morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-27
From: along the trail

To: Gov. Clement Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: few clouds

Underway at 5:40, with but three slugs on the tent. Humid day with biting flies. Soon passed by Crazy Bear, who's from Phoenix and "Ghetto". Had lunch at Minerva Hinchey Shleter, the two gents there and a gal whose name I didn't get.Then on to Clarendon Gorge, which is a nice narrow swimming area on the Mill River. Plenty of local folks there. There were what I took to be leeches in the water, so I mostly cleaned my feet/legs. As I walked through the parking lot a young gal offered me a towel, but I didn't need it. It¢s a hot day and after crosing VT Hwy. 103, I took a journal break in the tree line.Did some climbing and was descending when I met a southbound couple. I told them the good news that they were about to top out and that there was an excellent spring perhaps 10 min. down the other side. They topped me with the news that trail magic was a mile ahead.There was, in the form of cans of soda in a cool stream, I think this was the same spot as in '01. Then in a couple more miles, more trail magic: a cooler with ice cold sodas and crackers.Hiked up to the Gov. Clement Shelter, full of people. My plan was to have dinner then hike a couple more miles, but the skies opened up, so will tent here. Learned that there's a free hostel in Lincoln, NH, and who knows, may take advantage? Talked with a couple from MA who are doing a third of the Long Trail. Had dinner during the rain under the nice canopy. Some folks started a fire in the (rare) fireplace. 18.4 mi.
Date: 2007-07-28
From: Gov. Clement Shelter

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: moderate rain

Underway at 5:10, overcast AM and some showers. Long, uneventful pull up Killington Mtn. Occasional day-hiker. Passed by a couple thru-hikers going both north and south. Met "Blueskies", a Danish gal, 25-ish.Toward Noon at Inn at the Long Trl. They gave me my package, thanks again, Joan. No, they don¢t have a pay-for-shower-only (instead of overnighting) system which they could, as the showers are all "down the hall"). Hiked on without going into the dark, expensive bar for lunch. Had lunch on the trail, with plenty of day-hikers walking by.Soon down at Gifford Woods St. Park, where it turns out you can shower for a quarter, which I did. Also had a coke and expensive ice cream. Managed to wash my clothes in the sink. This was a real bonus as I'm facing two more nights before Hanover, NH and the shower situation there is unclear (probably not available).After the park, the trail took us on a 1.5 miile pointless climb, and over Quimby Mtn., with two views: one of a powerline right of way and the other of a gravel road.7:15 at Stony Brook Shelter, two occupants there. One of the people present is "Mowgli", a 30 MPD man who's an Elec. Engr. student. I shall tent. 17.8 mi.
Date: 2007-07-29
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: past VT Hwy 12 in a pine clearing
Miles today: 19.1

Slept in a bit and got started at 5:50. Nice day, and a number of day hikers seen. As I was hiking by a group of seven gals and one gent, the fellow scrutinized me quite a bit. He asked how far I was hiking and when he learned I was a thru-hiker asked to take my photo with the gals. They were pretty.Mid-afternoon at VT Hwy. 12, I went the .2-mi. to a farm store. Had some coke, ice cream, fruit and a roll. Talked with a local gent, me mostly educating him about the AT. It was a nice sidetrip.Back to the trail, various ups and downs. Photogenic pastures. Maple trees with sap-tapping aparatus. PM meal on a nice bald hill, watching a hot-air balloon. It was high and apparently up to view the full moon.Toward 8:30, stopped in a pine clearing, and tented alone. 19.1 mi.
Date: 2007-07-30
From: past VT Hwy 12 in a pine clearing

To: near Velvet Rocks Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

Underway at 5:40. I heard a moose (pretty sure) as I got up; there's a stream below me which is where they might feed, but I couldn't find any sign/tracks. The area is piney, high and dry, not conducive to tracks. Still fun to think about such a beast not far away at-all.Today I saw no hikers of any stripe. Even took a break at Thistle Hill Shelter, and no humans. Lately have seen the occasional southbounder and yesterday three high-speed hikers passed me. At a road a couple in a NY-plated car asked me if I needed anything; nice of them. At a stream there was Trail Magic in the form of cokes and beer in the cool water. I enjoyed a Bud. There were also some snacks.The trail does a quarter-mile road walk through West Hartford, right in front of a store/deli. I had a couple cokes and ice cream; got away for about half of what I normally spend at such emporia.Some three and-a-half miles from entering the town of Norwich, VT, there's a split, the AT going to the eastern edge of town and a Tucker Hill Trail heading for town, proper. I opted for the alternative, so I could go to the library; this added aboput a half-mile, and I enjoyed walking through the town's outskirts as opposed to the AT, with all that nature. Forgive me, purists.Deli items for a late afternoon meal from the General Store in Norwich, then hiked the mile or so over to Hannover. As I was going along agent in a truck stopped, got out and offered me a ride; I told him I needed to hike.Soon across the very nice bridge over the Connecticut River and into mypenultimate AT state, NH. I was looking for a laundromat, when Ilearned that the laundrmat had closed, and this was just a laundry. Then wasted some time looking for an outfitter, even 'though our guidebook hinted that this wasn't much of one. Tired of the late-afternoon heat, I soon gave up and headed for one of the town's bright spots: the Co-op Food Store. It's like a Whole Foods, but with richer, more diverse stockage, if that's possible. It was hard to decide on what to buy, but fun. As I left the store a gal worker was watering thwe plants out front and I asked her to fill my container; she complied and told me that her brother George was working in the White Mtn. Huts.Then hiked to the outskirts of the campus, where I drank my one beer,and hiked into the evening. It was a fairly tough climb out oftown/campus, but several evening hikers and a jogger were out. Toward8:15 I found a trail junction, where the side-trail to the Velvet RocksShelter is, and tented under the full moon. 17 mi.
Date: 2007-07-31
From: near Velvet Rocks Shelter

To: Smarts Mtn fire tower
Miles today: 21.7

Underway at 5:25. A nice day. Eventually was passed by "C'NN" a couplewhom I'd briefly met in VA. Had seen 'em slack-packing two or three times, and now I realize, they're thru-hiking. They'd provided some trail magic which was meted out by a friend who shuttled them, hence I have fond memories of a coke the C'NN gave me so long ago.Later a fast-moving, slackpacking gent, "Focus" went by. His wife is waiting for him at a road ahead, and giving out trail magic, which alas, I won't get due to my slowness. This re-proven when "Judo", a retired-age gal also walked by me. She's from MD and is meeting friends ahead.Lunch break at a nice high spot and later a journal break near Holts Ledge, which I gather is just atop the ski lifts of the Dartmouth Skiway (yes,the college has its own ski resort)!Just then there was a small sign which said "Free water, ice cream",pointing to a nearby house. I thought it meant "water free, icecream for sale", which would be fine with me. I walked over and Bob, a gent in his 80's who was a physician in Cambridge (I wonder if affiliated with Harvard) greeted me.Bob's been dishing out free ice cream bars for 5 yrs., and keeps a log. He's been all over the world and will be going to WY tomorrow to be in nature with his son. A goldfinch went to his bird feeder as we watched; Bob said bears come to it, so he keeps it indoors at night. It was fun meeting this accomplished, generous, up for-life gent who has Tibetan prayer flags on his porch.On the trail bear scat. Beautiful AM/sunset as I climbed up to Smarts Mtn. As I reached some ledges I heard a raptor's cry and two (perigrine?) falcons flew away. I know they like ledges; strangely, they didn't fly out to be over the abyss, rather, they flew along the trees behind me. A bevy of camp girls were at the shelter and 2 long-distance hikers; a pair of prostetic legs (for knee downards) were beside a tent(later I learned that this was "Murphy" who I think is on T.J.Com.). Got water from the spring as light ran out; no tent space so I took the firetower for my lodging; you could say I lived an adulthood dream. It was nice and breezy up there. 21.7 mi.
Date: 2007-08-01
From: Smarts Mtn fire tower

To: Glencliff, NH--Hiker's Welcome Hostel
Miles today: 20.4

Underway at 5:30, enjoyed the sunrise from the tower as I packed up. Another spectacular day. Passed over various cobbles. A group of camping boys were at Cube Mtn., and hiked along with me for a while; they have two female leaders. Saw a couple who might have been thru-hiking, but never met them. Think I heard a bear running from me.In the PM at Ore Hill Shelter, met one southbounder; spring water didn't look so good so continued on. In the afternoon at a Hwy crossing. met "Mrs. Focus" (my name for her), she the wife of Focus whom I'd met the day prior. She arrived at the road just in time to give me some Trail Magic in the form of a Long Trail Ale and some pretzels. Continued on on a rather hot day, and out at the Glencliff Hwy. for the short walk to the Hiker's Welcome Hostel, a final respite before the incredibly tough White Mtns. Two folks I knew there were the famous "Baltimore Jack", who's done the trail many times and is perhaps the best-known, most popular hiker and "Mtn. Squid" a retired Navy gent who likes to hang out along the trail doing favors for hikers. I'd met Squid in VA; he's a nice guy.Tenting among others; I'd say there are a dozen or so here, perhaps half north-and half southbound. My package was here with another layer of cothes for the high country and many good things Joan packed. 20.4 mi.
Date: 2007-08-02
From: Glencliff, NH--Hiker's Welcome Hostel

To: Glencliff, NH--Hiker's Welcome Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Slept in 'til 6:30 and did a series of chores. Was packed up and almost gone by 11, but someone started "The Big Lebowski" on the DVD player; this is a movie I always wanted to see, and that was the deciding factor in taking the day off. The hostel has some gently-used shoes and boots for sale and I bought a pair of Addidas trl./running shoes for $10. In the PM there was a shuttle to the nearby town of Warren and I bought some Super Glue to patch one of the shoes. Also bought groceries and drinks for the day.The couple known as C'NN (Chuck and Nancy) came in and I've learned she was a teacher and he career USAF; were in Italy several tours; they live a ways from Chatanooga. Judo also came in. Also "Blaze of Glory", a southbounder who teaches PE in Long Island; he does 20 MPD, even in the Whites and did 21 today, over the daunting Moosilauke, and was done by 3 PM!BTW, as I was explaining my decision to take the day off, in perfect weather, another hiker said, "Yes, it's too bright to hike."Later a NJ guy came in, and played some guitar; he's "High Life" and wears a Miller Hi Life hat.When our group went to town, we ate at a cafe; I think it was my first sit-down meal since WV; was nice, 'tho a bit expensive for my blood. It sure was hot on the valley floor - 92-deg.Blaze of Glory bought the trio of basic sauteed vegetables (onion, green pepper and garlic) and some bulk sausage and fried up a meal on the outdoor grill; it smelled great. I contented myself with a tub of chili.
Date: 2007-08-03
From: Glencliff, NH--Hiker's Welcome Hostel

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: few clouds

Underway at 5:05. Soon enjoying about the last pasture we'll traverse on the AT (I have fond memories of it from my inaugural start from Katahdin back in '94, after being beaten up by the mountains for so long, cows!), then climbed up the south side of Mt. Moosilauke, just behind Judo who soon out-hiked me. A mile or so from the summmit, passed by C'NN. Eventually atop this 4,800-ft. beast, on a warm sunny day, excellent views. There's a rectangular frame of rocks, some parts about 4 ft. high, it looks ancient but is from a 1920's era lodge. I've been here before when folks cowered from the wind among the rocks. Today the only occupants were C'NN, taking a break and calling ahead for a hotel reservation. Soon we all hiked on and took a lunch break at Beaver Brook Shelter. Then they out-hiked me.I went down to Kinsman Notch and up Mt. Wolf. Real slow going, in fact, mostly 1 MPH. Toward 8PM reached Eliza Brook Shelter, exhausted, as well I should be, I'd intended to do but 12 MPD through these here parts, this was almost 50% greater distance, but no way can I sustain it. Tented at a minimally-serviceable tent pad. 17 mi.
Date: 2007-08-04
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Chester's In Lincoln, NH
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

Underway at 6:45, had slept in due to the arduousness of yesterday. Fairly tough climb up South Kinsman; meeting the occasional day-hiker all day, it being a beautiful Saturday. Then over North Kinsman, and down to the southern-most of the White Mtn. Huts, Lonesome Lake. Plenty of people around the hut and at the lake. I had lunch from my pack in the dining hall.Next an easy 3-mi. hike down to Franconia Notch. I was looking for Hwy. 3, but only saw I-93. I saw a sign to The Flume St. Park, .9-mi. to the east; I walked over there and found Hwy. 3, then hitched to town. Two ladies in a Prius picked me up and drove a bit through Lincoln to find Chester's home.Chester is a young guy who'd planned to hike the AT and has also always wanted to open a hiker hostel. When Chester was testing his camp stove, it exploded and caused extreme nerve damage. He's now legally blind and in a wheel chair, but can get around in a wheeled walker. He's the nicest guy, and has been a hunter, fisherman, and is a Deadhead. His warm welcome was almost disengaging; I'll never forget it. Other hikers present: Hi Life, who's actually behind me on the trail and came here from another trailhead. "Take Two", a southbound gal who teaches at Florida State. "Shadow", a section-hiking gal who'll go to Ethiopia this fall in an AIDS-prevention mission. "Leader of the Pack (LOTP)" (so-named because he leads his pack up the trail), who's a computer guru and is from Minneapolis (he¢s on trailjournals, and I bet his writing is great, he's a very nice guy). Also Jen, who's Chester's girlfriend and Chris, a gal who does many sports, is a friend of Chester and is learning as much as she can about the trail and thru-hiking. Chris has agreed to take Shadow and I back to the trail tomorrow AM.Took a shower and walked over to the outfitter and bought new tips for my trekking poles. LOTP helped me remove the old tips from my pole (you needed three or four hands to do this). Sub sandwich for dinner. 9 mi.
Date: 2007-08-05
From: Chester's In Lincoln, NH

To: past Galehead Hut, NH
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

We all were up at the hostel, and packed, by 7 AM. To instigate as early a return to the trail as possible, I offered to take Chris to breakfast if she'd drive me and anyone else to the trailhead. She agreed, as did Shadow. We were joined by LOTP. who was going to ride a gondola up the mountain afterwards for a church service. A fine breakfast was had by all.As we were leaving Chet's, LOTP did a classy thing. He'd thought to get a thank-you card, with which to include a donation for the hostel. LOTP even carries a batch of thank-you cards.After a quick bank and store stop, we were back at the trail and ready to go by 8.45. Shadow took off right away and as I was adjusting my gear, here came "Em", a gal, 40-ish whom I'd seen in a shelter two nights prior. She quit her IT job, sold her house and is on a flip-flop of the AT. Incredibly, I outhiked her (I must overtake one person every 200 mi.) and didn't see her after the first couple minutes. Plenty of folks were coming down the trail, as there's a nice campsite, Liberty Springs just 2.6 miles up the mountain.As I reached the spring, here came Wolf, "Flick" and "Golden Boy". Of course they passed me right away. Eventually we were up on the Franconia Ridge with views all over. Fabulous. Plenty of folks. I took a short lunch break near Little Haystack Mtn. and trucked on. Eventually the crowds thinned out on side trails and in the PM I was overtaken by just a few; several were coming from the other direction.Late afternoon I was getting water from the spring which is by the Garfield Tent Sites, and there was Laces. She was part of the trio which fed a bunch of us an excellent Trail Magic dinner, way back in VA, right after Trail Days. Laces is the caretaker at this site for the summer. We chatted a bit and I took her picture.As I left for my final 2.6-mile push to Galehead Hut, the trail was pretty steep, and water from the spring creeping down it. Up came a couple, the gent wearing a pack and hefting his woman companion's pack ahead of him on the rocks. I told them they had but 3 minutes more 'til their destnation, so the gal put on her pack for the final push.Took a snack break on Mt. Garfield with only nature in view, a nice vista. Later had a quick sandwich on the trail and to the hut by 7:45. Greeted a few of the thru-hikers; they were all working-for-stay, meaning they'd get two meals, stay in the lodge, and have some chores to do in the AM as recompense. I've done this before and it really cramps my style of hiking out early in the AM, so I planned to tent, paying $8. Turns out that this hut has no tent sites nearby, but the Crew Leader advised where I might camp a few minutes up the trail, which I did. Am in a mossy area, so spongy that I couldn't sink my tent stakes into the ground, so I had to tie onto two trees. It's supposed to start raining tomorrow AM. 14 mi.
Date: 2007-08-06
From: past Galehead Hut, NH

To: Crawford Notch, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Underway at 5:25, nice breezy AM. Towards 8:30, light rain, and eventually heavy rain. I walked with my umbrella in one hand and held my two poles in the other. At high elevations, it¢s close to coolish on the hand holding the poles. At one point I took a fall, no big thing, but it does leave you in a slight state of shock. Late in the morning I was at Zealand Falls, which was good news as it meant I was almost at the so-named hut, 7 mi. in the AM! (I've settled on 1 MPH as my normal pace in the Whites, and anything faster is pure gravy.) To cross the Falls, which are horizontal at this point, but a precipice is just below, one steps over; as I was doing so, I slipped in, fell down and got a little banged up. I don't think anything got too wet or damaged, 'though I was mighty concerned as I thrashed about for a bit.Made it over to the hut, Judo was there, having hiked by me, she was just leaving. I went inside and got some soup, home-made bread, cookies and lemonade. In came Golden Boy and Flick, who are from Ohio, they hike fast, but have taken 50 days off. They also have been enjoying today's weather (unlike me). Read a bit from a couple nature guides, the one thing I may retain is that on Mt. Washington we're walking on talus slopes (I think that means loose rocks). Got going when the rain stopped, but it came back quickly and rained all afternoon. Many pools in the treadway, but this is the easiest part of the Whites, and I was down at Crawford Notch, a roadcrossing, by 3:30.Weather Wimp that I am, I decided to hitch to a motel, some 8 mi. away. Had a ride in minutes and the gent was nice enough to pull into a gas station so we could ask where the motel was. Got their last room, but will allow as the charge was higher than listed in out guide book, I think I got juiced.Took out all my stuff, several items were partly wet after the rain and fall into the falls, including my tent and sleeping bag, so the motel stay was perfect. I turned up the heat, opened the windows and spread stuff all over. It was dry by the AM.Walked half a mile to a market and got a deli meal. I was shocked when the meal, cokes and beers, to include a "Boston Globe" cost $18! 15 mi.
Date: 2007-08-07
From: Crawford Notch, NH

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: fog

Had a bit of a fitful night (maybe the motel room was too comfortable?), and got up around 8 AM. Did various chores and walked down to the market, had a deli breakfast, and did a little shopping. It's a pretty good day. When I was ready to travel, I asked a gent in a truck if he was heading my way; yes! I rode in the back as he and his wife drove me to the trail.Underway at 10:45. Naturally, it was necessary to climb up out of Crawford Notch for several hrs. Met some day hikers and a trio of southbounders. Nice views from various ledges. Heard the coal-fired Mt. Washington excursion train down in the valley. We've mostly out-hiked the biting insects and the slugs haven't been gathering on my tent, but...they do gather, usually singly on key trees along the trail. Certain trees are situated just right to grab to hoist oneself up/down and the little buggers wait there. I think they are attracted to whatever essence our hands leave. Happily, I never touched one, but came close several times.Over a few mountains, and I gave my mighty yodel a few times. Fair echo but no responses. In the late afternoon I reached Mizpah Hut, and Wolf joined me. We headed for Lake of the Clouds Hut, on a beautiful PM. Got views of two trains in the distance: the cog train up Mt. Washington and the valley excursion train, complete with steam from its whistle.Towards 7 PM at Lake of the Clouds, it's the biggest hut, with capacity for 100. Besides many paying guests, several other thru-hikers there (Wolf, Flick, Golden Boy, "BBBeat Box", "Waffle", "Knifey-Spooney" Bristol, Eng., worked in Social Service there) and "Young and Dumb" (a New Yorker who'll start at Colorado U. this fall). I paid my $8 (alas, finally got tagged-for-fee, no doubt will pay several more times) to stay while in the Whites and asked if I could sleep in the dining/common area, rather than down in The Dungeon. (There's space for six in a dank room, there for emergency shelter).OK to sleep upstairs so, there was time to chat before lights out at 9:30. I found a nice cubby hole at the counter, and so to bed. 11 mi.
Date: 2007-08-08
From: Lake of the Cloud Hut

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Wet and cold outside. WX report is bad for today, good for tomorrow. Most of us thru-hikers are hanging out all day; ironically, most of the short-term hikers are braving the elements, which are: rain, limited visibility, and strong winds, all this and wet, boulder-strewn trail.Judo, who was a nutritionist for the World Bank, is the first of us to leave. She'd gotten here early and summitted Mt. Washington, so today was taking a lower route which rejoins the AT later. Young left, too. I have no intention to, and will soon broach the subject of work-for-stay...anything to avoid the misery, and perhaps danger, of going out on those exposed high ridges. Played some games: Scrabble, Jenga. Eventually the crew put out a sign for bottomless soup, of which I partook 4 bowls. Later a thoroughly-wet gent came in; he's a southbounder who made it the 7 miles from Madison Hut, and said it was a blast. He had some soup and ...left! What a man!The Croo Leader will advise about work-for stay. That just happened, and I think I work on the evening dishes tonight, and tomorrow, with good weather, I can hike out early.After the paying guests dined, we hikers had the same meal: turkey and trimmings, an excellent salad and real good cake.A gal came in, "Bug Bite"; she's doing the north half of the AT to complete a hike she started two years ago.Later BBBeat Box and Wolf gave an AT/thru-hiker talk to the guests. They did a good job, and this counted as their work.Waffle talked to his father who's in Gorham, essentially thirty-eight trail miles away. It's sunny and hot there. We have a forecast of 3 days good weather. Looking forward to it. 0 mi.