morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-07-31
From: Frankonia Notch

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

I had a strawberry wafflle at Peg's and then got a cup of hot chocolate at the Cascade Koffee Shop so that I could use the Internet to update my journal. I got a ride to the trail and started hiking at 9:55 after doing a 0.8 mile approach trail. After hiking uphill over Mt. Lafayette (5249'), I finally saw a good view of Mt. Washington with storm clouds all around it. It will probably rain on Sunday when I get there. I hiked on to the AMC Galehead Hut where I got to stay for work. My work was to give a presentation along with Sumac and Undetermined (two other thru-hikers) about thru-hiking and our experiences. We also helped set the table for the 36 guests. They fed us left-overs for dinner and we had breakfast also. I packed extra food but never turn down more food. It took me 8 hours and 20 minutes to do 13 miles today.We didn't have to give our presentation, but helped with breakfast.
Date: 2003-08-01
From: Galehead Hut

To: Mizpah Hut
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: light rain

I left Galehead Hut at 9 AM after setting the tables and eating breakfast. Dav e and his crew did a great job feeding us and making all the thru-hikers feel welcome. The climb up South Twin Mtn wasn't bad but it took me 4 hours almost to go the 7 miles to Zealand Falls Hut. I stopped there to eat lunch. I paid a dollar for the AYCE pastries. They were good and filling. Sumac and Undetermined came in and talked about going on to Mt. Webster and stealth camping. I was going to stop and stay at the Zealand Hut due to the expected hard rains. It was 1:30 and I figured I had about 7 hours of daylight left. So I thought I might do the same and hike another 7 miles or so. The first 7 were so difficult, I wasn't sure I could do much more today. But when I started from Zealand to Crawford Notch, the trail was smooth and easy most of the way and I did about 2.8 MPH for the 7.8 miles arriving at the base of Mt. Webster at 4:25.I then decided to go all the way to the Mizpah Hut another 6.4 miles. These miles took me over Mt. Webster and Mt. Jackson at 3910' and 4052'. Starting at 1270' it was quite the climb. I finally arrived at the hut at 7:50 PM, tired, but feeling good about doing 21.1 miles in one day in the White Mountains. I actually did two days of scheduled hiking in one so I will finish a day earlier.
Date: 2003-08-02
From: Mizpah Hut

To: Madison Springs Hut
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: fog

I slept well at Mizpah Hut but was awakened by heavy rain at 12:30 and 5:15. By 5:55 when I got up it was done raining. However I hiked pretty much all day yesterday from 10 AM to almost 8 PM in the rain. My boots and socks were still wet when I put them on this morning. I helped set the table this morning for breakfast and then cleaned out two refrigerators after breakfast for my work for stay. I got on the trail around 9:40. I hiked by Mt Clinton, Mt Eisenhower, Mt. Franklin, and Mt. Monroe on my way up to the Lake of the Clouds Hut at 5040 feet. Then I hiked the 1.4 miles up to the summit of Mt. Washington with some day hikers. It only took me about 45 minutes. I stayed on the summit for 2.5 hours where I bought postcards and mailed them, got some lunch, and took some photos when the sun peaked out for a few moments. I was in a cloud all day today. I also called my wife and daughter from the summit. Then at 3:15 I hiked down to the Madison Hut about 5.7 miles arriving around 6 PM for an 11.8 mile day.
Date: 2003-08-03
From: Madison Springs Hut

To: Carter Dome
Miles today: 14.9

Today is my birthday; I'm 57. I enjoyed my stay at Madison Hut and folded blankets and swept the floor in the bunkrooms and bathrooms before I left at 9:40. The trail from Madison Hut over Mt. Madison is super difficult for the first 2 miles or so until you drop below treeline. I did see a garter snake in the boulders near the summit. I only saw the tail disappear under a rock and wasn't sure what kind of snake it was until I saw another one later in the day going up Wildcat Ridge. These garter snakes are tan colored with cream to light yellow stripes. Most of the eastern garter snakes are darker with bright stripes.After Mt Madison the trail crosses many streams and eventually comes out to NH hwy 16 at Pinkham Notch where the visitor center serves an AYCE hiker lunch for $7. I stayed long enough to eat, make phone calls, and forget to fill my water bladder. I arrived at 1:15 and left at 2. The AT goes straight up from Pinkham Notch over Wildcat Mtn. about 2400'. I could hear the Mt Washington cog train whistle as I was hiking. It was nice to have Mt Washington behind me. There's a chair lift that takes hikers up to Wildcat Peak and saves a lot of sweat. It's more like climbing than hiking. I talked to two ladies who were just about to ride the lift back down. They were amazed that I would hike in such dark and scary woods. They wondered if I had seen any snakes or bears. I told them I had. After going over 6 peaks today and finally arrived at Carter Dome at 7:15 and set up my tent. It started to rain a little. After I had dinner and put my radio earphones on, it rained real hard on and off all night long. It was a 14.9 mile very tough birthday. I made myself some pudding for my birthday with some ice cold water that I got from a spring near the top of Carter Dome.
Date: 2003-08-04
From: Carter Dome

To: Gorham NH
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: light rain

I woke up at 5:15, but slept in until 6. I took 2 aleve tablets looking forward to another fun day. I have 6 mountain peaks to climb today. By 6:36 I was hiking. After passing Mt Hight and the 3 Carter Peaks, I tackled Mt Moriah. Coming down the north side I met Mike from New Jersey, a thru-hiker that I first met on the 11th day of my hike near Cheoah Bald in North Carolina. He got off the trail in Delaware Water Gap and started hiking from Katadin south. We exchanged info on places to stay, eat, etc. and went on. It started raining around 10 this morning and has continued on and off all day. I made it to US hwy 2 by 1:42 and hitched a ride into Gorham where I'm staying at the Barn, a hiker hostel run by Scavenger, a 1995 thru-hiker. He provides bikes free of charge to get around town. It's good because the grocery store is 3 miles away! I got a shower, shave, ate lunch, did my laundry, dried my tent, and finished my journals. Now I'm going to eat again! It was a very hard 14.1 mile day. It's supposed to rain all week.
Date: 2003-08-05
From: Gorham NH

To: Carlo Col Shelter 
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: moderate rain

I saw Flyby at the hostel last night. He's still trying to hike although he's still injured. I got up early and had a good breakfast at Welch's. Then I tried to hitchhike back to the trail for almost an hour and finally just walked the 3.5 miles back to the trail. It took me about an hour and 15 minutes. I started hiiking the trail at 8:55, a late start. I saw 3 garter snakes today, two were 3 feet long, one was darker than the other. I met a guy hiking with his dog, a border collie. I helped him negotiate some hard boulder sections. Tucker, the dog, stepped off a board crossing and sund into the muck up to his shoulders. After removing his pack, he was able to crawl out. It rained on and off all day but finally really rained hard with thunder and lightning at about 6 pm when I crossed the Maine border. I made it to the Carlo Col Shelter at 7 PM and went back to help the guy with the dog. He stopped and tented at the Maine border so I went back in the pouring rain and spent the night in the shelter It was a 16.9 mile day; 20.4 including the road walk.
Date: 2003-08-06
From: Baldpate Lean-To

To: Speck Pond Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: light rain

It rained all night very hard, but was just windy in the morning. Later it rained lightly on and off, but nothing serious. I started hiking at 6:0 and made it to the Full Goose Shelter by 9:20 only 4.4 miles. I saw a cottontail and 9 spruce grouse including 3 chicks. I got some good photos I think.I continued on to the Speck Pond Shelter through the famous Mahoosuc Notch, the toughest mile of the AT. I ;made it through the 1.1 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes. I left the Speck Pond shelter at 2:12 and made it to Grafton Notch(4.6 mies) in 2.5 hours, then I went on to the Baldpate Lean-to, another 2.3 miles arriving to spend the night at 6 PM. It was a 16.4 mile day.
Date: 2003-08-07
From: Speck Pond Shelter

To: The Cabin Hostel, Andover ME
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: light rain

It rained again after I arrived at the shelter last night, but not as hard as the night before. I got an early start at 5:40 and went over Baldpate Mtn and Surplus Mtn. On the other side of Surplus I saw another spruce grouse and finally a cow moose and a calf. I got some photos from about 30 yards. When I got to East B Hill Road, there was some trail magic (iced tea and snacks) which I ate thankfully. Paul from Pine Ellis Hostel in Andover ME drove up and offered myselt and Skeemer, a thru-hiker from Ohio that I just met, a ride to town. I declined wanting to do more than 8 miles today; Skeemer accepted since he had planned to spend the night in Andover and re-supply.I hiked on wanting to do a 20+ mile day. But with the trecherous stream crossings, wet trail, and difficult terrain, I was having difficulty doing 2 mph. By 5 PM I just made it to the South Arm Road and decided to call it a day and hitch into Andover for food and trail snacks. I'm staying at The Cabin, a hiker hostel where I have my own bedroom and AYCE dinner and breakfast. I have a 3600' peak to go over tomorrow and then it is downhill all the way to Rangeley, 26 miles. I'll see if the terrain will allow those kind of miles in one day. Today was an 18.1 mile day.
Date: 2003-08-08
From: The Cabin Hostel, Andover ME

To: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a wonderful breakfast (the best so far on the trail) and enjoyed the hospitality of Margie and Earl Towne of The Cabin. I got started on the trail again at 7:30 and climbed over Old Blue and Bemis Mtns where I met 2 guys section hiking from PA. They do about 100 or so miles a year. I saw another spruce grouse with one chick and got a photo. I also saw a ruffed grouse on the highway on the way up South Arm Road from Andove. I met a couple from Washington DC carrying a Siamese cat who saw a cow moose and calf near Moxie Pond. When I arrived at Sabbath Day Pond Lean-To I saw a snowshoe hare.I got there at 5:20 after a 17 mile day.
Date: 2003-08-09
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-To

To: Rangeley ME
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I got on the trail at 6:20 and finally did 2.5 mph making it to ME hwy 4 by 10:05, a distance of 9.4 miles. It rained a little last night, but so far nothing today although it is cloudy and looks like rain.I'm staying at the Gull Pond Lodge, a hostel in Rangeley, Maine. I have 13 more hiking days left and should finish on Aug 22 if all goes well. I need to eat and get on the Internet today. I plan to buy my plane tickets today also. The last week or so has been very hard and I think I've lost some more weight, but I am still feeling fine. I'm looking forward to climbing Katahdin.
Date: 2003-08-10
From: Rangeley ME

To: Spaulding Mtn Lean-to
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: moderate rain

I saw ¢A League of Extraordinary Men¢ starring Sean Connery last night at the Rangeley movie theater. It was based on a comic book. I enjoyed it because Sean Connery was in it. This morning I had a good breakfast at Gull Pond Lodge with Sticks and we got a free shuttle to highway 4 to start the trail at 7:30 AM. I saw a garter snake on Saddleback Mountain which was fogged in. It rained most of the morning as it did last night but cleared off some in the afternoon with a little sunshine. I fell two times, the second time on my tailbone again. This time it really hurt and I had to take some Aleve to make it to the Spaulding Mtn Lean-To. Each step I took was very painful, especially when I had to step up going uphill. I thought I would black out from the sharp pain which in itself was very draining. This was a serious injury. It made me walk very slowly. I used the extra time to call several boreal chickadees up close since I didn¢t have my binoculars. I arrived finally at 5:10 PM for an 18.7 mile day. Just before I got to the shelter, a large tree limb fell on the trail ten seconds after I passed beneath it. I¢m sure I would have been seriously hurt if it had hit me. Someone is looking out for me today which has been an almost disastrous day.
Date: 2003-08-11
From: Spaulding Mtn Lean-to

To: Horns Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: overcast clouds

It only rained a bit today so my boots stayed dry. I thought I had to wade through another stream today, but I found a board to cross between two large rocks. I started hiking at 6 AM and climbed Spaulding, Sugerloaf, and S and N Crocker Mtns arriving at Maine Hwy 27 at 1:15. I drank a Bud beer left by trail angels on an empty stomach and was a little tipsy for about a half hour. It was especially hard to walk across the single bog logs. I did see another garter snake and a snowshoe hare today. I arrived (in much pain again owing to my tailbone injury) at the Horn Pond Lean-To at 4:10 PM; a 18.6 mile day. I thought I¢d be the only one in the shelter there, but two section hikers arrived later. I have never spent a night alone in a shelter on my entire thru-hike. The caretaker was very lonely and talked to me for awhile. I seem to be in a bubble between large groups of thru-hikers ahead of and behind me.
Date: 2003-08-12
From: Horns Pond Lean-to

To: Mile 2014.2
Miles today: 24.3

I started hiking at 6 AM going up immediately over North Horn and the Bigalows including Avery Peak. Avery was the guy who got the idea of the Appalachian Trail started in the 1920¢s. I saw another garter snake coming down Little Bigalow Mtn. I arrived at West Carry Pond Lean-To at 4:10 and ate dinner. Then I started hiking at 5 PM and went past West and East Carry Ponds to about 0.3 miles beyond the North branch of the Carrying Place Stream. It was getting dark and I saw a nice tenting spot. I saw two black ducks on East Carry Pond. I¢m ready to cross the Kennebec River tomorrow since I am less than 7 miles away. I hiked 24.3 miles today finishing at 7:50 PM.
Date: 2003-08-13
From: Mile 2014.2

To: Powerlines at Mile 2033.1
Miles today: 18.9

It rained last night a little and some at noon today but the afternoon was sunny. I started hiking at 6 AM and made it to the Kennebec River crossing at 8:55. The guy with the canoe arrived at 9 sharp. I helped paddle the canoe with Hazmat and myself across the river. Hazmat arrived last night and attempted to wade across the river. He was chest high in the water when his feet started to slip on the bottom. He decided to wait until morning for the canoe. If he had gone upstream a quarter of a mile, the river was much shallower, but swifter. He may have been able to wade across there. However, the power company may release water at any time and the river can rise 3 to 6 feet in minutes. Normally, they release water at 10 AM and it gets to the AT crossing around 1 PM. They do this to generate more electricity and aid the river rafters who desire heavier flows for more whitewater. But they can do unscheduled releases also.After I crossed the Kennebec, I walked to the Caratunk House hostel where they told me if I wanted a meal right away I would have to hitch a ride up river. They would not be serving lunch until 11 AM. I caught a ride after walking about a mile and a half. River guides on their day off took me to ¢The Forks¢, actually West Forks, where I ate a pizza, a chef¢s salad, a drumstick ice cream cone, and a liter of Dr. Pepper. I also cleaned my water filter and refilled my Platypus water bladder. Then I bought 3 sub sandwiches for dinner and lunch tomorrow as well as some snacks. I also bought a half gallon of ice cream which I ate in 25 minutes to get back on the trail around 1 PM. I saw my garter snake today and ate blueberries and huckleberries on Pleasant Mtn. I hiked 18.9 miles and tented at the first powerline before Moxie Pond.
Date: 2003-08-14
From: Powerlines at Mile 2033.1

To: Monson ME
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: broken clouds

There was no rain last night and a sunny day today! I started hiking at 6 AM and made it up Moxie Bald by 9 AM and to Moxie Lean-To by 10 AM. Then I descended towards Monson and saw my daily garter snake, a pileated woodpecker, three-toed woodpecker, and a woodcock. I had a wonderful clear view of the Bigalows and Katahdin from the top of Moxie Bald, but my camera locked up yesterday and refused to take any photos. I tried to rewind the 23 photos I had already taken on the roll in the camera, but it wouldn¢t budge. So I finally opened up the back and removed the film¢¦all the photos were lost. I¢m not too happy with my new $100 Samsung camera to say the least. I hiked 25 miles today and stayed at the Pie Lady Hostel in Monson. It took an hour to get a hitch into town and I spent all night doing laundry, eating, and getting groceries so I didn¢t get much sleep even though the Pie Lady¢s home was very quiet and the bed comfortable.
Date: 2003-08-15
From: Monson ME

To: Cloud Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: broken clouds

I had a nice stay at the Pie Lady¢s in Monson: ate Bar-B-Q pork, a bean salad, and had a root beer float, did my laundry, got groceries, and bought my airplane ticket home. The Pie Lady took Grover, Bodacious, and me to Hwy 15 and we started hiking into the 100 mile wilderness at 8:05 AM. I met Grover and Bodacious at the Stony Brook Shelter in Vermont on July 24th. We saw two garter snakes today to keep the Maine garter snake streak going. We met Snort and Clover, two girls from Canada, at Thompson Brook. I had stayed with them at the Eckville Shelter in PA on June 22nd and also at the Church of the Mountain Hostel in Delaware Water Gap on July 2nd. Clover also stopped and gave me a ride out of town to the trail on July 21st from Manchester Center VT. Snort came down with a virus and spent a week or two getting well before both girls got back on the trail. They had to skip portions of the trail, but wanted to finish Katahdin before heading back to Canada. I waited for them to get dressed before I took their photo at the stream.We made it to Cloud Pond Lean-To at 6:30 for a 19.1 mile day. I took my boots off to ford the Long Pond Stream. I threw them across the stream, but both of them landed in the stream (one hit the shore first but rolled into the stream). Bodacious fished them out as they floated past him on the other side of the stream. Never throw your boots across a stream! The bottom of my feet are like leather, but I wouldn¢t have wanted to hike the rest of the way without my boots.
Date: 2003-08-16
From: Cloud Pond Lean-to

To: Carl A Newhall Lean-to
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: broken clouds

Although Cloud Pond Lean-To is 0.4 miles off the trail, we had a nice stay there. Bodacious thought he heard a cow moose munching just below the shelter along the edge of the pond. We all quietly moved through the underbrush to get a look. I had a nice view but my camera refused to work again. We got on the trail again at 6:20 and arrived at the Carl A. Newhall Lean-To at 2:30 for a 16.8 mile day. We saw a garter snake again today. The hike seemed easier today ¢ maybe because I was more rested. I took photos of a beautiful stream (cascades) at the West Branch of the Pleasant River and a brown bracken fungus. It rained on me from noon until 1 PM along with thunder and lightning.
Date: 2003-08-17
From: Carl A Newhall Lean-to

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained some more around 6 PM last night. I went to bed at 6 and slept until 5:30 AM. We started hiking at 6:15 going up and over Gulf Hagas Mtn, West Peak, Hay Mtn, and White Cap (3654¢). I took some photos of spruce grouse and saw a garter snake around 8 AM to keep my Maine streak going (at least 1 garter snake a day). We saw a cow and calf moose at 2102.8 miles on the trail after the woods road between the Logan Brook Lean-To and the East Branch Lean-To. Then we saw another cow moose at Mountain View Pond. It was a 3-moose day! We arrived at Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To at 3:15 PM for an 18.9 mile day. There was a nice pool at the base of the falls where we got cleaned up and swam. It¢s a beautiful spot.
Date: 2003-08-18
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

To: White House Landing Wilderness Camp
Miles today: 13.8

We enjoyed our stay at Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To. I started hiking at 5:55 alone since I had planned to stop at White House Landing while Grover and Bodacious planned to hike by it and go another 7 miles or so. I arrived at White House Landing at 11 AM for a 13.8 mile day. I saw a garter snake around 10 AM and got photos of Katahdin from Pemadumcook Lake. I saw a belted kingfisher too. I then hiked another 1.2 miles off the trail to get to the landing to call the boat to bring me to the hostel across the lake. I arrived at White House at noon, ate a 34 pound burger, and a 14¢ pizza. For dinner I had another 34 pound burger, some zuchinni bread, garden green beans, and a pint of Ben and Jerry¢s ice cream. It is a beautiful spot here on Pemadumcook Lake. The loons are neat to listen to in the evening and early morning.
Date: 2003-08-19
From: White House Landing Wilderness Camp

To: North End Rainbow Lake
Miles today: 23.0

I woke up to serenading loons and had an AYCE breakfast of home fries, bacon, eggs, muffins, OJ, hot chocolate, and blueberry pancakes. Bill took Carol, Phyllis (two retired school teachers from Manchester VT), and me back to Maher Tote Road where I started hiking the trail at 9 AM. I was planning on a 27.3 mile day but this was a late start. The first 7.7 miles to Wadleigh Stream Lean-To were easy and I saw my garter snake for the day. After that I went over Nesuntabunt Mtn and things got interesting. I passed Crescent Pond and noticed three canoes and a flat bottomed boat by the shore with a path going up a nearby hill. I walked another 34 mile, took a wrong turn to a viewpoint, and when I returned to the trail, I went back south instead of north. The trail made a 90 degree turn at the viewpoint uphill by a huge boulder. It was not marked so I missed it completely. I didn¢t realize I was going south until I saw the three canoes and the flat bottomed boat again. There was the same path going uphill too. I figured out what I had done and turned around to hike the same 34 mile for the third time. Now I knew I wouldn¢t make 27.3 miles before dark. So I picked an alternate campsite at the north end of Rainbow Lake and tented there for the night. I finished hiking at 7 PM so I¢d still have daylight to cook dinner. It was a 23 mile day.
Date: 2003-08-20
From: North End Rainbow Lake

To: The Birches Campsite
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I started hiking at 6:20, made it to Hurd Brook Lean-To by 8:15 and pushed on to Abol Bridge. I met Crockett, a section hiker finishing up his hike from last year, at the 100 mile wilderness sign and hiked with him to the Abol Bridge store. We arrived at 9:30 and I ate two Bar-B-Q pork sandwiches, three ice cream bars, a 32 oz. Gatorade, and a 20 oz. iced tea. His wife came at 11 and I continued hiking the 10 miles to Katahdin Stream Campground arriving at 3:10 PM. I saw a cow and calf moose at Elbow Lake, a belted kingfisher at the outlet of Tracy Lake, and a pair of black-backed woodpeckers 12 mile from the campground. It was a 17.7 mile day. I signed into the Birches Lean-To, ate dinner at 5, and prepared for my summit of Katahdin tomorrow morning.