morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-08-12
From: Hanover, NH

To: Moose Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

Today started with a hitched ride with Roy in his pickup truck from the inn to "downtown" Hanover. Bama and Little Wing had another great breakfast at Lou¢s and while they were waiting for their meal to arrive, old trail friends Cohiba and Otter came in and joined them. Afterwards, a wait until the post office opened at 8:30 am so Bama could mail me back her box of summer gear.Bama said the couple that owns and runs the Sunset Motor Inn (603-298-8721) in nearby West Lebanon, were really super people and she highly recommends their place to anyone needing a room near Hanover. They didn¢t charge for the use of their laundry and even supplied boxes and tape for the mail packages. The inn is right beside the Connecticut River and is very reasonably priced and the soft drinks are only $0.50. What a deal!Easing back to the trail with a relatively short day, Bama topped off today¢s hike with a 2,000 ft. elevation gain up the south peak of Moose Mountain (and no, she STILL hasn¢t seen any moose). The shelter is right between the south and the north peaks. Bama is more and more impressed with New Hampshire; the trail is in good shape and the scenery is getting more and more beautiful. The cooler temperatures have really ¢awakened¢ everyone and most of the crankiness from the oppressive heat has dissipated. Mosquitoes and biting thingies are still in evidence, but it¢s nothing like it was from NJ to MA.Joining Bama in the shelter was Little Wing and Comfortably Numb whom they hadn¢t seen in a while, and two women, Walking Stomach and Sure Foot. Walking Stomach completed her AT thru-hike in 2004. Bama really enjoyed talking with them. And, here was a visit and Trail Magic from Trail Angels, Fleur-de-lis and Buford, who have a family cabin a mile away. They hauled all sorts of goodies (doughnuts, G.O.R.P., fruit, etc.) to the shelter, built a campfire and then cooked and served everyone hot dogs. Thanks, Fleur-de-lis and Buford!Bill
Date: 2006-08-13
From: Moose Mt. Shelter

To: Smarts Mountain (Firewarden's) Cabin
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Bama was up at her usual early hour and on the trail at 6:45 am. Still quite cold in the 40s, and the wind chill makes it seem much colder. Yesterday on top of Mt. Washington, the high was 41* and frost was forecast. Two day-hiking locals whom Bama met on the trail said that these temperatures were unusual and it would warm back up again before the temps really start falling in September.About 7 miles up trail, near the Trapper John Shelter, was Holt¢s Ledge where there is a protected Peregrine falcon rookery. If there was time, imagine how exciting it would be to stay and watch these magnificent birds soar and do their hawking thing. But right now, her goal is to finish - and as soon as she can. The end is in sight and she ready to summit Katahdin and get the journey over with.After another 1,000 ft. elevation gain, Bama reached the Firewarden¢s Cabin on top of Smarts Mountain. Not much to it, a one-room cabin that is at the foot of the fire tower. It has no furniture (you sleep on the floor), but it has windows for light and it¢s warm inside. There¢s a privy, too, so Bama¢s seen a lot worse.Little Wing got off the trail at Lyme, NH tonight to meet Scott at a B&B. He is going to hike the White Mountains with her. With Bama tonight is old trail faces FDR, River Weasel and Labowski plus a couple of SOBOs from North Carolina.Bill
Date: 2006-08-15
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Big day today. Bama waited at the hostel until the brief rain passed, did her laundry and got a shuttle to town for groceries. Then she shuttle back to the hostel, packed up and hit the trail. She made it past the Oliverian Brook ford (no bridge) without any problems and was soon at the base of Mt. Moosilauke. As they used to say in the Dick & Jane readers, ¢Up, up, up she went.¢ Lotsa roots, rocks and boulders and scrambling - about 3,662 vertical feet in elevation gain. And the route up Moosilauke is not as steep as the route down!This had pretty much been an all-day climb. Once at the top, she passed the tree line and the wind was pretty fierce and she had to put on her jacket and zip the legs back onto her pants to ward off the chill. Fabulous view ¢ can¢t say much more than this. The Beaver Brook Shelter was home for the night and Bama said the view from the shelter really was the best she has seen on the whole journey. With her at the shelter was Snickers, 3 SOBOs and a section hiking couple, Nick and Mari, who were tenting. Mari and Bama had a good time getting to know each other. Very nice people.Bill With thanks to Brainfreeze, here are yet more signs of P.A.T.T.S.D. (Post AT Traumatic Stress Disorder): 1. Swatting at invisible insects/lurching out of the way of invisible spider webs. 2. Eating dinner at 4 pm, and being in bed by 6:30 pm. 3. Ripping pages out of books as you read them (to reduce weight). 4. Wearing the same clothes for three days. 5. Asking people if they're NOBO or SOBO. 6. Referring to floors in buildings by their elevations.
Date: 2006-08-16
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning at Beaver Brook Shelter was glorious! Bama couldn't believe the sunrise from the mountain top and the view. She could see Mt. Washington at 6,288 feet high in the distance. From all accounts, this would be a slow and killer hike down - referred to as a "stairmaster." She left the shelter at 6:40 am and followed the stream trail down almost 2,000 vertical feet in 1.6 miles. Some areas were so steep, there were metal rods for hand holds and lumber steps that had been hammered into the mountain with rods. But it was very beautiful with the stream following the trail down over cascades and impressive falls to the bottom at NH Hwy 112 (Kinsman Notch). It took 1 hour, 35 minutes to go the 1.6 miles.At the bottom, she saw a couple who had just dropped off their SOBO son who was hiking UP this trail behind Bama. Lee and Ruth talked with Bama for a while and offered her a cold Coke! This was about the best thing Bama could wish for. Thanks, Trail Angels!Then a refreshing hop, skip and jump up and over the several peaks of Mt. Wolf ¢ all 1,650 vertical feet. Actually, Bama said the last couple of days have been a soul-draining struggle over roots, rocks and boulders ¢ over, under, around and through them. Hiking, crawling, kneeling - knees, elbows, hands, feet - slipping, sliding and butt-scooting were all required to get up and over. And she¢s still not to the really tough parts yet. The other White Mountains beckon with their wicked song. Bama did have an interesting and enjoyable stop with a lovely, honeymooning couple who took her picture with them. Hope she gets her copy of it.She reached Eliza Brook Shelter and said, ¢Whoa!¢ This will be all today, thank you.Bill
Date: 2006-08-17
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: North Woodstock, NH
Miles today: 8.8

Bama reached Eliza Brook Shelter yesterday at 2:30 pm and ordinarily would have hiked more miles, but was absolutely whipped. She said again it was some of the hardest mileage she had yet done on the AT. Sharing the shelter area were 8 in tents and 5 in the shelter ¢ the 13 included Ewalk, Comfortably Numb, Snickers, Montreal, Brandon and Maine Jane. Bama really enjoyed Maine Jane, a section hiker about her own age, who was a hoot! Jane entertained everyone in the shelter and was hilarious!This morning Bama was up and out early, knowing she had another tough day ahead. Literally right out of the shelter were two stream crossings and then straight up South Kinsman, followed by North Kinsman and then straight back down. It was a repeat of yesterday ¢ over two hours of rock scrambling ¢ crawling, butt-scooting and hand-over-hand bouldering. I¢m sure she¢s really getting tired of this.She had an interesting stop with a vacationing couple hiking a couple of miles. The woman sat down on a rock beside Bama and played the ¢twenty-five-things-you-have-to-know-about-thru-hikers¢ game, you know, ¢What do you eat? Are there bears? Where do you go to the bathroom? While very nice, Bama finally said, ¢I gotta go. I¢m really hungry.¢She moved on as the plan today was to get to the first AMC hut ¢ Lonesome Lake ¢ check in, relax and refresh and plug in her almost dead cell phone. She had the hut¢s ¢hiker¢ lunch of soup (broth) and bread with Snickers, Comfortably Numb and Montreal. The hut was not quite what she had imagined and was expensive, so she decided to keep moving. No cell phone charging was allowed ¢ they run the hut on a generator.She got as far as Franconia Notch (gap) at Interstate 93 with the guys from lunch. Bama was almost out of food and really needed to get off the trail for supplies. About this time G-Walk came up and he and Bama decided to hitch a ride into North Woodstock, NH to find a motel and groceries. North Woodstock is like Gatlinburg ¢ touristy and expensive ¢ but you can¢t always pick where you run low on food. However, she found a great place to stay - The Carriage Motel by the River (603-745-2416) was a friendly, family-owned, very nice place ¢ sort of that old, roadside place your parents always took you to as a child ¢ very friendly folks. Hey, remember the coin-operated vibrating beds? Yep, they even had those.After shopping, Bama went to the local tavern and had a cheeseburger and fries. She went back to the room and was enjoying her room¢s private patio, eating ice cream and reading her book. Then some laundry, more reading and a great evening around the motel campfire circle talking and visiting with the owners and other guest. She was outside her room talking to G-Walk about their shuttle plans the next morning when Little Wing & Scott came by. She was very surprised to see them, and they got caught up on the last few days on the trail.Bill
Date: 2006-08-19
From: Garfield Ridge Camp Site

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: fog

Today out of Garfield Ridge Campsite was early and uneventful, but soon plunged down onto slippery and difficult terrain. The trails up here seem to be either gnarly rocks or mud and roots ¢ one or the other. But AMC Galehead Hut wasn¢t too far away and Bama stopped for the all-important coffee and some delicious cookies. Bama met a SOBO when she was coming down Mt. Garfield named Allison, a really nice young lady.Within two miles there was South Twin Mountain at 4,902 ft. Up and over. Later she met Chubby Knuckles (AT '05), who was out day hiking, and two more SOBOs, Combat and Mountain Magic. The SOBO traffic is really picking up and the NOBO traffic is thinning out.Bama climbed Mt. Guyot and afterwards reached the AMC Zealand Falls Hut and had the AMC hiker lunch of soup and bread with FDR and Pi. Bama had planned to go to Ethan Pond Campsite, but the 100% prediction of heavy rain for 24 hours dissuaded her from wanted to tent it out. The trail was supposed to flatten out somewhat after Ethen Pond, so she dropped into low gear and took off for Crawford Notch in the hopes of getting into the Highland Center Lodge. Bama said true enough, after Ethan Pond, her speed went from a half-mile an hour to 3 miles an hour. Some of the trail followed an old abandoned railroad bed. But soon, that progress was slowed down near Crawford Notch by huge swampy areas. Bama said she crossed what seemed like hundreds of wooded boardwalks and puncheons.It must have to do with the glacial scouring thing or something, but I never imagined the number of bogs and swamps in the Northeast. Must be the reason for the intense mosquito population. Swamps in the South with its flat, lazy rivers, I can understand. She reached Crawford Notch, and the nearest town in Bretton Woods, NH. After a couple of unsuccessful hitchhike tries, she decided to wait until FDR and Pi got there. A really nice fellow named Wendell stopped and gave all three a ride. Thanks, Wendell! She quickly learned that the Highland Center Lodge was full, probably due to everyone else trying to get shelter from the rain. Finally a room was found at the Above the Notch Motor Lodge ¢ expensive, but the only place available.No restaurant, so Bama saw a man and his wife (Don and Sandy) sitting outside and never the shy one, asked for a ride to get some food. They said they were happy to do it. DOn took Bama and FDR to the store where they bought pizza and chips and snacks. Thanks, Trail Angels, Sandy and Don!Not much to do now except bathe, eat and watch TV to wait out the rain. Big climb out of the notch to Mts. Webster, Jackson, Clinton (Pierce) Mt. Franklin (5,000+) before tackling the highest and most celebrated, Mt. Washington (6,288).Bill
Date: 2006-08-20
From: Crawford Notch

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: drizzle

Rats! The dreaded unwanted Zero. Sitting in a motel room wanting to hike, but the rain won't let up. No where to eat or buy anything without hitchhiking. Nothing but a TV and a phone that only calls out. Nothing to do but eat.Bama says she has arranged a shuttle back to the trail tomorrow for her, FDR and Pi. The guys are just as eager to get back out, too. But the trail is going to be wet, the rocks and boulders slick and the mud and muck extra deep & gooey. Everyone prays the rains stops before morning.Bill
Date: 2006-08-23
From: Madison Springs Hut

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: fog

This morning at the AMC Madison Spring Hut included a wonderful breakfast and good-byes to the Croo, especially Liza who had been so sweet to somehow get everyone crammed in last night. Big hugs and then out into 25* temperatures (with wind chill) and the wind toward Pinkham Notch.The group included Michelle, Snickers, Bama and later, Baldylocks. The hike out took them straight up Mt. Madison (5,363 ft) and it was another day of crouching on rocks and at time crawling on all fours for Bama to get up the summit. But at least it wasn¢t overcast or raining and the views were simply stunning. After a steep 3,000 ft decent to the Ozgood Tent site (Bama said she was taking ¢baby steps¢ to keep from falling on her face), there were a number of uneventful stream crossings and eventually past Pinkham Notch Camp to Pinkham Notch and the Joe Dodge Lodge (more like a retreat center). Bama arrived about 4:15 pm at the Notch. Unfortunately, her camera had not made it to the AMC office and she will see if it arrives tomorrow morning. The Joe Dodge Lodge has 4-person dormitory-style rooms and shared bathrooms. Nights are $45 and $57 with dinner and breakfast. Michelle left the trail at Pinkham Notch as she had to return to work. Bama had really enjoyed her company. Bama checked into the lodge and was lucky to end up with a room to herself. She picked out a bed and kicked back to warm up and get something hot to drink. She had worn just about everything she owned to stay warm over Mt. Madison and the descent. Bama said dinner was absolutely delicious and the staff just kept bring everyone food and everybody kept eating. They really know how to feed hikers. She was comfortably stuffed. Bama said the meal itself would have cost $25 at any restaurant. There were about 50 people there as well as Snickers and Baldylocks.BillPS: I have a lot of photos to upload from earlier in the hike. I'll try to get them up on Aug. 26 sometime. Also, check the additions to yesterday's entry.
Date: 2006-08-24
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: broken clouds

The routine continues . . . Up early and after a great breakfast of french toast, bacon (and the works) with Baldylocks, Snickers, Moe & Ponch, Rock Chalk and G-Walk , Bama stopped by the AMC office in Pinkham Notch to see of her camera had been delivered. She talked to Mike, my AMC contact, and he said, ¢No, but when it gets in, I will drive it to Gorham, NH to be waiting for you.¢ Whatta guy! Thanks, Mike! Then out to start the day¢s climb up another rocky, boulder-strewn New Hampshire mountain.Then Bama hit the cold morning air and started up Wildcat Mountain¢s multiple peaks, first to Peak E at 4,041 ft toward the ski lift station. While only 3 miles, it took three hours to get there. Bouldering, rock-scrambling, etc., etc. Next to Peaks D, C, B and A at 4,380 ft, a vertical gain of 2,340 feet, and arrival at the AMC Carter Notch Hut. This is a more basic hut without meals, but great accommodations for only $25 a night:Bama reached the hut at 3:00 pm after traversing the multiple Wildcat Mountain peaks and was ready for a good night¢s rest. The last several days have really been tough. While they seem like short hikes, one mile has seemed like three. The hut also receives the official Bama ¢smiley face award.¢ Chris, the manager, met Bama at the door and asked her if she wanted work for stay. So she swept up for her free stay and got to sleep in the bunk house instead of on the floor (usual for work-for-stay).Also there were Professor and Jesse James, Snickers, Baldylocks and a section hiker from the Shenandoah region named Dr. Dick. Bama talked with him a good bit and found out that he also maintains three shelters on the AT in the Shenandoah National Park. There was a home-coming of sorts with old friends Mapman & Robin (who were tenting) who had come in to see Bama. And a little later Brainfreeze and Cool Hand arrived to tent.Tomorrow is probably the same routine, based on the weather. Bama is now officially out of the Presidential Range and into the Carter Range. The goal looks like the Imp Campsite, about 7 miles away, on the other side of Carter Dome (4,832 ft), South Carter Mt. (4,458), Middle Carter Mt. (4,600 ft) and North Carter Mt. (4,530). Bill
Date: 2006-08-25
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Imp Campsite
Miles today: 7.3

Again a day of scrambling up and down and up and down and up and down multiple crests ¢ in this case, the Carters. Straight out the Carter Notch Hut up to Carter Dome (4,832 ft) ¢ then Mt. Hight (4,675 ft) ¢ then South Carter Mt. (4,458 ft) ¢ then Middle Carter Mt. (4,600) ¢ then North Carter Mt. (4,530). And everybody shuddered at the ¢Roller Coaster¢ in Virginia down south ¢ Ha! The SOBOs probably think it¢s pretty funny having survived New Hampshire.The weather was cool and beautiful and the lookout and vistas were breathtaking (The Whites are truly one of the most stunning sections on the trail ¢ when they¢re not covered with clouds - one really runs out of superlatives describing them). More hikers would appreciate them more if they weren¢t staring at their feet trying not to break any bones by tripping/slipping on the talus and rocks. Bama says this is the most painful fun she¢s ever had. But she also says that the Whites were the most dangerous part of the trail she has been on and soberly considered the many times she could have been seriously injured or killed.Bama reached the Imp Campsite, which is your regular, three-sided Adirondack shelter. There is an AMC volunteer caretaker (Dingle, a 2004 thru-hiker) and a small fee. Imp is a big shelter and holds about 16 people. A lot of thru-hikers and section hikers were tenting. In the shelter with Bama were Professor and his grandson Jesse James (a 13-yr old thru-hiker), six section hikers and a couple from Rhode Island.Bill
Date: 2006-08-27
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Bama received a phone call this morning from Little Wing. She and Scott have been hiking the Whites together for the past week or so. Little Wing said she had some problems with her hip and it had caused her to seriously reconsider her continuation on the AT. After much thought, she reluctantly decided to leave the trail for now and return to Florida with Scott.Bama said she was sad that Little Wing will not be able to re-join her in Gorham to continue together. Little Wing was a great trail partner and the two of them worked the trail very well together. Bama wishes her the best and hopes that she will be able to return to the trail someday to finish up the last 300 miles and finally summit Katahdin.Being Sunday in a small town, nothing much was open. Bama was able to get to the market, about a half-mile walk, and stocked up on some food. On her way back, an older lady pulled over and asked if she needed a ride. The lady said, ¢Now you don¢t need to out here walking like this, so you get in here and let me take you there.¢ Bama said she was really sweet and wished she could have talked with her more. It rained a great deal today as predicted, so aside from a few quick trip out between the showers to McDonald¢s and the drug store, it was mostly catching up with family members on the phone and watching TV. She also met Route Step, a NOBO thru-hiker and they talked at length about their experiences in the Whites and how dangerous they were.Tomorrow has more rain predicted, at least early in the day and Bama hopes to make the next shelter, but it¢s almost 12 miles ¢ much farther than she¢s been able to hike recently due to the terrain. Bama won¢t leave if the rain doesn¢t let up. She¢s learned what these steep slopes can do to you when it¢s raining. We¢ll see . . . It¢s just a good thing the Whites are behind her ¢ not that what faces her is a piece of cake.Bill
Date: 2006-08-28
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Bama checked out of the Colonial Fort Inn after a quick breakfast and coffee in her room. The rain had stopped for all intents and purposes and she was eager to put in some mileage today ¢ time to try to pick up the pace a little ¢ terrain depending. MaryAnn from the Inn gave her a ride to the trail crossing. Thanks MaryAnn! At the trail, Curly and Swansons arrived about the same time as Bama and the three of them set off. I received a very brief cell phone call as she was headed up the first major climb, Mt. Hayes. The day was dark, overcast and gloomy. Yuck! And the trail was very wet, the rocks were slippery and it was muddy. The sun was out for maybe 15 minutes the entire day.Bama crossed Mt. Hayes, Cascade Mountain and continued to climb until Dream Lake at (2,650 ft), a net elevation gain of 1,890 ft. A great deal of the lower areas involved walking on the now familiar swamp punchions - crude log or board "bridges." Bama said due the elevated water levels, the punchions sunk as they stepped on them and the water came up over their socks.She arrived at the shelter after what had been a long, tough, dirty, slippery day. There was quite a crowd: Professor & Jesse James, Pi, Moe & Ponch, Curly & Swansons, Baldylocks, Fiddlehead, Brainfreeze, Birkinstock, Tecumseh, Route Step, Wrong Way and others. It seemed everyone was worn-out from the Whites and ready to get the AT journey over with.Andover, ME is the next major town, about 31 miles up trail and then Rangeley, ME another 36 miles. It's not getting any easier.Bill
Date: 2006-08-30
From: Full Goose Shelter

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

Bama left the Full Goose Shelter at 7:15 am ET with Professor & Jesse James and climbed the South Peak of Fulling Mountain before descending toward Mahoosuc Notch. At 2:30 pm ET, she called me briefly from the top of the Mahoosuc Arm vista to say that she had survived the day.It took her 7 hours and 15 minutes to go 5.1 miles. The traverse of the 1 mile Mahoosuc Notch took her 3 hours. She said it was the hardest thing she has ever done in her life and today was the hardest day she¢s endured since leaving Springer Mountain on March 26th. Compared to today, she said the climb out of Lehigh Gap in Pennsylvania was a leisurely stroll across some rocks. She didn¢t have the energy to say much else except that most were wet, exhausted and worn-down by the day.Tonight she is at Speck Pond Campsite, the last of the New Hampshire AMC-controlled huts and campsites. Tomorrow after 5 miles, she will reach Grafton Gap on ME Hwy 26 - 266.8 miles to Mt. Katahdin.Update: Professor's niece, Tanya, hiked the four miles to Speck Pond from the other side of the Notch and brought everyone in the shelter home made brownies - a treat for surviving Mahoosuc Notch. It was very welcomed - and enjoyed - Trail Magic. Thanks, Trail Angel Tanya!Bill