morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-07-22
From: IMP shelter

To: White Mountains Hostel
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

The rained stopped last night and the winds picked up. That was helpful to dry my tent and shoes. The tent platform at IMP Shelter with the improved weather ensured that I packed a dry tent. I dislike carrying the extra water that clings to a tent and rain fly. It was a cool cloudy morning. The winds and dampness made it feel cold. And it was. It was good that I had my winter clothing to keep me comfortable. Obsolete, Hey Jude and I got on the trail just after 7am. Our goal was to get to the White Mountains Hostel were we stayed the night before. The hostel is directly on the trail. It was only an eight mile hike with one big climb. The ascent was more gradual than what we experienced the prior days. I was hoping for a relaxing dry hike and to arrive before noon. As I climbed Mt. Moriah the clouds became thicker, the winds picked up and fog concealed the views. The rocks and trail were damp from yesterday's rain. This slowed me down as I frequently slipped and only had one fall. I landed on my rear end and backpack. If are are going to fall landing on a full pack cushions the blow. I proceeded without injury and continued cautiously. The trail was kinder today. Challenging but the slope was more gradual than previous days. The last couple of miles was gentle and I could pick up my speed without fear of falling. Obsolete was moving fast and was well ahead of us. Hey Jude and I chatted along the way This made the time go quickly and gave me an opportunity to get to know this fine young man. I've gotten to know such good people on the trail. Hey Jude is among them. We arrived at the hostel at 11am, an hour before I expected. Obsolete greeted us. He had already showered and ready for lunch. We ordered pizzas and took advantage of the time to relax on an overcast day. I rarely have good cell or Internet connection on the trail. It is excellent at the hostel. This gave me an opportunity to catch up with family and prepare a steak dinner on the grill. I also began to plan for my anticipated return home. Katahdin is now 298.3 miles away.
Date: 2015-07-23
From: White Mountains Hostel

To: gentian pond campaite
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

Breakfast at the White Mountain Hostel and Lodge was excellent again. The home made Creme Br»l©e French Toast and hommuffins were delicious. They fueled me through through until lunch. Thank you Marney for the hospitality. I enjoyed my stay. Obsolete and I left following breakfast. It was a cloudy and cool day but without rain. My pack was heavy with four days of food. I could feel the extra pressure on my feet during ascents and descents from the weight. Our twelve mile hike required effort but not at the intensity of the previous day's when we were above tree line. There were limited views with gradual but steep ascents at lower altitude. Given my heavy pack weight I was grateful. We are pacing ourselves to hike Mahoosuc on Saturday. This is reported to be the toughest mile on the AT. By now I am an eating and hiking machine. I should be prepared. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I'll eat heartily during the next two days to lighten my load for the ascent and decent. We stopped for lunch today at an exposed rock outcropping midway on the mountain. There was a pleasant view and ripe blueberries. I enjoyed the view and had a handful of berries for desert. I've run into a lot of SoBos. It was a pleasure to see Slap Shot. He carries a hockey stick as a hiking pole. He's easy to recognize and he is a good guy. Willing to share whatever he has with other hikers. We met months ago before Harpers Ferry. It was nice to see him on his way back and wish him good luck. We crossed the 1900 mile mark today. Only 289.2 miles to go!We arrived in camp early. A short day but tiring. After an early dinner I relaxed in my tent catching up on reading. An hour later Hey Jude let me know that a moose and her calf were at the pond. I ran out of my tent hoping to get a look. I've never seen a moose in the wild and wanted to see at least one on my hike. I've seen a lot of evidence of them on the trail. The calf was on the side of the pond as the mother walked through the water. It's huge head just visible as she slowly meandered to her calf. She exited the water and walked in front of the calf. They both walked slowly, the mother majestically and the calf clumsily behind her. It was a beautiful sight as they came closer to me. I had an excellent view of these magnificent animals hidden at the spillway of the pond They slowly turned away and walked into the woods. Now I've seen two moose and had the opportunity to view them for an extended period of time. A very nice ending to my day.
Date: 2015-07-24
From: gentian pond campaite

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We were on the trail at 7am. The full shelter was already empty with hikers getting an early start. The weather called for rain late in the day. We hoped to get to the shelter before it came. It was cloudy any cool. At higher elevations it was cold with strong winds. Overcast skies and fog obstructed vmy views. The terrain was a mixture of difficult rock slab ascents and descents, alpine bogs with deep mud. It was strenuous hiking. The trail maintenance was well done. Several board walks with some down slopes that had slats across them to keep from sliding down. Steeper sections up and down had rebar sealed to the rock to assist. Even with these aides it was challenging and strenuous hiking. Despite the short miles I was tired when I arrived at camp before 1pm. Five miles into my hike I crossed the NH, ME, border. Thirteen states down and one to go. I'm getting excited to finish. Thoughts of home are frequently on my mind while hiking. I'm looking forward to being with family again. We beat the rain and I quickly set up camp. Normally I don't make a hot lunch but felt like I needed it today. A nap afterward helped me recover. Dinner soon followed. Phantom a hiker in our bubble set up camp. He was kind enough to share some 12 yr scotch. It was excellent. A nice end to the day. Thank you Phantom. In the morning we hike the toughest part of the trail, Mahoosuc. It is known for ice in its deep crevices year round with rock scrambles over, under and in between. It should be exciting.
Date: 2015-07-25
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Baldpate lean-to
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

The strategy to dial back miles to account for the more strenuous terrain has been helpful. I woke refreshed and ready for a challenging day. Today we would Mahoosuc Notch. It is known as the toughest part of the AT. SoBos have been warning me about it for a few days. Today was my day. Mahoosuc Notch was everything that I've heard about it. The Notch was also the most fun I've had on the trail. It was like a challenging theme park for hikers. Big boulders, deep crevices deep in a narrow canyon bordered by steep Rick walls. There is a unique feeling that you get being there. The scale of the large rocks balanced against one another as if tumbled there like toy blocks. The mysterious crevices, caves and seems that disappeared into darkness. Shadows of faint light and darkness. The cool air that comes from beneath and gently cools your skin. The water that runs under the boulders that you can hear but not see. The ice that remains from the winter still solid in late July. These combine to give sensations of wonderment. There has been no other place quite like it on the trail. It is a special place. And the hiking. There are the white blazes that mark the way. However there are choices to be made. There is path but many ways to go through it. You hop, crawl, scramble and balance from one boulder to another. Often this required me to press my feet against the sheer walls of rock on either side of me and pull up with my hands. Each move was calculated. Where to put my hands, my feet, my shoulders or any body part that may be used as leverage. Hiking poles were stowed. They were a danger to me than helpful. Three times I needed to remove my pack to crawl through a space and then pull the pack through. It was a eerie feeling going in and refreshing to come out. I'm grateful for a dry day and lighter load in my pack. This would have been much more difficult for me in the rain and would elevate the risk of injury. I didn't need to make the decision but it would be wise to wait for a dry day.Hiking through the Notch took whatever skill and strength I had. It took me 1hr 45 min to navigate the 1.5 miles of Mahoosuc Notch. It was technically challenging and physically demanding. And I enjoyed every minute in this special place. Following the Notch we had a 1600 ft climb that was strenuous, difficult and technical. This took a lot of energy but I felt that I was well rested and prepared. Unfortunately the clouds and fog covered the views. Still it was a nice climb. I set up camp just before 5pm. A long day with lots of effort. I slept with feeling of accomplishment and grateful to have experienced this special place.
Date: 2015-07-26
From: Baldpate lean-to

To: East Hill Rd, The Cabin
Miles today: 8.0

The rains came late last night and kept up until morning. It was a wet overcast day. I packed up my wet tent following breakfast and set out with Obsolete for our day hiking. There was a steep and strenuous climb to Baldpate west peak. It challenges me. Wet rocks and overcast. There was a lot of work but not much in the way of views. Despite this it was a rewarding ascent. We were above tree line which I enjoy. However the strong winds and cool temperatures made it cold if I slowed down. The descent was more challenging. The steep wet slabs of rock made it difficult. I slipped and fell three times. My pride hurt more than my physical injuries. I got away with scrapes and bruises. A common theme for me in the Whites. Five of us ended our day about the same time. Joining Obsolete and I were Hey Jude, JW and Myster Lynard. We agreed to stay at a hostile in Andover were we would be picked up at the trail head. We came to the road to find an older gentleman, Earl who would drive us in. Earl has a presence about him. Gray hair and beard with brushy eyebrows. He is instilled with confidence earned over the years and welcomed us warmly as "newbies". He said that dinner was steak and lobster tonight. A cruel him I thought after our day. In fact Earl and Margie offer steak and lobster occasionally as a special dinner. As luck would have it we would be part of the special dinner tonight. The Cabin run by Inn Keepers Earl, i.e. "Bear" and Margie, i.e. "Honey". They are a wonderful couple who demonstrate that age has no boundaries for hospitality and hiking. They opened the hostel as something to do in their retirement. They are wonderful and engaging hosts. Dinner was not like anything I've seen. Large steamed succulent lobsters, perfectly prepared tender steaks accompanied by all of the fixings. For desert homemade carrot cake with ice cream. I had seconds. The conversation around the table was as good as dinner. Sitting next to me was Caroline, ie, Moon Beam, Margie's youngest sister at 78. She hikes weekly and hiked Katahdin two weeks ago. Along with Earl and Margie Caroline was an inspiration. Needless to say that it was an easy sell for us to slack pack tomorrow and the day after so that we could stay a couple of more nights. I'm looking forward to hiking and coming back to good conversation.
Date: 2015-07-27
From: East Hill Rd, The Cabin

To: South Arm Rd
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: moderate rain

We had an excellent hiker breakfast at The Cabin. Our little band of five hikers set out to slack pack NoBo ten miles. The day was overcast and heavy fog hung in the forest canopy. The sunlight filtered through the trees like multiple beams from a spot light. The soft light illuminated specific parts of the ground. The contrast of lightness and darkness across the forest floor gave an added texture to the mixture of pine trees and hardwoods. The air was still and warm. It was a peaceful feeling as I started our first ascent. I felt the increasing temperature as persperat soaked through my clothes within the first thirty minutes. Pine trees lined the trail wet with rain from the night before. We got soaked brushing against the pine branches. It felt like I was going through a car wash. Our 1600 ft ascent was gradual but demanding. Knowing that our day was short motivated me to move faster. The hard work began in the ascent up Moody Mountain. The 1400 ft climb was over a short distance. It was steep and challenging. The trail was well maintained with rock steps and rebar over the most difficult sections. It was gratifying to reach the top of the mountain. Unfortunately the fog continued and I was unable to see a view. We arrived at our pick up point around 1pm. After a shirt wait and refreshment from a nearby stream we went back to the hostel. A quick ride into town allowed a second lunch and resupply for another slack pack tomorrow. A five month hike takes its toll on equipment, gear and clothing. The life time guarantees from many of the companies is tested. Much of my clothing is wearing out. My favorite hiking shirt is full of holes being held together by threads. I'm afraid that that the next time in put it into he washer only threads will come out. "Hopper" a kind young woman who is helping at the hostel came to my rescue. She worked her magic by patching every visible hole. Hopper has incredible sewing skills and my shirt tested her talent. She was more than up to the task. I was excited when she returned my patched shirt back. It now has a chance to get me to Katahdin. Thank you Hopper. Margie made another delicious dinner of beef stroganoff, salad, corn on the cob and homage brownies and ice cream for desert. A great way to end the day. Rain is forecasted tonight and tomorrow. Along with the friendly hospitality of Margie and Earl the inclement weather is another good reason to return to The Cabin for one more night.
Date: 2015-07-28
From: South Arm Rd

To: ME 17
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: light rain

A powerful thunderstorm rolled in late last night. The lightning was close enough that it's light penetrated the dark bunk room were we slept and woke me up. The accompanying thunder vibrated as it clapped in unison with the lightening. It was a good night to be inside. The rain cleared by morning. After a satisfyingly breakfast and TV the five of us shuttled back to slack pack NoBo for the day. I've not listened to music much during my AT adventure. Today was a day that I choose to enjoy music while I hiked. I have eclectic taste and my play list included Georgian Chants, Bebo Norman, Tina Turner, The Police and Sting. It seemed the trail provided the perfect accompaniment to what I was playing. My 2200 ft climb up Old Blue Mountain was inspired by the monks chant. The sun rising over the mountain shining its rays through the canopy was like being in a cathedral. The soft deep voices provided a spiritual essence that I enjoyed. It inspired me. The ascent while difficult went quickly as the chants moved me along. Following summiting of Old Blue most of the day was a series of ups and downs. The rest of my play list energized me through these sections. Bear from The Cabin asked Obsolete if he would clean up around one of the shelters which Obsolete readily accepted. By the time I caught up with him Obsolete was done and had collected a large bag of trash. A nice gesture of trail magic from Obsolete. Very typical of his generosity and kindness. Obsolete also befriended a trail volunteer who was replacing a worn out sign on Bemis Mountain. Obsolete offered to carry the old sign down the mountain as a gift to Honey and Bear to display at The Cabin. The volunteer readily accepted knowing that many hikers at The Cabin would enjoy seeing the sign displayed. At dinner our little group of hikers presented the sign and a bottle of scotch to Honey and Bear on behalf of the hiking community for the service they provide. You could see that they were touched and appreciated the gesture. It was an enjoyable day hiking and being with the company of others who care so much for the AT. I've been blessed to be around such a fine group of people.
Date: 2015-07-29
From: ME 17

To: Piazza Rock Lean-to
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

The time had come to depart The Cabin and the hospitality of Honey and Bear. We had a wonderful stay there. It was one of the highlights of my trip. Their love of the AT and hospitality to hikers is exceptional. Our hike today would have no steep climbs or deep descents. It was challenging none the less with roots and mud. The day warmed up and the heat extracted a lot of energy from me. There were also highlights of beautiful ponds and relaxing views. I had the chance to meet Bionic, a German woman living in Denver who is on her return Flip Flop to Harpers Ferry. We had a short conversation which was inspiring. She has a prosthetic leg above the knee. Bionic hiked slowly, steadily and with determination. My best wishes to you Bionic in completing your hike. It was a pleasure to meet you today. We are nearing the 2000 mile mark that we plan on crossing on Friday. Conversation during our hike included planning our time at Baxter State Park, Katahdin ascent and it trip home.
Date: 2015-07-30
From: Piazza Rock Lean-to

To: Spaulding Lean-to
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: scattered clouds

It was a hard but good day. Despite getting a 6:30am start temperatures were warm and humidity high for a high effort day. We immediately started a 2000 ft climb up Saddleback Mountain. It was a strenuous hike and I was rewarded with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. The rocky terrain and lack of tree cover was complimented by low vegetation including delicate flowers and blueberries. The berries were delicious. A steep difficult descent followed with another ascent to The Horn which had similar terrain and views. Another steep descent put me at the base of Saddleback Junior and a climb to its summit. The ascents required a lot of effort the descents were more difficult. Steep, rocky with roots all wet made it particularly challenging. It was slow going managing my way down without falling. The last effort to camp was up a gradual slope. By this time I was tired. Hiking the last couple of miles felt like it was in slow motion. We arrived at camp at 4pm just in time to beat the rain. I was famished from the days effort and I began eating everything in food bag. We resupply in Stratton tomorrow so I was happy to lighten my load. Tomorrow we should pass the 2000 mile mark. A time to celebrate.
Date: 2015-07-31
From: Spaulding Lean-to

To: ME 27 Stratton
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

A front moved in early last night and brought heavy winds and rain. The rain stopped in the middle of the night but the winds continued. As the precipitation left the strong winds broke the clouds away to unveil a full moon shining brightly. It was a beautiful sight as the lunar beams penetrated the forest in between the moving clouds. We were up early and on the trail by 6:30am. The weather front brought cooler temperatures and lower humidity. A nice break from the previous days. Good for hiking. Our day started with a steep climb to the crest of Spaulding Mountain. This was accompanied by an equal sharp descent. The big climb for the day was South Crocker and North Crocker Mountain. In total it was 2100 feet of uphill. We ended our day with a long but challenging downhill to ME 27 the highway which leads to the town of Stratton. I was moving fast anxious to cross the 2000 mile mark and get to our destination. I slipped on a wet slab of rock, falling and bending my hiking pole. Obsolete was behind me. Seeing that I was ok he immediately took my pole and fixed it with a replacement part that he had been carrying in his pack. It took him all of a minute to finish. Amazing. I felt like a NASCAR driver with a flat tire. Before I knew what had happened Obsolete had me up and running. He is a talented guy and seems to be prepared for almost anything. I'm grateful that he was there. My pride was hurt from the slip more than anything and we continued on. Thanks Obsolete for the emergency repair. Obsolete took the lead and continued ahead of me. I slowed down to prevent further slip ups. For some reason I continued to slip and had a hard fall in the last two miles. My motivation to finish was driving me. I slowed down more and that kept me on my feet. I crossed the 2000 mile mark without fanfare. My GPS confirmed the distance and I gave a smile of satisfaction for the milestone. I could not have gotten this far without the support of my fellow hikers, trail angels, maintenqance crews and my trail colleagues Obsolete and Ox. Most of all the support of my wife Ingrid who has been an inspiration to me and unconditional support. Our children who have been my cheerleaders with their encouragement. My family and friends who have been supportive. We made it safely to the Stratton Motel were we refreshed, cleaned and were well fed at the resturant next door. We celebrated our 2000 mile mark with dinner and the camaraderie of our fellow hikers. Now 189 miles to go!
Date: 2015-08-02
From: Long Falls Dam Rd

To: Pierce Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We got an intentional late start for our shorter day. This gave us the opportunity to have a relaxing breakfast and real brewed coffee at the White Wolf Inn. I do miss leisurely Sunday mornings at home. They are not far away. The weather was beautiful. Sunny and clear. A little warm for hiking but pleasant. The terrain has taken a dramatic change. Little elevation change with rocks, roots, mud with sections of pine and leaves covering the trail. Despite this I felt the increases weight of my pack with 3+ days of food to get me to Monson. Monson will be my final supply point before the 100 mile wilderness. We arrived at camp mid day. It is a beautiful setting next to Pierce Pond. My tent is slight up on a hillside with the water visible through the pine trees. It is quiet and serene. A gentle breeze is blowing with the sound of rushing water in the background. We are planning our finish. I hope to get to the Birches by the 12th, summit Katahdin on the 13th and fly home the 14th. The cell coverage is poor so confirming flights etc, has been difficult. There are also uncontrollable variables such as weather and getting to Bangor which are unclear. I have faith that these will all come together for a great finish. 155.2 miles to go.