morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-04
From: Mt Wilcox North Shelter

To: Upper Goose Pond
Miles today: 14.0

Rain was dripping from the trees when I got up. Everything in the forest is wet. I started getting soaked by growth along the trail before I'd finished the .3 mile back to the AT. Almost immediately it started to rain a steady soaking downpour. It pretty much didn't stop the entire 14 miles to Upper Goose. Welcome to the Appalachian Creek. In some lows the water was well over my ankles. Brush crowds the trail often, slapping the passing hiker with wet leaves. I have no way to dry my phone or camera lens. I really want to take some pictures because there's some beautiful scenery. In truth, I think this is much better than the humidity. It's much cooler. I feel good on the long ups. Energized. And the rain keeps the bugs down. I walk the 14 miles with barely a break. My feet are soaked but the puddles feel cool and good. The cabin at Upper Goose Pond is wonderful. It's a real house, with caretakers. The hiker bunk room is upstairs. I'm sitting on the porch in a rocking chair. It's a great place and for me a "must stay." The pond itself is wonderful. There's a dock. Canoe. We'd be playing in the pond if it wasn't still raining. And cool. I can't believe I'm in long sleeves and leggings. The forecast is for sun tomorrow, cooler, and less humidity. Sounds wonderful. We also get fed pancakes and coffee in the morning. What a great place. Prom Queen is here. I haven't seen her for months. Same with Pickles and Ice Party. Kristo and Shivers showed up. Easy Rider is here. Lyons is new to me. I meet Tatiana and Jolly last nite. It's a merry gathering. My apologies to section hikers for not mentioning your trail names. There's three educators from Michigan here, hiking the MA section. I have enough challenge just remembering thru hiker names. This place will be remembered as one of the jewels along the AT in MA.
Date: 2014-07-05
From: Upper Goose Pond

To: Thomas Levardi
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: clear sky

I've rediscovered my home state. I admit it. I've complained about the taxes and politics plenty. But it's taken a walk of over 1500 miles, from Georgia, to open my eyes to the beauty of western Massachusetts. I'll never be the same. I've been granted an extraordinary perspective, AT style. And today MA unfolded a perfect day. The new day brought cooler temps, sunshine, and a refreshing breeze. The 20.6 miles to Dalton were a pleasure. What a difference a break in the hot humidity makes. The trail may have been wet and muddy. My feet were getting soaked in runoff all day. But who cares on such a great day. The AT passes a couple ponds and beaver dams. It passes under big oaks, maples, birches and beech trees. There was an open view of Mt Greylock. A beautiful hike. Early in the day the AT passed over the Mass Turnpike on a designated walkway/bridge. This was so exciting for me. Just over two years ago I had stopped on the turnpike here. I was beginning to make the commitment to thru hike the AT. Yet I was on my way, in the company truck, to Winnipeg for my next assignment. I remember parking the truck, hopping the fence, and standing on the AT looking south across the bridge. I was thinking about how far away Georgia was. And could I do it? I had just blown out my eardrum on the Great Barrier Reef and I was feeling very physically humbled with 20% hearing in my left ear. Did I really think I could hike the entire AT? Today I crossed that exact spot, from Georgia. Very emotional. Nine or so miles from Dalton, and 100 yards from the AT, is the "cookie lady." All of us ended up there. Kristo, Shivers, Prom Queen, Pickles, Ice Party, Lyons, Tatiana, and Jolly. It was a gorgeous day. The cookies were free but there was also Klondike Bars to buy. Or lemonade or Coke. Or fresh boiled eggs. We laid in the sun, on a lawn, among potted plants and rows of blueberry bushes. Incredible. I could easily have dozed the day away. So content. But Dalton called, and it's back on the trail. So now the same group of us are tenting in the back yard of a wonderful friend of the AT named Thomas Levardi. Once again I am amazed at the generosity of people. Dalton is a wonderfully picturesque town. By now we've eaten and stopped for ice cream. I'm in my tent listening to fireworks. A breeze is blowing. It's a fantastic night, especially given the past few days. Tomorrow the trail takes me to the top of Greylock. Family members are planning some picnic trail magic for us up there. The word has gone forth to my trail tribe in the vicinity. This has been one of the best days yet on the AT. Thank you MA.
Date: 2014-07-06
From: Thomas Levardi

To: Mt Greylock, Bascom Lodge
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: broken clouds

Today was one of the best days, so far, on the AT. The weather was still lower humidity, not unbearably hot yet, and sometimes breezy. A great day. At last I was going to climb Greylock. And my two sisters, Nancy and Barbara, and my brother-in-law David were going to have trail magic at the summit. You could say Greylock and I have a history. Exactly a year ago the 5.2 miles to the summit were really a struggle. I was left with nagging doubts about doing a thru hike. Today I hiked 17.2 to the summit without any trouble. It's good sometimes to be stubborn. I can't describe the feeling I felt as the war memorial on top came into view. Emotional, definitely. I know this because tears started rolling rolling down the short space between my eyes and beard. It's Sunday and lots of visitors are at the summit. The parking lot is packed. The sun is shining. Great views. And breezy. So nice. I leaned against the monument base and took off my trail wet/muddy shoes and sox and we dried in the sun. Life is so good. The grass feels wonderful on my bare feet. Jolly showed up, then Lyons and Tatiana. More gear laying in the sun. Happy barefoot hikers. Curious bystanders ask us questions about the AT. Shivers shows up. Then Easy Rider, Ryan, and Kristo. And then my sisters and brother-in-law arrive with trail magic. They pulled this off on the Fourth of July weekend, with 24 hour's notice. Truly angels. It was so good. At the picnic table my kin are cooking sausages, hot dogs, and cheese burgers. There's KFC, potato salad, and fruit salad. Pasta salad. Chips. Bread. A cornucopia of picnic goodness. We're all dazed. There's 48 cans of beer from my home town brewery. Water. Gator Aid. Are we in heaven? Ice Party, Prom Queen, and Pickles arrive. It was such an amazing happening. Thank you David, Nancy, and Barbara. Trail Angels spectacular. You sent us on our way with food bags full of leftovers. We couldn't stop talking about it. We were all feeling so incredibly blessed and content. As if this wasn't enough, Ice Party talked to Bascom Lodge management and got us a great rate at the lodge bunk room. Right on top of Greylock. Seven of us stayed. Didn't even have to hike on a full belly. The bunk room looks out over the southern approach to the mountain, the way we'd just come. Fresh linen. Real pillows. Showers. I think we were all pretty much in a blissful daze by now. And nibbling on picnic food. We watched the sunset from the summit. And then spent a while watching the lights below. This was one of the best days, ever.
Date: 2014-07-08
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 11.5

Dawn arrived wet. The forest looked, and was, water logged. My shoes and socks were still wet. My pack too. But at least it wasn't raining at the moment. And my damp clothes had dried out from body heat during the night. Nothing to do but make a breakfast shake, put on wet shoes, pack, and set off. Another day of hiking with wet feet. I try hopping from rock to root to rock to avoid getting wet. It works for a while but eventually I'm in over my ankles. I pretty much just walk through the puddles from then on. The forest looks very healthy to me. And so green. The trail is pleasant, except for the mud puddles. I like the forest and terrain we're going through. Plant growth often crowds the tread way, but that happens a lot anyway. Trail maintainers do what they can. Clipping back growth, for miles, is a big chore. I decide I'll head into Bennington when the trail crosses route 9. It's supposed to rain again today. More than anything I want to dry out my trail guide. Laundry would be nice too. My socks are caked with mud, even though I rinsed them in a stream yesterday at the shelter. I feel a wedge of silt building under my toes, in my trail runners. An open blister on my left foot is getting painful. Yes. I'm going into town to dry out and get clean. The trail down to Route 9 is steep. Very steep. There's lots of rock steps. Slippery wet rock steps. One slip would spell disaster. I'm dripping sweat. The humidity seems to climb as the trail descends. It really does feel like another storm is building. Shivers is sitting near the road. I offer to share my room in town, and put my thumb out. This is were I meet Steve, outstanding trail angel. One of the best. He's at the trailhead parking lot, an eye out for hikers. Especially thru hikers. He calls me over and shows me a cooler of drinks. The Gator Aid is wonderful. As we head out the parking lot Kristo and Shivers are heading our way. They've decided to share the room. To Bennington, VT we go. Steve recommends the Catamount Motel. He is so right. They're very hiker friendly. They offer the motel laundry machines to use, on a donation basis. Steve offers to drive us to resupply. Once I have a shower and clean laundry all's right with the world. And it's time to find burgers and brews. Bennington is a nice town. I like it here and could happily take a zero, but tomorrow the trail climbs higher and I'm wanting to get further north. Bigger mountains are coming. I'm enjoying the process of the trail working its way deeper into more mountainous territory. Right now, to be clean and dry, is a happy lull in the wet hiking routine. We all wanted more miles today. 11.5 now feels almost like a nero. But this oasis from the muddy wet forest is too wonderful to pass up. Later that evening there's a downpour. Again. But we're snug and dry. It feels so good.
Date: 2014-07-09
From: Bennington, VT

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm up and sitting with coffee outside the room by 6:30. Steve has offered to take us back to the trailhead. I'm enjoying the morning. The sun has come out. The town is freshly soaked by last night's storm. Humidity is down and the temp is cooler. A great day to be hiking. Soon enough Steve has us back at the AT. I snuck some gas money into Steve's console. He refuses to take any money. So I got devious. Today's climb is 2300 feet from the road crossing to the top of Glastenbury Mountain. It's ten miles over a series of steps. We're getting a taste of mountains again. The day is wonderful for hiking. For 10 miles I even keep my feet mostly dry. The trail is great. The views from Glastenbury lookout tower are worth the climb. I see Greylock, now far away on the southern horizon. And to the north, the mountains are gathering. It's only 4.3 further to the next shelter. My feet are still dry. It's not too difficult to rock hop/root hop out of the puddles and mud. As Shivers, Kristo, myself, and a couple Long Trail hikers sit in Kid Gore Shelter it begins to rain again. It pours. And it's too early to stop hiking. Darn. Nothing to do but wait for a lull and head into the rain. So my feet are wet again. Before long that nagging blister is hurting I've got mud up to my shins. But the rain eases off. Story Spring Shelter is almost full and wet clothing is hanging everywhere. So I decide to tent. Just as my tent and gear is arranged, and I've gotten water, another downpour hits. I'm glad it held off just long enough. There'll be no socializing at the shelter for me tonight. I hunker down in my tent as the rain falls. And stay there for the rest of the night as the rain comes and goes.
Date: 2014-07-11
From: Mile 1640.1 tent site

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: broken clouds

Awesome hiking day. The trail still has muddy spots but the stuff is beginning to solidify. The stepping stones that have been hidden under muddy water are now exposed. I didn't get my feet seriously wet all day. In fact my trail runners dried out. My feet are beginning to heal. About seven miles into the day I hit the road into Manchester Center, VT. That was yesterday's goal. Those miles were a joy this morning. They'd have been a death march yesterday. I'm glad I cut it short when I did. I stand with my thumb out for only 15 minutes before getting a ride the 5 or 6 miles into Price Choppers in Manchester for resupply. It's a beautiful sunny day. Low humidity. My resupply doesn't take long. I break down the store stuff into baggies and throw the packaging into the trash. And also dump last weeks trash that's accumulated in my food bag. I start walking through town, towards the trailhead, but looking for a place to eat. A driver in a passing vehicle asks me if I want a ride to the AT. It's the Green Mountain House owner, whom I had wanted to meet. My food bag is heavy in my pack. I don't really need town food. I take the ride and am back on the trail almost within an hour of leaving it. The high point of the day is Bromley Mountain, a nice three mile hike up from the road. The trail breaks out of the forest and on to a ski run near the top. Suddenly there's wild flowers and views. I had packed a 24 oz beer out of town, and sat on a comfy chair lift at the top to enjoy it. There's a 360 degree view. Outstanding! I stayed there an hour, just taking in the view and the fine day. Eventually it's time to move on. I've got 7 miles to Peru Peak Shelter. About 3.5 hours of hiking. I seem to have leveled out at 2 mph the last couple of months, including breaks. The younger hikers seem to level out at around 3 mph. This shelter, and the associated campground, is a fee area. There's a care taker. It's $5 to stay here. The area is popular and this is how the Green Mountain Club can pay for a care taker and keep the area from getting trashed. I meet Steady at the shelter. She's a triple crown hiker, having done the big three, AT, PCT, and CDT. It's a pleasure to visit with her. Then Sparky and Rocky show up. And before sunset Shivers, Critter, and Kristo roll in. I thought those guys were ahead of me, but they stayed in Manchester until late in the day. It's a merry gathering. Sparky and Rocky pull out three 24 ounce beers each. They'd carried them all ten miles from town. And now they share. There's big smiles all around in the deepening dusk. At times like this life seems like it couldn't get much better.
Date: 2014-07-15
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Randolph, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Not much to report. It's a zero day. I hang out with my cousin and his family. Resupply. Post pictures. And take my bounce box to the PO to bounce ahead. I suddenly realize that the next time I mail my bounce box I'll be sending it home. The trail will be nearing Katahdin. Incredible. I'm actually sending my box to Maine this time. Tomorrow Don will return me to the trailhead at AT and US 4. Maine Junction will be just a mile ahead. The AT will leave the Long Trail and turn east towards New Hampshire. 487.3 miles will remain. I'm not sure I can wrap my head around any of this. Raw excitement is building in my gut. The most difficult, and most dramatic, section of the AT is just over the horizon. I haven't felt this alive in ages. One thing I know for sure...deciding to attempt an AT thru hike was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Date: 2014-07-16
From: Randolph, VT

To: The Lookout
Miles today: 17.3

Thank you Don, Evelyn, and Mark for your hospitality. My stay at your beautiful home, and reconnecting with family, adds a special depth to this hike. Don has me back to the AT by 0800. After a great breakfast. One mile up the trail I reach Maine Junction. The 105 mile joint Appalachian Trail and Long Trail footpath is over. The AT now turns East for New Hampshire. The popular LT continues towards Canada. The hiker population on the AT drops off as it becomes it's own trail again. Almost immediately the tread way improves. There's less erosion. Less roots and rocks. And virtually no more mud. Hiking through Vermont has been SO beautiful. Now the beauty amplifies as my hike becomes less involved with where to place my feet. There's longer steep ups and downs. The AT is really enjoyable. I'm heading for The Lookout. I'm not sure, but I think it's a privately owned cabin with a platform on the roof. I've seen pictures and read about it in journals. I just don't know if this is the same place. There's no water so I load up at the last source, 2.4 miles before The Lookout. Yes! It's the place I hoped it was. The cabin is open to use. The view from the roof is 360 degrees of Vermont. Sharp rolling mountains are clustered in a chain going north. To the East I think I'm seeing the beginnings of the Whites. To the south west Mt Killington. Spectacular. I lay out my bedroll in the cabin. Eat. I keep going up to the deck on the roof as the sun starts to lower. It looks like I have the place to myself. I feel bad for the hikers who've missed this spot. Thank you Lookout Farm for making this place open to the public. Then Kristo and Shivers show up. This is great! It's good to have company at such a wonderful place. We watch the sun set over the Green Mountains. We're all just totally loving Vermont. Not to mention how exciting it is to see NH on the horizon. And to know we'll cross the Connecticut River in two days.
Date: 2014-07-17
From: The Lookout

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: scattered clouds

First order of business is to watch the sun rise, from the roof of The Lookout. Spectacular. It's another beautiful day. Not too hot. Not too humid. Ahead, the profile of the trail is a roller coaster. The trail seems to be cutting across the north/south ridge lines. There's steep ups and steep downs. One after another. The trail is in great shape. The forest is wonderful. In places the AT cuts across open areas. The grasses and shrubs crowd the trail. But they're also full of wildflowers. I'm really liking Vermont. Today the trail comes within a farm store twice. Farm on the Edge and Cloudland Farm. Both are .2 off the trail. Ice cream. Sodas. Cheeses. I stop for snacks. At Cloudland we get sausages. At Thistle Hill Shelter we get a fire going. Kristo, Shivers, and Critter are here. And some SOBOs come through. It's really fun to visit with the southbound thru hikers. They have just come from where we're going. Meanwhile, we roast sausages over the fire. It's darn wonderful. And the evening is outstanding. Today was another perfect day. Not a lot of miles. But Vermont is too enjoyable to rush through. We're all excited, knowing we'll cross into NH tomorrow. As I bed down in my tent, on a fine evening, all is right with the world.
Date: 2014-07-19
From: Hanover, NH

To: Mile 1756.9 tent site
Miles today: 13.0

>There's a deep pleasure that comes with waking up on a working farm. When I come down stairs and get coffee Tim and Janet are multi tasking the operation of their business. Employees have arrived. The contented bustle of growing produce and getting it fresh to the markets. The very lifestyle seems nourishing to me. I am so glad to be here, sitting at the kitchen table. There still seems to be time to talk hiking, and to discuss the Whites. And breakfast of a rainbow of potato varieties, with bacon and eggs. Outside, the day looks to be another great one. Tim takes me back to Hanover. I still need to resupply. I don't get on the trail until 10:00. This doesn't bother me in the least. It'll be a low mileage day. But I have no schedule, and the deal is to just keep hiking north. The rest will take care of itself. The first up in NH is Moose Mt. It's a gentle 1400 foot climb. I run into Five Star and G Walker along the way. And more trail magic. For the first time ever there's a bag at the cooler with my name on it. Sooner or Later left me some Snicker Bars and a couple breakfast biscuits. Thank-you just doesn't say enough. G Walker, Five Star, and myself arrive at the Moose Mountain Shelter. Then Critter shows up. And then three SOBOs. It's a fun gathering. It's so great to be seeing southbounders. Most of us aren't staying here. It's around four. Too early to stop. The legs say they're game for a few more miles. G Walker stays. Five Star leaves for the next shelter, 5.7 away. Critter leaves to see if he can do 12 miles and catch Kristo and Shivers. I suspect I'll see the three of them again. Soon. The SOBO's talk of making Hanover. I figure I'll just go about three miles, down the north peak of Moose to a water source near the bottom. I pass two more southbounders on the way. So now I'm in my tent. Actually, I climbed inside as soon as I put it up. The mosquitoes were lively, with a couple deer flies doing constant bombing runs. It's to be expected here lower down. Camping rules, as I read them, say I'm supposed to be 200 feet off the trail. I'm not. Maybe 30 feet. But there's an old fire ring here. This spot looks like it hasn't been used in over a year. It's level and not rocky. Perfect. I won't start a fire. When I leave tomorrow morning there will be a flat spot on the dead leaves but it will quickly fade away. No trace. It's been another great day in the AT.