morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-14
From: Hanover, NH

To: Zero day in Hanover, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day #153 Quest, Catdog, Hawk and I decided to zero for two days in Hanover. We wanted to rest tired muscles, give our aches and pains some relief. Most of all, we wanted to be fresh and healthy for the White Mountains. I stayed with Dave and Baltimore Jack and the others stayed in a local hotel. Dave is a local who owns the property where Jack is staying. Dave is a great, easy going guy, enjoys life and loves a good laugh and enjoyed being around the hikers.The first thing I did on Saturday was make contact with home after seeing the initial reports of the devastation from Hurricane Charley. Lady Kritter was without electricity and helping neighbors cut and move downed trees from the roads. The winds, I was told were a sustained 80 mph for about an hour with intermediate stronger gusts and tornados. Our house survived the winds and Lady Kritter did a great job organizing the before and after events on the home front. My only regret was I was not there to be with her during this ordeal. Family members throughout the state made it through, though most sustained damage, but I was relieved. Next, I went into town to pick up my mail drops. Thank you, Goddesses from Deland, for the box of goodies. Sweets are always good when energy levels plummet. I also want to thank the Goddesses for the distance healing I received during the blue moon. The shin splint is getting stronger daily and should be ready for the Whites. Lady Kritter sent back my winter gear for the remainder of my hike through the Whites and Maine. It has been a mild summer in New England so far with the temperatures ranging between 50 to 60 degrees at night. I¢ve been warned of sudden winter conditions possible during my travels through the mountains of New Hampshire and Maine so one must be prepared. The rest of today was spent walking around the town of Hanover, the college campus of Dartmouth, and just relaxing.
Date: 2004-08-15
From: Zero day in Hanover, NH

To: Zero day in Hanover, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day #154Sunday I slept late, then went shopping to re-supply. Jack came along and we bought food for a BBQ tonite. Also staying with Jack is a sobo named Lunch Box, and the Hobbits. The BBQ was great. Bag of Tricks showed up and surprised everyone. It was really good to see him again.I went to bed early, knowing I was leaving in the morning. Around 1:00 the rains came and did not let up until after daybreak. Another soggy night in New England.
Date: 2004-08-16
From: Zero day in Hanover, NH

To: Moose Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

Day #155 I woke up this morning to the sound of rain. Caught a ride into town to find Quest, Hawk and Catdog to see what the game plan was for today. We planned to head north on the trail as soon as the rain lightened up. Went back to the cabin for my gear and to mail the boxes I was sending home. I met up with everyone at 10:00; the rain finally stopped and we were back into hiking mode. As Hawk and I were climbing out of Hanover I felt a strange sensation on my forehead. Hawk had a similar experience moments before mine. A bead of sweat¢¦ Two days of indoor living, clean clothes, healthy meals and no sweating can erase that animalistic behavior of the forest and make you civilized in the concrete jungle. The bead of sweat reminded me it was time for work, time to power up that human engine towards Katahdin. The strangest feeling of all was that it felt good.I walked over the south peak of Moose Mountain (2290 ft.) and moments later I was in a newly built shelter called Moose Mountain Shelter by 2:30. The privy is one of the best on the trail. Four tree trunks holding a gable metal roof. No sides and the toilet seat is built into a box. The whole setup looks like a primitive throne of a jungle king. The air temperature cooled down quickly and I was thanking Lady Kritter for organizing my winter gear and having it sent to me in Hanover. The cold rain started around 5:00 and by the time dark thirty came around we were in a hard rain. The shelter started leaking in several places where the hex screws went through the metal roof. Hawk and Friar tried to seal some of the leaks with duct tape with some success. Hawk looked out the shelter and saw a sheet of visqueen lying on the ground. The next thing I know Hawk and Friar are on the slippery metal roof covering the leaks. Poppins, Skippy and I were on the ground handing rocks to the guys on the roof to hold the plastic down. Success! No more leaks. Everyone is back in the shelter, now dried in, and spent the rest of the night listening to rhythm of the rain pounding the metal roof.
Date: 2004-08-17
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: Firewarden's Cabin
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

Day #156 The heavy rain stopped around midnight. It was hard to sleep with the heavy drops of rain resounding on the metal roof. Woke up at 6:00 to a heavy fog coming over Moose Mountain. Left the shelter at 7:00 and gingerly walked the wet and slippery trail. Holts Ledge and the peregrine falcon rookery could not be seen due to the fog bank. Went into Lyme, NH, via the Lyme-Dorchester Road, with Quest, Catdog and Hawk. We stopped at the Lyme General Store for a grinder and ice cream. ¢The hungers¢ have definitely hit me. I can order two dinners in town and not be satisfied. I cook a package of Lipton Noodles, add rehydrated chicken with a bag of Ramen Noodles thrown in for dinner on the trail. Finished, I am still hungry. I'm glad it¢s hitting at this point in time. I need all the energy I can get for the upcoming White Mountains. Hitching a ride back to the trail, a mother and daughter picked us up. The daughter had thru-hiked in 1997 with the trail name of Alien. The mother had been support for Alien and is known as the Mothership. They were great people who gave us useful information about the Whites. Back on the trail in the afternoon and we knew the rest of the day was going to be a hard climb up Smarts Mountain (3240 ft.) The local's claim it's called Smarts for the punishing pain it gives hikers. The hike was indeed hard going 2200 ft. in 3.7 miles. The reward for the hard climb was a fire tower with great views and a cabin called the Firewarden's Cabin. In the cabin tonight are Friar, Poppins, Skippy, Hawk, Enigma, Bob, and several hikers I¢ve never met before. Most of the nobo's that have made it past Hanover are now anxious for the Whites, including me. Two major thoughts are going through my mind. First and foremost, the Whites will be the toughest challenge, the most grueling part of this journey. Past thru-hikers have told me that although completing over 3/4's of the trail, at this point you have only completed 50% of the trail's toughest. I would ask sobo's as we passed one another what it was like going through the Whites. Almost every response was ¢beautiful, great views that you will cherish forever.¢ As they say this and a vivid recall is triggered from the question, I watch their facial expressions change from contentment to wonderment. Their eyes tell me of the fear they faced and overcame. My second thought involves my hike out of the Whites and into Maine. It means soon there will be closure to my journey; it means my reunion with Lady Kritter, family and friends; it means my reunion with the civilized world. It means...
Date: 2004-08-18
From: to Firewarden's Cabin

To: Ore Hill Shelter
Miles today: 12.6

Day #157 Spending the night on Smarts Mountain was a treat. Quest, Hawk and I climbed the fire tower to watch a pretty sunset. However, I¢m still looking for that one sunset that takes your breath away. One with colors that remain inside your head long after the sun goes down. More hikers came in after dark, most I did not know. Woke up at 6:00 and was on the trail by 6:40. The hike down Smarts Mountain was gradual and very muddy. My first break was at Eastman Ledges and I could see the fire tower sitting on top of Smarts across the way. Had a strenuous climb up Mt. Cube with great views from the granite peak. I hitched a ride with Hawk into Wentworth, NH to the Shawnee's General store for hotdogs and cold drinks. A little while later Quest and Catdog come in with the same purpose in mind. After a brief climb we are spending the night at the Ore Hill Shelter.I was walking through the mountain forest when I realized I have not seen, nor heard, wildlife for several days. I would usually see deer, hear the song birds, or watch the squirrels and chipmunks play. I thought this was most unusual. I paid closer attention to my surroundings on both sides of the trail and noticed very little activity. I re-read some of my journals and discovered I had not been describing the wildlife for some time now. I asked Quest, Catdog and Hawk if they observed the same thing. Catdog spoke up first and said she was wondering the same thing. In fact, Catdog said she noticed this since coming into Vermont. I do not have an explanation for this observation. Maybe everyone is getting ready for winter or went south for the summer.
Date: 2004-08-19
From: Ore Hill Shelter

To: Hiker Welcome Hostel, Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 7.4

Day #158 Today was going to be a low mileage day, for re-supply and rest. Left the shelter at 6:00 in a misty morning. Climbed Mt. Mist with very limited views due to the fog. 9:00 I was on NH highway 25 walking with Hawk to the Hiker Welcome Hostel. Who is the first face I see at the hostel, no other than Bag of Tricks! Quest and Catdog soon followed. This is a good hostel for hikers to rest and relax before attempting the Whites; sort of a base camp for hikers. Went into the small community of Warren and saw the mystery missile, a relic from the Cold War. Re-supplied and spent the rest of the day hanging around the hostel. Dark thirty, Tricks had a fire going, so we sat around the orange glow until bed thirty. Tomorrow was going to be a big day, Mt. Moosiluake, the first alpine peak of the Whites.
Date: 2004-08-23
From: Garfield Ridge Shelter

To: AMC-Zealand Hut
Miles today: 9.7

Day #162 "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters to what lies within us." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson The temperature dropped into the high 30's during the night. By the time the alarm went off no one wanted to leave the warmth of their cocooned sleeping bag. I forced myself out of the bag at 6:30. I checked on April Showers who was still hurting and was going to zero there in her tent. April was able to call her husband who was going to pick her up the next day for a few days rest and a doctor's visit. When 7:30 rolled around and Quest, Catdog and I are on the trail, fighting a steep descent immediately after leaving the campsite. Hawk never showed up so we are assuming he is ahead of us. By 9:30 we arrived at the AMC Galehead Hut for a leftover breakfast of pancakes. The hut crew (or as the AMC spell it ¢croo¢) told me this is the remotest hut in the White Mountain Hut system. The hut was recently rebuilt and is beautiful inside and out. Full and rested I continued my trek north on the AT. A mile up from the Galehead Hut I came to a boulder field and ridgeline with beautiful profile views of the complete Franconia Ridge that I crossed yesterday. I crossed a beautiful cascading brook called Whitewall Brook at 3:30. The trail followed the brook to the AMC-Zealand Falls Hut. The views from the front porch of the hut look like pictures I have seen of New Zealand. Is that how the hut got its name? I don't know. I asked the hut master if I could work for stay. Mary said all work for stay positions had been filled. However, Mary was willing to add a position. She said the naturalist was off and she did not have a program for the guests. My work for stay would entail giving a talk about thru hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Depending on the hut master a limited number of thru-hikers can work for stay, usually about 1 1/2 - 2 hours of work. The guests eat first and when they are done work-for-stay hikers eat with the croo. Around 5:00 a heavy rain came through the valley and the hut. All the thru-hikers that stayed here tonight were glad for the dry indoors. My presentation began at 8:00 for about 30 guests. I talked for about 30 minutes followed by a question and answer segment that lasted for 1 1/2 hours. The rain stopped by bedtime so I slept cowboy style and fell asleep under street lights of stars.After two exhilarating days of a lifetime of memories, and with more still to come, Mother Nature was still providing me with scenery and sharing her magic that I will cherish forever.
Date: 2004-08-24
From: AMC-Zealand Hut

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

Day #163 Last night was another cold night, I would guess high 30's to low 40's. I was up early and helped the croo cleanup from the guest breakfast. Ate breakfast with the croo and other thru-hikers. At 9:30 Quest, Catdog and I are back on the trail. Walking through the mud and tree roots, I had trouble getting any type of rhythm going in my pace. The shoulder straps on my back pack are loosening during my walk and I am constantly cinching them to maintain a comfortable ride. I stopped at Ethan Pond for two reasons. One, to change my attitude and two, because it was a beautiful mountain pond. The scenery and rest altered my negative attitude. Off I went from Ethan Pond, a new hiker. I reached Crawford Notch with Quest, Catdog, Now or Never, Diesel and Maya Quez around 2:00. One of the main problems of continuing hiking across and up the notch is the fact, in this part of the Whites, that once up on the ridge, it travels above tree line for many miles. In order to cross over the summit of Mt. Washington and find a place for the night without doing big miles, we had to change our schedule. We decided to make today a low mileage day. Tomorrow, stop at the Lakes of the Clouds Hut at the base of Mt. Washington. The next day would be an early crossing of the summit and a not too strenuous a day on the trail spending the night at Madison Hut. Together the six of us hitched a ride to the closest town and spent the night in the warm bed at a motel. If all goes well I can be in Gorham, NH on Sunday, 16 miles from the Maine state line!
Date: 2004-08-25
From: Crawford Notch

To: AMC-Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Day #164 ¢In wilderness lies the preservation of the world.¢ ~ John MuirThe owner of the hotel found us a ride back to the trailhead on Highway 302. all six of us are on the trail and climbing up to Webster Cliffs by 6:30. The climb was arduous. On top of Webster Cliffs I had a great vista of Crawford Notch. Over Mt. Webster (3910 ft.), over Mt. Jackson (4052 ft.) sometimes on rock faces, hand over hand. I arrived at AMC-Mizpah Spring Hut by11:15 for snacks and coffee. Each hut is built differently and each has its own character and charm. I have not been disappointed with a hut or its crew ¢ sorry, croo. A mile climb from Mizpah Spring Hut and I was above tree line walking a ridge in the Presidential Range, similar to Franconia. The views were spectacular. In fact, I believe the grandeur of the views were better than at Franconia. The brown rocky trail went over Mt. Clinton (4180 ft.) and steadily gained elevation to the AMC-Lakes of the Clouds Hut (5040 ft.) In the basement of the hut is a small room called "The Dungeon" that contains 6 bunks for thru-hikers. I managed to talk the hut master into letting me work for stay by putting on a evening program on thru-hiking the AT. "What a great idea!" the hut master said. I was in. After dinner in the big dining room I gave my presentation. Lights went out at 9:30 and those that worked for stay slept on the dining room tables. I had great views from my sleeping bag. The stars were out, the half moon bright, and the valley lights below shimmered. I truly felt I was on a spaceship in flight. In fact I was. It is called "The Third Rock from the Sun -Earth."
Date: 2004-08-27
From: AMC-Lakes of the Clouds Hut to AMC Madison Spring 

To: Pinkham Notch NH 16 and into Gorham, Me
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: mist

"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith." ~Franklin D. Roosevelt Since we worked for stay last night we decided to leave the hut early to escape the hot sun while climbing Mt. Madison. 6:45 Quest, Diesel, Maya Ques, Catdog and I left the hut and immediately encountered boulders, rocks and a tedious climb up Mt. Madison. Looking back at Mt. Washington, the mountain scenery with the road winding up to the summit looked like a picture of the China Wall stretching through the mountains. Two and one half days of boulders and rocks and I came to the conclusion I preferred the rocks in Pennsylvania over the rocks of the Presidential Range. Caution is taken with every step. Loose rocks, pointed rocks, rocks lying in assorted angles, rock hopping all take its toll on ankles and knees. You just never know when you have a solid foothold. Your body is tense, mental alertness is exhausting. A simple mistake, or a lapse in concentration, could result in a premature end to the thru-hike. Most of the morning was spent going up and going down Mt. Madison. Back below tree line we descended and by 1:30 reached Pinkham Notch,and NH16. Had the lunch buffet at the Joe Dodge Lodge. The lodge was full so we decided to take a short day and go into Gorham. A Low mileage day would give our bodies a well deserved rest and refresh for the next challenge of the Whites, the Wildcats. Spending the night at the Colonial Comfort Inn- Hiker's Paradise where even in Gorham there is a paradise.
Date: 2004-08-28
From: Pinkham Notch NH 16 and into Gorham, Me

To: Imp Campsite and Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: fog

Quest, Catdog and I were up early and at Pinkham Notch ready for the wild ride up the Wildcat Mountains. 7:00 we were at the trailhead and following the trail around a pond and then up the first peak called Wildcat Peak E (4041 ft.). A chairlift for winter skiers was located at the top of Peak E. Tough climbs continued for Wildcat Peak D (4063 ft.), Wildcat Peak C (4270 ft.), Wildcat Peak B (4270 ft.) and Wildcat Peak A (4380 ft.). A descent into Carter Notch took me to two beautiful mountain ponds where I had lunch at the AMC-Carter Notch Hut. Also having lunch were Diesel, Maya Ques, Quest, Catdog and the Hobbits. The hike out of the notch was steep, long and hot. Originally several of us were going to stay at the hut but with a pending cold front with rain coming in we decided to push north. In the late afternoon another climb over the Carter Mountains (4600 ft.). A long day of strenuous hiking ended at Imp Shelter and Campsite in the dusk-thirty light.
Date: 2004-08-29
From: Imp Campsite and Shelter

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: fog

During the night several hikers were coming in to beat the weather front approaching. The campsites were full and the shelter was overflowing with hikers. Around 1:00 the first wave of heavy rain hit. I left the shelter around 7:00 in the rain. Footing was precarious as we climbed Middle Mariah Mt. (3620 ft.) in the rain. The rain stopped just before I got to Rattle River. Large boulders were in the river. The sun came out and the river was too inviting to pass up. I took my pack off and layed on the rocks enjoying the scenery and the warmth of the sun. The rest of walk was easy into US2 were Catdog was waiting for me. We started hitchhiking into Gorham when a black, Ford Crown Victoria with antennas on the trunk, a definite unmarked police vehicle, pulled over. Cat looked at me, I looked at her and said "Is it illegal to hitchhike in New Hampshire?" I slowly walked up to the passenger window going down. The driver looks at me and said, "Are you going to Gorham?" Not sure how to answer I gave it a shot and said, "Yes." ¢Hop in I'm going in that direction.¢ Cat and I gladly took the ride watched as the radar readings told us the speed of the on coming traffic. The officer took us directly to the Hiker's Paradise where we stayed a couple of days before. Only on the AT can something like this occur.
Date: 2004-08-30
From: Gorham, NH

To: Hiker's Paradise, Gorham, Me
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

"Experience is not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to him." ~ Aldous HuxleyIt felt good to know I did not have to wake up early and hit the trail. The first item on my list of things to do was go to the post office. There waiting for me was my bounce box and a surprise gift from the Kunzig's, who are Trail Journals readers. The box contained Salt Water Taffy. I shared with other thru-hikers the taffy and save the rest for my hike. The taffy will be a great source of energy, thank you Rob and Mary.I had another surprise in the afternoon. Fritz, who I hiked with in the Smokies for 3 weeks, showed up with Blue Bell. It was great to see him and we exchanged summer stories. A large group of thru-hikers got together for dinner. On the way home the rains came and continued all night.Now that I have completed the White Mountains, I now understand what the hikers¢ blank stares meant when I asked sobo's, "what are the White's like?" I now have the same stare. It is not a stare of fear, as I thought. Yes, there was danger, but the danger did not create the stare. The stare was remembering the vast beauty everywhere you looked. It was not just one day but seven days of walking on boulders with towering mountains surrounding you. It was the different personalities of the AMC huts and its croo (crew). It was the beauty of being above tree line, the alpine zone of fragile life, where you have a view in all directions of a hundred miles and, in all this grandeur you feel like you are on top of the world. All your senses are alive. Photographs cannot capture that feeling. Only those who have been there can truly understand the stare.