morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-04
From: The Mountain Goat, Williamstown, MA

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: broken clouds

I guess they had my letter yesterday, but when I asked to check for packages, the clerk did not automatically check for letters. I guess I shouldn't have assumed he would. This time I specified letters and packages. Had a hankerin' for Dunkin Donuts (when don't I?) and so what started out as a simple asking for directions to the nearest DD turned into a semi-epic quest by car by another generous stranger to the next town over 5 miles away, North Adams, complete with stopping to ask directions 2 or 3 times. People along the trail corridor amaze me with their kindness, even here in New England where many folks are too non-chalant to pay me any attention as I walk down their village-streets with a big bulking green pack on my back.After re-supply, I took the bus back to the trail (which is a little road-walking at first) I hooked up with April Showers and we headed up the trail together, chatting away, and chatting so much we missed a turn and went close to half a mile in the wrong direction. Looking at the elevation profile, I knew we should have been going up at that point, but we were on a mild descent. At one point we stopped and tried to figure out how long it had been since either one of us saw a blaze, and we had not seen one in quite awhile. After backtracking, we got on the right course again.We rested at the top of a particulary steep and rugged climb, AS practically gasping, me very tired, when up comes a nimble hiker close to my age. We stop and chat on the cliff, and as we all get up to go, I lose him after all of 10 seconds, and I'm not a slouch hiker. This guy, Postcard, can motor.It was exciting to reach Vermont, but somewhat disappointing that there was no sign to mark the occasion, just a sign to mark the start of the Green Mountain National Forest to let us know that we had crossed the state line (Verdmont is French for "green mountains", and was later shortened to Vermont). Turning around to face southbound, there was a nice view of Greylock several miles away, framed by the over-hanging trees.
Date: 2004-08-05
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: few clouds

First full day in what I consider to be true New England wilderness. The forests are a lot more piney now, and the elevation is up there, tonight's destination being almost 1500 feet higher than last night. I felt silly going into town to pick up my 20 degree sleeping bag 2 days ago in the hot summer sun, but I am really glad that I did. I was told a long time ago to pick up my winter bag again before heading into Vermont. Further north and higher elevations, along with slightly more exposure means colder temperatures. Tonight is chilly, it feels like it's in the mid forties to lower fifties. It's hard to say with my body being used to heat and humidity.The view here is really impressive from a modest elevation of 3500 feet. Big evergreen hills as far as the eye can see. The shelter is big, about 50 percent wider than the average shelter, and sitting high above the surrounding land that slopes away. Yet it is still full. Don't Mind and Don't Matter have not gotten their winter bags yet and are wrapped up with everything theyve got, including their tent! It's going to be a long night for them.
Date: 2004-08-06
From: Goddard Shelter

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: overcast clouds

The climb up Stratton Mt was a solid workout! A long hard grunt that teases hikers by making them think "this just has to end soon" as the trees get sparser and the air gets windier. Finally, it levelled off and I really was at the top, adrenalized and tired but feeling good. Benton McKaye, who conceived of the idea of a long-distance trail connecting Georgia to Maine, is said to have been inspired to the idea while sitting in a tree on top of this very mountain, while doing work on the Long Trail, which the AT is concurrent with for the better part of Vermont. On the mountain summit hikers who still have the energy can cliimb the rickety fire tower for views of the surrounding Green Mountains. The top is enclosed (good for blocking wind) but the dirty windows lessent the views.The top was very cold once I cooled off from the exertion, so on I trekked. The Dont's had considered staying here because they didn't think they had a 19 mile day in them, but I'm glad they pressed on because the top of Stratton would be even colder than Goddard was the night before. With an elevation almost 1400 feet lower, and less wind than on top of the mountain, they would be much more comfortable at Stratton Pond.With the exception of the climb up to Stratton Mt after the dip down from Goddard Shelter and Glastenbury Mt., the day was a relatively easy 19 miles downhill. Just kept pluggin. From the top of Stratton Mt, Stratton Pond looked so far away. But it was only 3 miles.Late in the afternoon but with still a few hours to go before dark, I reached the edge of Stratton Pond. Walking down the shore a suitable distance from some giggly college-age girls, I stripped down and got in the slightly chilly water. When I got out, my skin was tingling all over and I felt more alive than ever and belted a loud "yahoo!" across the water.The spooky call of loons greeted me as I made my way to the shelter, a very spacious one that could fit a very large number. Megabite was here the night before and noted in the shelter journal that he was here alone, while tonight there must be almost 30, including a large group of southbounders travelling together calling themselves the "Dysfunctional Family". At first I did not believe they were thru-hikers, they were so full of energy, at one point doing calisthenics! It turns out that today was more or less a day of rest for them, having done a relatively small amount of miles and had been here since early afternoon. The contrast between thrus still in the early phases (Dysfunctional Family) and weary thrus in the final stages (most of the rest of us) was striking. One southbounder had made the comment that she hoped she was not like us when she was finishing, in reference to the way we carry ourselves, sort of beaten up and listless and just trudging through it with what I call the 2000-mile stare. Long distance hikers always know other long-distance hikers when they approach them, especially 2000 milers. It's something that's hard to put a finger on, but you just know.
Date: 2004-08-07
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Bromley Mt Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Been hearing the occasional report by a hiker of moose. Have yet to see one. I figured the flat lowland stretch between Stratton Pond and the highway would be the ideal place to see one. I know that Milemonster (Endorphin) from Trailtalk and his mom Double Nickels saw one in Vermont. How they see anything at the pace they go is beyond me. They actually finished about four weeks ago, despite starting less than two weeks before me, while I'm still about 6 weeks out from Katahdin, plus New Jersey and New York still to do.April Showers and Luna did see one. Goody for them. They told me so when I saw them at the pizza place in Manchester Center (which has some of the best pizza I have ever had, and not just because I've been away). The hitch into town was ridiculously easy. About ten and a half miles of hiking took me to state highway 11/30, and about 1 second of thumbing got me a ride. The instant I got to the road I saw a truck coming from the right and so I stuck out my thumb despite the fact I was on the wrong side of the road. The driver pulled over right away, and my angel was a nice young man who had moved here from New Jersey not too long ago. We talked about how much nicer it is out here away from the city, and then he dropped me off in the more-or-less commercial center of town, a decent sized shopping center with a pizza place and an EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports).After a re-supply and eat, I started walking back to the trail, figuring to get picked up eventually. I did not get far when I got picked up by Don't Matter's uncle. Life is good. The hike from the trailhead to the shelter was a casual two miles with one minor (for New England) up. The shelter was crowded with a family and one thru-hiker, so I opted to tent. All the tentsites were wooden platforms, and my tent is not free-standing and would have been a pain to set up on a platform, so I found the best place I could down by the river and made a night of it.
Date: 2004-08-08
From: Bromley Mt Shelter

To: Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

Early into today's hike, I found a spot I should have pressed on to: Bromley Mountain warming hut, where the skiers come to get warm during ski season. Only two hikers there and it would have been alot more comfortable and convenient. Have to remember that if I ever thru-hike again.On the way to Mad Tom Notch, I met a hiker going at a very slow pace. It turned out to be the other hiker that tented last night, going by the trail name Yellow Weeble (as in weeble-wobbles). She is thru-hiking the Long Trail, which is concurrent with the AT for about half the length of Vermont, splitting off at the "Maine Junction" to head north up the spine of the Green Mountains (Verdmont means green mountain in French). I slowed down to her pace and we talked for awhile until we got to Mad Tom Notch, where I filled up with water at the hand-pump and she waited for a ride from her brother.Up next was the climb to Styles Peak, a wide-open rocky peak with 360 degree panoramic views. The white blazes are painted right into the rock, and it's one of the best spots in Vermont. I sat up there by myself on that desolate peak for about half an hour, then hiked on.At Big Branch Shelter I met two surviving family members of an avid hiker who had just died. They were conducting a private ceremony deep in the woods. The man's daughter, a skinny, pretty woman around 30, and his partner, a middle-aged woman were the family members. The recently deceased man was also involved with Native Americans out west, and knew a great many of their traditions. The women did a few small rituals, including a symbolic cleansing ritual from head to foot. I was touched when they asked me to join, and said I would be honored. Then they burned one of his boots in the camp-fire, and afterwards we shared food and stories and had a mini-feast (though the vegetarian daughter turned her nose up at my pepperoni). Overall, it was one of the most spiritually uplifting days and made me glad I am out here.
Date: 2004-08-09
From: Big Branch Shelter

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

Today I met the most beautiful girl I think I've seen on the trail. Her name is Gretchen and she is a care-taker at Little Rock Pond and Lula Tye Shelters, and I'm not afraid to say I was a bit smitten by her. The bad thing about her job is she has to collect fees for staying at the campsites, and this does not sit well with some hikers. Granted, they're not the nicest shelters, but they are in a nice part of the woods, so I would not have a problem paying a small nominal fee. Most of the time, no one gives her any problems, but sometimes they do.I actually ran into Gretchen a few miles before her post, just before Danby-Landgrove Rd. She had stopped to tie her shoe on the way to do some mushroom hunting. She was a golden-bronzed goddess, with a lithe, lean body and gorgeous face. I was so inspired, I actually left a note in her tent later. Unfortuneately (for me) she has a boyfriend and so we talked for awhile (as I tried not to stare) and parted ways.Three miles into the day I came across Little Rock Pond and Gretchen's empty tent, along with a few tent-sites. I can't swim, but that hasn't stopped me yet from taking a dip. It's probably just as well that I can't or I'd spend twice as long in the rivers and ponds I come across almost every day.After the road to North Clarendon there was a ridiculously steep hell climb of about half a mile to the top of the ridge, apparently as a warm-up to New Hampshire. At the beginning or middle of the day would have been alright, but at the end of a 17 mile day, it was brutal.The shelter was big but deserted, except for Yellow Weeble tenting nearby. She said she was glad to have me around, having someone around that she knew made her feel more at ease, especially when a local good old boy showed up on a four-wheeler. He just turned out to be some lonesome old coot checkin' up on hikers and looking for some company. He was a really nice fella but I was tired and just wanted to go to bed. But l let him talk, and he told me about the area, and how he had taken a hiker back down to the road once before. He was a good guy.He eventually went back home and I went to bed. Two hikers arrived just after dark, but I couldn't tell who it was
Date: 2004-08-10
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: Inn at The Long Trail
Miles today: 16.4

In the morning, I was excited to discover the Hobbits were my bunkmates last night, now going by Popeye (Holly Hobbit) and River Otter (Heidi Hobbit). I had not seen them since Waynesboro, Va. They were now in their home state of Vermont.Before she left, Yellow Weeble gave me a couple slices of pizza from when she went into town last night. It was as good as the pizza I got at Manchester Center. How does this state make such good pizza? I heard dairy is really big outside of the mountains. Weeble had skipped a small section she had done before, and so was caught back up with me. I ran into her again at Governor Clement Shelter. My guidebook (Wingfoot) warns not to stay here. My guess is there is alot of trouble with the local hell-raisers, since it's right next to the road, but the ladies from Big Branch Shelter had a more interesting tale. According to the daughter, her father had stayed the night there one evening. He arrived after dark to find the shelter empty, except for one bunk. He climbed in the bunk above and went to sleep. He later woke to the sounds of animal grunts and groans, and the smell of wet fur. Well, it was an animal, he realized, when it got up and ambled out of the shelter. A bear, to be exact.The climb to Killington Peak was brutal as Stratton, and the side trail from Cooper Lodge to the summit felt like it was going straight up. The lodge doubles as an AT shelter during hiking season, and a warming hut during the ski season.On the way down I passed some rowdy trail builders having a good time. Some day I would like to join them if I'm in good enough shape.Finally, at the end of the day I reached the highway and got a ride to the inn from a man I had ran into on the way down from Killington. He remembered me because I petted his dog. I remembered him because he and his wife did not look like they were having a good time. It is a tough climb up.The place was exactly what you would expect from an old-fashioned inn: nice rooms (no phone) bar and grill, homey digs, and interesting locals. One peculiar character in a kilt was a gun enthusiast extolling the virtues of firearm ownership to us granola-crunching tree-huggers. He was making me paranoid with his non-stop catamount tales. Apparently, thats the local verbiage for mountain lion. It seems he had found some fresh prints in Clarendon Gorge, where I had just passed through yesterday. Nice. Anyway, after a relaxing evening hanging out with hiker friends I retired to my room, and my first bed in two weeks
Date: 2004-08-11
From: Inn at The Long Trail

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: moderate rain

Got a late start today due to a trip into the town of Rutland for a haircut (total buzz) and re-supply. Kilt-boy's catamount tales had me nervous walking alone through the woods. It wasn't the first time being nervous (usually when walking alone at night), but this time was a little more intensified. I hunkered down in Gifford State Park for awhile to wait out the rain, and considered staying but the $20 fee and the fact that the rain let up shortly after it started convinced me to hike on.
Date: 2004-08-12
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Cloudland Shelter 
Miles today: 19.6

I guess I crossed the eastern continental divide today. So now all rivers will flow to ocean, right? That's what Wingfoot says, anyway. Early in the day April Showers and I took the side trail to a place called The Lookout, a cabin on private property that the owner lets hikers stay in. A rickety ladder led to a platform on top of the cabin, and the reward for the climb is a fantastic view of the surrounding forested mountainsides. After a leisurely lunch in the cabin we headed down the trail again.After about 13 miles we came to Woodstock Stage Road. April Showers actually got there a little before me because she burns down downhills. I'm slower down the downhills than I used to be. All the pounding my knees took in the Smokies taught me a lesson. Rumor has it there is a barn nearby that the owner lets hikers sleep in. There was a barn there at the crossing, but April Showers took a look inside and it was so cluttered she figured there was no way there was any room to sleep. So she decided to hitch into town to the nearest town and get a room. I didn't want to quit so early in the day and after only 13 miles. Cloudland Shelter was just 6 miles away. I could do that in my sleep. The day had been relatively easy so far and I was not ready to quit. Problem was, it was six miles uphill, and I was exhausted by the time I was done. Add the 1/2 mile from the AT to the shelter, and today was a full 20-mile day.The dreary, overcast day added to the feeling of spookiness at the shelter. I was by myself on private property, though not trespassing because Wingfoot does say hikers are allowed to stay. But one cannot help but feel like it's the start of some slasher movie or a tragic story in the newspaper ("Man invites hikers to stay on land and then slaughters them. Film at eleven") Staring at me from outside the shelter was an evil-looking face carved by mother nature out of a tree trunk. Fortuneately, I was pretty exhausted and fell asleep pretty quickly, only to wake up later to pitch black night, black enough I could not see my hand in front of my face. Well, that's just the way I like it, so I went straight back to sleep
Date: 2004-08-13
From: Cloudland Shelter 

To: Happy Hill Shelter 
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light rain

Rainy, murky day today. Still worn out from yesterday's big 19-mile push. The trail goes straight through West Hartford, where I got a delicious chocolate milkshake at the local mom and pop store. Highly recommended.Just a few minutes from the shelter the clouds started rumbling and threatening rain. I started hustling, and dove into the shelter just as the rain hit. The building design was really sweet, an A-frame with a window in the back of the upper loft, looking out to the trees. I had the upper bunk to myself, so I was nice and spread out. Below me were a small handful of hikers, including April Showers and a southbounder. AS had caught me since I did a short day today. She told me that the guy she got a ride from let her stay at his barn and have dinner with his family, even though this wasn't the guy everyone was talking about. Sure are alot of nice folks in Vermont. The southbounder talked about the Whites, and we're really pumped for them now.It would have been nice to make it into Hanover and take a full zero day tomorrow, but it's rainy and I'm tired
Date: 2004-08-14
From: Happy Hill Shelter 

To: West Lebanon by way of Hanover, NH
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: broken clouds

Extremely easy day today. All downhill and on either very nicely groomed trail or on road. Covered the not quite 6 miles in just over 3 hours, plus a stop in Norwich, just before crossing the state line from Vermont to New Hampshire. Had an elegant breakfast at the Norwich Inn. Tried to get a room there but they were booked for the night, as was every place in Norwich and Hanover due to a wedding party tonight. I could have set up my tent on the edge of town, just past the soccer field, just in the woods, but I guess I'm too soft. I like to have a roof over my head when I'm in town. After making a few calls I made a reservation for a room in the next town over, as well as checked on prices for a cab ride over. Expensive stop in Hanover this is getting to be, but one doesn't go on a trip like this very often, and I'm known to splurge.After all that was settled, I departed Norwich and made my way into the penultimate AT state, glorious New Hampshire, home of the White Mountains, jewel of the AT. Vermont has been beautiful, but I'm ready for some above-treeline views, for rocky ridge-tops, windy summits, and panoramic vistas stretching for miles, and hopefully a few wild critters.It was a pleasant 1/2 mile road-walk to the downtown area of Hanover. There was much activity as the beautiful people (Dartmouth collegians and faculty and staff) mixed with the smelly people (guess who). April Showers was at the post office, and the famous Baltimore Jack drove by with Hobbits in tow, teasingly yelling "hiker trash" at us. Hung out at the Dartmouth Outing Club for awhile, then went to the movies with Hawk and Catdog and others. After the movie we stopped for ice cream at the Baskin Robbins. Hung out at the DOC for a little while longer before finally calling cab and getting a ride to the (really expensive) motel. Fiddled around with the pay-per-view before giving up on it, and retired to bed.
Date: 2004-08-15
From: West Lebanon by way of Hanover, NH

To: Moose Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

I cheated a little today. Not intentionally, just a little sin of omission. I told the cab driver taking me back to Hanover and the trail that I was going to the Consumer Co-op for groceries, so he took me there. But it's about a 1/2 mile down the trail (the trail is the road in Hanover). So I ended up skipping a little road-walk. I have as of yet to skip any actual dirt trail (outside of the occasional accidental detour mere feet from the actual trail). Well, there was that one time in Virginia in the Shenanoahs, but it actually was slightly more difficult than the AT.The store was nice. Lots of beautiful people milling about buying lots of healthy organic food. Got to the trail with little difficulty after its location was pointed out by a nice young co-ed.At Velvet Rocks Shelter, a mere mile and a half out of town, I was impressed by the hand-crafted wood map of the area around the shelter, carved by the DOC, as well as the humor on a trail-side sign ("no unicycles or else"). Near the end of the day, had an ok but not magnificent view from the top of Moose Mountain.The old Moose Mountain Shelter was in the process of being replaced, but was still there. The new shelter is about a quarter mile north on the AT, on a loop trail, as well as closer to the trail. The building seemed complete, but the tentsites were still under construction, and roped off. The privy was a glorious open-air throne. I like those better. They don't smell bad. April Showers and I were the only occupants of the new shelter, while new acquaintances Papa Bear and Badger remained in the grubby old shelter. But at least they had a close water source.
Date: 2004-08-16
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: Fire Warden's Cabin
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: light rain

Well, I walked a mile more than necessary yesterday. It was about a half mile back to the water source (1/4 back to the blue blaze trail, 1/4 down the blue blaze). Turns out I didn't need to, because the water source for the new shelter is just north of the north entrance. Guess I should have looked a little harder last night.Not much to tell about the hike, I guess. A relatively short day again, with a moderate uphill push the last two miles. The evening was chilly and we were glad for the enclosed structure of the cabin. The fog ruined any chance of a view from the tower, as well as cut off the warmth of the sun.