morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-31
From: Gorham, NH

To: Wildcat Mtn to Pinkham Notch,NH
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: fog

3.0 miles todayI was late getting up this morning, but when I did wake up, I got my electric coffee brewing machine fired up and made half a pot of good, strong Starbuck's coffee.I had the last of my cereal, half a banana and some orange juice.I sent in my journal entry and posted that along with uploading about 30 more photos into the photo section.Mrs Gorp and I were both still a little sore from the last section of trail, so we decided that since we have transportation, we might as well make the best of it.I don't want any comments from my friends at this point...I already know what you all are thinking. :-)))We drove to Pinkham Notch and I parked my truck there, then we rode to the Wildcat Gondola and for 12 bucks, we rode to the top of Wildcat Mountain.The $12.00 was for a round trip on the gondola, but we only went one way....up. :-)))We carried our hiking poles and walked back down to Pinkham Notch...3 miles!!!It was nice and cool on the top of Wildcat, but that didn't last long before we could really feel the humidity returning.There were some nice views of Mt Washington, but the summit had a cloud that hung around all day.When we got out of the trees, the breeze felt good, but there was no air moving back in the forest.It took us 2 1/2 hours to walk back to Pinkham Notch. :-)))I'm really getting pathetic!!!Actually, that was just what both of us wanted today....to just take a stroll and let our bodies repair somewhat from southern Maine's walk.We got down to Pinkham Notch and ran into Dingles again. We ended up talking to him for about 20 minutes before we went into the visitor's center.I talked to a nobo by the name of Mr Breeze while I was in there. He looked to be in good shape, but he said his knee was really bothering him today.I checked on the hours of the breakfast buffet for tomorrow morning....just in case. ;-)))I dropped Mrs Gorp off at her car near the gondola, then headed to the grocery store and bought some supplies and dinner.When I got back to the room, Mrs Gorp was already there.We ate dinner, then I got busy.I've gotten so far behind in answering email and thanking everyone who signed my guestbook.I spent the rest of the day taking care of all of that....and eating dinner. :-)))Trail Journals hasn't been forwarding the guestbook entries to my pocketmail, so it's much harder to answer and thank anyone who signs the guestbook.I tried to answer everyone who signed, but if I missed you, I'm sorry.I made a few phone calls using Skype...for free!!I'm getting my mileage down to a point where my ol' buddy Chief might be able to keep up with me. :-)))
Date: 2006-08-03
From: Pinkham Notch, NH

To: Pinkham Notch, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

The weather on Mt Washington was still in the 50's with 60 mph sustained winds with rain this morning...a great day for a zero!! :-)))It was raining hard most of the morning nere in Gorham, NH as the cold front worked its way through the area.I made some Starbuck's and had cereal for breakfast.The wi-fi at the motel was still down from the storm, so Mrs Gorp and I went to One Bean Street Cafe and I had a blueberry muffin and another cup of coffee and spent about 1 1/2 hours on my laptop.We checked out of the motel and went out for lunch....what else do you do on a zero??? :-)))I had a very good fish and chips lunch, then Mrs Gorp suggested we go and stay at The Barn Hostel. I didn't like that idea because I don't sleep well around a bunch of snoring hikers, so we went and found a motel that still had working wi-fi.I love it when I get my way. Ha!!! :-)))The rain finally stopped later in the afternoon.Mrs Gorp made some phone calls and I went up to the PO, then stopped by a place that sold seafood and bought a couple pints of fish and scallop chowder.When I was walking back out to the truck, I saw a friend of mine walking down the road...Ol' Man!!He was heading up to Dunkin Donuts, so I gave him a ride, then took him back to his room.He said he had just gotten out of the Whites today and that the wind gusts were closing in on 100 mph with sustained 70 mph winds a couple days ago.Sure am glad I missed all that fun. :-)))I took the seafood chowder back to the room and after Mrs Gorp and I finished it, we walked over and talked to Ol' Man for a while.It sure was good seeing him back out here on the trail. He's planning on finishig the last 300 miles of the trail this year...GOOD LUCK OL' MAN!!!!It was a lazy zero day, but I'm all packed and ready for tomorrow's walk.I just checked the weather on Mt Washington...48 degrees and 14 mph winds, gusting to 20...absolutely beautiful!!! Sure am glad I waited. :-)))
Date: 2006-08-07
From: Mt Garfield, NH

To: Franconia Notch, NH
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: broken clouds

I'm very glad I suggested Mrs Gorp and I set up our tents last night.The wind stayed very strong right through the night.I woke up at 4:30am and stuck my stove outside the tent and brewed my coffee, then had some dry frosted mini wheats for breakfast.I was still enjoying my coffee at 5:30 when Mrs Gorp came by the tent and said she was all packed and ready to walk.I finished up my coffee and got pack up and was walking about 15 minutes later.There were lots of big rocks on a steep down to start the morning off.I'm much faster on those than Mrs Gorp, so it wasn't too long before I caught up to her.Had it been flat ground or uphill, I probably wouldn't have seen her for the rest of the day because she's faster on that stuff. :-)))It started raining almost as soon as I started walking. It was windy and cool out, so I put my pack cover and my raincoat on.I had stopped by Garfield Campsite and filled up with water,then walked on to Galehead Hut.We stopped in for a snack and to warm up just a little.The climb from Galehead Hut to the summit of South Twin Mountain was a steep one.I stopped to take my raincoat off and when I looked up, Mrs Gorp was out of site.I didn't see her again until I got to the summit.She was talking to a girl that hiked out from the hut.I caught my breath and we walked on.The rain stopped, but it was so windy and cool that I had to put my raincoat back on just to stay warm.We had a long way to go today and the weather wasn't giving us any views, so we just walked, and kept on walking until we got to Zealand Falls Hut.When we sat down, Mrs Gorp asked if they had any soup today and the guy said that he did, but he needed to warm it up.We snacked some and when the soup was ready, I got a couple bowls for us.It was split pea and ham and tasted really good on a cool day.I even went back for another bowl before we walked on.We still haven't been seeing hardly any thru hikers.That changed just as we were getting to Crawford Notch.Kingfish and The Beast are two sobo's that we ran into for the first time.We talked a while with them, then walked a couple more minutes to get to Mrs Gorp's car.We were driving out of the parking lot and a sobo by the name of Squeaky Clean came walking up.We've been running into him ever since northern Maine.When we left him, we headed over to Franconia Notch and picked up my truck.There was a Coke and a Mountain Dew sitting on the hood of my truck!! :-)))There wasn't any note from whoever left it though. :-(((Thanks!!!...whoever it was.I wonder how they knew it was my truck?? ;-)))We went to N Woodstock to get a room, then went out to a nice restaurant and I had a prime rib dinner.I'm not sure why, but I was really tired and ended up falling asleep about 8pm. zzzzzzz.......
Date: 2006-08-13
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 0.0

My update. :-))) I'm sitting at my home in northern Georgia. I left Glencliff for a break from the Trail....not knowing at the time for how long or how I'd get back to finish up what I have left to walk. When I got home, I had an email waiting on me from a friend, Hokey Pokey. He was asking about the Whites because he was heading up that way early in September to hike......the bells went off!! :-))) I responded to his email and asked if there was room in the car for another person. Anyway, to get to the point, it looks like I have my ride back to the Trail on 9-8-06....Thanks Hokey Pokey!! To make things even better, Hokey Pokey lives near Catawba where I finish my walk this year and said I can leave my truck there until I finish. It still amazes me how things always work out on the Trail. :-))) In the mean time, I'm stretching my foot and have been for some time now and it seems to be working....much less pain when I walk. This year's walk hasn't been what I envisioned when I started, but I'm still having fun....and already looking forward to walking again. :-))) See you in September.
Date: 2006-09-13
From: Thistle Hill, VT

To: 3 mi N of Stony Brook Shelter, Vt
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up at 5:50am, but just laid in my sleeping bag until 6:40. I just didn't feel like getting up yet.Ha!! I packed a roast beef, cheese and cabbage sandwich to carry with me because I didn't feel like eating yet. I did munch on about ten chocolate covered espresso beans that I bought in Hanover yesterday. I was packed and walking at 7:10am. I realized why I had so many critters running around my tent last night. I was near a watering hole for the animals. I didn't know that until I started walking this morning. I went ahead and ate my sandwich. I figured I might as well carry it in my belly rather than on my back. :-))) It started sprinkling about 20 minutes after I started walking and it kept it up for about an hour. Two and a half hours into my walk this morning, I ran into a nobo by the name of Rama, who I'd run into down in Va earlier this year. I stopped at noon when I found a suitable log to sit on to eat lunch. I had a salami, cheese and cabbage sandwich. While I was eating, a couple girls came by. They are nobo's, but were slacking south today. I didn't understand the first one's name, but the second one's name was Sees Lots Of Bears. They walked on and I finished my lunch. I made the climb up to Winturi Shelter, but I walked by the side trail to it without stopping. I finished climbing that mountain, then passed by the side trail to The Lookout Cabin without stopping. I knew it was supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow, so I started looking for a suitable tent site. I set up my tent in a swale last night. I like to do that when I know it's not going to rain because there's usually lots of leaves piled high to make a soft bed. I was looking for just the opposite tent site tonight. I wanted one that had a hump in the middle because a couple corners of my tent leaks a little and the hump keeps the water away from everything inside the tent. One of these days I'll seal those corners. I've tried a couple times, but it doesn't last. At least if I know it's going to rain, I set the tent up on a hump and am never bothered by the leak. :-))) I found a good tent site and stopped walking early....4:30pm and set up for the night. I only have about 13 miles to walk tomorrow to get to Rutland. I'm looking forward to washing my clothes and taking a shower. :-))) It was very still and muggy out today. It was overcast all day. I'm glad I stopped when I did because it's 6pm and it's been raining for a while. I've eaten dinner and now I'm going to read until I fall asleep. Oh yeah, the leaf count is up to 2 now. If you've started trying to beat me, stop!! Since I had...well, let's say....unverified claims last year, I've decided that this year I get a head start. (You know, my game, my rules) After all, I'm at a disadvantage right from the beginning because some of the trail has been through fields and the wind hasn't been blowing, sooooo, I'll let you know when I'm ready for the general public to start playing.
Date: 2006-09-17
From: Mrs Gorp's Home -- Rt 140, Vt

To: Danby-Langrove Rd, VT - Mrs Gorp's Home
Miles today: 8.3

Today started off slow. I was more tired than usual and I knew I had a short day planned, so I enjoyed my coffee longer this morning. I could have had a long day of over 20 miles, or a short day....I chose the short day. :-))) Mrs Gorp made French toast, eggs, bacon and we had orange juice and lots of coffee. She dropped me off at the trailhead at Rt 140 when I got packed up and was ready to walk. It was a couple miles of up-hill walking to start off with. I walked by the side trail to Greenwall Shelter without stopping, then got to the side trail to White Rocks Cliff vista and took that .2 miles out to the overlook. I sat down and enjoyed a Coke and some corn chips...and a beautiful day. I was there for about 25 minutes before walking back to the AT. Right there at the AT and the side trail, there are hundreds of rocks piled up in different formations and smaller rocks spelling out trail names and some symbols. Mrs Gorp had said she wrote her name with some rocks, but someone must have dismantled that and used the rocks for themselves. I took a few pictures, then walked on. I walked over White Rocks Mountain, then walked down the mountain towards Little Rock Pond. I passed by Little Rock Pond Shelter without stopping, but I had to keep stopping at Little Rock Pond to take pictures and enjoy the scenery. I got to the tenting area and ran into a nobo by the name of Trisaratops (?) and his black dog. I talked to him for a while before walking on. I started seeing lots of day hikers from there to Danby-Langrove Rd...about a 2 mile section where the day hikers can park their cars and walk up to the pond. I must have passed by a dozen or so. I walked by an area where a beaver has built a dam and caused the Trail to flood. That dam must be 50 feet across. I got down to the road where Mrs Gorp was going to pick me up about 15 minutes early. I talked to a few day hikers while I waited on her. She showed up right on time and I went back to her house and got a shower, then we went out to a Rutland restaurant and had dinner. My heal was somewhat better today. I stopped and stretched several times during my walk. I'm also up to 12 leaves now. I had the best leaf catching day yet. :-))) I should have had more, but I don't have my secret technique down right yet this year.
Date: 2006-09-20
From: South of Prospect Rock, VT

To: Glastenbury Mountain, VT
Miles today: 24.0

I woke up at 6am after a great night's sleep. I stayed in my sleeping bag and just laid there for about 30 minutes, then made 1 1/2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and had 10 chocolate covered espresso beans. It's nice out this morning...about 50 degrees and clear skies, but my tent is soaked from last night's rain. I was packed up and walking at 7:10am. It's a beautiful morning with the sun peaking through the trees and the darker colors of the forest after a rain. The worst thing about yesterday's rain is that now there are even more muddy areas to get around. I stopped to sign the register at Stratton Pond Shelter, then headed up Stratton Mountain. I got to listen to an owl for a short while on the way up. I knew I wanted to try and make it to Glastenbury Mountain tonight, so I kept right on moving. I saw a nice bear print in the mud just after Stratton. I stopped at Story Spring Shelter and ate a late lunch. I got water from the spring and set out a couple things to dry, but it's so damp that they didn't get all the way dry. A Long Trail nobo by the name of Storm Trooper PCT '04 stopped and we talked a while. He knew Ertman from the PCT. I walked near Ertman on the AT in '02 for a while. I came to a pond just south of Story Spring Shelter and there was a beaver home in it. I took a couple pictures and walked on. The rocks are all wet and very slippery. I took my second fall since I broke my arm, but it wasn't too bad. The first fall after the broken arm was up in Maine...so I am being careful. :-))) It got real cloudy, then a few sprinkles of rain, but not enough to get me wet. I stopped by Kid Gore Shelter and signed the register. There's a real nice view from the front of that shelter. I took a few pictures and walked on. I was walking along and heard a noise off to my left. I looked just in time to see the rear end of a moose through the brush as he was running off. I believe that's the first moose I've ever seen along the Trail in Vt. I kept walking and avoiding the mud pits in the Trail and got up to the summit of Glastenbury Mountain. I walked up to the top of the fire tower, but I didn't stay long because the wind was whipping through and it was foggy and cold. I set up my tent not far from the fire tower and went back to the tower and sat on the bottom step and ate dinner. I finished off the last of my roast beef and Swiss cheese. I got into my wet tent and got set up for the evening. I was expecting to see Shurka walk by. He's attempting a speed hike of 16 days for the Long Trail, walking it both north and south. I heard footsteps going by after I got into my tent for the evening and I suspect that was him. It was a nice day...stayed cool all day. Had sun in the morning and clouds in the afternoon. I guess Goosebump The Snow Princess took the curse off me because I'm now up to 45 leaves. I should have had more, but the buggers flip right out of your hand just before you can grab them. :-)))
Date: 2006-09-21
From: Glastenbury Mountain, VT

To: 2 miles N of Vt/Mass Border
Miles today: 22.5

I woke up at 6am after another great night's sleep. It did rain off and on last night and the winds stayed up pretty high. I had 1 1/2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and 10 chocolate covered expresso beans for breakfast. I packed up a wet tent and was walking by 7:20am. It was cold this morning. My fingers were going numb, so I got to try out my new mits. The spruce trees were also still dripping and getting me wet. I walked the .3 miles to Goddard Shelter. I was going to sign the register, but there were a couple people in the shelter and they were still sleeping, so I walked over to the spring and filled up my water bottle. The sun popped through the fog about 30 minutes into my walk. Looks like it's going to be a beautiful day. I found some trail magic that someone had left about 2 miles before Melville Nauheim Shelter...a bottle of Vita-Water. I figured I needed more vitamins anyway....Thanks. :-))) It looks like it's going to be sunny, windy and cool all day...I'll take it!!! I ran into a guy by the name of Tennessee Jim who's been sectioning the AT all the way from Springer Mountain to here. This section he's doing from Salisbury, Ct to the middle of Vt. I stopped at the trailhead to Melville Nauheim Shelter and signed the register that was there in a box that was hanging on a tree. I got to Rt 9 which is the Bennington trailhead. I sat down in the parking lot and dried out my tent, shoes and socks for about 40 minutes while I ate lunch. I was hoping there would be a garbage can, so I could get rid of my garbage, but I guess I'll have to carry it with me one more day. I left there and made the steep climb heading south. I walked over Harmon Hill, then down to Congdon Shelter. It was pretty muddy out. I stopped to sign the register and saw that Shurka was by here for lunch yesterday, so that probably was him that walked by last night. He made a comment in the register that he'd forgotten about all the mud and puds in the northeast. Good luck on your adventure, Shurka. :-))) I walked on and stopped for water in about 6 miles at Ed's Spring, then walked by the side trail to Seth Warner Shelter without stopping. I did stop near an old logging road and ate dinner, then walked another 20 minutes before I found a nice tent spot. There's frost predicted for tonight, so I got a spot for the tent on a side hill, so it shouldn't be as cold. I'm up to 47 leaves now. :-)))
Date: 2006-09-22
From: 2 miles N of Vt/Mass Border

To: South of Cheshire, Mass
Miles today: 21.2

I woke up at 5:50am and had 1 1/2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and 10 espresso beans...sound familiar?? :-))) They said it was in the 30's this morning on the radio, but it felt mild out to me. I packed up a dry tent for a change and started walking at 6:35am in my shorts and long sleeve shirt...and was very comfortable. The good news I got on the radio this morning while I was eating is that this is the last full day of summer...my least favorite season of the year. Summer always brings hot, humid weather and lots of bugs and that's not fun to walk in. I don't usually remember my dreams, but I remember dreaming about fried chicken last night. :-))) I watched the sun come up over the mountains to the east of me as I was walking this morning...very peaceful. At 7:30am, I said goodbye to Vt and hello to Mass. Now that I'm done with the Long Trail part of the AT, I'll be seeing even fewer people on the Trail. I walked on to N Adams, Mass and walked .4 miles west to the Super Shop and Stop. I sent in my journal entries and checked my email first, then went inside and enjoyed a cup of coffee while I shopped. I'm trying to eat healthier, so instead of fried chicken, I bought a rotisserie chicken for lunch. I went outside and found a sunny spot away from everything and sat down and ate the rotisserie chicken, then had 3 donuts and a quart of milk...2% milk. Doesn't that sound like a healthier meal?? :-))) I also bought a roast beef sandwich to carry for dinner tonight. I left town and started climbing the steep part of Greylock and ran into a nobo by the name of Mac. He said he left Springer on April 6th and he knows that he's going to have to flip to finish this year, but he's not sure when he'll flip and he has until sometime in November to finish his hike. I walked by the side trail to Wilber Clearing Lean-to without stopping. I got up to the summit of Greylock and checked email again, had 2 sodas, met and talked to Greylock of Scamp and Greylock...a husband and wife that has hiked some of the AT, then talked to the ranger for a while. I went around back of the building to get some water and Greylock brought out a brownie and said it was trail magic!! Thanks. :-))) I headed down the mountain and passed by the side trail to Mark Noepel Lean-to without stopping. I kept walking down Greylock until I got to Cheshire. I stopped and bought a soda to have with dinner tonight, then headed up the mountain on the south side of Cheshire. I found a flat spot and set up my tent for the night. I couldn't believe it, but while I was eating my dinner, there were about a dozen mosquitoes trying to get in my tent. Don't they know what time of year it is??? There wasn't a breeze all day, so there weren't many leaves falling. I'm still at 47. In answer to a question I had from Amoeba when she signed my guestbook....NO, it's not allowed because your name starts with an "A". If it started with an "S", it would be allowed. There are other rules, so please feel free to ask. :-)))