morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-14
From: Ore Hill Shelter

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Beaver Brook Shelter - 15.3 miles, mile 1783.5 on ATWell things started off well today and just got better. First I woke tosunshine which had been a rare commodity in the last few days. it was a downhill run for the morning and as I decended I caught my first glimpse of Mt.Moosilauke, at 4802 ft really the beginning of the White Mountains. At thisladatude trees dont grow above 4500 ft. Well I had told Banana I would be atthe road between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. I got there just after 11:00. I waitedabout a half hour and decided I would go down to the phone down the street. Imade some calls could not get hold of banana and so I headed for the hostelwhich was just a door down. They had snacks for sale and I started into eating. A little while later a guy pops his head in the door and asks if anyone has seen a guy named Doc. It was Banana's boyfriend and he went back to the trail and we talked for awhile. They had gotten off the trail about a month before. Well they took wonderful care of me. We first drove to an ice cream store and than a grocery and bought food, beer, and coffee. Well Iate and ate and drank two beers and a large coffee. Now it was time for me toclimb that mountain. It was six miles and 3,700 ft of elevation to go. Izoomed up jazzed on caffine, and with the beer I was feeling no pain. The views were spectacular, I could see to Franconia Ridge which I would be climbing up in another three days. Just as I reached the summit I ran into a group arrived from the opposite side and they carried with them a live chicken. I never got a clear explanation but it made for a fun picture of the chicked sitting on the summit sign. The last few miles were pretty straightforward and I made the shelter by dark. I ran into Polar and Pilot again as well as Hot Rock who I had not seen since the south. The guy who ran the Hostel had said that tomorow was one of the most difficult on the trail.
Date: 2004-08-15
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Kinsman Pond Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Kinsman Pond Shelter - 13.1 miles, mile 1796.6 on ATWell the day began with this 1.5 miles stretch of trail that went almoststraight down. In a numer of places steps had been hammered into the rock,without which ascent or descent would have been near impossible. At the bottom of the notch was another road crossing and the guide suggested that only 0.5 miles away was a place with a snackbar. How could I turn down a shot at more food and more coffee. I arrived jsut as the place was opening up and a woman riffled throught their fridg and came up with a couple of eggs and I got a proper breakfast. On the way out I ran into the crew from the hostel and they offered me a ride back to the trailhead. I was a long slow slog the reat of the morning fist step climbing and than more gradual. I reached one shelter at 4:00 PM but wanted to make it over then next big mountains before the bad weather that was suppose to arrive tomorrow. The trail for the next mile or so folowed the Eliza Brook. It was spectacular, a series of beautiful waterfalls and litle pools. It was getting late and cooling off so I did notgive in to the temptation to go for a swim. Than I started up South KinsmanMountain. It was a scramble up a crevice in the rocks somtimes one needed togab hold of roots of the trees above to pull oneself up. It really was one ofthe hardest climbs so far. I reached the top as clouds were comming in so thatI had views only to the south and West but the views were awesome. Luckily, Nth Kinsman was nowhere near as hard and I made it into camp with an hour of light. The Shelters in these parts all have caretaker's and this was the first time I had to pay to use a shelter but it is a high use area. Well tomorrow I hit town again to clean up and resupply.
Date: 2004-08-16
From: Kinsman Pond Shelter

To: North Woodstock, New Hampshire
Miles today: 8.8

North Woodstock, New Hampshire - 8.8 miles, mile 1801.4 on ATWell it was raining as expected in the morning but I got myself together prettyqickly and headed downhill it slick wet rocks were more than a little scarry but no falls. It was nice to come to Lonsome Lake Hut were i had once stayed when visiting a friend who was working as part of the croo. I also ran into Ponderer again he was slackpacking south on this section. It took a bit of walking but eventially I hitched a ride into town a cute little ski town in the mountains. Well the usual chores and plenty of eating. I havve decided I am going toshoot for finishing this hike September 13th which means maybe one more zeroday, basicaly I have to average 14 miles per day and I will meet the schedule.
Date: 2004-08-17
From: North Woodstock, New Hampshire

To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.3

10.3 miles, mile 1811.7 on ATAnother occaision of getting a late start out of town. I figured ten miles howlong can that take. Of course, ther was the 3,800 ft that needed to be climbed. I ate a fine breakfast and dragged myself back to the trail. It was a steep long climb but the views from the top of the ridge were worth it. It was mostly clear and the air had little haze. I could see back to Moosilauke and ahead to Mt Washington and the rest of the Presidential Range. I took a long late lunch on top of Mt. Lafayette. There were three miles more to go. I could see the route ahead and it did not look bad from a distance. I headed down the mountain and was feeling pretty tired. In retrospect I had not drank enough water for such a climb. I was having this political debate in my head when I should have been paying attention. All of a sudden I was flying. I remember a moment frozen in time when I was horizontal looking up at the sky suspended in air, and thinking this was not good. Luckily, that is exactly how I came down. Right on my back or actually right on my backpack which broke most of the landing. I had a few minor scrapes but seemed to have survived my own ineptitude again. It did concentrate my mind and makeme skittish of the rocks. There was a climb a short while before the shelter and one had to climb up this solid chunk of rock. I froze half-way up and it took me five minutes to get back down and negotiate a longer route through the trees to get to the same spot. while I was again battered I was able to get to the shelter no problem. I ran into another familliar group, Boonie, Plam Tree and Tree Frog as well as Mouse and Ponderer. The shelter was up pretty high and with the clear skies the temperature dropped pretty quickly. I had not put on so much clothing since down south when it was smoking.
Date: 2004-08-18
To: Ethan Pond Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: mist

Ethan Pond Shelter - 14.5 miles, mile 1826.2 on ATIt was a cool night so great for sleeping except for one guy in the shelter whosnored so loud the place was shaking. I thought it was a SOBO named Wallmart. I knew there were some big climbs and a good bit of distance to go so it was apretty serious day of hiking. I stopped by Galehead Hut one of the very nicelodges you can stay in up here. From there it was anoher big climb up to abovetree line. The views were nowhere near as nice today. There was a lot of hazein the air we were supposed to get afternoon thunderstorms so that added to myhurry. I still felt pretty wrung out from yesterdays climbs but I made to niceview spot below tree line for lunch. I made good time and had another break inZealand Falls Hut. Another one of the fancy huts that you can pay to stay in. Luckily the last five miles of trail was mostly on an old rail bed from whenthese mountains were heavily logged 100 years ago. Made it in earlier than Iusual do and that allowed me to get to bed earlier as tomorrow is another day of big climbs.a little sore and beat up from yesterdyas fall but no real problems. Luckilythe last 5 miles were flat into ths placecaught up with hot rock here and bonetrrfrog an plam tree came in a bit after me. After alllsettled in brief shower
Date: 2004-08-21
From: Osgood Tenting Area

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: fog

Carter Notch Hut10.7 miles, mile 1861.0 on AT I woke to the rain pouring down, which is never fun, and ended up with most ofyour stuff soaked. But I packed it up and headed down hill. There was suposedto be an all you can eat buffet at the visitors center at Pinkham Notch, so Ihad a good incentive to move on. The AT is not well marked in the Whites and so in the rain and without my morning tea, I made a wrong turn. Because of the poor marking of the trail it was at least a mile before I realizeed the problem. The thing is you get used to not seing the right makings. It was an hour and a half before I got back on the rigt track. The rain just continued to pour down. I made the Visitors Center for lunch but I was still pretty happy, all I can eat is quite a bit of food for me at this stage of the game. I only had six more miles to go but I had been warned that going up Wildcat was one of the tougher climbs on the trail. But you just can't worry about this stuff. Up I went. While there were a couple of places where you are reaching for hand holds and one slip and you will fall a long way, I did not think things were so bad. The rain tends to focus the mind there are much fewer distratrtions when all you can really see is the world immediately around you. In the middle of the rain near the top of the hill I ran into a small group there was a young woman hiking in a short flower print dress and knee high gaitors, I commented that it was quite the fashion statement. She explained that it was standard hiking fare for her. Well as I climbed higher the wind picked up more annd more and the temperature began to drop. It did not get to freezing but it got pretty cold. I dropped into Carter Notch hoping that they might have work for stay at the hut. I pull into the old building and inside it is warm and filled with activity.   I look at the person at the counter and in my most forelorn wet and cold look ask if there was work for stay. They said yes and I beamed. Than I heard my name and there was Stretch. I have not seen him since the day before my big fall. I got some hot hot chocolate and we chatted and caught up on what we had done and where every one we knew was on the trail. I had only one pot to clean and was done with my work. Everyone had clothes hanging from the rafters trying to dry out and I threw my stuff up also. The storm finally cleared out and it dropped into the 30's but because of all the rain a bunch of people cancelled their resevations and tere was even a bed for me to sleep on so all in all not a bad day.rain wet lost food hiker chick clifts cold and wet work for stay stretch warmand dry
Date: 2004-08-22
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Gorham, New Hampshire
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

Gorham, New Hampshire15.3 miles, mile 1876.2 on ATThere was not a cloud in the sky in the morning but the temperature was 37. Itwas hard for me to drag myself out of the warm hut and I was one of the last out of there. Stretch was off and I would not catch him today. As I climbed up out of the notch there were some fantastic views of the Presidential Range. The air was crisp and clear and I don't think I have ever had such clear views of Mt Washington and the surrounding peaks. I kept stopping for views and so blew a good bit of the morning. Since it was a beautiful day and a Sunday there were a lot of day hikers out. I stopped to talk to one fellow and he was asking when I started. He mentioned he had done a little hiking in the Smokies a few months before. I looked at him and I said "did we meet down there" he said "on Charlie's Buonion" and I said "yes". I remembered he mentioned his wife worked for the AMC. It was an amazing coincidence, surely another example of Trail Magic. There were four 4,000 ft peaks to go over and by the last one I was tired and had enough of the views so I avoided the scenic overlook that was off the trail. I pull into Gorham at fiveand hit the local hostel. I ran into Big Tree who I had not seen since beforeFontana Dam. He had goten off the trail and was just getting back on to gosouth. He had not heard where his brother, whose trail name was Scarecrow, was.Like any time in town it involves the rush to bath do laundry and eat in asrapid a fahsion, and I succeeded in all three before dark fell.
Date: 2004-08-23
From: Gorham, New Hampshire

To: Trident Col Tentsite
Miles today: 6.9

Trident Col Tentsite6.9 miles, mile 1883.1 on ATI had figured I was not going to get far today. First I slept in till 8:00 AMpicked up the paper and coffee and caught up on the outside world. The guy whoowned the hostel rented out broken down bicycles for $1 and I was able to getthe rest of my errands done. I sent the bounce box home, which felt like thefirst step to being done with this adventure. I think I can keep to theschedule and be done in about three weeks. I made the mistake of eatting atBurger King for lunch. which it tastes good at first, it really is incompatable with hiking and when I started walking it felt like there was a lead weight in my stomach. I finally pulled in to camp and soon after I set up there was a thunderstorm although it had been nice all day. hopefully it will be better tomorrow as the nice weather is supposed to return. Well tomorrow I should say goodbye to New Hampshire and be in Maine, less then 300 miles to go to finish.
Date: 2004-08-24
From: Trident Col Tentsite

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

Full Goose Shelter14.5 miles, mile 1897.6 on ATThe rain cleared out last night pretty quickly, and today was beautiful again. The trail was gentel most of the morning and ran past a number of beautifulponds. The nicest spot I reached around lunch called Gentian Pond Shelter. There was a beautiful litle pond next to the shelter and the outlet stream cutthrough some rocks and turned into a waterfall. The shelter itself had one ofthe better views of any shelter looking out to the valley below. One of thehigh points of the day was the view from Mt. Success. It was another cloudlesssky and the whole of the White Mountains seems to be in view. I met Myst upthere, whose name I had sen many times in the register, so it was nice tofinally put a face to a name. I was againn running late but the advantage wasthat I got some beautiful warm evening light views from Goose Eye Mtn. I pulled into the shelter just before dark.   The place was pretty full and there sitting at the far end of the shelter was a familiar face that I had not seen since Southern Virginia, neanderthal.I had been trying to catch up with him since I left Dave in Vermount. neanderthal has a great senseof humor and is a great story teller and it was great fun catching up with him.
Date: 2004-08-25
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Baldpate Lean-to
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Baldpate Lean-to12 miles, mile 1909.6 on ATI headed to the notch with some trepitation. Mahoosic Notch is notorius. I had heard that it was a mile long rock field in which one had to climb over r under the boulders. But you never can appreciate the notch until you tackle ityourself. It was the most obvious example of how sick the folks were that laidout the trail. I caught up with Meanderthal at the begining of the notch. Hewas my audience as I prety much ranted the whole way. One talks about how manyhours it takes you to to get through the notch. It took us two hours to getthrough and three times I had to take off my pack in order to squeeze through atiny passageway. Of course, the craziness of the trail did not stop with thenotch. As soon as you come out the notch you head up Mahoosic Arm, a steep long climb up what feels like one solid slab of rock. Luckily things settled down from there. From the top of Mahoosic Arm you looked down to a beautiful pond in the shadow of Old Spec Mountain. The pond was a nice place for lunch. I hiked with Meanderthal up to Old Spec and that there was the 3,000 ft decent into Grafton Notch. We ran into Just Do It at the notch. He had been having knee problems and the way he was walking I did not think he was going to make it up the hill to the shelter. I headed up and was exhausted from a tough day of difficult hiking. At the shelter the was a groupfrom Bowdin College on a orientation hike, earlier in the day there was a groupfrom Harvard. I guess it is now a common thing among New England schools to have freshman go on a hike before starting formal orientation. Long before Iexpected Just Do It showed up. I was impressed as he looked in his 60's and wasstill hobbling. He explained that he had started the trail last year and brokehis wrist falling around the Delaware Water Gap. After several surgerys andtherapy he started again this year back at Springer and was feeling confident he was going all the way.
Date: 2004-08-26
From: Baldpate Lean-to

To: Black Brook
Miles today: 18.1

Black Brook - 18.1 miles, mile 1927.7 on ATIt was nice to put in some serious miles today. It seemed more humid today sofirst thing in the morning as I went over Baldpate Mtn there were nice views but a lot of clouds in the valleys and haze on the horizon. At the next shelter I stopped to have a snack and when I oened the register I happened to notch the names of the people who left it. Java and Jeoparty where friends of teatree's who had hiked the trail with her in 2001. The next break was at this little brook that just after the trail crossed it plunged thru a crack in the rocks and fell several hundred feet to the vally below. I came up to a road crossing and saw Myst and Flip-flop trying to hitch a ride into town. I know they must have been waiting there for at least an hour. As I crossed the road, as I was not stoping, I heard a truck aproaching. As I hit the woods I looked back and the truck was stopping to pick up the two guys, and driving the truck was another Thru-hiker Two Cents whom I had not seen since Vermont. The next stretch of trail was fairly flat, a big change from the last week. Interestingly, the forest was also very different. A greater mix of trees more hard woods and younger trees. I don't know if it was lower elevation or that, that stretch of forest had been logged out more recently. It got warmer and more humid through the day so I was happy for the gentelness of the trail. At one point I ran into a few guys slack packing who told me that Mushroom was in Andover, the town I had just skipped. I had wanted to catch up to Mushroom as we had hiked quite a bit together. Now i am ahead of him and with the schedule I can't affored to slow down much. I wrote a note in the nextshelter register telling Mushroom to try to catch up with me. As I took my last afternoon break it appeared that there was one climb to do to finish things off. To gain 1,200 feet how bad could it be. Well the trail went litterally straight up the mountain. First there were rock steps cut into the rock then there were wooden latters to take you up further and than there were iron rungs built into the rock. I was completely beat when I made it to the top. Luckily the downhill was more gradual and I made it to the stream. I arrived just aftrer Brian a section hiker from Massachusetts had goten in and we chatted about the trail and things as we got our respective camps set up our respectiive camps. I am feeling bad I missed Mushroom. I hope he can catch up.
Date: 2004-08-27
From: Black Brook

To: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to - 17 miles, mile 1944.7 on ATWell I woke feeling good the day was starting with a big climb and I zoomed upOld Blue while the air was still cool. Once over the top there was a long flatmarshy section, with plenty of fresh moose tracks but still no moose sightings. I did not run into anyone all morning. By noon it was warm and humid and I wasrunning out of steam. I stopped in a shelter for luch and almost fell asleep. It was hard to get going again and the afternoon dragged on and on as I feltmore and more run down. Somewhere in there I decided to throw out the schedule. I needed a day off or I was not going to enjoy the end of this trip. There is plenty of time to think and I ran permutation after permutaton of my post hike schedule and realized if I switched a bunch of things around I could still make it all work, and with any luck Mushroom would than catch up with me. While exhausted I at least was happy to not feel rushed. I got to a point that I could see the next road crossing, but it was across another valley and so I had to go all the way down and back up to get to it. I took another break at the road. It was almost six and I was begining to think I would not make the ast 4 miles. As I headed up the trail I ran into some day hikers who encouraged me that the remaining miles were flat. Next I passed another College orientation group, this one from Tufts University. She told me that they had at least 40 groups out in the mountains of NewEngland. Luckily, it was fairly flat and I passed a series of ponds. The lastone before the shelter had a small beach on it. I ran to the shelter and dumped my gear and ran back to the beach. there was nice soft sand and I walked out about 25 yards into the pond and was still in only knee deep water. The sun was setting and it was beautiful to be standing surrounded by water. I dove in and felt refreshed for the first time ince I stared walking that morning. I got back and made diner and before going to be I walked back to the pond and watched the moon rise. The moon was almost full and the mmonlight reflected off the pond a perfect image to have as one drifts off to sleep.
Date: 2004-08-29
To: Rangeley, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Rangeley, ME0 miles, I had gotten most of my chores done yesterday so it was a real zero day. Bobserved up breakfast at the hostel. When he left to drop Dragon Slayer and YogaMonkey at the trail I got a lift to the grocery store. I was excited to findthe Sunday New York Times. Reading the paper took most of the afternoon duringwhich Meanderthal and Flip Flop showed up. We even went out to catch a movieafter pizza and beer. So one of the better zero days I have had in awhile.
Date: 2004-08-30
From: Rangeley, ME

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

Poplar Ridge Lean-to - 10.7 miles, mile 1964.8 on ATIt rained heavy last night and the weather looked pretty questionable so wedawdled in town quite a bit, including a stop for more food, before getting outof town. It was a grey day and I was not feeling particularly energetic. There was a nice break when I had a long chat with the young woman who was cartaker for a shelter. She was sitting on a rock by a stream where the trail crossed knitting. We got into a wonderful discussion that ranged from the enviorment, to urbinization, to African politics. The big climb of the day was up Saddleback Mountain. I was a bit worried about the weather as there was a three mile stretch of exposed rock to cover and last night there had been a good bit of thunder and lightning. I did not want to get caugt in that on a mountain top with nowhere to run. It was not that bad a climb but the clouds were low and so not much views. I did not linger and slogged on at the next peak I ran into a guy who was south bound and we talked for awhile. The south bounders particularly this late are not hiking with anyone and sothe love to talk given half a chance. The weather continued blagh, and I feltblagh, and the trail was muddy. Just not a great day. I caugt up to Flip-Flopat the shelter and Meanderthal came in right behind. The unique feature of this shelter was that the floor that you lyed on was made of baseball bat sizedtrees. This made for a particularly uncomfortable sleeping surface. Aparently,this is the way they made shelters 50 years ago, and the guy who took care ofthis one kept it that way for historical reasons or maybe he was just a sadist.