morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-09-24
From: Surplus Pond Road 

To: Grafton Notch 
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Since I did a leapfrog yesterday, I had to go back and fill in the gap. 12.2 miles with a couple of big climbs. I had no hiking partner today...she¢s still recovering from yesterday¢s fall. I walked beside a creek for quite a while, then I crossed it. I crossed several creeks today, all of them on boulders.  Then I started going UP to Bald Pate Mountain East Peak at 3790ft elevation.  On the way up, I noticed Spruce Grouse were everywhere! They are a most unique bird! If you haven¢t seen or heard one, I recommend checking them out on YouTube.  Other than grouse I saw toads, squirrels, and chipmunks. The weather is changing, and the toads must be cold. They¢re moving much slower. One tried to hop away and literally did some kind of awkward backflip/side roll. He got back on his feet and sat there about 3 inches from where he started.  Just before my lunch break I crossed paths with NOLA!  She has 3 days left of her hike. We had some pleasant dialogue and she sent a hug to Hugs!  You know I giggled inside...again! Even still, I¢m super happy for NOLA she¢s about to check a bucket list!  I stopped at Frye Notch Lean-to for lunch. Chatted with a couple of NOBO thru¢s and ate my chicken salad sandwich. That¢s one of the joys of slack packing, fresh food!  Soon enough I continued my climb up Baldpate. Several areas were steep. At one location a rope and ladder was placed to help get up over a huge ledge. I was so thankful for that!  Baldpate has two peaks. It took forever to summit the first one, but the payoff was fabulous! This land is so vast and so breathtaking. There are no words really. I took my time. Time well spent. I climbed down the first peak rather quickly. It took good effort getting up the next one. Then I started the 3 mile trek down. Aching knees, aching knees, aching knees!!! Some parts were ok with pine straw but mostly I had to hunt and peck and carefully place each foot. It took much longer than the climb up. At one point I heard a growl off to my right. I looked, but there was no large animal like a bear or a moose.(if a moose can even growl) so I hiked on and it happened two more times over about a 50 yards space. I never saw anything, and it eventually stopped.  With about a half mile left to go I heard Papa Big Swig and our doggies. He hand delivered me a soda on the trail! Gotta love that guy! He had our little dog on a leash. We usually let them run on trail. I asked why? He said a local told him she had just seen a coyote about 20 minutes before right in this area. Poodle sized dogs are a coyote meal. Hmmmm could a coyote have been growling at me? I¢ve seen/heard plenty of coyotes on this journey, but they all keep their distance.  Who knows?Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-09-25
From: White Birches Campground 

To: White Birches Campground 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The weather is changing quickly up here in the northeast.  Today was cold and rainy.  I took a zero. Tomorrow will be thunder and lightning. I¢m taking another zero.  The whole day was not a waste though. We went out for breakfast this morning where we ran into Pappy!  He¢s a legend on the trail!  Pappy is 87 years old and attempting to break the record as the oldest thruhiker of the A.T.  This will be his second thruhike.  He¢s also a veteran, and many other things.  Below is a link about pappy. https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=yrmwaR-msQII also had a massage today.  It was much needed!  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-09-26
From: White Birches Campground 

To: White Birches Campground 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We took a zero today due to predictions of thunderstorms. They haven¢t hit yet and it¢s 4:30 pm. It¢s possible we could have gotten our hike in today. I do see the sky is getting dark now.  We all went out for breakfast this morning in ¢Berlin¢. It was a mom & Pop diner and I had the best pancakes ever!  Other than that I¢ve been pretty lazy today. My knees are still a little mad at me, so I stayed off of them. Besides walking the dogs a couple of times.  Our camper has been parked here at White Birches Campground for probably a week now. We are parked close to the bathhouse, which is always my request. So until today I¢ve only seen our site and the amenities. That¢s because I hike, shower, eat, sleep...repeat! Walking the dogs all the way through the campground today was so enlightening. First of all the place is filled with those tall white trees that peel their bark. That¢s when it hit me! WHITE BIRCHES! The trees that peel are White Birches! Oh my, how could it take me this long to figure that out?  Papa Big Swig did laundry and I put away clothing. Then I got my pack ready for tomorrow. I¢ll be crossing into New Hampshire! I can¢t wait! Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-09-29
From: Mount Washington Observatory 

To: White Birches Campground 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

The day started with full intentions of hiking Mount Washington from the summit to Pinkham Notch. We were first in line to get onto the Mount Washington Auto Road. It opens at 8am. The drive up was scary! There are no side rails on the narrow winding road. Hugs and I sat in the back, so I just closed my eyes. We stopped once for photos but I didn¢t participate in that. I just wanted to have my feet on the ground permanently. When I finally did get out of the vehicle I immediately knew today would not be the day for hiking Mount Washington!  Mount Washington at 6288ft above sea level is THE WINDIEST PLACE ON EARTH! Yesterday it was the windiest place... on steroids! We were in the clouds making everything misty. It was 36 degrees but felt much colder. I was not dressed appropriately for this.  So this day became a fun tourist day! Big Kahuna has been here before. He made sure we all got to experience everything offered. We started in the primary gift shop. It was fun choosing a T-shirt and post cards. There¢s an actual U.S. Post Office up there! It¢s tiny, but it¢s there.  Somehow Big Kahuna managed to get a backside tour for us in the Mount Washington Weather Observatory.  Extremely interesting!  It¢s the oldest weather observatory in the country. Our tour guide was Zach a new grad with a degree in meteorology. He¢s there as an intern. They collect data 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We saw all of the instruments, their living quarters, and the elements they face every day while collecting this data. It was an awesome experience!  There is also a museum. I learned about the very first 4 men who started the observatory. How they maneuver in the snow and ice, and much more. For example the fairly large amount of the deaths that have occurred on Mount Washington. I wondered how many were hikers?!? Yikes!  Speaking of hikers. Remember Hugs had a hard fall just before Mahoosuc Notch? Well she¢s still in pain. This might be TMI , but she has a very large bruise across her entire derri re. I¢m concerned something is broken, and so is she.  I¢m not sure I¢ll get to keep my hiking partner. Keep Hugs in your prayers.  From the observatory we went to Pinkham Notch and shopped some more! A total tourist day!  I will try to hike again tomorrow. Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-10-01
From: Pollard Brook Time Share

To: Pollard Brook Time Share
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

While I was hiking yesterday Papa Big Swig packed up the camper and parked it in the lot at Pollard Brook Time Share. Thanks to Big Kahuna we have 4 nights in this fancy schmancy place!  It was after 1am this morning before we got back from hiking. Hugs and I both took a bath. It was 4am before I finally started dozing off. Needless to say this day is a zero!  I woke up for the last time and stayed up around noon. I haven¢t done that in years! Yesterday¢s hike was so much fun, but today my body feels like I¢ve been run over! Hugs was already out the door by the time I started moving. She came back laughing still about my New Hampshire moose. Then she gifted me a nice big mug that has a moose on it, and says New Hampshire! I¢ll cherish it forever. Probably my most favorite gift she¢s ever gotten me. She¢s been hiking every other day or so with me. I hope she heals up quickly to get that pain gone!  Papa Big Swig cooked dinner. We had salmon with potatoes and mixed veggies. Strawberry Shortcake with extra whipped cream for dessert! Yummy!  One quick game of cards and we were all off to bed.  Tomorrow will be another zero. The weather is not cooperating for mountain climbing.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-10-02
From: Pollard Brook Time Share

To: Pollard Brook Time Share 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Big Kahuna took us to a mom & pop place for breakfast this morning. I had homemade corn beef hash! Yummy!!! My cousin Dianna will be shocked! HahaWe¢ve been secretly planning a surprise early birthday celebration for Big Kahuna. He made our birthdays very special for each of us. He¢s a Halloween baby, but he will be leaving us in a couple of days. Today seems like the right day. Papa Big Swig kept Big Kahuna entertained while Hugs and I picked up a cake and some gifts. He suspected nothing! We played a game of hearts in the afternoon. As usual Big Kahuna won! It was just a nice relaxing afternoon.  Papa Big Swig took us all out to dinner at a new place Big Kahuna wanted to try. He also managed to sneak in the cake and gifts. After we ate dinner our server brought out the cake with candles lit. We all sang happy birthday! Other patrons wished him happy birthday too. It was just an all around good time. My knees feel better having two days off. I¢ll be ready to go tomorrow.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018) Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-10-03
From: NH Route 25 

To: Kinsman Notch 
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: broken clouds

Hugs and I started out together. Papa Big Swig and Big Kahuna walked us part way in. There was a fairly large creek crossing early on where we lost Papa Big Swig. Big Kahuna went a little further until we started UP.  It was misty outside.  Every rock, boulder, and tree root was slippery. Hugs and I carefully began making our way up.  I knew immediately that she was in pain again. But we were beside a most beautiful waterfall and she was enjoying that.  We crossed a wooden bridge with a hold rope, and back to wet boulders. Finally, with tears in her eyes, Hugs said she was calling Papa Big Swig to have someone come back and get her.  With tears in my own eyes I watched her make her way back down what we had just climbed up.  She promised to text when she was safely in the car....she did. On my own again today I continued the climb up Mount Moosilauke at 4802 ft elevation.  The entire morning I had a series of cascading waterfalls beside me. Music to my ears, and a sight to behold! The trail was actually a notch or a rockslide.  Climbing up was tedious. I zig-zagged right then left to take a step forward. Eventually I made some ground. The rain stopped. I was up high enough now that the sun could shine through sparse pines easily.  It was warm. I quickly shed my outer layer of clothing, and wished I had not worn long johns.  My trail turned away from the waterfalls, but I could hear a flowing spring below the rocks and boulders I was climbing on.  Every now and and then I saw water rushing below.  The trees began to dwarf as I climbed higher until eventually there were no more trees. It was warm above tree line.  Warm, but cloud covered.  I followed  cairn piles through the haze to the top.  Yay I made it!   There was a local on the summit eating lunch.  I joined him. He¢s hiked the A.T. all the way to New York and assures me from Mt Moosilauke to NY is easy peasy hiking compared to where I¢m coming from.  That¢s good to know!  Except I do have a couple of gaps to fill in...in the whites.  6 more hiking days in the rough stuff.  A young French couple arrived as I was finishing up my lunch. The beginning down grade was good for about a half mile. Soon it became steep, wet, rocky terrain. I plugged away slowly. I could feel every step in my knees. They are so very angry with me!  When I reached the bottom of Moosilauke I had about 2 miles to my extraction point.  The trail has a few rolling hills. Then it opened up to a small field with lavender flowers. It was a nice hike. I made it to my pick up location about 40 minutes early.  With no cell service, I just waited.  Big Kahuna picked me up and he had Hugs with him.  Hugs wants to hike the rest of Mount Washington with me, then she¢ll be calling it a day for now.  I¢ll miss her, but I completely understand.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-10-06
From: Pinehaven Campground

To: Pinehaven Campground
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Both Hugs and Big Kahuna are leaving today.  I originally planned to enjoy breakfast with my tramily then take off for an overnight hike to fill in one of my gaps. By the time we all said our goodbyes it was later than I expected. I got my big pack ready to go, but just wasn¢t feeling it.  My body still aches from summiting Mount Washington yesterday... calling it a zero.  I¢ll be ready tomorrow Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-10-10
From: NH RT 25 

To: NH RT 25c 
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: light rain

I had planned to fill in my last gap in the Whites today, but I ended up with unexpected business from home. Between making phone calls, and a quick resupply run to the store it just became too late to set out in that kind of terrain for the 13 miles I have to do on day one.  So today became a Nero for me and Seylor Jo. I started where I had left off just south of Moosilauke and continued southbound.  So all the rumors about the trail getting better south of Moosilauke are TRUE!!! Yay!  It was like old times! The sun was shining, colored leaves covered the trail, and Seylor was in heaven! Sure there were some rocks and roots...even mud. But mostly there was a path. A real path!  As Seylor and I started our hike going UP we could hear 3 or 4 dogs barking from the gap below us. One would even cry at times. I have no idea what was going on, but Seylor was concerned. She would put her her ears down a little and turn around like she needed to go there. But she would just come back to me then turn around again and keep moving up until we no longer heard the raucous going on below.  Our only UP today was this one. Mount Mist at 2220ft elevation. I giggled a little and thought to myself ¢you call THIS a mountain¢? After being at 4K to 5k feet for so long it felt pretty easy.  I purposefully hiked very slow. Seylor was having a blast making her own blue blazes! It was fun just letting her be a dog. I watched her chase a chipmunk up a tree. That chipmunk turned around an gave Seylor an earful from up there!  I thought we had an extra hour to play around in the woods so I took a 45 minutes break. Seylor was exhausted already from ridding the world of varmints.(she never catches a thing)We shared some chicken and just relaxed listening to the sounds of the forest.  With just a mile to go we headed towards the road. It wasn¢t long before I saw Papa Big Swig and our other dog Gypsy Rose hiking towards us. Uh oh, I didn¢t have that extra hour after all.  On a cushy pine straw carpet, we all hiked out together. Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-10-11
From: Pinehaven Campground

To: Pinehaven Campground 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Rain started during the night. I¢m sure a direct result of hurricane Michael. I wanted to fill in my last 27 miles of the Whites, but that¢s changing. Big Kahuna left explicit instructions to choose a good weather day for the Whites. My pack is ready to go, I¢ll see what tomorrow brings.  In the meantime I¢ll get laundry done and eat! Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-10-13
From: Greenleaf Hut

To: Galehead Hut 
Miles today: 6.6

I woke to find snow on the ground, with more snow falling. Even though I¢m not overly thrilled about hiking in snow, it was really pretty to see on the evergreens.  Breakfast this morning was grand! Oatmeal, coffee cake, eggs, bacon, and pineapple. Hot coffee too! With a full belly I set out to see how far I could get today. The ¢alleged¢ 1.1 miles blue blaze trek back up Lafayette went by quickly. I say alleged because it¢s the longest 1.1 miles I¢ve ever hiked! And of course those miles don¢t count for today¢s hike. It was snowy and Icy when I got to the ridge, but I was better prepared this morning. I bought new rain pants at the hut, and was layered up much better than yesterday. The winds are only half of what they were yesterday as well. I breathed a sigh of relief and put on a smile.  I was able to take it slow across the ridge. It was necessary because of ice. Some of the slabs had a very thin layer of ice that was invisible. I fell twice. The first time I landed on my backpack. It absorbed every ounce of that fall! Nothing hurt! The second one I slid all the way down to the bottom of the slab on my side. No injury again!  Once off the ridge and below tree line it went really well. The snow was still spitting and melting making things wet.  I one more good sized climb up Mount Garfield at 4500ft elevation. There was no view at the summit. Just a grey abyss.  I continued down the other side. Once I got below the clouds I did get one pretty view. No complaints about the lack of views though. At least I can deal with the weather today. I hiked into Galehead Hut. As a thruhiker I do not need reservations, but this time, the Hut is full.  They do not turn thruhikers away, but when there isn¢t a bunk available we do something called Work For Stay.  Essentially we¢re allowed to eat after paying guests are done. Then we do a chore and we can sleep on the dining room floor. My chore will be end of evening dishes at 9:30pm! I go to bed at 8pm. Ugh! The same scenario will occur in the morning for breakfast.  Right now it¢s 8:30pm and I just want to lay down....Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-10-16
From: Logan International Airport 

To: Hospital 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

What a whirlwind this day has been! To make a long story short, my granddaughter had emergency surgery last night. More than two weeks ago she had a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.  Yesterday she began vomiting large amounts of blood. Two weeks post-op is a long time for this. They took her back to O.R. and cauterized the bleed. Mid-morning today her blood counts dropped to a critical low. She will be getting a blood transfusion soon.  Until mid-morning we all thought Lucie was going home today. So they went ahead and took her sister in for a scheduled nasal surgery this morning. My daughter with Lucie, my son-in-law with Alorah. I can only imagine the stress right now. They have 6 other kids who will soon be coming home from school.  I¢m catching a flight at 5pm from Logan airport in Massachusetts. I will be taking 2 weeks or so off trail. To help the kids and follow through with a previously scheduled commitment to teach at the high school a couple of days.I have 417 miles left to go, and they will get done...I PROMISE!  In the meantime I will try to journal daily. I will answer questions and post new pictures from various parts of my hike. All prayers appreciated! Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-10-17
From: Hospital 

To: Hospital 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up in Lucie¢s hospital room this morning. She slept well all night long. After two transfusions her blood counts are not normal, but much improved. Praying they continue to improve today.  Back to the trail...I don¢t think I ever posted my close-up bear photos from the Shenandoah¢s. One day I had a bear walking and foraging about 30 yards away from me for a good long while. We both kept walking our path in the same direction occasionally looking at each other. It was a neat experience! I had a request from Pierogi some time ago for contact information on Lloyd our shuttle driver for Katahdin and food drop for the 100 mile wilderness. Katahdin ShuttleLloyd Kelly  307-447-0337Lloyd is in Millinocket and will manage your food drop if you¢re SOBO. He has a guy in Monson he works with for food drops if you¢re NOBO. Either way, he¢ll take care of you. Very reliable guy.  If anybody has a specific question please leave it in my guestbook.  I¢ll take a look every day, and do my best to answer.  Thank you all for your prayers and positive thoughts for my sweet Lucie.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018) Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-10-18
From: Paducah

To: Paducah 
Miles today: 0.0

Sweet little Lu is back in action! You would never know she nearly died on us a couple of days ago.  God is good!  So I¢ve been thinking about how I¢m going to attack my last 400 miles. I had chosen to finish up SOBO, but now I have the option of starting in NY and finishing up NOBO. This will actually allow me to begin hiking a day earlier when I return. New York is a one day closer drive to us than New Hampshire.  Papa Big Swig arrived  here in Paducah today with the vehicle.  We¢ll be driving back together.  I¢ll share a hiking picture tomorrow.  Just had to let everybody see my girl is doing much better.  Thank you to everyone again for your concern  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-10-19
From: Paducah 

To: Paducah 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This photo of a Sunrise on Max Patch Mountain in NC is one of my favorites. These colors are completely unedited. God paints amazing pictures!  Thanks for all of the advice to continue SOBO. I¢ve decided I will take it, and remain in a southbound direction.  The idea of battling the elements more than necessary just doesn¢t appeal to me. After my experience on Mount Lafayette I¢m putting safety first! I was able to visit my son at Murray State University today, and my grandson CJ went with me too. I¢m really enjoying all of this amazing family time! But the trail still calls my name...Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-10-20
From: Paducah 

To: Paducah Ky 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today will be our last day in Paducah KY. All of the grands are doing well, and their parents are recuperated...as much as parents get to recuperate!  Me and Papa Big Swig spent the whole day with the kids and grandkids. We started out by getting pedicures with my daughter Kayla and granddaughter Charley Faye. Yes, Papa Big Swig had a pedicure! His feet look fabulous! Mine on the other hand are still callused.  Then we were off to our grandson¢s football game. This is the Middle School State Quarter Finals. We won 38 - 0! Josh plays defensive end. He had one sack and three tackles.  Moving on to the Semi-Finals next week!  In the morning Papa Big Swig and I will be going on to Illinois. I¢ll take time there to sort through my gear and get my pack cold-weather ready. I¢ll be overnighting my first trip out when I get back. I¢m sooo ready to get back!  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?