morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-30
From: Andover, South Arm Road

To: East B Hill Road
Miles today: 10.0

Today, I slack-packed from South Arm Road to East B Hill Road. Kris at the Andover Roadhouse told me that it usually takes hikers 5-6 hours to complete. I asked Kris to give me 7 hours because I know I am slow and I would rather me wait for her than her have to wait for me.The climb up Moody Mtn was not too bad and it was nice to have such a light pack. Coming down Moody was tough and steep (rebar in the rocks kind of steep). I slipped on a vertically placed rock and rolled into a downed pine tree trunk. Nothing major but a scrape on my arm and knee. I figured I needed to pause for a rest and I start to hear this jingle. I see a nobo hiker is approaching me and I wonder what he/she is carrying that is making the jingling noise. Then I meet Chestnut, acute little brown and white Terrior mutt that reminds me of a friend's former dog, Annie. I realize the noise I was hearing was her collar. She is hiking with Snapper, a girl I had met playing ultimate frisbee at Trail Days in May. We have a nice and brief conversation. Turns out she is not feeling well, sounds like giardia, so I advise her to go in to Andover and see if one of the hostel owners can shuttle her to a doctor. Moving on down the trail, I stop at an overlook of the mountain I just climbed up and over and look at the time. I realize that I have only covered three miles in three hours. At this rate, I won't make it to the road in time for my shuttle. I still have 7 miles to cover in 4 hours! So I start booking it. I stop briefly at the Hall Mountain Shelter to read the register and eat a quick snack. Then press on. Luckily for me the remainder of today's trail is pretty easy, although mostly downhill. I make it to the road just 10 minutes after my scheduled pick up time. Slack-packing is nice, but having a timeline for hiking can be stressful.Back at the Roadhouse and Nemo and a nobo section hiker, Summer, are on the porch. Summer is very nice and informative about the trail. She is a 7th grade life science teacher from CT, so we have a lot in common. This is her fourth summer hiking the trail and I think she is glad that she has almost completed her goal. Another sobo has arrived, the Beast. He is an extremely fast hiker already doing big miles of 25 and 30. He hiked the PCT in '03 and is pretty light weight in his pack weight. He's also cute and charming. Snapper and Chestnut show up later. She did get a hitch to the ER and medicine for giardia. Nemo and I cook hamburgers with chips, salsa, and baked beans. We all watch a movie that night. Very relaxing. Then it's off to bed and I am glad that I am at the Roadhouse in the bunkroom as it turned really cold!
Date: 2006-07-31
From: East B Hill Road

To: Frye Notch Lean-To
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: few clouds

Up early to begin to clean up my pack and bounce box explosion. Kris comes in and says that she can shuttle me at 8:30, 9:30 or after 4:30. I have to go to the PO which doesn't open until 9 and the grocery. Looks like I'll be hitching if I want to get a ride before 4:30. I go across the street to get breakfast and resupply my fod bag. Quickly, I learn that Andover does not offer much in the way of resupply. I order pancakes and eggs and bacon. Not as good as yesterdays at the other diner (I had blueberry pancakes and home fries for $4), but filling and cheap.Andover is a small town with only about 10 buildings that I can see fromt he Roadhouse and a stopsign for only one of the cross roads at the intersection up the street. There are two stores, one is a gas station as well, an ice cream shop and a hair salon. There is also a firehouse and a PO. At both markets there is a hot food counter. One is more like a diner with a counter you can sit at and menus, the other one just has a couple of tables you can sit at. Both places seem to have local regulars and everyone seems to know everyone. It's heartwarming and refreshing to see this community interact. They are very friendly and jovial people. This is not something I get to witness and or participate in back home in Atlanta. I wonder why Atlanta has lost this sense of community? Why is it that in Atlanta the push seems to be toward isolation- gated communities, tele-working, on-line shopping, etc.? There is no Know thy Neighbor, much less Love thy Neighbor. Sad.Anyway. So off to the PO and pack the pack and it's lunch time. Too hot to hitch. The Beast has a friend coming to town at 2, and maybe he'll give us (me and Nemo) a ride to the trailhead. The Beast puts in a video, Sleepers. Next thing you know, I'm all into the movie. Finally, at 3, Nemo and I decide to hitch. We finally get a ride, not much traffic on this road, by a young college kid home for the summer. Back on the trail at 3:45 and into the shelter 4.5 miles away at 6:45. There are a bunch of sobo's that have caught up to me. Seems they have been traveling together for a while. Three pairs are siblings. This crowd is young and boisterous and funny at times. It's full in the shelter and I hang my hammock. To be honest, I'm glad to have my space away from the crowd. It storms tonight. Of course! I just left town clean and dry. Of course it's going to rain!
Date: 2006-08-06
From: Almost US2, Gorham

To: The Barn, Gorham
Miles today: 0.8
Weather: clear sky

I am constantly awakened during the night due to this continuous roaring sound. It's like a factory generator. Sometimes, when I am awake at night, I can hear little critters walking around. I can't see them, but they don't scare me. The stars and moon were beautiful during the night.I wake up and it is light outside, so I decide to eat breakfast, granola bars and perhaps get packed up and into town. But after I eat, and I ate in my hammock, the first time ever, I am sleepy again. I fall asleep. It is the best sleep I have had all night. I get up and get packed and look at the time and its only 8 am. Not as late as I thought it was. I hike into town and I am amazed at how close I was to town when I decided to stop, but I am happy with my decision. I cross the Androscoggin River on the Leadmine Bridge and learn that the loud continous droning sound i heard all night was a dam.I pass by some streets with homes on them and the houses look so cute and friendly, but I decide they are too close to that noisey dam for me. A granfatherly man in a car passes me and honks and waves at me. I wave back.I get to US 2 and stick my thumb out for a hitch into Gorham. Not much luck. I decide to continue walking up to this pull off spot on the side of the road and take my pack off and wait for someone to pick me up, but as soon as I make that decision, a car pulls over. The driver has just picked up another hiker and they make room for me in the car. the driver drops us off at The Barn.The Barn is the name of the hiker hostel attached to the Libby House B & B and it is actually an old barn. The accommodations are not as accommodating as the other hostels I have stayed in. No phone, internet, limited seating, but it will do. Its right on the main drag in Gorham, so its a bit noisey with logging trucks and other traffic passing by. The beds are up in the loft, and Nuclear Night Hawk the hiker I arrived with, head up there to claim a bunk. During the day, the Barn fills up with lots of nobos. I join three of them for lunch, Hawk, Marley, and Scoot. We go to a chinese buffet. I told them that my hiker appetite has not set in yet, and Marley informs me that I am a P.I.T., a pig in training. They tell me to follow their lead as we hit the buffet. I fill up my plate to the point of almost overflowing. I can't go for a second plate as the three fellows do, but I do make room for ice cream. They tell me I did a good job, that I am well on my way to getting the hiker appetite!Later that day, I spend some time working on my journals and talking to the nobos about he Whites. As I listen to them talk about the huts and such, I am beginning to feel more relaxed about the Whites. Still nervous, but less anxious.Another P.I.T. class comes at dinner time. This time we head to Mr. Pizza. I finally get a taste of Mexican witha margarita and a chicken quesadilla. Its not the authentic mexican that I have been craving, but it will suffice. I stop at the pay phone and call home, then its off to bed.
Date: 2006-08-10
From: Imp Shelter

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: fog

Back on the trail today. It is still chilly, but not too bad. I am going to hike to Carter Notch Hut today if not further. The trail is really nice today, not too rocky and not too rooty. Almost like GA where you can actually walk on dirt. During one of these flat sections along the Carter Mtn Peaks, I met Downhill Phil and AT Treehugger. As they approached me, they asked me if I was Allison. How is it that all these people heading north know of me? Ah, Marta. She stayed with these two at the shelter last night. These two give me some trail advice and info about the hut. The last mile to Carter Notch Hut was very steep and rocky. I thought my knees were going to explode! And it was starting to rain making everything slippery. As I stood on the mountain looking down at the hut, it seemed so far away, but eventually I make it down there before the big downpour. (This morning at the campsite, the older fellow with the puppy dog gave me his special knee pain relief medicine, the liquid kind you get in Tennessee, and I am really grateful because after this descent, I'm gonna need a pain reliever!) I walk into the hut and speak with Dave the caretaker. He is from NH and says "nice" a lot. I ask him if I can do work for stay and he says yes and shows me around. Since the hut is practically empty, I get to stay in the bunk house. I put my pack away and go fix some dinner. Then, Dave gives me my work assignment. I am to clean the sinks and the toilet seats in the restrooms. Easy work, totally worth $25 (the price I'd have to pay if I didn't do work for stay). The toilets in the Whites are self composting which means you don't flush them like indoor plumbing, but they're not as nasty smelling as a normal privy. It takes me about 15 minutes and then I get my composer and head to the hut to write my journal entries.It turned really cold tonight. The forecast was 30 degrees with a windchill of 10 degrees and rain. I am very happy that I am staying at the hut. The hut is warmer than the bunk house and has electrical lights which is why I am hanging out in it instead of in the bunkhouse. There are two other fellows that are staying at the hut, and while we are hanging out, the older one tells Dave that there is a snake in the window sill above the sink. At first, we all think he is joking, trying to stir up some entertainment. But when we all walk over to the sink we see he's telling the truth. Dave tells us that there are about four snakes that live near the hut and they don't mind them because they eat the mice. But this is the first time one has come inside. The two men capture the snake in a pot and release him outside. I hang out a little while longer and around 8:45, I bid Dave goodnight and head off to get some sleep.
Date: 2006-08-13
From: Osgood Campsite

To: Madison Hut
Miles today: 3.0

Today I took it easy in the morning and updated my journals. I knew I was only going to go three miles today to the hut and it wouldn't take me that long to get there. I also wanted to make sure that I got there after three so that I could get work for stay. I started up the trail and it wasn't as steep or as bad as the nobos had told me. Then I hit the actual Whites, the above tree line climb of Mt. Madison. It really wasn't that steep but it was horribly windy. At first, I tied my pack cover to my backpack so it wouldn't blow away, but it was so windy and it flapped so loudly, I took it off and shoved it in the pack. It was rocky and windy and I was moving slow, but the more I moved the easier it got and the more confident I got. I had some amazing views and hopefully they will turn out in the pictures. Then I got to the top of Mt. Madison. The wind gusts were so strong I almost fell a few times. The descent to the hut was the roughest because of the wind. But I made it there safely. I walked into the hut and it was full of people playing cards and games and hanging out. I went toward the kitchen and asked a croo member if work for stay was available. Yes. I was the first one. Another thru-hiker came in and I sat down with a cup of hot cocoa and started talking to him. His name is Mountain Goat. Another hiker came in that was friends with Mountain Goat. His name is Crake and he is from England. One of the hut guests offers us each a Guiness. Trail magic! Later, three more nobos arrive, Sourdough with dog Jackson, his son Sidewinder and his dog Tucker, and Rad McBad Ass. They have all been traveling together for a while and are a fun group. Turns out Sourdough and I met at the REI clinic in ATL. He is determined to give me a trail name before morning. Will see what he comes up with. After the guest eat, we are invited into the kitchen for leftovers. Its spinach and ricotta stuffed shells, roasted corn, bread, salad, and some sort of cake bread. Its really good and I am so hungry. I fill up, but can't eat as much as the nobos. Sourdough and I are assigned to wash the dishes from our meal. Easy enough as I have lots of experience washing dishes. Then we all participate in a panel discussion about thru-hiking for the hut guests. Its pretty interesting. Lights out at 9:30, so we lay out our sleeping bags on the floor and listen to the wind howl as we try to go to sleep.
Date: 2006-08-16
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Almost Crawford Notch
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: fog

A Walk in the CloudsAfter completing my work-for-stay assignment at Lakes of the Clouds Hut of counting and folding blankets, I head out hoping to make it to Crawford Notch. The mountains are in the clouds and visibility is only about twenty feet. Its really pretty though, kind of ethereal. While I can't see Mt. Monroe, Mt. Franklin, or Mt. Eisenhower, the mountains I am hiking by, the trail is relatively easy. In fact, Margaret, the Mt. Washington shuttle driver, called this section of trail the gentle presidents; not as much elevation change as the presidents north of Mt. Washington. Before summitting Mt. Pierce aka Mt. Clinton, I meet some boy scouts. There are lots of troops who come out and hike the Whites in the summertime. But it reminds me too, of how early school starts in GA. My friends are back to work teaching the students, but children up here are still on vacation.I descend to the Mizpah Hut for some soup and some left over baked chicken. There are about 10 nobo fellows there. I sit with Dirt and Leprechaun who are trying to decide which blue blaze trail to take. They are a loud fun group, playing cards and teasing each other. Watching them interact kinda makes me wish that I had been able to go nobo and be a part of a more social group. Southbounders are so spread out this year.Time to push on. The trail to Mt. Jackson is nice until the summit which has me bouldering up a bit. It has great views of where I have just come from (now that the clouds have lifted). Then its time to climb Mt. Webster and follow the Webster Cliff Trail. Geting up there is fine and now I have great views of the mountains ahead of me. Getting down sucks. Its steep cliff after steep cliff that I have to keep bouldering down and these aren't the kind of rocks you can just sit on your butt and slide down. It seems to take forever to get off the cliffs, but like I said, there were great views and sometimes standing on top of one of the open rock faces with the sun beating down on me and the wind blowing, I felt like I was on top of the world. The cliffs end and now it is just steep downhill to the road. The cliffs took more out of me than I planned on and I am not going to make it to the road before dusk in order to hitch to the General Store Bunkhouse. I find a place to hang my hammock, skip dinner as I am low on water, and go to bed. I am wiped out from hiking 'til almost dark. Reflecting back on today's hike made me think I was back in ME, the way the terrain looked. So different from the Whites of the Presidentials I had done two days ago.
Date: 2006-08-18
From: Zealand Hut

To: Almost Garfield Campsite
Miles today: 8.8

I stuck around Zealand this morning to hear the weather forcast. Rain is predicted for Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. I want to hike Franconia Ridge before the possible afternoon thundertorms so I am going to try and get as close to it today as possible. Its a nice day today. There was an absolute beautiful sunrise this morning. I hike up to Zealand Cliffs and check out the view. It's wonderful and there are stealth campsites nearby. I wish that I had some friends with me and that we could just camp out. Sometimes I feel like I am always rushing, hike, hike, hike, and not just enjoying camping. Well, the black flies are too bothersome to stay long, so I move on. Up toward Zealand Peak and I meet a group of young boys out for a camping trip. Keep hiking up and its another group coming down a ladder. I ask them to come on down before I go up and then hear, "Is that Allison?" It's my friend Paul from college, the one that lives near Hanover and has invited me to visit him when I get there. He had told me that he would be leading a group on a hiking trip, but I didn't think he would be starting until today. Turns out they are finishing their trip today. He had been wondering if we would cross paths and we did! I visit with him and his group of very witty and very middle school young men for a bit and then I'm off again. I stop for lunch at the top of Zealand Mtn and meet a woman who is summiting all of the 4000' mtns in NH. I find that there are a lot of people who have this goal. As for me, I'll stick with following the White blazes for now.As I cross over Guyot Mtn I see my first spruce grouse. I even get to take a picture of it before it hobbles off. Then its up to South Twin where I have beautiful 360 degree views. The sky is so clear today you can see all the way to Mt. Washington. I meet an extended family up there that is staying at Galehead Hut and we talk about my journey. Its kind of like a family reunion for them to come to the huts and hike the mountains. One of the questions they ask me is if I ever get lonely. Actually, no, I'm not lonely, but there are times when I wish that I had a companion. Today, for instance, I got really bored with the trail and wished that I had a friend to talk to. Also, when I see some of these amazing views, I wish that I had someone to share them with. But overall, no, I am not lonely.The descent to the Hut is very steep. I am moving at turtle pace. A young guy with a pack bigger than mine flies past me. He looks like he is dancing on the rocks. I finally get to the hut and eat 5 chocolate chip cookies and drink up a ton of lemonade. I meet a few nobos who plan to stay, Montreal, Pi, and FDR. Nice folks. I head on, still wanting to get as close to the ridge as possible.I don't make it to the Garfield campsite as its getting dark and I am getting tired. I do find a stealth site and set up my hammock. Its not the best place as there are pine tree branches in the way, would be better for a tent, but I make it work. No need to eat dinner as I am stuffed full on chocolate chip cookies!
Date: 2006-08-20
From: Liberty Springs Campsite

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 5.5

Well, I am embarrassed to admit that I did not leave camp until 3:30 today. It did in fact rain last night and it was still misty this morning. My neighbors get up and make coffee and start packing up. I am too comfy in my sleeping bag. We chat and then they leave around 8:30. I fall back asleep until 11:30. I get up and eat in my hammock and then I update my journals. Finally, about 2:30 I decide I really need to start hiking. I have decided to go only 5 miles to the next, and last, hut. I don't want to do South Kinsman in the rain and I don't want to have to pay for another campsite. Besides, why not hit the last hut and get a warm place to sleep and two warm meals. The terrain is not too steep and I am making good time until parts toward the end get rocky. Before I get to the hut, as I am crossing over the pond outlet, I hear a loud splash. I look into the lake to see what it was and see 2 beavers swimming around. Cute.   Finally, at the hut at about 7:30 and yes, they still have work for stay. There are two nobos there, Homeward and Wiggy, and a nobo section hiker, Green Peace. The croo here is my favorite as they are really friendly and make the effort to converse with us thru-hikers. This hut is the warmest one I've stayed in yet as well.Spinach and ricotta cheese stuffed shells, salad, broccoli, bread, and cake. Yummy! Now, if they only had a hot shower and laundry facilities, I'd be in heaven!9:30 comes soon which means lights out. My last night sleeping on a table.
Date: 2006-08-21
From: Lonesome Lake Hut

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 0.0

It's still raining. The forecast is for it to clear up and be partly cloudy today, but we are still in a cloud. Homeward, Wiggy and I hang out in the dining room. It's cold too. I don't want to leave. I don't want to hike South Kinsman in the rain. Homeward and Wiggy decide to leave around noon, but they are only going into town. Lucky them. They get to do laundry. I stick around playing solitaire and decide I am going to zero. Hopefully, my clothes will dry out and tomorrow the weather will be better. Besides, its my last hut and this Croo is really great. The numbers are low for tonight, so Michelle lets me know that I can have a bunk. I head down to the bunk house and lay out myself to dry, lie down on the bunk and read an Us magazine. I'm so out of the media scene that I don't know half of the celebrities written about in the magazine. Michelle calls me up to do my chore for work for stay, washing the day dishes. She is impressed with my speed. I inform her that I was a professional dishwasher for my folks for five years.After my chores, I decide that I need to exercise my legs and since it is not raining or misting, I take a hike around the lake. I don't see the beavers tonight, though.When I get back, Grizzly Bear and another sobo, Combat, have arrived. Grizzly Bear took a zero in town at a B&B and is impressed with the big meals he had in town.Dinner is chicken and rice, but the guests were hungry so there wasn't any chicken left. Darn. The rest of the food is good and the company is great. I love this croo. I'm in bed early. It is really cold and I am glad that I have three blankets to keep me warm!