morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-08-23
From: Lost Pond Shelter

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I am reducing my pack weight by eating and drinking. I weighed my pack without food and it was about 20 pounds. The food bag started out at 11 pounds yesterday and I had 3.5 quarts liquid which makes about 7 pounds. Before I hit the trail yesterday the pack was 41 pounds. I don't usually have that much water and I aim for 2 pounds of food and usually start out from grocery stop with 5 days worth.I stopped early enough this evening to eat and have some time to spare to build a fire. Momma Bear was the only other one at the shelter tonight and is in her tent. We were wishing for ingredients to make s'mores.A few nights ago a hiker was at the campfire cooking dinner and offered those around a lifesaver. I declined but a little later I said I'd take a marshmallow when he got those out. He said, okay when I finish my noodles, I'll bust them out. Nobody paid any attention when he finished dinner and went back to his tent. 10 minutes later he came back to the fire with a bag of marshmallows and he along with the rest of the hikers there broke a green twig from a tree and we roasted marshmallows. Everyone including me told him we thought you were just kidding. I had set it up perfect for him to pull a good one on us. Of course, they were even better back here in the wilderness. (I have picked them up at the store and put them back on the shelf. A pound is still a pound even if it is jet puffed marshmallows. But I may get the s'more ingredients sometime for the first night back on the trail.I eat the heavier things first. For example, today I opened the half pound of Vermont Cabot Cheddar cheese and ate half for lunch. I was going to save it for lunch tomorrow but it was so good I finished it off for dinner tonight. That's one thing the mice won't get tonight.I had climbed half of one mountain today before I realized it because the trail followed a stream and I kept trying to describe the individual sound each cascade made. One cascade came over and pushed against a rock making the water splash up and over the rock. I thought it was jumping for joy.I was amused and amazed that a beaver had built a dam on the steam that blocked the trail and everyone had to take a short detour. Amazing because it picked the very spot for the dam that made a pond 100 feet long.I see the work of the beavers quite often including the places they chew on the boards placed on the trail to get over swampy parts of the path. I have seen moose droppings on the trail for a few days so I am hoping to see one soon. I actually found a ripe seedpod on a Jewelweed and popped it today as I passed through Patch Hollow.
Date: 2014-08-24
From: Minerva Hinchey Shelter

To: Cooper Lodge Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

I had two hills to climb today. The first one I decided to use a different tactic. I went as fast as I could for periods of time, the way I do hill repeats for speed training for running. Except I didn't have to go back down the hill and you would not have thought I was running if you passed me but I was going at 90-95% effort rate. The second hill was a long mountain that almost reached 4000 ft. I was headed for the shelter a distance of 4 miles away that I estimated would take two hours but I failed to consider the climb. It took 3 hours. I thought that after today, I should be prepared for the Whites in NH.The shelter is on top of the mountain so I had view of a gorgeous sunset out the west window. It will also be cool I expect, so I am going to bed with extra layers on.I met Songbird and Bypass today on their way south to harpers ferry because they flip-flopped there. I spent a day with them on a hike north of Erwin, TN. (Recently I met Reddy who was south bound because she has flip-flopped. I have seen her a few times in camps in the south.)I walked through a high field of goldenrods and other flowers today that were so thick I could smell them. I have never noticed goldenrods having a scent. I also picked a couple of little green apples and ate them.I am noticing the young spruce trees I pass and each time realize how beautiful I think they are. As I walk up and down the hills, I pass through beech forests and then fir trees usually at higher altitudes. Birch are becoming more numerous and tend to overlap with the beech forests and evergreen.I decided today I really like the Vermont Green mountains with their great variety of terrain. The deciding factor is the abundance of rushing mountain streams. Yesterday, one mountain required constant attention to slippery quartz rock and occasional mud pits. I crossed a shallow valley and climbed Bear Mountain and discovered it had an easy climb because it was dryer and had dirt/leaf pathways mostly. It would make a good day hike for the casual hiker, having parking lots on both ends. Or one could make it an overnight event and enjoy the loop trails at Patch Hollow and/or the Pond Loop.A sort of funny story. Did you ever see a mouse fly? Last night my foodbag was hanging on a string device that is supposed to stymie the mice's attempt to eat the food. I woke up to the sound of gnawing coming from the direction of my food bag. I pecked on the bag with my trekking pole and a mouse poked his head out. He went part way up the string and stopped long enough for me to whack at him with the pole. I don't know if I hit him or just the string, but I sent him flying across the shelter where he bounced off the wall.I slept the rest of the night with the foodbag in my sleeping bag.
Date: 2014-08-27
From: Pomfret - South Pomfret Rd

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

Hiker-QTurquoise sky overheadGolden beech leaves underfootChipmunk scurries pastI slept a little late and hiked to the Cloudland Market for breakfast thinking it would be like a convenient mart but it was a farm product store that sold a few local organic foods. I bought a couple of Kicking Cow sodas and a pint of coconut almond ice cream. The ice cream was frozen hard, so it took a while to eat and in the mean time I charged the phone and wrote a journal entry.That took an hour and by the time it was done, a new delivery of ice cream arrived. The mocha, the coffee and the chocolate almond all sounded good, but I had the chocolate. I had taken care of my thirst for coffee with a glass of iced coffee I bummed from the workers in the back making beef jerky.It took six hours to get to Happy Hill Shelter. On the way, as I passed through Norwich, a family was serving trail magic and provided me with an orange cream soda and a Popsicle. They offered their barn for hikers but I needed more miles so I would be closer to Hanover with a shower and laundry. I planned on getting a cola and a sandwich for dinner at the market in Norwich but it had gone out of business. The trail magic had been just in time.The climb up Happy Hill was long, but well graded, except for the first part, so I was able to keep up a pretty good pace. I was urged on by a thunderstorm but only had a sprinkle.Also at Happy Hill were Hunter and the Far Kids. Hunter being the dog. I had met them along the trail today and had we had encountered each other three times.The last two days have provided me with all the blackberries I could take the time to pick. I picked enough to give me an extra pickup on the hills. The trail has continued its roller coaster ways. The berries are growing in fields that the trail occasionally passes through. On one field I had a view across the valley of a ski slope. A couple of old codgers came by and said, "Oh, that's Suicide Six."I was told Happy Hill Shelter is built on the site of the oldest AT shelter that was built around 1910. That would have been pre AT and Long Trail days. I had the whole loft to myself while the youngsters occupied the bottom part.
Date: 2014-08-28
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Velvet Rocks Shelter - NH
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: clear sky

I had hoped to make it into Hanover on Wednesday in time for the Farmer's Market, but just couldn't get enough miles and be staged to get into town in time to get a shower and laundry done. But today, I'm ready. When I past a sign saying 5 miles to the CT River (the VT-NH boundary) I started a countdown. I decided I was stopping for nothing until I got there. Not even to take off my pack and get a drink of water for the 2.5 hour jaunt.However, distractions happened. First was trail magic of a cold coke on Elm Street (East Hanover). That turned out to be a good thing since I was skipping my water break. Soon I found trail magic of watermelon and fresh baked banana bread. The coke was gone, so the watermelon hit the spot. Next I noticed the houses along the way and slowed to take photos. These Vermonters seem to have a knack for symmetry in their design.Upon seeing a sign at St. Barnabas church for a labyrinth, I walked the labyrinth to the center with my pack and that added time and distance to today's journey.Finally I was headed down a hill which had to be the right direction to the river.For the last few miles, the excitement had been building and reminded me of the time when I was arriving at the Smokies. I'm happy to be in New Hampshire (another new state for me). The next sight I want to see will say something like entering the White Mountain R. A.Before I do anything in Hanover, I need clean clothes and a clean body, so I would not be smelly as I walk about town. The Community Center provides the shower and launder facility for $5.00.I got one journal entry done, my phone charged, my clothes and body washed between noon to three. I went to the Hood Museum of Art and took about 40 minutes to tour. The outstanding thing for me were the Assyrian reliefs. They came from the area of Kalhu called Calah in the Hebrew Bible. My last stop was the Coop Store where I bought food to eat and food to go. I joined Momma Bear and Chicklet at a picnic table outside the store for dinner and repackaging of food. The bologna brand was Wunderbar and less than three dollars a pound. I should have only bought half of a pound so I expect I will have the rest for breakfast. (I expect 40 degree temps for tonight so it will keep.)The shelter (Velvet Rocks) is only a mile from town but up a steep mountain so I didn't feel too guilty about going only 7.3 official miles today. I like this shelter because the roof is a clear material and I can actually see inside the shelter. (Most shelters are dark and it is difficult to see and to read even in the day time). Maybe I can see the stars through the hole in the tree canopy.Momma Bear and 2 other hikers are tenting here so far.
Date: 2014-08-29
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter - NH

To: Smarts Mtn Fire Warden Cabin
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: clear sky

I hiked total of 13 hours today and climbed about 4800 feet. I should be as well prepared as possible for the Whites.The last mountain, Smarts Mountain, topped out about 3,200 feet and required a climb of 2,100 to reach the top, where the shelter is located. The last part was a tough climb up rock steps and rebar steps in the rock ledge. It was nearing dark by time I got to this part. I expected it to get dark before reaching the cabin. I reasoned that as a kid I climbed the mountains in Bell County, KY at night with a carbide light while possum hunting. I thought surely I could find the shelter in the dark with a modern LED light. I used one of the Cliff Shot Gels tonight that my wife sent me, for the extra energy which I needed. I surprised myself and arrived only 20 minutes after dark. (For now, my official dark time is 8PM, but not for long.)I passed and re-passed two couples (one is Hunter and the other Fat Kids) all day until evening, which made the day go by faster. Just before starting Smarts Mtn, I passed a home that was providing trail magic. I received a free ice cream bar, filled water jugs, and bought 2 Mountain Dews. I drank one and saved the other for breakfast tomorrow.As I passed the parking lot at the base of Smarts Mtn an older lady was yelling towards the trail, "John!" He had hiked the mtn and didn't show up on time and she was quite worried. She was prepared to call 911 at dark. I told her I would keep an eye out for him. All I knew was he had an orange cap and his name was John. I started my plan to call the authorities too if I didn't meet him before I reached the top. However, in 45 minutes I met him and told him she was looking for him. As I went on, I heard them talking back and forth on a walkie-talkie. So that ended well. I also met a group of Dartmouth freshmen backpacking and they were looking for the exit from Lambert's Ridge, a lookout on the way up Smarts. I told them the time and distance to the parking lot I had passed but told them if they needed someone to pick them up, to call from the mountain since there is no service at the base of the mountain.
Date: 2014-08-30
From: Smarts Mtn Fire Warden Cabin

To: N.H.25 Glencliff - The Hiker's Welcome Hostel
Miles today: 19.9

The main climb today was over Cube Mountain. It had a lot of granite outcroppings to climb over. Often there was a good view since there weren't many trees growing on the rocks. There were mostly spruce trees. Yesterday I brushed by scrub pine trees on the ridge tops and the scent reminded me of Christmas.I was waiting until the road crossing today to eat my afternoon lunch in order to fuel up for the last ten miles. When I arrived, Handsome Dan and his family had set up for trail magic in the parking lot. He had finished his thru-hike about a week ago and his young daughters had been after him to do trail magic. The two girls were the perfect hostesses getting me a chair and things to eat and drink, while Dan offered me tips on the trail ahead of me. They were the very encouragement I needed for this day.It was getting dark again today before I reached my shelter but there was a hostel I was passing that attracted my attention with the thoughts of cold drinks and ice cream rather than walk another 2 miles in the dark.
Date: 2014-08-31
From: N.H.25 Glencliff - The Hiker's Welcome Hostel

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I have been told for the last few days that Mt. Moosilauke is a tough climb, so I was prepared to take my time. It took 4 hours up and 2 hours down to reach the shelter. I put my trekking poles in my pack for the ascent so I would have my hands free for holding on to the rocks. I noticed a difference in breathing after about 3.5 hours. The top is 4,802 feet according to the marker.The rocks were well "lubricated" with the rain. It was actually more like a cloud covering the mountain that was so saturated with moisture, that it came out as rain. At the peak, the wind was pushing me around as I was trying to take pictures. I guess it was at least 60 mph with blowing fog. It reminded me of Mount Rogers.
Date: 2014-09-02
From: Herrington Pond

To: Liberty Springs Campground
Miles today: 10.0

The challenge today was Mount Kinsman. The climbing (and descending) had more ledges and generally more difficulty than Moosilauke. (It was steeper and higher as I remember). The ledges made an interesting day, as Sockless and I tried to figure out the best route to get past the ledges. Sometimes we found a crack in the rock to wedge our toes in to get down. Often I sat to get down or turned and backed down. I also used two hands to hang on to rocks, roots, or trees. I learned that a small indention in the rock will provide the toehold needed.The trail leveled out more for the trip into Franconia Notch State Park (at the Flume). I picked up my package from Trail Angel Debbie. I had been low on food and water by design to keep my pack weight down. The first thing I did after opening the package was to drink a cold Pepsi and down a couple of brownies and catch my breath.I ate some food in the cafeteria and tanked up on fluids with another 32 oz Pepsi and water. For dinner at the campsite, I bought a milk to go with the brownies.The food energized me and I made the 3 miles and 2,600 feet up Mount Lincoln to the campsite in 3 hours. There were alot of rock steps but no ledges to climb over. I tried doing wind sprints up the rocks about 20 yards at a time. My theory is by going a little faster, the momentum will help me get up the steps with less energy. I was dripping wet just as if I had been running my Tuesday evening 10 K's.I kept up a better pace earlier today hiking with Blazer and Sockless. They were ahead of me tonight because I spent more time at the visitor center refueling my body and recharging my phone.
Date: 2014-09-03
From: Liberty Springs Campground

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 10.4

I learned today that I have been hiking in the Franconia Range. I crossed Haystack Mountain, Lincoln and Mount Lafayette. Lafayette is the highest in the Franconia range at 5,260 ft. As I hiked along, I kept encountering "pointy" peaks one after another. Each time I came to one I thought I was at the top. I could only see about 200 feet, so I couldn't see the next peak coming up. Franconia Ridge was scoured from the sides by mountain glaciers, while the tops of the Presidential Range were flattened out by the massive continental glacier. (AMC's best day hikes in the White Mountains.)The wind was really powerful at times as I walked the 2 mile section above the tree line. The ascent was not too hard to climb but going down I got more practice on getting down ledges.I got my 10 miles in today ending up at Galehead Hut where I am staying tonight on the work-to-stay plan. I knew it was a little late to get in (almost 6) but I had a feeling there might just be a position left. Glad to have a place to stay and some extra food to supplement my food bag.I did get a bit of a view as I was leaving at the end of the ridge as some of the fog cleared away to reveal the deep valleys.
Date: 2014-09-04
From: Galehead Hut

To: Ethan Pond Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: scattered clouds

My work for stay chores at Galehead Hut included sweeping and scrubbing the accumulated black off the pots and pans. After the guests of the hut had eaten, two others and I dug into the leftovers of vegetable soup, bread, lasagna, salad and green peas.Lights out was at 9:30 and we bedded down on the cafeteria floor. The dining room has windows on two sides which allowed the moonlight to bathe the room with a soft glow.I enjoyed sunny skies on my climb up South Twin Mountain. I sang "Climb, climb Sunshine Mountain," as I ascended--apparently due East because the sun was shining straight at me. (My Mom sang this song to me when I was preschool age) When I got to the peak, I played "Here Comes the Sun" on the iPhone to celebrate reaching the top and having a day for beautiful views for the first time since being in the White Mountains.I also spotted Mt. Washington for the first time off in the distance identifiable by the towers and the cog railroad.I stopped for soup in the afternoon at a hut I passed. Then went to the shelter 5 miles further. I arrived at 5:30 and wanted to go further to get closer to Mt. Washington, but reason convinced me to stop as my body was protesting going any more. The shelter has a bear box to secure my food and I have a place to sleep in the shelter. Otherwise I may have ended up fighting the raccoons over my food down in the valley.Crossed paths today with Sea Biscuit, Feifel and Little Feet, The Fat Kids, Blazer, Cactus and Aroo. I met Little Feet's mom in Tennessee providing trail magic.
Date: 2014-09-11
From: Attitash Mountain Village

To: Mile 1903 near NH - Maine state line
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I have not posted many entries lately because of the lack of battery charging in the Whites.My goal for today was to get to the Maine border and the next shelter past. There were so many areas of slow going because of climbing rocks that I came up about one mile short. I was hiking after dark with a light until I came to a situation with a passage so difficult, it made me wonder if I were on the trail.At that point I turned around and backtracked until I found a level spot off the trail to set up the tent. I decided that from now on, unless I knew the terrain were more suitable I would not night hike. I reasoned it might be hours before someone passed if something happened to me.
Date: 2014-09-12
From: Mile 1903 near NH - Maine state line

To: Full Goose Campsite
Miles today: 5.4

I slept late to give the rocks more time to dry from yesterday's rain. The sun was a little slow coming out. After starting out I soon arrived at the place I turned around and got by easily by dropping the pack over the top of the rock and then crawling under the rock. That seemed to be the solution last night but I was too tired to do that.It wasn't long before I came to another difficult passage more puzzling than the first. It was a good thing I stopped when I did.My goal today was for about 10 miles that would get me past Mahoosic Notch. By the time I got to the last shelter before the Notch, it was 5:00 PM. Since I needed at least 4 hours to get past that section, I stopped for the night. I was pretty wore out from just 5 miles today, so I was ready for a break.I put up the tent on a platform so it would dry out from last nights rain. It will also be warmer in the tent since lows are in the 30's tonight.If I had not taken a zero on 9/10, I would have been attempting this section in the rain and/or thunderstorms. A lot of the walking today was on open ridge tops above the tree-line. It was beautiful but the wind was ferocious. I put my insulted jacket back on and it felt so cozy even in the sun.
Date: 2014-09-13
From: Full Goose Campsite

To: Speck Pond Shelter
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: light rain

I got past Mahoosic Notch and Mahoosic Arm today. I was ready for the Notch today and did it first thing. As a result I would call it a fun mile. Before today I had been anxious about it. The difficulty level of the passages was no worse than what I have encountered before--just more of it.I even got through a cave-like section without having to deal with claustrophobia. Astro, a local day hiker paused to show me ice that was left over from last winter. He also passed out Snickers to NOBO's he met.The rain didn't start until I got on top of the mountain. The shelter is full tonight. foggy and chilly (40's?) (was 32 in the area this morning).I am glad to get this section behind me and hope to get a few more miles per day after this.
Date: 2014-09-15
From: Frye Notch Lean To

To: Pine Ellis Hostel Andover, Maine
Miles today: 4.5

I can't believe how beautiful just fingers of blue sky are through the birches.I can't believe I am taking off layers of clothing today as I hike.I can't believe how blue the sky is when there is an opening in the canopyI can't believe I was the only person in the shelter last night.I can't believe how warm the sunshine is after yesterday's fog-cicles on the spruce.I can't believe the beauty of sunlight filtered through spruce needles.I can't believe I leaped 5 feet across a chasm in the notch a couple of days ago.I can't believe how beautiful the canyon was that is called the notch."A Beautiful Morning" by the Rascals started running through my mind this morning as I hiked in sunshine on a "regular trail."I debated on stopping at 5 miles and calling Pine Ellis Hostel or going 15 and stopping at the 2nd Andover exit and opted for 5 because I didn't want to get caught in between with no food.I arranged to slack pack this section tomorrow with the assistance of the shuttle from the hostel. 10 miles is a short slack pack distance but there are a lot of feet to climb. This will also give my knees a rest.I got enough food from the deli and market to last until Rangely, Maine, where there is an IGA grocery store.