morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-09-04
From: Hanover, NH

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Bear Paw let us take a shower and I walked around town in one of Baltimore's large, dress-like shirts. My mother would have told me I looked like a fat lady who'd done crack for years and never bought a new wardrobe. The bus system in Hanover is extremely complicated and I really was temped to hitch between the grocery store in Lebanon and Hanover but was constantly getting looks from car passengers that screamed unfriendly. I kept my thumb down and studied the road ahead for the yellow, no the blue, wait...it was the red bus that would get me home (to my tent of course).
Date: 2008-09-05
From: Hanover, NH

To: Moose Mtn. (south peak)
Miles today: 9.8

Pips and some of the guys slack-packed 17 miles out of town planning to spend one more day with the lovely B jack. I had some homework to do for the University I am to attend in the spring and stayed at the library until around four before heading out of town and up the mountain. The climb really wasn't that difficult and I had planned to make it the ten or so miles to the first shelter but it got dark really quickly. I pulled out my headlamp and continued up the mountain only to have the batteries die one hundred ft. (approximately) from the top of Moose Mtn. Tree cover prevented the moon from shinning through and instead of digging in my pack for a new set of batteries I crawled my way to the small clearing at the peak and quickly set up my tent in a small mossy section of the rock face. The rain began shortly after and I ate a pop tart for dinner.
Date: 2008-09-06
From: Moose Mtn. (south peak)

To: Trapper John Shelter
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I forced myself to get up and pack my tent in the rain and then quickly headed down the hill to the shelter. Shua was getting his safety on with a south bounder and some Dartmouth students were packing up to hike out in the rain. My motivation was somewhat lacking and after Shua was finished packing we hiked on to the next shelter and another set of Dartmouth students out for orientation. By the time I'd reached Trapper John shelter I was soaking wet and really could have kept hiking but Shua promised a fire to dry my shoes when the rain stopped and I spent the evening listening to the students play the intellectual game of Mafia!
Date: 2008-09-07
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: The NG's house
Miles today: 0.9

It never did stop raining and in the morning I stormed out of the shelter in the only remaining dry clothing I had; my sports bra and long underwear! After an incredibly long .9 miles I reached the road that led to Lyme, threw on my rain coat (for modesty) and stuck up my thumb. I didn't wait long before a young man picked me up and drove me into the itty, bitty town of Lyme. The second hitch took me all the way back to Hanover and then bought me breakfast at Everything but Anchovies. I had talked to a couple of south bounders and found that the place I was planning to stay that evening was unavailable and so I headed to the Ben and Jerrie's to go over my options and of course eat some ice cream. Kasey, the girl behind the counter, and I talked for a while and then her dad came in to visit and offered me a place at their house that evening. I was overjoyed! It had started to look a little bleak but after a hot shower and a wonderful home cooked meal, Kasey and I went with one of her friends to see a movie. That night I slept like a log!
Date: 2008-09-08
From: The NG's house

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: broken clouds

After a nice chat with Robin NG, she drove me all the way to the trailhead and I began hiking again. I met Patch and Mule, two north bounders, and walked with them for about two feet before they passed a sign for free ice cream. I never pass up free ice cream. I went up to the blue house and a very nice gentleman came out with ice cream and a log book. He pointed out his bird houses and told me the name of the bird flying in and out. I noticed a square portion of his lawn was mowed and qrocket hoops were stuck in a strategic pattern throughout. My grandmother has a set and the game always brings back good memories. Since he obviously likes the game as well, I asked him if we could play a round. Five games later I bid him ado and headed on my merry way. Once I reached the top of Smarts mountain I called my dad to let him know where I was and get an update on home and then met up with Patch and Mule again. I hiked with them until around six-thirty and then we split. I spent the evening with Doc and his dog Holkome.
Date: 2008-09-09
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Glencliff and Phatt Chap's
Miles today: 14.7

I left the shelter with some trepidation. Loud bursts of thunder sounded all around me and the dark sky was lit with the occasional streak of lightning. I went over Cuba mountain thinking that if I was ever going to be struck by lightning this was the day. The rain began at the peak and I stuck in my i-pod shuffle and didn't stop until I'd reached the road. I was offered a ride by a couple who only spoke French and ended up accidentally passing the hostel. It was a very interesting five minute conversation but somehow with my broken French and their total lack of English I made it to Phatt Chap's. Patch and Mule had gotten there earlier in the day and after a shower, laundry, and the movie Half Baked I hit the sack.
Date: 2008-09-10
From: Glencliff and Phatt Chap's

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Patch, Mule and I spent the morning in no hurry, watching Pretty in Pink and Rumor has It. Once we did leave the shelter we had a lot of interesting conversation topics revolving around the Graduate. Moosilauke was a little bit of a climb but definitely worth the effort. I was numb from the wind chill and was unable to spend more than five minutes at the top. Hiking off of the mountain and to the shelter I got my first taste of steep drops and boulder climbing. We all watched the sun set (incredible view) and attempted, unsuccessfully, to start a fire.
Date: 2008-09-11
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Lincoln 
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: broken clouds

It was an extremely steep climb off of the mountain in the morning but nearly the entire way I had a view of the waterfall that cascaded, following the trail. Patch, Mule and I played musical hiking positions as we rock climbed hand over hand Mt. Kinsman. By far it was the most vertical hike I'd ever attempted with a pack. After a really long day's hike we reached the welcome center for Lincoln just after dark and Dutch picked us up. We walked an extra half mile from the hostel to the Chinese restaurant, gorged and then hiked back to the shelter adding an extra mile or so (that doesn't count) to our already long day.
Date: 2008-09-12
From: Lincoln 

To: Chett's Place
Miles today: 0.0

After the day before, the zero was a necessity! Chett had a bunch of bicycles and so Mule took the recumbent and Patch and I took the tandem. We rode around town, did laundry and resupplied. I made quiche for lunch which I had been craving for a week or two. The guys and I hit the theater and watched Burn after Reading which closely resembled Fargo and No Country for Old Men.
Date: 2008-09-13
From: Chett's Place

To: Zealand Falls Hut
Miles today: 20.0

On the ride back to the trail I met back up with Barley and Rain. Barley had been sick and they'd taken a day or so off. It was wonderful to catch up with old friends. The ridge made for easy hiking, not because it was easy terrain but because the constant view and light breeze was distracting. In honor of 9/11 a ton of day hikers were doing flags of the forty eight. A flag was raised on all of New Hampshire's forty eight above 4,000 foot mountains between twelve and two. We hit Mt. Lafayette just as the flag was being raised. It was emotional and a wonderful, unexpected delight in our day. By the time we reached Garfield I was exhausted and we realized that a night hike was definite. I cooked hot dogs and set up my mat under the table of Zealand Hut's dinning hall. Twenty miles with my pack in the Whites! I feel GOOD!
Date: 2008-09-14
From: Zealand Falls Hut

To: Bartlett
Miles today: 7.7

The work for stay consisted of whipping down and bleaching every surface in the mens' and womens' bathrooms. I really didn't enjoy that but it didn't take long and Patch, Mule and I were on our way and hiking the easiest eight miles in the Whites. Patch's dad, Mr. Dibble, was waiting at the gap with hot coco and a ride to a really nice lodge. He cooked up a spaghetti dinner and we stuffed our faces full of fresh fruit.
Date: 2008-09-15
From: Bartlett

To: Top of Mt. Washington
Miles today: 12.5

Mr. Dibble dropped us off at Crawford Notch and we began our hike up Mt. Washington. The weather at the bottom was cloudy and predicted scattered showers.   Patch, Mule and I encountered the first of the intense weather about three hours into our hike. The wind had been picking up since early morning and when I hit a tree free ledge I was blown into the side of the mountain. It didn't get better the farther up the mountain we got. I found Pips and the Skirts at the Mizpah Hut and was really glad to find her feeling and looking better. Patch, Mule and I hiked together the rest of the way up the mountain. When we reached Lakes of the Clouds hut we ducked into the emergency shelter to rest our face from the splintering cold rain and wind. Just as we hiked away from the Hut hit a sign that said in uncertain weather to turn around or risk death! A very encouraging sign to pass when you can barely stay standing upright. We trudged on. When we reached the top of the mountain the wind pushed me into the flagpole and the buildings all looked deserted. We made our way to the welcome center and were met by a couple of rangers and Mr. Dibble. We took a picture under the sign that said "Worst Weather in the World" as the ranger told us that we'd just walked through wind gusts ranging from 40 to 80 miles per hour and a high gust of 93mph. It was believable! We dried our hands under the blow dryer and my handwriting when I signed the log looked like that of a child in kindergarten but we went back to the lodge and hit the hot tub. It couldn't have been a better ending to our rough weather day.
Date: 2008-09-16
From: Top of Mt. Washington

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: fog

We got our picture on top of Mt. Washington after an amazing breakfast, compliments of Mr. Dibble. The climb down was rocky to say the least. I did my thru-hiker duty by mooning the Cogg railway but the guys couldn't get their pants down before the smog came through. I think they were just afraid of being peppered with coal. The trail was not as well marked as we would have liked and all three of us got off trail adding about two or three miles to our day. Patch found some blue berries but I didn't believe they were actual blue berries until I tasted them for myself. By the time we got below tree line I'd lost the guys behind me. I kept a steady pace but picked it up when the sun began to set. Practically jogging the last two miles, I reached Mr. Dibble and the car just before dark. The guys followed shortly after and we spent the evening watching the Colbert report.
Date: 2008-09-17
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Gorham
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: clear sky

We only hiked off trail once going over the Wildcats and took our time most of the day, stopping occasionally to eat a banana or granola bar. Mule had drunk about three cups of coffee that morning and was feeling, and I quote, like he was "dying". Mr. dibble had a drink for each of us in celebration of completing the Whites and hitting the three hundred to Katahin mark.
Date: 2008-09-18
From: Gorham

To: Mt. Hayes
Miles today: 3.6

After a steak breakfast, a trip to the outfitters where I bought new Superfeet, and a wonderful resupply at the post office and the last Supper Walmart, we hit the trail with little motivation to go far. I convinced the guys to cowboy at the top of the mountain and I cooked the last of my hot dogs from the week before. We went to bed dreading the inevitably chilly night.
Date: 2008-09-19
From: Mt. Hayes

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

We woke to ice on the top of our bags and shook everything off before waiting a while for it to dry. I hiked off a little before the guys and got a bloody nose on top of one of the mountains. A couple of day hikers helped me to clean it up and i waited about an hour for the guys who didn't catch up. Toward the end of the day, at the top of Mt. Success, my boot slipped on one of the boards that are suspended above sinking pits of mudd. Both legs were in the mudd up to my knees and I couldn't move. I tossed my poles and gloves into the soft alpine plants and lay flat on the mudd. I yelled as loud as I could to Patch and Mule but they were more than a mile behind. After about five minutes of tugging at the sinking board ahead of me I got my right leg out and slipped my left foot out of my boot. After another couple of yells for the guys I lay my face on the mudd with my leggs on the board and reached my arm in to retrieve my boot. As I hiked off the mountain I took the time to release my frustration by yelling "I hate New Hampshire". I really loved it but that day was just miserable. I hit the Maine State line after dark, snapped a quick picture with my disposable camera and booked it to the shelter only to wait about an hour for Patch and Mule to come in and cook to get some sleep.
Date: 2008-09-20
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: SpeckPond Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: clear sky

Ah the Notch. We had been hearing about the Mahoosuc notch since Georgia and started our day knowing we would probably not be able to make large miles. After lunch at Full Goose Shelter we met a couple of south bounders. Blue meanie and Hiker chick started talking about living in Georgia. Blue Meanie actually attended the same college as i and began to reminisce about the more rual location and advantages that came to the town shortly after he graduated. He said that before the McDonald's came to town a couple of very industrious young men went door to door in the dorms and sold hamburgers and one of the guys names was Tom LaFon. Tom LaFOn just happens to be my uncle. I told Blue Meanie this and we had a good laugh at the small world we live in. It took us an hour and twenty minutes to get through the mile long notch. It was boulder climing and cave scooting. Patch joked with Mule about the Sam Fisher climbing method that got us through most of the notch. Sam Fisher is a Video game character but suprisingly his technique came in handy. I know... i've been hiking with guys way too long when i'm mentioning video games! First day in Maine complete!
Date: 2008-09-21
From: SpeckPond Shelter

To: Frye Notch Lean -to
Miles today: 15.0

The first part of the day went by slowly. I was craving taco bell and when we reached a parking lot i asked a couple of day hikers if there was one near by. Thirty miles was my response and so we went to the next shelter. It looked like rain and we flipped a coin to see if we were going to hike any farther and of corse tails won and we kept hiking. Somehow we got onto the conversation of television and shows we'd seen. Patch made the comment that he didn't have a televison and therefore had never seen the show that was being discussed. Before i could stop myself i blurted out "I don't have a TV either but i have friends!". It really did come out sounding worse than i'd meant but we laughed for a good five minutes about the fact that i'd Patch of being friendless. When we reached the shelter Mule made first and second dinner, some chinese noodles that had spicy written on the front. It took him a while but he finally figures out by his lips felt like "they were burning off". Overall an amusing day.
Date: 2008-09-22
From: Frye Notch Lean -to

To: Sawyer Notch
Miles today: 11.9

The day started well and we had beautiful weather. We went past Surplus pond and saw a dock on the other side in the sun. It was around lunch time so Patch, Mule and I spent three hours eating lunch and resting up. We reached Hall Mtn. Lean-to just before dark and found the water source was pond scummy. We hiked on to the ford and ate a late dinner before being lulled to sleep by the roaring river.
Date: 2008-09-23
From: Sawyer Notch

To: Bemis Mtn Lean-to
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

This was a hard day. Somehow i managed to make eleven miles take all day. we were supposed to go a few miles farther when we finally reached the shelter but It was getting late and I convinced Patch and Mule to stay at Bemis by saying that we could just get up early and hike seventeen into town the next morning. Sanford and Pilot caught us that evening and we had a few minutes of catching up before a 6:30 bed time.
Date: 2008-09-24
From: Bemis Mtn Lean-to

To: Rangley Gull pond lodge
Miles today: 17.7

Our first decent millage day all week! I got out of the shelter by seven and hiked over the Bemis range. At on of the peaks I spent a good five minutes chasing a very large moose down the trail. I had always compared moose to deer but they are so much larger and more intimidating! Although I admired his purist, white blaze only, attitude I was more than pleased when he took a blue blaze and let me pass. An hour or so later I pulled down my pants to use the restroom just off the trail only to be accompanied by a porcupine! My luck with nature this morning was nearly non-existent. The last thirteen miles into town was relatively gentle terrain and I met up with Firesocks and Buterflymoon just four miles before Rangley. I waited about two hours for Patch and Mule and then we got a hitch to the hostel and did our town chores before eating a massive taco dinner. (i may have forgotten to mention that we had underestimated our food intake and were running on about seven hundred calories for the last twenty eight miles)
Date: 2008-09-25
From: Rangley Gull pond lodge

To: random cottage/ Rangley
Miles today: 0.0

We hadn't planned to zero but we didn't get away from the hostel until four and then watched a movie in town. Hitching at night is not the easiest thing and we had a good ten miles to the trail. A truck pulled over shortly after nine and Paul offered us a place to stay a mile up the road. I made the arangments as the guys piled into the back of the truck. When i joined them Mule asked what was up. My reply was "we're going to stay at his place a mile up the road...hold on he's a little drunk". As it turned out he was a very good drunk driver and put us up in the cottage next to his. It was beautiful and the guys made me a grilled cheese sandwitch before i slept hard on the cushy couch.
Date: 2008-09-26
From: random cottage/ Rangley

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-to
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I ate an eclare and a half of a pumpkin pie for breakfast and then we got a quick hitch to the trail. We spent three hours exploring the caves just after the first shelter and then as the rain began to come down we hiked over Saddleback and the Horn. We were soaked when we reached the shelter and I quickly stripped out of my wet clothes, dreading putting them on in the morning.
Date: 2008-09-27
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-to

To: Spalulding Mtn Lean-to
Miles today: 8.0

After being drisled on all day we reached Spaulding Mtn Lean-to and found that the warming hut we were planning to stay at was closed "due to mold". The guys and i laughed at the MTc's excuse, thinking if they only knew our lifestyle, they wouldn't close for mold. We opted to stay there and hike a thirteen into town the next day. I ate second and third dinner! It was wonderful.
Date: 2008-09-28
From: Spalulding Mtn Lean-to

To: Stratton
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We took our time getting packed up because the rain was still drenching the shelter. Eventually we came to the conclusion that it wasn't going to let up and we had better get moving. The day went quickly until we hit the ford. the river had risen substantially and the only way across the .4 or.5 rapids was a little 2/10" board and a bunch of under the water boulders. We took our time getting across and were very proud of our achievement. Again the hike went by with little ineruption in our steady pace. The climb out of the gap was quite steep but we hit town before four thrirty and some day hikers gave us a ride into town. This is my halfway point and instead of doing the half gallon challenge i did the half pound loaded burger challege. It took me ten minutes and i ate most of the fries!!! For dessert i ate a pint of Jamacan me crazy ice cream.
Date: 2008-09-29
From: Stratton

To: Horns Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Patch, Mule and I left Stratton rather late (I had to shave my legs!!!). Sue from the Stratton Motel dropped us off at the trail head around six or six-thirty and the said the terrain was mild and then steep, but not too steep. (Mule- you can laugh at this)After about a mile of mild hiking I stopped to use the restroom (a.k.a. a couple well placed logs) and told the guys that I¢d meet them at the shelter. However, as I was putting up my T.P. howling could be heard from every direction and I was really quite pleased to find that they had heard the coyotes and were waiting around the corner. We hit Cranberry Stream Campground as we turned on our lights and talked with birthday boy Spring loaded, Trukin and Pilot before deciding to head up the hill and to the shelter. The hill was much more challenging than we had been led to believe and it took us a grueling three hours to go the five miles. Wet, we searched for the shelter (there were three) with the floor still intact.
Date: 2008-09-30
From: Horns Pond Lean-to

To: Little Bigelow Lean-to
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I went to get water, leaving shortly before Patch and Mule, and headed up the first hill. I was taking my time and as the day wore on I was sure the guys had passed me. On the way down Bigelow Mtn. I ran into Sensei who informed me that not an hour earlier two guys had passed him heading north and so I picked up my pace until I hit Little Bigelow. The clouds had been flowing overhead fairly quickly all day and so I climbed the rock for a chance peak at the valley. I was thunderstruck! The world was at my feet and all in color. To my right were the Bigelows standing black and jagged under a dark cloud and then streaks of light lit the fiery red maples below. I almost cried. My pace was slow from there 'til the shelter where i met two very unique section hikers. After about an hour Patch and Mule walked in (they'd been behind me all day) and I couldn't have been happier to let Mule explain to the sectioners, yet again, what a 401K was and how it was disappearing with the dropping Dow.
Date: 2008-10-01
From: Little Bigelow Lean-to

To: Pierce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: light rain

The first easy day in Maine! The guys and I hiked out of the shelter as early as we could. Patch found a few friends, as the sectioners got on to Mule and I for teasing him about his slow packing. After a couple of roads we finally hit the 2000 mile marker and we all celebrated a huge accomplishment (guys 2000 mi and my 1/2 way).Mule-did anything else significant happen this day or was the bridge incident the day before? lol