morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-01
From: Hanover, NH

To: Lyme-Dorchester Road
Miles today: 18.9

Slacked packed today. Wendy met us about half way and gave us Pepsi's, etc. It started raining about 3:00 - 3:30 pm, but it only lasted long enough to soak us to the bone. Fortunately it was warm enough and we didn't get cold. Long day, but easy since we weren't carring our full packs.
Date: 2004-08-02
From: Lyme-Dorchester Road

To: between Atwll Hill Rd and Ore Hill Shelter
Miles today: 15.0

We were planning on staying at Ore Hill Shelter, but at about 7:00 pm I was just plain worn out. LWOP and Wicomico were way ahead of me and stayed at the shelter. I stealth camped and met up with them the next morning. Talked to Hammock Hanger on the phone and she may join us for the rest of the trip after we've gone by Gorham. She's already done the Whites and, for some reason we can't fathom, doesn't want to do them again.
Date: 2004-08-03
From: between Atwll Hill Rd and Ore Hill Shelter

To: Glenncliff, NH
Miles today: 8.8

Got up early and met up with LWOP and Wicomico at the Ore Hill Shelter. It only took 40 minutes to get there, but if I'd done this the previous night, it would have taken over an hour, if it didn't kill me first. Wasn't difficult, was just too tired last night.We plan to slack pack from Glenncliff for two days, which should get us to Franconia Notch and then we'll have to pack for two days to Crawford Notch, where we left some food. Then it will be another three days to Pinkham Notch, where we left some more food. Then two days into Gorham, NH. Be interesting to see if we can stick to the schedule or not.
Date: 2004-08-04
From: Glenncliff, NH

To: Kinsman Notch, NH
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Slacked packed with LWOP, Wicomico and Spearment. Nice slow hike up to Mt Moosilauke. We went south bound and did the steep going up part first. The back side was less steep, but several more miles. We spent about an hour on top looking at one of the best views we've seen in a blue moon. A little cool on top, but that made the hiking so much easier.Tommorrow we slack pack from Kinsman Notch to Franconia Notch, about 16+ miles. It's going to be hard to get to the pick up point at the right time, but we should be OK.
Date: 2004-08-05
From: Kinsman Notch, NH

To: Franconia Notch, US 3
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Another day slack packing with the help of Phatt Chapp from Hikers Welcome Hostel. Hiked with LWOP and Wicomico going south bound again. We had breakfast in North Woodstock and got started on the trail about 7:20 am. We told Phatt Chapp we would be done about 6:00 pm. It was a long hard day. Saw our first Hut and LWOP and Wicomico had coffee and talked to all the thru hikers there. Then it was up Kinsman Mountain, very steep, but the view on top was worth it, where we ate lunch. Then down a very steep trail which was quite difficult. At about 2:00 pm LWOP and Wicomico left me as they are much faster hikers than myself. About 5:00 pm I started seeing all the north bound thru hikers including Flora and Fauna. Despite going as fast as I could for four hours, didn't get to the pick up point until 7:10 pm, an hour and ten minutes late. Fortunately, Phatt Chapp and the rest of the hikers waited for me. According to LWOP, we climbed a total of 6,000 feet today!Tommarrow we start back with real backpacking.
Date: 2004-08-06
From: Franconia Notch, US 3

To: Mt Lafayette, Greenleaf Hut
Miles today: 6.4

LWOP, Wicomico, Spearmint and myself got a ride to Franconia Notch from Phatt Chapp, with a breakfast stop in North Woodstock. I promised Spearmint I would stay with her through the Whites, no matter how slow we went. The day started pretty good, but it was soon apparent, Spearmint was a little in over her head. Her pack, at 42 lbs, was too heavy and she was having difficulty getting over the rocks on our first day of real White mountain hiking. LWOP and Wicomico left us about 11:00 am. By 5:00 pm it was clear Spearmint and myself weren't going to make the Garfield Ridge Campsite, as planned. The Whites are pretty, but above the treeline is no place to be stuck when it gets dark. Everytime we came up to a mountain top, it seemed another one would pop up and we would have more climbing to do. Finally, we saw the Greenleaf Hut and decided we had to go there for the night. It still took another hour or two before we got there. Not quite knowing whether they would take us in or not, we climbed the mile or more down. Fortunately, when we got there some trail angles sold us a couple of their bunk spaces. They had reserved about twenty or more bunks for the night, but there were a few no shows. We were too late for dinner, but knowing we had breakfast in the morning was nice. Spearmint planned to go down to the road and back to her car in Great Barrington, where she started. She would then hike south and fill in some spots she hadn't done yet. I would continue on and try to catch up to LWOP and Wicomico.
Date: 2004-08-07
From: Mt Lafayette, Greenleaf Hut

To: Mt Guyot, Guyot Campsite
Miles today: 9.4

After saying goodbye to Spearmint, I continued on thru the Whites. It was a long hard day and I was unable to catch up to LWOP and Wicomico. It's very hard to make any miles what with all the rocks trying to break my ankles and knees! The views were pretty. When I got to the Mt Guyot Campsite, they were quite full, but the caretaker was willing to take in everyone. He was quite relieved when I told him I had a hammock, instead of a tent. He showed me a couple trees which worked just fine for me. The campsite is designed to hold about 20 - 24 people, but he had 36 people when I arrived - three of them were in his own personal tent. Talk about going the extra mile. I guess the night before he had over 50 people, all of which he managed to accommodate.
Date: 2004-08-08
From: Mt Guyot, Guyot Campsite

To: Crawford Notch, US 302
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: fog

After a nice sleep at Guyot Campsite, climbed back to the trail. Nicer day than yesterday. Continue to have problems with the blazes at intersections. The AMC (I think) is supposed to maintain the blazes and they seem to be bent on making sure we thru hikers get lost at every possible opportunity. But I managed despite their efforts and made it to Crawford Notch by about 3:00 pm. I was to meet up with LWOP and Wicomico at the Crawford Notch Lodge, where we left a food box for resupply. The lodge is about three - four miles off the trail, so had to hitch. I got all my stuff ready, poles colapsed, stuck my thumb out and the very next car picked me up! Wasn't there for even a full minute. Nice couple on a car vacation and weren't sure where they were going. Met up with LWOP and Wicomico at the lodge. I got a room - expensive, but I'm worth it. LWOP and Wicomico stayed in the bunk room. The lodge served us dinner at 6:00 pm sharp, family style in the dining hall. Apparently, they aren't use to thru hikers. There wasn't near enough food for the three of us and the other two guys at the table. They kind of ran out of everything, but running out of the main meat dish was the most disappointing. Food was good, just not enough of it.
Date: 2004-08-09
From: Crawford Notch, US 302

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Fortunately, the lodge serves its breakfast on a buffet line instead of family style. Plus, LWOP, Wicomico Walker and myself made sure we got there early to make sure they didn't run out of food on us again. After breakfast, WW had to wait until 8:00 am to call about some boot problems he was having. So, LWOP and myself got on the road and got a fairly quick hitch (5 - 10 min) back to the trail. We were expecting a long hard climb out of the notch and that's pretty much what we got. Near the top, LWOP spread out all his wet stuff to dry out. I dried my wet stuff in the motel room, but it's hard to do that in a bunk room with a lot of other people in it. One of several reasons I like private motel rooms over bunk rooms and hostels. Anyway, WW caught up and they, as usual, left me in the dust. Then, as usual, I managed to make it to our planned stop (at Lakes of the Clouds Hut) late in the afternoon. There were no bunks available, so we had to do work for stay (the AMC's way to use through hikers as slaves). There are supposed to be six bunks specifically for thru hikers in the "dungeon", but a bunch of section hikers beat us to them. As best I can tell, we got the better deal. The dungeon has six bunks, but only about three feet square of standing room, plus it really is a dungeon - all stone. Very cold and wet. We stayed in the main dining room, sleeping on the dinning room tables. Anyway, got a pretty good nights sleep, even with all the snoring going on. Not sure I like the idea of work to stay, but all we had to do was set the tables for dinner and again set them up for breakfast. There were 15 through hikers and they didn't really have enough work for all of us. Fortunately, at this hut at least, they won't put anyone out on the trail in the dark. It's above the tree line for many miles around and if they were to refuse anyone, there's a chance they would have to pick up their dead bodies the next morning.
Date: 2004-08-10
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Osgood Tentsite
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

We got up and cleared out of the dining room and then set up the tables for breakfast as part of our work for stay. We then left since we wanted to get up to Mt Washington and have breakfast there. It was a beautiful day. Sunny, with hardly a cloud in the sky. From the hut we only saw one cloud - the one around Mt Washington. Fortunately, by the time we got there it was gone. We had a good view of all the surrounding countryside. Well worth the climb up there, which as it happens wasn't all that difficult. We had to wait until nine am for the food service to open - we got there around eight. While up there, the cog trains and vans started showing up. We saw several groups of tourist who would get out of the cog train, tourist van, or what ever, put on a full back pack and then have their picture taken by the Mt Washington sign! Not quite sure what they were thinking. Bagged another 6,000 ft summit?We then took off (I started on the wrong trail, but managed to make my way over to the right one later) toward Madison Springs Hut where we had lunch. After a bowl of soup, etc. we started up Madison Mountain. Up to now, we've only had problems with blazes at intersections, etc. On this climb, there were plenty of blazes, there just wasn't any trail! Very steep going up and the next three miles downward steep as well. All a bunch of jumble boulders, but no real trail. Wicomico Walker fell down on the way up to the top, but was OK. I guess he falls a lot. After the top, both LWOP and WW did their usual disappearing act and left me to fend for myself. Which is OK, I'm much slower than they are and hate to hold them up. Anyway, it took me over five hours to go the next three miles. Plus, toward the end of "trail" above the tree line, I fell down hurting my left wrist, right knee and rib cage. I have to say this is the worst excuse for a trail I've ever seen and that includes all of Pennsylvania. If I could, I would march all the people responsible for this excuse of a trail in a line and shoot them! It's dangerous and making through hikers, who have so much time and effort all ready invested, hike this thing is a crime. It's not needed, there are plenty of ways around Mt Madison and the AMC and ATC need to fix it. They must kill several people a year here, but, the ATC at least, doesn't like to publicize it because then people might not try through hiking anymore.Once below the tree line, the trail is OK and the trip to the Osgood tent site was fine. I got there around 8:00 pm and met up with LWOP and WW again. I hung up my hammock and was able to sleep fairly well despite my injuries.
Date: 2004-08-11
From: Osgood Tentsite

To: Pinkham Notch, NH 16
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: fog

Short hike from Osgood this morning, at least for me. LWOP and Wicomico Walker didn't read both sides of the signs at the entrance to the Osgood tent site. I did. I was on the Appalachean trail, they weren't. I left first. Later, LWOP noticed he was hitting spider webs on his chin. Normally, when I'm ahead, he only gets them on his fore head. After a mile and a half they turned back and found the missing sign telling us all the trail makes a 90 degree turn. The AMC is still trying to get us lost. Anyway, they weren't the only ones who got it wrong. On the way down to Pinkham Notch, we met up with Wizard, who didn't figure it out until he got to the road and decided to hike four miles back on the right trail to make sure he didn't miss any white blazes. If only the AMC would invest in a couple pints of paint ...Anyway, we had lunch and decided to stay at Joe Dodge Lodge. Later in the evening, we met up with Hammock Hanger and the four of us sleep in one room. Make that one of us - WW has a slight snoring problem, which means the rest of us have a slight sleeping problem. I finally had to get out of the room and find a couch in the basement of the lodge where I got a few hours sleep. Plus the room was extremly hot, even though it was the low 60s outside. It was nice to see Hammock Hanger again.
Date: 2004-08-12
From: Pinkham Notch, NH 16

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: fog

Hammock Hanger has already done this section and decided she would meet us (LWOP, Wicomico Walker and myself) in Gorham instead of doing it again. You might notice, we're not getting the sort of miles we aught to be doing. Today, we had to climb Wildcat Mountain, with its' four peaks. Plus, the AMC doesn't really know that hiking is supposed to be a standing upright sort of walk, not a climbing with your hands and knees in fear for your life and falling off cliffs sort of thing. We were all a little tired when we got to Carter Notch Hut. Plus it started raining pretty bad, so we decided to stay. They had room here, since it's the only hut that doesn't serve food. We had planned on going to Imp Campsite, but in the rain, it wouldn't have been much fun.
Date: 2004-08-13
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Rattle River stealth camp
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: fog

The day started with a little rain and pretty much got worse. We all wanted to get to Gorham and so left in hopes the rain would subside. It didn't. They got about 3 inches of rain over the whole area. I started a little before LWOP and Wicomico Walker, but they passed me fairly quickly and I didn't see them for the rest of the day. We continue to have to spend a lot of time figuring out which trail is the AT everytime there is an intersection of trails, of which there are a lot of in the whites. At about 7:30 pm, I came to the Rattle River and it was very high. LWOP and WW had gotten here earlier and got across without any problems and hiked on into Gorham. I was very tired, the water was about three to four feet deep and roaring by. I decided to set up my hammock and try in the morning. While putting up the hammock, Flora and Fauna (sisters from Kansas) came by and went right in. The water was waist deep for them. It took a little effort on their part, but they made it across. What can I say? They are in their twenties and have a lot more energy then I do. Anyway, I later learned they were stopped by the next river crossing when they were in waist deep water and it was obvious they hadn't gotten to the deepest part yet. So they turned back and set up their tent for the night.
Date: 2004-08-14
From: Rattle River stealth camp

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 2.2
Weather: broken clouds

After packing up the hammock, I went down to the river I couldn't cross last night and found the water level to be down to normal. I was able to get across with out getting my feet wet. A minute or two later, met up with Flora and Fauna when I learned they couldn't get across the second river. When we reached it, the level had also gone down and we were able to get across without any problems. Then it was a short walk to the road to Gorham. We hitched a ride and were dropped off at the Barn. Doc, who runs the Barn, took us in and there I was reunited with LWOP, Wicomico Walker and Hammock Hanger. WW had caught a cold and wasn't feeling too well. Plus, the forcast for the next few days was for rain. So we decided to get a couple motel rooms and stayed for two days. We would have left earlier, but both LWOP and myself were suffering from the cold we got from WW. We supect WW got the cold from one of the huts we stayed in, probably the Lakes of the Clouds Hut.
Date: 2004-08-17
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gentien Pond Campsite
Miles today: 11.8

Wicomico Walker still wasn't feeling very good, but both LWOP and myself have gotten over our colds. Hammock Hanger was ready to go, so we all took off early in the moring. We decided we probably couldn't get a ride if all four of us tried it together, so we split up. Hammock Hanger and myself started first and LWOP and WW started a few minutes later. HH and myself walked down to the barn, where two other hikers were hitching as well. So we went a few yards past them and stuck out our thumbs. A few minutes later a pick up came by and took all four of us down to the trail head. LWOP and WW got a ride as well, but they started about a half hour behind us. When they got to us, HH was warmed up enough to hike with them and I didn't see all three of them until I got to Gentian Pond Campsite. They all stayed in the shelter, I hung up the hammock. There was also a group from the Outward Bound school, but they were very quiet and we hardly knew they were there.
Date: 2004-08-18
From: Gentien Pond Campsite

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: few clouds

A difficult day. The trail continues to be nothing but rocks with blazes on them, and not many of them. We started at 8:00 am, but I didn't get to the shelter until 7:45 pm. Set up my hammock, ate dinner and went to bed.
Date: 2004-08-19
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Speck Pind Campsite
Miles today: 5.1

Another long day of steep climbs and steep down hills. This is the day we did the Mahoosuc Notch and the Mahoosuc Arm. Took us three hours to go one mile through the notch. The 5.1 miles is not a mistake, it took me 8.5 hours to hike it. Stayed in shelter since it looked like rain was coming.
Date: 2004-08-20
From: Speck Pind Campsite

To: Grafton Notch, Maine Hwy 26
Miles today: 4.6
Weather: overcast clouds

We were planning on going just a bit further, but Hammock Hanger was the latest to catch Wicomico Walker's cold and she decided to go to the "Cabin" for rest and recuperation. It rained most of the night and was still raining around noon time when we got to the road. So, we all decided to stay at the Cabin. It's a hostel run by Honey and Bear. It's a whole lot better than most of the other hostels I've stayed at.
Date: 2004-08-21
From: Grafton Notch, Maine Hwy 26

To: East B Hill Road
Miles today: 10.3

It looks like we can slack pack for a few days. Today we went over Baldpate Mountain in the rain. When your slack packing, it's not nearly as miserable hiking as it is with a full pack. You know you'll be able to dry out in the evening and take a hot shower. Honey and Bear continue to be the best host I've delt with in a long time. The hike itself was steep and the views were all fogged out when we got to the top.
Date: 2004-08-22
From: East B Hill Road

To: South Arm Road
Miles today: 10.1

Finally saw the sun today. The hike was easy, but there wasn't much to see from the top of various mountains we climbed. They are finally getting a little smaller, but of course this means fewer views. Hammock Hanger wasn't feeling well and decided not to hike today. She'll make it up if and when she makes it to Mt Katahdin.
Date: 2004-08-23
From: South Arm Road

To: Maine Hwy 17
Miles today: 13.3

Another slack pack today with LWOP, Wicomico Walker and Hammock Hanger. The weather was sunny, with a few menacing clouds toward the end of the day. The climb up and down from Old Blue Mt was a little steep, but nothing like we had in the Whites. Tommarrow, we leave the good company of Honey and Bear and start backpacking for real. Expect it will be about four days and then we will be in Stratton, Maine for our next rest and resupply.
Date: 2004-08-24
From: Maine Hwy 17

To: Piazza Rock Campsite
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: clear sky

Hiked with LWOP, Wicomico Walker and Hammock Hanger again. The shelter had a family in it and LWOP, WW and HH decided to cowboy camp (means to camp without tent or anything over you, good only if it's not going to rain) on one of the tent platforms.   LWOP and I went up to the actual Piazza Rock, interesting. Looks like a very heavy, large boat coming out of the mountain.
Date: 2004-08-25
From: Piazza Rock Campsite

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-to
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: clear sky

Didn't quite do the milage we expected. We had three mountains to climb and the going was a little tougher than anticipated. As usual, I came in last and set my hammock up near the shelter. Still looking for my first moose sighting - LWOP has a theory that there really aren't any moose in Maine, just one they run around on the back of a pick up truck for tourist to see. They use pogo sticks to put the moose foot prints on the trail. All those new privies? They are really there to provide raw material for the "moose droppings" we see all the time.
Date: 2004-08-26
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-to

To: Caribou Valley Road
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: clear sky

We did a fairly respectable distance today. Got picked up by the guy who runs the Stratton Motel (his place was full) and signed up for three nights at the White Wolf Motel and Bar. Not too bad a place, particularly since it only cost about $30 a day.
Date: 2004-08-27
From: Caribou Valley Road

To: Stratton Brook Pond Road
Miles today: 9.1

Did a slack pack today. Only did 9 miles since that's how the roads work out. The slack pack provider was telling us we would have to do 19 miles, including the Bigalows, if we wanted to slack pack tommarrow. We found a way to cut that to 16 miles.
Date: 2004-08-28
From: Statton Brook Pond Road

To: Bog Brook Road, Flagstaff Lake
Miles today: 16.0

Did a south bound slack pack today. The day started nice and warm, maybe a little too warm for my hiking partners, LWOP, Wicomico Walker and Hammock Hanger. They were all complaining about the heat, but I seemed to feel quite comfortable. HH was feeling particularly warm and was about to unload on WW on the top of the West Peak of Bigelow Mt. Before she could, WW asked her if she wanted the bad news or the worse news. The bad news is we had two more peaks to climb, the worse news is he broke his hand during a fall on his way up the mountain. There wasn't much we could do for him. We discussed trying to immobilized the hand, but WW wanted it free to keep his balance. One of the other hikers gave him some Tylenol and he was able to get back down to the road without too much trouble and smiling most of the way. We met a couple of the camp caretakers at the Horns Pond Lean-to, but they weren't able to help much. Wonder what they do for broken legs?