morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-07-25
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 14.6

Eventually when we arrived atop Cube Mountain I regretted that I did not continue walking further yesterday, as there were lots of tent sites at the top and the views were incredible.Had an easy walk into Glencliffe and booked into the 'Hikers Welcome Hostel'. First thing was to do laundry and shower and then take everything else in. It's a really interesting hostel staffed with even more interesting people. Couldn't figure out if the building was being refurbished or in the process of being pulled down and the people running it would not look out of place in a 1960's Kombivan!Lots of hikers here including Humpty Dumpty and Jetpac, Miss Janet was also here helping out. She is one of the original trail angels and must have helped out thousands of hikers over the years.Today was also my birthday and it turned out to be a good one! I got trail magic during the day on the way into town and Miss Janet made a birthday cake for the occasion. Great dinner, great company and an internet connection, so skyped Krystyna for an overdue chat. To end the evening, a few more beers over a relaxing repartee.
Date: 2011-07-26
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Kinsman Notch to Mossilauke to Glencliff
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Boston, Dagwood and myself slack packed today from Moosilauke North to South. We decided to go N to S as the Northern side is very steep and slick. As it turned out, it was a good decision as it had rained during the night and was very slipper and dangerous. We made great time and got to the summit in just two hours! Only damper was that the day turned out to be a white out, fog and mist all around us. We stayed up for over an hour hoping it would clear, but no luck and it was getting mighty chilly. Ended up getting back into Glencliff around 4.30pm and once again the hostel was packed. We ordered in pizza and watched 'Animal House', it seemed appropriate!
Date: 2011-07-27
From: Glencliffe

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 25.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was an early but complicated start. We had arranged another slack pack and started at 5am. We dropped our packs off at Lincoln at Chet's place (another hostel) and then picked up an early breakfast and then dropped off at Kinsman Notch again, this time heading North.It's strange that everyone talks about how difficult Moosilauke is but we found today much harder! Kinsman Mountain was an absolute brute as it seemed like it would never end. Once again when we got above the tree line it was a white out with no views at all! On the way down, Boston slipped on a log and hurt his leg badly. As the day wore on, it got progressively worse until he was in agony.The trail came out at Flume Gorge Park and being so tired, it was all we could do to organise a shuttle. We dropped Boston off at the local Inn as his girlfriend had come up to stay with him, whilst Dagwood and I went on to Chet's, which as we found out, was once again packed with hikers. We ended up sleeping out in the BBQ pit and had a meal at the local Mexican place.
Date: 2011-07-28
From: Franconia Notch

To: Zero at Chets
Miles today: 0.0

To say that Chet's is an interesting place would be an understatement! It doesn't advertise except through word of mouth and he doesn't charge!! He was planning a thru hike in 2001 when his petrol stove blew up in his face. When he eventually woke up from his coma about a month later, he was wheel chair bound for the rest of his life. A big part of his life now is supporting the hikers. At the height of the season there will be 20 to 30 hikers tenting in his backyard, garage or living room. During the day, Arthur Dent and Rain Dancer came in along wiht Green Light and Genie.
Date: 2011-07-29
From: Zero at Chets

To: Garfield Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: overcast clouds

A stroke of luck as Jackie, Boston's girlfriend shuttled us to the trail head for an early start. Unfortunately it looks like Boston has a stress fracture and he is off the trail. However, we arranged to meet in a couple of days, as he has a share in a ski lodge in the Whites and has invited us to stay with him.Franconia Ridge and Mt Lafayette have some of the most spectacular views on the trail. Or so I am led to believe. But as usual, we saw nothing as it was yet another white out!! We got into Garfield Shelter and campsite when I foolishly decided to tent. Big mistake, as rain and high winds prevailed all night. At least I was better off than the other tenter whose fly blew off during the night.
Date: 2011-07-30
From: Garfield Ridge Shelter

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: fog

Another day in the Whites and another day of total white out!! To top it all off, Dagwood and I somehow took a wrong turn in the mist on top of South Peak and went down a side trail. The AT is not well marked in the Whites and we had gone down a long and steep descent before realising our mistake. Neither of us wanted to go up again and we fortunately came across 80 day hikers who showed us how to get back onto the trail. It involved about an extra 6 miles of hiking, oh joy!!!By the time Dagwood and I arrived at Crawford Notch we were about dead on our feet and were wondering how we were going to get to Bartlett where Boston's ski lodge was. Fortunately a trail angel picked us up and drove us right to the lodge even though it was miles out of her way. Turns out she had just got engaged that afternoon and we were the first people she had shown the ring to.Caught up with Boston and had the biggest steak I have ever eaten in my life!! The ski lodge is a really good set up: room for about 40 and kitchen and bathrooms to suit. Boston had other friends stay over and the partying went on till the early hours of the morning.
Date: 2011-07-31
From: Crawford Notch

To: Zero at Bartlett
Miles today: 0.0

Decided on a zero as I didn't get much sleep last night. The younger chaps were making the best of their night and sleep wasn't on their agenda. After a hearty breakfast, took it easy for the rest of the day, venturing out for short climbs. There were great views in so many places, along the Webster Cliffs, on top of Mt. Jackson, but decided to get back to he lodge when the wind became too strong and had to watch each step to keep from being blown over.
Date: 2011-08-01
From: Zero at Bartlett

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: light rain

We got an easy hitch out of Bartlett and got onto the trail by about 9am. Great weather for a change! Absolutely incredible views all around us - it was really worth the wait.'Lakes of the Clouds' is one of the must do destinations on the trail and that was our destination. We tried to time our arrival for a 'work for stay' deal but were too early. It was either walk to the next shelter or sleep in the dungeon. The dungeon it was, and is an emergency winter basement under the hut. It sleeps six in three tiered bunks and is about 10'x10' and very damp, dank and cold. Dagwood and I claimed the top two bunks and went back to the hut. Lots of people about staying in the huts and I met up with an expatriate Aussie who had been living in the States for the last thirty years.The entertainment was supplied by watching a thunderstorm approaching across the valley. Within 30mins there was hail, high winds and freezing temperatures. Conditions became rather chilly! Half an hour later however, there was a brilliant sunset.Dagwood and I put off going down into the dungeon for as long as possible, but at lights out, there was no choice. The dank smell was further enhanced by the other four hikers already there and it was a pretty uncomfortable night.
Date: 2011-08-02
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was probably the hardest day I have had so far. Fortunately the climb up into Mt Washington was great with clear but cold conditions. From then on, things got worse. We had hail, more thunderstorms, rain and wind, all compounded by walking over horrible broken rock. When we did get clear conditions the views more than made up for the previous miserable demise. The views were absolutely spectacular!Coming down Madison however, were some of the hairiest parts I've done so far - very steep and slippery. By the time we got into Pinkham Notch it was after 7.30pm and we were very tired, cold and hungry. I met another Aussie here, a South bound by the name of 'Easy'.We finally got a lift after a long wait and I was never so glad to get to anywhere as I was to the ski lodge that night.
Date: 2011-08-03
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Zero Day at Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Needed a break after some hairy descents of the previous days. The views, whenever you managed to get them were fantastic, but the terrain must be the worst. There has been a lot of boulder hopping and the rocks were rough, jagged and pretty treacherous making for slow going.So it was good to have a break and headed for a good lunch at Pinkham Notch Visitor Centre.
Date: 2011-08-06
From: Gorham, NH

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Started the day with an all you can eat breakfast at Welch's Restaurant, Gorham before starting out on the trail.It was a cloudy, misty day with intermittent showers. As well as getting wet from the rain, the trail was overgrown in many places, making it awkward to walk through and after about a mile or so, started climbing up to Mt. Hayes. Disappointing not to have any views once at the top, and the rest of the day was spent going up and down ridges and slopes passing several beaver ponds along the way. Spent some time watching these amazing creatures in action.
Date: 2011-08-07
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Speck Pond Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: light rain

Well this is the one that everyone talks about - Mahoosuc Notch, the hardest mile on the entire trail. I knew it was going to be a hard day when the first four miles to the shelter just before the Notch took 3.5 hours! It is really horrible terrain and of course it was raining all the time. Mahoosuc Notch is one of the strangest places I have ever seen. It is a gorge full of rock slabs and large boulders tilted in all directions with dark crevasses in between the jagged rocks. It took me one hour and 40mins to traverse. I did it with another hiker called Kenyan and we were able to help each other with passing packs etc. Some parts of the the Notch never see the daylight. You will dip down 20ft and the air will become freezing with ice still amongst the crevices. Then you will rise up 20ft and the air will be hot and humid again.Once we had got through the Notch we were presented with a brutally steep 1600ft and two mile climb up the Mahoosuc Arm, scrabbling over wet and slippery rocks and boulders. We walked nine miles today in just under nine hours!
Date: 2011-08-08
From: Speck Pond Shelter

To: East B Hill Rd, Andover, ME
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: light rain

Woke to a foggy, misty morning. Everything was wet and damp. Had a hard climb to start with up Old Speck Mountain at 3500ft and then a long, very long descent into Grafton Notch. Conditions were miserable to say the least.A very kindly couple in the car park started talking to me when they saw my pack and gave me some fruit and a soft drink. Very nice after the dried food of the past few days.Had lunch at Baldpate lean-to and managed to dry everything out (it's finally sunny again). Going over East and West Baldpate was pretty scary as they are both steep and very exposed. Coming down into the next shelter though, it flattened out a bit. I wasn't concentrating and slipped on a tree root and landed on my hip on a rock - very painful and am sure I'm going to have a major bruise! (as I hardly ever bruise). Got as far as the East B Road into Andover ME, and decided to call it a day. Found a nice spot beside a stream and got a fire going. Stayed up until dark drying my boots out and watching the flames. Very nice. Hardly saw another hiker today.
Date: 2011-08-09
From: East B Hill Rd, Andover, ME

To: South Arm Rd, Andover, ME
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a fairly easy time into South Arm Rd as in some sections there were stone steps laid into the trail, enabling you to walk up the mountain rather effortlessly; then hitched into Andover for resupply, laundry and book into a hostel. The couple that gave me the ride gave me their number in case I couldn't get accommodation. They are typical of the people you meet on the trail.Stayed at the cabin with Earle and Marge. It is one of the _____________ on the trail and they are real 'trail angels'. They had a copy of Earl Shaffer's 'Walking with Spring' signed by the great man himself.The only problem with Andover is that resupply is terrible. The general store had a great selection of candy bars, chips and junk food, but that was about it! Looks like I'll be eating Ramen noodles and energy bars for the next few days.
Date: 2011-08-10
From: South Arm Rd, Andover, ME

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

During the night it rained and in the morning it was still raining, a really miserable day. It was tempting but I decided not to zero. After breakfast they shuttled me back to the trail head and so began a really miserable day! It was typical Maine terrain, steep up and down and covered with boulders and tree roots. To add to the misery it rained all day. After going down long expanses of open ledges for quite a distance, I took another really bad fall coming off Bemis Mountain; just stepped onto a slippery rock and down I came. Took skin off arm and knee and badly bent one of my hiking poles.Stopped at Bemis Mtn Shelter to recover and met up with Pancho and Vinta, a young couple from Utah. They too are having a hard time of it. The first 100 miles of Maine are notoriously difficult! I rested about an hour at the shelter and then pushed on. Finally reaching Sabbath Pond Shelter at 8.30pm. Just before the shelter I had a beautiful view of Sabbath Pond with the mist coming down and two loons swimming close to shore. It made up for the day.
Date: 2011-08-11
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to

To: Rangeley Trail Lean-to
Miles today: 9.4

I decided to resupply at Rangeley ME, and replace my junk food with something nutrious. For once, the weather was beautiful and the walking easy. Spent most of the morning walking with Poncho, Vinta and Kenyan. Rangeley is a pretty little town with a great supermarket. We all had lunch on a bench beside the mall and spread our stuff all over to dry. We must have looked like gypsies! I bought an extra seven days of food and mailed it on to Monson as I had heard that the resupply is bad there. I also ordered another pair of shoes to be delivered there as my present ones are starting to fall apart.On the hitch out of town the lady who picked me up said that her brother had a weekend cottage near the trail head which he allowed hikers to stay in. She took me there and it was absolutely idyllic. It was a small A-frame hut facing a stream with a fire pit in front. I had a really pleasant evening there with a fire going and listening to the stream. Trail magic really happens when you least expect it.
Date: 2011-08-12
From: Rangeley Trail Lean-to

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-to
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Although yesterday's hike never went above 2800ft, nevertheless, I woke up really stiff and sore from my recent falls with a huge bruise on my hip and pain radiating down my leg. I was tempted to stay another day but decided to keep walking. Took a few photos and then headed out quite late.It is a cold, overcast day with a strong wind blowing. Today involved two climbs over 4000ft - Saddleback Mountain and 'The Horn'; and one over 3000ft - 'Little Saddleback'. It was freezing up on the summit and on the ridges, the wind cutting right through you. I walked most of the day wearing my water proofs.Maine is surrounded by mountains and the scenery, when you can get it, is spectacular, so when I finally reached the shelter at Poplar Ridge I was very disappointed as it was a gray, damp and dismal area. I collected water and walked on a mile or so till I found a nice spot up on a knoll. My leg is playing up badly so I popped an industrial strength anti inflammatory I had brought from home. Tonight was about the coldest night I've had on the trail. First time I've worn my thermals in the sleeping bag.
Date: 2011-08-13
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-to

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: broken clouds

Leg is much better this morning and so will attempt a bigger day. As I was packing up 'Bald Eagle' and '_____________' came up. I hadn't seen them since West Hartford in Vermont. Ended up walking with them during the morning and we had lunch together. They are two guys from Georgia about my age. The weather today started off beautiful - warm and sunny and it was a pleasure to walk with dry shoes again. As soon as we got to the Sugarloaf Mtn descent, black clouds came from nowhere and it started bucketing down. In no time at all, we were all drenched! What had become a steep descent was now treacherous. I really hate these steep descents in the rain! Made it into the campsite about 5pm and everything was soaking wet. Hung everything up to dry but not much chance of that happening, as it is very cold and damp.A couple of South bounders were in camp and we chatted about conditions on the trail. Once I have the 'Bigelow' mountain range out of the way, it is pretty much flat to Monson. Can hardly wait.
Date: 2011-08-14
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite

To: Stratton
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Not a very nice spot to camp last night, everything was very damp with a plague of mosquitoes and bugs. Made breakfast and chatted with a father and son out for a three day hike. He was from Maine and I asked him about conditions further north, ie: about resupply, outfitters, etc. He said there was a good outfitter at Caratunk (this was to have repercussion further along the trail). An easy ten or so miles into Stratton and then at about 12 noon, got picked up by Sue who runs the hostel and roadhouse. The town hostel was full so after I resupplied, Sue drove a few of us out to the roadhouse about five miles out of town. Spent the rest of the day and evening chatting to hikers and watching movies, too easy!
Date: 2011-08-15
From: Stratton

To: Zero at Strattorn
Miles today: 0.0

Spent the entire day at the roadhouse relaxing and resting my hip. Did something really stupid though. Whilst trying to straighten my hiking poles I was cutting the duct tape I had wrapped around them. My knife slipped and I stabbed myself in the back of my left index finger. Quite a deep cut about 3/4in long. I must have cut a vein as I bled like a stuck pig. I clean and taped it up as best I could but it really needs to be stitched. I am in the wars at the moment.In spite of everything, it is a good day to zero as it poured all day long. It sure does rain a lot in Maine.
Date: 2011-08-16
From: Zero at Strattorn

To: Zero at Strattorn
Miles today: 0.0

I rang Sue about 7am to come and pick me up and waited under the veranda with a throbbing hand, watching the rain come down and feeling sorry for myself.By 8am, Sue picked me up and we headed for the trail head. As we approached I couldn't even see the mountains through the pouring rain and low cloud. I looked across at her, she looked at me, burst out laughing and turned the car around.I spend the morning driving around the local countryside while she shuttled hikers around. Turns out she is a keen recumbent cyclist and owns two green-speeds. There you go, didn't know they exported them here.Lots of hikers in town waiting for the weather to clear. Stanley Thernos was here with an injury along with quite a few others I hadn't seen for a while. Booked into the town hostel and waited out the weather.During the day Clutch and Glad Gal then Arthur Dent and Gipcgirl came into town. Hadn't sen them for some time. We all had dinner together that night.
Date: 2011-08-17
From: Zero at Strattorn

To: Stafford Notch Campsite
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

Finally a sunny day. Gipcgirl, Arthur Dent and I had breakfast together and Sue (what a great lady) shuttled us to he trail head about 9am. Gipcgirl is still carrying a hip injury and is going slowly so Arthur and I headed off together with the intention of making Little Bigelow Lean-to.Three really big climbs today all around 4000ft. North and South Horn and Bigelow Mountain. It is a beautiful day and the views from the summits are absolutely spectacular. The terrain was much harder than expected though with mud, slippery rocks and steep climbs and descents, especially coming off Bigelow, we decided to call it a day at Stafford Notch. Campsite was a really interesting spot surrounded by huge boulders.
Date: 2011-08-18
From: Stafford Notch Campsite

To: Pierce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 22.2
Weather: broken clouds

It was a very long day today, first day in a long while where we didn't have to climb any mountains. But what the trail lacked in mountain it made up for with mud, tree roots and slippery rocks. It was a beautiful day though and we passed by lots of streams and glacial ponds and lakes. There sure is a lot of water in Maine.I get on well with Arthur Dent and we hike about the same speed so we have decided to hike and summit together at Katahdin. We lunched at West Carry Pond Lean-to and met Suitcase a south bounder. He gave us a heads up on the trail ahead and gave me some Gatorade powder as I was not feeling too flash. Got into Pierce Pond at about 7.30pm. What a fantastic spot, overlooking a glacial lake with the sun settling behind the mountains.
Date: 2011-08-19
From: Pierce Pond Lean-to

To: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 18.7

An early start and made the Kennebec River by 9.30am. The Kennebec River is fordable but not a good idea as the current is strong and unpredictable due to an upstream dam; so the official AT route is by ferry, pretty happy about that. We waved the ferryman and he came over with his 'canoe'. I had run out of Aquamira Part A by this time and desperately needed some form of water treatment. I asked the ferryman about the outfitter that was supposed to be at Caratunk and he just laughed and said that there was no outfitter between here and Katahdin. He suggested we hitch to Northern Outfitters, a fishing resort a couple of miles west and beg or borrow some bleach. We were lucky and got a ride almost immediately; had breakfast at the resort and a couple of brews as they brewed their own beer in-house. It was a really nice place and we were tempted to stay, but the trail beckoned. Another lift back to the trail head by a couple doing some trail magic and started walking with a nice beer buzz.During the late afternoon we saw thunder and lightning approaching ahead so we made forced moves to get to the shelter before the storm hit. Three miles in under one hour - not bad with a heavy pack.
Date: 2011-08-20
From: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to

To: East Branch of Piscataquis River
Miles today: 15.3

First up this morning was a climb over Pleasant Pond Mountain. The weather continued to be beautiful and once atop the mountain, it was truly a spectacular sight, one of the best views on the trail.The trail through Maine continues to be magnificent with lots of streams, some of which need to be forded. We found a nice place to camp beside the Piscataquis River where a beaver dam was in the process of being built and even found some trail magic. It was a treat to have a soda with the evening meal. During the night we heard the beavers hard at work on the dam but unfortunately didn't see them this time.