morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-09
From: Wintturi Shelter

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: clear sky

Let's face it, the hiking is getting harder. But the payback is worth it. On this clear day, we were rewarded with views of rolling green hills for miles under a prestine blue sky. The trail crossed open meadows, giving us some relief from the green tunnel.At Thistle Hill you can see Killinton peak over the mountains. So far away. It is hard to believe I was there two days ago.It never rained during the night--a good thing because the two Long Trail Wannabees "cowboyed" in their sleeping bags. In other words, they slept under the stars.It felt more like summer again as temps went close to 70 in the woods. The trail is covered with hemlock and fine dirt. Very cushy for the feet. I went over a hill of red pine trees of approximately 80' in height. Their color mixed with the sunlight gave the forest a pink hue which my digital camera could not capture.After many tough ups and downs, I reached West Hartford and found Hotrock and Crash sitting under a tree chilling. It is a small town with the teenager thrill of jumping off the river bridge. Although warm enough for a swim, I skipped it (was I insane?) Instead I bought a grilled ham and cheese and coke at the local snackbar.I talked Crash into joining us at the Happy Hiker Shelter even though there were tenting options in town. Neighborly folks hanging out on their front porch would stop and chat with us. I liked this place but crossed under I-89 and the small town was behind me.Crash has a very well behaved dog named Cadbury. This is their second attempt on the trail together. He had to quit a few years ago because of snow storms in Maine. He's hiking a little earlier in the season this year.I share this fine shelter with the father/son team Rock and Little Rock and Hotrock. I'm surrounded by rocks. We all plan to hit Hanover tomorrow. I am the only one staying the night, though. I will finally get a chance to do my laundry after ten days. Eww.
Date: 2004-08-10
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: broken clouds

Towns make me a little tense. This town is probably the busiest place I have visited on the trail. Here I am trying to cross a street and I have to wait with the students for the signal. Screw it--I'm crossing.It is funny how you hope to get some R&R while in town but your mind buzzes with all the things you have to do when you arrive--make phone calls, visit post office, buy food, eat, enjoy. I could see that there was a movie theatre here but I had no time to see a film. I planned to stay for one night because the choice is tenting in the soccer field or staying at the Hanover Inn for over $260 a night. I actually made reservations for a motel two miles out of town where I could do laundry and wash up. Although I had to walk around town a mess, I could leave my belongings at the DOC.Most of the hike from the shelter was woods and downhills. I traveled with all three Rocks. When you reach Norwich, VT, you walk on a long stretch of pavement under I-91 and into Hanover to the first set of lights.Of course we all stopped at the bridge over the Connecticut River to get pictures of us crossing into New Hampshire. Wow, just two more states to go. Hard to fathom the distance.At the intersection near the Hanover Inn and the DOC, I said my goodbyes to Rock, Little Rock, and Hotrock. They all planned to leave as soon as they hit the market. I went to the DOC and checked my yahoo account. I really don't care about the internet anymore. Is this a positive thing?I wandered down Main St and bumped into Palmtree, Tree Frog, Boonie, and Willie Walace. They hadn't had lunch and they just so happened to bump into Baltimore Jack on the street. He loves this town. But of course, he has a house here. He gave us a recommendation for lunch.While there, I spoke of the lump I found on my back. What should I do? I figured I would ignore it until I was done with the trail. Palmtree suggested I get it checked. The waiter told us about a teaching hospital nearby, the DHMC.So after lunch, I took a bus there. Surprisingly, the visit took no longer than an hour and I found out the lump was benign, most likely a result of me carrying a pack on my back and I can wait till I'm done to get it removed if I so wish. Phew! One less thing to worry about. It was a beautiful hospital, by the way, with skylights and fountains. Looked like I was inside a mall.Still unshowered and in my dirty clothes, I headed back to Hanover to finally pick up my maildrops and check into my hotel out of town. Fortunately, Palmtree was waiting at the bus stop and could help with all my stuff. He watched my boxes while I picked up my backpack at the DOC, cause he's that kinda guy. He even missed a bus for my sake.The bus service is free in this town and there are many coffee shops. I love college communities.
Date: 2004-08-11
From: Hanover, NH

To: Moose Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

I got out of town around 2:30 pm after spending the morning at Lou's Bakery, a very busy breakfast nook. I had bumped into Goose, Bilbo, K-dog, and Rainy Jay at the post ofice. Then later at Ben & Jerry's bumped into the other quartet of guy hikers, Octane, Catepiller, Austin, and Austin. We all stopped at the Coop on the way out of town for resupply.Along the trail, it began to rain, then hail. A crackling thunderstorm surrounded us. Eventually we got to Moose Mountain, not a bad climb, and the rain stopped.When I reached the shelter, I met up with Boonie, Treefrog and Palmtree. Apparently there was a new shelter .3 north but this shoebox size edition had the water source.The four guys were all in a good mood after spending a night at Critter's family near Hanover. Critter offered moose meat to everyone. He also gave me a piece of t-shirt to filter out mud when syphoning water from a spring. Works better than a coffee filter. Thanks Critter.The bugs are back with the warm weather.
Date: 2004-08-12
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: light rain

Somewhere in CT you start thinking about Katahdin everyday. When I was in the south, I didn't want to think about the end of my trip. But now that I'm closer to finishing, I start wondering what it will be like to climb the last hill and see that sign.On a rainy day, it is a tantalizing fantasy to think about finishing. Today everything was soaked. Rocks and roots were slick and made the hike sluggish.At the Lambert Ledges, the rain stopped and I got some time to eat lunch. Nice stopping site. Looks like the view would have been great.As I was heading toward Smarts Mtn, I could see that the peak was well into the clouds. The weather got gradually worse as I went higher. The steepness was very tiring.Finally I reached the Firewarden's Cabin, an enclosed empty building at the summit now used as a shelter. Three Dartmouth guys were sitting on the porch having lunch. I wanted to take a nap but these guys were so cynically funny regarding the weather, their summer job, and opinions of thru-hikers, I couldn't stop laughing. One of them even remarked that this is probably the most fun I'll have today. He was right.They work doing trail maintenance and get "free" room and board. This really means that they share a small leaky tent not too far away and eat instant potatos for dinner. We were checking out the creative graffiti on the walls such as "Save the herb. End the prison state".The water source nearby was a mud puddle. I hiked four miles north to a brook with a bridge and restocked there instead. Still no sun but it wasn't raining so I sat for a bit--wondered if Octane was okay. He woke up with a 24 hour flu. He kept throwing up. Not a good state to be in the middle of the woods. He didn't even feel like drinking water.Before reaching Hexacuba Shelter, I climbed to the Eastman Ledges and could see the top of Smarts Mtn. It was finally clearing up.I arrived at the shelter to find Polar and Pilot. Hadn't seen them since before DWG, I think. Shortly Critter, Catepiller, and Austin showed up. They left Octane to take care of himself--maybe go back to Hanover.Neat shelter with six sides and very cavernous. During the night it poured heavily.
Date: 2004-08-13
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 15.7

Bad sleep last night, probably because of the mosquitos whining. It rained heavily all night and lightly, but steadily in the morning. Mt. Cube had some rock faces to scramble. The view was surprisingly better than yesterday despite the cloud cover. But that isn't saying much.Needless to say, I'm really getting tired of walking in wet boots and socks. But today I hope to reach Glencliff and the refuge of a hostel located across from the post office.From the outside, the hostel looks like a dump, but once I walked into the living room, I felt welcomed. I got the rundown of the place from one of the hikers hanging out watching one of the many DVD's. It is amazing how laundry, showers, and a roof make thru-hikers feel they are in heaven. Oh yeah, this place had free internet.Of course, weather reports say that the rain will stop at midnight and clear up. I was hoping to take the day off tomorrow. We shall see. Moosilauke is our first major climb in the Whites.Later, Okie, a hiker with a truck, offered to drive everyone down to the tiny town center of Warren for dinner at a place called Calamity Janes. There I saw Palmtree, Boonie, and Tree Frog. They were picked up about seven miles south by Palmtree's wife. They got sick of the rain as well.Laundry was extra so I asked Critter if he wanted to throw anything into the load. He threw in his shirt and said he and the boys would do another wash later. When I went to unload the wash, I noticed the load had tripled. Apparently the guys all decided to throw stuff in my wash after all. Thought it was amusing.
Date: 2004-08-15
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 0.0

It turned out to be a nice enough day even though the peaks were in the clouds. Very frustrating. Now Monday's forecast calls for rain. Geeze, get it right!Regardless, I needed the day off and I took it.I got to join Fat Chap and Ffej as we drove to Kinsman Notch to drop off Mouse. She had spent a few days at the hostel and was ready to head north. Then we stopped at the convenience store and got some subs for later. We also stopped at the Wildlife Hatchery in Warren where Ffej's girlfriend, Patty works. They have a pool of spring water trout where they harvest them for supplying fishing ponds in the area. Once again my appetite raged as I watched these healthy fish jump over each other for food. One can purchase some fish food at the dock. Pretty impressive small town fun.Back at the hostel we watched the Simpsons and various other movies. Southbounders showed up. Then a few Northbounders came in including Megabyte (I met him a little before Erwin, TN) and Joe Flamingo. Yoga Monkey showed up with intentions of continuing until she discovered that she spilled deet on her sleeping bag.We sat around the fire and drank Long Trail Ale until someone popped another movie into the DVD player. And that was about it for my zero day.
Date: 2004-08-16
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: light rain

In the middle of the night it began to rain -- hard. In the morning, it was still raining. This depressed me considerably. Weather forecast called for rain on Sunday and it turns out to be a great hiking day. Now I plan to leave the hostel and it is miserable outside. From now on, I am not listening to weather reports and changing my schedule.Everyone at the hostel said take a zero day again but I am eager to get moving. I figure if nothing else I'll take it slow and do low miles. I also decided not to leave until afternoon when there was a break in the storm.Meanwhile, Patty gave Little Tree and me a tour of Warren, the Wildlife museum, and her cabin in the woods. Everything is small town and suspended in time, maybe 1960, except for the museum where she works.Patty is working on her Masters at Plymouth State while working at the hatchery. Later, I got a ride from her again with Ffej to Kinsman Notch where they gave me a warm send off before I headed into the woods. Very friendly people and I certainly enjoyed my time with them.The trail was wet and muddy with the occasional rock scrambles. Wouldn't expect anything less from the Whites. This part is a section I have never hiked before even though I have covered many miles in these parts. For some reason, I was moving slowly. I suspect it is the intermittent rain and the slippery rocks.I met an Outward Bound group led by one guy who had incredible patience dealing with his crew. The participants were adolesent boys with blisters and sore backs carrying way too much equipment. They couldn't believe I was carrying only 30 pounds.I reached Eliza Brook, got water, and washed up before a light rain turned into a downpour. There weren't too many people at the campsite and shelter so I thought I'd have a quiet night. I talked with one of the Roman Noodles about the difficult hike. She was a bit discouraged. I also tried to converse with the southbounder sharing the shelter.When the rain was at its worst, Goose and K-dog appeared. K-dog was visibly frustrated with the amount of time it took him to hike to this shelter. He likes to do many miles a day and the Whites have dipped into his schedule a bit. Goose was annoyed but more laid back about it. The two of them also took a wrong turn down Moosilauke and had to climb it twice to get back on track.Although before sunset, it is very dark outside and the rain rattling the tin roof of this shelter is deafening. You can't hear yourself think.
Date: 2004-08-24
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Rattle River Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: clear sky

I bagged another 4K today. I had never been up Mt.Moriah. I have to say that it offered probably one ofthe best views of where we have been and where we willbe going in the next few days. Of course the hundred miles of visibility, as reportedon the radio this morning, helps. I had one of the best sleeps on this trip last nightin one of the Carter Notch Hut cabins. The winds werestrong but the room was dark and cool. When I finallydecided to get up (at 6:30), it was a balmy 43 degrees. I packed and headed down to the main cabin where Ihung my food. The radio broadcasted the weather fromMt Washington. Clear, clear, clear. Yeh! But wind gusts would be up to 50 and highs in the40's. I consider this ideal hiking weather. I had to summit, let's see, six mountains today--thelast being Moriah. Each of them offering a view of theAppalachians. And I could see Maine just a few milesaway. You could hear people around you on other peaks. Icould hear Critter's crew on Mt. Hight while I wastackling the Carters. When I stood on Middle Carter, Iheard Polar yell out "LD!" or so I thought. I figuredshe was standing at the next peak in the distance butcould not see her. So I said, "Is that you Polar?" Yes. "Where are you?",she asked. On Middle Carter, I answered. "We are right below you, come on down." When I reached Polar and Pilot they were taking abreak between the two Carters. Polar was not callingmy trailname but saying something completelydifferent. They planned to reach Gorham that eveningto stay with a friend. I was still on the fence aboutreaching Gorham because I had finished my errands in that town. But a day of rest is calling me. I later lost them when I took a long break at the ImpCampsite which had a great shelter and a wooden benchfacing a view north. I called my Mom. It was the onlyplace that had good signal. On the move again, I realized my knees were achingbadly and bending them beyond 90 degrees wasexcruciating. I came upon Wife and Beater (their names by no means fit their personalities) andwe all agreed to stay the night at the last shelterbefore town. But when we got here, the shelter was full with somegroup--not sure what denomination, and I ended uptenting 50 feet away. Not a bad sight with a roaring river as my ambient sound. The temps remained mostly in the low 40's untilafternoon when the wind stopped. I think the peak tempfor the day was 60. What happened to summer? But alas, the clearness was crisp. I will never forgetthose views.
Date: 2004-08-25
From: Rattle River Shelter

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

Woke up pondering the idea of taking a zero day butdecided it would be best to continue. I did stopin Gorham again to mail some maps home and have somebreakfast. Around noontime, I was back on the trail.My knees felt good, the morning fog had cleared off,and the temperatures were in the 70's. When I got back to the trailhead (3 miles out oftown), I spotted a hiker hitching. We talked a bitwhile he waited for someone to pick him up. His nameis Postcard. I've seen his registries and he has seenmine. It seems that many of us our clumped togetherdue to the storms. I hope to get away from that as Ihead north. Interesting that one of the most picturesque views ofMt Madison with Androscoggin River at its base isblocked by a water works building. The trail follows the Centennial Trail for three milesbefore converting to the Mahoosuc Notch Trail at Mt.Hayes. Before that point, it is a climb reminiscent of the packed dirt, scatter rockclimbs we encountered in Vermont. A hiker was fast approaching behind me. It was Crashand his dog Cadbury. He took a few days off and felthe was traveling slow as a result. We had lunchtogether at the top of Hayes where we could see the Presidenetials in a row and Moriah off to our left. Thetown of Gorham was below us. Crash told me that consistent twelve-mile days willhave him at Katahdin by the 15th of September. That'sall? Hard to believe. It was such a nice lunch that I lost track of time.For me, the miles are a struggle. For some reason Iwasn't even traveling at 2 mph. The sun sets earlieras well. And I had eight miles to go. So I took off. I reached Gentian 45 minutes before sunset. Theopening in the shelter faces South/West and providesus with a view of the mountains. The sky is clear tonight so we may see some stars. The moon isgibbous and a bit bright. I am sharing the shelter with three people and a dog.I guess I am away from the crowds for now. It is both disheartening and good to hear that Catdog,Hawk, and Quest are on the trail still but many milesbehind me. Saltlick was in Woodstock recently but has decided to take off untilAugust 30th. At this rate, I'll never see them again.I hope they realize that I think about them every dayand wonder what they think of the Whites.
Date: 2004-08-29
From: Andover, ME

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

Many hikers get sucked into Andover and the Cabin. Ihad already intended to take a zero day. But Zipoff,Ladybug, a guy named Aqua Man, and Greenleaf all endedup staying as well. When I woke up late this morning, everyone had leftfor their slackpacks. But Bear and Honey left food outfor us stragglers in their gorgeous kitchen. I spentthe morning chatting with Greenleaf and eating coffee,scones, omelets, and blueberry pancakes whilesitting by a sunny picture window. Later in the day, Wife and Beater showed up afterslacking over the Baldpates from Grafton Notch.Apparently Wife fell and stunned herself. Shook themboth up but they intended to hike tomorrow anyway. Dinners here are family style and include grace. Honeyspends the day cooking up a storm for us hungryhikers. Tonight¢s feast included barbecue chicken. Ihaven't had that in awhile. Delicious. There are some Canadians here who did the trail a fewyears ago and hope to provide some trail magic in the100 mile wilderness. They have offered me a ride to ME17 tomorrow where I can hike south 23 miles to East BHill Road and get picked up easily by Bear when I'mdone. Greenleaf has offered to join me tomorrow. Hewill probably leave me in the dust. This will be interesting. I haven't done a 20 miler inawhile and we have three mountains to climb as we headsouth on the trail. Yeesh. Little nervous. Otherwise a relaxing day at the Cabin where I got somejournals finished and organized my food.
Date: 2004-08-30
From: ME-17

To: East B Hill Road
Miles today: 23.4

The slackpack went surprisingly well despite thetropical storms, crazy climbs, drop-offs, mud puddles,slickness, and night hiking. It was good to have Greenleaf along. Not only did hekeep the pace moving but he also provided natureinsight using his botanist background. I learned whatvegetation, besides blueberries and raspberries, wereedible. Have you tried Rock Tripe yet? Greenleaf kept saying something about a particularplant tasting more sweet, but I found that everythingwas fairly bitter. I guess in a pinch, one can surviveon the wilderness food. He also informed me that wild impatients , atall vine plant with an orange blossom, help healpoison ivy rash. I found the familiar blueberry and raspberry in Mainea little tart. I guess the Virginias triumph in theflavor department. Old Blue Mountain was not a bad hike up. It had somesteep parts down but nothing crazy. We bumped intomany people heading north that day including Octane,who broke away from his regular crowd so he could havesome solitude, Catepiller, who said everyone is asleep at the last shelter, Hotrock, and Crash andCadbury. Then I saw Megabyte, Critter, and Smack. Iguess they had it rough over Mt Moody. They all lookedpretty beat. Mt. Moody has two sides; one you can deal with and theother side you don't want to mess with. We had to godown the messy side which included "shoots" andladders, bars, and steep crumbly rock. The rainstormwe encountered as we ascended added some slickness. Ittook us almost 2 hours to do 2 miles. At one point, wehad to climb under a large downed tree. I can't counthow many times I had to drop my poles at the bottom ofa cliff and scoot down on my butt. Although the thunderstorm drenched us, it is nice toknow there is a warm hostel at the end of our day. The last six miles were straight forward and flat.Then it got dark in the last hour and we had to useour headlamps. As we reached the road, we spottedGreenleaf's truck. The hostel crew drove it there forus. Cool. We were home in a half hour as it started topour again. We had been out on the trail for 12 hours straight.This will probably be my last 20+ miler for the trip.I'm satisfied with my progress. At the homey Cabin, we got a spaghetti dinner andpiles of garlic bread. And then after a shower to clean the thick mud off my legs, I watchedThe Usual Suspects with Tyson. He looks familiar and Itold him so. But I didn't realize until much laterthat I met him briefly in Glencliff at the hostelthere.