morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-17
From: Fire Warden's Cabin

To: Hiker's Welcome Hostel
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: scattered clouds

April Showers and I stopped for lunch at the blue-blazed side-trail to Hexacuba Shelter. It was .3 back to the shelter, and there was a nice burbling stream at the trail junction, so we didn't bother to go back to the shelter. Thru-hikers will walk 2000 miles to climb a mountain, but won't walk a quarter of a mile to sit at a picnic table. We're weird like that.We caught up to Papa Bear and Badger on the way up Mt. Cube, the vegetation slowly giving way to more rocky landscape. The two of them had false summit fever, until we finally reached the broad and treeless rocky summit. We sat around, I explored the rocks, and pondered the upcoming BIG mountains. Moosilauke, the first hardcore peak of the Whites, is on the menu for tomorrow.My companions called it a day after 12 1/2 miles at Ore Hill Shelter. However, I could not resist the pull of town, a relatively easy 7.5 miles, practically all downhill, into Glencliff and their hiker hostel.The day ended at exactly 20.0 miles, quite possibly my last 20 mile-day, with all the hard stuff coming up. In the Wingfoot guidebook, it is stated that it is a half mile from the trail to town, so I tried my thumb at hitchiking. A local in a pick-up truck stopped, and when I informed him of my destination, looked somewhat perplexed and pointed out a house that was a good stone's throw away. Feeling stupid, I thanked him and marched on to my final destination for the night.Out in the front yard of the house is a sign that reads "Hikers Welcome". The $10 hostel is run by thru-hikers Packrat and Big John. The set-up is the most interesting I have seen yet. Front and back, a large section of wall has been removed from the downstairs to allow free flow of large amounts of hikers (and possibly to keep our odors from getting trapped). The inside common area has a table, computer, chairs, and a tv, with movies being watched all day, but the majority of the living area is in the spacious backyard, featuring washer and dryer, showerhouse, bunkrooms, and scattered hammocks and folding chairs. A very comfortable set-up.A group of us pitched in to pay for a shuttle to the next town over for a hot restaurant meal. Along the way, our driver pointed out the "Little Old Man in the Rock", a natural miniature near-replica of the famous (and now non-extant) "Old Man in the Rock" from Franconia Notch, now just a rockslide.Although we are currently in White Mountain National Forest, tomorrow is when the dreaded Whites really begin, with the first above-treeline peak (not counting the southern balds) of the trip. Mt. Moosilauke, Lincoln, Washington, and all you other biggies, here I come!
Date: 2004-08-18
From: Hiker's Welcome Hostel

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: clear sky

Met Up and Down last night, a charming young couple, one very tall (Up) the other short (Down). After one of my typically sarcastic cracks at dinner last night, Up said to me "you must be Crash! Bang!" Apparently some people have a good appreciation of humor.Now we are seriously entering the Whites. Oliverian Brook, immediately out of Glencliff, was supposed to be some sort of obstacle, according to Wingfoot. Luckily, the water level was not high and the crossing was easy. I suppose in wet weather it could have been a bit tricky. The book does describe a high-water route, just in case.Nothing came easy after that, however. I had a long, hard climb ahead out of Glencliff to the top of Moosilauke waiting for me. The last few miles were the toughest (2800 feet of elevation gain in 3.8 miles). Slowly, the dense forest gave way to more open space and shorter, scrubby trees, until I was entirely above treeline. At the summit was a walled-off area of stone, in case the weather turned really inclement, and an unfortuneate hiker could take minor refuge. A blue-blazed trail led from the summit, but my trail, the white-blazed AT, was not immediately apparent, although I found it shortly. The view was good but not great, overcast, but not socked in by fog. It was slightly windy and chilly at the top, so I didn't linger.Going down was the worst: steep and extremely rugged. The worst downclimb I have ever faced, and I fear it is only the beginning. I am very clumsy to begin with, and this was sheer hell. I have never been so relieved to find the shelter trail. Even once the sidetrail came into view, it was a slow, painfully trepidatious downclimb. I was so glad to have my trekking poles to keep my balance. I'm glad I did not have a lot to do at the end of the day, getting such a late start, and so were my wobbly knees.The shelter was filling up, so I chose a nearby tentsite, just barely big enough for my very long tarptent. As the evening wore on, we were wondering aloud what happened to Sanguine, a bright, upbeat 30-ish woman thru-hiking. She was not a fast hiker, but she should have been in by that point. She did finally wander into camp, frazzled but none the worse for wear. She took a wrong turn at the trail junction before the climb up Moosilauke (we figured it was the Hurricane Trail), and went a couple of miles before she back-tracked to the AT. She could have just continued on to the summit by this route, but she wanted to do it the right way, not missing any part of the AT. May the mountain gods bless her.
Date: 2004-08-19
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I got my first taste of a seriously steep downhill in the Whites, and am really glad I did not tackle it any further than I had to last night. 3.6 miles from the summit of Moosilauke to a stream right before Kinsman Notch dropped 2972 vertical feet. That's 825 feet of elevation loss per mile walked. That, ladies and gentlemen, is steep! And rugged! At some points, blocks of wood were bolted into the boulders along the path to keep you from falling and killing yourself. Well, they did not help my trekking poles at all. Not very far into the day, I caught the left one in a crack in a rock as I slipped to catch myself from falling, and SNAP!, right in half. The prospect of tackling the rest of this monster mountain range on one pole is very daunting. I'll have to find an outfitter soon and get it fixed.
Date: 2004-08-20
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Carriage Motel, North Woodstock, New Hampshire
Miles today: 8.8

The climb up South Kinsman was a killer. Pulling myself up by my hands in places. Made it to Lonesome Lake Hut just in time to avoid the heavy rainfall. Hung around for awhile and snacked and watched the yuppies thinking they were roughing it.Now or Never, Maya Guez, Diesel, and I got together and decided to get a room in North Woodstock. Upon emerging from the forest, we left the trail and walked about a mile of road toward town before two vans coming out of a side-trail trailhead picked us up. Now or Never is a doctor who lives in the state, Maya Guez is the name of the city that our Panamanian hiker friend is from, and Diesel is Diesel. We had some words because of his unfriendly attitude towards a friend of mine, but he's alright.The four of us crammed into a two bed room and hastened to take our turns at the showers. Later, N or N did all of our laundry. Later, when he returned, I thought he had lost my shorts. Instead, I just didn't recognize them because they were so clean. Later, at dinner, I got a really cool surprise. I found two of my best friends from the trail, Beagle and Moo Juice, along with Don't Mind and Don't Matter. I had not seen them since PA and was really excited. They had hitched in from Kinsman Notch, about 16 miles behind my trail progress at Franconia Notch. The rest of the evening was good as I spent time with both old and new friends, and finally made my way back to the motel and to bed.
Date: 2004-08-21
From: Carriage Motel, North Woodstock, New Hampshire

To: Three Rivers House Inn, North Woodstock, NH
Miles today: 0.0

Up very early today, to the dismay of the entire world. The hotel owner was not pleased when I asked for towels a little before 6am, and was extremely grumpy and rude when I saw him later. He told me his wife wanted to kick somebody's ass and other less family-friendly phrases. I suggest avoiding this hotel at all costs possible. Now or Never did not like the owner either, and he did not have a run-in. Stay at Three Rivers House Inn, our location tonight. It is much better. Three Rivers is a nice little place, in the bed and breakfast style, with rooms like apartments. My roommates were not pleased with my early rise either, so they put me in the single room, one slept in the common room, the other two in the double room.After breakfast I walked in the rain to the next town over, bought a raincoat (cheap), watched "Aliens vs Predator", and went on a wild goose chase for an outfitter that would fix my trekking pole. I knew that LaHouts in Lincoln would do it, but there are 2 or 3 in town, and every time I stopped to ask directions: "oh about a half mile that way". This went on 3 or 4 times. City people who don't walk have no concept of distance. Those of us who do nothing but walk, however, know exactly how long a mile or half mile, or 2.3748509 miles is. It's all we do all day.Check out this website. It's for the place we stayed tonight. Really sweet.http://www.threerivershouse.com/
Date: 2004-08-24
From: Ethan Pond Campsite

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut (in the Dungeon)
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

Just another day in paradise. I'm hardly believing my luck. 3 days into what is supposed to be an area with some of the worst weather in the country, maybe even the world (the world wind-speed record was set on nearby Mt Washington 1 1/2 mile away) and I'm having crystal clear skies, no rain, and mild temperatures. But just so that I don't enjoy myself too much, there was the grueling climb out of Crawford Notch with Engima (2050 vertical feet in 2 miles steep). The view of the highway more than 2000 feet below was worth every ragged breath and trembling footstep and leg muscles awash in lactic acid. The day's hike ended with 4 miles of gorgeous mountain scenery, and my relief that I did not have to climb the two imposing peaks, Eisenhower and Monroe, on loop trails to the left. I was in an exceptionally bright mood to finish the day, and I let everyone on the mountainside know as I belted out my favorite White Stripes tunes. Even the crowded bordering on claustrophobically so Lake of the Clouds hut did not dampen my mood, as Hawk can attest.This time work-for-stay was available. I could have stayed inside, but since I am sure it would have been noisy and I would have had to sleep on the table (only to be kicked out when the crew came in to cook breakfast), I chose to stay in the dungeon: a sorry little cubicle of a bunkroom, reached by going outside and around the hut. Cold at first, once the door was shut for awhile and some warm bodies were in it, it was nice and toasty.The final highlight of the day came in the form of a south-bound young beauty by the name of Mazie (real name). Mazie was not only stunningly beautiful and bronzed young woman, but she was blessed with a charming, sunny personality to match. Enigma and I were instantly smitten. To top it off, the two of us (Mazie and I, not Enigma and I) sat outside the hut and watched as the sunset before retiring with Enigma to our beds.
Date: 2004-08-26
From: Osgood Tentsite

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: broken clouds

3 miles into the day, and I took a .1 side-trail to Lowe's Bald Spot. For anybody passing by, I recommend stopping. It is worth the detour. Shortly before that, however, was the swinging suspension bridge I've seen in pictures. Very narrow and very swinging.Pinkham Notch was a nice place to stop for lunch. The cafeteria had a sandwich bar, where one could stuff oneself silly on pb and j sandwiches and soup.Hung out around the notch for about an hour and a half, then pushed on for another hell-climb, back up 2000 feet in 2.7 miles of walking. This wasn't the steepest of climbs, but it may well have been the most rugged. Rock scrambling was the order of the day.Shortly after reaching the ridgeline, I hear the sounds of machinery and voices. I wonder what the heck is going on, as I am expecting to be in wilderness solitude at this point. I hike a little further, and there's a ski lift at the top of the mountain. I was a little dismayed to discover yet another intrusion by civilization, but was grateful to the lift-operator for the water, as I was rapidly running out and the next water was 3 miles away.After a series of small bumps named peaks E, D, C, and B, I reached peak A, with a decent view of Carter Notch down below. One mile and a loss of 990 vertical feet later, I was at the hut, a self-service set-up, and so cheaper. I still opted for work-for-stay, and got the morning detail. A family with kids is here, as is The Friar and a few other hikers. The hut is just as nice as all the other huts, but since you got to fend for yourself here, it ain't half as crowded. Kinda sad, when you think about it, but that's a good thing for the real backpackers.
Date: 2004-08-27
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Rattle River Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: mist

Unbelievably, I've had six perfect days in a place with a reputation for the worst weather. Skies ranged from crystal clear to partly cloudy, usually leaning more towards clear, no rain except for a slight bit of sprinkling one night, and comfortable temps. Amazing.Heard rumor of moose on top of Carter Mountain. Saw what looked like tracks, but I never saw their maker, like some lucky hiker did. I think I remember reading somewhere Carter Notch was carved out by a glacier. I look down at the valley a thousand feet below and am awed by the sheer magnitude.The Whites have flat-out exhausted me. I don't have enough in me to make it the 2 miles to the road for the hitch into Gorham, even if it is downhill and level. The last six days have taken more than I've ever given to a physical undertaking in years, but I feel really good about it. Friar and the others came by, but kept right on truckin' to the road.There's some group of Ivy League kids here. I think they're all pre-med students, on some kind of get-to-know-you kind of week-long backpacking trip. Nice kids. Shared some pudding with me, and then set up their tarp down by the river so I could sleep in the shelter. Looks like I'm by myself tonight.
Date: 2004-08-28
From: Rattle River Shelter

To: "Hiker's Paradise" at Colonial Comfort Inn, Gorham
Miles today: 1.9

Felt more like a mile and a half than 1.9, it was so easy and flat. Could be that I'm used to the torturous ascents and descents of the Whites. It didn't take long to get a ride into town. Tonight's accomadations are spartan to say the least, but it does have a full kitchen. Not the worst hostel I've been in, not the best, either. Some of us spent the day watching movies and looking at the pretty girls advertising for a car wash. Wish I had a car right now.
Date: 2004-08-29
To: Hiker's Paradise
Miles today: 0.0

I really should be moving on since yesterday was my rest day. But what the heck. I want a full zero day, and I really am still kind of tired. Spent more time watching videos since we got no tv reception. Offended a yellow-blazer (a hiker who skips significant sections of trail by getting a ride ahead) by casually saying "oh, so you're not thru-hiking". I think she thought I was putting down her hike. My feeling is, if that is what you want to do, that is fine, but don't expect me to call you a through-hiker. By strictest standards, I'm not either. The only parts of trail I've flat-out missed are short road-walks here and there, which I bet dont't add up to more than 2 or 3 miles. I've only blue-blazed once that I can remember, and it was to do a more difficult and slightly longer section. I've gone off-trail quite a few times, missing or taking a wrong turn. But I was always right next to the trail. I also skipped New Jersey and New York, but I intend to go back and finish them once I summit Katahdin.
Date: 2004-08-30
From: Hiker's Paradise

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

"Short" day today. The next few days probably will be too, as the Mahoosucs are only slightly less difficult than the Whites.Gave my left knee a nice little scrape towards the end of the hike. Shortly after I arrived, a slender wisp of a girl by the name of Biffy came strolling in, with a bloody gash on her right leg to match my left leg. She couldn't have weighed more than 110 pounds, but her pack was a heaving monstrosity that must have weighed 50 or more pounds. It was obvious she was not an experienced backpacker, things were hanging off her pack in all kinds of awkward positions, but she had such a great attitude, that one could not help but like this girl. She was planning on doing a chunk of Maine before heading off to the Peace Corps. I suppose she was trying to get in shape.There was a nice scenic little pond close to the shelter, with a cliff above. I waited there for a while, for I thought this would be a good place to see a moose. No luck, though. That's ok. Tomorrow begins the last stage of my pilgrimage, Maine!
Date: 2004-08-31
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Spent the first part of the morning walking alone, but the Hobbits soon caught me. It's amazing how strong hikers those girls are, without trekking poles and with their short legs. If anything, being compact is probably and advantage on rugged terrain like this. One hobbit got ahead of the other, while I was close behind the other, when we heard whooping and yelling from the lead hobbit. This is remarkable because these are normally very quiet girls, barely speaking above a whisper, when speaking at all. However, this morning, the three of us celebrated in very loud fashion, whooping and singing and dancing and posing for pictures at the Maine state line, the goal of our pilgrimage. At the state line a sign read "Welcome to Maine: The way life should be". I couldn't agree more.A short time later was a tough hike up Goose Eye Mountain, capped off by a rickety climb by ladder straight up the final cliff to the windy summit. It was quite thrilling to be on top. The brutal wind, the remoteness, green mountains as far as the eye could see all added up to an extremely primal experience that cannot be properly described.Tonight's stay is a double-wide shelter, could probably fit 20 or more people. However, many people tented tonight. Beagle and Moo Juice are here, as well as Don't Mind and Don't Matter, Skippy and Poppins, Hill-Biffy and Party Girl. Party Girl and I tossed around the idea of attempting a night-hike through Mahoosuc Notch, but eventually decided not to. We wanted to see it in the day.
Date: 2004-09-01
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Baldpate Lean-to
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Finally through the much anticipated Mahoosuc Notch. This is a spot on the trail that I've been hearing about for almost as long as I've known about The Trail. "The hardest mile on the AT" is how it has been described. "Don't go through it without a buddy". It wasn't that big of a deal, really. Slow and tedious, it took about 2 hours to get through. There was almost never any flat trail. It was probably 90% boulder-hopping, boulder-climbing, boulder-crawling-under obstacle course. But difficult? Not really. Just had to be slow and careful. No views. Down in the bottom of a valley between two mountains. No big deal. Party Girl and I emerged first, with HillBiffy following close behind. Left in our wake about an hour behind were the Don'ts, and Beag and Moo.Mahoosuc Arm, now that was tough. As rugged and steep as anything the Whites had to throw at me. 1600 feet elevation gain in 1.6 miles. I talked politics with PG (who surprised me with her views), and eventually HillBiffy caught us and we chatted into Speck Pond Campsite.Up at higher elevation, and next to open water, the day was very chilly, so I ate a quick lunch, and figuring I would not see HillBiffy again since she was still getting her trail-legs, I said goodbye to her.The rough and ruggedness of the trail abruptly came to an end at the top of Old Speck, a high treeless summit. Going down the other side was smooth sailing, though still pretty steep. At the bottom was Grafton Notch and my first road crossing in 30 miles, and not much else. The climb up to the shelter tonight was moderate and smoothly graded, and I was amazed at how my legs just ate up the trail. Regular trail is like a cakewalk after the hell I've just been through. Guess all the hard work from the last week+ has really whipped me into some kind of shape.
Date: 2004-09-02
From: Baldpate Lean-to

To: Andover Guest House
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

The highlight of the day was Baldpate Mt, and a more lonely seeming stretch of country-side I cannot imagine. Sheer desolation was all around as I scrambled up the steep, bare face, and briefly losing a water bottle. Looking back down from the peak, I saw Pete slowly closing ground between he and I, like some lonely tracker stalking his quarry.Jolly Time, Pete, and I just barely got a hitch into town. JT had been thumbing for about 5 or 10 minutes and someone stopped for him. He heard Pete and I talking down the trail, and stalled long enough to wait for us to catch up. I don't know why he didn't just ask the driver to wait.Stayed at the Andover Guest House. Nice place, but the lady is kinda weird. So is her dog. Just keeps pacing back and forth and she keeps yelling at it when it barks and growls.
Date: 2004-09-03
From: Andover Guest House

To: South Arm Road
Miles today: 10.1

It was nice to sleep in a bed last night, but back on the trail I go. Pete decided to stay another day. Can't say I blame him. Ran into Mouse (haven't seen her in a long time), Party Girl, and the Hobbits. They were slackpacking the section I was doing today, in reverse, and staying at The Cabin in East Andover. The owners had given them the most hideous dresses to wear while their laundry was washing (see picture). Holly Hobbit's was especially eye-aching. Party Girl's was kind of sort of pretty, in a dorky old-fashioned way. All kidding aside, I've not heard of a hostel on the trail that got so much raving about what a great place it is and how kind the owners were since Ms. Janet's. Tales of generosity beyond wildest imaginings. I really hope I get a chance to go back there some day and see if it is all true.Set up camp next to South Arm Road and Black Brook. Found some trail magic in the stream in the form of cold cokes. Very cool. Up and Down were on the other side of the stream, secluded in the trees. I looked around and found a large campsite just off the trail. Nice warm night with no threat of rain, so I decided to sleep outside tonight.
Date: 2004-09-04
From: South Arm Road

To: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

Longest day in over two weeks, since right before the Whites, when I did 20 miles into Glencliff. Tough climb to Old Blue, and then the 5 peaks of Bemis, but not White Mountain tough. Once on top of the ridgeline was an occasional view, windy, and right at but not quite above tree-line, where you get the stunted evergreen trees and the occasional bare spot. Some beautiful, pristine ponds today, including Moxie, Long, and Sabbath Day Ponds.An older couple were spending a couple of days at the Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to today, basically base-camping there and doing dayhikes, after having hiked in from the road. They were very friendly and told me about seeing moose there at the campsite. I waited and looked but never saw one. I did see some movement of some small animal in the trees. I tried to get a look at it but never saw what it was.