morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-16
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: light rain

Miles to Katahdin:   540.5Holy Crap! It didn't rain today! We woke up to sunshine and Little Camel, Tobasco, and All Good were out in a hurry. I lingered half an hour longer at the shelter before leaving at 7:50 am. Today's hike featured Stratton Mountain which reaches 3,960 feet. The terrain profile for it is much more intimidating than the actual climb.The trail does a few switchbacks up the mountain after crossing a picturesque Vermont river. There weren't many rocks, but the water flowed down the trail or pooled in the middle. I passed Little Camel and Tobasco on the way up and reached the summit before noon.On top, the black flies were everywhere. I put on my rain jacket to keep warm in the chilly 50 degree air and also to prevent the bugs from pestering me.Little Camel, All Good, and I climbed the fire tower and ate lunch inside. Unfortunately, there were no views since clouds were covering the summit. All three of us made and consumed peanut butter tortillas and vegged out for a bit hoping for a break in the clouds. No such luck.Afterward, we talked to the caretaker who works and stays on the summit. She said that yesterday's storms covered the ground with hail. Little Camel and I experienced a few pea size pellets yesterday, but nothing that drastic. It wasn't until we started down the mountain that we saw the hail still on the ground from yesterday.I mainly hiked alone for the next 11 miles. Nothing too exciting occurred until I reached Prospect Rock. From here, there was a good view of Manchester, VT and the surrounding mountains. I really do enjoy the Green Mountains. I pulled into Spruce Peak Shelter at 4:45 pm and ate pretty much all the food in my food bag since I'll be in Manchester tomorrow to meet up with Jud and Aviva who are driving from the White Mountains to hike with me.
Date: 2009-06-17
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Bromley Shelter
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Miles to Katahdin:   535.7 I had a three mile hike to VT 11 and 30 to get a hitch. Tobasco and All Good left the shelter a half hour before I did and were still at the road trying to get a 5 mile ride into Manchester, VT when I reached the road.I walked up the road a couple tenths of a mile to the crest. I figured I'd have a better shot at someone pulling over if they hadn't tapped into any of their potential energy yet. It worked! I stood with my thumb out for 5 or 10 minutes when a woman in her 50s, Betsy, picked me up. I told her she should pullover for Tobasco and All Good if she had the room, which she did. Her son thru hiked a few years ago so it wasn't a big surprise that she pulled over.Once in town, I did a load of laundry at the laundromat across from Friendly's. Next to the facility was Mrs. Murphy's Donuts. While my stuff was in the dryer, I went into the shop and had a Boston Cream doughnut, a chocolate glazed doughnut, an egg, cheese and bacon sandwich, and a glass of orange juice. I indulged as I read the local newspaper.Once my clothes were dry, I went to EMS for some denatured alcohol and then to Price Chopper for food. I purchased 3 days of food to get me into Rutland.After all that work, it was time for lunch. I got a $9.99 special with a side salad at Friendly's. My stomach was very happy. The rest of the afternoon, I walked around town until 2:00 pm when Jud and Aviva arrived. Both were in the White Mountains and made a special trip to hike with me!We made it 2 miles up the trail to Bromley shelter were we dropped our packs off. From there it was a nice 1 mile hike to the summit of Bromley Mountain. It was a great view with only partly cloudy skies. Aviva and Jud even cooked dinner for me once we returned to the shelter. I'm very glad to have a couple friends with me tonight!
Date: 2009-06-18
From: Bromley Shelter

To: Greenwall Shelter
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: moderate rain

Miles to Katahdin:   513.1Well, I slept in this morning. Rain arrived overnight as forecasted and everything was wet outside. I started packing up slowly around 7:30 am and Aviva and Justin got up shortly after. A few stories and laughs later, it was time to say goodbye. I'm very fortunate to have fantastic friends.I walked all day in the chilling rain. This gave me extra motivation to keep walking. My feet were soaked within an hour so the next 7 wouldn't be different. I went back up Bromley Mountain and then up Peru. The trail was an absolute mess and wood planks were as slick as ice. There was plenty of overgrowth on the trail to add some water to your pack and gear.I stopped at the shelter just beyond Peru for a handful of trail mix and granola bars. The break was extremely brief since I wasn't exactly comfortably warm. The next 7 miles were all downhill and I moved at a quick pace. At the end of a long stretch was Big Branch Shelter. I made a peanut butter tortilla and snacked on a candy bar when J.Boogie arrived. I had a quick conversation with her and pressed on.I took a couple spills on slick rocks up to Little Rock Pond and did not stop at either of the two shelters in the area. I just kept my momentum up to White Rock Mountain. At the top were a couple clusters of rock gardens. I took a few pictures and descended to Greenwall Shelter. I was drenched and it felt good to take my feet out from heavy, muggy boots. I changed into dry clothes and got more water before making dinner.Tonight it is Dave from Colchester, CT, John, and Bad Hummus in the shelter hiding from the rain. I actually met John for the first time back at Overmountain Shelter in the Roan Highlands of NC and hadn't seen him since Damascus, Virginia.
Date: 2009-06-19
From: Greenwall Shelter

To: Churchill Scott Shelter
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Miles to Katahdin:   489.8There really isn't a better way to start your day than by placing wet socks on your feet and then putting them into soaked boots. I had my rain gear on, but quickly took it off in the first climb. It was a steep one too! The rain gear wouldn't be preventing me from getting wet if I'm sweating. Also, the skies were only overcast. The real water I had to deal with was either on trail or falling on me from surrounding plants.John and Bad Hummus went into Rutland, VT via route 103, 8 miles beyond Greenwall. I continued on because I wanted to climb Killington Mountain before going into Rutland. There were two steep, rock scrambles after route 103 that had me winded. I ate lunch at an overlook facing Rutland airport.I hiked through swampy fields and along mosquito dwelling rivers until finally climbing Killington Mountain. There was a cooler of Coke along the trail which I was glad to see. It was very refreshing. Thank you Mad Hatter for the trail magic!The climb wasn't too bad, but it was lengthy. It was a seven mile hike with 2,400 feet of elevation gain. The trail was recently cut and took me through thick pine and evergreen forests at the highest elevations. It was about 4:30 pm when I got to the top and took a breather inside the cabin. It was only 4.4 miles downhill to the next shelter so I moved on at 5:20 pm. The trail took me over Pico Peak and then down to Churchill Scott Schelter.I made a beef flavored noodle dish for dinner and dried my feet inside the shelter. It was nice to have a mainly dry day. There was a quick shower on top of Killington and then fog, but nothing like the deluge I experienced yesterday. Sharptooth, Liquid, and I are staying here tonight. The spring water here is phenomenal; it's cold and delicious.
Date: 2009-06-20
From: Churchill Scott Shelter

To: VT100; Rutland Vermont
Miles today: 5.2

Miles to Katahdin:   484.6All of us slept well last night. Sharptooth wanted to do a 33 mile day, but he left the shelter late due to sleeping in. I skipped oatmeal this morning and just had Pop Tarts and granola bars. I didn't have time for heating water and cleaning a pot since I wanted to catch a 10:22 bus from Killington, VT to Rutland, VT.I hiked in a fresh pair of socks since I knew I'd be in town to do laundry. So it wasn't so bad to put my wet boots on this morning. The hike was downhill to US4; the famous location of The Inn at Long Trail. I just crossed the road and kept hiking.After the road was a gentle uphill to Tucker-Johnson Shelter. It was 9 o'clock at this point and I only had 2.3 miles to go so I had plenty of time to catch the bus. I followed the white blazes for 40 more minutes until I hit an old dirt road. The signs labeled the trail as the Long Trail; No AT attachment. I had walked past the junction where the AT and LT split. I had to backtrack 2 miles to get onto the AT. I was pissed. I missed the bus and hiked 4 extra miles on what was going to be a short day. On my way back, I met up with Iceman. He was making the same error I did. He was grateful taht I was there to correct him. The junction is poorly marked and doesn't attract attention the way it should...in my opinion. Then again, I hike with my head down most of the time anyway.I talked with Iceman down to VT100 and then I headed 0.6 miles to Killington. I caught the 11 o'clock bus. The driver gave me a free ride since I'd walked all the way from Georgia. Once in Rutland, I went to the Hostel and did laundry. While that was running, I hit up the Chinese Buffet, Walmart, and Price Chopper. For dinner, I watched the Red Sox at Sabby's Pasta Restaurant. I ordered a beer, a glass of water, a salad, and Lasagna. It was a great meal and close game, but with the Sox up 2-0 and the sun was down; I needed to go to bed.
Date: 2009-06-21
From: VT100; Rutland Vermont

To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 16.6

Miles to Katahdin:   468.0Well, I looked at the weather forecast from the local library yesterday. The forecast looked wet, but when I woke up everything was dry. I was packed up by 8:20 am and went to Clem's Restaurant next door for breakfast. I ordered the largest entree: 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 pieces of toast, 2 sausages, and 2 strips of bacon. I also had a tall glass of orange juice. While I waited, I called my dad to wish him a Happy Father's day. I caught the first bus out of town and was in Killington around 10:00 am. Skies were overcast and it had showered while I ate breakfast.My walk started around Kent Pond which had some beautiful scenery. I kept my camera handy all day and took some great photos of the mountains. The Thundering Falls were a site to see!   There wasn't a lot of water, but the rock face the water went down was impressive.The main climb of the day was up Quimby Mountain. I ran into GMC members on the way up and sat to talk with them for 10 minutes as they took a break from trimming the brush. The climb took a while, but once on top, it was good hiking.Unfortunately, I went back down to the elevation I pretty much started from to get to Stony Brook Shelter. I sat and had a late lunch before I hit the trail for another 8.8 miles. Those miles were brutally long. I must confess that I've been hiking with my MP3 player on for a while now. I used to save it for nights, but now I use it all day. Today it was needed.I did take a side trail to a lookout near the end of my hike. It took me to an old cabin with a platform on the roof. I had a great view of mountains and the variety of clouds. The showers seemed to surround me.Once in the shelter, I relaxed and then made some mashed potatoes. It is just me and a Southbound section hiker tonight.
Date: 2009-06-22
From: Winturri Shelter

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Miles to Katahdin:   447.6I started my hike at 8:00 am this morning. The reason for the late start was because I was exhausted and not looking forward to the upcoming terrain. Today's stretch of land took me up and down really steep sections of the trail. There wasn't a flat piece of land to be had.One notable bit of today's hike was the quantity of fields I hiked through. All the overgrown farm land on these steep mountains allowed for some great vistas. I went over Ascutny Mountain and ate lunch on top of another. The views were decent given the fact that the sky was completely overcast. I thought it was going to rain eventually with all the wind, but it never did.I took a mid afternoon siesta in West Hartford, VT. I ate a horseradish and roast beef sandwich, chips, a pickle, a jug of chocolate milk, and an ice cream sandwich at the general store. That is my kind of store!I had a four mile hike, mainly uphill, to Happy Hill Shelter. On the way, a huge turkey flew out of the ferns but other than that, it was uneventful. The shelter is infested with mosquitoes and birds appear to be settled in the rafters. It looks to be a long night.
Date: 2009-06-23
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Moose Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Miles to Katahdin: 430.8I had a terrible sleep last night. Between being too hot, mosquitoes buzzing in my ear, and birds flying in and around the shelter, any snooze was short and choppy. I looked forward to hiking out for the sole reason of escaping the bugs; going into town and crossing into NH played second fiddle.The hike was downhill into Norwich, VT. I hiked the road for the majority of it. It was all sidewalk from Main Street into downtown Hanover. This is the longest road section for the entire trail. Once in Hanover, I went to the Dartmouth Outdoor Club building for internet access. I charged my phone and after an hour or so, walked around the fantastic college green. The school is definitely what I'd expect from an Ivy League institution. I considered stopping by the Environmental Sciences department, but I was too hungry.I walked to CVS for some hygiene and first aid products and then to Ramunto's Brick Oven Pizza. I ordered a meatball grinder and was given a free slice of cheese pizza since I was a thru hiker. I sat and ate while watching all the college folk pass through for lunch. Not too long ago, I was enjoying that life! I definitely thought about PSU for a while today.Anyways, after having food, the next best thing to do in town is have more food. So, I walked to Ben and Jerry's for a two scoop Cherry Garcia cone. Then it was off to the Co-op grocery store before I was back in the woods.It was around 2:00 pm when I was on trail and I wanted to hike 11 miles to Moose Mountain Shelter. The terrain wasn't steep, but it was all uphill to my destination. I forgot to mention my visit to the Post Office where I obtained my heavier, bulky sleeping bag from the beginning of the the trip. I mailed out a long sleeve shirt, tent stake, and my summer sleeping bag. Despite a net loss of two items, my pack felt heavier and bigger.I hiked through numerous fields on the way to Moose Mountain and took some nice photos. The climb just before the shelter was steep and the wind was blowing on the summit.The shelter appears to have plenty of mosquitoes so I'll be slapping away tonight. The good news is I'm exhausted from a great day. I'm now north of the Mason-Dixon Line, east of the Hudson, north of I-84, east of the Connecticut River and east of I-91. I guess I'm home.
Date: 2009-06-24
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Miles to Katahdin:   413.1I had the best sleep of the entire trip last night. I can hardly recall a time that I tossed or turned. I guess the winter bag, with all its extra filling, feels like a bed at a 5 star hotel compared to my thin 45 degree, down bag.Today, I had four climbs that stood out in my elevation profiles. The first was a 1,200 foot climb in the mid-morning to Holts Ledges. I had fantastic scenery and overcast skies. The mountains in Vermont and New Hampshire have certainly reminded me of what "mountains" really are (compared to what I covered in Maryland through Connecticut).It was right back down after Holts Ledges, but back up again for Smarts Mountain (3,220 ft). This was a climb that came in two steep portions. I was so hot and sweaty from the very beginning that I decided to hike without a shirt. Air temperatures weren't that high, but the humidity got to me. It was even drizzling at one point.The first half of Smarts Mountain ended once I hit some white rock ledges and then the trail flattened. After that, it was back up an equally steep trail to the summit. On top was a cabin and fire tower. Sharptooth was in the cabin, so we climbed the fire tower together and inspect the view. The clouds were patchy and blocked some of the mountains to the north and east, but you could see for miles in other directions. If the clouds moved just right, I could get a glimpse of Mount Moosilauke(the first White Mountain on the AT). Sharptooth hiked down ahead of me while I took a few more minutes to rest. The hike down was 4 long and muddy miles. It was nice to not climb though. Once at the base, I crossed a brook and it was another climb up to the shelter. On the way was a nice rock outcropping where I could view an imposing thunderstorm just to the west.After the most climbing I've done in a while, I hope for another comatose sleep tonight!
Date: 2009-06-25
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 14.6

Miles to Katahdin:   398.5I've made arrangements to stay at my Uncle's house in the White Mountains on Friday so I figured that I should hike to Mount Moosilauke today and hike over tomorrow for a pick-up on the otherside.Sharptooth was stirring near 4:00 am to start his day. I couldn't believe it! I stayed in my sleeping bag until 5:20 am and then started my routine. Breakfast consisted of a couple Pop Tarts and my last ounces of oatmeal.All energized, I climbed for the next 1.6 miles from 1,960 ft to 2,911 ft on Mt. Cube. There were some large rock faces that stayed generally dry until I was hiking in the clouds. The summit was all fogged in, so there was no need to spend time there.At the bottom of the mountain, I hit NH25A. This isn't a big landmark by any means, but it was for me. In January, I passed by this location on route to my Uncle's house. Here I stood at the same location 5 months later except this time I had walked from Georgia. Of course I didn't linger, I just started uphill to Ore Hill Shelter because I was hungry. The sun was now out and the humidity high, so I definitely wanted the rest.I took a 45 minute break at the shelter for lunch and moved on. This area had plenty of bugs, including mosquitoes. Once I crossed NH25C, there was a stream that I stopped at to treat water. I was running low and collected another liter. With Mount Mist before me, I put on O.A.R. and charged up the mountain at my quickest pace in quite some time.After Mount Mist, I descended to NH25 which is in Glencliff, NH. I couldn't get any cellphone reception, so I walked down the road to the hiker hostel. I decided to stay since Sharptooth and Liquid were there. I originally planned to just use the phone, but food, bunk, and soda convinced me to stay. We grilled burgers and corn for dinner. A special surprise was when Montana Mac arrived. I hadn't seen him since Duncannon, PA. We shared some stories and a beer or two. He has to get off the trail and to take care of his feet. Such is life on trail; people come and go due to injuries or zero days.
Date: 2009-06-26
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Kinsman Notch, NH
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Miles to Katahdin:   389.0I naturally awoke this morning at 4:30 am and started my day. I had an apple, Pop Tarts, chocolate milk, and a granola bar for breakfast. These items were all I needed to power me up Mount Moosilauke.I was at the base of the mountain around 6:30 am and crossed a river just after the road. I stepped on one rock while crossing that rolled my foot into the water. So I hiked with a soggy left foot today. The trail was pretty steep up the mountain, but entirely walkable. After the most strenuous section, there is a ridge walk to the summit. A mile of trail must have been above treeline. One of the advantages of hiking so early in the morning is that the clouds were in the adolescent phase of growth so I had a decent view of the impressive White Mountains.I sat and consumed a honey bun. Sharptooth and Liquid arrived a half hour later followed by Boof. We sat talking to a couple day hikers before beginning the hike down around 11:00 am.The trail down Moosilauke is ridiculous! In fact, it may be the most strenuous section of land I've ever hiked upon. There is a sign on a tree just before the drop advising hikers to seek an alternate route. Thru hikers, of course, ignore such a notion. It is a cliff descent next to a stream of falls that are quite loud. Wooden steps have been added to the rock faces in order to get down at some locations.Sharptooth, Liquid, and I reached the base of the mountain and ate lunch at a picnic table in the parking lot of NH112. They pressed on while I waited for my uncle to pick me up. The black flies were extremely bad this afternoon. Fortunately, it was quite gusty in Kinsman's Notch so bugs would get blown away temporarily.My uncle arrived at 5:00 pm and we arrived at his home around 5:10 pm. It feels real nice to see them all again. We ate pizza and filled up on cherries, grapes, cheese, and crackers that I purchased at the store. I made a bonehead play and left my boots in the parking lot in Kinsman's Notch, so we went back after dinner and they were fortunately still there along with my walking stick!
Date: 2009-06-28
From: Kinsman Notch, NH112

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 13.4

Miles to Katahin:   375.6My aunt made some delicious Belgian Waffles this morning to energize my day. It worked well too!   My uncle dropped me off at the trail head at 8:15 am and I was off. Skies were mostly cloudy to overcast and temperatures cool. The trail and rocks were slightly damp from last night's rain.My day was generally uphill. I had a decent climb directly after Kinsman Notch, but then the grade of the trail became easier a mile in. I listened to the radio for the whole hike. I find that music is pretty much required when I hike alone now.There were a series of ups and downs that cumulatively brought me up to Mount Wolf. Several times I was forced to use my hands for a climb up a large rock face. This along with an overall rocky trail has decreased my pace to below 2 miles per hour.After the peak, I hiked down to Eliza Brook Shelter. On the way, I crossed paths with Wanderer, a southbound thru-hiker. Evidently he is the second hiker to leave from Mt. Katahdin this year. He is carrying a wooden oar in his backpack's side pocket which I find crazy if not idiotic.I had a couple scoops of peanut butter and a handful of trail mix at the shelter. The trail after the shelter was all uphill to South Kinsman Mountain. The first half followed a stream. All in all, it was a pretty steady, but manageable, uphill to a pond. After the pond, the trail increased its slope up to the summit. There were some really tricky climbs and they taxed me. On the summit, I had a mediocre view. Dark clouds were just north of the mountain and it began to drizzle and shower on the way down. It was an immediate ascent to North Kinsman Peak following a 500 foot descent. The final 2.5 miles down the mountain were slow along flat rock surfaces.At 4:30 pm, I arrived at an Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) hut at Lonesome Lake. I was given a work for stay which I was elated to have. People who stay at the huts reserve spots for $81 dollars a night per person for dinner, breakfast, and a bunk. Thru-hikers are allowed to do a work for stay in which we get leftovers from breakfast and dinner and a spot in the dining room to sleep for 2 hours of work. My job was to sort and tidy the game box, give a lecture about my hike to the 21 guests, and to sweep the bunkhouses the next morning. Naturally, I enjoyed being a lecturer. The leftover stuffed shells from dinner was worth it!