morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-08-08
From: WILDCAT SHELTER

To: FINGERBOARD SHELTER
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: overcast clouds

TOOK A GOOD TUMBLE TODAY AFTER I LOOKED TO FIND A WHITE BLAZE ONLY TO HAVE MY POLE GO OVER AN EDGE AND THEN MY FOOT AND DOWN I WENT FACE FIRST, THEN I ROLLED OFF THE EDGE AND TWO FOOT DOWN I LANDED ON MY BACK. I MANAGED TO KEEP FROM ROLLING OFF ANOTHER THREE FOOT DROP. LIVED TO LAUGH IT OFF. FOUND OUT AFTER HIKING ABOUT A QUARTER MILE THAT MY HAT WAS LEFT BEHIND SO BACK I WENT. SEEN NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE FROM ATOP THAT MOUNTAIN. THAT WAS NEAT. THE LEMON SQUEEZER I COULD BARELY FIT THROUGH. AND I DID CLIMB THE TOUGH VERTICAL. MET A FATHER AND DAUGHTER ALONG THE WAY WHO GAVE ME A FEW POWER BARS. THE GENEROSITY OF NEW YORKERS HAVE BEEN ASTOUNDING. CONSIDERING I WAS WEARING A RED SOX HAT I COULDNT BELIEVE IT. THEY CERTAINLY HAVE HELPED ME OUT IN THIS LAST TOUGH SECTION. NEW YORK IS GETTING TOUGHER.
Date: 2009-08-09
From: FINGERBOARD SHELTER

To: WEST MOUNTAIN SHELTER
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: overcast clouds

BEEN RACING THUNDERSTORMS AND RAIN EACH NIGHT AND MANAGED TO GET TO A SHELTER IN THE NICK OF TIME ON SOME OCCASIONS. THE VIEW OVERLOOKING THE HUDSON WAS GREAT AND THEN IT WAS GONE AFTER THE STORM BLEW THROUGH. THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SHOWED A SKYLINE THAT WAS FABULOUS. THE CLIMB GETTING THERE FROM WILLIAM BRIEN MEMORIAL SHELTER TO WEST MOUNTAIN SHELTER WAS MAGICAL. COULDNT OF BEEN SCRIPTED ANY BETTER. FLET LIKE 4:20 BUT WAS 2:20. THE CAST OF CHARACTERS FROM TIMBER, SWISS CHEESE, LEPRACHAUN, RAMBLE ON, ERIC, FATHER, MEMO WAS AWESOME. THE HIKE WAS SUPERB. WHAT A SCRIPT, WHAT A MOUNTAIN. LOVED IT. CALLED IT EARLY DUE TO THUNDERSTORMS WHICH I MADE THE RIGHT DECISION AGAIN.
Date: 2009-08-10
From: WEST MOUNTAIN SHELTER

To: GRAYMOOR SPIRITUAL CENTER
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

MADE IT TO THE SPIRITUAL CENTER. ONCE AGAIN MANAGED TO SHELTER UNDER A WICKED THUNDERSTORM. WHAT A SIGHT. MET SOME SECTION HIKERS WHO COULDNT GO ON AFTER JUST A 12 MILE HIKE. THEY WERE AWESTRUCK OF THE THRU HIKERS. A LOT OF US HERE.
Date: 2009-08-14
From: TEN MILE RIVER LEAN TO

To: STEWART HOLLOW BROOK LEAN TO
Miles today: 15.7

MADE IT TO THE SHELTER BUT IT WAS CROWDED SO I TENTED. RESUPPLIED SOME BUT RUNNING OUT OF MONEY ONCE AGAIN. I'M DOING FINE THO I'M HEADED INTO BUG INFESTED TERRITORY NOW. I HOPE MY 100 PERCENT DEET HOLDS UP. ITS HOT OUT. GOT SOME BATTERIES. IM HEALTHY AND CONTINUING ON TO MASSACHUSETTS. SHOULD BE OUT OF CT IN 2-3 DAYS. THE NEXT MAIL DROP SHOULD BE DAULTON MASSACHUSETTS. DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO MY PAYPAL AT FLETCH68@NETZERO.NET AND I WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ON. THANKS TO ALL THE TRAIL ANGELS IVE MET AND THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP. COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT ALL THE HELP.
Date: 2009-08-15
From: STEWART HOLLOW BROOK LEAN TO

To: BELTER'S CAMPSITE
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

TRIED TO DO 23 MILES BUT DIDNT GET UP EARLY ENOUGH AND THE HEAT WAS BRUTAL. UP THEN DOWN, UP THEN DOWN AGAIN. WOW THE HEAT WAS KILLING ME. THE BUGS WERE RELENTLESS. IM BEING SLOWLY EATEN ALIVE. I COULDN'T EVEN COOK OUTSIDE MY TENT IT WAS THAT BAD. SETTING UP THE TENT WAS A CHORE DUE TO THE BUGS. HOW CAN ANYONE CAMP WITHOUT FIRES IN CONNECTICUT. LOST ONE BOTTLE OF DEET AFTER GOING DOWN THE STEEP STATE JOHN LEDGES THE OTHER DAY. THE TRAIL WASNT MARKED VERY WELL IN A SECTION AND I BEGAN TO WONDER IF I WAS EVEN ON THE TRAIL. I STARTED WATCHING THE RACE CARS RACING IN LIME ROCK PARK AT THE HANG GLIDER VIEW AREA I PRECEEDED TO PUSH ON. FOUND A UNDER ARMOR SHIRT ALONG THE WAY THAT MAY COME IN HANDY LATER IN THE TREK. BELTERS CAMPSITE WAS HELL ON EARTH.
Date: 2009-08-16
From: BELTER'S CAMPSITE

To: RIGA LEAN TO
Miles today: 14.6

WELL I GOT UP EARLY AND ONCE AGAIN IT WAS TORTURE PACKING UP MY GEAR. THE MOSQUITOES ARE RIDICULOUS. IM BEING EATEN ALIVE. I HEADED OUT AND COULDNT PUT ENOUGH DEET ON TO HIKE EVEN. BUGS IN MY EARS, HITTING ME IN THE EYES, BITING ME OVER AND OVER AND OVER. DO YOU HANG YOUR SHOES UP? NOPE YOU HEAD INTO SALISBURY TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH DEET TO BATH IN. I HIT THE AT DETOUR AND IT LED ME PAST LIME ROCK PARK WHICH I COULD WATCH THE FORMULA ONE CARS FROM THE HANG GLIDER LAUNCH SITE THE NIGHT BEFORE. GUESS YOU CANT HIKE OVER THE BRIDGE ITS UNDER CONSTRUCTION SO THEY DETOUR YOU AROUND A ROAD WAY TO THE HYDRO ELECTRIC DAMM. GOT HERE FAIRLY EARLY AND FOUND THE LIBRARY DOESN'T OPEN TILL 1:00 SO IM HANGING OUT TILL I CAN USE THE INTERNET THERE. ATE SOME CHEEP SANDWICHES I MADE AT THE LOCAL SUPERMARKET AND WILL BE HEADING OUT AFTER THE HEAT CALMS DOWN. TIME TO SCALE THE LIONS HEAD AND MAY MAKE IT TO THE RIGA LEAN TO OR THE BRASSIE BROOK LEAN TO UNLESS I DARE TO GET OUT OF CONNECTICUT. TOUGH HIKE THIS MORNING. MOSTLY THE BUGS WERE THE PROBLEM. THE WOODS SEEM TO BE MORE PINES NOW WITH MORE ROCK WALLS. NOTICED PEOPLE EARLIER MENTIONING HAVING TO AVERAGE 12 MILE DAYS BEFORE THEY CLOSE KATAHDIN. I PLAN ON DOING IT IN 7 WEEKS FROM NOW. I HAVE LESS THAN 700 MILES TO GO. BEEN RUNNING INTO MORE AND MORE SOUTHBOUNDERS. WELL IM DOWN TO MY LAST 25.00 BUCKS THANKS TO BAM FOR THAT TRAIL MAGIC. DID ANOTHER SEVERAL MILES TO THE RIGA LEAN TO. NICE LIBRARY, ONE OF THE BEST. WAS ABLE TO UPLOAD MY PICTURES, HOPE YOU LIKE THEM. 689.1 MILES TO GO. FLETCH OUT
Date: 2009-08-17
From: RIGA LEAN TO

To: THE HEMLOCKS LEAN TO
Miles today: 10.0

HOT DAY AND A EASY ONE AT THAT. WENT UP ONTO BEAR MOUNTAIN WHERE I HUNG OUT FOR AWHILE TO TAKE IN THE VIEW AND MET A GENTLEMAN AND SON WHO GAVE ME SOME GREAT BREAKFAST BARS THE NIGHT BEFORE. GREAT TRAIL MAGIC BY THE WAY. THEY HAPPENED ACROSS ME ON THE TOP OF BEAR MOUNTAIN AND I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION THERE. THEY GAVE ME SOME MORE GREAT TRAIL MAGIC IN BREAKFAST BARS AND TRAIL MIX THAT CERTAINLY GAVE ME THE ENERGY TO CARRY ON. MADE MY DAY THAT MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE. THANKS GUYS. I HOPE YOUR SON FINDS A WAY TO SOMEDAY HIKE THE TRAIL FOR ITS A WONDERFUL JOURNEY ONCE UNDERTAKEN. I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME UP THERE ON BEAR MOUNTAIN AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GO I HEADED OUT OF CONNECTICUT AND DOWN TO SAGES RAVINE WHICH WAS A SPECTACULAR SETTING. THE BROOK WAS REFRESHING. SAGES RAVINE WAS A NEAT PLACE. LAUREL RIDGE CAMPSITE AREA DID HAVE SOME MOSQUITO ISSUES BUT I GOT WATER AT THE TRAIL HEAD AND MOVED UP ONTO RACE MOUNTAIN. WHAT A HOT DAY. THE LEDGES WERE REALLY NICE. SPECTACULAR VIEWS. THE HEAT WAS CERTAINLY OUT OF CONTROL. EXPOSED I HAD A GREAT VIEW. STOPPED ALONG THE LEDGES AND ATE THE TRAIL MIX I RECEIVED BY MY PREVIOUS TRAIL ANGELS. MT EVERETT THE NEXT CLIMB WAS CERTAINLY A NEAT ONE AS WELL. I LOVE THE TOPS OF MOUNTAINS AS YOU GET NEARER TO THEM. FINALLY IM IN MASSACHUSETTS.
Date: 2009-08-18
From: THE HEMLOCKS LEAN TO

To: MT WILCOX SOUTH LEAN TO
Miles today: 19.7

WHAT A DAY AND A HOT ONE TO BOOT. 97 DEGREES. WHAT A DAY TO PLAN ON DOING A 20. MET FIREFLY AND HOOKED BACK UP WITH STROMBOLLI, AND MACARONI. ERIC AND I HAVE TRAVELED THIS SECTION TOGETHER THE WHOLE WAY. STOPPED IN AT THE CORN COB CRIB AT US 7 AND GRABBED A FEW SODAS. YOGIED A RIDE FOR ALL FOUR OF US MINUS STOMBOLLI DOWN TO A HOT DOG STAND A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND GOT A DOG AND WALKED UP TO THE ICE CREAM SHOP ON THE WALK BACK. GOTTA GET THE REMAINDER OF THE HIKE IN. MISSED THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY WHILE ON OUR BREAK.
Date: 2009-08-19
From: MT WILCOX SOUTH LEAN TO

To: UPPER GOOSE POND CABIN
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

HEADED TO UPPER GOOSE POND WHERE IT WAS TOLD THEY SERVE BLUEBERRY PANCAKES IN THE MORNING. I HEADED OUT EARLY WHILE IT WAS COOL AND GOT UP TO JERUSALEM RD. MADE SOME RAMEN AND MET A SOUTHBOUNDER WHO MENTIONED THE CARETAKER AT THE CABIN BUMPED A LEG AND CLOSED IT. WHAT A BUMMER TO HEAR THAT NEWS. HOPEFULLY WE STILL HAVE A REPLACEMENT. MET WAKE AND KATE HEADING UP FROM THE POST OFFICE, A 22 YEAR OLD YOUNG LADY ON A SECTION HIKE. WHEN SHE HEARD I WAS FLETCH, SHE WAS LIKE YOUR FLETCH. YUP. GUESS RABBIT AND RUNNING CLEAR HAD SAID SOME GREAT THINGS ABOUT ME AND I HIKED ON FOR THE NEXT 8.1 MILES WITH HER TO THE CABIN. THANKS WAKE AND KATE FOR ALLOWING ME TO HIKE WITH YA. YES THE CABIN WAS CLOSED. NO CANOEING AND NO PANCAKES. SLEPT ON THE PORCH.
Date: 2009-08-20
From: UPPER GOOSE POND CABIN

To: BIRDCAGE
Miles today: 20.6

GOT TO THE BIRDCAGE AFTER A LONG HIKE. ERIC AND I PULLED IT OFF FOR A SHOWER AND SOME R + R. WHAT A DAY. THE BERKSHIRES WERE AN EASIER HIKE AFTER YOU CLIMB UP TO THE TOP OF BECKETT MOUNTAIN AND BALD TOP. WHAT A GREAT LOOKING PAIR OF MOUNTAINS. WHY DO THEY FOOL YA WITH A STEEP CLIMB AT THE END OF THE DAY. GREAT TRAIL MAGIC AT THE BEGGINING AND END FROM GUMBY AND 03 SOUTHBOUNDER WHO HAD SODAS IN A COOLER. STOPPED BY THE COOKIE LADY IN THE MIDDLE FOR SOME HARD BOILED EGGS AND SOME COOKIES AT MOUNTAIN WASHINGTON ROAD. THANKS. THATS ERICS BIGGEST DAY. THE DAY BEFORE WAS HIS BIGGEST. ERIC, I TOLD YA WE COULD GET IT DONE. GLAD YOU ENJOYED THE SHOWER AND THE REDSOX GAME. SOMETHING WE LOOKED FORWARD TO. THANKS TO THE BIRDCAGE FOR THE HOSPITALITY. GONNA ZERO DUE TO THE RAIN IN THE FORECAST. I GOT THE NEWS OF MY GRANDMOTHER TODAY. THANKS FOR THE CONDOLENCES. SHE WILL BE MISSED, BUT THE MEMORIES WONT BE.
Date: 2009-08-21
From: BIRDCAGE

To: DAULTON
Miles today: 0.0

MY DAD DROVE ALL THE WAY FROM NH TO DELIVER SOME SUPPLIES AND NEW SHOES. WHAT A GREAT DAY. CAN THE TRAIL GET ANY BETTER. THANKS TO MOM, UNCLE BOB, SARAH, DAD, ANNETTE, PAUL AND PAT, AND MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE HELPED MAKE THE DECISION TO KEEP HEADING NORTH AN EASY ONE. THE LIBRARY IS KICKING ME OFF THE COMPUTER SO I WILL UPDATE AT A LATER DATE. THANKS TRAIL ANGELS. IM BLESSED.
Date: 2009-08-22
From: DAULTON

To: ZERO DUE TO THE RAIN
Miles today: 0.0

WITH THE RAIN COMING DOWN AND THE HURRICANE BARRELING DOWN THE COAST IVE DECIDED TO TAKE ANOTHER ZERO TO KEEP FROM GETTING SOAKED. IM TRYING TO KEEP DRY AND PLAN ON HEADING UP TOWARDS GREYLOCK IN THE MORNING. NOT REALLY SURE OF MY GAME PLAN YET IT ALL CHANGES AS I MOVE NORTH. I PLAN ON DOING ABOUT 14 MILES TOMMORROW. CHECKING OUT HOW THE WEATHER REACTS TO THE HURRICANE. RAIN RAIN GO AWAY. DAULTON IS A NEAT PLACE TO HANG OUT IN AND THE BIRDCAGE HAS BEEN GREAT. WHY HAVE THE RED SOX LET ME DOWN NOT ONLY IN NEW YORK AS I HIKED THRU IT, BUT LAST NIGHT THEY STUNK IT UP WHILE IM HERE IN MASSACHUESETTS. WE WILL GET EM TODAY I HOPE. THE RED SOX ARE QUITE POPULAR HERE. GLAD IM AROUND A TV DURING THIS SERIES. MY NEXT MAIL DROP WILL BE IN KILLINGTON VERMONT. ONCE AGAIN THANKS TO ALL THE TRAIL ANGELS, YOU'VE MADE MY TRIP WONDERFUL. VERMONT HERE I COME. ILL BE HEADING UP THE LONG TRAIL IN VERMONT WHICH THE AT FOLLOWS FOR 100 MILES. I HEARD ITS BEAUTIFUL AND MUDDY ALONG THE TRAIL. LETS HOPE FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PART. THE 3000 FT MOUNTAINS ARE GONNA BE SPEEDBUMPS. I PLAN ON DOING VERMONT IN 9 DAYS. GO RED SOX, DANG IT. THIS LIBRARY ISNT THE FRIENDLIEST.
Date: 2009-08-23
From: ZERO DUE TO THE RAIN

To: MARK NOEPEL LEAN TO
Miles today: 13.7

MET CHRIS AND JIM THERE AT THE SHELTER AND NEAL FROM SCOTLAND WHO I HAVENT SEEN SINCE FONTANA DAM. LOT OF SLACK PACKERS I PASSED BY TODAY. MACARONI, FIREFLY, AND ERIC. RAINED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AS WELL AS A LITTLE AS I HEADED OUT HIKING. BUMPED INTO A 20 YEAR OLD      NAMED JABORWAKI. SHE A TOUGH LITTLE THING.
Date: 2009-08-24
From: MARK NOEPEL LEAN TO

To: SETH WARNER SHELTER
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: few clouds

RIGHT BEFORE I ARRIVED IN VERMONT I STOPPED IN TO SEE THE GREYLOCK MEMORIAL. WENT TO THE LODGE AND GOT A CUP OF COFFEE. READY TO ROLL. IM READY TO HEAD INTO VERMONT. AS I WENT HEADING OFF DOWN THE NEXT HILL. I WENT DOWN LITERALLY AS I FELL DOWN A STEEP ROCK FACE AND SLID DOWN ABOUT 25 FT TO THE BOTTOM. BOTH FEET WENT OUT FROM UNDERNEATH ME AND I WENT SLIDING DOWN NOT ABLE TO HOLD ONTO ANYTHING. THAT WAS CLOSE. WELCOME TO VERMONT. DANG CAN IT GET ANY MUDDIER THAN THIS. MILES AND MILES OF IT. MORE SLACKPACKERS AND LOTS OF SOUTHBOUNDERS HAVE BEEN THE NORM. MET RAMBLE ON AS HE WAS SLACK PACKING, HAVENT SEEN HIM IN DAYS. STROMBOLLI SLACKING AS WELL.
Date: 2009-08-25
From: SETH WARNER SHELTER

To: BENNINGTON VERMONT
Miles today: 11.5

WELL IM HERE IN BENNINGTON VERMONT. HITCHED A RIDE HERE. GOT HERE EARLY. THE TRAIL IS LIKE A BROOK WITH LOTS OF MUD. HIKING IN MUD ALL DAY LONG. YOU CAN PRACTICALLY FISH ON THE TRAIL THERES SO MUCH WATER AND MUD. I FELT LIKE I WAS IN A SWAMP ALL DAY LONG. TRIED TO GO OVER A DOWNED TREE ONLY TO TRIP AND FALL FLAT ON MY FACE. IM MASTERING THE ART OF FALLING AND GETTING BACK UP. IM STAYING IN A HOSTEL IN BENNINGTON WHICH IS AWESOME. THEY GOT A JAM ROOM AS WELL AS EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE. I DIDNT EVEN KNOW THIS WAS HERE TILL I ARRIVED AND FOUND OUT. MY DAD DROVE TWO HOURS TO RESUPPLY ME AND EXCHANGE A FEW ITEMS. BENNINGTON IS A PRETTY NEAT LITTLE PLACE. JUST A QUICK UPDATE AS I KNOCKED OFF THE 11 STATE.
Date: 2009-08-26
From: BENNINGTON VERMONT

To: GODDARD SHELTER
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: overcast clouds

LATE START OUT OF TOWN. MET UP WITH ERIC WHO MANAGED TO ARRIVE AT THE SHELTER BEFORE THE RAIN. I ROLLED IN WITH RECKLESS ABANDON TO JUST ARRIVE AHEAD OF THE STORM. WAS IT COLD. YOU BET IT WAS. JUST GOT RAINED ON A LITTLE BIT. NICE SHELTER. THE WEATHER HAS CHANGED. 3540 FT
Date: 2009-08-28
From: STRATTON POND SHELTER

To: MANCHESTER CENTER
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: broken clouds

NICE EASY DAY ONCE WE FIGURED THERE WAS A NICE HOSTEL IN TOWN. WHAT A NICE HOSTEL. THIS IS LIKE A BRAND NEW HOUSE. GONNA MAKE SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS AND PANCAKES IN THE MORNING. WATCHING THE RED SOX GAME TONIGHT. GONNA HAVE MY LAUNDRY DONE. THEY HAVE INTERNET. THIS IS GREAT. THIS IS THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM. ITS TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT MT MOOSILAUKE AND THE KINSMAN MOUNTIANS. LITTLE EARLY BUT AFTER STRATTON MOUNTAIN WE START TO SEE WHAT LIES AHEAD. MAY BE A WEEK AWAY BUT THE CLIMBS GET LONGER AND THE DECLINES LONGER AS WELL. LOOKS LIKE THE TIME BEFORE OCT 15 IS 49 DAYS. I NEED TO AVERAGE ABOUT 11.1 MILES A DAY. BARRING ANY SETBACKS THE ROAD AHEAD APPEARS EASY ACCORDING TO MILEAGE. ON THE OTHER HAND WILL I BE FORCED TO DO LOWER MILEAGE. THE STAGE IS SET FOR A FABULOUS FINISH OR A COMPLETE DISASTER. TICK TOCK. THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS. WILL I BE ABLE TO KEEP UP THE PACE. GOTTA TRUDGE ONWARD. REGROUPING FOR THE FRANCONIA RANGE AND THE WHITE MOUNTAINS AND PRESIDENTIAL RANGE. A WEEK FROM NOW AT THE BORDER OF VERMONT AND NH IS 380 FT AND HEADING UP.
Date: 2009-09-03
From: TRAIL TO LOOKOUT

To: HAPPY HILL SHELTER
Miles today: 22.8
Weather: clear sky

PULLED INTO THE SHELTER UNDER HEADLAMP BEING THAT THE SUNSET IS ABOUT 7:30 PM. WHAT A LONG LONG TREK. ERIC AND I HAVE TRAVELED TOGETHER FOR QUITE AWILE. HE DOESNT HAVE A HEADLAMP SO I HAD AN EXTRA LIGHT AND WE STROLLED IN THE DARK FOR A LITTLE WHILE. GROUP OF DARTMOUTH KIDS DOING THEIR ORIENTATION. THEY MADE ROOM FOR US. THE HILLS JUST KEEP COMING. THISTLE HILL WAS TOUGH. JUST KEEPS GOING UP. THE HILLS LOOK DIFFERENT ON BOTH SIDES.
Date: 2009-09-04
From: HAPPY HILL SHELTER

To: MOOSE MTN SHELTER
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

IM IN HANOVER NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE MAY MOVE OUT TODAY EVEN THO WE ARE WORN OUT AFTER YESTERDAY. ERICS PARENTS TOOK US TO DO LAUNDRY AND GOT US A PIZZA. THANK GOODNESS. THE GIRLS OF HANOVER ARE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT. THE DIRT COWBOY HAS A GREAT CUP OF COFFEE. WELL, GEARING UP FOR NH NOW THAT I HAVE ARRIVED. CROSSED THE BORDER TODAY AND HAVE FINISHED MY 12TH STATE. WHAT A TREK. GOT MY WINTER GEAR. TWO DAYS FROM THE TALLER MOUNTAINS AND THE GAME IS ABOUT TO CHANGE IN A HURRY. ITS ALREADY GETTING TOUGHER. THE BIG MILE DAYS MAY COME TO AN END. THE LEAVES HAVE STARTED TO FALL AND CHANGE COLOR. THE MUD HAS GOTTEN BAREABLE. MARCHING TO KATAHDIN. ANOTHER THRU HIKER HAS FALLEN OFF THE TRAIL DUE TO INJURY. INDIANA JAMES HAS TO DROP OUT. MET ANOTHER WHO HAS GIVEN IN TODAY AS WELL. HAVENT HEARD FROM SOME I'VE TRAVELED WITH IN A WHILE. WISH ME LUCK ON MY 13TH STATE. WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH HEAD NORTH OVER THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 41 DAYS LEFT 441.9 MILES TO GO. THANKS TO RABBIT AND RUNNING CLEAR FOR THE TRAIL MAGIC. THANKS TO RUTH AS WELL AS THE DAIRY QUEEN GROUP FOR HELPING OUT. THANKS MOM, DAD, ANNETTE AND ALL THOSE I FORGOT TO MENTION. BRING ON THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Date: 2009-09-05
From: MOOSE MTN SHELTER

To: FIRE WARDEN'S CABIN
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

CLIMBED SMART MOUNTAIN TO THE LOOKOUT AT THE FIRE WARDENS CABIN. NICE VIEW. WHAT A PLACE. WHAT A CLIMB. WORE ME OUT. FIRST IT WAS THE 2000 FT MOUNTAIN THEN THE CLIMB UP TO SMART MOUNTAIN WHICH WENT TO 3200 FT. WATCHED THE SUNSET OVER VERMONT, AS WELL AS THE MOON RISE OVER NH IN THE FIRE TOWER ALL ON THE SAME NIGHT. DIDN'T NEED TO HEADLAMP THIS NIGHT INTO CAMP. NICE CABIN KEPT THE WIND OUT AS WELL AS THE CHILL. ITS COLD UP HERE. LATE NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING ITS CHILLY. LEAVES HAVE BEEN NOTICED FALLING TO THE GROUND AND CHANGING COLORS.
Date: 2009-09-06
From: FIRE WARDEN'S CABIN

To: THE HIKERS WELCOME HOSTEL
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

WHO SAID YOU CANT DO 20'S IN NH. LEFT AT 8:30 AM AND HIKED TILL JUST AFTER 7. BOTH ERIC AND I HAVE RUN OUT OF BREAKFAST FOODS AS WELL AS SNACK FOODS FOR BREAKS. YESTERDAY I FELT A LITTLE LIGHT HEADED AS I RAN OUT OF ENERGY BUT GOT WHERE I PLANNED ON GOING. TODAY ERIC WAS WORN OUT AS HE RAN OUT OF SNACKS AND BREAKFAST FOODS. THE HITCH FOR SNACKS AND BREAKFAST FOOD AT 25A DIDN'T WORK. SO WE MOVED ON OUT AND CAUGHT UP TO THE CHINESE TOURIST WHO'S SLACK PACKING WITH SOME FRIENDS. ERIC DECIDED HE WANTED TO CHANGE PLANS TO HEAD TO THE JEFFER'S BROOK SHELTER INSTEAD TO HOLD UP AT THE HOSTEL FOR A SHUTTLE TO A STORE AND I DECIDED TO AS WELL. WE COULD OF WENT TO THE SHELTER BUT ERIC WAS BEAT AND WE WERE OUT OF FOOD EXCEPT FOR DINNERS. WE GOT THE 20 IN AS ERIC WAS SHOCKED HE WAS ABLE TO PULL THAT OFF. I SURPRISED MYSELF AS WELL. MANAGED TO GET A BUNCH OF SNACK FOOD AT A STORE WITH A SHUTTLE FROM THE HOSTEL WHICH WE LUCKED OUT. 30 MINUTES TO SPARE WE WERE ABLE TO RESUPPLY. WE PASSED UP A HIKERS FEED 10 X 10 WAS HAVING AT HIS CABIN CLOSE BY YESTERDAY AFTERNOON BUT THAT WOULD OF STOPPED US EARLY. MET UP WITH A GUY I MET EARLY BACK IN VIRGINIA WHO HAS FLIP FLOPPED AND CHATTED WITH HIM. TOLD HIM OF THE HIKERS FEED AND HE WAS SURE EXCITED TO GET THERE FOR IT. NOTICING MORE FLIP FLOPPER'S. MET UP WITH DREAMCATCHER WHO HAS MOVED UP TO BE WITH A GROUP OF FAMILIAR FACES AS SHE'S SLACK PACKING MOOSILAUKE. SHE WILL HAVE TO DO THE LAST SECTION AT A LATER DATE. I'M TOLD I'M A WEEK BEHIND. ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS I'M DOING JUST FINE. JUST CANT AFFORD ANY BAD WEATHER. THE FORECAST IS SUPPOSE TO BE GREAT SO I NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. MOOSILAUKE IS THE BIG CLIMB FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. ABOUT A 3500 FT CLIMB STRAIGHT UP TO 4802 FT. FIRST CLIMB ABOVE TIMBERLINE. 17 TOMORROW COULD BE TOUGH. GUESS WE'LL SEE. FOUND SOME IBUPROFEN IN THE HIKERS BOX AS WELL AS SOME HOT CHOCOLATE AND JOLLY RANCHERS. THE TASK AT HAND IS GRUELING. LESS THAN 400 MILES TO GO AND ITS NOT GETTING ANY EASIER. LETS HOPE I SURVIVE THE WHITES. STOPPING TO CHAT DOESNT HAPPEN AS OFTEN DUE TO THE STEADY MARCH NORTH. I DID MEET A GUY FLIPFLOPPING WHO FED ERIC AND I A BAGEL AND I SCORED A GREEN RICE CRISPEE TREAT. JUST WHAT I NEEDED. MOST OF THE TIME ITS MARCH RIGHT ON BY. BUT A CLUE TO THE TERRAIN OR LANDMARK FORWARD ARE THINGS TO BE ASKING. LOOKING AT PERSONAL UP THE TRAIL AS A SCOUTING REPORT ON SHELTER SPACE OR THE WEATHER FORCAST IS WHAT WE SEEK. HOW ARE THE RED SOX DOING. THE NEXT MAIL DROP WILL BE GORHAM NH 03581.
Date: 2009-09-07
From: THE HIKERS WELCOME HOSTEL

To: ELIZA BROOK SHELTER
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

HIKED UP MOOSILAUKE. WHAT A CLIMB. STRAIGHT UP. GOT TO THE TOP AND WORD SPREAD MY FOLKS WERE DOWN AT THE SHELTER BELOW. BY THE TIME WE FOUND OUT THEY HAD HIKED UP TO THE SUMMIT. WHAT A SURPRISE. THEY BROUGHT ME SOME GOODIES. THE CLOUDS PARTED WHILE I WAS UP THERE SO I GOT SOME GREAT VIEWS. ITS LABOR DAY WEEKEND AND I FOUND IT TO BE CROWDED UP THERE. WE PLANNED ON GOING ON TO ELIZA BROOK SHELTER AND WE KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE UNDER HEADLAMP. THE CLIMB DOWN FROM MOOSILAUKE WAS STEEP. I SAID GOODBYE TO THE FOLKS AND OFF WE WENT FOR ANOTHER SEVEN MILES. THE SEVEN MILES SEEMED LIKE FOREVER. NOT ONLY DID I HIKE IN THE DARK FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS TILL JUST AFTER 10 PM. I MANAGED TO FALL AND BLUDGEON MY ELBOW. THEN I STEPPED OFF A BOG AND FELL KNEE DEEP IN MUD AND LANDED ON MY FACE. NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE. THAT WAS A WICKED HIKE UP WOLF MOUNTAIN. SHELTER WAS ALMOST FULL. DREAMCATCHER WAS ASLEEP IN THE SHELTER AS WELL AS A COUPLE OTHER GUYS. I MANAGED TO UNWIND AND COOK. ERIC WAS BEAT DOWN PRETTY HARD AND TURNED IN EARLY. TALK ABOUT A TOUGH HIKE, THAT WAS TOUGH. I KNEW THEN IT WAS ABOUT TO GET TOUGHER.
Date: 2009-09-08
From: ELIZA BROOK SHELTER

To: ONE STEP AT A TIME HOSTEL
Miles today: 8.8

WHEN I SAID "WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T DO 20 MILES IN THE WHITES" I FOUND MYSELF ON HANDS AND KNEES CLIMBING UP AND THEN DOWN THE SOUTH AND NORTH KINSMAN MOUNTAINS. GREAT PLACE BUT TALK ABOUT KICKING YOUR BUTT. TOOK ALL DAY TO HIKE THEM. ERIC HAS AQUIRED AN INJURY AND THERE IS A QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT HE MAY BE ABLE TO CONTINUE. I TOLD HIM LETS JUST TAKE A DAY OFF AND SEE HOW HE FEELS. I'M WORN OUT AND TAKING A ZERO COULD BE BENEFICIAL. THE WEATHER IS GREAT TODAY, JUST UNFORTUNATE WE'RE WHOOPED.
Date: 2009-09-09
From: ONE STEP AT A TIME HOSTEL

To: LINCOLN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

SUPER DAY FOR GOING UP THE FRANCONIA RIDGE. I'M PLANNING ON HIKING UP THE FRANCONIA RIDGE ON THURSDAY INSTEAD. IN THE MEANTIME ITS THE DOLLAR MENU DOWN THE STREET. CAUGHT UP TO SOME FAMILIAR FACES HERE AT THE HOSTEL AS WELL AS MANY I HAVENT MET. A FEW MORE GUYS SHOWED UP TODAY. LEMONHEAD AND THE CHINESE TOURIST HAVE ARRIVED. THERES A FULL HOUSE HERE AT THIS HOSTEL. ITS PACKED. THERE'S A MCDONALDS HERE IN LINCOLN NH AND A DUNKIN DONUTS ABOUT A MILE HIKE FROM THE HOSTEL. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT ERIC IS NOT GONNA CONTINUE ON DUE TO HIS INJURY. HE TOLD US LATE INTO THE NIGHT WHEN WE HIKED INTO TOWN TO A PIZZA PLACE. HE SAID HE'S BUYING US DINNER BECAUSE HE CANT GO ON. WE TRIED TO CONVINCE HIM TO GO ON BUT HE HAD CALLED HIS FOLKS ALREADY AND THEY'RE COMING TO GET HIM TOMMORROW. THATS A BUMMER, FOR WE HAD TRAVELED TOGETHER FOR QUITE AWHILE NOW. WOW. THEY CHARGE HERE AT THE LIBRARY BUT I WANTED TO UPDATE THE BEST I COULD. IM DOWN TO MY LAST 20 BUCKS AGAIN. THIS TRAIL IS NICKLE AND DIMING ME TO DEATH. ONCE AGAIN YOU CAN SEND DONATIONS TO MY PAYPAL ACCOUNT FLETCH68@NETZERO.NET. I GOT 372.7 MILES TO GO IN 36 DAYS. LETS HOPE FOR GOOD WEATHER. NEXT MAIL DROP IS GORHAM NH. LAST STOP BEFORE MAINE. THANKS TO ALL THE HELP FROM ALL THE TRAIL ANGELS. SHOUT OUT TO WAKE N KATE. THANKS FOR THOSE EXTRA DINNERS IN VERMONT AND THE GREAT DARK CHOCOLATE. I ENJOYED YOUR COMPANY. YOUR A DOLL. CONGRATS ON FINISHING YOUR JOURNEY.
Date: 2009-09-10
From: LINCOLN NH

To: GALEHEAD HUT
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

THE CHINESE TOURIST AND I HIKED UP THE FRANCONIA RIDGE AND I GOT TO TELL YA WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SET OF MOUNTAINS. A VERY POPULAR PLACE TO HIKE. WE HIKED UP LITTLE HAYSTACK TO MT LINCOLN, THEN WE HIKED OVER TO MT LAFAYETTE, WHAT A SITE. WE HAD GREAT WEATHER. WE STOPPED ON MT LAFAYETTE TO SNACK BUT SEVERAL PEOPLE APPROACHED ME ON TOP AN ASKED ME IF I WAS A THRU HIKER WHICH I REPLIED I SURE AM. THEN THEY ASKED IF I WOULD LIKE SOME WATERMELON. WOULD I? YOU BET I WOULD. AFTER CHATTING ANOTHER GENTLEMEN CAME OVER AND ASKED IF WE WOULD LIKE SOME GINGER COOKIES AND SOME DRIED FRUIT AND NUTS. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO OPEN MY FOOD BAG. WE HIKED ON TO MT GARFIELD AND OFF TOWARDS GALEHEAD HUT. IT GOT COLD. WE WORKED OUT THE WORK FOR STAY PLANS FOR THE NEXT MORNING AND WAS FED SOME LEFTOVERS THAT NIGHT. I'M GLAD TO BE INDOORS. IT'S BITTER COLD.