morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-08-07
From: Rangley

To: Rangley
Miles today: 0.0

This was a great place to dry out. We hadn't planned to stop in Rangley, but what a wonderful place. It's the most 'hopping' town we've seen in Maine. They even have a movie theater!We slept in...as long as our bodies would allow, about 6:30. At some point in the morning we took a ride into town. We stopped at the library. Soaring, Sweet Sixteen and Tigger spent some time on the internet. Owl and I browsed around town. I found a pair of Patagonia long johns. I 'outgrew' my last pair. Owl bought a new notebook. She's always looking for new notebooks for her story ideas.We met Tigger and Soaring back at the Thai place for lunch. Not great Thai food, but it was okay. We talked about going out for ice cream after, but it was just too cold... in August!Back at the lodge we had a quiet afternoon watching old movies, An American in Paris and Rear Window.Some more hikers came into the hostel and there were lots of conversations about the trail and the weather. Everyone is struggling with the weather.Owl and I have made a decision. It was a tough call, but we've talked it through and decided to make a change to our hike plan. We are hiking this trail for the fun of it, but with this weather and terrain the fun is gone. We know that we are about to approach the most difficult section of the AT. We've decided to move south to Glencliff, NH just south of the White Mountains. From what we have heard that won't get us out of the rain that is pounding the northeast, but it will get us out of the most difficult terrain of the trail.We will head south from there. At the same time we will keep an eye on the weather. If southern Maine and New Hampshire have a couple weeks of sunny weather to dry up the trail we will try to find a way to return and do this section this year. If all else fails it will be a section hike for next year. Right now though it's just not worth the discouragement of trying to push through it.Meanwhile we are going to do a slackpack day tomorrow with the help of Bob. The next day he will drive us to Andover where we will pick up our drop boxes we had mailed ahead. Sweet Sixteen's car is there where she plans to end her section hike for the year. She has graciously offered to give us a ride over to Glencliff, NH, where we will continue our hike.It looks like our group will split up again for awhile at this point. Tigger wants to stay on track and push through the weather and terrain. Soaring will move head with Owl, Roo and I. That is if I can get Roo to leave here. She loves Mr. Bob.It's amazing how God continues to provide incredible people and places along the way to take care of us. He is good.Rabbit, Owl and RooJoshua 1:9
Date: 2008-08-10
From: Andover

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 0.0

I'm at a loss to describe our accommodations this evening. But let me start with the morning. Our morning at The Cabin was lovely. Hot shower, clean clothes, amazing breakfast thanks to Earl. I know Sweet Sixteen had to be anxious to get home after her six weeks away hiking but she didn't rush us. We took our time getting loaded up and even took a few minutes to stop in Gorham to pick up a set of maps for this next section.We'd heard some dubious things about the hostel we were heading for. But, it's in the right spot on the trail so we figured we'd deal with whatever was in store. And it is interesting. Different from anywhere we have stayed so far. When we arrived we were directed to a large tent. Inside there were seven twin beds, a couple couches and a table. It smells funny. Took awhile for me to place the smell. It's that musty smell that our old family canvas tent would have after being stored for awhile. There are old rugs placed over what I think is a wood platform. A work light is strung across the ceiling. And it is cold in here. I suspect it will be freezing by morning. There is a building with a common room with a fridge, microwave, computer and TV. They do have by far the largest video collection I've seen at any hostel. We watched Dear God and Master and Commander. The rest of the facilities are outside. There is a flush toilet, hot shower, washer and dryer! all together in another tent. And the open area in between is filled with picnic tables, a grill, lawn chairs and hammocks. In warmer, dryer weather it might not be a bad spot.As I said before our plan was to skip ahead and continue hiking until the weather cleared back in the more difficult trail section. We keep getting warnings about not waiting too long to go through the Whites, it will be cold soon. Unfortunately there doesn't appear to be a break in the weather coming. What we are hearing from the SOBOs who have just come through this area is that they aren't having much fun with it. All the usual bad weather and fogged in where there are supposed to be incredible views. We're feeling pretty confident we made a good choice. I'm just wondering how far south we would have had to jumped to get out of the rain. I suspect to Florida!If we do get good weather tomorrow we will slackpack the last mountain in the Whites. I'm not confident it's going to stop raining. Either way we have to hang around for a little while. My replacement hiking pole is supposed to be delivered here so I'm sitting tight until it arrives. Hopefully tomorrow. Meanwhile we'll see how the night goes.Rabbit, Owl and RooJoshua 1:9
Date: 2008-08-11
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 0.0

Turned out not to be too bad last night. It did storm all night, but I slept well through it. When we woke it was raining hard. We decided against the slackpack up Mt. Moosilauke. We spent the morning going through our bounce box deciding which pieces of cold weather gear we would need. We both decided to switch from our light rain jackets to our warmer coats. That means the temps should be rising soon. We sorted the maps for the next section, watched another movie and took showers.It was a slow day waiting for the UPS truck and my new hiking pole. Several NOBOs came in, some all the way from Springer, some just from Hanover. A group of scouts stopped in for a minute. They were moving on, the rain didn't faze them.By dinner time there still was no sign of UPS so we took a shuttle into Warren for something to eat. We stopped and took a picture of the missle that stands in town square. There's a conversation piece. When Phat Chap picked us up afterwards he said UPS had arrived. Yeah!I was packing my bag up ready to get out of here first thing in the morning when I realized Soaring and Tigger are still planning to stay another day and slackpack the mountain. We're not sure what we'll do. We had talked about slackpacking if my pole didn't arrive today. I was looking forward to moving on since it did.We are all dealing with the mental adjustment to the choices we have made in the past few days. Owl is especially disappointed. It's been a dream of hers for so long to thru hike the AT. Now the possibility that we won't be able to get the Whites done this year is disheartening. We were talking this evening that her goal was to hike the AT before she finishes high school. Technically our umbrella school's academic year doesn¢t end until the end of August. So as long as we get back to do the Whites before the end of August next year she will have still accomplished her goal. I think that helped some.It's going to be good to get moving again tomorrow, though I hear New Hampshire and Vermont are very muddy from all the rain. That's nothing new!   If it would just stop raining.Rabbit, Owl and RooJoshua 1:9
Date: 2008-08-12
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

With my new pole in hand, Owl and I were ready to get back on the trail and head south. Tigger and Soaring were wanting to do a slackpack day north. I was afraid a slackpack day would mean another night at the hostel and I wasn't interested in that. Owl and I had also talked about the possibility of the two of us doing a section on our own sometime. A little mother/daughter time. We figured this would be a good time for it. It's only two and a half days down to Hanover where we could meet back up if they don't catch up with us before then.The morning started out very nice. The trail was really a trail again. It didn't last long, but it was good for awhile. The trail here is almost as muddy as Maine and a stream running down it happened several times, but there are no thigh deep bogs and the slippery rock slabs, for today at least, were only on the top of the mountain.Our only large uphill today was Cube Mountain. It was another one of those never ending mountains. You see the sky through the trees ahead only to have the trail turn and find more uphill to climb. It went on and on.We had very nice weather most of the day. The blue spot in the sky seemed to follow us around. Then just as we arrived at what I thought was the summit sign we heard thunder nearby. Turned out not to be the summit, but was a sign pointing further up to the summit...in the direction of the thunder.I couldn't believe it! A nice day all day until we get on top of the mountain and it starts thundering. God and I had a real serious talk as we climbed the summit. A lot of Whys? Whats? and Pleases! As we stepped out onto the exposed rock summit (aren't they all!) we had the first view we have had on a mountain top in some time. We could see all over, but most importantly we could see the large storm cloud blowing quickly away from the mountain top. We stopped and watched it for just a few sections and took the time to say Thank You, God!From there we started down the never ending mountain with all it's slippery rocks and roots. We got into Hexacuba Shelter around 6:30, later than I like to get into camp. It makes getting camp set up, dinner made and cleaned up before dark a hard thing to pull off. But we managed.I think tomorrow we may take a shorter day. We're all a little wiped out from today. Even Roo seems tired and it's hard to wear her out. But for now, a good nights sleep.Rabbit, Owl and RooJoshua 1:9
Date: 2008-08-13
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Smarts Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Since we had planned a short day we slept in and got a late start on our hike. I think everyone felt well rested but me. My side of the tent was sloped and there was only one position to sleep in without rolling on top of Owl. But it was only a five mile day and a restful afternoon awaited me.First we had to cross two brooks. I think it was really the same brook twice. First time was an easy rock hop. That was nice. Second wasn't so easy. We managed to get across on the rocks but the crossing was at a swift waterfall. Just made me a bit nervous, I don't have a great record with balance.At a fireroad we met a NOBO named Mike. He said he had stayed last night at Smarts Mountain, where we were headed and that the sunrise view was amazing. So we started up. It was just four miles up a gentle slope but it seemed to take forever. I guess it was because we were looking forward to the top.At the top things were a bit confusing. There were signs everywhere, privy, firewarden's cabin, firetower, some side trail but none to the tent sights. We stopped first at the firewarden's cabin which had been converted into a hiker's shelter. Looked like a great place for mice to live to us. We moved on to the tower.There were two hikers, Orange Dust and Enoch there with their dog. They had camped but in the morning decided it was such a beautiful day that they layed out all their gear to dry and hung out for the morning. They directed us to the site they used. They said it had an incredible view and last night they had even watched an asteroid shower. We headed straight that way.I think this campsite is what I imagined in my romantic ideas about the places we could camp along the way. It's in a clearing among pine trees overlooking a lake with mountains rolling off in the distance as far as I can see. It's quiet and serene. At least until someone goes up in the firetower and declares themselves King of the World. But that just happened once.We sat around and read and napped, had some cheese tortellini for dinner and made a tentative plan for tomorrow. We now have 24 miles into Hanover, not something we are likely to pull off in one day. We did decide to get up at day break and start out early. The toughest part of those 24 miles are the first 12. That may be as far as we make it. We'll see.This was a good day. I think Roo is feeling better. The rest was good for her. AND my socks are dry! It's been awhile since I put on dry socks in the morning. Small treasures.Rabbit, Owl and RooJoshua 1:9
Date: 2008-08-14
From: Smarts Mountain Campsite

To: Hanover
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

We woke to the sound of some hiker in the firetower announcing the sunrise. Luckily we were getting up at sunrise anyway. We planned a long day, but the terrain looked to be pretty good, as long as the mud didn't slow us down.At one point we came upon a sign that said Free Water and Ice Cream. We followed the arrow to a blue house where a lady allowed us to fill up our water with her hose and she gave us each a fudgecycle. She and her husband where keeping a list of hikers who stopped by. We were hikers number 212 and 213.We also passed three section hikers. As we stopped to talk with two of them their story sounded very familiar. The third hiker was back on the trail a bit. As I talked I realized she must be Ameba, Sweet Sixteen's friend. As she came along we stopped and had a nice talk. The trail is a small world.We arrived at Moose Mountain Shelter at 3:00. We had plenty of hiking time left but not enough time or energy to make it another ten miles to the next shelter. We started talking about our options. Our next trail town was a day away but more complicated than other stops. Hanover, NH is supposed to be a very nice town, but doesn't have great options for pet friendly places to stay. After studying our book it appeared we would have to get a ride to one of the neighboring towns. We came up with the idea of going to the first road crossing and getting a ride to a nearby town for a hotel room. Then the next day we would hike into Hanover and camp at the soccer field and not worry about showers, or hike straight through. We made some phone calls and got it all set up. Then we hiked to Three-mile road where we would get our ride.We arrived at the road crossing early and called the shuttle to see if they could come for us. They would send someone right over. It was about five minutes later that a van pulls up and out hops Ameba and her friends. The two cars parked here in the parking lot are theirs. oh drat! I realize I could have just hitched a ride with them. Seems my timing was just off.Our ride came and took us to The Days Inn in nearby Lebanon. I was looking forward to a shower, laundry, nice bed and a good nights sleep. Since we left Maryland all of our town stops have been in hiker hostels. I was really looking forward to sleeping in a private room for a night and showering without having to wear my crocks.It didn't work out quite that way.Rabbit, Owl and RooJoshua 1:9
Date: 2008-08-18
From: Campsite

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: few clouds

We've lost Amy. Even with the new shoes she continued to get blisters. We should have known to watch that closer, it's just been so long since we started and had to watch our feet closely. So after several calls to her parents and much discussion between Soaring and Amy, Amy's parents decided to come early in the morning and walk into where we were camped to pick her up. They arrived about 7:30 and helped carry her pack down the hill for her. Next friend who wants to hike along with us for a few days we will know to be more sensitive to 'breaking-in' their feet.Oddly enough, I now also have a large blister on my heel. I let it go too long thinking it was just one of those annoying pine needles stuck in my sock. When I finally stopped to look I was startled. I don't think I've ever let a blister get this big. And I don't know why I got one now. I'm working hard at protecting it. It's good a zero is coming soon.This was another tiring day. I'm still not sure why this is wiping me out. The temperatures are warm, but not too hot. Still I'm sweating buckets. Maybe it's the steepness of the ups, but they aren't very long. Maybe I just lost my 'hiker legs' with our slow moving through Maine. We're hoping to get moving faster soon.Again today we met several hikers we've met before on our southern half. Walking this morning we ran into the couple we shared a room with at the church hostel in Troutdale. Didn't get their names either time, but we had a nice chat this morning. We stopped for lunch and met Rue who we had met just north of Damascus. As we got into the shelter this afternoon we met the couple we had shared lunch with at Wipiti shelter back in Virginia. Since then a huge crowd has come into the shelter area, several that we have passed along the way on our travels.Not much to add about today, just putting one foot in front of the other. Tomorrow we just have six miles into Gifford Woods State park where we plan to spend a zero resting. I was feeling a little guilty about taking a zero after having spent two nights in a hotel in Hanover, but then Owl and I went back through her journal and realized it's been ten days since we zerod last. It's time for a rest. My feet agree.Rabbit, Owl and RooJoshua 1:9
Date: 2008-08-19
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Killington, VT
Miles today: 8.0

It really poured last night. I seem to say that a lot. There was a crowd at the shelter. The Long Trail Festival had just ended nearby and hikers were returning to the trail. It was similar to being on the trail north of Damascus after Trails Days, somewhat but different. At this point hikers left on the trail are pretty serious about their hike. After Trail Days there was a lot of partying going on.Anyway the rain was pounding. We expected an afternoon thunderstorm around 5:00 but it didn't come. Owl and I crawled into our tent at 6:00 to get away from the mosquitoes. By 8:00 I was asleep and sometime after the thunder started. There was pounding all around us for quite awhile before the rain started. And then it didn't stop...all night. By daylight it began to ease up some. We lay in bed hiding from the drizzle until around 8:30. When I finally crawled out I noticed most of the other tents were sitting as quietly as ours. Nobody wanted to move.It was almost 10:00 before we headed out on the trail. The dreaded morning was another mile uphill up Quimby Mountain. Then there was some rolling and level before we started heading down. Not a very difficult day. As we hit the bottom of the trail we crossed a new bridge across a river and swampy area that was really beautiful and ended at a waterfall. From there a little more uphill and rolling trail.We finished just after Kent Pond. Our original plan was to do a zero camped at Gifford Woods State Park, but a NOBO had recommended the Killington Hotel and we thought we'd give it a try. Right now we are glad we did. The temps tonight have dropped down to the 30s. In August! We're very glad to be in a hotel room. It's right next to the PO for picking up our drop boxes and the owner, Steve will give us a ride to the laundry in the morning. This was a good choice. Looking forward to some rest.Rabbit, Owl and RooJoshua 1:9
Date: 2008-08-20
From: Killington, VT

To: Killington, VT
Miles today: 0.0

It was a relaxing day, just as a zero should be. We went out to do laundry and picked up food for the next section. We're all cleaned up and regrouped for another start. My feet haven't completely healed up but hopefully they'll be okay tomorrow. Owl spent the day reading and watching Monk reruns.We are very glad we chose to stay at the Killington Motel instead of Gifford Woods State Park. It's right next door to the PO making our box pickups very simple. Steve the owner gave us a ride out last night to pick up some dinner and this morning to the laundry. They served a great breakfast in the lobby and give a pickup and dropoff at the trail head. I highly recommend them if you are hiking through this area.That's it for now. Tomorrow, back to the trail.Rabbit, Owl and RooJoshua 1:9
Date: 2008-08-21
From: Killington, VT

To: Cooper Lodge, Killington Pk
Miles today: 10.0

As always the start out of a zero was a little slow. We waited for Steve, the hotel owner to finish serving breakfast before he gave us a ride back to the trail. The trail was a very social place today. We spent a lot of time talking with other hikers.For those who aren't familiar with the trail in Vermont, let me tell you about it. There are two long distance trails in Vermont, The Long Trail and The Appalachian Trail. The Long Trail runs from the Massachusetts border in the south to Canada in the north. The AT follows the same path from Massachusetts north to Maine Junction (a crossroads in the middle of the woods) where it makes a right turn east toward New Hampshire.Up until this morning we had been traveling on the AT from New Hampshire. A couple miles into our hike we arrived at Maine Junction and connected with The Long Trail. The two trails together along with Killington being a touristy area meant we had a lot of variety in the hikers we met. We came across day hikers, section hikers, AT hikers, and LT hikers. The day was beautiful for a hike so everyone was ready to stop and chat.The morning was nice, but sometime in the afternoon the reality that we were hiking up Killington Mountain sank in as we just kept going up and up. It was hard to get a feel for where we were on the mountain so we thought we were making lousy time until suddenly we found ourselves at Cooper Lodge. It was only 3:00PM. Not bad for all the time we spent chatting during the day.It also meant making it to the snack bar before it closed. There is a .2 mile trail to the peak and then a side trail to the snack bar for Killington Ski Resort. It's only open Thursday to Sunday 10 - 4. Today is Thursday, and it was 3:00. Yes! I decided to stay with the packs and Roo and start getting camp set up while Owl and Soaring went to check out the snack bar.About 45 minutes later Owl came back with a gigantic soda and a Reese Cup. She had ice cream at the top but didn't think it would make the trip back down to me. That was fine. A cold soda with ice was great for me. I miss ice on the trail. I probably will regret not having gone up to the peak, but I was done with steep climbs for the day. It was nice to chill out.There are three platforms to set up to camp on and we put our tents on two. A NOBO named Warren arrived around 6:00 to have some dinner and ended up staying the night. Soaring had met him back at Kencora and they spent a lot of the evening catching up. Several other hikers have arrived since Owl and I crawled into our tent. Most are staying in the shelter. Looked a little too mousey to me.Looks like it might be a chilly night, our first in awhile. Hopefully we'll stay nice and warm in our tent.Rabbit, Owl and RooJoshua 1:9