morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-11
From: October Mt Lean-to

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: haze

The thunder rolled at 3:00am this morning with rain sometime later. I slept well the rest of the night to the sound of rain on the roof. It stopped before daybreak and I was on the trail at 7:15am. The spiders had been busy during the night and I was soon covered with broken webs. Frank used to clear these for me! The trail was very rooty. I was scolded by a squirrel in a spruce tree. Some spots under trees or on rocks were littered with the remains of cones that the squirrels had stripped of their seeds.I was caught and passed by Andy at my first break, but I passed him later, stretched out on a big flat rock by a stream reading a book. This was a day for trail magic. At Blotz Road was a cooler of Pepsi and Coke from two hikers (whose names I forgot to write down). Then at Grange Hall Road were grape sodas from thruhiker Elf. Thanks to all!I climbed over Day Mt and walked into town about 1:00pm. As I walked by Tom Levardi's house I was hailed over by Wide Load who was visiting. Ishmael was also there. Tom is legendary for his hospitality to hikers. He brought me a huge silver bowl of chocolate mint ice cream topped with whipped cream and red, white and blue stars. He invited me to stay at his house with other hikers but I declined. I need my sleep and would be up too late talking if I stayed there. Thank you, Tom, for the awesome ice cream and the hospitality!I walked on down to the Shamrock Village Inn for a room, cleaned up, walked to the laundry and had a pizza while my things were washing, bought a few groceries and went back to the room for a long nap. Then to the library where I took a look at Skeemer's journal from last year to get an idea of the time required to finish the hike. Looks like the end of Sep is doable if I keep moving.I walked down to the small sporting goods store looking for some long pants, but they sold mostly hunting supplies. Then to the Shamrock Pub for a big Irish stew and a Newcastle, and back to the room and to bed.
Date: 2004-08-13
From: Mt Greylock (Bascom Lodge)

To: Mt Greylock (Bascom Lodge)
Miles today: 0.0

I decided to zero here today because of the forecast heavy rains from the remnants of tropical storm Bonnie. A good decision - it rained most of the day and was windy. Would have been a sloppy day on the trail.I had a great breakfast of french toast and all the fixings. Then back upstairs to the bunkroom for a long nap. About lunchtime I went downstairs and had a long talk with a Forest Service employee who was staying dry. He showed me several shortcuts from the trail to towns in case of emergencies up the way. He was a ridgerunner for the ATC before he got this job.A senior citizen's group was having a scheduled picnic indoors since the weather was lousy, and they insisted on feeding me. Delicious sandwiches, chips, salads, etc. Before they left one lady aged 84 described to me where she used to live in Monson, ME, and told me to take a look as I went through. Then she demonstrated that she could still touch her toes. That set off a flurry of toe touching in the group. A camera flashed behind one lady as she bent over. Gales of laughter. Good fun.I caught up on my journals, and after all that acivity had to go take another nap. Then down to another great dinner in the dining room, including baked tilapia and blueberry crumb cake. I planned for the next few days of hiking and went to sleep early, the only person in the bunkroom.
Date: 2004-08-14
From: Mt Greylock (Bascom Lodge)

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: broken clouds

I left the lodge about 7:00am, skipping the breakfast scheduled for 8:00am. Down Mt Greylock, up and over Mt Fitch and Mt Williams and then steeply down to MA Hwy 2. As I descended Mt. Greylock I came upon a porcupine in the trail. He promptly climbed a tree where he posed for a picture.More pain-of-separation notes in a trail register. "Schmoopie yearns for Booberry!" An answer. "Booberry yearns for Schmoopie!" Looks like Nitro is gaining on Michael.At the highway I took a short detour down to a supermarket to resupply. Also bought a lunch of fried chicken drumsticks, potato and egg salad and a pint of Chunkey Monkey for dessert. I carried out a chicken sandwich for dinner. Back to the trail about 12:00 noon feeling fine.I crossed the VT border at 2:00pm. Took pictures of southbounders Grey Goose and Flatlander, and they took mine. On to the Seth Warner shelter at 4:30pm, too late to make it to the next one. Two couples (one from VT and one from RI) hiking the Long Trail were already there, and a family of three from VT with a dog came in later. The lady had a rough start. She had to work late and got only one hour's sleep last night. Coming up the approach trail to the Long Trail she was stung several times by a nest of yellow jackets that the dog probably stirred up. And she slipped and sat in the mud. She was still in good spirits, though, and made a cheese fondue wearing her pearl earrings.The shelter was jammed, but the forecast was for the remnants of hurricane Charley to blow through tonight, so I was glad to have a dry spot.Note: The Long Trail runs from the southern border of Vermont the length of the state to Canada, sharing the AT treadway for the first hundred miles or so. Shelters are likely to be crowded up to the Maine Junction, since there seem to be a lot people hiking the Long Trail.
Date: 2004-08-15
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: broken clouds

I was awake at 5:00am and there was no rain! I didn't want to wake everyone in the shelter, so went back to sleep for a while. Back on the trail at 7:30am. The trail was very muddy from the recent rain. From the shelter journal entries sounds like it has been that way for weeks. "Ver-mud" as one entry put it.I made it to the Congdon shelter at noon - slow going as I tried to keep my shoes dry, slipping and sliding and tapdancing around the deep parts. Hiking poles are a must for work like this. I had lunch at the shelter. Then stopped a half hour later by the trail, propped against my pack and took a long nap. Hiking in mud is hard work.I worked my way down the steep slope to VT Hwy 9 and climbed up to the Melville Nauheim shelter. It was only 4:30pm, but once again it was too late to make it to the next shelter. Water was too uncertain to hope for a campsite. So I called it a day.Four young ladies hiking the Long Trail were already at the shelter. I decided to set up my tarp to avoid the noises of the shelter and hopefully get more sleep. The family of three from the last shelter came in later, so the shelter would have been full to the max. I cleaned up, walked up to the shelter picnic table for dinner and conversation, and went to sleep at 7:30pm under the hemlocks.
Date: 2004-08-16
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: light rain

I was wakened at 4:00am by rain. Rolled over and went back to sleep, hoping that it would end. Back awake at 6:30am and packed up everything in the dry space under the tarp, then stuffed the wet tarp in a bag and into the outside pocket of the pack. Back on the trail at 7:30am. The rain had stopped but the woods were still dripping.A short while later I came upon a section hiker and his girlfriend just getting things together at their tent site. I didn't see any other hikers on the trail all day. Just south of the Goddard shelter I spied moose tracks on the trail. Big tracks. Stopped at the Goddard shelter for lunch. The shelter has a great overlook of a valley, but there was no view today. I bypassed the Glastenbury fire tower for the same reason.Shortly after lunch the rain started again and lasted most of the afternoon. I rigged my umbrella so I could use both hiking poles, and pressed on, slipping and sliding in the mud and water. I came upon a trail maintenance crew working in the weather. Now that's hard-core volunteer work! They were covered in mud from head to toe. I gave them a good laugh as I came up with my umbrella - guess they don't see too many of those. But it works very well, and I'm gonna keep using it!I reached the Story Spring shelter at 5:45pm during a break in the rain. My shoes and legs were muddy but everything else was dry. Five people were already in the shelter, but they slid over to make room for me. I had time to clean up and eat and the rain started again. The shelter was full of wet clothes and funky men, but I was glad to have a dry spot for the night. Off to sleep to the sound of rain pounding on the roof.
Date: 2004-08-17
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Vt Hwy 11/30 (Manchester Center, VT)
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: scattered clouds

The rain had stopped by morning, leaving the trees dripping in the fog. Got an early start and left everyone else in their sleeping bags. I followed big moose tracks down the trail for a while but didn't see the beast. The trail was very muddy from the rain. My shoes were wet from yesterday and after water going in over the tops a couple of times I just slogged straight through the bogs.I met Publix hiking southbound. I last saw him at Rockfish Gap at the entrance to the Shenandoah National Park. He flipped up to Katahdin from there and is hiking back. He says that the mud extends all the way up to the Maine Junction where the AT turns east away from the Long Trail. Guess the heavy use helps keep things churned up when it's wet.The sun came out in the afternoon and I took advantage of it to dry my tarp, wet since yesterday morning. Off again with a lighter pack. I came out at VT Hwy 11/30 at 5:00pm and soon got a ride to town from Jim. Thanks for the hitch, Jim! Rented a room at Sutton's Place, cleaned up, walked downtown to do laundry, eat and buy supplies. Back to the room and to bed just before 11:00pm. A long day.
Date: 2004-08-18
From: Vt Hwy 11/30 (Manchester Center, VT)

To: Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

I packed up early and walked downtown for breakfast at McDonalds, taking two breakfast burritos with me as I left. Then to the donut shop for a couple of those. There I stuck out my thumb and almost immediately got a ride back to the trail from Laurie and Riley. Thanks a bunch, folks!I made the short hike up to Bromley Mt shelter to find Keytone there. I last saw him at Palmerton, PA. He got off the trail for a week in West Manchester to attend the farewell Phish concert. Also there were White Patch, Mousebait and one other. Keytone said that Mama's Boy had to get off the trail because of a bad case of shin splints. Don't know when/if he will return.The mud on the trail wasn't as bad today. I climbed up past the Bromley ski lift, then over Stiles Peak and Peru Peak and down to the Peru Peak shelter for a quick lunch. At the shelter were a couple with two dogs. The dogs charged out at every hiker that approached, with the owners yelling. The thought crossed my mind that a leash might be a good idea. They left and I caught them later, being sure to make plenty of noise as I came up so the dogs would bark and the owners would have time to catch them. Would be a shame to end the hike because of something dumb like a dog bite. I'd be sorely tempted to bite back!After the lunch break I got in the hiker groove and motored on over to the Big Branch shelter by 6:00pm, leaving the youngsters eating heel dust (or mud). There I went for a cool and refreshing swim in the stream. The other four from this morning came in later. Fortunately the dog people didn't show up. Lights out for me at 8:30pm.
Date: 2004-08-19
From: Big Branch Shelter

To: VT Hwy 103 (North Clarendon, VT)
Miles today: 15.9

I was up early and gone by 6:30am this morning. I met a few day hikers and one southbounder all day. Didn't see my shelter mates. I thought they would catch me, but they didn't. From the register there appears to be a half dozen northbounders a day ahead. Don't know if I will catch them.Trail reunion notes from the registers. Wife has returned after being off the trail for a time because of illness, so Beater is no longer a wifeless Beater. Nitro caught Michael. No more Schmoopie and Booberry messages.The day was uneventful. I hiked past Little Rock Pond, a scenic glacial pond that looked perfect for swimming. When I came up to the White Rock Cliffs, there in the trail was a little city of abstract stone structures that people have made of the white rocks. Guess someone made one and others added. A few were even up in the trees, including one suspended by string. Unexpected and charming.I stopped for lunch at a pretty waterfall, then made the long climb up Bear Mt (at least the third Bear Mt that I've been over, none of them easy). I made a short stop at the Minerva Hinchey shelter to put on fresh DEET. The mosquitos were out in force today. As I get farther north the mosquitos get smaller and more bloodthirsty.I came out at VT Hwy 103 about 5:00pm after crossing the suspension bridge over Mill River in Clarendon Gorge. Took a left and walked the half mile to the Whistle Stop Cafe. There I ordered a bacon cheeseburger and mulled over whether to keep on to the next shelter or go down to the motel a couple of miles away. The motel won out when Allen, a retired minister, stopped to talk and offered me a ride there. The rain shower helped with the decision. Thanks for the ride, Allen!Down to the motel for checkin, cleanup, laundry and journal catchup. To bed at 11:00pm. The 3000 vertical foot climb over Killington Mt is on the agenda for tomorrow.
Date: 2004-08-20
From: VT Hwy 103 (North Clarendon, VT)

To: US Hwy 4 (Inn at Long Trail)
Miles today: 17.4

I hiked the mile up to the small store to transmit my journal updates and make a call home. Then it was on to the Whistlestop Cafe for a big breakfast. I was back on the trail at 9:00am. I made a short stop at the Clarendon shelter, then moved on to the Governor Clement shelter, which appears to be a party place for local teens and is pretty much trashed. I hiked on a short way and had lunch under a big fir tree with a squirrel fussing at me. It almost hit me with a cone from the tree.As I finished lunch a very light mist of rain began. I made the steep and long climb up Killington Peak, with much of the trail climbing through small, thick spruce or fir. The trail used the roots of the trees as stairsteps up. Better to be going up on this instead of down! I made a brief stop at Cooper Lodge, an old shelter on the back side of the mountain from the Killington Peak ski runs. From there it was over to the Inn at Long Trail, the first ski lodge in VT.When I got there at 7:00pm there were no hiker rooms left, so I opted for the "whirlpool" room, which had a jacuzzi tub. Down to the pub for dinner where I found a bunch of hikers - Blue, Ursa Minor, Swan, Skibum, Gordy, Keytone, White Patch, Mousebait. Looks like I've caught up with the big group in front of me. I had the Irish stew, listened to three songs from the guitarist and went up to bed at 9:30pm to the sound of steady rain outside.
Date: 2004-08-21
From: US Hwy 4 (Inn at Long Trail)

To: US Hwy 4 (Inn at Long Trail)
Miles today: 0.0

When I woke early this morning it was still raining and the weather radar indicated that there was much more to come. I went down for breakfast, then checked on the possibility of a room for another night. All were booked except for the two-bedroom suites. Fortunately, southbounder Tex was also looking for a room and we agreed to split the cost of a suite. I moved my stuff over, and with none of the usual town chores to do, took a real zero day. I read an entire book, the first one this summer. Took a nap and ate a couple more times. The rain lasted till mid-afternoon and it felt good to watch it from the lodge.Not sure when school starts back in Monticello, but it must be soon. So I'll say hello again to the Monticello Trailtrackers as they return from their summer vacation, now in the fifth grade! Hope you had a fun summer. Now it's back to work - math, history, and all that stuff. On my summer vacation I hiked from Virginia to Vermont! And still have almost 500 miles to go. Maybe I'll come see you guys when I finish. Do good in school, and keep on tracking!
Date: 2004-08-22
From: US Hwy 4 (Inn at Long Trail)

To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 19.9

I was up early but decided to wait for breakfast before leaving. Had blueberry pancakes and talked to Tex about the trail ahead. He'll be starting graduate school after his hike, and is thinking of going to seminary. I was back on the trail at 8:30am on a cool and beautiful day.The mud wasn't so bad after the Maine Junction where the Long Trail continues north and the AT turns east. Less traffic, I suppose. Kent Pond was very pretty. A couple were out in a canoe on a perfect day. I stopped at Stony Brook shelter for lunch and also took the short side trail up to the private Lookout Cabin for the view from the rooftop platform. Stopped to pick a few of the last raspberries of the season.I met 5 southbounders today, but only said hello. Reached the Winturri Shelter just at dark. Rooney Tunes was there with his dad, Mr. Tunes, who is hiking with his son for a few days. They had a big fire going, the first that I've seen in quite a while. Poppy, from Perth, Australia, was also there. He started south from Katahdin with a friend, injured his knee in the 100 Mile Wilderness, got off for a couple of weeks to let it heal, and got back on at Hanover. He's doing ten mile days waiting for his friend to catch up.I had tuna sandwiches by the fire and was in bed by 8:30pm.
Date: 2004-08-23
From: Winturri Shelter

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: clear sky

Got a fairly early start today. The trail terrain wasn't especially difficult, but was very busy with continuous ups and downs and few level stretches. I passed near Woodstock, VT, where we stopped on a vacation a few years ago. Tired from all the ups and downs, I took a nap in the sun on an open hilltop. The summer is ending. The fields are full of goldenrod, Queen Anne's lace and the purple blooms of thistles. Many of the black-eyed susan blooms are gone. The hay has been cut. I found a few late ripening blackberries. Also saw two wild turkeys foraging. It was nice to walk through the fields - maybe the last ones of the hike. NH is mostly mountains and Maine is mostly woods.I stopped in West Hartford for sandwiches late in the afternoon, then pushed on to Happy Hill. I made it to the shelter just before the rain from a little cold front started, tired from all the work. Three section hikers were already there. Off to sleep early since I had already eaten.
Date: 2004-08-24
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: clear sky

Today was a short day. The rain stopped around midnight and the day was crisp and clear, about 50 degres when I got up. I left the shelter and hiked over to Norwich, VT, where I stopped at the library to check email and then the general store for a pint of Cherry Garcia ice cream to eat as I walked over to Hanover. Crossed the Connecticut River into NH midmorning.I stopped by the Dartmouth Outdoor Club for directions, then went over to the Alumni Gymnasium for an Ivy League shower. Country music was playing over the PA system, which seemed a little odd. I then stopped by the barber shop for a haircut and by Murphy's for a meat loaf and potatoes lunch. To the post office, where I picked up my cold weather gear and a new pair of shoes. I put them on right there and trashed the old ones that brought me from Harpers Ferry to here. Over 700 miles and the rocks of PA and they were still in one piece!Then a hike down to the grocery store for supplies. By then it was late afternoon and I decided to get a room for the night (and a chance at a couple more town meals) instead of hiking out. Over to the shuttle bus stop for the 2 mile ride to the motel. I waited with a short (and wide) gentleman who had a habit of repeating himself. He grilled me on where I lived, what sort of work I did and other things. Told me about his special stocking that helps his leg pain. He moved to Hanover from Philadelphia a couple of months ago, and seemed glad to be out of the city. "Hanover is heaven on earth, heaven on earth. A wonderful place, wonderful place."I checked in at the Sunset Motel and did my laundry, then was off to sleep at 10:30pm. On toward the Whites tomorrow.
Date: 2004-08-25
From: Hanover, NH

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

I caught the 6:30am shuttle bus back to town and stopped at Lou's Restaurant for a big omelet. Then over to the Dartmouth Outing Club to update and transmit my journal entries. I got out of town about 10:00am.Shortly down the trail a weasel or mink crossed my path and disappeared up the hill - dark brown all over. An unexpected wildlife sighting. I climbed the Moose Mt South peak and made a short stop at the Moose Mt shelter. Skibum had left a cryptic note indicating some sort of trouble in Hanover for his group. I'll have to ask for details if I see him again.From there I went up the Moose Mt North peak and down, down to Goose Pond Road. And of course back up - a long climb up to Holt's Ledge, the site of a peregrine falcon rookery. It was late in the day by then and I saw no birds. Maybe they've already migrated to somewhere else? From the ledge overlook I could see one white house in a sea of trees and mountains.From there it was down to the shelter, named for a character on the MASH TV show. The Dartmouth club maintains this section of the trail and has a penchant for humor. The shelter was built beside the fireplace and chimney remains of an old cabin, and the mantel was decorated with old plates and such. The outhouse seat was fashioned from the seat of an armchair. Only one other person was there - a local kid already in his tent. While I was getting water Paradox arrived, and we were the only two in the shelter tonight. My winter bag was warm, and the fleece made a good pillow. A beautiful and pleasant day in the woods.
Date: 2004-08-26
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Ore Hill Shelter
Miles today: 19.3

I intended to get up for an early start for the long hike today, but slept too well in my warm bag and didn't get out of camp till 7:30am. The day was uneventful. I stopped at the fire tower atop Smarts Mt, but views were limited by the haze of another warm day. At the tower I met southbounders Rambunny and Aqua. They recommended staying at the Cabin in Andover, ME.I decided to skip a stop at the Hexacuba shelter, supposedly a dome structure. Too far off the trail. I climbed Mt Cube and had to be careful on the smooth white rocks. Then down to NH Hwy 25A and back up to the Ore Hill shelter. I was still climbing at sunset and got to the shelter just before dark. Northbounder Shivers was the only other person there. We had a good conversation as I unpacked and ate after dark again - the days are much shorter than they used to be. A 20-mile day requires a daybreak start if you want to get to camp before dark. Autumn is just around the corner. I've been noticing a few red and yellow maple leaves on the trail for a couple of weeks, and now a few trees are starting to change color. Off to sleep about 9:00pm.