morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-27
From: DOC'S KNOB SHELTER

To: RICE FIELD SHELTER
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

SLEPT LATE THIS MORNING, AFTER 0700 BEFORE I GOT UP. I SLEPT COLD LAST NIGHT AND JUST HATED TO GET OUT OF MY SLEEPING BAG. COLD AND WINDY THIS MORNING BUT BLUE SKYS. LEFT SHELTER AT 0839 WITH GOOD TRAIL FOR MOST OF THE DAY. MADE GOOD TIME STOPPING OFTEN FOR PHOTOS AND BREAKS. SOME GOOD VIEWS ABOUT MID MORNING. I STOPPED AND TOOK SOME PCITURES OF THE VALLEY BELOW AND THE MOUNTAINS BEYOND. CALLED KELLY FROM ANGELS REST WHERE THERE WAS GOOD VIEWS AND GOOD CELL PHONE SIGNAL. WE PLANNED OUR MEETING POINT FOR FRIDAY ABOUT NOON AT VA613 AND TRAIL CROSSING. I GOT TO PEARISBURG ABOUT 1300(LATER THAN I HAD EXPECTED). THEN CAME THE 2000FT CLIMB UP PETERS MT. . I TOOK MY TIME , STILL TRYING TO LET MY CALORIE INTAKE MATCH MY CALORIE OUTPUT. ARRIVED AT RICE FIELD SHELTER AT 1645- NO ONE ELSE HERE AS OF 1915. LOOKS AS THOUGH I WILL HAVE THE WHOLE SHELTER TO MYSELF- THIS WILL BE A FIRST. PUT ON DRY CLOTHES, HUNG OUT WET STUFF TO DRY. VERY WINDY WITH CLEARING SKYS. MAY HAVE A GREAT VIEW OF SUNSET FROM THIS BALD. I WILL TRY TO GET A PICTURE OF THE SUNSET. FIXED SUPPER AND CALLED KELLY. TALKED TO MOM AND DAD- WILL CALL KELLY AGAIN AT 2000. PLAN TO TURN IN EARLY TONIGHT NEED TO GET AN EARLY START TOMORROW. WOULD LIKE TO GET TO BAILY GAP SHELTER EARLY.
Date: 2005-04-28
From: RICE FIELD SHELTER

To: BAILY GAP SHELTR
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: scattered clouds

NOT MANY VIEWS ONCE I LEFT RICE FIELD, TOOK SOME PHOTOS THERE. GOOD TRAIL WITH SOME GENTLE UPS AND DOWNS UNTIL LAST 1.1 MILES WHEN IT GOT STEEP- 1000 FT CLIMB. GOT TO THE SHELTER AT 1600. AFTER STOPPING AND TALKING TO SOME FISHERMAN, ONE OF THEM GAVE ME 2 HOMEMADE CUPCAKES. AFTER I HAD HUNG UP MY CLOTHES TO DRY, DALE FROM RICHMIND CAME IN. HE IS SECTION HIKING SOUTH. TRYED TO CALL KELLY BUT SHE COULD NOT HEAR ME. NO SIGNAL. I WILL TRY TO CALL HER TOMORROW WHEN I GET TO THE TOP OF THE HILL. PUFF TURTLE CAME IN ABOUT DARK HEADING SOUTH.
Date: 2005-04-29
From: BAILY GAP SHELTR

To: VA 613
Miles today: 4.0

UP EARLIER THAN ANY MORNING THIS WEEK. COULD NOT WAIT TO MEET MY SUNSHINE WHO WAS PICKING ME UP AT VA613. RAINED ALL NIGHT LAST NIGHT, WOKE UP COLD AND HAD TO PUT ON FLEECE PANTS AND SHIRT. THE DAMPNESS FROM THE RAIN JUST FILLED THE SHELTER UP AND MAKES EVERYTHING FEEL COLD AND CLAMMY. STARTED WALKING AT 0800 WITH MAJOR BOULDER SCRAMBLE TO START OFF WITH. OVER BOULDERS FOR AT LEAST A MILE OR SO. REACHED VA613 ABOUT 1000 AND HAD TO WALK THE ROAD TOWARD MOUNTAIN LAKE TO STAY WARM. THE RAIN KEPT COMING DOWN WITH FOG SO THICK YOU COULD NOT SEE 200FT. COULD NOT CALL KELLY- NO PHONE SIGNAL. FINALLY SAW KELLY THROUGH THE FOG ABOUT 1215- WHAT A WONDERFUL SIGHT! GOOD TO BE IN THE PATHFINDER WITH MY WIFE. WHAT A GREAT DAY. NOW FOR A WEEKEND OF R&R WITH MY SUSNHINE.
Date: 2005-04-30
From: VA 613

To: HOLIDAY INN BALCKSBURG VA ZERO DAY
Miles today: 0.0

WE STARTED OFF WITH THE AYCE BREAKFAST BUFFET AT THE HOTEL- EGGS, PANCAKES, GRITS, CINNAMON APPLES, HASH BROWNS, SAUSAGE, BACON, BISCUITS WITH SAUSAGE GRAVY, TOAST, BAGELS, DANISH, DOUGHNUTS, FRESH FRUIT, JUICE AND COFFEE. IT WAS GREAT. WENT TO THE OUTFITTERS FOR SOME NEW SOCKS AND SOCK LINERS, GOT A MILKSHAKE AT THE DAIRY QUEEN, AND HAD AYCE PIZZA FOR SUPPER. LAST NIGHT WE HAD AYCE BUFFET AT THE WESTERN SIZZLIN IN CHRISTIANSBURG. IT WAS NICE JUST BEING TOGETHER, BUT THE DARK CLOUD OF KNOWING THAT WE HAD TO SAY GOOD BYE HUNG OVER US ALL DAY. BLACKSBURG IS A BEAUTIFUL AREA, WORTH COMING BACK FOR A VISIT. WE HELD ON TO EACH OTHER ALL DAY, TOOK A SHORT NAP, AND WENT TO BED AFTER 2300. TOMORROW WE SAY GOODBYE AGAIN UNTIL NEXT TIME.
Date: 2005-05-01
From: HOLIDAY INN BALCKSBURG VA ZERO DAY

To: SARVER HOLLOW SHELTER
Miles today: 17.25
Weather: scattered clouds

SAD DAY TODAY, MY SUNSHINE HAS TO GO BACK HOME AND LEAVE ME HERE ON THE TRAIL. BUT I WILL SEE HER AGAIN IN TWO WEEKS. GOT UP AT ABOUT 0700 AND TOOK A SHOWER BEFORE HEADING BACK TO THE WILDERNESS. PACKED UP MY PACK AND THEN SUNSHINE AND I WENT DOWN TO THE AYCE BREAKFAST BUFFET. LEFT HOTEL AND ARRIVED BACK AT THE TRAIL AT ABOUT 1000. IT WAS SAD WHEN SHE PULLED AWAY. I STARTED HIKING AND MET SOME DAY HIKERS, BUT NO THRU HIKERS. I GOT SOME TRAIL MAGIC AT A ROAD CROSSING. COLA AND CANDY WERE IN A COOLER BY THE TRAIL. NOT MANY VIEWS TODAY BUT A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A WALK. I MADE 17.25 MILES TODAY FROM VA613 TO SARVER HOLLOW SHELTER. ARRIVED AT SHELTER AT 1900 AND FOUND SUNSET SCREAMER HERE. I HAVE NOT SEEN HER SINCE DAMASCUS. CALLED MY SUNSHINE AND IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR HER VOICE AND BE ABLE TO TALK TO HER. SHE WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT I WAS NOT HAVING TO SHELTER ALONE. LONG DAY, TIRED AND READY FOR A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP ON A HARD SHELTER FLOOR. THAT HOTEL'S BED WAS JUST TOO SOFT.
Date: 2005-05-02
From: SARVER HOLLOW SHELTER

To: PICKLE BRANCH SHELTER
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

CLOUDY AND WINDY TO START DAY OFF WITH SOME SPRINKLES, BUT FAIRED OFF LATER IN THE AFTERNOON. A FEW VIEWS- TOOK SOME PHOTOS. GOT A LATE START, SLEPT TIL ALMOST 0800, WALKING BY 0900. MET ONE SOUTH BOUND SECTION HIKER FROM PA. ARRIVED AT PICKLE BRANCH SHELTER AT 1700. CHANGED INTO DRY CLOTHES AND HUNG WET ONES OUT TO DRY. WALKED DOWN TO BRANCH (SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET) TO FILTER WATER. ALONE AT THE SHELTER FOR THE TIME BEING. A DOG IS WANDERING UP, A BIG DOG WITH A BELL AROUND ITS' NECK. HE ACTED LIKE HE WANTED SOME PETTING WHICH HE DID NOT GET FROM ME. I DON'T NEED A DOG FOLLOWING ME TO MAINE. FIXED SUPPER. WHILE COOKING A WOMAN WALKED UP LOOKING FOR A DOG. I TOLD HER I HAD SEEN IT BUT IT LEFT. SHE HEARD IT'S BELL RINGING AND WENT TO FIND IT. FINISHED EATING AND HUNG MY FOOD BAG, AND TRIED TO CALL KELLY, NO SIGNAL. I READ HER LETTER SHE GAVE ME WHEN SHE LEFT SUNDAY. I SURE DO LOVE AND MISS MY WIFE. TIRED NOW AND GOING TO BED. JIM-BO CAME IN LATE, SOUTH BOUND FLIP-FLOPPING
Date: 2005-05-03
From: PICKLE BRANCH SHELTER

To: CATAWBA SHELTER
Miles today: 14.6

AWOKE LATE 0745 MUST GET READY TO GO. ON THE TRAIL AT 0915 WITH A LATE START. I WANTED TO GET TO CAMBELL SHELTER 16 MILES FROM HERE. HAD TO DO BOULDER SCRAMBLE OVER DRAGONS' TOOTH WHICH TOOK MORE TIME THAN EXPECTED. MOVING VERY SLOW WITH HAND OVER FOOT CLIMBING. STEEL RODS EMBEDDED IN ROCK FACES AT SOME POINTS. MY LEFT KNEE IS HURTING. MAKING SLOW PROGRESS. WHEN I GOT DOWN TO VA624 THERE WAS TRAIL MAGIC. A COOLER WITH SOFT DRINKS, PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES, AND AN ASSORTMENT OF CAKES AND CANDY. WHAT A WELCOME SIGHT. MOVING ON I REALIZED I WOULD NOT MAKE CAMBELL SHELTER. RAN OUT OF WATER AND WAS ABLE TO GET SOME FROM SOME CONSTRUCTION WORKERS STOPPED BY THE ROAD FROM THEIR WATER COOLER. STILL 2 MILES TO CATAWBA SHELTER. ARRIVED AT 1830 WTIH MY KNEE REALLY HURTING. CALLED KELLY. FIXED SUPPER AND BUILT A FIRE, IT'S 2030 NOW AND I AM TIRED. HAVE SHELTER ALONE TONIGHT, I HATE TO CAMP/SHELTR ALONE. WILL TRY TO CALL KELLY AGAIN. SENATOR CAME IN ABOUT 2030-2100. GLAD TO SEE SENATOR.
Date: 2005-05-04
From: CATAWBA SHELTER

To: TROUTVILLE INTERCHANGE VA220
Miles today: 17.0

AWOKE AT 0635 TO START A LONG HIKE 17 MILES TO VA220 WANTING TO GET INTO TOWN BEFORE TOO LATE. OUT OF FOOD AND NEED TO RESUPPLY. AWOKE SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE NIGHT WITH KNEES HURTING. WHEN I GOT UP I COULD NOT STAND ALONE WITHOUT HOLDING ON TO SOMETHING. AS I MOVED AROUND THE KNEES LOOSENED UP SOME. I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A SLOW PAINFUL DAY. I SHOULD HAVE TURNED AROUND AND GONE BACK TO THE LAST ROAD I CROSSED YESTERDAY 2 MILES BACK. BUT I MOVED AHEAD TO VA220. I REALIZED ABOUT NOON THAT I HAD MADE THE WRONG CHOICE. I STOPPED AT MCAFEE KNOB FOR A SHORT PHOTO SESSION WITH SENATOR. AFTER STOPPING MY KNEES FROZE UP FOR A WHILE. I WAS TO LEARN THAT THIS WOULD OCCUR EACH TIME I STOPPED. I QUIT STOPPING FOR PHOTOS EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS SOME GREAT VIEWS. I EVEN CUT DOWN ON WATER AND FOOD BREAKS BECAUSE IT HURT SO BAD WHEN I STARTED BACK WALKING. THE PAIN WAS ALMOST UNBEARABLE BUT I HAD TO CONTINUE ON TRYING TO GET TO THE ROAD BEFORE DARK. I CALLED KELLY THREE TIMES TO GIVE HER AN UPDATE. IT SEEMED THAT I KEPT GOING UP AS DAYLIGHT GREW DIM. I KNEW I COULD NOT EXPECT TO GET TO THE ROAD UNTIL I STARTED GOING DOWN. FINALLY THE TRAIL TOOK A TURN DOWN WITH SWITCHBACKS TAKING ME DOWN QUICKLY AND STEEPLY. I PRAISED THE LORD THAT I WAS FINALLY GOING DOWN TO THE ROAD WHICH WAS STILL A GOOD 2 MILES DOWN. I ARRIVED AT THE ROAD AT 1900 AND STARTED TRYING TO HITCH A RIDE TO THE COMFORT INN. EL HEFE LOADED MY PACK MY PACK INTO THE SUV HITCH WE GOT AND UNLOADED IT AT THE INN. HE COULD TELL THAT I WAS HURTING. WHEN REGISTERING AT THE INN, THE LADY SAID SHE USUALLY PUT HIKERS ON THE 2ND FLOOR BUT SHE COULD TELL I WAS NOT ABLE TO CLIMB STAIRS. SENATOR, FRENCHIE, AND EL HEFE AND I WENT TO THE COUNTRY KITCHEN BUFFET FOR SUPPER. BACK AT THE ROOM I CALLED KELLY AND WE DISCUSSED OUR OPTIONS. AFTER A MUCH NEEDED SHOWER, I PUT ICE ON MY KNEES AND RELAXED FOR A WHILE.
Date: 2005-05-05
From: TROUTVILLE INTERCHANGE VA220

To: LIMBO
Miles today: 0.0

AWOKE SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE NIGHT WITH THOUGHTS OF MY A.T. THRU HIKE ON MY MIND. EACH TIME WHEN I TRIED TO MOVE MY LEGS THE PAIN WAS AS BAD OR EVEN WORSE THAN AT CATAWBA SHELTER. I DID NOT SLEEP WEL AT ALL. THE SOFT BED AND KNEE PAIN. I MUST LOOK AT MY OPTIONS. A FEEL ALMOST THE SAME AS IN MAINE, WITH THE PAIN MORE INTENSE. I CALLED JASON (MY PHYSICAL THERAPIST) AT SPORTS AND MORE THERAPY. HE SUGGESTED SEEING HOW IT FELT TOMORROW. I TOLD HIM I HATED TO QUIT. HE SAID I NEEDED TO KEEP MY SAFETY IN MIND AND THAT WALKING 700+ MILES WAS NOT LIKE QUITTING. HE SUGGESTED SEEING MY ORTHOPEDIC DOC WHEN I GET HOME. HE SAID TRYING TO CONTINUE WITH MY KNEES LIKE THEY ARE WOULD BE RISKING A FALL WHICH COULD DAMAGE MORE THAN MY KNEES. WHEN KELLY GETS HERE WE WILL MAKE SOME DECISIONS. HAD BREAKFAST WITH SENATOR, FRENCHIE AND EL HEFE. ICING MY KNEES NOW, MUST GET WHERE I CAN WALK. KEPT ICE ON MY KNEES ALL DAY WHILE WAITING FOR KELLY TO ARRIVE. KELLY ARRIVED AT 1715, I WAS GLAD TO SEE HER. WE DECIDED THAT I SHOULD GO HOME WITH HER. IT IS JUST TOO PAINFUL TO GO ON NOW. WE WENT TO THE GROCERY TO GET SOME ITEMS THAT WE NEEDED. AS WE APPROACHED THE SHOPPING CENTER WE SAW EL HEFE, GERONIMO, AND FLIP TRYING TO HITCH A RIDE FROM THE GROCERY BACK TO THE INN. WE TURNED AROUND AND PICKED THEM UP. AFTER A VISIT TO THE GROCERY WE WENT TO COUNTRY COOKING FOR SUPPER AND RETURNED TO THE INN.
Date: 2005-05-06
From: LIMBO

To: HOME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

AFTER A SOMEWHAT RESTLESS NIGHT (SOFT BED AND HURTING KNEES), WE HAD BREAKFAST. PACKED UP AND LEFT FOR HOME AFTER CARRYING EL HEFE BACK TO THE TRAIL. MY KNEES ARE STILL HURTING. I KNEW THAT I HAD MADE THE RIGHT DECISION. EVEN THOUGH I WILL MISS THE ADVENTURE OF THRU HIKING, I CHERISHED THE OPPORTUNITY I HAD TO BACKPACK OVER 700MILES THIS YEAR AND 268 LAST YEAR IN MAINE. HEY, I HAVE BACKPACKED 1000MILES OF THE A.T., THE TRAIL PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD COME TO HIKE. THE LONGEST CONTINUALLY MARKED FOOTPATH IN THE WORLD. AND THE ONE I LOVE TO HIKE OR WILL I TRY AGAIN? I DON'T PLAN TO ATTEMPT A THRU HIKE AGAIN, IT'S JUST TOO HARD TO PREPARE FOR AN EXPEDITION LIKE THIS. EMOTIONALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY, AND FINANCIALLY. I MAY SOMETIME COMPLETE THE SECTION FROM GRAFTON NOTCH IN MAINE TO TROUTVILLE VA. WHETHER OR NOT I FINISH THIS SECTION I WILL HAVE WALKED A GOOD PEICE OF THE A.T. AND HAVE MET SOME GOOD FRIENDS IN THE PROCESS. FROM THE MAINE EXPEDITION THERE WAS CHARLIE THE TUNA, TAPEWORM, GNOME SHERPA, RALLEY, THE SOUL MATES, CHRIS, JEFF AND OTHERS. AND MY MOST RECENT WALK THROUGH GA, NC, TN, AND TO CENTRAL VA: SENATOR, VAPOR, BONES, EL HEFE, GERONIMO, FLIP, VITAMAN, TIM FROM OHIO, SUBMAN, FRENCHIE, RED BLAZE, BOHDIE, BEAR TRACKS, YARD SALE, MCNUGGET, RAINBOW, SPARTICUS, WALKING HOME, SUNSET SCREAMER, IAN AND RYAN (THE CANADA BOYS) AND OTHERS. ESPECIALLY THE FIRST 130 MILES WHEN MY SUNSHINE AND ME WALKED TOGETHER THROUGH FREEZING RAIN, SLEET AND SNOW, ALSO BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAYS. THE MOST SPECIAL MILES OF ALL. I WILL FOLLOW MY BACKPACKING FRIENDS AS THEY CONTINUE ON TO KATAHDIN AND PRAY FOR THEIR SAFETY AND SUCESS AS THEY FOLLOW THE WHITE BLAZES ALONG THE FAMOUS AND LOVED APPALACHIAN TRAIL FROM MAINE TO GEORGIA.
Date: 2005-05-07
From: HOME

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

LUMBERMACK AND I WILL BE HEADING NORTH TO CLIMB MT KATAHDIN ON THE WEEKEND OF AUG 13/14, THE LORD WILLING. THEN WE WILL BE HEADING TO GRAFTON NOTCH, MAINE TO PICK UP WHERE MACK HAD TO ABORT HIS 2004 AT-HIKE DUE TO HIS "THORN IN THE FLESH" KNEE PROBLEMS. WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO HIKE THROUGH TO THE VERMONT NEW HAMPSHIRE BORDER. WE WILL HAVE ONLY THREE WEEKS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS HIKE (I ONLY HAVE A THREE WEEK VACATION FROM WORK). IF THE WEATHER PERMITS AND OUR BODIES HOLD OUT THROUGH "THE WHITES", AND IF THE LORD IS WILLING, WE WILL MAKE IT. WE HOPE TO MAYBE RUN INTO SOME OF THE NORTHBOUNDERS WE HIKED WITH DOWN SOUTH EARLIER THIS YEAR. MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS
Date: 2005-08-03
To: PREPARATION
Miles today: 0.0

WE ARE STILL PLANNING TO CLIMB KATAHDIN THE WEEKEND OF AUG 13/14, WEATHER PERMITTING. IT HAS BEEN GOOD TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU (SENATOR, VAPOR, BONES, YARD SALE). WE ARE SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU AND ARE THANKFUL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME. IT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO WHEN WE WERE ALL TOGETHER IN GA/NC/TN/VA. NOW YOU ARE ALL ABOUT AT THE END OF THE JOURNEY. WOW, THAT'S AWESOME. WE REALLY HOPE TO SEE SOME OF YOU AT KATAHDIN, WE WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU A RIDE IF POSSIBLE (IF YOU NEED ONE). MAYBE WE WILL RUN INTO SOME OF THE NORTHBOUNDERS IN NH IN THE WHITES. PLEASE LET US HEAR FROM YOU IF POSSIBLE, WE KNOW INTERNET ACCESS IS HARD TO COME BYWHERE YOU ARE NOW. TAKE CARE, GOD BLESS, AND HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.
Date: 2005-08-12
From: Millinocket, Maine

To: Millinocket, Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We arrived into Millinocket aaround 10:30am after a 21 hr.drive.Traffic problems in Washington,DC and NJ cost us about an hour. We drove straight through and were very tired upon arrival.We checked into the motel and went over to the Baxter St.Prk.Ranger Hdqts. The rangers told us to be at the entry gate to the park by 3:30-4:00 if we wanted to get in to climb Katahdin on Saturday. Note about Baxter St.Prk.-the whole park is designated as a total wilderness area.There is no electricity anywhere inside the park.All roads in the park are primitive dirt paths.They only allow a certain # of people into the park daily and once that number comes in-they close the gates.No flush toilets (only privy types)-no showers.The whole theme of Baxter St.Pk.is to preserve the wilderness experience.I guess that's why it's in Millinocket. with nothing close by for 100's of miles but woods.The park gates open at 05:00 which is sunup in Main in August.We rode out to the prk.to talk to the ranger at the gatehouse about our chances of getting in and the weather forecast (which directly affects your chances of a successful climb).Then we drove to Abol Stream Campground where the AT enter Baxter St.Prk. We saw some thru hikers coming through and offered them some cold colas.We met Green John and saw Cotton Joe (who Mack hiked with in the spring).He told us that Shane and Ellen (now Ninja-n-Stealth)were summiting Katahdin today along w/Bones.We met them in the spring.He told us Dad's Grin was at Katahdin Stream at the base of Katahdin waiting to summit tomorrow.We then went back to the motel for some much needed rest.We took about a 2-hr.nap(our first sleep in about 2 days)and went to the AT Cafe for supper.We were in bed by 21:00.Big day tomorrow-we will be attempting the toughest climb in the entire AT and I will be fighting the demon of fear when it comes to high places.I have been praying for 2yrs..May God give me victory.God is good all the time!
Date: 2005-08-13
From: Millinocket, Maine

To: Summit of Mt.Katahdin
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

The motel wakeup call came at 02:45.I was already awake at 02:20 thinking about Katahdin and the heavy rain I heard falling outside-oh boy.I was up and in the shower before the wakeup call came.After a bagel and power bar brkfst we loaded up the truck,echecked out and were on our way out to the park at 03:30.We got to the gate at 04:00 and there were several vehicles already there in front of us.We cut off our lights,cut off the truck and dozed until 05:00.The rain stopped about that time and we signed in at the ranger hut.The forecast was for clouds,fog and showers in the am and clearing in the pm.The ranger said that they were recommending that noone hike above treeline because of the weather,but we were determined that today was the day for us.We left the ranger hut heading down the 8-mile dirt path to Katahdin Stream Campground where we would pickup the AT to the summit-5.2miles straightup.We signed the trail register at 06:00 and started up.Very cloudy and foggy-misting rain.The temp was about 59F with no wind down below.We saw lots of wild blueberry bushes-full of ripe blueberries along the trail going up.Of course we ate some of them-so sweet.There was so much fog you could only see about 20'ahead of you.We reached the treeline about 09:30,the HuntSpur that is where fear overtook me before.But because God sent the clouds and fog I couldn'tsee down.I prayed and proceeded.At this point Lumbermack and I put our trekking poles in the pack.No need for them now.For the next 2 hrs.we had to rock climb and I mean rock climb.If I could have looked up adn seen what was above me,I would have chickened out,but once again those blessed clouds made me concentrate on the here and now-not what was more than 20'above/ahead of me.We got over the spurs 2 hrs.later and hit the Tablelands of Mt. Katahdin.The wind was blowing 50MPH and gusting to 60-70MPH.It would almost knock you over so once again our trekking poles were needed.The tablelands were beautiful from what I could see.A whole unique eco-system.It consisted of small alpine grasses and tiny plants.It is amazing to me that anything could survive in such harsh conditions.We then arrived at Thoruea Spring-a spring on top of that mountain above the treeline-amazing with only 1 mile to go to the Summit.We summited around 12:00noon in the clouds and 50MPH winds.I thanked God we did it all in 11 hrs.It was worth it.Katahdin is a special place with unique beauty all its own.By 18:30 we were on the road heading to Gorham NH.Because we climbed Katahdin with a sleep deficit and we literally were aching all over,not to mention all day rain was forecast for Sunday,we decided to give our bodies a break and rest Sunday and start hiking from Grafton Notch,ME on 8/15.We drove 5 hrs.and got to Gorham at 23:30,in bed by 24:30 and slept until 09:45.It was great.God is good all the time.
Date: 2005-08-14
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

We awoke at 09:45,went out for breakfast to start refueling our bodies.We dropped off a food box at the local outfillters and chatted w/Brooks (who works there)for a while.We met Brooks 3 yrs.ago and have touched base w/him from time to time.We then rode out to Pinkham Notch to talk with the staff about parking our truck there and getting a shuttle ride back to Grafton Notch.As of this entry,we still have not worked that out yet.We saw a lot of Northbound thru-hikers there and chatted with some of them.Then we came back fo the motel to do laundry.We will have an early supper so that we can rest tonight.We have a 3-4 day hike from Grafton Notch back to Gorham to pickup our food box at the outfitters.That's when I will mail my next entries. God is good all the time.
Date: 2005-08-15
From: GRAFTON NOTCH

To: SPECK POND CAMPSITE
Miles today: 4.6
Weather: light rain

WE AROSE EARLY, TOOK A LAST SHOWER FOR A WHILE, HAD BREAKFAST, PACKED UP AND HEADED FOR PINKHAM NOTCH TO DROP OFF OUR TRUCK. WE ARRIVED AT PINKHAM NOTCH AROUND 0900 AND STARTED HUNTING OUR TRANSPORTATION TO GRAFTON NOTCH MAINE. WE WALKED OUT TO NH16 AND STUCK OUT OUR THUMBS. WITHIN 5 MINUTES A GUY NAMED MARK STOPPED AND PICKED US UP. HE IS A WILDERNESS ROCK CLIMBER/SNOW SKIER. HE GAVE US A RIDE TO GORHAM- NICE GUY. AS SOON AS WE GOT OUT OF HIS CAR A YOUNG GIRL NAMED CHRIS FROM NORTHERN MAINE PICKED US UP. SHE MUST HAVE BEEN 20-25 YRS OLD. SHE GAVE US A RIDE ALL THE WAY TO GRAFTON NOTCH. WE STARTED WALKING ABOUT 1200. THE TERRAIN HERE IS EXTREMELY RUGGED. I HAVE HIKED IN SOME RUGGED PLACES BEFORE BUT THIS STUFF IS CONTINUALLY RUGGED. YOU CANNOT MAKE GOOD TIME MILEAGE WISE BECAUSE THE TRAIL IS TOO DANGEROUS. I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN HURT HIKING BEFORE BUT TODAY I SLAMMED MY KNEE ON A ROCK WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF THE CAMPSITE. IT HURT SO BAD I HAD TO TAKE MY PACK OFF A MINUTE AND SIT DOWN. WE ARRIVED AT THE CAMPSITE AT 1830- IT TOOK US 6 AND 1/2 HOURS TO GO ONLY 4.6 MILES. LIKE I SAID, TOUGH TERRAIN. WE GOT HERE, SET UP OUR TENT, ATE MAC&CHEESE WITH TUNA, CHANGED OUR CLOTHES,FILTERED OUR WATER, WASHED UP OUR COOKPOT AND CLIMBED IN OUR TENT. A MAN AND HIS TWO TEENAGE BOYS ARE CAMPING NEXT TO US. WE MET THEM AT PINKHAM NOTCH TODAY. WALT, SCOTT AND JAMIE. WELL IT'S ABOUT BEDTIME. WE ARE HIKING THE MAHOOSUCS TOMORROW- SUPPOSED TO BE THE TOUGHEST MILES ON THE WHOLE AT, AND MY KNEE IS PRETTY SORE. I TOOK SOME 800MG IBUPROFEN- I HOPE THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. ALTHOUGH THIS AREA IS RUGGED, IT IS VERY BEAUTIFUL. MAY GOD BLESS US WITH ANOTHER SUNNY DAY AND SAFE HIKING. OH YEAH- THE TEMP IS AROUND 50F TONIGHT. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.
Date: 2005-08-16
From: SPECK POND CAMPSITE

To: FULL GOOSE SHELTER
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: light rain

OH BOY, OH BOY, WHAT A DAY. WE AWOKE AROUND 0530 AND GOT UP AT 0600. WE WERE PACKED UP AND ON THE TRAIL AT 0720 WITH CARLO COL SHELTER AS OUR intended DESTINATION. BOY WERE WE WRONG. WE NEW WE HAD THE MAHOOSUCS TO DO TODAY AND HAD HEARD THE HORROR STORIES. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THEY WERE NOT HORRIBLE ENOUGH. WE STARTED DOWN THE MAHOOSUC ARM AROUND 0900- WELL YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL CLIMBING EQUIPMENT (ALMOST) TO DO IT- WE HAD NONE. IT TOOK US OVER TWO HOURS TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. THE ARM ENDS UP IN MAHOOSUC NOTCH WHICH IS A HUGE BOULDER SCRAMBLE (ROPES AND CLIMBING GEAR WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL- WE HAD NONE). THE TRAIL PASSES OVER HUGE SHARP BOULDERS (SOME THE SIZE OF HOUSES) AND THROUGH TINY CAVES, AND OVER DEEP ROCK CREVICES. SOME PLACES WERE SO TIGHT YOU HAD TO REMOVE YOUR PACK AND PULL IT THROUGH BEHIND YOU. WE STARTED THROUGH WITH THREE GIRLS FROM MAINE- VERY SEASONED HIKERS. WE ALL REALIZED HOW DANGEROUS THE SITUATION WAS AND DECIDED TO STICK TOGETHER AND HELP EACH OTHER THROUGH THTE NOTCH. ONE COULD EASILY BE SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED THERE AND IT IS MANY MILES FROM CIVILIZATION. I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO LISA, WENDY AND AMANDA, IT WAS GREAT HIKING WITH YOU! THE NOTCH WAS A FRIGHTENING PLACE, THERE WAS WINTER ICE STILL LYING AROUND IN THERE. I FELL TWICE- MY LEGS ARE BLACK WITH BRUISES FROM THE KNEES DOWN. I AM IN SOME PAIN TONIGHT! ONE GOOD THING (OR TWO) ABOUT THE NOTCH- WE RAN INTO RAINBOW AND SPARTICUS THERE- WE HAVE NOT SEEN THEM SINCE NC IN MARCH. IT TOOK US OVER 3 AND 1/2 HOURS TO DO A LITTLE OVER A MILE- THAT'S HOW LONG THE NOTCH IS. THEN WE HAD TO CLIMB STRAIGHT UP AND COME DOWN AGAIN TO FULL GOOSE SHELTER/CAMPSITE. LISA, WENDY AND AMANDA WERE THERE. SO ARE WALT AND HIS BOYS. THE "ODD COUPLE" THAT MACK HIKED WITH SOME DOWN SOUTH (AROUND HOT SPRINGS NC) ARE HERE TOO. WE ARE TOTALLY EXHAUSTED AND WE HAVE SOME TOUGH CLIMBS TOMORROW. THE NOTCH WAS BEAUTIFUL IN ITS OWN WAY AND THE VIEWS FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE BREATHTAKING! GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.