morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-09
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Strange end to the day.Rainbow and i made it into camp around 6:50 PM. We have been making really good time dispite my sore ankle. Although it is much better today. As we arrived Amanda and Katie were putting on their packs to hike to the next shelter. Rainbow started to cry. She said she wanted to see them one last time because she decided today that she wanted to get off of the trail. She is not having fun, she is terrorized by the thought of hiking in the Whites and would be much happier sitting on her deck in Maine meditating. She had hoped the trail would be a spiritual trip but has found it to be all physical. Get up early, hike, eat and sleep. She has had enough.Today was tough on Rainbow. I pushed hard to do bigger miles trying to test my ankle. It is hot again and we had to walk across open farm land with little shade and several styles, which Rainbow hates. At one point there was a rock slab we had to walk down. I did it as fast as I could and continued on forgetting how much slabs frighten Rainbow. We took a break at nuclear lake. When Rainbow hiked on I went for a little skinny dip in the lake. Don't worry I've already had all the children I plan to father and they are the greatest. Rainbow cooked a lunch at Telephone Pioneers Shelter where I caught up with her.We stopped at a hot dog stand around 4 PM for a quick soda, hot dogs and chips it was delicious. Then we raced on to finish the next 6 miles in about 2.5 hours . Pretty good for a couple of seniors, I would say. But Rainbow was bushed. And I was certainly tired. Tired enough that I wish someone could have chewed my dinner for me. tired enough that I wish someone else could type this journal entry for me.I hope Rainbow feels differently in the morning.Life is Good!Gabby Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-10
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Kent CT
Miles today: 12.7

8/10/04Today was filled with surprises. Last night Katie and Amanda stayed with Rainbow at this shelter to console her. They talked with her for several hours trying to be sure she was making the right decision. Katie even slept in the shelter with us without her tent. She often jury rigs her tent to avoid insects. It was a fitful night because of no-seeums and Rainbows stress. Everyone seemed perky in the morning especially when Pokey came walking into camp before we put on our packs. He took the train back from NYC yesterday afternoon then had to road walk 2 miles before he reach the trail and stopped to camp as it was getting dark. I was particularly pleased to see him. I was afraid all my hiking friends were gone or leaving. As we headed into CT we heard a familiar voice behind us and turned to see Burnie steaming down the trail. Her boyfriend is slacking her for 22 miles today. She is flying. That will put her at least ten miles ahead of us and probably more if we don't do big miles the next few days. We had an easy hike into CT and the Ten Mile River area where Pokey and I went for a swim in the river. It felt great to wash the sweat and slime off but we probably spent too much time hanging around. We continued our hike along the Housatonic River where the views were amazing. I've hiked this area twice before but forgot how difficult the walk up Schaticoke Mt and Mt Algo would be. It was as difficult as any part of the trail so far. We met several small groups of south bound thru hikers. They are still very excited about their hikes. One, Sweat Leaf, hiked all 52 miles of CT in one day. He had to zero for two days while his hiking partners caught up with him.The rocks and constant ups and downs of the trail made this an extremely tough day. When Pokey and I finally caught up with Rainbow and Amanda at the Algo Shelter we were pretty beat. Rainbow had decided she didn't want to stay in the shelter. She had already used Amanda's cell phone to contact a B&B in Kent to book a loft for four hikers. The problems was nobody answered the phone so she left a voice message. Amanda headed down first since she is the fastest. Then Rainbow then Pokey and I after we talked a few minutes to some hikers in the shelter. We headed down main street in Kent until we saw Amanda heading toward us. The B&B was full. The Episcopal Church permits tenting on it's back lawn but Rainbow wanted nothing to do with that. She needed to sleep under a roof. Russell, a contractor working at the Kent School, caught a little of our plight and offered to drive the four of us to a motel in Cornwall Bridge about 10 miles north. He was headed for food at the nearby deli. We bought his dinner and ordered food for ourselves including pints of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Then we headed to the motel where we had to book two rooms because the rooms are so small. Even after Ibuprofen my feet are killing me. Ouch. Pokey and I watched some TV before we finally fell asleep.Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-10
To: Summary Note from Gabby
Miles today: 0.0

8/10/04It seems impossible that I am in CT. The states go by quickly now that we are past PA. I sprained my ankle in a nasty fall just over the Nj/NY border.   Walking funny to favor my ankle as my right knee hurting and some pain in my achilles. I'm still doing the miles but it takes more time to do it each day.My wife and kids will be visiting today. They may slack me or we may just go out and do some trail magic.   The Happy Brigade has fallen apart. Burnie started doing bigger miles to spend time with her boy friend Mike. She is now about two days ahead. Katie decided she does not want to hike in a group so she has ben doing a couple extra miles each day to get a little ahead of us. Rainbow has decided she does not want to hike anymore. She will go home today. Pokey is sticking with me. Amanda will stay with us for awhile but I think she will get bored not having some younger girls to laugh at her antics. The trail was noticeably tougher in the first 9 miles of CT. Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-11
From: Kent CT

To: Kent CT
Miles today: 0.0

I know, I know. Another zero day. But this one was special. We couldn't get into Kent from the motel because it was 10 miles away. My wife and daughters were coming to spend time with me and my trail friends. And Rainbow was getting off of the trail today. Sue, Darcy and Kristi showed up just before 10 AM. They brought enough food to feed a platoon of thru hikers. Potato salad, fried chicken, all kinds of veggies, soda and a cake decorated to look like the AT. Just before we left the motel we discovered that Burnie and Mike were spending the night just a few units down. Wish we had known, we could have enjoyed some social time together. Mike is a cool dude. Burnie can keep him. We rode into Kent where we spent an hour and a half at the post office dealing with mail drops. Then to the Out fitters and finally to Kent Falls state park for our picnic. We had planned on having my family slack us from rt. 341 to St. John's Ledges but it took so long for the town chores and there was rumbling from approaching thunderstorms. So we changed our plans. We did not want to be on the ridge when the t-storms came through so decided to hike back to Algo Shelter rather than pay for another night in town. There are 4 boys from a nearby camp and two counselors. One of the counselors is a young woman from Denmark. This is her first experience backpacking. She looked very tired when they came into camp after crossing Mt Schaticoke and Algo Mt. She perked up after eating some dinner. Tarzan is here. Last time I saw him was at Montebello VA. Brood-X is here and Amanda walked in after doing some more chores in town.it was very hard emotionally today saying goodbye to Rainbow and leaving my family again. Two more months and this adventure is over.   Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-12
From: Algo Shelter

To: Silver Hill campsite
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: moderate rain

8/12/04T-storms started last night around 2 AM. Heavy rains and frequent lightning made things exciting. We packed to leave early but the storms kept coming so we waited it out finally leaving the shelter around noon. I convinced the counselor of the boys camped with us to avoid the ridge walk to St. John's Ledges because of the threatening storms predicted. I did such a great job that Pokey, Amanda and I decided to walk down River Road to the AT rather than risk a lightening strike. Many people we ran into that hiked the ridges yesterday talked of close lightning strikes.Tarzan came into the shelter just before we left, complaining of the near hits to his body and getting lost by following blue blazes instead of white at night. He thought the blazes were slightly blue because of his headlamp. We stopped at Stewart Hollow Lean-to to discover London, a hiker from England, and Rev. Yukon Jack recovering from the tough ridge hiking and dangerous weather. The register indicated that Burnie and Katie had spent the night here and left about an hour before we arrived. They waited out the storms also.Silver Hill Campsite is beautiful but the pump barely works. It took all three of us to get water. By pumping extra fast and hard for 2 minutes taking turns we managed to fill my water bag with orange/brown water. The water doesn't taste bad but sure looks awful. A group of boys here for behavioral modification are camped with us tonight. The counselors are pretty impressive working with these boys. Meteor shower tonight but 4 more days of rain is predicted.   Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-13
From: Silver Hill campsite

To: Falls Village
Miles today: 13.0

Rain again today and very humid. Everything is wet. Pokey and I were out of camp by 7 AM. Amanda was out by 7:30 AM. We crossed Guinea Brook barefooted because the steam was rather high. We stopped at Pine Swamp Shelter for some lunch when Amanda caught up with us. I was soaked to the skin. Especially my under shorts. I wrung them out 5 times during the day. Amanda caught up with us and hiked with us awhile. At one point she slipped on a wet rock and landed on her butt with some squeals of anger and embarrassment.We made it into Falls Village around 5 PM. The Falls Village Inn welcomed the three of us, stinky, dirty, sweaty hikers. We had pizza and beer and salad. Then asked about the cost for renting room for the night. We stayed the night, watched the opening of the olympics and played songs on the incredible digital juke box. The shower was awesome. Best was getting inside where it was dry.Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-14
From: Falls Village

To: Riga Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

I was up and hiking before 6:30 AM. I made good time to the cut off to Lime Rock Springs Shelter. Four miles in 1.5 hours. Pokey caught me before I reached rt. 44. We made it into Salisbury before 9 AM. I picked up my mail drop while Pokey phoned home. Then I headed for the coffee shop for juice, muffin, smoothie, more juice, fruit cocktail and more. Pokey found sushi in the market. We hung out in Salisbury until 2:30 PM then headed back out. We had seen weather reports on hurricane Charlie headed our way. Several towns folk warned us of the approaching storm so we decided not to hike too far from town and to stay in a shelter. We are prepared with rain tarps and chord to batten down the shelter when the storm hits. A 42 year old couple with 5 kids between them are spending the night in this shelter with us. Keith and Kim have been section hiking the trail over the past few years 10 days at a time. Kim is struggling with blisters. She is the motivator of the two. The annual hikes are her idea.Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-15
From: Riga Mountain Shelter

To: Hemlocks Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

8/15/04Start: Mt Riga ShelterEnd: Hemlocks ShelterDistance: 9.6 milesThe storm hit around midnight with strong steady rain and moderate winds. We didn't have to use the tarp because the storm was not strong enough, but, everything in the shelter was wet from fog filling the shelter. We got up late and didn't leave the shelter until after 10 AM.It was difficult hiking today over Bear Mt., Race Mt. and Mt Everett. The trail goes over rock slabs and water. It was very slippery with tough footing. We watched in shock as a man heading south lost his footing while walking down Mt Everett. One leg slid left and the other to the right as his body came to rest against a tree. He smashed his crotch pretty hard against the tree. He was very frustrated having fallen 3 times already today his first day on the trail for 5 days. He broke one of his hiking poles and had smashed his elbow.We took for ever climbing down Race Mt. and up Mt Everett on slippery rocks covered with moss.   I slipped once during the day but hurt only my pride.We arrived at the Hemlocks around 7 PM to find a group of college students from Bucknell University setting up camp. It is an orientation program for freshmen. It is great. They offered me dinner and asked all kinds of questions about thru hiking. Rev. Yukon Jack and London showed up and decided to hike to the next shelter. Too crowded for them.Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-16
From: Hemlocks Shelter

To: Sheffield MA Rt. 7
Miles today: 8.0

This started as one of the worst days on the trail with heavy fog after an all night down pour. All my gear was soaked from fog and condensation. The Bucknell group got up late and so did we. They played a wild camp style game of Yea Haw while we ate breakfast and packed our bags. It was pandemonium with 16 people scurrying around the shelter. We were on the trail by 9 AM. But it was treacherous with wet slimy rocks covered with moss up hill and down. We hiked carefully along the ridge making slow time. Finally we got off the ridge just as it began to rain hard. We trudged along in the rain not stopping because we would get cold. Until we came to rt. 7 where I spotted a nursery/fruit stand and suggested we check for a dry place to eat and by some fresh veggies/fruit. The best peaches I've ever eaten, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, coffee, juices, where consumed. Best of all was a group of south bound thru hikers who invited us to go for dinner with them up the road about 1/2 mile. We had a great time with Song, Spork, Steady, and Fin. They mentioned that they were staying in the green house overnight and maybe we would join them. Since we were soaked to the skin the offer was accepted and a short hiking day was had by all. We had some fun with camp songs and jokes. Beat Box and a female north bounder named Wipe Out showed up during a heavy thunder storm. They entertained us for awhile. The sun came out and an amazing rainbow appeared and doubled. We took pictures before Beatbox and Wipe Out hiked out in the dark to do another 6 miles to Tom Leonard Shelter. It was a great day after all.Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-17
From: Sheffield MA Rt. 7

To: Wilcox North Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: few clouds

Got up to pee 3 times during the night and discovered a cloudless sky with shooting stars. It was awesome.Pokey and I were up and out of the Green House before 6:30 AM. Our plan was to make it to Tyringham before the post office closed at 5:30 PM. We hoped to meet his aunt and uncle on Wed in Lee, rt. 20 trail head with AT. So we wanted to do the 20 miles plus another 6 or 7 to Goose Pond Shelter. Most of my plans don't seem to work lately.There was a very heavy fog around rt. 7 and the Housatonic river covering everything with condensation. Our dry shoes and clothing were soaked in minutes. It was rather miserable to be walking in sloshing shoes again. My feet had just unpruned themselves during the night. But we have no control of trail conditions so we trudged on. We caught up with Beatbox and Wipe Out at Tom Leonard shelter. They didn't make it there until midnight last night because of the treacherous trail conditions, steep slippery wet rocks. They were heading on to Upper Goose Pond Shelter. Crunchy and Smooth, the peanut butter brothers, stopped in on their south bound hike. They were carrying home made venison jerky. Pokey and I spent about 35 minutes at the shelter trying to dry our boots and socks and having an early lunch. Soon we headed out and up toward Beartown State Park. We reached Benedict Pond sweating and still wet from the morning dew. A walk along the pond to the beach area convinced us to stop for a swim. I washed a pair of socks, my hiking shirt and under shorts in the men's room. It took a lot of soaking and squeezing to finally get the water to come out of my clothing clean. I brought the clean clothes out to the beach and put them on my black plastic bag to dry, turning the clothes over frequently to speed up the process. It was too nice at the pond to leave so we didn't. We spent the entire afternoon swimming and talking to the beach goers. We were offered food and drinks and good wishes. It was easy to change our plans and shorten our day to 14 miles from 20 or 27. Pokey called his uncle and arranged for him to meet us in Tyringham instead. It is great when a plan falls apart and reassembles itself in a more pleasant manner. Another great day. I miss Burnie, Katie, Amanda and Rainbow. Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-18
To: Gabby's hike
Miles today: 0.0

Gabby¢s HikeWe've been hiking Julie and Bill style. We spent a night with a college orientation group from Bucknell on Sunday. We told jokes and stories til midnight. Monday we stopped early to have lunch with the dysfunctional family, four young ladies and a guy. We slept in a green house with them in Sheffield Ma. Beat Box and Wipe Out joined us for awhile. We sang songs, told jokes and made it comfortably through rain and thunderstorms. A huge double rainbow capped the evening. Tuesday we planned on big miles to Upper Goose Pond. We stopped at Benedict Pond for 5.5 hours of sun and swimming. We are sitting on the deck of Goose Pond Cabin eating pancakes and coffee with Chef Vegan, Crazy Legs and Tall Tales. I went skinny dipping at 6 AM this morning. Feels good. Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-18
From: Wilcox North Shelter

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: haze

Sunny, cool day today. We left camp by 7:00 AM hoping to reach Tyringham before the Post Office closed at 12:30 AM. It was a good haul up in the early part of the morning then easy going. Reached the P.O. by 11:45 AM. Post master could not find my mail drop. Last night I gave away some food to south bounders. I looked in hiker box for meals to get me by then read my list of mail drops to find Dalton was the next drop not Tyringham. Oh no!!!Bob, Pokey's cousin, drove up right at noon. He drove us to Lee where we had a great lunch at Friendly's. Back at the trail head we found Chef Vegan reading under a tree. Hiking on we met a family on a day hike and talked for 3/4 hour talking trail stuff with them. We reached Upper Goose Pond by 7:45 PM. It was getting dark. We made some dinner when the canoe returned with Crazy Legs and Tall Tales. They had to leave the trail again for a wedding. They still have to finish in 5 weeks for their wedding. Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-19
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kay Wood Lean-to
Miles today: 17.6

A nice swim in Upper Goose Pond and 6 AM had me well prepared for the great blueberry pancakes served by Pete the caretaker at 6:30 AM. It took us awhile to do some cleanup chores but Pokey and I were back on the AT by 9 AM. It was very foggy with threats of rain and thunderstorms, so we took few breaks. Lunch at October Mt. Lean-To with Crazy Legs and Tall Tails was nice but we had another 9 miles to complete before the end of the day. We stopped for a short visit with the cookie lady. Cookies and soda were offered and I filled my water bottles. It began to darken as approaching t-storms filled the sky but Pokey and I kept walking. We were still walking at 8 PM when it became too dark to see without headlamps. We struggled or 1/2 mile more to the shelter to find Crazy Legs and Tall Tails sitting near a fire eating dinner and a south bounder named Paul reading in his bunk. Dinner was made and journal writing over by 11 PM. Time for some serious sleeping. Night All!!!Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-20
From: Kay Wood Lean-to

To: Dalton MA
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: clear sky

This was a productive day but not many miles. Up early and into Dalton for a great breakfast at Duff&Mel's Variety with Crazy Legs and Tall Tails. We then headed to the Laundromat where we washed our extra stinky clothes twice. We watched the TV warnings of severe T-storms with high winds, heavy rain and hail. There was a 30% chance of storms so we planned to leave town as soon as possible. We stopped next door to the pizza joint for some lunch then headed to the post office to get my mail drop. There was a little difficulty using my debit card so it took a few minutes to complete my business in the PO. Outside I began to repack my backpack with the food drop when it started to rain and thunder and lightning began for real. We ducked into the Irish Pub to avoid getting too wet and ordered a beer to wait out the storm. Conversation with the patrons was fun. They wanted to know all kinds of things about our hike. We decided to stay in town because more storms were predicted. The owner of the BirdCage came by to pick up some hikers but told us he had no room for us. We tried to check into the motel nearby but it also was booked for the night. A lady from the pub offered us two beds in her house but her husband reminded her that they had just pawned off their kids for the weekend so they could have some time alone. It was kind of her to offer. We walked back to Tom Levardi's house on Depot Street and accepted a spot on his porch for the night. We are not allowed in the house so must go back to the trail to pee or walk into town to a store.Dinner at the Backwards "K", a sports bar, was nice. We watched part of a Red Sox game while eating our meal. It is suppose to be an all day rain tomorrow with heavy periods of rain. We will likely zero. My brother Bill will stop by tomorrow night and hopefully slack us on the next day.Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-08-21
From: Dalton MA

To: Dalton MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Thunder and lightning rolled in all night and well into the morning. We were undercover on Tom Levardies front porch draped in plastic tarps. Pokey and I went down to Duff and Dell's for breakfast today. We checked the bus schedule and talked with people in the shop about how to get to the Berksire Mall and the Post Office in Cheshire. A patron offered to drive us to the mall after he finished his breakfast. The patron drove us on a back route through some beautiful roads. Pokey found the bus stop at the mall and took a bus to Cheshire while I walked around the mall and got some food from McDonalds. I contacted my brother on my cell phone managing to let him know where I was just as the battery ran out and the cell phone shut down.Pokey made good time getting back to the mall with his mail drop. We got more food to eat. A long visit to EMS to replace some gear and explore some new products then back to the food court to eat again. Then we went to a movie "Deep Water". It was a very realistic portrayal of a shark encounter. I thought it was pretty good but scary and rather morbid.Back to the food court for more goodies. Pokey ate something from all of the 7 stores except 1. We waited for several hours for my brother Bill and nephew Matt to arrive. It took him 5 hours because of heavy traffic on the mass pike. He brought us to a Days Inn motel in Pittsfield, MA.Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman