morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-08-22
From: Killington,VT

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: overcast clouds

We did not do big miles today. We woke up to another morning of rain and stayed at the hotel until check out. We reluctantly walked down the road back to the trail and had to stop at the outfitter first so Delaware could get a new spoon. There she told us she didn't want to hike anymore and didn't know if she could finish the trail. There's a rule out on the trail and that's to never quit on a rainy day so we told her to take a few days off and rethink the whole thing. We said our goodbyes and left for the trail not knowing if that was the final time I would see Delaware, the only person I knew since day one on the trail.   We cut through a disc golf course and were back on the trail and right off the bat we had to cross a swelled up creek that cut through the trail. There was a tree laying across the trail so we used that as leverage and safely crossed, this is just a preview of how it's going to be in Maine. So with a heavy heart I hiked on with Atlas in the rain which actually felt good to hike in, thankfully it wasn't freezing it like some other days we had in Vermont. We passed Thundering Falls which was a waterfall that was flowing super fast and then trudged up Quimbly Mountain which seemed like it would never end with all the false summits by eventually we were up and over it and arrived at the first shelter.    There were four other people there and after talking it over we decide to stay there for the night. It was three o'clock already and the next shelter was ten miles away and we didn't want to stealth camp and the ground was saturated so it was better to stay as dry as possible. So we lounged around, had some coffee and took nap which was a good thing because when you have nothing to do and trapped in a shelter all you do is eat and I still had a few days before the next resupply.    Everyone cooked dinner around the same time and we were walking about people leaving the trail and while we were mentioning Delaware, who comes walking down the trail to the shelter. I was happy to see her and glad she didn't get off the trail. We've come all this way and to quit so close to the finish line I think would bother for a long time. She seemed like she was in good spirits so we all talked for awhile before heading to bed. Throughout the night hikers were trickling in soaking wet and set up camp behind the shelter. We've had two short days so we need to put in a decent mile day to pick up the slack, I'm liking Vermont but it's time to blow this popsicle stand and head on to New Hampshire.
Date: 2014-08-23
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Promfret Brook
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Since Atlas and Delaware both had packages at Hanover, our original plan to get there Sunday was pushed back to get there Monday when the post office was open. With this new plan in mind we could split up the miles a bit and not have to go too crazy and enjoy ourselves a bit. The shelters are a bit spaced out in this section so we didn't really have an exact destination for the day and would see where we were around six.    We finally had a morning without rain and the sun was fighting it's way through the clouds as the day progressed and eventually won the fight. We took a lunch break at the Lookout Cabin which is an empty cabin privately owned but allow thru hikers to days there if they need to. It's not marked in our guide book as a shelter but I wish we knew about it so we could've done more miles yesterday. There were a whole bunch of thru hikers there with all their gear spread out everywhere trying to dry it out.   We didn't stay too long and hiked on and eventually made it to VT 12. There was some trail magic left by Ladybugs parents whom earlier up the trail. We were drinking the sodas they provided and reading the logbook that was there and a whole bunch of people mentioned a farm stand not too far off trail that had ice cream and pie so we had to investigate. What we discovered was On the Edge Farm which was a hidden oasis that I'm glad we came across. The owner was a sweet lady who showed us all the deliciousness that she had to offer from homemade pies to sandwiches to ice cream. We settles with ham and cheese sandwiches,pickles and I had a locally made root beer which was the best I've ever had. We topped off the visit with some ice cream and hiked another four miles over Dana Hill which was a bit more than a hill. Along the way we picked blackberries which were everywhere and we finally called it a day why camping near the Promfret Brook which was running strong from all the rain. Unfortunately it was right next to the road so that took away from the whole scene but it goes to show how close the trail is to civilization. We managed to make a small fire despite everything being wet, thankfully there's an abundance of birch bark around which will light up no matter how wet it gets. It was a long day but any side trip that involved food usually brightens up the day and it sure did this time around.
Date: 2014-08-24
From: Promfret Brook

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

Since we knew we had a light day ahead of us we weren't in a big hurry to leave camp today. We were going to head to the Happy Hill Shelter which is about five miles from Hanover and hike into town tomorrow morning. There's suppose to be a deli in West Hartford which the trail goes through so I was looking forward to getting some food there before hiking the few miles to the shelter. While having my coffee this morning a guy pulled over his car and came down to the brook and out some sodas in a bucket for trail magic. I waved as he went passed and soon as he was out of sight I went over and sodas for Atlas and I, nothing like some trail magic to start the day.   We had a climb initially which wasn't too bad, the heat was the worst part of it. The good thing about the climb was the among of blackberries that were growing along the trail which we frequently stopped and picked.   There was some more trail magic near a road and the only thing left in it was a banana which was a nice energy boost for the middle of the day. We crossed a few more roads along the way and on the finals descent into town we heard some loud noises and branches breaking which startled us. We thought we finally finally might be seeing a moose but what came out from behind the trees were some cows munching on some grass, it was pretty funny.   We got into town and crossed the White River and were on the hunt for the deli to get some food, we were starving. We finally found it and when we went up to it we saw the sign no thru hiker wants to see-OUT OF BUSINESS. A crushing blow to morale we sat on the porch for a minutes dazed and confused. The images of sandwiches and soda that were dancing in our heads were now popped and now we sit on a quiet road in a small town with no food places in sight. A few houses down was a trail angel who allowed you to get water from the house and hang out in his backyard and rest and even camp there if you wanted. We headed down there and for some water and while getting some drink mix I soon realized that one opened up and I'm now sporting red fingertips,this day is getting worse and worse. We met the trails angels and relaxed in their backyard near the steam that cascades into a pond, it was a nice place to relax after the deli fiasco.   We left and hiked the few miles to the shelter which was a really nice, quaint shelter made out of stone and was two floors. There was a thru hiker who started as a NOBO and now flipped flopped and became a SOBO because he had to get off the trail for a bit and wouldn't finish in time if he stayed a NOBO. He spoke about Hanover as if it was some magical place and got us excited for it and we picked his brain about the upcoming terrain. He gave us a lot of good advice especially about hiking in the Whites which put some of apprehensions to ease.    Delaware caught up with us in town and got to the shelter before us and made a nice fire which we all are dinner around. We plan I'm getting up super early to get into town and get some real food and resupply. Last night in Vermont, can wait for New Hampshire!
Date: 2014-08-25
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Hanover,NH
Miles today: 5.9

We were up early so we could get into town and get everything done at a reasonable time. Atlas and Delaware had packages at the post office plus me and Atlas needed to resupply and also needed to take a bus to the next town to the a Eastern Mountain Sport,this was a busy town visit.   We were on the trail around seven and the terrain was pretty easy with it being downhill for a few miles and then a few more miles of road walking so it should be pretty quick. It was a beautiful hike in the woods with the mist blanketing the the ground and the burning reflecting off of it. I don't know if it was spider of moths but all the trees and bushes were covered in webs which made it slightly eerie. It felt like a video game where you enter the final bosses lair and waiting for him to pop out from behind one of the trees. We got to the road and the first few houses had trail magic outside in the form of sodas,banana bread and watermelon. With fully bellies we walked the road and got to the bridge over the Connecticut River that also served as the border between Vermont and New Hampshire. It was a great feeling to finally cross into New Hampshire, home of the Whites,it's a milestone I won't forget.   We walked into Hanover which is the home of Dartmouth college so it was a preppy little college town which I liked. It was different from the other towns,it had a comfortableness to it that ands you feel at home despite us standing out so much. We had some coffee,went to the post office. We met up with James here and met his father who made James a beautiful utensil set for the trail that were more art than eating utensils. We the went to the pizza place which gave a free slice to thru hikers. We stayed for more food and beer after that free slice and afterwards Delaware and James left for the trail while Atlas and I stayed behind to run some errands.   It took awhile but we went to the other town to Eastern Mountain Sports and now were back in Hanover and at the store to resupply. It was getting late and were getting worried about getting got he energy shelter when a women walked by us and asked us if we had a place to stay and offered us a place to stay. Her house was the one that had the trail magic outside and she now pays it forward as a family let her son stay at their house when he was injured during his thru hike a few years before.   So she let us do some laundry and we showered and now laying on some air mattresses in their basement. It's weird but the trail always somehow provides and things work out in the end. There's more to this journey than just the steps we take on the trail,the generosity of people is just as amazing.
Date: 2014-08-26
From: Hanover,NH

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 16.6

The people we stayed with were nice enough to give us a ride back to Hanover on their way to work around 7:30. The only thing we had to do was to to the CVS so Atlas could transfer all her photos of the trip so far onto cd's. The girl that worked there said it should only take about half hour so we were planning on being in trail earlier than we have been as of late.   Three hours later we were back on the trail, the wireless technology to transfer photos from iPhone to cd is flawless as of yet. So we departed the town of Hanover and were climbing uphill back to the mountains. It was a rather flat hike after that until we hit the shelter we were staying at. I always feel a little sluggish when leaving town especially after a fully resupply so it was slow going for a bit. We got to the Moose Mountain shelter around four and took a break there, I was shot, not sure what it was but I felt drained and needed to sit there to a bit before I could finish the day. We left the shelter and on the down hill two southbounders food us of some trail magic at the parking lot at the base of the mountain so we hurried down there. A couple from the area were cooking up hot dogs and giving out sodas so we hung out there for about half hour stuffing ourselves and fueling up for the last big climb of the day. The funniest thing was when the man was walking about the upcoming shelter he was talking about the privy and mentioned it had a 'wicked nice pissah'.   So we trekked up the unnamed mountain which seemed like it went on forever and we never would cross over it and head down it. Atlas did come up with a name for it but I'm pretty certain that if I said it on trailjournals,I wiifm be banned for vulgar language. Needless to say we finally got over the mountain and on the way down it was a beautiful opening which gave a view of the valley and surrounding mountains. That's the great thing about hiking, you could be mad and pissed but when you come across a breathtaking view, it all goes away and you get swallowed up in the beauty.   We finally made it to the shelter and nobody was there, we're lying catch up with Delaware and James. Eventually a few people trickled in but we cooked dinner and called it a night,these New Hampshire mountains are ready kicking our butts. Also, I took a peek into the privy and attached to where you sit on was the top part of a dinner chair so you could lean back and enjoy yourself while doing your business, it really was a wicked nice pissah.
Date: 2014-08-27
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Brackett Brook
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: broken clouds

Today was just another day of roller coasting hiking with New Hampshire flexing it's muscles and showing us who's boss but we did get to hang out with a trail legend which made it all worth it. About a mile from the shelter we saw a sidetrail to Bill Ackerly's who is known as the ice cream man and plays a mean game of croquet. Bill is a man in his late eighties who loves to converse with hikers, give them ice cream and play a game of croquet. Well we did all that and it was my first time playing the game and it was fun but knowing that there was hiking to do was always on my mind. We hung out there for about an hour before we left and we had a steep climb up Smarts Mountain. After the cold spell in Vermont and rushing to get my winter gear it has been real hot out and today was no exception. I had to stop a few time up the mountain and was getting pissed. I've hiked all these miles and yet and I'm sitting here feeling like I did when I first started in Georgia,it was frustrating. We finally got to the top and took a break at the Fire Wardens Cabin which unfortunately was a pretty rundown shelter.    The next mountain to get over was Mount Cube which beat me up even more,I felt like a boxer stuck in the corner getting mercilessly hit in the ribs waiting for the knockout punch. Luckily that didn't happen and we summited Cube and got some spectacular views from the top with some amazing clouds giving the sky an amazing color. Unfortunately those same clouds would be the ones who decided to pour cold rain on us while we were descending the mountain making the rocks that much more treacherous. We were stealth camping tonight and were hoping to find some spots near a water source and thankfully we did even thought we were already soaked. We got there there right at sundown so it was dinner in the dark and then bed.
Date: 2014-08-28
From: Brackett Brook

To: Glencliff,NH
Miles today: 11.4

The rain let up during the night and we had a beautiful windy day to do some hiking. Today was a somewhat leisurely day as we were going to hiking to the base of Mt Moosilauke which is the start of the White Mountains and a big climb so we didn't want to start that in the middle of the day.   The hike was nothing crazy, we ended up heading to the hiker hostel in Glencliff which was a real chill place. We hung out there for awhile and in the end decided to stay the night. They do slackpacking trips and since they were dropping off bags in Lincoln which was the next town we needed to get to, it seemed like the smart thing to do. If we're going to climb a four thousand foot mountain why not do it with a day pack on and enjoy the experience.    So we set up shop there and went to a restaurant in town for some dinner. Some of the other hikers tried the Moosilauke Monster challenge which is a pizza with a boatload of toppings that made the pizza weigh a hefty pounds. They put up a valiant effort but in the end failed. Time for bed and rest up for the first big mountain of the Whites, Moosilauke here we come!
Date: 2014-08-29
From: Glencliff,NH

To: Kinsman Notch
Miles today: 9.3

Today was the day we hike Mount Moosilauke which is about a 3500 mile climb. It's supposed to have spectacular views at the top since it's above tree line and today's a beautiful day so I'm pretty excited. We're slackpacking to Lincoln today while everyone else is starting south heading the opposite way and going back to the hostel so we should see them at the top.    The hike up was pretty steep but not too bad. It's pretty cool when you start getting above treelike and the trees start to get smaller and the air gets cooler. Then all of sudden you see the top in the distance with the trail stretching it's way up there. Piles of rocks called cairns replace the trees with blazes up this high with spectacular three sixty views. All I could do was smile,it was so beautiful up here, we were finally in the Whites and I couldn't be happier.   We hung out up there for awhile with some other thru hikers and got a group photo before we all departed. The descent down was really steep but there was a stream that followed us and gave us some beautiful waterfalls along the way. We got off the mountain and took on the task of getting a six mile ride into Lincoln on a quiet. New Hampshire highway. After about fifteen minutes a lady stopped and picked us up. She had been listening to a show on NPR with a guy who wrote a book about hitchhiking so she felt the need to pick up the hitchhikers which was us.   We were dropped off at the post office and I got my package which had my new shoes and since there was a Mexican restaurant next door we had to stop in for some margaritas. Lincoln is a small little tourist town but it had everything you needed and it was all within walking distance which was great for us. After we had some drinks and food we went off to Chet's place to get our bags and stay the night.   Chet is a trail legend and an amazing guy. He was planning on doing a thru hiker in the early 2000's and was testing out a stove when it exploded and burned him severely. He lost most of his eyesight and use of his legs and but never lost his passion for the trails and the hikers. He now let's hikers stay at his place free of charge and can shower and do laundry, most people give him money before they leave.When we first arrived he gave us a like of questioning about the trail and scared me a bit but he was was joking around making sure we were thru hikers. We set up in the backyard and then soon after his friend came by and invited us to his condo in town to use the heated pool and jacuzzi. This day just keeps getting better and better.   So we went to the condo and relaxed in the jacuzzi with some other hikers and it felt amazing. We were there for a few hours and he brought us back to Chet's where went straight to go get some food. It was a great day and even better night, tomorrow we conquer Mt Kinsman.
Date: 2014-08-30
From: Kinsman Notch

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 16.3

First thing for the day was to find a way back to Kinsman Notch which was six miles from Lincoln. Luckily, a guy who worked at the hostel in Glencliff stopped by and was nice enough to drop us off.   Mt Kinsman is a steep ol' mountain that started off steep and never flattened out. Between the steep uphills and hand over hand climbing it busted our butts. We got some amazing views but we were tired and still had some miles to do and time wasn't on our side so we booked it. Big surprise, the downhill was a steep decline and we passed the first of the huts,Lonesome Lake Hut in New Hampshire. In the Whites, they have they fancy huts that people stay at for weekends, they're really expensive so they're not in a thru hikers budget. What they hikers can do is do a work for stay which they clean dishes or sweep up and in return get some food and can sleep on the floor in the huts. They also sell food and drinks so there nice places to stop by for a break. Now if you're not lucky enough to get a work for stay, there are shelters on the trail but they cost 8$ per person for nothing more than what we've been seeing throughout the trail. In the end many thru hikers just stealth camp along the trail.   We just kept hiking and while walking underneath a bridge, a former thru hiker left some really delicious chocolate chip,zucchini bread and an inspirational note next to it. It's amazing where you find trail magic and inspiration out here. We misread the guide book and thought it should only be a mile into Lincoln but turned out to be six. Thankfully these weekend hikers came by and we were walking with them for a bit they offered a ride to town. We got to Chet's and heard the weather is supposed to be crappy tomorrow and we're hiking the Franconia Notch which everyone says you should walk it in beautiful weather so we're going to figure out what we're going to do.
Date: 2014-08-31
From: Franconia Notch

To: Chet's Place
Miles today: 0.0

With the weather looking dismal we decided to take a zero day and hope the weather would be better tomorrow to hike the Franconia ridge. The ridge is about fifteen miles of hiking along the ridge line of the mountains with spectacular views. There are many that say this is the most beautiful part of the trail and to hike it in beautiful weather so we're going to take the chance and see how tomorrow is.    So for the third day we're at Chet's Place, Delaware is here for another night and James was here last night but is spending the day with his family. We did some resupplying and just hung around Chet's place for relaxing. I went for a walk around town and realized I haven't walked been by myself in over a month so it was nice to have some solitude.    The weather got progressively worse as the day went on so I was happy with the choice to take the zero. Tomorrow's forecast has it being partly sunny so it looks like it's going to work out for us. We're about to enter the heart of the Whites tomorrow and feeling fine, can't wait for tomorrow!