morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-07-18
From: moose mountain

To: Hexicube shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I waited for owl to get all packed up. I didn't take long til the rain came down. I heard from several sobo's of the ice cream man. So I was determined to get to his place before I took a break. I lost owl on the uphill, I had a feeling if I kept hiking with him he'd lower my milage. At the ice cream man's house there's a sign outside 'free water and ice-cream' the last two sob's didn't get to meet the man, but I did. They asked me to come inside. He told me that he would be hiking if he didn't have a machine hooked up to him. He's been nice to hikers ever since his two kids hiked parts of the trail. I stayed for lunch. They asked if I wanted to dry my socks in the dryer, so I did. I asked for a trashbag, since mine was ripping. The man told me the old trail use to go on the road, he said if I went that way I wouldn't get wet from all the grass. It was kinda weird taking the road. Every so often I'd see a faint blaze. That lasted two miles. The ATC makes it their goal to get the AT off the road as much as possible. I rather like to mix it up, and is fathoms easier. On one of the big mountains, I picked blueberries at a beautiful view, and wished my family was with me. I soldier on to the shelter. A man's stuff was in their, I looked around to see a hammock strung up. It was strange being in a shelter, alone. Skippy called said he was hitch hiking to skip miles, skippy wants to bike to katadehn, he's insanely sick of hiking. Talking about influences. It's now becoming habit for me to hang up my tarp over me to keep the bugs out. It can get clostrphobic.
Date: 2011-07-19
From: Hexicube shelter

To: Hikers welcome hostel
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was the day to pick up my package. That was the motivator. The hardest part was the start, there would have been a veiw for the steep mile and change up, but the fog over ruled. I was plodding my way down, when two day hikers came along. They asked me a few questions, the one was truly impressed, he even gave me an apple. Was delicious. I've been eating bagel breakfast lunch and dinner, so I was overly happy, and grateful. I came to the first road, and so wanted to just hitch around like my buddies, but decided to trudge on. I wished I hadn't, in parts. Between the mud and the buzzing of flies around my head, I was swamped in misery. Finally I got to the road, hadn't seen a thruhiker all day. It was a four mile hitch into town. The cars were scarce. Was the longest I waited to be picked up. It was a bit hot, and I was tired so I'd sit down a couple minutes, then stand up when a car came by. I also picked a few flowers in my wait. I did get picked up, the man showed me moosilauke, the beast moutain of tomorrow. He dropped me at the post office, where I learned my package hadn't arrived yet. So I won't have a rain coat in the whites. Unless I find one. Then i walked to the gas station for food. I picked out a half gallon of ice-cream, I was seaching the ilse when I saw scavenger, then skippy they cracked up, apparently they were following me around the store. They said they were staying at a hostel, so I joined them. We sat around watched movies til the moon came up. Legion was their we were glad to run into each other. He said this was his fourth day at the hostel, since he had shin splints and a cough in his chest.
Date: 2011-07-20
From: Hikers welcome hostel

To: Eliza brook shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

July 20 17miles Eliza brook shelterI was a bit nervous about hiking moosilauke. The hostel owner told me, it I made it this far I have no need to worry. The climb up wasn't so bad, I was expecting a rock wall. Near the top I met some college kids, who hike up moosilauke every weekday to take measurements of trees. They were really sweet, and interested in my trip. There were two girl and one guy. The guy said he had gotten half way on his attempt the thru hike. At the top was absolute bliss. The wind was blowing. It was magnificent. For all those aspiring thru hikers of the future, remember the whites are worth it. I called my mom, was great. Perhaps my family will pick me up, I just need to be a bit slower, I can do that. Now the decent is more like a rock wall. It's the steepest decent of all the AT. They have stairs and metal bars to assist. The hardest part was the duration. At the bottom I hitch hiked, was nice the man was out scouting a place to bike. I went to a price chopper, and bought a bunch of junk food and tomato sauce. I found a seat and ate a box of cookies and cream. I couldn't finish it. Then I hit hitched back, that man had just been hiking some mountain. Back at the trail, was a section hiker waiting for a shuttle into town. The hiker, had a hurt knee and was going to take the day off in town. The next part of the trail I didn't I like, it was aweful. Boulders and mud, and you never knew when you reached the top. It went up and down like a heated argument. I arrived at the shelter just when it was getting dark and some kid zero was practicing his sword fighting. There are two section hikers and this guy named zero. The section hikers are friendly. Zero I've heard to be a bit strand and yogi's other hikers foods. The two section hikes told me how they unloaded their stuff to zero, they were happy about since They overpacked. The one section hiker said he did half the trail when he was 17 a decade ago, when he attempted to thru hiker, said he got the big G. (Guardia).
Date: 2011-07-21
From: Eliza brook shelter

To: Lonesome lake hut
Miles today: 6.0

I have changed up my hiking pattern now that my buddies havent shown up and my mom can pick me up til a week later. So I'm going to enjoy my trip in the whites and go to the majority of the 8 huts. I haven't taken any zeros since skippy's, but I think I'll cruise at a 6-8 miles.  I've learned why thru hikers either love the huts or hate them. The thing is you kinda have to be lazy and do low mileage to stay at the huts, and since some hikers have schedules they don't want to stop hiking at five and only start at nine in the morning since thru hiker have to wait till the guest have eaten. I on the other-hand desire to stay at the huts and enjoy them to their full potential. Starting with lonesome lake and to for a swim.   So I got to lonesome lake early around noon. Tattoo guy and zero where there. I went for a swim. It was wonderfully beautiful. The guys went on and I met Erin, she works on top of mt Washington in the observitory. She gave me her number and said she'd lobe to house me sometime. Around 4 I asked to work for stay, and they told me they'd have dishes for me to was at four thirty. Erin and I swam in the lake, was breathtakingly pretty. So after I did the dishes. I waited around. I was getting hungry. But the thru hikers have to wait til the others have ate. So it was a long wait, they had me sweep the floor then too before I could eat it was hard with a girggiling tummy. We got to sleep on the floor the room was noisy until nine thirty. I was falling asleep, building a cad tower. I invited Erin to play the cup game with me.
Date: 2011-07-22
From: Lonesome lake hut

To: Galehead hut
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: few clouds

July 22 galehead hut 15I left early without saying goodbye to Erin, which made me feel bad. There was a cooler marked as trail magic under a bridge. I took a bag of chips and crackers. There was a long climb to get up to Franconia ridge. part way I passed a stream, but didn't wan to carry any extra weight. The ridge walk was wonderful walking. The view on both sides were breathtaking, I felt undeserving. It was busy, first was little haystack, were people asked me to take their picture. Further on was Lincoln and next Lafayette. There was a whole group of us thru hikers, plus zero who was doing pushups on the rocks and running around on the "fragile alpine vegetation" which was awfully annoying for the other hikers to observe. It soon dawned on all of us that we were all headed to the same hut. It didn't make a difference for me, I was too slow to race there. I had ran out of water and was wonderfully taken care of by a ridgerunner, she gave me a bottle of half melted water. It was a long walk to the hut. There were three hikers cooking outside when I got there, bad sign. They said they all got turned down. I tried to work my girl powers, but it didn't work. So I cooked up some couscous. Handmedown was the only one accepted for a work for stay. He mentioned to the temporary crew that were there that buts normally take in several hikers. We were then accepted. I did dishes, and we had chicken and pasta with tomato sauce. I could only set up my stuff when they turned out the lights, so I started a monopoly game with caveman and handmedown joined. I slept on a bench.
Date: 2011-07-23
From: Galehead hut

To: Zealand Hut
Miles today: 7.0

We all stayed for breakfast, possibly slightly a bad idea since we had to wait until around ten. That was an extremely long wait, since we had been woken up at dawn to move our stuff to the porch, where we waited in the cold. I was feeling sickly, mostly likely from all the junk food I'd been eating, so I didn't want to go far. The two options were 7 miles or 11 miles. The seven being a hut and the eleven being a campground with an eight dollar fee. I went with the free stay with food, plus less hiking. Zealand falls. The other guys moved on. I was the only thru hiker who stayed that night. They had me clean the fridge, by removing the food and scrape out the ice. The wait for the food was aggravating, perhaps one of the hardest things ever. I felt like I was being punished for something vert naughty, as I waited outside until everyone had eaten, then I joined the crew in clean up. The food was satisfactory, the crew was friendly enough to join me at the table. The hut had some excitement, when news of a man with a hurt tendon was down on the trail. A girl from the hut piggybacked the little man to the hut, and later the two guys from the hut took turns piggybacking the man three miles back to his car. A bit after lights out one of the guests handed me a bottle ofRed red wine. Which he asked to be shared with the crew. So I called them from the bottom of the steps, five minutes later I was sitting with then up in their loft, where they all stay. They were quoting the princess bride, which was great. The two guys both intend to thru hike in the future. They spoke of funny thru hikers, and were rather touchy, with the girls. They had a pet hamster. I went to bed after they decided to hit the falls.
Date: 2011-07-24
From: Zealand Hut

To: summit of Washington/ erins place
Miles today: 20.5

I asked before grabbing yesterday's dessert for breakfast, poured in some milk and headed out at the crack of dawn. I wanted to push to the lake of the clouds hut, I knew I'd be a long day and I'd most likely show up late, but i figured from what I heard they accept all thru hikers. So I climbed a long way, first it was steep, but then finally I had a wonderful view as I climbed along. I stopped in at mespeth hut and got a bowl of soup. Then soldiered on, since it was still early. I climbed through the presidentials, which was wonderful beautiful and bustling with people. I was getting close to the hut and asked a sobo about the hut, he said he got kicked out, and that I had more luck being a nobo, since there is virtually no where to camp. I arrive to see a whole bunch of nobos twig and handmedown and blue.... Eight of them in all. They seemed a bit worried for me when I arrived. So I walk in the crowed hut brimming with people, wait in line to ask the man, if I can work for stay. He tells me that the place is at its full capacity, but stops short when he hears I'm north bound. He leaves and discusses my situation with another crew member, then comes back and says he can't do anything, I can buy a floor place for 20$. I don't think I had 20 bucks on me but even if i had I probably wouldnt pay. But the man told me, I could hike a mile down the mountain off the trail to a shelter, or night hike seven miles to the next hut. Or I could call up erin, and thats what I did, since mount Washington was 1.5 miles away, with an auto road to the top of it. She confirmed that she would pick me up. I begged some food off the other thru hikers, since I was famished, hand-me-down gave me I brownie, I thanked them profusely, as they cheered me on.I ran up the rocky trail. I was stressing to get there in time, I got up in half and hour, with my stomach in a knot. The view was lovely at the top, with perfect weather, I sat and moaned in pain at a picnic table. I chatted with a lady, who said it was good her husband wasn't with her, since he really wanted to thru hike. Erin came, and took me to her lovely abode. I felt I like a new person after my shower. We went to the grocery store, she paid for my resupply. We then went to a lovely restraint, she said I could order whatever I wanted. In short, it was a 100 times better then any other option I had. I even baked a chocolate cheese cake before going to bed. Thank you Erin, you rock.
Date: 2011-07-25
From: summit of Washington/ erins place

To: Madison Brook
Miles today: 6.0

July 25 Madison brook 6 miles. One of the best things about staying at Erin's was being able to sleep in, something I couldn't do for the past several days. She took me back up the mountain, it costs twenty five dollars to drive a car up the mountain, Erin got out of it, lucky since she works up there, but she had to be willing to pay. It's a long drive up, eight miles. And people drive so slow, so it takes a while. Better then the cog railway which costs 60 bucks round trip or 45 one way. At the top I sat with the nobos, they told me what a lousy stay they had at the lake of the clouds, they didn't get sleep from a constant flow of people walking to and from the bathroom during the night, they also were worked really hard building stone walls and scrubbing down the entire kitchen. Then getting cold pasta for supper. There was a poster with the names of 145 people that have died throughout the year on top of mt washington, hyperthermia slipped and fell on ice, were the most common deaths. Not quite the nicest thing to look at before descending the looming cloud on top didn't help either. The group of us all waited to get our pictures taken together at the summit sign. I then hiked with blue, until it rained, and blue went ahead. I was accepted for a work for stay, seven of us in all stayed. This time we had a little room all to ourself. Much better then Waiting outside. We chatted and had a great time. Plus had the best supper in a hut to date.
Date: 2011-07-27
From: Stealth Camp

To: Full Goose Lean-to
Miles today: 16.0

When I woke up I was unable to get warm. I had been worried about having my food sack laying on the ground. Mostly since hearing of an incident in the whites, course they hung the bear bag at nose level. Doing anything in a hammock is kinda dificult, course, sleeping and doing nothing at the top, eating breakfast involves reaching down, and rummaging, while swaying. Once I got packed up, and hiking, I got this gnawing feeling, of "I think I saw this before." I had to tell myself to chill out, I knew I'd start to get panicky. I had remembered climbing up something similar to a concrete wall the other night, while the thunderstorm was brewing. I told myself I wouldn't turn around until I arrived there. I went through a grassy section, that seemed oh so familiar, then I came to a part where I could have sworn I'd been there, but I kept on going, I had been hiking for over an hour now. I hate retracing, then finally just a bit farther was a sign, what a relief, the first sign of the day. It told of where the campsite was, and relocated me on the map. I watered up, twas quite a walk for water. I also saw my first people of the day at this place. Next came hard climbs involving ladders and metal bars. There were also slanted bog boards, that had chunks of wood nailed to them, thus saving lives when the boards get wet. I passed three trail maintainers. I had a spectacular view, of the distant lakes in the valley, and my walk to come. This was the day I got to Maine, like the Maine. I was pretty stoked, I wanted to call up friends and family, but had no reception. Later I climbed up Moose eye and called my mom. Then had three miles to get to the lean-to. Which, was amazing, no fees, no work for stay, pure and simple, what freedom, what bliss. The place was absolutely pack for having seen so limited number of people. There were all sort of people tenting. There was a whole troop of teen girls, and some middle aged women, who were floored by my mileage.   I found space near an older fellow, who resembled father Christmas, who told me that he took a zero day since he did want to go through the mahoosuc notch on a wet day. I talked a lot and was more loud and rambunctious the my usual self due to the lack of human contact. I didn't see anyone I knew.
Date: 2011-07-29
From: baldpate lean-to

To: Hall Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 14.0

I ate stale cereal for breakfast, with whipped cream and blueberries. i had to run back to get my bandanna I left behind. I passed Todo, who was sewing up his broken backpack. The climb up the mountain, was similar to climbing up vertical pavement. On the top was a wonderful, view of clouds in the valleys all around. With the sun shining on them. After four miles came a lean-to, where all us thru-hikers all met up. We were not alone, there was a outdoors school with a bunch of youth. I hiked with Todo, and later Prescott joined, and I introduced them to each other. I updated prescott on the last several month. Of falling beind my friends, hiking with my family, then catching up with Skippy and Scavenger, who later got off the trail. I also shared about the wonderful homes people let me stay at. I learned that Todo is an engine mechanic for Tug boats, and ships. He says it gets really hot, and its hard work, but he only works half the year. This is possible because he lives off little. Granted he travels a lot during his work, but he also has travel to many many places when he's not working. He's planning to hike big miles, in order to get to Bangor to meet his Chinese Girlfriend, whom he sees a couple times a year.We got to the Lean-to early, Todo decided to stay because it's gonna rain. My knees kill.
Date: 2011-07-30
From: Hall Mountain Lean-to

To: Dave's place
Miles today: 4.0

We had an insane hike, when looking at the elevation it resembles a W quite well. I was out of food and had to get to town. So after the "W" was a road, but no cars. Prescott was there just taking a break, and after some time a car passed, stopped rolled down it's windows and asked if we needed help. I told him I'd like a ride to town. He then proceeds to tell me he did have room and drives off. Was it because I stank? Don't people know when you stick out your thumb it means you want a ride? I was confused and without a ride. I told myself, why didn't you beg. It was a while until other cars came by, none stopped. That is until about half an hour, or what felt like a half hour, a huge pickup truck stopped and asked me if I wanted to go to the post office, I said yes. I was planning to send random junk home. So I hopped in the trunk as instructed and the truck bumped along the road. The drive dropped of the other man sitting in the front and told me I could take the front seat. He was friendly. His name was Dave. I asked him if I stank really bad, he said he had worse that he made stay in the trunk. He asked If I'd like a shower, was probably the most wonderful thing I've heard in days. "Yes I'd love a shower" I replied. So we went to his cabin a couple miles down the road. I got a shower, he made a breakfast sandwich for me, plus coffee. Then asked if I'd like another one. That blew my socks off. It was wonderful. He then asked me if I'd like to stay the night, It wasn't yet noon. I thought about it a bit, but quickly accepted the offer, very gratefully. He then took me to the post office, which was closed, then took me to another one. He said there wasn't decent resupply in town, so he drove my to a neighboring town. He also bought me apple juice. I asked Dave why he was so nice, he said he doesn't know when he might need help himself. I thanked him so much, I should have found a new word for thank you. We passed a field with what looked like Bison, Dave was talking but I interpreted, and we drove back to look at them. That was cool Buffalo's are cool looking. Dave's son asked if he could go looking for gold. That stopped me for a second "like as in real gold?" I asked. "Yeah" Dave replied. Dave said they found gold before.We watch TV, went mooseing and found one, my first moose! Then we got Icecream. They let me sleep in a bed all to myself upstairs.
Date: 2011-07-31
From: Dave's place

To: Sabath Day Lean-to
Miles today: 17.0

I slept in as much I could. Dave made breakfast sandwiches, and coffee. I called my mom, who was on a bike ride. My brother and father are in Kenya Africa. I got to talk with my other brother who is going to Guatemala for a week. I teased him that I might get home before he did. That would mean I'd be going incredibly fast. I had felt a bit uneasy the night before, about doing such low mileage. I had told Dave, he made me feel better. It's hard to switch the brain from the Go mode, to relax, chill have a good time mode. We drove out to the trail where Old blue was to greet me. Dave and his son, were going to check on their bear bate before heading home for the coming work week. Dave has been hunting bears for decades. He has a couple stuffed ones in his house, plus a rug with a growling bear face on it. Now Dave goes out to watch bears, he finds bears very fascinating.One time he let a man hunt at one of his bear bates. The man was told not to shoot any mother bears. The man did anyhow. This broke Dave's heart, when a mother bear is killed, her cubs are doomed to die as well. The man insisted he didn't see any cubs, but Dave looked at the bear and knew the cubs were still milking.Back on the trail I wasn't all that motivated. The trail weaved in and out. Reminded me of a maze. I ran into a group of three guys, who I later stayed at the lean-to with. They all looked the same. One was British, another Irish, and an American. I went swimming in my first sandy beach, in a lake, where the lean-to was by.