morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-14
From: Peru Peak Shelter 1646.9

To: campsite at 1662.0 
Miles today: 15.1

As I climbed Stratton Mountain and found myself in yet another wilderness that will be undeveloped forever, thanks to the efforts of the Nature Consevency, I shed tears of gratitude for my parents. Through their donations I felt like a part owner. I felt a sense of the amazing good that can be accomplished by simple caring people. I stood on Stratton Mountain giving thanks to all the people who understand the rich and powerful need a rich and powerful organization to stand with them, along side them, affirming this land is your land, this land is my land... this land was made for you and me.I took my time hiking today, knowing I can easily get to my one hundred mile per week goal with a fifteen mile today and again tomorrow.When I arrived at the shelter I had chosen as my ending spot for the day I discovered, as did another thru hiker who was just ahead of me, that the shelter had been taken over by a troop of girl scouts. I think there is a consensus among thru hikers that groups should not take over shelters. It leads to life and death situations in bad weather. They have plenty of time to set up tents and to be prepared for changes in the weather, thru hikers can become depleted in energy and warm dry clothes and then when bad weather hits become resentful at a group of boy or girl scouts hogging an entire shelter. I've had it happen to me several times. Not always with scouts. Sometimes it is college kids or just friends out section hiking. Most have no idea that the thru hiker is on the verge of being too wet or too cold. Some are experienced enough to know to at least ask if the hiker is in need. As it was, the other guy and I were quite dry, clean and comfortable. We continued hiking another mile or so and camped at a small clearing in the trees. I suppose the thru hiker has to be prepared for anything. Earlier in the day I came to a shelter that had been burned to the ground last year. They have not figured out how it burned, thankfully all thru hikers are well warned ahead of time, via signs, that the shelter is not there. When a large group of people take over a shelter there is no warning. A person may have hiked for several hours through the rain only to discover a particular shelter is not available.John-knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-15
From: campsite at 1662.0 

To: Governor Clement Shelter 1676.0 
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

A mosquito ambles toward me in a slow direct flight and I clap my hands before me not wanting to wait for the mosquito to land. Looking at my palms I see no evidence of a dead mosquito and so search the air to see if I will have a second try at the buzzing pest. The mosquito has vanished.The rain has stopped but may start again at any time. It is Sunday and it is my Birthday. I sit alone in a shelter on the Appalachian Trail and think about being 55. When I got here a few hours ago it was still raining and I was happy to be able to get out of the rain without having been soaked. Now, I feel silly sitting alone in the shelter when it isn't raining and I could be hiking.I look at the trash bag I am rapidly filling with food wrappers and realize the longer i sit here and eat, the fewer the miles I can go before I have to resupply. I get up and sweep the floor. It hasn't been swept in a long time and I am able to move large amounts of dust and dirt with each sweep of the broom. When gthe job is finished I take my seat again. The only sound is the song of a bird. It has been time to go for a good hour. It hasn't rained in two. I have somehow misplaced my toothbrush. I remember brushing my teeth last night and placing the toothbrush on my pile of things next to where I lay in my sleeping bag but I don't remember picking it up again. I search through my things to no avail. I hear a third set of hikers coming down the trail and wonder if they will pass by on the main trail without taking the turn to the shelter like the other two groups have done. Two women appear before the shelter. One takes a picture of the shelter with me sitting inside and they vanish without saying more than a few words about how I am doing a nice job of staying dry.I start packng my things. The three cards I received from my wife and two kids are nice cards but they go into the trash bag with the food and candy wrappers.Hiking toward a road crossing where there is a restaurant, I slip on a wet rock and fall for the ninth time.   John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-16
From: Governor Clement Shelter 1676.0 

To: VT. 100 Gifford Woods Stste Park 1689.8 
Miles today: 13.8

I stopped at the Long Trail Inn for a bite and then proceded a few more miles. The terrain is getting steeper and rockier. I overshot the shelter where I was going to stay, by not reading the companion close enough and ended up at the state park where they charge money to camp. I backtracked a bit and bushwhacked a bit, and ended up sleeping against a fallen tree. I suppose this is one of the things I like best about backpacking. It seems the more remote I get and the further away friom humans (even shelters) I get, the better and quieter is my night's sleep. I suppose the night will come when I encounter a wild animal or a bad storm but those things are as likely or more likely to happen closer to where there are more people, more cleared trees, more scents and more trash. I was rained on a bit during the night and probably should have done a better job of getting my tarp in a place where it would not get water pooling but as it was I slept great and it was nice to have the tree to lean against for writing and cooking.John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-17
From: VT. 100 Gifford Woods Stste Park 1689.8 

To: Stony Brook Shelter 1696.6
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: scattered clouds

In the library charging my phone. I lay my head on my arm and snooze. No one says anything. A woman comes in and asks if someone has left their backpack by the door. I raise my hand. She announces: "You will have to keep it with you"."I will have to keep it with me"? I repeat with a stupidness I researve for policemen and waiters. Most establishments won't let backpackers bring packs in the door. I suppose because they are dirty and take up needed space. It is a strange time we live in. Security wise, it seems people who bring bombs don't care if they are blown up with them. If the lady took a whiff of my backpack she would know what kind of bomb I have. My wife washed the backpack while she had it in her posession but I'm afraid it is ready for the Tide treatment again. I stopped at the grocery store on the way to the library. I had my things all scattered about as I struggled to introduce more food into an already full pack. I shoved hard and cinched the straps hard and then marveled at how the shoulder straps did not snap when I threw the pack onto my shoulders. I'll be climbing another mountain when I leave the library and get back on the trail. I will be wondering anew what I can send home to reduce weight and coming to the same conclusion: There is nothing left I can send home, the only way to reduce weight is to eat something. It takes a day or two, but after several meals and a lot of snacking, the pack is roomier and lighter. Then, too soon, I will look at the contents of my food bag and will wonder how far I can go before I resupply. I will count how many trail bars I have and how many dinners. I will start to think about the next groocery store. Soon enough I will be out in the woods, away from grocery stores, electricity and security, relying on what I can carry and what is in the trusty backpack I rarely let out of my sight I will hope my phone has enough charge and good enough reception to call home for the one thing I can't carry with me.John-Knee-MudI just saw two other guys I know from the trail, Blowout and 357 Magnum. They both stayed at the hostel last night. I guess I'm too anxious to finish to stay the night. I've eaten and showered and resupplied so there isn't any real need to hang around. I'll just spend more money. I'll be in Hanover, NH in a few days and will try to take more than just 6 hours there. I rode the bus around the Killington ski resort before coming into Rutland, these people take their skiing serious. Vermont is a lovely place and everyone is serious about being green. It seems they are utting up the money to cut cqrbon emissions.I'd like to explore town a bit more before the bus leaves at 3:15 but I have to wait for my phone to charge. Using technology has its price. I see on trailjournals that fed ex, and gut hook have completed their thru hikes. Hooray for the first to finish.John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-19
From: campsite at 1708.6 

To: Happy Hill Shelter 1726.9
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: light rain

Rain,rain,rain. I woke up fairly dry under my tarp and started to pack up my things. Slugs are everywhere: under, on, in. They sat there daring to be pulled off. The only way to remove them was with a stick and there were plenty. Later in the day as I walked along a highway I saw that the slugs in Vermont are like worms farther South; the rain brings them out of the vegetation where they must be drowning from too much rain. They are seeking higher ground. They are one of God's creatures, but they are one of the slimiest and ickiest. In large numbers they are the creepiest, especially when they are sliming up your personal belongings. The people who stayed in the shelter are starting to walk past me, they are completely dry and happy. It hasn't started to rain yet.The morning is splendid and I find myself singing and whistling. No troubles. There is a possibility the rain is gone. But, it is not to be. It starts to rain about noon and keeps raining all day. I pass shelters and think about being dry and comfortable but, I keep on going, I want to get to Hanover. I want to get in my hundred miles for the week. I stop at a brand new Deli that is not in my trail companion. He just opened the day before and is happy when I spend fifteen dollars on a sandwhich, drinks, and fruit.I hike through the rain to Happy Shelter. I'm happy when I get there, eat my sandwhich and climb into my warm dry sleeping bag.John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-20
From: Happy Hill Shelter 1726.9

To: Velvet Rocks Shelter 1734.2 
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: broken clouds

In the Happy Hill Shelter. With me are four Southbounders. They are young and sleep late while I get up and make coffee. When they wake up one of the guys discovers a mouse has sampled eight of the snacks he had in his food bag. The bag was hanging from one of the contraptions that hang about in all the shelters. His bag was just the one the mouse decided he wanted. My food pack was hanging from a nail, but he left mine alone. The Southbounders pack up and head South, I head North. It is a slow walk to Norwhich, New Hampshire, a couple miles through the woods and a couple more along highways. I stop at the first opportunity to eat I come across and I wish I could eat more. Ten dollars for lunch from a grocery store deli seems high. I eat a huge kosher pickel, two containers of sea food salad, one of baked beans and something kind of locally made snack cake which is huge and gooey and almost makes me sick. I find the Dartmouth Outing Club and find myself in their restroom, sc!rubbing off some of the dirt and stink. Next stop is the laundramat and I get on the free bus to take me there. The laundry finished I sit at the bus stop and compose my day's entry. I will take the bus back into Hanover, resupply and eat again and then head out of town. The day is getting away from me and I am a little anxious. John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-21
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter 1734.2 

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The trail can be deceiving. It has beckoned to me to push, push, push, and now quite out of the blue it says slow down, slow way down. I woke up this morning and turned my nose South and hiked back into Hanover. I was dreaming of a good strongly brewed cup of coffee and I followed my nose to Lou's Bakery. I just beat the rush and enjoyed a huge quesadilla with potatoes while people stood in line watching me slather it all with huge amounts of cherry preserves and was it down with several cups of pretty darn goood coffee. On the way to the cash register I noticed bags of day old muffins so I bought a bag and then headed to the computers at the Dartmouth Outing Club in the basement of Robinson Hall. I had a mission: to buy some tent stakes and to finalize plans to meet my son. Several hours later I decided I could not find a decent set of tent stakes in Hanover, even though I found some free ones at a garage sale I happened to pass by. I also managed to finalize plans with my son. I called him and he agreed to my plans. The plan requires that I slow down to ten mile days so I can meet him at North Woodstock, only seventy miles away from where I am now and then to hike with him for six days while covering another seventy miles. A far cry from the two hundred miles I thought about covering. I thought I wanted to hike fifteen to twenty miles per day but slowing to 12 miles per day sounds positively extravagant. I'm planning on zeroing here in Hanover to celebrate. I think I will hike back up to the Velvet Rocks Shelter tonight and come back down yet again for another bag of muffins.I'm leaving out an important part of my day. I saw a note from a woman who thru hiked last year that stated she would try to help out this years class of thru hikers. I asked her if she knew where I could take a shower. It turned out she did. Now I am clean and good smelling. {thanks Pinky). I pumped her for information on Baltimore Jack, who is one of my Appalachian Trail Heroes but she didn't know much. No sooner had I left her place when I ran into Jack standing in front of the Dirt Cowboy Cafe. He soon suggested that the Dirt Cowboy has the best coffee on the trail. The first cup I had was so good I immediately had another. Jack is a man of enormous intelligence and warmth. He had to leave too soon and I sat there basking in my coffee induced buzz grateful to have met one of my heroes on his home turf. I was able to ask him a few personal questions about his life as an Appalachian Trail Celebrity and I have to say. I just plain like the guy. Everyone I have met who knows him also likes him. That says a lot about a guy who is a trail phenom.John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-22
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter 1734.2 

To: Moose MOuntain Shelter 1743.7
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: clear sky

Hanover is a busy little town in the summer, there are college students and tourists galore. I woke up and hiked back into town from Velvet Rocks Shelter. I attended Church at the Quaker Friend's Church and then went to an Indian all you can eat buffet. I looked over and saw Blowout eating there too. We finished up and went back to Main Street for one last cup of the excellent coffee from the Dirt Cowboy Cafe. We sat and watched the throng of people passing by for as long as we could and then donned our backpacks and headed out of town. I still have over 400 miles to go but I'm beginning to think I might make it all the way. I made a few phone calls during a reststop which ended up with my neice volunteering to come to Baxter State Park to get me. She is living in Vermont and thinks she will have the time. I'm getting excited. The next four weeks should be quite excillarating. My son is going to hike with me for a week at the end of this week and then I will be nudging Maine.John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-23
From: Moose Mountain Shelter 1743.7

To: Hexcube Shelter 1761.4
Miles today: 17.7

A typical hiking day: Get up, eat, pack, hike, hike, hike, hike, eat, hike, hike, hike, eat, hike, hike, hike, eat, eat, hike, hike, hike, arrive at shelter, eat, eat, eat.John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-24
From: Hexcube Shelter 1761.4 

To: Hostel in Glencliff 1776.1
Miles today: 14.7

The shelter we slept in last night was one of the largest I have encountered. There were six hikers and a dog with room for at least six more. Thankfully the scout troop that was also here slept outside in tents, I did not have a chance to count them.Four of the hikers in the shelter are Southbound. The two separate groups have Steri-pen water purifiers and talk about somewhere on the trail where they tested the water and found Hepatitus C. I have been vacinated against Hepatitus but it is enough for me to consider treating my water more consistently. I treated some water yesterday morning which I though was suspect but 90% of the time I simply avoid standing water or water near houses and towns. The higher up in the mountains I go the more comfortable I am drinking the water right out of a stream. I never fear water coming out of a spring though it is often difficult to coax the water into my bottle since springs are sometimes just trickles. Yesterday there was a sign offering free water at a house, right on the trail. I declined the water since they expected me to take it from a long green garden hose. One of the real pleasures out here is drinking tasty, cool, spring water after working up a sweat.   into town for a mail drop. I made it into town to the post office just before it closed. I'm ready for cold weather. I will head toward North Woodstock in the morning where I will meet with my son on Thursday night.John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-25
From: Hostel in Glencliff 1776.1

To: Campsite past Kinsman Notch 1786.2
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: few clouds

I got a late start out of the Hostel. There was a crowd of people there and one of the was the Famous Baltimore Jack. I had a chance to shoot the bull with him and stayed for as long as I could. I paid for the bull session by coming up short of the day's goal for mileage. Blowout found a nice campsite and allowed me to set up my tarp next to his. John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-26
From: Campsite past Kinsman Notch 1786.2

To: Franconia Notch 1801.9
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: few clouds

If I would have known I was going to be using my headlamp by the end of the day I would have started hiking earlier. It proved to be a very challenging day and I hiked hard over rough terrain and drastic changes in elevation to get to the point where I was to meet my son.John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-27
From: Franconia Notch 1801.9

To: campsite at 1804.9
Miles today: 3.0

My son and I woke up in the motel. We resupplied and were hiking shortly after one. It was a hot day. We climbed 3000 feet and called it a day. As we settled down for the night in our sleeping bags I decided to read the park rules to make sure we were camping in a legal manner. Sure enough, we learned that we were breaking the law and could be fined. The rules read: all camping should be in designated areas or at least 200 feet from roads, designated camping areas and all trails. We were only 20 feet from the trail. John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-28
From: campsite at 1804.9

To: Galehead Hut 1814.9
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

We woke up early and started hiking without benefit of breakfast. Our first views above treeline were spectacular. Often the trail was very steep and difficult. Besides wearing a person down, it makes it hard to make good time. Knowing it would take a few days for my son's legs to get used to the grind of big miles we tried to go slow and to do low miles take it easy. After about eight miles we discovered my son had developed blisters on both heels. We had intended on hiking 13 miles for the day but threw ourselves to the mercy of the hut manager at Galehead Hut. She agreed to let us work for stay. This includes supper, breakfast and a bunk and is a courtesy often extended to thru hikers. She was super nice to let my son stay even after I explained I am a thru hiker while he isn't. It turned out the naturalist who was supposed to give the evenings nature talk twisted his ankle and could not come so they asked me and another thru hiker to give a talk about the Appalahian Trail.Our daily mileage is so low that we are concerned about how far we are going to get in six days. John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-29
From: Galehead Hut 1814.9

To: Crawford Notch 1829.6
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

Tough decisions come at odd times. The blisters on my son's feet became so bad that we decided he should stop hiking.We arrived at Crawford Notch at 7:30 but were unable to get a ride via our thumbs. Shortly after eight we hiked into the woods and put up my tarp. John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-30
From: Crawford Notch 1829.6

To: Mizpah Spring Hut 1836.0
Miles today: 6.1

We woke up early and had breakfast then went back to the highway to try hitching a ride again. A bearded man driving a small pickup truck pulled over after about fifteen minutes. McKinley climbed in the back and I got in the front. The man was a ski enthusiast and a friend to outdoors people in general. He drove us all the way back to my son's car at Franconia Notch, several miles past where he actually was going. We were able to shower and wash our clothes at a local hostel and then went to Lincoln's only supermarket to resupply. My son helped me to put together two mail drops I will need in Maine. We mailed the food and then McKinley drove me back to Crawford Notch and dropped me off.I wanted to go back to North Carolina with him but I have another month of hiking. I was tearful to see him go. I am so proud of him, so honored to be his dad. I hiked up the 2000 feet of elevation gain in about four hours. The hutmaster wasn't sure he wanted to let me work for stay but he eventually said I could sweep up in the morning after all the hut guests departed. John-Knee-Mud
Date: 2007-07-31
From: Mizpah Spring Hut 1836.0

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut 1840.8
Miles today: 4.8

I guess I have to call today a Nero. The weather is about as good as it gets around here and I arrived at the Lakes of the Clouds Hut, 2.4 miles from the top of Mount Washington, in time to get the bottomless bowl of soup, several pieces of cake and an invitation to work for stay. I decided this might be as close as I ever get to the privilaged class and I accepted the idea I should hang out here long enough to get a feel for what makes people hike up here and stay the night crowded into small bunk rooms. As I look out the window of the hut I see dark clouds above and sunny valleys in the distance. This is a typical nice day here. If the sun shines on Mount Washinbgton it seems to be only for brief periods. As the day ebbs toward supper time I am asked to do my work for stay chore which involves an hour of me washing every pot, pan, dish and cup that they can find. When I emerge from the kitchen with my hands swollen and pink from bleach and hot water I feel as though they took advantage of me, still I don't complain, I know the Croo who works here day in and day out wash those pans over and over again. A drenching rain begins to fall and I am grateful to be inside. I call my son who is already back in Asheville, North Carolina and tell him I love him. I am relieved to know he made it back home safely. On a whim I decide to try some stuff called "Liquid Java".It is supposed to make two cups of coffee but I make myself one very strong cup and hope I will receive some sort of inspiration.A Southbound thru hiker shows up at about Four and they ask him to give a talk on AT Thru Hiking as his work duty. Again, I'm a little aggravated by it but I offer to help him and we do a bang up job. He is a recent graduate of the Wake Forest School of Divinity and his trail name is Tejas. He is a very nice guy and I enjoy talking to him about Baptists who are not Southern Baptists.As the throng of people goes to their bunks I have to wonder why I drank that strong coffee. I am still wide awake with the coffee buzzing in my head. John-Knee-Mud