morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-27
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Pinkham Notch N.H. 16
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: haze

Wake-up was around 5:00 as that was the time the cook got up to get breakfas started. I got up and took a couple of photos as the sun hit the clouds over Mt Washington. After the guests finished their breakfast it was lightening speed clean-up. I then had a couple of cold pancakes and a spoonful of peaches - still tasted better than cold oatmeal! My chore was then to sweep the dinning room floor, not a big job and got done quickly. Mt Washington was only 1.4 miles away from the hut but it was a wet rocky path leading up in the clouds. As I got closer to the summit the wind got stronger and the temperature dropped. At the top is a weather research station, which has been there for many years. One of the original buildings had chains draped over the roof to hold down the house in the strong winds. Couldn't see anything up there - could barely see from one building to another due to the fog, so I started going down after a short visit to the hikers back room. On my way down I heard the train in the distance. It is a coal-driven steam engine, which takes tourists up to the summit for the nice sum of $42 - I guess I will keep walking! It was a beautiful but very rocky trail going to Madison Hut. At the hut I stopped to buy the Bottom-Less Soup - all the soup you can eat for $2 After several bowls of potato soup with Dill I started on the last stretch. It was incredibly rocky (Just like Pennsylvania but with a steep slope added!) At Osgood Tent Site the rocks had stopped and the last 5 miles to Pinkham Notch was easy and level. Dodger had set up tent about 5 minuttes north of Pnkham Notch so we cooked dinner outside the Lodge and talked to Tricycle and Bone-Saw. It had been a long rocky day, sleep should come easy tonight.
Date: 2006-07-28
From: Pinkham Notch N.H. 16

To: Gorham
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Dodger got us up early and off I went slack packing. As with Franconia Notch and Crawford Notch the trail went up steeply from Pinkham Notch up over Wildcat Mtn. It was rocky and steep but not too bad. On my way to Carter Notch Hut I met another thru-hiker, Power Stroke. He had started down at Key West and was going all the way to Gaspe in Canada. Power Stroke looked a little tired and he was on a round of antibiotics to treat his cellulitis. Otherwise he was doing good. Carter Notch Hut was a neat place. There were two ponds both great for swimming and the bigger one had the reflections of Wildcat Mtn on the surface of the water amidst all the water lillies. It really was a beautiful place. Unlike most of the other huts this was not a full service hut, but you had full access to the kitchen and a bunk bed was only $25. After a short rest I started heading north again. Reaching the summit of Mt Height I looked around for blazes but the direction did not make sense. Better take out the map and sure enough I had gone the wrong way. Nothing to do but to go down and back to the AT. The next miles were up and down and up and down without any great views. Then I reached Mt Moriah and sat down to take a little bite of a bagel with peanut butter but the moment I sat down it started to rain! and before 5 minuttes had passed I was completely soaked (must have been for the 68th time on this trip - or so it felt like). 4 relatively easy miles to Rattle River Shelter over a lot of slippery wet bog bridges and then 2 really easy miles to US 2 all in a continuous torrential rain. I walked right through any mud puddles instead of trying to go around - I couldn't get any more wet or dirty anyway Right before reaching the road Dodger met me and he had a surprise for me. He had gotten us a room in town so we had a place to get a shower, wash clothes, and a dry place to sleep. It was absolutely priceless. In town I met Stumpknocker and Mrs Gorp. They were staying at the same motel. I had not see Stumpknocker since Neels Gap, GA. Dinner was Burger King dollar Menu but it sure did taste good after a long rainy day of hiking. Felt like I really had accomplished a lot by doing a long day here at the end of the Whites.
Date: 2006-07-29
From: Gorham

To: Gorham
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Took a zero day to replenish food supplies, switch to my summer sleeping bag, and let my feet get a little rest after a tough trip through the Whites. My feet were all swollen and cracked due to all the rain yesterday so I had to constantly add lotion to keep them from leathering up. Tricycle, Bone-Saw, and Sputnik came to the motel and together we shared some pizza and beer and hung out together the rest of the evening.
Date: 2006-07-30
From: Gorham

To: Gentian Pond Campsite
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

As usuall when enjoying a zero day it is hard to leave the next day so it was noon before I was standing back on the trail. It was really tough and slow going out back on the trail. Lots of ups and downs and Dodger was breaking in a new pair of boots, which hurt his feet a little. Passed several ponds before finally arriving at our destination. Gentian Pond did not look very inviting for a swim as the water was brown and full of algea, so instead I just set up my tent on one of the platforms. I did not want to be in the shelter as there were too many bugs around. The shelter, though, was really neat with a small loft and it had a great view over the valley and the next ridge. I cooked down at the shelter and a bear box was located right up against the back wall on the outside. Would that not defeat the purpose of deterring the bears form coming to the shelter. I always thought you should place the food away from where you slept?
Date: 2006-07-31
From: Gentian Pond Campsite

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

It had been a cool night and I had gotten a little chilled in my new 45 degree down sleeping bag - I sure missed my 0 degree bag especially at 4:00 when I woke up cold. Today started out with a climb up over Mt Success and 2 miles later I was in Maine This will be the last state to walk through with 281.4 miles to go over some rough mountains and through lots of mud and streams! Took the trail down to Carlo Col Shelter as I needed water, if I hadn't needed the water so bad I would never have taken the rocky trail down there. It was already noon and Dodger and I were moving slow. Decided to stop at Full Goose Shelter as we would not be able to make it to Speck Shelter before dark. Up and over Mt Carlo then up and over Goose Eye Mtn. There were some steep climbing on rocks where you had to use your hands and a 40' ladder to get up over a vertical cliff wall. Going down Goose Eye there were more ladders and lots of sloped bog bridges. However, there were also a place with lots of Blueberries. I stayed there for 20 minuttes just picking berries - they were soo good. No tenting tonight, I wanted to stay in the shelter as the sky had been partly grey all day and the forecast had promised scattered thunder showers. Later on Lotus and Mufasa came in to the shelter. Turned out later that staying int he shelter was a great decision as it rained hard all night long.Sometimes it just feels good to be lucky - and dry!
Date: 2006-08-02
From: Baldpate Lean-to

To: The Cabin, Andover
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up at 5:00 and it was still raining and thundering. I had planned to leave at 6:00 but I was not about to go over the tree-less summits of Baldpate in a thunder storm. I turned over and slept another hour, it just feels good to be able to do so at times. Luckily the weather cleared up some and I could leave at 7:00. First the trail was really rocky and steep and water was streaming down the trail. The trail then became this wide open area with enormous rock slabs. The journey over the rocks was foggy, rainy, steep, slick, and there was absolutely nothing to hold on to. The wind was blowing strong and made it very difficult and dangerous to go over the top as the wind would catch me. Several times I found myself on all four crawlingup the rocks just thinking about the next step or the next move trying to get a good foot hold. I could only see the trail from one cairn to the next. I wasn't scared but rather trepedatious being very cautious with every step. Finally reaching the top feeling all good til the thought of how much worse it is going downhill hit me !!! It didn't ever get as bad as I thought only a couple of times did use the scooting method (very "advanced method for getting down slick steep rocks!). Before long I had passed the second peak and was down at Frye Notch Shelter. It had taken me 3 hrs to walk 4 miles! The last four miles from the shelter to East B Hill Rd. were easy and only took 1.5 hrs. About a mile before reaching the road I crossed the Dunn Falls. The water falls were spectacular and had long falls. I wish I could have gone down to the base of the falls. At the road Bear and Dodger came to pick me up at 12;00 and we went to the Cabin, a hostel owned by Honey and Bear and managed by the two caretakers: Rambunny and Aqua. Later in the day Coyotebec, Gumby, Tricycle, Bone Saw, Lotus, and Mufasa came to the hostel. The whole "family" was gathered. These were hikers that I have met before some one time others several times before. It was so good to get dry, clean, and well-fed again.
Date: 2006-08-03
From: The Cabin, Andover

To: The Cabin, Andover
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up to pouring rain, grey clouds, and dreading to go hiking in that weather. Breakfast was served at 6:00 and it was a table surrounded by pitifull-looking hikers. Nobody wanted to go out in that rain. With exception of Gumby and Coyotebec everybody ended up taking a zero day. For lunch we baked a couple of homemade pizzas and watched a movie. It wasn't until late afternoon the rain stopped. Dinner was family style with everyone gathering at the table at 18:00. Honey had cooked a HUGE lasagne. This was one of the first times I had been part of a social gathering of hikers "off" the trail. I really sensed the feeling of a close-knit family and community between hikers and those that help hikers. I went to bed early so I would be rested for tomorrow and I was feeling a little queesy.
Date: 2006-08-04
From: The Cabin, Andover

To: The Cabin, Andover
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Nauseated and having a stomach ache - had I eaten too much last night or could I just not handle all that good "town" food? I threw in the towel and took another zero day. It was downright shameless the small amount of breakfast I could squeeze down - NO hiker hunger today. Took a long nap and just rested with small intermittent walks. Dinner arrived and it all looked so good but I was careful to only eat a little as my stomach was still adjusting. Hopefully I will feel better tomorrow.
Date: 2006-08-05
From: The Cabin, Andover

To: Bemis Mtn Lean-to
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: few clouds

Ahh, feeling better today. After a bigger plate of breakfast it was time to say good-bye to Bear, Honey, Rambunny, and Aqua. Aqua took me back out to the trail. It was nice walking without being too tough. However, Maine was Maine with lots of mud, rocks, roots, and rotten/broken bog bridges. Moody Mtn. was a little tough due to the steepness but nothing bad. However, on some of the steepest rock slabs rebars had been installed making it easier and safer to pass up and over the rocks. It didn't take long to pass up over and get down Moody Mtn and before long I was on my way up Old Blue Mtn. I had heard it was really tough but I didn't find it too bad. The last Mountain to climb was Bemis. Just as I started up a baby squirrel stopped in front of me, looked me up and down as in disbelief that such a "thing" could be out here in the forrest I tried to take a picture but it ran away. Right before reaching the Bemis Mtn Lean-to I found tons of blueberries at the Bemis West Peak. Couldn't resist so I picked a bunch and brought them with me. At the Lean-to was Mountain Goat, Quarters (NOBOs), Whisper, and Combat (SOBOs). It was a nice shelter located among a lot of pine trees making for a lot of great tent sites. Turned out to be a really cold night - didn't sleep much at all and judging from the moving and justling of sleeping bags nor did anyone else that night
Date: 2006-08-06
From: Bemis Mtn Lean-to

To: Piazza Rock Lean-to
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: clear sky

Whisper gave me a cup of hot chocolate to gain a little warmth back into this cold shivering body. Only one way to really warm up again - HIKE! I started out just fine but within 20 minuttes I found myself among a plethora of Blueberry bushes, they looked soo good The sun was shining but a few clouds loomed on the horizon, so I better get going It was a rocky walk down to Bemis Stream, but I had beautiful views over the mountain range. From the stream, which was easy to pass by jumping from rock to rock, I went up to ME 17. On my way up to the road I found a bag with sodas, Gatorade, and crackers. Trail Magic! It was at the best time of all. I was so thirsty and hot so I sat down at the side of the road enjoying the views of Mooselookmeguntic Lake (try to pronounce that!) while drinking a Gatorade and eating peanut butter crackers. The trail flattened out and became easy to walk. I passed Moxie Pond and the popular "beach" at Sabbath Day Pond. The next one was Little Swift River Pond where a group of Canadian boys were camping. The last pond of the day was South Pond. It was neat to pass all these ponds. Some of the ponds had looked really inviting for a swim whereas others had not! At the end of the day I reached Piazza Rock Lean-to. Dodger and I walked up to Piazza Rock, which is a huge rock sticking out in the air. The center of gravity is just behind two huge boulders upon which the rock is resting. It felt like standing underneath an enormous boat, since the underside of the rock was shaped like the hull of a boat. It had been a long day mileage wise but it had been an easy flat walk for the most part.
Date: 2006-08-07
From: Piazza Rock Lean-to

To: Spaulding Mtn Lean-to
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Fire Fly and I took off in the morning. Today we would be passing over several beautiful peaks. Saddleback Mtn was 4120' tall. It was a rocky climb up there, and it got more and more foggy the higher I went. It was cold and windy on top, but the fog was not moist filled as I would have thought. I was a little disappointed that there were no views. Seems like I have been in the fog on so many major peaks on this trip. Next we went down towards the Horn (the middle peak in the range).As we looked back up to Saddleback the clouds had lifted and we could see the path we had taken down the mountain. It wasn't exactly Franconia Ridge, but it sure was a beautiful open view of the trail and the peaks. I took a short break just below the tree line to stay out of the wind before reaching the Horn.The third and last peak, Saddleback Jr., was awesome with another great view over the entire range. I took a break at Poplar Ridge Lean-to. It is one of the famous Baseball Bat Shelters. The floor is made from thin round pine logs,looking like a lot of baseball bats laying side by side. The original idea, when the shelters were built was that the hikers would cut ferns and pine branches and use them as a soft layer between them and the floor. You can't do that today as there are too many hikers. Most seem to either love or hate that type of floor - depending on how well they slept!!! Down at Orbeton Stream a group of kids were enjoying the water. It was hot going uphill Fire Fly and I stopped at the next stream and got in to cool off. My feet were thanking me by flying the rest of the way up to Spaulding Mtn Lean-to. As I arrived I heard distant thunder so I decided to stay instead of going on down to Crocker Cirque Campsite. Good decision as 45 minuttes later it started pouring down and thunder and lightening started. It got incredible loud as the storm passed right over the shelter we were staying in. I sure love a good thunderstorm and lightening show as long as I get through OK - Even while being up there in the mountains. Weathered the storm safely and then went to bed early.
Date: 2006-08-08
From: Spaulding Mtn Lean-to

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

Left the shelter at 6:30 as I wanted to get to Stratton early. Up over Spaulding Mtn, but of course no views! The top was socked in. From Sugarloaf Mtn it went steeply down on a very exposed mountain side. I was glad it wasn't thundering and lightening then. Just one more mountain between me and Stratton: Crocker Mtn. I thought of one of my best friends that has supported me so much on this journey. Her last name is also Crocker The mountain was of course double peaked, 4228' at it's highest. Guess what? No views up there either! Going down was an easily graded five miles which I did in 2 hours - kinda surprised myself as it had been a while since I had gone that fast (sometime before the Whites). At 12:45 I was standing at the road hitching a ride into Stratton. Just as I got a ride, Fire Fly came out so we both got a ride. Dodger was waiting in Stratton and we stayed at the White Wolf Inn. By now I was starving so after getting a shower we went across the street to the diner. Dodger had Fish and Chips and I had a Philly Steak Sandwich. The sandwich was gone before the waitress came back to ask how everything was. As always when getting to town there are chores to be done such as laundry. We shared a load of laundry with Fire Fly, repacked our bags, and replenished our food sources. In the evening I got my TV fix by watching an episode of "Band of Brothers".
Date: 2006-08-09
From: Stratton, ME

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I walked down the street to the Stratton Motel and Hiker Hostel. I had asked yesterday if I could buy internet access and was told "Sorry for Guests only." So today Dodger and I are stying there. I got my journal updated (for all ya'll), answered emails, and spent time figuring out possible ways to get back to TN after Katahdin. It is absolutely a strange feeling having to reverse the process by now having to find a way home, no more trail walking Can it be true there really is an end to this wonderful journey? I miss evreybody at home, but the feeling of being outdoors, being part of the hiker community, and feeling a sense of accomplishment after a day of hiking - it will be hard no longer having that. To cheer us up Dodger treated us to dinner. A Wolf burger with a 1/2lb patty, a sausage patty, bacon, cheese, mushrooms, and I think I even found a little "rabbit food in there!" It was truly awesome. however, it was still not as good as the Doyle burger - Thanks Dodger
Date: 2006-08-10
From: Stratton, ME

To: Little Bigelow Lean-to
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Got a ride straight form Stratton Hostel with SUe, the lady that runs the Roadhouse - a hostel in Andover. I was out on the trail early. I like that as I feel I can get a lot of miles done in the morning. The trail went up almost 2000' to Horns Pond Lean-to. I took a break there, but when I reached for my Nalgene bottle it was gone! I must have left it at the Hostel or it fell out in the back of Sue's truck. While talking to Jeff, the caretaker, he mentioned he had an extra Nalgene bottle that someone had found on the trail. So, all of a sudden I was OK again The trail then went over three peaks: SOuth Horn, Bigelow Mtn (West Peak), and Aavery Peak, all within 3.5 miles. I stopped to enjoy the views up at Avery Peak. A fellow thru-hiker, Roamin Goat, while being up on Avery Peak a few years ago had met two sisters. The two sisters were drinking a toast of Scotch out of two Sierra cups in honor of the late husband of one of the sisters. Her name was Avery and the mountain had been named after her husband Myron Avery, an Appalachian Trail Legend as he was one of the founders of the entire trail. It must have been a very special moment to see Myron Avery's Widow and her sister honoring his memory. It was beautiful up there looking down on the landscape, and to my left was the huge Flagstaff Lake. Unfortunately, to my right the clouds had started to build up again - better get down and go on. On clear days Mt Katahdin can be seen in the sidtance from up there. It was a little bit of a rock scramble to get down Averyn and there were Blueberries along the way. Making it hard to hike too fast! Going up over Little Bigelow I finally had to give in and stop to pick some blueberries. However, as I started hearing thunder, I quickly got my priorities straightened again and went as fast as I could to Little Bigelow Lean-to. Not a second too soon! as I stepped foot into the shelter after getting water the rain poured once again as it had done before and before that, and then again before it had done it before that! Before going to sleep there were four of us there: Mr Blister (SOBO), Patches, Home Brew, and I (NOBOs).
Date: 2006-08-12
From: Caratunk, ME

To: Caratunk, ME
Miles today: 0.0

Brrr, not sure if my toes have frostbite or not. How can it possibly be this cold, it is August - right? It had been a long cold night with the temperature dropping down to 39F! That is almost freezing and all I had was my 45F summer sleeping bag and there were no heater or wood stove in the room. After enjoying a cup of hot coffee in the morning I decided to spend another night, a decision greatly influenced by the lack of sleep, newly acquired wool blankets, and a sky quickly growing full of dark grey cumoulus nimbus clouds. Dodger and I had barely made it inside the little hostel room with our extra blankets before the rain started and then it rained and rained and rained and... you get the picture for the rest of that day. Evening came and I had finished reading a whole book, meanwhile a few brave but drenched hikers showed up looking for a dry warm place to sleep. A perfect day to take a zero as it would have been rather unpleasant hiking in this weather. Toward dinner time the weather finally cleared up some and several of us walked up to The Northern Outdoors, a kind of rafting resort. They had a restaurant there and free internet access. Had a good burger and a home brewed beer there.
Date: 2006-08-13
From: Caratunk, ME

To: Moxie Bald Lean-to
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: broken clouds

A cup of hot coffee in the morning sure does taste good when you are a little chilled and barely awake. Steve took Dodger, Krystal, and I back to the trail. Dodger was hitch hiking to Monson, while helping me slack pack so we would meet up again in two days. It was a nice day compared to yesterday's rain. Although it seemed as a lot of uphill Krystal and I had fun talking and before long we were at Pleasant Pond Lean-to, 7 miles had already gone by. The trail went over Pleasant Pond Mtn and then over a humb of a mountain named Bald Mtn before it started up over the last mtn of the day: Moxie Bald. I loved that mountain as it seemed totally covered in blueberries. No way around it - I HAD to stop and pick some. I ended up filling a ziploc bag full of the berries to bring them with me to the shelter. At the summit a sign had been put up reading " Moxie Bald Mtn 2,629 ft" It had prayer flags draped over the post. The flags were frayed by the wind to the point of being almost gone. I was starting to get cold standing in the wind so I headed down the mtn 2 miles to Moxie Bald Shelter. Krystal, Home Brew, and a local hiker also spent the night there. It was a truly neat spot with a pond just 50 ft from the shelter. Maybe I would get lucky and see some moose tomorrow morning around the pond?