morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Hikers Welcom Hostel

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The Whites of New Hapshire! For so long this destination has been so far that we have only fantasized about what they would be like. My hiking partner stood at the trail head & gleefully said, "Mom, it's the Whites! We're here." For a split second he was my little boy again so excited and enthused about some new endeavor (don't ever tell him I wrote this!). Moments like this is what its all about! Mt. Moosilauke was all we expected it to be! Very hard up and Very, very hard down, but so spectacular that the toil was worth it! We also had Mt. Wolf to climb today, and I say that this was the hardest 17 miles I have hiked on the trail. It took us about 10 1/2 hrs. - we started at 6:30 and didn't get to the shleter until about 5:00. I guess we are going to slow down a bit.
Date: 2004-06-18
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Zeeland Hut
Miles today: 17.0

This was to be one of our biggest hiking days. We crossed Franconia Ridge which has 2 1/2 miles of exposed ridgetop with what was supposed to be the most spectacular views on the A.T. We had thunderstorms last night and when we got up it was foggy. By the time we got up the mtn. there were no veiws, it was pouring rain (sideways), and the wind was howling at about 50 m.p.h. Up and off those ridgetops as quickly as we could. I said that the experience compared to our 18" of snow on top of Roan Mtn. in Tenn. We got to the Trailhead Hut around 2:30 and decided to go the next 7 miles to Zeeland Hut. These huts chard $65 to spend the night with dinner and breakfast, but A.T. thru hikers can ask for "work for stay" where you help out with the chores and get to stay and eat free. This is what we did tonight. It got us a place to sleep out of the wind and the temps. in the 30's tonight. If we're lucky we might hit another hut tomorrow night. Today we hiked over: Mt. Guyot (4500 ft.-my hiking partner had to hold on to my arm to keep the wind from blowing me over); S. Twin Mtn.(4902); Mt. Garfield (4488);Mt. Lafayette (5249); Mt. Lincoln(5089); Little Haystack Mtn.(4760); and Mt. Liberty (4459). A good day!
Date: 2004-06-19
From: Zeeland Hut

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: fog

Have to admit - these New Hampshire mtns. are spectacular. We're doing "work for stay" at the hut tonight. We get to sleep on the floor. They turned several thru hikers away tonight, and it is bitterly cold outside with the wind blowing at about 75 m.p.h. They have what they call "the dungeon" underneath the building that they charge $8 for a bunk - it was so BAD! Tomorow is the day we've waited for - we climb Mt. Washington. The weather forecast is good - we'll see.
Date: 2004-06-21
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Gorham, N.H.
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: fog

(I've missed a day somewhere? But I'm continuing where we are on 6/21/04) Started off in the cold to summit Mr. Washington. The temp. was 38 and the winds were 50-75 m.p.h. Another day when I got blown sideways. Our night last night was quiet in the hut - but cold. We crossed Mt. Washington, Mt. Jefferson, and Mt. Madison - the last of the "Presidentials." We hiked into Pinkham Notch and called Hiker Paradise who sent someone out to pick us up. It's a great place, but I just found out that they REFUSED to accept my package with six days of food supplies, so now I will have to go to the grocery to shop. Today was the first day of summer, so it was "Hike Naked Day." Did we? I'll that to your imaginiation! But we did see one naked hiker - wearing only his pack and his boots - and I hope a lot of DEET!
Date: 2004-06-22
From: Gorham, N.H.

To: Imp Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hikers Paradise is a great place to stay. We were taken back out to Pinkham Notch at 6:30 with the intentions of hiking back to Gorham to spend the 2nd night at the hostel. But, the rough terrain won again! At 4:30 we stopped at Imp Shelter, we still had 7 miles to go to town, but we can't tell with these mtns. whether 7 miles means 3 hrs. of hiking time or 7 hrs. Some of these steep ups and downs have slowed us to 1 m.p.h. Tomorrow we'll get back to Gorham early and do some chores - wash clothes, go to p.o., etc. I need to send a fax, buy groceries, etc. GOOD NEWS - we get another night at Hiker Paradise (for only $15).
Date: 2004-06-23
From: Imp Shelter

To: Gorham, N.h.
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: fog

We were the only ones in the shelter last night, and it was very quiet and peaceful. The hike in the morning wasn't too bad (& I only fell once, and it was on level ground). We've had lots of time to do chores in Gorham and this is a really nice town (they have Burger King, McDonalds, & Pizza Hut). Tonight may be our last night in N.H. At 16 miles tomorrow we cross into Maine! N.H. has been everything I expected - breath-takingly beautiful and a really hard hike. There was at least one time (when I was crawling hand over hand up the side of a rock faced mtn. - too afraid to look down or back - only looking straight ahead at where I was going to put my foot next) that I said, "Would somebody please tell me why I am doing this?" and then I answered myself, "Because this is the only was to get from here to Katahdin!" That's what keeps me headin north!
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Gorham, N.h.

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Before I say - Yahoo! We're in Maine! I want to mention the fact that I was the only female in the hostel last night - with 11 men! Tonight I am the only female again - in the shelter. Where are all the female hikers? We've seen more SOBO's today! The hiking wasn't tough until we got to the end of the day and we had to climb down these big, huge boulder - I was scared to death! My hiking partner kept saying, you can't just sit there! And I kept saying, but my legs are too short - if I do that I'll fall!! Well, we made it. I said again, maybe, I'm too old for this, and then I recall all of the 60, 70, and yes even 80 year olds that we meet out here on the trail. There's no excuse, I guess! Oh, and by the way - YAHOO WE'RE IN MAINE! We saw a moose standing right next to the trail - he never moved - just posed for a picture.
Date: 2004-06-25
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Speck Pond Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

No rain, no pain, no Maine! Well, we have had all 3 today - rain, pain, and Maine! We started out at 6:30 this morning and walked until 4:30 and only did 10 miles! The Mahoosic Notch - the one mile stretch considered the toughtest mile on the A.T. - took us 2 hrs. Hand over hand boulder climbing and slick because of the rain. I fell a lot - nothing new. But, my hiking partner took a nasty fall and banged up his let - he said he was just glad he didn't break his hand or wrist the way he fell. Speck pond is beautiful and is the pond at the highest elevation in Maine. The shleter is just above the pond and is a "Pay" shleter (cost $8 per person). We're lieing here at 6:30 in our sleeping bags (because it's cold) and are looking out into the Maine forest watching the squirrels jump from tree to tree and watching a snowshoe hare hop around. It doesn't seem real - that we are really in Maine. I'll just lie here looking out until I fall to sleep - I guess you'd call this Peace On Earth.
Date: 2004-06-26
From: Speck Pond Shelter

To: Andover, Me.
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

2nd day in Maine and 2nd day in the rain. Passed a lot of SOBO's today. One group mentioned they had atayed at "The Cabin" last night and how great it was. The shelters today are either at 10 or 21 miles, so we decided to call "The Cabin" and have them pick us up at the road corssing. They have a bunk house ($12) and family style dinners and breakfasts. We were shown around the town and it was such a treat to actually get a taste of this small Maine town. We'll head out in the morning. It's been a good hiking day. By the way, dinner was bar-be-cue chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, tossed salad, homemade bread, blueberry pie, apple crisp, ice cream, etc. etc.
Date: 2004-06-27
From: Andover, Me.

To: Bemis Mtn. Lean-To
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Beautiful blue skies today and temp. in the 60's; breezy; perfect hiking day. The Cabin's breakfast gave us a great send off. We climbed Wyman Mtn., Moody Mtn., Old Blue Mtn., and the west peak of the Bemis Range. The views were just spectacular. It's pretty cool tonight - I have ALL of my clothes on again. We saw a porcupine and a small fox today. Our spouses are getting anxious to know our "finish" date so they can make plans (my husband will be driving up from VA. and my hiking partner's spouse will fly up from GA.). Right now we're thinking somewhere between the 10th and 15th to finish.
Date: 2004-06-28
From: Bemis Mtn. Lean-To

To: Piazza Rocks Lean-To
Miles today: 20.0

It rained during the night, but this morning the sun was shining and the trail was dry (or as dry as this boggy trail ever is). And, speaking of bogs, we had miles of bog bridges today as we passed some beautiful ponds. The hike was pretty easy today. We had planned to go into Rangely, but decided we had enough food to take us to Stratton. Tonight there is a youth group camping nearby. They have come up to use the shelter's fire pit so they can make smores. It's fund to watch them enjoy their time out here, and to know that things don't really change much as we're pushing to Katahdin. We heard on the radio today about the rock slide on the Cathedral Trail and the hiker that was killed. Scary!
Date: 2004-06-29
From: Piazza Rocks Lean-To

To: Spaulding Mtn. Lean-To
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

Beautiful hike today over Saddleback Mtn., The Horn, and Saddleback, Jr. Panoramic views that make you feel surely there's no place on earth where one could be closer to God than here! Hey! There's a female SOBO in the shelter tonight. Yesterday morning when I went to pick up my socks there was a little black fuzzy speck on one. I picked it off and gave it a toss and it was a spider! Well, when I went to fold up my sleeping mat there were spiders (little brown ones) under it, and tonight there's spiders in this shelter, too. Anyone who know me, knows that for me spiders are the WORST! Maybe we'll have to start tenting!
Date: 2004-06-30
From: Spaulding Mtn. Lean-To

To: Stratton, Maine
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We got a tremendous donwpour last night and the bad news is the shelter leaked. The Maine A.T. Club (which maintains this area of the trail) had put clear panels in the tin roof (skylights?) and it leaked really bad around one. My sleeping bag got a little wet, but we were all able to "scrunch" to one side and stay dry. I've see about six female hikers in the past couple of days - all of them southbounders. We're in Stratton tonight at the "Widow's Walk" B & B. - a long-time stop for A.T. hikers. The proprietor says she's considering closing down because of the behavior of hikers last year. She says she was going to see how this year goes and then decide whether to take in hikers next year! Hopefully, this year's group will convince her to stay open .
Date: 2004-07-01
From: Stratton, Maine

To: Little Bigelow Mtn. Lean-To
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Left the "Widow's Walk" early and ate breakfast at the diner. We had no trouble getting a hitch back to the trail. Today's big challenge is called the "Bigelows." Not just one, but 4 mtn. summits - South Horn, Bigelow (west peak), Bigelow (Avery Peak), and Little Bigelow Mtn. Until today we thought that Saddleback Mtn. had the best views in Maine, but there is nothing that can compare to the Bigelows - panoramic views from every peak - views of Flagstaff Lake down below - no words can describe it! Today, we passed 2,000 miles of trail hiked. There's a lot of traffic on the trail now - vacationers, school groups, youth camps. We get a lot of congratulations when people hear we are coming from Georgia. But, we still have to take one day at a time - the finish is still not a "done deal."
Date: 2004-07-02
From: Little Bigelow Mtn. Lean-To

To: Pierce Pone Lean-To
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Boy, did we get fireworks last night, but not the 4th of July kind. We went to sleep like we always do around 8:00 (even with the crowd in the campsites - there's around 12 campers in tents - we are the only ones in the shelter). At about 10:00 the thunderstorms started and they continued until after 2:00 - wave after wave of heavy downpours and the lightning/thunder was like I've never seen before. I just had to sit up for a while and watch as the lightning lit up the entire forest. Did I mention that yesterday's climb was our last 4,000 ft. until we reach Katahdin? The hike today was so mellow - we reached the shelter at 2:30 and couldn't go any further because you have to cross the Kenebec River by ferry (canoe) and you have to do that between 9:00-11:00 a.m. We're about 4 miles from there so we'll have plenty of time in the morning and there's no camping allowed along the river. A hiker who did a northbound thru hike last year and is doing a southbound this year told us yesterday that the trail from here to Katahdin is mud, mosquitoes, rocks, and roots! The rain last night made the mud and mosquitoes worse and the rocks and roots slick as glass. More to come?
Date: 2004-07-03
From: Pierce Pone Lean-To

To: Bald Mtn. Brook Lean-To
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: scattered clouds

The shelter last night was in a beautiful spot overlooking Pierce Pond. My hiking partner took a swim, but it's still too cold for me! We were alone again in the shelter and the mosquitoes were nasty after dark. We got to the Kenebec River early so we had to wait on the ferry man. The ferry (canoe) is the only time an A.T. hiker is permitted to ride instead of walk. The Kenebec is considered too dangerous to wade because of fluctuating water levels. We had hoped to get to Moxie Bald Lean-To so we would have a shorter hike into Monson tomorrow, but we stopped at Bald Mtn Brook at about 4:30. I tripped over a root today and did a "Pete Rose" slide on the trail. Knock the breath out of me a little, but other than that I'm just dirtier than usual.
Date: 2004-07-04
From: Bald Mtn. Brook Lean-To

To: Monson, Maine
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: broken clouds

It was an easy hiking day. Our only climb was over Moxie Bald and again the views were beautiful. After that we had to ford (wade about calf deep) the Piscataquis River twice. We're in Monson to resupply. Tomorrow we go into the 100-mile wilderness - at the end of that is Baxter State Park and Katahdin! You know you've been on the trail too long when: You look down and see an orange slug (snail) on a rock and you think - macoroni & cheese!
Date: 2004-07-05
From: Monson, Maine

To: Cloud Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We're in the 100-mile wilderness. It rained most of the day today, and we had two more river crossings that had to be waded, so my shoes and socks will be soaked for days! This is supposed to be a very remote and isolated 100 miles, but today we crossed a number of logging roads and railroad tracks and the shelter and tenting area tonight are packed!
Date: 2004-07-06
From: Cloud Pond Lean-To

To: Carl Newhall Lean-To
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: overcast clouds

What do I say? We're getting so close now! We had more climbs up and down, more boulder fields to scramble over, another river fording (it was cold!). Only 78.6 miles left to Katahdin! We plan on meeting our spouses at Abol Bridge on Friday. We've reserved a camping spot (lean to) for Friday, Sat., Sun, and Monday (in case weather delays our summit). The plan is to summit Katahdin on Sunday. Friday will be July 9th - we started March 9th - 4 months on the trail. The wildlife areound the shelter tonight is really tame - rabbits (big ones and little ones), squirrels, and even a deer don't seems scared of us at all.
Date: 2004-07-07
From: Carl Newhall Lean-To

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: clear sky

It was 48 degrees this morning - I ate my poptarts with my gloves on! We had about 5 miles of climbing in the morning over Gulf Hagas, May Mtn, and White Cap - where we got our first clear view of Katahdin! We saw a bull mosse today in Mtn. View pond - it ran when it saw us. Everyone tells us all of the climbs are over now until we get to Katahdin - I don't believe them! The 100-mile wilderness really isn't a "wilderness." There have been many road crossings and today we crossed a road where you could get meals in 4 miles (if you chose to). One entry in a shelter register said, "nice shelter, but we could hear the "wood chippers" (from the logging operations) running all day and half of the night." The crowds of hikers have been worse in the wilderness - shelters are full every night and there are a lot of groups (bakcpacking "classes," adventure clubs, etc.) tenting. I guess its a good thing it's not really so isolated. We heard of two people having to be taken "out" in the past couple of days. One guy fell and broke some ribs and one girl got a beesting, was allergic, and started having seizures. Her hiking partner (or leader?) had an injection to give her, but when she was about to give the shot the victim jumped aqnd the needle went thru the hiking partner's thumb. Another hiker (who was telling us all about this) happened along and gave the shot and both girls had to be taken "out." (I think they saw a four-wheeler who went for help).
Date: 2004-07-08
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-To
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: moderate rain

When we woke up it was overcast; by 8:00 we had put our pack covers one; and by 9:00 it was a steady rain falling. The temps were about 65 so walking in the rain wasn't oo bad. The hike really was easy today, and we got to the shelter around 3:00. This is our last night with just the two of us in the shelter; tomorrow night we will meet our spouses at Abol Bridge and we'll be camping with them. We'll do the 10 miles from Abol to Katahdin Springs Camping area on Sat., and we plan to summit on Sun. We've seen a lot of little snakes lately, but no other wildlife.
Date: 2004-07-09
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean-To

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 23.1
Weather: light rain

4 months today we started this journey! The pouring rain today,with the lightning crackling all around us made today's hike one of the most memorable! The hike was easy and we came out at Abol Bridge around 4:00 - no views today! We couldn't even tell that Katahdin was somewhere over there. We waited about an hour (had a cheeseburger/coffee) and then there was our ride - my husband and my hiking partner's wife picked us up. We had planned to camp tonight, but this area had gotten about 2 1/2 inches of rain today (every bit of it had fallen on our heads!), and it was still raining. The trail we hiked in all day was like a creek with water calf deep in some spots. Everything we had on was wet - good excuse - we went into Milinoket and got a room at the Katahdin Inn. Tomorrow we'll go back to Abol Bridge and do the miles into the campground.
Date: 2004-07-10
From: Abol Bridge

To: Katahdin Springs Campground
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Great stay in town (good food, too) and a great, easy hike in to the campground. We had all afternoon to rest, explore, and visit with other hikers. "Hogwalker" and his wife stopped by to say good-by - they finished today and were heading home to Conn. Friends made on the trail I know I will never forget. We bedded down in the shelter early, but I couldn't sleep. Tomorrow, weather permitting, we will summit Katahdin, and this incredible journey will end. I got up during the night and the stars were shining - yes, Sunday will be our last hiking day.
Date: 2004-07-11
From: Katahdin Springs Campground

To: Mt. Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

My hiking partner started stirring around 4:00 a.m. Yes, it is still dark outside. He goes out and comes back and says, "the moon is out and I can see Venus - it's going to be a clear day - we'll go up Katahdin today!" We were hiking by 5:30 - ours were the first names on the register for the day. The hike was different from anything else we had done - it was hard, rough, hand over hand rock climbing most of the way. It took about 3 1/2 hrs. to reach the summit. My hiking partner always hikes fast and is usually ahead of me - it was the same today until we got to within about 1/2 mile of the summit. He stopped and waiting for me. When I reached him, I put out my hand, and we hiked hand in hand to the top! We took lots of the traditional pictures (our spouses had made the climb with us) & ate our lunch at the top. There were only a couple of day hikers who showed up while we were there. It took about 4 hours to come back down the mountain (remember, I hate the downs). It's funny - I didn't feel like the hike was over until we were back down! Now, it doesn't seem possible that we hiked from Georgia to Maine in 4 months and 2 days - 120 hiking days (4 zeros days) - and that tomorrow is not a "hiking day." We will take my hiking partner and his wife to Bangor where they will rent a car a go to the coast for a few days before flying back to their home in Ga. My husband and I will beging our drive back home to Va. One more night in the lean-to at Katahdin Springs. Today was a perfect, perfect day - the weather could not have been better, the views up the mtn. and on the top were crystal clear and spectacular. When we got back down we had plenty of time to play, so we drove up the road to Ledge Falls for a swim. After fixing dinner at camp we started packing the car in preparation to leave in the a.m. We are finished our walk - 2174.1 miles.
Date: 2004-07-12
From: Mt. Katahdin

To: Heading Home
Miles today: 0.0

Awoke to another beautiful day! "Pickles" and "Peanut" had stopped by our lean-to last night to say good-by. They were planning to summit Katahdin today. They have had "yukkie" weather on most of their major summits, so they really deserved a great day to finish and it looks like they will get it. We decided we would pack up and go into Milinocket to the A.T. Cafe for blueberry pancakes for breakfast - they were great! A few miles down the road from our lean-to we had spotted a big bull moose - with a huge set of antlers - in Stump Pond. We stopped and watched for about 1/2 hour as he made his way across the pond feeding on the grass in the bottom. We got started again and had to stop to let a grouse cross the road. In another hour we were at the Bangor airport dropping off my hiking partner and his wife. What do you say? - without these two people this hike would have never happened. I say thank you so much - I love you - I'm going to miss you so much - no words are enough for having helped make this dream come true. After pulling off and driving about 5 minutes the cell phone rings. My hiking partner says, "turn the radio to 109, the song "Waling In the Spiderwebs" is on!" I switch the radion to the song he introduced me to on the trail, because I always complained when I was leading the way and got all of the spiderwebs in my face, mouth, eyes, etc. Now, we've really headed in different directions! My grandsons don't see why it might take us until Wed. to get home (decompress time). One said, "But, Grandma,your A.T. hike is over." OVER? No, it will stay with us forever.