morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-19
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Cloudland Farm (Horse Barn)
Miles today: 19.2

RAINY...pretty much a repeat of yesterday. I got a couple dry hours in during the early morning, but was sloshing in my boots by 10:00 AM. I stopped at the Cloudland Farm to get a soda and some ice cream and asked about the possibility of staying in the barn for the night. They said sure, and showed me around the place. I was able to hand wash two pairs of soaked socks and throw them in a dryer there...that was MUCH appreciated. The barn has a restroom and I got a horse stall all to myself. Luckily the stall hadn't been used in a long time...actually I think it was cleaner than some of the shelters I've stayed in recently. Bill and Cathy Emmons, the owners, were super nice. Cathy brought me a hot bowl of home-made chicken noodle soup that evening. I was going to go to the next shelter (only a couple more miles), but I'm really glad I decided to spend the night here. As it turns out, there were quite a few people at that shelter anyhow. Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-07-20
From: Cloudland Farm (Horse Barn)

To: Velvet Rocks Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: broken clouds

I slept well in my horse stall last night. I had the whole barn to myself, except for a dog, three horses and a herd of chickens. I'm sure there was probably a mouse or two, but I didn't get bothered by any. I got going at about 7:15. It started out looking like no rain for the day, but it proved me wrong three times throughout the day. At least they weren't all day soakers like the previous two days. I stopped at a new general store on VT 14 near West Hartford, VT for breakfast. It was an awesome stop...great food and coffee and lots of great people (hikers and not). I stayed there for a couple of hours before heading on up the trail. There wasn't a lot to see...may have been a couple of good views had it not been so overcast. By afternoon I was crossing in to NH...state # 13 of 14 on the trail. I picked up some mail at the Hanover PO and spent several hours in town running errands (outfitter, grocery, bank and several restaurants). I hiked on out of town to the Velvet Rocks Shelter (about 1.5 miles) late in the afternoon. It was a great day, even with the pesky rain during the morning hours. The afternoon was mostly sunny and dry. Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-07-21
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter

To: Firewarden's Cabin
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: broken clouds

Wow...what a day!!! I think I almost overdid it today. Not good planning to end a 22 mile day by going up the mountain to the Firewarden's Cabin. There was a lot of terrain change today, with the steep climbs that use a different set of hiking muscles. I was bushed by the end. But...when I got up there I met a guy that gave me a fresh apple and a very large, sweet grapefruit. The sure tasted good after such a tough day. He also took a picture of me and is going to email it to Kim when he can. There is also a firetower near the shelter...I went up there and had unobstructed 360 degree views of the surrounding countryside. It was beautiful. Lots of rewards for a strenuous day of hiking. My milestone today was passing the 80% mark in the trail. Finishing is starting to seem more real every day...although I'm not taking anything for granted. I've seen too many peoples' trips cut short by one misstep. The closer I get the more "being careful" is on my mind each day. Good timing too...I'm going to be going through some of the toughest terrain very soon. I've been meeting a lot of Southbounders (SOBOs) lately. Probably over a dozen in the last week. I have been learning a lot from them about the hut system in the Whites. I've actually changed my plans on what to carry through the Whites based on conversations with them. I should be able to go somewhat lighter than anticipated. And that's a GOOD thing. Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-07-22
From: Firewarden's Cabin

To: Hikers Welcome Hostel (Glencliff, NH)
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

Wow...I was feeling the effects of yesterday when I got up this morning. I was still just feeling beat. I slept in a while and didn't hit the trail until after 8...almost unheard of for me when leaving from a shelter. I just couldn't get moving and I knew I had a 20 mile day planned. But...I finally got going. I started feeling the effects of yesterday pretty soon on the trail too...the climbs were pretty tough and winded me more quickly than normal. By the time I got to Ore Hill Shelter I had almost convinced myself to stop for the night and go to Glencliff the next day. But once there, I rested, ate, drank and decided to go the last 7 miles into Glencliff today. The plethora of mosquitoes also helped me decide. I'm glad I did too...the last 7 miles was pretty easy compared to the previous 35. In retrospect though, I wouldn't recommend doing Hanover to Glencliff in two days. Three days would have been about right...but, now I don't feel bad about zeroing here before heading up into the Whites. I can get my journal all up to date, get all my laundry done, eat up and get well rested. I also need to spend some time going through all my gear (what I've been carrying and what I just picked up at the PO) and deciding what goes with me and what gets mailed back home (or ahead). I got to the hostel before 5. Boy that shower sure felt good. I took a shuttle up to the grocery and got some stuff for a couple-day stay. I grilled some burgers for supper and have some more for tomorrow. Big milestone today...I have less than 400 miles to go. The locals tell me the average time from here to The big K is about a month. I've got quite a bit more time than that allotted, so I'm going to slow down quite a bit and really try to savor the last 398.5 miles. I'll be meeting Kim in Gorham, NH and taking some time off there. Then I'll be meeting my oldest daughter, Stacy, in Monson, Maine around 25 Aug so we can hike the last of the trail together. Life is good...Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-07-24
From: Hikers Welcome Hostel (Glencliff, NH)

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a great day today. Took my time getting started this morning since I was only going to go 8 miles today. I think I finally hit the trail at about 11:30 AM. I climbed about 3,700 feet today, but it wasn't a difficult climb...the trails were great. The views from Mt Moosilauke were great...it had been a while since I was that high above the surrounding landscape. I visited with some folks on top for a while, and when I told them farewell I followed the trail markers right beside me. Well, I was half way down the mountain when I met a young college-aged lady and she asked me if I was an AT Thru-Hiker. I said, well yes I am! She said, well you're not on the AT. Turns out there were several trails leaving the top of Mt Moosilauke and I didn't realize it. So...back up the mountain I went. Glad it was a liesurely day for me. I still got to my destination with lots of time to spare. All in all...another great day on (and off) the AT.
Date: 2007-07-25
From: Beaver Brook Shelter

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 15.0

I got a pretty early start from Beaver Brook Shelter. It was a very steep descent down Mt Moosilauke, but there were quite a few great brook and waterfall views along the way. I'm definitely seeing a significant change in the terrain as I get deeper into the White Mountain Range. I've also noticed using different muscles, and more wear on my knees, during ascents and descents. Climbing South Kinsman Mtn today was definitely tougher than climbing Mt Moosilauke yesterday. I am having perfect weather, and am rewarded frequently with some awesome views. I got to Lonesome Lake hut at about 3:30 and asked about work-for-stay. They welcomed me warmly. I got lots of great food to eat and a place to sleep in return for doing dishes for about an hour. They let a limited number of thru-hikers do this each day to help them manage their work load at the huts. Fortunately, I'm here at a time when there aren't many thru-hikers, so I might get to do this several times while I'm in the White Mountains. I took a swim in the lake after doing dishes and felt quite refreshed by it. Can you believe that sunset? Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-07-26
From: Lonesome Lake Hut

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: few clouds

I got up at about 5:30 this morning and got my stuff packed up early. I had several cups of coffee and some biscotti before hitting the trail just before 7. During my hike today I passed the 1,800 mile point of my trip. Wow...that seems like a lot of miles to me now. The climb up Little Haystack Mtn seemed neverending...about 3,400 feet in under 5 miles. But...the reward was well worth the effort. It was gorgeous above treeline. I talked to lots of people as I crossed the ridges today. It was a very busy area with lots of trails leading to the spectacular views up there. I was even the recipient of some "blueberry" trail magic up there...see the caption to this photo in the "photos" section for the full story. Once again, I couldn't have asked for better weather...the locals were all telling me how blessed I was to be getting this stretch of great weather. I got to Galehead Hut at about 4 and secured a work-for-stay position. They were actually really hoping for a lot of thru-hikers because several of the hut workers were out on a mountain rescue and they needed additional help at the hut. Someone working on the trail broke an ankle and had to be airlifted out of the mountains. I had been seeing a rescue helicopter working in the area today, and finally got the whole story as to what was going on. Once again, I got GREAT food and a place to sleep in return for about an hour's worth of work. Tonight I cleaned their cook stove and replaced all the aluminum foil in the drip pans. I'm really enjoying my time at the huts too because the paying guests are all so interested in learning more about the thru-hike experience. I've met some great people at both huts and am looking forward to the rest of my time in the Whites.
Date: 2007-07-27
From: Galehead Hut

To: Zealand Falls Hut
Miles today: 7.0

The croo at Galehead hut turned out not to be quite as nice as the croos of the previous huts. Some of them just seemed to have a "holier than thou" attitude about thru-hikers. It has been a learning experience for me to grow a beard, let my hair get long and somewhat unkempt, and have dirty clothes I have no way to get nice and clean all the time. I think everyone should do it at some point in their life, because it is quite obvious that you are treated much differently by people because of your appearance. You're the same person, but you are treated quite differently by many people you meet. Quite educational...I'll certainly be more aware of how I think about (and treat) people who "aren't like me". Luckily the guests were all very nice. I left Galehead at about 9...I only planned on going 7 miles today, so I had lots of liesurely time today. The climb from Galehead up South Twin Mtn is described as "a relentless 1.1 mile climb". Turns out it was a pretty good description. About half way up I came upon a little girl (and her group counselor) that had left with her group a couple of hours earlier. She was really struggling to get up the mountain. I have gotten so fit over the last 5 months of intense hiking that I was having no trouble at all, so I convinced them to give me her pack and took it to the top for her. It was so cute how thankful she was that I did that for her. Her group leader invited me to visit their center (the Horton Center) when I go through Gorham, NH. Since I'm taking some time off with my wife (Kim) in Gorham, I plan to take them up on the offer. I had a great day, meeting and talking with folks on the trail and spending lots of time at the best views. I finally got to the Zealand Falls Hut at about 3:30 and was very warmly welcomed again. They fed me very well in return for doing some more dishes. Once again I had plenty of time to visit with guests and talk with them about hiking the AT. I had another wonderful day on the AT.
Date: 2007-07-28
From: Zealand Falls Hut

To: Mizpah Spring Hut
Miles today: 14.1

Another wonderful day in the Whites. I was up early again. Coffee was ready pretty soon too, but as my great grandmother (Mammy) would have said, "it wasn't much more than scared water". In other words, it was pretty weak. But...beggars can't be choosers. The croo told me to help myself to breads before I took off since I wasn't staying for breakfast. They even got some jam out for me. They were a vrey nice group of young people. I took off at about 6:45 since I knew I had a bigger day ahead of me today. Much of the first half was downhill and/or flat, with no really steep stuff. I stopped off at a snack bar in Crawford Notch today. I spent a couple of hours there and got my belly full again. The hike out of the notch was pretty steep, and it started raining gently on the way up, so the rocky areas were a little more dangerous. I just took my time and kept safety foremost in my mind. When I got to Zealand Falls Hut and asked about doing work-for-stay, they asked me if I'd mind doing a talk on hiking the AT for the guests. I said, now that's a task made for me! Once again they fed me well. The talk was attended by about 40 people and there were a lot of great questions. It seemed to be very well received even though I had no maps or photos to use during the talk. I had fun doing it and was glad to get a chance to do a "dry-run" before I get home and do some talks in the area. I'm having a wonderful time out here...Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-07-29
From: Mizpah Spring Hut

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: broken clouds

Wow...another amazing day in the Whites! I had so much fun today. I'm a little embarrassed to only log 4.8 miles on the AT today, but my plan was to enjoy the White Mountains while I was here. Mission accomplished. I took a side-hike after breakfast this morning down to the Highland Center. I looked around there for a while, had a couple of ice cream sandwiches, and headed back up the mountain to Mizpah Hut. I stopped at a waterfall on the way back up and got some pictures and stopped several times to talk to other hikers. I visited with folks at Mizpah before heading on up the AT toward Lakes of the Clouds Hut. I got to Lakes at about 3 and secured another speaking engagement as my work-for-stay chore. The summit of Mt Washington was clear, and only about a mile away, so I headed to the top for some pictures. While there I checked for AT maps in the gift shops. They had the long wall maps, so I picked up two to use during my talk that evening. I also got some great pics from the summit. I stayed about an hour, then headed back down to work on my presentation. There were 50 - 60 people in attendance this time, and the maps were very useful. The crowd was very interested and participated freely. I had a great time again and the crowd seemed truly appreciative of the talk.
Date: 2007-07-30
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

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

I got up early and headed for the summit of Mt Washington. I was up there before 7 and it was clear as a bell. I got several photos then watched the clouds start rolling in. By 8 it was pretty well socked in. When the snack bar opened I got an egg salad sandwich, a bowl of macaroni salad, a cookie sandwich with cream filling and a cup of coffee. Then I headed back outside to get more photos as opportunities arose. I hung around on the top of the mountain until about 1. I left after eating an awesome bowl of clam chowder. The summit was a fun place to spend some time. I had a very liesurely hike to Madison Spring Hut. I got work-for-stay again, but will do chores in the morning. As you can see, I watched another great sunset. While I didn't give a presentation tonight, I still wound up doing an informal talk with quite a few people about the AT.
Date: 2007-07-31
From: Madison Spring Hut

To: Joe Dodge Lodge, Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: fog

After the guests left I had breakfast, then did my chores. Three of us shook out and folded all the blankets for the bunks. It took a little over an hour, so I wasn't on the trail until about 9:30. The trip from the hut, over Mt Madison and down to treeline was spectacular. I don't think the weather could have been any better for my time above treeline in the White Mountains. Once I got below treeline, the trail got much less rocky. I had a very nice hike and got to the Pinkham Notch Visitor's Center at a little after 3 and got some lunch. Then I checked in at Joe Dodge Lodge...luckily I got a room to myself. It was actually a very nice place to stay. I got my first shower in 9 days...that really felt good! The price of the room included a family-style dinner and an AYCE breakfast bar. I really enjoyed my stay...
Date: 2007-08-01
From: Joe Dodge Lodge, Pinkham Notch

To: Imp Campsite
Miles today: 13.1

I slept very well (in a bed) last night and the AYCE breakfast was great. I ate a lot. There was a lot of climbing today, but the rewards made it all worthwhile. I stopped at Carter Notch Hut for soup and bread. I met some folks there from Dayton, OH. Small world! It was another beautiful hiking day. I got to the Imp Shelter at about 3:30 and a man with four children showed up soon after. They were very nice and we had a good evening together. Luckily they settled in early and I got another good night's sleep. I'm looking forward to getting in to Gorham tomorrow and meeting up with Kim and Juva.
Date: 2007-08-02
From: Imp Campsite

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I had a pretty good climb up Mt Moriah this morning, but it was "all down hill" from there. I was in Gorham by 10...got a hitch pretty quickly from a local man. He took me to a fast food restaurant...look up the caption to this picture in the "photos" section to get the story on the photo. Kim and Juva got to town at about 2 and we went looking for a hotel. We wound up at Town & Country in Gorham and are pretty happy with it.
Date: 2007-08-03
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Zero day. Did some sight-seeing with Kim and Juva. Visited the summit of Mt Washington by car. Ran in to Diesel and Walking Cowboy up there. Visited Joe Dodge Lodge, then saw several waterfalls and covered bridges in the area and finally went out for supper. It was a full day of fun.
Date: 2007-08-04
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

We went to breakfast together then stopped by the post office to pick up my package. I went back to the room to work on this journal for a good part of the day. Kim and Juva did some laundry then went out exploring while I was journaling. We got back together mid-afternoon and hung out at the hotel for a while. We had supper at Mr Pizza (great food) then headed out on a "Moose Tour" we had bought tickets for. It wasn't super-successful, but we did get to see one pretty good-sized bull moose before it was over with. We got back to the room at about 10:30, relaxed in the room for a while, and are about to hit the sack. Another full, fun day behind us.
Date: 2007-08-07
From: Gorham, NH

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

Kim, Juva and I went to breakfast at Mr Pizza again for breakfast, then stopped by the post office to mail a package, before heading back to the room to finish packing. Now that I have all my gear back my pack weighed 44.5 pounds again (with 3 quarts of water and food for 5 days). A little heavy, but still manageable. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I always hate it, but I said my goodbyes again and headed north on the trail. Kim and Juva gave "the Beav" and "Osama Been Walkin" a ride back in to town since they had to go back through town to get back home. I saw a lot of people on the trail today. Ben, Amanda, Trashbag, Rodeo Clown, Batman, Flaxseed, Warren Doyle and his wife, the Beav and Osama Been Walkin. It was a good, yet strenuous day of hiking, and from what I understand I need to get used to the strenuous part for quite a while to come. Cheers...357 Magnumpics added 8/19...
Date: 2007-08-08
From: Gentian Pond Campsite

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: moderate rain

The words for the day were Rain and Maine. I practiced my prune imitation, and got pretty good at it if I do say so myself. But...I also passed from New Hampshire into Maine today...state number 14 of 14 states on the AT. Hooray!!! Even though I only did 9.6 miles today, it felt like one of the tougher hiking days I've had of late. Boulder scrambles (both up and down), combined with rain and generally tough terrain left my knees feeling a little tired and sore by the end of the day. There may have been some good views along the way today, but I was pretty much socked in all day long. Hoping for better weather during my time in the Mahoosuc Notch tomorrow. Cheers¢¦357 Magnumpics added 8/19...
Date: 2007-08-09
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Baldpate Shelter
Miles today: 12.0

More than 1,900 miles hiked so far. Wow...that sounds pretty impressive even to me. We had a cold front move through with some force last night (pretty windy) and it left things a little crisp this morning. Other than getting out of the sleeping bag in the morning, I don't mind the cool days at all. I got going at about 7:15 this morning and headed for the Mahoosuc Notch. It is famous for having ice in its deep crevices year-round, and many consider it to be the toughest mile on the AT. I found it to be a challenge, worthy of respect, but not a show-stopper for anyone that has made it to that point from Springer Mtn, GA. I got through it in a little over an hour, but I was blessed with great weather. It would have been much tougher in the rain. I had a few scrapes and scratches from some of the boulder scrambles, slips, and crawls under & through rock formations, but otherwise in great shape. One wrong step in much of the notch could end just about anyones hike if they weren't very careful. One sad note was that there is a dead moose in the middle of the trail in the notch. It has been there for six weeks or more, and you can smell it before you see it. I definitely had to breathe through my mouth as I made my way around him. Evidently he got down in a deep spot between some big boulders and broke a leg trying to get back out. Poor thing! The climb out of the notch was pretty intens too...it is called the Mahoosuc Arm and rose 1,600 feet in just over a mile and a half. It was a great hiking day, tough, but great! Cheers¢¦357 Magnumpics added 8/19...