morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-30
From: Glastenbury Fire Tower

To: Stratton Arlington Road (Grout Pond Campground)
Miles today: 12.2

Overslept and did not get on the trail until 8:30. Gear Dog went by as I was finishing packing, and Late Start came down from his fire tower bedroom. Said he had slept well. Sunset was not spectacular, and he missed sunrise. Slow going, as the trail was rocky, muddy, and often filled with flowing water. Nearly every step required thought. Is that a rock, or is it that gooey grey clay that sucks at one's shoes? Oh, that dreaded sucking sound, when a foot starts pulling out of its shoe. I was lucky. Some near misses, but no disasters. Or a pole gets stuck in the mud while the body's momentum is trying to continue forward. The morning remained cloudy, but it was cool. The sun emerged about one and helped me feel less gloomy about my slow progress.I stopped for a break at the Kid Gore Shelter, where Lee and I camped in 2010 and met thru-hiker Uncas. It still has a lovely view to the east, with Somerset Reservoir in the distance. Late Start was there, and we chatted for a bit before he and then I headed on.Two southbound LT section hiking women came along about two miles later and were both inspired by and encouraging of my hike. Also met young women SOBOs Knee Deep and Faith.The 4.6 miles to Story Spring Shelter seemed to take forever. I'd get moving on a dry section of trail, only to be confronted again with mud and running water. I did stop there for a short break. Texted Lee that I had 3.6 to go. She was going to set up our two person tent at Grout Pond and then hike in from the Stratton-Arlington Road to meet me. The plan is to hike up Stratton together in the morning. I will reach my 1,000 mile mark just two tenths below the summit. It is a fun coincidence that Benton McKaye allegedly came up with the idea of the AT near the summit of Stratton. We hope the predicted rain will hold off.Lee did meet me about two miles from the road. I immediately asked if she had food. I had not brought enough lunch stuff and was hungry. I devoured a bunch of pretzels, and we headed into the mud fields, though we did have some good dry sections. Near the road, Caruso from CT caught up to us. He was headed for Stratton but not sure how far he would go.We did the last two miles in just about an hour and drove to Grout Pond. We have a nice, but muddy, site on the water with a tent platform and picnic table. We spent some time organizing, ate (pasta side with chicken and a beer for me), enjoyed a pinkish setting sliver of a moon reflecting on the water, and settled in the tent. Last time we were here my sister was with us, we had brought the canoe, and we heard and saw loons. Sadly, no loons this time.
Date: 2014-07-31
From: Stratton Arlington Road (Grout Pond Campground)

To: William B. Douglas Shelter
Miles today: 11.7

Got up before 6 and packed up much of our stuff. The clear starry night had given way to clouds, with light fog just above the pond. Lee had brought fruit, so breakfast was especially good. We drove up to the trailhead and were headed up Stratton Mountain by 8:40. The trail was muddy but otherwise not difficult, and we covered the 3.8 miles in two hours and 15 minutes. We stopped to talk with some SOBOs, but Lee would have made much better time had she not had to wait for me. I realized in the last couple of days that I am losing muscle in my legs, and that is slowing me down. I need to make some real adjustments in my diet -- more protein and more fat. Cheese, peanut butter, etc.When we got to the top, Lee took my picture by the sign commemorating the mountain as the sight for the inspiration of both the Long Trail and the AT. Just before the summit, which is 1,633.5 miles from Springer, I reached the 1,000 mile point on my journey. It was an emotional moment to know I had accomplished so much, even though it is not quite half way. Lee also brought a treat, which we enjoyed after lunch -- a small bottle of Cragganmore single malt Scotch. I am finishing it tonight.On the summit, we met T-Bird and Not Worthy, both NOBOs. We then parted ways, Lee heading back to the car, and me north on the AT. I made pretty good time going down to Stratton Pond. Met and chatted with Titan, who was headed for Manchester. At the trail to the shelter, I talked with Not Worthy (source of trail name) and T-Bird, who were going to the Douglas Shelter. I said I might go there or stealth.As I walked on, there were rumbles of thunder. At one point, I heard my phone ding. Texts from Lee and Leigh, who asked me to call. Decided to do it while I had a signal - standing on a rock in the middle of a stream. Dad in hospitalStorm, hunkered down, fell asleepMet Astro Guy and Kansas Express, who caught up to me. KE had met Lee. We talked about food and how to get more calories. AG said he had realized the same thing and it had scared him. No stealth sitesShelter, miceAG and I tentingHe was a space shuttle pilot in late 80s, early 90sTrail nameNo cell signal
Date: 2014-08-08
From: Route 103, Clarendon, VT

To: US Route 4, Killington, VT
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Lee and I planned to hike the Killington Mountain section together, so we left Lee's car at the Route 4 parking area and drove to the Route 103 trailhead (via Dunkin Donuts in Rutland). The elevation there is 860 feet. We got started at 9:15, later than I had hoped, and climbed the rock scramble. It was steep but not nearly as bad as I had remembered from our LT hike -- probably because it was easily 15-20 degrees cooler, we did not have full backpacks, and we had not just eaten lunch! We took a brief break at the Clarendon Shelter, where we met two women and a young man doing the LT. Then a steepish climb up Beacon Hill, followed by more uphill before descending to Cold River Road at 1390 feet. From there, the trail over the next 7.2 miles ascended to Cooper Lodge on Killington Peak at 3928 feet. We did follow the Irene relocation detour, and the devastation from the storm was still clearly evident, even three years later. Shortly after a brief break at the Governor Clement Shelter, we met Lone Stride, a SOBO thru-hiker. Then Lee realized that her car keys were in the glove box of my car back at Route 103. She tried calling our friend Tim, who has a house key, to see if he could meet us at Route 4 with the spare set, but he was not home. We decided to continue anyway.The trail eased up in terms of rocks and roots after the Shrewsbury Trail junction, and we made it to Cooper Lodge at 4:30. A trail runner, who had just cut a tree that had fallen on the trail came along, and we chatted about the many aspects of his job. He loves it. When we got to Jungle Junction, where the trail to Pico goes off the AT, we reached Tim, and he agreed to get the spare VW key and bring it it us at the trailhead lot at Route 4. At that point, it was 6:50, we had 3.8 miles to go, and we knew it would be getting dark. We made it down at 8:45, and found trail magic from the Yellow Deli folks -- apple juice for me. Tim came with the keys, and we went to the Inn at Long Trail for dinner. Our table in the bar area was next toTable next to Wing It, Aqua Man, Trix, and two section hikers, so we indulged in trail talk.After they left, a couple sat at their table who turned out to be real trail angels . I gave our server my credit card to pay our bill, and my plastic bag "wallet" was on the table with the AT Passport showing. She came back a few minutes later with the card but no check. Matt and Liz had seen the passport and paid our bill. We talked with them for quite a while about the trail and hiking. Matt is a fellow graduate, though much more recently, of the University of Colorado at Boulder, so we enjoyed comparing my experience with his. Thank you, Matt and Liz! You gave us a delightful end to a long but good hike.
Date: 2014-08-09
From: US Route 4, Killington, VT

To: River Road, Killington, VT
Miles today: 5.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Morning errands included picking up my car at 103. Lee saw the truck of our trail angels from last night and left them a thank you note. We gathered recycling and trash and took it to Plymouth, then took my car to River Road and drove to the parking area at Route 4. We saw the young woman LT hiker, now solo, and met two NOBOs, Medic and Lieutenant Dan, the latter from FL.We left at 3:15 and reached Maine Junction, where the AT separates from the LT and heads east, about 3:40. The relatively easy hike to River Road included going through Gifford Woods State Park, a walk around the south east side of Kent Pond -- quite lovely on this sunny day -- views toward Pico from "Ben's Balcony," Thundering Falls, and the accessible trail to the falls over a boardwalk and gravel path. The boardwalk is a replacement of the one destroyed in Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. Got to the car about 6:30.We benefitted from trail magic (root beer and Clif Bars) left where the trail enters the woods across Route 100 from the state park. Many thanks, Turtle Tracks! Just what we needed.
Date: 2014-08-10
From: Greengate Road (SOBO)

To: River Road
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I drove to Greengate Road off Route 12, which I hoped would intersect with the AT. There was a parking area at what I figured was .5 mile from the trail and a clear trail leading to the ridge. I did hit the AT in a bit over 15 minutes and headed in what was for me the wrong way, i.e., southbound. The plan was for Lee to meet me at River Road. Shortly before the Lookout, Mark caught up to me. He is a SOBO from Tennessee, with long legs, so I bid him farewell. He was leaving the Lookout when I arrived. Trouble, who I last saw on Bromley, was there and had spent the night. The cabin is private, beautifully maintained, and the owners leave it open for hikers. The real attraction is the small deck on the roof reachable by an outside ladder. It has views in all directions, and though it was too hazy to see Mt. Washington, I did identify Mt. Moosilauke, which I hope to climb next week. The trail was good walking today -- little mud, lots of pine needles and leaf duff -- with the usual rocks, roots, and ups and downs. My next stop was Chateauguay Road, where a large rock had carved into it a dedication to the memory of a couple who loved the outdoors. Nice and simple. Had a snack and moved on toward Stony Brook, about 4 miles away. I met Cannon, a NOBO hiking with a friend out for a few days, and at Stony Brook, the Fairy Queen, a fellow from Melbourne, Australia. I stopped in at the Stony Brook Shelter for lunch. When I arrived, there was one guy, a section hiker who had done a thru hike a while back, but soon, several others came in. Z and Gia, whom we had met last Wednesday, two guys and a young woman whose trail names I did not learn, and Sock Fat. All NOBOs. I said something about maybe seeing them later but that I am old and slow, and Sock Fat asked my age. I told my story and got lots of "Awesomes." On the way up Quimby Mountain, some 1200 feet above Stony Brook, I saw Lt. Dan and Medic, Off My Meds and Biscuit, and Sprout. Lee hiked in from River Road beyond the first peak of Quimby, probably close to 3 miles. We met Scrambles, a nice NOBO, on the descent. One of the perks of slack packing is going home to a shower and then going out to dinner. We went down the road to Pasta Pot, where Pete (the owner and chef) worried that we were wasting away and said we need pasta power. It was good to see Pete, Barbara, and Heidi.
Date: 2014-08-11
From: Joe Ranger Road (SOBO)

To: Greengate Road
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

Yesterday, we decided to leave my car where I had parked it so I could hike back to it from Joe Ranger Road today -- again southbound. I knew I'd probably see most of yesterday's NOBOs again, and I did. Lee walked in with me for about a mile and a half, then went back to Killington. We spent a little time talking with Cannon, who said there was trail magic at Cloudland Road.The day was warm, and there were lots of ups and downs, but the trail itself offered fairly easy walking, and I was able to make pretty good time. It went through several open fields, some with views to the south and west, and I appreciated the variety, both in degrees of openness and in the types of trees. I went through a working sugarbush, stands of spruce and pine, as well as hardwoods and mixed hard and soft woods. I met some new faces, and I realize that now I am part of "the bubble" I had hoped to stay ahead of. Hydro and Miracle, two men probably in their fifties, will be in Hanover Wednesday. Miracle told me about Drag'nfly, a 74 year-old woman who will be the oldest woman thru-hiker. Wonderful! Others are Rowdy, Just Paul and his daughter Torta-Leany, a guy hiking with them whose name I can't remember, and a couple of others. Also met two SOBOs, Fiber One and Road Runner, who had talked with Lee at the Thistle Hill Shelter on her way back to the car.Cannon was right about the trail magic at Cloudland Road. One cooler with bananas and great homemade cookies and another with two remaining bottles of Long Trail Double Bag Ale. Tempting, but at 10:30 in the morning, beer did not seem wise. Instead of a log book, these trail angels had magic markers for people to "leave their mark" on the coolers. I saw several familiar trail names, including Shroomer and Spot.Got a text from Melissa suggesting dinner in Rutland, so I picked up my pace in the afternoon. I had been making fairly good time with few breaks except for talking with other hikers, but the last few miles were mostly uphill. My goal was to reach the car by 6:45, and I got there at 6:44. I am feeling stronger than before the break to go to Maine, probably because I have been eating like crazy. Hope I can keep up the protein intake.It turned out that my timing would be too late for Melissa and Richard, so we will have lunch tomorrow, which will be a zero for me. Lee had the ingredients for a pasta, tomato and Brie dish we like, so she got the part that needs to sit for a few hours going, and we left to take my car to Rutland. The Honda folks will try to clean out the mouse stink. On the way, I saw a hiker by the Route 4 trail head, so I pulled over to give him a ride. The Fonz wanted pizza, so I said I'd drop him at the pizza place and pick him up on the way home and take him to the trail. His hiking buddy had gone on to the Tucker Johnson site, so we dropped him off with two pizzas and his pack to find his way a mile in the dark.
Date: 2014-08-12
From: Killington, VT

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

Today was for organizing, but we also had lunch with Melissa and Richard at the Long Trail Brewery. I went to Plymouth and did some chores in the house while my phone software was being updated -- the internet is faster than in Killington -- then back to Killington to get Lee so we could pick up my car and each do our errands. We had a good time with Melissa and Richard, who were curious about my adventure. One of the servers is a friend of theirs, and when she heard about the hike, she bought me a second pint of Limbo, their new (and excellent) IPA. From hardly drinking in the afternoon to two pints made me a bit nervous, but my body seemed to absorb it along with the cheeseburger and fries. Lee left earlier than the three of us, because she had a burial service to do at 4. When we walked out, I saw a large white van in the lot with all sorts of AT related stickers and a Tennessee plate. I suspected it might be the legendary Miss Janet, so I went back in, saw a man who looked like a hiker and a woman at a table. I asked if she owned the van, identified myself as a thru-hiker, she said she was Miss Janet and invited me to join them. She was taking Four Trees, a 68 year-old section hiker, to Rutland so he could get a train, first to NY, and then home I think to the Chicago area. We had a great conversation about the trail, about our hikes, and about some of her adventures as one of the best-known trail angels on the AT. I told her about Church of Our Saviour and our hope to make the guest house more available to hikers, and I said if she ever needs a place to stay or to park her van when she is in the area, she is most welcome. We exchanged contact information and took each other's pictures. Four Trees also wants me to be in touch about my progress. What a treat! This trail community is amazing.The four-hour lunch break meant I was up until 3 packing, dividing up bulk food like the whey protein, powdered milk, and TVP, and putting together some drop boxes.
Date: 2014-08-13
From: Joe Ranger Road

To: Elm St., Norwich, VT
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

We got up early, had breakfast, and went to Plymouth so I could go to the Post Office, water plants at the house, and leave my car in the garage. After a stop for a donut at the Bridgewater Corners Store, Lee drove me back to Joe Ranger Road, this time with a fully loaded pack. I now have my warmer sleeping bag and some other cold weather gear. I tried to cut down on weight, but the thing weighed 32.5 pounds with five days of food and only a little water. Argh! Without the food and water, I think it is about 21. We had a teary goodbye. Lee is off to Hartford to catch a 6 AM flight tomorrow to El Salvador, where she is a candidate for bishop in the Episcopal/Anglican Church. I have mixed feelings about it, but I also think she needs to follow what she believes is a calling to enter that process. She walked from the only place to park on the road to the trailhead with me in what was becoming pouring rain, rain that continued with varying degrees of intensity until late afternoon. Shortly after I left her, a friend of ours called to talk about Lee's El Salvador prospects, so I put the pack down and stood by the trail in the rain to talk. By the time I really got underway, it was nearly 11 o'clock, and I was concerned about making it to Hanover.The hiking was fairly miserable. I was wearing my new Salewa Wildfire approach shoes, which have a Gore-Tex lining. Because my rain pants did not stay over the backs, they got soaked both inside and outside -- back to wringing out my socks. I ate a couple of snacks, but there was no point in stopping until I got to the Happy Hill Shelter fairly late in the afternoon. I had a sandwich, signed the shelter log, squeezed water out of the socks, and use the nice new privy. It even had room to get my pack out of he rain.I met 5 SOBOs and no NOBOs all day. One of the SOBOs told me where to find the list of Norwich and Hanover trail angels who take hikers into their homes. By this time, I had decided that if I could, I'd stop in Norwich. Miss Janet had also recommended Betsy, who turned out to be the first name on the list.I called Betsy, and she said she was pretty full but I could come. She was just two doors down from the house with the cooler out front that had the list. I left all my wet stuff in the garage and just took in dry clothes, my sleeping bag and toiletries. Betsy pointed me to the shower, which felt wonderful after being out in the cold rain all day. When I said I had not eaten, she invited me to eat with her and her husband. Turns out he had sung with a group at Mission Farm recently when the church hosted part of the Pilgrimage for Earth event sponsored by St. James, Woodstock. Others there were Real Talk, Aqua Man, TricKs, Princess Northstar, Sprout, Wiki, and two others. I got a mattress downstairs in a room full of mattresses and people. Only one snorer, though, and I slept well.
Date: 2014-08-14
From: Elm St, Norwich, VT

To: Moose Mountain Shelter, NH
Miles today: 13.4

The day was a big improvement over yesterday, and I enjoyed the walk to the river and over the bridge to Hanover. As I got to the VT/NH border sign, a woman coming the other way offered to take my picture. I had been trying to figure out how I was going to manage a selfie, since the sign is low. In Hanover, I went to Lou's for a big breakfast and sat at the counter next to a former Marine. We had a good conversation, and he wished me well on my hike. The trail goes by the Hanover Coop, where I planned to do some resupply. At the entrance, I met a lovely woman named Jocelyn, who is in her 90's and who has hiked all over the world. She said she had not done an AT thru-hike and envied me. We talked about hiking in France and about her hikes in Nepal.The trail was not difficult, and I was able to make the distance with no problems. Other hikers I talked with were Hot Sauce, Gizmo, Sock Fat, Bypass and Song Bird. I found a designated tentsite beyond the shelter and not far from the water source.
Date: 2014-08-15
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: Fire Warden's Cabin
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Breakfast included the usual oatmeal plus the free cruller from Lou's in Hanover dipped in the maple syrup from yesterday's breakfast at Lou's. The rest of the syrup went into the oatmeal. This shelter has an open privy, i.e., no walls. Helps to have someone know one is there and warn others.Wing It and his dad (Jeff) who is hiking with him from Hanover to Moosilauke, were packing up. Also saw Hot Sauce.I hiked to Holts Ledge, where I planned to have lunch, and chatted with Wing It and Jeff. They finished up and left ahead of me, but we all planned to go to Bill Ackerley's. His house is just off the trail, and he gives out free ice cream to hikers and if at home will challenge visitors to a game of croquet. He is 84, a psychiatrist and former professor at Harvard Med School. Unfortunately, he was not at home, but Wing It and Jeff were there, and I joined them for an ice cream sandwich and a Coke. The ice cream is in a freezer on the porch. We weighed our packs on a scale hanging on the porch. Mine had only about a quart of water, but I was glad to see that it weighed 31 pounds. I was afraid it might be heavier. Jeff said they would wait for me, so we all left together, and I hiked with them the rest of the day. Wing It is much faster, but he has slowed down for his dad, who hikes about the same or sometimes a bit faster pace as mine.We hiked up Smarts Mountain, which is quite steep for the last mile, and are tenting by the Fire Warden's Cabin, now a shelter, just over the top at 3237 feet. Just as I got my tent set up, it began to mist. I suspect we are in a cloud. Others here are Hot Sauce, Medic (Lt. Dan has taken a few days off for a wedding), Swamp Fox (who is 75 but does not seem to like to talk about the age thing) and his wife, whose trail name I can't remember. The latter two have their tent set up in the cabin -- she thought the roof might leak. I am glad I have my winter bag. It's chilly.