morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-08-14
From: Moose Mtn Shelter

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: clear sky

August 14 --It was a good quiet, peaceful night's sleep and an 8:06 start, and shortly I was on the North Peak of Moose Mtn with a view to the west overlooking the fogged Connecticut River below, the local peaks poking through. The day warmed quickly and the humidity hung in the windless woods as I crossed Holts Ledge and on to Dorchester Rd where the ice cream and water house was just off the trail. Windbreaker was having lunch on the porch, no one home, and I bought the last drink in the iced cooler, a diet pepsi, for the cooling effect, certainly not the taste. Back on the trail in the open field the heat could be felt reflected off the meadow plants like it was a sandy beach as I made my way toward Smarts' Mtn, where I met Jerry, a trail maintainer, trimming branches. He had homes in VA and NH and it was easy to see that he loved the outdoors. Ready to thru-hike 2 yrs ago, he was recalled back to active service for the surge in Iraq and will probly be out here next year. It was a nice conversation and a down to earth reminder to me that hiking through the discomforts that I mention is nothing, not even close compared to what others face in their daily lives which in turn gives me the perspective and strength to quietly, and thankfully continue. The Smarts' Mtn summit held the overdue reward of a steel fire tower with excellent views and a steady, cool breeze where I spent time drying off, a little too much time. I stopped again at the Eastman Ledges for a late day view of soft light watching a hot air balloon lauch on the distant western horizon, again a little too long, because by the time I had arrived at the Hexacuba Shelter, the sun had set and I set up the tent on a site squeezing between my familiar obstacles, roots and rocks, no matter, fatigue quickly overtook all senses.
Date: 2009-08-15
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Whitefield, NH
Miles today: 14.7

August 15 --It was a nice quiet sleep, and I loaded up water for the climb up Mt Cube on the beginning of a hot day. Near the top it was hands on rocks on to the exposed slabs to the summit which was a nice view of the Connecticut River valley still in its fog. I removed my shirt for drying and laid on the bare rock in the bright sun for 10 minutes before moving on through the heat of the day, crossing several roads. Upon reaching NH25 about 18:00, I decided to go on to Glencliff to call Soni to update, and reaching the Welcome Hiker Hostel along the way I used their phone and decided to ask her to pick me up rather than hike Mt Moosilauke early Sunday morning for out noon meet on NH112. It was great, she was there within an hour, meanwhile, I saw Grits was staying there, and on the way home I called Leif_e, still in Hanover, and Pellet, at Trapper John's Shelter, and made arrangements to meet him at Dorchester Rd in the morning. I arrived home, had some beers and prepared laundry.
Date: 2009-08-16
From: Whitefield, NH

To: Whitefield, NH
Miles today: 0.0

August 16 --I started laundry and left to pick up Pellet which was a further distance than I thought, arriving there about 10:00. We drove back I-91 to the house where he cleaned up, snoozed and we later had steaks and beer after a visit from Marty and Myna. We pulled 2 blowdowns off the driveway with the tractor and we pretty much relaxed all day.
Date: 2009-08-17
From: Whitefield, NH

To: Whitefield, NH
Miles today: 0.0

August 17 --Busy run around day. We had some business in Lancaster and Whitefield and were expecting a visit from Margaret and Michael later in the day, but they couldn't make it. So, we went to the Forest Lake for a swim, beautifully clear, seeing my purple toes in overhead water, and we ended up visiting M&M at Blueberry Farms instead, stopping in Littleton at Wal-Mart and Chutter's on the way home before eating spagetti, etc and preparing for the next day departure.
Date: 2009-08-18
From: Whitefield, NH

To: Near Kinsmans Notch
Miles today: 9.5

August 18 --Welcome to the White Mountains! The climb up Mt Moosilauke, 4802', was a tough one in the heat, humidity and huge, steep rocks, but the first above the tree line, was, of course, spectacular. The downside was very steep and slow, but along Beaver Brook, which began as a nice spring near the Beaver Brook Shelter, the cascade created a nice cool breeze most of the way down. It would have been a challenge to do this Sunday by noon as planned. I found a nice tent spot about 1/4m in from NH112, beech leaves, level, no roots, no bugs, near a quiet stream.
Date: 2009-08-19
From: Near Kinsmans Notch

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 13.4

August 19 --Last night was a good sleep, I could see stars twinkle through the short trees. Today's climb up Mt Wolf, 3478', and Kinsman Mtn, 4358', was again slow in the heat, etc and I arrived at the Lonesome Lake Hut at ~19:00, hours later than the recommended 16:00 by SoBos. I asked hut master Johanus if work for stay was available and he said, "That's a great mustache, with that mustache we'll find something!" I met Nature, who I hadn't seen since VA, Bronco was with her, and SoBo Dr John, we ate left over dinner, ham, mashed potatoes, peas and tomato barly soup, and they even gave us a bunk! The stars were spectacular in the cleared space between buildings.
Date: 2009-08-20
From: Lonesome Lake Hut

To: Garfield Ridge Campsite
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: overcast clouds

August 20 --I had to sweep the uncoccupied rooms in the morning after a breakfast of pancakes and oatmeal, all very nice. On my way out, I missed the trail and blue-blazed around Lonesome Pond 0.3m before realizing it. Returning, I found my way down to Franconia Notch and crossing under I-93 I ran into Hobbit, Yukon, Knickers and Jumar just starting out. We started the climb up to the ridge of Liberty Mtn, Haystack, Lincoln and Lafayette. Above the tree line again the wind was soothing as the clouds began to amass in late afternoon. Back down into the woods to pop out briefly at Garfield where the sunset gave way to misty fog, blowing hard across the ridge. I found my way down the very steep trail to Garfield Ridge Campsite where Matt, the caretaker, handed me 2PBRs, standard for each thru-hiker. It was late, nearly dark, so I gave in to sleeping in the shelter with Nature, Bronco, a Sobo and Zipper, who I hadn't seen since Duncannon. I cooked a late dinner in the dark and slept right after.
Date: 2009-08-21
From: Garfield Ridge Campsite

To: Ethan Pond Campsite
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: fog

August 21 --I awoke watching the mountain mist roll into the shelter in waves and was the last to leave so I cooked oatmeal and coffee right in the shelter before descending the steep, very steep rocky trail in the damp with Grits. I was soon passed by Matt and found my way to the Galehead Hut where I had coffee and corn bread. Grits arrived and I shared my map with him, but he said he had lost his glasses and couldn't see anything. I offered him the reading glasses that I had found months ago and never used, and he was saved! Knickers showed up as I was leaving, she had camped along the trail before Garfield last night, she was fine. Ihe trail after Twin Mtn, 4902', and Mt Guyot, 4560', was downhill to Zealand Falls Hut and the thunder turned to thunder storm about a mile from Zealand after walking all day in mountain mist. It became steady about 1m from the hut and I slipped twice, the first jamming fingers on my right hand after I pushed my pole away which was aimed for my solar plexis, the second fall I slipped into the Zealand Stream flat on my back pack, losing my pole in the stream, scrambling to retrieve it. After arriving at the hut, the rain poured hard, and we secured work for stay with the hutmaster Hillary. The excitement a short time later was the family with 2 small boys "stuck" on the other side of the now swollen, fast moving stream, a rescue team formed including Knickers and Bronco, their work for work for stay. The rained stopped, the sky cleared a little and we were asked to sit on the porch as the guests were served dinner. I was beginning to chill and decided to walk the "easy", described by SoBos Half Full and Chomp, 4.8m of railroad bed trail to Ethan Pond Campsite. I was soon joined by Knickers and we made our way there quickly as the rain started up again, sloshing through wet trail, flooded, arriving at dusk and quietly settling into the occupied shelter. Knickers, slightly ahead, out of my sight, had kicked up 2 moose in the wet woods, pretty exciting. I prepared my #5, but I didn't eat much beyond that, using my filtered water to cook.
Date: 2009-08-23
From: Crawford Notch Campground

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: fog

August 23 --I awoke in time to coin shower, pack and get to the General Store before 7:30 where Bronco, Grits, Nature and Yak were waiting for the doors. We piled through for coffee and, while Yak stood by the register, buying breakfast for each one of us, a generous parting act! Bronco then took 2 trips of us up to the trailhead on US302, Crawford Notch, for the climb to Webster Cliffs. I was in the 2nd trip, Grits in the first, had started without Nature, Wingo and me. We said farewell to Bronco, who was headed for Katahdin for a sunny summit, which he had missed last year on his thru-hike. Wingo and Nature left me, as the climb was a steep one, but well worth the effort, the Cliffs overlooking Wiley Store and the notch. The clouds moved in as I crossed Mt Webster and near Mt Jackson I took a pretty good slide on a slick, flat rock face, then after the summit I fell again when I jumped across a 3' gap onto a large flat rock. I had slipped pushing off, flew through the air arms extended and landed on my left, rolling off the rock onto the fragile alpine shrubs, flat on my back like a turtle, and, like a turtle, I couldn't get up. After I realized that I was 0k, I began to laugh which totally immobilized me for a minute, after which I did get up to see that had indeed left a trace. When I arrived at Mitzpah Hut I found Nature and Wingo, and I was offered pumpkin soup, very tasty, before we left for Lakes of the Clouds Hut. The weather had worsened as they went ahead, but as I approached Mt Monroe, I saw Grits ahead through a break in the foggy blow and I caught up to him just within sight of the hut. We dropped our packs on the benches out front and "registered" as work-for-stay, agreeing to morning work too, and joined the rest at the thru-hiker table just inside the wide opened door, in the chilly air, eating cool soup. Tagline had rented a bunk and after dinner told us that he not only had 2nds, but 3rds, it didn't matter, there was plenty for our hungry bunch. The free food is great, but each day the pack weighs the same. Grits, Wingo and I washed some dishes while the others moved stored goods and Nature took an interview as a thru-hiker for one of the Croo doctoral thiesis, somekind of marketing scheme. It was lights out at 21:30, we swept out aisles between tables near the end of the dining room, my stay here last year taught me the thoroughfare was between bunkrooms and bathrooms at the other end. Oh, the other Grits, aka Alabama Grits, had arrived, he Wingo and I had the best aisles. Before lights out the weather had cleared briefly just after sundown and the valley was visible, later the Mt Washington Hotel could be seen lit and overhead brief patches of starlight. We had been promised clearing skies and we were excited this could be it. I advised a few about the short climb up Mt Monroe at predawn could provide some spectacular photos, I wasn't sure if I would go myself.
Date: 2009-08-25
From: Madison Spring Hut

To: Wildcat Mtn, Peak D Tower
Miles today: 10.8

August 25 --I was nervous that one or both my table sleeping neighbors would bomb me during the night, but no. Overall it was a quiet night with the restrooms in the bunkrooms behind closed doors. No work in the morning and the start was sunny, cool and windy which increased with elevation up Mt Madison to where the pack was a sail and the poles were blown like tree branches making for a slow pace, allowing more time to take in the spectacular views in all directions. At the summit I started down the wrong trail, following smaller cairns and not so worn rocks tipped me off, and I blew about 10 minutes before taking the steep Osgood Trail down, the very large abrasive rocks exposed to the sky. The trail crossed the Auto Road at one of the brake cooling lots where I found Juice, Mommallama, Nature and Grits taking a boot off break, I joined them for a packoff G-bar break and we walked together to the Joe Dodge Lodge for lunch where I bought some non-pack shrinking lunch food. Work-for-stay and snack bars are nice, but do nothing to reduce pack weight. Knickers, et al, arrived soon after for lunch and, after I made a phone call, I joined them for the famously steep climb up Wildcat E, fun actually, and after we stopped for water at a small spring on the way up, where I packed an extra gallon for cooking, I caught up to them, Juice, Nature, Mommallama at the Wildcat D ski lift, where they'd pitched tents, beautiful site looking at the Presidentials across NH16, nearly invisible below. We were told by SoBos at Madison Hut that the skier's warming shelter could be entered via side window, which was true, but the oily smell and the lovely weather kept me out of there and we all tented, them on the grassy hillsides, me on the gondola deck in a wind blowing noisily into the night.
Date: 2009-08-27
From: Whitefield, NH

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

August 27 --Marty was there on time and a 40 minute ride later dropped me at the Gorham McD's for an unfamiliar breakfast which featured free coffee refills that kept me lingering. I walked down US2 in the chilly air to the Post Office where I repacked my supplies after a friendly chat with the clerk. Walking out of town I passed Exchange St, which led to the library a block and a quarter hour opening away, so I took it. It was $1/half hour deal for internet, support the local economy, and retieving my pack from the front porch, I saw a water spot, and investigating, I found a leaky hose from the bladder, now 1/2 empty. Back on US2 was an outfitter where I made the necessary purchase of an equivalent 2 liter platypus and a new collapsable 3.5 liter jug to replace my leaker, and shortly after my thumb went out. Within 3 minutes a nice woman, a local, with a small car and 2 kids stopped, stuffed my pack in the back and gave me shotgun to the trailhead, about 4m away. The AT followed US2 for about 1/4m back toward Gorham, which I had walked the last night. Ten steps on the road a guy in a pickup stopped and offered me a ride, he thought I was headed all the way to Gorham, my Jersey-self wanted to ask, "Where were ya last night?", but my trail-self stopped to have a nice, 2 minute chat with him. The trail/road turned right and crossed the Androscoggin River at the power station dam, which formed a lake that had railroad bed across the middle. The climb past Dream Lake to Gentian Pond Campsite was a nice one and the day, ending less than 5m from ME, was a satisfying one.
Date: 2009-08-28
From: Gentian Pond Campsite

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

August 28 --It was an exciting start, recognizing that this was my last sleep in NH with the ME border ~5m away, and after a ~1200' climb up Mt Success , appropriately named, I came upon 2 wooden signs. The first was an "official" trail sign declaring the stateline, Springer and Katahdin distances, etc, and the second was more personal, a homemade, hand painted, white lettering on azure blue that said, "WELCOME to MAINE The Way Life Should Be". Great, I guess that meant no cares, no worries and my foot will stop hurting. Coming out of the Whites off of Carter Mtn I had pushed to get to Gorham and noticed then that my left foot was in elevated pain, behind the toes, and stepping on anything on the ball of the foot caused a nasty sting throughout, and the swelling had not left. Thinking back a few days earlier, I had stepped on a wet, green slimy large rock, slipped off as I applied weight and ended hopping on my right foot, all of which may have been the start of it. Anyway, for the final 280m I will see how life should be and then decide if I like life. Late in the day I climbed Goose Eye Mtn, 3790', beautiful, facing Mt Washington, etc, and overlooking Gorham and Berlin, NH. Two locals, maybe sisters, maybe 40s, had climbed a back trail and we talked of local stuff. Its very different to say Whitefield, here people not only know where it is, but then ask, "Where in Whitefield do you live?" They also said rain, a tropical storm, was moving in fast. When I moved on to the Full Goose Shelter, this was confirmed by Rock Lobster and Walkabout, who I used to call the German girl and the Czech guy, so I decided to stop for the day and tent on a nice platform for the night. Sunday and John showed up in the shelter and alerted us of the Mahoosic Notch, which I later read in the Companinon as "...the most difficult mile on the trail". I settled in after BSing with Alabama Grits and after viewing photos that Walkabout had taken of a moose skeleton which somehow the rest of us had walked past, unseen.
Date: 2009-08-30
From: Speck Pond Shelter and Campsite

To: Whitefield, NH
Miles today: 4.6

August 30 --At first light it was difficult to tell if the water dropping on the tent was light rain or the after effects from the overhead trees since the strong winds had now passed. It was soon evident that the storm was over, leaving us soaked and cold, 45 degrees. I made coffee with drinking water and paid a visit to the caretaker to settle up, and thanked her for attention and concern. She seemed surprised to see me, maybe its common for thru-hikers to skip out, but she wished me well as I left to climb up and over Old Speck, down ~2500' to Grafton Notch and ME26. Arriving at the AT parking lot I found Alabama Grits, Whiz-P, and a couple other guys who had found trail magic there the day before and camped there, still hanging out, one of them gave me a beer. I told them I was getting off the trail for a day or two and headed south on ME26, catching a ride with the first pickup the 16m to Newry Corners and the Bear River Trading Post where the owner allowed me to use his phone to call Soni in Whitefield. I told her that I couldn't remember my last zer0 day and wanted to rest my banged up leg. "Oh good," she excitedly replied, "now you can help the kids move!", a move that involved a 20' Budget truck, 2 kids, stuff from 3 places, Boston, Whitefield and NJ, into an appartment in Jersey City, over 3 days, not at all what I had in mind, but I'll play along. I was back in Whitefield to cleanup, eat and sleep, never a more welcomed sight, that is until we got down to the end of the driveway and saw that Emily had arrived from Boston with the moving truck, backed up to the front steps. With the help of Marty and Myna we loaded Sarah's stuff before enjoying a nice dinner.
Date: 2009-09-01
From: Hopatcong, NJ

To: Hopatcong, NJ
Miles today: 0.0

September 1 --Moving day. The kids had loaded the rest of Sarah's stuff in the big truck and the rest, fragiles, cats, etc, were being loaded into the 2 cars. They couldn't get in until 14:00 so we made it there by 15:00 for a 5 hour unload up a small elevator to the 3rd floor. We took the long way home, arriving well after dark with a large cheese pie. Great therapy for a very sore leg.
Date: 2009-09-04
From: Upton, ME

To: Frye Notch Lean-To
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: clear sky

September 4 --I was asleep within 20 minutes awoken several times by the log trucks disguised as freight trains roaring by not more than 20' away heading south down NH26. Waking at around 4:30, I decided it was time to hit the road, even though there was no hint of daylight, and after a quick Clif bar, vitamin, advil and water breakfast, I packed and was road walking, thumb ready. The first hour, traffic wasn't scarce, it didn't exist, but I did see my first moose, trotting away from me down a dirt side road, it looked like a fat horse, no antlers. As the sun rose to a crisp, clear beautiful morning cars were passing me, most out of staters, no takers. All along the roadside was plenty of evidence of moose, tracks, poop, piss spots and trails into the woods, and there, in the bright sun, a big black bull appeared at road's edge, my side, it was perfect, it looked fake, I got a good photo of him. That was the highlight, from then I realized that I would be walking to Grafton Notch. I really hate road walking, the act of it is torturous and it is off the books, there is no credit for the effort, and over this trip from Rangeley, I was reluctant to eat since my food was for hiking miles. Hitching on these remote NH/ME roads leaves me with a helpless feeling, there is little chance of a ride if there are very few cars, nothing to do but keep walking, 8 miles to the trail head, where I was, taking a break, when Leif_e appeared, then another guy, I whined for a while then headed, finally, up the trail, never so happy to be back. It was a short ~2m to Baldpate Lean-To, ME uses lean-to in place of shelter, where I once again found Leif_e just leaving. As typical, I was not motivated rejoining the trail, and I took a long break by myself at the shelter. I found a partial book, the last few chapters of The Hobbit, beginning with "Inside Information" where Bilbo speaks with Smaug. I enjoyed reading and almost took it with me, but didn't want the distraction so I left it for a real reader, and I decided I would climb Baldpate Mtn and stay at the Frye Notch Lean-to. From the Baldpate peaks, ~3800', the beauty of ME could be seen in all directions, with lakes and ponds everywhere. At the lean-to a large group of ~10 college age kids had taken the lean-to and I tented on a slanted, root and rock hillside, joined later by McBride, it had been a while since we'd seen each other. Leif_e had gone to Andover we were now ahead of him.
Date: 2009-09-05
From: Frye Notch Lean-To

To: Hall Mountain Lean-To
Miles today: 10.5

September 5 --It was a good night's sleep, McBride was gone and the kids were just stirring when I emerged to pack the tent. Labor Day weekend, another holiday on the trail and probly the decline of weekender locals. Within an hour of starting out, my pack straps felt lopsided and I found that the stitching on the hip belt had pulled out, again! Cheap China sh*t cotton thread, I stitched everything with my remaining lacing cord, I had forgotten to resupply, and moved on toward my destination, Hall Mountain Lean-To. It was an easy day of up/downs in woods that noticably lacked bugs and birds. The annoying bugs had been absent prior to the Whites, but now even flies and spiders were gone, and small birds were unseen, only occasional raven calls could be heard by day and loons nearly every night.
Date: 2009-09-06
From: Hall Mountain Lean-To

To: Near Bemis Stream
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: clear sky

September 6 --A cool, crisp, bright sunny morning, 41.1 degrees, as I watched the sun play maple leaf puppets on the tent wall. The day's walk was great with the up/downs of the Bemis Range offering good distant views under clear skies. I decided to press past the Bemis Mtn Lean-to down to the Bemis stream hoping to find a previous off trail spot, which meant walking down ~1000' in the dark. It was worth it. The sunset on Bemis Mtn was golden orange behind the sparce silouetted pines, and I knew that the moon, full 2 nights earlier, would be rising unobstructed, which I saw just prior to descent. The walk down was managable, not too steep, and I was relieved when reaching Bemis Stream that it was crossable without fording. My tent site was just on the other side, right where I imagined, soft and level.