morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-09-17
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: clear sky

It cleared off last night so got cool too. Got up at 4am and cooked a hot cereal and hot cocoa/coffee mix. Started out before dailight because I wanted to go 10 miles, but ended up only doing 5+ over Success Mt.to here. Crossed into NH at 7am. Beautiful sunny afternoon. Laid in the sun for two hours.
Date: 2003-09-18
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

Got up at 3am, cooked a hot cereal and cocoa breakfast, packed and started up Hayes Mt. in to dark to do the 11 miles to Hwy 2 and hitch into Gorham. Showered, did laundry and had dinner. All drop/bounce boxes and the cold weather sleeping bag were hear waiting for me.
Date: 2003-09-19
From: Gorham, NH

To: The Barn at Gorham< NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

A working day to do computer work, shopping, phoning home, etc. Getting around town on a loaned bicycle. Cant spell it, but can still ride one. Bulldog has a problem. His 15 degree bag from Walmart was here, but nothing from home - money, etc. He has been working hard to track stuff down. He hitched into Berlin, NH early to the Western Union. Have not seen him all day.
Date: 2003-09-21
From: The Barn at Gorham, NH

To: The Barn at Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Getting ready for the Whites/Presidentials. Wanting to reduce my pack weight as much as possible while being sure to carry plenty of food. Don't plan on staying in any more of those expensive huts ($68) than I have to. Plus some of them have closed already. Will be camping out in my own lean-to. Hope the weather is good for the next 11 days. Plan on being in North Woodstock by the 2nd of October. At that time the hardest the AT has to offer will be behind me. Maine was surely beautiful and green. I certainly enjoyed it even if the mountains were steep and rugged. I had read an article in "Backpacker Magazine" about protecting your knees. One recommendation was to make your own mini switchbacks. So I tried it. It works well, best going up slope. What you end up doing is planting a pole and circling around it. I found as I planted my poles, first left, then right and circling around them - a circle to the left and a circle to the right - that I had the craziest sensation that I was square dancing with the mountain. And it is easier on the knees. Another recommendation on down slopes was to turn around in the worst places and go down backwards. Well, guess what happens then, because usually I was holding for my life onto trees first with my right hand and turning and then with my left and turning and so as I went from tree to tree right to left turning all the time sometimes the sensation was that I was twirling thru a waltz with the mountain. It was fun. I liked Maine so I simultaneously felt regret with elation as I crossed the line into New Hampshire. In Maine I saw 6 moose, 2 deer, a bear, lots of loons, ducks, geese, gray jays, a ground hog and several grouse. I was disappointed that I did not see a beaver, but they are seldom seen. You can see their work, but not them.
Date: 2003-09-22
From: The Barn at Gorham, NH

To: The Barn At Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Took another zero day. Need 3 days to accomplish sorting, organizing, shopping, emailing, phoning, etc. The battery operated socks were a nice idea, but too heavy to cary so sent them back home for return. Took one more day to try to play the weather to my best advantage. Which in the Whites is probably about like shooting craps at Las Vegas. So stayed Monday even though it was a nice day.   Watched movies and loafed. Have not seen Bulldog since Thursday evening. He either hiked on or had to get off the trail. I suspect the latter. Too bad if that's the case. He had worthy goals and needed the trail. The Lord knows his needs and will provide for him in His own way. Hopefully we may meet up again on down the trail.. I pray for him and wish him well. He became a good friend and more like a son, very much like my son Jim. So now I truly am alone, the last southbounder on the trail.. I believe the large bubble of northbounders has passed thru so shelter space should not be a problem, just the weather. So altogether I spent 5 nights at the Barn on Gorham.
Date: 2003-09-23
From: The Barn At Gorham, NH

To: Rattle River Shelter
Miles today: 1.9
Weather: light rain

And the river is loud. It is only a few yards from the lean-to. I did the easy hike to here in the pouring rain this afternoon, so that I would be in a good position to do the very difficult hike up Mt. Moriah tomorrow on the predicted sunny day (the method to my madness). It's 7:45 PM. I've had dinner and it has stopped raining. Somneone left a rain jacket on the floor behind the bed that I occupied at the Barn. It lay there for 4 days and nights and no one ever came for it. So now I have it. It was brand new, never used. It still had the fold marks in it. There was also a large HD trash bag there that I garnered to go over my pack as a rain cover. So that's how I started out in the rain. My pack was dry again, but I was soaked from perspiration, but not the rain. Oh, well, clothes are hanging. They won't dry. I'll put them on wet in the AM and soon my body heat will dry them. I'm alone in the shelter. kind of fun. I have plenty of room. I miss home, my wife and family,and I miss Bulldog. He was a good companion. It does feel good to be totally on my own. It's a bigger chellenege now. I have planned 2 routes through the Whites: one above treeline if the weather is good and one below treeline if the weather is bad.
Date: 2003-09-24
From: Rattle River Shelter

To: IMP Campsite
Miles today: 6.1

Was not alone all night. Ten college students on an outward bound came in after dark. They looked like a swarm of lightening bugs with their headlamps bobbing thru the dark night. I started out right away needing to ford the rain swollen Rattle River so changed out of my boots into the Tevas and waded. Knowing that I would need to ford it 2 more times, I just left the Tevas on and hiked in them all day. So that's how I square danced up Mt. Moriah (over 4000 ft), circling to the right, circling to the left and then sashayed down the other side. If that sounds too easy, it was not. It was a long, hard 4 mile climb up, gaining 2500 ft in elevation with a steeper descent on the other side. I'm alone in this lean-to and glad to be here. I was tired by the time I got here. Tevas did good. Took a picture of Mt. Moriah and 2 of views from the top.
Date: 2003-09-25
From: IMP Campsite

To: Pinkham Notch Visitor Center
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

Decided to come down off the mountains today, fearing gathering bad weather. Hiked back .7 miles to Stoney Brook Trail to descend a gentle 4 mi trail following Stoney Brook to NH Hwy 2. Sunny and warm brought out a new crop of flies that were very pesky similar to black flies. Hitched to Wildcat Ski area and rode the gondola up to Peak E of the Wildcats. Was hoping to get some good pictures from the summit, but it was already clouding over and turning cold and nasty. Cold and windy on top; warm down below. Then hiked over here. Predicted good weather day tomorrow and Saturday. Hope that is true, then I will summit Mt. Washington tomorrow and move on South from there. However, its 8 PM and raining. So we'll see what tomorrow brings. I know it is bad up there right now and very cold. My premonition is for bad and I've gotten a cold. So I think getting down off the peaks today was a wise decision. Anyhow, Carter Mt. and the Wildcats A, B, C, D, and E are behind me now. Stayed at Joe Dodge Lodge. This place is very nice for $52.00. I have a bed with 2 sheets and a blanket, dinner AYCE, breakfast AYCE and a hot shower. You know, that ain't bad for $52.00. Perhaps those "expensive" AMC huts are not such a bad idea afterall. Bought a pair of sunglasses for $1.00 at the dollar store in Gorham to use above treeline. So far have not needed them - to cloudy. Took the pictures anyway. Maybe some will come out OK. Am doing my own hike now and adding some fun things. If I can't enjoy it, I might as well go home. Tomorrow I will call LL Bean and order their Mt. Washington 20 degree bag and have them ship it GD to North Woodstock.. The Coleman bag is warm and nice for $40.00 but it does not compress well. It's taking up too much room in my pack. The LL Bean bag should compress a lot smaller. If it doesn't, I'll just return it for a refund. Still trying to play the weather game, which for me is wise. I'm not a strong enough hiker to make a quick dash for lower elevations if the weather were to suddenly change for the worse. Hikers have died here of hypothermia; its not uncommon. There are warning signs everywhere around here in the Whites. So far I'm finding the Whites to be tought, but not bad. In Maine, the mountains were tough, rugged and bad except for the Mahoosics. In New Hampshire, the trails are better and start to have some switchbacks, but the climbs and descents are long. The trail today was lovely thru a deciduous forest of beech, birch, maple and elm trees. It was what I think a trail in the woods ought to be. Glad my plan worked and I'm not camping out in the rain. Breakfast at 6 Am, then we'll see. I was mistaken earlier when I thought that North Woodstock was the end of the Whites. It's not. There are at least 20 miles of mountain peaks after North Woodstock. Glencliff is the end of the Whites. From there the whole character of the AT changes to rolling hills and abandoned farm land and pastures that are returning to woodlands. Will be nice after all these moutain peaks.
Date: 2003-09-26
From: Pinkham Notch Visitor Center

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Picked a good day to summit Mt. Washington. It was clear most of the mid morning and not to horribly windy. No, I did not get to experience the jet stream. If it had been there, they probably would not have allowed anyone to come up. Although I'm not sure how they would stop AT thru hikers. It's definitely windy. Some building are tied down with large heavy chains thrown over the roof and tied to posts set deep into the granite rock. Very steep climb. The last mile I was huffing and puffing harder than anytime so far. The final approach trail is a pile of jumbled granite boulders. Very difficult hiking. Lake of the Clouds Hut is closed for the season already. I'm staying in the Lake's refuge room, also called "The Dungeon", with a NoBo called Shamus. The refuge room is an exterior room left unlocked for hikers emergency use only. We're not having an emergency; we're just tired. We are only about 1 1/2 miles from the summit. I was told that this was one of their best weather days. I got some pictures.
Date: 2003-09-27
From: Lake of the Clouds Hut

To: Mizpah Hut
Miles today: 4.7
Weather: fog

After going to bed, the weather turned nasty and 7 more NoBo's came in after dark, cold and wet. So 9 of us stayed in a room meant for 6. It was tight, but cozy. In the Am the weather was socked in, cold and windy. I had breakfast, packed and started down the alpine ridge. I don't know if I was in the jet stream or not, the wind was blowing and gusting, I think, to 80 miles per hour, nearly knocking me off my feet several times. I had to struggle to stand up and walk. It would have been almost impossible without the hiking poles. The ceiling was zero and visibility only about 50 yards, but I was able to see from one large rock cairn to the next. It was so difficult that at times I alternated between laughing and crying, I just wanted it (the wind) to stop and be over. I was scared alright. After a couple of cries, I felt better, calm, stronger (possibly hypothermic) and I hiked on. I crosssed Mt. Monrow, Mt. Franklin, and Mt Eisenhower. Eventually I came off the ridge and dropped below the wind into the trees. Definitely much better. At Mizpah Hut, I have a warm bed, hot soup, AYCE dinner and breakfast. Enjoyed the company of some really nice local people out for their weekend hiking. Definately worth the money. My inclement weather plan goes into effect now.
Date: 2003-09-28
From: Mizpah Hut

To: AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: light rain

Hiked out here this AM in the rain on an alternate trail. After yesterday's ordeal on the ridge, I feel like a couple of days rest are in order. I wanted to be down out of the mountains and a little closer to civilization. So that's my plan to stay here 2 days. It's $68.00 per night which includes the room, sheets/blankets, AYCE dinner and AYCE breakfast. Finally bought a light wt raincover for my pack and some liners for my gloves. I'm getting rid of the rain jacket. Its only useful for hanging out in camp. Not good for hiking at all.
Date: 2003-09-29
From: AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch

To: AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Second day at Crawford Notch. Very nice day down here. Walked over to the old (1877) train depot which has been completely restored by L. L. Bean. Enjoyed the little museum which was very informative about the history of the area. Watched the train come and go. Then sat out for a couple of hours reading and enjoying the scenic beauty of this place. Took a couple of pictures. Am all set to leave tomorrow.
Date: 2003-09-30
From: AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch

To: Cascade Lodge, North Woodstock
Miles today: 27.7

Came out to Franconia Notch and hitched 6 miles to North Woodstock. It's a small town suitable for hikers because everything is close together. The charge here is $18.00 per night and includes linens and shower, no food. Picked up my jump box and 20 degree sleeping bag from LL Bean at the post office. Saw Nature Boy's bounce box at the PO so left him a note in the hiker's register. Must have had a problem since he is behind me now. Hope he catches up befor I leave here. The Bean bag is far superior to the Coleman bag. The Bean bag is lighter and compresses smaller. The Coleman bag is nice, but you get what you pay for. Its a keeper so will send it home. Tomorrow, I'll do launddry and walk to Lincoln to get film developed. These AMC Huts and Centers have no laundry facilities. Today's route brought me passed Zealand Ridge, South Twin Mt., Mt. Garfield, North Peak, Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Lincoln, Little Haystack Mt. and Mt. Liberty out to Franconia Notch. The Old Man in the Mountain is gone because it fell down earlier this year so did not get to see it. Bought a post card of it to send home.
Date: 2003-10-01
From: Cascade Lodge, North Woodstock

To: Cascade Lodge, North Woodstock
Miles today: 0.0

This place is nasty. The sheets look like they have not been washed in weeks. No toilet paper and badly run town, no breakfast. This place should be condemned as a health hazzard. Someone should inform the AT council and Wingfoot. I slept on top of the bed in the 'Bean' bag. It is warm. Got all my mail drops, leaving tomorrow.
Date: 2003-10-02
From: Cascade Lodge, North Woodstock

To: Cascade Lodge, North Woodstock
Miles today: 0.0

Another zero day. Took the opportunity to go back to Lincoln, N.H. to the Linwood Health Clinic where I saw Dr. Rodney Felgate. He gave me a prescription for Metronidazole. Its the cure for Giardiasis. It's also called Flagyl. Ha ha wonder why? I'ts taken 3 times a day for a week. He wrote me a 10 day supply. I have been careful to treat the water. I either got it from someone else or from the 1st week when I was washing my eating utensils with untreated water. I stopped doing that after the 1st week. Its' not life threatening and I've lived with it for 2 months. It comes and goes (literally), but mostly has been pretty mild form. I'll be glad when it's gone. It's mostly unpleasant and inconvenient. Hopefully the cure will work for me. Tried to call my grandson in Laconia again. Only got the same generic answering machine. Tomorrow out on the trail. No more town chores till Hanover.
Date: 2003-10-03
From: Cascade Lodge, North Woodstock

To: Ore Hill Shelter
Miles today: 33.2

Was all packed up. Ate an early breakfast 0500 and got an early ride to the trail head. Passed Glenclif and will spend the night here. It has been a good sunny but cool day. Some snow left over in the high country from yesterday's weather system. The massive bald Mt. Moosilauke is behind me now. It feels good to be done with the Whites, yet sad at the same time. The Whites are unique, beautiful and dangerous, a serious challenge. The toughest part of my AT journey: Katahdin, Maine and the Whites are over now. The whole character of the AT will change. It will still go up and down, but nothing like it has been. From this shelter, I can hear highway noise - disappointing, the way it will be. The big wilderness experience is probably over. A young Dartmouth student, member of the Dartmouth Outing Club, is here working on the privy. His name is Anthony (trail name Prudence). I helped him do the work. No more 4 and 5000 footers or potentially life threatening weather. I hope.
Date: 2003-10-04
From: Ore Hill Shelter

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

This place has six sides - 4 closed and 2 open. Hiked in the rain - soaked. So whate else is new. Saw nothing from the summit of Mt. Cube or the ledges. Seems the weather wants to alternate a sunny day, a rainy day, a sunny day, a rainy day. Hiking in the rain is no fun. I hope tomorrow is sunny and warm. Hiked in the Merrells. They did ok, but let my feet get wet. I forgot to mention that on the clear nights in September (25th and 27th) I saw Mars, brilliant red and very large because of its unusual proximity to the earth this year. The Dartmouth Outing Club which maintains the shelters, privies, trails in this area has a tradition of making the privies creative. The one at Ore Hill was very unusual. It was only enclosed 1/2 way up on 3 sides and had a ramp 'drawbridge' front that was raised by the user with a rope and pully system. Very unique. From a hiker's point of view, a regular privy is preferred. I know a hiker who took refuge from a storm and spent the night in a privy. This one also had a hexagon shaped throne, mounted on a single pedestal like a column. It did the job ok.
Date: 2003-10-05
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Fire Warden's Cabin
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: light rain

I'm lollygagging thru here to let my jump box have time to get to Hanover plus I want to try to contact my grandson one more time before I leave New Hampshire. I'm on schedule to be in Hanover on the 9th. Boy has it turned cold! I packed shorts and left my jacket in the jump box. Wrong choice. I'm going to ask Kathy to send my fleece liner from home with the next care package. Will get my jacket out in Hanover. Sure good that I already have the fleece pants. I expect some more warm days, but the fall nights are very chilly. It has been cold today. At least it did not rain. My clothes dried while I was hiking. New Hampshire has some switchbacks on its ascents and descents which makes them less steep, but much longer. I think I like it this way better than straight up and straight down. Had a hoar frost during the night. It was the first frost. When I first looked out I thought it had snowed.
Date: 2003-10-06
From: Fire Warden's Cabin

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: broken clouds

425.2 miles from Katahdin. There is an old chimney still standing here that was part of an old cabin which is gone now. Would be interesting to know its story. I suppose it belonged to a trapper named John. Today for the 1st time I saw remnants of old stone walls built by farmers many years ago. I suppose when the industrial age started, the farmers abandoned their farms and move to the cities over 100 years ago.. The forest has competely reclaimed these areas. Hard woods and some large spruce. The forest its doing its thing. Nice to know they will grow back if left alone.
Date: 2003-10-07
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Moose Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: clear sky

Great day. Good hike. One of the most enjoyable days on the trail for me. Good trail, pretty hardwoods and some spruce. Sun shone most of the day and no wind. Only had a view to the west from Moose Mt. so that was the picture I took. If I had a view to the north, I would have been able to see Mt. Washington for sure. I want to celebrate. I have finally climbed the last mountain on the New Hampshire AT. South Peak tomorrow, but it is only a 440 ft climb in .6 miles so won't be anything. From there its all down hill to Hanover. This sure is a pretty section of the trail. I'm alone here again tonight. No more NoBo's. A few SoBo's are behind me. I only see locals on the trail now.
Date: 2003-10-08
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: Velvet Rocks Shelter
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: clear sky

Got here about 4:30 PM. Had dropped my pack at the loop and walked .15 miles to the spring for water before coming here. Thought that was better than walking .2 miles to get water from here. It's 1.6 miles easy hike into Hanover. Spending the night here because I'd rather hit town early to be able to get things done and not have to pay the extra night's lodging. Someone's gear is here, but no one is around. Bet he is in town hanging out and will show up sometime later. Company should be welcome. Hope he won't be too late or too loud. Can sleep in tomorrow (6:00 or 6:30), eat, pack up and hike the short distance into town. Hope I can find a decent place to stay. I hear Hanover is difficult. Need to do laundry and a shower. Also get stuff out of my jump box. Will need to resupply food also. Ate the last of the snack food today, plus dinner and breakfast.
Date: 2003-10-09
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 1.5
Weather: clear sky

Got into town about 9:30 am and walked to Robinson Hall on the Dartmouth Campus where DOC has their office. No one was there so I hung my pack downstairs, went into the latrine and shaved so I would not look so wild. About 11:30 went next door to the student dining area and had turkey with all the trimmings. Yum, good! Two people in the dining room directed me to a possible place to stay. After lunch I followed their directions to what turned out to be the Episcopal Student Center still under renovation. The young pastor there, Erik Turnberg, welcomed me right in. I helped him move some furniture downstairs. Took a shower and am drying my laundry. When I have clean clothes, I'm taking him out for dinner. So far Hanover is turning out to be a wonderful place with very helpful peiple. Because I'm alone so much, I really enjoy talking with one or two people, but when I was in the student dining room, I was experiencing sensory overload... too many people. too loud, too fast.
Date: 2003-10-11
From: Hanover, NH

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Last three days zero days, taking care of business. Hitched over to West Lebanon to shop at the Walmart on Sat. Needed a tube tent and some iodine tablets. Could not get either here in Hanover. On Fri. bought the wife, Kathy, a birthday present and bought an antique stag horn 6 light chandeler (sp) for the dining room. Got everything mailed or shipped by Sat. AM. Got a little rest this PM.
Date: 2003-10-12
From: Hanover, NH

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: clear sky

After the church service, I finished putting my pack together and took off. Crossed the Connecticut River into Norwich, VT. Hanover is a great little town and treated me right. The trail out here was good, a nice walk in the woods. Here with a section hiker, Keystone, from Pittsburg. We have a nice fire going, talking and listening to the great horned owls quarreling over their territories. Very nice.
Date: 2003-10-13
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: few clouds

Beautiful hike thru alternate hard woods and pine. Foliage change is at or near peak in VT. Stopped in West Hartford and ate breakfast with Keystone at Rich and Tina's Country Store. Am enjoying having a hiking companion again. Keystone is good company, but is section hiking and will be leaving the trail in 3 or 4 days.