morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-06-08
To: Pine ellis lodging
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Maine! :) Had been hoping the rumors weren't true, but they are-- maine is a tough state. Today included goose eye mtn- all 3 peaks, fulling mill mtn, mahoosuc arm, old speck mtn, and of course the infamous mahoosuc notch-- still full of snow and ice. Completed the 1 mile notch in 1 hr 14 min... which I hear is better than average :) Hiking with Connor aka teddy bear for 2nd half of today.
Date: 2017-06-09
To: Pine Ellis Lodging
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Fantastic day slack packing from grafton notch to south arm rd, summiting baldpate, wyman, and moody mtns.  Baldpate involved scaling up/down a bedrock bald at angles up to maybe 50's without hand/foot holds... really happy I beat the rain for the climb/descent.  Butt kicked by moody mtn at the end of the day with it's steepness.  Ran into some trail maintainers and day hikers on the trail.
Date: 2017-06-12
To: Stratton motel- stratton, ME
Miles today: 18.7

Tough day- temps in the low 90's, rocky/rooty terrain, some hand climbing, boulder fields, and steep ascents/descents, summiting the crocker mtns, and coming close to spaulding mtn summit, staying in town at the stratton motel, ate a 54oz ice cream cake (14 servings), and drank 2x 23oz arizona iced teas for dinner, weighed myself at 148lb afterwards :) SOBOs red and john staying at the stratton motel also, ran into sponge pool and footprint today also SOBOs
Date: 2017-06-13
To: Mtn village farm B&B
Miles today: 16.6

Fun day hiking the bigelow range with 2 peaks over 3800' and 2 over 4000' plus little bigelow mtn, almost 2 mi of elevation gain/loss today, great views from the west and avery bigelow peaks. Ran into several SOBOs- ghost, sam, terrapin, and half squatch. They all look like they're in so much pain... ah, I remember those days.
Date: 2017-06-14
To: The Caratunk house B&B
Miles today: 20.4

A couple of little hills early in the hike today, then relatively flat, but pretty tough terrain with the rocks and roots, walked along several ponds today, tempting to jump in for a swim... passed a bunch of SOBOs- sweet blood, sriracha, matt, ruth, andy, the hot mess express, among others I can't remember their names, crossed the kennebec river via ferry in the evening, staying at a hostel/b&b close to the ferry crossing in probably the smallest town on the AT, caratunk which to my eyes consists of a few houses on a street.  Ran into another NOBO, skippy jon jones, who summited katahdin on june 3rd and is now hiking back to springer mtn in GA... completely nuts.
Date: 2017-06-16
To: Shaw's - monson, ME
Miles today: 21.5

Hypothermia kinda day- low 50's temp, rainy, windy, plenty of river and stream fordings, some exposed stretches without tree cover/wind blockage.  Passed a bunch of SOBOs- old timer, red beard, rapunzel, malfoy, welford, duffy, coby, hawkeye, preacher, and many others I can't remember.  Staying at shaw's tonight in monson, last trail town/hostel before katahdin.  Resupply for the 100 mile wilderness starting tomorrow, tons of SOBOs staying in town-- cool hearing their 100 mile wilderness stories and surprised to hear many SOBOs have dropped off the trail already... on some of the flattest parts with the nicest weather... ate an amazing dinner-- 8 crab rangoons with dipping sauce, 8 hot wings, a steak gyro, fries, 3 cherry cokes, a bowl of tripple berry cobbler with vanilla ice cream, a 23oz can of arizona iced tea, and a pint of strawberry cheesecake ice cream--- noticing the SOBOs here in monson haven't caught the hiker hunger bug yet.
Date: 2017-06-17
To: Cloud pond lean-to
Miles today: 22.5

Entered the 100 mile wilderness this morning, and 10 mi in L hiking pole tip broke off and then the pole snapped in half a bit later... down to using 1 pole now :) summited barren mtn, forded big wilson stream, long pond stream, north pond brook, and little wilson stream, all with water levels knee deep or slightly less.
Date: 2017-06-18
To: Logan brook lean-to
Miles today: 23.9

12,000'+ elevation gain/loss today, summited 3 of the chairback mtns, gulf hagas mtn, west peak, hay mtn, and white cap mtn, no views anywhere... intense winds and fog on white cap. Forded w branch pleasant river, wet shoes all day. Ran into a bunch of SOBOs, whiskey preacher a NOBO from last year finishing his hike, and bush meat and spear chucker again.
Date: 2017-06-19
To: White house landing
Miles today: 25.8
Weather: broken clouds

Gradual downhill in the morning from the logan brook lean-to, then mostly flat, some nice stretches with good footing. Mosquitos at their worst today, pretty much hiked with the same cloud of 200 mosquitos attacking all day, eventually was wearing winter gloves, winter hat, bug net, full rain gear but they still found a way to bite through that stuff. Crazy. Moose sighting today near a pond a bit off the trail, 3 for the price of 1 :) Got a boat ride from he dock at white house landing to a hostel on a lake-- literally an oasis in the 100 mile wilderness, cheeseburger pepperoni pizza and a brownie sundae for dinner plus a shower-- tan contento ahora :)
Date: 2017-06-20
To: Rainbow stream lean-to
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Easy hike to rainbow stream lean-to, 1st partial glimpse of katahdin from nesuntabunt mtn :) plenty of SOBOs on the trail today, ninook at the shelter, zach and eddie section hikers too, and irene a MATC trail maintainer at the shelter. Built one last fire at night, embers still glowing in the morning :)
Date: 2017-06-22
To: AT hiker lodge - millinocket, ME
Miles today: 15.6

Katahdin. It happened. Shuttle ride to the ranger station (NOBO #30) at katahdin stream campground, checked in then 2ish hr hike/climb to the top-- probably the most challenging climbing on the trail but coolest views.  Ran into bushmeat and spearchucker halfway up the mtn, hiked the rest of the way with them.  After descending, hiked the 10ish miles back to abol bridge (which are arguably the easiest 10 miles on the trail).  Girlfriend flew into town, if the weather keeps up we'll go for katahdin on saturday and try the knife's edge too :)
Date: 2017-06-27
To: The NOC
Miles today: 0.0

21.9 mi to the nantahala outdoor center, ran into quite a few section and day hikers, beautiful day, summited Cheoah bald @ 5052', wondering where the pine trees and treeless summit were that I've been used to in the northern states.  Enjoying the level relatively root- and rock-less trail :)
Date: 2017-06-30
To: Dick's creek gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Last day on the AT! Hiked 11.3 miles in the morning through heavy rain to get to dick's creek gap. In January this is where I got to before having to get off the trail for several weeks due to... ugh it pains me to say... frostbite.  After getting back on the trail ahead at fontana dam, this section loomed over my head all the way to katahdin-- now I can say after hiking these 95 miles this week I have completed the entire AT with an 86 mile aquablaze on the shenandoah river :)  Billy goat out.
Date: 2017-03-26
From: Stamford, CT

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0

On Sunday, March 26, I will resume section-hiking the AT by doing a 125-mile segment from Harpers Ferry, WV, to Duncannon, PA. I have hiked all of the AT from Duncannon to Katahdin over a 12-year period. I am doing this particular segment because both ends of the hike can be reached from my home in SW CT via Amtrak (Harrisburg is served by Amtrak and is an Uber ride from Duncannon). There's snow on the ground where I live, wet, soggy snow, but conditions appear to be better along the Potomac.
Date: 2017-03-27
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Crampton Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I spent the night at The Town's Inn, a lovely hostelry owned and managed by a Ms. Townsend (Town's Inn/Townsend). It is located close to the train station and offers dinner and breakfast. Highly recommended. After breakfast I walked 1/2 mile up the hill to the ATC headquarters. Friendly greeting. Had my photograph taken along with a few other formalities (none burdensome). And I met Trail Dog, who was going my way. We decided to hike together. Trail Dog is a 66-year old North Carolinian who had to abandon an AT through hike a few years ago. He been unable to resume his hike sooner due other issues but was now fit and on his way. He was now a farmer after retiring from a technical career. Intelligent, he was good company. We picked up the AT nearby, after passing through the Storer College campus, passing John Brown's "fort" and crossing the much-photographed foot bridge over the Potomac River. It had rained during the night, and it was misty and wet underfoot but easy going for 3 miles along the C&O Canal towpath. The AT then turns inland and begins its ascent onto South Mountain, which is a long ridge oriented north-south. Half way up we reached a side trail to Weverton Cliffs. Other hikers were at the trail junction, and chatted with them -- they were locals out for a day hike. We opted to continue on, meeting other day hikers and dog walkers. About a mile after reaching the top of the ridge we came to the Ed Garvey Shelter. This is an impressive two-level structure, well located with a view to the east down the Potomac valley. The visibility had improved, so that we could enjoy it while having lunch. We continued north with little change of elevation until descending to Garthland State Park, which has a hand-operated water pump that brings up water that requires no treatment. We topped up. After the Park the AT ascends steeply to a side trail the descends steeply to the Crampton Gap Shelter. Its somewhat inconvenient location is presumably due to its proximity to an unreliable spring, which was working (but how were we to know?). The Shelter is an older structure but well maintained. A comfortable first night's destination.
Date: 2017-03-28
From: Crampton Gap Shelter

To: Route Alt 40
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We had a thunderstorm at around 4 am. A precourser of what was to come today. We got started around 8:30 with a climb of 0.3 mi to get from the Shelter back onto the trail. The rain began just as we started. A cloud had settled on the mountain which lent some atmosphere to the hiking. Would that only was cloudy. It rained, sometimes heavily into the early afternoon. We passed a tent set up close to the trail, its denizon(s) out of sight. And just one other hiker, a southbounder who inquired anxiously about the next water source (we recommended Gathland State Park). The rain had stopped by the time we reached the side trail for the Rocky Run Shelter. We took the 0.2 side trail to the Shelter and used it as a lunch stop. This is a newer structure, on two levels. Continuing another 2 miles, we reached the Dahlgren Campground, which a pre-season look and feel. The sun chose to make an appearance, and we realized we were just 0.3 mi from our day's destination. We hurried on. We were picked up by Trail Dog's former work colleague, Jennifer, who took us a short distance from her and her husband, Rob's beautifully situated home. Showers, home-cooked food and a bed with sheets, unexpected treats!
Date: 2017-03-29
From: Route I-70

To: Route Alt 40
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: scattered clouds

We needed a short day, I because my body was still complaining about the abrupt increase in activity (a problem we section hikers have), and Trail Dog because he needed to do some shopping. So we accepted Jennifer's and Rob's kind invitation to remain a second night. In the morning we did a short segment of trail near their home, southbound.Rob drove us to the parking lot just north of the footbridge over Route I-70. This segment of the AT proved to be a relatively easy one. The high point was visiting the original Washington Monument, which was built in 1827, apparently from stones scattered by Mother Nature around the site. The monument of the same name in Washington, DC, came later. We finished at the same place where we had finished yesterday, Route Alt 40, where Rob picked us up. Later we all drove into Frederick where I bought a new pack cover (the inadequacy of my old one having been evident in yesterday's rain), and Trail Dog got the items he needed. Frederick is a lovely small city, with a well-preserved downtown and an old canal running through it. NyTrail Dog and I treated Jennifer and family to a nice meal before we returned home.
Date: 2017-03-30
From: Route I-70 Overpass

To: Wolfsville Road
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I have done most of my AT hiking solo, and I did so today. Our host for the past two nights, Rob, drove us back to where we had began yesterday's hike, but today we headed north. Trail Dog wanted to make some miles, so we parted company at the foot of a climb up from the I-70 overpass. We hoped to meet again, as we were headed the same way. Once on the ridge, the trail was relatively easy. Indeed, I encountered several trail runners. The highlight of this section is probably Annapolis Rock, an overlook that is much photographed because a photograph taken from a certain angle makes it appear that a person is standing on a projection over thin air. I opted to pass it by because I had no one to take that photo, it was well off the trail and also because of reports that the site was marred by graffiti. (I learned subsequently that the graffiti has been cleaned up.). There was another overlook, Black Rocks, not much farther along that I did stop at. I find that the miles go more easily when hiking solo if I listen to music, so I bring an iPod with me. Today it was Gounod's Faust, Puccini's Messa di Gloria (yes, Puccini) and Berlioz's Te Deum. The day ended with a climb over the crest of the ridge and a steep descent to Wolfsville Road. Robert Freeman met me there and shuttled me to his hostel, Trail of Hope Hostel, in Fayetteville, PA. I was met there by my friends Nancy and Eric, who driven from my home in CT, and Chris, who had driven from MI.
Date: 2017-03-31
From: Pen-Mar, MD

To: Old Forge Picnic Area
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: scattered clouds

This is the first of several days of slack packing, operating out of the Trail of Hope Hostel. Heavy rain was predicted for today, so we opted (out of sequential order) to do the shortest of the three sections we planned to hike over the next three days. As the saying goes, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing". Nancy brought my Bean boots from home, and I used them. The day was a good test of my foul weather gear, and I'm happy to say that it performed well. 1-2" of rain had been predicted, but the heaviest was during the car shuttle. With two cars, we left one at the finish point and continued to the start in one car.We crossed the Mason-Dixon Line shortly after we started hiking. The rain continued until around midday, but it had stopped by the time we stopped for lunch at a shelter. We stopped at a market on the way back to the hostel, and Nancy cooked us a spaghetti dinner in the hostel's kitchen.
Date: 2017-04-01
From: Wolfsville Road

To: Pen Mar, MD
Miles today: 9.8

Nancy, Eric, Chris and I then circled back and did the northernmost section in MD. The highlights of the day were two crossings of streams swollen by yesterday's rain. Both were across streams that paralleled roads. Both were unexpected. Each of us made the crossing in our own way. At the first I took off my shoes and socks, rolled up my pants and walked across a relatively shallow, sandy-bottomed stretch of the the stream; at the second I got across without shedding any footgear. Nancy got across the first without shedding footgear but went in over her boots at the second. Needless to say, the water was cold. Numerous other hikers were at both crossings, finding their ways across. Lots of good humor and not a few laughs. The last portion of the section took us over and then steeply down a jumble of rocks. With the delay crossing the streams, it was a long day.
Date: 2017-04-02
From: Old Forge Picnic Area

To: Route 30, Fayetteville, PA
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

Chris was unable to hike with us today because he had aggravated a problem with his knee. Nancy opted to join us where Route 933 crosses the AT, shortening her hike to about 4-1/2 miles. So it was just Eric and myself as we started from the Old Forge Recreation Area. The hike began with a steep uphill but was relatively easy once we reached the top. That continued after Nancy joined us until the trail climbed up to the crest of the ridge we had been paralleling. Until that point, we were away from the slope of the ridge, which was a jumble of rocks. Now we were hiking through the jumble, which was quite beautiful but not easy going. And not always easy to follow. The trail then descended to the easier terrain on the flank of the ridge and continued down to Route 30 where we had left Eric's car. Then back to the hostel. We were delighted to find Trail Dog there. Eric and Nancy made a quick getaway for their long drive back to CT.
Date: 2017-04-03
From: Shippenburg Road

To: Route 30, Fayetteville, PA
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Chris stayed the night at the hostel and drove Trail Dog and me to where the AT crosses Shippenburg Road. He then continued back home in MI. The trail was not difficult, particularly at the start. The weather was pleasant, and this may have brought hikers out. In any event, we began seeing other hikers within a quarter of a mile from where we started and continued seeing them all day. The highlight of the day, however, was Quarry Gap Shelter, which we reached about 8-1/2 miles from our start. This shelter is a class act. It consists of two shelter structures connected by a roof covering an area for a picnic table, all topped by a cupola. In addition to the usual privy and tent pads, the site has a roofed bear box, a second covered picnic table, a swing and a sun dial that today told the correct time. It was a nice place to linger, and while we were there we were joined by Men in Black, with whom Trail Dog had shared a hostel room back in Harpers Ferry, Mike, who was on his way to our hostel, and Blissful. Shortly after we reached Route 30, Robert appeared and drove me back to the hostel. Trail Dog proceeded on foot to a nearby restaurant. A satisfying day.
Date: 2017-04-04
From: Shippenburg Toad

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 8.6

Trail Dog and I continued together. Robert shuttled us to the same point where we had started yesterday, but today we hiked north. It was a sunny, warm day, and the hiking was easy. In just over a mile we reached the current midpoint of the AT, which is on the curiously named Dead Woman's Hollow Road, marked by a modest, amendable and movable sign. About four miles later we reached a former midpoint marked by a more elaborate sign. Apparently there is a third midpoint marker at the AT's original midpoint somewhere north of here. The day ended at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, site of a well-known hostel called the Ironmasters Mansion. Unfortunately for us, it is closed on Tuesdays; as an AYH hostel, it closes at 9 am each morning, no problem for hikers, but then doesn't open again until 5 pm, which can be a problem. It is an impressive building and happily has a well-appointed porch where we waited for Robert to pick us up and bring us back to the hostel.
Date: 2017-04-05
From: Pine Grove Furnace State Park

To: Whiskey Spring Road
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Robert shuttled Trail Dog and me back to yesterday's finish point, and we began the hike with a stroll on paved pathways through the park. The AT then left the park and followed disused roads for a time. Farther on we hiked on a disused rail bed, alongside the tracks of an active short line railroad. We crossed two busy highways and ended the day with a steep climb up an aptly-named Rocky Ridge which is topped by two rock mazes. Again Robert picked us up for what was now a long drive back to the hostel. We expect this will our last night here. I recommend it.
Date: 2017-04-06
From: Whiskey Spring Road

To: Route 11, Carlisle, PA
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light snow

Today's weather may have been the worst I've hiked in, at least for a full day. The rain began with a thunderstorm at 4:30 am and continued after we got on the trail at about 9 until after we got off around 4:45. We later learned that the area received 1.15" of rain today. Robert shuttled Trail Dog and me back to Whiskey Springs Road and (so we could slack pack) then continued to our destination, where he left the contents of our packs which we had placed in two black plastic garbage bags. We trusted Robert to deliver the bags, but both of us had some anxiety until we collected them when we checked in. Not surprisingly, we met few other hikers today. Two northbound hikers we had met the day before were just crossing the road as we began, and we saw Blissful several times and a couple of trail runners.Atop Center Point Knob, after the last climb before Boiling Springs, we saw the third and oldest midpoint markers. It was a windy place, and we didn't linger. The highlight of the day was Boiling Springs. We visited the ATC regional office, an outfitter (where I bought some gloves more suitable for the conditions), had a warm and comfortable lunch at the excellent Cafe 101 and mailed some items home.Then back to the trail. We now were in the Cumberland Valley, relatively level terrain through farm country. The trail crosses Route 11 on a dedicated overpass, requiring a scramble down to the road. A short walk brought us to a Super 8 Motel, where we dried out and warmed up.
Date: 2017-04-07
From: Route 11, Carlisle, PA

To: Route 850
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: broken clouds

The Super 8 motel had a couple of useful amenities that we took advantage of -- a coin-operated clothes dryer and breakfast (pretty basic). After a walk down Route 11, a section of highway largely devoted to the trucking industry, we were back on the AT at about 9 am. The trail was still wet from yesterday's rain. After a couple of miles, we reached Conodoguinet Creek, the main river that drains this part of the Cumberland Valley. It was swollen from the rain, muddy, overflowing its banks and carrying tree branches along. We crossed it on a road bridge and then followed it to the apex of a deep meander. We then started the 800' climb over Blue Mountain. As the trail got steeper towards the top, it required some impressive stone work, a wall supporting the treadway as it traversed the steep slope and then a bench built of stone at a place with a particularly good view. At the top a side trail led to the Darlington Shelter, where we had lunch and made final arrangements by telephone for our shuttle into town.Also on top we experienced snow, not a lot but the real thing. It snowed harder as we neared our pickup place on Route 850. No accumulation, of course, because the ground was warm. Our shuttle provider, Trail Angel Mary, was waiting when we reached the road. She drove us to the iconic Doyle Hotel, which has most certainly seen better days but which is an AT institution.