morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-07-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 18.2

I am tired but it was a good day. A foggy morning gave way to a sunny day. Shortly after leaving the shelter the trail went through pasture land and hay fields. I took a picture of a Farmall Super C and an H. They were standing ready to do some hay hauling and looking really cool. The terrain became more interesting in CT running along Ten Mile River. Folks were out enjoying a Saturday. I slipped into Kent late in the day for ice cream and a pepsi. A covered bridge marked the way to a country store. I lost count of the number of convertibles I saw. The last 4 miles were hard and the mosquitos returned as I made camp. It was a race to get the tent up for a refuge. I could not live without this tent. Inside I am safe and can do all the activities required to bathe, feed myself and sleep. Outside I am hamburger in less than an hour. I have 14 miles to make Cornwall Bridge. I plan an early start and fast walking to leave the bugs in the dust. Oh, NY is no more. Down to 5 states. SL
Date: 2009-07-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.3

I am hiking by 0600. My earliest start of the whole journey. I am determined to make Cornwall Bridge by 1400. The terrain is up and down and difficult for the first 9 miles. I only stopped briefly for lunch to save time. There would be plenty of food at the end of the walk today. There was a flat 3 mile section along the Housatonic River. It was a relief and offered me a way to make good time. Only 1 hill to go now. An up, over and down. My time is good. At the top I see a straw hat bobbing toward me. It is Tom Hackett with Kate. We greet, talk a bit and head down to the car for cookies, pepsi and beer. They have 4 kinds of home made cookies for me. Kate took care on all the logistics with the BandB, ice for the cooler and the shuttle for tomorrow. All I had to do was sit in the shade and relax. Quite a treat, these friends from West Virginia. SL
Date: 2009-07-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 4.8

Tom, Kate and I hiked the 5 miles between Cornwall Bridge and West Cornwall. We took the time to talk about plants and other things we were seeing. We stopped for breaks often and ate some of the goodies prepared by Roianne and peaches Kate brought from Delaware. The easy pace was good for me and continued into Kent for milkshakes, lattes, groceries and dinner. It was good to catch up on all the family news and just laugh a lot. Their enjoyment of the Trail today mirrors my own in the early days. I was excited by all I saw and felt. I was hiking because I wanted to do it. Somewhere about New Jersey I started hiking because I want to finish. I suppose this transition is inevitable after 4 months of walking and seeing similar landscape. I do hope some of the early excitement returns in the Greens, Whites and Maine. SL
Date: 2009-07-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up to rain this morning and the prediction that it would rain all day. I made the decision to zero. My date for reaching Vermont to meet Rita allowed me to do this. Tom Hackett took me forward to Salisbury to an inn and a town that has all the services needed by a hiker within the village. It did rain all day so it was a good decision. I devoured a New York Times. The first time for me with the time to do it in 4 months. I found every article in the science section interesting. I also shared stage 16 of the Tour de France which was on in the bar with a local resident. This is the only TV I am sorry to be missing. This place has a good feel. It is a community with friends and family making it to the inn for meals and visits. It is nice to observe. One older couple became aware of my adventure and had lots of questions. It was rewarding to talk with them. I also talked with a local organic farmer who provides products to the inn and wants to hike the Trail. It has been a very enjoyable and restful day. Tomorrow I will shuttle back and walk to Salisbury. Then on to MA. SL
Date: 2009-07-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.8

It was upscale hiking today. Since I would be returning to the inn in Salisbury I was able to carry a light pack. I left most of my stuff in the room. The woods were very wet but it was mostly sunny. The CT portion of the Trail is pretty and fairly dramatic in places. I tarried at Great Falls on the Housatonic River. Pretty powerful rush of water and with all the rain the river was full. I did run into Pellet again today. We hitched across a one lane bridge due to construction to avoid a 2 mile AT detour along paved roads. The first couple of folks waiting at the light for their turn would not take us across. The third request was successful and the young man was happy to help us. So we missed the detour and the extra miles and hiked the normal AT route. I was happy to be returning to the inn for dinner and a shower. Tomorrow the pampering stops at least for a few days. SL
Date: 2009-07-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.1

It was an exciting day of hiking. I left the inn with a full pack following a big french toast breakfast. A bit of road walking and then into the mountains for 13 miles. This was a surprise to me but I sensed something different early into the hike. No sounds of civilization. I think the waysides and delis and pizza parlors are like cat nip for hikers. If available we cannot resist and our focus is averted. No problem with this today. I am in the woods. I climbed 3 dramatic mountains and walked along a rushing brook in Sages Ravine. Mama Jobe's breeze was blowing, cooling my sweat and chasing away the mosquitos. The woodland was diverse with predominantly birch or oak or hemlock alternately. Race Mountain was complete with a Japanese looking garden on the summit of gnarly pine and reflecting pools of trapped rain water. All this caused me to forget the time and distance to the shelter. I was energized by it all. I am 6 miles into MA and have clicked over 1500 miles. It was almost dark when I arrived at the shelter. Mama Jobe's breeze has blown in a predicted storm just as I have finished dinner and chores by head lamp. I am now celebrating my good day and good fortine with the sounds of the rain and the wind. It is all for me. SL
Date: 2009-07-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.4

Would anyone cry if the mosquito were on the endangered species list? How about extinct? I did my best yesterday to help this effort along. There is no telling how many I killed. The day started fine at high elevation. As I went low they were thick and hungry. There was no way to appreciate any of the trail as I was trying to save all my blood for me. I do not over state the case when I describe my circumstance as torturous. I do have a head net. For the most part they did not bite my legs when moving. My arms were the point of attack. Oh, for a long sleeve shirt. I was killing a mosquito every 5 steps or so for 11 miles. The thought of being in my tent and protected kept me going. I transitioned from hiking to camping as quickly as I could and then killed all the buzzing monsters in my tent. I recovered after a time and did my normal routine, all within my screened canopy. Inevitably I needed to pee. I was still suffering from trauma. I could not go out. I thought about using one of my two water bottles and had decided to do so. But later I thought of the small instant coffee jar in my food bag. Yes. I poured the coffee into a ziploc and I had what I needed. An indoor urinal. I could remain in my shelter through the evening and into the morning with no more bites. SL
Date: 2009-07-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.0

The mosquitos were still on my mind this morning. I rigged my zip pant legs to my shirt sleeves with a couple of safety pins each. I put on my head net. Then as quickly as I could I packed and left. In about 3 miles they were gone. The reprieve was temporary but it was nice again. A friendly day hiker from Boston told me I looked as if I just came off the stage of some Shakespearean stage in her area due to my blousey sleeves. No matter. It worked. There were some pretty glacial ponds today with some sunny rocks on which to soak up some dryness after the heavy evening rain. I was almost past my trauma as I approached evening. I stopped first at a camp site in the woods. The mosquitos were immediately terrible. Tyringham was 2 more trail miles plus 1 mile off the trail. I decided it was worth it to avoid the buggars for the evening. Unfortunately no services in town. I really wanted anything. Soda, cracker, burger. Oh well. I tented on the fire house lawn relatively bug free. SL
Date: 2009-07-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.5

Well the wheels came off today. I had originally planned 15 miles. It rained hard again last night. The trail was very muddy. Add to that the mosquitos, clothes dirty and wet, food low, legs tired.... Generally bad attitude. I called a motel in Lee eventhough there would be a 5 mile hitch to make town center. Pizza and beer would fix it all. One pizza and maybe 2 beers would fix everything. Pretty simple. The hike today continued past glacial lakes at fairly high elevation. Some quite pretty. Others did not make it to lake status and are bogs for all manner of creatures to breed including mosquitos. Lee is quite nice. All my chores were easily accomplished. I am sitting in town center by the park enjoying the Sunday crowd and the front porch at Arizona Pizza. One has to be flexible and adapt. SL
Date: 2009-07-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.6

The little girl with the little curl,sailing and hiking are all alike. When they are good they are very very good and when they are bad they are horrid. Today was good after a bad yersterday. Steve, a trail maintainer, noted me milling arount the motel office and asked if he could give me a lift. Wow! That potential 5 mile walk to the trailhead was on my mind. Problem solved. This was easy for Steve to do but how nice. I hope I remember these things when I get home. The trail was drier. I was fresher. There were no mosquitos. I continued to pass high elevation lakes and pass through an extensive beech forest. The beech is a lovely species with smooth gray bark and leaves that feel like starched and ironed linen. It was a short day and I felt good. My day ended at the blueberry and egg farm of Roy and Marilyn of Becket, MA. They served me and 3 other hikers cookies, hard boiled eggs and soda. They also are allowing us to camp on their lawn of thick clover. What a nice bed I have tonight. To bad Serta. I have no need of you. The thunder storms are rolling through with close lightning and strong wind. I am in my little tent again relishing every second. I wish it would stop raining but I do enjoy these weather events safely snuggled in my Hubba. SL
Date: 2009-07-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.6

I am doing some short walks to hit the towns and time my meeting with Rita in Bennington, VT on Aug 2. No need to rush. Why not relish the mud. Today there was 9 miles of it. I fight it all the way and try to stay as clean as possible. Others plow right through and come into town with dirt to their shorts line. I think it has rained every day for a week. Imagine the sloppiest dairy cow lot you have ever seen. That is the Trail in MA. There is a reason why dairy farmers always wear gum boots. I made it to Tom's in Dalton, MA. A true friend of the hiker. Free tenting, dinner, laundry, shower. And right on the Trail. I met old friends. Grits, Walkabout, Rock Lobster and others. Tom is located near other services of which I made use. Pharmacy, Deli for lunch, coffee and yogurt, beauty salon. I love the beauty salons. I tell them I have a hot date and their job is to make me pretty. Hey it is a beauty salon isn't it? It always gets light hearted conversation going. The women are always full of fun. Dalton was a good stop. It rained again last night. SL
Date: 2009-07-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.3

I powered up 1000 ft and did the 9 miles in short order. It certainly is not my hardest day but I felt great doing it. No mud. I am not sure why the footing changed so rapidly from all mud yesterday. And only a few mosquitos. Almost before I left I was in Cheshire. I had a hot meatball grinder, ice cream, and gatorade at Diane's Twist as a late lunch in my destination town. Diane knew everything local including a good BandB. I was walking in rain and thunder as I left Diane for the BandB. She said severe weather had been posted for the county. I leave with no thought of doing anything else. Rain is the new normal. After taking care of cleaning myself and my clothes, I ordered a takeout meatloaf dinner and ate on the big side porch while listening to the rain. I am gearing up to hike a big mountain tomorrow. Greylock. I am excited to be doing it. I am tanked on food and I had a good practice session today. Here we go. SL
Date: 2009-07-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.0

My hike was up and over Greylock in the sunshine today. At 3491 ft Greylock is the highest mountain in MA. This is the first peak over 3000 ft since the Shenandoah National Park. It was good to be on a real mountain again. It smelled like Christmas on top. Some hikers, with help from shuttle services in Dalton, are driving to the top of Greylock and walking south only to be shuttled to the top again the next day and hiking north thus covering the distance but avoiding the climb. Corner cutting for sure as far as I am concerned. To those so inclined, may your up muscles atrophy from lack of use. I continue to pamper my muscles at the Harbour House BandB this evening. The owner was kind enough to drive me to a restaurant and taxi me back after eating. Pretty nice service. It was a good day. To Vermont tomorrow. Yea! SL
Date: 2009-07-31
To: View Entry
Miles today: 6.9

And the rains came in sufficient quantity to sanctify Noah. Eva of the Harbour House, after a great breakfast, took me to the trailhead. She was concerned for me as the skies looked heavy. I donned my rain gear within 100 yards of exiting the car. It rained hard and long. After 4 miles I crossed into Vermont. Still raining although not entirely unpleasant. I contemplated a shorter day by staying at what was to be my lunch time shelter. Huddled there were Cous Cous, Kiwi, Grits, Fat Kid and others. I had not seen some of these folks since PA. We exchanged greetings but there was no room for me to be in the dry even for lunch. Standing there in the rain I decided to call it a day and tent. The next shelter over 7 miles away was likely full and I would have less light to get settled in the rain. With effort and some level of skill I carved a few cubic feet of dry volume out of a wet drippy world. It was just as well that there was no room for me in the shelter. I needed a private space to remember last year and send a few notes to loved ones. For awhile it was raining inside and out. Tomorrow I expect to hit Bennington,VT while hiking with some of my trail buddies in the sunshine. SL
Date: 2009-08-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 11.5

I started stirring at 0500. I wanted an early start. I was off about 0645 with the folks in the shelter ready to leave a few minutes later. The woods and trail were very wet. Much of the path was a running stream. But the sun was shinning and there were no bugs allowing me to just walk at an easy pace and contemplate taking some time in Bennington. A guy from Colorado offered me, Kiwi and Dud a ride to town as soon as we exited the woods. All the hikers made it to Nature's Closet around 1700 for a free burger and beer supper. There were about 25 thru hikers who took advantage of the meal and enjoyed each others company. Some folks had not seen each other in weeks. Most were lamenting going slower because of zeros, stopping in towns and generally leaving the trail for various comforts. With Rita's help I hope to go faster in Vermont and still keep the comforts. I expect to go pretty slow in NH and ME and spend most of the evenings on the Trail. I hope to top Katahdin on 9/27. This is my first time to establish a date. The trip to the top of Katahdin is 5.3 miles up so a 10.6 mile round trip. It begins from a campground in Baxter State Park. The trip up is an elevation change of 4100 ft. This is a tough hike but with a day pack only. Anyone wanting to hike these last few miles is welcome to join me. SL
Date: 2009-08-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 22.6

I took a zero yesterday partly because I wanted to be in Bennington when Rita arrived. It was also about time for me to do so. I have planned my days to go trailhead to trailhead with her help to provide a shuttle. The remoteness of the area means a pretty long hike between roads. Today upon entering the woods at Bennington there was no road crossing for 23 miles and that one was gravel. My job was to hike the miles with a lighter pack, a slack pack. Hers was to find the exit trailhead in a remote location. There are a number of folks hiking here given the popularity of the Long Trail which is the same as the AT for about 100 miles. I met Neighbor Dave walking south. He is a 2005 2000 miler. An enthusiastic guy doing some bushwhack hiking. He gave me encouragement by saying the finish line would not move and that the sparkle in my eye told him I could do it. The major climb of the day was to 3750 ft so the mountains are returning. The track was sloppy and pretty difficult. I was approaching my exit a few minutes after sundown. The woods were getting creepy. I knew it would be getting creepy for Rita as well. I hoped she had found the trailhead for I knew it was a significant navigation task. Well there she was upon my exit. She had gathered local knowledge, read the maps and   said she had had a great day. Wow. SL
Date: 2009-08-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 17.5

Todays climb was up Stratton Mtn, 3940 ft. There was an observation tower on top allowing me to view the mountains in all directions. Later at the base I started lunch in a comfortable sunny spot on the shore of Stratton Pond. Three day hikers arrived excited to talk with a thru hiker. They gave me one of their ham sandwiches complete with grey poupon and lettuce from another ziploc. Mighty fine. They also had grapes and other goodies to share. The trail was up and down over Stratton and then easy rolling for the remainder of the walk. The path was dryer and easier than yesterday. Rita was at my exit with a clean set of jeans and shirt as she had planned a dinner spot. Only problem, I was sweaty and muddy from the knees down. How to get some semblance of clean? I heard a stream just out of sight of the parking area. Rita followed me to the stream. I stripped my hiking clothes and used my shirt rinsed clean in the stream to bathe. Rita did not even offer to stand behind a tree. She did hand me my clean clothes. SL
Date: 2009-08-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 17.8

Another good mileage day. With Rita's help I have done 58 miles in 3 days. I have been able to carry a lighter pack and get a good meal at the end of every day. I fear there is an end to this cleaner and more comfortable way of hiking. It does not take away the miles though. My body still feels the effort especially from the knees down. And even more so my feet. I can barely walk after cool down following the end of my hike after a long day. The Trail went up Bromley today, another ski area. The Trail actually went up the Run Around ski trail. I imagined the area with snow. The chair lift was kind of spooky with the wind blowing the chairs to and fro in the clouds. I met a well traveled hiking couple from Ohio. They gave me food which I needed later as I had not packed enough. Griffith Lake at 2600 ft was pretty with tenting on the shore. A group of summer camp youth were swimming except one guy who was bored. I quickly learned why the parents had sent him to camp. He had been having an argumentative discussion earlier and the counselor had apparently told him to stop. He wanted my sympathy and asked if I could appreciate his difficult situation. There was an excellent view from Baxter Peak where I tarried only briefly so as to make it to my exit as soon as possible. It was almost dark and Rita was there with wet towels for bathing to facilitate a direct trip to a good steak and crab cake dinner. Yum yum. SL
Date: 2009-08-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 8.3

Today's hike included a small mountain but tall enough for the trees to change species, a really nice lake and a waterfall. It was the kind of section I would hike often if I lived here. There was a kayak available to hikers at the lake. There was an on site caretaker living in a tent and collecting $5 from over nighters. Of course I took a spin. So did Witness, a fellow hiker. Vermont has been really nice. No rain so far. A decent number of views even if created by towers. Pretty lakes and streams. No bugs. Nice temperatures. I am trusting that the Trail will continue to be exciting in these last three states. I am depending on this excitement to keep me going. I do believe I went past getting stronger and started wearing out some time ago. The stimulation helps. Rita was supporting me again today. It is nice to have no worries other than walking the miles. I am probably the most fortunate hiker on the Trail given all the special support I have received. SL
Date: 2009-08-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.2

Today's 10 miles were easy following a zero yesterday to rest and to complete many tasks like get money, groceries and do some business by phone. The weather continues to be good in Vermont. Today was perfect and in the 50's as I began the day. Mid-day I found a rock outcropping atop a small mountain. It was a perfect sunny place for lunch. I was over looking the small Rutland airport and could see the planes come coasting in for a landing. I had packed a tasty lunch and the breezes were blowing easy. The rock formed a recliner perfect for taking in the warmth of the sun. These little trail surprises are the best. Rita was waiting for me at the exit. I have become accustomed to this. It will be hard to go back to fending for myself and making do with the services close to the trailheads. This break she has given me in Vermont is positioining me for a good launch into NH and ME. It has also given me the opportunity to post new pictures representative of my hike from Harpers Ferry to the present. SL
Date: 2009-08-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.5

Today's hike was up Killington Mountain and then down. The elevation change was 2,600 ft. Not easy, but I did it rather expeditiously with a light pack. It was cool and cloudy on top and the exposed areas were chilly. I am reminded that I need to be better prepared for the exposure coming in NH. Early in the day I went to under 500 miles to finish. New hiker friends, Hobbitt and Knickers, and I did a high 5 in celebration. Rita helped these two women get from the grocery in Rutland to the trailhead yesterday. So they knew me before introductions. The ski lifts and shacks at the top looked as if they belonged to an old ghost town. Somehow they look better covered in snow. I quickly had lunch at the top because my sweat and the cool wind made me cold. I needed to move to stay warm. I am adding my old nylon long sleeve shirt to the clothes bag for those future mountain tops in NH and ME. SL
Date: 2009-08-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 5.2

The hike was short today because I wanted to spend the last day with Rita. She hiked the first 1.5 miles or so with me to get a feel for the trail and then retraced her steps to return to the car and set up the shuttle. The Long Trail and the AT diverged today with the LT proceeding toward Canada. The concentration of hikers on the Trail should now diminish. This is my last slack pack day. I will carry a full pack tomorrow and the remainder of the walk. The impact of the physical stress of the journey is still with me, but the respite in Vermont puts me in a good position to finish and enjoy to remainder of this adventure. SL