morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-03-07
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Start: Blue Mountain ShelterEnd: Neel's GapMileage: 18 milesI spent most of the night trying to stay warm just like everyone else in the shelter. This morning my shoes were frozen solid. I scooped up my gear and forced my feet into my shoes and started walking. As I left I wished Harry and the rest of the "thru hikers" in the shelter the best of luck. I hiked about a mile in my puffy insulation pants and jacket to the next campsite. I stopped and changed into shorts and a t-shirt. With my wind shirt and gloves I was comfortable hiking. I ate some breakfast and started out again. I was about a mile from Low Gap when I saw Ernest coming up the trail. He was looking for a good spot for breakfast. He remembered I told him it was good plan to get up and hike awhile on cold mornings before eating. A good spot in the sun for breakfast is always nice. As I hiked toward Low Gap I saw Mark, Brian, Dartanyon, Tigger and several other hikers I had met over the last several days. Just before Hogpen Gap, I stopped to talk with Fire Walker and his daughter Renee. They hope to make Erwin but had some doubts. It was fun talking fire department stuff with another retiree. I stopped for lunch on top of Wildcat Mountain. As I went up to Cow Rock I ran into Suprachef and his wife. They had stayed in Neel's Gap to change out gear and lower their pack weight. They were both sporting new ULA Catalyst packs. My plan had been to make it to Woods Hole Shelter but the closer I got to Neel's Gap the more inviting the hostel looked. Also the more challenging Blood Mountain started to look. So here I am back at Neel's Gap again. This time I'm in the hostel eating Pirate's bean soup for supper. I hope to get a good night's sleep and be on the trail by 7:30 and shoot for Hawk Mountain Shelter. That way I will have just 7 miles to the car. If the weather report is right, it will be 7 miles in the rain.
Date: 2011-03-08
From: Neel's Gap

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 22.9
Weather: overcast clouds

The girl in the bunk above me in the hostel was so interested in her mail drop she rattled packages until almost 11 PM. She started back sorting stuff at 5 AM. About 6 AM I got up and took my gear in the common room and started packing. Pirate came in a little while later and remembered he had not taken my picture. When I headed for the door before 7 he told me the picture would go on a special wall because nobody ever left this early. The climb out of Neel's Gap was about 2 miles up to the summit of Blood Mountain. The sky was clear and I could see forever. It was worth getting up to see. I saw very few hikers out the first 10 miles. A couple were breaking camp but for the most part I just saw tents along the trail. You can't get to Maine laying in a sleeping bag. Morning miles are the best; get up and hike. At Woody Gap I meet three hikers from NC. One attended school at Elon which is close to where I live. Two were going to Maine but the other said he was just out for spring break. Just after Gooch Gap I saw the mother/daughter team I met at Stover Creek Shelter last Wednesday. The mom had an infected toe and they were getting off the trail to take care of it. I told them about Trail Trash's experience last year with the same thing. I stopped at Gooch Shelter for lunch just before 1. I rested about 30 minutes and then started knocking out the last 7 miles. I kept passing hikers late in the day headed for Gooch. One was a woman with blood pressure problems hiking with two dogs. I'm not sure where she ended up tonight but it was miles to the next water source. There are a lot of hikers out here without a clue of what they have gotten into. At Hawk Mountain I met Snail. She hiked all the way in 2010. We compared notes on hikers we both knew. She knew Utah and a few others I had met. When I cut on my phone I had an e-mail from Croft. She said she and Croft did the Mahoosac Notch together. Okay, the guy next to me in the shelter tonight rattles the floor when he snores. Just my luck. Tomorrow night I will be at home!
Date: 2011-03-09
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Big Stamp Gap
Miles today: 6.8

Sometime after we all settled into our sleeping bags the rain started. At first it was a gentle rain. It even relaxed the snorers to the point they were quite. Later on the wind picked up and a tree fell just behind the shelter. I was sure glad I was not in a tent with the wind and pounding rain. As it started to get light outside I packed up and came down from the loft to make breakfast. A couple others were awake but just laying in their bags watching the rain. At 7:45 I wished them all well and stepped out into the wind and rain. Before long I was soaked. If it was not from rain it was sweat. Water was standing on the trail ankle deep in some places. I saw several tents and I probably woke up a few people as I walked along singing to myself to pass the time. They most likely thought it was a bad dream and went back to sleep. I did see one tent that looked like the wind had blown it over. There were two other tents next to it so I¢m guessing the occupant ducked into one of the others with a friend. Of course if they were not friends before, they are now.Just before Three Forks I saw a group of young men running the trail. The weather didn¢t seem to affect them at all. They all said ¢good morning¢ as they passed not missing a stride. At Stover Creek, I got to go wading. The stones that are at the crossing were completely under water. As I stepped carefully on them, I found that they were about six inches below water. I made it across but at one point thought I was going to lose my footing. I stopped at Stover Creek Shelter for a quick snack and a break from the rain. There were a few hikers there, trying to decide if they were hiking today or not.With a mile left I headed back into the rain and got to Big Stamp Gap and the end of my 100 miles about 10:30. I crawled into a dry car and changed clothes. They sure felt good. After a tour of half the back roads in Georgia I made it to Hiawassee. While having a BLT and fries I called Ernest to see where he was. I didn¢t get him but later he called back and he was at the Hiawassee Inn just down the street and still enjoying his hike. By then I was east of Asheville just a couple of hours from home.Hopefully I will find a few days next month to get out and hike some more.
Date: 2010-05-10
From: home 20 NM

To: getting started
Miles today: 0.0

this is a practice entry for the fourth addition of AT journals for myself KZ and our support unit of Pat & Linda. Departure to Delaware Water gap this coming Sat. 5/15/10 should be on the trail on the 19Th. This years motto is "you don't know what you don't know.
Date: 2010-05-18
From: DELAWARE WATER GAP

To: BAIRSTOWN RD NJ
Miles today: 14.1

AFTER A 2000 MILE ROAD TRIP THROUGH NM, OK, KS, MO, IL, OH, WV, AND PEN WE ARE BACK TO DELAWARE WATER GAP WHERE WE QUIT LAST YEAR. WE DID STOP AT THE ARCH IN ST. LOUIS (GATEWAY TO THE EAST). WE STARTED HIKING AT 11:30 IN THE RAIN. IT RAINED ALL DAY WHICH WAS OK SINCE WE WERE EXCITED TO BE BACK ON THE TRAIL AND HOPEFULLY TO COMPLETION. PAT & LINDA (SUPPORT TEAM) MET US AT THE ROAD AND HAULED US BACK TO THE MOHICAN VISITOR CENTER WHERE WE SPENT THE NIGHT IN A HOSTEL. PAT AND LINDA STAYED IN THE PARKING LOT IN THE VAN BUT THEY HAD TO PAY FULL HOSTEL RATE. MOST OF THE HIKE WAS UP HILL JUST LIKE WHEN I WALKED TO SCHOOL 2 MILES A DAY UP HILL IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. WE PASSED A GLACIAL POND (SUNFISH) THE MOST SORTHERN LOCATION FOR SUCH A POND. PAT PICKED US UP AT 5:15 PM.   68 DAYS TO GO
Date: 2010-05-19
From: BAIRSTOWN RD NJ

To: GREEN ANDERSON SHELTER
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

HAD BREAKFAST AT A DINER ON THE WAY TO THE TRAIL WHICH IS ALWAYS A GREAT WAY TO START. THE HIKE STARTED AT 7:45 WE WENT 14 MILES TO A ROAD WHERE PAT & LINDA MET US AND WE CHANGED PACKS FROM DAY PACKS TO THE REAAAAAL PACK (TOO HEAVY) WE BOUGHT A DELI TO TAKE TO CAMP. NOBODY AT THE SHELTER SO IT WAS NICE. SLACK PACKING IS A BETTER WAY TO WALK FOR SURE. NO FIRES ARE ALLOWED IN NJ BUT EACH SHELTER HAS A FIRE RING AND STACKED WOOD (WE HAD A FIRE) WE JUMPED A DOE WITH A FAWN WHICH KZ TOOK A PICTURE OF AFTER WE FOUND IT PLAYING DEAD (NOT REALLY A GAME FOR IT). THE NIGHT WAS COOL. MY TELLY GOT WET DAY ONE SO I CAN NOT CALL HOME BUT ITS OK.67 DAYS TO GOTODAY WAS A DAY THAT I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW
Date: 2010-05-20
From: GREEN ANDERSON SHELTER

To: HIGH PT MONUMENT SHELTER
Miles today: 13.0

MET CHATTER AND TINKER, WANDERING DOT (GIRL FROM BOSTON GOING SOUTH WITH TATOOS AND GOLD TEETH. NICE LOOKING YOUNG GIRL BUT A REAL FREE SPIRIT) NICE STREAM AT THE SHELTER WHICH WE SHARED WITH NO ONE. SEEMED LIKE A LONG DAY. THE SUN WAS OUT FROM 10:00 AM ON AND WE WERE HOT AND TIRED. STOPPED AT THE STATE PARK HIGH POINT. THEY HAVE A TOWER BUT THE TRAIL DID NOT GO THERE SO WE DIDN'T EITHER. CARRY THE PACK FOR THE FIRST FULL DAY MAKES ME WONDER WHY WOULD I WANT TO DO THIS? I WOULD SAY IT IS HARD ON A OLDER GENTLEMAN LIKE MYSELF (PART OF THAT IS TRUE YOU CAN GUESS IF YOU LIKE. ON BRIGHT SPOT WAS I HAD A POP TART FOR BREAKFAST. IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS A LOT OF ROCK TODAY. 66 DAYS TO GO
Date: 2010-05-21
From: HIGH PT MONUMENT SHELTER

To: VERNON NJ
Miles today: 18.9

MET PAT AND LINDA ABOUT A MILE INTO THE TRAIL AND SWITCHED PACKS (BACK TO DAY PACK) A LOT OF BOARD WALKS ON THE TRAIL TODAY. NOTHING EVENTFUL JUST WALKING IN THE WOODS. A LOT OF BIRDS AND FLOWERS. WHEN WE MET PAT AND LINDA WE DROVE TO SUXXEX TO A MOTEL (THEY ARE ALL OWNED BY THE EAST INDIANS) TO SPEND THE NIGHT. THE SHELTERS A BETTER THAN THE NEW DELI MOTEL FOR SURE. WE HAD A GREAT MEAL AT A IRISH PUB. 66 DAYS TO GO
Date: 2010-05-22
From: VERNON NJ

To: WILDCAT SHELTER NY
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: overcast clouds

HAD A GREAT BREAKFAST AT A DINER AGAIN (YOU CAN ORDER SCRAPPLE FOR BREAKFAST WHICH IS A REAL TREAT FOR PAT & I KZ AND LINDA WON'T TRY IT). PAT AND LINDA MET US TWO MILES FROM THE SHELTER AND HAD BBQ HAMBURGERS, BEER, AND CREAMERY ICE CREAM WAITING. MAN WHAT A TREAT. ANGLE PAT EVEN FED FREE A LAST (HIKER) WHEN HE CAME IN. A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE TRAIL. WE LEFT NJ AND ARE NOW IN NY. WE SCALED ROCKS AND HAD TO CLIMB A LATTER TODAY. WE CARRIED OUR PACKS TO THE SHELTER WHERE THE BOY SCOUTS WERE COOKING THEIR DINNERS INSIDE THE SHELTER WHICH IS A NO NO AND OLD GROUCHY ME HAD TO TELL THEM. THE SHELTERS ARE FOR THROUGH HIKERS BUT NOBODY OBEYS THE RULES OF THE TRAIL. THERE ARE MORE BEARS IN NJ THAN ANY WHERE PER SQ. MILE. I FORGOT TO MENTION THIS.64 DAYS TO GOI MAY NOT KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW BUT YOU NOW KNOW ABOUT THE BEARS
Date: 2010-05-23
From: WILDCAT SHELTER NY

To: WILLIAM BRIAN SHELTER
Miles today: 19.6

LOTS OF UPS AND DOWNS AND ROCK. KZ RAN OUT OF ENERGY TODAY ONLY SAVED BY THE FENCEMANS ONLY POWER BAR. WE WALKED PAST OUR PICKUP ROAD TO CHANGE PACKS AND DIDN'T FIGURE IT OUT UNTIL WE WENT THE TWO EXTRA MILES TO THE SHELTER AND HAD TO GO BACK. WHEN WE GOT BACK WE JUST DROVE INTO WEST POINT AND CHECKED IN TO THE HOLIDAY X. MET CHITLEB AND DUTCH TWO YOUNG GUYS FROM PEN. A LOT OF STREAMS AND LAKES IN THIS PART OF NY.
Date: 2010-05-24
From: WILLIAM BRIAN SHELTER

To: FT MONTGOMERY BR OVER THE HUDSON
Miles today: 8.9

BREAKFAST AT HOLIDAY X AND BACK TO TRAIL. WALKED THE 2 MILES TO THE SHELTER FOR THE THIRD TIME AND THEN ON THE WAY. ONE REALLY STEEP UP AND THEN BEAR MTN. AND DOWN A NEW TRAIL TO THE ZOO AND TO THE BRIDGE OVER THE HUDSON. PAT A LINDA MET US AT THE ZOO AND WALKED WITH US THROUGH AND DOWN TO THE BRIDGE. THE NEW TRAIL COMING OFF BEAR MTN. IS REALLY SOMETHING THEY HAVE BROUGHT IN BIG FLAT ROCK FOR STEPS AND WALLS AND GRAVEL FOR THE COMPLETE TRAIL. THIS MOUNTIAN IS STRAIGHT UP I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEEN HOW THEY DID THIS. ON TOP OF BEAR MT THERE IS A TOWER WHICH WE CLIMBED UP TO SEE THE VIEWS. ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE NY CITY BUT WE WERE OVERCAST SO NO SUCH LUCK.
Date: 2010-05-26
From: FT MONTGOMERY BR OVER THE HUDSON

To: CLARENCE FAHNSTOCK ST PK
Miles today: 18.2

WALKED OVER THE HUDSON RIVER AND STARTED UP THE HILL WHEN I REMEMBERED I LEFT MY INSULIN IN THE FRIG. AT THE INN. CALLED PAT AND LEFT WORD FOR HER TO GO RETRIEVE PLEASE. PAT AND LINDA DROVE ACROSS THE HUDSON AND THEN THEY WALKED BACK. WE MET SOME OTHER HIKERS AND THEY PUT A GAS STATION AND CONV. STORE ON THE TRAIL FOR US. WE MET GAEL A SECTION HIKER FROM VI. WE STOPPED AND SOAKED OUR FEET IN A STREAM WHICH IS ALWAYS A NICE COOL FEELING. IT WAS HOT AND MAYBE KZ SUFFERED FROM HEAT STROKE. PAT MET US AT THE ROAD CROSSING AND HAULED US TO THE CAMPGROUND WHERE SHE HAD TAKEN GEOL EARLIER. NICE CAMPGROUND WITH SHOWER. WE SET UP OUR TENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS. PAT & LINDA BBQ HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGER AND FED GEOL ALONG WITH US.60 DAYS TO GO
Date: 2010-05-27
From: CLARENCE FAHNSTOCK ST PK

To: MORGAN STEWART
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

DAY 10 SP 13.8 MILES. MET ELVIS THE TRAIL GUY. HE PUT A SIGN ON THE TRAIL TELLING US ABOUT THE WATER AND A DELI JUST OFF THE TRAIL. WHEN WE WERE AT THE DELI HAVING LUNCH HE RODE IN ON HIS BIKE AND JOINED US FOR LUNCH. HE HAS HIKED THE TRAIL TWICE AND HAS MAINTAINED A SECTION FOR 31 YEARS. HE TOLD US THAT HE AND HIS WIFE HAD PUT SOME FLAMINGO STATUES ON THE TRAIL BUT HEY HAD BEEN CARTED NO. BY THE HIKERS. PAT AND LINDA DOVE INTO THE PARKING LOT AND I TOLD HIM THAT WAS OUR SUPPORT TEAM AND HE WONDERED IF WE HAD A SPONSER ALSO ? EASY DAY WE STARTED HIKING AT 6:20 AND WERE IN THE SHELTER BY 2:30. WE MET UNCLE BOB AT THE SHELTER BUT HE WAS GOING ON. GAEL SPENT THE NIGHT AT THE SHELTER WITH US.WE SAW TURKEY, DEER AND ONE SNAKE.59 DAYS TO GO
Date: 2010-05-28
From: MORGAN STEWART

To: WYLIE
Miles today: 16.5

PAT MET US ABOUT A MILE PAST THE SHELTER, FED US BREAKFAST SWITCHED PACKS AND WE SP UP TO .4 FROM WYLIE SHELTER. WE WENT BY A REAL PRETTY LAKE AND PARK SETTING WITH NO PEOPLE. IT IS NEUCLEAR LAKE A FUELS PROCESSING PLANT CLOSED IN 1972 AND CLEANED UP. WHEN WE MET PAT SHE DROVE US INTO KENT CN. FOR DINNER AND THEN BACK TO THE TRAIL. WE CROSSED A AMTRAC STOP FOR HIKERS. WE STOPPED AT HOT DOG STAND FOR LUNCH. WE WERE AT THE SHELTER BY 6:00 PM.GEOL SPENT THE NIGHT WITH US AND TOMORROW HE IS MEETING HIS SON IN KENT AND GOING HOME.58 DAYS TO GO
Date: 2010-05-29
From: WYLIE

To: STEWART HOLLOW
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: light rain

PAT WAS CAMPED ABOUT 200 YDS FROM THE SHELTER AND SHE FED GEOL AND US BREAKFAST WE SWITCHED PACKS AND SP FOR 18.5 TO WHERE WE MET HER AGAIN. WE WALKED ALONG THE HOUSATONIC RIVER AND THE SHELTER WAS LOCATED NEXT TO THE RIVER. WE WERE HAVING DINNER (CHICKEN & VEGS) WITH PAT WHEN A GUY (PADDY-O) CAME BY. WE MET HIM ON THE FIRST HIKE IN NC. IN HIS PART TIME HE PROVIDES TRAIL MAJIC FOR THE HIKERS AT VARIOUS LOCATION ALONG THE TRAIL. HE LIVES IN NY. LOTS OF WEEKEND HIKERS AND CAMPERS FOR THE HOLIDAY.57 DAYS LEFT.
Date: 2010-05-30
From: STEWART HOLLOW

To: US RTE 7
Miles today: 15.2

CARRIED BIG PACKS A COUPLE OF MILES MET PAT HAD BREAKFAST AND SLACKED THE REST OF THE DAY. DROVE INTO VILLAGE FALLS HAD DINNER AT THE TOYMAKER CAFE AND THEY LET US TENT ON THEIR LAWN WHILE PAT & LINDA STAYED IN THEIR PARKING LOT FOR THE NIGHT. WE EACH ATE A 1/2 LB. HAMBURGER. THE CAFE DOESN'T HAVE A GRILL. WE ALSO HAD A FRUIT SMOOTHIE. PAT FOUND A STREET GUIDE TELLING ABOUT ALL THE OLD HOUSES SO WE WALKED AROUND TOWN LOOKING. THE FIRST TOWN WHERE I DIDN'T HAVE PHONE SERVICE.56 DAYS LEFT WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HURT YOU.
Date: 2010-05-31
From: US RTE 7

To: BRASSIE BROOK LEAN-TO
Miles today: 15.4

WE GOT UP AND PAT DROVE US TO THE RIVER AND WE HIKED BACK TO THE CAFE FOR BREAKFAST. I HAD BANGERS & EGGS. THE CAFE WAS SO IMPRESSIVE. THE GUY AND HIS WIFE HAD RETIRED BOUGHT THE OLD HOUSE AND LIVE UPSTAIRS AND HAVE THE CAFE DOWN STAIRS. THEY HAVE A INTERNET BUS. SELLING USED PART FOR ENGLISH MOTOR CYCLES. PAT MET US AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES FED US SANDWICHES AND I HAD A BEER. WE PICKED UP HP FOR THE LAST 4 MILES TO THE SHELTER AND IT WAS ALL UP HILL. (WHY DID I EVER DRINK THAT BEER?) WE WERE AT THE SHELTER BY 2:00 PM. LUCKY SOME HIKER HAD CARRIED AND LEFT TWO SUNDAY PAPERS IN THE SHELTER SO WE SPENT THE AFTERNOON READING YESTERDAYS NEWS AND SPORTS.55 DAYS LEFT IF YOU ARE READING THIS YOU NOW KNOW FOR SURE THAT I CAN'T SPELL OR STRUCTURE WORDS IN A FORMAT THAT IS READABLE BUT HEY IT IS ONLY A MEANS TO KEEPING TRACT OF WHERE WE HAVE BEEN.
Date: 2010-06-01
From: BRASSIE BROOK LEAN-TO

To: GREAT BARRINGTON MA
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: light rain

FROM THE SHELTER FOR 12.3 MILES TO MET PAT WITH HP. TWO BIG MTNS BEAR AND EVERTT. KZ SAYS EVERTT IS IN THE TOP TEN FOR STEEP AND LONG SINCE THE START OF THE TRAIL IN GA. I THINK THERE ARE PLENTY IN THAT RANGE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL HARD FOR ME. BETTER THIS YEAR THAN BEFORE. WE MET A GROUP OF YOUNG KIDS WITH A MAN & WOMEN THAT WERE BEING SCHOOLED. THOSE KIDS WERE JUST RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE MTNS. LIKE ONLY A KID COULD. THEY EACH HAD THEIR OWN PACKS WITH FOOD BEDDING AND SUPPLIES. WE HAD RAIN SHOWERS OFF AND ON WHICH MADE THE ROCKS VERY SLICK FOR THE DOWNWARD HIKING. WE WERE A HOUR AND HALF LATE FOR OUR MET UP WITH PAT. THE LAST 4.5 MILES WAS IN SWAMP AND FARM LAND. I ALMOST GOT ATE UP BY THE MOSQUITOS. WHEN IT RAINS THE NEWTS COME OUT. THEY ARE A LITTLE LIZARD LOOKING THING THAT IS ORANGE. I SAY THEY LOOK LIKE GUMMY BEARS BUT I WOULDN'T EAT ONE. INTO THE HOLIDAY EXPRESS FOR THE NIGHT. HAD DINNER AT A BREW PUB. I DON'T UNDERSTAND BREW PUBS THEY THINK THEY CAN IMPROVE ON BEER WITH SOME BREW A WITCH IS STIRRING IN THE BACK ROOM OR IN THE BASEMENT THAT HAS DIFFERENT COLORS THAN ANYTHING SOMEONE WOULD WANT TO DRINK. I THINK THE NEXT TIME I GO IN ONE I WILL TAKE MY WATER FILTER IN AND SEE IF I CAN'T IMPROVE THE QUALITY. GREAT BARRINGTON IS VERY BUSY. THE ONLY THING OF INTEREST IS A CASTLE BUILT IN THE LATE 1800'S BY THE OWNER OF THE CENTRAL PACIFIC RR. THEY HAVE THE BOSTON POPS HERE ALL SUMMER, LOTS OF CONCERTS AND LIME ROCK RACE TRACK .54 DAYS LEFT
Date: 2010-06-02
From: GREAT BARRINGTON MA

To: GREAT BARRINGTON MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I SHOULD NOT BE MAKING ANY TYPE OF ENTRY AFTER THIS IS A ZERO. MY COMMENT WOULD BE FOR ME THE TRAIL IS EASIER THIS YEAR WHICH MEANS I AM IN BETTER SHAPE AND PREPARED FOR THIS. I RECEIVED MY HAMMOCK IN THE MAIL SO MY PACK GETS LIGHTER FROM THIS POINT ON (I WON'T SEND MY TENT HOME UNTIL I AM SURE I CAN SLEEP AL NIGHT IN A HAMMOCK) WE WENT INTO TOWN FOR LUNCH AND PAT GOT PICTURES OF THE CASTLE WHICH IS A SCHOOL FOR DRUG KIDS NO TOURS OFFERED. THE TOWN HAS LOTS OF LITTLE SHOPS THAT SELL ONLY STUFF YOU DON'T NEED AND IT HAS 10,000 ANTIQUE SHOPS (THAT MAYBE TOO MANY OR NOT ENOUGH) PAT FOUND STUFF SEE NEEDED???54 DAYS LEFT. I JUST READ THE GUEST BOOK (FIRST TIME IN 4 YEARS) NOW I KNOW SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY READ THIS MESS BUT I ALSO KNOW I'M NOT READING IT OR IF I DID I WOULD JUST QUIT.
Date: 2010-06-03
From: GREAT BARRINGTON MA

To: Beartown rd
Miles today: 14.1

SP ALL DAY PAT MET US FOR LUNCH (SHE PROVIDED) AND SHE WAS SET UP AT THE RD WHERE WE CAMPED. PAT & I WALKED DOWN THE ROAD AND A LADY INVITED US INTO HER HOUSE SO WE COULD SEE A HOUSE BUILT IN 1747 (YES 1700'S). IT WAS A GREAT DAY AND NIGHT. I TRIED MY HAMMOCK FOR THE FIRST TIME NOT VERY GOOD I NEED TO PRACTICE.
Date: 2010-06-04
From: Beartown rd

To: GOOSE POND COTTAGE
Miles today: 13.1

SP ALL BUT THE LAST 2.1 MILES UP TO THE POND. KZ & I TOOK THE COTTAGE CANOE FOR A TRIP AROUND THE UPPER POND(LAKE WITH ISLAND CONNECTED TO LARGER LOWER POND) JIM THE WANDERER WAS THE WEEKLY CARE TAKER. VERY NICE PLACE WITH BUNKS TABLES CHAIRS AND READING MATERIAL. THERE IS A LIST FOR A SPOT AS A CARE TAKER (26 IN ALL) THEIR JOB IS TO HIKE IN CHOP WOOD, CLEAN, CANOE FOR WATER, BE NICE AND COOK PANCAKES IN THE AM IF THEY LIKE THE HIKERS (ALL YOU CAN EAT) CHITLIN SHOWED UP LATE IN THE PM.I DID MANAGE TO GET A NAP (MAKES ME A HAPPY CAMPER OR HIKER WHICH EVER THE CASE MAY BE.) MAYBE I SHOULD CHANGE MY NAME TO GROUCHY???
Date: 2010-06-05
From: GOOSE POND COTTAGE

To: DALTON MASS.
Miles today: 20.6

WALKED 1.6 MILES TO MA 20 WHERE PAT WAS WAITING. OH YA WE HAD PANCAKES FOR BREAKFAST WHICH WERE REPORTED TO BE BLUEBERRY JUST OUR LUCK I GUESS JIM FORGOT THE TRADITION. PAT GOT AHEAD OF US AND MET US A LITTLE AFTER NOON WITH BBQ HAMBURGERS, BEER AND CHIPS. SHE HAD SET UP ON THE ROAD WITH THE AWNING OUT AND THE BBQ SMOKING. SHE PASSED OUT TRAIL MAGIC TO AT LEAST 7 OTHER HIKERS (NOT THE BEER OR THE HAMBURGERS) KZ HIKED UP THE ROAD A .1 TO THE COOKIE LADIES HOUSE FOR WATER??? HE SAYS HE DIDN'T GET ANY COOKIES BUT I'M NOT SO SURE I THINK IF WE TOOK A POLL AND A DNA TEST WOULD PROVE THOSE CRUMBS IN HIS BEARD WERE NOT TREE DROPPINGS. HIKED INTO DALTON TO THE SHAMROCK HOTEL AND PUB. CLAM CHOWDER OUT OF THIS WORLD.50 DAYS TO GO
Date: 2010-06-06
From: DALTON MASS.

To:  OUTLOOK RD
Miles today: 10.1

RAIN ALL DAY AND I CARRIED A UMBRELLA (MACHO GROUCH) WHEN WE MADE IT TO OUTLOOK ROAD WHERE WE WERE TO EXCHANGE OUR PACKS WITH PAT SHE INFORMED US THAT THE AFTERNOON WEATHER WAS 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN WITH WINDS UP TO 75 MILES PER HOUR SO WE OPTED TO RETURN TO THE HOTEL. THE OUTLOOK ROAD WAS IN CHESHIRE MA BUT THERE WAS NOT HOTEL SO WE WENT BACK TO WHERE WE STAYED LAST NIGHT.
Date: 2010-06-07
From:  OUTLOOK RD

To: COUNTY RD VT
Miles today: 20.4

COOL AL DAY UP TO TOP OF GRAYLOCK MT. THE HIGHEST PT IN MA. 3491' THERE IS A TOWER WHICH WAS A LIGHT HOUSE ON TOP AND A OLD LODGE. FROM THE TOP WE HIKED DOWN TO NO. ADAMS MA. WE MET A YOUNG GIRL CLIMBING THE BIG DOWN INTO TOWN 3000' ALMOST VERTICAL HILL. SHE TOPPED OUT AND TURNED AND CAUGHT US BEFORE WE COULD DOWN. SHE DOES THAT FOR LUNCH BREAK. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE BEING IN THAT GREAT OF SHAPE OR HAVING THAT MIND SET. PAT MET US IN NO ADAMS AND TOOK US TO LUNCH AT FRIENDLY'S. WE WENT BACK TO THE TRAIL AND HIKED ON. WE CROSSED INTO VERMONT AT 4:30 PM. WE MET PAT AND LINDA AT 6:15 PM AND TENTED NEXT TO THE RV.TWO MILESTONES: INTO VERMONT THE 12TH OF 14 STATES TOTAL ON THE TRAILAND UNDER 600 MILES TO GO. 47 DAYS TO GO
Date: 2010-06-08
From: COUNTY RD VT

To: MELVILLE NAUHEM SHELTER
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: light rain

MET PAT 1.4 MILES FROM SHELTER AND SHE TOOK US INTO BENNINGTON FOR LUNCH AND THEN BACK TO TRAIL FOR A LITTLE TRIP UP THE MTN. TO THE SHELTER. WE WERE AT THE SHELTER BY 2:30 PM. THERE WAS ALREADY 5 PEOPLE AT THE SHELTER WHEN WE GOT THERE SO I SET MY TENT UP BACK DOWN THE TRAIL AT A STREAM. I LIKE THE SOLITUDE OF THE WOODS AT NIGHT EXCEPT WHEN THE BEARS WOLVES AND OTHER NIGHT STALKERS SHAKE MY TENT FROM TIME TO TIME AND THEN THEY RUN OFF BEFORE I CAN FIGURE OUT WHY I HAVE BEEN AWAKEN SO SHARPLY?? THE LONG TRAIL OF VERMONT CANADA TO MA. PARALLELS THE AT FOR A 100 PLUS MILES IN THIS SOUTHER PART. THE TRAIL IS MUDDY, ROCKY, MUDDY, EXPOSED ROOTS AND MUDDY. THE MUD MAKES YOU LOOK FOR A ROCK TO JUMP TO OR A ROOT TO SLIP FROM.
Date: 2010-06-09
From: MELVILLE NAUHEM SHELTER

To: STRATTON ARLINGTON RD
Miles today: 21.0

HP ALL 21 MILES. SEEMED LIKE A LONG DAY KZ WAS AT MY TENT AT 5:45 AM AND WE STARTED HIKING AT 6:00 AM TO 6:30 PM. STARTED RAINING AT 4:00 AND WE WERE AT A SHELTER AT 4:30 BUT WE THOUGHT SINCE WE WERE ONLY 1.5 MILES FROM THE FS ROAD WHERE PAT WAS WAITING WE WOULD GO ON. WHEN WE GOT THERE WE HIKED THE ROAD TO A PARKING AREA ONLY TO FIND OUT PAT WAS NOT THERE AND WE HAD NO PHONE SERVICE AFTER CHECKING THE MAP WE REALIZED PAT WAS 2 MILES DOWN THE TRAIL SO AWAY WE WENT. SHE PICKED US UP AND HAULED US TO A FOREST SERVICE CAMPGROUND WHERE WE TENTED IN THE RAIN. LETS SEE WALK AN ADDITIONAL 3.5 MILES IN THE RAIN WITH HEAVY PACK GET WET SET UP TENT IN RAIN SLEEP IN MUD PUDDLE AND WONDER IF GROUCH WOULD BE A GOOD NAME FOR THE FENCEMAN?????   OH DID I MENTION IT RAINED ALL NIGHT?