morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-26
From: Tucker Johnson Shelter VT

To: Cloudland Road VT
Miles today: 28.2

8/26/2004SlimerWake early, get rolling. Soon walk through Gifford Woods State Park. They have coin operated showers. $1.00 get me 20 minutes of hot water. I also wash my clothes in the shower, I¢m a master at doing this. Squeaky clean, I¢m back on the trail. Easy walk past Kent Pond. A lot of kayakers out enjoying the day.It begins to pour rain, stumble in to Stony Brook Shelter. Gather has been here and left a BMX magazine for everyone to read.Carp walks up, he¢s Australian, lives in Perth. One tough looking dude. I notice a tattoo of a Carp (fish) on his back. I inquire, he says in Japan the Carp fish is a symbol that means, to strive, to never give up, cool!He is getting tired of the trail, he says ¢ I¢m getting (*******) tired of this bloody up and down shit¢!! He raves. We all have days like this.I head out, just like Carp said, ¢it¢s bloody up/down, like a bloody yo yo¢ On down the trail I take a break, he passes me. He¢s carrying one huge load, over 60 lbs!! He¢s tough that¢s for sure. I catch back up. Up ahead I hear him cussing something. I¢m thinking, who¢s he pissed at? But it turns out he¢s cussing a porcupine that won¢t move off the trail. ¢Scram you bloody wanker¢ he yells. I just laugh.We soon get to Wintture Shelter. I get water and move on, Carp stays. I go for about 4 more miles. Meet a British couple, nice folks. I make camp. Evidently I made camp where the deer make camp, and they didn¢t like me being there. They snorted and hissed all night long, I am not moving!!Tucker Johnson Shelter ¢ to ¢ Cloudland Road 28.2
Date: 2004-08-27
From: Cloudland Road VT

To: Norwich VT
Miles today: 16.9

8/27/2004SlimerGet moving early. I¢m trying to set myself up for an easy walk into Hanover NH. This is the home of Dartmouth College. The trail goes right through the campus. Tough day, lots of steep climbs. Yep I¢m getting close to New Hampshire. I can hear Carp cussing the trail already! ¢Bloody worthless hills¢!! I¢m worn out, but I¢m making good time.My feet are really hurting me. I pull off my shoes and socks. My heel has eaten into the side of the shoe!! I¢m pissed!! I duct tape my heels and keep digging!Soon get to Thistle Hill Shelter. There I meet ¢Regular Brian¢. He knows Gather, they first met in Damascus VA. He heads on to West Hartford VT, I stay at the shelter and take a nap, much too long of a nap! Though I fell much better. I need to get moving.I turn it up a notch to get to VT-14 West Hartford VT, small cross roads with a general store. I cross the White river, good looking water, swift rapids. This is a local swimming hole.I make a bee-line for the store. Coming out of the store is ¢Regular Brian¢ loaded with Ben & Jerry¢s. He is going to take a dip. I eat and eat, watch the cars pass.After a bit I go down to the river, ¢Regular Brian¢ is just getting out of the water. He appears like he¢s going into hypothermic shock. We soon both head out to Happy Hill Shelter.While walking the road we pass by a pile of vegetables someone had thrown out. We both look at each other. I jump down the bank into the weeds to look closer. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the tomatoes, we load up!!We notice a man and woman across the street just staring at us and shaking their heads. I think they are the one¢s who dumped them out. Ha, Ha, mine now!!!We proceed on, not too bad of a climb, just miserably hot! Get to happy Hill Shelter, nice stone building with a loft. I break here for a bit. Too much daylight left, I push on. 3 more miles to Norwich VT, I¢m moving fast. I want to be able to make a short walk into Hanover NH first thing in the morning.Getting dark, I come to a road. This is the road into Norwich VT, I¢m making good time. The trail takes me down a very wealthy neighborhood, super-expensive homes. A lady playing with her dog asks me where I¢m headed to I respond, we talk a while, she says that I can sleep in the barn out back. I immediately accept She even lets me plunder the vegetable garden. Very nice home. He barn is filled with skis, kayaks and canoe¢s ,she tells me that she runs desert marathon¢s, she looks very athletic. Her name is Lisanne Dorion. After I lay my gear out, she brings a plate of muffins and fruit! And leaves a short note of encouragement. I settle in.Cloudland Road NH ¢ to ¢ Hanover NH ¢ 16.9 miles
Date: 2004-08-28
From: Norwich VT

To: Hanover NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

8/28/04Very good nights rest! I pack up and head down the side-walk. Its road walking from here to Hanover. I cross the Connecticut river, I¢m in NH! Yep, I¢m in an Ivy League college town. Expensive bicycles, expensive cars. Lots of old money here. Walk right through Dartmouth University. Odd feeling it is for me to be in an Ivy-League town. Its early Saturday Morning. While crossing the river I look to see if the college rowing team is out practicing. Nope, not at the moment anyway, they must have hangovers from the previous night. HA! I go to the center of town, find a bench and soak it all in.While at a pay phone, Gather came slinking by. He stealth camped near someone¢s house! We eat breakfast and plan for the day. My original plans were to re-supply and keep moving, but I can feel myself slowly being sucked into the vortex of ¢town¢. Go to the PO and pick up mail-drop. Whoa! Mom and dad sent a lot, enough to supply a small army. Head down to Ben/Jerry¢s for ice cream. Amble down to library to sort out gear. While there I meet ¢Baltimore Jack¢ very pleasant fellow. He is a legend on the trail. He has thru-hiked 5 maybe 6 times. He gives me valuable advice. I listen carefully. I head back up to college to explore. I go to the ¢green¢ this is massive lawn where everybody goes to relax.I spy Night-Ryder, Kip and Gather, they are a motley-looking bunch! We just lay on the grass and examine the college scene. We poke around, we take a lap around the running track. We go to the library, to the liberal arts center. We go everywhere. Getting back, got to find a place to crash. Due to an incident in the past, the college no longer lets hikers stay on campus. ¢can you imagine that¢ We go from frat house to frat house asking, NO! they say¢¦ We go to the campus lounge. Kip decides to stay in pool room late and sleep under the table.. after some more saner thinking, we decide to find some where else. We go to the Dartmouth Outing club. It¢s unlocked 24 hours, we¢re allowed to leave our gear here, but there is no overnight stay allowed. It¢s 1:00 a.m. we do find a place to sleep, can¢t tell you where though. We must protect the innocent.                                 Nero day
Date: 2004-08-29
From: Hanover NH

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: light rain

8/29/04Good sleep, until we hear doors slamming and computers turning on. We bolt upright and scram to the safety of the ¢green¢. Stealth camping at its finest. Ryder and Kip are still asleep. Gather and I eat, then hit the trail. Hot it is. Pass the 1st shelter, Velvet Rocks, continue on to the Trapper John Shelter, is dark and bad storm are approaching when I get there, but I hear a familiar voice from inside, ¢Slimer is that bloody you?¢ It can only be Carp, the tough Aussie, I settle in just before the storm hits. Good Night to sleep.Hanover NH ¢ to ¢ Trapper John Shelter ¢ 16.7 miles
Date: 2004-08-30
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Ore Hill Shelter
Miles today: 19.3

8/30/04Leave early, NH is whooping my tail. Very, Very steep climbs. All day is like this. My goal today is Ore Hill Shelter this will set me up for an easy day into Glencliff, NH. Today is the most I have sweated the entire trip. I¢m constantly trying to figure out how to lighten my pack. Get to Fire-Warden¢s cabin, nice 4 sided shelter. I decide to climb the fire tower. No views today, all clouds, but pleasant none-the-less. I get to top and take a short nap. Start moving again, sign says 4 miles to Ore Hill Shelter. I move quick to Ore Shelter. It¢s taking forever, I¢m running into more deep mud, getting frustrated getting dark, storm is brewing. NH weather is unpredictable.Get to shelter, I¢m hoping its not full. Once again I hear a voice, ¢Slimer get out of the bloody rain¢. HA! Hello Carp! I despise getting to a shelter after dark, have to unpack in the dark, cook in the dark, it¢s a hassle. Rain is loud on the tin roof but relaxing. Heavy rain all night. Trail will be flooded in the morning.Trapper John Shelter ¢ to ¢ Ore Hill shelter - 19.3 miles
Date: 2004-08-31
From: Ore Hill Shelter

To: Glencliff NH
Miles today: 7.4

8/31/04Good sleep, other hikers leave, I soon leave followed by Carp, 6 muddy miles to Glencliff, get to NH 256, a lady pulls over and asks if I need a ride into Warren. It¢s tempting but I decline. Get to summit of Mt. Mist, the word ¢mist¢ is quite appropriate. My feet are really hurting, beginning to blister, getting more and more pissed. Finally get to Glencliff, tiny, tiny place, not even a crossroads walk to hostel, Carp is right behind me. We claim our bunks. I catch a ride into town for re-supply. As usual I buy too much! Go to PO. I get my new shoes! Many hikers leave the hostel, more arrive, Paparazzi, Wipeout, Swan, Blue and others. Weather has turned out to be beautiful. I get my first look at MT. Moosilouke, which is basically the entrance to the White Mountains. Supposed to be a bad-ass mountain. Rest of afternoon is spent doing typical hostel errands.At dark Lion King and Pak-Rat build a fire and began singing and picking a guitar. Let me tell you, they re quite talented. I notice Swan and her daughter sitting beside the fire, the daughter gently dances to the music, her mother Swan nods secretly but approvingly. A mother is watching her daughter grow. Enchanting it is. I soon get to bed, but the music goes on into the wee hours of the morning.Ore Hill shelter ¢ to ¢ Glencliff NH ¢ 7.4 miles
Date: 2004-09-01
From: Glencliff NH

To: Eliza Brook Shelter NH
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

9/1/04Wake, Carp is already packing up. I too pack up, go outside to eat, then play with Kaya the Labrador. This beautiful animal loves to play fetch. I settle up with Big John, he is a fine fellow, wishes me luck, even gives me a hug! The south bounder that walks in a hospital smock is leaving. Trail easy at first, but quickly gets mean. Have to cross a creek that is somewhat flooded, new shoes get wet! Soon see Paparazzi, we begin to climb Mt. Moosilauke 4,802 ft., very steep, slow going, soon see Carp taking a breather.We are going above tree line, getting much colder. Get to summit, there is no view, wind is howling. Carp and I take a few pictures. Papparazzi comes up he¢s a freelance photo journalist he snaps a few. Time to move on, very cold here.Trail very very steep, rugged, one slip and you could be gravely injured. Beaver Brook, it¢s more like a healthy stream, is next to trail. Lots of whitewater, the gradient is very very steep. I see a flat rock by the creek, looks like a good lunch spot, almost get to it, hit a slick spot, slide down rock on me ass. I envision me and my pack being washed into current. Get scraped up a little, but no harm done.Trail is damn near vertical. I don¢t know what anyone would do if it iced over. Keep moving, Wipeout and I push to Eliza Brook Shelter. It seems as if time has stopped it takes forever to do 2 miles due to rugged terrain. She gets there before I do, she moves very fast.! Shelter is full, lots of tents, I see a lot of people I know. I find a good spot away from crowd, lay out tarp, cook, eat, good weather tonight, No Worries!Glencliff Nh ¢ to ¢ Eliza Brook Shelter 17 miles
Date: 2004-09-02
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Little Haystack Mountain
Miles today: 11.4

9/2/04Got cold overnight but I slept quite well. Leave at the crack of dawn. It gets harder and harder. This is definitely a wake up call. Constant steep ups/downs. Very slow going.Along the way I begin to feel guilty. I want Gather and I to walk together, but he is about 2 days behind. My mind set is to push hard like I¢ve been doing, but now I feel as if I should slow down to let him catch up. Up/Down all day.I¢m worn out. Get to Franconia Notch US-3, hikers are going into North Woodstock to re-supply for the 5-day stretch thru Mt Washington. That¢s a lot of food to carry. Wipeout and I try to hitch, no luck, we waste an hour, soon a girl in a Subaru picks us up. I re-supply, wipeout checks into a motel. I sit at the deli and eat, then hitch back out.Guy giving me a ride doesn¢t know where the hell he¢s going, eventually get there. Getting late, push onto Liberty Spring tent site. The caretaker here is very much against me going any further, says that I¢m going to damage the forest floor when I camp. To hell with him, I move on, I¢m not going to damage anything. He just wants $8.00 to pitch a tent. I head on long climb to Little Haystack Mountain, getting dark, find a tiny spot up high. Cold tonight, settle in.Eliza brook Shelter ¢ to ¢ Little Haystack Mountain ¢ 11.4 miles
Date: 2004-09-03
From: Little Haystack Mountain

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

9/3/04Cold overnight, but was still comfortable, moving at dawn. I can see sun coming up. Good long climb to top. Absolutely stunning views, I¢m above treeline, very cold, windy, views are spectacular. I spend lots of time on these peaks. Feeling very peaceful here. I¢m at 5,249 ft have to put on winter gear and shades. Time to move on, steep descent, sit down to eat, I hear a familiar voice, here comes Wipeout. We walk a while, she stops for water. I keep moving, decide to stop by Gale Head Hut, get a bowl of soup. I decide to do the work for stay option, the boss sets me to washing dishes, ain¢t so bad. I¢ll get pizza leftover, breakfast leftovers and a nights stay. It costs tourists $90.00 to stay here. Only 3 hikers are able to get this deal. A few others try but are turned away. I even get my own tiny bunk. The grungy hikers sit on the porch while the ¢guests¢ eat their supper. Soon they finish eating, the boss calls us into the dining room, we stampede through the place. We get pizza leftovers, fine by me. We seem to be outcasts, we eat like pigs, some of the tourists stare. Carp does his share by cleaning the stove. Quite a hard worker he is. I give him a pat on the back while he¢s working, ¢fine job¢ I tell him. ¢Damn Straight¢ he replies without even skipping a beat! Fine fellow he is¢¦. I always enjoy his company. Time to settle in, I go see Hans, he¢s sleeping in the storeroom! Beside his head are large boxes of candy bars! It¢s a good thing they didn¢t put me in that room! Settle in.Little Haystack Mountain ¢ to ¢ Galehead Hut ¢ 10.4 miles
Date: 2004-09-04
From: Galehead Hut

To: Eathan Pond Campsite
Miles today: 11.8

9/4/04Woke to the sound of pots and pans banging. I get up to see if I can help out. Nope they say, I¢ve done plenty enough already. Us outcasts patiently wait until the respectable¢s have eaten, then we are given the leftovers. Lots of pancakes! Plus oatmeal, I leave the oatmeal alone. I notice one of the crew members adding green Tabasco sauce to his oatmeal, I later hear him mutter that he¢ll never do that again. HA! The weather is almost 50 feet visibility. I hear Carp say ¢Bloody Weather is for Wankers¢. He soon heads out into the white. My work here is done, I bid the crew farewell, then start walking. Immediately start long climb, get to top, very poor visibility, winds gusting to 60 mph. One fellow got knocked down twice! Descend quickly, surprisingly, the trail today is much easier than the previous days, lots of flat. Soon run into other people that I know. At this stage in the trip, everybody is beginning to bunch up. Gather is still somewhere behind. I desperately want us to walk the rest of the trip together, but I don¢t think he wants to be with me. This brings sadness to my soul. From the very beginning, I have pushed hard every day going thru blood, sweat and tears trying to catch up. The last few days, I¢ve purposely gone slow in hopes he will catch up. It is very difficult to do this. My mindset has been go-go-go from day 1. Now I¢m trying to do the opposite. I also worry about the Oct 15 deadline.Don¢t quite know how I¢m going to handle this situation. But it is what it is. Soon arrive at Zealand Hut, many people here, this hut is only 2 miles from a road. The other huts are basically isolated. Go in and get a bowl of leftover soup. ¢Chef¢ and ¢One Way¢ walk in. Tempted to ask for the work for stay, but I decide to keep moving, very flat walking all the way to Eathan Pond campsite. Moose shit everywhere! Decide to call it a day. Gonna camp tonight, clear skies, but chilly!Galehead Hut ¢ to ¢ Eathan Pond campsite - 11.8 miles
Date: 2004-09-05
From: Eathan Pond Campsite

To: Mt. Webster NH
Miles today: 6.2

9/5/04Sleep in late on purpose, hoping Gather will catch up. Wish I knew where he is. Running a little low on food, gonna hitch in to Crawford Notch campground¢s General Store, about 5 miles down highway 302. Short, rocky walk down to trail head. Lots of cars here. Labor day crowd is here. Start hitching, no luck at first, soon a black lady from Maine picks me up, very pleasant person she is. Get to store, load up on food, as tradition goes, I sit on the bench and eat. Several people come up and ask questions about thru-hiking. A family from Florida is there helping the owners of the campground. The husband is going to bicycle across America next year. Their daughter looked exactly like someone I saw on the MTV show ¢Made¢. I enjoy hanging out at the store. It gives me a feel of what the local scene is like. Getting later in the day, get moving, no luck with hitching at first, but soon a Cherokee pulls over, a former Thru-hiker he is. Get dropped off at trail head. I see Paparazzi standing with others. He introduces me to ¢Rican and ¢Junior¢. Rican did 1200 miles this year. Junior summated in July, he started in Feb. He is a school teacher in Maine. He also tells me that the Oct 15 date doesn¢t mean much to the rangers. He say¢s later September, early Oct, they can close the trail. It¢s their discretion. Time is running low!! I hear that Gather is only doing 10 miles a day. He¢s going to have to move faster. Dad tells me not to worry about Gather, let him walk his own walk. I understand but they can close the mountain before Oct 15th. Nothing is guaranteed. I hit the trail with a heavy pack, begin climbing Mt Webster, rough climb. Junior said it was a mean ass climb. 3,910 ft. Cold up here. Gonna camp here tonight.Eathon Pond Campsite ¢ to ¢ Mt. Webster ¢ 6.2 miles
Date: 2004-09-06
From: Mt. Webster NH

To: Pinkham Notch NH
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: broken clouds

9/6/04Just before I drifted off to sleep, a SOBO came in wandering down the trail. There¢s no way he¢s gonna descend in the dark. He camps nearby. Drifter is his name and he¢s from Hendersonville, NC. We talk for a bit. He gives me a map of Maine. I hope he makes it all the way. Was cold when I settled in but cloud cover brought the temp up a little. As I pack up, I felt some pain in my left knee. This bothers me. Get moving, pain gets worse, now I¢m quite scared. Furious, worried and sad. I sit down at the top of Mt Jackson and contemplate the situation. It is from here I get a good look at Mt Washington, it¢s quite a sight. Get moving have to go easy on the knee. I¢ll crawl up Katahdin if I have to. Keep pushing on, meeting many people along the way. At first, I don¢t think I¢m going to make it to Mount Washington, but it¢s all above tree-line, totally exposed, no where to camp. Knee fells somewhat better. Getting closer to Washington, soon pass by Lake of the Clouds Hut. I don¢t even stop, large group of French people are there as well as a lot of German. I push for the Summit. Getting much colder now, very windy. I¢m basically hopping from large rock to large rock. Takes forever to get to top. Very crowded at Top! Tourists everywhere, I make some phone calls. It¢s getting late and I can¢t stay on the summit. Think of stealth sleeping here, but too many people. I go to the Hiker¢s Shuttle Building, there I meet Susan, she¢s a former Thru-Hiker and current ski instructor. She drives the shuttle, I take the shuttle down. I notice that the hiker building is chained to the ground with BIG chains. Evidence of the heavy winds. We all pile into a van and take the long, long ride down the mountain. We arrive at the Pinkham Notch Visitors Center, a lodge owned by the AMC. Check in, go eat, sit at table with many people, they all ask questions. Very tired today, settle in. Kind of frustrated because of the low mileage days. Oh Well.Mt. Webster ¢ to ¢ Pinkham Notch (Joe dodge Lodge) ¢ 22.7 miles
Date: 2004-09-07
From: Pinkham Notch NH

To: Cowboy Stealth Camping
Miles today: 2.95

09/07/2004SlimerGet up, rush to eat. Catch the shuttle back up to the summit. Swan Signet and Ursa are there. Also there is Regular Brian. I hang around a little and hit the trail.Trail is hard to distinguish from the terrain. It is nothing but pure rock.Gonna be a long day walking in this shit. Wind is howling, very easy to be blown off balance. Long mind numbing walk to Madison Springs Hut.Beautiful views, clouds. Get to Madison Springs Hut. Stay just a bit. Weather is coming in. I make the decision to push on, risky move it is. Very exposed to weather, long slow scramble over rocks.Soon meet a group of Germans. The lead lady tries to speak English, I cannot understand her at all. Her friend is able to communicate much better. They want to know how much farther it is to shelter.Getting dark. Beginning to descend, need to find a campsite. I find a tiny flat spot with a rock out crop overhang. Lay out my gear, weather has me a little concerned. Supposed to be lots of rain next few days.Pinkham Notch ¢ to ¢ Cowboy Stealth camping ¢ 2.95 miles
Date: 2004-09-08
From: Cowboy Stealth Camping

To: Carter Notch camp NH
Miles today: 2.95

09/08/2004SlimerOvernight the stars disappeared and clouds rolled in, drops started falling lightly. I roll up into my tarp. My Equinox tarp is one super piece of equipment! In the morning I¢m very dry, very little precipitation overnight. Hard to get moving this morning. Steep downhill, all the way to Osgood Tent Site. Trail can become confusing due to many other trails intersecting. I meet Blue, she camped out at Osgood Campsite. Push hard to Pinkham Notch Camp.It¢s funny that I just stayed here a day ago. I had planned on passing through, but the smell of food made me stop. While eating I meet Stitcher and Penn Mule, former thru-hikers. Stitcher is an official with the ALDHA (Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association) They give us valuable advice.They tell us to be careful on Wildcat Mountain. Off I go to climb Wildcat. Nightmare of a steep climb. Just when I think I¢ve topped out, it¢s a false summit! This climb could be very dangerous if rocks are wet. Get to top. There is a ski lift in operation. I guess they¢re preparing for ski season. Push on.Begin steep, steep descent, just when I think it can¢t get any steeper, it drops quicker. Descending takes forever, but soon get to Carter Notch Campsite. It¢s about empty, but soon people start filling it up. I¢m going to do work for stay, probably not too much to do here though.I¢m really frustrated at the Huts, having to work. It¢s also always crowded, people hollering and telling. This just isn¢t for me. I¢ll be glad to get the hell out of the Whites and into Maine where there are many more shelters to stay in, ¢For FREE! And without working!!Cowboy Stealth Camping ¢ to ¢ Carter Notch Camp ¢ 2.95 miles