morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-09-11
From: GALEHEAD HUT

To: ETHAN POND CAMPSITE
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: overcast clouds

WOKE UP TO THE BY A CROO MEMBER PLAYING A GUITAR AND SINGING, SERENADING A SONG TO WAKE EVERYONE UP WHICH WAS DONE VERY WELL. I WISH I KNEW WHAT THAT SONG WAS. THEY FED US SOME LEFT OVERS FOR BREAKFAST AND MADE US SOME PANCAKES. IT WASNT MUCH BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING. I COMPLETED MY WORK FOR STAY WHICH WAS SWEEPING ALL THE FLOORS AND OFF WE WENT. THERE WASNT VERY MANY PEOPLE HERE AT THE HUT. THERE WERE THREE GUYS THAT HAD FLIP FLOPPED HEADING SOUTH. WE GOT AN EARLY START. THE CHINESE TOURIST AND I HIKED OFF TOWARDS THE SOUTH TWIN MOUNTAIN AND THE NORTH TWIN SPUR, THEN WE WENT TO MT GUYOUT AND STOPPED BY THE ZEALAND FALLS HUT FOR A SNACK AND WATER. WE ENDED UP AT THE ETHAN POND CAMPSITE FAIRLY EARLY. USUALLY ITS A PAY SITE BUT ITS PAST THE SEASON. LUCKY US. A FEW WEEKEND HIKERS SHOWED UP AND LOOKED LIKE ONE WANTED TO STAY IN THE SHELTER. THE CHINESE TOURIST SAID "DO YOU SNORE?" THE GUY REPLIED "I'LL TENT". I WAS ALREADY SET UP IN THE SHELTER. I WALKED AROUND LOOKING AT ALL THE TENT SITE PLATFORMS AND FOUND A NICE HIDDEN SPOT BEHIND WHERE THE CARETAKER USUALLY STAYS. I CHECKED OUT THE AREA. THE OLD CARETAKER SHOWED UP AND TENTED BUT ENDED UP IN THE SHELTER LATER THAT NIGHT WHEN IT STARTED TO RAIN. IM HAPPY TO BE IN THE SHELTER AND OUT OF THE RAIN.
Date: 2009-09-12
From: ETHAN POND CAMPSITE

To: LAKE OF THE CLOUDS HUT
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: fog

WELL NOW ITS THE BIGGER MOUNTAIN. WE'RE MOVING UP TO LAKE OF THE CLOUDS FOR A SUMMIT OF WASHINGTON IN THE MORNING. FIRST WE WENT DOWN ABOUT 1700 FT THEN BACK UP WEBSTER CLIFFS AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY A TOUGH CLIMB. NICE VIEWS. VERY WINDY. DOWN GOES MT WEBSTER, THEN IT WAS MT JACKSON. STOPPED AT MIZPAH SPRINGS HUT FOR WATER AND A SNACK. DOWN GOES MT PIERCE, THEN MT FRANKLIN. ONCE AGAIN VERY COLD. MADE IT TO THE LAKE OF THE CLOUDS ON THE LAST DAY THEY WERE OFFICIALLY OPEN AND HAD A CAPACITY CROWD. WE HAD TO WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO BE DONE EATING AND SAT THERE TILL THEY WERE. MET CHEF WHO JUST CRACKS ME UP. JUNGLI AND TULLY WERE THERE AS WELL. WE CAUGHT UP TO THEM AT THE MIZPAH HUT. THE LAST TIME I SAW BOTH OF THEM I THINK WAS IN DELAWARE WATER GAP PA. THE CROO DID THERE CROO THING AND ENTERTAINED THE FULL HOUSE AND EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. WE GOT ALL THE LEFTOVERS TO PICK THRU WHICH WE MANAGED TO CONSUME AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLE COULD. I GOT BREAD AND CAKE AND SOME LEFT OVER HOMEMADE PIZZA. IT WASNT THE BEST BUT IT WAS FREE FOOD. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE ALONG SOME AS WELL. CHEF FILLED HIS NALGENE BOTTLE WITH SOUP. WHAT A NIGHT. THE CROO WAS JUST PARTYING DOWN ON THEIR LAST NIGHT. AFTER THE LIGHTS WENT OFF WE WERE ALLOWED TO SLEEP ON THE TABLES. I DIDNT EVEN UNPACK MY SLEEPING BAG. I WAS OUT COLD TO WHAT APPEARED TO BE A FOOD COMA. LATER THAT NIGHT A YOUNG KID TRIED BUT COULDNT MAKE IT TO THE BATHROOM TO VOMIT AND MANAGED TO HIT THE DOOR AS HE WAS OPENING IT. WELL THAT BROKE UP THE GUITAR PLAYING AND BAD VOCALS THE CROO WERE ENJOYING BACK IN THEIR BARRACKS. AFTER THAT WAS CLEANED UP IT WAS BACK TOO SLEEP. THE 4 GUYS DRINKING AND PLAYING JENKA IN THE DARK WASNT HELPING. THE ENDLESS PARADE OF PEOPLE GOING TO THE BATHROOM AT ABOUT TWO IN THE MORNING WAS HELPING EITHER. IM JUST HAPPY I'M WARM WITH A ROOF OVER MY HEAD. AHHH WHAT A NIGHT.
Date: 2009-09-13
From: LAKE OF THE CLOUDS HUT

To: MADISON SPRINGS HUT
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: fog

HIKED UP MT WASHINGTON IN SOME WIND. NICE DAY BUT THAT DIDNT LAST LONG. ALMOST GOT TO THE TOP BEFORE THE CLOUDS ROLLED IN AND THE WIND. LOTS OF PEOPLE UP THERE. WERE SOCKED IN. WE DECIDED TO HANG OUT IN THE CONCESSIONS FOR A WHILE. WAITED FOR THE CLOUDS TO GO BY BUT IT WAS HOPELESS. 40-50 MILE PER HOUR WINDS VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 10 FT. WE ALL STARTED TO LEAVE. BIG CAMERA, BUTTCHINZ, JUNGLI, CHINESE TOURIST AND I HIKED OFF TO THE TRAIL AT THE MT WASHINGTON SIGN, THEN IT GOT BAD. NOT ONLY DID THE WIND KNOCK YOU DOWN. IT STARTED TO MIST. VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 10 YARDS. BLAZES WERE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. THE WINDS WERE BLOWING ABOUT 40-50 MPH OR MORE. IT WAS LOUD. WIND CHILL BETWEEN 31 TO 36 DEGREES. NOT GOOD. IT GOT BRUTALLY COLD AND BAD FAST. THE CHINESE TOURIST AND I PASSED THE OTHERS AND DISAPPEARED INTO THE CLOUDS. WE WERE HOPING TO GET TO THE NEXT HUT. ARE WE LOST. WE HAD TO STOP AND PULL OUT A MAP. ALMOST GOT TURNED AROUND. WE WERE GOING THE RIGHT WAY. TALK ABOUT COLD. IT WAS SO COLD GETTING TO THE MADISON SPRINGS HUT WASNT THE PLAN AT FIRST BUT THE WEATHER MADE IT THE ONLY SAFE WAY. WE MADE IT. THE CROO WEREN'T VERY RECEPTIVE AT FIRST BEING THIS IS THE FIRST DAY IT WAS CLOSED AND HERE WE ARE, JUST A COUPLE OF THRU HIKERS. THEY WERE PACKING BOXES AND WE INQUIRED ABOUT STAYING. THEY SAID WE COULD DO A WORK FOR STAY IF WE HELPED PUT ALL THE BOXES BACK IN ONE ROOM AS THEY INVENTORIED ALL THERE ITEMS. THEY PROCEEDED TO LOAD US UP WITH SO MUCH FOOD TO TAKE WITH WHICH WAS AWESOME, WE MANAGED TO GET A WORK FOR STAY AND STARTED RIGHT AWAY. THE CROO FIXED US SOME HOT COFFEE. WHAT A RELIEF. JUNGLI SHOWED UP STARTLED. BUTTCHINZ AND BIG CAMERA GOT SEPERATED AFTER BIG CAMERA STOPPED TO TAKE A LEAK. BUTTCHINZ GOT ON THE WRONG TRAIL. JUNGLI SHOWED UP CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY. I WAS TAKEN BACK A BIT BUT KNEW HOW BAD IT WAS OUTSIDE, NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. THE WEATHER WAS VICIOUS. INFO WAS TAKEN AN AN HOUR HAD TO BE WAITED BEFORE A RESCUE PARTY WOULD BE SENT OUT. I TOLD HER THEY'LL BE FINE. THEY SHOWED UP LESS THAN AN HOUR LATER WITH PETE. RELEIF. WARM SOUP FOR THEM. CHEF AND TULLY ENDED UP GETTING IN LATER AT DARK. HOW DID THEY MANAGE THAT? THE CROO TOOK GREAT CARE OF US. BREAKFAST WILL BE SERVED AS WELL IN THE MORNING. AHHH THE LOVE. I'M SO GLAD TO CHANGE OUT OF ALL MY WET CLOTHES AND INTO ALL MY WARM ONES. ITS STILL COLD INSIDE BUT IT BEATS THE HECK OUT OF BEING OUTSIDE IN HELL. WE ALL SLEPT ON THE TABLES AND I WAS THANKFUL TO BE INSIDE. NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT TOMMORROW WEATHER WILL LOOK LIKE. NOT LOOKING GOOD BUT I'LL SLEEP ON IT.
Date: 2009-09-14
From: MADISON SPRINGS HUT

To: WILDCAT MOUNTAIN PEAK D
Miles today: 10.8

MT MADISON WAS GREAT. WHAT A VIEW ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY. STOPPED AT PINKHAM NOTCH AND CHATTED WITH A COUPLE OF NICE GENTLEMEN AT THE VISITOR CENTER. THE CHINESE TOURIST AND I WERE SHOOTING FOR THE CARTER NOTCH HUT. WE WENT UP WILDCAT WHICH WAS A VERY STEEP CLIMB. WE DIDNT MAKE IT TO THE CARTER NOTCH HUT AND THE WEATHER CHANGED. IT GOT COLD AND WINDY WITH A LITTLE RAIN. WE FOUND A NICE LITTLE SHELTER I CALL THE WILDCAT MOUNTAIN SHELTER BUT I WONT GO INTO THAT.
Date: 2009-09-15
From: WILDCAT MOUNTAIN PEAK D

To: IMP CAMPSITE
Miles today: 10.1

WE STARTED OUT ON A COLD MORNING EARLY. WE NEED TO GET SOME MILES IN BUT ITS BEEN TOUGH. WE HIKED OFF FROM THE WILDCAT MOUNTAIN PEAK D UP THEN DOWN TO THE CARTER NOTCH WHICH WAS DOWN A PRETTY STEEP DESCENT. CARTER NOTCH WAS NEAT. THE CARTER NOTCH HUT WAS A LUNCH STOP. I SCORED SOME CHEESE IN THE FRIG MARKED FREE. I NOTICED AT THE HUT THAT ALL THE BUNKS WERE TAKEN BUT NO ONE WAS AROUND. I MADE SOME HOT COCOA AND USED SOME WATER BOILING ON THE STOVE. THE CROO LEADER SHOWED UP AND OFFERED US SOME LEFT OVER SPLIT PEA SOUP FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE. SURE WHY NOT. I DONT EVEN LIKE SPLIT PEA SOUP. WHILE HAVING LUNCH DUFFY HIKED ON IN AND WE TOLD HER ABOUT THE SPLIT PEA SOUP AND HAD SOME AS WELL. SHORTLY AFTER CHEF SHOWED UP AND THEY BOTH ERRUPTED INTO JOY, I HAD TO LAUGH. NOW ITS UP TO CARTER DOME. THE CHINESE TOURIST GOT TO THE TOP AND IT WAS VERY WINDY UP TOP AND COLD IF YOU STOOD STILL. MET A LARGE GROUP OF KIDS UP TOP ON SOUTH CARTER MOUNTAIN. THAT WOULD EXPLAIN ALL THOSE BUNKS BEING FULL. FROM THERE TO MIDDLE CARTER MOUNTIAN I WOULD FOLLOW A TRAIL OF NOTES LEFT ON THE GROUND AND READ THEM. I WOULD WATCH KID AFTER KID HIKE UP THE OTHER DIRECTION SPACED 20 YARDS APART STOPPING AN READING THEM AS PART OF SOME GROUP ACTIVITY MEETING UP AT SOUTH CARTER MOUNTAIN. IT MUST BE A TEACHING EXCERSISE. WELL ITS GETTING LATE AND GETTING COLD. NORTH CARTER MOUNTAIN WAS TIRING AND I WOULD RUN INTO TWO SOUTHBOUNDERS. COMING DOWN NORTH CARTER MOUNTAIN WAS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE. THATS SOME CRAZY DOWN HILL ROCK CLIMBING. DOWN WE GO TO THE IMP CAMPSITE. MET THE SODFARTHER FLIPFLOPPING AS HE SAID HE WAS GONNA DO WHEN I MET HIM AROUND THE BEARS DEN HOSTEL. EVERYONE I LEFT BEHIND AT CARTER NOTCH SHOWED UP. THERE WAS A GANG OF THRU HIKERS HERE. THERY WAS TULLY, JUNGLI, BIG CAMERA, BUTTCHINZ, CHEF, THE CHINISE TOURIST, DUFFY, THE SODFATHER AND THE GIRL HE FLIPFLOPPED WITH WERE HERE. A TRAIL ANGEL CAMPED OUT HERE GAVE EVERYONE A BUNCH OF TRAIL MAGIC. WHAT A NIGHT. GREAT TIME.
Date: 2009-09-16
From: IMP CAMPSITE

To: GORHAM
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

GORHAM IS THE NEXT STOP AND WERE PILING US ALL INTO A MOTEL. TURNS OUT GORHAM IS LOADING UP WITH NORTH BOUNDERS. WHISKEY SLAPS IS THE NEW GAME THAT THEY'RE ALL GONNA TRY. THE GAME THAT WAS THE TALK AT THE LAKE OF THE CLOUDS HUT. THIS WILL GET INTERESTING. THE CHINESE TOURIST IS PICKING UP THE TAB FOR ME IN GORHAM. I'M STOPPING TO PICK UP A MAILDROP FULL OF FOOD HERE IN GORHAM. I TOOK A NICE HOT SHOWER AND THEN WENT TO PICK UP MY MAIL DROP AND DO LAUNDRY. I MET A GUY NAMED CARPENTER HERE IN GORHAM IN FRONT OF THE LAUNDRYMAT. HE HAD FINISHED THE TRAIL ALREADY AND CAME BACK TO GORHAM. HE GAVE ME SOME TRAIL MAGIC. HE WAS RIDING A BIKE HE BOUGHT AND WAS GETTING RID OF SOME EXTRA FOOD HE HAD CARRIED. HE GOT A BUS TICKET TO WHERE HE WAS HEADING AND WASNT GONNA NEED ALL OF IT. I CARRIED IT BACK WITH MY LAUNDRY. I WATCHED THE CHINESE TOURIST, CHEF'S AND MY LAUNDRY AND CARRIED IT BACK TO MY ROOM WHILE THEY SHUTTLED TO A WAL MART SOMEWHERE MILES AWAY. I ATE A COUPLE OF DOLLAR ITEMS AT THE BURGER KING IN TOWN ON THE WAY BACK. I WATCHED AS THRU HIKERS STARTED SHOWING UP AT THE MOTEL I WAS STAYING IN. RAMBLE ON, WAS WASHING HIS GEAR, TULLY, CHEF, JUNGLI, THE CHINESE TOURIST AND ANOTHER HIKER I MET WERE PLAYING WHISKY SLAPS FIRST IN THE ROOM I WAS STAYING IN THEN MOVED IT TO A BIGGER ROOM AT THE END. I WATCHED THEM GO THRU A HALF A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY IN SHORT ORDER. I DONT KNOW IF I WILL EVER SEE A SPECTACLE EVER AGAIN LIKE THAT IN MY LIFETIME OR NOT. DUFFY HAD LOANED ME HER LAPTOP COMPUTER THAT NIGHT SO I SOULD CHECK MY FINANCES. SHE HAD HIKED A SECTION SHE HAD SKIPPED EARLIER AND HAD A CAR IN GORHAM WHICH SHE SHUTTLED A FEW PEOPLE AROUND. I NEEDED TO LOOK AT MY BANK ACCOUNT TO SEE HOW MUCH MONEY WAS LEFT IN IT SO I COULD PLAN MY NEXT SEGMENT. I WATCHED THE RED SOX COME BACK FROM A LARGE HOLE TO COME FROM BEHIND TO WIN THE GAME. I HAD THE MOTEL ROOM TO MY SELF LATE INTO THE NIGHT. I HAD A WONDERFUL NIGHT.
Date: 2009-09-17
From: GORHAM

To: GENTIAN POND CAMPSITE
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

I HAD STOPPED AT THE POST OFFICE TO MAIL A DROP BOX UP TO CARATUNK AFTER I HAD SEVERAL MAIL DROPS IN GORHAM. MY MOTHER SURPRISED ME WITH ONE THAT I DIDNT KNOW I HAD COMING. ANNETTE AND MY DAD SENT ME ANOTHER PACKED WITH FOOD. WITH ALL THE FOOD I HAD SENT TO ME IT WAS OBVIOUS CARRYING IT WASNT GONNA BE A GOOD IDEA. I DIDNT HAVE MUCH MONEY BUT I FIGURED I WOULD MAIL A BUMP BOX UP TO CARATUNK. THAT WOULD HELP ME OUT LATER. I WAS SITTING OUTSIDE THE POST OFFICE AS I TRIED TO THINK OF WHAT TO MAIL AHEAD AND WHAT TO TAKE WITH ME. I WANTED TO GO TO THE LIBRARY, UPDATE MY JOURNAL AND UPLOAD SOME PICTURES. THEN I WOULD HITCHHIKE BACK UP TO THE TRAIL. AFTER THE THIRD PERSON OFFERED ME A RIDE AT THE POST OFFICE UP TO THE TRAILHEAD WHILE I WAS STILL PACKING UP I DECIDED TO NOT PASS UP THAT CHANCE. WHO KNOWS IF I COULD GET A RIDE UP LATER OR NOT. I HAD TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GOOD WEATHER WHICH HAD ME HEADING BACK OUT TO THE TRAIL MINUS THE CHINESE TOURIST WHO GOT WHISKEY SLAPPED THE NIGHT BEFORE. HE NEEDS A ZERO. THE TRAIL ANGEL WHO DROVE ME BACK UP THE TRAIL HAD SOME SANDWICHES AND FRUIT HE OFFERED ME AND THEN DROPPED ME OFF AND WALKED ME ALONG THE ROAD WAY TO THE TRAIL HEAD. IM GLAD HE DID I DONT KNOW IF I WOULD OF FIGURED OUT WHERE IT WENT FROM WHERE I WAS. SO I LEFT ALL THE HIKERS I HAD MET BEHIND WHICH INCLUDED RANMBLE ON, THE CHINESE TOURIST, TULLY, JUNGLI, CHEF, AND SEVERAL OTHERS WHO WERE HERE AT THE SAME MOTEL I STAYED AT. I HAD SEEN MANY OTHER HIKERS HERE IN GORHAM WHICH IS A NICE PLACE TO STAY. IT CERTAINLY IS A HIKER FRIENDLY TOWN. I BEGAN MY HIKE OUT OF GORHAM AND RAN INTO TRAIL MAGIC RIGHT OFF THE BAT ABOUT A HALF MILE UP THE TRAIL. A TWELVE PACK OF COKE FOR SOUTHBOUNDERS. I RAIDED IT ANYWAYS. I DRANK A FEW CANS AND FILLED UP A WATER BOTTLE WITH COKE AND OFF I WENT ON WHAT WOULD BE A GREAT DAY OF HIKING AND A GREAT SET OF MOUNTAINS. MT HAYES AND THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS. I GOT TO DRAM LAKE AND MOSS POND AND AT SOME POINT THE TRAIL WASNT MARKED VERY WELL AND I HAD THOUGHT I TOOK A WRONG TURN. I WOULD LOOK BACK TO SEE IF I COULD SEE A WHITE BLAZE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE TREES. I CONTINUED ON ON THIS OVERGROWN SECTION AND FINALLY FOUND A BLAZE AND WHAT A RELEIF. I DIDNT HAVE TO BACK TRACK. I DECIDED TO STOP SHORT AT THE GENTIAN POND CAMPSITE AND STAYED THE NIGHT ALONG WITH 3 DAY HIKERS AND RAN INTO LION KING ONCE AGAIN AND HIS BUDDY "WHAT" WHO I HAD MET WAY BACK IN HANOVER AND ON THE FRANCONIA RIDGE AND GLENCLIFF. THEY WERE SKIPPING UP THE TRAIL. LION KING SHARED A LITTLE TRAIL MAGIC AND I TOLD HIM I WOULD LIKE TO SLEEP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SHELTER IN THE CORNER. HE ASKED ME IF I SNORED AND I TOLD HIM I DIDNT. THE NEXT MORNING I FOUND HIM SLEEPING ON A TENT PAD AND FOUND OUT HE WROTE IN THE JOURNAL THAT I SNORED BUT I KNOW I DONT. I DID DEVELOP A LITTLE BIT OF SLEEP APNEA FOR SOME REASON. MUST BE THE WEATHER.
Date: 2009-09-18
From: GENTIAN POND CAMPSITE

To: CARLO COL SHELTER AND CAMPSITE
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I WAS BEAT DOWN AND WORN OUT. I HAD CLIMBED MT SUCCESS AND EVEN THO I WAS SUCCESSFUL I WAS DRAINED OF ENERGY. I HIKED THRU A PRETTY RUGGED SECTION DOWN TO THE NEW HAMPSHIRE-MAINE BORDER. I TOOK A BREAK AND A FEW PICTURES AND WAS PRETTY EXCITED KNOWING I HAD JUST CROSSED INTO MY FOURTEETH STATE. I GOT TO THE CARLO COL SHELTER AND CAMPSITE ENTRANCE. I LOOKED UP AT MT CARLO AND THE RAIN CLOUDS BLOCKED ITS VEIW. I KNEW HEADING UP THERE COULD BE TROUBLE IF THE WEATHER CHANGED AND IT WAS CHANGING FAST. I FELT RAIN WAS IN THE AIR AND THE BAD WEATHER FORCED ME THREE TENTHS OFF THE TRAIL AND TO THE FIRST SHELTER IN MAINE. THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE RIGHT DECISION. WAS IT COLD. IT WAS VERY COLD. THE DRIZZLE WOULD GET STRONGER. I GOT TO THE SHELTER AND WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY A WONDERFUL LOOKING SHELTER. I THOUGHT I WOULD BE THE ONLY ONE HERE. I WAS WRONG. SEVERAL HIKERS I MET IN GORHAM HAD DONE 17 MILES TO GET TO THIS SHELTER. I COULDNT AFFORD TO STAY BEHIND AND WAS ON A TIGHT SCHEDULE TO FINISH. FIRST SPIRITFINGERS SHOWED UP, THEN SPEEDSTICK, BUTTCHINZ, BIG CAMERA, AND CHEF. WHILE WE WERE HANGING OUT IN THE SHELTER I HEARD PEOPLE HIKING UP. HERE I THOUGHT I WOULD BE THE ONLY ONE HERE AND NOW I'M FEELING LIKE THIS SHELTER WILL BE OVERCROWDED. I COUNTED AT LEAST 15 PEOPLE WHO HIKED BY AND HEADED TO THE GROUP TENTING SITE. IM RELEAVED, I WILL HAVE SOME ELBOW ROOM. WHERE DID THIS GROUP COME FROM? WELL, THERE IS ANOTHER TRAIL THAT HEADS UP TO THIS SHELTER FROM A ROAD SEVERAL MILES AWAY. SPIRITFINGERS HOOKED ME UP WITH SOME TRAIL MAGIC AS DID BIG CAMERA WHO COULDNT FINISH HIS DINNER. THANKS GUYS.
Date: 2009-09-19
From: CARLO COL SHELTER AND CAMPSITE

To: SPEC POND SHELTER AND CAMPSITE
Miles today: 9.5

THE SHELTER WAS FULL OF THRU HIKERS. SPIRITFINGERS, SPEEDSTICK, CHEF, BUTTCHINZ, BIG CAMERA AND I. IT WAS REALLY COLD LAST NIGHT AND THE RAIN HAS LET UP BUT THE WEATHER LOOKS INTIMIDATING. EVERYONE HAS PASSED ME BY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I MET ALL OF THEM AT THE FULL GOOSE SHELTER AND CAMPSITE WHERE THE SUN WAS STARTING TO COME OUT. WE ALL MET UP AND TOOK A BREAK, SNACKED AND MADE SOME FOOD. WE WERE ALL GETTING READY TO DO THE MAHOOSUC NOTCH AND I WASNT SURE WHAT TO EXPECT. THE SKIES CLEARED UP AND WE HAD GREAT WEATHER FOR THE NOTCH. THE MAHOOSUC NOTCH IS KNOWN AS THE TOUGHEST OR FUNNEST MILE ON THE AT. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. SPIRIT FINGERS, CHEF, SPEEDSTICK, AND I JUST HAD A BLAST. CHEF SPLIT HIS 7 HOUR POWER WITH ME. RIGHT ON, I NEVER HAVE HAD ONE. SPIRIT FINGERS DRANK HIS. WE WENT THREW IT IN NO TIME AND THE DAY HIKERS SAT AND WATCHED ME CLIMB THREW A HOLE WITH MY PACK ON AND THEN GAVE ME TRAIL MAGIC AS I ENDED UP ON MY HEAD ON THE OTHER SIDE. SHORTLY AFTER ALL THE OTHERS CAME ON BY. THE DAYHIKERS OFFERED TO TAKE ALL OUR TRASH AND PROCEEDED TO HAND OUT MORE TRAIL MAGIC. MAHOOSUC ARM WASNT NO JOKE. UP UP AND MORE UP. FINALLY AT THE SPEC POND SHELTER AND WHERE I HAD MET FLOATER FOR THE FIRST TIME. HE HIKED ON. LATER THAT NIGHT WE WOULD ROUND UP A BUNCH OF FIRE WOOD EVEN THO WE WERN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE ONE. ITS SURVIVAL AT THIS POINT. COLD IS REARING ITS UGLY HEAD. WIND AND COLD. THIS ENDED UP BEING ONE OF THE COLDEST NIGHTS SO FAR. I HAD FALLEN ASLEEP EARLY IN THE SHELTER IN MY SLEEPING BAG AND MISSED MOST OF THE FIRE. I MUST OF BEEN EXHAUSTED BECAUSE THEY BURNT THE ENTIRE PILE OF WOOD AND I DIDNT WAKE UP AT ALL. WE WERE AT 3500 FT. I REMEMBER KICKING CHEF IN THE HEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BY ACCIDENT. THE COLD WAS OVERWHELMING.
Date: 2009-09-20
From: SPEC POND SHELTER AND CAMPSITE

To: FRYE NOTCH LEAN TO
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: scattered clouds

UP OLD SPECK AND THE WIND WAS BLOWING THE FROST OFF THE TREES ON THE RIDGE AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS SNOWING. THE WIND WAS BLOWING ME OVER AGAIN. THEN IT WAS DOWN ONCE AGAIN. IT GOT REALLY NICE OUT. STOPPED FOR A SNACK BREAK DOWN AT GRAFTON NOTCH. WE ALL CAUGHT UP WITH EACH OTHER. IT WAS SPEEDSTICK, CHEF, BUTTCHINZ AND BIG CAMERA, AND SPIRIT FINGERS. TIME TO GO UP BALDPATE. THE WEST PEAK OF BALDPATE WAS ONE OF THE STEEPEST IVE CLIMBED. IT POWERED STRAIGHT UP. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN. AFTER GETTING ON TOP YOU SPOTTED THE BALDPATE EAST PEAK AND REALIZED THATS WHERE YOU HEADING AND IT LOOKS FAR AWAY LIKE THEY ALL DO. THE WIND WAS PICKING UP AND WHEN YOU STOPPED YOU GOT COLD. BALDPATE WAS FASCINATING. SOLID ROCK. GOING DOWN THE OTHER SIDE WAS HARD TO FIND THE TRAIL AND IT WENT DOWN. I MADE IT TO FRYE NOTCH LEAN TO. I WAS BY MYSELF. SPEEDSTICK CHEF AND A SOUTHBOUNDER SWAK SHOWED UP. I HAD A FIRE GOING. SPIRIT FINGERS TRIED TO GET TO THE ROAD TO HITCH. HE WAS OUT OF FOOD. HE DIDNT FARE WELL I FOUND OUT. I HAD A GREAT NIGHT. FEARING THE COLD I HAD A FIRE. TURNS OUT IT WASNT VERY COLD THAT NIGHT.
Date: 2009-09-21
From: FRYE NOTCH LEAN TO

To: ANDOVER
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: clear sky

WHILE GETTING READY TO HIKE OFF, BUTTCHINZ AND BIG CAMERA SHOWED UP EARLY AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT SOMEWHERE UP ON BALD PATE. CHEF, SPEEDSTICK AND I WERE ABOUT TO HIKE ON. THE ONE SOUTHBOUNDER WAS GETTING READY TO HEAD SOUTH. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE COLD NIGHT BUT IT WAS RATHER MILD DOWN AT THIS ELEVATION. THAT SURPRISED ME. OFF AT 9 AND TRIED TO GET A BIG MILER IN. SPEEDSTICK PASSED ME BY AND I MET UP WITH HIM AT DUTCH NOTCH. THATS QUITE A DROP, ENDLESS. BUTTCHINZ AND BIG CAMERA CRUISED ON BY. I GOT TO EAST B HILL RD TO FIND THEM BOTH TRYING TO HITCH A RIDE TO ANDOVER FOR RESUPPLY. I PASSED THEM AND SAID SEE YA UP THE TRAIL. THE FIRST 10 MILES WENT QUICK THEN CAME MOODY MOUNTAIN. THE ROCKSLIDE SLASH MUDSLIDE THAT WIPED OUT PART OF THE TRAIL SLOWED MY PROGRESS. MOODY MOUNTAIN WAS A TOUGH CLIMB. THE TRAIL THROUGH THIS SECTION WAS MARKED BY PINK RIBBONS AND AT TIMES I BEGAN TO WONDER IF I WAS ON A TRAIL AT ALL. THE SOFT DIRT IN THE SLIDE AREA WAS TRICKY TO NAVIGATE. THE CLIMB WEAVED INSELF UP AND THROUGH THIS AREA. LETS HOPE THIS AREA IS STABLE AND DOESNT TAKE ME DOWN WITH IT. SPPEDSTICK CAUGHT ME AND HIKED ON BY. I PUSHED ON TO SOUTH ARM ROUND TO FIND THE HOSTEL SHUTTLE SITTING THERE WAITING FOR SOME SLACKPACKERS HEADING SOUTH. SPEEDSTICK WAS THERE HANGING OUT. HE WAS GONNA CAMP AT THE CAMPSITES BY THE ROAD. I NEEDED TO REGROUP AND GET TO THE INTERNET SO I GOT A FREE SHUTTLE TO ANDOVER. I RAN INTO SNP AND STRIDER WHO WERE HERE AFTER FLIPFLOPPING. THEY SHARED THEIR SPAGHETTI WITH ME THAT NIGHT. SPIRITFINGERS WAS OUT OF FOOD AND TRIED BUT WASNT ABLE TO HITCH HIKE AT EAST B HILL RD THE NIGHT BEFORE HAD ARRIVED EARLIER IN THE DAY. MANY HIKERS INCLUDING THE CHINESE TOURIST AND RAMBLE ON HAVE SHOWN UP HERE LATE AFTER GETTING A SHUTTLE TO THE HOSTEL FROM EAST B HILL RD. I RAN INTO FLOATER AT THE STORE IN TOWN WHO SHARED SOME FRIED ZUCCANI AND MUSHROOMS WITH ME AND I DONT EVEN LIKE THEM BUT I'M SO HUNGRY I ATE THEM. HE THANKED ME FOR THE CANDY I HAD GIVEN HIM THE DAY BEFORE. HE SAID HE WAS OUT OF FOOD AND THAT CANDY HELPED HIM WITH A LITTLE ENERGY. OFF AT 8 AM TOMORROW IF IM LUCKY. I WILL TRY TO EDIT MORE LATER. MAY BE TOUGH. GOT HUNDREDS OF PHOTOS TO POST. 246.4 MILES TO GO. I FOUND OUT MILES HAD WIRED ME SOME TRAIL MAGIC TO MY PAYPAL ACCOUNT WHICH CERTAINLY HELPED MAKE MY TRIP EASIER. I MAY SHOOT FOR A 17 MILE DAY TOMORROW. THANKS MILES, I'M FINISHING THIS TRAIL NO MATTER WHAT.
Date: 2009-09-22
From: ANDOVER

To: BEMIS MOUNTAIN LEAN TO
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I PLANNED ON 17 MILES BUT I DIDNT HAVE IT TODAY AFTER GOING UP OLD BLUE MOUNTAIN. I WAS WORN DOWN FROM STAYING UP SO LATE LAST NIGHT IN ANDOVER TRYING TO UPDATE MY JOURNAL. I GOT TO THE BEMIS MOUNTAIN LEAN TO AND NO ONE WAS HERE SO I DECIDED TO SPEND THE NIGHT AT THE SHELTER BY MYSELF. CHEF STOPPED BY AND ASKED WHERE THE WATER SOURCE WAS. I POINTED TO IT AND WHEN HE SAW IT HE SAID HE WASNT GONNA DRINK THAT, SO HE HIKED ON. CHEF SAID HE WAS OUT OF FOOD AND HAD TO GET TO RANGELEY THE NEXT DAY. I DRANK THAT WATER. IT WASN'T FLOWING AND WAS JUST A PUDDLE. THIS WATER SOURCE WAS NOT A VERY GOOD ONE. I HAD MY DOUBTS ABOUT DRINKING IT BUT DID ANYWAYS. I JUST FLAVORED IT. I HAD A NICE FIRE AND JUST ENJOYED THE NIGHT ALONE. I HAD A TRICKY TIME FINDING WOOD, IT WAS PICKED OVER PRETTY GOOD.
Date: 2009-09-23
From: BEMIS MOUNTAIN LEAN TO

To: RANGELEY
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

BUSTED BUTT TO GET TO RANGELEY TO PICK UP A MAIL DROP. I STAYED AT THE GULL POND LODGE HOSTEL. I MANAGED TO GET A RIDE WHILE I WAS HITCHING A RIDE. A COUPLE GUYS WHO JUST DROVE UP TO THE PARKING AREA HOLLERED AT ME AND GAVE ME A RIDE INTO RANGELEY. I CONTINUALLY HAVE GREAT LUCK HERE ON THE TRAIL. THESE TWO GUYS WERE FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY AND SAID THEY WANTED TO HIKE THIS SECTION AGAIN AFTER A PREVIOUS THRU HIKE YEARS PAST. THEY DROPPED ME OFF IN TOWN AND I FOUND A PAY PHONE AND CALLED THE HOSTEL. I STOPPED IN THE LOCAL BAR AND ATE A BURGER AND FRIES. A COUPLE CAME IN AND SAT DOWN NEXT TO ME. I CHATTED WITH THEM AS WELL AS A GUY TO MY LEFT. THE GUY TO MY LEFT OFFERED TO GIVE ME A RIDE TO THE HOSTEL WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR THE HOSTEL OWNER TO COME GET ME. I TOLD HIM I HAD TO SETTLE UP AND THE COUPLE TO MY RIGHT SAID THEY WOULD COVER IT FOR ME AND I WAS THANKFUL AND COULDNT BELIEVE HOW PEOPLE JUST WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO CONTINUALLY HELP ME ON THE TRAIL. I THEN GOT A RIDE TO THE HOSTEL WHERE I MET SEVERAL HIKERS LATER THAT NIGHT. I WAS LUCKY I WAS INDOORS BECAUSE IT WAS COLD AND IT STARTED TO RAIN SOME. WHEN THE OTHERS SHOWED UP THEY WERE HUNGRY AND LATE IN THE EVENING I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE NUMBER CALL THE BAR EVERYONE PLACED AND ORDER FOR BURGERS FRIES AND BUNCHES OF SODAS. THE NICE OLD GUY THAT OWNED THE HOSTEL TOOK US THEIR AND WE PICKED UP THE ORDER. THE HOSTEL OWNER LIVES IN THE HOUSE HE CALLS THE HOSTEL WITH BUNKS SET UP UPSTAIRS. IM SO HAPPY TO GET A SHAVE AND SHOWER AND A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP.