morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-08-08
From: Big Branch Shelter

To: Clarendon Gorge
Miles today: 16.0

Up and moving in a light rain/fog but it felt good. It at least kept it cool. but this didn't last. It reached up around 90 on the day. I managed to make great time and reach VT 103 for a late lunch at the Whistle Stop with Low Impact (great guy who is hiking the LT). The burgers and ice cream really hit the spot. Definitly a good stop for hikers. Then it was back to the gorge for some swimming. There were a few good swimming holes in the river and also a few spots where you can sit down and it was like a water massage. When it started getting late I was getting ready to hike on but saw Jaybird who said he had been camping down there for awhile so I decided to join him. I know it says that your not suppose to camp there, but there are BEAUTIFUL sites just a little bit further down the gorge. This is such a great place.Talked to Comer, his knee is still bothering him and he is heading home. Best wished to Comer I am sure I will see him again.
Date: 2007-08-09
From: Clarendon Gorge

To: Rutland, VT
Miles today: 17.5

Got up and over Killington by lunch. Not a bad climb and the view was worth the 0.2 mile obsticle coarse to the summit. After lunch it was down to US4 and a quick hitch into Rutland, VT. Staying at the Back Home Again Cafe. Its an interesting place with good people and really good food. Got myself talked into a Zero day tomorrow. Fridays they have sometime of thing going on in the street. So we will see how that goes, plus it will give me some library time. Maybe even see a movie.But mainly, rest.
Date: 2007-08-11
From: Rutland, VT

To: Wintturi Shelter
Miles today: 19.9

Caught the 9:15 bus back to the trail and said good bye to Low Impact as he is heading to Canada on the LT. Quickly caught up to Grits, Big Brother and Marco Solo and hiked with them for a little while. Stopped up at the Mountain Meadows Lodge to see Alice (a pig) and then back to the hiking. Stopped off for lunch at the Stony Brook Shelter and spent the rest of the day hiking to the Wintturi Shelter. I got in right before dark and set up my tent. After a quick meal I fell asleep as soon as I layed down. Boy am I tired. Another long day tomorrow.
Date: 2007-08-12
From: Wintturi Shelter

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: light rain

Another early start to a long/hot day. For me it is the heat/humidity that really drains me. I broke my treking pole early in the day. I was climbing a hill and the handle part came off ... not the actual handle but the foam/rubber part that you hold. Now its just a thin piece of plastic that is very uncomfortable. Hopefully somebody near Norwich/Hanover can fix it. If not, duct tape it is.But when I got down to VT-12 I found some sodas in the stream which felt good on a warm day. I hiked on until I hit the Thistle Hill Shelter for a snack before I pushed on to West Hartford, VT to make it to the store. No luck, it closed at 14:00 and I didn't get there until way after that. But Feather (who had been slacking Signage) gave me a couple sodas which kept me going the last 4 miles up to the Happy Hill Shelter.Tomorrow an easy day.
Date: 2007-08-13
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Norwich, VT
Miles today: 4.3

After two longer days, today is a rest day.I arrived at a friends house (Brain) who I had met further south on the AT. He had finished his thru-hike on July 25th of this year. He and his family are letting me stay here the night. It feels great to be clean. So far just relaxing ... later today trying to find somebody who can fix my Leki treking poles. The handle broke on one of them and it is very uncomfortable to use now.Starting again tomorrow truckin long. Trying to catch BBoogie and hoping Alpine and Pony aren't far behind me.
Date: 2007-08-14
From: Norwich, VT

To: Norwich, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Didn't get much done yesterday so I am staying another day here with the Brain and family. Joining me tonight are Pony, Alpine and Marco Solo. I walked down to the general store for another McWit, a very good breakfast sandwhich. Then headed over to Hanover, NH. I had a cup of coffee at the Dirt Cowboy while I waited for the group and for the Brain to get off work. Again I was overwhelmed by a delicious meal that was served after a viewing of 300. Also attempted to get my treking pole fixed at EMS but they didn't have the piece I needed. But Leki is sending it to me further up the trail. Amazing customer service. I have been blessed with almost all of my dealings with various gear companies. Tommorow more hiking.
Date: 2007-08-15
From: Norwich, VT

To: Moose Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The Brain drove us into Hanover, NH today on his way to work. We had breakfast at Lou's. I took the recomendation and got the Curler french toast ... which is basically french toast with donuts instead of bread. It was very good. After other town stops (COOP, PO, Hardware store) it was back on the trail. Not a long day thoughh, only up to Spruce Moose shelter (moose mtn). The water there was dry but there was a guy and his daughter that have been bring large jugs of water up regularly. When we thanked him, he said it was only 3.5 gallons. Thats a lot to carry up a mtn everyday. We really appreciated it. Tonight was another one of those moments where it really just hit me how at home I feel out here. I honestly cannot imagine anything else I could be doing. This is what I should be doing, this is what I want to be doing.Loving life!
Date: 2007-08-16
From: Moose Mtn Shelter

To: Firewarden's Cabin
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Not real motivated today. The hike over to Trapper John Shelter wasn't bad at all. It is a decent shelter with a unique privy. I think NH is trying something different with each of the privies. After a long lunch break here I took another long break with the group at a house giving out ice cream sandwhiches. Eventually more hiking took place. Before climbing Smarts Mtn we all filled up our water because we were warned that there was none at the summit. I felt the weight of the extra 2L. Then 4 miles up. Had great views from the fire tower at the top and it felt great to be inside during the thunderstorm that came in the late afternoon.Milage lately has dropped off significantly. Not that we can't do more of that we are lazy, we are just loving this section of the hike and do not really want to rush.
Date: 2007-08-17
From: Firewarden's Cabin

To: Ore Hill Shelter
Miles today: 12.6

Slept in today. Which is okay since its another short day. Made it over to Hexacuba shelter but decided to skip the break and climb up to Mt. Cube for lunch. I stopped part way up for a snack and cool down session in the shade then finished the rest of the way to the top.I enjoy the fact that you climb for awhile then hit a flat spot that opens up to show you the peak you are trying to get to. It always seems so much futher than it really is. I reached down to the Ore Hill shelter pretty early but decided against pushing on to Stelth between here and Glenclif, NH. The PO is open until noon and its only 7 miles so whats the rush.
Date: 2007-08-18
From: Ore Hill Shelter

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 7.4

Up early, not that we needed to be, we arrived at the post office around 9:30. After picking up my mail drop I swung over to the Hikers Welcome hostel where I saw Backyard Boogie again. The last time I had seen him was Erwin, TN. After a short visit I called a friend of the Flying Dutchman and myself, Alpine and Pony went over to stay with them for the night. We were treated to an amazing lunch and even a better dinner. Our friend was out for the day so we just spent it on the couch watching movies and resting. He got back to the house in the late evening. We watched one more film before heading to bed. This has been such a great day!
Date: 2007-08-19
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Lincoln, NH (Kinsman Notch)
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept in and got a late start. But there was no ruch. Mt. Moosilauke was not as bad as people had been saying. But it did have amazing views. While I was sitting at the top a SOBO informed me of a good hostel in Lincoln, NH. So that sounded like a good place for the night. The timing worked out perfectly. When I reached the parking area in Kinsman Notch Signage and her friend was getting ready to leave so they offered me a ride into town. Before stopping at the hostel, we had dinner at a pizza place and then got ice cream. Great place with great company. Gonna slack tomorrow so I can stay here again.
Date: 2007-08-20
From: Lincoln, NH (Kinsman Notch)

To: Lincoln, NH (Franconia Notch)
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

An easy hitch back to the trail made a good start for the slack. Welcome to the Whites!!! The day wasn't bad at all. First up and over Mt. Wolf. Then up, up, and up over Kinsman Mountain. The view at the top was worth the climb. On the way down I didn't stop in at the Lonesome Lake Hut, the only Hut that I didn't visit. The hitch back to Lincoln wasn't as easy as the ride back to the trail but it still didn't take that long. Had some greasy fast food and ice cream and then headed back over to the hostel for the night.Good day of hiking.
Date: 2007-08-21
From: Lincoln, NH (Franconia Notch)

To: Greenleaf Hut
Miles today: 6.4

A real late start after a stop at the North Woodstock post office. The guy that gave me a ride back to the trail kept trying to drop me off at Crawford Notch but I eventually got him to understand I wanted Franconia Notch. I didn't think it was that hard to understand. After I finally got back on the trial (around lunch) it was a large climb up out of the notch to Mt. Liberty. it was following a ridge with outstanding views. Now I see why Franconia ridge gets all the hype it does. It is beautiful!Once I arrived at the top of Mt. Lafayette I decided to head down to the Greenleaf Hut instead of pushing on to camp. This will be my first attempt at doing work for stay at the huts. I am very happy I did the big climb down. The crew here was awesome and I think a bit shocked to see a thru-hiker coming down off the ridge. They gave me some cake and soup for a late lunch and then got out of the way while they prepped for dinner. After dinner I was fed lasanga, pees, soup, bread and cake. It was delicious. My work for the night was to do a program about thru-hiking. It was fun, the people staying at the hut were very interested in the trip.
Date: 2007-08-22
From: Greenleaf Hut

To: Zealand Falls Hut
Miles today: 13.6

Early start this morning. I grabbed a few things for breakfast but left before they served the guests. I want to spend as much time as I can up on the ridge. That and close some distance on my friends Alpine and Pony. The hiking has been fun and the views are great. I stopped briefly in at the Galehead Hut for lunch. I brought way too much food since I keep eating most of my meals at these huts.I pulled into the Zealand Falls Hut a little later than usual and was not expecting to get a spot for work for stay. I saw a whole crew of thru-hikers siting out on the porch. However it was the summer crews last night and they welcomed us all. 2 thru-hikers got free bunks that guests had canceled. Then there were 7 of us for work for stay. It was a great group, 3 Nobos and 6 Sobos. They served us a turkey dinner with potatoes and gravy, salad, pees, bread, soup and cookies. YUM!
Date: 2007-08-23
From: Zealand Falls Hut

To: Mizpah Spring Hut
Miles today: 14.1

After the guests started leaving us thru-hikers got a good breakfast and then helped clean up the hut before heading out. The hiking today wasn't bad at all. Foggy and a bit misty. But I can't have perfect weather forever. I rejoined my friends Alpine and Pony at the Mizpah Spring Hut and also Tennessee Jed. Another great crew. This makes three in a row. I am loving these huts and the crews.Waiting to see what the weather is going to do tomorrow. Either a short day and stopping at Lakes of the Clouds Hut or pushing over Mt. Washington. We will see.
Date: 2007-08-24
From: Mizpah Spring Hut

To: Madison Hut
Miles today: 11.8

After breakfast I hiked up to the Lake of the Clouds Hut for an early lunch. They had a very nice croo as well. I really wouldn't mind staying here. But the weather hasn't turned yet so I pushed on. It didn't last. By the time I was at the top of Mt. Washington it was completely fogged in and very windy. They were sustained winds of 56 mph and gusts much higher then even faster winds as I started hiking back down. Had my picture taken with the sign, I don't know if it came out or not, we will see. As I hiked down the other side of Washington I was hiking at an angle and the wind was keeping me up. The times I had close calls with falling was when the wind suddenly stopped blowing and gravity took over.I arrived at the Madison Spring Hut early, so I ate some of my own food (for a change) to wait for dinner which was too long. It is a new croo here tonight. Not all bad. I would say that the majority of the croo is nice they just have one girl who is a slave driver when it comes to the work for stay. Luckily she didn't give me my chore. But Alpine and Pony were not to thrilled with theirs.Whether I mentioned it yet or not my one big toe seems to be infected. I am gonna stop and soak it and see if I can get things feeling better. Plan on taking a day off in Gorham, NH if I can find a good place to stay.
Date: 2007-08-25
From: Madison Hut

To: Wildcat Mountain
Miles today: 10.8

Today was anything but a normal day. I got an easy chore unlike my friends, checking bunks and folding blankets. It wasn¢t long until I started hiking up Mt. Madison. I reached the top and not really paying attention to the different trails I followed the wrong set of rock cairns down off Madison. So this didn¢t put me to where I wanted to be. So instead of going back up over Madison I went around and took another trail down and found my way to Pinkham Notch. I somehow managed to get there before Pony and Alpine. They had a rough day heading down Madison.We ended up taking a 3 hour lunch break at the visitor¢s center. Circadian and Tennessee Jed didn¢t want to push on either. Eventually we hiked on. Shortly after we did however Pony, Alpine and myself went swimming in the river. The water was freezing but it felt very refreshing. From there it was a long climb up the first peak of Wildcat Mountain. I found a beautiful camping spot on the peak and wanted to camp there but I decided to push on because I was told of a shelter near the gondola. I am lucky I did because lightning struck near where I was going to set up my tent. Pony, Alpine and myself spent the night in the ski patrol cabin between peaks E and D and watched the big thunderstorm strike a few times right outside the door. So happy to be inside a structure.
Date: 2007-08-26
From: Wildcat Mountain

To: Rattle River Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: fog

Up and moving ¢¦ eventually. Stopped at Carter Notch Hut for water, breakfast and a privy break. I must say this croo was the worst I had see out of all of them. Bunch of pricks if you ask me. I don¢t usually do the whole name calling thing but there isn¢t any other way to describe them. I bought a loaf of bread (can¢t beat it for a buck), filled up my water and left. I am looking forward to getting out of the AMC¢s domain.Next up is Carter. This section was not bad at all, except for the downhill following North Carter Mountain. This section ¢sucked monkey balls¢ but the last mile and a half before Rattle River Shelter was a smooth, clear, flat trail. I felt like I was running. I was there for awhile with Usual Suspect and had just climbed in my tent when Pony and Alpine came in, after dark. I am glad they came here, that means we are going to stay somewhere together in Gorham, NH. I can¢t wait for a shower and laundry in town tomorrow! We keep losing more and more daylight. But I enjoy fall, I am hoping the leaves at least start to turn while we are up here. (Less than 300 miles left!)
Date: 2007-08-27
From: Rattle River Shelter

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 1.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Very short nero into Gorham, NH. The first car stopped and gave me a ride into town. Good start to a town stop. Had breakfast at BK and Dunkin Donuts. Then took care of my post office needs. Our first option for a room failed when they wouldn¢t give us the price listed in the companion, this turned out to be a good thing. Instead we called the White Birches Camping Park/hostel. It is a great place, run by good people. To top it off it has everything you need: Bunks, laundry, showers, a pool table and a swimming pool. And even better than that we met Mrs. Focus. Her husband (Focus) is hiking the trail this year and she is doing trail magic while she waits for him at trail heads and in town. She treated us to some food and a few beers. She is amazing.This was followed by several games of pool and more drinking by me and Pony. Alpine wasn¢t interested in joining in. Tons of fun to be had here. Tomorrow is going to be a zero. I can¢t justify not zeroing.
Date: 2007-08-29
From: Gorham, NH

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

Not a long hike, but still a pain in the ass. Started crossing the Androscoggin River and the hydro plant. Then a day of climbs and hot temperatures. Climbed Mt. Hayes, Cascade Mountain and other non-named climbs. The climbing wouldn¢t have been as bad if it wasn¢t for the heat. I had to stop several times to cool off.My dreams lately have continued to be weird. I can¢t really place meaning to these late ones, I need to remember them better. I tend to forget them when somebody talks to me in the morning. I am getting excited though, tomorrow we enter MAINE! The last state for my thru-hike. I am getting anxious. Staying at the Gentian Pond Campsite tonight. It is the first time I tried setting my tent up on the wooden platforms. It fit nicely, I couldn¢t have had it any better. I am exhausted and ready for bed.
Date: 2007-08-30
From: Gentian Pond Campsite

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Slept in but eventually go hiking. The day was hot and humid and filled with plenty of ups and downs. But in there we crossed the NH/ME border. Stopped for some photos and just soaked it in ¢¦ LAST STATE! After Mt Carlo we could see a storm rolling in. I hurried over Goose Eye Mountain to get down to the shelter before it hit. I made it with time to spare. I am hoping it gets this out of its system tonight. Staying here tonight. I need to do a decent day tomorrow to make it to Andover, ME before noon on Saturday to get my mail. It can be done.I have been in contact with some hiking friends from the south and they are going to be in ME over labor day. I want to get together with them, but it is hard when there is no cell phone service and I am not near town. Oh-well, it all works out.
Date: 2007-08-31
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Baldpate Lean-to
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

The hike down to the Mahoosuc Notch was not bad. We have been warned for quite some time now about this next 1.1 miles. It lived up to its reputation. The rocks were wet and slick from the thunderstorm last night. That and there was a light mist/drizzle most of the day. On a good day without my pack this would be a fun playground for me. It is the type of stuff I like, large boulders where you have to navigate over, under and around. I may come back again sometime, just one more place to add to my list. But as it was it took about 2.5 hours to cover the 1.1 miles. So that ate into a long day. Another thing that made this notch infamous this year was the decaying moose carcass that was in the middle of the trail while going through the notch. Lucky for us it was a cool, wet day and the smell was concentrated around the carcase and not filling the notch like others had said.The climb out of the notch wasn¢t a picnic either. I just put my head down and climbed. I stopped for lunch at Speck Pond Shelter. The motivation is very low today. Even though I need to cover miles. Eventually we hike on down to Grafton Notch. I sat there for awhile putting off the climb up to Bald Pate Lean-to. But eventually we all hiked on to get there for the night. Spock was already there. There is also a trail crew camped near the shelter. They said that next year there is a reroute for the section we are going to do that will be really nice. Oh-well, can¢t win them all.
Date: 2007-09-01
From: Baldpate Lean-to

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

Up at 5:30 on the trail by 6:30. The hiking wasn¢t bad at all today. Going over Baldpate Mountain was a pain. It was cold, wet and the wind was blowing hard. But I made it over fine and got down to the road by 10:30. Thought I was going to make it to the post office. Wrong! I finally made it into town just before 12:30. And I was picked up by the 4 car to pass. Met Commando at the road, she was going to try and hitch in with me but after awhile she gave up and hiked on. By the time I got in I was told if I would have hike a mile or so down the road I probably could have gotten enough cell phone service to get a call into town for a ride, but I had no way of knowing that.Staying at Pine Ellis tonight, not that bad of a place. Talked to the group on the phone, Guthook, Blue, Cough Drop and Tau are all together for the weekend. Unfortunately they are all leaving tomorrow, so there is no time for me to get a ride over that way. I am sorry I missed them. Hopefully next time I will be free. I am not willing to zero here until Tuesday (stupid labor day weekend) so I am going to hike on and have them forwarded to Stratton, ME. I just hope they will get there before me, or if not that Stratton is a better town to zero in.Time now to rest and soak my feet. I need to do it in every town and keep cleaning it. When I get home I will get it taken care of. I honestly don¢t see it getting any worse so as long as I take care of it I should be fine.
Date: 2007-09-02
From: Andover, ME

To: Hall Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 6.0

It felt nice to sleep in a real bed, and not to get up early. It was pretty late when we got back on the trail and only hiked over to Hall Mountain Lean-to. Stopping really early, but I am carrying a load of books (yes more than one) I want to have some reading time so that I can finish one and leave it in a shelter for somebody else. At first I was against this. But considering I¢ve gotten several books this way I started doing it as well. My only complaint is leave the whole book. I hate finding parts of books in the shelters.
Date: 2007-09-03
From: Hall Mountain Lean-to

To: Beamis Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 12.8

Today was a day filled with climbs, but although they were long they were not as bad as expected. First was Moody Mountain which was not as bad as the profile suggested. This was followed by Old Blue Mountain. For this I needed to put my headphones in and my head down and just keep going and before I knew it I was on top. From there it was a relatively easy hike down to Beamis Mountain Lean-to. Stopping early again tonight. Coming down off Beamis I slid and broke the lower section of my right trekking pole. Luckily it is still long enough to use if I extend both the middle and lower out the whole way. Lets just hope it lasts, at least for awhile, like that.