morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-07-27
From: Goddard

To: Story Spring
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I didn't leave till 7:30. It was foggy and I wasn't going very far. The walk was up and down but nothing difficult. I spent my lunch overlooking a beaver pond. No beaver or fish jumping while I was there. I got here around one. The rest of the L.T. hikers from last night are coming here but none have shown up yet. While I was unpacking Warren Doyle walked in. How cool is that? This is his 14th thru hike. I have burned my wrappers and am drying the sweat from my pack in the sun. It almost feels like nap time. The L.T. gang didn't show up till after several down pours.
Date: 2005-07-28
From: Story Spring

To: Spruce Peak
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: broken clouds

What a gorgeous day for hiking. Cool temps and low humidity. I walked with Still Walking today until after Stratton Pond. The view from the lookout tower on Stratton was great. The trail maintance on Stratton was the best in Vermont. I didn't care for the mud flat in the Lyle Brook Wilderness Area. The lousy trails are intentional. Are they nuts? My body was a little tired when I got here, but it is coming back well. the spring here is great. This is a four sided shelter with a stove. Would be great on rainy days! On to Manchester in the morning.
Date: 2005-07-29
From: Spruce Peak

To: Manchester
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: broken clouds

It was an easy walk to Rt 11/30 and 4 min. later I had a ride. I went "Up for Breakfast" when I got to town. I had a great omlet but the price of $11 I thought was a little high. I did the usual town things except getting on the internet. A mile out of town is to far for a hiker to walk extra. I had buffalo steak for supper and finally found Vanilla Heath Bar in Benn and Jerrys.
Date: 2005-07-30
From: Manchester

To: Big Branch
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I was up early and had breakfast at MacDonalds. I was hitching by 6:30 but didn't get a ride until 7:25 after walkling 2 miles. No wonder I feel tired tonight. I ran into six weekend hikers from the area on the top of Bromley. They were very interested in my hike and asked a lot of questions. I walked with them until lunch. I actually walked faster than they did and had to pick up the pace till get here by 5. A little supper and I am sure I will be asleep fast.
Date: 2005-07-31
From: Big Branch

To: Clarendon
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

I was off by 6:30. there was a nice stretch headed to Little Rock Pond. Speaking of Little Rock there was quite an aroma coming from the area of the caretaker when I went by but I'm sure he didn't enhale either. At Bear Mt. I was able to pick a few handfuls of Blueberries. They are especially good out here. On to the histle Stop Rest. for a mid afternoon snack. The .5 miles fo trail was worth it. I was very full for the last mile climb to the shelter. It is quite old but will do. I am alone tonight.
Date: 2005-08-01
From: Clarendon

To: Churchill Scott
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

Today I was undecided like the weather. Should I go to the Long Trail Inn or stay here? Should I climb Killington Peak or not? The weather would almost start raining then the sun would come out. I decided to decide on the way. i stopped at Governor Clement. We had been warned that locals were harrassing hikers that stayed there. They can have it! What a rat hole! At the top I climbed the .2 miles to the top of Killington hoping the fog would clear so I could have a view. It did 10 min. after I was walking on the A.T. again. When I was 2 miles from this shelter my last descision was made for me. In the distance I could hear the rumbles of thunder. It is amazing what a little incentive will do to one's speed. I made it here at 3 miles/hr. pace. Again I have the shelter to myself.
Date: 2005-08-02
From: Churchill Scott

To: Stony Brook
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: few clouds

food. Food. food. My thoughts as I walked toward Vt. 100. It soon would be taken care of. As I was walking thruogh Gifford Woods State Park, a woman came out of a campsite and asked if I was a thru hiker. When I told her I was she got very excited and told me I was her first she had ever met. Next I met an woman 85 that was waiting for her son (Art) to come out of the woods heading south and wanted to make sure she hadn't missed him. she hadn't. On her insistance I left my pack with her while I went into Killington Jct. for resupplies. I called CliffHanger to arrange a meeting palce and Mrs. Mailar, then took care of that food problem. Back on tne trail I met Art headed south. I said "Hi Art, you don't remember me do you?" He didn't. I expained then headed to the quiet of another shelter. About 5 that changed, as 9 girls from a summer camp in Vermont arrived. Shortly after 9 boys arrived from their brother camp. It is not as quiet as it has been the last couple of nights, but that is fine.
Date: 2005-08-03
From: Stony Brook

To: Rt 12 (CliffHanger's)
Miles today: 13.7

I was up and walking by 6. I thouhgt it would be a good idea to be off before the rest of the groups were up. The going was slow because of the rocks, roots, and ups and downs. I met 4 Sobos. The first said he was hiking with his girlfriend thru Maine, but she went south to hike without him. This not always the best place to hike with loved ones. You might see more of them than you want. I stopped for lunch at Wintturi and cold water. I met a Nobo, Lonestar, who had more trail gossip. Probably the third most talked about subject after food and gear. About 2 I saw a Sobo hiker, that turned out to be my friend, CliffHanger. I will be hiking without by pack for a few days. Oh Happy days!!!
Date: 2005-08-04
From: Rt 12 (CliffHanger's)

To: Happy Hill (CliffHanger's)
Miles today: 18.1

Let me tell you if you think the northern end of the trail in Vermont is easy because of the low elevations. You are nuts! We left CliffHangers home at seven for18 mile slack pack. It was a constant up and down. It doesn't matter how low you are, a climb is a climb. I wasn't the only one surprised. Other Nobos were saying the same thing. CliffHanger showed me some Gensing, where she hadn't found it before. I showed her a Stumpknocker. We finally met on the A.T. It was great talking to him. It was seven when we finally got off the trail.
Date: 2005-08-05
From: Happy Hill (CliffHanger's)

To: Three Mile Rd. (CliffHanger's)
Miles today: 13.2

Today was so much easier walking than yesterday. The terrain was much flatter. I carried two extra sodas and gave one to the first Nobo I met and the other to Beantown, whom I promised one the next time I saw him. Both were received gladly. Today also had us going by the only Ben and Jerrys store on the trail. You can bet we went in for our ice cream. I have now entered my 14th and last state. I am now ready to cross the whites of New Hampshire. ( I Hope)
Date: 2005-08-06
From: Lyme Dorchester Rd

To: 25A (CliffHanger's)
Miles today: 14.0

CliffHanger dropped me off and headed for a breakfast with some church friends. I started to climb Smart Mt. With temps in the mid seventies and low humidity, it was great for hiking. I made it to the top of Smart Mt. in 2 hrs. and could see Cube in the distance. I met CliffHanger on the top of Mt. Cube at 2. She had a great time at the breakfast and had not waited here very long for me to arrive. It seemed nice to be done hiking by 4. CliffHanger is going to drop off my pack Monday so all I have to do is hike to it. that gives me another day of slack packing.
Date: 2005-08-07
From: three mile rd.

To: Lyme Dorchester rd.
Miles today: 11.2

CliffHanger and I attended church untill 11:15. Then a friend of hers helped to get vehicles in place for the afternoon hike. There was several good climbs with only moderate views. We did run into several hikers that we had seen before: Beantown and Meredith. It was fun talking with them. The concern of most hikers is the lack of water at the shelters. We got out at 6:30. It looks like I could be finished with New hampshire the 15th or 16th, then I will go home to finish Katahdin and I will be done the whole trail. It hardly seems possible!
Date: 2005-08-08
From: 25A (CliffHanger's)

To: Jeffers Brook
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: clear sky

I got a few groceries and a new pair of socks, then CliffHanger brought me to the trail. I got started at 10:45 and was doing well. I was at 25 by 4:30. I went and got my pack that I ahd left there in the bushes. on the way out I tripped and my glasses went flying. I spent an hour trying to find them with no luck. Meredith and another guy that was at the shelter have gone to look. I have my doubts that they will be successful, but that is so awesome that they would try. I tried to talk them out of it, because i really searched the area hard. On a more positive note I had the best trail supper yet. I brought out a steak, pasta salad, and an apple for dessert. Too bad I can't eat like this more often.
Date: 2005-08-09
From: Jeffers Brook

To: Stealth Camping 1 mile south of Eliza Brook
Miles today: 14.5

What a long day! I started walking at 6:30 and set up my tent 1 mile south of Eliza Brook. My day started by climbing Moosilauke Mt.(4802') it is the tallest mountain since the Blue Ridge Mt. it is the first mountain above tree line since Mt. Rogers. After taking pictures and checking to see if the mountain cranberries were ripe, I headed down. It is the worse down on the trail so far. I was going less than a mile/hr. After I got to Rt. 12, the trail didn't get any better. Being tired from thr climb and descent from Moosilauke I wasn't ready for more. The trail just kept going up and down with a lot of rocks and mud. -I hope I can do better tomorow.
Date: 2005-08-10
From: Stealth Camping 1 mile south of Eliza Brook

To: Franconia
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: scattered clouds

What a good night sleep! I was up and walking by 6: 15. I was only 35 min. to Eliza brook, Where I would have stayed for the night but it worked out fine. I went over South Kinsman (4358') and North Kinsman (4293') and was to Kinsman Pond by 11:30 a total of 5 miles. It was a real rock scramble up South Kinsman leading to less than a mile/hr. pace. I talked to Krazy Kate, radio, Knees, Pacman, and Beantown on the top of South Kinsman. I then walked down to Kinsman Pond where we ate lunch. Good thing the trail improved and I made it to the road by 3. Fifteen min. later I had a ride to North Woodstock. Wingfoot's guide was way off. The Cscade Inn was closed and the Woodstock Inn was 119 instead of $47. Luckily a friendly person at the mobile station let me use the phone to make some calls and found the carriage Motel for $60. I have 5 days of food to make it to Gorham but is the pack heavy. It will lighten up as I eat the extra weight.
Date: 2005-08-11
From: Franconia

To: Garfield
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I got a ride back to the trail fairly easily. A woman went by be then turned around and came back to give me a ride to the trail before going to work. How awesome! It just was an awesome day for me. I climbed 4 peaks: Little Haystack (4760'), Lincoln (5089'), Lafayette (5249'), and Garfield (4488'). While on Lafafette Early Bird and Cheddar showed up on a day hike. The last a say them was in Daleville, Va. We talked for an hour and that was not nearly long enough. I think the thing hikers like to do more than hiking is talking about hiking. Early Bird finished July 15 because she took a vacation from hiking the A.T. by hiking the L.T. Besides the fantastic company me a coke,zuchinni bread, and a peanut butter sandwich. Reluctantly I had to keep walking. At the shelter I met Piper who had some Eagles music to share. What a great ending to a awesome day.
Date: 2005-08-12
From: Garfield

To: Ethan Pond
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: broken clouds

I was concerned about the miles today because I didn't know the terrain. I have been going about a mile/hour with the steep ups and downs. Today had 2 four thousand footers: South Twin (4902') and Guyot (4560'). All the huts have a drilled well so I stop in to get water when I pass them. It is tested and usually very cold. My day started with a very steep down. The trail was full of rocks and mud most of the day. With the threat of storms I waited until I crossed Guyot before I stopped for lunch. After lunch I was walking with a couple from New york. They were very interested in my hike and it helps to pass the time. They had never picked wild blueberries so I showed them how. I also had to eat my efforts. The last 4 miles was easy walking following an old railroad bed part of the way. It started to sprinkle with two miles to go. I put on my pack cover and it stopped. Now that I'm at the shelter it is raining very hard. I talked with Rambling Man and Colonel (a father and son team) who told me on Lafayette that Early Bird was coming behind them looking for me.
Date: 2005-08-13
From: Ethan Pond

To: Mizpah
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: fog

I was on the trail by 6:30 and was to Crawford Notch by 8. There was trail magic by Head Hunter. You have to be a hiker to appreciate how good a soda can be. Thanks Head Hunter! For the next 4 hours a must have climbed Webster (3910') 4 or 5 times. I thought I was at the top to find it only leveled off then went up again. Several times today I would throw my poles to the top like a javelin so I could use my hands to scale the granite faces. At the top of jackson (4052') there was a group of five men and women. They had lots of questions to ask because one of the women wants to walk the trail in 4 years when she retires. I made it to Mizpah Hut and checked to see if they had any "work for stay". Work for stay is offered to thru hikers (usually the first 2) and you do 2 hours of work and get supper and breakfast and a place to sleep, often on the flour in the dinning hall. Here it was a bunk with a pillow. Soooo nice! Supper was turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, peas, salad, and dessert.
Date: 2005-08-14
From: Mizpah

To: Lake of the Clouds
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: fog

After a breakfast of coffee cake, bacon, pineapple chunks, and cranberry juice I was of at 8:30. I really dragged my feet and took long breaks because i didn't want to get here to soon. I was afraid they would want me to go farther. I got here at 11:30 and got my work for sray. It has been a rainy and foggy all afternoon. The forecast is for more of the same for tommorrow as I go over Mt. washington. So what is new? It seems I see all the best places in the fog. Even though I have been bored the last three hours it is better than walking in the pouring rain. Once again it seems to be working out for the best. About an hour of work cleaning the top of the stoves got me stuffed shells, salad, broccoli, bread, apple cobbler, and a dry place to sleep.
Date: 2005-08-15
From: Lake of the Clouds

To: Stealthy camping before Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up and was ready to leave at six. John, the "croo" chief gave me some pancakes and syrup before I left. Normally you have to wait until the quests have eaten (about 8) before you are feed. It was very foggy when I left. It was so thick it was condensing on me. Rarely could I see more than two cairns at a time. As usual when a got to the top of Mt. Washington it was fogged in. My walking pace again was a mile/hr so I didn't get to Madison hut until 12:30. I had 4 bowls of soup (AYCE) for $2. I had been thinking about the soup all morning as I walked in the fog. It was the best Crazy Bean Soup I have ever had (also the first). It finally cleared by the time I left Madison Hut. and climbed Madison. It had been trying to clear of and on since 10. On the descent Beantown passed me again. We talked for a while and then he moved on. He had taken a couple of days off( I think he likes passing me). It has been a hard day on my knees especially the descending to Pinkham Notch.
Date: 2005-08-16
From: Stealthy camping before Pinkham Notch

To: Rattle River
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: light rain

I got an early start to go over all the ups and downs of the day. I met Beantown (Jason) on the top of South Carter. We talked for 1/2 hr. Each time is longer. I also ran into Helmet and Ten Bears, whom I had met before. The original plan was to stop at Imp Shelter, but since I got there at 2:30 and it would work out better for calling Judy if I could get into Gorham early in the morning I pushed on to here. I have only 1.9 miles to go then I go home and up to Abol to finish my hike. Nothing profound yet. Maybe when I finish Kathadin.
Date: 2005-08-17
From: Rattle River

To: Gorham
Miles today: 1.9
Weather: clear sky

Last night Vapers came in late and brought in a couple of beers that had been left as trail magic by the road and gave them to 10 bears and me. After we had a long and enjoyable talk. I got up early and made it to the road in 35 min. Nothing like a good trail (the best I have seen in N.H.) and a little encouragement to get out to help the pace. It took 15 min. to get a ride. I have made the phone call to Mrs. Mailar and she is on the way to pick me up. I have officially 10 miles to go (Abol to Katahdin) but I want to end on Katahdin so I will do 15 more A.T. miles (not counting the return off the mountain). While I was writing this in the park in Gorham waiting for Mrs. Mailar, Rambling Man and Colonel came by and talked. It is so neat to meet "old friends" on the trail. I have about an hour to wait for Mrs. Mailar and another step of my journey is complete.
Date: 2005-08-19
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I am home and watching the weather forecasts to get a good day to climb Katahdin. It looks like Monday and Tuesday right now. I have friends that would like to hike this last stretch with me but they can only do it on the weekends and i am to antsy to wait that long. Besides I don't know how long I would have to wait for a good weekend. I can always go up again. This scares me. I am talking about doing extra miles after the A.T. I had better be careful or i will turn into one of those hikers that just can't give it up. NO CHANCE!!!
Date: 2005-08-25
From: Abol Bridge

To: Birches
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I got up at 5:45 in Winslow and ordered 2 half sandwiches from Big G's, my favorite sandwich shop bar none. After a large plate of flapjacks (not pancakes) I headed north. I arrived at Abol Bridge at 9:30. After finding where the trail went (not very well marked), I loaded the sandwiches in my pack and started following the white blazes. Other than my heels hurting, today was very enjoyable. I wasn't going very far and didn't have to hurry to get there. I signed up for the Birches campsite. It is where Baxter Park sticks the long distance hikers. It is limited to the first 12 hikers. i was first on the list for today and am the only one at the site at 4:30. There was only 5 signed up for last night. The site is 50 feet from a very busy gravel road. Not an ideal site for my last night on the trail. There is no water at the site and you need to get it at the ranger station where you register for the second time. The trail follows the Penobscot river than Newsowadnehunk Stream doing a large horse shoe shape before arriving at Katahdin Stream. There is a blueblaze trail I will return on that is only half the distance. I passed a number of day hikers on the walk in. One woman had walked off the trail to go to the bathroom. I quickly said hello before I really surprised her. Another woman was sure i was headed the wrong way to be going to Katahdin. I have had that happened to me before. (Maybe it is me) I am having my favorite trail supper of steak and pasta salad. I should have had it more often. I am planning an early rise to be climbing before the heat of the day.
Date: 2005-08-26
From: Birches

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: few clouds

At 10:34 today a new member of the class of 2005 was graduated. I was up early and left the campsite at 5:45. Two hikers joined me last night put only one will be hiking today. The other is waiting for his son to join him and hike tomorrow. Lonestar came into the shelter at 9 last night. He had done 30+ miles the last four days to get done on friday. It took me 4 1/2 hours to climb Katahdin. It is the toughest climb on the trail in my opinion. I took an hour on the top taking pictures, eating my lunch, and enjoying my moment in the sun. It was great to have Lonestar up there to finish with a thru hiker. The descent took another 4 1/2 hours. I walked done with a father and son from Lisbon, Me and a hiker Thankful that has 120 miles to go to finish her A.T. Lonestar descended faster than I did and went and got my car and was waiting at the Birches when I got there. He arrived less than a minute before I did. Great timing. He tried to talk them out of paying to go through the Baxter gate, but found out that Maine vehicles don't pay anyways. Three revelations that I have come up with so far about my trip. I couldn't have made it without my faith. I can't let myself be limited by labels.(See 6/4/05  ) The last was the journey was so awesome because of the people that you meet on the trail, not the walk itself. I will evaluate my gear in the near future and add more pictures. It has been a great journey and I hope you have enjoyed my adventure.
Date: 2005-09-01
To: Gear
Miles today: 0.0

Hiking Poles: I would never hike without them again. They saved me from so many falls I can't count. I would recommend Leki poles to anyone, because of their lifetime guarantee and services. Also they are found at all outfitters so parts are easier to get.Pack: I think the ULA pack is the best lightweight pack on the market today. I used the P1 but didn't try the P2.Tent: Homemade tarp tent. If you can sew it opens a vast new area to you for hiking. I made a lot of my gear, and saved money doing it.Footwear: Last year I wore boots. This year I wore New Balance sneakers. I will not go back. I twisted my ankles less, I carried less weight on my feet,(a lot less when both were wet), and I never had blister problems with sneakers. I used Seal Skinz socks in the snowy weather.Gaiters: I used homemade last year but found I didn't need them with sneakers.Stove: Homemade Alcohol Mountain Dew can. I found that they worked fine at 15* the supposed draw back to them. I used a pie plate cut into 4 pieces to go under the stove so it wouldn't burn the wood under it while cooking. I made a wind sceen out of flashing, that lasted longer than tinfoil and could be cleaned. The last month I went to no cooking, which I liked better in the hot weather.Cookwear: Titanium. The only way to go for me!Sleeping Bag: 40* LL Bean with a half fleece liner for the colder weather worked great for me, but I sleep warmer than most.Sleeping Pad: I finally had to go to an Insulate Air Matress to get the thickness so I could sleep without my hips hurting.Raingear: Homemade syl-nylon rain jacket and kilt.Hiking Guide: Although it had some errors, Wingfoot's The Thru-Hikers Handbook cut into sections worked great for me. Reading Trailjournals was the best prehiking guide there is!Food: I elected to buy food in towns instead of mail drops. It saved the hassle of trying to figure how much and were I would plan them. Most people that i met using them had to motify them with in weeks of starting. I tried to carry 5 days of food or less.Camera: Pentax Optio s5i. Great little camera that fits in an Altoid can for protection. (Don't read that Chief! He was always giving me grief for using the Altoids can) I should have got a second battery for a backup. I used a bounce box sending the recharger a head 2 weeks, that only run low when I waited 3 weeks one time. I had a 512 memory card and would copy the pictures to a disc when I got over a hundred. The pictures I would have made into 3X6 and use them as postcards.