morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-05-27
From: William Douglas Shelter, VT

To: Big Branch Shelter, VT
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: light rain

I leapt enthusiastically from my sleeping bag this morning despite the falling rain. Manchester Center was my destination and I was to reach the road crossing in a short 5.8 miles. I would need to get a ride at the crossing because I really didn't want to walk the 5.5 miles into town. It was going to be a great day - food, resupply, and town. Little did I know how great it would be.At the road crossing I met Tavern and his cousin. Tavern is doing the Long Trail and was getting a resupply from his cousin who had a car! Doesn't hurt to ask so I did; "Are you going into town?" She hesitantly agreed to take me. She actually said, "I guess you don't look like a serial killer." I found her comment quite amusing. I loaded my stuff into the car, climbed in, and we were about to leave when a van pulls up right next to us. The Millers decided they would drive up and be surprise trail angels. Britt had hiked with me on the second half of the Four State Challenge and I guess he didn't get enough hiking. He wanted to hike the next couple of days with me but first - Food! They fed me an atrocious amount of food and gave me a lift to the outfitter for new shoes. It was great. I had planned a short hiking day because my day was going to be spent doing chores around town, instead we were back on the trail, with all my chores complete, in no time.Britt got a good taste of the AT today. Huge climbs and decents, wet lowlands, hot steep highlands, views, sweat, bugs, and more.
Date: 2006-05-28
From: Big Branch Shelter, VT

To: Clarendon, VT
Miles today: 16.9

Having Britt along on the trail has been a morale boost for me. I know he has enjoyed himself. Well, he has enjoyed himself until Bear Mountain. On the summit of Bear Mountain he used his cell phone to call his wife (she was to meet us further up trail). She evidently asked, "Are you having fun?" To which he replied, "Not anymore!" He wasn't kidding. The heavy hiking was taking its toll on him and he was convinced I was trying to kill him. "Don't get mad at me, get mad at the mountain," I said to him.We arrived at VT103 where we met his wife Sherrie and his two teenaged girls. I sure enjoyed the sight of him collapsing into the back of his van. While I described the day to his family he worked to recover. Of course I wish him no ill will but I would be greatly disappointed if he came out here and found what I have been doing for the past three months easy. He has had a good dose of the AT.His wonderful family took me to a restaurant and then back to their hotel room where I could take a shower. They enjoyed being trail angels and I enjoyed them being trail angels.
Date: 2006-05-29
From: Clarendon, VT

To: Stony Brook, VT
Miles today: 26.4

Britt hiked with me four more miles this morning and then met his family for their long drive home. It was nice hiking with him. When he departed I was left to face the Killington Mountain climb alone. Two thousand feet in four miles. Yeehaw! Not only was the climb steep but also there were blowdowns unlike anywhere else on trail. Huge stands of trees are now on their sides and evergreen trees are hard to negotiate with a pack and on a steep trail. I made it though and it was a fun climb. The rest of the day was the usual ups and downs. My goal for the day was to make it to the town of Killington. It was there I was planning on eating and holing up. Killington is a tiny place but there was a deli. I ate a turkey sub, bag of Doritos, Reese¢s cups, and 3 Cokes. I felt great. I put in a 19.7 day, climbed Killington, had a full belly and just sat on a park bench watching people. For over an hour I sat. Unfortunately I felt so comfortable something terrible happened. That voice... "Hmmm, I wonder," it said and I felt inclined to grab my handbook and begin to look at miles, elevations, shelters. "It's 6:30 now...(thinking)...hiking light 'til about 8:30...headlamp...(calculating)...one big 1400 ft climb...(thinking)...6.7 miles to the next shelter plus 0.7 to get back to the trail from here...(calculating)." And then it happens... "Boys, I think we can do it. All systems Go, No-Go for hike. Provisions?""Go.""Hydration?""Go.""Equipment?""Go." "Determination and Will?""We're both a go, sir.""Legs?""Go.""Feet?""Aw, c'mon guys.""Feet?!""Daggonit, we're a go" I arrived to the shelter after dark, tired, and over-extended. Ah! That's more like it.
Date: 2006-05-30
From: Stony Brook, VT

To: Thistle Hill, VT
Miles today: 21.5

Vermont! Dude, what is with the bagworms (aka silk caterpillars)? The black flies and mosquitoes came as no surprise and have lived up to their reputation. I have donated my fair share of blood for their survival (much to my chagrin). The bagworms, though, nobody warned me about them. They are everywhere - thousands, no, millions of them. They are on everything and truly creepy. All along the trail, hanging from their webs, the silk worms make the most disgusting trail obstacle yet. No matter how I tried to avoid them I was covered in them and their webs. In order to remove them I must gently flick them. Flick them too hard and they explode into dark green jello. I even had to put my rain cover on my backpack because both the worms and their excrement were falling out of the forest canopy. Invisible strands of webbing stuck to everything. Using my trekking poles to swat the air in front of me was futile, I still got covered in webs, worms, and droppings. Unbelievable! Salvation from the worms came in the afternoon rain. While the webs were still crossing and hanging onto the trail, at least the worms were hidden away. I hope this worm thing is temporary because what was a beautiful day became a fuzzy, sticky, slimy, disgusting day in wormy hell. I look forward to hearing or reading other hikers experience with the bagworms. Yikes!
Date: 2006-05-31
From: Thistle Hill, VT

To: Velvet Rocks, NH
Miles today: 16.1

The AT is not all about mountains and remote hiking. I have followed it through, around, or over towns, all types of bodies of water, cemeteries, towns, a zoo, pasture land, deep forest, national parks, monuments, fields of crops, historic places, and much more. Today I hiked through a college campus. I looked upon the students at Dartmouth in Hanover, NH with every bit the awe and amazement that I give the scenic vistas. It is a bit surreal to have spent all this time in the woods, with very little exposure to other people, to then enter Hanover which was bursting at the seams. I was quite literally a visitor from another world.After resupplying, eating, doing laundry, and updating my journal in Hanover I set off on the trail again. I met two section hikers at the shelter outside town. They too had a ghastly experience with the bagworms. While in town they inquired about the worms and were able to give me the scoop. It turns out that for two days every seven years the worms take over the forest in the elevations between 1000 and 2000 ft. Man, I sure am glad I got to experience such a rare event! Gross. Their information must be right because I saw not a one of those hairy beasts today. Thankfully.
Date: 2006-06-01
From: Velvet Rocks, NH

To: Firewarden's Cabin, NH
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: scattered clouds

The mosquitoes got me out of bed this morning. It is hard to sleep with the buzzing and my hand trying to swat them. So, like always, when I can't sleep I hike. I was on the trail by 6am and was pursued by those buzzing blood suckers all morning. DEET works some. It keeps them at bay but they are determined enough that they eventually find places to stick me.The early start allowed me to comfortably put in a day that included a lot of climbs, two of which were 1000+. Sleeping tonight at 3240 ft in an abandoned firewarden cabin on Smart Mountain. Alone.
Date: 2006-06-02
From: Firewarden's Cabin, NH

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 20.0

Hiked today with the goal of reaching Hikers Welcome Hostel. Got to the Hostel just before 4pm and have been able to regroup and get to the grocery store one more time before tomorrow. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, tomorrow I begin the hardest 400 miles of the trail. Tomorrow opens up with a 3600 ft climb up Mt. Moosilauke. I will go over treeline for the first time. Hopefully it doesn't continue to rain as the rock scramble is supposed to be treacherous even when dry. This was confirmed by Phatt Chapp here at the hostel. I am very excited. I've got my cold weather gear, food, and water. I am ready to go.
Date: 2006-06-03
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Beaver Brook, NH
Miles today: 7.9

Not at all how I envisioned the day; for the second time on my hike I had to drop back and punt. Woke up to drizzle but set off to Moosilauke excitedly. The climb was long but not too difficult. As I climbed, however, the weather became increasingly uncooperative. Drizzle became rain - heavy constant rain - and the increase in elevation made a noticeable change in temperature. Wind increased as I neared the summit and visibility was no more than about 50 feet. I followed the rocky path and often checked for the pillars of piled rocks marking the AT above treeline. Above treeline I was the weather's play toy. I was blown around by the wind and pelted with rain in the thick fog. I reached the summit sign, took a picture, and was off to treeline again to get out of the cold. Now time for the descent. I really don't know how I did it, other than the visibility was so awful and I was in a hurry to get out of the wind, but I took the wrong trail down the mountain. I realized that something was wrong when I was not seeing any blazes and that the descent was not as difficult as I was told it was going to be. I continued to descend hoping I was on the right track but knowing I wasn't. I was probably on the Gorge Brook Trail. The summit of Moosilauke, as cold, windy, and foggy as it was, was no place to wander around looking for another trail trying to figure out where I was. Too scary up there. I decided to continue down the trail I was on to make sure I knew exactly where I was then, and only then, would I go back to the summit. Sure enough, after descending 3+ miles I came to a trail crossing. I was, in fact, on the Gorge Brook Trail. "You came to hike the AT," I told myself, "so it's back to the summit." As I hiked back up that huge monster I gave myself a pat on the back. Although I hated to keep descending it was the wise thing to do. I had to know exactly where I was, especially when it was as dangerously cold, wet, and foggy up on top. Well, I got to summit twice. Neither time could I see more than a few feet, both times in the driving rain, cold and wind. Joy. I did find the northbound AT and it is easy to see, in hindsight, why I missed it. I was wet to the core from sweat and rain and I knew I did not have 9 more miles in me so I hiked to Beaver Brook. I got into dry clothes and into my bag to warm up. I put in 13 miles and 2 summits but netted only 7.9 AT miles. It is supposed to rain all day again tomorrow too. Is this my welcome to the Whites?
Date: 2006-06-04
From: Beaver Brook, NH

To: Lonesome Lake, NH
Miles today: 15.0

Wow, New Hampshire climbs are filling their bill. The weather hasn't improved but I enjoy the rock climbing. It is slow hiking. I arrived to Lonesome Lake Hut which is an Appalachian Mountain Club hut. A fee of about $70 is charged to stay at the huts but fortunately the AMC reserves 2 spots for thru-hikers. The thrus are required to do some work around the hut in exchange for the stay (which includes dinner). I was happy to be able to work for my stay and sure looked forward to a hot dinner. I swept the dining room and kitchen floors and wiped the tables and benches down for 3 bowls of soup, 2 helpings of stuffed shells, mixed veggies, 3 slices of buttered wheat bread, a bed with a mattress and pillow, and shelter from the rain. Awesome deal! More rain in the forecast for tomorrow. I'm hiking Franconia Ridge tomorrow and rain will be a disappointment.
Date: 2006-06-05
From: Lonesome Lake, NH

To: Galehead, NH
Miles today: 15.9

How amazingly I have been taken care of today! I woke up to another - yes, another - rainy, dreary day. Today was the day I climb back over treeline and hike the Franconia Ridge, which is supposed to be one of the most memorable sections of the entire AT, and its raining. Disappointing. The hut crew surprised me by sending me off with hot oatmeal which I dearly enjoyed. Hot oatmeal was to be the highlight of my day? Climbing and climbing, through fog, on a staircase of slippery rocks straight up for over 2500 feet, I went. As I neared the summit the fog lifted and the rain stopped. I popped out over treeline to discover that I was above the rain clouds. I was amazed at what I was seeing and a smile spanned my face. Indescribable beauty. The ridgeline snakes for miles up and over mountain summits. Pillars of rocks have been constructed to mark the trail since there are no trees to white blaze. I walked the trail watching the wind push the clouds over the ridges below me. The clouds would curl like breaking waves. Then, for about twenty minutes or so, Franconia Ridge dropped her cloud veil revealing the green valleys and mountains. I could even see the Presidentials and Mt. Washington on the horizon. I was so happy for this brief view. The clouds rolled back in but I was happy that Franconia Ridge wasn't another Mousilauke or Kinsman shrouded in fog. It was awesome. I reached Galehead Hut and asked about a work for stay opportunity. The crew said I could sleep in the dining room and do the morning dishes. I would get a late start tomorrow but dinner and breakfast sure sounded good. My fortune would become even better. After my conversation with the crew was over, a gentleman approached me and said that he was a member of a group of three who had paid for beds; one of the members cancelled. He would like to give the bed to me. Yahoo! I was ecstatic. I was being given a bed, no longer was I a second class citizen, no longer did I have to do the dishes (which meant I could be on trail early), and I could eat with the other guests. Sharon and Andy (Alpo) Peterson are thrus and thought I would enjoy a bed. Boy, were they right! What began as another dismal trail day has ended with me in a bed with a full belly, memories of the beauty of the Franconia Ridge, and outside clearing skies. Looks to be a beautiful day tomorrow.
Date: 2006-06-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well I don¢t know about the rest of you, but it has been way to long since the last update from BonePac. I don¢t know any more than any of you. Last time I heard from him was when he last posted and that was via email. I know he¢s in the Whites of New Hampshire (or was) and his plan was to hike lodge to lodge and work for stay. Reception has been poor throughout the trail but I can imagine there is nothing there. No towns for miles either. My best guess has him close to the ME border but I have no clue. I¢ll let you know when I know if he cannot. Thanks for your support and prayers.Mrs. Bone Pac
Date: 2006-06-06
From: Galehead, NH

To: Mizpah Spring, NH
Miles today: 21.1

A beautiful day but much was spent in the valleys. Huge climb up Webster Cliffs which was more than a little scary but an amazing view of Crawford Notch. Crawford Notch really gave me an appreciation for how big these mountains are. A great work-for-stay opportunity. I was able to wash windows and clean/dust all the kitchen and dining room shelves in exchange for lasagna, salad, bread, and a mattress.
Date: 2006-06-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Oh how sweet is the sound of my husband¢s voice!! He called today from the top of Mt. Washington. We talked for over an hour. It was so wonderful. I am anxiously awaiting meeting him at Katahdin. He said that he has been writing entries everyday but that there is just no access and that it will probably continue to be that way. So as soon as he is able he will update his journal.My thanks go out to the Peterson¢s and so many others like them that have been so wonderful to Ken. Mrs. Bone Pac
Date: 2006-06-07
From: Mizpah Spring, NH

To: Madison Spring, NH
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: fog

"This is Bone Pac reporting live from the Presidentials where you can see that it is another gorgeous day. Wind speed is about 40 miles per hour with gusts up to 47. The rain is really coming down and 1-2 inches is expected today. Visibility is 75 feet. Temperature in the low 40's and wind chill in low 30's. More of the same tomorrow. Enjoy the wonder of the Whites on this wonderful day! Bone Pac, AT News." The most beautiful site I saw on Mount Washington was the pay phone at the summit visitor center. I hadn't been able to talk to Jennel in a week. There was also a snack bar were I got a tasty chili dog and Coke. I planned a big hike for today but the weather was too bad. Madison Hut was the new goal and a very good choice. At the hut I read a chapter in "Not Without Peril: 150 years of Misadventure on the Presidential Range of New Hampshire." A really up-lifter. It reinforced my satisfaction with the choice to stop at Madison Hut, especially since the chapter I read was about a guy who died on his way to Madison Hut. On to a much lighter subject. As I was descending Mount Washington I crossed the Cog Train track. Within several yards of the track, all along the AT, are thousands of lumps of coal. Despite the miserable weather in which I was walking I smiled and let out a short laugh seeing all that coal. You see; there is an AT tradition. First some background. Mount Washington is a big dangerous climb for hikers, not only because of the terrain but because of the weather. Folks that don't want to climb up Washington can pay $40+ to ride a coal fired steam cog train to the summit. I think it is easy to see the tension that is felt by the thrus, that just hiked all the way up the mountain and are now climbing down, when they see the cog train. To relieve that tension, for many years now, thrus have felt compelled to expose to the cog train their backsides, that is - moon, as it moves along the track. Venting their own frustration with the thrus, it is also tradition for the cog train engineer to pelt the thrus with coal. Hence all the coal littering the trail North of Mount Washington summit. All in good fun. P.S. I did not take part in the above tradition - in case you were wondering. But it is good for a chuckle.
Date: 2006-06-09
From: Carter Notch, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: fog

I have been teetering on the edge of complete decompensation for days. The weather has been horrible with rain, wind, fog, and cool temperatures. All the while the terrain has been difficult. The climbs and descents in the Whites are difficult in perfect conditions but with the rain and slop many are treacherous. Well today I finally lost it. After hitting my head against a tree, bloodying my knuckles against a rock, and being soaked to the bone, all it took was for me to slip into the mud as I climbed under a blowdown for me to finally snap. So right there, on the side of some nameless, rain-soaked mountain in New Hampshire, I pitched a royal fit. There are times when it is good for a man to be alone in the woods. This was one of those times. Granted, it was probably because I was alone in the the rainy woods in the first place that I behaved the way I did. Alas, I couldn't even enjoy my tantrum because right in the middle of it I started yelling at myself for whining like a little girl and to just get on with it. I made it to Gorham where food, a shower, laundry, and a bed out of the rain improved my demeanor.
Date: 2006-06-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Talked to Ken late last night. Brief conversation. Still no coverage, he was on a pay phone in Gorham, NH. He planned on reaching ME today. YAHOO!! 280 miles to go!! In the very early part of ME is the ¢hardest mile on the trail¢. Apparently it is climbing over, under, around, and between boulders, some of which you have to take your pack off and squeeze through. I am not sure whether he was doing that today or tomorrow. Just for fun ¢ Ken wasn¢t ¢scheduled¢ to leave Gorham, NH until July 28th. He is really bookin¢ it! No complaining here, I am more than ready for him to be home. Due to hear from him in about five days. If he can¢t I will try to give an update.Katahdin or bust!
Date: 2006-06-10
From: Gorham, NH

To: Carlo Col, ME
Miles today: 17.0

What else but more rain! Doesn't the little diddy go: APRIL showers bring May flowers? I could have been a grouchy old bear all day and feeling sorry for myself but for the fact that Maine was so close! I looked at my book and decided that I didn't care about the terrain, I didn't care about the rain, I was gettin' to Maine. It was going to be tough with the pouring rain but I was going to stomp through it. I'm not kidding about 'pouring'. It poured unlike any of the previous rains. The trail literally became a waterfall in some places, a pond in others, and slick everywhere. I don't know how many times I looked ahead and said, "You've got to be kidding." Scary is having to ford the swollen creeks which are angry with water and lined with slick, smooth stones. Got to Maine though!
Date: 2006-06-11
From: Carlo Col, ME

To: Baldpate Lean-to, ME
Miles today: 16.4

The rain disappeared in time for me to climb in the Mahoosuc Notch - regarded as the most difficult single mile of the AT. Ice, roaring river, huge boulders, unstable trees, and slippery conditions all made for a slow but very exciting time. To get through the notch there were 3 spots where I had to squeeze under by lying completely prone and pulling myself through. That is just an example of the gymnastics I had to perform as I climbed over, around, under, and between rocks that were once attached to the cliffs on either side of the Notch. As I near the end of my thru-hike I feel like the Mahoosuc Notch is a part of a thru-hike final exam. Thankfully, the rain didn't start again until I was out of the Notch. Rain would have made it all the worse. Even without rain I slipped and fell sideways into the river. I wasn't hurt, it was only about a foot deep where I fell, and I was wet anyway from the morning rain. I didn't laugh at myself until I was out of the Notch, though.
Date: 2006-06-12
From: Baldpate Lean-to, ME

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

Maine is so remote that every road crossing to a town is important. Nothing is really convenient so today's hike was to be 16 miles: 8 on the AT and 8 walking into Andover, ME down East B Hill Road. After hiking nearly 2 miles down the road I was picked up by a utilities worker. Awesome. It has given me the entire afternoon to attend to my chores - the biggest one is having to transcribe all my journal entries into the computer. Normally I can email them and either Jennel and I can post them but since I have no Sprint coverage it's double labor. Pictures will be posted when I get coverage. The news of the day is: The sun came out this afternoon! Good weather the rest of the week! "Watch out," the guy at the grocery store said, "the black flies are going to be real bad now." Hey, I'm just glad to see sun and dry out my shoes. I won't be able to update until I reach Stratton, ME. I can't believe I am in Maine.
Date: 2006-06-15
From: Piazza Rock Lean-to, ME

To: Sugarloaf Summit House, ME
Miles today: 19.8

Today I saw my first moose. Although the animal is probably 8 times my size he took of running like a jackrabbit. I am sure glad he did. I can't run like a jackrabbit. I have been seeing another rare breed of animal lately - Southbounders. I feel like a senior in high school when I see them. You know that feeling; walking the halls of high school as a senior and the underclassmen all below your mightiness. No, I am not really haughty. Most do, however, readily acknowledge how far I've come, how close I am to finishing, and how far they have yet to go. Many say, "I wish I had only 200 miles to go." Man, I wouldn't trade places with them. It feels like a lifetime ago that I started.