morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-09-02
From: Gorham, NH

To: New Jersey Again!
Miles today: 0.0

Well I finally caught up with my journal entries. It only took an entire month to finally write. It is not easy to keep the journal updated from the trail.   I do hope you all at least enjoy the pictures I put online. This one is my neice Madison and me at my cousin's wedding this past weekend.   It was a blast. Always good to spend time with my entire family.   Damn everyone looked so different. It has been a busy week so far.   I picked the Displaced Hippie up at the airport on Tuesday night.   Looks like she will be returning to the trail with me at the end of this week. This should be interesting. We never were really good at getting anywhere quick. We always seem to take the long way everywhere.   I hope this isn't the case when we return back to the trail. We have to try and beat the snow to Canada on the Long Trail.   I'm hoping that the snow holds off for a while this winter. I know wishful thinking, but hey no one has proven it doesn't work. I can't believe tomorrow will make a 100 zero days for me since the beginning of February.   That is way too funny.   But I have to say almost all of them were well worth it.   I wonder how many more zero days I will have until I finish this trip. If it keeps raining like it has then I'm guessing I'll have a lot more. I'm hoping for nice sunny skies the rest of my trip.   I'm not walking above treeline if the weather isn't clear enough to see. I wasted all those views of the saddlebacks, Moxie Mtn and Pleasant Mtn. due to my schedule. I don't have a schedule anymore.   Now it's just time we have. It's a beautiful thing. And hey if we run out of money I'll just start selling off Teresa and her equipment. She won't mind. he he
Date: 2004-09-15
From: Grafton Knotch

To: Garfield Campsite
Miles today: 0.0

I finally returned to the trail on the 5th of September. I just had to redo Mahoosic Knotch. I just love that section. I have to say when I got to Gorham I wanted to rehike that section for a 3rd time but the Displaced Hippie was not interested. It was The Displaced Hippie (DP), Tripod and myself heading into the trail late sunday afternoon. We made it to the top of Speck Mtn. in the dark. It was a late day start but it didn't bother us to night hike. We camped right at the top near the tower so we might have a great view of the sunrise. Now of us woke up in time to catch it. We did get a great view of Mtn. Washington above the fog. A nice morning to start back out on the trail again.It was a rough 3 days getting through the Mahoosic range. The Displace Hippie hasn't really been out hiking with the exception of our Yellowstone hike. It was tough section to get back into shape through but she did it. It wasn't exactly the nicest thing to start her off with the mahoosic range and the whites but she lived through it. She's a tough chic!We had pretty good weather throughout our 2 weeks. The whites were kind to us. With the exception of the presidential range and Washington. The wind kicked our butts a little but it could have been a lot worse. And I am happy to say that even though I swore I would never climb up Mtn. Madison again I did and I loved it. We had some gusty winds at the top but it didn't stop me much. It just pushed me over onto my butt 3 times. It was some strong wind! It was beautiful out. Just a perfect climb can't tell you how much I really enjoyed that climb.Our hike through the northern presidential range was lonely a little. Not many people out that day. Even when we summited Mtn. Washington it was at 6:30 at night everyone had already left for the day. How sweet had the summit to ourselves. Very nice. We even got to watch the sunset as we climbed down off the summit towards Lake of the Clouds hut where we stayed that night. The rest of the whites went pretty smooth. We even took a long break up on Zeacliff view. We mooned a helicopter that flew by the cliff very closely. I only wish I could have gotten a picture of the crews faces as the saw our bare asses ontop of the cliff. I know bad girls! But we were just hanging out drying out our sleeping bags and tents we didn't have anything else to keep us busy. Our paces weren't the quickest in the whites but at least we enjoyed the hike. We didn't manage to get through the whites without paying for at least one site. We camped up at Garfield campsite and paid so we didn't have to night hike. There wasn't much of a moon out, besides our own, to hike from so we decided to call it an early day. Man do I just love playing around in these mountains.
Date: 2004-09-16
From: Garfield Campsite

To: North Woodstock
Miles today: 0.0

The weather stayed nice for our walk across Franconia Ridge into N. Woodstock. That is such an awesome ridge walk. I won't have done it if the weather was not nice enjoy. It's just not worth missing that view. Besides The Displaced Hippie has never hiked up here I wanted her to have nice weather to do this section. We came flying off the top of Mtn. Lincoln. We both had a great pace going down into Franconia Knotch. We were in race with the sun yet again. We needed to go into town for just one day of supplies but it had to be done that day. So we were racing to get into town grab our supplies, a pizza, a six pack and haul ass out of town and into a campsite before dark. It wasn't going to happen. We both knew this but figured we'll be hiking around in the dark looking for a flat spot holding a pizza. Yup it was going to be fun. It was that or I said "Just hope someone wants to take us home for the night and give us a place to sleep for the night." Hey remember no one has EVER proven that wishful thinking doesn't work. If anything I have proven time and time again it DOES work! And I was hoping it would that day.We got a ride into town quickly. As we made our way into the building to order our pizza we were stopped by an older man. He asked us where we were from. Then asked us if we needed a place to sleep for the night. I'm serious it was his second question! It took all of 5 minutes to get a place to stay for the night from son guy who was going inside to order a cheese steak for dinner. How sweet is that. SEE all you people that don't believe in wishful thinking!!! So he gives us directions to where to find this house. The directions sounded like this... Go up the road to that blinking light. You'll see a sign on the left that says Maple Ave go left there. Walk down the street and look for the big brown house. Walk around back and into the building. So we ran around getting our supplies and 6 pack. Then we headed up to Maple Ave. Well let me tell you every house on maple ave is some sort of brown color. And they are all huge!!!!! But as soon as we saw the ski house we knew we had the right one.It turns out Warren, our host for the evening, was part of a ski club in town that owned a huge house with 101 beds. Warren was the only staying there that night. The building used to be a school. We got a tour and it was huge. It was kind of like going back to my old private school in the church and speding a night in the building. We also got a full kitchen to use, hot showers and free laundry. Oh yeah and cable! I just love trail magic.
Date: 2004-09-19
From: North Woodstock

To: Glencliff
Miles today: 0.0

After that great trail magic we headed back up to the trail once again.   By the time we got up to the parking lot The Displaced Hippie decided to head back home and then down to Florida to see where her mother was after Ivan hit.   Her Mom lives right where Ivan hit into and she was worried about her safety.   So we said our goodbyes she stayed behind in the parking lot and I headed back onto the trail again.I have to say I do enjoy the freedom of traveling alone.   I hadn't really had a pace these last 2 weeks and I was looking forward to getting it back.   I wasn't looking forward to dealing with Hurrican Ivan in the Whites.   The rain started as I crossed over Kinsmans peaks.   I have never hiked over Kinsman in nice weather nor have I seen the view from up there.   I have always been clouded in.   I ran into a friend from 2002 on my way down to Eliz Brook Shelter.   I met No Pain in 2002 near Bear Mtn. I was giving a bunch of thru hikers rides into town the day we met.   I was doing trail magic!   No Pain was telling me that he has seen my name all over the trail down south for the last couple of years. We both seem to hike the trail all the time.   We hung out on the side of the trail chatting for about an hour. It was great to run into him again. Then I get into the shelter and who walks in behind me. POPTART! Aka Cupcake!   Yup it was BSing all night in the shelter catching up on each others hikes.I wasn't happy to leave Eliz Brook Shelter and hike in the rain. I hate hiking in the rain.   But I had to get into Glencliff for sunday night so off I went.   I got soaked and then the lean-to was taken over by weekenders with a bunch of kids.   It's great that people want to come out and camp on the weekends but come on if you're a group of 8 bring tents!   It was a cold wet night in the tent. The next day I laid around until 11:00 to see if it would warm up any but it didn't.   I set off in soaking wet shoes and below freezing temps.   I was sure I was going to get frostbite and loose a couple of toes. I was even trying to guess which ones I would loose. The walk up and over Moosilauke was freezing, wet and windy.   I had every piece of clothes I had on and I was wishing I had my silk pants.   This makes 3 days I have hiked this year wearing pants.   It was that cold.   Ivan hit me with everything he had up on that summit. Walking above the trees I was hit with froozen rain whipped in my face by the high winds.   This is a day I won't mind having a beard. I hauled butt up and over the top. I stayed for a quick picture on the summit then I was out of there.   I was a beautiful thing seeing the Hike Inn Hostel in Glencliff.   I couldn't wait to make me some hot food and sit around doing nothing.   And that is exactlty what I did. I wouldn't even go outside to hang out with everyone else. I just sat inside watched the tube and stayed warm.   I was not interested in being outdoors at all.   Hard to believe.
Date: 2004-09-26
From: Glencliff

To: Killington 
Miles today: 0.0

I wanted to make it easy for Stumpknocker to find this picture.   You know old people are really not that great with these computer things!! He he he!   Sorry Stumpy you know I can't help myself. I am just a smart ass after all!The weather got a little warmer leaving Glencliff. I had decided to wait until midday to leave the hostel so I ended up jumping ahead 10 miles south on the trail.   I was planning on returning during the week and slacking those 10 miles I had skipped.   I really wanted to make it to Smarts Mtn. Firetower to camp in for the night.   It was a nice easy 10 miles into camp.   I'm starting to dig this terraine.   A lot easier then the whites.   No one was at the cabin and firetower on Smarts Mtn when I arrived.   I ran down to the spring grabbed a bunch of water and headed up to the tower to make camp.   I climbed right up top and made myself at home.   I cooked dinner while watching the sunset over the White Mountians.   I could see Mtn. Washington from where I was.   Great view!   It was a little windy but the tower was fully enclosed and started pretty warm during the night.I watch the sunrise while packing up and drinking my morning tea.   I was not looking forward to pushing 22 miles into Velvet Rocks shelter that night.   It was a pretty easy 22 miles. I cruised through it.   When I got into camp I found I had run into Flying Brian and Silver Girl again.   I met them both just outside Pearisburg, Virginia back in mid April.   They are my kind of hikers.   They love to push the High miles everyday.   It was a fun night hanging out chatting with both of them.The next morning I was off to Hanover.   Tripod was heading up and was going to slack pack me a couple of days.   Very Nice!   I got into town heading for the Co-Op and started eatting.   I went for all good stuff.   Fresh fruit, yogurt, sesame seed bran sticks and Mtn. Dew. Who says Mtn. Dew isn't good for you? I pigged out.   It would help with my slack packing. The next couple of days I slacked and even took another zero day.   Not sure what number I'm up to now. I'll have to figure that out in the next couple of weeks.   The weather turned nice again. clear warm days!   Made it easy to get used to carrying my backpack again. Although I got my weight down to 22lbs again.   I was still heading into each town to get fresh fruit almost everyday.   I had my pace back so I could still hike a 15 mile day and visit town in the middle of it.   I just cruised my way up to Killington and the start of the Long Trail.
Date: 2004-10-02
From: Killington 

To: Jonesville, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Utah Mike YOU ARE MY HERO!!!!!!! As I arrived up to the sign for where the Long Trail leaves the Appalachain Trail to head up to Canada I found my 10 ink pen with a little note. The Note read.. To: Hippie Long Stockings From: UT Mike. I had lost that pen back before Smarts Mtn. Firetower. I had told Silver girl and Flying Brian to look out for my pen and maybe mail it to Killington for me. I don't know how UT Mike got it but it doesn't matter I got the pen back. That is Awesome! After finding my pen I start the first .4 mile of the Long Trail. I can't believe I'm going to complete yet another long distance trail. I was looking forward to seeing northern vermont and canada. The weather seemed nice and the leaves were beginning to change. I was sailing through the first days of the trail. This trail was easy. I kept a pace of 15 miles everyday and I went into every town along the way. The lodges were great on the trail. Skyline being one of the best. The water was everywhere and was perfect. Crystal clear water tasted great. I really was impressed with the water along the trail. I wish it was that nice everywhere I hiked. I didn't run into a lot of people hiking this week. The weather was also starting to turn colder again. I decided that once I reached Jonesville I would get a ride up to Canada and start heading south to finish this northern section in Jonesville. I just can't walk in the same directions for too long. I get bored. So I flipped, again! It made it more exciting that way.
Date: 2004-10-13
From: Jonesville, VT

To: New Jersey
Miles today: 0.0

Back home again! It's nice to see everyone. It was nicer to weight myself on my own scale. I'm happy to say I finally got down under 130lbs. Yesterday I weighed in at 129. That made my week. It must have been a good day I also got some work out of this visit. I went to see an old boss I have worked with for about 15 years. He jumped on the idea of me running his route while he goes on holiday in a couple of weeks. I also got the other boss from the same catering house to let me run his route too. He was going to shut his business down because it's too much of a pain in the ass to find someone you can trust then train them. He just figured it was easier to shut down for a week. Yeah he liked my idea better. Give me your business for the week! So now I have work for 2 weeks in 2 1/2 weeks. Another visit home!I like weeks like this. Good news in every directions. Oh yeah and I even found my red hat I thought I lost in Virginia. It was in my winter sleeping bag all this time. I thought I lost it in camp at Dismal Creek Falls with Dharma. It just got packed away in my sleeping bag and sent back home for the season. So that's cool but I'm gonna stick with my gray hat it's lighter. Maybe when it gets colder I'll get that hat back. I like that I can also use the hat as a gator. Cool feature to have on a winter hat by the way.I talked to Stumpknocker finally yesterday. He had a great time on his holiday out in California. He also found a need to get me to redo a section of Vermont so we can hike together again. I guess he's afraid he might not be able to catch me if I'm too far ahead. I guess I'm not as slow as he says I am. Oh and I come to find out that he put a picture of me in my underwear on his journal. Bad Stumpknocker! It's got the title "raining". Also he has a cool picture of me climbing the rocks up Katahdin in the dark. Thanks stumpknocker and just remember pay backs are a bitch! And by the way I won the bet!!!!!!!! 8 months as of the 10th of this month, pay up! what was it $20.00 and a 12 pack of Yuengling! or was it a $100.00 and free airfare to St. Johns? Or was it the $20.00 and you'll carry my backpack for the rest of my hike? Can't wait to find out.I am home for another few days then I am planning on returning to the trail outside of Hanover to meet up with Stumpknocker. I guess now I'll have someonen to talk with in camp. That will make it easier on the people that have to camp with me now. I have been alone so much I really talk everyone's ears off when I run into people. Even more so then normally. I know hard to believe but it is true. I will try to keep the journal updated a little more often but it is difficult. I haven't been in towns when the libraries are open. This makes it just that more difficult to keep the journal updated. Besides I don't exaclty live my life to write this journal. I like to write but I don't want to have to do it. I like to spend more time living the adventure then writting about it. So I will try harder these next couple months but I can't promise anything. So until next time stay turned to the same bat channel for updates.
Date: 2004-10-21
From: Woodstock, VT

To: Rutland, VT
Miles today: 0.0

It is nice to be back out on the AT again.   Although this time I have a truck.   Yes a truck.   I had to drive myself to the trail last week so I decided to stay near my truck.   I met up with Stumpknocker on Sunday morning.   I had a great idea when I showed up to meet him at Happy Hill Shelter.   How about we just slack pack every day and keep moving the trucks further down the trail for the next 2 weeks. He seemed to love the idea. So slack packing it is. This is going to be a great 2 weeks. Sleeping in the trucks, not carrying a pack and eatting real food more then once a week.   I am looking forward to this.   So far it seems to be working just fine. We have hiked near 60 miles so far this week. We have been using Stumpknocker's fanny packs to slack with.   We are now carrying under 5lbs.   This is making it easy to keep a 3mph pace.   Currently we are staying with Mrs. Gorp and her husband Larry.   They were nice enough to put us up for 2 nights.   Not that I have a problem staying in my pickup. Lucky for me I'm short enough to sleep inside on the bench seat.   See there are good things to being short!   It is nice to get a shower and fresh baked chol. chip cookies.   I was in heaven all day thinking about the cookies I was carrying.   Stumpknocker even gave me his last cookie since I couldn't stop talking about how great they were.   Thanks Stumpy!We're planning on being down in N. Adams, Mass by Monday afternoon.   The trail is making it very easy to hike from truck to truck.   we're planning on hiking between 18-22 miles everyday.   Mostly the plan is to hike northbound and move the trucks slowly southbound.   There is a day or 2 that we are finding it easier to hike southbound so we're doing it.   We're turning into lazy hikers.   Only another 10 days until I return back to New Jersey to work for those 2 weeks. I am looking forward to working again. I miss working. I'm still not sure what I will do for work when I finish my hike. I would rather do something involving hiking but don't have my hopes up.   I guess I still have time to think about all that.   For now I'll just look forward to working for those 2 weeks.
Date: 2004-10-23
From: Rutland, VT

To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I can get used to this slack packing stuff. We hiked 18 miles today and got done around 1:30. It took us 6 hours and 17 minutes to hike our mileage today. That is nice. We had enough time after hiking to get into town so we could update our journals at the library before it closed. This is working great.Our weather has turned rather chilly these days. There has been snow ever since we crossed over Killington. The other day we had froozen rain all morning. That was nicer then being rained on. At least we didn't really get wet except for maybe our sneakers. Today when we crossed over Straton Mtn. the tower at the top was froozen solid. We tried to climb up but with the high winds and low temps it was too much. Stumpknocker got a lot higher up on the tower then me. I was being chicken with the froozen steps. I'll put the pictures online when I return home in another 8 days. As cold as hiking has been for us, sleeping in my truck is rather warm. I even discovered I could cook in the bed of the truck safely. So imagen this...5:00am and I'm hanging out of my slider window of my pickup making tea in the bed. Hey it works and I don't have to get out in the cold to make my tea. I have become a very lazy hiker. I did discover once more how great a sleeping bag I have. Yet again I have split a bottle of beer inside of my sleeping bag. You think I would have learned the first time I dump a bottle on my bag but no. Anyway I just wasn't paying any attention to what I was doing and had forgotten I was holdling the beer bottle between my legs. Well I started moving around and it split. Of course I didn't even notice it had split until the bottle was empty. Lucky for me I have a great bag. It is waterproof and beerproof too. All the beer came out all over the floor of my truck (yeah it smells great in there). I tried to wiped most of the beer off of my bag with a bandana. I used my body heat to dry the bag over night. It never even got wet. Lucky for me, unlucky for MTn. Hardware. Now I will have to write them a letter. This should be fun. It looks like 2 more days and I will be out of Vermont and have completed the Long Trail. I can't wait. This state is starting to bore me. I'm looking forward to high mileage in Mass and even maybe northern CT. I even am trying to talk Stumpknocker into one of my crazy high mileage days. Doesn't look like he's willing to do anything over 30 miles but he's willing to slack me after that. Let's see if I can beat my highest mile before the end of the month.