morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-08-07
From: Galehead Hut 

To: Gale River trail head
Miles today: 4.0

The Northlander Motel in Twin Mountains, NH, has a view of the peaks to die for out the back door. I am sitting on the sofa, watching major cloud action forming all around us, through the picture window. I am clean, fed and glad to be in the valley right now.   This morning I woke in a sweat dampened sleeping bag, in a bunk room at GaleHead. Condensation ran down the window, and everything I had laid out to dry was just as sodden as it was 18 hours ago. Such is the lot of this season's NH hikers.    I felt rested, and my insides were less irritated. We had breakfast at 7, and packed up to hike out about 8:30. Brief interludes of sun appeared, in contrast to the scudding cloud cover. The hutmaster's weather report was grim, however, involving such things as ropes for fording the river and peril upon crossing ridges in thunderstorms.   Certain and I made short work of the .6 mi to the Gale River junction. Later, we were able to beat the guidebook's estimate for the GR trail by 20 minutes.   My hut stay was strongly affected by being under the weather, but by this morning, I met some wonderful fellow hikers with whom we crossed paths through out the morning's hike. A shout out to Linda and Bob, who forded those river crossings with great skill, and lived to tell the tale!    Yes, the recent rainfall had thoroughly saturated the ground and overwhelmed the systems for runoff. We had three memorable fords to make, which, since my boots and socks were still soaked from yesterday, I just sashayed right through. As Linda would say, that was some current. My foot would shift before it landed on the submerged rock for which it was aiming. I hate to think of what it was like yesterday.   Much of the trail was coursing with water, and when we got to the parking lot we found a sign, posted today, warning hikers of truly unusual conditions ahead.    Incessant was waiting for us with my car when we arrived, and we headed straight back to the motel, to set up tents and flies, boots and packs in the then blazing sun. It only lasted 50 minutes, but it did the job. We then rounded up our laundry and took care of that on our way to Munroe's restaurant, mere yards away from our home base. By 4:30 pm we were done with basic re-entry chores.   I enjoyed lunch as Certain and Incessant were at their best, bantering back and forth, and were joined by our waitress, Rose. Rose didn't miss a beat, entering the back and forth with tremendous skill and artistry. I especially enjoyed hearing of Junior, a yearling bear cub, who visits their dumpster around 11 at night. Seems to be a theme here, as the motel owner has an adult bear scavenging from his dumpster and hauling food related litter to the base of a dead pine tree a few yards away. We have plans for a nighttime photoshoot, headlamps and cameras at the ready... Well, since I really don't want to give that kind of delinquent behavior any added attention, we probably won't.   Once we get the weather report and check the maps, I may have some more capers ready for your future reading enjoyment.   Auntie Mame
Date: 2008-08-15
From: Hammock trial

To: Hammock Trial
Miles today: 0.0

Recently I proposed to Tom that we set up the hammocks in the yard and sleep out. Game guy that he is, he agreed. This was a first for me, as I have been curious about the tree dwellers among us, but have had no experience in that realm at all. After the drenching my gear sustained up at Garfield Ridge campsite, I am definitely open to other ways of doing things.V8 generously leant me her Hennessy rig, an ultra-lite backpacker asym, with a larger, lighter fly. Tom hung up his Clark North American, the one he took for the first part of his thru hike last year. Needless to say, he ws the first on finished deploying his bed for the night! But I learned how to string up the Hennessy with tree huggers, and how to know the lines connected to them. I learned how to get in and get out of the hammock, a bit of an odd maneuver with that bottom velcro slit. I used a 1/8" ensolite pad underneath, tucked into the sleeve of a Big Agnes Roxy Ann. Overkill for a night in the low 50's, but for me it worked well. The Big Agnes bags are more rectangular and handle more like a quilt than a mummy bag does. On the trail I would use a lighter bag, and maybe an underquilt of some type. For this next two nighter, I want to minimize weight, but be warm enough if it drops unexpectedly. I look forward to the chance to learn from one of the experts, Certain, who has had a gazillion nights in her hammock now, and must have short-cuts and tips galore for a hiker new to hanging.I am feeling better, not wonderful, but certainly improved. Now a plan is afoot to head back to NH and take on the Wildcats. V8 is gearing up, and the Speedy Sisters, such as they are, will be back on the trail before long. Here's hoping for better health and better weather, which looks like it may be headed our way next week. Stay tuned.
Date: 2008-08-16
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light intensity shower rain

Once again, out we go for a section or two of the NH and ME AT. (Picture Kermit THE frog, clapping enthusiastically and yelling, "Yayyy!"). After a long week of being pretty much laid low by our tiny friends, the water borne parasites, I am incredibly glad to be back on the eve of another trek.    Today was actually sunny, and the air over near the coast was dry and fresh. Tom was getting ready for a long morning bike ride with friends, as I put the last of the supplies in the car, and took off. I met V8 at her place, and from there stopped in Farmington for a ceremonial Ice cream cone at Gifford's. That set the tone for the rest of the day. No matter what, ice cream goes down easily and just puts a smile on my face.    It was a short 3 hour jaunt over to Gorham from Waterville, a little over 100 miles. We had a budget lunch at Burger King, then spent a little time catching up with Michele and Karen. Certain is just now getting flexibility back in her knees after a rigorous 14 mile day from Mt Washington over to Pinkham Notch earlier this week. We looked at the maps and profiles, pumped V8 for her prior experience with this area, and came up with two hikes, one for two nights and another for four.   Of course, dinner time rolled around eventually, and we just had to try the Mexican restaurant in town. My appetite is coming back, so I really enjoyed the crunchy-salty goodness of chips and pico de gallo. I also had quesadilla with chicken and broccoli, with various add-ons. To end it all, V8 and I split a coffee ice cream with caramel and whip cream sundae. I am ready to face three days of dry foods rehydrated.   The issue with our packs now is weight, and I find myself prefering to be prepared for the kind of rain we had the last time I was out, over absolute lightness of backpack. Hopefully I have hit a middle ground, but only time will tell.   The Wildcats have a reputation for being a series of ups that just don't quit. The mileage for tomorrow is low enough so that we should be at our destination before the late afternoon storms roll in. Here's hoping!    Oh, I am now carrying a tiny, yellow Swiss Army knife with blade and scissors. It will allow quick access to the foil packed chlorine dioxide tabs for on-trail drinking water. It replaces small scissors in the first aide kit, and a small knife as well.   Plus, its adorable.All best from the base of Wildcat Mountain,Auntie Mame
Date: 2008-08-18
From: Wildcats

To: Stealth site above Carter Notch Hut 
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: fog

Its 11:00am, and we just crested Peak E of the Cats, and emerged to the sound of the gondola engines grinding away. There's grass and boulders and a closed ski lodge, with views all around. I think we are half way to our goal for the day, with most uphill stuff behind us.   Lunch tasted really good, a pack of mayo and a foil pack of tuna on flat bread. Mmmmmm!! Tang with tea and a pinch of salt and potassium, my homemade sports drink, and half a Mojo bar topped it off. Its great to have food appeal to me again.   The sun was in and out, but when it was out, it was luxurious to be on that breezy mountaintop, on the grass, with lunch and friends nearby.    It's not a new observation, but its one that struck me as imminently true today. Thousands of people have climbed these rocky trails, thus there will ALWAYS be foot and hand holds somewhere, subtle though they may be at times. I notice myself trusting this fact almost automatically today, which greatly enhances my hiking enjoyment.    4:00pm, Campsite.    This has turned out to be close to a perfect hiking day. We are all stunned! No rain, in fact, mostly blue skies all day. No humidity. Temps in the low 70's. Pleasant breeze. Low miles, which allowed us a 7 hour hiking day, over 6 miles of intense ups and downs. We found a delightful campsite JUST outside of the 1/4 mi protected area surrounding the hut. Certain hung her hammock in one small clearing under some old, gnarly spruce, and we have our tent next door. We got our water about .2 mi down the Hut trail, an easy walk. Even now, as the afternoon progresses, the sun shines on the leaves and duff, and on my drying togs, hung up on a line that I strung between three trees. There is a chance that they will be dry soon, ready to tuck in my sleeping bag or clothing bag for morning. I had time to wash up a bit and put on dry clothes. And on top of all that, I have daylight time to write this entry! Heaven.   I was concerned that I might flag today under the weight of the pack and the stress of the elevation changes, but was pleased to find that I didn't. I will defintley sleep tonight, and luckily, have a flat, protected spot in which to do so. Truly, it does not get much better than this.   We met a small band of fellows part way up Wildcat, who have hiked the whole AT to this point over the last 10 years. They have done one or two trips a year, going out for a week or ten days at a time. They look to be in their 40's and 50's, and they said they are from Atlanta. I have to hand it to them, gearing up for this kind of hiking, consistently, year after year, with all that that entails, is a real challenge, and takes the same kind of planning and dedication as does a more traditional thru hike. They camped across the AT from us at the edge of the protected zone around Carter Notch hut. I hope we get to talk more with them before they head home at the end of next week.Auntie Mame
Date: 2008-08-21
From:  Rt 2, Gorham

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The sky is so blue today. I squinted in the sunlight while driving around town. When I checked the weather,the scrolling local banner read that Mt Washington was in the mid thirties last night. Today would be in the high 70's down below i the valleys.   The light has a faint gold cast to it, like every late August has had. After getting back from the hike yesterday, I was pretty energized, to my surprise. We had a celebratory dinner to mark Certain's completion of the Whites. V8 headed for bed shortly after, while I wrote my Pocketmail, talked on the phone and read for a bit. I do appreciate a lamp and side table and connecting bath after a few nights in a tent!    Tom told me that he thought the section we just did should be part of what the criminal justice system has to offer repeat offenders of any kind: send 'em over the Wildcats and the Carter Range, and watch them straighten right out. He also mumbled something about being glad he didn't go with us, because once on that part of the map was more than enough for him!    Today is a zero, with the usual activities happening. V8 did all of our laundry this morning, no small task, that. I did my food plan for the next leg, and picked up a few things to add to what I had brought from home. We nailed down the basic plan for our trip across the NH border into Maine.   I am planning to hammock on this next stretch, using V8's Hennessy and her JRB Shenandoah quilt for underneath. She also has a Mac Cat fly which will come along. Certain has had so much experience with this same rig, I want to learn as much as I can from her.   To my surprise, Leaping Turtle, (Brad), our buddy from back in the first part of our hike this spring, got in touch with us, and has just done Katahdin on his way south.I knew he was thinking of getting together for this, but I kind of went ahead with my plans when I didn't hear from him again. He left off in NY, and is flip flopping with our other comrade, Me.(Richard).   I have made plans to join them by Sept. 1, God willing, for some of their SOBO trek.    How differently this "thru-hike" has been from what I originally conceived. Jan and I had 3.5 months of steady hiking, then a bit of a break, when I got to backpack with Tom and then Signage, now with V8 again and Certain. It looks like I will also have a chance to do some traveling with Brad and Richard, and maybe both Jan and Tom can join me for some of that.    Tonight we are planning to order pizza and eat at the motel, then to take one more day to get Certain's legs back in shape for the Mahoosucs. Can't say as another day will hurt V8 or me any, either. I am happy to report continued improvement in the GI department, thanks to a good physician and the distasteful but effective medicine.That's it from the North Country tonight,Auntie Mame
Date: 2008-08-22
From: Gorham, NH

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

A second zero allows hikers to not only get ready for a return to the trail, but to also get some rest and some browsing time, the kind of thing most of us like to do after a period of concerted effort. Today was devoted to that sort of thing.    V8 and I had done most of our food packaging yesterday, and had final decisions to make about clothing, incidentals and shelter systems. We toddled over to the motel restaurant for breakfast, which at this point was just toast and coffee for me. We had had pizza last night, which really sticks to the ribs when not hiking it off.   Jan and I decided to take one of the cars up to the exit trailhead, some 40 miles away, so we had a good visit and a beautiful ride through the country, ending with lunch at a brew pub. We split a bleu cheese and cracked pepper burger, and had side salads, more the scale of meals I have in civilian life. On the way back to Gorham, the ice cream stand was open, so I had a lovely peppermint stick cone again.   Since V8 threw a small brass hanging scale in the car before she left home, we made good use of it this afternoon in paring down the pack contents. I'm concerned about carrying excess weight and bulk through some parts of the upcoming section. Happily, I got the load under 28#. Weather reports are showing 5 rainless days with moderate night temps, so I am taking a 40 degree bag, and limited clothing. I have included a novel, supplies for a couple of coffee breaks for Certain and me, and a few treats for V8 and Certain for morale purposes.    I feel some sadness about taking my last hike with V8 and Certain for the season. Jan heads back to work and I expect I will be heading SOBO from somewhere around Monson in another week-plus. I will miss Incessant's warmth, humor and amazing repartee. I will miss Certain's hiker ethic, social connectedness and world class smarts. We have had such fun together, while hiking some very difficult terrain. But that is later. Tonight we are on the eve of the section that takes us into Maine, my home state and Certain's last! Auntie Mame
Date: 2008-08-25
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

I am here in Gorham still, waiting with Certain and Incessant for tomorrow's medical appointment.    V8 and I had breakfast together at a great little place in town, where I met Sonny and Cher, NOBO's from Virginia. I saw three young people at a table that was just covered with assorted plates of breakfast food, so decided to introduce myself and find out who they were. By the spread of breakfast delights on the table, I sure knew they were hikers! They were very pleasant, and I look forward to seeing them again, perhaps up the trail.I drove V8 back to get her car, which was stationed out in Grafton Notch. She was heading home from there, but not before she offered a hiker a ride to the Grafton Loop trailhead. I waved at her as she went by, while I stopped to pick up the first fresh tomatoes of the season at a roadside stand. Tomorrow night I want to make caprese salad, with mozzarella, basil, balsamic vinegar and the tomatoes. It would be a nice way to kick off the 3 day slack pack that Certain has mapped out.    If all goes well, we hope to do about 10 miles a day between Gentian Pond and Grafton Notch. That would bring us up to Friday night. I would then head home on Sat. and get ready to go back out Monday or Tuesday. As we all know, plans help set the framework, but anything can happen. So I plan to hold loosely to our goals and be as flexible as possible. Auntie Mame
Date: 2008-08-26
From: Gorham, NH

To: Grafton, NH 
Miles today: 0.0

Billowy clouds in all shades of gray were piled up along the mountain ridge above the town this morning. Gradually the sun came through, leaving us with a brilliant day in the mid-sixties.    I took care of chores like food shopping, post office and library this morning. I met Certain and Incessant for lunch at one of the downtown spots. Time for a rare hamburger, fries and coffee. I got caught up with Certain, whose Dr appt. resulted in an uncertain diagnosis and advice to go easy and use OTC meds as needed. She wants to go ahead with the plan to hike back to Gentian Pond and over to Carlo Col, then out, tomorrow.    I came back to the motel and stashed my backpack in the car, while getting my day pack sorted and packed for the trip. I need to make a couple of sandwiches and throw some bars in a sack. I need to make sports drink and package an additional pint's worth of powder for the day.   I found the rest of the things for tonight's supper, so will be preparing tomato salad with corn chips and pico de gallo, finished off with carrot cake for dessert. Tomorrow we will be moving into Maine, to a motel in the Bethel area which situates us closer to the trailheads in this section.   Our evening chat over dinner involved our collective thoughts about the stressors of long distance hiking, and our feelings about the life lessons that have been learned or reinforced by this experience. I feel as if I have a stronger internal center of reference, and that I can trust myself more than ever. I like the addition of greater personal authority, and am surprised by how much that has increased for me, even as a person well into middle age. Enough philosophizing. Good night. Auntie Mame------------------------------Tell your friend about PocketMail and let the savings start rolling in!
Date: 2008-08-27
From: Austin Brook Trail 

To: Success Pd Rd.
Miles today: 0.0

This was a perfect hiking day. Certain and I could not stop remarking on how clear the air was, and how temperate the breezes. I know that I cannot make such lovely conditions, I can only accept and appreciate them. Boy, did we ever appreciate them today!    Karen rose with us at 6, and after we ate and dressed, drove us to the Austin Brook trail head. I had met a hiker in our motel the day before, Long Portage, from DC area, and we gave him a lift to the Gentian Pond trail. He was expressing some of the same feelings others have shared, of fatigue and discouragement, loneliness and boredom, yet he maintained an abiding urge to see the hike through to the end.      Our first leg was a return hike up the Austin Brook trail, which went quickly, given our day packs and renewed spirits. Then we hiked from Gentian Pond to Mt Success, quite a lot of slabbing uphill, but so much more satisfying with 25% of our overnight loads. We celebrated with "first lunch" as V8 would call it, and also gave her a call on the cell phone to let her know how things were proceeding. Later, Certain, Incessant and I decided to mount a campaign to get V8 back for Friday's assault on Mahoosuc Notch. Its just not as much fun without her.   Now we were eager to get to the Maine state line, Certain's last state on the long journey. Second lunch happened there, and a cheerful exchange of goodies: Certain brought me some strawberry Pop Rocks, and I brought her some Ferrer Rocher candies. Next, we hiked across to Carlo Col, and down a major piece of boulder facing that gave us a taste of things to come.    Huge sides of rock, where I had to slide, kind of a free fall, before my boot would hit a foothold. Not easy for me to do, kind of scary, but it couldn't be avoided. I kind of had to suck it up and just do it. We met a group from Bates College out for orientation, and then a group from Franklin and Marshall. They really lucked out this week.   Our final leg was the hitch down the Carlo Col trail, which follows a pleasant little mossy brook at first. We actually stopped to spend a few minutes with our feet in the water, something we both agree will happen lots more after the "thru hike" is done.   The middle of the last trail section today took us through some really worked over land. It looked like a tornado had been through maybe 5 years ago; lots of branches down, eroding soil, funky, algae infested little streams... I know the logging industry has to do its thing but its scary to see how devastated the landscaped looks following their appearance. It reminded me of how critical it is for land to be secured and protected for future generations.Karen met us as we emerged from the trail onto a side road, and she chauffeured us back over the logging roads to our spot in Bethel.    Ahhh! 4:45 and we can clean up and eat and repack and relax an hour before bed. This is such a good way to do the western ME hills. Goodnight from the Norseman,Auntie Mame------------------------------Have a spare PocketMail laying around, sell it back to us and help those in need.
Date: 2008-09-02
From: Safford Brook tentsite

To: Horns Pond tentsite
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

5.3 AT milesWe're pathetic! Here we are, after an almost 8 hour hiking day, beat to all heck, and all we did was 5.3 miles! We left Safford Brook at 7:45 this morning, and rolled into Horn's Pond campsite at 3:45pm. Inbetween we went back up the 2 miles to Avery Peak, almost a 2 hour hike. We stopped in a sunny, lovely nook way up high and made coffee. I was born with a genetic inclination towards really good coffee, so this kind of pause in a hiking day really speaks to me. We walked down a ways and up to the West Peak, where we had lunch, Pita rounds slathered with almond butter and jam. Then we made our way down the West Peak and up to South Horn. From there, it was a descent to Horn's Pond. I was surprised at the way the area accomodated numerous individual and group camps, far more than other regional camping areas. Of course, we had made two stops for food breaks, and stopped to chat with several other hikers on their ways north. Dartman was coming over the trail from South Horn when we met him. Then on our way down to Horn's Pond we met Bones, and chatted quite awhile with him. He is the same fellow who sang and played a ukelele when I was taking a zero due to illness, at Vandeventer shelter, just beyond Kincora Hostel.We also saw a cheerful Sofa King, A young and enthusiastic Rock Steady, and NOBO Butters, before him.Its almost 5pm and we are set up at a gravel site in the spacious Horn's pond camping area. We heard the group from Harvard come in, and I am glad they can have time to enjoy camp tonight. The sky has clouded up and the wind is stirring the trees. When we left home, Mon. thru Thurs. was supposed to be sunny and warm. Oh, well. If things start deteriorating, we can hike out tomorrow and head somewhere else.It is sweet to be out here in the Bigelows, seeing parts I have not done, and savoring the last of the season's treats.Auntie Mame