morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-01
From: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-To, CT

To: Riga Lean-To, CT
Miles today: 19.8

I got up at 5 am because I wanted to do a fly-by of Salisbury, CT today. First of all, there is a phone. I got to call Beth, which always motivates me. Second, there is an ice cream shop . There is also a full sized grocery store that is not marked well on the companion map. But I must say, CT is rapidly becoming my favorite state. Too bad I enter MA tomorrow Sitting at the outdoor tables of the Ice Cream Shop no less than 6 people came up and talked to me. From the one gentleman who timidly asked "How many miles do you do a day?" to a gracious lady who joined her husband who was sitting at the table and talking to me. She sat down and said "Would you like to take a shower?" I was overwhelmed with the offer of such hospitality, but declined since I had had one just two days prior . She said she was an artist and I think I've got it right. But I guess I missed the spelling of the last name. Then, as if it had not been an awesome day, on the way out of town I meet Paddy O* who does some awesome trail magic. The trail in CT isn't bad either
Date: 2006-07-02
From: Riga Lean-To, CT

To: Hemlocks Lean-to, MA
Miles today: 10.0

Well...gosh! I'm in MA. Today was supposed to be a nero, but I should have known better when I looked at the map profile. Three rather large climbs. I should have taken the clue when each peak was named.Cookie* and I took our time. Stopping for long breaks and generally being lazy. It's nice to just sit back and enjoy the view once in a while. Tomorrow is another almost 20 miler.There were a couple interesting featues of the hike today. Coming down Bear Mtn was a steep, rocky decent. Then we walked along a beautiful stream in Sages Ravine before starting the long shallow ascent of Race Mountain, which was mostly solid rock trail. Then a somewhat steep ascent to yet another rocky top mountain, Mt Everett. During the climb up Race Mountain, the trail walks along some exposed ledges and it was a long way down but at least the trail was wide.We saw lots of day hikers today and they always treat you like a celebrity when they find out you're a thru-hiker. I enjoy answering the questions, but I think I'm going to have "March 16" tattooed on my forehead
Date: 2006-07-03
From: Hemlocks Lean-to, MA

To: Mt Wilcox South Lean-to
Miles today: 19.7

It's 8:30 pm. I've done my chores, patched my wounds and zipped myself into my bug proof, at least, tent. I'm the only one here tonight, but I'm still in my tent because of the bugs.It was another mean hike today across MA. Climbed down off one mountain ridge, crossed a swamp and climbed back up the next ridge. All this, of course, with intermediate ups and downs just to make it interesting. All this in 90° heat and high humidity makes for some tough hiking. Cookie* hasn't made it in.Eagle Eye* and I stopped at the Corn Crib. A plant nursery on US7 that happens to sell ice cream    Cookie* and I had met Eagle Eye* just before camp yesterday. Anyway, although at the lowest geographical elevation of the day, the ice cream was certainly the high point. The mountains? oh yeah, well they were interesting, sorta, once you got past the mosquitoes and the heat.To top off the day, an isolated T-storm caught me 2 miles from the shelter. It was a cold rain and felt good but it didn't last long. Of course it's raining now, so hopefully it will cool off, but I doubt it. My camelback water bottle is sweating, it's gonna be a long night.
Date: 2006-07-04
From: Mt Wilcox South Lean-to

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

Happy 4th of July! Last night up came a T-storm, but the silicone treatment on my tent that I did in Kent held up. I stayed dry I was the only one at that location last night, but I learned later that the next shelter and the following campsite has lots of people. There are seven people inside the cabin tonight plus the caretaker who by the way serves a pancake breakfast It was another humid, hot day that lacked a breeze. Hiking was difficult. You just have to keep drinking because it just sweats right back out.I made my destination today this cabin because it has a swimming dock. You bet I took a dip. It's cooled off a bit so sleep may come easy tonight. The cabin is sort of a hostel, but it's really more of an upgrade from a shelter. No laundry, phone, shower, but there is a gas stove and the caretaker is very nice. I'm sure looking forward to those pancakes in the morning, but I have a 17.6 mile day scheduled and it mean's I will get a late start. But I'm not passing up pancakes.
Date: 2006-07-05
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kaywood Shelter, MA
Miles today: 17.6

What a great day. Woke up to pancakes & coffee. Had a nice breakfast and set out to hike at a leasurely 8 am. The weather was clear, less humid and in the 70's. The trail was through tall conifers with a pine needle cushion to it, nice rolling hills and only one 1000 foot climb for the day.Posey Picker* the botanist strolled into the cabin last evening. I hadn't seen him in a while. Today we bumped into each other a couple times on the trail and both of us stopped here tonight. He's an interesting fellow who can name or at least identify almost every native plant in these woods. And trust me, there are a lot of them.So tomorrow I hit Dalton, MA for a quick laundry, post office and lunch :-), then out and half way up Mt Greylock. If I pull it off, this will be a miracle fly-by of a town. I've got a little over 16 miles planned, but only 13.7 after Dalton, so if I get out of there by noon, I should make it into camp before dark. Sometimes it's just hard to get out of towns. :-)
Date: 2006-07-06
From: Kaywood Shelter, MA

To: Mark Noepel Lean-to MA
Miles today: 16.7

Another gorgeous day! I did a fly by on not one, but two trail towns today. I'm getting good at this Had breakfast in Dalton, picked up my maildrop, did my laundry and hit the general store for a quart of powerade and lunch, then headed out. I got over the hill and 8 miles down the trail to Cheshire where I had some Brats at the convenience store because the pizza place was closed for vacations. Rats. Brats.Got to call my wife twice today. That's always good and then managed to get out of Cheshire and halfway up Mt Greylock by 6:30. Pretty good day all in all.The trail in MA isn't really bad. In fact it's pretty well groomed. There is a strange sort of lull in squirrel activity. Other wildlife is also scarce. I have no idea why that is. It just is.Tomorrow, up and over Mt Greylock, then down down down to North Adams, then back up. But by the end of the day, I'll be in Vermont!
Date: 2006-07-07
From: Mark Noepel Lean-to MA

To: Seth Warner Shelter, VT
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

I got a late, 8 am start out of camp this morning and reached the summit of Mt Greylock at about 0930. Had a soda since the snack bar wasn't open and moved on. When I dropped down off the ridge to the town of North Adams, Buzz* a section hiker who has been keeping pace with Posey Picker* and I was waiting in his car to give me a lift to the store. Then he gave me a ride to the other end of town where I could get a cheese burger :-). Mighty nice of him. Thanks Buzz*!Had a ruffled grouse do the broken wing routine to get me away from her chicks today. Then after crossing into VT, I saw some moose droppings.Yes, I am in VT. Eleven of the fourteen states behind me. With that comes some more mountainous terrain but at least the next 150 miles is nothing I haven't seen before. The VT trail is muddy though. Very muddy.
Date: 2006-07-08
From: Seth Warner Shelter, VT

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter, VT
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

A short day, so I lazed around this morning until 0900 took my time and made it to the shelter around 5. VT is a little muddy, but on top of that it's a nice state so far. Passed some beaver ponds and on one occasion a board walk right next to a rather ambitious beaver dam. The water was spilling over the crown of the dam in many spots.There was a steep 800 ft decent down to VT Route 9 followed by a 1000 ft climb to the shelter. The steep decent was harder on my body than the steep climb. But really, the physical stuff isn't much of an issue any more. Officially I've come 1598 miles. Lost a lot of weight and gained a lot of muscle. Although I was sort of dreading the climb at the end of this day, I was at the shelter much sooner than anticipated. Tomorrow might be more difficult with all it's ups and downs, none of them severe. Time will tell.Really, it's the mental part that's hard. Beth's coming visit will make this week go slow, but what's really the big mental task is getting through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Big, steep mountains with an expensive hut system that expects hikers to pay is just another mental hurdle to overcome. Then more mountains and eventually, Maine. I should be there by months end, but only time will tell.
Date: 2006-07-09
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter, VT

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

Nice Day. The weather is holding, but it did get a bit cloudy, which is fine for hiking. There is thunder in the distance, but we'll see.Half of today's hike was trending up, while the second half was trending down. Of course there are always intermediate ups and downs along the way. At the apex was Glastenbury Mountain which has a fire tower that has been recently rebuilt. Great views of the forest in all directions. From the tower your view is about 25-30 feet above the tree tops giving one the impression of flying over the tops like a bird would see. Beautiful.Something different about today. I didn't cross a road, see a house or hear a car. I think that's a first on the trail. VT seems to have some nice forests. The trail is good trail and there was a lot of evidence of recent trail maintenance. Pretty nice state so far. :-)
Date: 2006-07-10
From: Story Spring Shelter, VT

To: William Douglas Shelter, VT
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

This shelter is half a mile off the trail, it's old (1956), but spreced up last year. I'll probably be alone here tonight because most hikers won't come this far off. Shrug.It was up and over Stratton Mountain today with yet another fire tower to gain another great view. The wind was really whipping by at almost 4000' but the box had windows this time with labels for identification of different peaks and lakes. Mt Greylock was barely visible to the south. Glastenbury Mtn, 15 miles south was a little more prominent. There was haze so the pictures probably won't be very inspiring, but the 360° view was :-).Then it was down to Stratton Pond where I took a break at the very posh Stratton Shelter. A $5 fee is charged there and it was a nice shelter, but certainly not anything special. I chose to move on at the prompting of the mosquitoes, which were very bad there.Got into the shelter today at about 4:30 and knowing I'd probably have it to myself, I took the opportunity to spread all my pack and food out, dry some stuff, consolodate some trash and just do some house keeping.It did rain/t-storm last night but only for about an hour. Looks like tonight might do the same, but I'll have my tent set up in the shelter this time ;-).
Date: 2006-07-11
From: William Douglas Shelter, VT

To: Peru Peak Shelter, VT
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

Woke up at 4:30 and needed to go outside. I noticed all the leaves were turned upside down....bad sign! At 5:30 I was awaken by the crash of nearby thunder and lightening. It's 6 am and I apparently made a good choice of staying in the shelter last night. This one is a mean storm. Think I'll sit this one out.The storm passed and I was on the trail by 8 am. It was raining a little but when I happened across this "Chicken of the woods" mushroom the rain had stopped. I climbed a few mountains with names today. Among them Bromley, which had an observation platform and a ski lift. Crossed VT 11 at a dead run as instructed by the sign. The trail crossed on a curve and the cars are whipping by. At Mad Tom Notch, there was a trailhead bulletin board and a working water pump that had a little drinking fountain attachment. Pretty cool I filled up my spare Gatoraid bottle and set out on my last climb of the day, Styles Peak.When I strolled into Peru Peak Shelter, I found Cosmic Punchline* who I had not seen since Hot Springs, NC. It was a good reunion and he had a lot of e-mail news from behind us on the trail. It was good to hear that Fiddlehead* did not have a brown recluse bite, but only an infected spider bite and that she was still on the trail.
Date: 2006-07-12
From: Peru Peak Shelter, VT

To: Greenwall Shelter, VT
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

The rain set in around noon, half way to the day's destination. You have a choice, stay put at the next shelter or hike the scheduled miles. I belong to the latter choice. Make the miles count and if you stay put it will take a heck of a lot longer to get the job done.At about 4:30 and soaking wet, I come to the shelter to find four people already here. They make room for me and I carefully change out of my soaked clothing into dry ones. Now at 20 minutes to 7 it is still coming down hard.I seem to hike faster in the rain. Not much to look at. Besides, my glasses fog up if I stop. Something about being cold and wet just makes you want to get there, wherever it is you are going. I remember a similar day in the Smokies when I got to a full shelter in the rain. Funny, they're always full in the rain Three of the five in here are hiking the "Long Trail." Vermont's own trail. The other fellow is hiking half the AT north then southbound the rest of it.Personally, I hope it rains all night. Might help keep the mosquitoes down. Right now, it looks like it might do just that. I'm dry, I'm out of it, I'm doing my miles.
Date: 2006-07-13
From: Greenwall Shelter, VT

To: Gov Clement Shelter, VT
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

Vermont can get down right muddy with a little rain. The rain continued through the night and well into the morning swelling creeks and flooding spots in the trail. Not far past Greenwall Shelter a nameless brook had become an angry river that did a 45° plunge about 50 feet from where the AT supposedly crossed. Me and the other hikers from Greenwall took a detour down a side trail and about a mile road walk to get around it. Thankfully the side trail was there. That was one mean looking river ford!It stopped raining around noon and the sun came out. I stopped at the two shelters along the way and took long breaks. Nice chats with some section hikers and some south bounders (SOBO's). A couple of the SOBO's were from Michigan, which was kinda neat Later in the day, I encountered a Scout Troop. Troop 1 from MA. They were enjoying a soda from the first of two trail magic's we encountered today. Soda's in the stream Later on I caught up with them at yet another stream ford. This one was only knee deep. I waded it, but some of the scouts were successful in walking a log. I got a picture of the scouts fording the swollen creek. Later on I was invited to visit their campfire. Nice of them.
Date: 2006-07-14
From: Gov Clement Shelter, VT

To: Gifford Woods SP, VT
Miles today: 13.9

It was supposed to be a hot day so I got a 6:30 start even though Beth isn't due in for several hours. I arrived at the park around 2 pm, so I've just been chilling out here at the park office. Pepsi machine, pay phone, patio chairs...all the comforts of home.Today's hike was uneventful, so I'll not go into it. As of this evening, I am taking three full days off the trail. Beth, my wife, is en route from Michigan, so it's just a matter of waiting for her to arrive at this point.Vermont can get very muddy after these rains. I can't quite put my finger on it, but from what I can gather, the land just can't hold it's water. Ironically, the bog logs, many of them at least, are over dry areas. I realize from this that the mud puddle problem here in VT tends to be a moving target still with only three hiking days left in VT, I can say it has been a very nice state to hike in. By that I mean more wilderness and less civilization. Isn't that what hiking is all about? I've enjoyed VT.
Date: 2006-07-17
From: Killington, VT

To: Killington, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Yup, another zero day. Yesterday, I was able to contact Lady Green* and Sir Wounded Knee* who are in Bennington, about an hour south. Beth and I drove down and had lunch with them, then we also grabbed Chill*, who I had not seen since Virginia and drove to Manchester Center to an outfitter and, of course, found a Ben & Jerry's ice cream stand along the way. It was nice to visit with friends from the trail again.Tomorrow, it's back to the trail to finish this. About three more days in Vermont and then only two states left, but New Hampshire and Maine promise to be a real adventure
Date: 2006-07-18
From: Killington, VT

To: Wintturi Shelter, VT
Miles today: 16.6

Another goodbye, always hard. I watched her drive away and turned toward the familiar white blaze, then headed back into the woods. It wasn't a hard day in spite of the climbs and sawtooth aspects of the trail. The trail bed itself was mostly class 7, which is to say that 70% of the time you don't need to look at the trail while you're walking.The thunder started at about 3 PM. The rain started at 4, but it only rained for about 45 minutes and not hard. I went ahead and used my rain jacket and didn't get too wet.Jumped a moose and a covey of grouse not far from the shelter. I didn't get a good look at the moose, but I know what one sounds like having observed them on Isle Royale. The grouse, of course, scared the wits out of me as they took flight.
Date: 2006-07-19
From: Wintturi Shelter, VT

To: Happy Hill Shelter, VT
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: scattered clouds

A long hard day. The profile was somewhat deceptive, but in hindsight, looking at it again, there were a lot of ups and downs. Half way through, at Clowdland, there was a farm that sold ice cream and soda's. That was good. I had a pint of Strawberry ice cream.The latter half of the day was problematic. I missed a shelter that I was counting on for water. The backup was the small store in West Hartford. Well, that store is closed permanently. Fortunately for me, there was a library and the lady there let me fill up my bottle. Whew!I'm only 5 miles from the New Hampshire line. Passing thru Hanover tomorrow and onward towards the White Mountains.
Date: 2006-07-20
From: Happy Hill Shelter, VT

To: Moose Mtn Shelter, NH
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

I crossed the Connecticut River into New Hampshire today. There was a long road walk through Norwich, VT, then across the river into Hanover. The walk thru Hanover was surreal. It's just a burg, but with Dartmouth College there, the town had a big city flavor....for about two blocks I went to the Subway shop and had a 12" ham & swiss, then back to the Shell Food Mart for some Dunkin Donuts Called Beth and satisfied my need to know her drive home was uneventful. Mr Breeze*, Moat* and The Bunny* were all there, but they all stayed in town. I pushed on another 10 miles.So far, NH is about the same as VT. Muddy, hilly, tall weeds. The shelter tonight has a bit of a view. There is a cool breeze blowing and it may rain before morning. Looks like it will be a nice sleeping night.
Date: 2006-07-21
From: Moose Mtn Shelter, NH

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

Whew! A rough day. Bugs, humidity, weeds, steep climbs, rocks, rain, fatigue The rain started at noon, so the second half of the day was slippery and wet, but at least it drove off the blackflies and mosquitoes.I had gotten a 6 am start, but even then, on the first climb, the bugs started bugging me. Deet just washed off with the sweat, but then the trail broke out onto a large expanse of granite and there was a nice breeze that kept the bugs at bay. I just sat there for half an hour and enjoyed the view and the breeze.That, of course was before the rain. I dropped down off Smart Mountain and started up Cube Mountain and finally at around 5:30 reached this roomy shelter to find it empty. Jumpstart* showed up about an hour and a half later. Just two of us here tonight.
Date: 2006-07-22
From: Hexacuba Shelter NH

To: Hikers Welcome Hostel, NH
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

Got on the trail this morning at 6:30 and climbed the rest of Cube Mtn. The rain waited until 11 am and by noon it was pouring down again. Rain again....go figure. Just as I'm headed into the Whites.I stopped and talked to a forest ranger today. Turns out he's from Michigan. Nice fellow, who had plenty of good info about the trail ahead.So far, NH has been muddy, swampy and steep. Not meaning to complain, but there comes a point. Muddy trail takes more energy. So I came down off of Mt Mist, a small 2200 ft mountain in the rain and lost my footing twice. Twice in one day....time for a break. It was my intent to stay 1 night at this hostel, but with all the rain, we'll see. I'm just not going to push through the White Mountains.
Date: 2006-07-23
From: Hikers Welcome Hostel, NH

To: Hikers Welcome Hostel, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained all night and well into the day, so I decided to just sit this day out at the hostel. I'll tackle Moosilauke tomorrow.Nice to just chill out for a day, but now by 8 pm it has gotten really crowded with about 16 hikers both north and south bounders. Mr Breeze* showed up, so instead of going into town in the van, I just had him bring me something. Saved a couple bucks The weather report doesn't look good for the coming week, so I'll just play it by ear and listen for the storms. After looking at the profiles once more, the Whites look like they will be interesting once the climbs break out of the tree line. Looks pretty cool
Date: 2006-07-24
From: Hikers Welcome Hostel, NH

To: Eliza Brook Shelter, NH
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

How fitting. These missing entries were at the house when I brought Conductor home.   BethIt was up and over Mt Moosilauke today, the first of several mountains with summits above treeline. I must admit that I was intimidated by all the hype about the north side decent of Moosilauke. The mental image was of endless wooden (railroad tie) steps decending a steep lab of rock next to a cascading brook that sprayed the steps to keep them slick. A fall would mean serious injury or death. The reality was somewhat less intimidating. It just wasn't that bad... just long and steep. The brook did, in fact get very close and I snapped some nice shots of the cascade.The latter half of the day was across the Kinsman Ridge on what can only be described as a goat path. Climbing, scrambling, poking... oh yes, poking the mud holes to find the solid places. Some of the mud was better than 18" deep and the mud holes were wide and difficult to get around. The rest of the time was spent negotiating the trail. A very difficult 8 miles where every step required choosing the best foothold.
Date: 2006-07-25
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Liberty Spring Tentsite
Miles today: 11.4

I slept in till 7 am this morning. It felt good. By 8 am I was on my way up Kinsman Mtn, a brutal climb that often meant grabbing a hand hold and pulling myself up. I stowed my poles on the back of my pack and used all fours. There were a couple hazy views from both south and north peaks and then the trail dropped sharply down. I stopped briefly at Kinsman Campsite to rest my knees and continue the steep decent to Lonesome Lake Hut. The hut was a nice set-up. Sort of like a discount lodge The trail from there into Franconia Notch was easy going, so I made up some time.Even though Liberty Springs is 2500' above Franconia Notch, the trail isn't all that tough. Makes a big difference to me. I got in around 4:15 and set up my non-freestanding tent on one of the wooden platforms. This site cost $8, but the spring is awesome!Tomorrow it's Franconia Ridge for about 13 miles. The Whites are forcing shorter days but it can't be helped. The terrain is just plain difficult. I hear thunder in the distance. Might be a wild night