morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-06-10
From: STRATTON ARLINGTON RD

To: VT RD 11 MANCHESTER CENTER VT
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light rain

RAIN TILL NOON AND THEN HEAVY RAIN AT 2:45. MET PAT AT 3:00 PM AND INTO MANCHESTER CENTER AND THE MOTEL. I WILL GIVE VERMONT CREDIT IT IS BEAUTIFUL   AND THE GREEN MTN.S ARE AWESOME WE WENT OVER STRATTON MTN 3936' IN ELEVATION. STOPPED AT STRATTON POND SHELTER WHICH SLEEPS AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE WITH A CARE TAKER (ABSENT).WE MET ANOTHER FREE SPIRIT GIRL WHO HIKED THE SEVEN MILES OVER THE MTN TO THE POND TO TENT IN THE RAIN AND BACK OVER THE MTN. THE NEXT MORNING. WE FIGURED SHE HAD TO HAVE HIKED IN THE DARK BOTH THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THIS MORNING. SHE HAD A DOG, WORE A DRESS AND SANDALS. THE MUD WAS OOZING BETWEEN HER TOES PLUS THE RAIN AND THE TEMP. AT THE TOP WAS 44 DEGREES. WE MET A GROUP OF GREEN MTN. HIKING CLUB WORKING ON THE TRAIL IN A REAL MUDDY AREA. THE TRAIL IS AMAZING WHEN YOU SEE THE HUGE ROCK STEPS AND BOARD WALKS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ALONG WITH THE MANY BRIDGES.STRATTON MTN HAS A SKI AREA AND STRATTON WAS THE FATHER OF THE LONG TRAIL AND THE IDEA FOR THE A T.
Date: 2010-06-11
From: VT RD 11 MANCHESTER CENTER VT

To: ZERO
Miles today: 0.0

44 DAYS TO GO. TYPICAL ZERO WAKE UP AT 4:30 AND TRY TO STAY IN BED TILL 6:00HAVE BREAKFAST LET KZ AND PAT LAUNDRY AND FIGURE OUT NEXT SECTION OF HIKES. SHOP, EAT, SLEEP, AND ENTER JOURNAL. PAT GOT ME A T-SHIRT WITH THE VERMONT WEATHER FORCAST: HOT & SUNNY, TURNING TO SLEET MID-MORNING, BECOMING A BLIZZARD BY NOON, 6 TO 42 INCHES FOLLOWED BY WARM,MOIST, TROPICAL AIR WHICH WILL PROBABLY BRING SEVERE THUNDER STORMS AND A FLOOD WATCH.537.7 MILE TO GO I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW.
Date: 2010-06-12
From: VT RD 11 MANCHESTER CENTER VT

To: MAD TOM NOTCH
Miles today: 0.0

DAY 26 WE DESCIDED TO DO A NERO FROM THE HOTEL TO SLOW DOWN AFTER WE MISSED OUR NERO COMING INTO TOWN. RAIN ALL DAY. WE WENT OVER MT. BROMLEY WHERE THERE IS A SKI AREA AND A CABIN RIGHT ON TOP. WE MET CATCHUP AND A PARTY OF THREE YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE CABIN, ONE OF WHICH WAS FROM ISREAL. THEY WERE DOING THE VERMONT LONG TRAIL. 43 DAYS TO GO
Date: 2010-06-13
From: MAD TOM NOTCH

To: WLA TYE SHELTER
Miles today: 14.0

RAIN IN THE AM UP YUMA MTN. THE TRAIL WAS CLOSED DUE TO BRIDGE REPLACEMENT SO WE WALKED AN ADDITION 3 MILES ON A ROAD WHICH DON'T COUNT TOWARD THE TOTAL. AS WE LEARNED LATER MOST OF THE HIKERS WERE FORDING THE RIVER BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW NOR DID WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THE RIVER TO MAKE THE CHOICE. WE MET PAT AT ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE SHELTER AND SHE HAD KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN FOR US. WHEN WE GOT TO THE SHELTER THERE WASN'T ANY WATER (.3 AHEAD) I WANTED TO GO ON TO THE NEXT SHELTER BUT KZ DIDN'T BECAUSE HE SAID THERE WAS NO WATER THERE PLUS IT WOULD PUT US OFF SCHEDULE. WE WERE JOINED BY A YOUNG HIKER IN TENNIS SHOES, LEVIS AND NOT VERY PREPARED BUT I GUESS THAT IS HOW YOU LEARN.42 DAYS TO GO
Date: 2010-06-14
From: WLA TYE SHELTER

To: UPPER COLD ROAD
Miles today: 18.3

HP FOR 6.6 MILES. MET PAT AND SHE PASSED OUT LOTS OF TRAIL MAJIC TO ALL THE HIKERS THAT CAME BY. LINDA IS GOING HOME TOMORROW. WE TENTED NEXT TO THE ROAD.IT WAS A NICE CAMP SOME RAIN. WE BUILT A FIRE AND PLAYED 50'S MUSIC. LWE ARE 499.9 MILES FROM THE END SO THAT IS A GOOD MILESTONE. WE HAVE DONE 500 MILES.THE NEXT SHELTER FROM WHERE WE WERE LAST NIGHT WAS ONLY LIKE A 1/2 MILE UP THE TRAIL WITH WATER .1 FROM REACHING THE SHELTER. SO YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW. I GOT ON KZ ABOUT DRY CAMPING WHICH WAS UPSETTING TO ME BECAUSE IF I HAD KNOWN I WOULD CARRIED WATER TO THE CAMP AND I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WALKING .6 OF A MILE FOR WATER.
Date: 2010-06-15
From: UPPER COLD ROAD

To: SURBURNE PASS TRAIL
Miles today: 0.0

WENT TO THE TOP OF KILLINGTON MTN. LARGE SKKI AREA. THE SIDE TRAIL TO THE TOP WAS .2 MILE STRAIGHT UP A ROCK SCRAMBLE BUT WORTH THE EXTA EFFORT. PASSED THE MAINE JUNCTION WHERE THE AT AND THE LONG TRAIL SPLIT. WE HAD LUNCH AT THE INN AT THE LONG TRAIL AND RENTED A ROOM. THE ROOM WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE SO WHEN PAT SHOWED UP WE WENT DOWN THE ROAD TO A MOTEL. PAT GOT STUCK TRYING TO FIND TOMORROWS LANDING SO SHE WAS LATE. SHE TOOK LINDA TO THE AIRPORT EARLY THIS MORNING. KZ DESCIDED TO GO HOME. HE IS UPSET WITH ME AND HE IS RIGHT FOR BEING SO BUT IN MY MIND AFTER 500 MILES YOU COULD AT LEAST TALK ABOUT IT. BUT SO BE IT. AS I HAVE BEEN SAYING YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.40 DAYS TO GO
Date: 2010-06-16
From: SURBURNE PASS TRAIL

To: VERMONT SR 12
Miles today: 22.0

LEFT AT 6 AM DID THE 1/2 MILE BACK TO THE TRAIL. ONE BIG MOUNTIAN QUIMBLY AND SEVERAL SMALL UPS COOL WITH A FEW SPRINKLES IN THE AM. PASSED UNCLE TOM A HIKER FROM FLORIDA WHO IS 72 YEARS YOUNG. HE IS DOING 300 MILES A YEAR TO FINISH. WE HAD MET HIM EARLIER IN A SHELTER. 9 HOURS OF HIKING. PAT AND I WENT TO A CAMP SITE. PAT DROVE KZ TO ALBANY NY SO HE CAN FLY SW HOME.39 DAYS AND 464 MILES TO GO.
Date: 2010-06-17
From: VERMONT SR 12

To: NORWICH VT
Miles today: 0.0

SAW DEER AND GROUSE. LOTS OF GRASS FIELDS TO WALK THRU. THE GRASS WAS UP TO 4 FT. TALL, VERY WET AND I GOT VERY WET MANY TIMES. MY GOOD GORETEX BOOTS GOT WET. HAD LUNCH AT THE GENERAL STORE IN WEST HAMPTON. WHEN I GOT TO NORWICH PAT HAD RENTED A ROOM IN THE NORWICH INN ESTABLISHED IN 1797. VERN NICE FOR AN OLD HOTEL.
Date: 2010-06-18
From: NORWICH VT

To: LYME DORCHESTER RD NH
Miles today: 18.0

DAY 32 WALKED FROM NORWICH TO HANOVER NH AND HAD BREAKFAST WITH PAT. HANOVER THE HOME OF DARTMOTH COLLEGE. HIKED OVER MOOSE MTN. (PAT WALKED UP THE DOWN SIDE OF THE MTN. WAITING FOR ME AND SHE WAS TIRED.) MET PAT AT A ROAD FOR A NICE REST (BOOTS OFF SETTING IN A CHAIR AND DRINKING A PEPSI) I THEN WALKED THE FINAL 3.4 MILES UP AND DOWN A MTN..
Date: 2010-06-19
From: LYME DORCHESTER RD NH

To: NH25 A
Miles today: 16.0

TWO BIG UPS AND I WASN'T FEELING VERY GOOD. (WE ALL HAVE THOSE DAYS ?) I LOST MY SUN GLASSED BUT SOME DAY HIKERS FOUND THEM AND RETURNED THEM AT THE ROAD. THEY ARE SCRATCHED UP SO I'M NOT HAPPY. ONE OF THE UPS HAD A LOG STEP LADDER FOLLOWED BY REBAR DRILLED INTO THE ROCK FACE. THERE WAS A FIRE TOWER ON TOP AND THE OLD RANGER (LOOKOUT) CABIN. LOTS OF DAY AND WEEKEND HIKERS. RAIN IN THE PM.
Date: 2010-06-20
From: NH25 A

To: NH 25 GLENCLIFF
Miles today: 10.0

OVER ORE HILL (1800'S MINING) AND MIST MOUNTIAN. 900' EL AND 2200' EL RESP.MY KIND OF A HIKE 10 MILES IN 4 HOURS VERY EASY. I STOPPED ON TOP OF THE MTN. TO CALL HOME. WENT TO THE HOSTELL IN GLENCLIFF AND GOT GOOD INFORMATION FOR HIKING THE WHITE MTNS COMING NEXT. WENT WOODSTOCK FOR LUNCH AND ON TO LINCOLN TO A MOTEL. WHAT A NICE NERO WITH TOMORROW BEING A ZERO. I NEED IT.35 DAYS TO GO AND 398.5 MILES. I AM STARTING TO WEAR DOWN AND HOPE I CAN COMPLETE THIS YEAR.
Date: 2010-06-22
From: NH 25 GLENCLIFF

To: KINGSMAN NOTCH
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: overcast clouds

HIKED FROM 6:15 TO 11:45 OVER MOOSILAUKE AND BLUE MTN. HIGH EL 4802 AND IN THE ARTIC ZONE ABOVE TREE LINE WITH TUNDRA AND LOTS OF ROCK. THIS IS THE FIRST OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NH. VERY STEEP GOING UP AND GUESS WHAT WORSE GOING DOWN. THE REAL STEEP ROCKS HAD 6X6 BLOCKS CUT TO FIT AND PINNED INTO THE ROCK AND SOME AREAS HAD REBAR GRABS DRILLED INTO THE ROCK. SAW LOTS OF GROUSE. NICE DAY. MET JOHNNY MUD FOOT AND SEVERAL OTHER HIKERS. PAT GOT A COUPLE OF HOURS OF HIKING ALSO.
Date: 2010-06-23
From: KINGSMAN NOTCH

To: FRANCONIA NOTCH
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

HIKED 6;00 am to 4:30 PM THERE WAS THREE YOUNG HIKERS THAT DID THE SAME HIKE IN 6 HOURS. DID WOLF MOUNTAIN AND KINSMAN MOUNTAIN. THIS HAD TO BE THE HARDEST PART OF THE TRAIL I HAVE SEEN. RAIN SOME DURING THE DAY. PASSED THE FIRST HUT WHICH LOOKED LIKE A HOTEL IN THE WOODS ACCESS ONLY BY TRAIL AND LUCKY FOR THE TOURIST THEY DON'T HAVE TO USE THE AT TO GET THERE.
Date: 2010-06-24
From: FRANCONIA NOTCH

To: GARFIELD CAMPSITE
Miles today: 10.2

OVER LAFAYETTE MOUNTAIN MT. GARFIELD AND OTHER LITTLE BUMPS. RAIN AL DAY WITH HIGH WINDS. I WAS BLOWN OVER ONCE AND SLIPPED DOWN 4 TIMES DUE TO SLICK ROCK FACES I HAD TO GO DOWN. IT TOOK ME 8 HOURS TO DO THE TEN MILES TODAY. I DID SEE A BEAR SHORTLY AFTER I GOT STARTED HE RAN OFF AS SOON AS HE SAW ME. THE CAMPSITE WAS LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF MT. GARFIELD. I WAS TOTALLY WET WHEN I GOT TO CAMP. THERE WAS 10 PEOPLE IN THE SHELTER.
Date: 2010-06-25
From: GARFIELD CAMPSITE

To: CRAWFORD NOTCH
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: broken clouds

4:45 AM TO 4:30 PM LONG DAY. STARTED THE DAY HIKING DOWN A WATER FALL (VERY EXCITING) MADE A HUT BY 7:00 AM STOPPED AND BOUGHT A CUP OF COFFEE TO WASH MY COLD POP TART BREAKFAST DOWN. WENT OVER A BIG MT. THEN ANOTHER WHERE THE TRAIL SPLIT AND I FOLLOWED THE AT SIGN AND THEN HIKED FOR OVER A HOUR WITHOUT SEEING A WHITE BLAZE TO CONFIRM I WAS ON THE RIGHT TRAIL (THIS IS BIG SCARE BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO BACK TRACK). A HIKER THAT WAS AT THE SHELTER "BIG SKY" WAS AHEAD OF ME AND HE HAD TURNED BACK AND THEN MET A HIKER THAT KNEW THE TRAIL WAS CORRECT FOR US. HE AND I HIKED TOGETHER FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. WE STOPPED AT ANOTHER HUT AND BOUGHT A BOWL OF SOUP FOR LUNCH. WHOOPIE PIE WAS AT THAT SHELTER. WE HAD MET HER DAD CATCH-UP MANY TIMES HE WAS GOING NO AND SHE WAS GOING SO. I KNEW WHO SHE WAS BECAUSE OF THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN HER AND HER DAD. LONG HARD DAY. PAT WAS WAITING AT THE PARKING LOT. SHE FED BIG SKY AND HE WENT ON HIS WAY. WE WENT INTO TOWN HAD DINNER AND THEN ON TO A PARKING LOT FOR THE NIGHT.
Date: 2010-06-26
From: CRAWFORD NOTCH

To: MT WASHINGTON
Miles today: 12.5

RODE THE COG RAILROAD UP TO THE TOP OF WASHINGTON. VERY SOUPY ON TOP I HAD A PROBLEM FINDING THE TRAIL. HIKED SOBO BACK TO CRAWFORD GAP. GREAT HIKE UP ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN AND THEN THE COMING DOWN PART. I AM GETTING WORE DOWN AND I FELL ONCE ON A SLICK SURFACE. I DECIDED TO GET OFF THE TRAIL. I AM 320 MILES FROM THE END BUT THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER DAY AND TIME. I NEED TO REBUILD MY STRENGTH. SEE YA NEXT TIME. OH YA ITS MY BIRTHDAY AND WHAT A NICE PRESENT TO MYSELF TO NOT TO HAVE TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN TOMORROW. WE DID ABOUT 580 MILES THIS YEAR SO FAR AND I THINK I MAY COME BACK IN THE FALL TO SEE THE COLORS.
Date: 2010-08-17
From: GORHAM NH

To: BAXTER STATE CAMPGROUND
Miles today: 0.0

ARRIVED BAXTER STATE PARK A 4:39 PM AFTER 6 WEEKS OFF DOING NOTHING BUT GETTIN FAT AND LAZY. NICE DRIVE UP TO HERE TWO DAYS FROM TN. RATTLER SAYS BY TYPING ALL CAPITAL LETTER I AM SHOUTING AT WHO EVER READS THIS. NOT TRUE I AM JUST LAZY AND THIS WAS I DON'T HAVE TO BE CORRECT. (I HATE ENGLISH AND THEREFORE NOT VERY GOOD AT IT). WELL THE TORTURE STARTS TOMORROW OH I MEAN THE ADVENTURE.
Date: 2010-08-18
From: BAXTER STATE CAMPGROUND

To: BAXTER MTN
Miles today: 5.2

WELL I HAVE CLIMBED MT. KAHTADIN (BAXTER MTN. THE END OF THE TRAIL. KZ ALWAYS SAID HE WOULD ONLY FINISH THE TRAIL HERE BUT I WANTED TO SEE THIS IF NOTHING MORE ON THE TRAIL. PAT FIXED BACON AND EGGS AT 5 AM AND THEN UP TO THE STREAM CAMPGROUND AND HIKING AT 6:15 AFTER SIGNING IN. DID REALLY GOOD FOR THE FIRST THREE MILES AND THEN THE HARD VERTICAL CLIMB GOT THE BEST OF ME. I WAS LIGHT HEADED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR BUT CONTINUED ON I MADE THE SUMMIT AT 10:00 AND STARTED DOWN. WOW THE GOING DOWN WAS TOUGH MY KNEES TRIED TO GIVE OUT THE LAST 2.5 MILES IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE A COUPLE OF RUBBER BANDS AND THEY WANTED TO BEND BOTH FORWARD AND BACKWARD. I WAS WORRIED I WOULD MAKE IT IN ONE PIECE. PAT HIKED UP HALF AND BACK WHILL I WAS GONE. SHE DID HER TRAIL MAJIC BY PROVIDING SHOES FOR A HIKER. I AM GLAD I HAVE COMPLETED THIS PART OF THE TRAIL. BEAT PAT IN CRIBBAGE SHE WON'T WANT TO PLAY ME NOW. I MADE IT DOWN BY 1:30 WHICH WAS BETTER THAN MOST.
Date: 2010-08-19
From: BAXTER STATE CAMPGROUND

To: ABOL BRIDGE CAMPGROUND
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

HIKED FROM 6 AM TO 10 AM NICE HIKE EXCEPT MY LEGS ARE REALLY SORE FROM YESTERDAY. JUST A WALK IN THE WOODS. RATTLER MET US AT THE ABOL BRIDGE CAMPGROUND AT 3:00 PM. ITS NICE TO SEE THE OLD GENT AFTER TWO YEARS AND WILL BE FUN TO HIKE WITH HIM AGAIN. I DIDN;T REALIZE VISA'S WERE SO EASY TO GET BUT BUT HE GOT HERE. (HE IS FROM CANADA HA HA)
Date: 2010-08-20
From: ABOL BRIDGE CAMPGROUND

To: RAINBOW STREAM LEAN-TO
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

THIS IS THE FIRST LEG OF THE 100 MILE WILDERNESS STARTING AT THE NORTH END. IT WAS A SLOW HIKE RATTLER IS OUT OF HIKING SHAPE AND MY LEGS ARE STILL HURTING FROM TWO DAYS AGO. WE TENTED ABOVE THE SHELTER ALONG WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER HIKERS. THE SHELTER IS THE ONE THAT 23 MICE WERE KILLED IN ON NIGHT. NICE HIKE NO BIG UPS AND THE WEATHER WAS OVERCAST AND COOL.
Date: 2010-08-21
From: RAINBOW STREAM LEAN-TO

To: WEST STREAM CAMPGROUND
Miles today: 14.2

WE GOT TO SLACK PACK FOR ABOUT 10 MILES PAT FOUND A ROAD OUT HERE IN THE WILDERNESS SO WE COULD SLACK. WE HAD BEER AND PAT COOKED FOR US AT ABOUT 3 PM AND THEN WE HIKED ANOTHER COUPLE OF HOURS TO A CAMPSITE. JUST BEFORE WE REACHED THE CAMP SITE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF YOUNG GUYS SETTING UP CAMP ?? ONE WAS SHARPENING HIS AXE AND THE OTHER ONE HAD A DISTANT STARE AT RATTLER (THE ONLY ONE OF THE TWO OF US WHICH WOULD BE SIZE ENOUGH TO EAT??) I THINK BOTH RATTLER AND MYSELF WAS HAPPY THE CAMPSITE WAS DOWN THE TRAIL A DISTANCE FROM THEM. PAT DID MAJIC AND FED TWO OTHER HIKERS WHEN SHE FED US.
Date: 2010-08-22
From: WEST STREAM CAMPGROUND

To: CRAWFORD POND
Miles today: 18.8

WALKED TO A ROAD ABOUT NOON AND MET A-PAT. WHEN WE GOT THERE SHE HAD ABOUT 10 HIKERS AT THE RV GETTING MAGIC COOKIES, ORANGES, POP AND WHATEVER. AT LEAST SHE SAVES THE BEER FOR RATTLER AND MYSELF. YOU KNOW BEER IS NOT JUST A BREAKFAST DRINK. SHE FIXED GRILLED HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICHES FOR RATTLER, PEE WEE, SELDOM SEEN AND MYSELF. WITH CHIPS AND BEER. WE MET PAT AT THE END OF THE DAY AND SHE TOOK US DOWN TO A CAMPGROUND FOR THE NIGHT. IT WAS OVERCAST ALL DAY AND REALLY QUIT. NICE DAY FOR A HIKE. WE HAVE PASSED A LOT OF NORTH BOUNDERS WHO FOR THE MOST PART ARE FINISHING UP THEIR HIKES FROM GEORGIA.
Date: 2010-08-23
From: CRAWFORD POND

To: CARL A NEWHALL LEAN-TO
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

5 UPS TODAY THAT RATTLER HAD A HARD TIME WITH. NOT ME (DON'T LET THEM SEE YOUR WEAKNESS) WE TENTED WITH SELDOM SEEN AND PEE WEE STAYED IN THE SHELTER WITH A YOUNG DEAF GUY WHO IS HIKING WITH HIS DOG. ANOTHER NICE HIKING DAY WE RAN OUT OF WATER AND HAD TO STOP AND GET SOME. MAINE HAS A LOT OF WATER STREAMS, PONDS (WE WOULD CALL THEM LAKES) AND SPRINGS. ANOTHER DAY OF LOTS OF NOBO HIKERS.
Date: 2010-08-24
From: CARL A NEWHALL LEAN-TO

To: CLOUD POND LEAN-TO
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

WE STARTED THE DAY BY GOING DOWN 5.5 MILES TO THE WEST BRANCH OF THE PLEASANT RIVER WE MET PAT A MILE PLUS FROM THE RIVER AND SHE HIKED BACK WITH US. THIS WAS THE FIRST RIVER WE HAD TO FORD (TAKE THE BOOTS OFF AND PUT THE CROCS ON AND WADE IN. WE WENT TO THE RV AND HAD BEER AND SNACKS AND PAT FIXED EACH OF THE FOUR OF US A SANDWICH FOR LUNCH AND OFF WE WENT. WE HAD FIVE BIG UPS SEEMED LIKE ALL DAY. RATTLER GOT TOTALLY EXHAUSTED PRIOR TO THE FOURTH (FOURTH MOUNTAIN) HE DECIDED TO STEALTH CAMP AND FOR US TO GO ON. I GAVE HIM MY WATER AND WORRIES AND WOULD HAVE STAYED WITH HIM BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD FOR AN ADDITIONAL DAY AND KNEW THAT TOMORROW WAS A 20 MILER AND COULD NOT DO THAT MUCH. WE LEFT HIM AT 5:30 AND IT TOOK US 2 HOURS TO DO THE LAST 2 MILES WITH MAX EFFORT. WE HAD JUST GOT OUR TENTS UP WHEN IT GOT DARK SO WE HAD TO COOK WITH OUR HEAD LIGHTS ON. I'M HOPING RATTLER CAN GAIN ENOUGH STRENGTH TO GET OVER THESE HUMPS TOMORROW. HE KNOWS A WAY OFF THE TRAIL FOR TOMORROW. HE SAID THE NEXT TIME HIS STUPID ALARM GOES OFF TO GO HIKE HE IS GOING TO TURN IT OFF AND GO BACK TO WHAT HE WAS DOING. THIS WAS A HARD DAY FOR SUCH A SIMPLE THING AS JUST WALKING IN THE WOODS.
Date: 2010-08-25
From: CLOUD POND LEAN-TO

To: MONSON ROAD
Miles today: 19.0

THIS COMPLETED THE 100 MILE WILDERNESS. I HAVE COMPLETE 115 MILES IN THE LAST 8 DAYS WHICH SEEMS GOOD SINCE THE FIRST TWO DAYS WAS ONLY 15 MILES. I CALLED A-PAT AT 7:00 AM TO ADVISE HERE THAT RATTLER WAS COMING DOWN A DIFFERENT WAY AND SHE MIGHT WANT TO GO LOOK FOR HIM (LEFT HER VOICE MAIL) SHE NEVER TURNED HER PHONE ON TILL HE SHOWED UP AT THE VAN. I LEFT PEE WEE AND SELDOM AT THAT TIME AND THEY NEVER CAUGHT UP AND I AM AFRAID THEY RAN INTO TROUBLE IN THAT PEE WEE HAS TWO BAD KNEES AND THE HUGE DOWN TO START THE DAY MAY HAVE BEEN TOO MUCH. I HAD BLOOD LEVEL LOWS THREE TIMES 10 12:30 AND 3:00 PM I ATE MY LAST SNACK AT 3 BY 4:15 I COULD FEEL MYSELF GOING LOW AND I REMEMBERED I HAD A BAGGY WITH INSTANT RICE IN IT SO I MADE THE NEXT SHELTER AND UNPACKED TO COOK RICE. THAT DOESN'T SEEM SO BAD BUT AT 12:30 WHEN I HAD TO FORD ANOTHER RIVER AND FILTER WATER THE RAINS STARTED COMING DOWN BY THE BUCKET FULL. THERE IS A REASON THIS PART OF THE WORLD IS SO GREEN DORTHEY. AT THE LAST SHELTER I WAS ABLE TO CALL PAT TO TELL HER I WAS 3 MILES OUT AND WOULD BE THERE IN A WHILE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO WALK 2.5 MILES AN HOUR BUT IT HAS BEEN 2 DOWN TO 1 HERE. I THINK THE ROOTS AND THE UPS AND DOWNS HAVE SLOWED ME DOWN OR MAYBE SINCE I'M NOW DRAWING THE OLD AGE PENSION THAT MAY BE THE PROBLEM. IT TOOK ME 1.5 HOURS TO GET TO PAT AND THE RV. WE CAME TO GREENVILLE ON MOOSE LAKE (LARGEST LAKE WITH IN ONE STATE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI. THE REST. WE WENT TO EAT AT HAS MOOSE BALLS ON THE MENU (THE TENDEREST PART OF A MOOSE) FOR $1,495.00 WITH 24 HOURS NOTICE AND 25 % DOWN. I TRIED TO ORDER THEM BUT ITS A JOKE ?? I FOUND THE RV AND PAT AT 6:30.
Date: 2010-08-26
From: MONSON ROAD

To: GREENVILLE
Miles today: 0.0

BREAKFAST BEER AND SLEEP. PAT AND RATTLER DROVE BACK TO ABOL BRIDGE CG SO RATTLER COULD MOVE HIS CAR FORWARD. AFTER READING THIS I AM SURE YOU GUYS ALL REALIZE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW AND WOULD JUST AS WELL NOT KNOW IT ANYWAY
Date: 2010-08-27
From: GREENVILLE

To: MOXIE BALD LEAN-TO
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: few clouds

WHAT A GREAT WALK 7 TO 4:45 NO BIG UPS OR DOWNS 2 RIVER FORDS. HAD BREAKFAST IN TOWN RAMIN, SOUP, AND RICE BAR FOR DINNER. WATER FROM THE MOXIE POND WITH TENT SITES ADJ. TO POND. THIS IS WHAT THE TRAIL SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT.
Date: 2010-08-28
From: MOXIE BALD LEAN-TO

To: CARATUNK MAINE
Miles today: 19.0

MOXIE BALD IS THE ONLY MT. IN THIS AREA THAT HAS A BYPASS SO IN BAD WEATHER YOU CAN STAY OFF OF THE OPEN BALD (JUST ROCK NO TREES). I WENT TO THE TOP TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE TOP POST SIGN AND THEN COULDN'T FIND THE TRAIL OFF. I HAD TO FINALLY GO BACK DOWN A LITTLE BIT TO FIND THE TRAIL. MET PAT AT MOXIE POND RD. AND THEN SLACKED TO CARATUNK WHERE PAT HAD MADE A RESERVATION AT A HUGE OUTDOOR CENTER. SWEET FOOD BED AND BAR.
Date: 2010-08-29
From: CARATUNK MAINE

To: BOG BROOK RD.
Miles today: 19.5

WE HAD BREAKFAST AT THE OUTDOOR CENTER AND WAITED FOR THE FIRST FERRY ACROSS THE KENNEBEC RIVER. THE FERRY IS OPERATED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND IT OPERATES FROM 9 TO 11 AND 2 TO 4. IT IS A CANOE WITH A CAPACITY OF TWO HIKERS. I WAS SURE THAT I COULD HAVE FORDED THE RIVER BUT THE RIDE WAS NICE. WE WENT SKINNY DIPPING IN THE EAST KERRY POND. THERE WAS THIS SANDY BEACH WHERE YOU COULD GET INTO THE WATER WITHOUT WALKING ON ROCKS. IT SEEMED LIKE WHEN WE GOT OUT WE WERE SO REFRESHED THAT THE DAY WAS JUST STARTING. WE MET PAT A LONG FALLS DAM ROAD HAD A BEER CHANGED SOCKS AND WALKED ANOTHER TWO MILES TO THE CAMPING AREA. PAT FED RATTLER, ME AND FOUR OTHER HIKERS.
Date: 2010-08-30
From: BOG BROOK RD.

To: HIGHWAY 27
Miles today: 17.0

WENT OVER THE BIGELOW MOUNTAINS. 4 UPS TWO THAT WERE VERY LARGE. HARD DAY. I DID TAKE TIME TO CALL BROTHER BILL TO WHICH HIM HAPPY BIRTHDAY. PAT AND RATTLER WENT BACK TO MOVE RATTLER'S CAR FORWARD. HIS ANKLE HAS BEEN BOTHERING HIM AND HE WENT HOME. WE CAMPED IN A PARKING LOT NEXT TO THE HIGHWAY WITH LOTS OF TRAFFIC.
Date: 2010-08-31
From: HIGHWAY 27

To: SPAULDING MT. LEAN-TO
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: few clouds

STARTED THE DAY TIRED AFTER A BAD NIGHTS SLEEP. I WAS READY TO SAY BAG IT I DON'T NEED TO FINISH THIS TRAIL AT 7:30 BUT I WENT ON. 4 UPS 2 VERY LARGE. SUGAR LOAF SEEMED VERTICAL AND NEVER ENDING. SPENT NIGHT IN SHELTER WITH THE DEAF HIKER AND HIS DOG. LOTS OF HIKERS PLUS A GROUP OF BATES COLLEGE FRESHMEN WITH 2 LEADERS. I RALLY SLOWED DOWN TO GET WVER THE MOUNTAINS KIND OF LIKE A OLD MAN???
Date: 2010-09-01
From: SPAULDING MT. LEAN-TO

To: MAINE HIGHWAY 4
Miles today: 17.5

THIS STRETCH WAS TO BE TWO DAYS BUT I GOT TO THE SCHEDULED CAMP SITE AT 1:00 PM AND THOUGHT I SHOULD GO FOR IT. 4 MAJOR UPS AND I WAS REALLY TIRED WHEN I GOT TO THE HIGHWAY. WE WENT TO RANGLEY FOR THE NIGHT. PAT WAS GOING TO CAMP IN THE PARKING LOT AND I WAS SCHEDULED FOR A ZERO AFTER THIS SECTION.
Date: 2010-09-02
From: MAINE HIGHWAY 4

To: HIGHWAY 17
Miles today: 13.0

SINCE EARL IS SCHEDULED TO HIT HERE ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND SAT. I THOUGHT I SHOULD HIKE TODAY AND TOMORROW. 13 MILES IS NOTHING. SLACKING IS A LOT EASIER THAN CARRYING A PACK THT IS TOO HEAVY.
Date: 2010-09-03
From: HIGHWAY 17

To: SOUTH ARM ROAD
Miles today: 13.3

ANOTHER SLACK DAY. UP TO FIRST MT. SECOND MT. THIRD MT. AND THEN BEMIS MT. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU WORK SO HARD TO GET TO THE TOP AND THEN LOOK UP AND THERE IS ANOTHER TOP TO REACH. THE LAST MT. OF THE DAY WAS OLD BLUE MT. AND THEN A COUPLE OF MILES GOING DOWN A VERTICAL. THE GOOD NEWS IS THE HARDEST 35 MILES ON THE TRAIL ARE AHEAD. WELL TOMORROW IS A ZERO SO I CAN PREPARE MYSELF MENTALLY TO FINISH.
Date: 2010-09-05
From: RANGLEY SO. ARM RD

To: EAST B HILL RD.
Miles today: 10.3

SLACKED OVER WYMAN MTN. AND MOODY MTN. SAW A COW MOOSE AND CALF ON THE DRIVE TO THE TRAIL. HAD BREAKFAST AT A GENERAL STORE IN THE AM AND THEN CAME BACK FOR A LATE LUNCH IN THE PM. NICE DAY
Date: 2010-09-06
From: EAST B HILL RD.

To: SPEC. POND SHELTER
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: few clouds

HIKED 10 MILES TO GRAFTON NOTCH. THIS SECTION INCLUDED THE BALDPATE MOUNTAINS WHICH I THINK MAYBE THE BEST OF ALL THE TRAIL FOR ME. AT GRAFTON NOTCH I MET PAT HAD A BUD, HAM SANDWICH AND PUT ON MY PACK FOR THE FIVE MILE CLIMB TO THE POND AND SHELTER. LOTS OF HIKERS AND VERY STEEP. THERE IS A SWEET SMELL OF THE PINES IN THE NORTH WOODS THAT YOU IS LIKE NO OTHER. WHAT A GREAT DAY. I AM GETTING CLOSE TO THE END SO I AM ENJOYING THIS MORE AND MORE EXCEPT TOMORROW I HAVE THE MAHOOSUC NOTCH TO GO THROUGH WHICH IS THE LONGEST MILE ON THE TRAIL THEY SAY.
Date: 2010-09-07
From: SPEC. POND SHELTER

To: GENTIAN CAMPSITE
Miles today: 15.0

LONG DAY BUT I MADE IT BACK INTO NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE DREADED NOTCH WAS JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE. I HAD TO TAKE MY PACK OFF THREE TIMES TO GET UNDER ROCKS. THE GOOD NEWS WAS THE TRAIL WASN'T VERTICAL IN THIS AREA. LOTS OF CLIMBING THROUGH A LARGE ROCK JUMBLE. MET THE BLIND HIKER WITH HIS REPORTER AND SUPPORT HIKER JUST AT THE WEST END OF THE NOTCH. THE BLIND HIKER HAS A TRAIL NAME OF BULLDOG AND THE REPORTER ASKED ME WHAT I THOUGHT "I SAID I WOULD KEEP MY OPINION TO MYSELF". THE DAY INCLUDED 6 MOUNTAINS. THE LAST 5.5 MILES TOOK FIR EVER IT SEEMED. STAYED IN THE SHELTER WITH 3 OTHER PEOPLE AND ABOUT 6 TENTING.
Date: 2010-09-09
From: US 2 GORHAM NH

To: CARTER NOTCH HUT
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

PAT DROPPED ME OFF AT 7 AND SHE LEFT TO PICK UP MABEL IN BANGOR. THE HIKE WASN'T TOO BAD EXCEPT IT RAINED OFF AND ON ALL DAY AND WAS WINDY AND COLD. I MET MY NEWEST BEST BUDDY ERIC BUC-I FROM OHIO ON THE TRAIL AND AT THE HUT WE SHARED A BUNK ROOM. THE TRAIL HAD A LOT OF VERY STEEP UPS AND DOWNS (WHAT ELSE IS NEW?). THE HUT WAS NICE: COFFEE WHEN WE GOT IN. TWO BUNK BEDS IN EACH ROOM WITH A PILLOW AND THREE WOOL BLANKETS PER BED. NO HEAT. DINNER INCLUDED SOUP (PUMPKIN), SALAD, BREAD (WITH OLIVE OIL), PASTA, BEEF STEW AND CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER BARS. I KNOW IT WAS COLD BUT NOT TOO BAD UNDER 6 BLANKETS. ADDITIONAL PEOPLE AT THE HUT WERE A FAMILY OF 4 (BOYS 6 & 8), A 4000' MTN CLIMBER, A MAN AND WIFE ERIC AND TWO WORK FOR STAY HIKERS. THE HUTS LET HIKERS WORK FOR LEFT OVER FOOD AND A BUNK. THESE TWO WERE A FATHER AND 9 YEAR OLD SON. THEIR WORK WAS SCRUBBING THE BLACK OFF THE OUT SIDE OF COOKING POTS FOR AN HOUR. IT WAS A GOOD NIGHT IN THE COLD AND RAIN.
Date: 2010-09-10
From: CARTER NOTCH HUT

To: PINKHAM NOTCH
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: fog

FROM THE HUT UP OVER WILDCAT MOUNTAIN AND SKI AREA. DOWN TO PINKHAM NOTCH AND THE AMC VC MET PAT AND MABEL. THIS MORNING THE WIND CHILL MADE THE TEMP. 19 DEGREES BUT WHO CARES I ONLY HAVE 13 MILES TO GO. DROVE OVER TO A MOTEL CLOSE TO MOUNT WASHINGTON FOR THE LAST LEG.