morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-01
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean-to, CT

To: Limestone Spring Lean-to
Miles today: 22.8

I saw a mountain biker on the AT today. He acted like he was lost. Yeah¢¦OK. He told me about a restaurant. I asked how far is it and he said his odometer said 2 miles. When I got to the restaurant, he ran out the door and asked me if I had seen his cell phone on the trail. He had lost it! At the restaurant, I had a Portobello mushroom sandwich with peppers, onions and Swiss. After that, I met a guy on the trail. He gave me 2 bagels, man they were good. Thanks guy! The best part of the day was when the trail passed by Great Falls on the Housatonic River. Man there are huge water falls. Didn¢t get a picture though. I forgot to get a camera yesterday. In the morning, I¢m going to Salisbury for resupply, then on to Massachusetts. See ya!
Date: 2008-05-02
From: Limestone Spring Lean-to

To: Vanessa Bretons House, Salisbury, CT 
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: clear sky

Woke up to a cold rain this morning. When I got to the road to town, I met a SOBO section hiker that just left here. I needed a shower and the weather is terrible so here I am.This is a beautiful New England home built in the 1700¢s. I think I got too much food though. But all the roadside delis are behind me now. It¢s back to the big mountains. My next stop is 70 miles from here. I went to the library and saw my trail journals for the first time. Hello to everybody who has signed my guest book and thanks for all the well wishes. This has been a slack week for the miles, but I have been nursing a sore shoulder. In the morning, I¢m gonna crank back up a notch. It¢s supposed to rain in the morning, then clear out but who knows what the weather in the mountains will be like. Oh yeah, my shoes are finished: holes, soles flapping, but I haven¢t passed an outfitter that had any shoes that I liked. I should have got that pair down in Delaware Water Gap I tried on. But that is what Duck tap is for, right! My buddy Bart said he would mail me a pair of shoes but I will be alright for a few more days. We all know I¢m a bit faster than the mail anyway.
Date: 2008-05-03
From: Vanessa Bretons House, Salisbury, CT 

To: Tom Lenord Shelter, Mass
Miles today: 28.5

It's freezing cold up here. I fell twice today. The first time just before I left out of CT coming down Bear Mtn. I slipped and busted my butt really bad. The second time on a wood board going over a swamp. It's been foggy and drizzling rain all day. Hope it doesn't snow tonight but it is cold enough!See ya!
Date: 2008-05-04
From: Tom Lenord Shelter, Mass

To: Goose Pond Cabin, Mass
Miles today: 21.0

I was off to a late start this morning 8:00. I'm usually walking by 6:00 but it was raining, so I just sat there in the shelter a bit. It did warm up today and then the sun popped out every once in a while. This cabin is one of the AMC cabins. It doesn't open until Memorial Day but its ok to camp on the porch. When it's open the caretaker cooks pancakes. I remember everybody telling me to slow down because I was gonna miss a free breakfast here. Since it warmed up a bit, I just went down to the pond and washed off best I could...that's COLD water down there. My socks were really dirty from walking in the rain yesterday. I didn't wash them last night because I thought they would freeze. It started raining about midnight and it warmed up though.See ya!
Date: 2008-05-06
From: Williamstown, Mass

To: Seth Warners Shelter, VT
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

I thought that I had made more miles than that but I did go into town. Didn't get a ride...I didn't even try. I got a pizza for lunch, I ate half then and I just ate the other half for supper. That was a really big climb coming out of town. I am loaded down pretty heavy too. After I eat some more of my food, I can speed back up. Gnats and mosquitoes are bad up here. I haven't seen the black flies yet but everybody warning me of them.All of the shelters have metal flashing and screen nailed around them. This keeps porcupines form eating them. I've been told that they eat the wood because of the salt that's in people's sweat. All of the picnic tables have been gnawed on...even the outhouses are chewed up. I hope I get a picture of one, I've never seen one. They call them porkys for short.See ya!
Date: 2008-05-06
From: Mark Noepel Lean To

To: Williamstown, Mass
Miles today: 0.0

Six more miles til VT. I just called the outfitter in town and they don't have any size 12 shoes. Manchester Center, VT. my next stop has EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports). This place is better than REI, so I will just wait 60 more miles for shoes and shorts. Just had a large veggie pizza. Went over Mt.Greylock this morning. It's still snow up there. On to Vermont!See ya!
Date: 2008-05-07
From: Seth Warners Shelter, VT

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 30.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was another day of walking around beaver ponds in mud and water. This afternoon I got to the top of one mountain and there was still patches of snow but when I went over I had a new obstacle.... It was snowpack several feet deep. I was post holing up to my knees. I walked up on a guy and a girl, they were hiking the LT long trail.The LT is about 250 miles. It starts at the VT/Mass state line and goes to Canada. It follows the AT for about 90 miles til it branches off. They said they didn't expect all that snow either but it's been really cold and it just warmed up this week up here. I have about 21 miles until I get to Manchester. Hopefully, I can get there in time to get some shoes and shorts tomorrow. Not knowing what is over the next mountain is such a great adventure! I ma having the greatest time of my life out here!See ya!
Date: 2008-05-08
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Camping Area, VT
Miles today: 18.3

Woke up this morning to rain. I didn't get moving until about 10:00, so I didn't make it to town today. When I got to Stratton Mtn. there was a lot of snowpack on the northside. It was really hard coming down. I was post holing almost every step over knee deep. My feet were freezing because I wasn't walking fast enough to dry my shoes. It was almost freaking me out. I just kept going and finally I got through it. The shelter is full of teenage girls so I am in the tenting area. When they found out I was a thru hiker they brought me some food. So I've got 2 miles until the road then I'm headed to town in the morning.See ya!
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Spruce Peak Camping Area, VT

To: Peru Peak Shelter, VT
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up at 5:00 this morning and started heading to the road. Soon as I got there, I hitched into town. People up here are really nice and show lots of admiration towards hikers. First I went and had breakfast, called home, and did my resupply. EMS didn't open til 10 so I had to wait around. I went to EMS got shoes, socks, and shorts. I paid for everything with just the tags because I was already wearing everything when I walked out the door.My shoes are Merrell trekking shoes, shorts are EMS running shorts(they are spandex with a gusset in the crotch so they won't rip so easy), socks are Merrono wool trekking shocks. I threw away my old socks, shoes, and shorts.I met 2 SOBO hikers in town. They were hiking to a music festival in NY. They were warning me of all the snow. I soon found it on Peru Peak...miles of it and lots of blowndowns (trees). It seems like I'm working harder and getting less mile, but I just got to slow down so I don't get hurt. It looks like the snow is still on all the mountains. Over 3,000 ft. I have a few more of them coming day after tomorrow.See ya!
Date: 2008-05-10
From: Peru Peak Shelter, VT

To: Govenor Clemont Shelter, VT
Miles today: 29.1

I finally got some big miles in. The trail was really nice today. No blowdowns in the way and no snow. My guidebook says don't stay at this shelter because it is a party spot. It's right by the USFS road and people can drive right up to it. Crazyhorse, a hiker i met in Damascus VA., told me about this place too. If any hoolagans show up I'm just gonna leave. I've camped with some tough people before at Motorcycle rallies and on the river and at parties so I think I will be ok. I am tackling Killington peak in the morning, it's a 3,000 footer so theres gonna be snow up there.See ya!
Date: 2008-05-11
From: Killington VT

To: Stoney Brook Shelter, VT
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

On my last entry, I was at the shelter where I was warned not to stay. About 11:30, a van pulled right up to the front of the shelter shining lights on me. i woke up, smiled, waved, and motioned them to come in. It was a guy and a girl. He asked if I minded a little company? I said "No" (like I had a choice). So he backs up the van up and starts unloading a gas grill, logs for firewood, beer, sledge hammer, and told the girl this is for anyone who gives me a hard time. I'm just sitting up there in my sleeping bad looking and then he gets a meat cleaver and starts sharpening it. I'm like what the H???? Then more people show up and more beer. One guy has a power saw and a maul. It's about 12. By now another guy walks up with a big pistol in his hand. I smiled and spoke to him, he walked over and started talking. He seemed to be ok. I think they were just trying to put on a show. Most hikers would have ran. They stayed up until 4:00 drinking, cooking, and smoking weed. The guy with the gun offered all of the above but I declined. I'm not gonna push my luck like that again. That could have gotten nasty. I knew not to stay here but did anyway. I saw a trail maintainer and told him. He said they have a problem there and have put up a gate. They must have their own key, I guess. Today coming up the mountain out of Killington, I reached on my side pouch to get my guide book and it was gone. I was panic stricken! I turned around running going a long way up over and back down the mountain. When I found it, I started crying, I think my guardian angel took it so I would turn around to keep me out of some unforeseen danger. I am very lucky guy and I know GOD has been with me every step of the way. I couldn't have made it this far if He wasn't.See ya!
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Stoney Brook Shelter, VT

To: Thistle Hill Shelter, VT
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: overcast clouds

My alarm went off at 5:00 this morning and I just couldn't get up,6:00 came around I still wasn't up, finally 7:00 I got up. I was wondering why I was so tired, then I remembered...those hooligans kept me up the other night. I passed a fellow in a tent this afternoon. I spoke and asked him where he was headed. He said Maine. I said where ya coming from he said GA, started in January 1st. I couldn't see him but I knew exactly who it was... I hollared out Uncle Walt. He stuck his head out of the tent, I walked over and we talked a long time. I met him when I was doing my shake down hikes.He said he had skipped some sections and took some time off. He can do that since he has thru hiked the AT 5 times. I had been looking for him the whole way up here. I wondered what had happened to him. Last January 2 I saw him, we were at Black Mtn. Shelter in GA. It snowed on us and it was freezing cold. I wish Uncle Walt could keep up with me. He is a cool guy and knows a lot about the trail.See ya!
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Thistle Hill Shelter, VT

To: Moose Mountain Shelter, NH
Miles today: 25.6
Weather: clear sky

Today was a wonderful day plus I had 2 pig outs. I got up at 5:00 it was already daylight. I'm gonna move my alarm back a little bit more. My sister sent me a mail drop to West Hartford VT with my new credit card(my old one got compromised). When I got to West Hartford the post office wasn't open yet so I went to this little general store when a deli. I had a huge veggie omlet w/ potatoes, toast, coffee, an apple and a pear.From there it was 10 miles to Hanover NH. I got there right at lunch. The trail goes right through the campus of Dartmouth College. All the pretty girls were out in their short shorts and there I am stinking to high heaven. It's been 11 days since a real bath! So I was a bit out of place.When I got to the pizza place, I got a large veggie pizza and ate the whole thing of course. Then headed back up the mountain.The first mountain was so steep it had a rope with knots in it to put yourself up or down. These mountains remind me of Kelly Knob in GA...straight up and down and never ending. I noticed that all the pine trees have scrapings on them like deer but they are way bigger. I'm thinking I might get to see a moose. I saw some hoof prints in the snow that looked like a cow, so I know they are around here somewhere...See ya!
Date: 2008-05-14
From: Moose Mountain Shelter, NH

To: Ore Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: overcast clouds

A long day and I just went over 3 mountains. They were huge. The first one was Smarts Mountain. I topped it at lunch. Second was Cube mtn. It seemed like I would never get to the top. Last one Ore mtn. straight up. I'm about 7 miles from a Hostile so hopefully in the morning I can get a shower and wash my clothes. I slipped and fell in a beaver bog this morning. That just added to my trail grime. Black flies are eating me alive. I'm having trouble with my water filter again. The filter isn't clogged and it won't hardly pump. Uncle Walt just gets his water straight out of the stream. He says water on the top of the mountain is pure as you can get it. So tomorrow the pump is going home to GA. I would throw it away but it has a new pretty new $50 filter in it. i get some Aquamirra next outfitter that I get to.See ya!
Date: 2008-05-15
From: Glen Cliff, NH

To: Hikers Welcome Hostel, NH
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up to rain this morning, so I just took it easy to get here. When I got here knocked on the door...no answer. I walked across the street to the Post Office, that looks like a house. A guy is around back with a sawsall tearing apart a flat bed trailer. I asked is the P.O. open? He said NO not til 2:00. I ask Are you the post master? He says Yeah! He tells me there a note on the door at the hostel that says hikers welcom come in and make yourself at home...so I did. The shower is in the back yard cold water (of course) but I was filthy. Just had to make the best of it. I washed my clothes too. Dryer didn't work thought, just hung them out. Went back to the P.O. The Post Master had also had a shower. I didn't even think it was the same man I had talked to earlier. I mailed home my journal, pack cover, and water filter. Then I headed to town, I was trying to hitch. A young woman in a Austin Mini picked me up. I was surprised because women like here usually wouldn't pick up a hitcher. We're cruising into town and pass a guy looking CRAZY. She says of geeze that's my husband. She dropped me off at the store and offered to take me back to the hostel. I told her I was going to the resturant but thanks anyway. In the morning, I will enter the White Mtns. I'm really nervous. I passed a SOBO section hiker and he said the north side of Mt Moosilake (4, 802 Elevation) was almost impassable because of all the snow and ice. I'm just gonna take my time, I've got plenty of food and the next town is 25 miles away. I found out the guy who owns this hostel is in CT on a union job. He (Packrat) must be a great guy to leave his place unlocked for hikers. I see 2 other guys ahead of me have left their money under his business card holder. Hikers are very honest people, we're not out to beat or get over on anybody!See ya!
Date: 2008-05-16
From: Hikers Welcome Hostel, NH

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

Today was the hardest day I've had since I've been out here. Waist deep in snow the whole day! I've been going since 5:30 this morning and got here after 8:00 p.m. I'm tired, cold, and FRUSTRATED!See ya!
Date: 2008-05-17
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: One Step at a Time Hostel, Lincon, NH
Miles today: 10.0

Today was a beautiful day. Last night at the shelter a group was there, AMC wilderness training. I talked to them. My last 4 miles that took me 4 hours took them all day! So that made me feel A LOT better. They also fed me supper. Today the trail was a lot better I didn't post hole but a few times. I did slip and slid down one stretch on my butt. I am at One Step at a Time Hostel. The owner is a nice guy. He used to be a hiker before his accident. He had a MSRS stove blow up on him. I think I'm gonna take a 0 day tomorrow, let the snow melt a little bit more.I'm listening to the Old time radio's (cassette tape) greatest mysteries starring Petter Lorre called "Mystery in the air" from 1947. It is strange but entertaining. It's funny listening to the Camel cigarette commercials. Back then they made smoking sound very glamorous stating "All the best doctors smoke Camel non filter cigarettes for smooth flavor".See ya!
Date: 2008-05-18
From: One Step at a Time Hostel, Lincon, NH

To: One Step at a Time Hostel, Lincon, NH
Miles today: 0.0

2nd 0 day of the trip. I should have gone on today but something just told me to stay. They have a 10 speed here for hikers to ride so I rode into town. I looked at everything then I just rode over to the next town, Woodstock. They are both little tourist towns.I don't know how I am gonna get back to the trail from the hostel. I had to pay a shuttle $10.00 to get here 7 miles. I might just hitch back. It's starting to rain. I hope it's gone by morning. In the Whites, most of the shelters charge a fee even to tent. I hope the snow is packed so I can pass on through. I've gotten plenty of food so I can take my time but I like to move!See ya!
Date: 2008-05-19
From: One Step at a Time Hostel, Lincon, NH

To: AMC Greenleaf Hut
Miles today: 6.0

The White mountains ain't no joke. It's snowing hard. I had planned a 10 mile day. It started snowing soon as I started up the mountain this morning. When I got up on Franconia Ridge (above the tree line), it got really bad. I had 4 more miles until the shelter. I didn't want to stay at the AMC huts because you have to work to stay her or pay $70.00. There are about 50 people in here. A school group. But at least I'm out of the weather. I'm glad th caretaker let me stay. He said he'll find me some work to do in the morning.The temperature is 25 degrees. I even got fed! The teacher invited me to supper and breakfast. He asked if I would stand up and tell about my trip. I told him I could do some question and answer. He said OK, so he asked me some questions and we talked about my trip in front of the class.For supper we had spaghetti and salad, cookies, breakfast pancakes, hash browns, hot chocolate. The care taker let me sleep on the floor in the Dinning room.See ya!
Date: 2008-05-20
From: AMC Greenleaf Hut

To: AMC Galehead Hut
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: light rain

It snowed well into the night. Last night we got 4 inches of snow. I didn't leave the hut until 11:00 this morning because I had to work for my stay. I had to sweep. I wondered off the trail several times today. So far in the snow, I've had foot prints to follow today the fresh snow covered them up. So when I wandered off the trail, I knew when I got over my waist in snow I was off the trail so I would just back track. When I got to this hut my job was to help the care taker take groceries up to the stock room in the loft. There were 50 lbs bags flower, oats, and sugar. They air lift supplies to huts with helicopters. Up north when I say hut people say what's a huuuut? They say Oh! you mean a hot. See ya!
Date: 2008-05-21
From: AMC Galehead Hut

To: Crawford Notch Hostel
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

I came here to resupply and wait for some good weather to cross Mt. Washington. Two young guys that just started to work here at the campground gave me a ride to Wal-mart. So I have energy bars. It's been some crazy weather today--rain, sun, rain, sun. If the summit conditions look good, I'm going up in the morning. If not, I'm staying another day here. Mt. Washington is like a big graveyard of people, people are always dying up there. On 4-21-1934, a wind speed of 231 miles per hour, which is still the worlds record.The AMC charges $12 to sleep in the shelters or even to camp. If you are staying in their huts you have too work, so I'm better off here at least I have lights and can shower. The AMC, Appalachian Mountain Club, is a really big operation. It seems to me they are out to make $. The members get priority over everybody else and they can make you leave a hut even in freezing weather with 0 visibility. So when you get a hut you really have to kiss the care takers butt and hope they will let you stay. I really hate doing that! And the trails are poorly marked, you can walked for miles w/out seeing a white blaze.See ya!
Date: 2008-05-22
From: Crawford Notch Hostel

To: Crawford Notch Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up this morning to rain. I went to the office to get the Mt. Washington summit conditions, they didn't look good either. Blowing snow 40 mph winds, freezing fog, 20 degrees. The owner advised me to stay. The next stretch has about 20 miles above the tree line so you are open and unprotected. I can't see the summit from here but I can see the gray cloud that's looming around up there.See ya!
Date: 2008-05-23
From: Crawford Notch Hostel

To: Crawford Notch Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Went to the office for summit conditions and they are worse than yesterday. It did say that tomorrow it should clear up. I was advised to stay again. I said ok. I came back down to the bunk house and the owner came in and said "hey Barry! I'm not gonna charge you for tonight." That was really nice of him. It's about to drive me crazy sitting here waiting for the weather to break. I know back home everybody is swimming and sunbathing. I'm freezing my but off walking through snow and ice... Down south everybody told me to slow down. I should have listened.I got a ride into town and got some veggies to cook on the grill tonight also a $5 radio for weather. In New England, every time they give the weather they give Mt. Washington conditions. I was reading the register in the hostel and I was right about the AMC. Everybody had written about how they try to treat you like you are second class. It doesn't seem right that that they can make you pay to camp in the National Forrest. I guess they have to pay for their million dollar lodges somehow.In hiking season, the care takers like to make the thru hikers clean out the privys to compost. At least, I haven't had to do that yet. Today 2 hikers stopped by the camp store. They tried to summit Mt. Washington. They got to the tree line and had to turn around. Whew I'm glad I stayed. It's not that hard to summit Mt. Washington everybody in NH has done it. But the AT goes all the way through the Presidential Range (the prezzies) 20 miles of the trail above the tree line. That's what has me nervous. I'm leavin' in the morning. The weather is going to get better tomorrow.See ya!
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Crawford Notch Hostel

To: AMC Mizba Hut
Miles today: 7.0

Not a lot of miles today. I got here about 11:30 this morning. This hut is just south of Mt. Washington. Tomorrow is the big day. Summit conditions aren't that good but they are the best they can get for now.I met some other hikers here that are going up tomorrow so I won't be alone. I talked with lots of nice people today and everybody gave me food. This is the life! The caretaker is real nice. He just let me sweep to stay here tonight.See ya!