morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-06-22
From: Sages Ravine Campsite

To: Tom Leonard Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: broken clouds

Brrr! What happened? Oddly cold this morning. Maybe because we're down in the ravine. I know full well though that ten minutes into hiking I'll be too hot to wear my jacket so it gets stowed before I leave. I have a new treat this morning. Instead of honey buns, I got a Lucky Charms breakfast bar. I have a thing for Lucky Charms. They're magically delicious after all but it's something I seem to crave every time I stay at someone's house. I could eat boxes and boxes of the stuff. That'll have to end of course after the hikes over but for now, bring it. (The bar was so so by the way.)So this'll be a big day. Twenty one miles and in just four is Mt Everett. If you've been following along please open your textbooks and turn to mile 1507.3. Yes that is steep. Yes it sapped my morning energy immediately. Yes I'm just whining now but gheez that was rough. Followed by a very very steep downhill as well. Lots of scrambles and hops. Lots of people too btw as it's Sunday. But trail magic! Thanks Dottie she had ice water and Arnold Palmers at the base. Very nice lady. And I forgot to mention, Brian the ridgerunner from Mt Algo shelter was the caretaker at the campsite last night and he offered me a cookie and Pepsi this morning. Thanks! Rest of the day went downhill. Literally for a few miles then figuratively all day. It just seemed endless. What looked like several miles of flat terrain...was...with a massive amount of mosquitos and gnats. Not only did two applications of deet do nothing but you couldn't stop for even a second. And this is the spot I thought before I went in I'd break for lunch. It was soupy swampy and even if no bugs there was no place to sit. I've never hiked so fast. Got out to a road where they seemed to avoid and sat on the grass to eat. There's a stone monument about Shays Rebellion occurring there and my American history completely fails me. At this point I'm really really tired. It's not horrible hot but hot enough to bother and I've got two miles of climb until I can go downhill and finally make camp. Pedal to the metal uphill. No breaks. The bugs are insane. The lack of good water even more so. I guess I'm just not reading the map right because I swear I'm beyond where I should be. I curse and throw fits and FINALLY there's the really poorly marked spot. Blue blazes to nothing. Then the shelter sign down a hill off trail. I hike over the ravine to the shelter and throw my pack down in disgust. The log book shows that several of my hiking buddies are just a day ahead of me! And they did hike naked day! Or so they say. I have to walk around this big bouldery area to find the tent sites and who's there but The Machine! Haven't seen her since Mt Rogers. Crazy the way it all works. It's nice to have company. Too bad the vast majority of it is in the form of mosquitos. I'm in my tent without the rain fly and there is this dull buzzing below all the birds and nature sounds. Like a thousand motorcycles are racing somewhere a long way away. They're just swarming out there. Safe in here. Night suckas!
Date: 2014-06-23
From: Tom Leonard Shelter

To: Upper Goose Pond Shelter
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: clear sky

What a beautiful spot to wake up! I may have hated most of yesterday but that ridge was so pretty. Machine had the best view and invited me over for breakfast. Today will be long. Longest of the week. Not terrible long but I'm hiking twenties everyday right now and getting a little worn down. I need something to boost my spirits and tonite might be it. Hiking to Upper Goose Pond Cabin. Yes cabin, not shelter. This is the one everyone posts the pictures from. Great big pond with swimming and canoeing. And it's an enclosed cabin with bunks. Looking forward to it but have 21+ miles to get there. It's a long downhill first thing for a few miles then the lowlands - again the dreaded lowlands. They'd be a dream in any other scenario - shady and flat. But they're also wet and the bugs are out of this world. I can't talk enough about these gnats. Have you seen the videos on YouTube of the kind of mini drones? The ones that fly in unison in some techie lab somewhere? That's what these are like. You turn left, they all turn left. Right, they all turn right. There is no escape. I did have one great thing break the tension though - BEAR! That makes ten (counting the zoo bears). He stepped out on the trail about 80 feet in front of me. We both stopped, locked eyes, and he ran. The first time I encountered one my heart raced! Almost leapt out of my chest. This time I was calm cool and collected. Can't say I care at all for the rest of the day (until the end). All I remember is bugs, climbs, and bugs. As usual the last mile is an eternity but all worth it. This cabin though is the bomb! Met Nancy, the caretaker. Not only very nice but super smart and fun to talk to. First thing I did was drop my pack and go for a swim. I completely missed hike naked day. I was alone so it'd be weird, but apparently others participated. So as to feel like I was part of it I just stripped down and went in. Cool but not cold. Perfect. I brought my sponge I use for my Jetboil and used the abrasive side to scrub deet, dirt, sweat, muck and anything else I could off me. I feel so clean even though I know I'm not. Made dinner and sat with Nancy chatting movies. We made hot cocoa. I hear there are pancakes in the morning. I know I'm either canoeing or at least swimming again tomorrow. And I'm sleeping on a mattress tonite. Sigh.
Date: 2014-06-24
From: Upper Goose Pond Shelter

To: Kay Wood Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Upper Goose Pond shelter is really what I imagined all shelters to be like. Too bad! It's spoiled everything else from now on. I haven't slept so hard in a long time. Four twenties in a row wore me out. Woke up around 6:30 to birds singing and a still morning. Today is a few miles shorter than I've been hiking and I really don't want to leave so I took my book down to the front porch for a chapter. Right as I was finishing I hear Nancy say "pancakes and coffee are ready". Nirvana. Delicious. Heaven. Just what the doctor ordered. There are two other guys here, Will and Jack, and they heard it too and came down. They're doing a good long section of trail then off to work at an organic farm picking apples. How ideal! I really didn't want to leave yet but got all packed up then went down to the dock for another nudie dip. All alone in this beautiful huge still pond early in the morning surrounded by ducks and beavers and mountains. It's like On Golden Pond. Left clean and rejuvenated. The rest of the day was another one of those "nothing amazing happened but I had a great day" days. Tomorrow is rain so the clouds and wind have picked up. Cool and just enough breeze to make the bugs a little better. The highlight of the day was silly. You tend to keep your head down paying attention to the rocks and roots when you hike and I was rewarded with a new animal. I saw what looked like my old hamster, Laverne, sticking her butt out from under a leaf. A really thought, how'd a hamster get out on the trail?! And why does she think she's hidden from me with only her head under the leaf? It was comical. Like trying to stand behind a sapling as if I can't be seen because my eyes are hidden. But then she moved and it was a mole! I've never seen one. It tried to run off into the woods. These are not chipmunks that dart back and forth chirping and warning that I'm coming. Imagine a short fat hairy sausage with legs more on the side than underneath. They waddle like a swimming pig or something. I actually busted out laughing. And I could hear in my head the guy that does voicework in old Disney movies. I can see his face. Bald, glasses, ruddy complexion. If anyone knows who I'm talking about send a message in my guest book. Diversions aside the terrain was pretty level. I completely missed out on the famous cookie lady though. I guess I was one tracked. I did finally catch up to some friends. Almost done I saw Shy Bear heading south doing some slack packing with Guy on a Buffalo. Hadn't met him yet. Read in the logs that he got Lyme but was treated and is ok. I'll see them again tomorrow. Then I get to a shelter that has at least eight people there - which is odd because it's been so dead lately - and who's there but Top'O! Austinites represent. And to top that I hear a "yo Dune" in a deep southern accent and wow it's Grasshopper! Haven't seen him since Tennessee. Nice to catch up and be amongst familiars again. Tomorrow is breakfast in Dalton then lunch in Cheshire then to a shelter just before Mt Greylock. Hope I can beat the rain.
Date: 2014-06-27
From: Karl's Dad's House, North Adams

To: Karl's Dad's House, North Adams
Miles today: 0.0

Alrighty, bloody mary in hand it's time for a quick check in. We've already lounged around eating and drinking and it's time to hit the town for errands. Glad that I've been hiking kind of hard lately. I have definite plans now - my friend Debbie (hi Debbie!) will be in Monson on August 1st and we start the 100 mile wilderness the next day so I have a deadline to get there. Did a quick run through of AWOL to the end and I'm doing GREAT. Can do fairly easy days, and take a number of zeros AND save up some more zeros for when my daughter and her moms, and a couple of friends come up to hang out around Mt Washington and Mahoosuc Notch in July. Will be nice to have someone slack me in a somewhat difficult part of the trail and to have friends to slack with! Off to shop. Written at camp:Gotta just love zero days. I'm really impressed with the area. Very pretty. Very bucolic. It's high summer. Everyone is out mowing and running and soaking up sun. About eleven we headed out to go visit Mass MOCA, a modern art museum that's the centerpiece of this small town. Really amazing and inventive and the Sol Levitt exhibit was right up my alley. Afterwards was lunch at Publix. Really great dining for such a small town. Now to take care of resupply at my least favorite but most comprehensive store in the world, Walmart. But swallowed that bitter pill with ice cream! A real wonder of the North are all the walk up outdoor food and ice cream stands. I had the coffee and blackberry. Karl the maple walnut. All great and a welcome addition to my caloric intake. Went home to nap, but not after stopping at a liquor store to pick up some Berkshire Bourbon, a local brew that Karl wanted me to try. Zero naps, several drinks, and lots of good music later, Karl's dad was home and joined the fun! We had reservations at Gramercy, back at the museum for dinner. Did not disappoint. Had p¢t©, sweetbreads, and paella! Let me tell you I can EAT! All good zeros must come to an end though and went home for a night cap of scotch and stars on the porch. A big thanks to the Scholz's for the unbelievable hospitality.
Date: 2014-06-29
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

For someone who went to bed so early I sure did sleep in. Didn't even leave until around eight. The map looks tough. It's my second longest day and it's all uphill until the last few miles. The trail always surprises though and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought.I did have one very steep downhill to the road that leads into Bennington but nothing new. Last to leave camp I expected to be alone but when I got to the road there were Mike and Dan pulling out of the parking lot. They waited for me and offered to take me to town if needed. Thanks guys! Too bad I'm overloaded with food. I'm now at a beautiful rushing river with a footbridge and what is that on the opposite side? Trail Magic! A cooler with sodas and PBR and a bag of fruit and candies. I went for a PBR. Thanks to whomever left it. There was no log. Much appreciated. After that bonus was the real uphill but honestly it was a breeze! Caught up to the Machine. She's been at camp last night too. Then also had Moose pass me by. I'd met him the same night I'd met the Machine way back in southern Virginia. Crazy! Nice guy. Wish I could keep up but suspect he's moving faster. Shortly after he passed he called out that there was a big porcupine on the trail but it was gone by the time I got there. Fitting it was on Porcupine Ridge. Then after that I stopped for lunch and Machine mentioned all the moose droppings. Looks like this area is swarming with them as I saw twelve or more piles along the trail. No moose though. Really in the north woods now! It's gotten really really lush. Oddly reminds me of Cambodia (not that I've been). Very mossy and ferned. You'll see big stones like those huge Buddha heads with a tree growing over it covered in moss with big green leaved plants around. Almost tropical. A word of warning though. The bugs have gotten bad. Would love a breeze. Those stupid gnats. Driving me up the wall. This last shelter was only four miles away but was preceded by another steep rocky downhill that required your full attention and the gnats sole purpose was to distract. The shelter is kinda crappy but has a phenomenal view. Too bad the tent sites are further down trail and really awkward. I had to sort of bushwhack a spot but a nice stream is nearby so I got a chance to take a good bandana bath and hide out in my tent. I guess that much further on in the morning. Also - when I was planning this trip I got excited about being somewhere fun for July 4th. First I planned on NYC but moved so fast thought a great classic New England small town would be perfect. Made reservations for the Inn on the Long Trail in Killington on the fourth. Will be fun to sit in the grass and watch some fireworks.
Date: 2014-07-04
From: Governor Clement Shelter

To: The Inn at the Long Trail
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

This rain! It finally did hit last night and with a vengeance. Of course I'm in my tent this time. Super noisy lightening and thunder. Constant! Ugh. I don't mind the rain but it seems it lightnings constantly up here. The rain was torrential. Forming big puddles where it dripped off the edges and the bathtub of my tent isn't deep enough and water splashed up in. Just barely but enough to worry. Slept well though. The creek and the rain drowns out everything else. We're all up early and start hiking. I'm out of regular breakfast food so have a power bar and Jiff silk. It's deeply foggy today. The trail is soaked and muddy and pushing through all the tree limbs makes you drenched. I still don't like to wear my jacket. Too hot and sweaty and what's a little water? I'll dry off eventually.The big goal today is summiting over Killington Peak then down into Killington and a stay at the Inn on the Long Trail. This is some of my least favorite hiking weather. Very humid and wet. Super foggy so you don't see much. Barely any sun. It was supposed to be nice today but the hurricane is mixing with a front and making it soupy. The climb isn't too bad and I'm glad I didn't try to summit yesterday and stay at the shelter there. A dump! Yesterday I crossed the "less than 500 miles" mark. Can't believe it. Well, I can but it's still crazy. I've hiked about 1700 miles so far! Today I shift from heading north on the Long Trail to turning east towards New Hampshire at the Maine Junction. First reference to Maine. The end. Wow. Flossie and Gray Squirrel caught up to me and we hiked the last few miles in to the lodge. Also passed the Machine and found out Survivorman will also be here. The Inn is awesome! Just what I like. Debbie, Lance, Matt you'd love it. All birch and spruce construction. Rickety stairs. A lounge, bar, fireplace. Nice little rooms. Checked in and took a big long shower. Surprises me though that every time I take these deep showers I scrub everything and when I towel off there's always big spots of dirt on the towel. Goes to show how muddy it is and how dirty I get. Did laundry then right to the bar for a Guinness and food. Over do it again with potato soup, a sandwich, cole slaw, then ordered loaded potatoes. Could've had dessert but think I'll forgo it for once. Sat with the Machine and then some hikers I met way back on Damascus - Dinosaur and Bean Dip, then also met Lady Moose and two more whose names I forget. I'm bad that way. Looks like fireworks are cancelled due to the weather so I'll go to bed early, have the breakfast that comes with the room, then take the bus to Rutland for resupply and back to hike 15 miles more tomorrow. Getting closer to the Whites!
Date: 2014-07-09
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Hiker Friendly Hostel
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: light rain

Hated today. Period Woke up last night at around midnight to heavy rain and thunder again. Guess I have a nice wet trail to look forward to. Kept me up for a while. By morning I had a nice little pool at the far corner of my tent. Stayed just above it with the thermarest. I guess that's the highlight of the day. Got up and got everything packed up in the wet. All my socks were outside and I pulled them in too late so had to wring them out before I could put them on. Wet socks in wet shoes is a bunch of crap. Squish squish. Right off had to navigate the super steep trail back down to the main trail. It is so slick on these wet rocks. I admit there was a nice section of trail up to the top of Mt Cube but the rest of the day, all twelve miles, was an absolute mess. Just one big horrible mud pit. I could barely keep my shoes on. As soon as I got a little dry I'd step deep down in again. My toes are raw from sliding around in those wet wool socks. Just endless. I'm glad they get rain but Gheez. The three saving graces are that one, I just passed the less than 400 miles to go mark. Two, I'm staying at a hostel which means shower, laundry, and food. And three, they had a scale and by golly I've lost 40 lbs since I started. Doesn't look like it but wow! Have had a nice big meatball sub for dinner and they told us it's better to resupply in two days and the hitch is easy so looks like my load of food up Moosilauke tomorrow will be three days less. Hurray.
Date: 2014-07-12
From: Chets in Lincoln

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 13.2

What a day. I'm bushed. Had a great night at Chet's. Really cool place. Was up super early with Survivorman and Inflammable for the obligatory town donuts and leftover Ben and Jerry's. Got out around seven and decided to walk back to North Woodstock to hitch but Nectar from the previous hostel was there and offered us a ride. She'd been dropping off some packs for hikers who were slack packing to Chet's. Perfect!On the trail by 7:15 and I was ready for this tough climb up to Liberty Ridge. I need to keep overhyping what looks like tough climbs because they always turn out to be no big deal. I got bad news at the top from a caretaker - looks like rain tonite and storms tomorrow. Crap! I really wanted good weather here. Oh well. Onward. Next up was a long, beautiful ridge walk to Lafayette Peak. You spend two miles above tree line and the views are phenomenal. It was later in the afternoon that I realized I should have worn sunscreen. Red arms. There were far too many people but I just put on some music - Air's Universal Traveler - and passed the crowds. Inflammable caught up to me and we moved beyond the summit to an uncrowded peak for lunch. The rest of the day was similar to before. Tough terrain with unbelievably steep ascents and descents and a very slow pace. Managed to get in 13 miles by 5:30 and we're whipped. They really are tough these Whites. Made it to Galehead Hut and asked about work for stay. They said sure and we were in! We could sleep anywhere in the dining hall but would eat with the staff after the guests then had two hours of work. Chef then Tenzing showed up and got it too. Fun! We were starving and had to wait until 7:30 but got all you could eat Thanksgiving dinner! Stuffed. Totally stuffed. We had to clean the floors and then some kitchen work but all totally worth it. Afterwards we sat outside watching the full moon rise over the mountain. Was supposed to be some big deal moon but honestly looked like every other one I've seen. The one drawback is the guests are staying up way too late playing cards so Chef and I have moved out to the front porch. Hope it doesn't rain.
Date: 2014-07-17
From: Gorham, New Hampshire

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The end is so close I can practically taste it. Today I move into the final state. Maine. I can't believe it. Had a great night out last night. Good food and a few drinks and we talked whether I'd hike today or not. Girls wanted to go to Acadia and Betsy and David don't fly in until today so it seems like I should. Plus I really (really!) want to hike into Maine before I ride in there. I'm on my regular schedule and woke at 5:45. Sat outside surfing the net until about eight then went inside to rustle them up. Went for a good breakfast. I had an egg and bacon sandwich, a bagel with cream cheese, and a honey bun. Calories calories. Then a quick stop to the outfitters to get new trekking poles and finally a convenience store to get lunch and breakfast for tomorrow. Was on the trail at ten. There's a little road walk first. A pickup drives by then pulls over in front. For a minute I think I'm getting trail magic but out hops Goliath, Napoleon, and Noodle! Haven't seen them since New York. Love how it works. The road turns to gravel and the gravel finally back to trail and I'm in. We have definitely left the Presidentials. No more horrible climbs or descents. It's this nice gradual trail with a hint of what I left behind. As if New Hampshire is trying to apologize for the rest of the trail. Or play a colossal joke on the southbounders making them think everything will be ok. Regardless it's nice to just walk for once. I pass two amazing ponds I want to pick up and put in my backyard. How lucky the animals are to have that at their disposal at all times. Turns out I miscalculated some mileage today and I've got way more to do than I thought. Was hoping for an easy day but have a long way to go and will probably push the daylight. As the day goes on the terrain gets tougher and tougher. Back to some scrambles and a lot of marshy muddy spots. Eventually you make it up to Mt Success with stunning views. Now, here's the rub. On the way downhill it gets rougher and rougher. Seems to be taking longer than I expected. Rocky trail becomes boulders. There's a sort of collapsed canyon with huge boulders that you can't possibly get down without turning backwards and doing pirouettes and worrying. I thought maybe I'd missed the campsite and had already made it to Mahoosuc Notch, the "toughest" mile on the trail.   It ended with a stream and sharp uphill to a sign. Maine!!! New Hampshire slapped you on the butt on the way out. But Maine has some tricks up her sleeve too. It's only about a half mile to the campsite from here but it's the roughest, toughest, most convoluted route ever. It ends in another boulder drop into a steep canyon. Then makes you hike .3 miles off trail down a rubbley path to the shelter. I went but said forget it when one of the group sites was occupied by screaming teenagers. What a fuddy duddy. So I got water then started back up the trail to find a stealth site, which I did, and which I'm at now ready to go to sleep in peace. And maybe moose.