morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-07-19
From: Mt. Moosilauke (4,800 ft) 

To: Eliza Brook Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I followed this beautiful cascading stream down Mt. Moosilauke...it was going over solid rock at a tremendous speed...absolutely spectacular.With my shoes holding in there and feeling great...another piece of gear decided to go on me...my Gregory pack. The metal rod that runs down the middle of the pack and transfers the weight of the pack to my hips broke through its plastic holder and thus all the pack weight went to my shoulders (see photo). Once I got to a parking area at the bottom of Mt. Moosilauke, I called Gregory Packs and they are going to send me a new pack free of charge...It will be 100 miles up the trail...I will try to rig somethng up in the meantime. Ended up tenting at the base of Mt. Kinsman at around 5pm...learned my lesson the night before...no summits after 5pm. I am low on food, so tomorrow I will heading into Lincoln, NH to stay the night at Chet's Place (unadvertised hostle) and resupply.
Date: 2012-07-20
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Chet's Place 
Miles today: 9.0

Left camp at 6:45am and immediately did 2 hour hike up to the summit of Mt. Kinsman...very scenic view from the top. I wish I could described how beautiful the forests/mountains of New Hampshire are...they are a template for Disney animators/imagineers to see how an enchanted forest should look like. I stopped the Lonesome Lake Hut just to see what they look like inside...They look like a large lodge, but no showers....house overnight 30-90 people...cost is $85 to over $100/person a night....they feed you breakfast and dinner...there multiple huts throughout the White Mountains. Well, the lady inside the hut was very nice and I told her I was a thru-hiker just looking around. She asked me if I wanted to finish off the quiche from this morning's breakfast at no charge...I said sure! She gave a whole pie tin full of quiche...I ate it all, plus some cookies and lemonaide. What ever is not eaten they have to carry it out...so they want to get rid of the cooked food and what better bottom feeders are there than thru-hikers.Two thru-hikers can do "work for stay" at each hut...you can start asking after 4pm, but it is popular. You have to do choirs to work off your free stay...you get leftovers (if any) and you sleep on the dining area floor...not sure if I will do it.Once I got to I93, I called for a shuttle ride into Lincoln, NH for $5.00...not bad at all. Chet's Place is a private residence in which Chet allows thru-hikers to stay (there are bunks in his garage area or tent in his backyard)...he does not advertise or charge anything...I heard of his place via an AT southbounder. Once I leave the Lincoln Library I will eat and resupply...and try to fix my pack.
Date: 2012-07-21
From: Chet's Place 

To: Just south of Galehead Hut
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Chet's neighbor, Bill, had a drill so I was able to put a nut and bolt on my pack to hold up the metal support beam.....Yeah! Had breakfast with Ed (southbounder) from Denver 60's. About to catch a shuttle back to the trailhead.Hit the trail at 11:45am...had no problem climbing Mt. Lafayette (5,260 feet). It was then onto Franconia Ridge...once again no problem with the uphill hike above treeline. The view was spectecular...definitely recommend this section of the White Mountains....Being Saturday, there was a lot of day hikers hiking the ridge. With 1800 miles under my legs and much lighter than when I started, I passed the 20's year old day hikers with day packs with ease..Yes!Around 5pm and 5:30pm I ended up passing two Hut to Hut circut hikers...they were trying to hike 56 miles in one day from the northern most hut (Carter Notch Hut) to the southern most hut (Lonesome Lake Hut)...I believe there are 8 huts and they must sign in at all huts. They both were spent and had around 10 and 12 miles to go...One started at 3:30am...hope they made it.I ended up tenting in a very thick forest...it was cool! 80 miles to Maine!
Date: 2012-07-22
From: Just south of Galehead Hut

To: Mt. Webster
Miles today: 20.0

The first mountain of the day Twin Mt. Pretty steep/rocky climb to the summit. Talked to an American Airline pilot on the way up the mountain...I asked if he new you, Freak (Norm), but he did not. We talked about retirement...He was upset about his retirement package being slashed in bankruptcy court...I told him I got out while the going was good.I went in to Zealand Falls Hut...not my scene (triple bunks and lots of people). Give my the isloated patch of ground in the middle of the forest. I hiked down to Crawford Notch around 4:45pm and hit pay dirt...trail angel "Rock Dancer" (male 60's) was parked at the trailhead with a trunk full of food and drinks...filled my belly and moved on.At 5:45pm I set off for Mt. Webster (3,910 feet). Pretty tough climb up to the summit...but once again, what a view! At 7:45pm I pitched my tent on the side of the mountain...what a sunset! I have been lucky, both shoes and pack are holding up. Today was a 20 mile day, not bad for the Whites. Tomorrow I will summit Mt. Washington (6,288 feet)....and will be above treeline for 11 miles. Hoping for good weather...Please!
Date: 2012-07-23
From: Mt. Webster

To: Near Osgood Tentsite
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: fog

Hit the trail at 6:45am...the top of Mt. Washingtn was covered in clouds..looked pretty neat. Got to Mizpath Hut and received free pancakes and a bowl peaches. Stopped briefly at Lakes of the Clouds Hut located at the base of Mt. Washington for water and pitstop.As I was hiking up Mt. Washington, the weather cleared and Mt. Washington came into full view...wow! The hike to the top was all over large rocks...above treeline. Once I got to the top...I discovered the summit was full of tourists. They got to the summit via the Cog Railroad or car...I took in all the sights...Mt. Washington recorded the highest wind speed ever on earth...231 mph...luckily for me it was a clear day with little wind. Some of the buildings were chained down...there is a big weather station on the summit. I had some pizza in the snack bar and then moved on to cross the Presidential Pass..all above treeline....I heard tomorrow could have rain, so I wanted to clear the pass before the rain came. The pass was all rocks, no dirt or trees...I stopped at the Madison Hut (base of Mt. Adams) before moving on to the pass. I had some bread and filled up on water. Off I went at around 5pm, first taking on Mt. Adams...very steep rocky climb...glad there was no rain. Then it was on to Mt. Madison (5,366 feet)..still all rocks...my feet were feeling it! I finally got below treeline at 7:30pm and tented just off the trail in a nice secluded spot...long day, but spectacular!
Date: 2012-07-24
From: Near Osgood Tentsite

To: Wildcat Mountain
Miles today: 10.0

Started hiking at 9:30am due to the morning rain. Last night a wicked T-storm lit up the night sky...the rain came down hard...luckily I was in the trees, protected from the wind. It sounded as if the the thunder/lighting was right above me...I was tenting around 5,000 ft. I told myself...the rocks are WET...how many falls today...I guessed 5...I ended up falling 4 times. I had light intermitent showers (5-10 minutes) off and on all day...it really did not hamper my hiking. I got to Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and had lunch...sunny! Dried out my pack and tent. Left around 2:30pm to take on Wildcat Mountain. Wildcat was a steep/rocky to the top...There is a ski resort on top...should have taken the gondola to the top!...it was operating....it was cold and windy on the summit. Once on top, I was soaked from brushing up against the wet trees and the intermitent rain...I was cold and getting colder...and the temp was dropping...so I decided to tent off the trail and get my wet clothes off...and get into my sleeping bag to warm up....it took about an hour in my 15 degree bag to warm up...I never got out my bag for 12 hours!
Date: 2012-07-25
From: Wildcat Mountain

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: fog

Left my tentsite at 6:45am and hiked in the cold and wind...but no rain! I will take it in the White Mountains. Once on top of the bare summit of Hight Mt., I faced gail force winds that was almost nocking me over with my 35 pound pack on...plus the wind chill was probably in the low 30's...it was simply unbelievable! Three hours later at a lower elevation, I was basking in the sun having lunch...I see how people get into trouble quickly in the White Mountains...day hikers or section hikers start out in the sun/heat in the lower elevations and take off to the higher elevation not prepared for the cold/windy conditions that awaits them...with hypothermia lurking around the corner...one minute you are in the trees and protected and then bam! you are above treeline facing gail force winds and very cold temps. They list the deaths at 145 (one in 2012) that have died on Mt. Washington to remind people...TAKE NOTICE...BE PREPARED...WATCH THE WEATHER...DON'T BE AN IDIOT.Yes, I made it through the White Mountains!!!...I will echo my AT pal, Bluegrass, words...I am gald I made it through the Whites uninjured. I hiked on to Gorham, NH and checked in to White Mountains Lodge which is right off the trail....very clean. Got a shuttle ride to Walmart and resupplied. The Whites left me beat and tired. I took 800 mg of ibuprofen and hit the rack.
Date: 2012-07-26
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

With rain forcast for all day and night, I decided to stay another night. I will shortly head to the P.O. to pick up my new pack and then head to the library to upload my pictures.Some of you have asked why did I switch shoes...simply I was looking for a lighter shoe...not as hot in the summer...no question, my Zamberlans were GREAT boots...but too heavy and hot for ME for summer hiking...with hindsight being 20/20...continuing with the Zamberlans would have been easier...but I did learn a lot shoes and first aide for feet...and it gave me something to write about Picked up my new Gregory Baltoro 65 liter pack from the P.O...returned the old one. Uploaded my photos at the public library. It is going to get harder to update the journal in Maine just because the area is more remote (limited towns/libraries) and cell signals/3g is difficult to obtain...we will just go with it and I will do what I can. Hopefully, rain will be limitd tomorrow. It would be great to make Maine tomorrow...15 miles.So long until Maine...Of the 14 states that the Appalachian trail goes through, I have done 13: GA, NC, TN, VI, WV, MD, PA, NJ, NY, CT, MA, VT, AND NH.
Date: 2012-07-27
From: Gorham, NH

To: Goose Eye Mountain
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: light rain

About to take off from the White Mountains Lodge in Gorham, NH...the owners, Geri and Greg, were the best. The B&B is very clean...for $30/night you can't beat it...breakfast was great. Owning a B&B is something I can see my wife and I...and kids! doing down the road...maybe not too far.I checked in to the White Mountains Lodge at 154.8 pounds....I am leaving post breakfast at 165 pounds...strawberry shakes, Burger King whopper, potato fries, pizza, ect can do wonders for your body fat...maybe now I won't blow away in the wind like I almost did on top of Mt. Hight. Time to pack my final items and hit the trail. After leaving the lodge, I met "Lime Green" (male 51) who always wears something lime green. We hiked together for some time...but he started not to feel well and I moved on. I crossed the Maine state line at 6pm...it felt surreal. I continued hiking to 8:30pm...I hiked to the top of Goose Eye Mountain and setup my tent...I enjoyed a beautiful sunset. Feels REALLY GOOD to be in Maine.
Date: 2012-07-28
From: Goose Eye Mountain

To: Grafton Notch
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Hit the trail a 6:20am...I hiked through the Mahoosuc Notch....my guide book describes it as the hardest mile on the AT...A jumbled pit of boulders. It was tough going and dangeous (especially with a pack on), but I made through OK. The boulders were huge...20 feet, ect. with deep drop offs. The climb after the boulder field was brutal (Mahoosuc Arm)...very steep, rocky and long...a lot of hand over hand climbing....Maine does not believe in switchbacks. At around 4pm a powerful T-storm hit and caught me...I was about 15 minutes to late trying to get down to some level terrain. With heavy rain coming down and thunder all around, I went ahead and set up my tent. Once up and with standing water inside the tent, I started the long task (about one hour) of usig my microtowel to wipe up the water and then squeeze it out over and over. It work...I was out of the rain and I had a damp place to sleep. Once I got my inflatable pad up, I was off the ground and sitting pretty. I was proud of myself...I don't recommend doing it often, but it is nice to know that it can be done in a pinch. Wet shoes tomorrow...Blah!
Date: 2012-07-29
From: Grafton Notch

To: Sawyer Notch
Miles today: 19.0

Up at 6am and on the trail at 8am...It took a while in the morning to get things somewhat dried out...the tent would need to be hung during a sunny part of the day...that never came. Off I went on the trail...my shoes weren't too bad. The first 10 miles seemed to take forever, at the end of the 10 miles I came across trail angel "Tree Hugger"....she had lots of food and drinks..."Spice Kit" and "Nomad" (males 20's northbound thru-hikers) were there. It started to rain and I almost went into Andover, ME to a hostel, but it let up and decided to stay away from the hostel due to a virus that is going around the trail...a lot of the sick people were going into Andover, ME to get better...chills, fever and vomiting. Like my friend T Bo, Tree Hugger also got Lime Disease in MA while hiking the trail a couple of years back and had to stop...has had a lot of issues with the disease.The next 9 miles were easier and I ended up tenting next to a nice stream (Sawyer Brook). I bathed in it...cold!! but it felt good getting clean...it is part of the mental game.
Date: 2012-07-30
From: Sawyer Notch

To: Long Pond
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Hit the trail at 7:20am...I immediately started climbing...Moody Mountain and Old Blue Mountain...they were steep and exhausting. My goal was to get as close to Rangeley, ME as possible...so I could go into it tomorrow...9 miles off the trail. Thee are only 3 small towns left on the trail with 230 miles to go...Rangely, Stratton and Monson. Monson is the last twon proir to the 100 Mile Wilderness.The first 10 miles once again were hard with limited water sources...mostly puddles of standing water...with no rain, water along the trail has been limited in some parts. I elected not to drink some of the water on the trail and got a little dehydrated and sluggish. At 8pm, I made it to Long Pond...looks more like the size of a lake...and set up my tent next to the water. I stripped down out of sweating/soaked clothes and went for a sunset bath in the pond....I don't worry about humans coming around...I am in the middle of the Maine wilderness...it's the mosquitoes that keep me moving...Yes, you actually can see the feet of the Maine mosquitoe....or better known as the Maine Air Force! Southern Maine has been a challenge..."Bluegrass" you were spot on your description of southern Maine.My hip belt on my pack can not get any tighter...I have reached the limit...I have gone from 194 pounds the day I started this journey on February 15, 2012 to 154.8 pounds in Gorham, NH on July 26, 2012. I am looking forward to my wife and I vacation in Lost Wages in November...Vegas Buffets here I come!
Date: 2012-07-31
From: Long Pond

To: Rangeley, ME
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: broken clouds

I had 10 miles to hike from Long Pond to the roadway that leads to Rangeley, ME...I made it to the roadway around 11:30am...took about 20 minutes until I got a ride into Rangeley, ME...9 miles away...Rodney picked me up and I was sure glad...few cars and it was hot/sunny day.Got new tips for my poles...one sheered off and went to using a stick as a replacement. Rangeley, ME is a small resort town with no hostels...it has a 3 block Maine St. Off I go to do some laundry and then on to the IGA to resupply.....then back into the wilderness...still looking for that moose. Monson, ME is the last town to have a library on the trail...100 miles away...closed on the weekends...so photos will be few and far between...journal entries could be few going forward also depending on 3g signal on my cell phone and battery charge...Cell phone signals are going to be harder to get as I go north these last 220 miles. I turn off my cell phone during the day and just turn it on at night to call the family...I have two batteries. I should reach Baxter State Park (Mt. Katahdin) within two weeks.As I was walking to the IGA, Mary Lynch pulled along side of me and asked if I needed a ride to the trailhead...I told her I had to resupply at the IGA first. Mary stated she would give me a ride tot he IGA and wait for me. I said, "Great!" Mary waited for me as I did my resupplying. Mary asked me where I was staying, I told somewhere in the woods. Mary said why don't you stay at my brother Steve's place next to the trailhead...It was 7:30pm, so I said OK. Steve was not home, but Mary showed me around the place...it was an absolutely beautiful cabin and A-frame located next to a stream. Words can't describe the beauty of the place...see photo. I stayed in the A-frame. Steve never did show up....Mary stated Steve winters in India. How much luckier can I get...a ride, plus a place to stay.
Date: 2012-08-01
From: Rangeley, ME

To: Orbeton Stream
Miles today: 13.5

I left a note for Steve and Mary saying how grateful I was for their hospitality...and off I went to the trailhead about .1 mile away. It was hard going in the first half of the day...Saddleback Mt. 4,120 ft, The Horn 4,040 ft and Saddleback Junior Mt. 3,655 ft. There were excellent views from the summits. Ran into Greenbean and Fern...they were going southbound. They were in my original group going northbound in Virginia. I hiked with her and her dog Fern for a few days. She got off the trail like me to see her husband who was attending some military schools....with her husband back in some military school, she got back on the trail in July and decided to hike south from Mt. Katahdin south due to the heat...She got off in Front Royale, VI originally. We caught each other up on who finished and who did not from our original group...then we went our ways.I ran into "Santa's Helper" next...he was a trail angel on 7-13-12 in Vermont...he is now trying to finish his last section of the AT...northbound to Mt. Katahdin....he does about 5 miles a day...68 years old.I ended up tenting near Oberton Stream around 4:30pm due to rain...Santa's Helper came and tented next to me...see photo.
Date: 2012-08-02
From: Orbeton Stream

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: broken clouds

I was determined to make to Stratton, ME today...19 miles away....in my way were Spaulding Mt. 4,000 ft and Crocker Mt. South and North summits 4,040 ft and 4,228 ft. I just put head down and dug in and up I went...too close to the end to worry about these little mountains...let the southbounders think they are hard...wait until they hit the Whites.The last 5 miles were down hill, but full of rocks and roots. I made it to the roadway, Maine 27, that goes into Stratton, ME...5 miles west...at around 7pm. There was thunder all around me and a super cell (see photo) so I decided to go into town and seek cover. I called the Stratton Motel and got a free shuttle into town...$20 for a bunk....shower and a COMPUTER! I went ahead and made my flight reservation..departing early 8-16....so that means I have to summit on 8-14 or before in order to get a shuttle ride on 8-15 to Bangor Airport. The 14th just happens to be the 75th anniversary of the completion of the AT....I could see some crowds. If I keep with my friend Bluegrass' schedule of getting to Mt. Katahdin, I will have a 2-3 day cushion to summit Mt. Katahdin on a nice day, recover from getting sick, ect.The next and last town is Monson, ME 71 miles away...then it is on to the 100 Mile Wilderness. Will update when I can...limited opprotunities....I have gotten no 3g on the trail...which means no updates from my phone....Maine is remote.
Date: 2012-08-03
From: Stratton, ME

To: Stafford Notch Campsite
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I had breakfast at the local diner at 7am...did a light resupply at market/hardware store...nice deli sandwiches. Dried out my tent and got a shuttle ride to the trail at 11am. I immediately came across a trail angel cooler full of pop and fruit. I was full, so I took an apple and moved on. I went over 2,000 miles on the AT today..YEAH!!!!! Today was also one of the last days of multiple summits...Yes! I hit the Bigelow Mountains today. There were about 3 summits. Great views from the top...Flagstaff Lake was below me....Absolutely picturesque.I tented just past the Stafford Notch Campsite...the campsite was full of a teenage girls group...talking up a storm as teenage girls do...I figured that would go on until at least midnight....so I moved on a ways up the trail. I went pretty far off the trail into the beautiful Maine wilderness before pitching my tent...PRICELESS!
Date: 2012-08-04
From: Stafford Notch Campsite

To: North Branch Of Carrying Place Stream
Miles today: 19.1

I slept in and did not hit the trail until 9:45am. Did not see too many people today....passed a large group of teenage girls that were from all over the world...attending some camp near-by....The girls that occupied the campsite last night were probably from the same camp....the girls wanted to know where the next water source was, was it big enough to bathe in and when did the downhill start....most I could tell were not into hiking...but hey they were doing it.I had lunch in a beach area of Flagstaff Lake...I was a little worn today, but I moved on. I ended up stopping around 7pm. I tented just off the trail. Either a moose or a bear (plenty of both in the area) was walking around my tent area during the night...it was too dark to see anything.
Date: 2012-08-05
From: North Branch Of Carrying Place Stream

To: Moxie Pond
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: few clouds

I got going at 7:15am so I could catch the morning ferry across the Kennebec River. There are 2 ferry time periods 9-11 and 2-4...if you don't get there with in one of those time periods...you are stuck. I got there in time (10:30am) and caught the ferry...I helped paddle the canoe across the river. It is the only ferry on the AT and it is free for hikers.I ran into two southbounders, Angry German and Spool, on the trail. Spool asked me my trail name...I said Daddy-O. Spool resonded, "You have that online journal". That made me feel pretty good...I have had multiple hikers advise me that they have read my journal.I later ran into section hiker Se-Sc-Te (male 69)...quite a character...see photo for further.I made a point of stopping at Pierce Pond Shelter (the pond is the size of a large lake)to pay my respect to the 20 year old male northbound thru-hiker, "Parkside" who drowned in June of this year while going for a swim in Pierce Pond...11 days from the end of the trail. Parkside cramped up. His family had since visited the site and left a very nice trail photo of him and list of things to do to avoid cramping up while swimming...the big one was not to swim while dehydrated...which every hiker is to some degree at the end of the day...and secondly be aware your body's reaction to the change in tempeture in the water...hot days does not mean warm water...especially in the mountain lakes...lastly do not swim alone! I left with a heavy heart..a little memorial had been erected at the shelter.   By 6pm I was beat/tired/wornout, so I decided to tent near a stream and wash up. I set-up my tent, washed up and crawled in to my tent...then rain began...perfect timing.