morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-08-16
From: Galehead Hut

To: Ethan Pond Campsite
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: fog

Day 1498/16/200311.8 miles on trailWell it looked easier on the maps. Today's hike that is. The last 4.5 miles were relatively flat and a large portion of those miles was nice trail bed. Unfortunately the morning was brutal on my feet and knees. When I got here, Ethan Pond Campsite, I almost fell in the pond my legs were so tired and the wind was blowing so hard. It's a rock hop to get in here.I have a love/hate relationship with the White Mountains. They are beautiful and incredibly tough. Add to that the Appalachian Mountain Club (read Appalachian Money Club) and it makes the White Mountains tough to get through. The AMC has complete control of where huts, shelters, and tent sites are in the Whites. Although the crews have been good to me, if there were adequate shelters and tent sites I wouldn't need the huts.I got frustrated today. My feet hurt a lot after the first 3 or so hours. It's hard to get to the next place to stay in time to get a spot hiking at the pace I've been hiking. I haven't been able to turn it up a notch so I end up behind the rest of the thru-hikers most of the time. I've gotten into such a large wad and there are so many weekenders that it is a big worry for me. I try to push harder and faster, and am still going slow.The weather probably added to my frustration. Today was overcast and windy. A few sprinkles and some distant rumbles. Tomorrow's weather is forecast to be better.I'm so tired my eyes are closing. Goodnight.
Date: 2003-08-17
From: Ethan Pond Campsite

To: Mizpah Hut
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 1508/17/20039.3 miles on trail1.5 offI'm staying tonight at Mizpah Hut on a work-for-stay basis. I washed dishes, bussed tables and filled condiments. In return I get to stay in the attic w/ 3 other hikers. The wad I was with did go on past me. Bag, Phoenix and Lama caught up from behind and got the other 3 slots. Tater from Idaho came in a little later hand has to do his work tomorrow.I did more rock scrambling today than I did from GA thru VT. Great views from Webster cliffs, but only the insides of clouds from Mt. Jackson. The weather is forecast to improve and I'm hopeful.Tomorrow is a big day and I've got a mail drop at Mt. Washington. Hopefully the postmaster didn't send it away.
Date: 2003-08-18
From: Mizpah Hut

To: Madison Springs Hut
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

Day 1518/18/200311.8 miles on trailI'm at the Madison Springs Hut. It's 9:23 and it's mayhem here. The people that use the huts are not hikers in the sense I'm used to. They walked up here from their cars. They have food brought for and cooked for them. There is very little chance of getting thru the White Mountains without using the huts. There is a lot of thought behind these words that there isn't time to go into now, but the AMC has a monopoly on the Whites and if you don't give them money you don't get thru. All of the campable places "belong" to them or are too far apart to reasonably expect to hike in a day.Ok off the soap box. Great views this morning of Mt. Washington from the Crawford Path. The summit was in cloud when I got there, but got some great views after I left. My mail drop arrived no problem. The afternoon hike took it out of me though. Very tough walk. The staff at the hut made a good deal with me and I'm happy to be here. I just wish that there wasn't a gaggle of pampered people up here. It's lights out now. So I'm gonna get set up on the table and go to sleep.
Date: 2003-08-19
From: Madison Springs Hut

To: Pinkham Notch near a stream
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 1528/19/20037.8 miles on trailTonight I'm tented in Pinkham Notch near a stream. The site was already here and it isn't strictly legit. After only 7.8 miles my feet were toast and I was very tired. Coming down off of Madison I had a fall. I tumbled a bit and landed on my pack (thank God for the pack). No harm done but it shook me up and every muscle was tense after that. It was my plan to camp here anyway. I have a list of "stealth camps" I got in Glencliff. This may not be exactly what the author was talking about, but it is beautiful. I got here about 3:30 and dozed and napped under a wonderfully blue sky. The dappled sunlight all around and the sound of the stream to lulled me to sleep. Only the occasional traffic sound disturbed the afternoon. My body obviously needs the rest and I haven't been sleeping too well lately so...One more observation. The hike down from Madison Springs actually begins with a very steep up to Madison. I was in a cloud with VERY high winds going up. Coming down the clouds cleared and I got to see the "Presidential Traverse" I had walked yesterday. Pretty magnificent.I had half expected either Jan Lightfoot and Chief and/or Splash and Cobra to join me here. The haven't and I've got this spot to myself. I'm very glad.
Date: 2003-08-20
From: Pinkham Notch near a stream

To: Carter Notch
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: fog

Day 1538/20/20035.9 miles on trail.1 offLow mile hard day. The tentsite I selected last night was fine. I slept pretty well for a long time. No rain today. The first part of the day was an incredibly steep and hard climb out of Pinkham Notch to the top of Wildcat. Some of the rock scrambles had me quite thankful that I was going up not down. Down is a lot harder than up. Then the walk across the ridge wasn't too difficult. At the other end of the Wildcat ridge there is a vista that overlooks the Carter Notch Hut. There are 2 small ponds near the hut and it makes it a truly beautiful site in the very steep notch. I got to the hut after the most amazing stone stair. The work it must have taken to make it is staggering. I had lunch at the hut and was able to get work-for-stay. I hauled logs for about 30 minutes, then I took a swim in one of the ponds. Wow that was great! The hut isn't a full service hut, but they let you cook in the kitchen so it's a good deal. I've eaten and the chores are done the light is gonna fade soon and so am I.
Date: 2003-08-21
From: Carter Notch

To: Imp Campsite
Miles today: 7.2

Day 1548.21/20037.2 miles on trail.4 offI'm sitting watching the sun go down from the bench at Imp Campsite. I got here at about 1:30. I elected to stay and enjoy the beautiful day. There were some great views from the tops of the Carters. There were also some wicked downs coming into Imp.Finch is here. So are some day/section and weekend hikers. I couldn't do a work-for-stay. The view is great. My tent is on a platform.
Date: 2003-08-22
From: 7.2

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: light rain

Day 1558/22/20038 miles on trail.3 offI'm at the "Barn" in Gorham, NH. An interesting place. The weather looks good for the next few days so instead of zeroing out here, I'm going to move on to Andover ME and zero there. More good stuff was said about the hostels there. It's late and there is too much conversation to write. I'm going to bed.
Date: 2003-08-23
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gentian Pond Campsite
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

Day 1568/23/200311.8 miles on trailI think that the weather today is the best we've had since we started the trip. The trail was up and down but not real hard and there were several amazing views. The view from Gentian Pond Shelter is one of them. It looks out over a valley. Pretty amazing.I got a hitch to the trail after about 20 minutes. That's pretty long for me. Met several people allong the trail today plus the ones I already knew. Saw a big bull moose about 50 ft. away. He knew we (Splash, Cobra, Ostrich and I) were there, but didn't care. We watched him for about 10 minutes before he turned and walked away. I couldn't get a good photo because of the trees and lighting but he was huge.It's getting chilly. The weather forecast called for 34 as the low. I don't think we'll get there but it'll be good sleeping weather none-the-less.
Date: 2003-08-24
From: Gentian Pond Campsite

To: Full Goose Shelter and Campsite
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: clear sky

Day 1578/24/039.6 miles on trailI'm in Maine!!!! Wow.So far Maine is rugged. Tonight I'm at Full Goose Shelter and Campsite. I'm tented on a platform. There are a lot of folks here. Splash and Cobra, Old Smokey Lonesome, Jan Liteshoe and Chief, Ostrich, Rosie (SOBO) and her friend, 9 students from Tufts, a flip flop and 2 "weekenders". Everyone northbound is anxiously awaiting tomorrow's hike through Mahoosuc Notch. It is billed as the toughest Mile on the trail. There were some tough climbs and descents today, but I'm told nothing compares to Mahoosuc. Well that's tomorrow.Today I hiked with or close to Chief and Jan Liteshoe and Bill, a weekender, was with us most of the day, till Goose Eye Mountain. Bill is from Maine. When we crossed the boarder he said he had a surprise for us and came out with Maine smoked salmon and crackers. When he left us he handed us some maple sugar candy. What a nice guy. I forgot to mention his dog Nell. A boarder collie that always has a stick or rock in her mouth. Great dog.The day dawned cold and clear. It was quite windy all day. On the peaks and ridges the wind literally blew me around. It was beautiful though. Lots of vistas and unlimited visibility. it was neat to look back and see how far Mt. Washington and the presidential range is. It is also a thrill to see Sugarloaf Mountain ahead. Today was another low mileage high energy day. I was tired but not spent when I got to camp. My feet hurt but weren't pounding. All good stuff. The weather is perfect for sleeping so...
Date: 2003-08-25
From: Full Goose Shelter and Campsite

To: Speck Pond Campsite
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: light rain

Day 1588/25/20035.1 miles on trailWell here I am in my tent. It's raining outside. A very dense fog type mist. The high pressure system that was supposed to provide at least 4 days of sunshine and low humidity must have blown through yesterday.I woke in the middle of the night and there were no stars. When I got up in the morning the sky was overcast, but my tent was dry. Started to hike early so some folks would catch up and be with me to hike Mahoosuc Notch. Mahoosuc Notch has a reputation of being the hardest mile on the trail, and the Mahoosuc Arm (the up out of the notch) as a very hard up. The notch was fun and challenging. I swapped cameras with Ostrich at the beginning. It started to sprinkle and stopped. We clamored, crawled, stretched and all kinds of other gymnastics through the rock pile they call the notch. These boulders are HUGE. It was quite fun. Jan Liteshoe and Chief were there slack-packing with us. Just before we were through it started to rain. Fortunately it didn't rain hard and it only lasted a minute or two. Climbing the arm wasn't too bad. Not near as hard as Kinsman, especially after all the scrambling techniques we learned in the notch. Thank God the rain wasn't long or the rocks would have been slick and then it would have been hard. I elected to stay at Spec Pond Campsite (plan A). The others moved on. Whoops I forgot, we had lunch at the top of the Mahoosuc Arm. What an incredible view. Even the clouds were awesome. Lots of lakes/ponds and mountains with a dapple grey ceiling. It was truly wonderful.I did a work for stay here before the rain started. Hope it clears while I'm asleep...
Date: 2003-08-26
From: Speck Pond Campsite

To: Frye Notch Lean-to
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 1598/26/200310.4 miles on trailI'm at Frye Notch Lean-to. A pretty neat little place. There are 4 other thru-hikers here, Medicine Man, Harmon, Giggles, and Butch. They're all in their early 20's.Woke up to a wet tent inside a cloud. The AMC weather report called for rain all day and night. It started to clear up by the time I hit Grafton Notch and I had great views from the Baldpate summits. The Baldpates are great. The second one you come to, the east peak, is bald solid granite.Walking up and down the granite is pretty great until you hit a slick patch. I suppose I could have hiked all the way to Andover, but it was nice to take advantage of the views.The daylight is gone and the bugs are playing in my headlamp so that's all for now.
Date: 2003-08-27
From: Frye Notch Lean-to

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: few clouds

Day 1608/27/20034.5 miles on trailI'm staying at Andover Guest House tonight. Clean sheets, good mattress and a pillow (heaven). It rained most of the night and into the morning. By the time I reached the falls at Dunn Notch the weather had cleared and I got to take a dip in the stream. The falls formed a great little swimming hole. The water was very cold so it was just a quick dip. Enough to clean off all the spider webs I walked through all morning. I've decided I really dislike being wet and walking through spider webs. It's just hard for me to stay in the bag once I've woken up. I usually wake up with the sunrise and frequently, recently, have been the first out of camp. That means I'm walking spider a lot (that's what it's called when you are first out, because there are so many, and once you've gone through they are gone).Biscuit, Crash, and I went out on the porch and looked at the stars. It's the clearest it's been in 5+ months. Where is it written that when I'm sleeping in a bed with sheets the weather is absolutely perfect? Perhaps I'll get the answer in a dream.
Date: 2003-08-28
From: Andover, ME

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 1618/28/20030 miles on trailAndover is a great little town. Nice library, the postmaster is pleasant with good stories. There are 2 mini-markets and 3 places to get meals.I moved from the Andover Guest House to Pine Ellis B&B because the proprietor of the Guest House wouldn't allow hikers to bring their packs inside. Otherwise it's a more comfortable place to stay. On the other hand Paul at Pine Ellis is much more helpful and friendly.I'm off early tomorrow.
Date: 2003-08-29
From: Andover, ME

To: South Arm Road, Black Brook
Miles today: 10.1

Day 1628/29/200310.1 miles on trailI'm in my tent at the North foot of Moody Mountain. The rain is falling steadily but not very hard. It started raining as I finished stirring my dinner for the last time. The stove had just burned out. I gathered everything up and ate in my tent. Good thing I got here and got the chores done right away. Sundown is now about 7:30pm so there isn't as much time at the end of the day.Even after a zero day my feet and knees hurt by the end of the day. My boots being a little too big probably doesn't help.The weather was good till about 2:00 when it started to cloud over. The forest up here is incredibly beautiful. Kind of like that place in Vermont, but more often and for longer.I left town with Kiwi and Dreamwalker (the Geazers), but they walk a little faster than I walk, so they got here first. There is also a group of college students on an orientation trip. We're spread out a bit. My site is the most remote. The Geazers are together and the group is together by the river.Thats all for tonight. My eyes won't stay open.
Date: 2003-08-30
From: South Arm Road, Black Brook

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

Day 1638/30/200317 miles on trailWell I'm glad to be tented on a platform at Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to. I hiked a lot more miles today than I had planned. I just kind of stuck with Kiwi and Dreamwalker to pace me through the afternoon. Once committed I couldn't slow down, even when my feet started screaming. Some very steep ups and downs today over Old Blue and off of Bemis.Today dawned overcast, but the tent was nearly dry. So I packed up and left early. The Geazers caught me by 11:00 and passed me. I caught back up at lunch and hung on to their pace. It never did clear up, it did cool off. There were a lot of potential views today. The inside of a cloud is old, it was old a long time ago. Hope tomorrow dawns clear.It was good to travel with Kiwi and Dreamwalker today. The are good folks. I think they'll outpace me in the next couple of days, we'll see.
Date: 2003-08-31
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to

To: Piazza Rock Lean-to
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 1648/31/200311.2 miles on trailWoke to a beautiful morning. Crisp cold and not a cloud in the sky. It warmed up quickly and stayed pleasant all day.I made a minimal resupply stop in Rangely, ME. Easy hitch in with a 77 year old lady that had to sell her Harley last year. She drove me to a brand new supermarket. I did my shopping, there was no phone, so I hitched back out and got a ride from a lady who's going back to her winter home in Destin, FL. What a surprise to be picked up in a car with FL plates (my current home state).I'm in the shelter at Piazza Rock with Dreamwalker & Kiwi. It's a cool night, no bugs. I should be able to get an early start.
Date: 2003-09-01
From: Piazza Rock Lean-to

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-to
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 1659/1/20038.9 miles on trailI'm staying in the Poplar Ridge Lean-to with 2 SOBO's. Bulldog and the Colonel and a section hiker named '81. '81 is when he started. There is a NOBO couple and 2 other section hikers camped out. Todays walk was shortish, but my feet still hurt when I got here. It was overcast today but the views from Saddleback, The Horn, and Little Saddleback were decent because it was a high overcast. It was very windy at the tops. Couldn't hold the camera steady kind of wind. Hope the shots turn out.The Geazers went on ahead. They move pretty quick and have each other to pace off of and depend on. It works really well for them.Everybody in the shelter is asleep. I should go too since they will all wake early as well.I should mention that Poplar Ridge Shelter uses the baseball bat floor design. Imagine sleeping on a bunch of baseball bats and you've got an idea of where I am.
Date: 2003-09-02
From: Poplar Ridge Lean-to

To: Sugarloaf Mountaintop warming hut
Miles today: 10.1

Day 1669/2/200310.1 miles on trail.6 off trailI'm sitting in the Sugarloaf Mountain warming hut with Manitou. We're the only ones in this 5000 sq. ft. building with windows around 270 degrees. We just watched the most incredible sunset (see photos).Today dawned overcast and cold and I wasn't sure I wanted to come all the way up here. It's nice and close to Stratton and it was about the mileage I wanted so I was gonna head here anyway. GOOD CHOICE!!! Protected from the weather and it is beautiful.I can see Katahdin, and it's less than 200 trail miles away. WAHOO!!! What a great day. I feel sorry for the suckers who decided not to come up here.The sun is down, the clouds are still bathed in a red glow from underneath. I am so grateful to be here now!
Date: 2003-09-03
From: Sugarloaf Mountaintop warming hut

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 1679/3/200310.9 miles on trail.6 offIt's raining outside. I'm in a hotel room at the White Wolf Inn in Stratton, ME. It's a good combination. The holiday weekend seems to have played with my mail drop. I have to wait till tomorrow AM to see what I can do about it.I hiked down from Sugarloaf with Manitou today. Lots of down hill with lots of rocks. My feet hurt. That's the bad news. The good news is that we had a great sunrise on Sugarloaf. So glad I stayed up there. Manitou's wife showed up so I ended up in a room alone. As soon as that happened I was on my way to do laundry. Timber caught me on the street and asked if there was a place to shower. Her husband was coming to pick her up, so I threw her my room key. Then another couple needed a ride to another hotel so I asked Manitou and Pat if they would. Of course they said "sure". This is a great way to live. It's late, very late. It happens in town. Oh well.
Date: 2003-09-05
From: Stratton, ME

To: Avery Memorial Campsite, Bigelow Col
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 1699/5/20038 miles on trailI'm in my tent on a platform in Bigelow Col at the Avery Memorial Campsite. Lots of up today and the trail was rocky, so my feet hurt.I got my mail drop as soon as the P.O. opened at 9:30. I was on the trail by 10:45. Some wonderful 73 year old lady picked me up after her mountain bike ride.Bigelow mountain looks like the last big mountain till Katahdin. I think that means less views and easier walking. It's starting to get dark too early. Yeah, I know it's been gradual, but it was dark by 7:30 tonight. Glad I changed my headlamp batteries.This campsite has several tent platforms. They are separated and isolated so I didn't get to spend much time with the other NOBO I met today named Journey, or anybody else either. I met a couple that's up here for a few days. They are staying in the care taker's cabin. They did a great job cleaning up the privy.The caretaker at the previous site, Shanon had a wooden Native American Flute and was expecting me. We swapped stories and a couple of tunes. Her puppy sang along. It was nice.
Date: 2003-09-06
From: Avery Memorial Campsite, Bigelow Col

To: West Carry Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: clear sky

Day 1709/6/200314.6 miles on trailIt's amazing to write over 2000 miles. My feet are the part that is complaining.Today I woke to drops of water hitting my tent. It wasn't rain. I was in a cloud and the pine tree did such a good job at condensing the moisture that it got my tent as wet as if it had rained. I was in a cloud till I got to the top of Avery Peak. What an incredible view from the top. The mist was very pretty with the distant mountains and lakes in silhouette. I caught up to Journey at about 11:00. We hiked most of the rest of the day together. I got my tent dry when we stopped for lunch. About an hour after that we came upon a magic feast. Ray and his crew had everything, I mean everything a hiker could want (look at pictures from this day). I had a hamburger (2), lemonade, root beer, potato chips, raspberry pie, a banana and a ring ding. The sky was so blue , the sun so bright and the trees incredibly crisp greens. It truly was a magical place. We ended our day at West Carry Pond Lean-to. Yes, I ate a full dinner too! Today was the end of the 4000+ ft. mountains till Katahdin.Tonight is clear and cool, not cold like last night. It looks like I can make it to Caratunk tomorrow. Better get some sleep.
Date: 2003-09-07
From: West Carry Pond Lean-to

To: Caratunk, ME
Miles today: 14.0

Day 1719/7/200314 miles on trailI'm in the Caratunk house hostel. My belly is full and my feet are sore. I hiked here with Journey. Her knee started acting up right after second lunch. She was in a lot of pain going down to the Kennebec River.The day started out glorious. It clouded in the late morning. By the time we reached the River it was overcast. We got there a little before 3:00 (when the ferry starts it's afternoon run). The ferryman was a woman who works for a local guide business that was contracted by the ATC to run the ferry. We loaded up and paddled across. That is a crossing I have no desire to do without the ferry. The water level was at it's peak when we crossed and I couldn't have done it. It's a short walk to the Caratunk House from the North landing. The Caratunk house has almost everything a hiker needs. We went to dinner with No Show (a section hiker) and Surf Sandal and Two Step. I ate a pint of Ben and Jerry's for dessert. This place is quite comfortable and Journey is going to stay and zero tomorrow. I am going to press on, so I'd better get some sleep.