morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-20
From: Shady Lawn Motel

To: Stealth camp 1mi N of Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 4.4
Weather: clear sky

Day 49 ThursdayUp at 6, snooze to alarm at 7:20 and then 8. Catch up on 4 days of journal writing and then start to discuss options for getting back to Hanover. Eventually we find out that there is a free AT (not Apalachian Trail) bus service in the valley and catch an 10:35 bus to Hanover, arriving close to 11:00, with Scooter upset by the late start. Breakfast at Lou's Bakery where I met NOBO - The Baltimoron stopped by the outfitter (didn't buy anything) and then over to Ben and Jerry's for a Banana rum and dublin mudslide shake (excellent!). Afterwards, went back to the DOC where I spent the afternoon catching up my journal, napping, and surfing the net. Met NOBO Jumpstart at DOC. Around 5:00 Carlos showed up w/ Dent (from Hexacuba) getting off trail for family issues (taking Amtrak from White River jct on saturday). Discussed dinner options and decided to abandon plans for Thai or Indian in favor of packing out due to lack of hunger and lack of desire to kill more time until hungry. Walked over to Quiznos and then Brick n Brew before finally settling on Mexican buffet with Jack and Dent. Ate until 7:00 and then met SOBOs Sheepfrog and Cleetus (started 6/6, behind us the whole time) and a 15 year old kid named Jamison (really) who is planning to ride a scooter across America next summer ("Its gonna be awesome - scooteracrossamerica.com"). Left DOC around 7:30 alone since Carlos and Jack weren't ready. Road hiked into VT, caught trail head at 8:20 and hiked about 40 minutes until dark and set camp next to trail. In bed 9:30. (Hiked w/ Jack's knee brace, btw - hot, but great pain relief.
Date: 2006-07-21
From: 1.5 Mi N. of Happy Hill Shelter

To: Wes' House
Miles today: 18.0

Day 50 FridayUp at 4:30 to write journal on trail 5:30 AM. Hiked about 1.5 miles to Happy Hill shelter and met NOBO Orangeman and SOBO Lexion hiker. At shelter 6 - 6:45AM left trail mail for Carlos and hiked on. Passed NOBO Masterplan just before arriving at West Hartford around 8:30AM. Went swimming under bridge on advice of construction worker, John (and also several NOBOs), who relayed info that Sky had come off trail Tues w/ abdominal pain and was thinking of going home (he wasn't sure if she was back on trail or not). No other NOBOs I met today reported seeing her, so I assume she's off. Great swimming in white river; had water and coke from John before heading out. Left bridge around 9:30. Passed NOBOs Old Fart?, Treefrog, Jolly Green?, and ?? and Show Me Swiss miss (f) and Nifty (f). Arrived thistle hill shelter around 1PM after hiking through several meadows with great wildflowers (several pics). Left poster from brick n brew and note in register to NOBOs and Carlos. Reached Clouland rd around 2:45 and left trailmail for Carlos and went .2 miles to farm for pint of VT organic mint ice cream and VT organic cola (also bought 1 oz beef jerky and 6 honey sticks all fo $9.00. Met NOBOs Daedalus, Skunk(f), Billy Goat, and Engine. Departed 3:45. Met NOBO Mercury just before crossing Pomfort rd at 4:30. (Mercury bore striking resemblance to my cousin Josh, btw). Left trailmail for Carlos, Hansel, and Scooter w/ Wes' contact info and hiked on to Vt 12, arriving around 6:30. Got ride to Wes' from 'Ric(Eric) and wife (forgot name) - Green Mtn Club members who built 6 shleters on the AT/LT including Winturi. At Wes' around 6:45 PM following cell call. Took shower (drank L.T. Ale in shower)and talked to Scooter who was with Carlos and got dinner w/ their hitch at a local restaurant White Cottage snack bar. Dinner at Wes' burgers (very good) and Scooter and Carlos came in after dinner. Did laundry and talked a lot. In bed 11:00 pm. P.S. saw 2 white tail deer today - 1 on trail and 1 from car on VT 12. P.P.S. Also met NOBO Vt to Me section hiker Razor.
Date: 2006-07-22
From: Wes' House

To: Wes' House
Miles today: 0.0

Day 51 (Saturday)Up at 6AM; snooze until 8. Went to Farmer's Market w/ Wes, Carlos, and Scooter for buttermilk and to explore, nice place. Breakfast - Wes' buttermilk waffles and blueberries (excellent) and Mexican hot chocolate. After breakfast, hung out for a few hrs and then went to South Royalton (where Wes and Liz went to school) for the town fair and excellent baked beans with hot dogs. (Carlos and Scooter stayed behind). Spent the rest of the afternoon surfing the net after deciding to zero due to rain, while Scooter made 7 layer nacho dip and peanut butter / chocolate fudge w/ Carlos' help. Dinner was dip and Liz's excellent homemade tomato soup w/ hard squeezed tomatoes and grilled cheese. After dinner, watched State and Main and made several phone calls after getting to bed around 10:30; asleep around midnight.
Date: 2006-07-23
From: Wes' House

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 52 SundayUp at 6, snooze 'til 8:30. Breakfast, museli w/ berries (trail food) and beans from S. Royalton and some of Scooter's peanut butter / chocolate fudge. Had email from Tom Jung in TN, told me Richie is living in Monroe, NY right off the AT. Left for trail around 10:00 with Scooter, Carlos, and Wes. Dropped Scooter at Pomfret Rd., and recovered note to Hansel (still no sign of him) and dropped his pack at VT 12 so he could slack 4 miles. Took some pics w/ Wes who remarked, "So, this is what a trail looks like." On trail 11AM. Reached winter shelter around 12:45 and met NOBO Paul w/ Bunions drying out clothes and listening to radio. Other NOBOs suspect he is living there (has been at the same shelter about 3 days now). Also, NOBO Steetch. 3 NOBOs passed while we were there; didn't get names. Left around 1:15 in lite rain, temp in hi 60's(very pleasant). Went to the lookout for lunch and took video (very cool place). Easy hiking to Stony Brook Shelter, arrived around 7:50. (Saw lots of raspberries and touch-me-nots today and 2 snakes, btw). Dinner spaghetti with lentils and tuna, vanilla pudding with oreos (all good). Scooter arrived 8:20. In bed 10PM. In leanto w/ 2 section hikers; 3 NOBOs tenting.
Date: 2006-07-24
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Pico Camp
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 53 MondayUp at 6AM, snooze til 7. Overnight low 55 degrees. Breakfast, Museli w/ strawberries. Met NOBOs Treebeard and Pippin (father and daughter (CU'04) from Ithica, NY) and Cookie ("I picted up some victuals in town"). Camped out at shelter on trail 9am behind Scooter and section hiker Paul and Donna. Easy trail, pleasant weather (low 70's). Passed NOBOs Headin out and Taggin along (hiking in front) and Rightside. Hit road and met NOBOs ?? and Grits and Marley and Nuclear Nighthak at Pond (took pic). Caught Pete and Donna and passed off t-shirt from Mercury in order to take Sherborn Pass trail (original AT) to Long Trail Inn. Stopped at LTI for lunch and met Scooter. Lunch Irish Reuben w/ coleslaw and 2 pints LT Blackberry wheat ale (excellent). After lunch decided to take a 10 min nap and woke up 40 minutes later when Delicious (m) came back in and started watching TV (said he had leg problems and going to see a doctor tomorrow). Met NOBO Fleetwood before heading out on Sherbourne Pass Trail, Scooter still at inn. After 500 feet of climbing on Sherburne pass trail arrived at top of Alpine Slide on pico and took a ride (Carlos behind me). Ticket booth at bottom was closed, so we got to ride the lift back up for free around 5PM. Easy cimb to Pico camp - arrived 6PM; Scooter arrived a few minutes later. Nice enclosed cabin, could sleep 8 tightly, 4 roomily (4 sleeping shelves). Carlos and I climbed .4 miles 500 foot side trail to Pico Summit and found graham crackers and mustard packets in first aid / information bldg. Returned to Pico Camp 8pm. At 8:30, 2 NOBOs, Bluibird (f) and Red B. with 2 dogs arrived. Scooter convinced them to hike to the Long Trail Inn, where superman was waiting for them, despite Bluebird's dead headlamp. Dinner - cheesy turkey rice w/ veg (too much for jet boil, had to cook 2x, not my favorite). In bed 9:30 PM.
Date: 2006-07-25
From: Pico Camp

To: 12 tribes hostel
Miles today: 13.6

Day 54 TuesdayUp at 7:30; great night at Pico Shelter. Carlos got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night and it included so much moving around, I thought he was packing up to go night hiking. Breakfast - granola w/ blueberries (I used Carlos' bowl and let him use my jetboil since he was out of white gas). Met ridge runner TJ and chatted for awhile (learned Red B and Bluebird made the LT Inn safely). Discussing TJ's routine, he asked "Why would I carry a sleeping bag if I'm not sleeping overnight?" But was caught a bit off guard when I responded, "I don't know, why would you?" On trail 9:50; reached Cooper Brook Lodge 11:20 (glad we didn't stay there - Pico camp was much nicer). Learned from the log that Paul w/ Burions had been there on 7/13 = 26 miles in 12 days!. Met 2 LT NOBOs and climbed 300 feet in .2 miles to Kilington Peak (w/out pack). Had the summit to myself for about 2 min when a 5 yr old coming from the ski lift suprised me, followed by a small zoo of people. Climbed the firetower for panorama and went to the summit cafe for a $10 bacon cheeseburger w/ fries. Returned to Cooper Brook around 1pm and met AT NOBOs Grounds and Dufresne (who I later learned took the name due to some alleged false accusation involving a g.f). wrote note for Carlos and left around 1PM. Met AT NOBOs Hamburger (from Hamburg, Germany) and Mummy Toes. Met a dayhiker w/ art history PhD from Cornell (curator J. Paul Getty museum in CA). Passed 2 trail magics (coke and root beer) and met NOBOs Sanford and Hooey. Reached Clarendon Shleter around 5:45PM (very nice) - Governor Clement was a dump, btw (trashed by locals) and also passed directions to a "secret" shelter nearby on private road. Met NOBO "Lunchbox" at Claredon and 2 thru hikers and a weekend hiker "Just Fucking Around" - named on the spot via intro to Lunchbox. Departed 6PM despite temptation to stay, passed 3 w/e hikers and AT NOBOs Sir Lancelot the Brave and Wondering?? (as in I wonder if I'll make it to Katahdin). Reached rt 103 around 6:30 and walked to Whistlestop cafe where I met 2 LT section hikers and had meatloaf w/ mashed potatoes and iced tea for $8.18. Hitched to Rutland w/ some kids working at a local psychiatric treatment center farm (very hiker friendly). Arrived 12 tribes hostel around 7:45, met several community members with Hebrew names. Carlos and Scooter's stuff was there. Showered, met NOBOs Hobbit, Sue (m) as in a boy named Sue - by Johnny cash and his sister Lucky Dime. Did some work for stay greasing pans in bakery and peeling bananas for smoothies and this weekend's festival. Enjoyed great lemon mint iced tea and 2nd dinner (haddock chowder, salad, couscous and pasta w/ broccoli and foccacia bread) while learning about the community and met Carlos. Talked to Tommy and in bed 11:45. P.S. also met ex painter Joseph who is apparently joining the community who said to stay w/ Chris in Bennington (next to Friendly's).
Date: 2006-07-26
From: 12 tribes hostel

To: 12 tribes hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Day 55 WednesdayUp at 4am when someone's alarm clock went off. Nobody on the ground floor woke up to it, so I tried to snooze it by throwing my sleeping bag and jacket at it, but missed. Finally, someone snoozed it, but it went off again 10 min later. Up for good at 6am and went down to restaurant for breakfast and learned it wouldn't be ready until 7:00. Walked around for 1 hr and then learned breakfast was actually 8:00. Diced and peeled carrots for soup for 1 hour and then learned breakfast would actually be 8:15. Breakfast scrambled eggs (cooked by Scooter) cracked spelt and fruit sald w/ yogurt (prepped by Lucky Dime). Very good. After breakfast peeled cucumbers and washed tomatoes for community members Patience and ??. Sliced chicken for wraps. Afterwards helped bake banana nut bread (24 cups of flour worth) for 150 people coming to a festival this weekend. Worked with a 14 year old community memeber who exclaimed "oh my word!" after discovering some dough on the floor and then asked if he had done something wrong when I asked if he just said that. Bluebird and Buster came in and I showed them around. Worked in bakery until 1pm and tried to find Carlos for mail and laundry, but he was out back reading. Waited for ostensible 2pm lunch until 3pm and then had very good wraps. Also met NOBOs Brave Friend and Rematch. Went to PO around 4PM and picked up food / bounce boxes and forwarded extra to Bennington (clerk waived postage due on bounce box). Did laundry and went to library with Carlos and Lucky Dime for internet. Dinner - pizza and cinnamon rolls. Listened to Bog Stompers band play outside and helped clean up in bakery. In bed 10:45pm.
Date: 2006-07-27
From: 12 tribes hostel

To: Lost Pond Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: broken clouds

Day 56 ThursdayCaros' Birthday (32) (also uncle Andy and Michael). Up at 6am to check bus schedule (busses to Manchester at 6:45 and 8:45). Said goodbye to Bluebird and Buster - catching train to Birmingham, NY for the w/e. Sue, Lucky Dime, Rematch and Brave Friend all caught 7am bus to Rt 4. Zested and juiced some lemons, ate a frozen orange and packed up, after delegating egg scrambling to Carlos to allow me some time to pack. Breakfast 8:20 (eggs, rice, tomatoe and onion salsa - very good). Went to bus station at 8:44 to see bus pulling out and station clock running 6 min ahead of mine (showed 8:51). Back inside ate yogurt, saw Carlos' suprise birthday cake (nice twist of fate) and tried to call ALDHA member Ray Catozzi for ride; but he said, "I'm hard of hearing. You'll have to call back when my wife is home." Also drunk Yerba Mate prepared traditionally with straw and gourd (known as booting the shivaha per Zyrah and Patience). Got a ride to trailhead from community member Shoshana who was going out to run errands. On trail 10AM. Crossed Clarendon Gorge - very nice - 2 people swimming, but didn't stop. Reached Minerva Hinchey shelter at 11:20 to find Scooter reading and planning to do a 10 mile day. Mentioned his intention to leave trail after VT and he indicated difficulty getting into a good hiking rythem. Passed NOBOs Silverfeet (f), Lifesaver, BP and Lugh (carrying 2 front backs on shelter straps made by a company in New Zealand). AT Greenwall shelter jct met NOBOs Glow worm, Sumo, Traveling Fuzz and O2BEE Hiking, indicating Hansel stopped there last night but got a late start and was 2 hours ahead, planning to hit Manchester friday afternoon for a movie. Later passed NOBO Tex from Canberra, Australia, who didn't want a cliche name like Crocodile Dundee, and Mummy Toes and Waterwings (f) arrived Big Branch Shelter around 5:45 (goal for day) with energy to spare. Met NOBO's Gotta Go and Little Engine and couple from Michigan out for 4 days. Gotta go and Little Engine decided to backtrack to find a new tent site and I decided to hike on after hearing from MI couple that next shelter was good and sensing that they wanted some time alone. Told them to tell Scooter to hike on if he showed up and went to Lost Pond shelter, arriving 6:45 to find NOBO Karuna Miel (f) (sanskrit for ?? honey) with hammock set up in shelter. NOBO Tipper and LT NOBO Richard arrived soon after (both tenting). Had a sudden rainshower, around 7PM. Dinner - salmon w/ black beans and pasta (good - a tad on the spicy side and watery - sauce didn't dissolve well). Saving PB cookies for breakfast. Washed up in stream (refreshing and pitched tent in shelter for bugs). In bed 9PM. P.S. Also passed NOBO Cash just before Big Branch Shelter = 15 for the day (new record). P.P.S. Tipper is working for the ATC surveying shelters on his hike. P.P.P.S. Karna Miel asked me "how did you find the whites (mtns)?" and I replied " I just followed the white blazes."
Date: 2006-07-28
From: Lost Pond Shelter

To: Bromley Peak
Miles today: 12.8

Day 57 (Friday)Up at 6, out of bed at 6:40 breakfast- granola (good but gets soggy quick). Met NOBO Freebird and USPS field worker Stephanie (studying nothern studies in college). She was in to "check up on" an outfitter group, but didn't believe me when I informed here she was a government spy. On trail 8:15. Passed a few LT hikers on ?? Peak (would have been good view if not overcast). Passed NOBOs Grey Wolf and Tortoise (f), Orc of Beans (f), Rip and Treehugger (f) and 5 LT Nobos. Several dayhikers with small children on Styles Peak who left as I got there. Ate some lunch and met NOBO Eminem from UK, who told me Hansel was in Machester last night from Danby Rd (N of us) and was planning to get back on trail today. Passed NOBOs just mike (no trail name) and Zen from Sydney, Australia Smokey (Alex), 15 NOBO section MA - NH w/ dad and Nobo Hanna (f). Reached Mad tom notch around 2PM. Drank water to camel up for dry night on Bromley Peak (in hopes of Hansel catching up). Saw family w/ kids again and met a guy I had seen at Mt's Madison and Lakes of the Clouds in NH (weekend hiker) cool coincidence. Also NOBO Parkbench passed. Left Notch 3PM and climbed Bromley while it started raining heavily. Easy climb despite (or possibly because of) pouring rain. Reached summit, S. Peak around 4:30. Camped in warming hut with phone and radio and called Kellee. Scooter walked in around 5:15, planning a 44 mile 24 hours since he was going to leave trail and miss the 4 state challenge. Dinner Chili Mac (BP - very good). Napped from 7 - 9PM, called PJ3 and went to sleep for good at 10PM. P.S. read a great rant about white blaze purists at Peru Peak shelter which said if the white blazes ran off a cliff the purist would follow them and die like a lemming.
Date: 2006-07-29
From: Bromley Peak

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: light rain

Day 58 SaturdayBearbear Jellybean Montreal and Katza (Montreal and Israel)Up at 6 snooze until 7:30. Watched sunrise through window of Bromley hut, struggling to burn through cloud. On trail around 8:45. Took quick video on observation tower during break in cloud. Bromley shelter around 9:10, lots of people milling around. Trailhead around 9:45 and yogi'd a ride into town from a guy who just dropped off his granddaughter on the LT. Saw Carlos from truck walking around 1 block from PO. Told me he was getting off trail for financial reasons and agreed to help Kellee dogsit and move (very serendipitous!). Picked up phone, food, and shoes at PO. (food forwarded from Wes' house) and worked out dogsitting deal with Kellee. Went to EMS for fun and bought socks, jetboil canister, 5 ginsting honey stingers (on sale and clearance $.15 each - 25% = 5 / $2.60) EMS let us drop packs there and we got turkey sandwiches for lunch and then went to norshore bookstore for internet and I had a chicken curry sandwich. Got Carlos a flight from Albany to Nashville for tomorrow night, had a Dublin mudslide / bananas on the run shake @ Ben and Jerry's and hitched a ride back to trail from a fly fishing guide with NOBO Fred (no trail name) Also, met the Engergizer Bunny (NOBO) and ?? in town and 4 LT hikers at the mountain goat and got a new knee strap at rite-aid and some cheese and snickers at P&C. On trail 4PM; talked with Tommy, Melissa and Jonathon and learned that Ruth and Uncle Bruce are in Cooperstown this weekend (induction weekend), for their 40th anniversary. Passed NOBOs Leprechan, Miss Parkay (f), Twist of Fate, Shenanigans and King Pin (the Jersey Boys) Low Gear and Snickers (2nd one). Reached Stratton Pond Shelter 8:30PM - about 10 people in - didn't make introductions. Learned Scooter and Hansel are 11 miles ahead. Dinner - mashed potatoes, cheese, oilive oil and tomato soup mix. In bed 10:10PM. P.S. caretaker Rebecca neglected to collect my $5.00.
Date: 2006-07-30
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 27.9
Weather: few clouds

Sunday, Day 59Catch Day27.9 miles - new personal record! Up at 5:00 - snooze until 5:30. Breakfast - museli w/ strawberries. On trail 6:15. Never made introductions in shelter. 1 hammock on Stratton ascent (hiker asleep). Summit around 8:15 in a cloud - met caretakers (didn't get names) and tried to call PJ, but he had already gone to work (induction weekend). Reached Arlinton - Westboro Rd around 9am and had Coors light (trailmagic) (courtesy Sweaty Pig (AT'04) and Dart. Met NOBO Mr. Parkay (no relation to Miss Parkay) and hiked on to try to catch Hansel and Scooter at Story Spring Shelter. Passed 2 section hikers (former thru hikers), NOBOs Boot and Gorp (f). Arrived Story Spring around 11:15. Met NOBO's Wedgie and Freak (f) there. Tried some of their optimum food powdered seaweed vitamin (tasted terrible) and gave away some snickers, apple cider and milk. Left 12:00. Met some kids who stayed with Hansel last night at shelter. Passed NOBO Hellbender (f) and Dinosaur (f) who indicated Hansel was 45 min ahead (= 90 min x2 directions) and Pi who said the same and his wife K'ache. Also passed NOBO section hiker Muggle who said Hansel was 30 min ahead and planning to take a break at Goddard Shelter (just past Glastonbury Mtn). Reached Glastonbury summit around 3PM and had a good view form the firetower (pics). Reached shelter soon after, Hansel was gone, but I stopped for a break and got water. Left @ 4:25 and met Bear Bag Hanger soon after (same one from Cooperbrook in the 100 mile wilderness - he decided to hike the LT north). Passed NOBO Baldylocks?? and 2 LT section hikers. Reached Little Pond Lookout around 7PM and hiked naked from there due to prickly heat and low odds of running into anyone. Took a refreshing dip in Hell Hollow brook from 7:30 to 7:45 and reached Melville Nauheim Shelter at 8:30 and found Jack (Hansel) tenting. Several NOBOs, LTers and ?? in shelter. Got water, set tent, ate dinner (shrimp and ramen) and good times were had by all. In bed 10PM.
Date: 2006-07-31
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Congon Shelter
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 60 (Monday)Up at 7:30; woke up Hansel at 7:40 and 7:50. Breakfast Granola. On trail 9:15; trailhead 10:00. Hitched a ride into Bennington. Stopped at outfitter and dropped packs. Handled mail drop (still has 2 extra breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner). Took showers at Chris' next to Friendly's (nice place, nice guy, lots of art!) Lunch at the Blue Penn Diner - traditional diner built in Paterson, NJ - fish tostada and gazpacho - both excellent. Did internet at library and got back on trail 3PM after catching a hitch out of Bennington in around 20 seconds from a GMC member. Easy climb around 700 ft from road (reported as hard by NOBOs). Passed NOBOs ?? and Bobofud. Reached Congdon shelter around 5pm and decided to stay after learning scooter was only 10 min ahead. NOBOs Sticks and Sexy Monk in Shelter and 3 kids hansel stayed with last night: The Thinker, Crazy Horse, and Gluebear (short section hikers from Wallingford, CT. 7 kids from Montpelier, VT starting the long trail showed up Ghandi on Wheels, Token Black (f), Tiger Balls, Screeching Owlet (the kid with the mowhawk), Wishbone, and Billy Goat. Washed clothes in brook; dinner spaghetti and brownies (spaghetti a tad watery - brownies excellent). Helped Hansel and the kids from CT get the firewood and a good time was had by all. Played party games with the VT kids.P.S. Hansel said something funny today and I said I was going to write it in the journal, but none of us remember what it was. P.P.S. Hansel asked Token if she was "with" any of the VT kids and she said no (she just reminded me about it).