morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-07-26
From: MA-2 Hoosic Bridge 1592.6

To: VT9 1611.0 miles
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Sunday, July 26th   It didn¢t look like a good day to hike when the Iceman woke up today. He looked out the window, checked the weather on his gadget and went back to bed. The rain was pounding on the parking lot and the sky was very gray BUT the Sherpa went to the weather report on her computer and after looking at the Doppler noticed that the rain was ending within minutes in their area of MA. Their daughter had already come to the door to get the Iceman, as she was the Sherpa this morning and volunteered to drive Jon and the Iceman to the trailhead, but he sent her away. At 8am after some prodding the Iceman got dressed and left with Jon for the trail. The day turned out to be a hot humid one but there was no more rain. At County Road, a dirt and rock road in the forest, 7 miles from the start of the hike, the Sherpa, Sandra and the boys met the Iceman and Jon and Sandra did a switch. Jon had bad blisters on his feet so Sandra put on a backpack and hiked with the Iceman the next 11.4 miles to the VT9 near Bennington, VT. During the course of his day the Iceman crossed the MA/VT border. One more state conquered! Lunch was in Bennington at a pizzeria and after that we headed for the VT9. Jon, very bravely put on a backpack, as did Walter and Sam, and off they went to meet their mother and the Iceman who, it turned out, were not that close to the trail end.   They hiked about 1 12 hours, all toll. When everyone reached the VT9 it was time to say goodbye and our daughter and her family started the 4 hour drive back to their home. Sam-I-Am had also just ended his day at the VT9 and needed a ride into Bennington where he would get a room for the night. Being the Trail Angel that the Sherpa is, he hopped into the car and he was driven to his preferred motel in Bennington. The Iceman and Sherpa continued on north to the small town of East Dorset, VT and checked into our next base camp the Marbledge Inn. It was very late so dinner was at a nearby place and it was just fine. Todays hike was 18.4 miles and the Iceman is looking at a longer for tomorrow 20.6. How does he do it????
Date: 2015-07-27
From: VT9 1611.0 miles

To: USFS 71 (gravel) 1631.6 miles
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: light rain

Monday, July 27th   The Iceman did a flip flop today mainly because the trailhead on the USFS71, which is in the town of Stratton VT, was closer to where they were staying than the VT9 in Bennington. The drive to the trailhead still took 45 minutes.   USFS means United States Forest Service and these are usually designations given to a road, most of the time gravel, that goes through a US Forest. These roads are maintained by the US government and are very narrow gravel/dirt roads. Some are maintained better than others but most require a four wheel drive vehicle as they are rutted and have large boulders imbedded in them. The Iceman was amazed at the amount of NOBO¢s he met today. The bubble he was in has now grown as new hikers have entered it. There were at least 2 dozen through hikers, two thirds of whom he recognized but the remainder were all new.   Because the Iceman was doing a 20.6 mile hike the Sherpa had a lot of time on her hands to explore Manchester. First things First! The laundry was done by 9:30 and while that was happening, cappuccino was just a short walk down the street as was a grocery store. Back to the Marbledge Inn to refrigerate the fruit, just bought, and to decide what to do next. Hildene, the summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln, President Lincoln¢s son, was just a short drive from the Inn. The tour of the home was worth the extra money and there were a total of 5 in the group. One of Hildenes most prized possessions is a stovepipe hat worn by President Lincoln and it¢s encased in glass for all to see. Robert Lincoln was also the president of the Pullman Car Company and on the property is his restored private Pullman car. Lunch was in the form of a delicious burrito at Cilantro¢s. Time to return to Marbledge to enter journals from Friday and Saturday, upload photo¢s, find the next base camp and make a reservation for dinner. The Silver Fork had two seats left at the bar at 8PM. The Iceman was starving when we arrived at the restaurant and ordered as always a 4 course meal. The Silver Fork has only 6 tables and 6 bar seats so tables are reserved weeks in advance and reservations must also be made for the bar. That¢s a first for us. The meal consisted of Goat cheese souffl©, Tuna Ceviche, Cod stuffed with crabmeat, Panini with pulled pork and a mushroom soup topped with puff pastry. All were good but not excellent. This is considered the best in Manchester so we aren¢t expecting too much in the way of gourmet. The Iceman was extremely tired and who could blame him having done so many miles in the last few days. Tomorrow he¢ll take a break. The tower is on top of Glastenburg mountain, elevation 3748, and was built in 1927.
Date: 2015-07-28
From: USFS 71 (gravel) 1631.6 miles

To: Stratton-Arlington Rd 1633.6 miles
Miles today: 2.0

Tuesday, July 28th   The Iceman decided to do a nero today so that tomorrow's hike would be a little shorter. The early morning was spent packing for the move to Manchester, VT which is just 6 miles away. The Marbledge Inn was booked therefore the move. After loading the car the Iceman was dropped off at the trailhead. (Apples For Wildlife sign sits on the Stratton Arlington Rd. near the trailhead) The hike was easy, just a walk in the park. The Sherpa waited for him at the parking lot on Stratton-Arlington Rd and when he arrived, an hour and a half latter, took off for Manchester. Today the Iceman had time to do some future planning for his hike and that's what he did at the new base camp, Mountain View Inn. He hadn't taken a break in 25 days and needed to plan for his hike through the New Hampshire Whites. On the way to dinner we drove through the village part of Manchester. It's a beautiful, quaint small town with lots of cute stores and restaurants and a backdrop of magnificent mountains. Folks come here to the ski areas, like Stratton and Bromley and further north Killington, to ski and snowboard in the winter and in summer for hiking and mountain biking. They also come to this region just to relax and enjoy the scenery.
Date: 2015-07-29
From: Stratton-Arlington Rd 1633.6 miles

To: VT11/30 1651.1 miles
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light rain

Wednesday, July 29th   The Iceman hiked Stratton Mountain today and it was a climb of 1800 feet. When he reached the top he saw an observation tower and someone was shouting to him from the top of the tower, ¢Come on up, the view is spectacular¢. He climbed the tower and yes, the views were spectacular and in all directions one can see at least 50 miles. He saw Mt. Greylock in MA., Bromley Mt and two other ski mountains to the north and east. He continued hiking and arrived at Stratton Pond where he met some section hikers who had been swimming. According to them, the water was just the right temperature. The Iceman was tempted to jump in but he decided to hike on. For the next 10 miles the trail went up and down. Each time he¢d meet a SOBO he¢d grill them about the Whites and Maine. He wants to get as much information as he can so that he can plan that section of the hike. It was a very hot day, mid 90¢s, but dry. When he reached the VT11/30 the Sherpa was waiting for him and talking to Sam I AM , Red Hot, Oriole (he¢s from Baltimore), and Red Hots wife who brought cold drinks, a BBQ cooker and foods to cookout at the trailhead. Earlier in the morning as the Sherpa was checking out the parking lot at the pickup point a young woman, named Airlock, arrived and asked for a ride into Manchester Center. She had just gotten off the trail for the day and was meeting other through hikers at Mrs. Murphy¢s Donut Shop and it just so happens that the Sherpa knew exactly where that was so Airlock climbed into the car and she and the Sherpa had a nice conversation on the drive into town. She and the Iceman run into each other on the trail every so often. While in town the Sherpa saw Huckleberry Thug with another through hiker just enjoying a leisurely walk. It was a long day for the Iceman who hiked 17.5 miles so after a nice cold beer the next stop was the Mountain View to refresh and relax before dinner. Brasserie L¢Oustau had a great French menu and the Sherpa and Iceman dined on Frisee salad, Baby lettuce salad, fresh tomato soup (delicious) Boeuf Bourguignon, Lamb Shank and several glasses of fine French wine. Portions are always too big and so there wasn¢t enough room for dessert. That¢s a shame because Dessert is the best! After the Iceman completes his hike we will surely come back to Manchester and the Mountain View.
Date: 2015-07-30
From: VT11/30 

To: Danby/Landgrove Rd
Miles today: 17.8

Thursday July 30th The Iceman has been slowly increasing his vertical climbs and today he hiked 3,500 vertical feet over 4 peaks beginning with Bromley, then Styles, Peru and then Baker. This was a little more than yesterday. His first assent went straight up a ¢Green¢ trail on Bromley Mt. right to the ski lift at the top of the mountain. As a skier he felt strange going ¢up¢ a ski trail that he¢d usually be going down. About mid -day the sky darkened and it started to rain, lightly at first and then it really poured. At one point the rain stopped. He had just arrived at a rock outcropping, and the sun shone brightly. The rock was dry and he hiked that section but almost immediately, after he hiked the rock, the rain began and it rained so heavily that he could barely see where he was going. This continued for 2 to 3 hours and where the trail had been dry for days it was now a muddy slippery river. The thunder and lightning was all around but he kept going. Towards the end of the day the sun came out again and the Iceman arrived at the car to find that the Sherpa had new dry clothes for him to change into for the ride to town. During the afternoon the Sherpa went shopping in Manchester. There are many upscale outlet stores in the village and among them are Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren, Coach, Armani, Talbot and many, many more. The Iceman has been losing weight hence the need to shop for smaller size slacks. EMI was a good store for sock liners as it¢s been said that the liners often prevent blisters and they had a sale on socks. It¢s nice to get a bargain once in a while. He also has a new orange crew neck shirt because the Sherpa heard that hunting season is all the time in these parts. Dinner was at Ye Olde Tavern, circa 1790, in the village of Manchester and it was very good but no time to linger the concert at Manchester Music Festival was beginning at 7:30 so back in the car to drive 2 miles to the Southern Vermont Arts Center. ¢Beethoven, Jazz and the Road Less Traveled¢ was the show for the evening and it was FABULOUS!   There were 5 extraordinary musicians during the evening and the pieces they performed were beautiful and exciting.
Date: 2015-07-31
From: Danby/Landgrove Rd

To: Cold River Rd. 1687.4
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: clear sky

Friday July 31st   The Iceman was really tired today when the Sherpa picked him up after he hiked 18.5 miles, the last part of it was an uphill rock scramble on all fours. The day¢s total vertical climb was 4,350¢ and it started with a slight climb for two miles to Little Rock Pond where a few hikers had stopped to swim. The climbing continued up 800¢ to White Rocks Cliff and then descended 1,500¢ to the VT- 140. Next he climbed 1,500¢ up to Bear Mt. and then down 1,500¢ to VT-103. The final section was an almost vertical climb up a rock face, hand over hand, to Beacon Hill and then another 2 miles to Cold River Rd. Rutland, Vt. Along the way he had views, twice, of the Rutland Airport and met Red Hot, Sam-I-Am, Airlock and South Paw. They all passed him today but he hiked further than they did and so tomorrow they¢ll probably pass him again. He also met 8 or 10 SOBO¢s and quizzed them, as he has been doing each time he meets a SOBO, to find out all he can about what the Whites and Maine hold in store for him. Today was a very difficult day for him and he¢s really hoping that it doesn¢t get a lot more challenging. Now the tips of both his trekking poles have broken off so the Sherpa¢s project will be to find out if they can be replaced or if new poles must be purchased. The Sherpa went to the laundromat right after dropping off the Iceman this morning and during the next hour, returned the slacks that she bought for the Iceman yesterday; it turns out that the Iceman isn¢t as thin as he thought he was, although he¢s thinner than he¢s been in many years; and then stopped in to Mrs. Murphy¢s Donut Shop for an egg with VT cheddar cheese on an English muffin and coffee. Packed up and on the way to Rutland, the next stop was Shear Heaven for some hair treatment.   With a glass of wine in hand,.. it was Cocktail hour after all!,.. and Brianna doing her thing, an hour and a half passed by quickly.   Hair turned out perfectly and then it was off to the pickup place to wait for the Iceman to recount tales of his hike. The new base camp is in Rutland, VT at a Hampton Inn. Finally there¢s a treadmill for the Sherpa, laundry room and 6am breakfast for the Iceman. Rutland holds a festival every Friday night in July and part of August in their downtown area, and they close off several street for vendors to set up tents for food, drink and crafts. There¢s live music outdoors with seating and the party goes from 6 ¢ 10. This is a great way to get people into the downtown area to spend money and for friends and families to spend time together. Dinner wasn¢t so good tonight for the Iceman but the Sherpa¢s food was fine
Date: 2015-08-01
From: Cold River Rd. 

To: VT-100 Killington,VT 1704.2
Miles today: 16.8

Saturday, August 1st   Today the Iceman passed the 1,700 mile mark in Killington Vermont. Another great accomplishment and the Sherpa, knowing how difficult it is for him to get up each day at 5:30, gather up all he needs for the day, get his mind wrapped around the days hike and go out into any kind of weather, is very, very proud of him. All of you out there who are close to his age know that it¢s impossible to build muscle at this stage in life and therefore it makes climbing even more difficult. When you¢re young you can become stronger the more you exert yourself but that¢s not the case after a certain age. His legs aren¢t muscular nor is the rest of his body and they won¢t become muscular. It¢s willpower that¢s driving him and determination. He hiked over the king of all skiing mountains in the east today, Killington. In the last three days he climbed Stratton, Bromley and Killington and he¢s learned one thing from this, he¢d rather ski down a mountain than hike up it. From Cold River Road to the VT-100 in Killington, VT, over 16.8 miles he climbed over 3000¢ and the trail was always either up or down and was a bit rocky except where it was flat for a few feet. At times it was very muddy. Sounds great, huh! The SOBO¢s he met and he met about a dozen today, told him how long ago they left Katahdin.   Some left 60 days ago and others left 30 days ago. Hikers hike at all different speeds and the Iceman, based on this info, believes that he has about 40 hiking days to get to Mt. Katahdin. A cold beer waited for him at the end of his hike and some new carbon tips for his trekking poles. Now all that¢s needed is a pair of plyers in order to pull off the old ones and put on the new. While tracking him on the DeLorme internet map, which is what the Sherpa does when he hikes, he appeared to be off the AT so the Sherpa was able to reach him by cell phone and let him know. It turns out that the Iceman was on the trail. Where the trail was diverted he saw a sign telling hikers that the old section of the AT was no longer used and to follow blazes for the new section. Apparently, the Delorme map hasn¢t been updated yet. The distance of the AT has changed over the years as sections have been added or moved. It was a catch up day for the Sherpa and the only thing to report is that a new Timex watch is on the Iceman¢s wrist, he loves Timex, and the Sherpa gave up looking for Chanel make-up so Revlon will have to do.   There are no department stores in Rutland. There was a J.C.Penney¢s and a Sears but both closed recently, leaving only K-Mart and Walmart. The Palms Restaurant in Rutland is an Italian restaurant and the soup and antipasto were delicious but from our experience you can¢t get great Italian food this far from a major city.
Date: 2015-08-02
From: VT-100 Killington,VT 1704.2

To: VT12 1724.2 miles
Miles today: 20.4

Sunday, August 2nd   Another difficult day for the Iceman as he hiked 20.4 miles. He climbed a total of 4000¢ throughout the day and it was a long day. By the time he ended at the VT-12 in Woodstock it was getting dark in the forest with its heavy canopy of trees.   His hike began with an easy 3 miles, starting at the VT-100, to the base of Quimby Mountain but then he had to climb Quimby and that was a steep 1500¢. He thought he was at the summit and felt very good about making it in such good time but he soon realized that it wasn¢t the summit when he started another 1500¢ up. He reached a ridge, he was now on the summit, and after that he had a half dozen 500¢ climbs up and down for the next 10 miles.   The end of the hike was downhill to the VT-12 where the Sherpa was waiting for him. The photo shows a very happy Iceman standing on the footbridge that he had just crossed, to get to the parking area, where he was handed a very cold beer. At one point on his hike he took a picture of an aluminum ladder (see the photo section) attached by cables to a vertical rock face. The only way to go further is to climb the ladder and there are a few of these on the AT. The bottom of the ladder is usually buried in the soil and the top is either drilled into rock or attached with cables, as is the case here. He didn¢t see one single NOBO today but did meet about 10 SOBO¢s and they told him that they had passed many, many NOBO¢s which means the bubble is in front of the Iceman. The SOBO¢s that he met today have all done between 465 and 485 miles since Mt. Katahdin. The Sherpa spent the morning at the Hampton Inn in Rutland and then packed the car and headed for Woodstock, VT. The road leading to Woodstock, VT4, has two narrow lanes and is in a valley surrounded by mountains on either side. There are homes here and there but mostly forest. All of a sudden clusters of homes appear and then a village, a beautiful village that reminds one of entering Shangri-La. It is the most beautiful town on this trip yet and one that demands a second visit in the future. The Shire Riverview Inn is base camp for three nights and the room looks out onto a river with pastureland and hills in the background, green and lush and peaceful. Even though the Iceman was hurting he agreed to walk to the Prince and the Pauper for dinner, about a 14 mile walk. Nooooo! He wasn¢t forced to do this. He wanted to see this part of the village. Fabulous food at a quaint restaurant. It¢s certainly one of the 5 best on this trip. Vichyssoise, out of this world, penne pasta bolognaise to die for, house smoked salmon, perfect, oven roasted cod, couldn¢t get any better and perfect salads. All deserts are house made including the Brown Sugar Balsamic ice cream. YUM! Espresso with an after dinner drink and then a good night¢s sleep.
Date: 2015-08-03
From: VT12 1724.2 miles

To: Podunk Rd. 1738.6
Miles today: 14.0

Monday, August 3rd   At the end of each hiking day the Iceman gives the Sherpa a hand written account of his hike. The Sherpa writes the journal using that account and also adds other things that happened that day to the Iceman that he may not have written in his journal but that he recounted verbally. He's not very good with new technology, that's left to the Sherpa. Today's hike was over about a half dozen small peaks for a total vertical of 3,500'. Right at the beginning of the Iceman's hike he met 2 NOBO's one of whom recognized him from a night the Iceman had to tent in the Great Smokey mountains months ago. Papa Al was with Philco and throughout the day the Iceman and the other two leapfrogged up and down the mountains. The Iceman is slow climbing but fast going downhill and that's what accounts for the leapfrogging. The trail went through a farmers field and the farmer was using a piece of equipment that collected hay and rolled it into round bales. These bales are left either in the field or in the farm yard. He was fascinated watching this process. Must be a farmer at heart! The Sherpa walked to a small outfitters and purchased some energy products for the Iceman. He may be able to eliminate the cramping he gets in his legs and hands if he's able to replenish the lost minerals, salt and electrolytes with supplements. The owner of the shop was very helpful and told me which items the Iceman should be taking during and after his activity. That done it was off to the Woodstock pharmacy, the only pharmacy within miles, to pick up a few items. Mac's Market, the only grocery in town, was next and they have all that was needed for the Iceman's breakfast and lunch. The Shire Riverview has a coffee machine and refrigerator in the room so it's easy to make breakfast and for lunch the Iceman takes mostly fruit and now is taking protein in the way of Jerky and supplements. It seems that protein is vital to give him energy. Simon Pearce, a restaurant and shop that sells hand-blown glass items, was not only a very good restaurant but also has a great location. It sits above a dam and the view is of waterfalls, a covered bridge and young boys jumping off rock ledges into the river below.   The Ottaquechee River flows under the restaurant which is extended out over the river 30 feet in the air. It's a very dramatic setting.