morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-08-13
From: Kinsman Notch

To: Glencliff
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: overcast clouds

8/13/2015Weather: partly cloudy and cool. Stats:9.42 miles 4:27:532.1 miles per hour 786 c3175 feet up3969 feet down 20925 steps Narrative:¢Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.¢Slept in today, up at 7 am, got my pack all set up and walked to Dunkin Donuts and had a super greasy quasi-gross breakfast sandwich with hash browns and an extra large coffee with cream and sugar. During my leisurely breakfast, I went through all my receipts going back to Andover, photographed them and kissed them goodbye. Georgia arranged a taxi with two NoBo¢s which swung by and we all headed together to the trailhead at Kinsman Notch. I was on the trail around 11 am. It was flat for less than 5 minutes then it was all straight up. The first mile after that I hiked next to the Cascades and had great views of the waterfall on the way up. It continued to be steep but with good treadway and I was thoroughly enjoying it. Then it mellowed and sooner than I thought I shot above the tree line and followed the cairns to the summit, where I ran into Georgia and we took photos of each other on the summit. I skipped the .2 to South Peak and began the gradual descent, which was rocky starting out (of course) and then slowly started to morph into a nice dirt track. Georgia hiked out with me to the hostel. Upon arriving I went into action mode instinctively. Claimed my bunk. Aired out my damp gear. Sorted through my resupply package and powered up my devices. Scanned my new mini trip elevation chart for what to expect from here to Killington. At 5 pm I got my food order in (shepherd¢s pie) and did the beer run and came back and enjoyed dinner with the other thru hikers while watching Bridesmaids. After that it was Oceans 13. What a spectacular nero!
Date: 2015-08-14
From: Glencliff

To: Glencliff
Miles today: 0.0

8/14/2015Weather: sunny and warm. Narrative:A well-earned zero after making it through the Whites. After 7 am breakfast, I flushed my Sawyer, did my laundry and line-dried my clean clothes. I also got my resupply in Hanover sorted out. Although my email report from USPS said the box was ¢undeliverable¢, when I called the PO and spoke to Pete, he said no worries, my box was there right in front of him. I also figured out my lodging situation in Hanover. I borrowed Little Spoon¢s list of trail angels, reached out to a trail angel on the list and received a text confirmation that she will accept me when I get to Hanover. After those two victories, I celebrated with two Rolling Rock tall boys around noon and giving my last to Wallet, a young NoBo from Connecticut who weighed 165 in Springer and is now down to 135. I also met Autobahn, a young German who is planning to stay at Chet¢s and was keen on getting a lowdown on the Chet scene. I also had good conversations with Mantis, a NoBo from Chicago who is in his 30¢s and is looking forward to enjoying the rest of his thru-hike. Mantis tucks his pants into his pants too, and he has actually gained 6 pounds since Springer. Think I Can proposed watching 21 grams, and that was the movie for the night.
Date: 2015-08-15
From: Glencliff

To: Hexacube Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: clear sky

8/15/2015Treadway:7/10Weather: hot and humid, rain in the evening 6/10Stats:15.14 miles 6:03:042.5 miles per hour 1215 c4438 feet Men have become the tools of their tools.up 3387 feet down Narrative:A nice bump up in trail speed on my first day out of the Whites. After 7 am breakfast, I was on the trail a little before 8:30 am. The first 10 miles were gloriously easy, but the last 5 going up and down Mt Cube were hard. Georgia and I made it to Hexacube Shelter before 3 pm. Little Spoon made it shortly after that. We ran into Smoking Joe again, and we talked about Enguerrand de Coucy. We also met Monkey Toes, in graduate school for a masters degree in education, now living in Arizona and originally from North Carolina. We also ran into Grey Beard, whom we met in Glencliff yesterday. Hexacube is a hexagonal structure, very cool. I also met Splitter from Nashville, who got his name chopping wood during an extended stay at Neel Gap. Splitter owned a record label and shared with me his experience in litigation. He's 55 years old and got a second lease on life after getting very fit about five years ago.
Date: 2015-08-16
From: Hexacube Shelter

To: Moose Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

8/16/2015Treadway: 7/10Weather: damp and dreary in the morning, hot and humid in the afternoon 7/10Stats:17.68 miles 7:41:312.3 miles per hour 1424 c5226 feet up 5387 feet down 39019 steps Narrative:A big day that was not too hard. Woke up at 4:45 am and was on the trail around 5:45 am. The 1.3 miles down to the stream were unpleasant because the trail was rocky and it was dark, dreary and very humid. The climb up Smarts Mountain involved lots of mud but was not too bad. The fire tower was closed and I got water before moving on. On the way down, I fell hard on my right elbow and feel lucky I didn't break it. On the way down I met NoBo Freebird, who was very positive and had a great attitude. At the bottom, I hiked another 2 miles to Bill Ackerley¢s house. He was not there but I was able to have an ice cream bar, pay 50 cents for a coke, and get water. At Mr Ackerley's, I ran into Nightmare and Kyle. Nightmare and I hiked out together to North Peak Moose Mtn, where Nightmare tried calling a bunch of trail angels and striking out. He decided to make it to Velvet Rocks tonight. The hike from North Peak to the shelter was easy. The water source was a quite dreadful swamp but I was able to collect and treat 3 liters nonetheless. At the shelter I met NoBos Jokes and Yonder and section hiker Omega. Burkhard sent me an email confirming he will be in town tomorrow and I look forward to catching up with him and meeting Rosa.
Date: 2015-08-17
From: Moose Mtn Shelter

To: Hanover
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

8/17/2015Treadway: 6/10Weather: hot and humid 6/10Stats:11.39 miles 4:19:282.6 miles per hour 1578 feet up 3090 feet down 28924 steps Narrative:Enjoying my nero today in Hanover. Up at 4:45 am, on the trail around 5:40 am. Made good progress up to the Velvet Rocks, then slowed down for about 2 miles before getting into Hanover. Stopped at the coop first for a quick grapefruit juice and coke fix, then stopped at the Richard W. Black Community Center for a shower and laundry. Ran into Georgia, Little Spoon and Nightmare. Incredibly productive maintenance session. 1. Shower ¢ boy did that feel good after sweating like a pig all the way up Moose Mtn yesterday afternoon. 2. Laundry, including my sleeping bag, which by now has become quite smelly from all those damp and humid nights on the trail. 3. Trimmed and filed my fingernails. 4. Powered up all my devices. 5. Flushed my Sawyer. 6. Pulled the sun hat, sunglasses, calf compression sleeves and heart rate monitor from my pack for mailing back home. 7. Went to the post office to pick up and sort through my re supply box and get my AT Passport stamped. 8. Big meal at Subway. 9. Swapped in new batteries for my SPOT. 10. Reserved a place to stay in Killington. 11. Reserved a place to stay in Manchester Center. 12. Met my trail angel who graciously offered to let me stay at her home for the night. My trail angel drove me from her home to Molly¢s at 6 pm, and there I was able to meet Rosa and Burkhard for dinner. I had a wonderful conversation with Rosa and Burkhard about Mainz, the demographic and security issues faced by Germany due to the prevailing immigration situation, and the sights they have enjoyed and will enjoy on their trip. Planning to get an early start tomorrow to try to beat at least some of the heat.
Date: 2015-08-18
From: Hanover

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: moderate rain

8/18/2015Treadway: 5/10Weather: hot and humid 7/10 Stats:19.02 miles 6:37:232.9 miles per hour 1574 c4074 feet 2965 feet 44323 steps Narrative:Well, I did not get as early a start as I had hoped, because late last night I discovered that I left my wall charger and external power source at the community center and needed to go there and fetch them before departing Hanover. I was out the door around 6 am and arrived at Lou¢s for breakfast around 6:45 am. Had 2 poached eggs, corned beef hash, home fries, toast and coffee. After breakfast I walked to the CVS to see if it had any wall chargers in case mine wasn't there at the community center. It turns out that the Dartmouth CVS has a phenomenal selection. I made a mental checklist of chargers and cables to select in case I needed to replace the ones I have, then headed to the community center, where my charger, cable and external power supply were plugged in where I left them. Then I went back to the CVS and bought a new charger and cable anyway. The new charger is supposed to be 7 times more powerful than my old charger, and if that proves true, I probably will donate or ditch my old charger. By 8:45 am, I was on the trail. At 9:03 am, I entered Vermont. For the next two miles or so I had easy street walking. At 9:37 am, I reached the end of Elm Street and stopped to enjoy a trail magic coke before walking on dirt for the first time that day. It was very hot and humid, so to avoid heat stroke I stripped down to my speedo and hiked in that for the rest of the day. By 12:17 pm, I reached East Hartford. The library was closed until 1 pm, so I took a dip in the river but decided not to jump off the bridge after concluding that I neither needed nor wished to do so. I generally avoid activities involving unnatural speeds, and 9.8 meters per second squared is a rate of a acceleration which the human body was not designed to tolerate. When the library opened at 1 pm, the librarian was very nice and gave me a Popsicle and let me use the water cooler and free wifi. After a long break, I stopped next door to say hi to the man who greets thru hikers and gives them trail magic. I also met NoBo¢s Bon Bon and Tedzilla. At 2:24 pm I was back on the trail and began climbing. At 2:50 pm I reached a nice viewpoint in a field. At 3:57 pm I reached another nice viewpoint at Arm¢s Hill. At 4:25 pm I made it to Thistle Hill Shelter. The water was cold, delicious and easy to collect from a shoulder-high cliff over which the water cascaded. The privy was something of an architectural achievement: a hexagonal gazebo with screens, striking a near-perfect balance between privacy and esthetic appeal. (Note: if a definitive guide book on the privies on the Appalachian Trail has not yet been published, it should be.) Georgia rolled in after I did after spending the morning hanging out at the Starbucks in Hanover. We met Farmer from Foxboro, a very strong hiker who is section hiking Vermont. Farmer started the PCT April 1 this year but had to get off the trail after 400 miles due to a knee injury.
Date: 2015-08-19
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: The Lookout
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

8/19/2015Treadway: 7/10Weather: hot and humid 7/10Stats:15:16 miles 6:04:362.5 miles per hour 1213 c4645 feet up 3953 feet down Steps:37932Narrative:This was a hard day made manageable by trail magic and the farm stand on Highway 12. Up at 5:00 am, on the trail around 5:45 am. Very humid, dark and gloomy starting out. Ate 2 slim jims and 2 snickers bars at the shelter before heading out. After two miles, I stopped at a stream and treated 1L and drank my breakfast. At 4 miles, there was a trail magic cooler of sodas next to a stream, and I helped myself to a grape soda (200 calories) and an orange soda (190 calories). At 9:54 am, I made it to the farm stand on Highway 12, and it opened a few minutes after that. The lady was very nice, and I had a breakfast burrito, a tomato and two Mountain Dews. After that I got back on the trail and started the long climb up to Winturri Shelter. This was the hardest part of the day and I stripped down to my speedo again during this stretch to avoid heat stroke. At Winturri I treated and filled 3.25 L and carried that the last 2.6 miles to the Lookout, which were surprisingly easy. Georgia made it there after 3:15 pm and we took pictures on the observation deck on top of the cabin. Vermont has been wonderful so far and I am crossing my fingers it stays that way.
Date: 2015-08-20
From: The Lookout

To: Mountain Meadows Lodge
Miles today: 13.5

8/20/2015Treadway: 7/10Weather: partly cloudy and cool 4/10Stats:12.65 miles5:33:002.3 miles per hour 970 c3566 feet up 4438 feet down 35825 steps Narrative:Not a particularly memorable hike today. Up at 4:45 am, on the trail around 5:30 am, lots of up and down on a somewhat neglected section of trail (lots of old blow downs) which was not as nice as the trail for the past two days but still significantly better than Maine or the Whites. The most challenging part of the day was the climb up and the descent down Quimby Mountain and I could not help but think about all the quimbies I ran into at Michigan and how fortunate they must be to have a mountain named after them. I made it to Mountain Meadows Lodge around 11:30 am. Georgia decided to push on for Rutland. After checking in, I walked to the post office, got my AT Passport stamped, then stopped at the Killington Deli and Marketplace and became the Hungry Hiker With A Credit Card, snapping up 2 donuts, a Caesar chicken salad and a huge Italian submarine sandwich with a 20 oz Mountain Dew and a 20 oz coke, all inhaled on the spot, followed by 6 snickers bars, a bag of Fritos, a bag of Doritos, a bag of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, some salsa and two big pepperonis, all for re supply. Then I walked back to Mtn Mdws Lodge and enjoyed a Long Trail Ale while planning logistics for the upcoming 3 days.
Date: 2015-08-21
From: Mountain Meadows Lodge

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: overcast clouds

8/21/2015Treadway: 7/10Weather: partly cloudy and cool 3/10Stats:20.74 miles8:26:482.5 miles per hour 1648 c4819 feet up 5147 feet down 48293 stepsNarrative:I expected to zero this day based upon the ominous weather forecast, but by early morning the rain was history and the weather for the rest of the day was excellent. Up at 7 am, breakfast at 8 am. I had 4 hard boiled eggs, wheat toast, yogurt, fresh fruit and coffee. Probably the healthiest meal I have had since leaving California. Checked out and was on the trail a little after 9 am. Started out with a steady climb up to the Maine Junction, where the AT began to share the Long Trail. From there, it was a steady descent to US 4, the highway from which Georgia hitched into Rutland. Then I had a long, steady and generally pleasant uphill climb up Killington. I hiked in my speedo throughout the day as a strategy for mitigating stinky hiker clothing syndrome. I reached Cooper Lodge in the afternoon, and boy was that ever a disappointment. There was graffiti everywhere and I spent as little time as possible there after hydrating. Up the trail a tiny bit was the cutoff to Killington Peak, and I left my pack and poles and headed up the steep side trail to the top and enjoyed the excellent views. Going down I needed to use both arms for balance and occasional hand holds, so I slipped my camera into my swimsuit behind my behind. I'm glad I did not run into anyone on the way down, because I must have looked quite ridiculous. The trail was fairly level for the next mile or so, and then I began a nasty traverse with roots and rocks to die for over the next three quarters of a mile or so. After that the trail mellowed into a gradual descent to Governor Clement Shelter, where I ran into Little Spoon and hydrated before making my last push to Clarendon. The last 5.8 miles were generally easy, and I rolled into the shelter around 6:45 pm. A few minutes after that Outback and Soul Man reached the shelter too. Both of them are thru hiking the Long Trail northbound and Outback thru hiked the AT NoBo in 2013. He remembered that wretched traverse below Killington when I described the day's hike to him. A few minutes before sundown Georgia made it to the shelter. He had a late start and was inclined to spend the day in town, but then hit the trail and got it done after it was apparent that the weather was improving.
Date: 2015-08-22
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: broken clouds

8/22/2015Treadway: 7/10Weather: partly cloudy and cool 4/10Stats:22.97 miles 9:17:322.5 miles per hour 1818 c5531 feet up 4156 feet down 50987 steps Narrative:I made this a big day to set myself up for an easy day into town tomorrow. Up at 5:20 am, on the trail around 6 am. A steep and rocky descent starting out, then I crossed the road and railroad and reached the trailhead for Clarendon Gorge. From there it was a few steps to the nifty suspension bridge over which I enjoyed the spectacular views of the gorge in early morning light. Then I began a steady climb up Bear Mountain, followed by a steady descent to the road, where I ran into Her Dudeness, whom I first met at Lakeshore House in Monson as Chelsea during her work for stay there. Then I climbed up to Bully Brook, where I hydrated, then continued the climb up White Rocks Mtn. Both at the cutoff to the side trail and at the summit, I saw a number of interesting and creative cairns and wished I could learn more about who made them. From the summit I dropped down to Little Rock shelter, where I had lunch and met a family from the Bay Area spending their vacation in Vermont. Next was Big Branch Shelter, where I stopped just long enough to sign the register. Next was the steady climb up to Lost Pond Shelter, where I left a note for Georgia to let him know I was pushing on to Peru. Then I continued the climb up Baker Peak, which was unremarkable until I got to the top and began the .1 mile descent down really hard, really bad rock. It was then that I realized that I have contracted an incurable disease called Post Traumatic Maine Syndrome. Every time I encounter terrain features reminiscent of Maine and the Whites, I start to get a ¢bad reaction¢. I felt like Alex in A Clockwork Orange after the Ludovico Treatment as I was going through that .1 mile. Then the trail became normal again, but mentally I was done for the day and felt relieved when I made to Peru, where I met NoBo¢s Raindrop and Two Braids. Jack the caretaker was very nice. After a short and cookless dinner, I turned in early for the night.
Date: 2015-08-23
From: Peru Peak Shelter

To: VT11/30
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

8/23/2015Treadway: 6/10Weather: partly cloudy and cool 4/10Stats:9.58 miles3:58:442.4 miles per hour 764 c2089 feet up 2814 feet down 23729 steps Narrative:Easy day into town. Up at 5:20 am, on the trail a little after 5:50 am. Paced myself up and down Peru and Styles. At Mad Tom Notch, I stopped briefly to hydrate, then began the climb up Bromley. The last climb of the day was up to the top of the ski run. As I approached the top, I saw a concrete piling which reminded me of the one on the Who¢s Next cover album. The views at the top were very nice. Then I began the mellow descent down the ski run and then the trail to the trailhead. At the parking lot, I met Lucky Charms, a NoBo who asked me to pass on the word that he had a cell phone lost by another thru hiker, which of course I agreed to do. Then I stuck my thumb out and in less than 2 minutes I got picked up by a young, blonde, beautiful and athletic woman named Olivia, who spends her summers in her native Vermont and her winters as a ski instructor and competitor in Austria. Olivia is very nice and kind, and she dropped me off at the McDonald's, where I had 3 sausage burritos and 2 hash browns while waiting for the lunch menu to open, followed by a double quarter pounder with cheese meal. I caught up on my Trail Journal, planned for the next 4 days, said hi to Georgia when he got there, then resupplied at Price Chopper as follows: linguine, pasta sauce and orange juice for tonight's dinner and tomorrow's breakfast; 4 summer sausages; Pringles; Fritos; Cheese Its; 6 snickers bars; Deep Woods Off for anticipated bugs in MA, CT, NY & NJ; and 100 naproxen pills. Then Jeff at Green Mountain House picked me up and drove me to the hostel, where I showered, did laundry, and had a free pint of mint chocolate Ben & Jerry ice cream and an orange soda. The AT Passport was Jeff¢s brainchild, and he enjoyed going through my passport to see what stamps I had. Georgia stayed at Green Mountain House too, and we met NoBo¢s Mack and Pace.
Date: 2015-08-24
From: VT11/30

To: Story Brook Shelter
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: clear sky

8/24/2015Treadway: 7/10Weather: hot and humid 6/10Stats:20.01 miles7:55:591590 c4360 feet up 3366 feet down 43440 stepsNarrative:We also met Yahtze at Green Mountain House and watched the True Grit remake Sunday night. Yahtze came from Story Brook Shelter and said his day was not too hard. Up around 6 am Monday morning, cooked and ate the rest of my linguine with pasta sauce, tuna, chia seeds and olive oil, but had to throw out some because I was too full. Jeff took Yahtze to the grocery store and Georgia and me to the trailhead at 8 am. He was very nice, gave us a recommendation for a hostel near Salisbury, and took our photo at the trailhead. At 8:30 am Georgia and I both were on the trail. Within half an hour I stripped down to my speedo. The first 10 miles to Stratton Pond were fairly straightforward. After that I began the long but steady and not too steep climb up Stratton Mountain. I climbed to the top of the fire tower and saw Georgia up there too. The views were nice. On the way down, I ran into Caprice, whom I first met at the McDonalds in Manchester Center. Caprice is from the Chicago area and he started his southbound trip from US 4. Caprice, Georgia and I all stopped at the bridge by the gravel road for a hydration break. Georgia made it to the shelter first. It was a small shelter, and there wound up being a big crowd, so it was a little cramped and crowded in the shelter that night. We also met Long Portage, a 68 year old marine from the Washington area who is on the board of directors of the PATC. I had trouble sleeping because the shelter was so crowded. One NoBo whose name I did not get said I should start the day like he does, by getting up early, smoking a big bowl of weed, then going back to sleep, then getting up again around 10 am and hang out at the shelter before getting back on the trail sometime in the afternoon. Somehow, I just don't see myself doing that anytime soon.
Date: 2015-08-25
From: Story Brook Shelter

To: Melville Nauheim
Miles today: 17.4

8/25/2015Treadway: 7/10Weather: heavy rain in the morning, partly cloudy and cool in the afternoon 5/10Stats:16.74 miles 6:41:232.5 miles per hour 1334 c3389 feet up 3694 feet down 35918 steps Narrative:Because I did not sleep well, I slept in a bit and was on the trail around 6:30 am. Soon after that came sprinkling, then rain, then pouring rain. The treadway generally was poor, but I feel like I cheated the trail from beating me up by stripping down to my speedo and stashing all my clothes in my pack where they stayed warm and dry. Around 10:45 am I reached the top of Glastonbury Mountain and went up the fire tower to call Donna. Unfortunately, there were no views. In fact, I did not take any photos this day, and my picture of the day is of the interesting cairns on White Rocks Mountain which I passed on 8/22. A few minutes below the top of Glastonbury, I reached Goddard Shelter and had a leisurely lunch there while hanging out with Long Portage and Georgia. The way down was not too bad and I was at the water source for the shelter around 4:10 pm. Georgia decided to hike out the next 1.4 miles to the road and stay in a motel in Bennington. At Neiheim Shelter, I met NoBo Square Peg, who started at Springer in March. There also were two couples hiking from the road north to Stratton Pond. The two couples were talking about their modest trip as if it were quite the expedition. Long Portage tented, and Caprice stayed in the shelter.