morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-15
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Manchester VT
Miles today: 10.7

6/15/2013 10.7 miles Hiked from Stratton Pond Shelter to Manchester. Hoot and I left the shelter this morning at 6:30. The sun was shining and the trail was starting to dry out. The mud was firming up so you didn't sink in as much as the last couple of days. Last night at the shelter wasn't real restful. Lots of people up late because they were not out for the long haul. It's a weekend thing for them. Plus once they got to bed the snore fest started. I left my ear plugs someplace, not sure where. At some point I did get to sleep and woke up around 5-ish. Sun was coming up and other people started getting up so I got up and started to pack. Ate some breakfast and did some other necessary things. The trail was not so bad today. Just some gradual ups and downs. Hoot hikes about my pace so I let him lead the way. He kind of has the same reactions to the trail that I do. Like "this hill wasn't on the map". And "why are we going up when the map shows we should be going down" ... Hoot's wife was waiting about a quarter of a mile up the trail. She was at the top of the last hill we climbed. So we all hiked together back to the car. Went and had some lunch at a local restaurant.  After that I had them drop me off in town. I wandered around a little bit. Found a grocery store and got some tortilla wraps to make PB&J  wraps with. Then I called Jeff from Green Mtn House Hostel. He picked me up at Shaw grocery. This place is great. I have a room to myself. It has a full kitchen, laundry area, shower, living room with TV, musical instruments ... It's basically a whole house just for hikes. 7 beds all together. I highly recommend it if you are hiking in the Manchester VT area. That's all for now getting late and need to pack up as much of my back pack tonight as I can.  As an aside, Video, a hiker I hiked with last year is in the area and is stopping in here to see me tonight.  So, I'm not going to get to sleep as early as I would like. Video got to the hostel about  22:00 we talked for about an hour then I went to bed. He said we were going out for breakfast in the morning.Oh, I almost forgot, I saw a moose today. Hoot and I were doing a road walk on Old Rootville road about a half a mile into the walk a moose ran down the road around the corner and disappeared into the woods. Neither of us had time to get our cameras out to take a picture.
Date: 2013-06-16
From: Manchester VT

To: Lost Pond Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked from Manchester Center to Lost Pond Shelter.  Video and I got up this morning and went out for breakfast at 6:00. We found a place that does bagels and they also had a Western Wrap that had veggies. I had them make one of those without the eggs, cheese, and ham. Then had them add some spinach and other veggies that they had available. Finished the first one kind of quickly and Video says, "Why don't you get another one?" so I did. After we finished breakfast we want back to the hostel. Free and Easy, and Miggity Mountain Goat were up and about getting ready to head to the trail. We got on the road to the trail at 7:50. Jeff the hostel owner shuttles hikers back to the trail as part of the price of staying at the hostel. The three of us started up the trail at 8:00. Miggity Mountain Goat was out in front.  I was next then Free and Easy was at the end. We hiked this way till we got over Peru Peak. Then I went out in front for the rest of the hike to Lost Pond shelter.  The Baker Peak was a nasty hill to climb. They had a bad weather trail for it. I should have taken it today. The climb up is over rocks. It had been raining so it was not a lot of fun. Plus the blazing on the rocks was not very good and when you got to the top it was not obvious where the trail went. I ended up getting into the shelter about forty min. before the other two. Did the usual stuff. Took the shoes off, got the sleeping pad and bag out. General pack explosion. After that got water. I snacked on a couple of things then fixed a meal.  Did have nice view from Pico Peak. That was about the only one. The view from Bromely was okay. No tower; otherwise it would have been better. The ski lift building was fenced off so you couldn't get to it, or shouldn't. Time read a little, till next time.
Date: 2013-06-17
From: Lost Pond Shelter

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: light rain

Hiked from Lost Pond Shelter to Minerva Hinchey Shelter. Started up the trail about 8:00. The trail wasn't too bad today.  Shortly after starting this morning WitchDoctor and Passover came by us. They had stayed at the previous shelter the night before and got an early start. After I warmed up I went out in front and ended up hiking alone for an hour or so. Caught up to Witch Doctor and Passover. Hiked with them until I had to work on my little toe; the bandage I put on it came off. Caught up to them again when they stopped to hike down to White Rocks Cliff overlook. I had dropped my pack and passed them as they were coming back. White Rock Cliff area is interesting. Everyone that passes through the area stacks rocks all over the place. I took a number of pictures of it. When I get a chance I may post some to TJs or FB.  Decided to stop at Greenwall Shelter for lunch. It started to rain while I was there. Sort of finished before I packed up and left. The sign to the shelter said 0.2 miles. It was almost 0.5 miles to the shelter. After I left the shelter and headed up the trail the real storm began. The lightning and thunder went on almost till I got down to VT 140. Wasn't too worried; there were lots of big trees that would have been hit before me. There is a Bear Mtn here in VT. It was actually some of the easiest hiking today considering it was a 1,500 foot climb from VT140. They put in some decent switch backs in and the trail was not that steep. And it was well graded with hardly any rock to step on or over.
Date: 2013-06-18
From: Minerva Hinchey Shelter

To: Cooper Lodge
Miles today: 17.8

Hiked from Minera Hinchey Shelter to Cooper Lodge on Killington Peak. It was a long tough day today. The day started out with a hill climb and just kept up that way all day. Dropped about 750 feet down to VT 103 in less than a mile then back back up to 2,000 feet from 750 in less than 2 miles. Going up out of VT 103 it was practically a strait up rock scramble. Then it dropped down to 1,500 feet and started 2,500 foot climb over 7 miles to get to the top of Killington Peak. Of course it rained during that time. The trail up Killington Peak looks like a war zone. There are trees down everywhere. Not sure if it is damage from Irene or a storm after Irene. Some of the tree cuts look real fresh. There was a detour today for the trail. It was a road walk. It added an extra 1.5 miles to the hike. In the long run it may have been easier than that section of trail. The road walk was real steep. I would guess that the trail was just as steep and more rugged. On the road walk someone stopped and gave me food. Cookies that a vegan can eat. Gave me a little extra energy to make it here. Miggety Moutain Goat and Free and Easy were going to come here today. I think after some of the first climbs they may have decided to stay at Govenor Clement Shelter. It's 4.3 miles South of this shelter. There was also a woman and her 12 year old son in the Minerva Hinchey shelter last night. They were thinking they may come here. Since none of them are here yet I think I'll be alone in the shelter tonight. There are two young women here but they are tenting. I guess that's all for now. Till tomorrow.
Date: 2013-06-19
From: Cooper Lodge

To: Inn At Long Trail
Miles today: 5.0

Hiked from Cooper Shelter to Inn at Long Trail. Got to the Inn at Long Trail. Checked in. Unloaded the pack, changed into my doing laundry clothing, gathered all my dirty ones up and got a load of laundry going. Sat and went through email while the clothes were washing. The Pub opened up by the time the wash was done so I moved them to the dryer and went into the Pub and got comfortable. I decided to sample a number of the beers on tap that they had. I think there were six. Plus I decided to try Long Trails double IPA. The chef did a black bean burger for me for lunch. He also brought out a sample of a vegan sausage. It was tasty. When he heard I was vegan he was interested in what I wanted for breakfast. He mentioned that there was another vegan coming in and had a recipe for Tofu scramble. I mentioned I had one and he asked me to get it so he could fix it for breakfast tomorrow. He was also working on a marinara sauce that did not have anchovies in it. Since when does marinara sauce have Anchovies in it?  After lunch I went back to the room and sorted through my mail drop and sorted it between my two food bags, snacks and meals. At dinner time went back to the bar for a short period of time.  Free and Easy and Miggety Mtn Goat came in. We sat and chatted, had dinner and a little beer. Talked with Old School and some other hikers.  Its 22:00 time for bed. Breakfast is at 7:30. Till tomorrow.
Date: 2013-06-20
From: Inn At Long Trail

To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 18.5

Hiked from Inn at Long Trail to Winturri Shelter. The day started with a great breakfast. then sort of went down hill from there. Hit the trail at 8:45 and arrived at the shelter around 18:30. Hiked with Free & Easy and Miggety Mtn Goat till lunch at 14:12. Then went on by my self. It was a long day. The maps say one mileage. The Thru-hikers companion says more. Lot of ups and downs. Some big climbs some medium ones. In general a bit of a pain. There are 9  people at the shelter tonight. One person is tenting. The rest of us are in the shelter. Not much else to say. Most of the people are chatting by the fire right now. It's 21:05
Date: 2013-06-21
From: Winturri Shelter

To: Hartford Sign Company
Miles today: 16.8

Hiked from Winturri Shelter to Hartford Sign Company. I know, an interesting place to stop. As I was walking up VT 14 I saw this sign showing Tenting and Water with Applalacian Trail about it. It had been a tough day getting to Thistle Hill shelter where I had lunch. The walk down  from there to West Hartford was not that bad but I just did not have the energy to hike up the hill to Happy Hill Shelter that was about three miles farther. Walked in the driveway and Kat and Steve were sitting on their porch. I asked if the sign was for real and they said yes. They told me there were already two other hikers in for the day. I walked over and met Double Check and Pack attack. They are an uncle and niece out for a short hike to Killington area. Nice folks. We sat and chatted for a bit  then I did a pack explosion. Got the food out, the the tent, and other stuff. Put up the tent then sat down and had some dinner. Shared a little with Pack attack and she liked it a lot. Double Check did a thru-hike in 2011. He knew a lot of the hikers I took off the trail for a night. Meeting all the different people on the trail is probably the most interesting part of hiking the AT for me.  The views are nice but they are not everything.  Steve and Kate came out and talked for a while, he hiked the PCT  in 1992. He has done parts of the AT. I guess kind of like me, a section hiker now.
Date: 2013-06-23
From: Norwich Inn

To: Trescott Road
Miles today: 6.0

Hiked from Norwich Inn to Trescott Road. Woke up this morning to rain. Did not set a very good mood for hiking today. Didn't want to go out. Didn't want to hike while I was hiking. Just could not get my head straight for hiking today or continuing. Don't know what it is. Maybe it's being away for 2 weeks; maybe it's not knowing if I'm going to see any people at the shelter; maybe its the sore ankle i rolled early in the hike; maybe its the really sore knees. Whatever it is I got to Trescott Rd today and just could not bring myself to go any further this year. So, looks like I not going to finish this year. I'm sure the trail isn't going anywhere. I'm sure it will get longer though.
Date: 2013-03-01
To: Going Back
Miles today: 0.0

This is my first entry in my 2013 trail journal. For those who followed my journey starting at Springer Moun tain GA in my 2012 journal, welcome back. Last years hike of 240.8 miles was fantastic and reaffirmed my resolve to hike the entire 2180 miles of the AT. To date I completed around 500 miles.Last year on the trail while hiking alone, I met two Philly fireman (Tom, retired and Bill, active) who I spent time with and eventually shared a rent-a-car to get home. Tom called me in February telling me that Bill and himself were going to rent a car sometime in April and head back to the trail to begin where they left off, and am I interested in joining them. I told him it was my plan to continue my hike where we left off and sharing a car and enjoying there company would probable work out. A firm date is not set yet, we are waiting for Bills vacation time to be confirmed.
Date: 2013-03-06
To: Date Set
Miles today: 0.0

I received a call for Bill Informing me that his vacation is scheduled to begin on April 19 and we could hit the trail on the 20th and would this work for me. I would of liked to start a little sooner, but the date would work for me. Last year Bill had around 23 days of vacation to use for the trail. This year he has around 10 days. My plan was to stay longer, so I will probable be on my own to get home. Although last year I was on my own and thing worked out for me. One thing I have learned on the trail, there are no set time tables, planes are flexible and you role with the punches.
Date: 2013-03-08
To: Gear Adjustment
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I would have to say I was very pleased with most of the gear I took last year. I had replaced most of the gear I used when I first started hiking with lighter and better gear. This year I replaced my cooking system with the "Jet Boil Zip". This system is lighter and faster than my previous system. It will also save me fuel. I also replaced my treking poles with a lighter pair that lock better than my last pair. Since I use one treking pole as a tent pole the daily readjustment of the pole caused it to fail on occasion.
Date: 2013-04-25
To: ON OUR WAY
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Our starting date has changed. We will hit the trail Saturday morning 4/27/13. I will pick up Tom and Bill in our rental car in Philadelphia and continue south for the next 11 hours. I have to turn in the car at the Asheville NC airport. From there we are getting shuttled to Standing Bear Farm, just north of the Smokey Mountains. This is the location where I stopped my 240 mile hike last year. My next post should include some actual hiking.
Date: 2013-04-27
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 10.0

Slept ok, up early. Started hike with Philly Tom at 8am. Started 2450' climb, very tiring and thighs start to cramp. Bill soon catches up to Tom and me and the two continue up the hill at a faster pace then me. Rain started so I walked in my rain jacket and pack cover. I got to the top of the mountain bald at 11:15am. Normally there is a good view on the bald because there is no trees to block your view. But due to the rain I can't see very far. The rain continues and slowly picks up. I should of put on my rain pants earlier and find myself with fully wet pants. After the first big climb I continue down for 1200' then 800' up, then 400' down to Brown Gap at 2:30pm. I find Tom and Bill standing under a large tent enjoying trail magic. There are many tents and people at this Gap due to the largest trail magic spread I ever saw. I enjoyed deviled eggs, hamburgers, salads, chips and soda. I am getting very cold and decide that I had enough for today and set up my tent in the ever increasing rain. I change into dry clothes in my tent and climb into my sleeping bag to warm up. Its only 3:30pm but i'm stuck in my tent for the evening. Tom and Bill decided to continue on. I heard that they were serving more food in the early evening, but did not want to risk getting my camp clothes wet so I stay inside my tent. My AT guide map I had in my pocket got saturated and fell apart as I tried to open it up. This page gave me information for the next three days. I hope I catch up with Tom and Bill so I'm not hiking blind. When I take my phone out of my rain tight backpack hip pockets I discover that my phone is totally wet and shorts out as I swipe the screen. My i-pod is also not functioning. I put both devices in my sleeping bag hoping that they will dry out. Well, things could only improve from here.
Date: 2013-04-28
From: Tenting Gap

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: moderate rain

Rained all night, but slept ok. The tent did a good job of keeping the rain out but is wet on the inside from condensation. I boil water in my vestibule for coffee and oatmeal. Although its still raining I need to pack up and get going, 16 hours in the tent is long enough. My hiking pants are soaked so I opt to wear my rain pants over dry underwear. I pack my wet heavy tent and start out at 7:50am in a light rain. After a few ups and downs I come upon the highlight of the day, crossing over Max Patch, a large Bald with great 360 degree views. The problem is the rain and wind pick up and I can only see silhouettes of the surrounding mountains. I make it to Roaring Fork Shelter for lunch. No one is at the shelter so i'm alone, actually, I see no one all day during my hike. I don't stay to long, as I cool down I start to get cold. After awhile I come upon my last climb of the day, up Walnut Mountain. I know the shelter is on the down side of the mountain, but without my guide I'm not sure how far. As I reach the top the wind picks up and although I have on rain gear i'm getting wet. To my surprise the shelter isn't far over the top and I arrive around 4pm. There are two hikers in sleeping bags in the shelter. One hiker pokes his head out and says " ha Sparky Dave, glad you made it". Its Philly Tom, Because of the long day yesterday in the rain and wet feet, he developed very bad blisters and had to stop at the first shelter today. Billy Goat continued on. Normally I like to stay in my tent but considering my tents is wet and the ground is wet I opt to stay in the shelter. Its a small shelter with no overhang for the picnic bench. Ten hikers arrive at the shelter from from 5pm till 8pm seeking shelter but there is only room for 2 more, the rest continue on. The shelter being near the top of the mountain and facing the wind made for rough conditions, but were out of the rain.
Date: 2013-04-29
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Town- Hot Springs
Miles today: 13.0

It stopped raining during the night and the sky is starting to clear. Tom and I pack up early and head out without breakfast at 6:50am intent on making it to the town of Hot Springs. All my hiking clothes are wetso i'm wearing camp shorts and shirt knowing I will reach a laundry mat today. A couple ups, but mostly down to town. We get views of town for the last hour of our walk. The trail becomes very steep for the last couple miles. We get to town at 2:40pm and crash on the lawn of the Laughing Heart Hostel. We talk to the manager of the establishment and Tom makes arrangements for a shuttle to Ashville tomorrow. Toms blisters are so bad he has to leave the trail. Billy Goat is down the road at the Alpine Court Motel and he reserved two rooms for us so we continue thru town to the motel. Since the start in Georgia this is the first time the trail goes thru a town in 275 miles, they even have the AT symbol cast into the side walks. At the motel after a good cleaning I spread every thing out in the room hoping it all dries by tomorrow. The order of the day is, laundry, eat, drink beer and rest.
Date: 2013-04-30
From: Town- Hot Springs

To: Rich Mountain
Miles today: 8.9

It was nice to sleep in a dry bed last night. Hopefully the wet weather is behind us for awhile. Had breakfast with Tom and Bill at the Smoky Mountain Diner. Afterward Bill and me resupplied at the Dollar General store. Next stop is the post office to send my nonfunctional smart phone home. I hope they can get it repaired and back to me in Erwin. My next stop will be Erwin TN in about 5 days. This would be my longest distance between resupply points. Went back to the motel to pack up. Bill left first at 9am. Bill is a faster hiker than me and is on a time schedule to get back to work after Erwin. I probably won't see him again this trip. My plan is to make it to Damascus VA. I leave town at 9:50am and I cross the French Broad River and hike along its swollen banks then a steep climb for 1100'. There are many views of town and the river on this climb. I miss my camera/phone. The next few miles are slightly down hill then slightly uphill. I stop for a rest and eat before the 1350' climb up Rich Mountain and meet a fellow hiker, trail name Slowski. Slowski is a fellow retired IBEW electrician from Washington DC presently living in New Hampshire. Its his plan to stop at the top of Rich Mtn., like me. The climb is long and for the first time i'm bothered with knats that brings out my baseball cap. I reach the top at 3:45pm and set up camp near Slowski. The bugs are bothersome so I go into my tent for a nap. When I wake after 1 hour to make Dinner I find I have large welts on my forehead from the so called knats. I go to bed at 8:30 after socializing with Slowski. Not to many miles today due to the late start and 2250' elevation rise.
Date: 2013-05-01
From: Rich Mountain

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Very windy and damp on top of the mountain last night. Left at 7:40am and hiked alone today. Got to Spring Mountain shelter at 9:40am for a rest. Right as I was ready to leave a fellow hiker stoped and borrowed my filter pump since his had broke. This held me up since the water source was a steep 75 yards down hill. There was no flat grade all day, lots of small ups and downs. Then came the long 1350' climb to Little Laurel Shelter. I arrive at 4:00pm. Tenting near Slowski again. There is a good water supply here and because of the long distance between resupplies I take the opportunity to wash out some of my clothes and hang them on a line I carry with me. In bed at 8pm.
Date: 2013-05-02
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Very windy and damp last night and although it didn't rain my tent is wet. Left camp at 8:20am right behind Slowski. We immediately started a 1050' climb to the top of Camp Creek Bald in 1.3 miles. Slowski is a good uphill hiker and leaves me in the dust. Then a slow descent for 1 mile. From this point I expected easy hiking for the next 3 miles because the guide did not show much elevation change. The fact is I encountered very rocky 30' to 40' quick inclines and declines that made hand over hand climbing necessary. At one point it showed an easier blue blaze route to bypass this hard section. But thats not the AT so I stay the course. The views from Big Firescald Knob were fantastic (I miss my camera). I arrive at Jerry Cabin Shelter at 1pm for lunch and also obtained water from good springs. Didn't think I would make the next shelter but pressed on. Made the 700' climb up Big Butt Mountain. On the descent down I passed A lone Civil War grave site. Continued down hill for the next few miles then a short steep climb to Flint Mountain Shelter at 5pm. Slowski is the only one there when I arrive. Soon after two hikers from Germany, one from Oregon and one from Kentucky arrive. Only saw one hiker all day and that was a south bounder. Tenting in a nice spot under a Rhododendron tree.