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

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: light rain

8/20/2004 Gather & SlimerWake up early, eat and pack up. Real overcast and foggy , but no rain this morning. We know it¢s coming from the looks of the sky. I leave before Gather, we just can¢t ever seem to be ready at the same time.Climb Glastenbury Mt (3,748 ft) getting wilder and rougher by the day. Cross South Alder Brook, wish I had my fishing pole. Pass on by a couple of shelters. Not much to report except the mud. It¢s a real quagmire on the trail, will suck your shoes right off your feet. Shoes get loaded up so bad with mud you can hardly pick them up, have to stop and clean them off often.Climb Stratton mountain (3,936 ft) very brutal climb. Get to top and there is a care taker and his wife living there. Also a big fire tower. The caretaker tells me about the White mountains. He says they are very vicious and dangerous. Now he¢s making us feel really good. But not to worry he says, the good part is there are many little huts along the way for shelter.Hiking Bear and I go up in the tower, I look out the window and say to him, ¢see the town off in the distance?¢ He says I don¢t see anything. I feel bad and apologize, he says not to worry. ( I forgot Hiking Bear doesn¢t see too well)We make it on to Stratton Pond Shelter stomping through the mud. Gather slips on some rocks and takes a nasty tumble. Cut and scratched up his elbow pretty good. It¢s raining and cold, very cold.Get to the shelter, eat and turn in ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦..Gather & SlimerGoddard Shelter to ¢ Stratton Pond Shelter 19.4 miles
Date: 2004-08-21
From: Dalton MA

To: Manchester Center VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Transcribers note: Gather & Slimer have made it to Manchester Center VT, they called in at 7:pm tonight. They were in the cold rain last several days and need a chance to clean up and dry .. They will back tonight 8-21-04, then we will give you folks an update ...
Date: 2004-08-22
From: Manchester Center VT

To: Manchester Center VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

8/22/2004 Gather & SlimerWe both sleep late, feels good in a warm dry bed. We go out and eat, then to re-supply. I go one way, Gather goes the other way.I go to the outfitters and buy a new pair of hiking shoes. They had the kind I wanted but not the size. I settled on another brand, hope they work out. The ones I had were destroyed by the PA rocks. Pitiful looking things, sides all blown out, looked like they had been used for skeet practice.I then go to Price Chopper Super Market, Gather is there re-supplying. He says he is going to head back out on the trail today. I¢m going to stay here and get my gear back in order.We both go back to the outfitters and buy a few things, then off to eat again. We call home again. Freckles our dog who has cancer in her throat is doing ok, we all love that dog.We tell mom and dad we need our winter gear shipped to Hanover New Hampshire to the post office there. They will hold things for thru-hikers if marked as such. We tell them it must be there by next Saturday August 28th. The A/T trail runs right through the middle of Hanover. Mom and dad will also send goodies, Oh Yeah!!!We go eat again, seems we eat every two hours!! Gather says he is heading out on the trail. Today is a beautiful sunny day, and tomorrow they¢re calling for rain!!Back when we were in Dalton MA with Rob Bird at the Bird house I learned that Mr. Rob Bird plays rhythm guitar in a rock band ¢Just N Kace¢ pretty good band I hear. Their drummer is a lawyer in Dalton. Rob Bird if you are reading this, Gather and I want to thank you again for all the fine hospitality you afforded us, especially the birthday cake you bought for Gather. ¢THANK YOU ROB BIRD¢Mom and dad told us about the latest articles in the Denton Orator about our hike. Thank you Toni Ayers for writing about us out here on the trail. If anyone wants to take a peek at it, the link¢s are below, also we would like to thank all who signed our guest book.Toni, after what you said in my guest book about comparing all the physical and mental anguish on the trail to child birth, I have almost stopped complaining!!   http://www.dentonorator.comhttp://www.dentonorator.com/_wsn/page8.html   (Direct Link)Got a few more things to do then I¢ll turn in for the night, next time we call in will be Hanover New Hampshire next week, another state will be behind us!!Gather & Slimer1,636.3 miles behind us ........ 537.8 to the big "K"
Date: 2004-08-23
From: Manchester Center VT

To: Manchester Center VT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Gather and Slimer have requested we send their winter gear ahead of them to Hanover NH. They are planning to be there next Saturday August 28th to pick it up at the USPS.Jorma: (Slimer)1 Turtle Fur cap1 Polartex fleece jacket1 Green Gloves, fleece water proof1 Top and Bottom fleece underwear2 pair socks2 Heavy black trash bagsFood for Jorma (Slimer)6 Honey Buns1 box Granola Bars apple Cin1 box Nutri-Gran apple cin3 Lipton Chicken & Rice3 Beef Stroganoff1 beef jerky2 ApplesAdam1 Wool gloves1 Pull over fleece jacket1 Fleece vest1 Rain pants1 Fleece cap1 Top and bottom thermal underwear1 Columbia Jacket (brownish looking)FOOD For Adam (Gather)Mom will know what to get !!Send all to:U.S.P.SHanover NH 03755Attn: Hold for Thru-Hiker (Name)Estimated ETA August 28, 2004
Date: 2004-08-27
From: Killington VT

To: Hanover NH
Miles today: 46.1
Weather: clear sky

8/27/2004Gather (Adam Hale) Made it to Hanover New Hampshire 8/27/2004 @ 7:00 PMGot in Hanover, missed the soccer field where we are supposed to camp somehow. Picked a flat spot and pitched my tent in the dark. Wipe-Out is still behind me somewhere. Haven¢t run into the Slimer, thought he would have caught up by now.Saw a bunch of raccoons in a tree yesterday, stopped to take a picture. Heard something, and in the bushes beside me was a raccoon growling and hissing at me, no pictures, on up the trail I go.I¢m worn out, going to bed ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦.
Date: 2004-08-29
From: Hanover NH

To: Hanover NH
Miles today: 0.0

8/28/2004Slimer & Gather:Slimer called in from Glencliff NH 8/31/2004, from a pay phone @ 11:56 am. From Hanover NH to Glencliff NH I have knocked down 43.4 miles in 2 12 days, that¢s 17.3 miles per day average.We all decided to stay over Saturday night in Hanover NH. Gather, Night-Ryder, Kip and myself. The big problem we have is where to sleep. No motels or hostels in this town and a couple of us have no tents.Kip even tried to con some of the students into letting us stay with them, no deal. Those kids didn¢t want anything to do with us, can¢t say as I blame them.Security people are all over the place, and they have their eye on us. They know we are looking for a place to sleep tonight.We all four did find a place to sleep, nice warm and dry. But we won¢t tell how or where where we stayed to protect the innocent.Good nights sleep for a change ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦
Date: 2004-08-30
From: Hanover NH

To: Glencliff NH
Miles today: 0.0

8/29/2004Slimer & Gather:Sunday morning we all wake, Night-Ryder, Kip, Gather and Myself. We pack up go eat and hit the trail. Hot day, packs are very heavy, not sure I can handle all this added weight! Must be close to 45 lbs and my Go-Lite pack is only rated for 35 lbs. I am going to have to get rid of some of this gear, but what do I get rid of? That¢s a very hard decision as I need all of it. This weight is a big problem. I¢m not sure my shoes will hold out to Glencliff or my knee¢s.Mid-day big storm rolls in, rain, gets cold. From hot to rain to cold! Trail starts getting muddy. We all soon get separated as we have different hiking speeds.Get into Moose Mountain Shelter. Paparazzi is there, I take a break set and talk to him a while. I move on too much light left. I¢m shooting for Trapper John Shelter 6.6 miles up the trail. Gather is back at the Velvet Rocks Shelter. His knee is giving him trouble, he decides to take it easy. The extra weight is causing all this.Very rugged steep up¢s and down¢s through here. I take this as a wake up call for the White¢s. I will never make it with this much weight.Make it to Trapper John Shelter after dark. Completely worn out! Feet hurt like hell. Wish I could get my hands on the guy who sold me these shoes! He told me how great and durable they were, HA! Hang my stuff up to dry, cook, eat and go to bed. It rained all during the night, hard to sleep thinking about the muddy trail that waits me in the morning.Finally get to sleep ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦.
Date: 2004-08-31
From: Hanover NH

To: Glencliff NH
Miles today: 0.0

8/30/2004SlimerWake early, eat pack and hit the trail. I hope to make it close to Glencliff today so I can get there early in the morning. I cannot go much further in these (%^$#) shoes! I have them held together with duct tape. Duct tape has got to be the most wonderful invention of all, we use it for everything.Heat and humidity is terrible, like being in a steam bath! Freeze one day and burn up the next. Drinking water like crazy.Meet some south-bounders. They all have blank stares on their faces and just mumble as they passed. That alone tells me I¢m getting into some rough stuff ahead real quick.This is very hard climbing with this heavy pack. I¢m thinking I¢m not going to make it. Halfway up the mountain I stop, cannot go any further. Set down and gasp for air. I ask myself again, ¢What in the hell am I doing here!¢I am out of water! I cannot make it through here without water! A day hiker comes along and shares his water with me. He tells me where I can get more up the trail. He also tells me the trail gets much worse further on. That¢s what I didn¢t want to hear!!I¢m thinking it would be so easy to just get off at the next trail head and catch a bus home. Then I get to thinking how far I¢ve come, Rob Bird wanting the summit photo. All the people back home, there are so many pulling for Gather and I all over the nation.I get my butt up off the log and start digging north again. I will make it, nothing is going to stop me!!Then I look down at my miserable feet. One toe nail on my big toe has fallen off, blisters on my heel, shoe¢s held together with duct tape! Ok, just a little in- convenience, I head north!!Before I started this hike I read countless journals on-line and it seems all those people were really having a ball hiking the A/T, and how easy they made it sound. Evidently I¢m missing something! Either that or I got on the wrong trail by mistake. This is not easy!! Get to top of mountain. Soaking wet with sweat, big cool breeze up here. I take my shirt off and hang it on a bush to dry, bugs not bad because of the breeze.Head down the mountain. This is rougher than climbing up. Feel like my knee¢s are going to blow out. Very slick and rocky, I have to be careful. I also have to make it to the next shelter today.Get to Ore Hill Shelter. This will put me within striking distance of Glencliff NH. A few day hikers and others are here. Cook, eat and go to bed. ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦.
Date: 2004-09-04
From: Glencliff

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 25.8

09/02/2004GatherGather called from North Woodstock NH 9/5/2004 @ 1051 am.I left Glencliff NH 9/2/2004 hiking with Night-Ryder and Kip. Baltimore Jack was being nice when he said Mt. Moosilauke would get our attention, fact of the matter is it got all of our attention.I have got to get rid of some weight. Been thinking what I could get rid of? I sent my long thermal top and bottom back home from Glencliff. I know I¢ll regret it for sure. Dad has a Brass-Lite alcohol stove at home as a spare, it only weighs 1.2 oz. Think I will have him ship it to me. I can get rid of a lb by sending the one I¢m using and switch out with the Brass-Lite.Also Kurt at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Greensboro NC e-mailed dad and said he had just got in a 6X8 ft ultra-lite tarp that only weighs 9 oz. The tarp is designed to be rigged up as a tent. I could save a 1 12 lbs right there by sending my tent home. That¢s what¢s going through my mind as I struggle and crawl up Mt. Moosilauke pushing my pack and poles ahead of me.Takes about 5 or 6 hours to get to the top. Once we topped out the cold breeze felt great at first. Then it felt down right cold. This is my first time above tree line, awesome views from up here. Met some hikers coming up the other side, they looked like they had been through the wringer just like us. It¢s hard to believe, but it¢s harder going down steep mountains than coming up. Now we have something to really look forward to.After we rest a bit we start down the mountain. In places there were wooden cross tie steps three feet apart, other places reed bar was cemented in the rocks in places. Beautiful water falls paralleled the trail. My pack is heavy, knee is hurting me. I have to take it easy or I won¢t make it, come too far for that.Get to Beaver Brook Shelter, completely worn out, will call it a day here ¢¦¢¦Glencliff NH ¢ to ¢ Beaver Brook Shelter 7.9 miles worst day yet in miles
Date: 2004-09-05
To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: overcast clouds

09/03/2004GatherLeave Beaver Brook Shelter (3,650 ft) head on out. Rough going all the way. Cross Kinsman Notch (1,812 ft).Climb Mt. Wolf (3,478 ft) knee still hurting. Got to figure out how to get rid of some weight. Not meeting many people. Slimer, Wipe-Out and Paparazzi are out ahead of me now. That¢s ok, I¢ll go at my own speed.Make it to Eliza Brook Shelter, call it a day here..Beaver Brook Shelter ¢ to ¢ Eliza Brook shelter 9.1 miles09/03/2004SlimerWake up, good sleep last night. Kind of nippy this morning. Eat some bagel¢s, pack up and get moving. Blisters from the old shoes are giving me a problem. Been putting mole skin and duct tape on them. Knee hurts some.Cross Mt. Lafayette (5,249 ft) butt is dragging when I top out. Take a break at the Green Leaf Hut. There are huts through here maintained by the A.M.C. (Appalachian Mountain Club) $70 to $90 a night to stay. Some of them are huge, sleep 60 to 70 people. Most of the food is flown in by helicopter , and also back packed in. No roads to most of them. Guess that¢s why it costs so much. Some of them will let you work for stay I¢ve heard.Move on, too much daylight left. Go across Mt. Garfield (4,488 ft) as Carp would say ¢This Bloody (****) is getting old¢!! Pass Garfield Ridge Campsite. Make it to Galehead Hut. Inquire about a work for stay. I¢m accepted, they only take two people a night for work for stay. I get to wash dishes and eat the leftovers. No problem, food was great.Turn in to get some rest, at least I won¢t have to worry about getting rained on tonight.09/04/2004SlimerPack up, eat PANCAKES for breakfast, makes me think of Gather. Hit the trail heading north. Wind is howling, quite cold it is with shorts on. Times like this makes you wish you had some insulated clothing.Talk about some awesome views, I have never in my life seen anything like this, beautiful is the word. Walking above the clouds for miles above tree line.Climb North Twin Spur (4,902 ft) keep digging. Climb Mt. Guyot (4,560 ft). Come to Zealand Falls Hut. Take a break here. Lots of hikers here, mostly day hikers and section hikers.Keep pushing, make it to Ethan Pond Campsite, call it a day. I will sleep under the stars again tonight. Cook, eat and go to bed.09/05/2004Slimer
Date: 2004-09-07
From: North Woodstock NH

To: North Woodstock NH
Miles today: 0.0

09/07/2004SlimerWake up, eat and pack. It¢s 9am, I go out to catch the shuttle as I don¢t want to miss it. I don¢t see the shuttle bus? I ask at the front desk, lady says it¢s already gone!! Said the schedule was twice a day, 8:30 and 12:30.I cannot believe I got the time mixed up! Not to worry, lots of cars in the parking lot, I¢ll catch a ride with one of them.No one driving up to the top! I learn they charge each vehicle $25.00 to go up, then they charge to park! So everyone either takes the shuttle or hikes up there. Very brutal vicious climb they tell me, takes 4 hours or more.I call dad at work and tell him I have screwed up again. Only thing to do is hope I can get a ride to the top or wait on the shuttle bus.To be continued ¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦.
Date: 2004-09-09
From: North Woodstock

To: Mount Washington
Miles today: 0.0

09/09/2004GatherWake up to a full force storm this morning, howling winds, rain coming sideways. I don¢t think anyone could live out there. We are at 5,000 ft and it¢s cold! Wonderful hot breakfast here. We inquire about work for stay again, again we¢re accepted, not many people here.Wash dishes, sweep and do a few other things. We are hoping this weather breaks so we can head north again. Rain is supposed to let up some in the morning as the tail end of Frances comes through.We have lunch here, man I could get used to this. We just lay around, goof off and enjoy this while we can. This is a big hut, sleeps 90 people coed style. Link below shows the hut and map; http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/huts/huts-lakes.cfmhttp://www.outdoors.org/lodging/huts/huts-map.cfmElectricity comes from solar and wind power. Food is dropped in by helicopter and back packed in. Not sure how the people who work here get to work ? I¢ll have to ask that question.We turn in, nice warm and cozy, wonder how the Slimer is doing? They have PANCAKES in the morning!Lake of the Clouds Hut ¢ ZERO day09/09/2004SlimerWake, eat breakfast. I have to stay until about 10 am to work for stay. Wash dishes and sweep. Hit the trail in the pouring rain, wind not as bad as yesterday. I¢m sloshing along in this mess thinking of Gather, I know he¢s out there somewhere, and I know he¢s miserable just like I am.Cross Wildcat Mountain (4,380 ft) rough going. Pass by Pinkham Notch Nh-16, keep digging.Finally make it to Carter Notch Hut! I¢m completely soaked, and cold. I inquire about a work for stay and am accepted again, how lucky can you be. These Hut¢s charge between $70.00 and $80.00 per night and I get to stay free again, well kinda.It¢s not time for dinner yet, but they have some left over¢s they give me, sure does taste good . Nice warm and cozy here, I could get used to this.Gray Panter and Blue comes in, they pay for their stay. That means they will get to leave out early in the morning. I will get to work for my stay in the morning, that¢s ok.Gray Panter is one of the nicest people you will ever meet, he looks like he¢s in his sixties and teaches snow boarding! Blue is very nice too, she¢s a lawyer in NYC.We eat dinner and go to bed.Pinkham Notch Camp ¢ to ¢ Carter Notch Hut ¢ 5.9 Miserable miles
Date: 2004-09-11
From: Osgood Tent Site

To: Wildcat Mountain Peak "A"
Miles today: 9.8

09/11/2004GatherWake up, weather has lifted, looks like it¢s trying to clear off some. Eat and pack up, trail is slick and muddy. Knee is getting better, still trying to go easy on it. Kip, Night-Ryder and I go by the West Branch, Peabody River 2.300 ft.We pass by Lowe¢s Bald Spot 2,860 ft, keep pushing north. Our goal today is Wildcat Mountain, Peak ¢A¢. Pass by Pinkham Notch Camp 2,050 ft, stop and get some snacks. We push on, go by Pinkham Notch NH hwy 16.We start climbing Wildcat Mountain, pretty tough climb, very slick. We make it to Wildcat Mountain Peak ¢A¢ 4,380 ft and call it a day.Osgood tent Site ¢ to ¢ Wildcat Mountain Peak ¢A¢ ¢ 9.8 well earned miles
Date: 2004-09-12
From: Wildcat Mountain Peak 

To: Gorham NH
Miles today: 16.1

09/12/2004GatherWeather is looking better today, Night-Ryder, Kip and I decide to make a big push to Gorham NH today, a little worried about my knee. Feels pretty good now, but don¢t want to over do it!We pass by Carter Notch Hut 3,350 ft, keep moving north. Go by Carter Dome 4,832 ft, go through Zeta Pass 3,990 ft. Climb Middle Carter Mountain 4,600 ft. We come to Imp campsite 3,250 ft, stop and take a break. My knee is acting up a little, I tell Kip and Night-Ryder to go on, I¢m going to slow down some.Climb Mt. Moriah 4,049 ft. Come to Rattle river shelter, stop and take a break. Push on, finally make it into Gorham NH. Go to the Barn Hostel and stake me out a spot.I get cleaned up, get me something to eat. Haven¢t seen Kip and Night-Ryder, fact is this place is almost empty. Someone said it was crowded yesterday. Slimer was here yesterday, that¢s ok, let them go. Katahdin isn¢t going anywhere and I¢m still on my schedule to make it around the 7th of Oct.They tell me I still have the roughest part ahead of me, after Mount Washington I¢m just not so sure about that! I still have the Mahoosuc Notch and the 100 mile wilderness to go through. I¢ve heard so much about them, and frankly I¢m looking forward to it. Call home, talk to mom and dad. They tell me my drop package is at the PO. Dad said he wished I would re-consider and keep my tent. Told him I would check out the tarp and make a decision then. If I¢m going to make it I have to lighten up. I tell dad it¢s starting to rain and I¢m standing out here at a pay phone.I¢ll leave here in the morning headed north, putting one foot in front of the other, flashing my wicked grin ¢¦¢¦¢¦.Wildcat Mountain Peak ¢A¢ ¢ to Gorham NH ¢ 16.1 miles16.5 miles from the Maine State Line !!1,876.2 - miles behind me297.7 miles to the big ¢K¢
Date: 2004-09-15
From: Full Goose Shelter ME

To: Speck Pond Campsite ME
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: clear sky

09/15/2004GatherCook, eat and pack up. Kind of cold this morning, frosty. But I slept good last night. Hit the trail. Climb up Fulling Mill Mountain 3,395 ft, not a bad climb. Keep pushing, come to the Mahoosuc Notch trail. Start to go down into this huge ravine, gets colder and colder the lower we go. Soon see big chunks of ice down here. They say ice stays down in here year round.The ravine is nothing but one huge jumble of house size boulders. Some you crawl over, others there are natural tunnels under them. Cold as heck down here it is. If I could somehow get this obstacle course back home I could make a fortune letting people challenge it. The notch was bad, but not as bad as Mount Washington.I come out of the Notch and come to Spec Pond Campsite. Didn¢t make any miles today, maybe the Mahoosuc Notch did dust my pants a little, but I made it through!Set up tarp, cook, eat and turn in, completely worn out¢¦¢¦¢¦..Full Goose Shelter ¢ to ¢ Speck Pond Campsite ¢ 5.1 miles09/15/2004SlimerWake up, frost all over the place, slept good. I want something hot this morning. I fire up my BrassLite alcohol stove and cook beans and rice. Tastes good, very filling. Wish I had time to fish, those trout would taste good in the morning. Pack up and hit the trail digging north.Came to a logging road, 4X4 truck there with a load of dogs in the back. Man asked me if I¢ve seen a dog running around, he has lost one. I notice the dogs have radio collars on them. Pretty mean looking dogs! I ask him what he¢s hunting? He says bear. He tells me I¢m in prime bear country. He says lots of city slickers out here hunting with guides, the guides will drop them off on a stand, come back later and pick them up. He advised me strongly to wear some orange blaze. He said those city slickers were nuts, they will shoot at anything moving. Crazy people they are, but they pay real good. He tells me bear season just opened up.Keep digging and pushing north, pass through some beautiful country, Maine is nothing but a hunter, fisherman¢s paradise.I make it to South Pond, very big pond. I spy a hunting blind, yep, that¢s where I¢ll sleep tonight. Got a roof on it too!! I hear moose off in the distance. I¢ve made some good miles today, feel good.I¢m about 2 miles from the trail head, ME, Hwy 17, just north of Bemis Mountain, road that goes into Rangeley Maine. I¢ll re-supply there tomorrow. Cook, eat and turn in, I will get something good to eat in the morning!!Old Blue Mountain ¢ to South Pond ¢ 21.5 miles