morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-09-07
From: Zealand Falls Hut

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: mist

It turned out to be a short day of hiking. When I got down to the trail head, there was a trail angel passing out snacks and giving free rides into town. I planned on just resupplying and then hitting the trail again.However, as I sat with her eating my snacks some dark clouds rolled in. Another hiker joined us, so we decided to go to a campground just 3 miles up the road.Once we checked into the campground, our trail angel took us to the grocery store and then out to dinner. As we returned to the campsite, the weather only got worse. It was pouring with lightening and thunder. We hoped none of our hiker friends were caught in the storm.I went to an ATM and found out my card had expired! Even with all that planning I did, I never thought to check the expiration date of my card. So, I called my friend Rosemary who receives my mail. Of course, she was out of town and not at home. To hold me over, she wired me money through Western Union until I got my new card. Thank you Rosemary and Trail Angel for getting me to Western Union!
Date: 2006-09-08
From: Crawford Notch

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

The weather was good today, which is a good thing when hiking above the treeline. The terrain remains rocky and the trail goes up and down, but the views are wonderful. But, that is what hiking the White Mountains are all about!By noon, I was exhausted and the temperature was dropping as the elevation was rising. We were slowly approaching Mt. Washington, which is known to have the worst weather in the U.S. During the last few miles to the hut, the wind picked up and the temperature continued to go down.I was cold and several times I thought about stopping to put my rain gear on over my jacket. But, I was so close to the hut and didn't want to stop, so I thought it would be better to just keep moving.I finally arrived at the hut and Eliza greeted me. She was very friendly and gave me a cup of hot chocolate and a bowl of pumpkin soup to warm up before I started working! Wow, this was much friendlier service then the last hut!Since the hut season is winding down, there is more intense cleaning to be done. We had to bleach two of the bunk rooms and sweep the floors in the morning.I ran into $3 again, who I haven't seen him since Pearisburg, Virginia. It was fun catching up with each other. It turns out his girlfriend was Eliza. All I can say is he better be nice to her!
Date: 2006-09-09
From: Lake of the Clouds Hut

To: Madison Spring Hut
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: fog

I did the final summit climb to the top of Mt. Washington (elev. 6288') which is located in the Presidental Range.We knew that the temperature went below freezing during the night because the water and tuna outsided was frozen. The climb from the hut to the summit only takes about an hour. But, it wasn't an easy hour. As the temperature rose, the rocks turned slippery as the frost turned into water.As I mentioned before, Mt. Washington has the worst weather in America. The summit is under cloud cover 55 percent of the time and the average summer high is 52 degrees. Back in 1934, an on-land wind speed of 231 mph was recorded there and that still stands as the world's record.However, luck was on my side today and it turned out to be a gorgeous day. It was so clear we could even see the ocean, which is said to be visible only 5 days a month.The place is, unfortunately, a bit touristy. You can even drive a car up to the summit (now they tell us!) or take the COG train for a mere $42 one way. So, I spent several hours up there enjoying the views and eating at the snack bar.On my hike to the next shelter, I hiked with Marcus, a 77 year old gentlemen, but his knees were only 10 years old. We had a great visit talking about hiking, astronomy, stocks, jobs, etc. It was great having the distraction since I was not having a good day hiking over rocks and boulders. If it weren't for the hills going up and down, I would swear I was back in Pennsylvania. The White Mountains have been tough on my knees, which never bothered me before.
Date: 2006-09-10
From: Madison Spring Hut

To: Pinkham Notch Lodge
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: fog

I finished the Presidential Range!I was drained hiking into Pinkham Notch and just wanted to lay down and rest, so I decided to check into the lodge (even though the AMC would be getting more of my money).I reached the snack bar just as it was closing, so they sold be a bowl of soup. It would hold me over until dinner time two hours away.An all you can eat dinner and breakfast was included in this ledge. I was concerned it wouldn't really be all you can eat though. You see, they advertise the same thing at the huts, but there, "all you can eat" means you only get what they give you. But, it turned out to be a great dinner and breakfast.So, I had my fill before climbing the Wildcat mountains, a local ski resort. The Wildcat also runs a gondola ride during the summer months for the tourists, but this time the thru hikers couldn't ride free.
Date: 2006-09-11
From: Pinkham Notch Lodge

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: broken clouds

The climb up Wildcat Mountain was strenous. When we reached the top, the views were tremendous and we took a good long break. The gondolas stopped off here, so there was a lot of interest from the tourists about why we walked up this mountain when we could have ridden!After leaving the mountain, we expected to start hiking down but the trail only continued to go up. We thought we already climbed the two mountains, but it turned out we only climbed the shorter one! Even though the climbing was hard, it was all right. We kept hearing that we may have to turn back because it was so difficult.I stayed at Carter Notch Hut, the last hut in the White Mountains. This one is self-service, meaning they do not serve meals, but you can use the kitchen and their utensils for you food.The caregiver that was assigned to this hut decided to cook some chocolate chip cookies and chili which were perfect for a cold crisp day. The fall colors are coming in more and more everyday. It's hard to believe that I started this hike when there where no leaves on the trees, I watched them all grow back, then when I finish, there will be no leaves on the trees again!
Date: 2006-09-12
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Tent Camp, Mt. Moriah
Miles today: 9.3

I wanted to reach Gorham, New Hampshire today and relax but I took a wrong turn on the trail and ended up hiking two more hours then I needed. Oddly enough, I ended up in the same place where I took the wrong turn! Thankfully, I recognized that or I would still be going around and around, climbing a mountain that I didn't need to climb!I had six other peaks to climb, all over 4000 feet, so I really didn't need this additional mountain. Because of my error, I did not make it to Gorham. But, I did make sure that I camped on the other side of the last mountain so I wouldn't have to climb it in the morning.I had cell phone service for the first time in days, so I called my sister-in-law to wish her a happy birthday. She asked me a question that I could not answer, do I feel healthy? Since I couldn't give an immediate answer, I guess that means no.The hikers call our condition the T-Rex syndrome. Like the dinosaur, our legs are stong and powerful, but our upper bodies look puny due to lack of exercise. But that's not the end of it... My toes nails continue to fall out. Most of my toes are numb, but the bottoms of my feet, even though calloused, are extremely sensitive. I have bruises were I never thought I could get bruises. I'm exhausted, tired, and starving all the time. My knees and legs ache and are swollen in the evening. Granted, I have lost the weight that I needed to loose. I guess I'll know if I feel healthy once I get home and normalize myself for a few weeks.
Date: 2006-09-13
From: Tent Camp, Mt. Moriah

To: Gorham, New Hampshire
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: clear sky

I had a fairly easy hike into town today, which was a great way to start the day off. I even had four miles of FLAT and EASY ground to walk on!Wow, I'm all done with the White Mountains. I can't believe I finally made it through them. It took long enough!I continue to do well and still have not considered getting off the trail because of its difficulty. We have less then 300 miles to go! Even though the end is getting closer, no one is taking it for granted that we will finish. There is another hiker that may be dropping out here in Gorham, even though we are so close to being finished. The mind will play games with you, especially when you are tired and worn out.When one of the hikers talks about getting off the trail because they don't think they will make Katahdin before October 15th, or because they are out of money, or their feet hurts, or for whatever reason, we try to give them moral support so they will stay on the trail for one more day. Sometimes after one day, they are feeling better and want to continue on.
Date: 2006-09-14
From: Gorham, New Hampshire

To: ***Zero Day!
Miles today: 0.0

I took a Zero Day today. I tried to get most of my errands done yesterday so I could relax as much as possible today.I went to the pharmacy and ran into Two Step and Snake Eyes. It was so good to see them again. The last time we saw each other was in Virginia! Two Step said she tried sending me an email, but I never received it.As I was leaving the store, Daniel, a hiker I haven't seen since New York, came in. In fact, he was racing to catch a bus to go home for a few days, so we only talked for a few moments.When he hiked to the top of a hill, he shouted that he realized that he may never see me again. I reminded him that I was a slow hiker I we would surely see one another once again!
Date: 2006-09-15
From: Gorham, New Hampshire

To: Gentian Pond Campsite
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

I got to the trailhead mid-morning and the temperature was already warm. I hiked about two miles and was sweating just like it was summer! I decided that when I took a break, I would remove the legs of my pants to cool down.At one of the trailheads, I found a note for me from Julie the section hiker. It appeared that she was about an hour ahead of me, so I tried speeding up to catch her. It wasn't long when I came across her and Fontana. Instead of hiking on, Julie decided to sit and wait till I reached her. I was happy she did because we were able to spend most of the day hiking together. We reached the campsite just as it was starting to get dark. She had her night-light and headed on down the trail another 3.5 miles to her car while I stayed at the shelter.The other three hikers were tenting, so the shelter was empty. I decided to use it so I wouldn't have to set up my tent! It was a fun day.
Date: 2006-09-16
From: Gentian Pond Campsite

To: Goose Eye Mountain - East
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: few clouds

MAINE!!! This is the 14th and last state to hike through...About a mile before the state border, I ran into a couple that just finished hiking Maine and they were so happy to be out of that state and into New Hampshire. I thought that was funny since I felt the same way, except I wanted to be out of New Hampshire.It was a beautiful day to enter Maine. I was warned of the rocks, mud, and tree roots. To me, that sounded like every other state in New England! Southern Maine is supposed to be some of the most difficult terrain on the Appalachian Trail, especially a 1 mile section that I would be going through in just a few days.The first day of hiking in Maine was tough. There were lots of technical climbs. In two places, I had to remove my backpack and lower it with a rope so I could do the climb without the extra weight.I have a fear of heights and I must say that this hike was good for overcoming much of that fear. Occasionally, there is a climb that I have to focus a little harder on the climb so I don't think about the height, but overall am amazed with what I can do.
Date: 2006-09-17
From: Goose Eye Mountain - East

To: Mahoosuc Arm
Miles today: 6.4

Wow, what an adventurous day!While in Gorham, I checked the weather before I left. It was supposed to be clear all week. There was no rain in the forecast, which is exactly the weather you need to hike through the Mahoosuc Notch.The Mahoosuc Notch is famous for ice found in deep crevices throughout the year. This one mile scramble under, around, over, and between the boulders is the most difficult mile on the trail.I didn't have a clue what to expect because I heard everything from it was fun and took an hour to go through to it was the worst hiking experience in my life. The only consistency was that it should be avoided in the rain.So, I was very content to take this on because it was a beautiful, cloudless day as I hiked down into the Notch. Once I got there, I had an immediate technical climb, which I managed without any problem.About twenty minutes into the hike, I ran into a south-bounder and mentioned the clouds that just rolled in. She said there was a change in the weather report and there is now a 30% chance of rain. No sooner did she say that when it started to rain.It was just a light rain, so I pushed quickly to get through the Notch. It wasn't long though before it started to pour down, but I kept pushing on.At one point, I had to throw my hiking poles 30 feet in front of me to cross a small opening of a crevices. One pole landing exactly like I wanted it to, but the other one decided to do some arobics and took a dive down an 8 inch opening! What a Kodak moment that was. I must have sat there for 30 seconds with my mouth hanging open.When I reached the hole, I couldn't see anything but my breath because the air was so cold. Not long after this, my watch broke and then the temps started falling quickly. It was cold enough that I was concerned about hyperthermia.After I managed to get out of the Notch, I started up Mahoosuc Arm and realized that I needed to get dry and warm. I went back and found a cave, which I stayed in for the night. Even thouigh the cave was ice cold, I was dry and warm.The hikers wanted to start calling me Cavewomen, but we are too close to the end to change my name now!
Date: 2006-09-18
From: Mahoosuc Arm

To: Speck Pond Shelter
Miles today: 0.9
Weather: clear sky

It was a short hike today, only about a mile.I did the steep climb up the Mahoosuc Arm to the shelter after I rung out my clothes several times. This didn't do much good since they were so soaked. During the summer months, I can put wet clothes on with little concern, but when the temperatures are cold like this, putting on wet clothes can be painful and they don't dry quickly (if they dry at all)!When I got to the shelter, I took everything down to the pond and washed out the mud before laying them out in the sun to dry. My boots were so wet, I knew they wouldn't be dry for days.Since I didn't cook dinner the night before, I decided I needed something warm to eat. After that, I set out my sleeping bag and decided to spend the day warming up and getting dry.Before nightfall, eight other hikers came in. This was fine by me because it made it very cozy in the shelter and it was below freezing outside. It wasn't long before we started seeing snow flakes.
Date: 2006-09-19
From: Speck Pond Shelter

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

This morning I had trouble putting my boots and socks on because they were near frozen. What a refreshing way to start the day!I climbed Old Speck Mountain (elev 3985'). It wasn't nearly as high as some of the mountains that we've climbed, but this one scared me.I went up first thing in the morning with my frozen feet and now, hands. The shrubbery was still coated in ice from the night before. The climb was steep and it was cold, downright freezing with wind blowing too. The wind was blowing so hard, I even had trouble crawling and I was holding onto anything I could. Finallly, we reached the protection of the trees. I never want to repeat this experience!Because of the Old Speck Mountain experience, I wanted to be sure to climb Baldpate west and east before the end of the day. Baldpate West wasn't much of a problem but the east peak sure was. It was another mountain that scared me because of the sharp wind.IROC showed up and we did the climb together. Once on top, it was a gorgeous view that was absolutely breathtaking. It really made all that climbhing worthwhile.
Date: 2006-09-20
From: Frye Notch Lean-to

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

It was another short day. I really need to stop these short hikes because October 15 is approaching fast!I stopped in Andover because I needed to resupply. The town is extremely small, but it has the essentials for a hiker... food. So, I checked into the Pine Ellis Hostel for the night. It was a nice place. They even came and picked us up at the trail head.The hostel offered slackpacking, so I decided to jump ahead 10 miles and climb Old Blue and the Bemis Mountains because a thunder storm was moving into the area on the day I was to climb that ridge. A hiker never wants to be on a ridge during a lightning storm.
Date: 2006-09-21
From: Andover, Maine

To: Bemis Mountains
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: scattered clouds

It rained during the day, so we had to deal with the slippery rocks and mud. I only fell once, which is a great accomplishment in this stuff! The nice thing is that I can get muddy and wet because I will be returning to the hostel for a warm shower! The down side is that this hike is suppose to be pretty. With the rain, we didn't have the views. Even the moose decided to stay away.We made record time on the hike, probably because I was cold and wanted to keep moving. I even though of continuing on and completing another 10 miles since the terrain was not bad. By the time I reached the road, the temps were dropping and I decided I needed to eat insead of hiking some more.
Date: 2006-09-22
From: Bemis Mountains

To: Old Blue
Miles today: 10.5

Today, the thunder storms were supposed to roll in, but it never happened. It did rain and the temperature rose along with the humidity. It was actually too warm to wear the gain gear, but I kept the stuff on anyway.The hike was nice even though it did not have any views. The feel of Indian summer was in the air. I love autumn and there is not a better place to be than the woods during this time of year. I love the smell and all the colors.Tomorrow, I head out again, but 23 miles up the road since I slackpacked that section.
Date: 2006-01-25
To: Tick tock tick tock
Miles today: 0.0

I have such a bad case of cabin fever I want to scream. (AHHH*!#!#*!) There,that sort of helped. One of the most amazing aspects of the AT is one that's easily overlooked. What's great is simply that its there. Thanks to the efforts of thousands through the years and the colossal passion of a few, we all are lucky today. Thank you all. My cabin fever isn't usually this severe; I think all that time spent in fresh air and on mountain ridgelines where my soul was bathed in grandeur... well, it sure left its tattoo on my heart. This has to be another one of those post hike adjustments. They just seem to keep coming. Damp Dan and Big Red both told me this would happen, I just didn't think it would keep happening. It occurred to me that my backpack with all its gear, and the AT itself is analogous to my favorite cartoon creation - The portable hole. The AT is a place where freedom and escape are expected of us. Where simplicity is encouraged and dreaming, fresh starts, renewal and directional shifts possible. I know this all sounds very granola of me, a strange evolution from one who's spent more than their fair share of time in metropolis, but maybe it's just a balance adjustment. Living in a big city can be quite exciting at certain times in your life, there's no place like New York City or even Chicago. But there's an awful lot that seems agreeable with we humans in nature. I suppose there was a time I wore blinders like a racehorse to help me focus on business. The day I drove out of NYC, sixteen years to the day I drove in, I became aware of the fence I built around myself. Even though I traveled the world, I didn't reconnect to the beauty of this land until I left it for good. A hike on the AT has all the carefree qualities as lying in a field and flying a kite. That's actually something I think I might do this season, some of those Balds would be ideal for a kite. After all these years, I¢m still a big sappy guy.
Date: 2006-02-17
To: Best "Job" you may ever have?
Miles today: 0.0

When we thru-hike, we give up a lot in hopes of gaining much more. Daily conveniences are traded for weekly grand vistas that stir our soul. Up to the minute, just breaking news coverage is traded for old-growth trees and forgotten valleys. Since life on the trail is so different from suburbia, many of us enter the woods with not just gear, but baggage. Who doesn¢t have baggage though? To counteract the baggage we erect the odd wall or fence around ourselves and then amazingly (here¢s the nutty part), we forget we have them! It¢s to be expected though, walls, barriers, fences, whatever you care to call them help us survive the non-trail world where complication is king. Walls are as much a part of us as freckles. Fortunately, the AT is quite good at eroding them. The trail knows that what all us city slickers need first is a period of deprogramming ¢ but of course we don¢t realize it. So we climb and crawl and the sweat pours from us for hours and days and weeks, and indeed those walls start to wash away. Everything that was odd and different begins to transition to the normal and routine. Emotionally, a new order emerges if we¢re lucky. Those who find this new order (in this hikers opinion,) have a greater chance to make it to Katahdin. One extremely helpful observation I made during my first thru-hike was to Think Small.I found no benefit in thinking about the enormity of the distance or the time involved with a thru-hike. It¢s just too vast, we don¢t have a lot of experience in dealing with anything that has a scope so very, very large. Or at least I didn¢t. Candidly, even though many of us go out to seek adventure, thinking about the bigness of the hike can be our silent foe. By changing your mindset to staying in the moment, you can keep yourself mentally stronger. Of course, everyone is different, but some principles are universal. Staying in the moment was one of the most crucial principles that allowed me to have so much fun.Here¢s how it works. Instead of thinking of five or six months in the woods, or 500 miles in one State, or even a sign named Katahdin, think of where you plan to go for that day. Focusing on the day (thinking small) will help you to ¢let go¢ of the enormity of the AT. Plenty of hikers before me have told us it¢s not the destination, but the journey. Staying in the moment (one day at a time) helps you to let go of loneliness, or a particular spell of rotten luck more easily. Everyone has low moments, but by focusing on the day you¢ll be less vulnerable to those silent foes. Staying in the moment will also have practical advantages as it helps you trip less ¢ which you¢ll do plenty anyway. So, if you¢re looking for that one essential thing to carry, that golden piece of gear, try carrying a think small mindset. You¢ll be amazed how the days will multiple into State lines, why anyone could ever get something called the Virginia Blues or how walking with a pack can be the most truly wonderful ¢job¢ you¢ll ever have.