morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-25
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: Hanover
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 36 11.0 Hanover by the soccer fieldToday I hike for Mike Davis. He is a single father of 2 now adults who are champion athletes and going to college. Mike has never struck me as a woods person, so what better day to walk through the city. We walked out of the woods right on to Main Street. Walked a half mile through grocery stores, boutiques, ben and jerry¢s, and apartments. All of this IS the Appalachian Trail. Stopped by the post office and picked up a loaf of zucchini bread Becky had mailed. Walked up to the Dartmouth Outing club by more stores and a Gap. I thought about buying 2 pairs of kahkis and getting one free, but I passed. I ate some lunch and got a haircut. Left the bneard though. Sat outside in the huge common area watching the students walk by. Went to the grocery store and camped at the soccer field. It was weird having the city so close by.
Date: 2007-07-26
From: Hanover

To: Cloudland Lean to
Miles today: 16.7

Day 37 16.7 Cloudland Lean toToday I hike for Nick Copp. A friend since elementary school all the way through college. We even have the same degree. Without him I would have never made it through drafting class.Lots of road walking today. Walked the road back through Hanover, across the Connecticut river, then Into Vermont. State #3. We hiked New Hampshire in 13 2/3 days. What a state it was. We hiked the road for about 2 more miles and finally back into the woods. We must have sped up from the road walking because we hiked the next 8mi in 2.5 hours. The trail rolled across mountain top fields filled with wildflowers. We swam in the river down by west Hartford and I had a Hotdog and a ice cold Coke. Seems to be a trend. Hot again today, the swim was perfect.
Date: 2007-07-27
From: Cloudland Lean to

To: The Lookout
Miles today: 11.9

Day 38 11.9 The LookoutToday I hike for Lou Corletto of Life Expressions Chiropractic. I call him a life changer. He had a big hand in getting my mind right to even to consider hiking the trail. He allowed me to open my own eyes to see how great life is and can be.Today was a funny day for hiking. We hiked out, no dew on the leaves, so we expected rain. We walked up one ridge, then down, then right back up another. I do like hiking in Vermont. Very beautiful, simple, and removed from the city. Saw a porcupine, the first I have ever seen in the wild. We stopped down by road VT12 and saw a fruit stand. They said they had pie! Stan flipped a nickel. Heads we would go, tails we would think about it. It came up heads! They weren¢t open yet, but when the owner showed up, she still had still warm 6 inch blueberry pies. I had mine with 2 scoops of ice cream. We finished up and hiked onto the next shelter. We had lunch and I napped about 2 hours. We walked up to the Lookout cabin, rain and thunder were threatening. The air was sticky, the views were beautiful. Stayin said ¢¢We¢re stayin¢¢
Date: 2007-07-28
From: The Lookout

To: Twelve Tribes Hostel Rutland, VT
Miles today: 17.5

Day 39 17.5 twelve Tribes HostelToday I hike for Henry Joy. A stranger to none, a friend to whomever he meets. Henry is a true friend, and a person I can count on. We decided to hike on into Rutland today. We hiked out to the road by 2:00 (17.5mi) A guy with a 2 door BMW picked us up and road us to the INN at the Long Trail. Pack on our laps all the way. I had 2 Guinness served at the ¢correct temperature¢. Our trail friends Solar and Lunar named me and Stayin¢ ¢The Hill Billies¢   We hitched another ride into Rutland. A picturesque downtown similar to Greenville, SC. A music festival was going on too. We went to Wendies and ate too much. Then I got a 2 pound box of Strawberries and a bottle of whipped cream and went to town.
Date: 2007-07-29
From: Twelve Tribes Hostel Rutland, VT

To: Rutland, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Day 40 0 Miles Twelve Tribes Hostel.1st 0 day since Monson, ME. We worked in the kitchen this morning and then this afternoon to pay for our stay. I went to the grocery store and got some different food. The soup style noodles just don¢t work for the hot weather. For breakfast I had some pastries, pound of blueberries, pound of strawberries, eggs, and a half gallon of chocolate soy milk. I feel good and healthy. For lunch a boiled up some shrimp and ate a cantaloupe. I feel good and rested and full.
Date: 2007-07-30
From: Rutland, VT

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

Day 41 16.7 mi Clarendon ShelterToday I hike for Mike Bryant. A man who was a mainstay in my childhood. He always had weimaraners who were bigger than me. I remember his loud Chevy primer gray Nova. He will be missed.Woke up for breakfast and rode the bus back to the trail. My pack was again heavy with food. Some other fellow hikers Alpine and Princess Brat gave us another name for our team. ¢Eats and Eats a lot¢. Good easy hike today. Really enjoyed the break.
Date: 2007-07-31
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: clear sky

Day 42 23.3 mi Peru Peak Shelter.Today I hike for Flora Joy. I would finish the trail in 2 months if I had as much energy as this lady. She is talented in so many things. She made the patch of my name for my pack. I know that I could call her any time for anything I needed out here. So I hiked the longest day yet. I knew I would when I woke up. I was in a good mood and full of energy. I walked faster than Stayin¢ for some reason. I didn¢t see him on my morning break, or at lunch. It¢s weird being without him after being with him for 400 miles. I climbed about 5000 ft today and am no more tired than any other day. I would have never thought of hiking that far in one day. I swam in the pond right before the shelter. A good finish to a good day.
Date: 2007-08-02
From: Winall River Shelter

To: Glastenbury Mountain Fire Tower
Miles today: 21.1

Day 44 21.1 Mi Glastenbury Mountain Fire Tower.Today I hike for Brian Butler, a freind since middle school. I can't remember him being negative about anything. He works at another mainstay of Jonson City business. East TN Forein Car. He is a great father to his son. Brain finds excitment in everything his son does every day. I look forward to that. Today was a great day, but hard. I slept well last night. I started with a climb up Stratton Mtn, the mtn that inspired Benton Mackaye to make the Appalachian Trail. Great Views from the fire tower. I had pushed lunch a little late. I drank 7 liters of water. Much more than normal. I was going to stop at the previous shelter , but I heard that there was a fire tower on Glastenbury Mtn. and I wanted to sleep in it. Clear skies, good temp, why not. I hiked my pack straight up to the top and didn't leave for the rest of the night. 70 feet off the ground. 7ft X 7ft cabin on top. Cozy. Beautiful sunset. I'll remeber this night as one of those "Remember the time when........".
Date: 2007-08-03
From: Glastenbury Mountain Fire Tower

To: Congden Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

Day 45 14.7 Mi Congden ShelterToday I hike for Jim Moody, a fellow AT hiker from Johnson City who completed a Northbound Journey Last Year. He summited Katahdin July 28th, 2006. His finish was right in time to get me going and planning. He inspired me. I slept well in the fire tower. Windy! I woke up to a beautiful sunrise. I walked down to the next shelter and had breakfast, and got water right from the ground. The first time I didn't filter my water. I dropped to the road, I needed to get a couple of days of food in Bennington, VT. Hitching was hard, just tourists driving by. It took 45 min, but I finally got a ride. I pushed my backpack around the PriceChopper and got a few wierd looks. A woman in the Grocery store was asking about my trip, so I asked her for a ride. She rode me part of the way, then I got another ride with a guy in a Mercedes "burning grease". It was hot back oon the trail. I dipped my head in the water. It's a trade off I guess, carry the weight of the food, or hassle with going into town. I climbed up from the road hearing thunder. I quickened my step. I found a snake skin at the top of the hill and put it on my pack. The thunder clapped closer, I walked faster. Then closer, so I ran. I made it to the shleter right before the sky fell. I'm lucky this time.
Date: 2007-08-04
From: Congden Shelter

To: Mt Greylock warming hut
Miles today: 20.4

Day 46 20.4mi Mt Greylock warming hut.Today I hike for Irene Crowe, my wife's grandmother. A woman of great regard and respect. At 91 she still gorws vegetables, bakes bread, and lives alone. She loves everything that an East TN woman should love. I love to see how happy she is around family. I slep OK last night. I think I had a spider crawling on me. There were a lot on the shelter. The air felt different this morning after the storm. Less humidity. I left out with a lot of energy. I stopped for a second brekfast. I've seen many retirees in that last few day. Almost all have the same story. They worked for a company for 25,30,40 years and they got layed off or forced into early retirement. Many were not given a leave of absense for the trip and retired early. It feels to me that life and work are always at odds. I hiked doen to the state line and into Mssachusetts. I also crossed the 600 mile mark today. I hiked Vermont's 150.8 miles in 10 days. I would recommend anyone wanting to hike the AT in New England, come to VT. I hiked down and through another town, North Adams, I didn't even stop for a hotdog. Then I hiked up to the highest point in MA. Mt Greylock. The last 3000 ft peak until VA. I wanted to stay on top, but it was posted no camping. The warming hut looked good to me. I slept with the fire place between me and the parking lot. The ranger came around a few times, but couldn't see me.
Date: 2007-08-05
From: Mt Greylock warming hut

To: Dalton
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 47 17.0 mi DaltonToday I hike for Mike Church. He is a man who hikes with the Greenville Hiking Club. He made it as far as Dalton, MA in 1990. I hope for him to finish the trail past Dalton one day. Today I¢m in Dalton, MA. I woke up to a beautiful sunrise this morning on top of Greylock. I¢m glad I took the chance to sleep up there. I am missing no opportunities on this trip. I walked fast all the way into town. It was a 1.5 mile road walk into town, back to walking the hot streets. There are two guys in Dalton that offer free stays, Tom and Rob. Tom I had heard more about, so I passed up Rob¢s and walked to the other side of town. When I got there I was greeted by all the SOBO¢s I had been following for a while. Dreamer, Rambo, Teapot, and Twix. A few NOBO¢s too. All were drinking the best beer for hikers, good ole¢ Pabst blue ribbon. I was later met by Tom. He stuck me as peculiar. He is near 60, and his house reminded me of a grandma¢s. Neat, clean, nice furniture and things. Not at all like a hostel for dirty hikers. I figured it was time to celebrate the 14 mark that I had passed on the trail. I got lunch and a bottle of Makers Mark. I had a good relaxing night,I found out that Tom¢s personality matches his neat house. He seems not to want hikers inside his house. Of course I spilled a drink on the carpet, and never could clean it to his liking. I could see that it stressed him pretty strongly. There were no beds, so I slept in the floor.
Date: 2007-08-06
From: Dalton

To: Dalton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Day 48 0 Day DaltonRestless night in the floor. I didn¢t like sleeping inside, I have grown accustomed to the outdoors. I had a breakfast of Pancakes and French toast. The waiter was surprised that I had ordered both. I was back to the house by 9:30 and the drinking had already begun. ¢Partying up the trail¢ I thought, this crowd really wasn¢t for me. I didn¢t feel like making the effort to go to the other hostel. Tom had some bikes, so I ran my errands, PO, library. I got the parts for my trekking poles and a jar of pickled beets grown by my Mom and jerky made by my dad. Both are great! I brought the packages back to the house. Tom didn¢t want me to bring them inside, because it would ¢trash up his house¢. I was close to having enough of Tom. About an hour later Stayin¢ walked up. It was good to see him. He had just been hiking like me. I told him about Tom¢s place and his ¢neat¢ personality. Stayin¢ took a look at the drinking crowd, and said ¢let¢s go to Rob¢s¢. Looks like Stayin¢ wasn¢t stayin, and that¢s the motivation I needed to go to Rob¢s.We went to the Shell station were directions are to Rob¢s ¢Birdcage¢. I was happy to see some of my trail friends, Solar, Lunar, Mr. Cowpie, Twisted Sister, and Tange. It felt better here already. Rob is a laid back 50 something guy who loves hikers. He said he would always see hikers in Dalton, but not think that they needed help. One rainy day he saw a hiker turned down by the local motel, no where to go. Rob said¢ the boy was broken¢. Rob went over and offered him a hot shower and a place to sleep. The hiker¢s eyes lit up. The rest is history. Rob does not advertise, it is only by word of mouth. He had 70 hikers the first year, 230 the next. Rob cares for his hikers. He takes a picture of each one and puts it in an album. He writes a short note about each. He drove us to the local buffet. I ate plenty, I almost pushed it too far, but I pulled through.
Date: 2007-08-07
From: Dalton

To: Beckett Mtn
Miles today: 17.7

Day 49 17.7 mi Beckett Mtn.I slept good at Rob¢s. Fat and Happy. I packed it all up and headed out. I needed to drop of a letter at the PO for Becky, everyone else needed to go to. As we were walking, Rob pulled up and offered us a ride to Breakfast. My pack headed back to Rob¢s, I headed to breakfast. Ah, the power that food has over me. I hit the trail by 11:30, said bye again to Stan, Rob gave me a hug, and headed back into the woods. I can explain how good it feels to take that first step back into the woods. It¢s like taking that first step back into the house you grew up in. I stopped about halfway and stopped by ¢The Cookie Lady¢s¢ house. She makes cookies for hikers on her blueberry farm. She confirmed what I had been hearing. A lot of people from TN on the trail this year. She told me that ¢none have talked as country as you though¢. I told her thanks. I could tell that she had a real hard time understanding me. I thought it was funny. Just another reason I love being from Johnson City. I pitched a tent on Beckett MTN. 1.6 mi from the road to Lee, MA where I will take a bus to Boston. I had planned , before this hike began, to take a trip to see my cousin Jonathan Crowe, who is also from Johnson City, went to school at Appalachian State, and now works for a publishing company in Boston.
Date: 2007-08-08
From: Beckett Mtn

To: Boston, MA
Miles today: 1.6

Day 50 1.6 mi BostonIt rained all night. I later found out that this same storm that rained on me is the one that flooded New York. I could tell that there was a big puddle under my tent. ¢Waterbed¢ I thought. No leaks though. It started to lightning and there I was lying in a puddle of water at the top of a mountain. I hitched into Lee, got my bus ticket, and sat outside and abandoned house, out of the rain. Next door I noticed a man on his front porch. I went over a struck up a conversation. He had a cleft tongue, hearing aids, a MA accent, and a great personality. He told me all about paper mills, the building of the turnpike, history of the immigrants who built the town, etc. I later found out his name is Herman. I got on the bus about 11, it was pretty full. I could see the look on a few faces, telling me ¢please don¢t sit here¢. I had one transfer and then I was on the ¢Boston Express¢. My journey has turned into an voyage. Many facets of happenings and goings-on. So here I ride, on my way
Date: 2007-08-09
From: Boston, MA

To: Boston, MA
Miles today: 0.0

Day 51, 52, 53, 54My time in Boston has been great. Jonathan has shown me a great time. This is the first time we have spent any time together as adults. We went downtown and saw all the historic buildings, swam in and across Walden pond, experienced the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, ate in Little Italy (that lived up to every Italian movie I have seen), ate at a hole in the wall Moroccan place (I thought the woman was going to beat her staff), negotiated the trains alone, went to the beach (the water was as cold as creek water), and have just been shown an awesome time. It was hard on me to go from the woods straight to the subway. The subway, to me, is an uncomfortable, reeling experience. The hustle and bustle of all the people was truly overwhelming. I had a fear of being run over in crosswalks for a while. I can feel the want to get back to the trail and the pull of the woods. I have really, really enjoyed my time here. It¢s has been good time off, and it is time to go back to where I feel at home.
Date: 2007-08-13
From: Boston

To: Knee Pond, MA
Miles today: 5.9

Day 55 5.9 Mi Near Knee Pond, MAJonathan made dunner for me last night. This first home cooked meal I have had. I have missed home cooking, me and Becky cooked every night. He made chicken patties with horseradish sauce, mashed sweet potatoes, deviled eggs with shrimp and bacon, his roommate Ben decided he wanted to try to make bread, he made a tomato basil bread. It was a feast. I woke up early, I had everything packed up. Heavy again with food. I woke Jonathan to say goodbye. We were both off of our normal sleep schedules from sitting up all night listening to records and talking. I hugged him and told him I loved him. I was off.I rode the train down to the bus station, I was on the bus by 8:00 am. The bus driver drove me nuts feathering the gas pedal, so I listened to The Rolling Stones 12 X 5 and went to sleep. I transferred buses in Springfield, MA and I was happy to find out that Lee was the first stop. I stopped by the grocery store and on the way our got offered a ride by ¢Bobcat¢. I walked back into the woods and across Hoghway 90 and felt back at home. It felt familiar to walk, yet a little less in shape than when I left the trail. My knees hurt a little more, and I was a little slower.I was sleepy after having lunch and saw a good place by a stream to set up camp, so I did. I set up my tent and slept for 3 hours. I feel like I will have a fresh start in the morning, rather than starting in the heat of the day as I did today. Side note: I have officially gone stoveless, I no longer have it. I wasn¢t using, so why carry it. It does save me weight, but the food I buy now negates that weight savings. I do enjoy the food a lot more. My Mom mailed me some chili peppers that she grew, I really like them.
Date: 2007-08-14
From: Knee Pond, MA

To: Shay's Rebellion Field
Miles today: 25.0

Day 56 25.0mi Shay¢s rebellion FieldToday I hike for my Granny Scalf. She is great for a laugh, I hope she is doing well.25 Miles today, I guess I got my trail legs back under me. I slept long and great last night. Beautiful farm country that I am walking through. Another thing that I like about going stoveless is that I don¢t need a lot of water to camp. No cleanup, no boiling. I can camp anywhere as long as I have enough water to drink. I had lunch about 12 mi in. I was planning on getting more water at mi 20, but there was none. I read in my book that there was water at a fruit stand at mi 22. It was closed when I got there, but I got the water hose and filled up. They allowed camping out back, but I also read in my book that Shay¢s Rebellion monument was 2 miles further. I thought it would be cool to tell my kids that I camped in a place that they¢ll hear about many times in school. The field is now a corn field. I took some pictures of the unremarkable monument. I walked back into the field and plopped down my tent and crawled in. Just another opportunity that I didn¢t miss out on. I am exactly where I want to be.
Date: 2007-08-15
From: Shay's Rebellion Field

To: Plateau camp site 
Miles today: 19.4

Day 57 19.4 mi Plateau camp site Today I hike for Paul Hayes, Hal Range, Reneau Dubberly, Gary Berg, and Trip Bowers. Some of the founders of the Tri-Cities Road Club. When I got my first bike, I knew nothing about the sport. They taught me how to ride. My first ride was 50 miles. Each treated me as their own son. While my Dad taught me racing, these guys taught me the love of just riding my bike.Today¢s hike was all over the place. Woke up to heavy dew and fog in the field. I didn¢t use my rainfly so my down bag got a little wet. Walked through flat bogs, then up Mt. Everett. The climbing is reminiscent of New Hampshire. Great views from the top. Then it was another climb up Race Mtn. Beautiful views into Connecticut. I finally got to swim in a cold creek. I think Gorham, NH was the last time. I crossed the unmarked state line into Connecticut. My 5th state! Then one more climb up more New Hampshire style rocks over Bear Mtn. I set camp near Salisbury, CT, 3 big climbs slowed me a little. I hiked for 11 hours today, I am calling it a day.
Date: 2007-08-16
From: Plateau camp site 

To: Caesar Rd Camp
Miles today: 20.0

Day 58 20.0 mi Caesar Rd CampLast night is the first night that I noticed the ¢End of Summer¢ bugs calling back and forth. Time moves quick until I remember each day.Today I hike for Mrs. Surrat, my Kindergarten teacher. She is one of the most memorable of any teach I had. She visited me in the hospital when I was sick for a while, made me feel like part of the class.Today was hot, sticky, and muggy. I¢m not sure how the air can hold so much moistue and heat without dropping. In TN the air would never stay this still. Every time I hit a good pace I would have to stop to get water. I had to take a break a few times because I was getting too hot. I finally got to meet a guy named Zero. I¢ve been reading his journal since January. He is another hiker who got my gears going in think about my trip. My speed has slowed for some reason since Boston, I just hike longer days. Maybe it¢s all the water I¢m stopping for. I got to camp and Alpine & Princess Brat were there. I talked to them for a while, her Mom sends them the biggest food drops complete with strawberry flavored toothpaste. I like Alpine & Princess Brat, they work at the Neil¢s Gap outfitters, right on the AT in GA. They helped many of the NOBO¢s this year before they started. Many NOBO¢s remember them. They have good energy and are good people.
Date: 2007-08-17
From: Caesar Rd Camp

To: Mt algo Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 59 partial. I am in Kent, CT. I found out that Stayin¢ (His name is now Snacktime on my recommendation) was sick in Dalton, MA while I was in Boston. So he is behind me. You never know how things will work out.   \Day 59 13.9 Mi Mt algo ShelterMore ups and downs, Good flat river walk. I'm going into Kent, CT today. My only stop in CT. Couldn't get a hitch in so I walked the .8 into town. Stopped by the outfitter and got my drop, my mom sent me a full bag of chili peppers. My dad sent me some trail mox and some peanut squares. Becky sent me some memories of home. I headed over to the deli and got a pastrami sandwich, and then a patty melt and 2 cokes. I stopped by the small grocery store to buy some dinners. My dinners are now based on tortillas, so I look for the ones that do not have Partially hydrogenated oils. I couldn't find them. I had to by the mission brand that had hydrogented oils. They were the most empty tasting tortillas. I would urge people to spend a little extra and find out what they're missing. While walking out of Kent I saw the storm clouds rolling in and heard thunder. The shelter was .3 from the road. I hurried a long. Made it just before the rain. The only thing I didn't like about this shelter is that it was built under an acorn tree.