morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-09-14
From: Near Zee Pond

To: Garfield Ridge
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

A weather forecast and tiredness that was discouraging and blessings at the end of the day. It did rain in the night but I was nice and dry. I packed up and started out. I was pretty discouraged most of the day. I am just old and tired. I am so looking forward to my next zero. I am really tired of the crappy trail in the north woods. My idea of a reasonably good trail anymore simply means one I can descend without have to turn around and go backwards or hang on to trees to keep from killing myself. That said, the worst is behind me, theoretically. So after descending some challenging trail, I came to Galehead Hut about lunchtime. Rex and Terrie were there, 4 day hikers who had passed me going down. The weather report is for rainy, bad weather coiming in. Shoot! I should be doing Franconia Ridge. It has a few miles of open and exposed Above treeline trail that has warnings about doing in such weather. The day after that should be sunny but cold and frost, possibly ice on all those rocks. Neither possibility sounds good. I don't want to get off trail and blue blazes go in the wrong direction and I don' want to blue blaze (take a non-AT trail) anyway. What to do? I don't like any of my options. It did not encourage my mood to change from dark In walks Reboot, a very nice young 26 year old SOBO. He is a very optomistic guy and he said he was willing to do Franconia Notch with me even though he hikes about 3 times as fast. What a boost! Just knowing someone will be along with me makes all the difference in the world. Having some moral support from a cheerful, optomistic person brought back my own natural optomism. I hiked on from Galehead and after a bit Reboot caught up and we hiked together to the tent and shelter site. They were tearing down the shelter but the caretaker showed me how to set up my tent on a platform even though it is not a free standing tent. There are a few tricks with guylines and little sticks but it all worked real well. Rex and Terry, another short hiker, Collette and her dog, and a SOBO, Rook, are all here tonight. It was nice to get here early, 5, and have time to chat with everyone and still all be tucked in at dark. So, in spite of discouragement in the day, it has ended well with company, no rain yet and promise of company on the ridge tomorrow. And life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-15
From: Garfield Ridge Tentsite

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: light rain

A long day but a good one, with company and some brief but glorious views. I got up early and ate and packed up and left the campsite before 7, headed up to Lafayete Peak. Oh yeah, before getting to that 5,200 ft mountain I had to go up and over Garfield, a 4,500 ft mountain. It had seemed cold at the tent site but a few hundred yards up the trail I stripped to sports bra. A couple hours after that the weather got a little more serious and I put shirts back on with rain jacket. Knowing Reboot was going to come behind me later gave me encouragement and also incentive to see how far along the trail I could be by the time he caught up. Although it was lightly raining off and on, it was mostly sort of clear with views of clouds lowering or boiling up by the wind from the valleys. I was pleased to come out above treeline on the flanks of Lafayette and Reboot had not caught me yet. I was having such a great time. Mountains have their own particular magic on misty, cloud swirling days. I could see and hear a group descending to Greenleaf Hut. I had been passed by NOBO day hikers from the hut, at least one of whom thought the day totally nasty. But I liked seeing the swirling clouds and appearing and disappearing valleys through the parted clouds and was singing into the teeth of the wind.. I reached the top of Lafayette with Reboot right behind me. We took each other's pictures and of the cloud blown views and started down. Before the next mountain on the ridge was barely seen the clouds seriously descended and the rain became more earnest. After that it was just a long slog mostly down hill for 6 miles. But I had very pleasant company and chatting helped the miles go by. There were only a few tricky spots on smooth, slippery rocks. Most of the trail could be descended forwards, not backwards. We got all the way down by 5 or so, crossed under the bridge and up to the highway. After watching the traffic zip by for less than 5 minutes we got a hitch from a woman who hikes right in to Chet's Place, the hostel in town. I was soon clean and Reboot and I bundled up our laundry and headed out to the laundromat and dinner in loaner clothes from the hostel. We demolished a quite tasty pizza and I got back to the hostel with clean, dry clothes. I am tucked in a bunk, cozy and warm, fed and clean and have a zero day tomorrow. Life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-16
From: Franconia Notch

To: Zero Day at Chet's Place, Lincoln, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Zero days are nice. I woke and enjoyed lounging in pjs for quite some time. How nice. Reboot and Trudge and Eureka did get ready and started out on their hikes. I also finally ate the cinamon rolls I bought last night for breakfast and got dressed. I caught up and proof read several journal entries and got them off. I went to the post office and got my food drop and organized food to take and food to leave for pick up in 2 days and food to give away. I had an avacado and tomates and salsa in left over flat wraps for lunch. Yum. Zero days are good for resting too and I gid that - also sent used maps and odds and ends to Sara and a birthday card to my grandson. As I was headed out to mail stuff I saw two hikers walking down the street - Knitty and Gritty. They had gotten behind me because of an extra long roadwalk they had to make for a food drop due to a washed out bridge. I had thought they were far ahead and they were behind. They didn't know where the hostel was and would have walked right by if I had not come out just then. We had dinner and now are at the hostel. There are 4 NOBOS and a section hiker who are out in town somewhere. It may be noisy when they come back. Hope I get sleep tonight. But I enjoyed my zero day and life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-17
From: Kinsman Notch 

To: Headwaters of Eliza Brook
Miles today: 8.6

A nice day, nice brook. I decided to go NOBO for two days as there is supposed to be a nasty rock climb on the south side of Kinsman and I would rather go up such stuff than down. The taxi was cheaper than the Shuttle Connection: $10 plus a dollar a head. Knitty, Gritty and I went together - they to slackpack and I to take 2 days. They will slackpack what they missed on Franconia Ridge tomorrow. Worked out well for both of us. They sped ahead and I trudged along. The weather has turned cold - no hiking in sports bra, although it did warm up by afternoon. The trail had its share of rocks and roots and mud but it had some fairly decent trail too. I met Frank Denob coming down from Eliza Brook Shelter where he had spent the night. He is a day ahead of me but going north for two days meant I got to see him agan. Neat! There were a couple of SOBOs with huge packs after I left the shelter, Cook and Flash, I think. Then there was a big group from the University of Vermont. I had decIded to go onward a bit and not stay at the shelter. I am turning into a hermit at night, partly to get a good night's sleep and partly to get a head start on the day tomorrow. I found a tiny stealth site not far from the crossing of Eliza Brook, just big enough for my one person tent. Eliza Brook is a very pretty stream and it had some lovely small waterfalls a little ways back. So I have eaten and am all tucked in to my cozy spot. It will be cold tonight. But I should be fine and life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-18
From: Stealth site near Eliza Brook

To: Kinsman Notch
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: overcast clouds

It turned out to be a lovely day although it started all overcast and cold with a slow climb up Kinsman. I got up early as usual and started up Kinsman. There were a lot of rocks, although, to tell the truth there were quite a few tricky spots descending. That is just New Hampshire hiking. There was a pretty view down on Hampton Pond and Wolf Mountain and other mountain ranges around. One of the best views of Franconia Ridge was from Lonesome Lake with the lake in the foreground. I started meeting day hikers and overnighters on South Kinsman. Thereafter there were many hikers on the trail. I saw no thru hukers though, NOBO or SOBO. I got to Lonesome Lake Hut for a late lunch, did not get there very fast. And then the trail turned into lovely graded real trail for the last three miles. Wow! I felt like a hiker instead of a rock climber! Very nice. I got down to the highway before 4. Then I got a quick hitch within 5 minutes or less. Even better, the guy who picked me up works for the hut and listens to Vermont radio. The Green Mountains are open! Yeah! I was wondering if my hike was coming to an end but it sounds like it will be able to continue. I am so glad. I want to get the AT done this year. I got to the hostel and got organized for tomorrow and. had a shower and plenty of time to get lotioned up and trim my nails and all those little-self grooming things. The guys even saved me a lower bunk. Sweet. Those here tonight include The Lazy Bastards - Tonka, Panda, SuperBubba, Fish Hook, Knitty and Gritty and Rook. All of these are people I like and appreciate. But they are all young and stay up late. Chances of a good night's sleep are slim. But I am here. I have a lower bunk. I am all clean and ready to go tomorrow and life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-19
From: Kinsman Notch

To: Glencliff
Miles today: 9.5

A beautiful day on Moosilauke and staying in what is probably the most grungy, ramshackle place I have ever stayed at in my life. Got a shower though. Last night was a very short night. I tried to go to sleep early but the young people didn't. They had been very sweet to save me a bottom bunk. But they don't go to sleep early. And I get up early. Then they all went to bed but nobody turned out the light. I did. Oh well. So, early I rose again and got my shuttle to Kinsman Notch. I headed up Beaver Brook trail, very steep. But there were lovely waterfalls. I stopped to take pictures often. There was a lot of rebar and wooden steps bolted to the rock. It took 3 hours to get up to the shelter and then 2 hours to the summit from there. It was a blue sky day and the views from Moosilauke were superb. Cook and Splash (not Flash) were on top along with Reboot. Fun to see him again. He took the weekend off to visit his girl friend and other friends. There were quite a number of day hikers. Besides people just out for a hike, a lot of folks try to summit the 48 peaks over 4,000 ft - Not sure if they are all in New Hampshire. The AT goes over several. There was a couple on Moosilauke who were from England and were on 24 on their quest to 48. After lunch I started down the long way to Glencliff. It was long, some steep, but almost all could be descended forwards. The last couple miles were really pretty good trail. I passed Birdie and Tiger Lily while headed down. I thought I might have to ford a river at the bottom but eventually found a way to rock and tree hop across. I looked pretty funny in the middle of the river balancing on a six inch diameter tree, step up and step down to rocks. But there was no one to take my picture. Mental image. The Welcome Hiker Hostel was less than a half mile-down the road. Interesting place run by Uncle Walt. Semi-outdoor shower and bathroom facilities. Loft for sleeping - really pretty dirty but I will survive. Fat Chap drove to get us dinner (Us means me and Cook and Splash) There are a few others, Dude, Inner and Giggles outside. And Baby Steps and Lotar came in as we ate. They had wet feet from the river crossing. Moosilauke was my last 4,000 ft mountain. One in Vermont is 3,800 but the rest will be lower. I hope my mileage per day will improve. All in all, a good day and life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-20
From: Glencliff

To: Bracket Brook
Miles today: 11.5

What to say about the day? It was wet. It was real trail. I didn't get as far as planned. I woke to a rainy day. It rained steadily most of the day but cleared up this evening to blue sky. My umbrella earned its keep today. It took me a number of clothing adjustment stops to get the right layers (just one shirt) and on downhills wore the raincoat for warmth more than rain. Rain pants were on the whole day and feet were wet and muddy the whole day. But I was cruising at much lower altitude and was warm with no wiind, perfect conditions for using the umbrella to stay reasonably dry on top and keep pack reasonably dry with the help of pack cover too. There was real trail all day albiet somewhat muddy with occassional rocky patches and, of course, roots, It is the Appalachian Trail not a western trail but it was a noticeable improvement. I was a hiker, not a rock scrambler. Mist Mountain lived up to its name. There were no views. I stopped for late lunch at Ore Hill Shelter. The privy there could use some work - a door and some steps and a seat would be nice - but I used it just the same. I met a couple overnighters and 3 section hikers, Salamander and the two M&Ms The latter said Reboot was probably stopping not far ahead of me. Maybe I will see him as I start so early. I wanted to get over Cube Mountain to the shelter but just did not have it in me and stopped at Bracket Brook. I can only do what I can do, not necessarily what I planned. I may have to take a nero in Hanover instead of a zero. Oh well. It was a wet walk in the woods. But I am cozy in my tent and should get a good night's sleep. And life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-21
From: Bracket Brook

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: broken clouds

A long day, finished in the dark, good hike up Smarts Mountain. Challenging rock on Cube and Smarts on descent. I was up earlier than planned to water the bushes and just stayed up and got ready to go. Used headlamp for about half hour on trail. I got up Mt Cube in reasonable time (for me). The rock has changed from grippy granit to glacial polished quartz and quartzite. It is pretty but more treacherous when wet. I did not visit the shelter as it was .3 mile off trail and I had lots of trail ahead of me. Smarts Mountain was a long climb up but not too steep. I mentally sang old girl scout songs to keep myself steadily moving. I arrived at the Firewarden's cabin on top for a late lunch and then headed down the other side. While going up Smarts I met 4 section day hikers: Goat Boy, Old Geezer, Wildflower and Tomcat. They have done the trail from Georgia to here by daypacking. They remarked on the tough trail coming up Smarts. I had yet to go down that side but I had to tell them that this is the easy side of New Hampshire. They didn't seem to know that weather was a problem in the Presidentials and Franconia Notch or that the trail becomes rougher. I felt like the bearer of bad news. They did look like they were enjoying themselves, though. (one 70 year old) I descended Smarts. It did have some tough spots. I mixed my dinner at the bottom and started out the last 3 miles to the shelter knowing half of it would be in the dark. It was. The trail was well blazed, though, more blazes than I have seen in a long time. When I got to the shelter I was pleased to find another "mature" hiker there - Phoenix, age 75. She was fun to talk to although it was late and we couldn't talk long, Now she is an inspiration - still hiking after a lung removed. I was impressed. Today was a long day and my knee isn't entirely happy with me but I am here and time for sleep, sweet sleep and life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-22
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Hanover
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: light rain

A very looong day and a wet one too. It started raining within a half hour after leaving the shelter and rained most of the day with occassional breaks. Another day when the unbrella earned its keep. The first of the day was occupied climbing over Holtz Ledge and Moose Mountain. Both took longer than I thought they would (doesn't it always?) but I had lunch at noon at Moose Mountain shelter. Then it was just a long, long wet walk in the woods, mostly down until Velvet Rocks. The trail was much better and I even made almost reasonable time. There are, however, mosquitoes. They tried to eat me alive. I must have killed 50 and waved away many with my bandana but a few got through to me. I will have to pick up some repellant in Hanover. I sent all mine home because there were no mosquitoes in Maine. Within 4 miles of Hanover I met 2 young guys headed out to Moose Mountain Shelter. They probably got there before I got past Velvet Rocks. Then I started on the last three mile stretch knowing I would soon lose daylight. The trail went up and got rocky. Daylight left. Anything with rocks in the name tells you what it will be like. With headlamp it was no picnic. At one point I was clutching a knotted fixed rope while descending rocks marveling on how my long but fairly easy day had degenerated into one of those "wow, I'm alive" (not dead) moments. I finally made it down. The blazing was not bad except in one very swampy area where it took me 3 tries to find the trail in the dark. When I reached the highway it was after 9:30. I had been trying to reach my motel for an hour with no success. It was almost 3 miles away. Would you pick up a hitch hiker - an elderly woman with a pack and an umbrella in the rain at almost 10:00? Fortunately for me, a young woman who had hiked the Long Trail in Vermont with her 70 year old mother did. Thank you. I let myself into my room with the key left on the unoccupied desk, took a shower and collapsed into bed. My knee is REALLY unhappy with me! Tomorrow is a zero and I hope it gets happy again. For now I am horizontal and very glad to be and life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-23
From: Hanover

To: Hanover
Miles today: 0.7
Weather: broken clouds

Today was as close to a zero as one can get and still have measureable milage. Resting the body, especially the knee. I had the continental breakfast here at the Chieftan Motor Inn. Nice room too. They gave me a ride downtown after I had everything pretty organized here and I got a free bus almost back. I have done very little today as I was very tired. I did walk the .7 miles of the AT that goes to Dartmouth Green, had pizza and picked up a small roll of duct tape and mosquito repellant. Other than that I have just laid around. Tonight I put ice on the knee. It was very unhappy with the last two days. I hope it will let me continue. But I will go at a slower pace. The knee sees to that. I considered taking two zeros but the motel is full this weekend - big college day. I have changed my hike plan and only hope to make it to the next road and stay in a hostel. I'll take another zero there if the knee so dictates. For now it is time to sleep. Life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-24
From: Hanover Green

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Knee was better. Trail was easiest I will see. Nice day. It was a long day but I think ok for the knee. It was not swollen much in the morning and had at least 10-12 degrees more flexion. So off I went. The first couple miles were road walking through and near town. I got 3 well wishes for my hike from passing pedestrians or drivers in Norwich. Nice. The trail was the easiest I will encounter. Still some up hill, especially in afternoon. No rocks of significance. The forest itself has been lovely. It is green and, in some places, very golden.. It did not rain most of the day although it did commence with a solid shower about 4 and was damp from then on. Actually it was pretty damp with high humidity all day, And warm. The mosquitoes like this weather and were out in force most of the day. The repellant I bought in Hanover is worthless. I wore my long sleeve shirt even though I felt like a basted turkey all day with the humidity and my sweat. I did not think I would walk so far today because of the knee but I got to the road where I would have had a long hitch to the hostel by 2. Poor little town had severe flood damage. The hiker friendly general stire was gutted even though it still had its welcome hiker sign. No one was there. I saw 4 hikers, overnighters, on the trail. Mostly no one is here following the damage from Irene. I am in text contact with Reboot who is 3 or so days ahead. He will tell me if he cannot get through. No large wildlife-sighted although I did scare something in the bushes a couple times. Lot of little orange newts (cute little guys), squirrels, grouse, a variety of birds and frogs and toads. This lower elevation still has late blooming flowers. I saw 3-4 kinds of asters and some yellow and white flowers I do not know and even a little Yarrow. Someone has been out recently sawing blow downs. Thank you. Got to shelter just before dark. No one here but me. I took a ziploc bath I was so groaty. And it is now past hiker midnight. Life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek
Date: 2011-09-25
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Winturi Shelter
Miles today: 12.0

A little tougher trail but still pretty nice, sunny day, and berries Up and at 'em in the morning. Up and over Dupuis Hill, on which I found some wild raspberries and blackberries. Even a few picked while hiking by were a gift of the morning. Thank you, God. I am having to have some talks with myself on the trail. This year has been hard. In Maine and New Hampshire the terrain was challenging. I expected that but it was sometimes more challenging than expected. In Vermont I am challenged because I knew the terrain should be better so I scheduled more miles. The terrain is better but I think I scheduled-too many long days for this old-body and the decrease in daylight. The result is that I struggle to make the miles and can get negative in my head because I don't make them at the speed I think I should. So I have to tell myself to think about the things I enjoy about being on the trail. First off, I enjoy being here even though 70 years old. That is a biggie. I enjoy the raspberries on the trail, the sunshine of today, the gentle breeze discouraging the mosquitoes, the dappled sunlight of the forest, the golden leaves on the trail, the views of farmland and hillsides of trees turning color, occassional bursts of color in late blooming flowers, bright berries and apples on trees, people who encourage me by signing my guest book with encouraging notes, the stillness of the forest. Yes, there were more ups and downs than the profile showed and the last mile was rocky. I had to ford one river and got wet feet. There was a large marshy area I thought was lasting forever which turned river washed clean shoes to muddy grossness once agan. But the trip up Dana Hill seemed easier than the profile indicated. Although I saw no hikers I saw 2 large groups, young men and young women, runners. It was a good day and I reached the shelter well before dark. I got another ziplock bath and washed out socks too. Discovered I am missing my spare sports bra. Bummer. Tomorrow will be more challenging. I will start and end in the dark but I hope to notice the things I enjoy along the way. For life is good. Sent on the go from my Peek