morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-10-14
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Dan Quinn's Barn
Miles today: 8.0

4 miles noth of Woodstoc, VT. Nice barn to weather the comming storm. It was built in 1865 when Abe Lincoln was still president and is rock solid. This place is not in the literature. Used Dan's chain saw to cut up a dead tree which had fallen in the yard while Keystone stacked. Good hike through beautiful hardwoods, some steep climbs. Saw a flock of wild turkeys. Stashed our packs and walked a mile into the hamlet of South Pomfret for lunch and used the computer at the little library. Good day, great time. Listening to oldies on the radio while getting ready for bed. Weather forcast calls for rain after midnight. We walked past the ski area at South Pomfret, Suicide Six, was used for years as the official training area for the US Olympic Ski team.
Date: 2003-10-15
From: Dan Quinn's Barn

To: Lookout Cabin
Miles today: 6.0

The barn where we stayed was built in 1865 when Abe Lincoln was president. What a treat to sleep here in a comfortable bed. Did not wake up til 6:40. The 1st rope ski lift built in Vermont is just up the road. Dan drove us into Woodstock for breakfast. VT is beautiful. I think the colors of the foliage have peaked. Dan says its one of the most brilliant in the last 10 years. Some leaves down so that I walk the trail kicking leaves like a school boy. Cold wind and rain tonight. Supposed to go down into the 20's. Snug and secure in the loft with Keystone. Two young guys from CA are down below who spent the whole day here weathering this storm which sould blow out during the night. Tomorrow should be clear. Then on to Stony Brook Shelter. Hard wind last nigh (written am of 10/16) shook the cabin pretty hard. Beautiful view from the lookout this AM
Date: 2003-10-16
From: Lookout Cabin

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: light rain

Lucked out with the rain today. Some light rain early and slight hint of snow flurries, but most of rain was behind us or ahead of us. Arrived here dry except for feet, early enough to get all done before dark. Going to Killington tomorrow for bed, shower, laundry, resupply, etc. Hard wind last night blew down many leaves. Hope to catch more color as I continue south.
Date: 2003-10-17
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Killington, VT
Miles today: 6.7

Here at the Sherburn Killington Motel for R&R - hiker chores. Still looking like it could rain anytime. Nice to be indoors, warm, dry and clean again. Good place to stop for a day and night. Post office, grocery-deli all nearby. The big storm and wind took down many leaves, spoiling the splenderr of the foliage - many more trees are bare now. Hoe to see more further south in Mass and Conn. Keystone Kelly has taken the bus back to hHanover to get his car. He should be back around 6:30 PM. Will be nice to have wheels tomorrow when we do laundry and go up the road to the famous Long Trail Inn for one more day of R&R.
Date: 2003-10-19
From: The Inn at Long Trail

To: Rutland, VT 
Miles today: 1.0

Ate a big breakfast early this Am then attended serices at the little United Church of Christ down the road from the Long Trail Inn. Verry nice fellowship with refreshments. The sermon topic was "More of You God, Less of Me", about service rather than status. It was a good thing. Shopping in Rutland is done now. Will mail pictures and journal pages. Fairly nice day. Tomorrow the trail.
Date: 2003-10-20
From: Rutland, VT 

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 52.3
Weather: broken clouds

Decided to stay here tonight. Nice fully enclosed shelter with windows, door and wood stove. Cut some wood and kindling, hope to sleep warm and cozy. Hiking alone again. Keystone Kelly finished section hiking Vermont and headed for home after dropping me at the trailhead. Very nice day - cold but sunny. Hope the sunny weather holds for at least another week, but more rain/snow is predicted. Bought a light weight fleece liner. Boy does it feel good! There was enough wood to keep the fire alive all night and early morning. The cabin was not toasty - about 60 degrees Its better than 20+ degrees outside. It was comfortable. When I woke up at night I would put on another log. The same two hikers came in late with the same two dogs that were with us in the Lookout Cabin when the wind blew so hard. This time they kept the dogs on their leashes and all was well on their side of the cabin and my side. they are SoBo's too. Oh, well! they'll move on ahead as they hike faster than I do.
Date: 2003-10-21
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Straton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: broken clouds

8 miles in 5 hours. Pretty good for me. Started out at 0730. Warm winds. wouldn't it be nice to get a warm front moving in after the previous two cold ones. Thunder storm right over my head with light hail, also characteristic of a warm front. Arrived here at 1230. 10.5 miles to the next shelter so decided to stay here. More thunderstorms. I'm in and dry. The fleece I bought is good. The glove liners I bought at Crawford Notch are handy to wear in camp while my regular gloves are drying out. This is a nice shelter, big with bunks and a loft. Could easily sleep 16 to 18 hikers without crowding. Also has a covered table area which is really nice, out of the rain. Hope the weather is dry tomorrow for the 10.5 miles to Stony Spring Shelter. But if I have to layover here an extra day, its a good place. Two French Canadians, Michelle and Dan, came in and a Long Trail hiker named Kim.
Date: 2003-10-22
From: Straton Pond Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Has snowed all day since leaving this AM, my first day to hike in the snow. The fall colors are gone already. Now its brown and white, a winter wonderland. Put the liners in my gloves today. They helped. Mittens would be far better. Wore my Colombia outer jacket for the first time hiking today. Wish I had my boots back out of my bounce box. The Merrells can't dry when the trail is covered with snow.
Date: 2003-10-23
From: Story Spring Shelter

To:  Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: light snow

Hiked here in 4 to 5 inches of snow, still falling some of the time. Very cold. Water bottles will freeze tonight, already getting slushy. After supper, got in the sleeping bag and heated one quart of water, put it next to my feet, then kept it in the sleeping bag with me all night so I would have water to drink and cook with in the morning. Socks and shoes frozen stiff as wood. Put socks in a plastic bag and put them inside my clothes next to skin to thaw them out. Worked. The plastic bag kept from getting me and my clothes wet. Had a potentially bad fall in the snow a short distance from the shelter. Right foot slipped on a root under the snow. As I was falling, I heard a loud pop and felt my right hip dislocate. As a fell or when I hit the ground, it spontaneously resolved. Very fortunate. My right hip is very sore, but functional. I can hike and carry my pack. If it had not resolved, I would have gotten back to the shelter, tied my right foot to a post with my bandana and tried to resolve it myself. Glad I didn't have to do that.
Date: 2003-10-24
From:  Goddard Shelter

To: Melville Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked another day in the snow. Sun came out periodically and it's warmer. The powder snow is starting to pack. Still wet, but gaiters keep snow out of my shoes. Problem is muck and water under the snow that you can't see, also rocks and roots. All went well and my right hip felt much better today. Sprained the big toe on my right foot on a rock under the snow. Sore, but works.
Date: 2003-10-25
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 1.6
Weather: clear sky

Into town this AM in time to check in at the Autumn Inn and shuttle to post office to pick up bounce box and food drop from home. Showered and laundry done. Nice day today - sunshine and warmer. Forecast is for rain Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. May layover here till Thursday then head out to Williamstown to catch a bus to Boston and get a plane home. I'll be home for Thanksgiving, having only completed 3 states.When I started I had hoped to get all the way thru Pennsylvania. I'm slow. The trail can be humbling. I've learned my limitations and also that I can do this. Have met many nice people on the trail and in the towns. New England is beautiful, the little towns are "postcard" picturesque. Now with the snow they are Christmas card picturewque. If I were to characterize the three states, Rugged Maine is a man, challenging New Hampshire is a woman and Vermont is a refined lady.
Date: 2003-10-27
From: Bennington, VT

To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Heavy rain all day. Flood watch till 4 PM. Put on my rain jacket and rain pants and went out. Got a ride to the post office and mailed big box home and small bounce box to Williamstown, my next destination. Ate a late lunch, early dinner at Friendlys. Walked to the library and did email. Walked to the bookstore and bought Louis L'Amour's "How The West Was Won". Walked to a corner grocery store and bought 2 strawberry milks and 2 diet sodas. Got a ride back to the motel, Autumn Inn, which is a nice place, very accomodating. 1 mile from downtown, but they give rides. New England towns still have "Mom and Pop" small neighborhood grocery stores. Small towns have one. The larger towns have several. Very nice. Corner markets are not prevalent in the West. Still would like to get to the only Walmart in VT. tomorrow.
Date: 2003-10-28
From: Bennington, VT

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

Fair weather day. Went overr to the corner grocery for some more food for the next couple of days. Forecast is for rain tonight and tomorrow - heavy. Flood watch from midnight thru tomorrow. Clearing and sunny Thursday. Partly cloudy Friday, Saturday and Sunday and early next week. Looks like I'll have good hiking weather for my last leg to Williamstown.
Date: 2003-10-29
From: Bennington, VT

To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Heavy rain most of the day and again tonight. Flood watch still in effect. Predictionf for Thursday and Friday is for sunshine and warmer: High mid 60's and lows mid 40's. Should give the trail some chance to dry out and allow the streams time to fun off, letting the water level go down. Will make them safer to cross on my way to Williamstown.
Date: 2003-10-30
From: Bennington, VT

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

True to their forecast, it has been sunny and warmer today. Walked to the library downtown to do e-mail. Had breakfast on the way. My right hip is somewhat swollen and weak, but if I'm careful, it should be OK until I get home. Holing up here has given it a week at least to begin the healing process. Will pack up tonight and head out after breakfast tomorrow.
Date: 2003-10-31
From: Bennington, VT

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: clear sky

Left the trailhead at 10 AM. Took 50 minutes to climb to the top of the initial very steep .3 mile slope where I took 10 min break and ate a beef jerky. Took 40 minutes to do the 1.5 miles on to the top of Hermon Hill where I met up with Smurf and ate lunch. The trail has dried in some places and I had no trouble crossing the streams. However, had to parallel the trail for about 1.3 miles as the trail was a running stream itself. Made for slow going. My hip did OK. Smurf saw the Northern Lights which were out last night. Was nice to see Smurf again. He is ahead of me now so I won't see him again. He'll be getting off the trail in a couple of weeks. Doesn't like the snow either. He will be passing thru Tucson next year. Will see him then.
Date: 2003-11-01
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: broken clouds

My last shelter on the Long Trail/AT. Its old (1965), small and full of leaves and dog hair. I'd like to sweep it out, but there is no broom. Has a good metal roof; no evidence of leaks. Tomorrow Williamstown and weather permitting, Mt. Graylock. Cloudy all day, but warm and no rain yet. Wind coming up. Hope the rain holds off. Saw a moose at Sucker Pond. Ran into Jason and Popeye. Had not seen them since Maine. Cut a branch and swept out the shelter.
Date: 2003-11-04
From: Williamstown, Mass

To: Willliamstown, Mass
Miles today: 0.0

Williams Inn, waiting for the bus to Boston where I'll fly south for the winter. Sad to leave the trail, but glad to be going home. The hip is bothering me today. It has turned cold. The jet stream has moved south allowing the cold air to move down from the north. Mailed my last box and hiking poles home, then ate lunch at Papa Charlie's. Got on the bus at 4:00PM. It's spitting rain, then rains harder. Changed busses twice and arrived at Logan at about 9:00PM on a bus from the main terminal an $8.00 ride. The MTBA (subway) would have been a dollar, but more of a hassle, requiring 3 train changes. Got to the American ticket counter just in time to arrainge the flight home, then they closed for the night. Logan airport is practically deserted. Found a place where I can stretch out on some chairs to sleep.
Date: 2003-11-05
From: Logan Airport, Boston, MA

To: Tucson, Arizona
Miles today: 0.0

Awoke at 5:30AM after sleeping well on the chairs. Logan is no longer deserted. There are already long lines at the ticket counter and the security checkpoint. Went to the self-service counter (short line) and got my boarding passes. Got breakfast at Dunkin Donuts, then got in the security line at 6:00AM. Very slow. They searched my whole backpack, taking everything out. Got to gate B27 as they were beginning the boarding process. Gulped down my straberry milk and boarded the plane for DFW. Changed planes at DFW about 1:30PM and took off for Tucson, arriving about 2:00PM MST. Kathy was waiting as I walked out past the security checkpoint. We han a big, early Mexican dinner at Molinitos and drove home. My journey is over for this year. I'm home!
Date: 2005-04-24
From: Tucson, Arizona

To: Springer Mt. GA
Miles today: 0.0

Starting our again after an 18 month break. This time going northbound. Summited Springer Mt. with the Sargent Major (my wife Kathy) on a cold and windy morning. Good trail and at least the sun was shining. Still, burned by the wind and sun and cold.
Date: 2005-04-25
From: Springer Mt. GA

To: Hawk Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 7.6

Left the parking lot on top of Springer at 8:30AM and arrived here at 11:30. Not bad - 3 hours. Wanted to go on to Gooch Mt. Shelter but the soles of my feet were hurting, particularly the left one (ball of foot). So have decided to stay here and rest the feet. Soaked them in the cold stream for 1/2 hour whil treating my water and reading Revelation Chs 1-5. Someone named Gideon left a New Testament here for our use. Thanks for that, otherwise it would havve been a booring afternoon. It's cool, but sunny and the wind is not bad. Will be cold tonignt. Except for the feet I feel good and hiked strong, barely noticing the 27 lb pack. Thaks, Sargeant Major fo the good advise. When my fee seconded it, I listened and took it. As always your advice is trustworthy. Met 3 hikers. One went on to Gooch Mt. Shelter. A Christian man who taught Sunday School at Sells is tenting outside the shelter and the young man who took our picture this morning is also tenting. They all talked about how miserably cold it was on the mountain last night. Hopefully it will not be that cold tonight. Also, SM thanks for the long pants and the extra top.
Date: 2003-04-16
To: Heading cross country
Miles today: 0.0

I'm in San Francisco, and in a couple of days I will get in my car and drive to Erwin, TN, to start hiking the third leg of my multi-year AT adventure.Well, okay, we did not actually start driving east until Friday, April 25th. D'oh! Looks like I'll hit the trail later than I would like. After packing up the car with what little of our stuff we're taking with us to Mexico (after the trail), the cats, and us, then the protracted goodbyes to family and friends, we set off heading east on I-580. We decided to skip Los Angeles this time and instead take I-40 to Texas:4/25 - San Francisco to Baker, CA (Home of the Bun Boy Restaurant and the World's Tallest Thermometer). Sadly, Bun Boy has no vacancies and we stayed at the Wills Fargo Motel (which turns out to be quite nice).4/26 - Baker, CA to Gallup, NM and Route 66. We pass up Rod's Steak House with its fabulous, heifer-shaped menus; the timing just wasn't right for a meal. We stayed at the old El Rancho Hotel, in the Joel McCrea room! Smuggled the cats into the room through the fire exit. A really fun hotel.4/27 - Gallup, NM to Wichita Falls, TX. Not really too much to say about WF. If anybody knows different, I'd like to hear it.4/28 - Wichita Falls, TX to Mexia, TX, and my mom's house. Settle the kitties into their vacation digs; they choose for their room a box with a hole cut in the bottom. They stay there even as we leave the next afternoon.4/29 - Mexia, TX to Little Rock, AR, which fails to impress. But, oh my, the stench of the chicken factories around Hope, AR!4/30 - Little Rock, AR to Johnson City, TN. Now we're talkin'! Tomorrow Greg will drop me off on the AT by the pavilion near Uncle Johnny's.
Date: 2003-05-01
From: Erwin, TN

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning, we drove into town from Johnson City and bought trash bags, a disposable camera, and a phone card from the Dollar Store, got some cash and directions, then headed to the trailhead. As I got out of the car we saw two women hikers sitting there; they'd been waiting (for hours, they said) for Miss Janet to give them a ride to her place. So after the photos and goodbyes Greg took them to Miss Janet's. I know he worries about me being out there by my lonesome, so to hear about hiking from two other women ...? I hope they filled his ears with good tales.Had lunch at Curly Maple Gap Shelter, and met some folks: Slaughter, Cuba Libre, !Tank, and Big E, an older hiker. By 6pm I got to Cherry Gap Shelter, already with a crowd. I saw a handful of tents already set up, so I didn't even bother to see if there was room in the shelter, I just plopped down my pack and set up the 'mid. I was dog tired; why do I always come charging out the gate my first day on the trail? To tired to even sign the register. Not sure if it'll rain tonight, though it did all day, so maybe I didn't have to come all the way to this shelter, but I didn't want to be up high in a storm, so that left, what? The Beauty Spot? Unaka Mtn? Unaka was awesome, especially I think in the rain, and all those needles on the ground would've made an oh-so-soft bed, but I'm glad I'm at a shelter with other people around.
Date: 2003-05-02
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Carvers Gap
Miles today: 16.5

Oh, a sad day: I didn't see the sign for Roan High Knob Shelter in the pouring rain, and ended up hiking down the mountain tothe incredibly windy Carvers Gap, where I pitched my tent, climbed into dry clothes and my sleeping bag, forwent dinner and went to sleep. Not the best of days.Before tackling Roan High Bluff, Slaughter, !Tank, Cuba Libre, and a family threesome and I huddled in the rain by an upturned tree, waiting for the lightning to pass us by. I started to get cold, so I headed out first with Slaughter, but as soon as we hit the uphill I went into RV mode and quickly fell behind. I'm sure they're all wondering where I am.I've got enough dinners (2) to make it to Dennis Cove, about 40 miles, but I'm running real low on snacks: 3 dirt bars and some dried persimmon. I'm eating more in the cold. And last year it was so beautiful the photographers were out in droves!
Date: 2003-05-03
From: Carvers Gap

To: Apple House Shelter
Miles today: 13.2

Windy as all get-out all night long, but the 'mid kept me safe and dry. Packed up this morning in the thick, chilly fog and set out for Stan Murray Shelter about 3 miles away to cook last night's dinner for breakfast.Just finished some hot mac 'n' cheese, ah! Got to the shelter about 8:30a. Will get water while the stove goes out. Flushed a junco on the blue-blaze to the water source, and found her little nest in a clump of grass on the side of the trail, so sweet!Shelter register says the Times Square Motel off US19 is closed, but that there's another one 2 miles further down the road. Think I'll go there to resupply and dry out. The road's just over 10 miles away.Okay, screw the motel! I'm almost to the Apple House Shelter. Tomorrow I'll hitch into Roam Mtn and hit the supermarche, then grab a bite and head back out. Why the change? The sun finally came out an hour ago as I was coming off Hump Mtn, and I'm dry and warm, a fine state. Plus, I have enough chow for tonight, and I don't want to be a weenie.Coming over Hump Mtn, with its views and picnic'ers, I rounded the bend and saw longhorn cattle! Just about as incongruous a sight as I can imagine. They were docile, too, and I got quite close for that special Kodak moment. When I get the pictures back from the developer I'll post one.5:30p Apple House Shelter. I'm here along with Big E, Cuba Libre, Slaughter, !Tank, and Potatohead. I'd just set my pot of food in its cozy when !willow showed up with her sister and brother-in-law in tow, carting a box and a cooler: beer, soda, fruit, and rice crispie treats! Now that I've had noodles with tuna, a RCT, a banana, and a beer, I think I'm gonna pop. A guy on an ATV came up the road, saw us, and promptly turned around.I put up the 'mid when I got here and set everything out to dry. A pretty spot, complete with a stream and white-flowering dogwoods, which are gorgeous against the green backdrop. Dry and fed I feel 100 percent better. I'm encouraged, because so far I'm having a tougher time than usual, or so it seems to me. Maybe last year was like this, too? Certainly those first few days the first year were rough. After resupply in town tomorrow will try for Moreland Gap Shelter.
Date: 2003-05-04
From: Apple House Shelter

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: broken clouds

Sunday, monster Sunday!6p, Moreland Gap Shelter. Let's recap the day:Got up on the early side, a little after 7a, and headed down to the highway to hitch into town. After about 30 minutes a guy I'd passed walking up the trail to Apple House came back to his car and offered me a ride into town. Good deal! Bad deal was, he said the open-Sunday supermarket is currently closed for remodeling! He dropped me off at my best choice for a Sunday, the gas station mini-mart. Ouch. Best I could do was cookies, cheese crackers, tins of sardines, a box of poptarts, and a pint of juice. Called Greg but only got the machine. Caught a ride pronto, a painter in one hoopdee of a Subaru, who dropped me off right at the trailhead. Thanks, painter dude!Pretty good day of hiking, with good weather and scenery. I was happy to be hiking behind the Montoya family (that family threesome I met Day One: !Montana, THEAT, Makoshika), as the rerouted section of the trail was confusingly blazed (or not blazed). Took the side trail to Jones Falls, nice. Also nice was coming out to a gravel road to see a guy named John handing out snack cakes (no thanks) and sodas (okay!) to hikers, basically chumming for Laurel Fork Hostel. After sorely tempting me with offers of slackpacking or out-and-out ride to the hostel, I continued on my way, but apparently !potatohead took him up on his offer, as a little ways up the trail he came shooting by me with only a fannypack, bound for the hostel. The last little bit before the shelter was one big pointless up and down, and had me muttering bad things about the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club under my breath.