morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-09-06
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: broken clouds

Pictures from 06/23-07/21 have been added***After an active night with the Dartmouth group departing camp at 3:30am to catch the sunrise on Moosilauke and some unhappy hikers moaning all morning I quickly decided to only hike 7 miles to the next shelter and go back to bed! I slept until 9! Then packed up and moseyed to the shelter to hang with Jew, Birch and Whiskey Slim. It was very nice-especially with the view of the Whites! The sign at the trail informed me it was 9, not 7, to this shelter but I figured I¢d be ok time wise. The 1st 2 miles were a slow, bouldering down, but next to Cascade Falls which was beautiful! The weather was perfect! Cool but not cold-pants and tank top once the long sleeve shirt came off. I moved slow to be safe and stopped several times to enjoy the cascades and falls! Then I got moving up Kinsman Notch and the boulder coaster!! With several breaks to eat or relax I knew I would be pushing daylight. I felt good all day and was glad I rested this morning! I pulled into the shelter (after hitting the brook for water at the intersection) about 6:45. Met Ewok (a flip-flopping phish fan) and Grapevine, picked a nice tent platform, sand..yea! Then saw Slightly Inappropriate roll in. He remembered me from the Smokies!! Soon after I set up and headed to the shelter to eat. Rockefeller arrived and it was great to see him too, it had been since Pearisburg, VA! I ate and was back to my tent by 8:30. I called ¢Chet¢ as requested in the companion and also Lowrider-he¢ll be out 9/18-I hope I¢m close to U&S¢s then! Probably do 11 mi to Chet¢s and go from there. I also ran into Bear Blaze and Gonzo today!! How fun!! Today was a great day!
Date: 2010-09-07
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Chet's One Step @ a Time Hostel/Franconian Notch
Miles today: 8.8

Today¢s been awesome! I got a great, fairly early, start as I¢d hoped. The 2.5 mi climb up Kinsman started with a mile or so along Eliza Brook and MANY waterfalls. Absolutely fabulous!! I crossed a ridge runner who was hustling to the shelters to see the helicopter bringing supplies to the Eliza shelter for the new one they¢re about to build. Sure enough, I saw it from the mountainside! I even got a picture, at least of the load it was carrying! I was pretty far away at that point. Kinsman, especially part 2, would be a rocky ¢technical¢ challenge! Big vertical slabs!! The view of part 2 was cool though from Harrington Pond before you were immersed but it was ALMOST intimidating! Once up there we (I leap~frogged with Slightly Inappropriate for a few!) and got a great view from the South peak and then from the North peak of the Franconian Ridge that was amazing!!! I will climb and hike them tomorrow! Hopefully there¢s not too much rain! With a rocky, hopping climb down 2 miles I came to Lonesome Lake Hut, my first hut! It looked cool with some cabins but the lake .1-2 down the hill was the real treat! I took a quick break and to really enjoy the view then off for the last 3.5 down to the road to Lincoln and Chet¢s hostel. I arrived at 2pm and tried to hitch, got a ride .5 mile to the Flume Visitor Center! HA! I got a Dew, called for the cheap taxi I¢d heard about and went to the outfitter. I scored some seam sealer but no Mtn Hse. I walked to a Pizza plaza, no good, hit Dunkin Donuts, no krullers , hit the Life is Good/Columbia store-no Mtn Hse but their other store down the street has it! Walked to the gas station to resupply, McD¢s for a meal now and some for later, taxied to the other outfitter & Chet¢s. He¢s a fantastic guy, so generous! I picked my bunk, Chet threw on some of his best live dead shows which I enjoyed in the back yard while seam sealing my tent! Turns out there was just enough sunshine left in the day for me to get it on and dried!! Next was Grizz getting his hair/dreds shaved off! I found some Nixwax on the hiker wall and was VERY excited to get them cleaned and treated before the last leg! I called LT, packed my food, showered, laundered, got a surprise arrival from LB which was awesome! He and I shared the other cheeseburgers and Dews and we all visited. Many hikers arrived, prob 8-10, Grizz presented Chet with his gift of a necklace and steak dinner! I pondered tomorrow¢s mileage a couple times and also got a picture from Songbird in Hawaii! I called her and we caught up which was nice! It¢s late but it¢s been awesome! What a group! Chet has quite a story and is a blessing to us all! Tomorrow will be great no matter what happens because any day on the AT is great and a gift. It¢s 11:40pm, need 8+ sleep = 8-9 hike by 10 = 8+ hrs hiking time = 16 miles @ 2mi/hr with no breaks so I¢ll be fine to get 10 to 12 plus I got stealth site tips from Ewok
Date: 2010-09-08
From: Chet's One Step Hostel/Franconian Notch

To: Liberty Spring Campsite
Miles today: 2.6
Weather: broken clouds

So as not to have all of her trail experiences appear "just peachy", I'll update this journal with one of her roughest days yet. For me, getting a call pre-8am, must be an emergency or wrong number. We'll call this one a mental health emergency. Ripple woke up freezing and wet, with a bag full of wet feathers and a leaking rainfly. She's been in difficult terrain, slow moving rock climbing etc. She proceeds to tell me that there's a road, just back South, she's freezing and thinking of getting on it to head home. Ripple's new rain pants are size xs so it seems she's lost her extra layer from the cold and had been shivering and not sleeping. I had one of those camping nights, but got up, fired up the car and reclined the front seat, rough. I did my best to encourage her onward and talked her into moving forward to a warm and dry sleeping arrangement for a brighter outlook. There's a hut 10 miles North and she can get there this evening. She's also alone right now and there'll be other hiker company at the hut. I'm going to look into a new rainfly from the manufacturer or other alternative to keep the tent dry...and possibly a down jacket. Ripple also hit the Whites without her heavier outer layer shell and only has her dry duck to put over her fleece. USPS delivered her re-supply package late to Glencliff,NH, and it had to be forwarded up the trail. Ripple never has been one for the cold...but I think with a little gear tweaking, she can be comfortable again. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers. If I know my friend, her sunshine will return soon. What a time!!! and what a friend!! Here's the funny part...my journaling the night before my call to her! This is the day I crapped out after hiking only 2 hours and 2.6 miles. I wanted to break early, eat, rest and sleep! I had a feeling I should have taken advantage of the good crappy weather of a light continuous rain with a good chill in the air¢¦but I didn¢t. I stayed warm and rested. I wrote the following instead of journaling. Just little one liners I must try to remember!~You can¢t sweat tomorrow-just always live the present~It WILL be cold & you will live!~Accept being uncomfortable for the win~Everyday¢s win is that much closer to your goal ~Just gotta walk these steps->LIVE it~It [the Whites] is part of this journey, another present from the trail, yet another experience the trail offers, you wanted as many as possible! Conquer it!...just like the others! SUCCEED!!~You SAID you were a bad ass, now legs of steel~I will be cold and I will like it! Just use the right gear, the next test from the trail¢¦~I am a visitor in their world.~Cool weather is easier to hike in~Remember the heat and the bugs, water sources and carrying it!~The sun will come out (it just did,) it rises everyday~It will be hard but should be fun.~Admire the beauty in it, think about that when you are cold ?~You can¢t quit¢370 miles to Katahdin---1/4 of the trail is 545 miles!
Date: 2010-09-09
From: Liberty Spring Campsite

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

Ripple moved forward and made it to Galehead Hut, over mts Lincoln and Lafayette. She said it was cold, there was no view and it rained all day. I'm so proud she pushed on after feeling like getting off trail. There were several hikers at the hut, including LB (went to festival with Ripple), which helped her mental state, all saying they'd be mad if she quit now. I have a 2009 AT Companion book so it may be slightly off from 2010, but a little data for everyone: Galehead Hut is at mile 1818.6 or 359.7 miles from Mt Katahdin. She has about 26 miles til Mt Washington...78 miles to NH/ME line and 245 miles to Monson,ME or the start of the Maine 100 mile wilderness and finish. Here's my written entry:What a day! After resting a bunch yesterday I woke up to find my bag wet from the tent leaking-seam sealer failed! It was rainy and cold and Iwas seriously debating quitting!! After all those good thoughts last night! I was able to call LT, thank goodness! She had the magic words and was prepared for this call¢¦she pretty much hit everything I wrote yesterday!! Very grateful for my Trail Angel, I started packing @ 8 and was NOBO by 9! The boulder climbs up to and over Lincoln and Lafayette weren¢t bad but the wind, rain and clouds made it HELL! I had no choice but to keep moving, see stopping at Greenleaf hut 1.0 off trail, was foolish because I¢d just have to hike that mile back to the trail. Plus I kept hearing Turner say ¢and don¢t you stop in 4 mi at that hut-get 10 to the next hut!¢ So I did I JUST KEPT WALKING! Perhaps it¢s a blessing visibility was nil; I¢d have only seen how many peaks I¢d be going over on top this range! I got over Garfield and kept pushing. So glad I had a McD¢s burger to eat quickly in the rain! Made it to the hut about 6 and met Courtney, the hut¢s main chick, and got the scoop. Sweet Cheeks, Carl, Patch, Gonzo and Bear Blaze were already here. Thanks goodness!! My friendly hiker faces among all the guests had many words of encouragement for me after the toughest time I experienced on this trail yet! I was never so glad to see them! Thin Mint & Ziggy arrived shortly. The Hut Croo did their bit (literally) and turns out they did have leftover food which was a treat! We did our chores of scrubbing pans (REAL well before they are stored away for winter!!) for an hour or so and earned our stay. Now we¢re all laid out on the tables and floors with wet gear & clothes everywhere!! Hope some dries! Early to rise tomorrow, the cook starts at 5:30! Its 10 now¢¦ A rough climb to start tomorrow but there¢s flatland that follows! Hallelujah! It will be nice, especially with a real breakfast in my belly!! Ok, one more day
Date: 2010-09-10
From: Galehead Hut

To: Stealth at Crawford Notch
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: fog

What a treat today was! Although it looked pretty nasty from the hut, the weather wasn¢t all THAT bad I guess! We were woken up, as promised, @ 6:15 and packed by 6:30 so we could help the croo set up for breakfast. There were plenty of leftovers so we chowed on pancakes and oatmeal-very good!! The skit ¢Frankenstein¢ was entertaining, so I finished packing and was on trail at 9 or shortly there after. With only 1 big climb and first off, I warmed up soon which really helped. The rain was steady (until 2) but light-thank goodness! With word from Nemo, a SOBO, that the terrain was the easiest he¢d seen I would set out for a long, easy , big ¢Whites¢ mile day! After 7 mi, I arrived at Zealand Falls Hut for a snack of mine and a bowl of soup for $2-potatoe and onion with cheese! Very good! Also had some lemonade With 8 mi of easy terrain left I set off. I leap-frogged with the gang all day then met up with Sweet Cheeks, Carl, Gonzo and Bear Blaze at a trail crossing. Seemed their blue blazed proved to be quite ¢technical!¢ We were all off for the last 5 to Crawford Notch. They all went to town. I stopped .5 mi short of the site by the river in exchange for daylight and air time to dry my stuff! I found a spot in the woods off the parking lot/road walk and spewed my stuff everywhere! Tent included! I got dinner going, messed with my stuff and ate in my tent. I reviewed the next couple days-hopefully I can hook up with the Dube¢s @ Pinkham Notch in Gorham. LB & Shags didn¢t hike out yesterday after slackpacking, opting to hang at Chet¢s and party! Bet I¢ll see them soon. I¢m tired but back in trail mode for another leg. God love LT!
Date: 2010-09-11
From: Stealth at Crawford Notch

To: Lakes in the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: few clouds

What a day! Ups and downs-mentally AND physically! I¢ll say I¢m getting pretty good at rock wall climbing but it sure takes a toll on me mentally! So I got up and hit the road at 8. With all my gear dry and no rain in the AM I was very happy. The goal was to get to the Lakes of the Clouds Hut leaving 1.5 to Mt. Washington since today was a good forecast and tomorrow AM too! As I headed .2 or so down to St. Rd 302 I was greeted by my first mtn and climb-holy shit! It was huge! I knew it was only 3 mi before a small level break so I just took it easy. It was real trail! Not all rocks! Yeah! Once up there I found Webster Cliffs and the rock climbing began! When I was admiring a view I noticed some people on one of the lower cliff views, who goes there??? Why it was Whiskey Slim, his mom-Julie, Rockefeller and Jew!! They were slackpacking and meeting the rest of Slim¢s family atop Washington! The view¢s had begun and would continue ALL DAY! It was unreal! LT was right-again! Everyone who said the Whites and Maine were the best were right! Thanks to the anonymous guest who said that too! I heard that over and over in my head! I began debating if I could pull of 11 miles! I would get to Mizpah Hut and evaluate. After a million day hikers and awful Mt. Jackson I arrived-2:15pm. I ate 2 bowls of corn and pea soup, a snickers and lemonade. The cook said it should take 4 hours-cool-that¢s doable! The sunny day would be terrible to waste-onward and upward! Mt. Pierce/Clinton-check! I¢m making good time. Mt. Franklin-check! And WHAT A VIEW! Mt. Washington just got bigger and bigger all day! Finally a 1 mi flat ridge walk landed me here at the hut. I pulled it off! It¢s always so overwhelming (the miles I need to do) yet little by little I chip away and usually end I success! As long as I keep living in the moment I will always achieve my goal. Tomorrow: I will climb Mt. Washington (1.5 from hut, 1276¢ left to gain.) It is right next door to this hut. I checked in, they had room, they asked if I could do the morning chores (perfect!) and told me to settle in. I went out, laid out some things to dry and watched the sunset while the guests ate. Soon I will eat and hang until lights out at 9:30.
Date: 2010-09-13
From: Osgood Campsite

To: Pinkham Notch (Gorham,NH motel)
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: fog

Today was great! A lazy morning, nice hike in to ¢public!¢ It was a great hike along many creeks and waterfalls! It was beautiful! The terrain was friendly and the rain was holding off. With only a little tree rain it was nice to be out of the rain gear! Before I knew it I was at the visitor center! Inside I scoped out the menu, did a little shopping (I knew I was sending a box home so I could actually buy a souvenir!) I also upgraded my pack cover to an XL. I picked up my bounce box with my real rain coat and Mtn Hse¢s and enjoyed a grilled cheese w/tomato and chocolate milk! Gorp and I decided to split the shuttle the hostel/motel offered and off we went into civilization! Mtn¢s, mtn¢s everywhere! I will surely miss the wonderful security I¢ve been surrounded with since leaving Springer! Before I knew it we were on the trolley to the Wal-Mart! See folks, we hike in a CORRIDOR of wilderness¢¦the Green Tunnel! As a bonus it had a Dunkin Donuts! HA! Sweet! Breakfast and sweets! We trollyed back, hung all our gear up to dry, showered, laundered and reunited with U&S¢s, Dos XX, Fun Dip and Burl! They were staying there too! I walked over to the KFC, talked to LT, mom, Drew @ Big Agnes-rain fly is on its way, and Lowrider. Shooting for bed by 11:30-12, I wound up looking at the last few days of pics and forced myself to bed at 12:30!
Date: 2010-09-14
From: Pinkham Notch (Gorham,NH motel)

To: Carter Notch
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: fog

Woke up at 8, went to breakfast @ the motel restaurant-very good pancakes! Yum! They also had alcohol (for my stove) so I topped mine off! A hiker¢s essentials! We got things ready and hit the road by 11. We walked to the PO, outfitter and gas station then hitched a ride quickly! We hit Wildcat @ 1-1:30 and it was I tough! It was a rocky climb up but doable! Luckily the worst part, the dreaded Wildcat was the climb up and was over! The few miles across all the peaks weren¢t nearly as bad, thank goodness! I enjoyed a nice lake just before I wound up at Carter Hut. It was 6:30, a relief! I was glad it was over. Weather was nice! Only a few light sprinkles and even some sun! The hut was self serve and $38 for a bunk! I decided quickly walking back .3 to a large, existing and legal campsite was the way to go! I saw Big R, Bluegrass and Patch, met Apocalypse, Ketner and her dad. The boy¢s went on-1 mi and 1500¢ UP! No thank you! I got set right up, Gorp joined me, I ate and texted with LT, LR¢r, Peach, Twizzler and Cope-he¢s decided to yo-yo starting Jan 1! I hope to get some good sleep and do 13+. Should be a doable plan! I am tired and excited to lie down and listen to the light rain before dozing.
Date: 2010-09-15
From: Carter Notch

To: Rattle River Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: broken clouds

Today was a pretty good day! The actual hiking was almost pleasant! Got up @ 6:30 and out of camp by 8:15 or so. Started the day with 1 of the 3 climbs. My spills the other day are kickin¢ in! My knees were not happy! More bangs to my right knee but the stabbing pain (on certain steps) is coming from my left! My feet generally hurt all the time now. That started in the last week or so. I took Vitamin I first thing and again about 2 which left me hurting 12-2 & 4-6:30. Think I¢ll try to hold off until later in the morning again. My hips don¢t hurt as bad with the extra clothing which is nice I had to stop and snack about every 2 hours which hurts my speed but allows me to keep going! Climbed Carter¢s 3 mtn¢s then Moriah-false summits and enormous vertical rock slab climbing aside-Moriah had great views! I ran into Pierre and Puck who were SOBO¢ing to make up lost terrain from not being able to descend Washington. LB & Shags were 11 mi behind as of this morning. I am 2 mi from the road to Gorham and am happy to be camped (alone) instead of going back to town and losing more time (and $!) I looked over the 1st Maine profile-ha! It¢ll be interesting! There are breaks from the crazy climbs which is NICE! I¢m tired but it¢s early, 8 maybe, and so excited for a nice, long nights rest. 14 tomorrow! 313 miles to go!
Date: 2010-09-16
From: Rattle River Shelter

To: Genetian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 13.7

Ripple enters MAINE TOMORROW!Today was 95% enjoyable and easy hiking which is RARE! Dry weather this early am and all day until 6-6:30 when I was already set up and having dinner in the shelter w/ AT Troll, Hopper, Wandering Feet and Johnny Walker who ironically was craving Jack Daniels! It was a nice, early end to an easy day! A present from NH before ME puts the beat down on us! Tons of water! The trail went thru many sources big and little! Stopped a top Cascade Mtn to find Crafty, Rocket, Man Dog and Gummy Bear and took a break. It was 11ish and I¢d done 9+ mi of my 14! I stopped for lunch at 2:30 at a wonderful lake! Only 2 mi to go! With water in tow I hit the shelter @ 4:30! This was the best terrain WITH views I¢ve seen in a long time! What a day! I texted w/Twizzler-what a Trail Angel! Oh my goodness! And Scarlett-finally! Been wanting to do that/share that story for a long time! Also called the gammet on trail friends! Cope, Songbird, Ups & LR¢r! It¢s almost 9 and I am ready to sleep. Tomorrow I enter Maine and possibly hit the Mahoosic Notch! HOLE-E-SHIT! I¢ll have walked from GEORGIA to MAINE!!! 286 miles to Katahdin!
Date: 2010-09-17
From: Genetian Pond Shelter

To: Full Goose Shelter,ME
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

What a day! So many mental highs AND lows in just one day out here! Started the day w/30 min extra sleep-yea, still raining-boo, quit raining-yea, hard ass climb-One last smack down from NH!-boo! Reached the Maine border-yea, fell in huge mud puddle-boo, rocked up the 1st ME climb, short as it was, quite quickly-yea, sunk one leg down 3+ feet to my waist in a mysterious mud sinkhole-boo! That¢s life on the trail! I learned I wasn¢t the only one who fell between 2 sets of bog boards so that helped a little! Johnny Walker did the same! Hopper took a 15¢ fall down a big boulder/waterfall/hellish section! Thank goodness she was able to walk away! This trail is no joke! The first mtn was Mt. Success-good Lord! The mud is ridiculous! I hope it really does stay dry the next 4-5 days like they¢re saying. That would rock! Hopefully let some of this water sink in! Tomorrow is ¢The notch¢ and its arm! Can¢t wait to experience them AND get them over with! I really let these famously tough ones get in my head prior to. Once I¢m there I get it done but I think I might let them scare me a little??? I¢ll be glad when Shags and LB catch up to me and also LR¢r! I¢ll be ready for Andover Sun/Mon! I fell another time on my ass-bad! It hurts to SIT! Oh NO! Knees were pretty good today and no ibuprofen! I¢ll definitely take them tomorrow so I¢m at my best! I¢ll also eat plenty-keep some in my pocket, like I do, so I can take it down right quick and keep movin¢! No time for long, pack off breaks anymore! It¢s about 9 and I am excited to sleep!! 276.5 to Katahdin! 1 MORE DAY = KATAHDIN!!
Date: 2010-09-18
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Speck Pond Shelter
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: clear sky

Today was all right. Tough but short. I got up early and movin-ready for the Mahoosic Notch and Arm. A small climb, then down and it was on! Was hoping for 2 hrs in the notch but it was 3. Also hoped for 2 hours up the 2 miles of the arm but it was also 3! If you haven¢t heard, this notch is known as the toughest mile on the trail by many! It looked like a maze of mini-barn sized boulders! Ok now, not all of them, but it really was a valley of gi~normous boulders! I was hoping to get through without having to take off my pack but no such luck! The last crevice did me in! HA! I knew I was taking forever (just finding the trail alone) but couldn¢t have cared less! I took my sweet time! It really was quite challenging at times! I really can¢t believe some of the things I¢ve done! If it wasn¢t for the Big K and the goal-I¢d surely have stopped! Some bring me to tears! Sometimes there are ladders-who decides which places need and get these, I wonder?? Very nice views on both climbs! Maine is certainly beautiful-no doubt! I do wish Katahdin was a little closer to the NH line though! I¢m grateful for the warm temp¢s too-today (and yesterday) turned out beautiful! I hated to stop short today but after the notch and arm, the big pond here-and I figure it would not change my arrival date in Andover-so I decided to rest my weary knees and legs. I also felt that this was EXACTLY why I skipped some in MA/VT! Got set up early, ate, then went down to the pond and visited with 2 sectioner¢s as the sun set! A ¢nero¢ in Maine, on a lake with the sun shining! Living the dream!! Except for the noisy group of boys it is quite peaceful but even they can¢t keep me up! Hoping for a good start and 10.5 miles leaving 4 to Andover! Yeah!