morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-18
From: caesar brook campsite

To: conn 41, salisbury CT
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Yahoo! Thanks to Fedex's company, it forced me to keep at a respectable pace for the first 10 miles so I could get into salisbury to see Maria Macabe. What a sweet lady, and a pleasure to meet! Our birthdays are 1 day apart, so I will certainly have her in my thoughts this year. Had bumped into Quinn at Pine Swamp Brook lean-to again, as well as 2 section hikers, Terry and Marco. If you took my nalgene bottle I absent-mindedly left behind, I hope someone gets good use of it. Hiked up and down to a peak of 1400 ft at Mt Easter and Prospect Mtn and hiked along the Housatonic River. Don't go fishing there, since they advise against eating more than 1 meal of fish caught there in a 2 month period. what is in that water??!! well, gotta add a check to CT. The first state I have completed the AT through, even if it is only 51.6 miles.
Date: 2007-06-04
From: bennington VT

To: bennington VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Woodford state park on rt 9, 15 or so miles east of bennington VT after sunset and no one on site. There was a ranger truck by the registration bldg, but no lights on. The roadside sites all seemed empty, not surprisingly for a Monday in early june. Except there was a RV down by site 87 (the area I set up my deluxe accomodations for the evening) that houses a 'campground volunteer.' It looked like there was a light on, but could've been the bath house light. So settling in as the rain taps on my tent, and b, my pup, is nestled by my side. She did the night patrol around this section of the campground, so all is safe and sound. The plan is to meet up with hobbit tuesday, but logistically wednesday may work better. Bennington is a quaint lil town, so I'll go in for coffee in the morning on my way to the trailhead. AT GAME on!
Date: 2007-06-05
From: stratton-arlington rd, VT

To: story spring VT
Miles today: 6.5

Greetings from the ATButterflies! Migrating or a recent hatching, but they were everywhere along VT 71 and stratton-arlington rd...a beautiful yellow monarch variety. Got hiking later than expected due to the scenic drive to the AT trailhead, and had a failed attempt to hike stratton. Thunder and grey clouds made my 'hike like a champ' pup cower and refuse to head north. She actually about faced and started back to the car, as an adament refusal. Opted to hike south to story spring shelter for the night, and got to a full house. Eric (VA) and Steve (CT-go huskies), bro's out to hike the LT; red (NY) LT; debra and seth (toronto) 4 day outing; hobbit (WI) AT thru hiker and Taylor (MA) solo LT pre-college hike. Good times at the shelter with conversation on careers, food, equipment, hiking destinations and experiences. Learned egyptian style war game and card tricks from the bro's...good stuff. The rain in the afternoon, made for a chill afternoon and then an early eve to bed. So a 10 mi day turned into 6.5 or so, but met some pretty cool gmc trail workers and salvaged the evening with pleasant company at the shelter.
Date: 2007-06-06
From: story spring, VT

To: stratton summit, out n back
Miles today: 10.2

Greetings from the ATBrrrrrrr....a cold chill set in and you breathed vapor at sunrise. Had an early start hiking at 6:30 and got the stratton summit in for a 10.4 out and back hike. Pleasure to hike out of camp with hobbit and red, then eric and steve passed by shortly after my hot oatmeal breakfast at stratton-arlington rd. The summit hike 3600 ft or so up stratton was moderate, and the smell of evergreen was so sweet pre-summit. Onto the summit, where I met hugh and jeanne, gmc caretakers at the summit. Visibility was nill, sera sera. So had a little chat with mathematical hugh and sweet jeanne before descending. A shout out thank you to jeanne for the around the mtn route to manchester, I got there by your suggested route. Loved hillshire bookstore...and how quaint is the center of town?! Definitely could have put a dent in the wallet with all those outlets, and know where i'd like my next shopping splurg to take place...theory, coldwater creek, ems, and mtn goat outfitter. Enjoyed the afternoon with hobbit and taylor, and met anthony, a former gmc worker, from my hometown and his lady friend from swansea MA...small world. Good energy here, and nice friendly locals.
Date: 2007-06-07
From: VT rt. 11&30

To: bromley summit, out n back
Miles today: 6.8

Greetings from the ATWhat a better way to start your day? A snickers bar and a 6 mile sunrise hike up a mountain. good stuff. If it was every day, then it would get old! The weather was wonderful with just B and I owning Bromley Mtn for the morning. Summited shortly after sunrise, the ski lift area, took some photo's, enjoyed the solitude and watched B race around in the foot tall grass. We passed Steve, Eric and Red on the descent and shared a few words before parting ways. The brothers are good guys, and wished 'em safe travels on their Long Trail plans. Off to Manchester Center to meet Hobbit at the outfitter, and see what his status was for hiking. He had thought of taking a hiatus to allow his body to rest. Ron, a former pro cyclist and pedorthotist who owns the oufitter was giving Hobbit his biomechanical analysis. A nice guy with advice to offer the outdoor enthusiast. As typical hikers write lots about food, here's my bit on a nice breakfast spot. A tasty lingonberry stuffed toast and fresh OJ breakfast @ Up for Breakfast in center of town....yummy. Hobbit opted to rest up from his long days of hiking, and head east to the coast for a few laughs. It was a bittersweet day, with great company from my new friend, but his decision to get off trail wore heavy on our minds. Hobbit, get a good musculoskeletal clinician back home to lend a mending hand, and we'll see you when you return for the last leg of the AT journey, my friend.
Date: 2007-06-25
From: palmerton, PA 

To: Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 0.0

Greetings from the ATThe noon time whistle just sounded in the center of Palmerton PA on Main Street. Children are riding bikes and doing stunts on a grassy, kid-made hillside in the park...the next Extreme Game competitors in training??! Aramark loads boxes into the truck, friendly people walk the sidewalks and trucks/cars pass by on their Monday routine business. I am about to surprise "blue skies" who is tending to her thru-hiker business in town after leaving her pack at burroughs hall. an opportunity arose to get a section hike in, and it appears to be in sync with my friend from Denmark....we'll see.
Date: 2007-06-26
From: Palmerton, PA 

To: PA
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: broken clouds

Greetings from the ATSomeone just told me that the trail, she read, is for people who want to disappear. I thought that what NYC or Florida, or some obscure island were for??!! It got me thinking, that it is more for those in transition or looking for a dream to be fulfilled. Taking a walk on the wild side to remind the soul what is important to thrive and survive in this often cruel, competetive, twisted world. Maybe it is for those who need a self-propelling boost to start a new chapter in life, to sort through options or allow one's inner desires, dreams, and hopes to surface without the confusion that others impose on you.
Date: 2007-06-27
From: PA

To: PA
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: few clouds

Greetings from the ATThe adventure of each day really jumps out at you while on the trail. The simplicity of those elements that make you smile or laugh are seeing a cardinal or a deer, finding the shelter, hearing a creek flowing, and savoring the smells as summer blooms around the forest. The human element in you has so little to retaliate or defend itself against to grasp for oxygen necessary to thrive. No other human element is present to challenge your existence....so you feel a sense of royalty. These were my thoughts for the 18 mile hike today across the rocky terrain. I slept well, since PA soil is quite soft, once you find a patch without rocks. This portion of the trail parallels many dichotomies in the circle of life. Love/hate, angel/devil, birth/death, jagged rocks/cushy soil...it's all a matter of perspective.
Date: 2007-06-28
From: PA

To: delaware water gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

Greetings from the ATH3 sums up this section hike into DE Water Gap...hazy, hot and humid. The anticipated view of the delaware river was clouded with haze after a summer heat settled into the area. The hike was pleasant enough though passing by wild berry shrubs, fragrant early summer blooms and traversing many rocks. PA is the thru hikers nightmare, which is a combo of 1200 miles logged and deteriorating hikers now subjected to ?95 mi of mainly rocky trail. There's not much elevation change....so mile after mile there are sharp, jagged rocks for as far as the eye can see. Since I opted to section hike, I did not feel the same anguish and quite enjoyed the rocks. I met 2 young ladies in their late teens out hiking with one of their mom's who is originally from PA. They were pleasant to chat for a short hike together before I moved on. The aerial view was poor due to the conditions, so will have to plan to return to hike the NJ section on a clearer day. Blue Skies and I spent the afternoon in DWG before parting once again, and I still cannot believe she's come this far on the trail. WOW! You go girl!
Date: 2007-07-09
From: two ocean lake trailhead

To: grand teton NP, jackson lodge
Miles today: 0.0

Greetings from the ATgreetings from grand teton and yellowstone NP's. it's looking to be a wonderful day for hiking the 10 mile route I've planned out, with clear blue skies. a bear sighting occured as soon as we drove into the grand tetons. the two ocean lake trail located on the backcountry boundary was closed for wildlife restoration, so I took the emma matilda trail around to grand view point. the afternoon haze lessened the immense grandiosity of the range, but the beauty on a clear day was imagined. the hike was easy with a moderate climb to the summit at 7800'elevation, where 360 degree views offered spectacular views of the grand teton NP. My hike concluded with an enormous blue heron taking flight out of the waterbed near jackson lodge...what a sight! I couldn't get my camera out fast enough to capture the flight in all its glory, but it is etched in my mind forever. The trail was relatively all mine with 3 hikers seen at the get go, and another 2 near the parking area for Grand view. Onto yellowstone NP...
Date: 2007-07-11
From: yellowstone NP

To: yellowstone NP, old faithful
Miles today: 0.0

Old faithful blew at 5:45 am as I set out on a 6 mile hike on the geyser basin loop. what a way to start the day...brisk cold air and a colorful sky filled with streams of stream in all directions. the heart geyser and castle geyser were two of my other favorites. the walk was on a boardwalk with well marked geysers, and some offered eruption times and magnitudes. an easy terrain as expected for many travellers to enjoy. the loop ended after 1 1/2 hours, so a final appreciation of old faithful welcomed me back to my starting point. We, pete, jessica and I, had driven most of the park yesterday and had lots of wildlife, hot springs, geysers, fumaroles and mudpot viewings. a short hike near yellowstone lake at sunrise yesterday gifted me with my first bison sighting. one of many to follow. they always appeared peaceful creatures reminding me of manatee, until one bluff charged us from 500 or so ft away. He was the master of the herd with nearby calf to protect and teach about survival. We left the NP having some wonderful memories of the grand tetons and yellowstone NP, the world's first designated US national park from 1872.
Date: 2007-08-28
From: Massachusetts

To: Massachusetts
Miles today: 0.0

Cheers to Blue Skies! She is 187 miles to Katahdin. The hiking has been wonderful, except for a dead moose in Mahoosuc Notch that was stinking it up, she says. The thought of all the thru-hikers that are "close to the end" entered my mind. Whatever door opens next, may it offer as much peace and sunshine as the trail has offered you.
Date: 2007-09-17
From: Massachusetts

To: Massachusetts
Miles today: 0.0

Greetings from the ATI would like to send a shout out to "Blue Skies" for making her dream become a reality...and wish her all the best on her future adventures in the world. Much success is wished in preserving all the peace and tranquility that surround the appalachian trail for many, many more years! I'll see you out there on the trail....peace out!
Date: 2007-12-31
From: year end 2007

To: new year 2008
Miles today: 0.0

all photo's posted were shot with a sony cybershot 5MP digital camera by jb humphrey, while hiking the appalachian trail. all locations and distances are provided as found from the 2007 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers'Companion.an ode to corporate america....Opinions expressed here and in any corresponding comments are the personal opinions of the original authors.The content is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to be an endorsement or representation by jb humphrey or any other party.This site is available to the public. No information you consider confidential should be posted to this site. By posting you agree to be solely responsible for the content of all information you contribute, link to, or otherwise upload to the Website and release the webpage designers, managers and the author from any liability related to your use of the Website. You also grant to jb humphrey a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free and fully-paid, transferable (including rights to sublicense) right to exercise all copyright, publicity, and moral rights with respect to any original content you provide.All comments are moderated.
Date: 2008-03-01
To: Massachusetts
Miles today: 0.0

"Sometimes in life you get tired, and the vibrant color of youth fades into the routine of day to day." That is Dr. Hurley's opening quote from the 32 year 8th grade camping trip slide show. Mind the gap. Thank you to the late, and dearly missed, Dr. Hurley, Mr. Thivierge, and Mr. Sheehan and their families, faculty and administration for starting something memorable. Also salutations and appreciation to all the 8th graders, junior and senior student chaperones and Group 99 that fed the circle of hope and the 'fire in our eyes.' May the future hold a new and improved trip in the near future.
Date: 2008-04-25
From: base near Gould's Farm

To: Mt Greylock
Miles today: 0.0

It's been cloudy and foggy for my past 2 trips here, so am psyched about clear, blue skies. Pete, B and I set out @ 1045 up Theil to Gould Trail. Nice 360 vies of Catskills, Taconic and Green Mtn Ranges far in the distance, and a fire tower from 1898, Thunderbolt shelter, Balscom Lodge and WWI memorial at the summit. There's quite a bit of construction happening, so it belittle's the nature component of it all. Heavy construction vehicles parked all over the area, just to make it more lazy ass american friendly.
Date: 2008-05-28
From: Massachusetts

To: Massachusetts
Miles today: 0.0

These words are extraordinary, and well-stated wisdom. A Howard Goodman poem "I Don't Regret a Mile"excerpt from Talent is Never Enough, John C. Maxwell 2007.I've dreamed many a dream that's never come trueI've seen them vanish at dawn,But enough of my dreams have come trueTo make me keep dreaming onI've prayed many a prayer that seemed no answer would come,Though I'd waited so patient and long;But enough answers have come to my prayersTo make me keep praying onI've sown many a seed that's fallen by the wayside, For the birds to feed uponBut I've held enough golden sheaves in my handsTo make me keep sowing onI've trusted many a friend that's failed meAnd left me to weep aloneBut enough of my friends have been true-blueTo make me keep trusting onI've drained a cup of disappointment and pain, And gone many a day without songBut I've sipped enough nectar from the roses of lifeTo make me want to live on
Date: 2008-06-01
To: Massachusetts
Miles today: 0.0

an excerpt from A Little Compendium on that Which Mattersby Frederick Franck, 1993, p60."The timeless moment of seeing the Real is....the birth moment of the Specifically Human...The flash of experiencing this epiphany, may utter itself in a birthcry that is at once roar of raucous laughter and moan of deepest pain, bitterest of tears. For in this flash all the insanity of our world, the cruel farce of 'History' appears as being as wildly comical as the appalling suffering which its folly, greed and anger inflict on all that lives on earth, is beyond all sadness."
Date: 2008-09-15
From: angels landing, Zion NP

To: angels landing, zion NP
Miles today: 0.0

Greetings from the ATWell, this is not an Appalachian Trail entry, but I'm all about simplicity of keeping all the hikes in one location. There's just no where on the www that matches this sight, so it's become my blogger of multiple facets. This entry is about hiking in the Western USA. The Angel's Landing hike is a 2.5 mile steep ascent, 1500 ft gain?, with a manicured trail with sheer, narrow, tactical bouldering sections through Walters Wiggles. There are chains to assist those weary of heights, and those with unsure footing. It is a great sunrise/sunset hike, but even the noon summit offers great 360 views. The heat of the day can dampen the experience, but in mid-September it was not horrendous. Enjoyed the hike with a friend, Micolene, who I recently reconnected with in life.
Date: 2008-09-19
From: Vail, CO

To: vail, CO
Miles today: 0.0

What a nice respite, thanks to James and Melissa! They live just outside of Vail, and we had a nice re-entry back into life for Mic to enjoy. She's been in OR for 3 months, and saw more people in a day than she had in 3 months! There was a steep hill across from their condo, and I opted to hike the 30 minutes to summit. There was a lawn chair, literally, at the top to feel like King of the the Hill. This view was not what the view offered, exactly, but it was similar. Luckily, I descended minutes before the t-storm came rolling through, since the landslide in "Romancing the Stone" resembled the path to the summit.
Date: 2009-05-11
To: Massachusetts
Miles today: 0.0

Greetings from off trail!It is that time for thru hikers to be hitting the trail, and just wanted to wish them all the best. Whether you are a weekend getawayer, section hiker or GA-ME hiker....then I hope the great outdoors offers all the peace and solitude you are seeking. I may head out for some weekend jaunts soon, so see you on the trail.. Peace out, Shep
Date: 2009-08-20
From: Roaring Brook Trailhead

To: katahdin, ME
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: broken clouds

Out for a hiking fix, and a much needed Maine 'the way life should be" energy. Made a stop @ the AT lodge yesterday to get the local advise from Navigator and Old Man (aka Free Toes), and they have a nice hostel worth checkin out. We met 'tailwind' at the hotel, who just got into town, and was about to wrap up his GAME through hike. Congrats to him on his accomplishment. Pete and I had the dog with us and had to leave her at the hotel, since Baxter SP has a no dog policy. Luckily, we got Jean to puppysit for the day, so we could enjoy the 82 degree clear, blue sky day mother nature afforded us in Baxter SP. We set out at 630 am up Chimney Pond trail, where we enjoyed the peace and tranquility for a bit looking for moose on the far side of the pond, to no avail. The ascent was mod-intense, but there were lots of great vista's to enjoy. It was nice to feel a brisk wind at the plateau after hiking in the heat. Even enjoyed a little kite flying, while lunch was cooking on the ridge. The summit @1345 offered fantastic 360 views of Maine's mountains and waterways. Since the weather was so gorgeous, I had to descend the Knife's Edge to Helon Taylor. The knife edge was a fun, narrow ridge to really prolong the 'on top of the world' feeling. I passed by a son and his dad (60ish), a couple who was just completing a series of 4000'ers in New England, and a family from Wellsley MA who we saw on the ascent. Everyone was in pleasant spirits, and relished being in the great outdoors. It was a 12 hr day of hiking on trail, but lots of great memories.
Date: 2009-10-09
From: Gorge Brook Trailhead

To: Mt Moosilauke, NH
Miles today: 8.5

It's an overcast, grey day, but 50ish temp great for hiking. I'd originally wanted to hike to Liberty Springs platforms, and hike the ridge, but opted to slack pack and camp in the warmer valley. The 5 hr, 2800 ele gain loop was moderate. The summit offered poor visibility, high winds and cold temps typical of the white's peaks. It was quickly back under cover from the elements on the Asquam Ridge Trail, which was very green and plush. The loop had few hikers out for peak foliage season, but England and Dartmouth College were represented.   My pup, B, was completely exhausted after the hike. She zonked out immediately, literally with the head not being able to be lifted off the ground. The rain set in just as we returned to the trailhead.   Thanks to the trusty REI 2 man tent, the evening was dry and cozy.
Date: 2009-10-10
From: Flume pemi trailhead

To: Mt Liberty, NH
Miles today: 6.4

Wow, the ease and peaceful walk in the woods ended at the 2 mile 2750 elev gain hike to liberty springs platforms. It was steep, rocky, and well maintained, but a kickin quad workout. B, my pup, and I headed out @ 2 pm, since the weather was not forecasted to break until 4pm. The mountains were still gray and fog covered @12, when I planned to head out. The Cascades coffee shop on rt 3, Lincoln, was run by Jody, and a great place to wait out the bad weather. Alice, Bill, Ralph and Amy from Country Bumpkins run a nice little campsite, with close proximity to Franconia Notch. It would've been great to stay in one of their cabins, but they were full. Anyway, back to the hike. On the ascent, we passed many hikers, and a family from Quincy and a gentlemen from Dartmouth stand out. The young girls were discouraged after a less than enjoyable hike, so hope they salvaged the day. The Dartmouth alum was hiking as part of a group celebrating the centennial of Dartmouth's outdoor club. Collectively, Dartmouth alum traversed the 'AT in a day' to commemorate their 100th year. Here's a shout out to y'all for your efforts and awareness to preserve the AT! Liberty summit took a grueling 3 hours, but the vista was enjoyed in solitude. The peak was barren, except for a lone, fluffy bird that came to feast on some hikers droppings. The valley was brilliantly lit up with the late day autumn sun. The up and back (pemi to white house to liberty spring) was the reality that it takes A LOT longer to go up than it does to go down. The same with losing weight and gining it, or getting massive muscles and losing them. The descent took 1 1/2 hours. Thanks to B's traildog instincts, we hiked the last 15 minutes in the dark. We caught up to a young couple, who didn't have any light. After reassuring her that B was not a bear, we hiked to the parking lot making small chat. The White's have a great mix of trails, and a thru hike on the AT was re-affirmed to be NOT my thing. There are way too many blue blazes and non AT trails to enjoy. I'd prefer to spend a night on vacation at a nice hotel with spa treatments and a nice dinner after all that work with hiking. Maybe someday, I'll be able to stay at the AMC hut or the Mt Washington Palace near Bretton Woods, instead of shlepping around a tent to slumber in. Aren't the college days supposed to end into a greater financially rewarding future? So why am I still eating ramen noodles for dinner?