morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-31
From: GlenCliff, New Hampshire

To: North Woodstock, New Hampshire
Miles today: 9.5

Mt. Moosilauke is a big mountain. It is the largest climb of the hike thus far ¢ nearly 4000 feet over six miles. But that¢s really not the news so much as it¢s the first above tree line summit of the journey.Above tree line is simple to understand ¢ it means that with elevation and geographic latitude, all trees stop growing, leaving only alpine lichens and mosses. Weather is the critical component when going above tree line.When I headed out of the hostel this morning, it was maybe high forties or low fifties. Brrr. A blessing really, since the ascent would be a long one. I led Slim on the journey up with a slow measured pace, that hopefully, wouldn¢t require us to stop.Drenched shirts and chill winds usually don¢t mean a warm hiker. Near the top, just before we lost the windbreak of the evergreens (even though they were no taller than us, despite being 100 years old) I slipped on a long-sleeve shirt, wind shirt on top of that and fleece cap. At the summit sign the winds were a wonderful 25 mph. Visibility was maybe 50 miles ¢ the world was beautiful and Slim and I were standing solo, owning the entire massive mountain at 8:30 a.m. It was a blessing to face such a mountain on an ideal weather day.The descent is a bit different than the climb. We drop the entire elevation in half the distance ¢ meaning it¢s steep. If it¢s wet, it means you¢re going to fall and fall and fall. Only today it was dry and to my amazement, neither of us fell.Of course, it might have been that sneaky wager I made the four of us agree to. Last night, Chemist, Magic Shoes, Slim and I entered into the Mt. Mossilauke No-Falls Challenge. The Winner (least falls) wins one dollar (U.S. American currency ¢ not that whimpy Canadian tender) from each hiker. I knew it would change their focus from angst to one of competition.An hour later, Chemist and Magic Shoes made the hitch into North Woodstock where we were and proudly informed me they too, hadn¢t fallen. ¢Great¢ I said, (Mission Accomplished). ¢Let¢s eat!¢
Date: 2006-08-01
From: North Woodstock, New Hampshire

To: North Woodstock, New Hampshire
Miles today: 0.0

The one thing I¢ve learned about The Whites is to take advantage of a good day and don¢t challenge a bad one. Wise words, but did I listen? Yes, I did¢¦ only poorly.The morning had a nasty severe storm moving in quick around 8 a.m. I suggested we not head out and wait to see (let it pass).By that time we did decide to not head up to tree line, eventually the day turned nice ¢ well maybe for a few hours. We took a zero.Since we wanted to rest in Hanover, but couldn¢t, the zero sort of sat well with everyone. My biggest dilemma was one of smell. Even though I washed my shirt the afternoon before, it still smells. All day long I kept smelling myself -- and not in a pleasing way. It was driving me crazy really. The only answer might be a new shirt. Only this one was a new change out. It¢s all that humidity and excessive sweating of mine. It¢s really annoying, but will have to be tolerated. Some of the thru-hikers let themselves go, truly looking like someone who lives on the streets. You¢ll often hear them complain about being unable to get a hitch into town, ¢Really?¢ I¢ll say.
Date: 2006-08-04
From:  US 3 / Franconia Notch

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke to rain, ¢Hey, that wasn¢t suppose to be the weather.¢ A look at the radar on the Weather Channel showed a long, wide ban of precip, fortunately it had a diagonal back edge, which wasn¢t far from moving beyond us. Since I suggested a 9 a.m. start time, might as well go join the locals down at Peg¢s again for breakfast. If we all stayed one more day, we¢d be mistaken for being one.At the trailhead the sky was blue, so nice to see. Yesterday I suggested to the guys that Franconia Ridge (today¢s hike) was one of the most Spectacular sections of the AT. I¢d seen it in fog and rain the first hike, I really wanted to take a strategic zero since the weather the next day (today) was to be perfect. Everyone agreed. So to see blue up above at the trailhead raised everyone¢s enthusiasm for reaching the ridgeline and the above tree line vistas. We emerged out of the spruce and fir at Little Haystack Mountain and immediately your jaw drops from the breathtaking beauty! Powerful, grand and stunning, small clouds were drifting lazily by at 10 mph.The strategic zero had paid off; few days in The Whites are more ideal.Throughout the day we lingered on each summit. We were soaking up the majesty of this section. Our later start had us trying for Galehead Hut, at thirteen miles; it takes thru-hiker legs to make it in eight hours. The gorgeous weather had many flocking to the ridgeline with a fair number booked in here at Galehead.I was first here and got Slim and I bunks (with meals), so that Chemist and Magic Shoes could do work-for-stay and sleep free. The gang showed up about 15 minutes later ¢ all was good!At 9:30 p.m. the staff called The Croo, turn the lights out in the hut. That¢s when your headlamp comes out if you plan on staying up for such things as cards, or journaling. We¢ve been promised two more great weather days ¢ maybe we¢ll get lucky and get Mt. Washington sleeping peacefully? That will be in another three days, so wish me luck and calm weather.
Date: 2006-08-05
From: Galehead Hut

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: fog

Breakfast in the huts isn¢t till 7 a.m. The Croo of the hut helps everyone get going at 6:30 (one member came into the sleeping area with his accordion to play a little diddy.) He was quite good and the melody all the better.Aside from a steep up to start the day, it was an uncharacteristic day in The Whites with mild terrain.On top of South Twin, a cold 40-degree wind caught us as puffy clouds flew by helplessly. Just before the summit I turned to look back and saw the most spectacular view of Galehead Hut no bigger than a Monopoly game house with Slim climbing the slope in the foreground. The contrast in sizes as well as the morning light created an awesome image. Click.After a 15-minute nap on the sunny steps of Zealand Falls Hut, we finished the day on mild trail that had once been an old railroad logging bed. It¢s so rare to have your foot flat on a surface while in The Whites.As I finished my day at the trailhead, several other hikers were all hanging out enjoying the great trail magic of Stitches (¢99) and Rock Dancer (¢97). Slim and I joined in on the conversation to wait for Chemist and Magic Shoes who started later that morning due to their work-for-stay.Stump knocker and Mrs. Gorp came in next as Grinds, Brave Friend, Remateh and Andy D headed to Mizpah Hut. The sun was giving everyone a pink head with the sensational weather. No one complained.Stitches and Rock Dancer brought us over to The Crawford Notch Campground where we four get the bunkhouse, and then we all went into town for Dairy Queen.It¢s now late (by thru-hiker standards) and I¢m the last one up. Getting sleepy. Tomorrow we may go long to get over Mt. Washington since the weather may be ideal. The next day sounds like a front may come in ¢ don¢t want to be at 6,280 feet if that were to happen. Mt. Washington is not to be taken lightly ¢ the boys are a tad more quiet tonight as a result.
Date: 2006-08-06
From:  US 302 / Crawford Notch

To: Madison Hut (Tenting)
Miles today: 18.2

It was a sensational, spectacular and demanding day. The wind was barely present and the cold, blue sky and morning sun promised today was indeed going to be special. I¢m not sure if the horizon has ever been so clear ¢ visibility might be 100 miles.Rock Dancer, in another grand gesture of Trail Magic, came back over early to fetch us from The Crawford Notch campground. By half past six we were climbing Webster Cliffs. The rest of the day would see us not only climb the 6000-feet up to Mt. Washington¢s Summit, but a whole mountain range of other summits as well. This ridge is called, The Presidential with each peak named for a past president.As far as the AT is concerned, this stretch is the longest above tree line experience ¢ nearly 25 miles. So having good weather is vital. Taking a lesson from my own thoughts on The Whites ¢ take advantage of good days and don¢t challenge the bad ones ¢ we went long.Despite the demandingly tough trail, we made up to Mt. Washington. Our arrival wasn¢t noticed by anyone since The Summit was overrun by tourist ¢ about 1000 soda sipping, pose-clothes wearing, loud beyond reason¢¦ tourist. Added to that commotion was the mayhem surrounding the cog-train and its huffing and puffing smoke stack. Some people looked at us, but mostly though, they looked through us.When we arrived at Madison Hut, the Croo Master informed me that no room or work positions were available. So we headed off the ridge down to a campsite with two wooden platforms. The four of us managed to squeeze all four tents onto one ¢ a colossal achievement.Once again, I¢m the last one up (8:33 p.m.), its going to be cold tonight since we¢re up at over 4000-feet. My 30-degree bag is going to earn its keep. Tomorrow, thanks to our big mileage today, will be 7.7 miles once we hike back up the .6 tenths to the ridgeline. With so few miles, we should reach Joe Dodge Lodge at Pinkham Notch camp by lunch and then it¢s a lazy, half-day off Monday. A nero.
Date: 2006-08-07
From: Madison Hut (Tenting)

To:  Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: fog

Mountain air sure is conducive to good sleeping; the breeze was quite wonderfully stout last night. It also brought in a heavy bank of clouds and fog. From where we slept, we had a million dollar view of The Summit of Mt. Madison ¢ this mornings breakfast. The clouds were zipping over the summit faster than Lamborghinis. Oh well.First we had to climb the six-tenths back to the ridgeline. A quick stop to fill up on water and then up Mt. Madison. The higher we went the stronger the wind, which by the summit was pushing us back and forth, challenging our balance with every step. These rocks need no help at tripping us; they¢re quite capable all by themselves.From the summit you can see a whole series of roller coaster summits that progressively lower you below tree line. Down around the forth of these, the wind was shoving us sideways. Three times I had my poles propping me up against the 50+ mph winds.Eventually the trees grow from knee high to waist height and then finally over your head. Along with the transition comes the reduction of the wind. Of course these are The Whites, so to compensate they plunge steeply over more rocks, roots and slippery soil. At some point the walk to Pinkham Notch Camp becomes mild ¢ usually a mile away so the Towner¢s can have their wilderness experience before heading home again.With the short section completed by noon, eating, hydrating and lounging was the order of the day and here at Joe Dodge Lodge there¢s a deli/grill. Life is Good!
Date: 2006-08-08
From:  Pinkham Notch Camp

To: IMP Shelter / Campsite
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: fog

About halfway up The Wildcats, specifically Peak E that is a 2200-foot ascent of rocks & roots as ruthless as they come, Magic Shoes said, ¢This wasn¢t so bad¢. That¢s when I informed him he was only halfway ¢ his grin was erased instantly. By the time we hit the summit with its 30-degree wind chill and 30 mph gusts, Magic Shoe¢s suggested we rename them to ¢The Hellcats¢.It¢s as demanding a section as any other in The Whites, then it plummets down to the last AMC Hut ¢ Carter Notch Hut. After four mugs of hot chocolate I finally warmed up. Brrr. This is early August isn¢t it?Clouds and Sun battled it out all the whole day. When covered, the stout wind would cut through you and your soaking wet shirt and wind shirt. Then it would reappear to take the bite out of the teeth of the dog gusts.On the final descent I came across Leah (trail name Sproutz) with the most distinctive hair arrangement thus far this 1900 miles. Sort of dread¢s, sort of palm tree with a touch of pineapple top. I liked it. I said ¢interesting hair¢¦ in a good way¢. We laughed.Anyway, she and her group are from Camp Aloha (or something like that) in Vermont. I went over to chat and tell trail stories later in camp ¢ they rewarded me with fig Newton¢s. Yea baby!! What a trade. Leah now was wearing a penguin fleece cap¢¦ this woman knows how to not blend in. Bravo Leah, good for you!Tomorrow we leave The Whites and visit Gorham, the last town in New Hampshire. Laundry is a top priority and steak. Yes, Beef, hot pink with sour cream and a hearty salad.Trail buddy update: Bloody Mess is 19 days ahead ¢ most likely close to Katahdin. Good Luck LB, I wish you a class one day, I miss your company too. Master Plan is 7 days ahead; he too is now in Maine. Well-done Master Plan. Marley and Mystic (who has changed his name to Nuclear Night Hawk) are 3 days in front, also in Maine. My two strategic weather days worked wonders for me and the guy¢s passage of The Whites, but I dropped farther behind Marley and Mystic. All is good and it¢s hard to believe that Maine is about 25 miles away. Wow!
Date: 2006-08-10
From: Gorham, New Hampshire

To: Maine!
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It was nailed to the tree years ago, hung most likely by someone who knew how important it would be to countless others. Painted in blue with white letters, its three words symbolize one of the greatest accomplishments one can do. ¢WELCOME TO MAINE¢ can take your breath away if there¢s still any left in your lungs from the 16.5 miles out of Gorham. Three simple words, that months ago were only a far off notion. Maybe an optimistic dream at an impossible to comprehend distance. Today though, I looked at that sign for only my second time. To my south are some four-and-half million footsteps. The rocks and rain and heat and hunger, all distant memories, erased (mostly) by those words.It¢s not the same though this time, no way it could be as grand as my first time. But wonderful nonetheless. Today had the threat of rainstorms. Photo¢s to lock the event solidly into history were snapped silently as digital cameras tend to do.Only Maine is left now. This is state number 14 and the next three weeks will drag-on and fly by simultaneously. I¢m ready for the adventure to come to an end, ready to rest longer than 20 minutes, ready to have dry clothes on all the time.I¢m not ready to lose my slim, athletic build. Not ready to become a victim of calories or carbs. I want, no, I love what the AT turns me into! I¢m so strong and my stamina is that of a marathoner. I look at mountains with my old city mindset and shutter at their bigness. Then I strap on 25 pounds on my back and climb them to the top rarely stopping. That still Wow¢s me, fills me with pride that I can stand on their summit. I feel young and vital, but not invincible. It¢s a delicate balance to move on terrain that can take you down, take you out for good this season. But fear has no place in your stride, only confidence can get you here, only common sense and good food will get me the next 280 miles. We¢re all different and yet the white blazes point us north and that¢s our bond.It won¢t be long now and with good blessings, I will see another sign for the second time too ¢ only this one sits up high on a mountain of granite. Katahdin, here I come
Date: 2006-08-11
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Mahoosuc Notch
Miles today: 7.0

To thru-hike the Appalachian Trail requires tremendous physical and emotional stamina. Tenacity and drive also have their place as well as sense of humor, laughing in the face of adversity always has benefits. Frankly, this season I¢ve met some individuals who are so miserably sour about their hike out there, they are a total downer to be near. So, you get as far away from their nightly downloads.But one ingredient necessary to successfully complete an AT thru-hike is often over looked ¢ LUCK. We all get tripped, banged, clobbered, knocked, bruised, cut, drenched, dehydrated and bitten. It takes some luck to fall and not have it be serious ¢ the AT has no handrails or anti-slip ground surfaces to keep us solid. I¢ve fallen 15 times over the course of these last four months and 1,900 miles and each time got up unharmed. Lucky. Today however, that changed.The summit is named Goose Eye Mountain, and on this particular morning amongst 30 mph winds and biting 30-degree temperatures, I fell to roll head over heels twice. What broke my fall was my right wrist, my dominate hand. It broke while acting as a cushion for the rest of me. I knew it the moment I stopped tumbling.My trail buddies, Slim, Chemist, Magic Shoes and I worked the problem as a team. By using the shoe insoles from Magic Shoes and my Duck Tape, a perfect splint to immobilize the wrist was in place. Chemist carried the full maps not just the profiles that I did, Slim felt strongly that the typography of the land would be more gradual continuing on the AT, the longer of our choices. All that remained was walking another six miles over Maine¢s tough terrain where grabbing trees and roots and rocks replace your hiking sticks - one of which I could no longer hold or use anyway. I wanted the longer route because from experience I knew that the Mahoosuc Notch trail junction was popular with day hikers up from town.It was slow going but many hours later we ran into Jacob and his Honda. He forfeited his time with friends to get us down into Berlin, NH and the areas hospital ER. The X-rays, now done digitally, confirmed my intuition. The larger of the arm bones was snapped, fortunately not displaced. The healing has begun. I¢ve been told 4 to 6 weeks is my penalty-box time, Mt. Katahdin closes in 8. Maybe after a month I¢ll have a grip again, maybe I¢ll have my wrist and hand back? It will take me under 3 weeks to cover the remaining 275.0 miles, so maybe? Lots of maybes.Being an optimist, I reflect on my incident as being lucky. I was able to walk away from the accident, I was surrounded by caring, unselfish friends and the smile and memories from my four months hasn¢t been erased from this hike. Postcard will draw again.
Date: 2006-08-22
From: Mahoosuc Notch

To: Patiently healing (Mahoosuc Notch)
Miles today: 0.0

Over the past week and a half, I¢ve tried to think back and figure out how I went down on so tame a section of trail. I was totally stumped until a phone call started to shed some light. It seems the forest rangers in the Mahoosuc mountain range have been connecting the dots lately. About a year ago, they started getting reports from hikers tripping over string tied low across trails. Or marbles thrown down on other sections causing many a turned ankle. Reports of two rouge bears running from the scene of these incidents were numerous. The incidence of these antics tended to spike during the thru-hiker season. The phone call was from one of the rangers looking into my broken wrist, apparently the ER down in Berlin, New Hampshire had been asked by the local authorities to keep a watchful eye. They wanted to be prepared if these mischievous bears were indeed connected to the pranks. I explained how that morning the winds were strong and biting, clearly the coldest temps since leaving Georgia. They asked if ice might have been the culprit? Possibly, but my memory was foggy. Then the strangest question of all was asked, ¢Did you hear any snickering?¢ ¢Snickers?¢ I responded. ¢No, snickering, giggling, muffled laughter, maybe from behind the trees?¢ they asked. My mind started to grind away and then suddenly ¢Well,¢¦ now that you mention it¢¦¢
Date: 2006-08-27
From: Patiently healing (Mahoosuc Notch)

To: Still waiting (healing)
Miles today: 0.0

Hi everyone. Had a little conference with a doctor the other day and now have Plan B for my thru-hike. Once again the physician quoted 4 to 6 weeks of being in a cast. I believe they (the ER doc in New Hampshire and this one here in southern New Jersey) talk to one another since both used the shorter, more hopeful time duration of 4 weeks. But they do this more out of the glass is half full philosophy (God bless¢em), than reality. He wanted to change my cast since this one has become a tad loose due to the reduction of arm swelling and see me in another month with a new x-ray. Then I told him he could either see me in two weeks with the x-ray or he¢d have to wait another month and half since I¢d be in the Appalachian mountains of Maine. So we negotiated Plan B.After feeling my grip strength he felt comfortable with bending his wishes to mine. Here was my idea. In two weeks, September 7th (my five month anniversary since starting), he¢d look over the x-ray and my progressing grip strength and then decide one of four paths, all of which allow me to continue on my path. First, but not realistic, my wrist has miraculously mended in a few days shy of a month and requires no support or protection. Ok, we all know that¢s not happening. The second and third option is either a weather tolerant splint or a waterproof new cast that increases my mobility. These are more than likely what will happen since he truthfully wants my wrist protected a full six weeks and he knows the 4 week time quote is just a bunch of hooey! The forth and nasty option requires a lot of pain and expense in the way of restraightening the bone, so that might as well wait till after summit day, but let¢s not go there since I¢m such a cupcake when it comes to medical courage.Lets go back to option #2 or 3. This means that on September 8th I can board Amtrak to Boston, then bus up to Gorham followed the next morning hiring a taxi to get me up to the trailhead that leads to the infamous Mahoosuc Notch to restart my northbound thru-hike. So much for starting gently, huh? This also means that I¢ll be finishing with a cast-like object on my arm and all it implies in the war of mobility during river fords and slippery, rocky ups and downs. Starting on the 9th means finishing the end of September with my estimated 19 to 21 day passage ¢ plenty of time under the Mt. Katahdin deadline. The light at the end of the tunnel said another way.I¢m hoping for the splint option since it allows me to remove it after 6 weeks and use my second hiking pole for the last week (the river fords of the Hundred Mile Wilderness). The doc was very flexible to my Plan, that or wanted to avoid a debate with a crazy mountain man? Hell, most think those of us who go out hiking are crazy anyway. Crazy like a genius. By now, LB and Masterplan have become bonafied 2000-Miler Thru-hikers. Marley and Mystic are nearing the end the Hundred Mile Wilderness, closing in on this gargantuan accomplishment. And Slim is edging ever closer to his final week. The light is getting brighter to this hiker every day.