morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-06-30
From: Ore Hill Shelter

To: Glencliff
Miles today: 7.3

Today was a short, easy, muddy day. Got to the road about 10:45 and made it to the hostel by 11. My kind of day.Didn't sleep very well last night. My leg is killing me at night. Doesn't seem too bad during the day, but once I am laying down. Yawza. Great birding day today. Heard my first loons of the trip. Way too cool.Got a treat also. I heard an ovenbird and looked over to see if I could see him and just as I turned - an owl was flying by. I would have never seen or heard it had I not turned at that moment. Wonderful.Heard some vireos and lots of oven birds.In Glencliff at a hostel. Had my first outdoor shower of the trail. Nice hot water, but pretty chilly outside. It was pretty chilly last night, but I was nice and toasty in my bag.Doing laundry - waiting for the PO to reopen.I realized that I brought the wrong phone cord - at this point it is not an issue because there is no service so I haven't had my phone on. I will have the SQ send the cord to my next drop place.Gonna rethink the whites - might do some huts. More to follow.
Date: 2010-07-01
From: Kinsman Notch

To: Glencliff
Miles today: 9.5

Day 5 - "Welcome to the Whites"First change of plan after talking with POW & TLC - I decided to go ahead and slack today. The plan was to go south over Mt. Moosilauke with day packs instead of north with full gear.Us slackers were in bed by 8:15 in anticipation of getting up early to head out. We were up and on the road by 5:30. Headed to North Woodstock for breakfast at Peg's. Before we left the hostel we saw three fox outside the hostel. A mother and two kits. The babies were so cute. On the way over to N. Woodstock - the biggest bull moose that I have ever seen ran in front of us on the road. Luckily, Phatt Chap was paying attention. I have seen lots of moose and it was the biggest one I have seen and the rack on it was huge.We were at the trailhead and hiking by 7:10. The climb up was adjacent to a beautiful waterfall. It really was spectacular. The climb was rock and stone steps with steps cut out. Some bars to hold on to and even wooden steps drilled into the rock. Pretty amazing work by the trail people. Nothing like a killer climb to get the blood flowing. I was cold at the start, but within 10 minutes was sweating up a storm.We made it up to the summit and the difference in the weather was incredible. I guess it was getting me ready for the real mountains to come. It started to rain on the way up, but once we made the summit it was brutal. Raining, totally socked in, the wind was whipping. Pretty miserable and freezing. POW, TLC and I got some quick pictures and headed out of dodge. I could barely move my fingers. We finally had to stop and duck behind some rocks to put on our jackets. Coming down the south side was much easier. Easier being a relative term. It was longer and had lots of rocks, but it was a gradual down versus the other side. I was glad to be slacking either way.The last part of the trip we had to ford a river. It was my first true ford. Took our boots off and in we went. Take your breath away cold. Yawza.Back at the hostel. I was planning on stopping in Franconia Notch (North Woodstock), but decided I didn't want to have to hitch or worry about it. And, I also decided to stay at some huts going across. Not cheap, but worth not having to carry so much food. So, I had to resupply today for a few days that I will not get meals served to me. I resupplied today and should be good to go. The only bad thing is that had I thought about it sooner - I could have resupplied last night at the Wally World (walmart) when we went to town for dinner. But, instead I had to go to the metropolis of Warren to the Getty Station. Pretty slim pickings. But, it will do.Heard a great term today. Found out that the good people of NH refer to the masses of people from Mass that come to the whites as Massholes. Pretty funny. It beats what we call the tourists that come to the Berkshires - Tourons. Gotta love the local sayings.I found out today that TLC also finds money on the trail. So, I am not the only wierd one out here. I did find a penny.   So, the total is now up to 7 cents.This will probably be my last update for a while - maybe until Gorham, so wish me luck.
Date: 2010-07-02
From: Kinsman Notch

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 6 - "Welcome to the Tar Pits"Said goodbye to POW & TLC. Great People. I will miss hiking with them. I really enjoyed getting to know them. Made my first 5 days really enjoyable.Pretty strong hikers - incredible that they are both 66.Rags, Rafiki, and I headed out with Phatt Chap an hour later than we did yesterday. Rags and I were headed north and Rafiki headed south over Mooselauke.Ragis is pretty incredible, also. He is finishing his section hike. This is his 5th year out and he is 71 years old. Worked for 30+ years for a company that builds golf courses.Today was nicer than yesterday. Sunny, but breezy. Darn chilly if you stopped too long. Trail today was a short distance, but not easy. The mud was incredible. Kept sucking up my poles. And, every time I stepped in - I felt like my boot was going to get pulled off my foot. I feel like I know what it was like for the woolly mamoth getting pulled into the tar pits. Now, granted they are a little bit bigger than me, but the feeling is the same. Ran into a few day hikers and had a couple of thru-hikers blow by me. So, it's just Rags and I staying at the shelter tonight.We are next to a brook. Being that close to the water is great for ambience, but makes it cooler and damper in the shelter. Only had one good view today at an overlook. It was incredible. Don't know what I was loooking at, but it was nice.Tomorrow is going to be a doosy. Only 10 miles, but it will start with a killer climb and end with a killer climb. Can't wait.Lots of birds today. Saw a yellow rumped warlber, and a thrush. But heard some chickadees, nuthatches, and black throated blue warblers.I did see a baby white throated sparrow that I think fell out of her nest. The parents were hovering near by - trying to feed her. I was worried that somebody was going to step on it because it fell off a rock right onto smaller rocks on the trail. I had to fight the urge to pick it up and move it.My left knee is pretty sore tonight. Lots of overbending while climbing up and over rocks and crawling over them.No $ today.
Date: 2010-07-03
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Liberty Spring Tentsite
Miles today: 11.4

Day 7 - "1800 Miles"Rags and I were in our sleeping bags by 7:10. At 8:15 a mouse ran across my feet. I kicked it off and up the side of the shelter it ran - right by my head. Yuk. I got up and moved my bedding over a foot or so to get even further away from the wall.Today was probably the toughest day I have ever had on the entire AT. It was unbelievably difficult, yet very beautiful. It was how I would imagine the Garden of Eden would look if it were in the north east. The color of the forest was incredible. Water falls and dark green moss covering everything. But, the 2 miles up to the summit of South Kinsman was so far the most challenging I have ever done. I hurt my bad shoulder right out of the gate. It was jumbo rock scrambles and pulling myself up on flat rock faces. By the end of the day my left knee and right shoulder were screaming. I was really impressed by Rags. He commented that had he just come out and done this section before he did any other portion of the trail - he would have never started his hike.I have to say that I agree. We reached the 1800 mile mark on the summit of South Kinsman Mtn. Hard to believe. Wooo Hooo.Coming down the North side was tough too, but different. It was more granite slabs that you had to get down.Stopped at my first hutin the Whites - Lonesome Lake. I got a bowl of soup, a slice of pie, and lemonade for $4. The pie was excellent.The rest of the day was long. As I suspected the climb at the end was tiring. On fresh legs - probably not so bad, but I was exhausted. I am tenting at Liberty Spring Tentsite. Pretty crowded with day and weekend hikers. So, crowded that I didn't get a platform. I ended up on just a piece of ground which is ok because I am not sure how I would stake my tent on a platform. I have set up my tent without the fly because it looks to be a gorgeous night.The caretaker put a couple next to me from NYC. Don't think they have ever camped before. He had to help them set up their tent. Pretty funny.The sun is setting and it is a beautiful night.On to my first hut tomorrow.
Date: 2010-07-04
From: Liberty Spring Tentsite

To: Gale Head Hut
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: few clouds

Rags and I parted company yesterday. He went into town while I climbed Liberty Mtn. The night was beautiful and it was great having the fly off my tent. I could see the stars even though they were blurry without my contacts.Another fun, tough day on the trail. It was poetic that I climbed up Mt. Lafayette today.I left Liberty Tentsite at 6 and finished the climb up Mt. Liberty. Climbed 4 mountains by 12:30. Little Haystack (4760), Mt Lincoln (5089), Mt. Lafayette (5249), and Mt. Garfield (4488).The first 3 were above treeline - meaning alpine zone. The views were outstanding. I put my hat on because it was cold and windy. The wind on Lafayette was incredible. At some points it was blowing me over.Lots of bouldering today, but not as bad as yesterday. I am averaging a little over 1 mile and hour. Pretty pathetic.Decided it was better to just let gravity pull me down the granite faces. Can't think about it - just have to let go.I had a lot of day hikers and trail runners blow by me.At Galehead hut tonight. One section hiker who is going hut to hut. She has to be in her 70's. Pretty cool.Lots of weekenders. Looking forward to dinner.
Date: 2010-07-05
From: Gale Head Hut

To: Zealand Falls Hut
Miles today: 7.0

Day 9 - "Good Luck Garage Man and Pound Hound".Dinner was excellent last night. Cream of turkey soup, salad, stuffed shells, and homemade bread. Lots of weekenders and an older woman who is trying to finish the trail. She is from Mississippi and she was up doing the AT with her daughter. They finish tomorrow and then she goes home for 2 weeks and she will be back to finish Maine. She had to be 75.I waited to have the breakfast and hit the trail around 7:20. Breakfast was not as good as dinner, but still pretty good.Today was a pretty easy day. Shorter than my original plan - I hope I don't regret it. It will make tomorrow a longer day to get to Mizpah hut.Had a climb right out of the gate up South Twin Mtn (4902). But the rest of the day was pretty good. Lots of boulders, but no scrambling.Zealand hut is right next to Zealand Falls. It is a wonderful place to stop on a hot day. I am out at the falls sitting in the water. Spectacular view, plus I am cooling off.Seen lots of birds today - junco, white throated, nuthatches, and a real treat. I saw my first grouse. Came up on it right on the trail. Followed it a little while before it jetted off into the woods. Way too cool.Garage Man and Pond Hound should be hitting the trail today at Pinkham. Good luck guys.In case you are wondering - I stink. Can't wait for dinner again.The bunk was pretty comfy, but it had wool blankets. I felt like I was back in the Army. Itchy.The croo at Galehead were nice. Seems like a hard job. They have to go twice a week down a 4.8 mile trail and carry back perishable supplies on some kind of 10 lb wodden contraption called the RACK. Plus, they have to clean the crapper every other day.The croo master teaches at the Darrow School over the mountain from home. Small world. Starts the presidentials tomorrow.
Date: 2010-07-06
From: Zealand Falls Hut

To: Mizpah Hut
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: fog

Day 6 - "Spiderann, Spiderann, she can do everything a spider can".4 Southbounders came to the hut last night and did work for stay. Two washed dishes and two talked about their hike. It was cool that the croo let all 4 of them stay. Doesn't happen very often.Hit the trail by 7:30 - did the first 7.7 miles by 11 am. The trail was great. And old horse trail. Relatively flat and not a lot of rocks.The next part of the trail kicked my ass. As you come out of Crawford Notch it gradually begins to go up in elevation. At first, I thought - hey this is not too bad. Maybe the SQ could get to this hut. NOT.Changed in a heart beat. Don't know if it was the heat or what, but I was dead. I had to keep stopping to rest. I can't even explain how tired I was. It didn't help that I didn't sleep well because it was so hot and stuffy last night.Plus, I had to do a lot of climbing up rock face. I felt like a spider - albeit without the ability to shoot a web to try to pull myself up.I began to climb into the Presidentials. Up Webster (3910) and then up Mt. Jackson (4052).My left knee is swollen and realy hurts. I feel worse than I have all week. And, the worse part is that the melted boot sole is starting to pull away from the boot. I could kick myself in the ass. I have ducked taped it. I called the SQ to mail my old boots to Gorham.I saw a few snakes, toad, and frogs today. Because I came down in elevation I also heard oven birds and black throated blue warblers. As I climbed over Mt. Jackson I saw a yellow rumped warbler.I also saw the coolest thing. I was thinking about how wierd it is that I have not seen any birds of prey flying around these mountains. Once I was at the top of Mt. Webster - I saw a raven (while not a bird of prey - a large bird) just floating on the thermals. Just hanging there - not moving. Like magic. By the time I got my camera out - he went down to low.The hut is bigger than the others I have stayed in. And, filled with kids. Different crowd of people.Tomorrow is the big day - up Mt. Washington. I am trying to get into Madison Hut - 11.8 miles.The weather is calling for rain, but it was called for today and didn't rain. We'll see. Wish me luck.
Date: 2010-07-07
From: Mizpah Hut

To: Madison Hut
Miles today: 11.8

Day 11 - "Wunderbar".Got a later start than normal because I was waiting for the hut master to radio down to Madison to see about getting in. He told me to go ahead and leave and to stop at the next hut (Lake of the Clouds) when I go by.Met a nice family from Concord that were staying at a couple of huts. The woman was an environmental engineer who had done some work at GE back in the early days of the PCB issue. Small world.The hike to Lakes wasn't bad. A steep climb up Mt. Pierce (aka Clinton) and then it was just a rocky path. Made it to the hut in less than 3 hours. Inquired about room at Madison. No Go. Bummer. Deal with that later.Off to the summit. I could not have asked for a better day. It was hot, the sun was out, and barely a breeze. The final climb up was rockier than what I had been doing, but was very doable. No wind, no rain - perfect.Passed one of the croo from lakes coming down from the summit with her load of supplies. Incredible how they do it.Made it to the summit by 11:30. It was packed with people. Kinda crazy. I stopped and ate an overpriced sandwich, but it was pleasant.Got back on the trail by 12:45 - boy was it hot. I think the back of my neck is burned.I felt better today, but by the end of the day my feet and knees are done.I made it to Madison Hut and figured I would ask about staying. All they could say was no. And, then I would move on to camp.They said I could stay - just have to do work after the guest have eaten. Way cool. Get to do 2 hours of work - like clean the oven - and will be able to eat and sleep for free. I can handle it.The place is one of the smaller huts and is filled. But, at least I will be dry if it rains. On to Pinkam Notch tomorrow.
Date: 2010-07-09
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Imp Campsite
Miles today: 13.1

Day 13 - "Mother and Child Reunion".I don't even know where to begin to describe today. One of those days that make you believe in a higher power. Climbed 5 wildcat mountains, climbed Carter Dome, Mt Hight, and 3 different smaller Carter Mountains. My body was screaming. So many boulders that both knees were killing me. My left foot is killing me - the bone issue, plus my pinky toe is killing me. Not a blister, just the nail.It took me from 7:10 am to 7:40 pm to hike the 13 miles. Pretty much none stop. I sometimes don't know why I am doing this. I haved decided that the downs are what really do me in. The ups are hard - especially the straight up vertical, but I can bully my way up. The downs are a different matter. The rocks are so far apart that I really have to bend my knees to reach with the lower leg. Most of the time, I have to put all my weight on the poles and hope that they don't give out or slip. But the worst part is the granite shear rocks. The ones at 35 degrees are bad enough, some times I end up sliding down on my butt. But it is the shear verticals that scare me to death. I can't stop and think about it or I would still be crying trying to figure out how I would get down. But, then you realize why you are doing it and you realize that there has to be a God. I passed a few people first thing in the morning, but then I didn't see anybody for the rest of the day. It was me reaching these summits and standing there in amazement at the sheer beauty. Mountains and trees for miles and miles - 360 degrees. And, you say to yourself this is so special that you have to pay a price to see it and to be able to enjoy it.Plus, I saw some wonderful wildlife. Within the first mile from Pinkham I saw a mother and her calf in a pond. My first on the trail. A real treat.And near the end of the day - I came up upon a mother spruce goose and 4 chicks. I followed the mother up the trail. The babies were just so cute.And, I finally made it to the shelter - and Garage Man and Pound Hound are here. Life is painful, but good.
Date: 2010-07-10
From: Imp Campsite

To: Gorham
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Day 14 - "Happy Birthday Mom"We were all up and on the trail by 6 and it started the pour.The trail was one big mud hole. My boots were soaked in 15 minutes. A cold rain.The rocks were slick and we had to go up and down a lot. Crossed a few rivers, but the last few miles were easy.Got to town and my own personal trail magic happened.My family (Linda & Dee) came up from Peabody to meet me. SWEAT.Got a nice motel room. Did laundry, got supplies. And, have rested all day.Back on the trail with the Pound Hound, Garage Man, and White Paws.We will be in Maine in a couple of days.Today would have been my mother's 70's birthday.
Date: 2010-07-11
From: Gorham

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

Day 15 - "Under 300 miles".My personal trail angels (Linda, Dee, Casper) were great. I am forever in their debt. Got to the trail head and my angel team drove up the road with my pack as I walked. Got to the next trail head and the Pound Hound said she was leaving. Bummer!The team gave her a ride back to Gorham. Don't know what her plans are. Garage Man, White Paws, and I headed out.Today was a much better day on the old body. The trail was mostly path withrocks. Much easier on my knees. We did climb, but no real scrambling. Good day. Plus we are at the 286 mile mark. WOW - getting closer.At the shelter and tentsite tonight it is packed. About 8 boys and counselors from a boys camp and 11 girls and counselors from agirls camp. Good to see the girls out here. Best news is that they are going only 5 miles tomorrow so we should get away from them.Garage Man and White Paws are tenting. Moose is here - met him 2 days ago coming out of Pinkham. He is from Mass too. Plus a grandfather and grandson - Pappy and Appy. This is their 5th section (5 years) and they are going to the Big K.Another day awaits.
Date: 2010-07-12
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: light rain

Day 16 - "Thirteen down".Gentian Pond shelter to Full Goose shelter (9.6)The day started out great. It was a beautiful clear day, sun was out, nice breeze. Perfect. The forest was so thick you could barely see 10 feet in. The morning went pretty fast. We had a long climb up Mt. Success.Next stop was the state line. Good going until we got close. The trail turned into a giant boulder farm. My first thought was that the Mainer's are trying to keep everyone out. It was tough.Got to the state line. Hard to believe that I have hiked through 13 states. Crazy!The rest of the day went down hill. Got caught in a thunderstorm while we were on one of the many summits we crossed.We climbed up and down multiple peaks. I can't even describe what it took to get it done. Boulder scrambling, cliff climbing, pack on, pack off. You would need to film it for people to truly understand. At one point coming down the side of a mountain it was all wooden planks build into the side. Something you would see in an Indiana Jones movie. We only went 9.6 miles, but it took us from 6am to 5:30pm. Bogs and mud galore. Appy fell in and went up to his waist. Poor kid, but he was laughing about it so that is good.I guess it is the state of Maine saying - "I am king and don't you forget it".A girls camp from Montreal is here tenting. Lots of french being spoke. SQ too bad you aren't here to translate for me since you speak it so well. Moose claims to have been chased by a mother grouse. He chucked a rock at it. I thought he meant he did it to scare it. He killed it - Pappy confirmed seeing it dead on the trail. Moron.Tomorrow we have the Mahoosuc notch.
Date: 2010-07-13
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Speck Pond Shelter
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: broken clouds

Day 17 - "Hardest mile on the AT".Gentian Pond Shelter to Speck Pond Shelter (5.1)We arrived at the Notch and started hiking it by 8:10. Don't even know where to begin to describe it. Heading into the first section you could feel the temperature difference. It was like walking into a walk-in freezer. And then the fun began. 1.1 miles of climbing over, under, and around giant boulders. There is still snow down in the crevasses. We ran into 4 sobos who went down into a crevasses and got snow and made a little snowman.The notch was like going through some kind of killer confidence building course. The front of my legs are so bruised it looks like I have been beaten. We had to hand poles off, and hand our packs off to each other multiple times. The monkey ate a lot of granite today. Most of the paint has chipped off my poles. It took us 3 hours with a couple of breaks to get thru. I think if I wasn't with the guys it would have taken me significantly longer. The bottom of my pack has a hole now from scraping and sliding on the rocks. Garage Man's pants split right down the middle. He sewed them up with dental floss once we made camp. Both of White Paws back pockets tore off. Wow. I think I might like to do it again without my pack. Just as a day hike. It was fun, but exhausting.From there is was another 2.5 miles to the shelter. We climbed up 1 mile with an elevation gain of over 1000 ft. It was like walking up a monstrous granite sidewalk. All in all an incredible, but exhausting day.Hiking with the guys is working out great. White Paws leads the way, followed by me, and then the Garage Man.We passed lots of sobos today. Probably close to 15.My camp canteen has sprung a leak. Real bummer. I have to lay it on it's side so the water doesn't leak out. I called the SQ and left a message to put my old one in the next drop.Money update - 44 cents. Not enough people hiking up here to lose change. I might have to resort to pick pocketing. No exciting birds, but it is hard to pay attention when you are concentrating on not falling.Each day is harder than the day before.