morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-06-20
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: clear sky

Another beautiful morning and I knew it would be a hot one today. It is an auspicious day since it is the longest day of the year and first day of summer. It was soon high 80's as I started hiking. I got to Hell Hollow Brook and it looked like I could have camped there (AWOL showed "no camping" but I didn't see any sign). After cooling off in the brook I started the gradual climb to Goddard Shelter and Glastenbury Mountain. Several nice views along the way. I got to the shelter in good time and got a nice campsite. Many of the same hikers from yesterday are here tonight. Someone just came by and gave me some homemade beef jerky. Yum! It may rain later but the sunset and the strawberry moon are the show tonight. Everyone is glad to be here in Vermont.
Date: 2016-06-21
From: Goddard Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The piped spring at Goddard Shelter was wonderful. That pure water near the top of the mountain was cold and delicious. I was awakened during the night by a very strong thunderstorm. Rain poured down and it was windy but my tent stayed dry. I overslept the next morning but got up to a beautiful morning and cooler temps. Made it up to the summit of Glastenbury where the views were fantastic. I could easily see the Adirondack high peaks 100 miles away. I continued on to Kid Gore shelter and then passed the view and beaver pond outlet to arrive at Story Spring Shelter around 6pm. I got the last campsite but it was really nice. A lot of the same hikers I was staying with last night are here.
Date: 2016-06-22
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: few clouds

I knew this would be a tough day since I had to climb over Stratton Mountain in order to get to Stratton Pond where I planned to stay. I was getting ready to hike out when I checked the weather on InReach which told me to expect a big storm at 10AM. Sure enough, the clouds rolled in and it opened up and poured. So I delayed my start until the storm passed around 11:30. The weather turned sunny and cool. I crossed Black Brook and soon began my way up Stratton Mountain. I stopped for a minute at the view a half mile from the summit. I was hearing from day hikers that the tower on top was moving around and it was very windy. I got up there finally just before 6pm and it felt distinctly cold and windy. I polished off a small salami and headed down the trail. A hiker coming from Stratton Pond told me that there were not too many hikers staying at the shelter. I was encouraged by this. Finally made it to the shelter around 8:30 and got a space there although it was not as empty as I heard. The shelter is really large and very nice. Time to turn in for the night.
Date: 2016-06-23
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Green Mountain House
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I was really hoping to go swimming in Stratton Pond. But this morning it was just too cold. The northern summer isn't always swimming weather. So I started hiking to Prospect Rock where there is a fire road out to Manchester Center. I made reservations at the Green Mountain House hiker hostel and was ready for a resupply. In fact, I was now out of food. So everything came out right and I had a light pack with no food. At the parking area I got a cab to the hostel. It is a great place. I feel human again after a shave and shower. I had that feeling of disconnect I usually do with coming to a first world town after a week in the woods. The Thai restaurant was great. Sapporo on tap! Tomorrow is a zero for resupply. I am on the trail again on Saturday.
Date: 2016-06-24
From: Green Mountain House

To: Green Mountain House
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I had a fine zero day in Manchester Center. I now have an artisan salami made in Vermont. I used my free helping of Ben & Jerry's. It was such a nice day to be here. I am ready to hike on tomorrow. I hope to avoid any entanglements with the Rainbow Family Gathering which ominously is growing at the USFS 10 crossing. Interesting how world events come to the AT as well. I had a nice conversation with a hiker from the UK about his Brexit vote. He voted "remain". Actually he got his mom to fill out the ballot and send it in. Of course, his side lost.
Date: 2016-06-25
From: Green Mountain House

To: Bromley Shelter
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: clear sky

I had a nice breakfast at the Green Mountain House and then was dropped off at Rootville Road Parking area. I now realize why most hikers come into town from the route 11/30 crossing. When you get back to the trail, there are no extra miles of side trail. But since I got off at Prospect Rock, I had to climb back the 1.4 miles to rejoin the AT. But at this point in my hike, it's something I can do. Nice day but getting warm. Passed Spruce Peak shelter and several views. The power line view also had a creek with frogs. Passed the route 11/30 crossing and Bromley Brook. Too small for a swim. Got to Bromley Shelter where I was able to get a tent platform. What luxury to have that extra flat space. I got some new gear in town (Patagonia underwear and bathing suit) that feels like an improvement. Tomorrow will be two mountains and a lake. Should be stinking hot too and Griffith Lake will be a welcome reward.
Date: 2016-06-26
From: Bromley Shelter

To: Griffith Lake
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: clear sky

Got up on another beautiful morning at Bromley Shelter. After getting things together and packing I continued the climb to the Bromley Mountain summit. The ski lift ends there and it is not a wilderness setting. A day hiker gave me a sandwich. Trail magic. I'll take it. There used to be a water pump at Mad Tom Road but all the comments in Guthooks said it was now gone. So I had to take 3 liters of water from my starting place to get through the day. The next water would be just before the Peru Peak shelter. It was getting hotter. I got down to the road crossing and then had to start another climb to the top of Styles Peak. Then a lesser climb to Peru then finally the descent to Griffith Lake. I pulled in around 6pm and got a campsite. It was a bit swampy at the lake near my campsite but I found a good access to the lake a little further north and had a great 30 minute swim. I looked out while I was in the water and saw a beaver also out for a swim. Swimming will be repeated tomorrow morning. Tomorrow I have to pass the Rainbow Gathering. I was really hoping to swim at Big Branch Creek. Maybe they haven't found it.
Date: 2016-06-27
From: Griffith Lake

To: Little Rock Pond
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: light rain

I had such a good swim in Griffith Lake after I set up camp the previous night. Morning was warm and sunny so I went in again before I got underway. I had some trepidation about passing the USFS Road 10 crossing. The Rainbow Family Gathering has now made ABC News. I had no idea how many Rainbow people I'd be running into. The media has not made them seem too wonderful. I got to the top of Baker Peak with great views of Mount Equinox. I met a south bound hiker who said he had passed the USFS 10 crossing and had no problems. I hiked on and wanted to investigate Big Branch Creek and hopefully swim under a cascade or jump in a deep pool. But before I arrived, it clouded up and began raining torrents. I hunkered down in Big Branch Shelter while the worst of it passed. The creek looked great but I was just too wet and cold. So I figured it was time to get to the road. When I came out at USFS 10 there were six law enforcement vehicles. One was a K-9 unit. I had a nice conversation with them while one car full of rainbow people passed. They were interested in my gear and the inReach satellite texting system. Some of them said they would like to hike the AT. Live the dream I say. Seeing that there was not going to be any problem with the Rainbow People I started up the trail as the sun came out. It was an easy 2 miles in to Little Rock Pond. Now for a brief plea: will the GMC caretakers please come back! We the AT hikers need you! This is the third site that was supposed to have a caretaker but nobody is there. In this case, a shelter intended for 12 was monopolized by four drunk non-hikers who lugged in tons of crap from the road and intend to stay indefinitely. I beat a hasty retreat to a wonderful campsite on the other side of the pond. I found there was a great 12 foot jumping rock over a deep hole so I made good use of it. I think there is also a 30 foot jump but I was too chicken for that one.
Date: 2016-06-28
From: Little Rock Pond

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

The non-hikers who took over the large shelter at Little Rock Pond seemed to scream and argue loudly last night. But I had retreated to the fortress of solitude above the cliffs on the other side of the lake. It was a beautiful spot so I am grateful for being motivated to camp there. I got up this morning to a warm day but had been warned that severe thunderstorms were predicted later this afternoon. So I had to hustle and did not go swimming again before I left. The trail ascended sharply and then I was really sweating in the high humidity. I got down to Bully Brook which was great to take a cool dip. But due to recent rain it was actually kind of cold. I had to keep going because the line of storms had already started moving toward Vermont from the Adirondacks. Made it over Bear Mountain and to Minerva Hinchey Shelter. There are only two other hikers here. Perhaps more will show up soon. The storms are almost here. The $16 artisan pepperoni I got at Manchester Center is very good. The spring here is awesome. Very cold.
Date: 2016-06-29
From: Minerva Hinchey Shelter

To: Governor Clement Shelter
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: light rain

The big storm last night sort of blew past us. Wind but not much rain. Got up this morning and it was cooler. There was a climb right after the shelter and I got some views of the Rutland airport. Then down to Clarendon Gorge. It was sunny and warm again. There were other hikers there and we all went swimming. It was great. I swam for more than an hour. This was somewhat tiring as I started up the other side of the Gorge. Then a thunderstorm rolled in and I got wet. Finally I got to Governor Clement Shelter where there are a ton of people tonight. But I got a good spot. Getting up early tomorrow.
Date: 2016-06-30
From: Governor Clement Shelter

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: clear sky

Maine Junction: the road not takenTwo roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth;Then took the other, as just as fair,And having perhaps the better claim,Got up to a beautiful morning at Governor Clement Shelter. I started hiking early. The first two miles were a pretty brutal climb up to Little Killington. But after that, the map didn't look too bad. I passed on the side trail to Killington summit even though another hiker told me there were hamburgers up there. Mostly I thought having a building up there as might detract from the experience. Just a bit anticlimactic after many ascents I did on the southern AT. It was getting around 5pm when I crossed route 4 at Sherburne Pass (that I had passed many times as a child) and started up the other side for the last 2 miles to the Inn. I passed Maine Junction. Maybe I'll be back someday to complete the Long Trail. I finally got to the Inn where I had reservations and had a great meal at the McGrath's Irish Pub. This was complemented by a cold Long Trail Amber Ale. I had a great visit with other NOBO hikers at the Pub and had one drink of John Powers. It was wonderful but I still think Suntory Yamazaki has the edge.
Date: 2016-07-01
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Gifford State Park
Miles today: 1.2
Weather: broken clouds

I kind of bonked after leaving the Inn at Long Trail. Just felt tired. Decided it would be good to spend July 4 with family. So I stopped at Gifford State Park and got the second last campsite. The next day I will go out to route 4 and get the bus back to Rutland and take Amtrak back to NY.
Date: 2016-07-09
From: Gifford State Park

To: Upstate NY
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

So I am not proud. I did get off the trail for a week. Took Amtrak down to Poughkeepsie and my dad picked me up. I did get a few things done but in general I was bummed out about being off the trail. I tried to get back a day sooner but my brother ran the car into a curb and it had to be towed in a torrential downpour. So I finally got back on the train to Rutland on July 9. I had planned to check in to the Yellow Deli. But it was super crowded. They would have let me sleep in the dining room. (Yes I know it's a cult but they were nice). But I got outta there and checked in at the Comfort Inn. They were great. Gave me the hiker discount.
Date: 2016-07-10
From: Comfort Inn, Rutland

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: light rain

Yes, Suntory Time is back on the trail. I got up and had a great breakfast at the Rutland Comfort Inn. I really must recommend this place! Got the bus back to Gifford State Park and started hiking in the rain. It had rained and Vermud was back. Also, it was hard to do stream crossings. But despite that I got to Stony Brook Shelter in good time. There are seven others here. I am not camping in my tent. I just don't want to be wet. So I am in the shelter tonight. It feels good to get that much closer to Maine.
Date: 2016-07-11
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

It was great that the rain seems to have passed. Despite the crowd, I had an OK night in Stony Brook Shelter except that people complained that I snored and some guy was shining a flashlight in my face at 2AM for some unknown reason. I guess it had to do with the laundry line. Today was sunny, beautiful, and low humidity. A great day to hike. I got past Stony Brook Creek while figuring out how to dispose of the 1995 VW my brother managed to run into the curb in Poughkeepsie. Salvation Army will tow it. I passed the Lookout Shelter. No water. Not going to stay there. Made it to Winturri before 6pm. Less people tonight. Very nice shelter.
Date: 2016-07-12
From: Winturri Shelter

To: Cloudland Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Winturri Shelter was not crowded so I put my tent inside to keep mosquitos away once it was clear nobody else would be arriving. I got on the trail by 10AM but it was slow going. I had a great visit at a farm stand I passed. I got some hiker-friendly food there like cheese and pepperoni. There were numerous ascents and descents all day with road crossings. No swimming opportunities. It was getting dark when I got to Cloudland Shelter. The side trail was pretty rough. But the creek was flowing when I got close to the shelter. I found I was the only one staying there.
Date: 2016-07-13
From: Cloudland Shelter

To: West Hartford VT
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: scattered clouds

It was restful at Cloudland Shelter since I was the only one there. It was another sunny morning as I got back out to the AT from the .4 mile side trail to the shelter. I hiked toward West Hartford as I read that the store there had reopened. It was getting hot and humid as I reached the road walk into town. When I arrived around 4pm I found there was wonderful trail magic going on. A local trail angel met me (and some other hikers) right across the bridge and invited us to her place. She had a barn that was retrofitted to be more like a hiker hostel. Food included pasta salad, popsicles, and soda. I then became aware of the bridge challenge. When you cross the bridge over the White River, there are two white AT markers that indicate the place where you jump off the bridge into the river. It is about a 30 foot drop. So I (along with a large number of other hikers) headed to the bridge. It was quite a thrill to jump from the bridge and the water was great. I almost lost my glasses. You get what seems like seconds of free fall. It was so much fun I did it six times. At the risk of being vain, I have to say nobody else jumped six times. I never saw so many people with GoPros in my life. As far as I could tell nobody lost one jumping from the bridge. They are cool but I just can't see myself taking on more pack weight. I am definitely staying here tonight even if it makes it harder for me to get to Norwich on time tomorrow.
Date: 2016-07-14
From: West Hartford VT

To: Norwich Inn, Norwich, VT
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Our trail angel in West Hartford made a wonderful breakfast, eggs, coffee, the whole thing! Yum and many thanks! I got out on the trail by 8am, probably almost a record for me. It was hot and there was a severe thunderstorm warning for eastern Vermont for the afternoon. After a long road walk down Elm Street and past some palatial houses, I got to the Norwich Inn where I had reservations by 2:30 pm. The Inn is quite upscale but hiker friendly. I met one of my Vermont cousins after dinner and we had a nice talk and a beer. I had not seen her in ten years and it was nice to be in touch again. (Actually I got a free beer from the microbrewery for being a thru hiker). Tomorrow I cross the bridge to New Hampshire.
Date: 2016-07-15
From: Norwich Inn, Norwich, VT

To: Mink Brook campsite
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: broken clouds

I had a nice evening at the Norwich Inn. I realized the wine store where I picked up a gift for my cousins did not have its hours posted on Google Maps so I volunteered and did it for them. Payin it forward. I did the road walk from Norwich to the bridge and crossed over into New Hampshire. Hanover struck me as surreal after being on the trail; a yuppie version of Gatlinburg. I stopped in at the North Face store and got new rain pants. I have gone down another size thanks to the AT diet. The guy at the store told me that Bill Bryson was long gone from Hanover. Ate some good pizza. Then I followed the AT past the Dartmouth campus and back into the woods. I had a longer day than originally planned. No campsite at Monahan Brook. I found a very nice site (thanks to the comment in Guthooks) at Mink Brook. The creek was nice, the tent site was level and not muddy even though the bugs were definitely around. Two other NOBOs camped there too. I'm trying to get word to my cousins about a change in our meeting place on Sunday where I am planning to take a zero with family in Vermont.
Date: 2016-07-16
From: Mink Brook campsite

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: scattered clouds

The Mink Brook tent site was really nice. I got moving the next morning and immediately began the climb up Moose Mountain with its several summits. I met a couple who were employees of Hyperlite in Maine (where I got my pack). They were headed to a photo shoot in a few days and interested to see how I was managing with my pack. Nice to have a job where you get to hike. I had to do more internet arrangements from the Moose Mountain ridge which slowed me down. But I made it past the Goose Pond Road crossing and headed up Holt's Ledge, another 1000 foot elevation gain. Oh well. Holt's Ledge had great views and then I got to the shelter where I was able to put up my tent interior bug netting in the shelter. Other hikers were camped around the shelter. Tomorrow I hope to be picked up by my cousins unless they didn't get my messages about changing the meeting place. My fingers are crossed about this.
Date: 2016-07-17
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Grafton Turnpike and Thetford, VT
Miles today: 0.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I had set up a meeting with my cousins who live in Thetford VT. But then I hiked further than I had originally planned so I had some suspense trying to get word to them to pick me up at Grafton Turnpike instead of Goose Pond Road. They don't have cell phones since there is no service where they live. They run an AirBnB place and had everything rented out so they did not get their house phone messages. But they got back Sunday morning and did get my messages and I did get word from them before I started out from Trapper John Shelter to the road. Sure enough they picked me up and we went over to their place in Vermont. The Perry Palace since they all live there. Had a great time catching up. I volunteered to make my pasta dish and get some good craft beer and a decent wine. All is well. I am still trying to get one last White Mountain Hut reservation. AMC recommends to refresh the web page every ten minutes. I'm taking a zero here tomorrow and then start back early the next day. I have to take care of a few chores and mail a few things ahead.
Date: 2016-07-19
From: Grafton Turnpike and Thetford, VT

To: South Jacobs Brook Stealth campsite
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I had a wonderful zero day with my cousins. I managed to get a full resupply while treating my cousin to a nice lunch at Applebee's. She dropped me off back at Grafton Turnpike and I began hiking toward Smarts Mountain. I heard that when I get there the hike gets tougher or as it was said "shit's about to get real". I only went a short distance when I came to the side trail to the house of the Ice Cream Man. Sadly he passed away on May 23. But the house is a kind of shrine. There is still ice cream and a lot of fond remembrances of Dr. Ackerly. I had some ice cream myself and then headed up the trail to Smarts Mountain. It was rather cool and a good day to hike. I met "Handmade", a hiker who had some unusual gear and a hand axe. I had a nice conversation with him and found he has hiked the AT before. He is now headed south but his goal is removal of blowdown trees across the trail which he clears with his axe. As they say in Australia "Good on ya". I thought I would make it to Hexacuba but the more I heard about there being few tent sites there I decided to stop at South Jacobs Brook. There's a nice stealth site just south of the foot bridge. Nice big creek! My friend from Japan sent me an email with a lot of questions. I am encouraging him to meet me in Maine. He is a real trekker. He has done the whole Silk Road. He would have loved Gatlinburg. As different to him as Tajikistan.
Date: 2016-07-20
From: South Jacobs Brook Stealth campsite

To: Ore Hill campsite
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: few clouds

My tent site at South Jacob's Brook was great but I was not ready to go swimming this morning. It was definitely feeling cold. But no clouds. I made it up to the quartzite ledges and then to the summit of Mount Cube where the views were all around. My uncle lived nearby in Vermont and loved this place. He was lost at sea sailing from Jamaica to the US in 2011 so I was thinking of him today. I met a day camp group from Vermont and the counselors I met told me they knew my late uncle and my cousins. I went down to the route 25A highway crossing and then continued to Ore Hill campsite. There was nothing by muddy puddles at the water source but I found a rocky pool when I went down the mountain further. No water sucks. I am glad to have the Katadyn water filter. I have a nice leafy tent site.
Date: 2016-07-21
From: Ore Hill campsite

To: Welcome Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Another restful night and nice morning as I got up at Ore Hill Campsite. I've been having problems getting all my reservations for AMC huts nailed down. I hiked up to the top of Mount Mist and got enough bandwidth to call AMC and get this straightened out. Of course, I am locked into a schedule now and hope that bad weather doesn't screw up anything. I continued my hike to Wachipauka Pond. It was real hot and I swam there for an hour. I swam out and could see the cliffs overlooking the pond. Then on to the Welcome Hiker Hostel. I got a resupply down at a store that is a gas station but did have some good food. Weather forecast is not the greatest for Friday and I think I may do the slack pack over Mount Moosilauk. I have to get over it fast before the thunderstorms roll in.