morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-08-23
From: Hiker Welcome Hostel

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Update on the past two days:August 22: Got up at 6. I needed to get organized. Erode breakfast at the hostel.. It was raining. I went in and made coffee and downed 2 cups. The hikers were talking about hiking out or doing zeros.. It was a little tempting to just sit and hang out but I was ansy to get going.. Spitz shuttled me around to Kinsmans Notch and I was on the trail by 9:30. The profile didn't looked too bad BUT it turned out to be a long slow 8 mile day. The trail was very rocky and many places where I had to crawl over them. I got to the shelter about 3. Very nice! I decided to tent as there were others in the shelter.. Even though it was slow going I enjoyed the hike and the beauty of the woods. In the Zach by 7!Also, I passed the 1800 mile mark today!August 23:Up At 6, on the trail at 8... This was, by far, the toughest the AT has been! The 2000 foot climb up Mt. Kinsman was a killer. There were times when I thought I should have been belayed! Slow and steep. And then the descent was steep and slow going until the last 3 miles.. I stopped at Lonesome Lake Hut and had a bowl of soup... When I got to Franconia Notch I was going to hitch a ride when Miss Janet showed up! I stayed at her hostel in Erwin, Tenn. in '07.. Funny! She gave me a lift into Lincoln where I'm staying at Chet's... Tomorrow will be a challenge.. 3500 FT. Climb to Mt. Lafayette! Time to sleep!
Date: 2014-08-24
From: Franconia Notch

To: Liberty Spring Tent Site
Miles today: 2.6
Weather: clear sky

Didn't sleep well last eve... I had no plan for today give a sore left quad and a gimpy right knee. I got up at 6 and walked downtown for breakfast but no one was open until 7! Got a coffe at a gas station and returned to the Hostel.. I started organizing my gear which seems to take forever. Steamer and Bliss were getting ready to slack the 16 miles over Kinsmans so we walked back downtown and had a huge breakfast. I saw them off still not quite sure what I was going to do. Options: stay at Chet's and zero - stay at a motel and zero - Do a short hike up to Liberty Springs Campsite only 2.6 but a 2700 foot elevation gain. I decided a short hike at a slow pace, not trying to take the mountain in giant steps, would be doable. Got a shuttle to the Flume Visitor center where i had a lunch of a salad, yogurt and a turkey wrap and a Gatorade... Then I had to walk about a mile to where I left the AT. So I was on the trail by 1pm. Oh, also, I left my Nalgene bottle on the trail where I left off yesterday so I purchased a new one. Well it was still siting there where I left it so now I have two! The hike up was really nice! The trail was much more forgiving than yesterday! Rock and steep in place but no belaying necessary. I subscribed to the old man technique of slow and deliberate, taking care not to step up too high. It paid off as I had no pain and felt great! Also here are RW and Movin On who I met a couple of days ago. I'm sitting here on a tent platform looking through the trees at the sun setting on a perfect calm evening. I'm reminded once again on how quickly things can turn around out here. It's a roller coaster of ups and downs both physically and emotionally. I have to keep telling myself it's not a race and to enjoy the moment. Good night! I'm in the woods!
Date: 2014-08-29
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Gorham US HWY 2 
Miles today: 0.0

Thursday August 28Up at 6 at the Hostel.. Marnie, the owner had coffee brewing.. I downed 2 cups before breakfast started at 7.. Wow, great breakfast of French toast, sausage, hash browns and muffins! Eric gave 4 of us a shuttle to Pinkham Notch and I was hiking by 8:45. A steep 2500 FT. Climb up Wildcat followed by a very steep down into Carter Notch where I stopped for soup at the hut.. My options were to stay there or hike1500 FT. over Carter Dome and down to a steath site which would give me a 9 mile day. It was around 2 PM so I decided to leave. Tough climb and descent! I got to the steath site and just didn't like it... Soooo, I decided to try and make the Imp Shelter 4 1/2 miles away... The profile didn't look too bad and it was 4:30 so I thought I had plenty of daylight.. It was a tough go and it was turning cooler and very windy on the open ridges. One stretch of down was very slow and treacherous! I finally arrived at 7:45 which made for an 11 hour day! I had all I could do to set my tent up, eat a bagel and cheese and some peanut m&ms! I was in the bag at 8:30 exhausted! 13 miles hiked!Friday, August 29I slept well last eve. It was very chilly this morning and I left most of my cold weather gear at the hostel to lighten my load. Got up at 6:15 and packed up, had oatmeal and coffee and was on the trail by 8:30. I had an 8 mile day to get back to Gorham. This was a much easier day although there were some painful downs.. The last three miles were super easy and I made US 2 by 12:45. At the Hostel I got my room, took a shower, order a huge hamburger out and downed in a flash! Also got a ride on to the post office to mail a few items home... A beautiful day here today! Nap time!
Date: 2014-09-03
From: Grafton Notch

To: Grafton Notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Tuesday September 2A zero day to try and heal my ankle. Got up at the Pine Ellis Hostel and hobbled a couple of blocks to breakfast at the General Store. Several hikers were there getting fueled up to hike. I sat there for a couple of hours drinking coffee... Flinch's husband gave me a ride back to the hostel which was nice. Catfish and SAYBAK showed up around noon. I hike a bit with them in the Whites. Catfish accessed my situation and immediately call his wife in Maryland and had her send his air brace in next day mail so I could use it! Very nice of him!!!! I walked to the General store for a little dinner at 5 and Irish Mist, Easy Day and Mooky were there just getting some supplies and moving back to the trail... Nice to see Irish again. Tough to see him move on. It was great hiking a few days with him. I had a great New England Haddock Chowder at the dinner with Flinch and her husband. Again it was nice to get a ride back the hostel... So I iced my ankle a couple of times today and tried to stay off of it except for a couple of trips to the dinner... It will be at least one more day off... Not liking that.Over the past couple of weeks some of my equipment has been failing me. I hope that's not a message that us trying to be sent by the trail gods for me to leave. I'd rather believe it's just a test of my resolve to finish and I need to work through it. Here's the list: my thermarest sleeping pad has a slow leak.. I have to blow it up in the middle of the night. I broke the handle on my water filter pump - still works but a pain.. Tore the bag that holds my tent going up the Mahoossuc Arm. The zipper on my sleeping bag comes apart on occasion - not a problem as I can re-zipper it and it's fine. And finally my ankle sprain.. But these are all things that everyone who does the trail has to deal with. Dan Juedes, my friend and football coach, told his team: "The measure of a man ( or woman ) is what it takes to discourage him." If my ankle cooperates, I will continue. I can only hope!
Date: 2014-09-05
From: Grafton Notch

To: East B Hill Road
Miles today: 0.0

Update:After 3 days of sitting around the Hostel, eating three meals a day and doing not much of anything, I got back on today! Got up at 4:30 and headed to the Andover General Store for breakfast at 5. We had a 6 am shuttle to South Arm Road so we needed to fuel up and be ready. A couple of cups of coffee, eggs , potatoes and ham were a great way to start the day! SAYBAK, Catfish and I were on the trail by 6:30. They were heading north to Hwy. 17 and I was headed south to East B Hill Road. My hike was an easy 10 miles. It started with a 1000 FT. climb and then down 1000 and then up 1500. My ankle felt great and I had no pain up or down. This was a good test for me. After the up, down, up I reached a shelter which meant I had walked 4 miles. It was 9:20 am. Less than 2 hours which really surprised me. I called the hostel for my shuttle from there and they said they would pick me up by 1 PM. I had 6 easy downhill miles to go so I was confident I'd make that easily.. The rest of the hike was just that and I made the road by 12:20 PM. Along the way I met a few hikers and stopped for lunch (a12" sub from the General Store) at a pond. Some beautiful forest with a green mossy floor in many spots today. I took a great photo on the first climb of the fog in the valley. I love hiking in the early morning. Quite and serene! Got back to the Hostel, showered, did laundry, iced my ankle, which was not sore but just as a precaution, and mailed some things ahead to Rangely that I didn't want to carry there.I'm extremely happy to able to keep hiking! The 3rd day of rest really paid off. I hope I can remain healthy and finish this trail. Tomorrow I go back to Grafton Notch and climb Baldplate Mt. A 10 mile slack pack. It's supposed to storm in the afternoon so I'm going to try to get an early shuttle to the trail...
Date: 2014-09-06
From: East B Hill Road

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today I was very anxious as the weather was potentially severe and I had the Baldpate section to do. Got up at 5:30 and headed to breakfast at the General Store. I'm a regular there now! Grabbed a turkey Dagwood sandwich for the hike and headed back to the hostel for a 7 am shuttle back to Grafton Notch. On the way I said goodbye to SAYBAK and Catfish. They are a great team and fun to be with. I will miss them. The shuttle dropped mason , Misty and I off at 735 and I was hiking by 7:40.. My goal was to beat the rain and get up the mountain and down below treeline before any potential lightning hit. I stared the 2500 foot, 3.5 mile climb at a steady pace. The trail was pretty good and after a mile it leveled off for the second mile before becoming very steep and rocky . I crested the west peak in less than two hours. Next was the summit of Baldpate a mile away. I could see it from the west peak and it looked formidable, a huge rock surface rising above me. But , as always, it wasn't that bad to climb... Great views from the top despite the overcast skies. It was 9:20, a much faster climb than I imagined. ( I was slack packing) The descent was pretty steep for a while but leveled off nicely after a half or more. I got to the shelter which was 5 1/2 miles from the trailhead at 10:40... Pretty good! There was a short 500 foot climb from there and then a fairly easy downhill the rest of the way to East B Hill Road.. About a mile away from the end was a really neat water falls!I got to the road at 1:15, a 5 1/2 hour, 10 mile day! The rest of the day was spent cleaning up, eating and watching college football. I went out for Pizza at the Red Hen (AYCE) and met up with RW who I hiked with in the Whites... He's a day behind me but I'm sure our paths will cross soon! On to Rangely!
Date: 2014-09-08
To: Hwy 4 Rangely
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

UpdateSunday August 7Got up at 5:30... Breakfast at the General Store... Today I have Brian Pilz on my mind. He's doing the Ironman Triathlon in Wisconsin.. We texted each other this morning with well wishes. Shuttle to South Arm Road at 7. On the trail by 7:30... A steep climb from the road for about a half mile and then level for a mile before the final climb up Old Blue... My pack was nearly full so it was tougher to hike today.. The day was clear and the temps were moderate in the low 70's. Next. Came Bemis mountain where I stopped to call my son Ryan. He works for a company called Bemis... Then came some moderate climbs and also some tough downhills. With a mile to go, all up hill, I came upon some trail magic and had a coke! Nice because the last mile was a steep uphill. I put my music on and charged ahead - at an easy pace. Done at about 3:45...I ended at the Hwy. 17 lookout and that was really cool! What a view! There were two ladies there who graciously gave me a ride into Rangely and the Farmhouse Hostel. A very nice place! I got a shuttle into town and had dinner then back to the hostel for sleep! My right ankle was feeling a little sore...Monday August 8Up at 6 and in to town for breakfast at 6:30. Shane shuttled me to the trail at 7:45 and I was hiking by 8:30... Another great day with an easy trail and not much climbing. Lots of ponds and I even heard loons calling! I stopped for lunch at a pond/campsite. Finished the 13 miles by 3. Got a hitch in and cleaned up. I needed to get organized for the rest of my trip so I looked at the rest of the trail and made some plans... If all goes well I'll be out of the Bigalows in 5 days and then things get a little easier... I think!
Date: 2014-09-11
From: Hwy 4 Rangely

To: Hwy 27 Stratton
Miles today: 0.0

Update:Tuesday August 9Up at 5:30. Made coffee and had a couple of raspberry turnovers for breakfast. The shuttle left for the trail at 7. This was to be a 15 mile slack over the Saddleback Moutains.. Sunny, temps in the low 50's.. Started at 7:20 from the trailhead. This was a beautiful hike up the mountain, passing by several ponds in the beginning before the steep 2000 FT ascent, which did not seem too bad. Along the way I met Sparrow who I saw a few days earlier at Andover. Strange because he said good morning to me and at Andover he did not talk at all and communicated through writing... So I asked him about that and he told me he was speech fasting that day, something he learned while training to be a Monk... Then I asked him where he was from and he replied Cedarburg, Wisconsin!!! Are you kidding me??? Unreal.. The top of Saddleback provided an awesome view of Maine. It reminded me a little of Franconia Ridge as you can see to the Horn from there and the trail going to it.. So down and up to the Horn, then down and up to Saddlback Junior and on to a Poplar Ridge Lean-to for lunch... After that it was a 2 mle downhill to a neat stream and then up 2 miles where I took a mile walk down a dirt road for my shuttle pickup. The trail was pretty nice today in most spots. The downs off of the mountains were tough in the beginning but then mellowed quickly, not like in the Whites which were tough the whole way... Shane picked me up at 4 PM and the day was complete.. Dinner was a big burger fries and two great beers followed by Apple crisp with ice cream! Lights out at 8 PM!Wednesday August 10So today I decided to slack the all the way to Stratton. 17 miles... I got up at 4 and made oatmeal land coffee. Ready to have Shane shuttle me at 5... Got to the dirt road at 6:20. Then walked the mile up to the AT. On the way I got a glimps of a moose scooting into the trees.. Then a 1700 FT climb to Lone Mountain and anothe 1000 FT to Spaulding Mt. Before the descent, which was harrowing in the beginning, to Carrabassett River. There I had lunch with Tigger, Styles and Landslide, really neat young ladies. The tough climb was going up South Crocker Mt. 2200 FT in 2 miles! I was starting to fade fast! Then it was down 500 FT and up 700 FT to North Crocker.. Toast! After that a long but not too hard down to Hwy 27. Got there at 3:45. A long 17. (18 with the road walk in) day! There, Steve, my shuttle driver was waiting. I'm glad I did the long slack because rain is predicted for tomorrow and I will zero at the Farmhouse in Rangely.
Date: 2014-09-17
From: Monson

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Wednesday September 17Up at Shaws' hostel at 6 am. They serve a great breakfast here! French toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, fried potatoes! Today I slacked south for 11 miles of the 100 mile wilderness starting at 8:50 am. Waiting for my food from REI! Race Walker and Rowdy went north from Hwy. 15. Gorgeous weather! At the Big Wilson River there was a ford to do... Rope across the top of the river. It was going well in thigh deep water. I had my hiking poles in my hands and dropped one in the water and it was immediately swept downstream! I was super upset! What a stupid move! I could have put them in my pack! I finished crossing and looked downstream. I noticed something about 20 yards from where I dropped the pole. Sure enough it was my pole stuck behind a rock. So I went back in the river and got it out safely! Close call! This was a rugged hike as the terrain was made up of roots and slate which can be very slippery if only a little wet. There were many little ups and downs and several other smaller river crossing. The forest was beautiful! I ran into Race Walker and Rowdy with about. 5 miles to go... We talked about possibly meeting up in a day or two...also met Styles with about 3 miles to go. Just before the end I saw Tigger and Landslide who got a late start because they missed the post office time in the morning... At the road I waited quite a while for a hitch into town but did get a ride... I was in a panic when my package from REI didn't show up. So I need to make up some dinners to take to the trail tomorrow. I need four as I still have two freeze dried meals left over. Oh! My new boots worked out fine! No problems while hiking today!I'll see what tomorrow brings! I should have been waaaay more organized!
Date: 2024-09-14
From: Not Available
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Friday August 12Got up at the Farmhouse Hostel at 5:30. Muffins yogurt and coffee for breakfast. Steve gave me a shuttle at 6:30 to Stratton where I was to pick up my bounce box at the hostel there. BUT IT WASNT there yet! I was angry to say the least! I waited until the post office open at 8:30 and the package had arrived but not delivered to the hostel. So I got on the trail 2 hours later than planned... That didn't sit well.. But it is what it is... I started the day with a 7 mile 2700 foot climb up the Bigalows, several peaks that got up over 4000 feet high, the highest until Katahdin. My reward was an awesome view of Maines mountains and lakes. I met Affirm on top and he snapped a hero photo of me. Then it was a tough down to the Avery notch and back up to the Little Bigalow before finally arriving at the Little Bigalow Lean-to at 6:15.. Later than I like but it was still light out and I had time to filter water, set up my tent, make dinner and get in the bag by 7:30.. A tough 15 mile day and happy to have the big mountains done until Katahdin... At the shelter were Affirm and Wingit... Also hit the 2000 mile mark today!!!Saturday August 13Got up at 6. Cool evening for sleeping! Nice! Made coffee and oatmeal. I was hiking by 8:30. Today was an easy trail with very little elevation gain or descent. I walked by several ponds that reminded my of northern Wisconsin lakes. Very cool. I stopped at West Cherry Pind shelter for lunch and took several breaks. I was tired from yesterday's tough hike and my energy was low. I made the 17 miles to Pierce Pond Shelter by 3:45. A good time. About a half mile from there is Harrisons Camp which serves a huge pancake breakfast if you sign up the night before... So, of course, I did! I stayed in the shelter tonight because it started raining when I arrived. 5 other hikers were my bunk mates.. Sunday August 14Up at 6 and tried to quietly pack and leave to make breakfast by 7. Breakfast was 12 pancakes, 2 scrambled eggs and sausage plus several cups of coffee. Rowdy and Race Walker were also there.. So the 3 of us hiked out and did the 4 easy miles to the Kennebec Ruver where we were shuttled across by canoe. I've been looking forward to this for quite some time. A famous AT landmark and tradition! Then it was a short walk into Carstunk and a call for a shuttle to the Sterling Inn, a nice hostel catering to hikers... Laundry, a shower and a burger made by Race Waljer and an afternoon watching football including the Packer/Jet game at the Pub! Nice as my daughter and her husband were in Green Bay at the game, there first! And what a game!Tomorrow we head toward Monson, a 3 day trek...
Date: 2024-09-15
From: Not Available
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Update:Monday September 15Had a great continental breakfast at the hostel! On the rail at 7:30 with Rowdy and Race Walker... Today's goal was either 14 or 18 miles depending on how we felt. We had two good climbs looking at us. As we hiked the trail was pretty smooth and the first climb went well so we decided an 18 mile day might be possible. Race Walker has a pretty good pace and I was able to stick with him but at one point he turned and said: "Too close, you're in my backpack" so I got the message and gave him his space.. After a break on Pleasant Pond shelter, I took the lead and hiked down to Moxie Pond and took a lunch break. Race Walker and Rowdy came past a few minutes later and hiked in. Movin' On came by also. Hadn't seen her since the Whites. The rest of the afternoon had us hiking over Moxie Bald Mountain with awesome views and then down to Moxie Bald Lean-to on Bald mt. Pond. Beautiful! Loons, beavers, serenity! Movin'On tented while Rowdy, Race Walker and shared the shelter. Rain was predicted for tomorrow so we didn't want to pack up wet tents. The loons put on a concert just after dusk! Nice!Tuesday September 16The loons also put on a morning chorus... Got up at 5:30 to make breakfast. Oatmeal and coffee... It had not started raining yet . The pond was beautiful, calm and serene. By the time we started hiking at 7 it was raining lightly and continued for most of the morning. Not bad. We had 3 river crossings today. Two of them required taking off my boots and wading knee deep. There was also a rope suspended over the river to hold on to. All went well as no one had a mishap. Another 18 mile day in the books. The trail was mostly good with no real climbs. We made it to Monson in 2 days instead of my predicted 3! Out of the woods at 3:45! Shuttle to Shaws hostel. Nice place, nice people. Dawn shuttled me to an outfitter 24 miles away to get some new boots. Mine are pretty trashed and I don't want them to fail me in the final 114 miles! Had a great pot roast dinner at a local restaurant and in bed by 9. Tomorrow I'll slack pack south 10 miles and stay here again because of my mail drop from REI. Also received a food drop from Ryan and Elizabeth today! Thanks!!!
Date: 2024-09-17
From: Not Available
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Up for another great breakfast! Dawn shuttled me to the dirt road leading to the trail. It was a 1 mile walk to get to the trail. Today I slacked backwards. Beautiful sunny day with Fall in the air and trees that were beginning to change color. The profile on my map didn't look all that bad but, as it turned out, it was a series of ups and downs that took it's toll. Glad i was slacking! I had a few stream crossings, one of which, I dropped one of my hiking poles in and watched it float downstream! I was really angry at myself for not being more careful! As luck would have it, it got lodged under a rock about 20 yards downstream and I was able to retrieve it! Along the way I hiking some ridges with beautiful views of ponds below. About halfway through I met up with Racewalker and Rowdy who were going Northbound. We chatted for a bit. I might catch up to them tomorrow.I made Hwy. 15 by 3:30. There I met Peter Pan and her boyfriend (Can't remember his trail name). I hitched with no success for a good while and, at one point hollered over to Peter Pan to throw a leg out for me but to no avail! Just teasing with her... I finally got a ride and made it back to the hostel. Showered and started getting my act together for tomorrow. My package from REI had not arrived! Grrrr! So now some decisions to make for food!Movin' On was there and we went to the bakery and got a cininman roll. The bakery had a pretty good selection of food for resupply so I could use that as a backup if needed. Then is was over to the restaurant where, once again, I had the roast beef dinner and a couple of brews! Very good!I went to sleep not knowing how tomorrow would play out, but that's life on the trail.