morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-08-05
From: Libby B&B Gorham, NH

To: Libby B&B Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0

So we were totally planning on getting back on the trail today. So we mailed off our bounce box, ate some great lunch in town at the Moonbeam Cafe, and got our stuff together. Sat down to let the food settle before taking off and the biggest thunderstorm went through the area. So..we decided that we would rather wait until tomorrow to take off. Its no fun to hike in thunderstorms. After watching the weather and if we play it right we will be going over MT. Washington on Saturday. And the weather forecast is good for Sat.
Date: 2010-08-06
From: Libby B&B Gorham, NH

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Finally hit the trail today after a great rest in Gorham. My shin splints are gone! Hooray! We had one last breakfast at the B&B and we hitched to the trail head. Got started around 9:15.Ran into the Alford Lake Camp one last time. Their last day on the trail. Way to go girls! A few miles in we caught up with Little Engine. We met up with him in Gorham after not seeing him since the 100 mile wilderness. His dad, Hairy Carey, had to get off the trail at Monson because he fell and hurt his head. I think he is planning on jumping back on the trail in a few states down the trail. We entered the White Mountains today. They are beautiful and so high. Lots of ridge walking, often above 4000 feet. Ate lunch with little engine at Imp shelter around 2 and decided we would try to make it to the first of several Huts along the whites - Carter Notch Hut. The hut system in the Whites is very unique. The first one was built in 1888, Madison SPring Hut near Mt. Madison. There are 8 huts throughout the whites and you can reserve a bunk, for somewhere between $80-$120, which includes family style dinner, a bunk with linens, family style breakfast - and the work 'croo' that provides fun entertainment. But for thru-hikers its a whole different experience. We can do what is called 'work for stays'. Which means we go in and ask if they have any work we can do to stay for free - and we get left overs from dinner and breakfast, sleep space in the dining room floor, and all the free, potable water we want to carry, which saves us from having to filter/treat the water.So we get to our first hut at 7:45 - and they don't have work for stays available. They only accept 3, already filled, and they wouldn't have enough food - and we got there way too late. You want to arrive at the huts around 4:30 for the hopes of a work for stay. That night though, the wind was blowing around 50-60 knots...and was so cold since we were so high up. So I asked if we could work for stay just to sleep out of the wind...they said we could stay in their food shed for free and we didn't have to work for stay - perfect! so we bundled up, cooked our own dinner, and hunkered down for the evening. Tup, a scottish guy who is thru-hiking ended up bringing us some of the left over bread and some dessert. It was so yum! So my shin-splints did heal - but as we were leaving the Imp shelter I caught my pinky-toe on a root and it is now broken...ooow...its completely black/purple...i took a pic and you can see it on our facebook photos...The downhills killed Mo's knees today. But we did make it 15 miles today which is pretty awesome.
Date: 2010-08-07
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: broken clouds

6 hours, 6 miles...toe hurts....callus on the bottom of my foot also split open....oooow...no good trail over the wildcat range...Wildcat mountains were horrible. The downhill was sooo tiring and trying. The last mile was flat...but when you're limping its still not enjoyable.Made it to Pinkham notch around 2. Ate some food at the visitors center. and decided we didn't want to go any further. So we treated ourselves to the Joe Dodge Lodge - they were so packed we couldn't even get in the same bunk room. But they had a wonderful Library with a fireplace. So we showered, rested, and relaxed in the library in front of the fireplace and read for the rest of the evening. The room included a family style dinner and an all you can eat breakfast buffet. So we filled up with tons of calories and slept well.We have slowed down to enjoy the Whites...
Date: 2010-08-08
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Madison Spring Hut
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: broken clouds

Enjoyed our AYCE Bfast at Pinkham Notch - french toast, sausage, eggs, potato hash, cereal, oatmeal, cottage cheese, fresh fruit, juices, coffee - and so much more goodness. I ate SO much. What a great way to begin a day of hiking.We had several miles of flat going over to Mt. Madison. And then 2.something STRAIGHT UP. But hey we are used to that at this point. We were trying to take our time at first because we only had a little under 8 miles to go to the hut and didn't want to get there too early to not get a work for stay. You see, if you get there too early - they send you on to hike more miles. Well we didn't have to take our time. The climb up Madison proved to be more time consuming that thought. VERY rocky - and not necessarily stable - a long rock scramble. Over a mile above treeline. Great views. Very beautiful. Good descent over and down to the hut. Great weather.We could see the Mt. Washington Auto Road - and all of the presidentials this side of MT. Washington. We could also see the range of wildcat mtns all the way to Gorham which we hiked the last two days. On the way down to the hut we met some weekenders who were staying at the hut with friends and family, David and Charlie. David told us they had one of their reservations cancel and we could have the bunkspace if we wanted. So Micah said I could have it and he ended up getting a work for stay. So I got to participate in the hut experience as a real person instead of a thru-hiker who has to wait for leftovers and sleep on the dining room floor. I even got a real bunk to stay in! The food was wonderful and the people even better. I ate dinner with Krista, Tami, Kellie, and Erin who are a part of the family/friend group who gave me the reservation.
Date: 2010-08-10
From: Lakes of the Cloud Hut

To: Crawford Notch Campground
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: scattered clouds

On the way from Lakes to Crawford Notch, we stopped in at Mizpah Spring Hut where we enjoyed some hot corn chowder and fresh baked garlic, cheese bread. Yum. The huts also sell fresh baked goods and a daily soup to hikers that pass by. Pretty good deal. Pretty awesome hike today. Great trail, weather, and views. Webster cliffs were a bit intimidating but after that the downhill to Crawford Notch wasn't too difficult, rather gradual. At Mizpah it is estimated to make it to Crawford Notch in 5 hours. We made it in 4! Alright! At the end of the trail today, we met a guy whose trail name is Youngblood and he thru-hiked in 2005 with another famous hiker named Warren Doyle, who takes groups thru-hiking every 5 years. He was there waiting on Warren and his group who was camping at this road tonight. He ended up giving us a ride 3 or so miles down the road to the camp ground and he and Mo sat out on the front porch and chatted for a long time.At the campground we got to shower and do laundry...nice.Met a Russian guy in the parking lot name Dimitry. He found out what we are doing and thought we were crazy so he invited us to his tent site for dinner. We hung out with Dimitry, Eugene, Serge, and Olga all evening. They ended up cooking us the best Italian sausage, baked beans, corn, and baked potatoes. SO DELICIOUS - what great trail angels and magic. We stayed with them till almost midnight. We look forward to visiting them in Brighton beach one day! When we got back to our tent site - RACCOONS! They had gotten into ALL of our food...sad..we lost about half of it. Fortunately we were able to resupply at the general store the next morning. Mo ended up treeing the coons and broke his hiking pole trying to get the out. HAHA...then he fell in the river...what a night. The raccoons also took off with our maps. Who knows where they are.
Date: 2010-08-11
From: Crawford Notch Campground

To: Zealand Falls Hut
Miles today: 7.7

Found the maps - they were in the woods. We were able to resupply at the general store this morning and headed back to the trail ~11. Ate lunch at Edmunds Campsite and then stopped at Thoreau Falls, where Mo swam and I soaked my feet. Beautiful. About 5 miles of really flat walks...nice change. Made it to Zealand and got 2 work for stays for us. Our work for stay that night was to host an AT thru-hikers chat with the guests. It was so much fun. They asked us a ton of questions and we really enjoyed hanging out with them. Ben, a member of the croo, gave us his parents info so we could crash with them when we go to Hanover - thanks BEN! We look forward to seeing you again in a few days!
Date: 2010-08-12
From: Zealand Falls Hut

To: Garfield Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a great bfast at the hut of a fritatta, fruit and cornbread, and some lovely hot cocoa. Stopped at Galedhead hut for lunch and hot chocolate chip cookies. Met Boy Wonder and Wonderland - two SOBO's...Boy Wonder is from Helen, GA of all places! They are also hiking with Follow and White Blaze. Follow is from Augusta, and White Blaze is his dog! Wonderland is moving to GA. So its a big ol' GA group now! Got to the Garfield Ridge Shelter - which costs $8 per person to stay there. We were able to do a work for stay and transplanted some trees to help in a regrowth area. Passed a lady today - at least 70 - thru-hiking and carrying her tent in hand. What an amazing trooper and inspiration. No more complaining. If she can do this...so can I right?!
Date: 2010-08-13
From: Garfield Ridge Shelter

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

Hard climb up Garfield today...but great views from up top! Went up Layfayette and went up and went up and false summit and false summit...and then we make it to the top and NO SIGN to tell up we were there. Sad. AMC is not cool with signage. Ridge walked for several miles above tree line...over MT. Lincoln and Franconia Ridge. Met a day hiker the last few miles and he offered to drive us into Lincoln where we ended up crashing at what is known as Chet's Place. Chet's Place is crowded but the story is good. We sleep on the floor. That is the only space. Showers and Laundry available. Payment: donation, work for stay, barter, trade, whatever. Chet's story is amazing. He was preparing for a thru-hike in 2001 when an MSR stove fuel canister exploded on him. He was hospitalized and in a coma for 8 months. He was in a coma in New York when 9/11 happened. They almost unplugged his since he was thought of as a lost cause to make room for the twin tower victims. He was not unplugged though. He survived. Now he opens his home to hikers.We did a lot of cleaning and did some laundry for him and donated a few bucks and headed back out the next day. Found a Mexican restaurant in Lincoln. Was really excited about that. But it was overpriced and ok food. Can't wait to get south and find cheaper places to eat. Met another GA hiker. Rabid from Ellijay. She was so much fun to hang out with and she told us lots of cool places to visit along the trail as we head south.
Date: 2010-08-14
From: Franconia Notch

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Met back up with Moxie and Alfalfa! (Nick and Faye) we haven't seen them since Gorham. Hiked out with them today to Eliza Shelter. WE stopped at the last of the huts to get water and they gave us left over ham and turkey. So we enjoyed some there then took some to go. We have stuffing and so we plan on frying up the ham and turkey tonight and having thanksgiving. OH! Randomness...another hiker from GA was at Chet's place - Hollywood. Turns out he is from Suwanee and went to Truett McConnell College in 2002 - What a small world! Not too bad of a hike but definitely worn out - go to the shelter around 7:30. My knees hurt today and Mo nailed his arm on a rock. A little bumped and bruised...but we can still carry on.
Date: 2010-08-15
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: broken clouds

The hike to hwy 112 today was so beautiful and easy. Got there in time for lunch at a picnic table at the trail parking lot and ended up taking a two hour siesta in preparation for MT. Moosilauke. The last of the Whites. While resting we met some great people - Melody, Deanna, and Emma who gave us trail magic - water, apple, granola bars. They were so sweet. It helped get us up the mountain.We were planning on a 14 mile day over Moosilauke...but we didnt have it in us so we stopped at Beaver BRook Shelter and enjoyed the views of Layfette and Lincoln.
Date: 2010-08-16
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 8.0

Great hike today. Though the weather wasn't the best. We made it over Moosilauke in a cloud...no views...it was wet and cold. The hike down was lovely and gradual. Made it to Glencliff by lunch. Went to the Hikers Welcome Hostel for showers and laundry with plans to hike on to the next shelter. Well they were predicting thunderstorms so we decided to stay at the hostel for shelter. This place is amazing....HA!Free food because a camp down the road closed at the end of the summer season and donated a TON of food...hotdogs, meatballs, cheese, pepperoni, all sorts of goodies. SO we grilled up a ton of hotdogs and made burritos of rice and black beans. YUM! Showered, laundried, and got our mail drops of food (Thanks MOM!). Watched 3 movies - Dead Poets Society, The Best of the BEst, and Annapolis. Ended up hanging out with Baltimore Jack and Bag of Tricks....Jack has through hiked 8 times and is well known along the trail. We stayed up pretty late with him listening to trail stories. And boy did he have some great stories...including the famous "dead guy at the doyle" story. Long story short - he discovered a decaying body in the doyle in the room next to him. The doyle is a hiker hostel/hotel in Duncannon, PA. Very famous along the trail. Slept great.
Date: 2010-08-17
From: Glencliff, NH

To: NH 25a
Miles today: 10.0

Thanks to our new friends, Baltimore Jack and Bag o' Tricks, we got to Slack Pack 10 miles back to the Hiker's Welcome Hostel in Glencliff. What an easy bit of path. We accomplished the 10 miles in only 4 1/2 hours. This was definitely a first for us.Joining us on our slack was Follow and White Blaze. We really enjoyed the great weather and even better terrain.After Tricks dropped us off, he met us at the next road crossing and we all got to see a baby bear cross the road. Who knows where momma bear was...Once back at the hostel, Micah and Baltimore Jack prepared a wonderful dinner for all the hikers at the hostel...mac n cheese, salad, barbeque...goodness.oh...and i fell flat on my face hiking today...guess my body doesn't know how to hike without a pack on...
Date: 2010-08-18
From: NH 25a

To: Bill the Ice Cream Man's House
Miles today: 16.0

didn't get started today until 11 with a goal of 17ish miles. We have to make it to Hanover by Thursday by 5 p.m. Thats tomorrow. And we still have a ways to go.Mt. Cube was lovely, cool breeze, nice lunch, good company of NOBOS with good advice.At the summit of Mt. Smart, we climbed the fire warden's tower...great views.Cranked out miles to get to Bill the Ice Cream Man's house...his house is right by the AT and he gives thru-hikers an ice cream and h2o and you can buy soda's for fifty cents. We didn't arrive there until 8p.m. so he offered that we just tent in his back yard instead of trying to hike to the next shelter in the dark. So we tented, along with Wonderland. Boy Wonder was with us too and he was able to set up his Hammock on the front porch.We chatted with Bill for a long time and he ended up offering us all a bottle of Trader Joe's Wine to share. Bill is a retired physician and loves hikers. He also made us coffee for the next morning. Lovely. He called us his hero's since we are on a hero's journey.
Date: 2010-08-19
From: Bill the Ice Cream Man's House

To: Hanover
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Beautiful day for a hike into Hanover. The last several miles were absolutely lovely. At one point we were hiking along side a stone wall and I noticed an old stone cellar. Remnants from the 1800's of the farmlands. Vermont used to be all farmland, 80% farms, 20% trees. There were more sheep than people. Then imports from Australia put the sheep farmers out of business in Vermont. While traveling through the Whites, we stayed at Zealand Falls hut, where we met Ben. Ben ended up inviting us to stay with him and his parents outside of Hanover when we arrived there. So once in Hanover, we met up with his Dad at the Dartmouth Green, Harry, who took us to Thetford and we got to spend two nights with the Kinne family. Laurie cooked us an amazing dinner and had a homemade blueberry pie for dessert! SO DELICIOUS! It was so nice to have a great family to hang out with.It was sooo nice to sleep in a real bed!!Micah's Journal Entry:"To Be With Family Again"Well, its not exactly our family but it is a wonderful, kind, loving family. You see - in the Hut system of the White mountains one of our 'work for stays' was to entertain the paying guests with a talk about thru-hiking the AT and Q&A with those interested. We had a great time with it and the intrigue into the thru-hiker world from the guests made us feel great. The hut crew liked the energy we put into it - we even got the ok from the NOBOS that were there. One of the hut crew, Ben, gave us his parents contact info and said that he had approval from his folks to give their info and offer a stay with them in Hanover to nice SOBOSTonight we got to sit around the table with Ben's parents, Laurie and Harry, his brother Harry IV, and Ashley (Harry IV's Girlfriend). The home cooked dinner, chicken, rice, blueberry pie were incredible.
Date: 2010-08-20
From: Hanover

To: Hanover
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

What a great day for a zero. Mrs. Kinne made us the best muffins for dinner. She is a wonderful baker. We spent the day in Hanover and visited the Dartmouth business school - Tuck and walked around the beautiful Ivy League campus and all around Hanover. We met up with several hikers, including Boy Wonder, Wonderland, and Baltimore Jack for pizza - the local pizza restaurant gives a free slice of cheese pizza to hikers. This night with the Kinne's included another wonderful home cooked meal! Ben joined us as his summer stint at the huts was over and we all shared trail and hut stories for several hours.Being with family again was great as it met a great need; this is the longest we've been without seeing family of our own. We can't thank the Kinne's enough for the hospitality and welcoming some smelly thru-hikers into their home. We look forward to visiting again some day whenever we chance to be in VT again.
Date: 2010-08-21
From: Hanover

To: Woodstock
Miles today: 0.0

okay...so another zero,...why not?!First of all - Happy Birthday sister! Olivia - congrats on being 21!Mrs. Kinne made us wonderful breakfast again - carrot cake pancakes. We said our goodbyes to the Kinne family and went back to Hanover. Once there we went to the Post office and then ate lunch at Molly's. Pretty decent food...but doesn't compare to Mrs. Laurie Kinne's cooking...Once we got out PO drop, we had the thru-hiker book for VT - NY. Written right there was the info for a friend of a friend who lives in Woodstock...so we originally planned to hike the 22 miles there and spend some time with Daniel. well, when I called Daniel, he drove to Hanover, picked us up and took us to a free reggae concert at Killington Ski resort. VERY Cool! After that we went to the Inn at Longtrail for live Irish Music! GREAT entertainment and good times. Daniel Quinn used to have a hostel called the AT house for hikers as the trail passes right near his house. Its not been up and running the last few years but is in the progress of reopening potentially. A VERY close family friend, Kim, gave us his info and Daniel took us in. Mo and I got to stay in the house and our buddies, Follow, White Blaze, Wonderland, and Boy Wonder crashed in the barn where the hostel used to be. The Inn at Longtrail is a famous place for hikers to stop...its right at the junction where for southbounders, the AT and the Long Trail merge. In the Inn is McGrath's Irish Pub which every fri and sat night has live irish music. The entertainer of this evening was Donal o'Shaunassey - which you can see at www.irishsongs.com.
Date: 2010-08-22
From: Woodstock

To: Woodstock
Miles today: 0.0

Okay...another zero...Weather was icky, raining. So Mo and I curled up on the couch and watched TV. We made homemade chicken enchiladas, salsa, guac, black beans and rice and had a good old family style dinner with Daniel and the other hikers. Woodstock is beautiful - it was voted the prettiest village in america.
Date: 2010-08-23
From: Hanover

To: South Pomfret Rd
Miles today: 18.0

Today we had a GRAND goal of slack packing from Hanover back to Daniels house, 22 miles. It was working great until mile 18 when my body decided it wasn't hiking another mile. We were done after hiking in the rain all day. Daniel picked us up and we returned to the AT house.Vermont is beautiful with its fields, flowers, and stone walls.For dinner, Good ol' Baltimore Jack and his friend the Dude joined us. We made a big old mess of food! Daniel made pasta and we brought out the left over enchiladas. Micah bought some fresh picked corn from down the street - boy was it sweet and delicious.
Date: 2010-08-24
From: South Pomfret Rd

To: Lookout Farm Rd
Miles today: 9.0

This morning Daniel helped us slack the miles we couldn't do yesterday back to his house, then he drove us ~5 miles south and we walked back to his house in Woodstock again. We were able to take a break between the sections at Daniel's house. We walked over the One the Edge Farm, or better known as the pie's lady's place, and we bought some lunch and a fresh baked blueberry and peach pie. Also purchased some fresh eggs and local bacon for bfast the next day.Daniel cooked another magnificent dinner - his very own Chicken Elise...named after his daughter. We also had great roasted potatoes, garlic bread, more fresh corn, and salad. Baltimore Jack and The Dude returned for dinner as well. Nick and Faye showed up and joined too!Micah's Entry - though written as by Courtney"Attacked by a Cow"Yes, that's correct. WE had a great 9 miles slack pack today and the highlight of the hike worth mentioning was the last 200 yards. Just before we climb stairs over a fence leading to VT 12 out of a field, we happened upon 20 or so affable cows. When they see us all stay still but one got up and walked towards Micah. Being what I consider a city boy he doesn't know what to do as he has never even touched a cow. I tell him to "stand still and its ok. Maybe try to pet it?" Well he petted it alright for about a second before it head butted him right in the gut which cause Mo to run away about 30 ft in 2 seconds. I laugh and try to get around the cow, when it head butts me as well...several times. I even hit it with my hiking poles, hoping to deter the things from charging...Mo is still far away just laughing. At this point I mention that maybe this is a good time for him to be a good husband and save me from the cow.Needless to say, I survived unharmed and unscathed...
Date: 2010-08-25
From: Lookout Farm Rd

To: VT 100
Miles today: 15.0

Daniel helped u slack from VT 100 to the logging rd we completed to yesterday. We got to stop at Lookout Cabin where we ran into Boy Wonder, Follow and White Blaze. We ordered pizza from a local joint...good stuff.Little Engige showed up with a NOBO Wayfarer. Good to see Little Engine doing well.