morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-07-28
From: Sherman Brook

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: few clouds

When did I turn into a bag lady? I look homeless, trudging up a 1500 foot mountain toting a brown grocery bag full of chips and cherries. I can't fit five days of food in my ultra light pack, so when faced with the conundrum of hiking 100 plus miles between stores, I am forced to live out of a grocery bag.At the top of the hill out of North Adams is the southern border of Vermont, and the beginning of the Long Trail, a 273 mile track from the MA/VT border to Canada. I plan on hiking it southbound in fall to get the famous north east colors.And so here I am in Vermont, home of Ben and Jerry's, the Green Mountains, yippies in Volvos drinking maple lattes, listening to jam bands, or the one Bob Marley Album they own, forever on repeat. If it isn't a Volvo, its a dirty Subaru, adorned with Patagonia and Free Tibet stickers, prayer flags in the window... If I feel the need to crawl into a socialist book store or food co-op, I think I might just be able to find one!The trail is dotted with mud pits, sometimes with deep shoe shaped pools where some unfortunate hiker stepped a little too deep, drenching an already muddy leg with cool black ooze.It feels good to be out of the Mid-Atlantic. Have I said that yet?Sheltered early with Tree, Hot Foot, Stretcher, Yatzy, and a few others. Looks rainy out.
Date: 2010-07-29
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Glastenbury Mountain
Miles today: 14.7

How many times does one get the opportunity to camp in a fire tower in New England? Given the wet climate, I doubt there are many opportunities. A big fire out here is 20 acres, differing from California's 20,000 acre burns.So when we arrived at Glastenbury Mountain and the fire tower, we had trouble leaving. As our indecision progressed, it became apparent that we were staying. Toward early evening, the flat ground below the tower became littered with packs and gear as nine more hikers picked spots. Being the first there, Ladybird and I had first dibs on the tower, we took it.At Sunset, over a dozen smelly hikers piled into the tower with a safety rating of four people. We huddled like penguins staying warm from the icy wind.It will be cold, but how many times does one get the opportunity to camp in a fire tower in New England?
Date: 2010-07-30
From: Glastenbury Mountain

To: Spruce Peak
Miles today: 26.9
Weather: light rain

Back up to speed. We churned out a pretty good day today over mellow terrain. Southern Vermont is relatively rolling, not overly rocky, but rather muddy. The climbs have been steady. Stratton Mountain was a pretty good hoof, but not overly steep. Atop, there was another fantastic view from a fire tower. Apparently, Mount Washington can be seen from here on a very clear day.Ladybird and I parted with the hikers with whom we had traveled for a couple days in search for some extra miles. I am sure we will meet again. Tree, Stretcher, Hot Foot, and maybe others are considering hiking the rest of the Long Trail, north to the Canadian Border before finishing the AT. The trail splits at Killington.Oh. And how was the fire tower you might ask? It was cold and breezy, but free of bugs! I awoke near 2:00 a.m. to wrap my poncho around me for an extra few degrees. It was worth it when morning light filtered through the holes in the rusty metal walls. But I was happy to be walking briskly under cool cloudy skies.Weather today? Cool, not above 70, but I still went for a swim in Stratton Pond.
Date: 2010-07-31
From: Spruce Peak

To: Homer Stone Brook
Miles today: 23.9

I took off earlier than Ladybird this morning to give her some writing time. She didn't make it to our planned camp.But I had a fairly pleasant day. There were times when I wanted to discuss something, trail, trees, rocks... One gets used to the company. Hiking and camping solo has become somewhat unfamiliar. I returned to my old habits of whistling and making rhythmic mouth noises to the tempo of my walking pace.So with the additional hikers from the Long Trail, this has turned into a veritable superhighway. The Green Mountain Club, maintains shelters and trail and with all the traffic, there is a lot of work to do. The mud pits are common, bog bridges, not enough.With all the traffic, comes warnings of a dangerous ford! Beware of death from raging water, neck deep swift running, giant leg crushing rolling boulders and man eating mega-trout and death-bass... With five or six hops I was across the ankle deep creek. A few more steps brought me past the bright orange fence, adorned with warnings. Don't believe what the signs say, take a look. Three additional miles on roads would be awfully sill to avoid this... discrace to ford-kind. Another highlight... Well... a highlight was Baker Peak. There the climb up is short but steep, up banded rocks glistening with minerals and crystals. The view was westward toward the mid afternoon sun. I actually donned sun glasses!I camped before our planned meeting place, tarp close to and facing the trail. I wait.
Date: 2010-08-01
From: Homer Stone Brook

To: Governor Clement Shelter
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Hundreds of little stone sculptures, cairns, piles of rock fragments, giant cairns, balanced branches adorned with rocks... White Rocks Mountain is quite a sight. The views from trail are limited, but the rock art made by hundreds of hikers is worth seeing. I made two!After Ladybird didn't make camp last night, I took it easy, meandering slowly toward our planned resupply spot. After the rocks, I descended slowly to Clarendon Gorge and one of the better swimming spots on trail. It was however, full of other people. After a dip I went on to the general store and picked up my snacks for the next day's walk to Killington.After an hour of ice cream and phone calls I climbed slowly up toward Governor Clement Shelter to camp. I walked a bit with a thru-hiker named Dwayne. Near dusk after deciding to stay at the shelter I heard a noise from the southward direction, then a figure emerged, clad in blue with tiny backpack, Ladybird!On the trail, we live in a linear existence, if you wait long enough, someone will run into you. I should have waited long enough earlier, but I didn't. We are looking forward to a town visit.
Date: 2010-08-02
From: Governor Clement Shelter

To: Killington
Miles today: 10.6

4200 feet! A Mountain! Exposed and windswept with stunted firs! This is what I was waiting for! But wait... did I say 4200 feet? Oh brethren from the west, 4200 feet is a mighty mountain indeed out here. I can't wait to see what 6000 looks like!We took the side trail up .2 miles and 400 feet up to the Mount Killington summit. Clouds broke around the peak like water in a brook. Not a river, a brook! It was a cloudy day, but the second highest mountain in the Verd Mont land granted us sunshine.From there it was a gentle saunter to highway 4 and the famous Inn at the Long Trail. We enjoyed some beverages and a meal there before going to Killington for some more affordable lodging. I am looking forward to being able to update my journal! A zero may be in order...
Date: 2010-08-03
From: Killington

To: Killington
Miles today: 0.0

With the threat of rain, some minor aches, and a lot of logistics to work out, we decided to take a rest day, and spend half of it at the library.Killington is a bit spread out... very spread out actually. The Shrewsbury Killington Motel offers affordable hiker rates and is located next to the post office. The owners will give some rides within reason and in this fairly dead non tourist season, were happy to drop us off at the library. Both are fantastic people with an interesting past of property management. And Stephen roasts his own coffee! We will leave tomorrow for Norwich and Hanover before climbing into New Hampshire's White Mountains! 6000 feet! I wonder if I can breathe up there!
Date: 2010-08-05
From: Killington

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

It was sad to leave Killington. Stephen and Robin were so hospitable and wonderful. Both are fantastic bakers. They gave us a big discount, drove us around, and even gave us some extra French fries. So after being dropped off, Ladybird and I braved the road crossing and headed into the hills. It took almost six hours to travel ten miles, but not because of difficulty of terrain or weather, but identifying numerous trees. The terrain was actually fairly tame, some climbs... We inspected many of the trees, trying to identify the ones we had not yet learned. The east differs from my home in that there are dozens, maybe hundreds, of tree varieties. At home there are five or six, dominant ones that is. I am having fun telling apart the many maples, pines, spruce, birches... We eventually made it to Stony Brook Shelter, still early in the evening. There are maybe 12 people here tonight. Nice group!
Date: 2010-08-06
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Past Cloudland Road
Miles today: 19.7

What is tougher? A single 4000 foot climb or seven little 500 footers? I think it's the many short climbs. The repeated ups and downs really sap a hiker's energy reserves. So, 20 miles was tough today. Most of the day was in the trees. There was a nice view from a platform on top of an old cabin, where apparently, one can see Mt. Washington! I think it was there, amongst the distant clouds... It will get closer. There was also a rather nice southwest pre-sunset view. It would have made a good camping spot, but too early and no water. Wildlife: one mink. It darted onto the trail and looked at us before flying headlong into the undergrowth again. This answers the question as to what mammal I saw near Salisbury CT. It must have also been a mink... I think.
Date: 2010-08-07
From: Past Cloudland Road

To: Hanover
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: broken clouds

At 5:45 a.m., I took off like a dart up the hill past Cloudland Road, but then as any dart will, I slowed and eventually crashed to the ground. 15 miles before noon to catch a mailbox? On this terrain? I thought I would be golden, fine, in plenty of time, etc..., but I arrived at the post office at 11:45, just in time to get my box. What ever happened to the hiker who could do 20 by 12:00, then take a nap and do 10 more before dusk? These sawblade-like routes are kicking my butt! Maybe it's the nutrition... maybe I haven't recovered from my big days... I don't know what is going on.So, we will camp just outside of Hanover.Speaking of Hanover, I walked around the campus (Dartmouth) and town a bit this afternoon. Lots of brick, big trees..., and very New England. It seems like forever ago that I roamed the quads and corridors at UC Santa Cruz. Anyway, lots of interesting sights and good looking eateries. And now, New Hampshire, The Whites, The Presidentials. Am I going to have to drop my planned mileage to 15? Maybe lower? Sheesh!
Date: 2010-08-08
From: Hanover

To: Trescott Road
Miles today: 4.5

I have talked about the vortex of Hanover before. Ladybird and I expertly navigated it, skimming the event horizon and tumbling back out into the woods. Some other hikers were not so lucky. One had been in Hanover for six days and only left due to receiving an official letter of trespassing from the college. Many other hikers trudged dejectedly and obviously hung over from being with the Darmouth frats. Beyond the stories, I found Hanover to be a nice college town with a variety of arts and music; unfortunately, nothing was happening on Saturday. What? Grrr...Ladybird and I escaped without going to a single 'frat' party. We walked east into the trees, to our flat looking, but highly uneven tarp spot, five miles out, near the road to Etna. We could always hitch back... Many hikers have been know to do such things!
Date: 2010-08-09
From: Trescott Road

To: Goose Pond Road
Miles today: 9.7

Note for the future: pine farms do not make very good camp stops. They look flat, but are full of sticks and roots. We did a low mileage day, started late, ate berries, and held up awhile due to rain... and camped early due to rain. There is a heavy amount of rain in the forecast for the next week, which is very unfortunate given the terrain that we will be in. A rainy, foggy, thundering tour of The Whites is not highly desirable. I am thinking of taking a few days to get a decent weather window, especially for the Presidential Mountains. Right now, it is raining. The thunder and lightning has subdued, but there are no guarantees it is gone. I actually expect more.
Date: 2010-08-10
From: Goose Pond Road

To: Firewarden's Cabin
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: scattered clouds

My cuben tarp is incredible! We had several large cells of rain blow over us last night and didn't get wet. Well, maybe the frogs caused some dampness. There were tons! Little tiny frogs jumped off gear to sleeping bags, to a face, to pine needles, and on-and-on. This morning, we saw a giant frog, obviously too fat and lazy to eat the mosquitoes, so we took today easy with a very late start. We had two good climbs, but there was also a prolonged stop for ice cream. Continuing on, and after the 2000 foot climb to Smarts Mountain, we found two hikers already in the fire tower. Beware of lightning. It is stormy! Five more hikers showed up, then eleven scouts. Another full house. No one seems interested in the cabin; it's a bit dank.
Date: 2010-08-11
From: Firewarden's Cabin

To: Stream past 25C
Miles today: 15.2

The gauntlet begins tomorrow, or so they say. Yesterday¢s 2000-foot climb up to the fire wardens¢ cabin was a good hoof. Today¢s climb to Cube Mountain was another workout, however less of an incline, as well as broken up nicely by a creek. Tomorrow is a 3000 footer, the beginning of the Whites. Moosilauke So, today was spent prepping just to get there. The summit will be 10 miles in. Hopefully, we can beat potential T-storms to the tip. Other than the usual walking, we took a very relaxing break at South Jacob¢s Brook, where we were actually able to swim. We then took a long lunch on Mount Cube, a stony flat-topped peak at a mere 2909 feet. Other hikers were nearby, a group of twelve. YIKES!
Date: 2010-08-12
From: Stream past 25C

To: Eliza Brook
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Dense, Boreal, forest¢¦ No way in, no way out. Trees grow in a tightly packed grove, resembling penguins wintering over in Antarctica. Balsam Fir, spruce, and hemlock dominate the landscape. In the dense forest, there is no chance to find a camping spot, not even a single ¢thru-hiker spots¢, narrow six-foot rough flat patches, suitable for a quick night¢s sleep and nothing else. Today we were able to summit Mt. Moosilauke, a peak nearly 5000-feet high and very alpine. It was the first time, actually, above tree line thus far. Dozens of hikers were buzzing around, on the summit and on the trails to and from. The next chunk of the AT can be seen: Mt. Lafayette, Franconia Ridge, and Mt. Washington, home of the highest recorded wind speed, and a massively alpine mountain at a paltry 6000-feet. The cascade on the north side of Moosilauke was beautiful. There wasn¢t much water, but the cascades and short falls were very scenic. Water slid down sloped slabs, tumbling from mossy ledges. We had to forgo a swim as we had taken one before Moosilauka, and it was COLD. The last 7.5 miles took over four hours, which for us is slow. I think the mileage is off a bit. This terrain is tough. Not all miles are created equal. 22 miles was an all day push with just a quick swim and an hour on Moosilauke. I would prefer 15-18 miles in the Whites. Wildlife: many grouse and one moose!Weather: cold and cloudy
Date: 2010-08-13
From: Eliza Brook

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: light rain

That guy again? A reoccurring theme on my hikes seems to be this poofy-haired individual with a penchant for hiking long distances. My good friend, Voyager, met Ladybird and I near Franconia Notch to help us resupply. I hiked with him on the PCT, and he met me on the CDT while out west visiting other friends. And yet, again¢¦ three he is. He is a local to the area, so this is a great place to meet. Ladybird and I awoke to a full shelter and camp at Ellza Brook before starting the rapid ascent to Kinsman, south and north. There were quite a few other nobo thrus there as well. Squash, Nesta, Six-course, Low-ride¢¦ The views were excellent of impending T-storms. The weather did fizzle out by early evening though. It should be a clear weekend and nice to spend on a high terrain: Franconia Ridge, Mt. Lafayette¢¦Also today, we got our first peak at an AMC hut. The Appalachian Mountain Club runs huts with meals and bunks for rather steep fees. However, they offer thru hikers the opportunity to work for stay, and leftover food.And so we started into the White Mountains. Mountains lacking in altitude but not lacking in severe weather and alpine environs. This is the great frozen north, the Alps of New England, treeline at last!
Date: 2010-08-14
From: Franconia Notch

To: Garfield Pond
Miles today: 11.6

White blazing is following white blazes, the official AT, passing every tree with white pain from Georgian to Maine. Blue blazing is taking blue blazed side trails. We decided to take a few blue blazes, only if they were harder or more interesting, or a combination of that. I consider my hike "pure' if I connect my foot steps.So given the choice between a longer higher, steeper, more scenic blue blaze trail, and the official more direct white blazed AT, I'll chose the former. Bring on the sheer slabs of rock, tendrils of roots to grab onto to prevent 1000 foot slides.Flume mountain. Jagged, pointy, and a heck of a climb from near I-93. The first two miles gained very little elevation. from there, it went straight up. Hands required, we scrambled up slabby wet rocks at 45 degree angles or steeper, it seemed. I wouldn't recommend a descent down this trai... route. Going up was great and I highly recommend it for any thru hikers. The flume Slide Trail is WAY more interesting than the official trail. And you get to bag two more 4000 footers. Mount Flume, and Mount Liberty.Most of the day was spent in alpine environs on exposed Franconia Ridge, strewn with rock and covered with banzai trees. We topped out, above tree line at 5250 feet; our highest elevation since Virginia!With Information from Voyageur about a campsite at Garfield Pond, we ducked into the woods for a quarter mile schwhack to an undisclosed location where, sure enough we found good camping. It is nice out. No tarp required.
Date: 2010-08-15
From: Garfield Pond

To: Thoreau Falls
Miles today: 12.8

The weather is rolling in. Rains sprinkles on my tarp as I write at 9:00. I am eating couscous and lentils that are way too salty under said tarp, which is pitched humorously OVER a fallen tree. It isn't the best of evenings, but Uncomfortable camps often make for more memorable times later! This certainly applies. I will remember the "Log Camp" for quite some time!Not every day can be totally and utterly spectacular. It started off well... and still is just wonderful, albeit slightly uncomfortable.We bagged a 4000 footer Views this morning from Mount Garfield were clear and stunning. Galehead was crowned with an impenetrable thicket of dense boreal forest. It was cloudy by then anyway, and even more cloudy later in the day on the ridge before Zealand. Mount Zealand itself was rather flat and unclimactic.Now that I mention peak bagging... I have a not entirely favorable history with said activity. In the Sierras, I was all for it. I was going to try to Bag Whitney on my way through but ended up going up the wrong drainage, attempting a climb up the north face with no mountaineering gear. After that, I gave up peak bagging and became somewhat disenchanted. I would happily take a longer route but wouldn't go out of my way to see I stood atop some 14,000 foot mountain. I passed up many such peaks on the CDT. This year, with the AT summitting all these 4000 footers, I feel obligated to bag peaks once again, and could see myself spending a week or two picking up the rest of New Hampshire's 4000 footers. The AT summits about 20 of them. I could also see returning to the Sierras and Rockies to climb the high western peaks.---I have a question. The transition from dark to light bark that takes place several feet up a tree and is ubiquitous throughout an area is caused by snow, right? We have a lot of it on the pacific coast but I rarely see such a thing in the east. I saw it today north of Galehead Hut...
Date: 2010-08-16
From: Thoreau Falls

To: Mizpah Hut
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: light rain

Another day, another 12 miles of tough terrain and a morning of persistent rain, and that Voyageur guy again. But it was a lot of fun. Especially the climb from Webster Cliffs to Mount Jackson. The rout traversed the the cliffs with views of Crawford Notch below with clouds wafting quickly by, breaking over the ridges like water on rocks.Now we are at Mizpah Hut. Out first AMC work for stay experience. An hour of floor washing earned a meal, two actually, and a roof for the night. Thanks again to Voyageur who brought our resupply as well as trail magic for us and other hikers.Tomorrow will be the Presidentials. Including Mount Washington and it's notoriously awful weather. Hoping for sun...
Date: 2010-08-17
From: Mizpah Hut

To: Madison Hut
Miles today: 12.9

Sun in the Presidentials. And we tagged all of them. Today was THEE day. The most scenic, dramatic, the highest, nearly, the most time above treeline...After leaving Mizpah, the first peak was Pierce, then Eisenhower. That peak was busy, capped with a giant cairn and an excellent view of Mount Washington, at nearly 6300 feet, the highest peak in the north east. The AT officially skirts a lot of the peaks, but we decided to go up and over every one.Then it was Washington. It was a circus, a total zoo. Hundreds of people in cotton shirts and sandals, complete with giant cameras, whining kids, cell phones, clamored and shoved for the summit sign. Wait a minute... I walked 1800 miles to get here! Interestingly, Mount Washington was at one time a possible northern terminus for the AT. I can't imagine finishing my hike on such a peak with hundreds, possibly thousands of tourists who drove there. I am glad the trail designers picked something a bit more remote!So we left eh zoo after the obligatory photos, happy to be on a uninhabited ridge once again over Clay, Jefferson and Adams. Clay was a simple walk. Jefferson took some scrambling and stubbing of toes on large boulders. Adams, however, took the proverbial cake. Ladybird and I hopped the large stones to the summit. Mount Adams is a great boulder pile, a giant cairn. Where is the ground? If I dropped a marble through the cracks, how many miles would it descend or would it splash into the fires of Hades?The sunset from Adams, as night closed in on us, was one of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen. Ridges to the west were illuminated as the red light shone off the underbellies of mountainous cloud formations. And did I mention the gale force steady wind that blew? trying its hardest to blow Ladybird and I back down below treeline. We took photos and basked in the beauty for some time before continuing in almost darkness to Madison Hut, and another work for stay.---At Jefferson we encountered a man and his dog. He said they were night hiking... I imagine he was going to camp on Jefferson amongst the giant boulders. I would if I were him.