morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-08-26
From: Crawford Notch/Amy's place

To: Lakes of the Crowds hut
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: mist

Another heartfelt goodby to Amy, then Julie road Bruiser, Mule and I to the trail. I said by to Julie until December when we'll hopefully both be in Boston for Christmas.The hike was beautiful, but tiring as we hiked 4000 feet up to Lakes of the Clouds, where the crowd was too much. Speaking of "Too Much," she is here with Enough. Hadn't seen them in a grip. What, Trickster, Sleepy the Arab and Cosmic Punchline are here as well. It's good to mee up with friends I haven't seen in months. I'm real happy to be here despite the crowds of weekend nancies. Hopefully we will summit Washington in the morning.
Date: 2006-08-27
From: Lakes of the Crowds hut

To: Madison Hut
Miles today: 7.0

I summitted Washington early this morning. It was somewhat clear. After that it was a short but slow day in the rain to Madison Hut. The rain was miserable, so Mule and I stayed at the hut as Bruiser went on. There is a group of 6 from Israel fresh out of military service, enjoying some freedom on the trail. Boaz was one of them. He plays guitar and is enoying some adventure in the U.S. really sweet guys who picked one hell of a first A.T. trip - Pinkham Notch NH to MA/VA border.Jon was on the hut crew and plays a mean mandolin and jammed with Mule and I for a while. He let us sleep on the floor for 5 bucks. There really isn't anywhere to camp up here in the northern presidential range.
Date: 2006-08-28
From: Madison Hut

To: Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: fog

Got up early today to hike to Pinkham Notch. The climb down to town was hellacious and I snapped my pole. When I got to Pinkham, Dragonfly, a caretaker I met at Ethan Pond, drove Bruiser, Mule and I to North Conway. I went to EMS to get my pole replaced. The staff was entirely rude and unhelpful. Eventually I got my pole replaced, but not before the manager gave me shit for not wiping down my poles daily! What a moron. He was obviously a day hiking nancy who had probably never done more backpacking than an AMC hut to hut weekend, which he probably had to reserve spots for 10 months in advance. Way to live on the edge broseph. I'll be sure to wipe my new poles down every day...NOT!After a dissapointing visit to the lames EMS of all timee, we hitched to Gorham, where we stayed at "The Barn," a hostel run by "Doc" in an old barn. The place was cool. Sleepy the Arab, 42, Lightweight, and Gary were there. A bunch of us went to Mr. Pizza for beer, where we met up with She-Bear, Burner and Feng-shui.
Date: 2006-08-29
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Carter Notch Stealth
Miles today: 5.8

I bought new kicks for $30 today. Hoepfully I'll get 300 mile out of 'em. The climb up the Wildcats was one of the most challenging, but most fun of the A.T. I'll be in Maine in 2 days. Dig it fool!
Date: 2006-08-30
From: Carter Notch Stealth

To: Hogan Pond Road Stealth
Miles today: 15.8

I m ade it thru the rough of the Whites defeated and tired, yet sipping on a Busch and reminiscing with Bruiser and Mule, I'm feeling ok. I brok 2 poles, one of which today, got some scrapes, and saw the most beautiful scenery the trail had to offer up to this point.Upon hitting US2 today, I hitched back to EMS in North Conway to replace my pole for the 2nd time in three days. The staff was real cool today and even replaced my pants which had no real problem except 2 zipper grips being broken off as they had been for probably the whole trail.Chris (Grammy) gave me my hitch to North Conway and "Rocky-Road," as back in the day thru-hiker, gave me my hitch to Shaws in Gorham. They are both avid outdoorsmen in the area that I'm glad to have met. In fact, I've met many cool folk hitching in the Whites. Maine is 20 miles away. I've never been more excited to walk into a state in my 1877.2 miles on the AT! Katahdin is 300 miles away. time to buckle down and end this. 140 miles in New Hampshire took 19 days! That's less than 8 miles a day!
Date: 2006-08-31
From: Hogan Pond Road Stealth

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: broken clouds

Alas, after a tough day thru Northern NH, I enter Maine very much defeated by the last state. on the way down to the shelter, I had to hand my pack down a drop off to Mule. It slipped and the "Amigo," my travel guitar, is broken. When I checked it out a the shelter I realized my loss and smashed it out of buring rage, then threw it in the fire pit. New Hampshire kicked the crap out of me, but I made it through. Tommorow I tackle the toughest mile of trail, "Mahoosuc Notch."
Date: 2006-09-01
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Campsite north of Mahoosuc Notch
Miles today: 7.0

I slept in a shelter for the first time in months w/ Bruiser and Mule last night. I woke up ready to tackle Mahoosuc Notch, the A.T.'s toughest mile. First however, I was privliged to witness the 1st 6 miles of Maine, which were breathtaking. I see why this is most AT thru-hikers favaorite state. Nothing but mountains and lakes for as far as the eye can see. No roads. No towns.The notch was a blast. Bruiser, Mule, and I took 1:48 to get through. The notch is a mile of boulder scrambling and tight squeezes thru crevasses. Halfway in, we met Fancy Pants and his sister Stacy. Fancy Pants hiked in '-5 and knew my friend Dandy who also hiked that year. He gave us beer and candy - two things I didn't expect on the so called toughest mile on the trail. It turned out to be my favorite mile of hiking so far.Tonight, the three of us camped just north of the Notch, uphill from a peaceful river. We made a fire (which we can do now that we are out of the Whites). Maine is fun already and we might see Amy, Queen of the stumpies in a day or two.
Date: 2006-09-02
From: Campsite north of Mahoosuc Notch

To: Fry Notch Leanto
Miles today: 12.9

A kickin' second day in Maine. We hiked Old Speck and Baldpate, which had fatty Maine views. Old Fart trail magicked us at Grafton Notch with sandwhiches. Straight up. Thanks Old Fart!At Frye Notch shelter, I met Carl, Avery, and Ian. Mule and I chilled with them for a while and in general got pretty rowdy. Skiddely-bee!
Date: 2006-09-03
From: Fry Notch Leanto

To: East B Hill rd/Andover/The Cabin
Miles today: 4.6
Weather: light rain

We did four in the rain to the road, where we had a beer and breakfast with Drifter ('94,'99), who was a straight dude. Tonight we are at "The Cabin" with 42, She Bear, Indiana, Pinata, BP, Burner, Fengshui, Bama, Professor, and Jesse James. Honey and Bear run the hostel and made a fat AYCE which we preceded to scrump to the delish. We all wore funny outfits while our close were in the wash. I wore a skirt with a "Coffee Talk" Mike Meyers/Bee Arthur style shirt. After dinner, I played guitar for maybe the last time 'till I'm home. Then we watched "Chasing Amy." Gotta start movin' tommorow despite the rain.
Date: 2006-09-04
From: East B Hill rd/Andover/The Cabin

To: South Arm
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

Sleeping with ear plugs is such a delight - especially when staying at a hiker hostel, where innevitabely someone has a Redwood cutting snore. I slept like the baby moses floating down the river in a basket last night thanks to the ear plugs my mom gave me. I was the last person up this morning and scrambled to prepare for the shuttle to the trailhead. Honey and Bear's hostel was enjoyable.I'm back on pace with 42 for the first time since the Roan Highlands of Tennessee. It's good to have caught up with an old friend after over 1000, maybe even 1500 miles. Indiana is camping with us too as well as Snickers, Soulman, Brownie, and of course my longtime chums, Bruiser & Mule. Slowly but surely we are chipping away at Maine.Katahdin is 3 or less weeks away. Oh to be back on Turning Mill Rd., enjoyaing a beer and spending time with my folks, who I haven't seen as much as I would have liked in the last couple years.
Date: 2006-09-05
From: South Arm

To: Sabbath Day Pond Leanto
Miles today: 17.0

The gang rolled deep again today for some huge Maine Miles. In addition to the usual cast, Indian and 42 were with us. I experienced more pole issues as one of them has the wrong tip. Bruiser and I had our first Moose sighting after ME17! It was a big female moose. My picture turned out crappy. Boohoo.
Date: 2006-09-06
From: Sabbath Day Pond Leanto

To: Piazza Rock Leanto
Miles today: 11.2

We went into Rangely today to ressuply and then back out to the first shelter where we had a kickin' party. There was much whiskey and campfire sing a longs with mandolin. Mule was innebriated and fell into the fire butt-first! HaHaHa! This shelter has a double privy with no divider in the middle. The two holes have a cribbage board in between so two friends can play a game while they poop.
Date: 2006-09-07
From: Piazza Rock Leanto

To: Perham Stream
Miles today: 13.6

Mule and I had a tough morning on account of last night's party. We started hiking around noon when Pinata brought Mule's tobbacco from town, which he had lost yesterday.Today we traversed the Saddleback Mountains. Saddleback Junior is proabably on my top 10 list of trail views. Bofus and Lebowski are a little more than 1/2 day ahead. I better put on my trail legs and catch those dudes. Main is the balls.
Date: 2006-09-08
From: Perham Stream

To: Stratton
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Pud to the double McPud. We made a 200ft ascent up the Crocker Mountains today. There were no views at the top. Not even on a clear day. No matter. We decided to camp at a stream 2 miles before town, ut the stream didn't exist, so we pushed on to Stratton. Mule, Bruiser, and myself checked into the White Wolf Inn around 5:30 at the bar down stairs; reminiscent of the Doyle. On the way to our room (room 10), I stopped at room 7 an dfound Bofus and Lebowski! Missed those guys. "Reunited and it feels so good!"Bofus, Lebowski, Treehouse, I.C., Mule, Bruiser, Indiana and I all ate across the street at the bar where it was karaoked night! No one wanted to sing but me, so after many pitchers of PBR, I sang "Friend of the Devil," "Piano Man," and "Down on the Corner." Fengshui and Burner showed up and boogied while I sang. Thanks guys! We all did the electric slide. What fun!
Date: 2006-09-09
From: Katahdin/Millenocett

To: Horns Pond Leanto
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: light rain

What a rainy miserable 5 mile day! I heard the weather will be nicer later this week. Bruiser, Mule and I stopped 3 miles short of Bofowski, Treehouse, I.C. and Indiana. We'll have to catch them tommorow, where we have our last huge peaks untl the end of the trail when we summit Katahdin. Thank goodness! My body is exhausted from the Whites and Southern Maine. Some flat walkin' is just what the doctor ordered."I'm still excited!"-Low Gear
Date: 2006-09-10
From: Stratton

To: East Flagstaff Rd.
Miles today: 11.6

Last major mountain range until Katahdin. The Bigelow Range was gorgeous as I had panoramic views full with mountains and lakes. About ten of us stopped short of the shelter today at the trail magic at a campsite just off East Flagstaff Road. These people brought a Uhaul full of food for hikers. What a blast!I had an idea for my trailbook. Every year some hiker publishes some lame story about their typical thru-hike. I on the other hand will complie a book of funny and embarrassing poop stories from along the trail. 2000 miles under my belt now. I ate lunch ast the 2000 mark on little Begelow with Bofus while feeling content and at peace.
Date: 2006-09-11
From: East Flagstaff Rd.

To: Pierce Pond Leanto
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: few clouds

I awoke this morning needing to pee as a lay in my iced over tent. So I grabbed an empty gatorade bottle and let loose, rather than leave the warmth of my tent. It's hard to pee in a tent that you can't even sit up in.The trail magic people made us egg, chees and candian bacon sandwhiches for breakfast. We all hung out until our tents defrosted and dried. This may have been the easiest hiking day of the trail. Our only climb was a 600ft ascent early on in the day. The rest of the day was a flat walk in the woods or around picturesque lakes which were gorgeous in the early autumn sun, as some of the leaves are changing.Tommorow we get to take the only river ferry on the trail across the Kennebeck. Baring a freak accident, it looks like Bofus, Lebowski, Mule, Bruiser, and I will be summitting together. I hope Treehouse and Identity Crisis will summit with us as well. Hopefully I'll be warmer tonight than I was last night.
Date: 2006-09-12
From: Pierce Pond Leanto

To: Caratunk/Northern Outdoors Lodge
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: clear sky

We woke up early to eat breakfast at Harrison camp. I had 12 pancakes, 3 sausage, and eggs meal. Delish. This place may not be around longer so it was cool to get in while we could. It overlooked a gorgeous creek from the dining room.A couple more miles of creekside walking and Bruiser, Lebowski and I were at the Kennebec, our only river ferry ride of the A.T. After being canoed safely across, I mailed home a hardcover book I'd been reading for a month. It weighed almost 2 pounds.We hitched down to Northern Outdoors Lodge, where we got a kickass room deal. $56 out the door for a room with 2 dbl beds and a bunk bed set. We got "Lightweight" and "Bofus" in on the deal and filled the room with 5 people. The lodge has a hot tub, a nice restaurant, and dank micro. i had tons of food for dinner and second dinner tonight and lounged in the hot tub. Relaxing times. Where's Mule?
Date: 2006-09-13
From: Caratunk/Northern Outdoors Lodge

To: Bald Mountain Brook campsite
Miles today: 14.8

A big 15 out of town. Impressive seeing as we left after noon. No signs of Mule. He must have zeroed with Treehouse and I.C. at Pierce Pond. Hope those dudes catch up. I'm 140 miles from Big K. Maine is gorgeous. I hope we get good weather for the 100 mile wilderness. It's drizzling on and off as I lay in my tent. Pee bottle tonight.
Date: 2006-09-14
From: Bald Mountain Brook campsite

To: Horeshoe Canyon
Miles today: 13.3

A pleasant overcast day. SlickBofOwski decided to bypass Moxie Bald summit on account of a drizzle. This decision was made at a 10am safety meeting.Tommorow we'll be in Monson - our last major ressuply on the trail! The 100 mile wilderness and Katahdin loom before me, manifesting their ancient warning.
Date: 2006-09-15
From: Horeshoe Canyon

To: Monson/Greenville
Miles today: 7.7

Slick BofOwski took the blue blaze into Monson, which was less miles than it would have taken to walk to a road where you can hitch into town.I spent the night in Greenville at the Trailside Travelodge, where Trey was a really nice waitress.
Date: 2006-09-16
From: Monson/Greenville

To: Little Wilson Falls
Miles today: 6.6

My life is better than it was. I get up and go as I please, and have control over what I do with each waking moment of my day. Tonight I'm sleeping at a heady waterfall after a day of chilling out. I'm in the 100 mile wilderness after an awesome day in Greenville. I have a week without phones, cars and money. Barter system out here.
Date: 2006-09-17
From: Little Wilson Falls

To: Cloud Pond Leanto
Miles today: 12.5

A fun day in the woods. I hiked with Treehouse much of the day. We are carving pipes out of fallen brushwoode. At lunch we swam at a waterfall. We got rowdy in the Afternoon on top of a mountain in the 100 mile wilderness. Dig. Hope it don't rain.
Date: 2006-09-18
From: Cloud Pond Leanto

To: Carl A. Newhall Leanto
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

The leaves will be peaking in a week when I summit. i can't believe after 6 months of living in the woods eating shit for dinner, I will be living at home eating dank food and drinking fee beers. Luckily, the trail is so beautiful here that I 'm still happy hiking. I met Spider at a river ford today. he's going south, so we had a safety meeting during lunch so that we could advise each other on the challenges we face. After lunch I forded the river. I like getting my feet wet and cold once in a while. Gives me a wake up mid-day.
Date: 2006-09-19
From: Carl A. Newhall Leanto

To: Stealth after Boardman Mountain
Miles today: 15.0

Last hard day till big K. It felt like a late autumn day today; not the temperature, but the breeze, smell and color of the leaves, and the sky. Good pumpkin pie weather.Katahdin is within 4-5 days reach now. Only about 65 miles away. Some heady Maine spring water today. MmmmMmmm. Stealthing with Nathan and Sean tonight. Wilderness safety meeting in the Henry Shires tonight then off to bed. Saw two cow moose today.
Date: 2006-09-20
From: Stealth after Boardman Mountain

To: Antlers Campsite
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

A lazy day of perfecft autumn walking. Not a climb all day. The rain started early last night and lasted until 6 this morning. My tent got wet, but my sleeping bag was ok and I kept warm. The sky cleared throughout the day to very clear after sunset. Excellent stars and views.
Date: 2006-09-21
From: Katahdin/Millenocett

To: Nahmaknta Lake
Miles today: 11.0

Another slow day thru the wilderness. I went to Whitehouse landing today. I had to take a 1 mile blue blaze to a dock on a lake. At the lake I blew an airhorn. The guy at White House Landing picked me up in a motor boat, then took me to the hostel/lodge where I ate a 1 pound burger. I would have had 2, but I heard there was a hiker feed 5 miles down the trail. That's where I am now - camping at another feed.I saw Katahdin today from a lake. It was clothed in cloud, but I saw its base. Very intimidating.
Date: 2006-09-23
From: Stealth past Big Beaver Pond

To: Abol Bridge Leanto
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: overcast clouds

A mean six miles to Abol Bridge, where we camped across the street from a campstore. We spent all day drinking beer on the banks of the Penobscot. It was rainy. We were here early enough to go to the campsite right before Katahdin, but decided to hope for better weather for summitting on monday, so we delayed progress one day and partied our asses off.
Date: 2006-09-24
From: Abol Bridge Leanto

To: Birches Campsite
Miles today: 4.4

We cut 5.5 miles off today's hike by taking the Blueberry Ledges trail through Baxter State Park. We delayed summitting until tommorow due to weather.Bruiser showed up all showered and clean and gave us donuts. She summitted yesterday and was all clean, in cotton, and smelling pretty.Burner, Fengshui, Too Much, and Enough summitted today. Tommorow is it. Gonna wake up real early for the biggest ascent of the trip and the climax of 6+ months of living in the woods and cheap motels.
Date: 2006-09-25
From: birches

To: Katahdin/Millenocett
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hey everyone. I summitted today with Mule, Bofus, Lebowski, Identity Crisis, and Treehouse. Most of these guys hiked serious miles with me on the trail, so I was very happy to be finishing the trail with them. On the way down I saw Jukebox, Windtalker, Mom and a cast of others on their way up. Katahdin was gorgeous. The trail was amazing and just a taste of many adventures to come. That's right, I got a bad case of Wanderlust. I'll be updating this mid-october with pics and everything after a few more travels. Take care and be cool.
Date: 2006-10-27
To: Lexington Mass
Miles today: 0.0

Wow! What a trip. I'm finally done typing this journal. Took me hours and hours. Yall best enjoy this. What does life have instore now? Well...I'm still unemployed, so that's cool. I've been traveling a bit. Went to Grand Rapids to hang out with some old pals. Went to Baltimore to visit my girlfriend and catch up with my old roomate Kennedy. While in Baltimore I drank some National Bohemian (Natty-Boh). Anyways, I just flew into Manchester New Hampshire last night, where my mom was waiting with a Balloon. I almost cried (I'm such a nancy). I'm home for now. Good chance of heading out west to be a ski-bum for the winter. Tonight I might go play open-mic and drink some beers. Be cool. I'm out.Matthew Bernstein,Formerly
Date: 2006-07-07
To: It is Time
Miles today: 0.0

It is Time! Time to return to the Trail and, this year hopefully, finish my long and slow hike on the AT. I started my travels in spring of 2003 from Springer and have been slowly making my way North ever since. For those of you who are interested, the details of my journey so far can be found on my other journals on this site.   I ended up last Sept at Pinkham Notch in NH ¢ leaving me with about 300 miles to go {319.1 to be exact} My plan is to continue with my usual slow pace but still hope to finish this year.   I could have started back earlier, but warnings of vicious black-fly attacks during June deterred my attempt until July. But now the time is at hand I am again overwhelmed with the myriad of mundane tasks that have to be completed. I have sent off my first mail drop ¢ surface mail, since I use a butane stove and the gas can only be sent by surface mail. I also have a new tent ¢ an Akto one man that I tested out successfully on a weeklong hike in Isle Royale in June. Of course Isle Royale is also infested with black fly in June, but whoever said that you have to be logical in this game?   The Excitement is building!!¢Come with me now to a place where fancy is free And stand where the peaks meet the sky and the lakes meet the sea Where the rivers run clear and the bracken is gold in the sun And the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done¢
Date: 2006-07-08
To: Ready to Go!
Miles today: 0.0

Everything is ready to go. I will leave home on Monday July 10th and hope to be staying at the Lodge at Pinkham Notch on the 12th. Despite all of my good resolutions I have not been able to maintain my ¢Peak Hiking Fitness¢ from last year. Every year I resolve to stay in PHF shape and some how never manage to do it. I know that the trail will work its slow magic on me as it does every year, but this year I will be starting with a crossing of the Wildcat Range of mountains and the profiles look awfully scary for a guy starting out in poor shape.   I did OK during my week long hike on the Greenstone Trail on Isle Royale, but although similar to the AT it does not have the same brutal vertical elevations that the AT does ¢ especially the Wildcats. We will see. Will finish packing the Pack tomorrow and will hopefully be able to keep it under 30 lbs.   I am so excited to be heading back. I am also terrified that I have forgotten some absolutely vital thing that I needed to have done, and that the oversight is going to ruin my hike. I always feel like this at the beginning of the hike, even though it never happens. So now I keep reminding myself that I should not worry so much. As I wrote in my journal last year ¢The things that I worry about the most almost never happen¢¢A Good Start is half the Work¢      Old Irish Saying