morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-06-20
To: Baxter Peak
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

Today was a grand day; the start of my journey southward. Katahdin has been hiked (more like climbed/scrambled up), and tomorrow I begin the HMW.This morning, after an early wake up of 5:45, we met the proprietors of the AT Lodge, who were all generous and welcoming. Afterwards we started to Baxter State Park, and before I knew it I was following the white blazes up Hunt Trail to Baxter Peak.The beginning of the hike was pretty straight forward, with some elevation gain but not an absurd amount. It was typical hiking through trail and some rocks. Eventually I made it to the treeline, where the wind was blowing upwards of 40 miles per hour. For this half of the climb the ascent consisted of making my way through crevasses and shale, all while being pummeled by fierce winds. About1.5 miles out of the peak it flattened out to a vast tundra, where the wind was joined by sideways snow, and eventually steepened up to the peak.Bottom line is that Katahdin is a freaking rough mountain, and I am pretty sore after all if it. This worries me, as tomorrow I hike again with a full pack. However, from what I've heard Katahdin beats everyone up, and my guidebook shows the next few days are rather flat. Hopefully I can push through the discomfort, with the help of dear friend Advil, and continue my way south.The next time I update should be hopefully in Monson, after the HMW.
Date: 2014-07-30
From: Lincoln

To: Past Kinsman
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

This journal entry is mostly to see if I successfully set my account to 'public', as apparently before it was still in prehike.Woke up late this morning at Chet's, and of course, my clothing, sleeping bag and tent are still quite wet. I don't really want to take a zero here though, so I think I'm just going to pack it all and still try to get over the Kinsman's today. Although the mileage is easy, the elevation gain and loss is a bit intimidating, and the extra packweight coming out of town will make it more difficult as well. Then again, perhaps it's just mountain anxiety: that feeling looking at a profile of the day, getting nervous about a mountain, then crushing it in the hike that day. I certainly hope so!Couldn't find a dress for Moosilauke, so unfortunately it looks like that won't be an option. That's alright though, as it saves me a visit into Glencliff.
Date: 2014-08-06
From: Hanover

To: Hanover
Miles today: 0.0

Last night I received some rather bittersweet news. A deal that Brew and Boone had been working on to get space for their brewery went through, so this morning they left Hanover for Cincinnati. While I am bummed that I won't be hiking with them again, I am extremely grateful that they are able to leave the trail on such a positive note; on the way to go live another dream and have another adventure.Before they left, they gave me a handpicked book with a personal note inside, as well as bought Wolfburger and I a great celebratory dinner; an example of the kindness and generosity I have seen in them in my month of hiking alongside the two of them. I wish them the best in all of their endeavors, and hope that one day I'll visit Cincinnati and order a beer from the new, hot brewery in town.The last 18 hours have been rather full of trail magic. Walking across the border into Vermont and up to the trail angel I was staying with, Wolfburger and I passed several coolers of food left out for hikers. In addition, upon arrival Warren (the trail angel) told us that Miss Janet would be dropping someone off in about an hour. For those who are unaware, Miss Janet is a trail legend. During the hiking season she drives up and down the entire length, from Georgia to Maine, helping hikers out like some sort of helpful apparition. It was a treat to be able to hear some of her stories, and get a ride in her amazing van to the restaurant that night.In addition, when I was getting breakfast at Lou's (amazing place. If you ever have a reason to be in Hanover, get a doughnut, slice of pie, or any food at all) I struck up a conversation with a young lady there about the AT. Apparently my story was inspiring, and she offered to pay for my breakfast! So G.T. (hope I heard that right), if you're reading this, thank you so much! It was an absolutely amazing treat, and one of the best instances of trail magic I have ever received. I hope you are doing well, and possibly even thinking of hiking some of the Trail yourself!Now I start the lengthy and rather annoying process of applying to various colleges, here at the Howe library. My time in Hanover is nearing its end, and soon I will be back on the trail, awaiting news from universities and seeing just how much easier the terrain gets in Vermont.
Date: 2014-09-08
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 0.0

For our first day back in Vermont, Cynthia and I opted for an easy hike up the Sherbourne Pass Trail to the sinkholes and back. NO PROBLEMS, and Cynthia (SmoochSmooch) felt fine all the way. Unfortunately a couple more mosquitoes added to the itches already in place from Hyde Park mosquitoes. Ron (Smooch ...er, Shakedown Cruise) was happy to see that his trail maintenance from two years earlier was still functional although several water "bars" had filled. As usual, he selected a stick to scratch them somewhat clear. It is good to be back on the trail.
Date: 2014-09-09
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 0.0

Whoo Boy, day two and we are already up to five miles. We are in better shape than Ron believed possible. The trail maintenance continues to look good even further up the trail. Smoochie hiked long and strong and is very proud of herself and her leg strength. We will certainly hike again tomorrow; no need for a zero yet.
Date: 2014-09-10
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 6.8

We feel so good that we were able to hike from the Inn up to Jungle Junction, 6.8 miles round trip. Shakedown continued doing trail maintenance all the way up, while still being quite pleased that maintenance from two years ago has held up well. Still, many of the water bars have filled, and there were many "flat" spots that begged to have overflow drainage re-opened.Little SmoochSmooch has been hiking strong this year, so that when Ron resumes hiking, he has to over-exert to catch up. All is good.Downside is two blisters for Cynthia and sore calf muscles plus lower back pain for Ron. We struggled through the evening in town accumulating supplies, and slept long & hard. Tomorrow needs to be a light day.
Date: 2014-09-11
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 1.0

We overdid it yesterday. Cynthia's sore hip kept her from sleeping well and rain and blistered toes argued against much of a hike. Shakedown Cruise decided to see how the maintenance held up to the seemingly heavy rains, so he struck out, hoe-in-hand to inspect about 5PM. After an hour of raking to improve water bars, light was fading, and it was time to return. Further inspection will have to wait a day or two.
Date: 2014-09-12
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 2.0

Since temperatures were cool this morning and poor little SmoochSmooch has blistered toes, we opted to start hiking after noon and limited our walk to an "easy" half mile uphill to the AT and mile downhill to Kent Pond. Rake-in-hand, Shakedown enjoyed dabbling at maintenance while keeping Cynthia "in sight." The intensity and effort required for this hike surprised us, and it seemed to take forever to get off the hill to Kent Pond. That was enough for us, especially as we have both been quite tired all day. Shakedown Cruise is realizing that his new, $5 plastic rake from Sears might easily cause back pain if used excessively. We opted for the easier road walk to return, and Divine Providence delivered the bus for us just as we arrived on US Hwy 4 opposite the Shell station. The driver was a true Saint, permitting us to board without a cent between us. We called it a good day and still feel proud of the 6.8 mile effort on our third day "out." At midnight, Shakedown Cruise dressed warmly and walked outside, excited about possibility of seeing the Northern Lights. No stars => no chance.
Date: 2014-09-13
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 0.0

Since it was cold in the morning (at 40 degrees), we waited until noon to start - and so did the rain. Daily miles zero, daily rest plentiful, computer projects consumed the entire day. The delightful surprise for the day was meeting two intrepid northbounders, Unicorn and BanjoJack (with dog). We've resumed our trail magic to a small degree by buying meals for AT through hikers.
Date: 2014-09-16
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Cynthia was feeling really sick this morning, so Shakedown Cruise hiked alone with a hand saw borrowed from Murray and carefully cut down two widow makers. The saw provided a reality check: I don't have a bad shoulder, I have two. It took me five hours to hike the five miles and saw through both trees. The bigger tree was 18 inches across, and wrestling/ walking the 6 foot section off the trail was a struggle. The smaller tree was only 8 inches across, but multiple branches had to be trimmed in order to saw the trunk. Pounding downhill afterwards was not smart, so now both knees hurt and I am very tired. A southbound through hiker, Second Chance, was delighted to enjoy Trail Magic in the form of lunch & dessert at the Inn.
Date: 2014-09-19
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: broken clouds

At 11:30 AM Cynthia felt well enough to attempt a mile roadwalk on U.S. 4 west to the AT crossing downhill from the Inn, then 2.9 miles up the new AT to Pico Camp AKA Jungle Junction, and 3.4 miles return on the old AT, the Sherbourne Pass Trail. That is, she felt well enough until the last half of the downhill. Shakedown Cruise brought along his rake and overdid that too. It was wonderful to see the ridge runner and trail crew sawing huge trees to clear the trail; they had already done a dozen by noon. Between throwing many, many sticks off the trail and raking energetically, Shakedown re-injured everything. SmoochSmooch was hiking apace and stayed far ahead of Ron, except whenever she stopped to eat. After we passed Pico Camp shelter, the temperature plummeted, and SmoochSmooch needed to put on down pants besides everything else she was carrying. We finished at 6:10, dead tired before dinner.
Date: 2014-09-21
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Yuppers, we are feeling a good bit better today, although we gingerly placed our feet while assessing our legs for the first several steps leaving the parking lot at the Inn. Shakedown Cruise chatted with sistah Carol in Illinois for the mile down U.S. 4 to the Trail crossing; she was supervising her son who was chainsawing a big black oak (standing dead firewood). Knowing his propensity to overdo, Shakedown carried only a clippers and cut several branches and reeds obscuring the trail near the road before picking up a small stick to scratch water bars for the duration. SmoochSmooch stayed ahead hiking, but we both felt that we had done enough by the time we reached the junction above the Inn, so we repaired inside for lunch and an interesting conversation with No Filter, yet another late south-bounder - but he flip-flopped after 900 miles in the south, so when he gets to Buena Vista, VA, he is done. Calculation 1 mile roadwalk + 2 miles trail +.5 mile to Inn = 3.5
Date: 2014-09-22
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 5.0

I neglected to borrow a saw from Murray when I first saw him today. Poor little SmoochSmooch felt terrible after breakfast and decided to lie on the couch; her cold got the better of her today. Shakedown Cruise asked the proprietress Patty for Murray's Stihl saw, but Patty could only find a camp saw, so that is what he carried off into the woods to saw through three foot-diameter trees down across the trail. No such luck. Following the first abortive attempt, he continued hiking up over Deer Mountain to Deer Leap, having forgotten that the trail that way is much longer and harder than the other route to Deer Leap. One would think that he would have the view to himself on a cold, windy fall day, but no, there were two couples already there and a third couple en route. Trail Maintenance Man did a fine job of scratching a multitude of water bars with a stick. Let's hope that he didn't aggravate knees or back.
Date: 2014-09-23
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 3.5

Cynthia is still catatonic with her cold, and Murray found his prized Stihl hand saw for Ron, so towards noon, Shakedown Cruise headed towards those three trees again. The big excitement of the morning was the bright red leaf on the trail, and it was also exciting to see further through the woods; lots of leaves have already fallen. The first tree was hardest and took longest because it was almost as thick as the blade was long and two cuts had to be made. Huff, puff, saw, saw and repeat. Interesting that water started dripping from the saw cut and the "dust" was soggy after the cut was halfway through. Eventually the six foot section dropped free, leaving only the job of prying it around and off the trail. The second tree was thinner and dryer, so the cut went more quickly, and it was possible to pry the trunk downhill with a huge effort. Huff, puff, pry, pry, reposition and repeat. The third one exhausted me. It was actually an inch thicker than the saw blade, so the cut took forever, and the bole was much heavier than the others, so prying it off the trail was an ordeal. ENOUGH, but then there were three more trees across the AT as it bypasses Deer Leap. Fortunately my shoulders and knees feel no worse for the efforts.
Date: 2014-09-24
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 12.0

Cynthia is still under the weather, so Ron used her hiking poles to hike to the top of Killington Mountain (4280') and back in 6 hours. Gosh, that last "hiker trail" to the top is straight up a rocky defile, very rough and damp.   (Murray saws that skiing down that in winter is a blast.) Rather than risk the return down that treacherous trail, Shakedown Cruise relied on his memory of a boardwalk from the uppermost ski lift to a lower one only 200 yards from Cooper shelter. THIS IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone at Cooper desiring to summit Killington. This exertion was tiring but more gentle on shoulders and knees than the usual trail maintenance. The wildlife sighting of the day was a porcupine, a big one waddling unconcernedly near the trail.
Date: 2014-09-25
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 5.0

Starting a long hike at 4:40 PM is usually a poor choice, but the fearless Shakedown Cruise attempted it anyway. From the Inn north (up) to the Sherbourne/ AT junction and north on the AT (down) to Kent Pond, which is surprisingly longer and slower than his memory (50 minutes). That left too little time to attempt a round trip to Thundering Falls, but Shakedown Cruise decided to see how far he could go & return before dark. Along the pond, the reflections of the fall foliage in the water was gorgeous, and a fish hawk landed on a nearby dead treetop; it was great fun to watch him looking all around for five minutes. Shakedown Cruise turned back in the dwindling light at a rounded hillock just after two logs which "bridged" a boggy area that he had cleared two years ago after Irene's destruction. After Mountain Meadows, the last bit of walk through the woods beside the pond was just slightly too dark for visibility, but not dark enough to require his headlamp. The uphill road walk to dinner at the Inn was fine since he could talk to a friend via cell phone.
Date: 2014-09-28
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 2.5

Cynthia is feeling a little better again, so we attempted another hike and made it as far as the sinkholes today. It doesn't take much to tire one out after sickness, so we rested often. Ron was quite proud that he didn't re-injure his shoulders. Another northbound through-hiker, JD or J. D., came in today, so Ron treated him to lunch. JD started April 5th and plans to hike until November.
Date: 2014-09-29
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: clear sky

Today Cynthia was feeling fine and motivated for a seven mile hike to "Jungle Junction" and back. The leaves have turned even further, and leaves underfoot are making the trails a bit more treacherous. Halfway to our destination, the trail passes along the edge of a ski run where there are great views and where we abruptly changed our destination to walk directly up the ski run a bit further (and steeper) to the gravel road to the top of Pico Mountain. We were rewarded with terrific views of foliage colors all around. We had never walked back down that gravel road, so decided to try it to see if it was shorter. Murray says it was 3 miles and small change uphill and 2 miles and large change downhill the way we went. Cynthia thought the downhill was at least 5 miles. True, the loose gravel underfoot provided sudden unnerving slides, but none ended in a fall. The road took us to the bottom of the ski lift and past that to Omland Outlook. At the end of it all we were tired but happy with the accomplishment, especially considering all the inactive days while Cynthia was sicker.
Date: 2014-09-30
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 1.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We overdid it again yesterday, so today we hiked only .5 miles to the AT junction north of the Inn. Amusing to see the two German couples we met yesterday at breakfast, "Ich kann ein bischen Deutsch sprechen," and again at the gravel road near Mountain Meadows, and a third time as they hiked up to Deer Leap. Usually I provide meals for AT through hikers, but today a motorcycling and hiking couple, Dan and Brooke from Columbus, Ohio came to breakfast at our expense.
Date: 2014-10-01
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 1.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Cynthia's knees are better, but she didn't sleep nearly enough. Although we were enthusiastic, the drizzle, chill and damp discouraged us until lunchtime. (Remember that Cynthia is diabetic; eating regularly is mandatory.) 2 PM we set out on the Sherbourne Pass Trail, our most familiar route. Shakedown Cruise manned the rake on several water bars without injuring his shoulders, but the rain finally came in enough quantity to wet the rocks and leaves, so we opted to cut our walk short at the Omland's Outlook again for marvelous views of the continuing kaleidoscope of fall colors. After all, Tomorrow is another day !!
Date: 2014-10-02
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: overcast clouds

What a successful day! We took the bus to the Killington Ski lift, and the gondola to the top of the mountain. Now THIS is the way to go up hills. The fall foliage was gorgeous from the gondola, and Cynthia made a video clip with her Ipad. (The video was posted on her Facebook immediately.) The only negative was that the top had caught a cloud, so there was no view (and no need to hike up to the actual peak). Another big advantage to our route was the restaurant beside the lift where Cynthia was able to procure a diet coke before our hike down. Shakedown Cruise, rake in hand, was delighted to clean out water bars and drainages as we descended. We were both a bit nervous about the wet rocks and deep leaves on the trail, but neither caused us any problem. Cynthia was delighted to feel so much better after her bout with bronchial pneumonia. The descent took us nearly five hours.
Date: 2014-10-03
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 0.0

While neither of us desires a zero, Okie tells us that tomorrow will bring wind and rain which will remove all the gorgeous fall color hereabouts, so we agreed to motorcycle for three hours before Cynthia's pedicure and manicure appointment in Rutland. The amusing fact is that the prettiest and smoothest road was a dirt road when we lost our way.
Date: 2014-10-04
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: few clouds

Rain, rain and more rain. Cynthia was smart to stay indoors and dry. Shakedown Cruise isn't that bright. The color radar and hourly forecasts looked dry from 11 AM until 2 PM, but rain came and went until 1 PM when Shakedown decided to get out and move a couple of downed trees off the trail on the backside of Deer Leap. He talked on the phone down route 4 to the AT and up the AT to "Maine Junction" and from there over to the Sherbourne Pass trail junction. Upon closer inspection, the first two big trees were well placed as water bars. The third tree required one cut about 9" in diameter. The remaining bole was 9' long and weighed a ton, so prying it off the trail took quite an effort. The fourth tree was already cracked nearly through, and simply prying separated three big segments, each of which was small enough to drag off the trail. Success !! Never mind that the forecast was all wet. It rained lightly, steadily until after the saw cut was complete. The rain abated until Shakedown returned to the Inn at 4 PM.
Date: 2014-10-05
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: clear sky

Another good hiking day. We hiked up from the Inn to the AT trail junction and downhill to Kent Pond and beyond Mountain Meadows into the woods to the first of several big (30') rocks. Due to yesterday's rain, the waterfall at Gifford Woods State Park was more impressive than previously, but it is still obvious that there has been much less water this year than two years ago. Cynthia is feeling a bit better, but we decided to return by bus, so took the pleasant trail from Mountain Meadows to BCO (Base Camp Outfitters) where we replaced a Marmot rain jacket and bought new down mittens for Cynthia. The bus ride back was a pleasant way to tackle the hill.
Date: 2014-10-07
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: broken clouds

Shakedown Cruise set out today as Trail Maintenance Man, Stihl handsaw in hand, from the Inn up to the AT trail junction and down towards Kent Pond because there were several trees impinging on the trail and a couple blocking it. It was tiring work to make eight saw cuts. A snaggly-toothed trunk jutting into the trail was first, and it was wet and awkward sawing to remove the tooths. The next two trees required two cuts each to remove a six foot section, but fortunately these were only 12 inch diameter trees. Several others were "small" enough to drag off the trail, and one required three cuts to free trunk and limbs in order to clear the trail. Shakedown was pretty tired for the uphill back to the Inn, but equally satisfied with the improvement of the trail.
Date: 2014-10-08
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: few clouds

Cynthia's energy is extinguished. This "bronchial pneumonia" is rather severe. Given a late start and a 4 PM spa appointment for his beloved SmoochSmooch, Shakedown Cruise opted to hustle uphill ASAP for half an hour and was crushed to find it took 6 minutes longer to reach the familiar sinkholes than it did a week ago. However a week ago he used hiking poles and did not one iota of maintenance. This time he couldn't resist throwing an occasional stick into the woods. Overall the trail looks very good although there is standing water in a few places. On the return he cleaned the water bars until time ran out, then hustled home late, but still delivered SmoochSmooch to her appointment a minute early. Hurrah !