morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-29
From: Smarts Mtn

To: Hiker's Welcome Hostel
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: scattered clouds

So I survived the fire tower. No thunderstorms. Cygnet couldn't sleep down in the shelter so she climbed up the tower to see the full moon, nightime view at 3:00am, which in turn woke me up. Ended up talking for an hour before we realized we should really go back to sleep. I couldn't though and just layed there for another hour until the sun started to come up, so I got up and watched it. Now that I was wide awake I figured I should just pack up and hike. May be my earliest start yet; on the trail at 6:30. I hadn't planned on coming all the way here, but it was just too easy having so many hours to hike. I had 20 miles done by 4:15. Made for a long day though. Now it's 11pm and I've been awake for 20 hours, but tomorrow I'm zeroing here, so it's no big deal.
Date: 2004-08-30
From: Hiker's Welcome Hostel

To: Hikers Welcome Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Had a wonderful day off. It was my first zero since Delaware Water Gap,PA. It's been a long time coming. Got to read a bunch, take a nap in the hammock, watch Pirates of the Carribean, and go out to eat. Tomorrow I tackle Mt Mossilauke. The stories I keep hearing about it are making me nervous. They say it's the hardest climb since North Carolina and an even harder downhill. I just hope the weather cooperates. It has been raining on and off for three days now.
Date: 2004-08-31
From: Hikers Welcome Hostel

To: Stealth camp near Gordon Pond
Miles today: 12.8

So I survived Moosilauke, and actually enjoyed it. Today is my 150th day on the trail, so I'd hope I'm ready for the Whites. Today was also the first day above treeline. There was no view from the top, but it ws still awesome with 50ft visibility and 40mph winds. By the time I reached the shelter below the summit, the fog had cleared to reveal a breathtaking view of the Lafayette ridgelines. A nice preview of what's to come. It's getting dark so early now. You can barely hike until 7:30 and then you're doing everything in the dark. Not to mention the leaves are starting to change color too. September 1st?!! How the hell did that happen? lol I'll have a job before I know what hit me......:-(
Date: 2004-09-01
From: Stealth camp near Gordon Pond

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 10.1

Today kicked my ass. In part because I got up too late. Usually this wouldn't be a problem, but now I'm 3 miles behind in my schedule to be picked up Friday by my parents. Tomorrow may just be the hardest day of hiking of the entire trip. Down 1,000 ft to Franconia Notch, up 3,000ft to Little Haystack Mtn, then down and up Mt Lincoln, then down and up another 1,000 more to Mt Lafayette(5,249'), then down and up 2,000' to Mt Garfield, and finally arriving at Galehead Hut. All this over 16 slow rigorous miles. I may die. If I come up short, it'll just make the next day longer, but it doesn't have the elevation changes, so I may save some miles. On another note, I'm now wearing a dress by choice, for the second time in my life. I didn't want to shovel compost for my work-for-stay here at the hut and instead of paying $10, they gave me the silly option of wearing a dress. So, save some money, have a laugh, and get AYCE lasagna. The high school group of 50 kids here are so damn loud. Put 50 thru-hikers at a hut and no one would be yelling over each other to be heard. Some kind of difference in group dynamics. Up super early tomorrow for my insane day of White goodness.
Date: 2004-09-02
From: Lonesome Lake Hut

To: Galehead Hut..sort of
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was just about the best day of my entire hike. Again, I don't even know how to begin to describe, in words, how perfect it was. I'll bet it was one of the clearest days the Whites see all year long. I was out hiking by 6:45 in anticipation of one hell of a hike. I didn't even stop for the first six miles and then stopped at Liberty Spring tentsite to pick up some water. Who should come walking up from their sites, but Clayton, Travis, Pippin, Cowgirl, and Rally. The had decided to slow down and enjoy the Whites, while I picked it up a little today to make it to Crawford Notch on time. So the six of us ventured on over the breathtakingly gorgeous Lafayette ridgeline that was all above treeline. Spent over 2 hours in breaks just to sit on a sun-baked rock and admire the view. I must have taken 30 pictures and didn't even come close to capturing it. Then, after Lafayette, Pippin was my shadow for the afternoon. Very enjoyable to hike with someone, especially Pippin. Other than the people, the weather was also indescribably good. The bluest sky you can imagine and a cool breeze of about 60 degrees. Heavenly! Not to mention how easy the hiking was. I've never been in this kind of shape....EVER. It so empowering to muscle up a 5,000 ft mountain and barely break a sweat. I'm just a machine out there, powerful, and at the same time, incredibly graceful. I compare it to a dance, watching a thru-hiker hop from rock to root in an unbroken rhythm up a steep section of trail. Anyway, we pulled into the hut only to be shot down for a place to stay. I won't even go into my beef with the AMC right now. Thankfully, the crew was nice enough to let us know about this stealth site, where hikers now kill plants after being denied a night's stay in a perfectly good hut with PLENTY of space. We had a nice campfire though and probably had a much better time here than we would have there. And we're going back in the morning to hopefully get breakfast leftovers. I don't want to say goodbye to these guys again.....
Date: 2004-09-03
From: Galehead Hut..sort of

To: Moose Mt (again)
Miles today: 14.7

Hiked past Zealand Falls hut and had an awesome luch of soup, bread and cakes. Met up with my parents perfectly and headed here for the Labor Day weekend off. MOM's note: Pulled into the Crawford Notch parking lot (not where the trail crosses we quickly learn from the map) in the dark around 8pm. No sign of life, no Tim, no ANYone. No sooner had we turned the car around, we see a car pulling in. The driver's side window goes down and the gentleman states, "I think we have something of yours". I jump out of the car to give my dirty, smelly son a big hug. Another happy reunion charmed by a lucky sense of timing. Another few minutes and we would have driven 3 miles further down the road to the trail crossing and we could have been passing each other back and forth on the road for who knows how long. Tim was feeling a bit under the weather from a nasty cold he thought he contracted from those 50 high school kids so it was a timely break from the trail. He also informed us he had spent the last few hours awaiting our arrival, fretting over the fact that he left his debit card, $$, and license and phone card (essentially his wallet) at Zealand Falls hut. Uh oh. What to do. Went to the AMC guest center and they called Pinkham Notch who agreed to put it in the radio message to the hut in the morning. We would have to call back tomorrow and see if anyone found it, and better yet, turned it in.
Date: 2004-09-04
From: Moose Mt (again)

To: Moose Mt
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Didn;t stray from a 100' diameter circle all day long. Good day, sitting around, nursing this cold.MOM's note: You must want to know the outcome of the lost wallet...right? Tim tried calling, using a cell phone, with very poor reception, but didn't get much info. So we drove 7 miles out to a paved road, and called again. He finally was connected to the person who does the radioing up to the huts...the reservation desk. She was very helpful and radioed up to find out it had been turned in, and sent along to Lakes of the Clouds hut with some hikers (no names given) The friendly woman then offered to radio to Lakes to tell them to leave the wallet there and Tim would be there to retrieve it on Monday. Such relief to have located it. We were contemplating all sorts of scenarios, one of which was for Tim to have to come home with us to get all new cards since you need an i.d. and form of $ to survive. That would not have been good. So, thank you to whomever turned it in. And for whomever took the $20 handling fee I hope you needed it or shared the wealth with someone else.
Date: 2004-09-05
From: Moose Mt

To: Moose Mt
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Just another day away from the trail. Definitely sick of everyone making such a big deal about my hike. It's all anyone ever wants to talk to me about. I mean, I'm happy to share stories and everything, but I answered the same 10 questions like 30 times in the past two days. I just want to talk about something else sometimes. Mom's note: Tim was a good sport. Even I noticed the redundancy (sp?) of the questions. New people kept arriving, and when seeing Tim, or being introduced to him, would fire off the same inquiries the previous 6 people had just asked. But he'll have to tolerate some more of this celebrity status when he gets home I'm afraid. The Marlboro Rotary Club has asked him to speak, and there are many locals who ask us questions about Tim's adventure and who will be eager to hear the stories from him. That's what you get for going out and doing something as big as an AT thru hike. One of the highlights of the weekend for me was all the inquiries about this soda can stove he has been using. Among the trail community its common knowledge, but outside the trail it is a real novelty. He did so many demonstrations and then a few guys decided they had to make their own. So there was a mini-workshop on stove making. And then, guys egos being what they are (just kidding) they had to have a "light-off" to see whose burned the best. Whose was that really blue one, the one that seemed to be burning so perfectly? Oh, that's Tim's! (I mean Rooney's)
Date: 2004-09-06
From: Moose Mt

To: Mizpah Spring Hut
Miles today: 6.4

Feels good to be back on the trail. It was a pretty serious climb out of Crawford Notch, but I made it up easily despite the lingering cold and two days off of sitting around. Tomorrow I finally make it up and over Washington and it looks like the weather is going to cooperate for at least one more day. I'm going to try to catch Swan, Usa, Cygnet, and Blue tomorrow. Hopefully, my wallet is waiting for me at Lakes of the Clouds Hut.
Date: 2004-09-07
From: Mizpah Spring Hut

To: Madison Springs Hut
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

What a day. Had some incredible views all morning of the Presidentials and watched Washington go in and out of the clouds. My wallet WAS waiting at Lakes just as I'd hoped, but during its journey from Zealand, someone took $20 out of it. It sucks, but it could have been a lot worse. Once up on Washington, I was able to call my dad at work where he could see me on the internet via the webcam at the summit. By then the fog had rolled in, so no views up on top. I caught Swan, Cygnet and Ursa on the way to Madison. Good to see them again and get to hike with Cygnet the last couple of miles. Very windy weather above treeline and some dramatic breaks in the fog every now and then. The croo here at the hut is awesome and let 9 hikers work for stay without a problem, the way it should be. We stayed up really late (like 10pm!) finishing a 500 piece puzzle of a bald eagle, so I finally got my puzzle fix in.
Date: 2004-09-08
From: Madison Springs Hut

To: Joe Dodge Lodge
Miles today: 7.8

Super short day with some motivational problems in the afternoon. I got a nice hot shower here for a rip-off, but it was highly needed. Apparently, hurricane Frances is coming up the coast and is supposed to slam us all day tomorrow. If they're right, tomorrow is going to suck. For now though, I may be more comfortable than I've been the entire hike. Swann, Ursa and Cygnet got this room here and paid WAY too much for just a bunkroom, and there was an extra bunk, so they snuck me in. The mattresses are soooo comfortable, and the sheets are so smooth. It's going to be hard to leave this cozy place when it's raining in the morning. Gotta say goodbye to Cygnet tomorrow too as her two week adventure comes to an end.
Date: 2004-09-09
From: Joe Dodge Lodge

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

I'm just full of short days lately. This one was for good reason though. Woke up to pouring rain this morning that wasn't going to let up all day. And I was indoors with no real reason to leave, except I didn't want to sit around all day and have to pay for a room. So after wasting as much time as possible, I suited up and hiked out. It poured all six miles of steep ups and downs over Wildcat. It took about 4.5 hours of scrambling up stone steps that turned into raging waterfalls. The trail was just like hiking up a six inch deep river about half of the time. At other times, I was trudging through shin deep puddles. By the time I reached this hut, I was numb. I just layed in my sleeping bag for a couple of hours to warm up. EVERYTHING got soaked including all of the clothes in my pack. So, I'm in a damp shirt and pants while everything else is hanging to dry. They won't dry though. I'll be putting on all wet clothes to hike out in the morning. If I'm lucky, it won't be pouring.
Date: 2004-09-10
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Hikers Paradise
Miles today: 15.2

Crazy day today. Had the windiest day of the whole hike. Coming over Mt. Height it was so strong, it ripped my pack cover right off and I had to scramble over the rocks to get it. All I could hear was the roar of the wind. I couldn't even hear myself think. At one point, I went down on one knee to keep from being blown over. The sheet at the hut said Washington had a gust of 70 mph earlier that morning and it certainly hadn't let up any, so I think it's safe to estimate it was at least 60 mph gusts up here. Not to mention the fact that it didn't get above 50 degrees all day. I was so cold I had to keep hiking just to stay warm with the wind like that. I can't imagine what it would have been like coming over Washington. Crazy crazy hurricanes. But now I am in Gorham, all dry, clean, and stuffed with an AYCE chinese buffet, so everything is good.
Date: 2004-09-11
From: Hikers Paradise

To: Cascade Mtn, I think
Miles today: 4.0

Took awhile to get all the errands done in town. You know, the AYCE breakfast errand, the sorting through goodies from my Aunt and Uncle errand, and obviously the McDonald's errand. I came up to this open rock area and just couldn't pass up the star-gazing opportunity. Just going to cowboy it up here and hope for no showers. Some clouds are moving in, but with luck, it'll be a clear night. There's a good view of Washington from here and every now and then I catch a glimpse of sunlight reflected off a car windshield on the access road. Looks like I may be treated to a good sunset too. Holy friggin' crap, I cross into Maine tomorrow!!!
Date: 2004-09-12
From: Cascade Mtn, I think

To: Goose Eye Mtn. (east peak)
Miles today: 14.9

One hell of a day. I came up short of where I wanted to make it to cause this terrain is so slow going. It took me all day (9-7) to get here. I did make it into Maine though, but not before my hardest fall yet about a 1/4 mile from the border. I slipped on a slanted ledge and landed on my right thumb and left ass cheek. I slid the last six feet of ledge and scraped up my left forearm too. Don't think I broke my thumb, but it hurts like hell. So I cowboy camped or the 2nd night in a row. Not as good a sunset as last night and a lot more clouds. It's very windy. Hope it doesn't mean some weather is rolling in. I'm setting the alarm to try and catch sunrise, and to get out early enough to do 13 miles, one of which is Mahoosuc Notch. Should be a lot of fun.
Date: 2004-09-13
To: Mom"s update (old news now)
Miles today: 0.0

Dear friends,I apologize for not doing this sooner. Although I do not have any current journal entries (although I've been told they are in the mail), I can update you on tim. He is alive, well, and still hiking!   He called from Gorham, NH this past weekend and expected to cross into Maine yesterday. MAINE!!!! The last state!!! His Dad and I are planning to meet him in Baxter State Park on Oct 3rd and attempt to summit Katahdin with him on the 4th to celebrate his 21st birthday. We can't wait. We saw Tim on Labor Day weekend for a few days of R&R. He looked great despite having his first cold of the trail. He was pretty sure he got it from one of the 52 high school students who were staying at one of the AMC huts. Too much civilisation! When we dropped him back off at the trail we met 3 fellow hikers,D Bone, Chef and Arms. They gratefully ate and drank from our picnic spread. Its always fun to meet some of Tim's trail buddies. Thank you to all who have followed and supported his journey. I know he appreciates all the messages, letters, packages etc that you have sent. Although he doesn't need any more supplies, his last mail pick up for cards and letters will be Monson,ME 04464 (address it to Tim Humphrey c/o General Delivery). You need to mail them by 9/20 to ensure he gets them. Of course, you can still post messages on this guest book or his website as well. We are planning some type of homecoming party toward the end of October so try and keep those last two weekends open. We'll pick a date soon.Sincerely, Mr and Mrs Tunes
Date: 2004-09-13
From: Goose Eye Mtn. (east peak)

To: Baldpate Shelter
Miles today: 14.2

Maine is killing me. Took me 11 hours of hiking to get here. That's just uncalled for. The Notch took me an hour and 45 minutes, which included one nasty fall. I tried to break my other thumb this time, but probably just bashed a tendon it it, medically speaking. Left some blood on the rocks down there for DNA testing to prove I was there. Into Andover tomorrow, probably staying at the Cabin. Got to crunch the numbers again and make sure I can finish in time. I'm counting on Maine getting easier. It better. This is my first time in a shelter since VT.
Date: 2004-09-14
From: Baldpate Shelter

To: The Cabin
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

Autumn is in full swing. Woke up to 40 degrees this morning, packed my things with numb hands and walked off with numb feet. Perfect hiking weather. The trail was great today. Finally some smooth, fairly level sections of Maine. The fresh leaves on the ground remind me of x-country running near the reservoir; the highlight of my Senior year of high school. Got a great ride into town from Moosebait's Dad who was waiting at the road for her. Did the town thing and got to check my 30 new e-mails, 8 new posts, and 6 new guest book entries. A little overwhelming, but great to hear from so many people. I've now got about everyday for the rest of the hike planned out. No rush, just gotta be aware so I hit it right on. Of course, it's all weather permitting. If I can't summit directly on my birthday, it's no big deal, just something to shoot for. So now that this gigantic accomplishment is drawing to an end, it brings to mind questions about what isn't possible. Nothing? It just depends how much you want something and how much you're willing to sacrifice to get it. But that's not a real good way of looking at it. Then it makes you sound stubborn, like you're doing something merely to accomplish it, and not to experience it. I guess you're limited only by the things you don't want. It sounds obvious now that I wrote it, and almost wrong at the same time. But back to the point about sacrificing. That would mean there is something "better" you could be doing instead. I compare decisions like this hike to listening to the radio. You may be listening to a really good song on one station, but just maybe an even better song is on the next preset. Some would stay with the good song. Why change it, right? I went looking for a better song and found one of the best songs I've ever heard. Ok, enough bizarre metaphors. Life is just channel surfing for me now.
Date: 2004-09-15
From: The Cabin

To: Camped beside Black Brook
Miles today: 10.1

We're having some great weather in between these hurricanes. When it does rain, it'll be damn cold though. I'm still being beaten to a pulp by Maine. Even the climbs that are only 1500ft are straight up the side of the mountain. And I'm starting to feel sick again. It could just be the same lingering cold. My muscles are screaming at me now too. I think my body is trying to tell me it needs a zero day. I can't blame it. If I were my body, I would have quit on me a while ago, if that makes any sense. I've just been running it into the ground for almost six months now. Lesson learned: rest is as important to finishing as hiking is. For me anyway. Now the question is, do I have the time to zero?
Date: 2004-09-16
From: Camped beside Black Brook

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

Happens everytime. I can have all the energy in the world while I cook and eat dinner but as soon as I get horizontal in my tent, BAM, lights out. Laying here bleary-eyed, after a long day. Another long day. Tomorrow my old boss is picking me up in Rangeley though, so I'll have a nice night away from the trail. Boat pointed out that we're at Sabbath Day Pond on an actual Sabbath Day. Coincidence? I think not.
Date: 2004-09-17
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-To

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

Had some of the best trail since Mass. today. I don't know how it snuck its way into Maine, but it was gentle and oh, so sweet. I'm here at Henry and Linda's house on the Lake. They took Blue, Great Panter, Boat and I out ot dinner which was wonderful. I had the pork with a Guiness sauce, which was SO good. The main dish wasn't quite big enough, but with salad, bread, and dessert, I was comfortably stuffed. We might get some rain from hurricane Ivan tomorrow morning, but its supposed to clear by the afternoon. Looks like lows down in the mid 30's coming up. Approaching peak foliage very rapidly too. Come on body, it's almost over!
Date: 2004-09-18
From: Rangeley, ME

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-To
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: moderate rain

Woke up to pouring rain this morning. Such a nice feeling to be in a warm bed for it. Henry cooked up an awesome breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, and home fries. By the time I'd gotten all my stuff packed and went to the IGA, the rain had stopped. So, had a quick lunch of PB&J and the best raspberry turnover I've ever had, and left for the trail. Came over Saddleback which wasn't too bad except for the 40 mph winds that brought the windchill down around 30 degrees. Got to watch the dark clouds of Ivan to the South, collide with the clear blue skies of high pressure to the North. Thankfully, the big H won, and the rain is being pushed seaward. The trade-off though is bitter cold. It's 41 right now and I'm wearing every piece of clothing I have and am still shivering. Wish I'd asked for a warmer sleeping bag instead of an MP3 player for my birthday. Live and learn. Hopefully, don't die and learn.
Date: 2004-09-19
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-To

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: light rain

Absolutely frigid day today. Woke up to 37 degrees this morning and I'm pretty sure it never got above 40 all day. That's not including the blustery winds. And it's supposed to be colder tonight. Let's hope all these layers and layers of nylon keep me warm. I hiked the side trail up to the summit of Sugarloaf to try and see Katahdin, but it was just too hazy. Good views of the Bigelows and Whitecap though. It's crazy how I can still be meeting new people out here. Just met Archaeoptrix and Chef Vegan for the first time, and Chef started the day before me! Crazy! Tomorrow is going to be pretty damn tough. We start out with a couple of 4,000 footers in the first two miles, then a gigantic downhill to 1,200', and then a gigantic uphill back up to 4,145 in the Bigelows. But that's it. Last time I have to climb to 4,000' til the end. I had terrible gas today. Beware of the Kung Pao chicken. It has proven to be pretty volatile on the way out on two separate occasions now. I had Hawaiian Chicken tonight. Maybe my farts will smell like pineapple tomorrow. I can only hope, you know, for the forest's sake.