morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-08-15
From: Dalton, Massachusetts

To: Mark Noepel Lean-to
Miles today: 13.7

It was slow going today. I thought that with all the food in my belly, I would have a burst of energy, but it didn't happen.The terrain wasn't difficult except a few climbs. I starting climbing Mt. Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts. Hills are always good for the heart and lungs, but I won't reach the summit until the next morning.I had a great time running into a few Northbound thru hikers that were slackpacking south, Garden Nome and Mouse Hat. I haven't seen these guys for about 2 weeks and wondered where they were. I have been traveling back and forth with them for a long time, but suddenly lost touch with them. Garden Nome was sick and had to take a few days off. Mouse Hat just took some time off to rest.
Date: 2006-08-16
From: Mark Noepel Lean-to

To: Sherman Brook Campsite
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I had another short day today. Not good.My feet were killing me. I get into these temporary spells, but this is lasting a bit longer than usual. Most of the time I can ignore my feet, but the terrain is rocky and full of tree roots.I planned to cross into Vermont today, but instead I took a side trip to North Adams to get something to eat and drink. I pigged out, drank lots of milk, and ate tons of sweets. I ended up staying in town longer then I planned. So, instead of pushing onto Vermont, I decided to camp a few miles away from the border.
Date: 2006-08-17
From: Sherman Brook Campsite

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: clear sky

I felt great today! My energy level and feet were back to normal, even with the rough terrain!It started raining. That hasn't happened in awhile, so I really enjoyed it. The streams must have been going dry since there were a few places that Trail Angels left water, but we didn't need any today as the streams and springs were flowing.Vermont is beautful. I love the Green Mountains and all the pine trees. I really enjoy walking through a pine forest. It must be the smell that brings back that ancient feeling.I walked past a beaver dam shortly before arriving at the shelter. At first, I didn't realize it was a beaver dam. I just saw a swampy pond that was elevated about two feet higher then the boards I was walking on. The water was only about a foot deep under me, but I was a little paranoid that the dam would come crashing down. Unfortunately, I had my camera in my pack beacause of the rain, so I didn't get a picture.
Date: 2006-08-18
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: scattered clouds

The rain continues, but it still feels good.When I got to the shelter last night, I thought of putting up my tent because of the bugs. The hikers talked me out of it and made room for me. I actually slept well as the the rain continued to come down.I heard a thunder storm or two during the night, so I was happy to be warm and dry. When we got up in the morning, the front of the shelter was like a lake! A lot of hikers will wait out the rain by spending the day reading and relaxing. For some reason, I would rather hike and not sure why, especially since I will get cold and wet!The trails become rushing streams when it rains this much, so it is next to impossible to keep you feet dry. My boots didn't do too bad and I was able to get a good amount of miles in.With all these pines, I keep hoping I will see a moose!
Date: 2006-08-19
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: William Douglas Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I heard from one of the locals that we got about 4 inches of rain. It was supposed to be clear today, but I woke up to more rain.I ran into a few trail maintainers. When it rains, it's easier for them to clear the mud from some of the paths. They looked like they had been rolling in the stuff, but they were in good spirits.There were a couple of care takers on top on Stratton Mountain that lived in a small cabin 6 days of the week. On their day off, they went back to their house that was only about 3 or 4 miles away. When I asked them how long they'd been doing this, I couldn't believe the answer. Since 1968! Those are dedicated people. They love their simple and basic way of life and hope to continue for some time.The moutain was cold and rainy, but as I decended, it warmed up and the sun finally came out. I had planned on taking an easy day and staying at the Stratton Pond Shelter because it was suppose to be so nice. But, when I reached that point felt like moving on.
Date: 2006-08-20
From: William Douglas Shelter

To: Manchester Center, Vermont
Weather: light rain

Last night was cold and damp, but the weather is gorgious today.I asked that my sleeping bag be shipped to back me. The weather has turned cold at night very quickly. Most nights, I've been comfortable and just occasionally get a chill.Despite being cold and damp, the night was so peaceful. The location that the shelter is in is full of flowers so there are a lot of hummingbirds. But the tranquility ended around one o'clock in the morning. A lone frog under the shelter decided to start croaking. Your first instinct is to tell it to be quite, but you know that won't work! I decided to pretent that it was just one of the hikers snoring and I was able to drift right off to sleep.The hike into town was easy, but frustrating. For some reason, when I go into town I think the trail should be directly into town and not go past all these pleasant streams, rolling hills, etc. I'll get back on the trail again tomorrow, but tonight I'll see a movie tonight. I don't care what the movie is as long as they have hot buttered popcorn!
Date: 2006-08-21
From: Manchester Center, Vermont

To: Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I got an early start out of Manchester Center, which is unusual for me because I like to look around town.I managed to get to a movie last night. It was horrible, but I have no complaints since the hot buttered popcorn was great!Before heading out on the trail, I took a picture of the "Don't be Roadkill" sign that was posted on the trail heads before crossing VT 11/30. With a name like "Possum", I am extremely careful when I cross roads to go into town. Call me paranoid, but think about it. What is the animal you are most likely to see as road kill. A possum! Cars need to slow down for these wonderful little creatures.I met John on the trail. He's a 70 year old thru-hiker making the trip for the second time. He did the Appalachian Trail first when he retired, but this trip was inspired by his granddaughter who wanted to hike the trail with him. She had to back out at the last minute, but that didn't stop him. He went ahead and hiked as planned, even if he was alone. He said he does blue blaze in areas where it is too difficult for him, but I am still impressed that he is out here!
Date: 2006-08-22
From: Big Branch Shelter

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

I was a great day to hike with the cooler temperatures. It's been cold at night and I don't have my sleeping bag yet, but I manage to keep warm by putting all my clothes on and wrapping myself up in a fleece blanket.While hiking around the White Rocks Cliff area, I came across two rock gardens that were spectacular. I'm not sure who was inspired to give the hikers a great art show like this in the middle of a pine forest. It must have taken a long time to put all that together.I stopped off at Whistlers Stop with Brock and Miss Direction for a late lunch. It was only a half mile off the trail. Whenever there is an eating establishment within a short distance of the trail, the hikers will usually make a stop for some real food.The camp nicely located on a grassy knoll next to a brook. Usually, the shelters are in the woods and you don't see the stars at night. Someone left us trail magic in the running water, sodas and lemonade. What a nice way to finsih a great day.
Date: 2006-08-23
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: Churchill Scott Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

I hiked Killington Peak today. Several trail angels left soda and snacks to boost our energy for the climb. Luckily, the climb wasn't too bad. It must have been all that trail magic!The elevation here is 4235 feet. This is the highest point on the trail in Vermont (although, it is the second highest peak in Vermont).I climbed the additional 0.2 steep mile side trail to the rocky summit that offered panoramic views. You could even see the White Mountain of New Hampshie!It was a beautiful view, but the more important thing is the is a snack bar on top of the summit. Killington is a ski resort, but during the summer they keep the gondolas running between town and the peak. I find this out AFTER I climbed the mountain!After eating, Brock and I took a free round trip on the gondola. Free rides for thru-hikers! There was a good 15-20 degree temperature change between the top of the summit and at the base of the mountain. The ride was a fun change from our normal routine.
Date: 2006-08-24
From: Churchill Scott Shelter

To: Killington, Vermont
Miles today: 5.1

I decided to take a Nero day (i.e. near zero) in Killington since I mailed my bounce box here and was expecting a couple of packages, including my sleeping bag.Last night was the coldest it's been on the trail in the last couple of weeks. I managed to stay sorta warm, but I was really looking forward to getting my sleeping bag.While hiking into town, I changed my mind about spending the night so I could take a zero day in Hanover instead. However, when I checked my cell phone there was a message from Richard that I had a problem at home with an outside water pipe leaking. I called to find out what was going on, but there was no answer, so I left a message. I decided to spend the night to sort out the business in case I needed to return home.I went to the Post Office and had my packages forwarded on, except for my sleeping bag and winter clothes of course. Then, I had lunch. Richard called to give me an update. He had it all under control so there was no need to head home. So, I spent the night relaxing in my room watching television.Thank you very much for watching out for my house while I am gone, Richard! I sleep better at night knowing you are helping me out.
Date: 2006-08-25
From: Killington, Vermont

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 16.7

I woke up to pouring rain. John was in the same hotel and decided to take another zero day to bypass the rain. I decided to keep going, so I was glad I got my winter clothes because that included my rain pants, which I would need today.During the summer, the rain is warm so you just get wet and dry off later, but when the temperatures start falling, the rain is cold. That's when the rain pants come in handy.I still enjoy walking in the rain, but it seems that most hikers do not. I wouldn't either if I was wet, but keeping dry is important. I managed to walk the 16.7 miles that I wanted to get in before nightfall.Time sure is passing quickly. I heard about a few more hikers that dropped out due to family matters. Some other dropped out just because they were tired of being out on the trail.
Date: 2006-08-26
From: Wintturi Shelter

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a tough day today. The rain continued, but only occasionally.I wanted to get in about 20 miles todey, but there was no way. Both of my feet screamed at me all day long. I'm not sure if it was because of the rain the day before, the terrain, or both. Even my energy level was low, but I figured this was because it takes more energy to walk in the rain.I finally saw a moose today! At first, I heard the noise of a large animal running away from me. I thought it was a deer at first, then I noticed how ungraceful it sounded while running. When I finally got focus, I was suprised to see a young moose. I only got to see the backside, not the head. Of course, there was no time to take a picture. But, that's all right. I'm not sure I really need a picture of a moose's butt.So, I only did about 12 miles to the Thistle Hill Shelter and decided to call it quits for the day. There were several hikers at the shelter that I hadn't seen in about a week, so it was good seeing them again. There were also a couple of new hikers and it's always interesting to meet new people. They had a lot of questions about getting the weight down on their packs and what kind of food to eat. Those discussions sure brought back memories of when we started in Georgia.
Date: 2006-08-27
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Hanover, New Hampshire
Miles today: 14.6

I arrived in New Hampshire! This is the second to last state on the Appalachian Trail! I go through Maine, then that's it.But, it's not as close as it sounds. The trails through these states wind around, so I still have another 400-500 miles to go. All along the trail, I kept hearing that New Hampshire and Maine were the most spectacular hiking on the trail, so it should make a nice leg of this journey.I am in the town of Hanover, better known as the home of Dartmouth College. It's a quaint town full of restaurants, shops, etc. All in all, a great place to relax. I had trouble finding a room, so I ending up spending more money than I had planned. I even considered hitting the trail later in the day to hike to the next shelter since it's just a few miles away, but in the end I just stayed in town.There wasn't any laundry service, so I had to wash my stuff out in the sink again. With the wet socks from the rain, it didn't matter how many times I washed them out in soapy water, they still stink!
Date: 2006-08-28
From: Hanover, New Hampshire

To: ***Zero Day!
Miles today: 0.1

OK, so I only went 0.1 miles today! It was a good attempt though.The trail passes through town so I actually did get the 0.1 miles in before I came to a Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream parlor. Ben & Jerry's is popular with the hikers because it's full of fat. No diet stuff here! A pint of ice cream can contain around 1300 calories, which is exactly what a hiker needs, lots of calories!While eating my ice cream, Mayor Turtle came into the shop and asked if I wanted to share a room to split costs. That sounded like a good idea because I still wanted to try the Thai restraraunt and go to a movie.The hotel included a load of laundry, so I threw in a few things but it was mostly Mayor Turtle's things. After the load started, I checked on it. The waster was so brown I could not see the clothes, so I drained the washer and started again, and again, and again. By this time I gave up.Otherwise, we had a great evening eating and seeing a movie.
Date: 2006-08-29
From: Hanover, New Hampshire

To: Moose Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: light rain

I left Hanover shortly after breakfast. The shops and Ben & Jerry's weren't even open yet!Mayor Turtle decided to take a zero day because of a football game and a new person to share a room with. I don't normally share a room on a zero day. For me, it's more relaxing to have a room for myself. However, since I stayed at a more expensive then normal place the night before, I couldn't justify paying for an entire room for myself.Even though I enjoyed the town, it was nice getting back to the woods. I am amazed at all the baby toads and frogs on the trail. During the last couple of months, I could have filled a 5 gallon drum with the number of baby toads alone. They aren't even an inch long. I saw a frog that was so small I couldn't even get a picture of it. If it came in contact with a mosquito, I think that the mosquito would win the battle!
Date: 2006-08-30
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

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

I climbed two mountains today. At least they are breaking us in with the smaller ones before we start on the bigger mountains.Smart Mountain had beautiful vistas. I planned on having lunch there, but the winds were cold and kept pushing me around. And this isn't even a high mountain!The terrain is surely changing. Unfortunately, there are more rocks and tree roots which are never good on the feet. Naturally, the mountains are getting steeper. So, this can only mean less miles per day.I am told that on an average, a hiker can plan on around 12 miles per day. This does not suprise me. In fact, we were discussing that even if the terrain were gentler, we couldn't go any further. I believe our bodies are starting to wear down. We have no fat reserve left on our bodies and we can't seem to get enough calories to have the energy to walk any more in a day.
Date: 2006-08-31
From: Firewarden's Cabin

To: Ore Hill Shelter
Miles today: 12.6

It was one of those great fall days today. A gentle rainfall started early morning, which I always enjoy.What I love about these rainy days is that the sounds of the forest really intensify. If you let your imagination go wild, the woods can appear to be haunted. You can hear rocking chairs creaking on the porch, doors and window closing, and cats screaming.Naturally, all these sounds are from the trees rubbing up against each other, but if you didn't know that and you just watched the Blair Witch Project, your imagination can get the best of you!But for me, all these sounds and the smells of the forest make me peaceful and content.
Date: 2006-09-01
From: Ore Hill Shelter

To: Greencliff, New Hampshire
Miles today: 7.4

I stopped off at the Hikers Welcome Hostel for something to eat. I think my hiker appetite finally kicked in. By 10:00am, I had eaten breakfast, all the snacks for the day, and my lunch. I was starving, so I decided to see if the hostel had anything to eat before heading out again.Well the hostel did have some goodies. I ate a small pizza, an ice cream sandwich, two sodas, and a bag of popcorn. The hostel caregiver had just returned from town and bought a dozen whoopers. I ate 1 and 1/2 whoopers, then decided to go to the local market so I could buy a quart of whole milk, another soda, candy, cookies, and two cupcakes.Can you believe I ate all this food in about 2 hours time!? I could have eaten more, but decided that my stomach would not appreciate it.With all this food eaten, who wanted to hike? So, I took a shower, did my laundry, and decided to slack back tomorrow over Mt. Moosilauke (elevation 4802 ft).
Date: 2006-09-02
From: Greencliff, New Hampshire

To: Glencliff, New Hampshire
Miles today: 9.5

Unfortunately, the rain continued today. As much as I enjoy the rain it does obfusicate the views from the ridge. Today, it would have been nice to look out at the landscape from Mt. Moosilauke. This is the highest mountain that we have been on in a long time and the views are suppose to be spetacular.Since I was slack-packing, we were dropped off on the other side and walked back to the hostel. It was a mere 10 miles, but it also involved a lot of climbing. The rocks and mud are very slippery, especially in the rain!On my way up the mountain, I ran into Julie and her dog Fontana. I was totally suprised. Julie was the section hiker I met in North Carolina who adopted a stray dog on the trail. She knew I was in the area and came looking for me. I didn't even know where I was and she managed to find me!It was so good seeing her. She didn't recognize me at first because I have lost over 40 pounds since she last saw me. At first, she was surprised I knew the name of her dog, then she recognized me. We decided to meet the next day and hike together. Even though the summit was clouded, in it turned out to be a great day.
Date: 2006-09-03
From: Glencliff, New Hampshire

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: light rain

I left the hostel and tried to meet up with Julie and her dog, but for some reason, we were not able to connect. That was disappointing. Naturally, the cells phones didn't want to cooperate in the mountains!While waiting for Julie, an elderly couple in a car pulled up and asked if I needed any help. I recognized them immediately. They were a couple I talked with in Damascus, Virginia! We didn't have a long conversation back in Virginia because a band was playing nearby and it was too loud to talk.It turns out this couple in their 70's, live in New Hampshire and are hikers. When they are not out on the trail, they play trail angels for the hikers near their house. I ate homemade brownies, cookies, cake, and had juice to drink. They were also giving free rides to the hikers. Unfortunately, I didn't need a ride, but it was still good to see them again.
Date: 2006-09-04
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Tent Camp North Woodstock
Miles today: 8.8

In the White Mountains, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) manages lodges that sleep from 36 to 90 people. They are full service, meaning sleep and meals are included (except for one hut which is self service).At $80 per night, these huts are rather expensive. Furthermore, you don't get much for that $80. There are no private rooms, just bunk style beds. There is also no shower, no heating, and no sheets on the beds. If it weren't for the high price, it would be a fine place to stay.But, the price is the problem for a thru-hiker since we are hiking through the whole mountain range. They do have an offer where a thru-hiker can "work for stay", which is great if you are fortunate enough to get a spot. However, "work for stay" does not mean you get a bed. You have to sleep on the dining room floor and eat the leftovers of the guests (if there are any)!Other than that, I had some tough climbs today. It rained last night and it was misty today, so the hiking was slow because it was slippery out.
Date: 2006-09-05
From: Tent Camp North Woodstock

To: Garfield Ridge Campsite
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I wanted to get in 15 miles today because I was getting extremely low on supplies. Since my hiker's appetite finally kicked in, I've been eating more then I realized. I only had enough food for 2 days, but I was 30 miles away from the closest town!Normally, I could hike that in two days, but now that we are in the White Mountains the terrain is much more rugged and of course, my mileage has decreased drastically! So, I only got through 10 miles today before stopping at the AMC campsite. I wanted to avoid this place because they charge you to stay there. There is also "work for stay" program here, but it involved doing something with the outhouse and I was not interested in that!I hiked through the Franconia Ridge, which was absolutely beautiful. The ridge is treeless, so I could see exactly which mountain I would be climbing next. Occasionally, some clouds would come and go, but all in all it turned out to be a beautiful day.
Date: 2006-09-06
From: Garfield Ridge Campsite

To: Zealand Falls Hut
Miles today: 9.7

It was fortunate I didn't try to do the last 2+ miles yesterday. It took me 3 long hours to hike that! But, after that the trail wasn't bad and I was able to enjoy the weather and scenery.I decided to cut my miles short today so I could "work for stay" at the hut. I figured that since I didn't have much food, I could augment what I had by eating the food at the hut.Danger and Pixie showed up immediately after I did, so they took the three of us along with a south bounder to work. We scrubed pots and pans at night and then shook out all the blankets in the morning. It was a lot of work to sleep on the floor and eat leftovers. And in the end, we didn't even get that. There weren't any leftovers for us! So they made us oatmeal. I can't even begin to tell you how sick hikers are of oatmeal...