morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-31
From: The Hemlocks Shelter

To: Mt. Wilcox South Lean-To
Miles today: 19.4

Tired pretty much from the get-go, but tomorrow will be a shorter hike with only one monster climb (that is, if the guidebook can be trusted). I wanted to go to Mt. Wilcox North but had to call it a day: I had had a sore throat and headache since early morning, and the light sensitivity was becoming more of a problem with low-angle afternoon sun. The best part of the day was the dip I took in Benedict Pond; the water was the perfect temperature, cool but not icy, and it felt so good to wash off all that sweat. (In fact, I sweated so much during the swampy walk across the valley that my lower legs were covered with gnats that had drowned in my perspiration). Mosquitoes were dreadful, especially after I had descended from the Jug End.I have this shelter to myself so far, and a very basic one it is. The porcupines have chewed the ends off of the floorboards, which seems to be a common occurance up north. I only saw a group of three dayhikers and a ridgerunner (who said he's the only ridgerunner in Massachusetts right now) all day, although there should be quite a few NOBOs a day or two ahead of me. I seem to have ended up in a gap again. Writing is making my headache worse. I think I'll lie down with my jacket over my face for a while. At least I won't inhale any more mosquitoes.LATER--I removed the jacket from my face to find that it was dark outside. Dark! At five-thirty! Then there was a gust of wind that bent the trees way over, an earsplitting clap of thunder, and all of a sudden hail came pouring out of the sky. It was somewhat larger than marble-sized, pinging off the roof and melting almost immediately upon hitting the ground. Lightning all around, a jagged bolt of it beyond the trees, striking some point in the valley. Next the downpour, sending me frantically scurrying to pull everything farther back into the shelter. So far, no leaks in the roof. I'm worried about all you other hikers out there!Time to memorize some more Prufrock and hope the storm lets up enough for me to make a run to the privy and bear box.
Date: 2007-06-01
From: Mt. Wilcox South Lean-To

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Really not feeling well. Sore throat worse and the headache back again this evening. A shame, because this is a wonderful place and I ought to be enjoying it more than I am. The pond is larger than Benedict but the swimming just as good; the cabin has plenty of books to read, mattresses on the bunks, a canoe (too tired to take it out), and pancakes in the morning. The caretakers are friendly and know a lot about the Trail in upcoming states, so I got some useful information I couldn't have found in the guidebook. They even let me have a little of the cole slaw and fresh cornbread they were eating with dinner.Mosquitoes were terrible again. It's hard to have fun hiking when you can't take rest breaks, pause to enjoy the views, or sit for a while by a nice waterfall. I was exhausted after only about 10 miles, probably because I'm sick. Writing is making my head ache, so it's off to bed.
Date: 2007-06-02
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kay Wood Lean-To
Miles today: 17.6

A lovely morning: lots of blackberry pancakes and hot chocolate, as well as great conversations with the caretakers about environmental issues, education, and (best of all) books. They lost a large portion of their personal library in a house fire and are still trying to find copies of some of the books that burned up. I had eaten too many pancakes to start walking for a while, so I hung around and chatted for almost two hours.As the caretakers had assured me, today's hike wasn't all that difficult, mostly a mucky sort of ridgewalk. The heat and mosquitoes didn't get really bad until mid-afternoon. My throat felt better, thanks in part to some cough drops one of the caretakers gave me, but now I've got some weird rash all over my legs. Doesn't itch. I saw only one hiker all day, so I amused myself by memorizing more Prufrock and composing a walking song when Eliot began to bore me. The dayhiker I did meet was friendly and had a funny northern accent; he told me that there was a severe thunderstorm warning for the area, so I didn't waste any time getting to the shelter. But it's only dripped off and on so far. I've got the shelter to myself again, except for the hordes of tent caterpillers which have taken over the woods and have an annoying tendency to crawl up my shirt and shorts. Unfortunately, they're above the casual squishing threshold (big enough so that the bug guts gross me out).
Date: 2007-06-03
From: Kay Wood Lean-To

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: mist

Still feeling sick. A little worse, actually. So a nearo seemed the w3ay to go. I got into Dalton fairly early and found the town to be both larger and more spread out than I expected. As I was walking the mile to the bank, I ran into a hiker named Squire, who said, "Don't worry, Tom'll take care of you!". Tom Levardi is listed in the book as just providing water for hikers, so I hadn't stopped at his house earlier. But a couple from the Dalton Restaurant ended up taking me home to shower and do laundry, so I didn't end up meeting Tom until the afternoon. The couple had never helped hikers before and were very excited about the whole idea ("Oh, wait until I tell so-and-so I picked up a hiker!"). I told the woman that they could now call themselves trail angels and she seemed delighted by that. By the time I had returned to Dalton, the weather--I hadn't beenb paying any attention to the sky--was looking very ominous. I took refuge on Tom's porch and he came home a short while later. What a generous person! He's been taking in hikers for over twenty years and says he sometimes has up to forty at a time in his house. He's also met Earl Shaffer and a wide variety of other interesting characters. I'm spending the night here and will probably slackpack back from Cheshire tomorrow unless I'm feeling better.
Date: 2007-06-04
From: Dalton, MA

To: Cheshire, MA
Miles today: 9.3

My throat felt worse today, not better, though the slackpack back from Cheshire was pretty easy anyway. It rained most of the day and the weather was pleasantly cool. Tecumseh and Moxie arrived at Tom's a few hours after I got back (Micro is apparently staying at a hotel in town). We ate dinner at the Dalton Restaurant and went to the Wal-Mart in Pittsfield to pick up a few things. I bought a radio that picks up the weather bandwidths as well as the usual AM/FM, so I'll have some warning about violent storm systems without having to rely on day-hikers for information. Another motive: Prairie Home Companion on Saturdays.After watching the Democrats debate last night on CNN, I have had my fill of TV for a while. Tom has an interesting library, lots of stuff on psychology meditation, Einstein, and Van Gogh. I read a book on group psychology and then a collection of short stories by Hermann Hesse. His novels are better.
Date: 2007-06-05
From: Cheshire, MA

To: Wilbur Clearing Lean-To
Miles today: 11.0

I looked at my throat with my healdamp this morning--the tonsils were swollen and white-spotted and there was a white patch on the back of my throat. So Tom took me to the walk-in clinic in Pittsfield and I emerged with a prescription for Amoxicillin. THe doctor said my heart rate was also outside the normal range (fast), which probably explains why I've hjad so much difficulty on the uphills. It was pretty late by the time I started hiking, but at least the climb up Graylock was mostly not too steep. There were dark clouds puffing up on the horizon as I neared the top, along with rumbles of thunder, so I headed to the Thunderbolt Shelter on the summit (emergency overnight only, which is why it isn't in the gudiebook). When I turned on my radio, I heard that there was a severe storm watch with possible 1/2" hail and winds up to 50 mph. After waiting around for an hour--I figured the storm had passed to the west or east--I began the descent. Before even a mile had passed, a thunderclap and raindrops sent me scurrying to set up the hammock in case of hail. I lay in it for about 15 min, only able to receive one radio station clearly. Then I packed up the hammock and left, deciding that I would rather get struck by lightning than listen to "Today's Hot Country" for another moment.The war monument on Greylock is amazing, esp. with thunderclouds all around it. A gray stone tower receding into the sky, topped by a sort of glass ball. It looked like something out of the game Myst. The door was locked, though, so I couldn't go inside.
Date: 2007-06-06
From: Wilbur Clearing Lean-To

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: overcast clouds

The Amoxicillin seems to be working; I felt better if not entirely well today. The swelling in my throat is definitely down. The cool weather, actually chilly at times, made the hiking less unpleasant, though the "Vermud" made for slow walking. The Trail was often a running stream or almost impassible mire, and one of the few areas with planks to walk on had planks under several inches of water! That's where my shoes really got soaked.So this is Vermont...mucky, mucky Vermont. I saw some moose droppings but no moose. Due to the cold and wind there were no bugs to torture me today, but some SOBO section hikers here say the blackflies are terrible up toward Killington. There are 8 other hikers here tonight, but no AT NOBOs. Now that the AT is also the Long Trail, I wouldn't be surprised if the shelters are often this busy. A bit much for me, frankly. But I did get a hunk of genuine Vermont cheddar from some Williams students in return for letting them cook on my stove.
Date: 2007-06-07
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

The temperature dropped into the mid-thirties last night, but I was perfectly comfortable in my layers and sleeping bag. It did heat up quite a bit during the day, though not as much as predicted; last I checked, the projected high for tomorrow has been revised down a good 10 degrees ("And the people rejoiced!", as Salamander would say). I'm planning on doing a long day, with a hithc in and out of Manchester Center for resupply, so reasonable weather would be much appreciated. Escept for the first mile of the day and couple of squishy areas, the Trail was in better condition tolday than yesterday. The views were mostly grown over, but Glastenbury tower provided some vistas. Shuckstack didn't cure my problem with heights and without Sal and Boogie to cheer me on, I didn't make it all the way to the top of this tower. Glastenbury mountain reminded me of the Smokies, with its evergreens and abundant water--liquid this tiem!. I took a long break at Goddard Shelter, which was much nicer than Kid Gore is, before heading up to the tower, drying my socks and shoes in the sun, resupplying on water, and chattering with Stagger Lee and another section hiker whose name I can't remember for some reason.According to the radio, it was 38 degrees on Mt. Washington at 6:00 pm today! I can't wait to get up in the cold.
Date: 2007-06-08
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Sure enough, the porcupine I'd been warned about--as if the gnaw marks all over the shelter weren't warning enough!--paid me and Velveeta (a section hiker) repeated visits during the night. I had decided on a top bunk, which was fortunate since Porky climbed right into the shelter to gnaw very loudly on the bunk below. Banging on the wood with my poles sent it waddling back into the brush, but the only time I discouraged it for long enough to get some sleep was when I threw a rock at it as hard as I could. I wish I'd had my digital camera working--could've gotten a great pic with one of the night settings.I fell right at the beginning of today's hike and cut my knee, and that combined with horrible mud had feeling extremely irritable by the time I reached Story Spring Shelter. Someone had left Snickers, granola, and mixed nuts there, along with some cheese that was still good, so I had plenty of food to give me energy for a long day of hiking. The climb up Stratton was long on its own (3.8 miles, roughly) but didn't give me much trouble; I chatted with the caretaker and ate lunch partway up the tower, where the blackflies weren't so bad. Buying a headnet tomorrow!Easy hiking Stratton Pond to Spruce Peak. This place is an enclosed cabin with woodstove and plain bunks the porkies can't get to. Lots of mice, but that's life ont he AT. Great water sources here. The privy is full though. And it's just me here tonight.What's with all the toads???
Date: 2007-06-09
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

A lousy day. Hot and muggy from the start. Hitching in and out of Manchester Center didn't take too long, but navigating in town was a huge pain. NOT a pedestrian friendly layout; traffic was so heavy it took forever to cross the street and the P.O. wasn't close at all to the other services. It was also one of those places where nothing opens until ten (I got there at about 8:00). There seemed to be more outlet stores than anything else, but the folks at EMS were very friendly. I bought a headnet there and groceries at the Price Chopper, and also yet another book at the store up the road (the book was so I wouldn't feel guilty using the free internet access that they turned out not to have). So I'm now carrying three books, four if you count the Handbook. This is getting ridiculous.I was already running late and upset about it when I started up Bromley, which was followed by a nastier climb up Styles. The observation tower on Bromley was great, very solid-looking, and I got some dayhikers to take my picture for me up there. But I ended up stopping early, at Peru Peak Shelter, because I read on a trail bulletin board that Lost Pond Shelter, where I'd been planning to spend the night, burned down a year ago. I was just feeling too worn out to make Big Branch.Time for Prairie Home Companion! Yay for the radio!
Date: 2007-06-10
From: Peru Peak Shelter

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

It rained the whole time I was hiking today, a light, cool rain that kept me comfortable but made the rocks very slick. I took three fairly hard falls and was lucky not to get injured. The first 4.7 miles were miserable: this morning misery seems to be a pattern and must be more psychological than physical. I pushed on, trying not to stab the omni-present orange salamanders with my poles. At least the toads have the sense to hop off the trail when they sense you coming.Griffith Lake was totally socked in with fog when I went by, but Little Rock Pond was just gray and slightly misty, beautiful in a somber sort of way. It would have been a peaceful place to tent, and (as at Peru Peak) there was no caretaker present to collect the fee. This shelter isn't aesthetically pleasing in the least--dark, dirty, and chewed up by porcupines. I wouldn have gone on to the next one, but that would have put me in Killington way too early on Tuesday. There are crossword puzzles here, though, and the personals section of a Burlington newspaper. Apparently people are kinkier in Vermont...Lessons I Learned Yesterday:1. Trying to hitch in front of an Armani outlet is a bad idea.2. Trying to eat dinner with a headnet on is a bad idea.3. NASA does not have a base on Bromley. The thing on the summit that looks like a space shuttle is in fact part of the ski lift.
Date: 2007-06-11
From: Minerva Hinchey Shelter

To: Tucker-Johnson Shelter
Miles today: 21.1

I'm liking VT more and more as I move north, big climbs notwithstanding. Today's hike had some very noticeable ascents, esp. the one from Governor Clement Shelter to Cooper Lodge (1870' to 3900'), which I extending by taking the .2 side trail straight up to Killington Peak. Glad I did! Possibly the most impressive views I've ever seen on a backpacking trip, despite some haze...the guidebook says you can see the southern provinces of Canada from up there and I believe it. Killington was also where I saw bear #3 of my thru-hike, though it was a good 1000' below the summit. A sizeable bruin. No moose yet. Many, many toads.I loved the whole section of trail above 3000', the smell of the balsam and the ferns, and just the feeling of being up in the sky. The sky itself was constantly changing today, first overcast, then drizzling, then bright blye and clear, then drizzling again. There's a thunderstorm going on now, but I don't mind at this elevation. This shelter isn't anything nice (neither were Cooper Lodge or Hinchley), but it is keeping the rain off just fine. Almost stayed at Chrurchill-Scott; the blackflies drove me off. None here for some reason.
Date: 2007-06-12
From: Tucker-Johnson Shelter

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 18.8

Hello to Hobbit! I've been wanting to meet you for a long time now and am very sorry to hear that you've hurt your knee. I was wondering why you'd dropped out of the registers. Maybe I'll see you down the Trail--I think your mileage is somewhat higher than mine...With some tough climbs and the additional roadwalk in and out of Killington, today's hike was harder than the mileage would indicate. The Killington resupply went without major mishap, though the camera battery still isn't charged--I hope to do that at the library in West Hartford. High-speed traffic on the roads, but a nice, wide shoulder to walk on.The weather was hot and humid most of the day, with thunder in the distance for hours before the storm actually arrived overhead. I lingered for a while at Story Brook Shelter to chat with an interesting short-distance hiker (he's into pagan festivals and that sort of thing) and got caught by the storm up around Lakota Lake Lookout. By the time I reached The Lookout, the rain was something between steady and a downpour; I though about staying in the cabin, but as I was already soaked, I decided to move on to Wintturi. First, though I climbed up the wet, slippery ladder onto the roof to check out the vistas from the little deck up top. Stormy views can be so spectacular! I used up the last two shots on my disposable camera and then climbed down before lightning could strike.
Date: 2007-06-13
From: Wintturi Shelter

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: light rain

Some very tough going early on today, or maybe my legs were just tired out. The constant ups and downs lasted most of the way to Thistle Hill Shelter; if it weren't for the fact that I needed to get to the West Hartford library to update my journal and charge my camera battery, I might have considered stopping there. I did take a 1/2 hr break at the shelter to let my feet dry out, since they had been either damp or soaked for 3 days and the calluses were getting kind of gooey and transparent. Gross. The walk into West Hartford wasn't too hard and the librarian was very nice and let me take all the time I needed on the computer. While I was typing, the sun came out and partially dried the socks I had left out on the picnic table. West Hartford to Happy Hill was easy hiking, comparatively. SOBO section hiker here with me tonight, so I got to ask questions about upcoming shelters and towns. The mosquitoes are terrible here...they sound like ambulance sirens.
Date: 2007-06-14
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Moose Mt Shelter
Miles today: 16.8

Wish I'd worn my headnet to bed last night; the mosquitoes woke up before I did and breakfasted on my face. They're just as bad here, so the headnet is on this time. NH is definitely no less buggy than VT, but I'm still excited to be in a new state. In only a few days, I'll go above treeline for the first time!My legs were feeling tired and I had lost several hours in Hanover, so I decided to stop here rather than pushing on to Trapper John. A fairly new shelter; the water source is seriously nasty, though. The privy has no walls but does have a roof held up by pillars, so it's not quite throne-like, just weird. Hanover was biug, busy, and overwhelming. I bought some groceries and some supplies at the outfitter, then fled town. Hopefully, the fuel I bought there will last me all the way to Katahdin.
Date: 2007-06-15
From: Moose Mt Shelter

To: Ore Hill Shelter
Miles today: 25.0

I really pushed myself to the limit today--I don't think I could have walked another mile even if there were someone whipping me from behind. I hadn't bothered to do the math beforehand, since I wasn't sure where I wanted to stop, and it proved to be farther to this place than I had estimated. But there were certainly some interesting sights along the way...Views from Holts Ledge, the valley still full of fog, mountaintops like blue islands--it gave me the feeling of being very high up, even though the elevation wasn't much. There were also views from Smarts Mt (the firetower) and north Cube, but nothing to rival what I saw from the falcon rookery. North Cube, where I stopped for a late snack, brought a special surprise, I heard a noise like a plague of locusts on the way and then the sky was full of insects--not locusts, but a huge swarm of wild honeybees, hundreds and hundreds of them, so intent on their business that they never even seemed to notice me. I was attacked earlier in the day by yet another grouse making pathetic squeaky-toy noises...it had left its chicks in the trail, just like the other ones had done. They were very cute, but it's hard to appreciate cuteness when you're busy beating off an enraged mother bird.Moosilauke tomorrow? Maybe. Just gotta see how the legs hold up.
Date: 2007-06-16
From: Ore Hill Shelter

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 7.4

I saw my first moose this morning! He was standing in a bog next to the Trail and looked maybe 18 hands or so, bigger than most horses I've seen. Moose and cows have that same vacant expression...the mosquitoes were way too bad for me to linger, so I moved on after trying to get a picture (lots of branches). My legs were exhausted from yesterday's hike and by the time I reached the hostel, I was pretty sure I wasn't moving on. No one was there, but I signed in, showered, got laundry started and dealt with the P.O. before it closed. Eventually, Phatt Chapp, one of the guys who looks after the hostel, showed up. We had some long, interesting conversations about creative writing, religion and some other topics. He also made me some pasta with black beans and gave me a bowl of ice cream!I killed a couple hours watching "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", then read a book on hammock camping, which gave me some ideas for improving my hammock comfort once I finish the AT. Sticking with the Zoid for now, though, and I'll probably sleep out back tonight and save the 5 bucks.