morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-22
From: U.S 4 Back Home Again Shelter, Rutland VT

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 19.9

Miles from Katahdin-468.1, Miles from Springer-1705.9 Miles. Well, there it is. I just thought I would trhow that out there because I have become a 1700 miler. That's a lot. If I had to get off the trail today, I would have no shame in telling people I have made it this far. Of course If you told me I had to get off the trail at this point, I would say you would have to drag me off. I will summit Katahdin and will become one of the just over 10,000 people who have done it. I will have walked every inch of this gosh darn trail and not have skipped a single part. Whether that makes me a "purist" does not matter to me it is what I came out here to do and I am determined to do it. I have given a lot of thought to what it will be like when I am done. I imagine I will have some relief for a while and it will be so awesome to have tie to relax. But I think I will have that irresistable urge to be on the trail. When I left town this morning it felt like I had been there for a week but it was a little more than 12 hours. It becons me to walk because it is what I have learned to do so well. It feels so good to walk 20 miles in Vermont like I did today on a sunny blue sky day with picteresque clouds everywhere. Everything about today was perfect. The terrain wasn't all that easy, but this state is just so nice. The water is usually so clean and crisp. The higher elevations are filled with old spruce trees and moss and yes there is sometimes mud. The highlight of the day was stopping at the lookout. It's a small cabin 2.3 before Winturri shelter going north. It doesn't have any water there but it does have an obervation deck on the roof. From there you can see 360 degree views. Widow Maker and I could see Mt. Washington and the Presidential Range in the not to far distance. It is a wall of rock obstructing my way to home, Maine. I think I will cry when I finally get there. But for now I will try and just make it to New Hampshire. P.S. I saw another bear this afternoon. My first and possibly my only one in Vermont. I have totaly lost track ofhow many that makes it.
Date: 2007-07-23
From: Wintturi Shelter

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, It wa a lazy day today. Or as lazy as a 20 miler can be. It was a late start and a side trip this morning to a farm stand that delayed any chance of doing more mileage than what I did. The farm stand .2 off of VT12 was tremendous. There was ice cream, puff pastries, other deserts, smoked meats and cheeses, and soft drinks. I had some maple walnut ice cream, apple pastry, a coffee soda, and got a smoked chicken breast for dinner later. By the time I had left it was nearly 11:00 and I had done only 4 miles. The terrain was a lot of ups and downs, in fact it was repeatedly up and down for the most part. There was some cool fields that I crossed and views to look at that made some of those climbs a bit more gratifying. I fell short of New Hampshire by about 5 miles but I will make it tommorrow. The terain certainly doesn't get any easier so it is tough to say how far I can make it tommorrow. I don't imagine anything will be that easy from here on out so I will have to take it day to day. It was nice weather this morning and then turned to rain and stopped for the late evening. 5 of the 8 people at the camp tonight are from Maine so it was kind of nice to talk about the home state. Two gents are headed south while the rest of us are headed north. I always talk about Maine with great pride because I feel it is one of the most if not the most beautiful states on the trail. It is such a nice place to be I really have grown to appreciate it even more, if that is possible, since I have left. Only one and a half more days until Jenn comes to visit me and I'll get a little R&R before the last strech of the trail. I have felt a little fatigued lately so I hope this little layover will do me good. Anyway the fire is almost out and I am certainly ready for sleep so I think it is sleepy time for this guy.
Date: 2007-07-24
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Moose Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Ahh yes , another state done and in the history books. There is always a certain gratification that comes with entering a new state and leaving one behind. Vermont was beautiful and fun. I met some new friends there and hopefully will catch up with some of them after my day and a half hiatus coming up. Today I woke up and it looked as if rain was in the near future, but it started to clear up once I got moving and it turned into a really nice day. I hiked 5 or so miles down to the Connecticut River which seperates Vermont and New Hampshire and entered the town of Hanover. Hanover is a bustling little college town where Dartmouth is found. I went to the Bagel Basement first for some coffee and a bagel and then went to Ramunto's with Beave and Widow Maker for some lunch. They give thru hikers a free slice of cheese pizza which was awesome and I had an Italian as well plus another piece of pizza given to me by Widow. Then I said my good byes and waddled down to the food co-op which was really good and picked up some fruit and some Yerba Mate, which is a tea that gives you a little zing. Then I continued on the trail and busted out the mileage to the shelter. It was really easy hiking today which was nice. I felt quite tired today for some reason. Hopefully my time off will rejuvenate me so I'll be ready for the Whites. I am also hoping to stay ahead of the pack so I can possibly get some opportunities to work for stay at some of the AMC huts. But for now I will focus on hiking the 7 miles to the Lyme-Dorchester road to meet Jenn and then relaxing for awhile and getting as much sleep as possible. Hopefuly I will come away with some renewed vigor for some of the hardest terrain lies ahead. So does some of the most beautiful terrain as well. I'll have to keep my fingers crossed for some good weather. Well I must rest now so I'm not a zombie tommorrow.
Date: 2007-07-25
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: Lyme-Dorchester Rd
Miles today: 6.6

Easy, easy day today. I only had to do the 6+ miles to meet Jenn for a little hiatus from the trail. I hiked up to Holt's Ledge for a nice view. I sat there for a while then I coasted down to the road and got a hitch into Lyme. I hung out at a small market for a while and drank coffee and read the paper until Jenn arrived. Then we went to Pine Haven campground in Wentworth to set up our tent that is more like a chalet. After a little misunderstanding with our spot we were given a nice sandy spot by the Meadow River. It is a really nice spot and was kind of quiet with the nice soothing sound of the nearby river. Jenn and I went to a nearby supermarket and got steaks and burgers for a barbeque. It was perfect. I was also stoked because Jenn's mom, Cindy, made me crab dip. It was great. The rest of the night went perfectly and we turned in early to get some sleep because we had both gotten up super early that morning.
Date: 2007-07-26
From: Lyme-Dorchester Rd

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

What a nice day. It was super hot out and was a perfect day to take off. Jenn and I got up kind of early and went to a town called Plymouth to get some Dunkin Donuts and so I could get my hair cut off. I had a nice conversation with the barber about the trail and the significance of what I was doing. It realy is starting to sink in just what kind of a journey this has been. I am really glad that I took a chance at doing this and it has turned out to be such a great time.   The rest of the day was spent sitting lazily around the pool and taking periodic swims once it got a little too hot. It was pretty rough. Besides that all I did was read bikes magazines and the newspaper. It was highly relaxing and enjoyable. We capped the evening off with some more barbeque and a nice roaring fire. Yep, it was quite nice. I'm glad it wored out so perfectly and it was just what I needed to get rejuvenated for the trail.
Date: 2007-07-27
From: Lyme-Dorchester Rd

To: Ore Hill Shelter
Miles today: 18.4

I took my time getting back to the trail today. We had to pack everything up and then go get supply's. By the time we had said our goodbye's it was 12:30 or so. I passed Batman sleeping on the trail not to long after I started. It was nice to see someone familar so quickly. I then made the hot climb up Smart Mtn(3240') to the firetower. It seemed to take forever, but it was probably just from the heat. Then it was down to a brooke that had soda sitting in a bucket cooling off. What a treat. At this point Batman caught up and we chatted for a while. He said he was going to Ore Hill tonight so I decided to go despite the fact it would end up being a late finish. I took off up to Eastman Ledges and the up Mt. Cube(2911'). It was a nice hike up and had some exsposed rock sections that were pretty cool. From there it was a long walk down to NH25A and then back up to the shelter. It was dusk before I rolled in and the mosquitos are quite thick here. I'm beginning to use the deet more often now. I really hate using it but it's the only way I can get some peace and quiet from those darn things. Rockman and Triple A were already here when I got here and Batman showed up not to long after I did. Despite the heat it was a very cool day. The climbs were rewarding and the overall hiking was great. It is supposed to rain tommorrow so that should make the climb up Mt. Moosilauke interesting. It is going to be quite a climb. It nearly reaches 5000' and is the last peak before we enter the White Mountains. I cannot wait for the Whites I only hope that the weather is decent so I can truly enjoy their majesty. Either way it should be quite and experience. They truly are magnificent and I have been looking forward to doing them for years. The time has almost come. But first I'll have to deal with Moosilauke. It should be a bear of a climb. I must get some rest if I want to take on this thing with some gusto.
Date: 2007-07-28
From: Ore Hill Shelter

To: Beaver Brooke Shelter
Miles today: 15.3

Today was a very odd but perfect day. I was stepping into what is essentially one of the most majestic areas on the trail. I have been looking forward to this moment for sometime. Yes, I'm finally in The White Mountains.   The day didn't start all that perfectly weather wise but it din't matter. Today I was going to climb over Mt. Moosilauke. Standing at 4,802'. It is an intimidating climb starting from NH25 which is 1,140'. Yeah the math says it. I felt better than I have been physicaly though. I had felt fatigued sometimes and my calf muscles were tightening and feeling weaker on climbs. Not today though. It was a tough climb but I motored up it with Triple A.It had rained earlier this morning and was misty and foggy at the top, but the wind would clear it up and revealed a sunny and cloudy day emerging below. It was a majestic sight. The weather was clearly in control today. It was fairly mild but the wind would kick up on the open summit and really cool things down for a while. I eventually left the crowded summit, I am in a very popular section, with my intentions of moving on quite a bit further. My thoughts changed once I got to Beaver Brook Shelter. It has a nice view fom the shelter area and it just felt right to cut the day short and sit and look. It ended up being a nice move. Four more people ended up showing up. Batman, Triple A, and two Sobo's named Whiskers and Murphy. Murphy is a double amputi with no feet. He walks the walk with prosthetics. He hikes like any one of us out here. It has poured a few times recently and then it will stop on the drop of a dime. It is really weird. It hasn't put out the fire I built though. It's going strong. Tomorrow I may maintain the same pace as today. Or maybe I'll test my strentgh against the mountains ahead. The weather will probably play a big part in it. Anything over 20 will mean sure punishment. 6600' of elevation gain at a glance. Yikes, It may be better to relax again. We'll see.
Date: 2007-07-29
From: Beaver Brooke Shelter

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 15.0

Today was one of the best days on the trail yet. The weather was gorgeous and the unique terrain was just unbelievably cool. I got a late start around 10:00, but it was partially because I slept in and was chatting with Murphy and Whiskers before we parted ways. I hope they make it to Georgia. The decent from the shelter to Kinsman Notch was truly grand. It followed this meandering stream that cascaded nearly all the way down to the bottom. The trail was steep and slick with some wooden steps rebarred into the rock in some places. It was a little dicey in some sections but it was a cool hike. From the notch(1815') I ascended to the South and East peaks of Mt. Wolf(3360', 3480'). Then I went down quite a bit to Eliza Brook(2495') and finally ascended up along the brook for awhile to the highlight of the day, South and North Kinsman(4358', 4293'). It was a steep and rocky climb up there but I continue to have this vast amount of energy in my legs and it was just a thrill to get up there and see Franconia Ridge across the way. On the way down I met these two ladies and they gave me a peach, cherries, and two gingersnaps from the bakery on Grand Manan Island, N.B. It was really cool because my parents used to take us there and we always would go to the bakery for some goodies. It brought back some very fond memories. I continued my way down the trail until I came to the hut. It is basically a mini lodge run by the AMC and they have guests staying for about $80 dollars a night. But they sometimes allow thru hikers to work for stay depending if the crew is cool. Batman and I were the only two thru's who ended up staying. They fed us stuffed shells with veggies and sauce, soup, salad, and cake. It was basically all you can eat depending on the leftovers. Needless to say I am completely stuffed and satisfied right now. All we had to do was was some dishes and clean out a freezer. Quite a deal. The lake by the hut has an awesome view of the Franconia Range in the distance and I can't wait to get up there tommorrow. This part of the trail is definately going to be one of the major highlights of the trail. In fact I think that the rest of the trail will be a major highlight. Anyway I am sleeping in the dining hall and have a feeling I will be woken up quite early so I really have to get some rest for the challenging hike tommorrow. I'm sure that I will be dreaming about it tonight.
Date: 2007-07-30
From: Lonesome Lake Hut

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, I wasn't as lucky as I was last night. I got to the hut today hoping to work for stay but there were already four Southbounders here. Darn Sobos. All well Batman and I are going to crash on the porch. We're not suppose to camp within a quarter mile of the huts or trail, but we didn't feel like hiking anymore so the porch will have to do. It was truly a magnificent day though. We climbed up and over the Franconia Range which is one of the most magnificent if not the most part of the Whites. We finished off a few chores at Lonesome Lake Hut this morning and went down to Franconia Notch(1450') and began a good climb over Little Haystack Mtn(4760'), then Mt. Lincoln(5089'), then Mt. Lafayette(5249') and the north peak of Lafayette. Then we went down quite a bit and then back up to Mt. Garfield(4488'). It was a pretty tough day, but it was really one of the highlights of the whole trail to this point. It was kind of cloudy, but it only added to the majesty of the mountains. The sun came out for the late afternoon and warmed things up for a while making it a nice end to the day. We were denied when we came to the hut but it is really nice outside, there was a nice sunset and now I can see a distant thunderstorm. It is quite a show from here. Hopefully it doesn't make its way over to here. Tommorrow my plans are up in the air. My options are numerous but none are really all that appealing. It is either a big day, a really short one or a stay at a lodge which I would rather not do. I would rather stay in the mountains. All well it will all work out for the best. I hope that my compadres that are behind me are doing well. I really miss hiking with them and wish they were here. They truly are a bunch of good guys and I know they will all appreciate the greatness of these mountains when they get here. You guys won't be dissapointed.
Date: 2007-07-31
From: Galehead Hut

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: fog

It was a full moon last night and from the proch of the hut I layed and watched it rise until I fell asleep. It was a beacon in the sky as I ocasionally woke up to readjust during the night. I was up early and got on the trail at a reasonable hour. The first order of business was a steep 1000' climb up South Twin Mtn(4902') and then a short jaunt over to Mt. Guyot(4560'). From there it was a nice descent, steep at times down to Zealand Falls Hut then it was actually easy hiking to Crawford Notch. I walked along an old railroad bed and then into the woods along a bunch of bog bridges. I heard a Moose bleating in the woods but didn't see it. Moose can make the oddest noises sometimes. When I got to the notch my intention was to go to a store and then hit the trail and start the climb up the Presidential Range. However, I just couldn't catch a ride. So I started walking down the road. Eventually someone was nice enough to stop, but not after about a hundred vehicles had passed. I did my shopping and then contemplated my next move. The Crawford Notch general store is also a campground and has a bunkhouse for hikers, so it was either stay here or hike up. I decided to try my luck at hitching back to the trailhead but it was not meant to be. Out of frustration I gave up and ended up here at the bunkhouse. At least I got a shower and a ride back to the trail out of the deal, but I am left a littled bummed that I didn't make it back to the trail. I almost feel like I am missing out by not being out there but I will get a good nights rest and will attack the 5,000' climb that will eventually get me to Mt. Washington tommorrow. It will be tough that is for darn sure but I highly anticipate it at least until I get to the top where the circus of people, cars, and a cog railway will be. Uhhh, how I despise the desecration of such places of beauty. The rest of the range should be magnificent. Speaking of desecrations, I received news from my mother that the town they live in, Lincoln, ME, is cutting the trees down on their road to dig out ditches. It is a nice dirt road that has been perfectly fine for as long as it has existed. Yet the town is spending X amount of dollars for....what? I suppose it is so they can manage it easier or some garbage like that. But it probably will never be worth the trouble they are going to right now. I can only imagine the devestation when I go and see it. I wish there was some way to right this wrong but it is unfortunately beyond me. I hate saying that.   Enough already. I am currently 1829 miles into my journey. Only 345 more to go. I'm not sure how I feel about it. It will be nice to rest, but then what. What will I do to appease my constant uneasiness about sitting still. Hopefully I will focus on finishing school and working again, but I likely will seek refuge on my bike or with my fishing rod. Well it will be nice to see loved ones again. Anyway I guess I'll leave this journal entry at that. On a postive, happy thought.
Date: 2007-08-01
From: Crawford Notch

To: USFS Osgood Tentsite
Miles today: 21.2
Weather: broken clouds

Well, today was a monumental day for me. I basically did the entire Presidential Range in one day. I'm sure it has been done before by many people but it feels like some sort of physical accomplishment for me. I didn't totaly plan on doing it. I thought about it but was prepared to do less mileage if I had to. It was just such an unbelievable day that I decided to hike for all of it. I mean that is why I'm out here.   I actually got up early and got a ride to the trailhead. I was on it by 7:00. I methodically began to climb from the notch up to Webster cliffs and then Mt. Webster(3910'). From there I climbed up to Mt. Jackson(4052'), and then took a break at the Mizpah Hut. I then went up to the South Peak of Mt. Clinton and then hit Clinton(4180',4310'). Then it was onto Mt.Franklin(5004'), and after a short break at Lake of Clouds Hut I made the final climb to Mt. Washington(6288'). The views were simply majestic today from all vantage points. Wherever I looked it was just grand. Once I got to Washington I was overwelhmed with the whole scene. There were buildings: a summit snackbar, a museum, a platform viewing area, and coal powered trains billowing dark black smoke up the mountain, and it was packed. There was a waiting line to get pictures at the sign that stated the elevation. I waited my turn with the others. I stayed up there for awhile just to enjoy the views as much as possible. I won't say anything bad about the experience, I promise. Except they didn't have coffee anywhere, booo. I made my way down along the ridge for a bit then slowly went up and down a few times. For some reason the AT doesn't go over all the presidential peaks. It comes very close but kind of skirts around them. I was kind of dissapointed with that, but it was all right after I climbed up Mt Madison(5363'). Wow, what a way to cap off the day. I looked back on Washington and half the distance I covered. It was unbelievable.   I could have probaly worked for stay at the 3 huts I passed including Madison, but I really just wanted to campout again. I hiked all the way down to a tentsite that allows fires as well. The AMC apparently frowns upon fires, but this site isn't managed by them. It's free too. There are three young men from Quincy, MASS here. They are newbies and just wanted to escape the city. The problem is their packs are 60 lbs. They are nice fellas and they will figure it out as they go. I only offer pointers if I'm asked but they got the general idea that they have way too much weight.   So it was quite a day, I am totally gassed right now. I feel good, but I'm tired. I'll be tackling the Wildcat and Carter range tommorrow. They are not small potatoes either. It should be awesome.