morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-08-16
From: MA 8, Cheshire, MA

To: Mt Greylock Summit, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today's miles for Miles: 7.9Total miles for Miles: 805.8------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 694.3------------------------------During the evening I walked down to a small Shell Station to buy a few supplies but they were preparing for a move to a new facility that will have a Dunkin Donuts so the shelves were pretty bare. I did buy a blueberry muffin for breakfast in the morning. By bed time there were 8 of us at the church. I ended up ordering a small Hawaiian pizza for delivery which I shared with my roommate for the night ¢ Midway. I hit the trail at around 9:00 and hiked through a corn field then up and over some open fields. Crossed over a stile and hiked along a field of goldenrod. Before long I began the climb of Mount Greylock, the highest peak in MA at 3491 feet. The climb was steep with a number of wooden walkways and long sections of rocks and roots ; really tough on the feet. I passed 8 south bounders during the day and was passed, one by one, by my roomies at the church (still working on redeveloping my trail legs). Got to the top of Mt Greylock around 2:00 and checked in and showered. The views from Bascom Lodge are beautiful. There are lots of people milling around at the top as there is a roadway all the way up. I grabbed a burger and a coke and made a dinner reservation for the 7:00 hiker serving ¢ Salmon¢¦ Yum. There is a tower at the top of Greylock, The Mount Greylock War Memorial, and the trail goes right up to it.
Date: 2013-08-17
From: Mt Greylock Summit, MA

To: MA/VT Border - Southern end of the VT Long Trail
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today's miles for Miles: 10.4Total miles for Miles: 816.2------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 694.3------------------------------Sat at a table for dinner with a couple from Boston and a local couple all of who had a connection to Poughkeepsie and/or IBM. What a small world. We had great conversation and a fantastic meal. Following dinner I headed back up to my room ¢ there were 10 bunks and I stayed alone. Got up at 7:30, packed up and headed down for breakfast (continental breakfast consisted of a cup of coffee and a muffin). I ordered blueberry pancakes from the menu to increase my caloric intake for the start of the day. I sat with a couple from Boston who were motor cycle enthusiasts. We had fun sharing our adventures.   Back on the trail around 9:45 for the descent from Greylock. The hike was pretty steep in places but I felt pretty good aside from my knees. Downhill is always tough on the knees. Got to Route 2 and had a choice: left .5 mile to Stop & Shop or right .7 mile to Friendlys and Price Chopper. You can guess which way I headed. Took off boots and socks and laid them out to dry and put on my Crocs while I had lunch at Friendlys. Charged my phone during lunch then went to Price Chopper to pick up a few supplies.Hiked back to the trail then started a 1300 foot climb up from Route 2. There was a section AWOL mentioned where there was a blue blaze trail that avoided a boulder field. Think he could have said more because this was pretty long and very tough. I still would have stayed my course for white blazing the entire trail, but better information would have been nice. Was getting pretty tired but pushed on to the VT border. One more state completed!Passed about 7 hikers heading south today, most of whom were not thru hikers. Passed by a couple guys heading north both of who had connections to my home: one has a sister that works at Xanadu in Rhinebeck and the other was married in Poughkeepsie. Continues to be a small world indeed.Pitched my hammock, had dinner of a chocolate chip bar, hung the bear bag and climbed into the hammock just as it got dark. Called Side to check in and provide data for the journal.
Date: 2013-08-18
From: MA/VT Border - Southern end of the VT Long Trail

To: VT 9, Bennington, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today's miles for Miles: 14.3Total miles for Miles: 830.5------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 694.3------------------------------Slept pretty well last night in the hammock having only awakened 2 or 3 times and felt warmer than previously (partially due to higher temps I¢m sure).On the trail at 8:00. Had to stop to filter water after 12 mile and apply duct tape to my left heel (and so the blister issues start).Passed a hiker still in camp. Passed a couple of erratics (boulders that seem out of place ¢ how did they get there?). Passed two men with two young boys and a dog out backpacking for a couple days. I passed a trail runner while walking on planks. He hopped off as he approached then hopped back on once past.Flowers are few and far between now, but there are many bright orange and bright red berries to bring some color to the forest. The trail was very muddy much of the day today and there was flowing water on sloping sections in areas. It was overcast all day ¢ no sun at all.Chatted with about 6 hikers this afternoon; some north and some south bound.The last mile of today¢s hike was all big rocks of different shapes and sizes ¢ really hard on my feet. They feel bruised and I hope they recover by morning.When I was approaching Bennington I called the Autumn Inn who advertises free rides from and to the trail if you stay with them. The person who does the shuttling was off today so no ride was available. Thankfully there were three local hikers that came out of the woods about the time I did and I asked if they could give me a ride if I bought some gas. They said sure so I got a ride right to the motel, where I¢m staying tonight. Thankfully the shuttle driver will be back tomorrow for my return to the trail. The washer at the motel is out of order so the proprietor offered to wash my clothes for me free of charge ¢ really nice of her. I took a shower and called Dominos to have them deliver a pizza. I ate half tonight and plan to take some with me tomorrow for lunch. Will charge the phone tonight so I¢ll be good to go in the morning. I have both heels taped up now.
Date: 2013-08-19
From: VT 9, Bennington, VT

To: Campsite along the trail, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Today's miles for Miles: 14Total miles for Miles: 844.5------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 694.3------------------------------Got a great night's sleep and clean body and clothes to boot. Woke up feeling refreshed. Feet felt so much better. Walked up to the bakery to find it closed so it was cereal and apple juice from the lobby and coffee in my room. Got a ride to the trailhead and started a good climb. I was really happy to see a couple of hikers head out in front of me so they could do cobweb duty. Pulled out my leftover pizza for lunch and took an hour break to rest my feet. Four other hikers came in and out while I was there.Hiked through the Glastenbury Wilderness. Had a pretty strong day given how I ended the day yesterday. Stopped to filter water at the Goddard shelter. Had no cell reception to call Side to see how his doctor appointment went. Continued a little ways further to the Glastenbury Mountain lookout tower. Nice views but hazy. Still no cell reception. Side is meeting me tomorrow with a tent to replace my hammock so I can sleep warmer and have more convenient access to my belongings. I kept hiking to get in more miles today so I'd be able to spend more time with him tomorrow. Didn't have enough in me or enough hours of daylight to make the next shelter so searched for a spot to hang the hammock. Earlier in the day I had passed many nice campsites but now there were none to be found. Finally found a spot for the hammock. Took a while to set up camp since I was in a hurry. One step forward, two back. Had trouble hanging the bear bag. Where is Side? Climbed in the hammock just as it was getting dark. Still no cell service.
Date: 2013-08-20
From: Campsite along the trail

To: Stratton Arlington Rd, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Today's miles for Miles: 9.3Total miles for Miles: 853.8------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 694.3------------------------------Didn't sleep that well last night. My feet were throbbing for a long time. And later on in the night I was chilly. Last night for this hammock. Yea.   Ate a protein bar while breaking camp and was on the trail at 7:30. My legs were like lead today. The trail was difficult.   It was hard to get a rhythm going.   Passed about eight hikers today.   Side picked me up at 1:30. I had told two hikers heading north on the Long Trail that Side was meeting me and he would have trail magic. They were behind me on the trail. Luckily he did have trail magic and gave them a couple bottles of iced tea and a chocolate bar.I changed into fresh clothes Side had brought for me and we climbed into the car and headed out for lunch (well, it was actually my second lunch ¢ earlier I was really out of steam so had eaten lunch to get me through the last of the hike to the rendezvous point). After lunch we found a grassy spot behind the restaurant to set up my new Tarptent. Setup was really easy, but I guess the real test will be this evening when I set it up in the woods myself.We then headed into town for some ice cream. Side had a dish of his favorite ¢ rich chocolate and I had a vanilla shake. Yum! Took the pack out of the car and did a resupply with the food Side had brought for me. Switched out my hammock and pad for my new tent and my NeoAir air mattress (really looking forward to a good night¢s sleep in the warmth of my new tent).   Made a quick stop at Rite Aid for Gator Aide and water, then headed back to the trail. Once back at the trail I changed back into my stinky hiking clothes while Side started repacking my pack. Two south bounders came out of the woods to get water at the stream. Side offered them each a soda and 3 bottles of water (had bought a 6 pack at Rite aid but only used 3 bottles). The south bounders were camping just inside the wood line and said there was room there for me. Thanked Side for the brief escape from the trail and for the resupply then headed into the woods to set up camp at about 7:00. Camping at Stratton Arlington Rd
Date: 2013-08-21
From: Stratton Arlington Rd, VT

To: William B. Douglas Shelter, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Today's miles for Miles: 11.7Total miles for Miles: 865.5------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 694.3------------------------------Didn't take long to set up my new tent last night and I slept wonderfully. Loved, loved, loved being back in a tent. Toasty warm and I was able to spread my things around inside the tent with me. Stayed with a sweet couple Ado and Black Tick. Enjoyed their company.Slept late until 8:00 so got a late start for the day. Climbed up Stratton Mountain. Stopped at the top for lunch and to dry out the feet, socks and boots. There were about 10 hikers on the mountain top when I was there. Had passed a number of other hikers on the climb. Climbed to the top of the lookout tower for a hazy view in all directions. Hey, cell phone service - so could make a few calls. Dropped down the other side of the mountain to Stratton Pond. Sat by the pond for another few phone calls and a snack. Calm view across the pond. Continued on and finally decided to stop at William B. Douglas Shelter even though it is 0.5 miles off trail. Hate to invest the 1 mile roundtrip but it was all level. There was a pre-freshmen group of about 15 from Yale staying there for a week and doing trail maintenance. (Reminded me of the college group we encountered when we were hiking the Laurel Highlands Trail in southwestern Pennsylvania last year). An older gentlemen and a young lady were staying there directing their work. Thanks to all of them for their trail work rebuilding wooden walkways and trimming back weeds from them. One hiker stayed in a hammock and one in the shelter. Met up with Critter who we knew from earlier in our trip down south. Love to meet up with folks I know.Set up camp and cooked a Mountain House beef stroganoff dinner. Sat by the fire for a few minutes before retiring to my little abode.
Date: 2013-08-22
From: William B. Douglas Shelter, VT

To: VT 11 & 30, Manchester Center, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today's miles for Miles: 5.8Total miles for Miles: 871.3------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 694.3------------------------------Didn't sleep all that comfortably last night. Not sure if the mattress wasn't inflated properly or I was just too achy. Had some interesting dreams. Slept late again until 8:00. Took my time packing up. Left camp at 10:00 for the 5.8 mile hike to VT 11 and 30 leading to Manchester Center. Pretty uneventful hike. Passed a couple from Syracuse who were dayhiking. The lady was wearing a Steelers visor. Go Steelers. Passed a one-week hiker. My left knee was a bit achy since yesterday afternoon. Got to the road at 1:00. Now the question is how to get in the five miles to the Green Mountain House hostel where I'll be staying with Side for 2 nights taking a zero day to rest up. Side wasn't able to get there until late in the evening. A hiker, Lotus, was leaving the parking lot after her two week hike and offered to give me a ride. So, so sweet of her. Thank you, Lotus! Jeff showed me around his beautiful hostel. Shower first thing, then Coke. Then Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Heavenly. Our room is so nice. Spent the afternoon lazing around, doing some chores, and planning the next leg of the trip. Hosed down my backpack which was smelling pretty bad. We had pizza delivered and I ate a small one myself. The appetite is building. Side arrived at 8:15. So nice to see him. We sat around chatting with each other and then retired to our room and chatted some more catching up on trail news and home news.
Date: 2013-08-23
From: Green Mountain House hostel

To: Green Mountain House hostel, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Today's miles for Miles: 0Total miles for Miles: 871.3------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 694.3------------------------------Got up early and headed in to town to 'Up For Breakfast' to have a fine, full breakfast. Picked up some toe remedies at the pharmacy and then back to the hostel to work on setting up the phone Side brought. It will make journaling so much easier for Miles. May turn her into a cell phone user yet.Got a message from our friends High Tide and Blockade Runner that they wereback 17 miles on the trail (where Side had picked up Miles a couple of days ago when he brought the new tent). We drove over to get them and they are spending the night here at this lovely hostel. So wonderful to see them. They are successfully marching ahead to Katahdin. So proud of them.
Date: 2013-08-24
From: VT 11 & 30, Manchester Center, VT

To: Lost Pond Shelter, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today's miles for Miles: 14.8Total miles for Miles: 886.1------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 694.3------------------------------Up early at Green Mountain House hostel. Everyone was getting ready for their day. We ate cereal and had coffee. Then Side was driving back home. Sorry to see him go. That zero day was too short.Climbed to the first vista where a large group of young people were hanging out. At the top of Bromley Mountain passed three south bounders. Met a Long Trail hiker named Millipede and a north bounder named Tune who has hiked with High Tide and Blockade Runner. We all snacked at Styles Peak. Rested at Peru Peak shelter. Limey, Tune, Millipede and a south bounder were there also. Passed the Griffith Lake tenting area and decided to go to the next shelter. Baker Peak was a hefty climb up rock slabs. There was a lovely view from the top except for where they were doing some kind of mining. Got to Lost Pond shelter at 5:15. Set up the tent, hung the bear bag (with relative ease I might add), filtered water, cooked beef stew that tasted yummy and I ate the whole bag. Dessert was a chocolate biscotti. Having trouble with the darn igniter on the stove again. Finally figured out how to light the lighter while turning on the gas. Anyone who knows me well knows I hate fire and flames so it's a challenge for me. Camped with a group of about ten pre-freshmen from Tufts University and another backpacker. Going to be a cold night tonite in the high forties. Then will be warmer at night the rest of the week.
Date: 2013-08-25
From: Lost Pond Shelter

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Today's miles for Miles: 14.9Total miles for Miles: 901------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 694.3----------------------------- Happy Anniversary Kim & Bob!!!Slow getting out of camp this morning. The first few miles went pretty quickly. Chatted with two very nice young men headed southbound. They gave me some tips on places to stay coming up and I certainly suggested they stay at Green Mountain House. When I passed a parking lot along a road I was surprised to see twenty cars even though it was the weekend. Then I found out why when I started meeting parents with their very young children. It was an outing of the Youth Adventure Group associated with the Green Mountain Club. They were having such a great time walking in the woods. Passed a lot of other hikers today also. Enjoyed lunch by the Little Rock Pond. It was a beautiful hiking day. Crossed a lovely suspension bridge. Near the trail to White Rocks Cliff there were amazing displays of so many cairns at two spots on the trail. For those that don't know the term, a cairn is a stack of rocks. Took pictures but they won't do justice to this amazing display. Passed a barefoot backpacker. Ouch is all I can say. Filtered water at Bully Brook. Bear Mountain was the last climb of the day. I passed Ketchup coming the other direction. We had stayed with him at Green Mountain House so was surprised to see him coming towards me. He was slackpacking. Finally made it down to Minerva Hinchey shelter. Did all the normal chores in a hurry because it was getting pretty late. Climbed in the tent just as it got dark. Was surprised to have a phone signal so was able to chat with Side a little. A short time later I saw headlamps coming up the trail. Two hikers went into the shelter for the night. Guess I'm not alone tonight after all.
Date: 2013-08-26
From: Minerva Hinchey Shelter

To: Cooper Lodge Shelter, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Today's miles for Miles: 13.8Total miles for Miles: 914.8------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 694.3----------------------------- Woke up at 6:00 today. Started packing up. It had rained last night so the tent was wet and had to be wiped down. Had to filter water so made a trip down to the stream. Turned out I hadn't gotten enough water so made another trip to the stream. Guess I drank more than I thought late yesterday. When I was all packed up and headed out I noticed that the two hikers from last night were gone from the shelter. Two miles into the hike there was a nice view of Rutland Airport. Just past there I met Wooden Spoon. Crossed the suspension bridge at Clarendon Gorge. It was quite pretty looking down the gorge. Had a tough rock scramble to climb. Passed a field of cows laying down. Of course that meant two sets of stiles to climb. Met Chuckles and Little Spoon when they passed while I was having lunch on a rock. Chuckles and I both thought we knew each other from earlier in the hike. Hiked through a field of goldenrod and wild daisies. When I got to Cold River Road I found that the trail was still diverted from Hurricane Irene damage. Had to follow five roads to get past the damage. Hard on the feet. Was most happy when I got to Governor Clements shelter where I filtered water and took a break. There were eight other hikers there. Continued on uphill another 4.4 miles to Cooper Lodge shelter at the top. Seven of us stayed in the shelter which was fully enclosed. How very nice. Cooked Mountain House spaghetti outside. Today was tough on my whole body. Climbed 200 feet, dropped 1000 feet, climbed 1100 feet, dropped 500 feet, climbed 2500 feet, and a few other little ones also. Total miles for today was 13.8 miles. No wonder I'm so tired. My clothes were sopping wet. Disgusting. Good thing they're getting washed tomorrow.
Date: 2013-08-27
From: Cooper Lodge Shelter

To: US 4, Rutland, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today's miles for Miles: 6.3Total miles for Miles: 921.1------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 694.3----------------------------- Had an achy night. My hips were aching like crazy. Not sure if it was the air mattress or all the miles. Got up at six and started quietly packing so as not to wake the others. I was next to last out of camp. No surprise there. Easier hike for today. Only 6.3 miles. There was a lot of mostly level ground but I was dragging. Passed a number of hikers going the opposite direction. Got to Rte 4 near Long Trail Inn which is quite a familiar sight for us as we've vacationed there a number of times. Stood by the side of the road for about twenty minutes before the bus came and took me the ten miles into Rutland. Walked a block to the Yellow Deli Hostel. Got the last bunk in the ladies dorm. Grabbed a shower, someone took my clothes to wash, went down to the deli for a reuben and a pina colada smoothie. Had desert and a latte all lined up for afterwards but too full so that will have to be later. Trying to tank up on food and rest up my feet. Could have done a work-for-stay but I needed the rest. Walked down to the food co-op but they didn't have anything that interested me and I was just too tired to walk to Price Chopper. Maybe later. Spent time getting trail journals and pictures to Side for posting. Amazing how quickly the day goes. Lazing in my top bunk in a room for six which now has eight (using the couch). Sweet folks here taking care of us. They leave a little container of goodies on your bed. A little can of juice, a banana, and a homemade breakfast bar. So nice of them. Walked to get groceries early this evening and then had to divvy up the food into days. Will have a hearty breakfast here in the morning and then will catch the bus back to the trail. Pretty convenient. There are a lot more hikers on the guys side. Seeing a lot I know. Just amazing.