morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-08-31
From: Hall Mountain Lean-to

To: Frye Notch Lean-to
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 163 - It was warmer last night and I slept well and was up at 6:45am. I had hung my tent and rain fly out to dry because of the moisture it had picked up from the previous night but with the high humidity and lack of a breeze they really did not dry. I was on the trail at 8:00am but I had to immediately stop and load up on water. Even though the day time temperatures are only reaching the low 70's I am still holding true to my water hydration, drinking 2 liters at a time. The trail was in a little better condition today, meaning it was still muddy, but not holding standing water. I only passed 3-4 NoBo (north bounders) today. I got to East B Hill road at noontime and sat down in the middle of the road to eat my lunch. This this one of the roads that leads into Andover, but much of it was washed away. I am hearing that Vermont really got drenched, up to 10-12 inches of rain from Irene. Since it is taking me longer than expected to get to Gorham, NH, I am running out of food. I have reservations for tomorrow in Bethel and will resupply there. I got to Frye Notch lean-to at 4:15pm and this was as far as I will go today as there are no reachable campsites south of here. There were 4 NoBo's there, one which I had met before, Milkman. I pitched my tent and ate supper at the lean-to. During our conversation I was explaining my ordeal in Dalesville with the dehydration problem and Milkman said he had found my EKG strip that the paramedics had done on me on the trail. Pretty funny as they had no idea what had happened or why there would be an EKG strip along the side of the trail. Due to Irene's rainfall the White Mountains were closed when they got there and had to be shuttled around them. Some of you will recall when I was back in Georgia/North Carolina that I detested the word "gap" because that meant a long climb down and then a hard, long climb out of the gap. Well, the trail folks in Maine, don't use the word "gap", they call these "notches". I have started hating to see anything with "notch" associated with it because I know what it means. I did manage to travel 10.5 miles today, bringing my total to 1,381.8, with 799.2 miles remaining. Yeah, inside 800 miles now!!
Date: 2011-09-02
From: Chapman Inn

To: North of Mahoosuc Notch
Miles today: 6.8

Day 165 - I was up at 6:45am, showered and repacked my pack. I had done laundry last night so everything was relatively dry. Fred, the proprietor of the Chapman Inn, had baked fresh, delicious Maine blueberry muffins. I followed that with two eggs, potatoes, and two blueberry pancakes. We loaded up the SUV, with Mark and me having to hold our packs on our laps. This was no inconvenience to me, getting a non-stop ride to the trail. We said our good byes and I was on the trail southbound at 9:35am. The immediate climb was up Old Speck Mountain at 2,524 feet in 3.4 miles. I just took my time and put one foot forward and tried not to slip. I passed a delightful lady, also a SoBo, by the name of Medicare Pastor. She is from Washington State, 70 years old, retired ELCA Lutheran minister and has had a knee replacement. But the remarkable thing is that she only lacks from Katahdin to North Adams, MA from having done the entire AT. Plus, she only lacks 80 miles from doing the entire PCT, Pacific Crest Trail. Along the way I passed several NoBo's and asked about Mahoosuc Notch. This has been in my background thoughts for several days now as it is supposedly the most difficult mile of the entire AT. I am being told it takes anywhere from 40 minutes to 3 hours to complete, I already know I will be more toward the three hour range. Additionally, everyone is talking about how difficult Mahoosuc Arm is, just north of the notch. I made it up Old Speck mountain okay, just took a long time. I stopped at Speck Pond and probably drank the best water I have had in Maine, a very nice spring. As I started to tackle Mahoosuc Arm, I found that the granite in this area had some bite to it and was not as slippery as I had encountered previously. That did not mean I did not slip, just that it was a controlled slip. I missed the camping area at which I wanted to stay as I approached the 'notch' but found a good place to pitch a tent around 5:10pm. Nitty and Gritty showed up around 6:45pm to camp too. I had not seen them in a week. Also after I was in my tent, Gardener showed up and well after dark Medicare Pastr arrived. Today was a beautiful day, again in the low 70's with blue sky. The weather forecast is not as promising, 30-40% chance of rain for the next 3 afternoons. I only covered 6.8 miles today but that was as far as I could go because I am up against the notch and would not begin to tackle that in the waning sunlight. My total mileage is 1,394.5 with 786.5 miles to go.
Date: 2011-09-03
From: North of Mahoosuc Notch

To: Carlos Col Shelter
Miles today: 7.2

Day 166 - I slept well, it was a little cool, and I woke up shivering at 4:00am. Iheard thunder at 6:25am and immediately got up and got my clothes off thetrees limbs and started breaking camp. I did not want to have to packin the rain or carry a wet tent and rain fly. So much for the forecast that I had heardyesterday. I did not take time to eat, so I was on the trail at 7:05am andimmediately stopped for water 10 minutes later. I caught up with Gardner andMedicare Pastor fairly quickly. Gardner is a paralegal from Michigan's UP.We arrived at the notch around 7:30am and the fun began immediately.Envision a "V" shape canyon, with 1,500 - 1,700 feet sidewalls, with heavytree canopy. There were boulders as large as buses that have fallen off the walls overthe years. Underneath the boulders there is running water, so one is not walking onsolid ground but across rocks. The pictures that will be posted later donot do the landscape justice because of the enormous rocks and steep sidewalls. Twice, we had to take our packs off and hand them through openings sowe could crawl between crevices. I fell twice on my back; luckily the tentand backpack absorbed the impact. Once, I had to brace myself against aboulder while Medicare Pastor used my backpack as a step up to the next rock.I took a wrong turn and actually had to slide head first down a smallincline. I was lucky, only a small scape on my right elbow. Medicare saidshe closed her eyes but I could not turn around to go back. With 40 poundson your back you are really off balance and it is hard to maneuver. We stoppedhalf way and had something to eat which I needed at that point. Finally, at12:45pm we exited the notch. I was so pleased that I was able to helpMedicare Pastor through this one mile stretch. With so many people thathave helped me along the way I was happy that I was able to help someone.Gardner and Medicare stopped to eat once we got out but I decided to push on.I arrived at Full Goose shelter at 2:30pm and stopped to have lunch.Nitty and Gritty were there and they were discussing what to do, pushon or stay there for the night. I decided I needed to push on. I wastired and sore but it was 3:00pm and I had 3.5 hours of sunlight left.I knew if I stayed there, I would get sore and stiff so I thought thewalk would help dissipate some of the soreness. My knees hurt alittle, but mostly my neck and shoulders. My intent was to get toCarlos Col shelter which was 3 or so miles away. I had to climb threeadditional mountains but arrived at the side trail to the shelter at7:08pm. It was a 0.3 mile hike down to the shelter and I arrived thereat 7:20pm, pretty much in the dark. The campsite had raised platformsto set up your tent. I decided to set up my tent because I would get abetter night's rest because there were 4 people in the shelteralready. I ate and needless to say, went to bed shortly thereafter.I only covered 7.2 miles today but got through the notch in one piece.My total is now 1,401.7 with 779.3 remaining.
Date: 2011-09-05
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Gorham, NH (Rt. 2)
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: fog

Day 168 - I slept okay, on my left side, during the night. There was awater fall only 100 feet from the shelter so it helped to muffle theshelter noise, in addition to the rain. There were 8 of us in theshelter for the night. I got up a little after 6:00am, since I had11.8 miles to cover to get to Gorham and I had no idea what the trailterrain would be like. Since it was raining, a few hikers who had tentcamp came into the shelter to eat breakfast so it was fairly crowed asI attempted to pack up. I was on the trail at 7:05am, southbound. Thetrail was a little sloppy but I made fairly good time, up to 1.6miles/hour. I passed the campsite that I had intended to use lastnight but it took me 3 hours to get there so I was glad I had decidedto stay in the shelter. I slipped and fell a few times and drew bloodfor the third straight day. This was an abrasion on my right hand, just scrapped the skin right off. My shins look like they wereattacked by a belt sander, every time I rub up against the graniterock it takes a piece of skin off. The worst fall was when I landed ona log that crossed the trail to divert the water. I was on my backbefore I knew it and hit my tail bone. Again, fortunately I was nothurt, just bruised, dirty and wet. I have pretty well destroyed myrain cover for my back pack during the past couple of days. It rainedoff and on all day and remained overcast the entire day. I did stop andhad a quick bite to eat for lunch but still made it to U.S. 2 at3:05pm. It took me about 15 minutes to get a ride into Gorham, 6 milesor so from the trail head. I got to the Royalty Inn, took a shower, rinsed my boots off in the tub, did laundry, ate and studied my NH/VTmaps to figure out my next steps. The next 4-5 days will be in theWhite Mountains and the Presidential Range. There are huts along the trailbut some of them are closing on September 10th so I have to figure outmy food and travel plans. Much of the trail will be above tree lineand this is supposed to be some of the most beautiful sections of theentire AT.I covered 11.8 miles today increasing my total to 1,418.7, with only762.3 miles remaining.
Date: 2011-09-06
From: Gorham, NH (Rt. 2)

To: Gorham, NH (Rt. 2)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Day 169 - I took a zero day in Gorham today, updating my journal and resupplying. I went to the library three different times, since they put a limit on how long one could stay on the computer. I also found an outfitter and was able to purchase a new backpack rain cover. I had pretty much destroyed mine, sliding down the granite rocks, particularly going through the "Notch". I went to the Post Office to mail my Maine maps home. I knew Wal-Mart was 3 miles or so toward Berlin, but while in the PO, I loudly asked the clerk how far it was. He responded 3 miles or so and I asked if there was a shuttle and he said yes, but it only ran every two hours or so. I thanked him and went outside and started hitching. A lady who was in the PO immediately picked me up, so my plan worked exactly as I had hoped or I should say another little prayer answered. She took me to the front door of Wal-Mart so I could buy groceries, since it was the only store in the area. On my third visit to the library, all two computers were being used. One was being used by a gentleman who immediately offered to let me use it. I noticed he had on an Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) shirt, so I asked him if he could help me. Through the White Mountains, the AMC operates huts, where hikers can spend the night, have dinner and breakfast. Even with all that I had read and been told, I was still uncertain how they operated so I asked him if he could help me. Bruce was most helpful and a wealth of information as he hikes quite a bit through the area. He gave me some good advice; we worked on the daily mileage possibilities since he was familiar with the terrain. I also asked him if he could confirm that the AT in Vermont was closed because of the devastating floods as a result of Irene dumping 10-13 inches of rain in the state. He said he would check for me. Then he said, how about a little trail magic and he offered to pick me up tomorrow morning at 7:00am to take me to the trail head. This was most helpful otherwise I would have to try to hitchhike and it was supposed to rain all day tomorrow. I offered to buy him breakfast and he accepted. I left there, ate a 14 inch pizza and went back to my room and repacked my pack and got ready to leave early in the morning.
Date: 2011-09-08
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Joe Dodge Lodge
Miles today: 6.2

Day 171 - I was glad to get up at 7:30am dry this morning, as it had been windy and rainy all night. The forecast for the day, from Mt. Washington's weather observatory, called for rain this morning but clearing the next couple of days. If this holds true, that might mean I will be able to have some nice views from the Presidentials as I hike through there. I had pumpkin pie, ham and pancakes for breakfast and then had to sweep the lodge floor, not a bad deal. My objective today was to get to Joe Dodge Lodge at AMC's visitor center at Pinkham Notch. I cannot go beyond that because I do not have enough time to get to Madison Spring hut and one is not allowed to camp above the tree line. Along my hike today, I met a lovely couple from New York, Carol and Ed; they were day hiking and also staying at Joe Dodge. I also saw Honey Bee and Biscuit today; I had not seen them since Virginia, so it was nice to catch up with them. It was a fairly easy day, it never did rain, but I was enshrouded in clouds all day. At Wildcat Ski Resort, I did take the gondola down and ate lunch. I am not eating very much of my own food with all these stops that I am making and I probably am carrying 4-5 days¢ supply, which equals eight to ten pounds. Not good. I got to Joe Dodge late in the afternoon and got a room with four bunks in it. I was the only one in the room, so that was good. I also met Brian, Andy and Peter and had dinner with them along with Carol and Ed. I only did 6.2 miles today, but going down Wildcat Mountain was a chore in itself. My total is now 1,440.1 and I have 740.9 miles left.
Date: 2011-09-11
From: Lake of the Clouds Hut

To: Crawford Notch AMC's Visitor Center
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: fog

Day 174 - Today is Sunday, September 11. I slept as well as could be expected but was awake at 5:00am and up at 6:00am. After helping to clear the tables, I had cold pancakes again and was on the trail at 8:30am. It was another nice, sunny day and I will be above tree line most of the day. It is not as windy today and Mt. Washington is completely hidden in the clouds this morning and will be for the entire day. I was pleased to have summited it yesterday versus today. I stopped at the Mizpah Hut for lunch, had 2 bowls of lentil soup. I arrived at Mt Jackson, 4,042 feet around 2:00pm. For the last ten years, to commemorate 9/11, U.S. flags have been raised on the 48 mountains in New Hampshire that have an elevation of 4,000 feet or greater. This has become quite an event and I was happy to witness it on one summit. By the way, this mountain is not named for President Jackson, but for one of New Hampshire's state geologist. I got into Crawford Notch AMC's visitor center around 5:00pm and decided I needed a shower and a mattress. This is a very nice lodge and quite enjoyable. I hiked 10.7 miles today, increasing my total to 1,466.1 miles and decreasing my miles to go to 714.9 miles.
Date: 2011-09-12
From: Crawford Notch AMC's Visitor Center

To: Campsite north of Twin Mountain
Miles today: 11.1

Day 175 - I was in bed at 9:00pm, ready to get a good night rest. At midnight I woke up sick and again at 2:00am. I was glad to have been in a room versus out in the woods somewhere. I think the lentil soup attacked me, so I took a few little pills. My feet have been a little swollen over the past few days because of dodging and landing on the small rocks but they appear better this morning. I ate a little breakfast, not wanting to do anything stupid and I was on U.S. 302 by 8:10am hitching a ride back to the trail head. A bridge on this road going east was washed out by the remnants of Irene so there is only local traffic and not much of that. Finally Chris, a state park employee, picked me up and took me to the trail head. He told me a lot about the park and local area during this 10 minute ride. He suggested that I take the 0.4 mile side trail and see Ripley Falls, which I did. I was on the trail at 8:30am, it was a beautiful day but very humid. For several miles today, the trail followed an old logging railroad bed, so the grade was nice. Around 10:30am, I saw Cog. I had not seen him since June 1, when the paramedics were working on me outside Daleville, VA. We talked for 20 minutes or so, he is thinking he is going to have to flip and go on to Katahdin before it closes. It was nice to see him. I think he is the last hiker I expect to see going northbound that I will know. I arrived at Zealand Falls Hut at 12:55pm, drank several liters of water and ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Water is starting to be an issue. There are not the numerous little springs or streams that I have become accustomed to and I can tell I am starting to dehydrate. Around 4:00pm, I am shot. I realize that it is probably because of me being sick at my stomach last night and not having enough water but I have no energy. I don't have many options; Guyot Shelter is too far away and is 0.7 miles off the trail. Galehead Hut is several miles away but I am tired of having to stay up until 9:30-10:00pm, washing dishes, and getting up at 6:00am. Since it is not supposed to rain, I ruled that option out and I don't think I could make it that far anyway. Even though the trail is not as rocky as I have experienced, I am still not making very good time. At 4:30pm, I spot a stealth campsite and I know it was intended for me. I stop and set up my tent, eat my own food that I have been carrying for a week and I am in my sleeping bag by 7:00pm. I estimated that I hiked 11.1 miles today, bringing my total to 1,477.2 with 703.8 remaining.
Date: 2011-09-13
From: Campsite north of Mount Lafayette

To: Campsite north of Mount Lafayette
Miles today: 10.0

Day 176 - I turned off my headlamp at 7:30pm and listened to the New England and Miami Monday night game for a while. The moon light was still very bright and I rolled up my rain fly because it got stuffy inside the tent. I was up by 6:45am and on the trail by 7:30am. I did not eat because I decided I could wait until Galehead Hut and eat and drink there. I only had a little over a liter of water and I was nursing it. On my way up Twin Mountain, I kept praying for and looking for some type of water source. My trail guide did not indicate anything until I got to the hut. I passed a couple going down the mountain and asked them if they recall seeing any water. They asked if I needed water and I said just a little would be great. The lady had loaded up her water bladder in her backpack that morning at the hut and they ended up giving me a full liter of water. I am not sure what I would have done without this trail magic. I thanked them and Him for this source and it was enough to get me to the hut. I arrived at the hut and drank over 2 liters of water while eating lunch. After leaving the hut, full of water, I hiked for several hours heading for Mt. Lafayette, all 5,260 feet of him. For whatever reason, it looked enormous from my vantage point. Around 3:00pm, I started to get concerned about my speed, remaining daylight and if I could get to the campsite on the other side of Mt. Lafayette before dark. Fortunately, I had passed a stream earlier and drank another 1.5 liters and reloaded my bottles. At 4:00pm, at the base of Mt. Lafayette, I sighted a stealth campsite. It was way too early to stop but I felt I had to because if I started up Mt. Lafayette I would have little or no options. So I stopped and set up my tent and ate dinner around 6:00pm. The wind had really picked up by this time and it was whipping my tent quite hard.Around 5:00pm a lady came through hiking north and asked how far Garfield Shelter was and I told her I thought it was 2-3 miles north. She was not happy with that answer because she was hiking with 3 other people and they all were behind her. Around 5:30pm, another lady showed up and she was even more discouraged with my answer on how far it was to Garfield. Both of these ladies were from Louisiana and were complaining about the terrain. The second lady said that a third lady was behind her and asked me if she showed up to suggest that she stay put and not attempt to go any further. I agreed to do that and around 6:30pm the third lady showed up with a man. I told them that their two friends were an hour in front of them but that they needed to stay here for the night since there was only 30 minutes of daylight left. They agreed and set up their tents in the same vicinity as mine. Based on my map and landmarks, I estimated that I had hiked 10 miles during the day. This brings my total to 1,487.2 and now decreases my remaining miles to 693.8 miles.
Date: 2011-09-14
From: Campsite north of Mount Lafayette

To: North Woodstock, NH
Miles today: 7.7

Day 177 - The wind blew hard all night up until 2:34am when it started raining. I immediately got up to get my clothes off the tree limbs. I found everything but my shorts and figured I would hunt for them later. I had used 12 ounces of water to cook my mac/cheese in last night so I again had to nurse the remaining water until I got to Liberty Spring campsite, about 4.5 miles away but on the other side of Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Lincoln and Little Haystack Mountain. It stopped raining at 4:00am but even with the wind the rain fly did not dry out. I was up at 6:30am, ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich inside my tent and was on the trail at 7:30am, after finding my shorts. I would allow myself 4 sips of water every hour, figuring that would last me until I got to the spring. After an hour, I was once again above tree line and would be there for 2-3 hours. The day was overcast then sunny then overcast again. Mt. Lafayette was not as bad as it had looked and I made fairly good time. I arrived at Liberty Spring campsite and immediately drank over 2 liters of water, directly from the spring. It tasted wonderful. I also ate lunch while I was there because I had a 3,000 feet descent over the next 3 miles to Franconia Notch. The descent was not as bad as I had envisioned; no Maine sheer granite boulders to climb down. I got down the mountain and read a sign that the bridge over the river had been washed out, so I decided to take the side trail and try to get to U.S. 3 so I could hitch hike into North Woodstock for the evening. This side trail emptied into a parking lot 0.9 miles later and I saw a gentleman next to a pickup truck. I approached him asked him the way to U.S. 3 and he told me it was right at the end of parking lot. While he was talking I noticed his U.S.M.C. stickers on his truck and I asked him if he was a Marine and I told him that my dad was full colonel. We introduced ourselves and Jake asked me if I needed a ride and then offered me an adult beverage and I accepted both immediately. He was an extremely nice guy, served in the 3rd Division in Vietnam. He is retired, lives in Massachusetts and comes over regularly and hikes in New Hampshire. He wants to do all 48 - 4,000 footers. He took me to my hotel, where I showered, gathered up my dirty clothes and walked to Lincoln, 2.5-3.0 miles away. I did my laundry, found a wonderful restaurant and had a 14oz. New York strip with a baked potato and salad bar. I called a taxi and went back to the hotel and had a pint of chocolate ice cream. It is amazing how 24 hours on the trail can be so different. I only did 7.7 miles today and will take a zero day tomorrow and rest my feet and update my journal. My total is now 1,494.9 and I have 686.1 miles remaining.