morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-06-26
From: Rt 4, (10 miles west to Rutland VT, hostel)

To: Killington, Vt
Miles today: 4.0

Cold and rainy. Had planned on another 6 miles but once again, got confused on the trail markings and hiked off the AT for a couple mils, turned aroung to get back to the AT. Will I ever learn. But this evening a pleasure, in a lodge. Had dinner at Inn at the Long Trail and their famous Irish Pub called McGrath's. It was Don's objective to have a Dark Guiness but as mentioned earlier (or I will) he got off the trail with a bad knee a few days ago.So I had one for him. I took a picture of the Guiness glass along side the menue and sent it to him. At the moment I called to rub it in, he's on a train in DC getting ready to depart for home, Atlanta. He injured his knee mid last week and called it quits when the discomfort became too much. A good move on his part, hiking the last few days, well, I doubt he would have been able to do some of the climbs and decents with his aching and swollen knee,
Date: 2012-06-27
From: Killington, Vt

To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 14.9

Rained most of the night but stopped in the early morning. Got up before the staff and helped myself to breakfast and the kitchen. Checked out and got on the trail right at 7:00. Chilly and wet morning but at least it was not raining. Kept the rain jacket on much of the day, on again - off again sprinkling and the jacket kept me warm. Jacket came off early in the pm.Long hike today, wet, slipped and on to my side twice over the wet roots and rock. Don't be steppin' on those green and mossy rocks! Was very, very careful from then on. Long and strenuous day, same up and down and very little flat, tough to make fairly good time.Stopped at Stoney Brook Shelter after first 5 miles, about 10:00 where I met my first hiker with whom I was not comfortable being around. His trail name was Wicked Witch, a thru-hiker, and I had heard other hikers talking about him. He hiked in jeans (don't see that normally) and had an attitude about him where every other word was the F bomb or a derivative. He was staying at the shelter until about 2:00, he said, and had a nice fire going as I came in. He said he had to hike back south to Killington and Rutland (where he had just came from) to go to the VA hospital for an MRI on his knee. Strange. We discussed the miles back from Killington to Rutland. He said only about 7 miles, and I mentioned it was more like 12 (I was right). That sort of set him off with more F'ing works. I didn't argue with him or show him my map. I just saw him get upset a bit so I let him go and didn't challenge him and said ok, maybe I was wrong. He checked his book and said maybe it was a bit more than 7. Anyway, I was nice to him and he seemed to settle down. Finished my snack and was out of there.Made it into Winturri Shelter after an exhausting day. One person in the shelter, arrived just before me, name was Tim, hiking south from the previous shelter. Large fellow, nice guy, thru-hiked in 03, and was just out for a few days. Chit-chatted, built a fire and dried out socks over the fire. Tim snored so loud, I had to shout at him to wake him up and asked him to roll over or do something!! My earplugs were not doing the job. He had a chin strap devise to help him breathe. He had it on up-side-down, whatever, changed it, and it was better the rest of the night. Out of the shelter about 7:15, on to Thistle Hill Shelter where Tim had stayed the night before.
Date: 2012-06-28
From: Winturri Shelter

To: Thislte Hill Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: few clouds

Hiked on by myself, as usual, with the up and down terrain. Lost of roots on the trail, as is with much of Vermont. One thing about today's hike was that I passed through a number of grassy fields, private property, I hear, where the owners allowed the AT to pass through their lands. Of like 8-10 of these fields, only two of them were somewhat mowed. The grass was up to my chest, dense, and wet. They say that this part of the trail is notorious for deer ticks that cause Lyme disease. Well, no wonder. There's is no way passing through these fields without brushing up against the high grasses and a lot of it. There was however, one particular field, up high, which was mowed and had a rock suitable for sitting on top, and a great view. Stopped for a lunch bread and enjoyed the sun and view for a half hour, resting and refreshing, break.Another tiring day and arrived in the shelter about 4:15. It was pretty cool as someone had had kindling and fire wood laid out and ready for use. The water source was actually and tiny fall coming over a rocky bed. Washed up with a cold wet down and felt refreshed. I was the only one in the shelter for the night, and that was fine. I knew Wicked Witch was going the other way.As I was hiking along, I was thinking to myself that I've just go to lighten my load somehow. I felt like a worker on the pyramids, carrying up a back full of bricks. What was I carrying I didn't really, really need. I carry a bag of extra's. In this bag was an extra lighter and waterproof matches. Don't need both. An extra flashlight without batteries in it, will dump it the next day. A whole roll of TP. Now this is an important item, but didn't need the entire roll (as resupply was the next day) so I burnt half of it that evening. I went though my food bag. I probably dumped a dozen snack items (away from the shelter) and burned the trash. So I probably got rid of a couple pounds. There was no reason for me to be carrying these extra items as I have been the past three weeks. My tent weighs 3.4 pounds. I know there are shelter, tents that use hiking poles vs. regular tent poles, that only come in at 1.5-2 pounds. Maybe I can do something about that.So, rested well. Lots on my mind to lighten my load. Was out of the shelter right at 7:00 for a long hike into Hanover where I was to meet a friend for a visit and dinner on Friday night. Not 10 minutes out of the shelter, my left quad started aching, and for the next 5 miles was a real problem.
Date: 2012-06-29
From: Thislte Hill Shelter

To: Hanover
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: clear sky

Had intended on hiking 14 plus miles today and out of Vermont, crossing over the NH border into Hanover, home of Dartmouth college. There trail went right through the heart of the college the town. I was to meet an old hiking friend, Franklin, whom I met in 08 when attempting my through hike.Right out of the shelter, my left quad muscles started aching and before long, I was favoring the left leg, using my poles to help ease down the downhills, and push up a bit on the up-hill steps. I was hurtin' and all this came up all of a sudden and I had no inkling this was about to happen. No soreness at all up to now. Came off the trail on to VT 114, across the White River (which Irene sent over it's banks and took out many homes and businesses) right into West Hartford, VT, a blink in the highway. There was a welcomed deli right there on the highway. So I coffeed up, and an ice cream, rested, and decided to start the last 10 miles into Hanover. First mile plus was up a steep grade, over roots as usual. There was no way my leg would stand for anymore of this abuse. So turned around, gingerly hike back down this mountain and back to the deli, pondering what to do.I had to rest my leg and thoughts of "the hike is done" this year raced through my head. I got a ride into Hanover by another trail angel named John. He took me to my hotel with two stops on the way. Great guy, wouldn't think of taking a gas donation.So, all the rest of the day contemplating on what to do. I had planned on a day off today, Sunday, before beginning the challenges of HN with it's daunting and challenging White Mountain range and the infamous Mount Washington which as recorded the highest/fastest land wind speed in the US.So, the plan moving forward..... Tomorrow I will hike the 10 miles I skipped yesterday, with a day pack. I will hike south to where I got off in West Hartford and hitch back into town. Now, most of this is very slightly up or flat, and the last mile or two is down which was the same mile I tried to do yesterday and had to turn around. I want to complete this 10 miles. In case I have to quit, this 10 miles will finish Vermont for me so I can declare having the whole AT in Vermont done. If I'm still sore after the 10, I will come home on Monday without completing the entire hike I had planned but will have finished up CT, and all of MA and VT.I did meet my friend, Franklin, and we had a great visit and shared lots of memories. Franklin is a pediatric nurse practitioner. He gave me to once over on my leg and said to rest the muscle and see what happens on the day hike. He said no serious damage that he could see. So, we'll see hat happens tomorrow.
Date: 2012-07-17
From: Columbus

To: Hanover, New Hampshire
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I'm ready to get back on the trail after a brief stay at home to rest a sore quad.I'll be leaving on Tuesday the 24th, flying into Boston's Logan Airport, and then taking the Dartmouth Coach into Hanover, New Hampshire. I'll be staying at the the Tigger Tree House, which is a private home in the Hanover area.On Wednesday the 25th, I'll shuttle out to the spot near West Hartford, Vermont where I left the trail, and slack pack back into Hanover. I may stay another night in Hanover ( a really fun college town ) or go just outside of town to Velvet Rock Shelter.Either way, I'll start north bound in earnest on Thursday the 26th. The plan is to reach Glencliff, New Hampshire, about 45 miles from Hanover, by Sunday the 29th.Then,on Monday the 30th, I'll enter the notorious, White Mountains or, "the whites". I'll start with a nice little warm up hill called Mt. Moosilauke right out of Glencliff. A 3662 foot climb over a 5.7 mile stretch.I have my pack weight including 4 days worth of food and a liter of water down to 25 pounds, and I'm ready to continue the adventure.
Date: 2012-07-24
To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Well, here I go again, back to give the Appalachian Trail for another shot. This hiking season started out well with a warn-up/shakedown hike in TN in late May. Then my hiking pal, Don, and I joined up near Salisbury CT and started northbound. We began at the same intersection where I got off in 2010. We were planning on this hike in September of 2011 but Irene changed out plans on that and we had to cancel. This year, Don was targeting to get to Hanover, me to finish the trail. Didn't work out like that. Don got off with a bad knee just into Vermont, and I pooped out just short of Hanover.Had a great trip out of Columbus to DC, to Boston. But as we were preparing to leave my house, I ran across my daughter's printed email of her flight to Chicago last week. The first thing I saw on it was a departure time of 6:30. That's the only thing I saw, departure time, and immediately paniced thinking it was my departure time vs. 7:30, and it was 6:05. We bolted into the car and although we figured we wouldn't make it, still headed out. We rechecked the email print and notice the error. Relieved, I was, but another dumb thing to do, I did, in regard to this years mishaps, like missing signs ang getting off the trail for a couple miles before realizing the error. Ug! I just gotta stop these kinds of goofy mistakes and take my time.Tonight, I'm actually in a small town called Etna, NH just a few miles out of Hanover. I'm staying at the Tigger Tree House, a private residence run by Karen and Ralph (retired Navy people). They have a couple of RV's in the back yard and can put up 3-4 hikers. I'm in a tiny one person RV with barely enough room to turn around. But it has electric and will be comfortable. In their home, they have a room or two for hikers to enjoy TV with comfortable chairs and this computer. So, after dinner in my RV, I'm here and watching Pawn Stars. Weather is great, very comfortable, a bit windy, and still sunny at 7:10 pm.Ralph picked me up at the Lebanon bus terminal and we headed into Hanover for an errand he needed to do. This left a great opportunity for me to get a pizza and soda to go from the Brick Oven, and enjoyed a local brew called "Long Trail" while waiting for my pizza. In the morning, they will assist me in getting to West Hartford where I need to pick up the trail from my last official day in late June. I'll slack hike (without a full pack) north into Hanover, run a couple errands, post office and get some supplies I couldn't pack on the plane like compressed fuel for my stove and a lighter. I need some trail liquid soap, too. Then on Wednesday, I'll northbound and will quickly learn why New Hampshire is considered an incredible challenge.
Date: 2012-07-25
From: I-89 Underpass, W Hartford VT

To: Trescott Rd, NH
Miles today: 10.0

First day back on the AT after a 25 day rest and "repack". The actual miles today were about 12.5 but I'm guessing I had already hiked 2.5 of them and did hitch a ride from Norwich Vt over the CT river into Hanover.Today's weather was unbelieveably perfect of hiking. Today was a slack-pack hike, hiking without a full pack. The first part of the trail was uphill but not too long. Trail condition up to Norwich were a little rooty and blanketed with pine needles and leaves that makes for a soft base. Some rocks but not bad, in VT. As I came out of the woods in Norwich, there is a mile walk downhill blacktop road to the main street that goes into Hanover, HN over the CT river, the border. Two homes on this road had hiker boxes (coolers) in front of their mailboxes, Trail Magic by Trail Angels! I took a sandwich and when I got to the main drag, I stopped into a deli and got a soda and enjoyed lunch in the shade off the patio of the deli. Nice! From there, I hitched into Hanover as I had already hiked this part of the trail just this past June before giving in to my sore leg and exhaustion. Today was invigorating. It was good to be back. Honestly, I was a bit aprenhensive.... but all went well. My left leg is a bit sore tonight. I think and hope a nights rest will take care of that. I did hike a bit farther today than orginally planned. Was going to stop at the Trailhead near the soccer stadium of Dartmouth but it was 2:00 and I was slacking and feeling good so hiked another 3.6 to Trescott Rd trail crossing. This will save me those miles with a full pack starting tomorrow and I will probably adjust the planned miles over the next few day.Getting on to the trail at the soccer field, it began to change. The next few miles was called "The Velvet Rocks Trail" yet still part of the AT. There were plenty of rocks but they weren't covered in velvet (more likd green moss). But the hiking wasn't too bad but I figure just a taste of what's to come.Ran into 4 southbound hikes, two of them thru-hiking. One young man told me NH was fantastic but rugged. I told him I was planning low miles days through the Whites. He told me to just set my pace and try not to over-do miles per day. Good advice. I need to do that now. His trail name is George. Another hiker was Hosier from west side of Indy. I shared with him I was born in Richmond and my dad is buried in Crown Point, near Gary. He said he has many friend from Richmond and enjoys the town. Then I met a 61 yr old dad hiking with his son for only a few miles but it was still so cool, dad and grown son hiking together.   How about that, Joey!! (Joey is my son).Till tomorrow, full pack, more challenging trail, and some major climbs, but that's nothing new. Thanks for following my hike.
Date: 2012-07-26
From: Trescott Rd, NH

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Today started out very easy. The first 1.4 miles was smooth, and I covered the distance in one half hour without rushing. I should have done it yesterday.Trail conditions got a little erratic after that. The climb up Moose Mountain was not too bad. It was an 860 foot climb over 1.8 miles. The climb down the north side however was a different story. After a modest decent for about a half mile, there was a steep decent of 1280 feet in a little less than a mile. It was raining lightly, and the rocks were very slippery. Needless to say, it was slow going. I did a turtle on the way down, which is to say I lost my balance and fell back on the trail with my back pack under me. I looked like a turtle upside down on its shell. Not an uncommon sight on the AT but always embarrassing when it happens to you.The remaining 3.8 miles consisted of an 1130 ft climb over Holt's ledge, and then a 755 foot decent into Trapper John Shelter. Trapper John Shelter is a small shelter that sleeps six comfortably.In my travels today, I encountered at least 20 south bound through hikers. These are folks that started at Katahdin, the northern terminus of the AT and are hiking to Georgia. They began their hike in the summer to avoid the worst of the black flies in Maine. We mostly talked about the availability of water at the shelters at which we would be stopping. I got a good tip from many of them about stopping to see Bill Ackley tomorrow for ice cream and soda. Bill has a home just off the trail and provides goodies for hikers.I'm also traveling along with a few north bound through hikers. There are two staying at the shelter tonight. Just like me, they do not like hiking in the rain, but the forecast is for more rain for the next couple of days including a very good chance of storms. Right now, I'm the only one in the shelter, with the other hikers in tents. At present, 6:05 PM, it has started to pour. That means more hikers will be slogging in drenched, and looking for space in the shelter. I better collect my stuff which is pretty spread out right now and get it into one spot.Tomorrow's plan is to probably eat lunch at Fire Warden's Cabin, and then push on to Hexacuba Shelter.It will be a 12.0 mile day with mostly up hill the first half, and then down hill in the afternoon.So far, my legs feel fine, and all is well.
Date: 2012-07-27
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This entry is from a couple days ago hike. I don't remember the name of the mountain but it was a heck of a climb up to a cabin and fire tower. The climb had a section with steps and re-bar built into the side of a monster boulder, a taste of the Whites I suspect. Any way, glad to get up it and it was a long down. Ended up at Hexacuba Shelter. Unusual build, six sided with plenty of space. Met some thru-hikers, Butcher and Oak. They were going to do 27 miles the next to to get to Glencliff. Oak was a big guy. He said his pack weighed 48 pounds! They were both into cooking and carried a bunch of ingredients to enhance their meals. Oak fixed tortellinis and Butcher fixed burritos. I boiled water for freeze dried spaghetti. Later, just at dark, Sugar Plum came in, she too a through hiker. There's another bubble of hikers coming through that know each other. I'm the only section hiker I've met over the last couple days. People, other hikers, are still welcoming and nice to me but I feel I'm not part of the main group. I'm OK with that, hiking my own hike.
Date: 2012-07-28
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Glencliff via RT 25C
Miles today: 10.2

I was planning on maybe hiking 14.9 miles today to get to the road crossing (rt25) that lead to Glencliff, but got to a road crossing a short 4.6 miles from Glencliff (25C), and there was thunder in the air and I was tired. So, I hitched into Glencliff to the "Hiker Friendly Hostel". Got here about 2:30 so had an extra couple hours to relax, shower, do laundry and chill. Just about two hours after my arrival, the skies opened up to downpour. I wouldn't have beat the rain had I hike the extra miles. Having cut off those miles, I knew I would have to make them up the next day (and it did work out that way).The hostel is unique. It had a flush toilet, shower, kitchen sink, and washer/dryer all outside but under tenting. An outdoor shower (walled in but outside) we've experience before. Anyway, soon, about 8 more hikers were there, some north bound, some south. There was Flower and Daisy and Z whom I'd met before. Later, Dame came in. I'd met her too. The hostel operator took us into Warren to resupply. These two towns were so small, our resupply was a C store with a deli. So, I made the best of that, with only having to get a couple days worth of replenishment. The hostel also supplies ice cream, frozen pizza, soda, and a couple other things.I slept in a bottom bunk of the bunk room of three bunks and two couches. Although this place had everything you'd need for an overnight and the comforts of home, it was a dirty and dumpy and full of clutter. What a dump! The bunks had linen on them that I've no idea how long it's been there. I slept in my sleeping bag on a sheet-less mattress. The floor appeared to have not been swept in weeks. Oh well, little did I know at that time I would sweep the floor tomorrow.
Date: 2012-07-29
From: Glencliff via RT 25C

To: Glencliff rt 25
Miles today: 4.6

Didn't sleep very well last night, although the bunk was comfortable. Sharing the bunk room were Hot Shot and Trips-a-Lot, northbound through hikers. Took my time getting up and going, and at 9:00 the hostel operator dropped me off at the road crossing from yesterday and in a couple hours I was back at the hostel. As I was hiking, I was thinking about how dirty the hostel was. Some operators will offer "work for stay" so I thought I would ask if I helped clean up for a couple hours, he would give me a free-bee. He did and I swept the filthy floor for a couple hours with a broom. I truly believed some of the throws hadn't been lifted off the floor in a couple years. They had two functionless sweepers, they ran but didn't pick up. Unreal. So did that, wiped off a big gathering table and that was that. What an exciting day.Tomorrow is a huge climb, 3,000 feet up Mt Moosalilauke. The climb down is steep. A south-bounder I spoke to in the morning hike said it was steep, and didn't remember one steeper, even after hiking the Whites. Actually, I'm tired of all the rhetoric about the difficulty factor of this mountain. I will take it slow and deliberate and take care of it. I plan for only 7.8 miles tomorrow. I will summit the mountain, and start the down, at which there is a shelter close by. Here's hoping for a dry day. I will be fine.
Date: 2012-07-30
From: Glencliff

To: Kinsman Notch
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, today was the most difficult day I've spent on the AT since the start. The climb up and over Moosilauke was as advertised. There are other trails by which one can get to the top of that mountain, and most of them are not easy, but nothing like the AT.I just gritted my teeth and sloughed my way up to the top. My usual M.O. is to take maybe 50 steps, and then take a short rest in place to catch my breath, and then to soldier on another 50 steps, repeating the process until I have reach my goal.The view on top was spectacular. it was a bright sunny day, and I enjoyed my stay at the top. Unfortunately I had to make my way down the north side. This was what we would call a very technical hike down. More sliding down boulders the size of SUV's then hiking. In some places, I used nearby trees to hold onto while I inched my way down.The maintaining club in this section has put a lot of thought into these sections. They are difficult, but not impossible. For example, they cut footholds into the rock in some places to provide footing. In other stops they have pounded rebar into the rock to provide footing. Still in others, they have in effect built steps out of two by sixes inserted into the rocks. And if you are going down a section on these wooden steps, or rebar, or footholds, and it is decided you ought to figure out another way, they simply leave out these helps.As difficult as the whole down hill was, the worst was saved for last.The last mile and one half dropped almost two thousand feet and took me over two hours to make my way down. I was mighty glad to get to Kinsmans Notch, and to get into a hostel