morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-07-26
From: Manchester

To: Lost Pond
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

7/26 Manchester- Lost Pond Shelter15 miles, 3493'/ 3294'We bade our Green Mountain Hostel host goodby as he dropped us at the trailhead, planning a relatively short, 10-mile day of hiking to let Panda's back recover from the fall he took coming out of North Adams Mass last week. The trail typically climbs when leaving a road. And generally the bigger the road the bigger the climb. Today was no exception. We began a 3-mile, 1000' climb as soon as we left the parking lot. Unlike many such climbs, this one led to the mountain summit of a ski resort. An hour and a half of uphill grind deposited us into a mountain clearing with warm sunshine, cooling breezes, and 360 degree views. Today also marked the completion of 800 trail miles. We are well over 1/3 of the way done, and now just 524 miles stand between us and Katahdin. After a second climb, this one a 900 footer over Styles Peak, we descended to Peru Shelter, which at 10 miles, was our intended destination. After a short rest and feeling surprisingly fresh, we decided to push on, at least as far as Griffith Pond anyway, which lay only another 1/2 mile up the trail. Took a dip in Griffith before heading in to lost pond. Didn't want to have to dry my shorts so went in without them. Of course, no sooner had I taken the plunge than I heard the sound of a woman's voice. I could've beaten Michael Phelps in a sprint to the rock where my shorts were waiting. No time to dry. I shimmied into those things as fast as I could, trying to keep them from getting too soaked. I made it just in time thank goodness, and the warm afternoon sun quickly dried what water did get on my shorts. The last 4 miles to Lost Pond were mostly flat, but did take us over the rocky ledges of Mount Baker, from which there were spectacular views. We arrived a little after 6 and made camp. There was no pond, but there was a tumbling brook just below the site. The sound of the water and the cool evening breezes made for a good night's sleep.
Date: 2016-07-27
From: Lost Pond

To: Minerva
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

Lost Pond- Minerva. 15 milesSaw my first moose tracks. Stopped briefly at the pond. Couple of tough climbs during the second half of the day. Hoping to make it to a deli for breakfast tomorrow. Killington on Friday then On to Rutland VT and a hostel on Saturday.
Date: 2016-07-28
From: Minerva

To: Governor Clement
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

28 Minerva- Governor Clement 10.8 2724'/2455'We got an early start today, leaving Minerva at 6:30. After a 200' climb we were atop the ridge and followed it all the way to VT Rt 4, some 3 miles distant. Our goal? Q's Whistle Stop, a converted train station that's now a restaurant. Along the way we were treated to views of the regional airport at the "Airport Overlook", and we crossed a suspension bridge right out of an Indiana Jones movie just before reaching the road. We hung a left and headed west for a half mile on Rt 4 to the gustatory Mecca that is Q's Whistle Stop. What to eat? The "Hungry Hiker Breakfast" of course! French Toast was the first course- 2 slices of half-inch-thick sourdough toast covered with real Vermont maple syrup. Next came the 2 eggs over easy with home fries, toast, and bacon. And since "O-Town" one of my hiking buddies is a vegetarian I scored his sausage! I washed it all down with 3 cups of Joe, an orange juice, and 4 glasses of water. Since my food bag was getting a bit light I splurged and ordered a club sandwich and a BLT to go. They each came with a bag of chips of course. I waddled out of the place on a super-full stomach and with a sandwich each for lunch and dinner. If you've been following my journey you know what happens whenever the Appalachian Trail leaves a major gap, or as they call them in New England "notch"- the trail immediately climbs. Today was no exception. We went from 860' to 1500' in a half mile. Funny thing is, I felt like I was running on jet fuel! That breakfast, with all the carbs, protein and fat, together with the caffeine, powered me up that hill like nobody's business! I was at the top before I knew it and still feeling strong. Good thing too, 'cause we still had 2, 500-foot climbs to go. As we ran the ridge line north we dropped into a saddle at the 4-mile mark where Clarendon Shelter was located. We took a quick break there and continued north. The trail soon began to follow the Cold River, crossing it a time or two as we made our way upstream through stands of hemlock trees. There was much evidence of previous flooding. Huge sections of hills overlooking the river have tumbled into the stream, carrying hemlock trees along the way. The trail first crossed the stream then climbing away from it, at several points traversing cliffs 200' above the water before dropping back down and crossing it again. Eventually we turned away from the torrent, crossing a minor ridge. There I stopped for lunch (that sandwich from Q's was calling). I hoovered the BLT while washing the socks I've been wearing all week. Quite a productive stop if I do say so myself. The sound of distant thunder signaled the end of my break. I "saddled up" and hit the trail, hoping to make the next shelter before the bottom fell out. I normally average about 2 miles per hour, but with the added incentive of thunderstorms bearing down, and still benefitting from the high quality food from Q's, I averaged almost 4MPH all the way to the shelter, pulling in just as the storm hit in earnest.
Date: 2016-07-29
From: Governor Clement

To: Rutland VT
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: overcast clouds

10.7miles 2966' of climbing, 2978' of descending. After a night of light showers, and knowing we had a tough climb ahead of us, we broke camp early and were on our way up Killington by 6:30. At 4235', Killington is the second highest mountain in Vermont, and the largest ski area in the northeast. We were looking at a 2000' climb over the next three miles to get to the top. The first mile wound through the northern hardwood forests we've become so accustomed to in New England. Then we transitioned to spruce and fir as we climbed higher. We finally reached the top of Little Killington after an hour or so of continuous climbing, then ran the ridge line to Killington. We took a well deserved break at Cooper Lodge, the highest AT shelter in VT, before starting down the north side of the mountain. The descent was very similar to the climb, about 2000' of elevation loss over a distance of 3 miles. Upon reaching the bottom of Killington we still had several miles of trail between us and the road. Our plan was to get to the trailhead in time to catch a bus into town. We hoped to make it to Rutland VT before the Yellow Deli and Hostel closed at three. It was going to be tight, but if we didn't waist time it was possible. Things were going pretty well when suddenly tragedy struck. Panda went down. Slipping on a rock, he pitched into the brush and directly onto his shoulder. After assessing the damage we limped to the trailhead 8/10's of a mile distant. We had no luck hitchhiking but eventually caught bus to town. Unfortunately for Panda, he had to connect to a bus heading to the ER instead of the deli.
Date: 2016-07-30
From: Rutland VT

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

10 miles, 2771'/ 2886'Stayed at the Yellow Deli Hostel in Rutland VT last night. Ate good food, relaxed, enjoyed a street festival right out front, slept on the roof under the stars. It was a bittersweet time however. My hiking partner, Captain Panda, has been forced off the trail due to the shoulder injury he suffered when he fell yesterday. He will be missed. I take some solace in the hope that he will recover in time to rejoin me on the southbound leg of the hike. After resupplying and bidding Panda goodbye it was time to get back to business. Sylvia and I caught a bus to the trailhead and resumed our northbound adventure. We climbed 500' to "Jungle Junction" where the Long Trail breaks away from the AT and continues on to Canada. We head east toward New Hampshire instead. After many ups and downs we pulled into Stony Brook Shelter and settled in for the night.
Date: 2016-07-31
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: The Lookout
Miles today: 8.1

7/31/16Stony Brook Shelter- The Lookout8.1 miles 2572'/ 1912'The day dawned gray and wet with rain pattering on the metal shelter roof. I was thankful to be in the shelter, able to pack up and eat breakfast under its protective roof. O-Town and I were the last to leave, rolling out around 8:30. It's hard to get going when you know you're gonna get wet. We soon found ourselves hiking with Riggs and Hoss, a couple we first met over 125 miles ago as we left Massachusetts. They're L*A*S*H*ers (Long A** Section Hikers) hoping to go all the way to Katahdin. We also found ourselves hiking in a driving rainstorm. Wherever the trail went up or down it became a running stream of rainwater. All the flat sections became 3"-5" deep pools. We slogged ahead, trying to maintain a sense of humor about it all. After 3 and a half hours of slogging, we arrived at "The Lookout", a privately owned cabin that's available for hiker use. This place was awesome, with a door, real windows, a fireplace inside, and get this... An observation deck on top. While we could see nothing of the legendary views from the deck since it was completely "socked in", we were able to get inside this wonderfully dry cabin and out of the relentless rain. It was Nirvana! So much so that we opted to foreshorten our hike and stay for the night.
Date: 2016-08-01
From: The Lookout

To: Thistle Hill Shelter Site
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: light rain

8/1/16The Lookout- Thistle Hill15.2 miles, 4042'/ 4800'This was a tough, tough day. It was long. It had 4000' of climbing and 4800' of descent. It rained all day. And temps never got out of the 60's. I was soaked to the bone within the first 30 minutes of hiking, and with the exception of a brief lunchtime interlude, stayed that way all day. I hiked the first 2 miles to a shelter, where I found temporary respite from the deluge. I had a snack and a cup of coffee before walking the next 4.5 miles non-stop to get to a road crossing and the "On the Edge Market". It was only 2/10 off the trail and offered sandwiches, pastries, drinks, coffee, and most importantly, a warm dry place to get out of the rain for a little while. In fact, the owner was gracious enough to to allow us to sit in the stairway leading up from the cellar of the place. I don't know what was cranking out the heat from down there but the air was sauna-hot coming up those stairs. The proprietor called the spot hell, but it felt like heaven to me. As much as I would have loved to stay, I had miles to hike in order to get far enough to be within striking distance of Hanover, New Hampshire before our budgeted 3.5 days worth of food runs out. There was no choice but to shoulder my pack and head out into the rain. I left the market at 1:30 and with 8 miles of up and down hiking between me and my intended campsite. Still soaked and with rain pounding me all the way I made the 8 miles in one, 4.5 hour push. With the ground wet and rain pouring down there was no point in resting along the way. Hoping against hope that there might be room in the shelter, I pulled in at 6:00. The shelter was full. I set my tent up in the rain, got out of my wet clothes, had a cold dinner of trail mix and cliff bars, and snuggled into my bag for the night. I'm sure looking forward to some good hot food and a roof over my head tomorrow in Hanover!
Date: 2016-08-02
From: Thistle Hill Shelter Site

To: Hanover NH
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

8/2/16Thistle Hill- Hanover NH15 miles, 3059'/4224'Slept dry and warm in spite of continuous rain throughout the night. Woke to the continued pattering of raindrops on the tent. Looks like another wet day. UGGGHHH! I think I'll go back to sleep for a bit. It's a miracle! When I awoke again at half past six, beams of sunshine were coming through the trees! Rain was still dripping from the trees, but there was blue sky overhead. Hallelujah!With a smile on my face and a song in my heart I broke camp and started down the trail. Our first planned stop was at a small deli 4.5 miles down the trail. I had a slice of pizza and a sub washed down with some Powerade and a coke. Okay, I admit it. I have an eating disorder. Anything not made from nuts or noodles is just too hard to resist! I really must stop eating at these places, but I can't seem to help myself. There's probably a 12 step program for this. After gassing up at the deli we were off again. The trail climbed and descended in a series of ups and downs, 300' up 200' down, 400' up and 450' down, over and over as we made our way towards New Hampshire. After 11 miles of this the trail finally spit us out onto Elm Street of Norwich VT. The last 3.4 miles of our 15 mile day was on pavement. We strolled through quaint neighborhoods filled with old New England homes, by the town commons and under an interstate. At the bottom of the hill waited the Connecticut River and across it, New Hampshire. After crossing the river and taking the requisite state line photos we climbed a short hill into Hanover, the home of Dartmouth College. Our Trail   Angel picked us up at the Dartmouth Bookstore and whisked us away to our accommodations for the evening. We showered, laundered our clothes and ordered take out- a salad for me thank you very much.
Date: 2016-08-03
From: Hanover NH

To: Hanover,NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

There are no inexpensive places to stay in Hanover, NH so some local residents have created a "Trail Angel Network" of people willing to take hikers into their homes. It was initiated by a resident whose son became very ill while thru-hiking in Virginia. A local family took him in off the trail, provided rides to doctor appointments, housed him, fed him, etc. for ten days and wouldn't take one red cent for it. She started the network as a way to help hikers the way the folks in Virginia helped her son. There are perhaps 20 people on the list. I picked one of the names at random, sent a text and BAM! Heard right back from "Our Trail Angel" Greg. As mentioned in yesterday's post, Greg met us in Hanover, took us home and just opened his house to us. He told us we could have anything we wanted from the fridge, gave us muffins in the morning, watermelon in the evening, a place to do our laundry, and a warm clean bed to sleep in. We were able to use the area's FREE public transportation to get resupplied; picked up some Chinese take-out, and even went to Eastern Mountain Sports and LL Bean for cool weather clothing. It was simply an amazing day of much-needed rest and Greg wouldn't take a penny for it (although he did let me mow his lawn, but only after I absolutely insisted). I've been hiking the past few days with "O-Town", a young man from Orlando. Panda and I first met him and his hiking partner in Connecticut. His partner left the trail so we reconnected near Stratton VT. The three of us hiked together for a few days before Panda's accident and we all seemed to get along- hiking at about the same pace and over similar distances. Unfortunately it's now just O-Town and me. And that's who I'm referring to when I say "we" did such and such.
Date: 2016-08-04
From: Hanover,NH

To: Moose Mountain
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: moderate rain

8/4/16Hanover NH- Moose Mountain11.1 milesIt was hard to do, but we had to pack up and bid our trail angel goodby this morning. We mailed some items home from the post office before catching a bus to town. The remainder of the morning was spent walking around the Dartmouth College campus, visiting their famous Outing Club, and strolling through downtown Hanover. It was 11 before we realized it, time for the local pizza restaurant to start serving. And this one was offering a free slice to all thru-hikers! Well we really couldn't pass that up now could we?Fueled up and ready to go, we grabbed our packs and followed the white AT blazes into the woods. As is always the case, the trail climbed. Up we went, 100', 200', 300', on and on until we reached the ridge after 800' of vertical. The effort more than burned off that slice of pizza. We ran the ridge quite a ways, with numerous small ups and downs, then descended before hitting our final climb up Moose Mountain to the shelter. It was a short day- 11 trail miles plus two or three miles in town. Here's an ironic twist... I met a thru-hiker today who saw a moose on Bear Mountain and a bear on Moose Mountain. How funny is that?
Date: 2016-08-05
From: Moose Mountain

To: Smarts Mountain
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: light rain

8/5/16Moose Mountain to Smarts Mountain12.2 miles, 4462'/ 3325'The day dawned cool and clear, perfect for hiking. It was almost chilly when we shouldered our packs and headed down the trail. The woods are very quiet these days. I believe most, if not all of the neotropical birds who migrate here to nest have headed south. I'm certainly not hearing them call like I was a couple of weeks ago. Where once their continuous cacophony of song was almost too much of a good thing, now there is none. Gone are he ovenbirds, vireos, warblers and veerys. Now there's only silence punctuated by the occasional song of the wood thrush or peewee. Water was an issue today. Unlike a few days ago when there was too much, this time there wasn't enough. This area is in the midst of a record drought. Even with the two and a half days of rain we had earlier this week there's not a lot of water in the streams. Almost all the seasonal springs are dry, and even some the reliable ones are barely flowing. I'll never take clean water for granted again. Being able to walk to the bathroom or kitchen and have instant access to hot and cold, fresh, clean water should be something we appreciate more than most of us do. This was also a day of challenging climbs. Probably the toughest since the roller coaster section in Virginia. There weren't as many 700-800'ers, just fewer, more continuous ascents of 1000- 1500'. We are coming into the infamous White Mountains of New Hampshire so this is to be expected. We started the day with the intention of hiking 17 miles. Had we been able to reach that goal we would have climbed over 5000' and descended an equal amount. This would have been over 1000' more than over the same distance in the 'coaster. As it was, we stalled out on a 2200' climb with just 12 miles behind us. We stumbled upon a beautiful tent site near the summit of Smarts Mountain, set up camp, cooked some dinner and collapsed into a semi-comatose sleep.
Date: 2016-08-06
From: Smarts Mountain

To: Ore Hill campsite
Miles today: 13.1

Smarts Mountain- Ore Hill tent site. 13.1 miles, 2918'/ 4311' After a restful night listening to the wind whip through the fir trees surrounding our Smarts Mountain campsite, and the patter of rain on the tents as showers passed through, we awakened to dense fog. It made me thankful to have had the chance to enjoy the spectacular views from here when we arrived under clear skies yesterday. The body's capacity to recover never ceases to amaze me. Day after day we crawl exhausted into camp, and although we're a bit stiff the next morning, our bodies somehow manage to loosen up enough to do it all over again. Today we descended the north side of Smarts, then climbed up and over Mt Cube. Happily, the trail down Smarts was well graded and did not traverse the steep, slabby, slippery rock it did during yesterday's ascent. We made pretty good time and soon found ourselves at a beautiful, free-flowing brook. Having used the last of our water for dinner last night, we promptly filtered and drank two quarts on the spot. We filtered two more quarts for the road and we're off to tackle Mount Cube. The damp, cloudy weather broke by mid-morning and the trail was drying out some by the time we began our ascent. We were fortunate that it did since the south side of Cube was a repeat of the climb up Smarts. The mountain seemed determined not to let us access its summit, throwing down pitch after pitch of steep, bare, angled, slabs of rock for us to traverse. We carefully picked our way along and eventually broke out of the trees onto a series of open ledges with stupefying views. To the south we could trace the path we've hiked for the past three days. To the north we could see the mighty White Mountains looming, awaiting our arrival a few days hence. After summiting Mt Cube, and with showers in the forecast, we began our long descent of the mountain's northern flank. Much like Smarts, it was much less steep and rocky than the mountain's south side. Along the way we crossed paths with some southbound thrus who alerted us to trail magic ahead. It was getting late in the day so we could only hope we might be lucky enough to arrive before the magic disappeared. We again made good time and soon found ourselves approaching a dirt road. A sign tacked to a tree announced "Trail Magic, 100 yards ahead". Could it be? Had we made it in time? Upon crossing the road and entering the woods I began to hear voices. Rounding a bend in the trail I came upon a wonderful site... Trail magic! A local gentleman had set up a veritable restaurant in the woods and was serving scrambled eggs, orange juice, cookies, cornbread, snicker bars and bananas. He also had gallons of sweet fresh spring water, and folding chairs to sit in while we hoovered all the food we could hold. Thanks Carl! It was a good thing there was a campsite only a half mile up the trail. We waddled to it with full stomachs and smiling faces.
Date: 2016-08-07
From: Ore Hill campsite

To: Jeffer's Brook Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: few clouds

Ore Hill- Jeffer's Brook9.5 miles 1895'/ 2395'We opted for a short day today in order to stage for the climb over Mt Mousilaukee, our first foray above tree line. It was also over mild terrain and we fueled up on high quality food      We've done everything we can do to prepare, tomorrow we will go up and over. The weather forecast is good. It should be a glorious hike.