morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-06-17
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kay Wood Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: few clouds

Sorry about not posting for a while...my EDITOR took a break! Talked to her and we are planning to get to Ft. Collins when she returns for another seminar and I go hiking in Colorado...next year, maybe. Not only did I stay in the Upper Goose Pond Cabin, but the caretaker makes breakfast for all of us hikers. Hot coffee and chocolate chip pancakes!!! Bed and breakfast all for, wait for it, a small donation!I got to watch all the baby birds take flight for their very first time. Up and over Becket and Walling Mountains. Stopped at the home of Roy and Marilyn Wiley, or the Cookie Man and Cookie Lady. You can get water from their spigot and they bring each hiker 3 homemade cookies. Their house is 100 yards from the trail. Their daughter lives in Ballard, WA. They are okay, ya sure ya betcha! (that's in honor of their Ballard living daughter)After leaving this great Trail Magic spot I went up Tully Mountain and down to the shelter.
Date: 2014-06-18
From: Kay Wood Shelter

To: Dalton, Mass
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: few clouds

Happy Birthday to my wonderful wife, Lady Trip. She is now of legal age, so no one can say I am rocking the cradle. (Editor's note - I think you mean robbing the cradle - and that boat sailed a LONG time ago!) The lightening started about 1 a.m. I watched the sky from my tent flap. When the thunder and huge downpour started I had to zip up the rain fly. The storm lasted about two hours. Weather makes this journey exciting! I am heading into Dalton for a couple of days for some good food and a new pair of shoes. I love those boxes from home - and really love getting a new pair of shoes. Got into town at 8 am but the motel was not opened yet so went in search of breakfast. Dalton's motto: Heaven in the heart of the Berkshires. Dalton is the home of Crane & Co who has produced the cotton based paper the Federal Reserve uses for money since 1844. Stephen Crane was the first in the Crane family to become a papermaker, buying his first mill, "The Liberty Paper Mill", in 1770. He sold currency-type paper to engraver Paul Revere, who printed the American Colonies' first paper money. They continue to innovate security techniques to thwart counterfeiters.
Date: 2014-06-19
From: Dalton, Mass

To: Dalton, Mass
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I spent the day eating, cleaning my tent, eating, washing my backpack and eating. Life is good!With the laundry done my stops for the next 10 days are planned and the tummy is full. I took a trip to the Berkshire Mall to watch the movie 22 Jump Street. It was funny and I like Jonah Hill - but it could have been better. Ah, here I am the Gene Siskel of the trail. But then I haven't seen a movie for over three months. Ah, it was good to have popcorn with lots of butter, uh, butter flavoring? I have 620 miles left and about 60 days to do them. Average about 10 miles a day, with some big climbs ahead. Not that I am counting.
Date: 2014-06-20
From: Dalton, Mass

To: Mark Noepel Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: few clouds

After a breakfast bagel at Juice N Java I got back on the trail. Well actually the road as the trail was on the road out of town for one mile. Passed Gore Pond and up to The Cobbles, which has outcroppings of white marble. Along with a view of Cheshire, Hoosic River Valley and Mt Greylock. I passed thru the town of Cheshire and got a hamburger for lunch. I was going to stay the night at the Catholic Church but it didn't open until 3 so I went onward and upward to the next shelter. There are so many caring people on the trail to Maine. I have slept in lovely homes and basements but not yet at a church. It would have been fun to get some good holiness in me but this way there are less miles tomorrow to Mt Greylock.
Date: 2014-06-21
From: Mark Noepel Shelter

To: Mt. Greylock
Miles today: 3.3

Summer Solstice. Nude Hiking Day!(well, for some).Got up early so I could have breakfast at Bascom Lodge on top of Mt Greylock. I am staying in the bunk room tonight. Arrived just as the restaurant was opening. When H2O and Cornelius arrived I had a muffin with them before they headed down the trail. Our editor found that this 1930s lodge atop the state¢s tallest mountain is a hot new sunset-dining destination. Chef John Dudek¢s three-course menu, which changes nightly, might include herbed white-bean soup, grilled beef, or gorgonzola walnut gnocchi. They have a $32 prix fixe menu. Guess who had to shell out that for a dinner!? But you have to experience the experience now and then. It was good but still that was the kind of grub Lady Trip fixes me at home. At $32 I licked the plate. Though it was a great place to get to relax and talk to some other hikers. That's where I met Cabo who will hike with me for a ways. Mt Greylock is the highest peak in Massachusetts at 3491 feet. There is a Memorial Tower for all who have fallen in wars from Massachusetts. It is pretty cool - check out my extra photos. Met Problem Bear today. He started his hike in Key West and plans to continue into Canada. That is AT plus some!I had dinner and bunked with Steve from CT, Ann, an artist from Adams, MA and Cabo from North Carolina. Watched the sunset on the longest day of the year! Beautiful. It doesn't get much better than this!
Date: 2014-06-22
From: Mt. Greylock

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: clear sky

Cabo and I left Mt Greylock at sunrise. We hiked down to Mt Williams and Mt Prospect. Around 9 a.m. we came upon a six pack of cold beer someone had just left for trail magic. We each had one and continued on our way. "We were not drunk as some supposed as it was only 9 a.m." That's somewhere in the Bible but those folks were in Jerusalem not on the AT (see what you get when you have a pastor for an editor!?) Got to the highway and we wended our way a half mile off trail to go to a grocery store.We bought lunch and dinner food. Then we ate our lunch in front of the store before getting back on the trail. We crossed the border from Massachusetts into Vermont. Three states left. The Vermont Long Trail is the first long distance trail in the US. It is 212 miles long. The LT and the AT run concurrent for 105 miles. The shelter was named after the head of The Minutemen. He had fought in the French and Indian War. He was also one of the Green Mountain Boys. He distinguished himself in the Revolutionary War and his family was granted 2000 acres in Vermont in appreciation of his service. Sent from my iPhone
Date: 2014-06-23
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: broken clouds

Cabo (from Charlotte, NC) and I were up early and on the trail by 6:30. When a town is calling you want to get there fast. Last night in camp were 12 AT hikers, 10 LT hikers and a group of teens learning to be leaders in the woods for young kids. And folks still wonder if I get lonely hiking!Up and over Consultation Peak and Harmon Hill. We stopped at a shelter for a snack break and water. Cabo took the bottom part of his pants off (zip off pants) so it would be easier to get a hitch into town. (his words - not mine). Believe me it wasn't anything like "It Happened One Night". We checked in at motel, showered, and headed off to lunch. I picked up my resupply box at the post office that my wonderful wife sent. Really, I wrote that not my editor! And thanks for the card from Signs for Glory. I will be thinking of you as you offer sign language praise in church next Sunday.Laundry done, food all ready to go for the next four days-life is great. Thought you'd like this piece on 5 year olds and Thru Hikers:Thru hikers and five year olds have a lot in common. Here are just a few ways they are alike.   Depending on others for car rides   Walking places in single file   Wearing the same clothes every day   Carrying a backpack   Poking at things with sticks   Happy to accept candy from strangers   Getting REALLY excited about the junk food aisle in the grocery store      Getting jealous of other people's lunches   Never getting full on ice cream   Becoming BEST FRIENDS with people you just met   Going by silly nicknames      Needing a bath   Needing an afternoon nap   Sleepovers   Going to bed by 8pm   Being blissfully ignorant of current affairs   Talking to yourself and creating elaborate fantasy worlds in your head   Feeling small compared to everything around you
Date: 2014-06-24
From: Bennington, VT

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: overcast clouds

We got out of town early and on the trail at 6:15. Both Cabo and I have a shin splint on our left leg. Probably from the rock climb out of Massachusetts. It was a tough day on the trail. But we push on up to Porcupine Ridge and over Little Pond Mountain. Arrived at the shelter by noon and with rain coming we are staying in the shelter instead of tenting. Ran into Squatch again as he was heading south.We built a fire and are laying around with our legs elevated. A good night sleep and some Vitamin I (Ibuprofen) will help.
Date: 2014-06-25
From: Goddard Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: light rain

Cabo and I are up early to beat the rain that is coming in the afternoon. We went up to Glastenbury Mountain and the lookout tower. As it was very foggy, so we didn't climb the tower. After that the trail just meandered along, up and down. We passed several southbound hikers. We got into camp by 11:30 in time for water, lunch and change into dry clothes. The rain started about 2 pm. It is suppose to rain all night with thunder and lightening. There is a mother and daughter (Kim and Freya) in the shelter with us. They were also with us last night. They are from Ottawa. Huck Finn and Swamp Frog (son and father) are tenting. We had to put up some tarps as the roof leaks. But we survived the long night of pouring rain.
Date: 2014-06-26
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

We were up early and continued to watch the rain. The rain finally stopped around 8 am. Then the six of us departed. The trail led up Stratton Mountain with its 1700 foot elevation gain, on a muddy trail. The summit is where Benton MacKaye was inspired to propose creation of the AT. The fog was very thick so we could not see anything. This is a big ski area in the winter. Back down to Stratton Pond and the shelter. This shelter is owned by the Green Mountain Club and a caretaker is suppose to be here to collect a fee but we have not seen anyone. Kim and Freya went on to the next shelter and Swamp Frog and Huck Finn went in to Manchester Center, VT. Huck Finn twisted his knee and they will be leaving the trail.
Date: 2014-06-27
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Manchester Center VT
Miles today: 10.7

We left the shelter at 6 a.m. as a town is calling. It is an easy but muddy trail. I hiked the Long Trail north to south back in 1981 but I don't remember all the mud on the trail. Though it was in August at that time. We hiked past Prospect Rock with a view of Manchester Center below. Cabo's friend Cheryl picked us up at the trailhead and we went to lunch. Stopped by the outfitter for fuel for my stove and the grocery store for food for the next few days. Jeff from the Green Mountain House picked me up and took me to his hostel. Kim and Freya are here along with Caribou, from Tennessee. Also, Handsome Dan and Wandering also came in for a couple of nights.
Date: 2014-06-28
From: Manchester Center VT

To: Danby/Landgrove Rd. 
Miles today: 17.6

I sat for a sketch of me during breakfast done by Caribou. He is compiling a notebook of sketches of hikers along the way. Pretty good likeness - a picture of it is with my extra photos. Cheryl pick me up and dropped Cabo and me off at the trail for a slack pack day. How much nicer to have a small pack! First we headed up Bromley Mountain to the ski area. Then up and over Styles Peak, Peru Peak, and Baker Peak. Cheryl picked us up and brought us back to her home where I met her husband Bob. Bob is a quality furniture maker.Now it is shower, beer and out for dinner.Thanks Joyce for getting this caught up! Didn't want folks to think I had fallen off the map. BTW I get to go to church tomorrow...first in 3 months...uh, because I haven't been near one on a Sunday???
Date: 2014-06-29
From: Danby/Landgrove Rd. 

To: Danby
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I slept in if you consider 6 a.m. is sleeping in. The coffee was ready when I came down from my bedroom. It is so nice to be welcomed into Bob and Cheryl (Cabo's friends) home. Cheryl went off to church giving us a pass as her church has a guest preacher - and the congregation is down to 25. The men folk hung around the house. Bob made us brunch with fresh strawberry daiquiris. Lady Trip says I have to eat fruit...I guess drinking it is the same thing! We spent an afternoon of relaxing on the back deck. We wandered down to Bob's shop where he builds furniture. Stopped by the oldest marble quarry which now also a swimming hole. The quarry is the largest quarry of white marble in the world. Later sauntered down to the Wilson House which is the birth place of William Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. Born in 1895 Bill W along with Dr. Bob founded AA with a mixture of medical and spiritual guidelines. His sobriety began on December 11, 1934. Alcoholics Anonymous has over a hundred thousand registered local groups and over two million active members worldwide. You can find one in a church basement near you!Then we stopped to buy Maple Syrup from Ed - a ribbon winner many times over for his syrup. Shipping some home for pancakes this fall. Yum! (Okay, I am fine with my friend Mrs. Buttersworth but this is the real stuff!) After such a strenuous day Cheryl is making dinner for the guys. Life is Good!
Date: 2014-06-30
From: Danby

To: Vermont 140
Miles today: 8.5

After breakfast, Bob dropped Cabo and me off at the trail. This section of the trail is the most popular during "leaf season" in the fall when the leaves change color. We walked around Little Rock Pond. What a beautiful pond. The ice from winter doesn't go away from this pond until the first of May. Then we went up and over an unnamed peak which is where we found the hill of cairns. Cairns are a man made pile of rocks. You can find them across Ireland. Usually they are left to remember some wonderful experience that happened there. There are also the remains of an old mill. When we arrived at our pick up point Bob was waiting for us. Lunch, shower and laundry. Life is great.
Date: 2014-07-01
From: Vermont 140

To: Governor Clement Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

We said our thank yous and goodbyes to Cheryl. Bob dropped us off at the trail head. I think he really wanted to join us!!We went up Bear Mountain. Yes, another Bear Mountain. I think every state has one. Then a rock scramble up Beacon Hill. We stopped at two shelters for snacks and water. Two bridges had been washed out in 2011 by Hurricane Irene and have not been replaced. There is a road walk detour in place but we decided to do the trail. We had to ford the two streams. We met Alex from New York. He is out for a week before giving up his Wall Street job for the Peace Corps. God bless him in the journey into a new life.We are sleeping in the shelter tonight as a thunder storm is coming in.500 miles to go!
Date: 2014-07-02
From: Governor Clement Shelter

To: Inn at the Long Trail
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: scattered clouds

The excitement for last night wasn't that the rain didn't last very long but that drunk men on their All Terrain Vehicles spent a lot of time here abouts. They drove thru camp about midnight and hung out drinking beer before heading home. We went up to Killington Peak and saw the ski area in the distance. That was about all we saw as it was fogged in. When we got to Pico Camp we were able to see the ski runs. Then we arrived at the Inn of the Long Trail. I got checked in, received my re-supply box, showered and went to the Irish bar for lunch. This place is famous for its Guinness Beer Beef Stew and the Shepherds' Pie. We got both and shared them. Made us feel like we were back in Ireland (ancestral home for the family of O'Connor and Magee!) Did laundry and took a nap, and now we are ready for dinner. Back to the McGrath's Irish Pub...Guinness on draft...as they use to say "it is good food".
Date: 2014-07-03
From: Inn at the Long Trail

To: Stoney Brook Shelter
Miles today: 10.0

After a great breakfast at the Inn we started our short but steep climb up from the gap. We are trying to reach the shelter before the next rain storm. The trail led up to Sherburne Pass then down to Kent Pond. It is a wonderful pond. Very still with great reflections in the water. Then passed Thundering Falls before going up and over Quimby Mountain. We arrived at the shelter before the rain started. Filtered water and washed up a bit and had lunch. We got bread from the kitchen and made PB&J. Memories of Beef Stew and Shepherd's Pie are gone - for a hungry hiker PB&J hits the spot. The storm hit around 6 pm with rain, lightening, thunder, and hail. It was good to be in a shelter trying to stay dry.In the shelter tonight are Stretch and Fresh, who I haven't seen since Virginia, Moose, Tink, Prom Queen and Trail Wife (all guys). Also, yesterday I saw Mary Poppins and Cupcake, who I last saw in Damascus, VA. We all hike our own hike and are always glad to have those hikers we've met cross our paths now and then. I heard Zoom is making good time - but haven't heard if Buzz ever got back to the trail. Lady Trip told me Gray Ghost is off the trail for a while healing from a bone fracture in his foot - but plans on getting back on ASAP...summit Katahdin and flip flop the rest of the trail. God bless all these determined AT hikers!
Date: 2014-07-04
From: Stoney Brook Shelter

To: Winturri Shelter
Miles today: 9.9

We had fireworks early as the lightening lit up the sky all night. The rain came down in buckets, about 3 inches dropped. Finally the storm stopped at 7 a.m. We were on the trail at 7:45 and surprisingly didn't run into much standing water on the trail. We did have to ford two streams that had become overflowing with water. We had to climb down a ladder that had been in place for a 10 foot drop. We went past the lookout cabin which is privately owned but they let hikers use it. The problem is the nearest water is three miles away. We finally made it to the shelter, changed into dry clothes, filtered water, and now we are enjoying a nice cup of coffee. We are in the shelter again tonight as the ground is very wet.
Date: 2014-07-05
From: Winturri Shelter

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

Out of the shelter early as Cabo and I knew there was real food ahead. We went down to Ascutney Mountain and back up to Dana Hill. (Strange, right?!). Took a one mile detour to Teago's General Store in South Pomfret, VT for sandwiches, cold drinks and coffee.We passed the Woodstock Ski Slope. (John, have you skied this one?). No, Lady Trip, not THAT Woodstock! Also went by some Sugar Maples with the taps and tubing on to collect the maple during the season - for about 4 weeks after the first hard freeze. Back on the trail we went another four miles and took another detour to Cloudland Market were I had the second sandwich I bought earlier and a pint of ice cream. Ben and Jerry are becoming great hiking partners! Then it was up to tonight's shelter. Finally the sun appeared and I got to put up my tent. A nice breeze is blowing and I am taking my afternoon nap. I think that is a tradition I will continue - no need for afternoon Tea - an afternoon nap does the trick. Life is Good!
Date: 2014-07-06
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Elm St. Norwich, VT
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: broken clouds

We were our way from camp to cross over the White River when we heard a bell ringing and a voice yell "do you want some coffee and breakfast". Well, yes!!We walked over to Randy's house where he and his wife made us bacon, eggs, toast, coffee and juice. There were six hikers at breakfast. There is not only Southern Hospitality but New England Hospitality as well. One of the hikers was Lonestar from Texas. He is the first south bound hiker we have met that started at Mt Katahdin. We took a break at Happy Hill Shelter where only the mosquitoes were happy. I think I saw one dancing to the tune "Happy"! But it did have a nice new handicapped accessible privy. Talk about luxury!Went to the home of Short Stuff and Grey Beard. They take in hikers in their basement. It is nice to know we will have a dry place for the night. We strolled down to a general store for lunch and ice cream, and also got something for dinner.
Date: 2014-07-07
From: Elm St. Norwich, VT

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 2.5
Weather: overcast clouds

It's a Nero Day - a nearly zero day! We took a walk from Vermont into New Hampshire. Another state finished. Two more to go. The trail starting on Elm Street and into Hanover is the longest section on pavement, 3.4 miles. Hanover is the home of Dartmouth College. Dartmouth's was without mascot when they dropped their use of Indians in 1971. Since then they have unofficially adopted "Keggy" which is a beer keg. I know some other colleges that could rightfully use that as their mascot as well. As the trail goes down Main Street of Hanover, Cabo and I went to the only Starbucks actually on the Appalachian Trail!!!!!!We started with breakfast at Starbucks, then went to breakfast at Lou's. Lunch at Canoe Club, ice cream, snacks, and finally dinner. It is easy to spot AT hikers, they are the ones searching for FOOD. The town has a pamphlet for hikers listing all the places that give out free food!! A slice of pizza, a bagel, etc. We will take a free meal anywhere we can get it. We did go to the Co-Op Grocery Store for a 4 day resupply. Then we both found a movie to see. College towns have some things other towns just don't. There is a storm coming in tonight so it is back to the house in Vermont.
Date: 2014-07-08
From: Hanover, NH

To: Etna-Hanover Rd.
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: scattered clouds

We started the morning with breakfast at Lou's again. Wonderful muffins!Back on the trail we are trying to get to the shelter before another rain storm. But a funny thing happened on the way to the shelter... When we got to the Etna Road we were reading our guide and it had listed Tigger's Tree House Hostel. But to call you have to go to the cemetery or the General Store. The question is why does a cemetery get cell service, but the trail does not?   So we walked to the General Store and had lunch and called Karen We were grateful when she said she had space. So we were picked up and were at the home of Karen and Ralph in no time at all. Showered, laundry and nap all before the rain. Cabo and I are staying in the Presidential Suite (camper). Now that's a first on this long hike. Life is not only good sometimes it is just funny!
Date: 2014-07-09
From: Etna-Hanover Rd.

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 10.8

It's all fun and games until someone has to wear the head cone. Our puppy White Blaze (AKA Lillie) will be in her head cone for two weeks following surgery. Lady Trip says it was more like a day until the crying was too much to stand. She is bouncing back - both White Blaze and her momma. So all I got was a picture of the scar! Enough from back home...on to the trail. Karen dropped Cabo and me off and we headed up Moose Mountain. However, none of them were home. We didn't see a single moose on their mountain. The sun appeared thru the trees, lighting up the muddy trail. Down we hiked to Goose Pond and back up to Holts Ledge. Nice rock ledges that hang over a long drop! We got into camp in time to rinse out clothes, filter water, and take the traditional afternoon nap.