blueberry farm! Frodo and I split a carton of berries and chatted with Mr. and Mrs. Cookie. They are very hiker friendly, letting hikers tent in their yard, offering a few cold treats for sale, and offering hungry hikers a few freshly baked cookies. I enjoyed our mid-day rest but it was time to keep moving, so we pushed on toward Dalton. We stayed with local trail angel, Tom Levardi, who allowed us to sleep in his home, take a shower, and do our laundry. Tom also chauffeured us to the super-market for resupply and accompanied us to a local bar, for a few beers and a burger. I dominated a bacon cheeseburger, bacon fries and ate half of another burger. I probably could have eaten more After dinner I enjoyed some good conversation with fellow hikers on Tom's front porch.
Date: 2011-08-09
From: Dalton, MA (The Home of Tom Levardi)

To: Wilbur Clearing
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: broken clouds

Before heading out of town for the day I grabbed an omelet at a local diner with Tom and the guys. The terrain this morning was seemingly all gradual uphill. About halfway through the day we stopped for a quick lunch while walking through Cheshire, Massachusetts. I ate some bread with roast beef, swiss cheese and some green peppers that we had packed out. For dessert I procured an ice cream cone, complete with oodles of chocolate sprinkles, from a local stand. With the ascent of Mt. Greylock, Massachusetts highest peak at 3,491 ft, planned for the end of the day and the ominous thunderstorm heading our way, we hustled out of Cheshire and began the long ascent of Greylock. By the time we got to the top we were covered in cold wet cloud. Unfortunately we couldn't see a thing so, after a brief pause at the mountaintop lodge, we pressed on to our shelter for the evening. The last few miles of the day were tough. It was cold, started raining, and the trail was covered with slippery rocks and mud. Fortunately for my mental state of being, we had planned an extra special dinner for tonight. TACOS!! Six tacos to be exact; complete with refried beans, mexican rice, chicken, lettuce, green pepper, and shredded cheese. The meal lifted my spirits and almost filled my groaning stomach.
Date: 2011-08-10
From: Wilbur Clearing

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I walked the three miles to the road this morning in a good mood. Thoughts of the package my mother sent me and a possible town meal helped keep my feet moving. To our dismay, the people driving on Massachusetts highway 2 did not want to pick us up. We tried to thumb a ride for over a half and hour and I was beginning to get worried. Thinking of the 20 miles we still needed to walk, we opted to pay for a bus ride into town. Although I was a bit peeved about the $2 fare, it got us to the post office. The box I had waiting for me contained some new socks, a new pack towel (a 6x6 square of sham-wow), and enough food for a few days. It took us forever to get back to the trailhead, after we packed up, which meant that 20 of 23 miles would need to be walked after noon. Crap. After crossing the Vermont/Massachusetts state line, we arrived at camp just after dark. My feet are killing me and I can't wait to get into bed. Some section-hikers play the guitar and sing folk music as we get ready to go to sleep.
Date: 2011-08-11
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 27.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up cold and struggled to get out of my sleepingbag. It got quite chilly last night and my stiff body moved quickly to get warm. We hiked hard and didn't stop for many breaks. Towards the end of the day, at a dirt road crossing, we ran into some fantastic trailmagic. Toothfairy and her husband, who are the friends some hikers we know, hooked us up with Vermont beer, an amazing garden salad, burgers, hot dogs, chips and some words of wisdom and support. It was exactly what I needed to power myself up the 1,700 ft to the top of Stratton Mountain. At the top, Sweet Tea, Frodo and I climbed the old fire tower and took in a gorgeous view of the Vermont countryside.
Date: 2011-08-12
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Manchester Center, VT
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Motivated by thoughts of pancakes and bacon, we got up and out before sunrise. The 10.7 miles to town didn't stand a chance. We hiked at a speed that we affectionately call "Beast-mode" and at 8:52am I stepped on to the road and immediately stuck out my thumb. After a few cars passed without stopping, a silver station-wagon pulled over and we all piled in. Our driver, who also happened to be the curator of the national fly-fishing museum, dropped us off at the local breakfast joint, "Up For Breakfast." I ordered a massive grilled blueberry scone and the biggest breakfast platter they had. With a scone, 2 eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon, and homefries all residing happily in my stomach, we resupplied and called for a ride to our hostel for the night. The Green Mountain House came highly recommended from southbound thru-hikers and the fact that every hiker receives a pint of Ben & Jerry's with their stay meant that we had to stay there. The hostel itself is amazing. Clean, convient, accommodating, free laundry, internet and a hiker kitchen. Once we got set up in our room I started cooking dinner. I whipped up some homemade garlic bread, creamy shells with bacon and red pepper, a garden salad and candied carrots. We washed it down with a gallon of sweet tea and some Ben and Jerry's for dessert.
Date: 2011-08-13
From: Manchester Center, VT

To: Little Rock Pond
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: clear sky

I satisfied my craving for fresh fruit by devouring a banana and two mangoes, along with a yogurt and a breakfast sandwich, for breakfast. I snuck in one last shower before we got a ride back to the trail and we started walking at 9:30am. We cruised through the day, enjoying a view from the top of a ski slope, and arrived at our shelter just after 6pm. After chatting with the russian caretaker Anna, Frodo and I cooked up some couscous with fresh garlic, leeks, and summer squash. I find that carrying luxuries, such as fresh fruit or veggies, definitely boosts my mood during days of difficult hiking.
Date: 2011-08-14
From: Little Rock Pond

To: The Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 23.7

The most difficult part about hiking the Appalachian trail is not climbing the mountains, it is not the heat or the cold, it is not the blisters, bruises, blood or sweat, it isn't the overwhelming distance or time, it isn't the bugs or snakes or bears. The most difficult part about hiking the A.T. is dealing with the sacrifices that you have to make to undertake such an endeavor. Relationships suffer and fall apart, money is tight, job opportunities are lost and time, the most valuable resource of all, is taken away from all other things in the interest of ones self. The hardest part about hiking the trail is staying on the trail. Today was a difficult day and a beautiful day at the same time. After hiking most of the day past beautiful terrain, rock cairn statues, and summiting Killington Peak (4,235ft), I received some very difficult news from home. Fortunately I have some great people hiking with me and I relied on them for a lot of help. At the peak of the mountain we made the decision to take the free gondola to the bottom of the mountain, hop in a bus, and grab a room for the night at the Inn at Long Trail. Once we checked in, Frodo acquired a cardboard hitch-hiking sign with, "Long Trail Brewery" written on one side and within minutes of holding out the sign Tulio Browning picked us up. Tulio, yep that is his real name, drove us the 15 miles to the local brewery and even gave us some homemade beef jerky. I ordered the sampler, along with Sweet Tea and Frodo, and we ate popcorn and discussed a difficult problem that didn't have a solution.
Date: 2011-08-15
From: The Inn at Long Trail

To: Rutland, VT
Miles today: 6.3

Today was the first day, since I started hiking that I didn't want to walk. The emotional stress from things going on back home consumed my thoughts and the last thing I wanted was to be stuck in my head all day. I needed a serious distraction. It was raining outside but we decided to walk a short six miles, from the point where we got off of the trail, to a road crossing where we could get into Rutland, VT. Much to our dismay, the gondola that had taken us down the mountain was closed for repairs. That meant that, in order to get back on the trail where we got off, we needed to walk the 3,000+ vertical feet, over 2.7 miles, up a ski slope, in the pouring rain. I powered up the muddy trail and we rejoined the AT covered in mud and sopping wet. Frodo and I sang 90's songs as we trudged down the mountain. We got a ride into town and checked into the local hostel (which happens to be run by a religious cult). After showering and getting laundry started, Frodo, Sweet Tea and I bought tickets for a comedy showing at the local theatre. After the movie, we met up with fellow hikers Birch, Como, and Elby for some beers. I inhaled a large calzone (an 18 inch pizza folded in half) and enjoyed a football game with a few brews. The day was exactly the distraction that I needed. I have amazing friends.
Date: 2011-08-16
From: Rutland, VT

To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 19.1

The rain continued throughout most of the day today and we took our lunch break beneath a shelter roof. The problems from back home are really haunting me. It kills me that there is nothing I can do about it and being stuck in my head all day is mentally and emotionally exhausting. We met a hiker named Happy Feet today. He is a triathlete, like Frodo and I, and I think he may hike with us for a while. We'll see if he can keep up
Date: 2011-08-17
From: Winturri Shelter

To: Hannover, NH
Miles today: 26.2
Weather: clear sky

We scheduled a marathon into town today and I felt great physically all day. I actually ended up running the last 6 miles of the day in order to make an important phone call home before it got too late. I jogged into Hannover, across the Vermont/New Hampshire state line, and surveyed the home of Dartmouth college. I made a tough phone call home and cheered myself up afterward with a cinnamon roll from the nearby farmer's market. Frodo, Sweet Tea and Happy Feet caught up with me and, after picking up a few packages, we did our best to put an AYCE pizza place out of business. The only problem with Hannover is the general lack of hiker-friendly lodging. Lucky for us we met a women by the name of Short'N'Sweet. Her son thru-hiked a few years back and because her home is located on the trail, she periodically opens her home to hikers. I showered and assembled my laundry before sitting down to a cold beer and a great conversation with Short'N'Sweet.
Date: 2011-08-18
From: Hannover, NH

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I awoke feeling refreshed and was lucky enough to taste some of Short'N'Sweet's delicious, homemade bread. I chatted with her over a cup of coffee and she carted the four of us back into town. Before we met Short'N'Sweet I was having a very difficult time but as I have experienced over and over, the trail has a way of providing exactly what is needed, exactly when it is needed. I left her home in a physically and mentally better state. Thank you Short'N'Sweet. Once in town, we promptly located the best place for breakfast and took a seat at the diner counter. I ordered an omelet packed with veggies and goat cheese, homefries, and an english muffin. I think eating is my new favorite activity. For hikers, Hannover is a great stop. The trail runs right through downtown, there are numerous establishments that provide freebies for hikers, and the close proximity of Dartmouth gives the town a lot of culture and class. I took advantage of a free snickers, bagels with cream cheese, and a huge slice of pizza. My stomach is full. The trail north of Hannover greeted us with some long gradual climbs, a beautiful view from Holt's Ledges and a hornets nest placed strategically on the trail. I got stung in the knee. We rolled into the shelter around dark and quickly made dinner. For dessert I enjoyed some homemade caramel from my friend Laura.
Date: 2011-08-19
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Ore Hill Shelter
Miles today: 19.9

It was hard to roll out of my sleeping bad this morning. I think I hit snooze on my watch alarm at least 3 times. I set out walking with Frodo, Happy Feet, and Sweet Tea right behind me. An hour or so into the day we stopped at a trail-side home for an ice cream treat and a piping hot cup of coffee. The treats were courtesy of an older man who, for many years, has been offering his back porch as a place for for hikers to to rest their tired feet. The caffeine helped propel me the 2,400 vertical feet to the top of Smart's mountain, where we enjoyed a view from an old fire tower and munched on bagels with hummus. Another seven miles down the trail, while stopping to make a few phone calls and enjoy the view from Mt. Cube, we got word that a hail storm was heading our way. Crap. We still had 5.5 miles to our shelter for the night and the storm was scheduled to hit us in a hour. We hauled down the mountain as fast as we could and managed to make the shelter before any sort of precipitation started. In fact, the wasn't any precipitation at all that night. I was just happy to be dry and enjoying the company some good people.
Date: 2011-08-20
From: Ore Hill Shelter

To: Lincoln, NH
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

I picked up my winter gear, as well as a much needed new pair of shoes, at the tiny post office in Glencliff, NH. I added a pair of gloves, a hat, an insulated vest, and a 10 degree sleeping bag liner to my pack. We stopped at the nearby Hiker's Welcome hostel for some food and a cold soda and managed to secure a ride back to the trail. As we entered the White Mountains I was hit by the realization that I was in New Hampshire. New Hampshire is the second to last state I will walk in. Wow, I have come a long way. Surreal is the only way to describe how I felt at that moment. As I climbed up Mt. Mousilauke I reflected on the things I had seen, the challenges I had faced and the people I had met. Surreal. The 3 mile climb flew by and we soon found ourselves above treeline. The view was fantastic and I truly enjoyed my lunch. The descent into Kinsman Notch was treacherous. Sections of the trail were so steep that maintainers had to imbed re-bar stairs into the slick granite and it was not uncommon for small streams or springs to be running down the middle of the trail. When we reached the bottom I could feel every step I had taken in my knees. Our plan was to hitch into the town of Franklin and stay with a trail angel by the name of Chet. It took us a good hour and a half to get a ride to town. I was ecstatic to see a car pull over. We resupplied at the grocery store, ate massive quantities of chinese food, and topped it off with 2 scoops of ice cream. We walked to Chet's place and, after talking with the man himself, made ourselves at home. Chet turned his garage into a bunkhouse and only asks that hikers help with chores in return for their stay. We showered, did laundry and mingled with the host of hikers staying at Chet's.
Date: 2011-08-21
From: Lincoln, NH

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 13.4

As I packed up my things and thanked Chet for his gracious hospitality, I couldn't help but look forward to our next stretch of trail. After a tasty breakfast, we set about getting a ride back to the trail. We walked down the main drag in town and stuck our thumbs out, hoping that someone would be feeling extra kind today. No one pulled over but after a little bit of convincing, we piled into a station-wagon belonging to a young man whose bagel-eating we interrupted. He dropped us off at the trailhead and we started up Mt. Wolf. The going was tough, but as the saying goes, the tough kept going. We took a short lunch break and began our final ascent of the day. As I began scrambling up Mt. Kinsman, the weather started to turn for the worse. clouds rolled in, the wind picked up, and I could hear thunder in the distance. The rain started as we neared the summit. Being above treeline while a thunderstorm is approaching is not one of my favorite activities. Fearing for my life, I walked as fast as possible over the slippery terrain. We reached the safety of the trees without incident and were ecstatic to see our home for the night. The trails in White Mountains are maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). The AMC also operates a number of full service Huts that accomodate tourists for a small fee. A limited number of thru-hikers are able to work-for-stay at each hut and in return receive a meal and a roof to sleep under. The huts are primarily operated by college-age people known as a Croo. The crew at Lonesome Lake hut was fantastic. They made an amazing meal and were very relaxed. After the guests had eaten, we ate leftovers with the Croo and got our work assignments. I swept floors and cleaned out the lemonade dispenser. We set up our beds on the floor of the dining room and I fell asleep to the sights and sounds of an intense thunderstorm.
Date: 2011-08-22
From: Lonesome Lake Hut

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: broken clouds

I awoke on the floor of the dining hall at Lonesome lake and quickly packed my things. After we finished the remainder of our chores and the paying guests had eaten their breakfast, I feasted on leftover fritatta and homemade bread. We set out for the day but were quickly slowed down by a stream that had turned into river because of last nights storm. It took us almost an hour before we found a place where we could cross it safely but somehow all four of us made it across dry. My legs felt strong as we began the 3,800 ft climb up Franconia Ridge. The wind picked up as soon as we got above treeline and I had to wear every piece of clothing I had to keep warm. Near the top of our third 4,000+ft summit, I lunched on a tortilla filled with pepperoni and string cheese. When we finally reached our destination for the night I was utterly exhausted. The huge elevation gain and loss took its toll on my knees. Sixteen thru-hikers are snoozing on the floor of the hut tonight (hutmaster are only supposed to allow 2-4 hikers/night).