morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-19
From: Campsite overlooking Lehigh Gap PA

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 39.5
Weather: overcast clouds

June 19, 2008    4:30 PM    Delaware Water Gap, PA    AT Mile 1,281.8    894.4 Miles to Katahdin    Greetings from the Deer Head Inn.    I hiked 15.8 miles into town today after staying at the Travel Inn motel in Wind Gap, PA last night.    Last night I had a great a meal at Subway, then this morning I had two big bacon, egg, and cheese breakfasts.    My plan was to stay at the much cheaper Pocono Inn tonight, but I just found out it is closed.    Not much to choose from for lodging here. There is a free church hostel next door, but I would rather not sleep in a bunk house if I can get a room.    I just got here so I haven't seen much of DWG yet. After I clean up I'll take a stroll around town and get a nice dinner someplace. Tonight is live jazz music in the tavern downstairs here at the inn, so I will probably spend the evening down there.    Tomorrow morning I'll pick up a few supplies, check out the local outfitter, and stop at the Post Office to pick up the Father's Day package that Jessica sent me before I hit the trail and head on into New Jersey.    There are many places to eat and stay along the trail in NJ and NY, so I won't have to carry a heavy food bag for a while. The next few weeks should be nice.    There may not be many thru-hikers in town right now. Again it looks like I am in a void between groups of thru-hikers both ahead and behind me.    The only hikers we have seen in the past several days are Mountain Sailor and his son Tyler, Shakedown Cruise, Hopper, Alex, Indy and Kat, I am pretty sure that they are all a day or more behind me now.    From the shelter logs I can see there are a few hikers including Apostle, Hometown, Site See, Ten88, Noah John, Candyman, and Vagabond who are one to four days ahead of me.      Rethinker is taking a Zero Day in Wind Gap to try to arrange a short visit with his sister who will be passing through the area in the next day or so. I'm sure he will catch up with me someplace up the trail.    Regarding the notorious Rocks of PA.    Yes, they are Awful. But, they are not much worse than southern Virginia, and the really bad sections don't start until the last 50 miles or so.       Also - each of the past few days included mixed sections of trail that are either: 1.) Full of tough foot and ankle twisting rocks, then    2.) Short sections of difficult (and sometimes insanely dangerous) boulder fields and ridge crossings, and    3.) Long smooth rockless sections of trail where you can cruise right along for several miles with no problems.    Oh yes - did I mention that there are rattlesnakes and copperheads here. I think that I am one of the few hikers who hasn't seen one - Yet. I'm sure that they have been seeing me.            The AT Is What It Is.    Every state has its own special challenges. All you can do is take each one as it comes along, then move on to the next challenge until you reach Katahdin.      Guess that's all for now.    Till next time.    -Wes-
Date: 2008-06-20
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Lyme Disease
Miles today: 0.0

June 20, 2008       Lyme Disease   Delaware Water Gap, PA       H All:    This morning I found a round red rash on my stomach where I pulled a tick off a week ago or so.      It was very tempting to ignore it, but I figured that I should go ahead and get it checked out before I got back on the trail.   Robert from The Pack Shack shuttled me into a CareWorks clinic in Stroudsburg, PA, then came back to get me this afternoon.    This quick care clinic is located in a supermarket tucked in between the produce dept and the pharmacy.   What will they think of next.   Ramon, the PA on duty is a weekend hiker and pretty much confirmed Lyme Disease.   He wrote a three week prescription for antibiotics and suggested I get a blood test in three weeks to identify exactly what type it is (or was).    Starting the meds as early as I am should permanently cure the problem. As long as I don't experience flu like symptoms or extreme fatigue - then there is no problem with staying on the trail.   YES !!!    It's about 2:30 in the afternoon now. I just finished lunch at the Water Gap Diner and I am Back On The Trail.    I am feeling Great and ready to Go. I should still be able to do 6 - 8 miles or more today.   Till next time.   -Wes-
Date: 2008-06-24
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Bear Mountian, NY
Miles today: 108.9

June 24, 2008   Bear Mountain, NY   AT Mile 1,390.5   785.7 Miles to Katahdin      Greetings from the Overlook Lodge.   Arrived in town about 6:00 p.m. after a long five day, 108.9 hike from Delaware Water Gap.    I am tired, hot, hungry, smelly, out of water, about out of food, and Feeling Great. I am taking my meds three times a day with no other problems from the infected tick bite(s).       The first 60 miles through New Jersey were very pleasant. Mostly nice rolling ridge walks with good views and nice solo camp sites. The last 40 some miles in northern NJ and southern NY was VERY tough.   So far - the trail in NY has been an endless series of very rugged, steep, rocky, ups and downs over tall mountian ridges. It's like hiking through a lush green dark forest where you keep coming up against huge 100 ft. tall fortress like boulder walls. Most of the climbs are straight up hand over hand rock/mountain climbs. There were several places where I just threw my hiking poles up ahead of me as I climbed.   The trail is tough but also very beautiful, including several nice lake, mountain, and Hudson River Valley vistas.       The weather was mostly hot and humid. The first night I solo camped on a ridge in NJ just before a wicked thunderstorm hit. I slept through much of it.    It showered a few mornings ago and it took a couple of days to completely dry out my shoes and socks.   For the past few days I could see and hear rain and thunderstorms all around me, but I didn't get caught in one until this afternoon. It only lasted about 10 minutes.   Trail Angles left gallon jugs of water in the woods near several road crossings for hikers to refill from. Most Appreciated. The water from many of the streams here does not look as appealing as the streams farther south, and good spring water has been hard to find.      I had the trail mostly to myself all week. I only saw a few people. I met a couple of day and weekend hikers. The only thru-hikers I saw were Lucas and Karen who I met at a deli in Culvers Gap, NJ, and I briefly met Padre, Rhino, and Bad Idea coming out of Unionville, NY as I was going into town for lunch and resupply.   I saw three more bears, plus a few deer, rabbits, chipmunks, and squirrels. I saw the bears three mornings in a row. All three turned and ran as soon as they saw me.   From the little I've seen, Bear Mountain, NY is a very picturesque little village. I will say that the Overlook Lodge should be called the OverPriced Lodge. I've stayed in nicer motels for half the price.   My plan is to have breakfast here tomorrow, then late morning get a few days food at the local market, cross the Hudson River via the Bear Mountain Bridge, and continue my trek northward.   If all goes well I should pass through CT, MA, and VT over the next few weeks and hit Hanover, NH sometime in mid July.   There is a camping area with a well pump about 15 miles up the trail, so that will probably be were I stop tonight.    My next overnight town stop will likely Salisbury, CT (96 miles).   Guess that's all for now.   Katahdin Bound . . .   -Wes-
Date: 2008-07-08
From: Williamstown, MA

To: Top of White Rocks Mtn, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Top of White Rocks Mt. in Vermont( near Danby, VT )      AT Mile 1,161.3   514.9 Miles to Katahdin   Quick Update   Moved from the Berkshires of MA to the Green Mtns of Vermont.   The AT in Vermont is mostly a long pretty green tunnel with many ponds, lakes and streams. Not many Mtn vistas so far.   I made a quick trip into Manchester, VT yesterday to pig out at McDonalds and resupply with food. I think I have enough food to get me to Hanover, NH on Saturday 7/12 (or Sun). Probably no need to stop in Rutland or Killington.   I went swimming in Little Rock Pond today and rinsed out my clothes so I should be OK til Sat.   I am still seeing very few people on the trail. Apostle, Site See, and Forest Gimp are behind me but I don't know how far. Sunday I met Harts, Tupperware and Buns and Roses backtracking to Bennington, VT for Hearts to see a doctor as he was feeling very ill.   Only other news of note is the 100 mile "Magic Marker" has quit the trail with no plans to return. He feels that while his work may be significant to a few hundred NOBO Thru-Hikers, it may be an annoyance to other hikers on the trail.    Low battery signal. Next report from Hanover this weekend.   Katahdin Bound . . .   -Wes-
Date: 2008-07-12
From: Williamstown/North Adams, MA

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 153.9
Weather: scattered clouds

July 12, 2008   Hanover, NH (almost)   AT Mile 1,733.8   442.4 Miles to Katahdin I crossed over Springer Mtn Georgia heading north exactly four months ago yesterday. It seems like it was a lifetime ago.   Seeing Hanover brought a swell of emotions - both of great Joy, and great Sorrow.   The Joy comes from feeling like I am finally moving into home ground. I lived in Maine and New Hampshire for 28 years. I know the area well and I have many family and friends here.   The Sorrow comes from the memory of my last visit to Hanover a year ago last February. It was here at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center that Lynn was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease). A short eight months later she was gone from us.      So - Time To Take a Short Break From The Trail.         I'm ready for a few Zero Miles days. I don't have much interest in hanging around Hanover, so my plan is to rent a car and do short ROAD TRIP.   Yesterday about 5:30 PM I hiked into Norwich, VT up to the Connecticut River (NH border), then turned right and hitched four miles down Rt 5 to White River Junction, VT.   I tied to get to the Thrifty Car Rental office before they closed, but I didn't make it.    I probably would have made it if I hadn't stopped at Cloudland Farm for a ice cream and root beer breakfast, and then at the West Hartford, VT market/deli for a big lunch. Oh Well.          Last night I stayed at the Comfort Inn next to Thrifty and rented a car this morning.   My plan is to rest up and take care of stuff here today. I need pay bills, catch-up on emails, clean and dry out my pack and gear, go to the Post Office, and go by an outfitter to gear up for cool weather hiking.   Tomorrow (Sun) I'll be in and around Portland, ME visiting family, and stay in the Old Port section of town with Jon and Morgan tomorrow night.    Monday morning I'll head to Concord, NH to get measured for a tuxedo for Jessica's wedding, do a follow-up blood test for the Lyme Disease, do some banking, and meet a group of friends for dinner.   Tuesday I'll return to White River Junction and get back on the trail either Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.   Right now I don't know if I'll blast through NH and ME to finish before Jess's wedding in NC in mid August - or - take it easy and finish the trail sometime in early September. I have round trip airfare tickets from Portland, so I could go either way.   Northern VT is as pretty as southern VT but in a different way. The north has more high hills and some beautiful mountain meadows with great vistas. The trail was also not quite as wet and mucky as in the south.   This past week I only saw a few other thru-hikers on the trail.   I saw Catfish, Boots, and Cuda in the Killington area last Wednesday, and I saw Grasshopper and her husband Brakeman yesterday. They were planning to hike into Hanover today, and move on into NH tomorrow afternoon.   I guess that's all for now. I will do another update early next week.   Katahdin Bound . . .   -Wes-
Date: 2008-07-15
From: Hanover, NH

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

July 15, 2008   4:00 pm   Hanover, NH   Back On The Trail   Had an awsome time visiting family and friends in Maine and New Hampshire.   It's late afternoon and I just finished my resupply. I still want to get some trail miles in today so I am heading out of Hanover right now.   Next stop is North Woodstock, NH in about four days.   Bye for now.   Katahdin Bound . . .   -Wes-
Date: 2008-07-20
From: Hanover, NH

To: Top of Mt Liberty
Miles today: 0.0

Top of Mt. Liberty   6:00 am   I am sitting here watching the sun come up over the White Mountains - What an Incredibly Beautiful 360 degree panarama.   And - This is just the beginng of the Whites. There are higher mountains yet to come.    Time to slow down and enjoy the trail.   All is well with me - I am feeling great.   I have much to report but need to conserve the phone battery. I will do my next update in a few days when I get to Mt Washington.   Bye for now.   Katahdin Bound . . .   -Wes-
Date: 2008-07-26
From: Top of Mt Washington 

To: Top of Mt Madison
Miles today: 0.0

July 26, 2008   6:30 am   Good Morning from the top of Mt Madison (5363 ft)   I rode out Thursdays monster storm down at Pinkham Notch Lodge with a bunch of other hikers. We had a great time there including a Contra Dance with a live band. It was a blast. HighLife and I caught a ride back up to the summit of Mt Washington yesterday morning.   It was a gloriously beautiful day. Brighbt clear blue skys with 50 mile views. The 5.6 mile hike above the tree line to Madison Spring Hut was Awesome.   Today looks like another beautiful blue sky day. I headed out from Madison Hut about 6:00 am and scrambled up the rock face of Mt Madison to see the early morning sun. Incredible vast mountain views. This really is God's country.   I have a long hard 13 mile day of hiking down throgh Pinkhamm Notch and up over the Wildcats to Carter Notch Hut.   I will do my next update from Groham, NH in the next couple days.   Bye for now.   -Wes-
Date: 2008-07-28
From: Crawford Notch, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 47.1
Weather: fog

July 28, 2008   Gorham, NH   AT Mile 1,876.3   297.9 Miles to Katahdin      Goodbye White Mountains of New Hampshire.   My hike through the Whites doing the Hut - to - Hut - to - Hut tour was by far the highlight of my 4 1/2 month trek from Georgia to date.   The Whites are as rugged as they are beautiful. I am so glad that I slowed down my pace to really soak in and enjoy the many spectacular panoramic views.   I will never forget the overwhelming sense of inner peace that comes from hiking over the high mountain ridges, and from sitting on mountain summits watching the early morning sun slowly rise over the vast blue mountain ranges stretching out to the horizon in all directions.       Also, I was able to meet and get to know so many wonderful people along the way. My trip through the Whites will always have special place in my heart. So Now - Onward to the final leg of my journey - Maine.   The Maine border is just 12 miles away. The next 300 miles or so will take me through some of the most remote and rugged sections of the Appalachian Trail. There are only a handful of towns along the way stop and resupply, so I'll be packing a heavier food bag than I did in the Whites.   My base pack weight is down to about 13 lbs. With a liter of water and five days food I'll start out on the trail with about 25 lbs. on my back.    Some thru-hikers are still carrying 35 - 40 lbs or more. My knees never would have made it this far carrying that much weight.    This also means that cellphone coverage will be spotty to nonexistent most of the way.   My plan is to hike at a moderate pace until August 12th when I'll get off the trail to travel to my daughter Jessica's wedding in Wilmington, NC. Weather permitting, I should be able to make Caratunk, ME by the 12th. My son Jon lives just north of Portland, ME so he can pick me up almost anywhere from here to Katahdin. Jon, his wife Morgan, and I will fly from Portland to Wilmington on Aug 14th for the wedding - then back to Portland on Aug 18th.   Jon will bring me back to the trail around Aug 20th and I'll complete the last couple weeks of my journey.   I should summit Mount Katahdin sometime around Labor Day.      Time to call it a night.       My next report will probably be from Andover, ME in 4-5 days.   Bye for now.   -Wes-   Katahdin Bound . . .
Date: 2008-07-30
From: Gorham, NH

To: MAINE - Summit of Goose Eye Mtn.
Miles today: 0.0

July 30, 2008    MAINE - Summit of Goose Eye Mtn. (3854 ft)    12:00 noon. Maine is the last of the 14 states the AT passes through.      Stopped up here for lunch. Suuny and mostly clear some high clouds. Mild temps and Awesome mountain vistas.    Crossed into Maine this morning after hiking over Mtn Success (3565 ft) in the fog.    The mountains in Maine aren't as high as the Presidentials - but so far they are just as beautiful in their own way.   The trail in Maine is going to be at least as steep and rugged as NH if not more so.    I'm taking my time and enjoy the trail. I only need to do 8-10 miles per day to get to Caratunk on Aug 12th.    Thank You for your Guest Book messages. They really mean a lot to me.   Bye for now.    -Wes-    Katahdin Bound . . .
Date: 2008-08-01
From: MAINE - Summit of Goose Eye Mtn.

To: Andover, Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

August 1, 2008   Andover, Maine   AT Mile 1,919.7   256.5 Miles to Katahdin   Arrived in town around 12:30 PM and I am staying at the Pine Ellis Lodge tonight.   This weekend is Andover's annual Old Home Day's Town Festival. The village green is all decked out and many events are planned. Lots of food and music starting with a concert tonight on the green.    Several southern thru-hikers are very excited to be here for the festival and are staying for the parade and the many events tomorrow. Having lived in Maine for 25 years Old Homes Days holds no special magic for me, so I am getting back on the trail tomorrow morning.   As per my last report, the weather was gorgeous coming into Maine and over Mt Carlo and the open ridges linking the three Goose Eye Mountain summits.   These past few days I have been hiking with Alohahawk from Oregon. We stayed at Gentian Pond Shelter the other night and woke up to dark cloudy skies yesterday morning. By the time we entered the infamous Mahoosuc Notch it was thunder, lightning, and pouring rain.   Mahoosuc Notch is supposed to be the hardest mile of the AT. It is a long deep gorge full of huge jumbled boulders that you climb over, around, and under to get through. It took us just under two hours to work our way through the gorge. Even in the awful weather it was way cool picking our way through there.         The weather cleared up a little later in the day when we climbed up and over Mahoosuc Arm and Old Speck Mtn (3985 ft). Still not much for views.      Last night we stayed at Baldpate Shelter. It rained most of the night.   Early this morning Alohawk and I climbed up and over the long smooth granite domes of West Baldpate (3662 ft), East Baldpate (3812 ft), and Little Baldpate (3450 ft) Mountains in heavy fog and drizzle. The summits were very wet and slippery, but still exciting to cross over.   Irene from Pine Ellis shuttled us into Andover and we immediately headed to the town Diner for cheeseburgers and huge ice cream covered brownie deserts.   Later in the day more hikers arrived. Several are friends of mine that I have not seen in many weeks.   In addition to Alohawk and I, Pipper (Mr. Burns son), Bearfoot, Forest Gimp, Chef, Mouth, Pegleg, and southbounder Trip are all staying here tonight.    It was great to see them and catch up on news of the trail and other hikers behind us.   Tomorrow morning several of us are doing an early breakfast at the Diner and then shuttling back to the trail at 7:30 am.   My next stop is Rangeley, Maine in 2-3 days.   Looks like continued unsettled weather (rain) for the next several days. It Is What It Is.   Next report from Rangeley.   Bye for now.   -Wes-   Katahdin Bound . . .
Date: 2008-08-06
From: Rangeley, Maine

To: Stratton, Maine
Miles today: 32.2
Weather: light rain

August 06, 2008    Stratton, ME    AT Mile 1,988.4    187.8 Miles to Katahdin    More rain and mud with a few hours of partly clear weather.          Maine is having a record setting rainy summer.   All this rain and muddy trails is very depressing to most of the thru-hikers. The last few hundred miles to Katahdin seem to be taking forever to cover.    It looks like the mix of rain and some occasional sun will last for at least another week.    Yesterday Alohawk, Forest Gimp, Memphis Tim, and I got back on the trail from Rangeley about 8:00 am.    We hiked up and over the summit of Saddleback Mtn (4120 ft) in a heavy fog with only 1/4 mile visibility.   Thankfully the clouds began to clear out as the day progressed and we had awesome 360 degree panoramic views from both The Horn (4041 ft) and Saddleback Junior (3655 ft). We spent a long time resting and eating on the summits while we enjoyed the views.    Pipper caught up with us on The Horn. He slept in the other morning and got a late start, so he didn't know that we had made a last minute decision to go to Hiker Friendly (hostel).          Last night Alohawk and I stealth camped at Perham Stream while Pipper, Memphis Tim, and Forest Gimp hiked on to the Spaulding Mtn Lean-To for the night.       Alohawk and I arrived at the Rt. 27 trail head (Stratton), about 3:00 pm this afternoon after a long, rainy, wet, and cold 10 hour (16.8 miles) hike.    Today we crossed over and/or near the summits of Lone Mtn (3280 ft), Spaulding Mtn (3990 ft), Sugarloaf Mtn (3650 ft), South Crocker Mtn (4010 ft) and North Crocker Mtn (4228 ft). Just rain and fog - no views.          We all are staying at the Stratton Motel and Hostel. We ate both a late lunch and a late dinner at the tavern across the street and resupplied at the market.       Tomorrow morning Alohawk and I plan to get an early start and hike about 15 miles across all of the Bigelow Mtns. The Bigelows are the last major mountain range before the 100 Mile Wilderness and Katahdin. I am not sure what Memphis Tim, Pipper, and Forest Gimp plan to do. Memphis Tim thinks he might take a Zero Mile Day and hope for better weather on Friday.Pipper and Forest Gimp are pushng to Summit Katahdin around August 14th so they will likey head out early tomorrow.    I am ahead of schedule for my August 12th pick-up in Caratunk to go to my daughter's wedding. It looks like I will be there on the 9th or 10th.    If the weather clears up I will probably shot for a August 12th pick-up in Monson, ME.    If the weather stays lousy then I may go ahead and get off the trail in Caratunk a few days early and hope for better weather wben I get back on the trail August 19th.    My next report will be in a few days.    Bye for now.    -Wes-    Slowly but surely Katahdin Bound . . .