morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-26
From: Great Barington, MA

To: N. Wilcox Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We had an enjoyable evening in town celebrating our 1500 and 500 milestones. The morning came too fast and we took our time getting back on the trail. The motel included breakfast and I took full advantage. It was nice to sit at a table to eat and enjoy an extra cup of brewed coffee. Obsolete was kind enough to "upgrade" the used trekking pole donated by Vanguard and brought to me by Disco. He took usable parts from my old pole and put them on the new. Thanks to a group effort I now have two functional hiking poles. The weather today was nice for hiking. We decided on a shorter day with our heavier resupplied packs and late start. The trail was nice but not as spectacular as yesterday. It was an enjoyable day but the 13+ miles was still strenuous for me. I was happy when we made camp. Scott Jurek the ultra marathon runner is just behind us. He is trying to break the AT supported record of ~46 days. I hoped that I may see him pass me on the trail. He is doing 50+ miles per day. Really incredible. Unfortunately I didn't see him today. He will likely pass me when I'm off the trail. My Friday evening included a call home, an early dinner and relaxing in my tent with a good book.
Date: 2015-06-27
From: N. Wilcox Shelter

To: Upper Goose Pond Canin
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a cool dry evening. Bright moonlight filtered through the forest. Coyotes yelped in the distance. Owls hooted to one another. It was a great evening for sleeping outdoors. We woke to a dry cool morning. A perfect day for hiking. Our hike took us through large sections of pine forest. The trail was cushioned by the needles which felt good on my feet. We passed through a number low areas with water, bogs and fields. A highlight of our morning was the trail magic provided by Brian, aka Twig ('10 Thru Hike) and his family and friends. Brian gave me a grilled hot dog while he cooked me a burger. There was a wide assortment of home made goodies (Susan - the brownies were fantastic), soft drinks and beer. Brian et al thank you for your generosity. Our hike concluded at the Upper Pond Cabin. A comfortable cabin with bunks, tent platforms, beach and other comforts. The cabin is serviced by a volunteer care taker that rotates weekly. This week it was Susan. She was a good host and welcomed 17 overnight hikers this day. I went to the pond where there is a beach and a dock. The air was cool and the water warm. I cleaned up best that I could without soap. At least I was cleaner. An improvement. Since we arrived early we had our choice of bunks. It was a good time to rest and take a nap. My first map since starting the trail. It was a welcome rest. Hikers filtered in throughout the day and filled the cabin. We were reunited with Ox. It was great to see him again and catch up on his adventures.A number of day hikers visited as well. I had the pleasure of meeting a father out day hiking with his two daughters, eight and eleven years old. I enjoyed our conversation and the playful energy the girls brought to their hiking adventure. The youngest, Grace was full of unfiltered questions that poured from her. At one point she looked inquisitively at me and asked if she could pet my beard. It gave me a laugh inside and I said yes. Grace stroked my beard and was all smiles and giggles as she looked at me as if I was the family pet. It was one of those precious moments that I won't forget. As the day drew on it was only the overnight hikers that remained. We gathered around a warm fireplace in the dark. Stories were shared and friendships developed. A card came began as it started to rain. I was comfortable in my bunk when the wind picked up and heavy rains fell. The cabin was the perfect place to be. Everyone slowly rose early to find Nancy making pancakes and percolating coffee. Both were delicious on the windy, cool and wet morning. Upper Goose Pond Cabin was a special experience and one I enjoyed.
Date: 2015-06-28
From: Upper Goose Pond Canin

To: Dalton
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: broken clouds

After pancakes and three cups of percolated coffee I reluctantly got myself together for our hike into Dalton. It was a fun and relaxing stay at the Cabin. A group of us left around the sesame time. It was the largest number of people I've hiked with since starting at Springer Mountain. It was fun to get to know the other people during our hike. The driving rain had stopped but it was still a very wet day. The winds were high and drove the water from the trees and foliage giving the same effect of rain. I got wet but not soaked. The trail was like an obstacle coarse. It was muddy, stream like at times, slippery rocks and roots. There were many sections of single or double boards elevated above the trail. These were equally as slippery. It was impossible to avoid getting your feet soaked and muddy. I gave into the weather and went with it. It was more difficult to avoid the muck and risk falling than just going through it. And we went through it. All 21 miles of it. It was a cold and windy day. It was nice to hike with both Obsolete and Ox again along with several others from the cabin. It made the conditions feel less severe and made the time go quickly. A large group of us made it to Dalton around 4:30pm. The trail goes through this small friendly town. There is one hotel, The Shamrock Inn. Rooms were limited. Hikers with rooms offered to share them. Despite the cramped quarters the Shamrock was a good respite from the weather. We were clean and so was our laundry which washed away the trials of the wet and muddy day's hike.   Our large group of hikers made it to the local tavern for dinner, drink and ice cream. A comfortable ending to a challenging day.
Date: 2015-06-29
From: Dalton

To: Bascom Lodge, Mt. Greylock
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Dalton was a good stop. We planned on hiking to MA highest point, Mt. Greylock at 3491 feet. The State owned Bascom Lodge is located there and offers bunks for hikers. The 2400+ foot climb would be the biggest I've been done in some time. After a late breakfast and quick resupply we left the comfy confines of the Shamrock Inn and hit the trail. The weather was cool, misty and cloudy. The heavy rain stayed away but the ground was saturated. The trail had its share of mud but not as challenging as yesterday. My successful climb up Mt Greylock was a confidence booster as we anticipate the White Mountains ahead. It felt good to get to higher elevations. As we go higher there are better chances of breezes to refresh us and views to reward us. Unfortunately the cloud cover kept us from the views which remained hidden. It was an enjoyable hike none the less. Ox and Obsolete make hiking more enjoyable. They are strong hikers and they make me a faster hiker when I'm with them. When The pace is to fast for me to continue to enjoy myself insoluble down and enjoy the solitude. I'm able to rejoin our camaraderie at our daily destination.Ox will be moving ahead to achieve his goal of entering Maine before he leaves for school. I admire his joyful attitude of enjoying the journey each day. I'm hopeful that Obsolete and I will catch up with him and celebrate his Maine achievement and wish him well when he departs. I arrived at Bascom Lodge just after 4pm and and found Obsolete checking in. I secured a comfortable bunk had an early dinner and took a shower. Shower two nights in a row. What a treat. The Lodge does not have laundry facilities but a kind person at the reception desk offered to do our laundry. I'm grateful to have clean clothes after getting everything so muddy today. As I write this I'm sitting in the lobby. The Lodge was built in the 1930s. It's a comfortable space with Stickly style furniture. I'm in a rocking chair by the fire having a beer. A great way to end a fun day of hiking. I'm now at mike 1586.3 and hope to finish MA tomorrow and enter Vermont on Tuesday.
Date: 2015-06-30
From: Bascom Lodge, Mt. Greylock

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

Obsolete and I rose early from our comfortable bunks at the Bascom Lodge. The bunk room was nearly full so we retreated to the lobby. It was relaxing to have coffee and to read the news as we waited for breakfast. Obsolete was kind enough to "brew" some instant coffee for us to enjoy before the restaurant opened. The sunrise was beautiful casting inspiring light on the monument and the lodge. There was a view of the mountains that was hidden in yesterday's fog and rain. Following a large breakfast of coffee, eggs, toast, sausage, bacon, potatoes, pancakes and a muffin I was ready for the trail. I needed every one of those calories for the day's hike. The sun soon went away and the clouds came. Temperatures were cool. We managed a couple of steep and rocky climbs. It was comfortable hiking until it started raining following our lunch. We left Massachusetts and entered Vermont. Eleven states completed and three more to go! In Vermont the landscape transitioned with large boulders isolated in the woods. It was if a large Divine hand placed them in delicately balanced positions. They appeared as monuments in the forest. And then there was the mud. Vermont is also know as Vermud by hikers. Large sections of the trail were wet with pools of water and dark sticky mud. It is exhausting to negotiate around or walk through. Eventually it gets you and seeps in your shoes then socks until it coats your skin. We were ready to take a break from the rain as we entered the shelter. It was already occupied and there was not much room to escape the rain. We decided to end our day here rather than go on the additional seven miles to the next shelter. After putting my tent up in the rain and gathering water in the rain I made dinner in the vestibule of my tent .... In the rain. It was a day that took a lot of energy although our miles were short. Unfortunately we are not in cell range. This was common early on the AT but improved as we moved North. I got use to connecting with home at the end of the day. I miss that. It makes me appreciate those simple things that I took for granted. It was a good day but challenging from the weather and trail. I'm happy to be in Vermont making progress to Maine.
Date: 2015-07-01
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Benningtin, VT
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: moderate rain

Rain came down hard overnight along with rumbling thunder. This is the heaviest we've had this past week. We've been wet for five days in a row. Despite this I was comfortable, warm and relatively dry inside my tent. The only things that were wet was what I brought inside my tent. It's hard not to bring mud and water inside when you've been hiking in the rain all day. None the less I got a good nights sleep, was well rested and rose early..... to more rain. I made coffee and had breakfast in my tent vestibule. This area usually protected accumulated a pool of water. A hot cup of coffee goes a long way on days like this even when it's instant. I packed up and hoped for a break in the rain to take down my tent. That break didn't come. We took down camp in the rain and rolled up our wet tents Not only is it a mess (even by hiker standards) it adds the weight of the water to your pack. We left camp around 8am to head into Bennington, VT to resupply. Normally this would be about four hour hike. Our eleven miles took the energy of a twenty mile hike. The trail conditions made for a slow exhausting effort. It was wet. Very wet. Our fifth day in a row of hiking in the rain. The trail was often a running stream, pooled water, slippery roots and rocks. There was no avoiding it. We slowed down and walked through it. We were completely wet with socks and shoes soggy with mud and water. I walked through so much muck that I thought I should look for leaches during my daily tick check. The trail did offer views of tranquil ponds and landscape. But today was focused on getting through it. There was little to see as it requires concentration to hike and not slip. We finished our hike down a steep descent. A man was parked at the trail head. We thought that he was our shuttle into town. He was not. He had a cooler full of drinks that he offered to hikers. Despite the conditions Obsolete and I were thirsty from our effort. We gratefully had a Gatorade and thanked our trail angel. It takes a special person to wait in the rain on a Wednesday afternoon at an AT trail head to be generous to hikers that they have never met. We are grateful for his unexpected hospitality. A shuttle took us to a small hotel in town to clean up and resupply. We escaped the remaining rain for the day. This faves the opportunity to dry out our things. A physiological boost. We are hopeful for better weather but will take what the AT gives us to get to Maine.
Date: 2015-07-03
From: story spring shelter

To: Manchester, VT
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: light rain

Laying in my tent I woke at 3:30 am. A soft light was shinning outside. I left my tent to see what it was. A bright moon was shining in the clear sky. It's light was penetrating through the forest. The moon beams illuminated different parts of the trees which cast long shadows. The night was perfectly still. The scene was peaceful and magical at the same time. It was if the night was frozen in time capture in a picture for me to enjoy. When I return home I'll pay more attention to full moon nights in my own back yard. Magical. I quickly fell back to sleep to rise again well rested in a couple of hours. We rose early to a beautiful day. The cold night made for good sleeping. It was one of those mornings that I wanted to stay in my warm sleeping bag. Slowly I put on my hiking clothes in the warmth of my bag. It was cold enough that I needed my jacket. I zipped up my jacket to my neck and surprised to find that I caught my beard. Quickly I released it without pain or injury. It made me laugh. I've never had a beard and I'm learning the hazards of not paying attention to it. Another trail hazard. The temperatures were very cool which made it perfect for our long climb up Stratton Mountain. The approach trail was mud, mud and more mud. However it was much improved than a few days ago. Once we achieved elevation the trail improved.   It was a delightful climb. The 1600 foot ascent was a fun climb to the summit. There was a tower at the top which provided a 360 degree view of the area. The climb up the tower a little frightening for me. I clutched the steel railing as I walked the wooden steps. The wind picked up and pressed against my clothes. As I rose above the trees the surrounding landscape appeared. It was spectacular. Well worth the effort and my fears of the tower falling. The trail descent down the mountain was enjoyable with enough challenging mud to make it a strenuous effort. Obsolete broke a trekking pole during our hike. Our goal was to make it to town before the outfitter closed. We made it to town in plenty of time to replace the pole, resupply and have an early dinner. I can't believe the amount of food we eat when we are in town. We stayed at Green Mountain Hose hostel. It is a wonderful retreat. It is located in a farm like setting just outside of town. Jeff Taussig gave us a great welcome, comfortable accommodations and comforting food. They include a pint of Ben and Jerry's, cold soft drink and big breakfast fixings with your stay. The hostel is really a home. Comfortable, clean with kitchen, living room and comfortable beds. The hostel was full with hikers in our bubble, Disco, Roo, Wolverine and a few others. It was fun to relax, catch up with them and enjoy a casual evening on a sofa watching television.
Date: 2015-07-04
From: Manchester, VT

To: Little Rock Pond 
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: moderate rain

Happy 4th of July!Green Mountain Hostel was a difficult place to leave. The comfort, hospitality and camaraderie was enjoyable. The hostel and the town of Manchester would be a relaxing place to zero. My desire to stay on schedule to meet Ingrid next week in NH is driving me to move on. Otherwise I would have stayed another day.I highly recommend the hostel and would not hesitate to stay here again or with my wife. It is more like a B and B than hostel. I was up early to find that Obsolete had made coffee. We enjoyed a first and second breakfast. Second breakfast was made by Daniel one of the hostel guests. Thank you Daniel. The hostel has a scale for both your weight and your pack. My pack with food and water is ~33 lbs. I'm happy with that. Despite the amount of food I'm eating I've lost 25 Lbs. My goal is to not loose any more. The weather was partly cloudy and cool. Good for hiking. Obsolete, Wolverine and I got back on the trail at 8:15am. Light rain followed mid morning and lasted until early afternoon. Not so bad as to get very wet. Just enough to make the rocks slippery and the mud wetter. The trail started with a 1400 foot climb to Bromely Mountain. We went up a ski slope covered with mountain flowers to reach the summit which included the top of a chair lift. The views were beautiful and a good reward for an enjoyable climb. The trail was challenging with climbs and a difficult rock scramble. The mud and water were more manageable today. It was an easier effort. Despite this I slipped on the rock scramble. No serious injury but it hurts when you fall. Usually a result of moving to fast for the conditions. This was the case today. We crossed a large river that reminded me of Colorado. Strong flowing water cascading over large boulders. A new wooden suspension bridge gave us an easy crossing and a good view.We came across a group of trail maintenance volunteers. This large group ( see photos) was out on a Saturday, in the rain on the 4th of July working hard on top of a mountain. We expressed our appreciation. Each of them thanked us for thru hiking the AT. We arrived at camp around 5 pm. The shelter and camping is set up next to a large mountain pond. The clear water has brook trout and you can see many salamanders swimming in it. It was a long day and a good hike. I feel asleep listening to the muffled percussion of large forewords in the distance.
Date: 2015-07-05
From: Little Rock Pond 

To: Governor Clement
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: light rain

Obsolete and I got on the trail at 6:45am. It was a beautiful day with the sun coming out in the afternoon. The cool temperatures made the hiking comfortable. The trail was excellent for most of the day. Steep climbs took us through large rock outcroppings. Cool air blew gently on us from the seams between the rocks. It felt like natural air conditioning. We went through pine forests with soft needles under our feet. Two large sections were decorated with stacked stones on large boulders and trees. These have accumulated over the years by hikers. It felt like we were strolling through an art gallery. The wet mud we have been hiking in was limited today. There were some challenging parts but most of the trail was in good shape. Still my boots remained damp for another da. The cool temps and shady forest would not allow them to dry. I'm getting use to hiking in damp boots and socks. The four 19+ mile days caught up with me today. I'm tired and will sleep well. A shorter day is planned for tomorrow to resupply in Killington, VT   We officially crossed the "less than 500 miles to go" milestone today. Katahdin still feels far away. I'll enjoy my last couple days of Vermont and look forward to a planned zero in Hanover, NH.
Date: 2015-07-06
From: Governor Clement

To: the inn at long trail
Miles today: 12.6

We got a later start than normal. I enjoyed laying in my sleeping bag on a lovely morning. I also had a second cup of coffee while sitting on a comfortable rock. Both were very relaxing and provided a nice start to my day. Obsolete was kind enough to wait for me. We had a big climb up Killington mountain nThe first part of the trail was narrow, muddy and closed in by foliage. After 3000 feet it opened up to pine forests. You could feel the temperature drop. The cool air was welcome. It was a steep climb in a pine forest. The trail was in good condition. I love hiking on a carpet of pine needles. There was an option to climb 0.2 miles to Killington Lodge. The gondola terminates there. The lodge and views are the draw. We climbed the steep side trail which was strenuous, difficult and demanding. It was worth it. The views were spectacular, people friendly and food excellent but expensive. We lingered in the lodge for a couple of hours having an early lunch and enjoying the views. We lounged on a comfortable sofa and relaxed in comfort. I had the opportunity to meet a couple who came up in the gondola. When they knew that I was thru hiking they had a number of questions. Both of them were enthusiastic in their encouragement for me to finish. I appreciated their kind sentiments.   Their cheer leading boosted my already high spirits for the day. Sometimes it simple encouragement that makes a difference. They made a difference to me. Thank you. We stayed at the Inn at Long Trail. A very friendly place to locals and hikers. The Inn has comfortable rooms, ski lodge lobby and an Irish Pub. Good food and beer were plentiful. Another evening of being clean, well fed and comfortable. Our day was short as we are both feeling the effects of the longer miles the past several days. We are looking forward to NH to meet our wives and enjoy a zero day.
Date: 2015-07-07
From: the inn at long trail

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 18.0

We had a great breakfast at the Inn at Long Trail. Obsolete and I were joined by Mr. Leonard and Wild Thing. It is nice to have a relaxing breakfast and second cup of coffee before a big day. Obsolete and I left the Inn to walk the 0.5 miles back to the AT. The Inn at Long Trail was worth the extra distance. Hiker friendly, excellent food and drink, good prices and value. I highly recommend the Inn at Long Trail. We were refreshed and back in the trail by 8:30am. Clean, full and happy. Early in our hike we went through Gifford Woods State Park. A lovely park with excellent facilities for car camping. We took the short side trail to seeThundering Falls. A beautiful waterfall that runs down a solid rock base. The water spray and cool air were refreshing. It is a beautiful and accessible spot. We then walked the boardwalk were I had a chance to meet Jennifer and Kamari. Jennifer was taking Kamari, a handsome young boy from NYC on a day hike. Kamari has a bright smile and was a little shy. They were interested in my AT thru hike. Jennifer helped with questions which I was happy to answer. Later we got a group picture with their friends Jami and Karina. Kamari was kind enough to hold my hiking poles so that we could take a good shot. I'm fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet Kumari and Jennifer. Thank you for your questions and encouragement. (A special note to Kamari - it doesn't matter what position you are in your class. What matters is that you do your best and be who you are. You are good enough just being you. My best wishes for happiness and success. )We had strenuous climbs following the falls. The forecasted rain turned out to be sprinkles that did not last long. The tree canopy covered us. We would get wet when the wind blew and the rain drops fell from the leaves. The water felt refreshing. The ascents took a lot of energy. The trail was in good shape. Little mud and lots of pine needles and leaves that helped make it an enjoyable hike. After setting up camp other hikers rolled in. It was nice to see others in our bubble who I have not seen for some time. I'm looking forward to a hike in short of Hanover to meet Ingrid for a day off.