morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-08-22
From: Franconia Notch. Lincoln NH

To: Franconia Notch / Lincoln NH. 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Zero day today.  Weather looks too risky up on the mountains tonight.  High winds thunderstorms and up to an inch of rain.  And the big deal is there are limited campsites.  So playing it safe with a good place to stay at cabin.  I'm in my tent across stream from cabin. I am able to rock hop across the stream with my pack.  By this time and after this much trail, I am a good rock hopper.  Went to town for a really nice breakfast at an Inn.  Then did laundry and shopped some and had ice cream and a sub for dinner.  Still a nice day. Weather suppose to hit later.I did call and get a reservation at Madison hut on Thursday night.   Tomorrow will push for Lake in the Clouds area and figure out what to do then.  Or maybe a sketchy campsite just below Eisenhower Mtn.  A couple miles before. Still worried about this section.  Where to camp tomorrow and the weather.   It is mostly above tree line so that changes the ballgame. I'll be fine, it's just the unknown I don't like.
Date: 2017-08-23
From: Franconia Notch / Lincoln NH. 

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: fog

Got shuttled to Crawford Notch this morning and hiking by 7:30.  We were uncertain if going to a campsite below Mt Eisenhower or on to Lake in the Clouds.  Made the big climb up to Webster Cliffs in a couple hours in fair weather.  Mostly sunny and still warm from previous front.  It had rained a lot overnight with thunderstorms so wet trail including water running down trail.  Webster Cliffs ran about half mile with lots of overlooks to Notch below, road and railroad.  Beautiful sights.  Cooled down as climbed.  Put on another layer.  Went over Webster, then on up to Jackson.  Sent text to my relatives since some of my ancestors were Jackson's and uncle Jackson too.  Stopped for a snack there and then on to Mizpah hut.  Had lunch.  Making good time.  Decided to push on to the hut.  Most thru hikers we talked to doing the same.  Up over Pierce/ Clinton, Eisenhower, Franklin and Monroe.  Almost all above tree line.  Over 5000 ft after Eisenhower.  A beautiful day with stunning views.  Best day of the hike by far for views.  Could see Mt Washington all day and it kept getting closer.  Clouds on it occasionally but mostly clear.  Got to hut and checked to see if any bunks available.  Were thinking to pay the full price but were offered 'emergency bunks' at half price.  This was as good as it could get!   Full guest privilege.  Other hikers here are doing work for stay or just paying a minimal amount to sleep on dining room floor.  Work for stay get meals after guests and they do the work.  Mostly dishes and cleaning.  Felt a little guilty but oh well.  Very cold tonight.  Upper 30s so really happy in the hut.  Tomorrow expected to be clear and cold.  Can't wait to get up to Mt Washington.  Should be excellent.   And then have a stay at Madison hut so will be good again for shelter and food.
Date: 2017-08-24
From: Lake of the Clouds Hut

To: Madison Springs Hut. 
Miles today: 7.2

Had a good Hut breakfast.  Clouds on top of mountains.  Cold and windy.  We packed up but hung around for a while hoping clouds lifted.  Did not happen.  Some hikers came in including Stitch and Zen and Frozen.  Talked to them some and headed up to Mt Washington about 10.  Highest mountain in New England at 6288.  Steep climb.  Good trail.  A couple clearing moments.  Made the mile and half and 1100 feet in about an hour.  Easier than expected. Busy place at top.  Rail and road access.  Snack bar!  Took pics and then waited again for cloud lift.  Quite few other hikers doing same.After a couple hours hiked on out.  As dropped down, some clearing.  Beautiful sights from so high. Cog rail trains come by.  Headed for the next hut.  About 6 miles.  Thought about 3 hours.  Mostly down.  But terrain was very rocky and steep. Slow going.  A couple ups over Clay and Jefferson.  Never much of a path. Just rock hopping and following cairns.  Kind of dangerous.  Had to be careful.  I was getting really tired and foot sore by time got to hut about five. Smaller but nicer hut.  More room in bunks.  I'm on bottom this time.  Nice.  Supper good.  I was surprised with a birthday cake with single candle. It was a Whoopy cake which is a regional thing like a Moon Pie.  All the hut folks sang happy birthday.  From a hiker perspective can't get much better than this.  Great Birthday.  Honored and thankful to be healthy and on this trip.  Counting down the days to completion too.  327 miles from where I am now.  Will finish min part of Whites tomorrow.  Then a couple days in the Wildcats and on to Maine.  Whites have most beautiful and most difficult.  Ready to get back to more normal terrain and increase miles per day toward goal of finishing by about 24Sep.
Date: 2017-08-25
To: Lost Pond Stealth site
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: broken clouds

AT mile 1871.4.   318.4 to Katahdin Another fine breakfast at hut.  Madison Spring Hut is a good one.  About 50 guests in three bunk rooms.  Even had individual lights in the bunks.  A beautiful day with views from hut and throughout day when up high.  In clouds a few times but not much.  Wind tolerable at around 20 to 30. Got away from hut a little after eight.  Climbed to top of Madison.  5366ft Rocky climb.  Then the long descent from Madison and the whole Mt Washington complex started.  All steep rock hopping and careful steps.  About 3 hrs to do the 3 miles.  Once below tree line was easier but still tough.  My knees have begun to hurt on long descents.  Not too bad and recover at night.  Took a break half way down and another for lunch about 2 miles from Pinkham Notch which was primary destination for day.  Lunch was at Mt Washington road crossing.  A few cars stopped at pullout.  Some taking short hikes after trip to top.  Last 2 miles easy on an old road bed.  At Visitor center Gota soda and talked with hikers Venture and Xina who were heading to Gorham.  See them most days for last month or so.  From NW of Indianapolis.  Also with a couple who were at hut from Chattanooga.  Not thru hikers. They are staying at the Inn here at Pinkham.  Got resupply from Ralph and a beer he provided.  Several days of food now for Wildcats which is last part of the Whites.  Hopefully not as rugged and just 2 days. Hiked on just a little to Lost Pond site.  Would have gone farther but trail goes up fast after this and not much hope for a camp site for quite a while.  Several 'strollers' came through as eating supper.  We're all hoping to see a moose on pond.  Maybe in morning.  Long hike planned for tomorrow over much of the Wildcats.  Then into Gorham from another direction on Sunday.  Have reservation at hostel that night.
Date: 2017-08-26
From: Lost Pond Stealth site

To: Imp shelter. 
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

AT Mile   1883.5.    306.3 to KatahdinNo moose this morning.  Got going early.  Expect it to be a hard day.  Doing Wildcat range and then Carters.  Lots of 4000 ft peaks.  Longest climb first thing.  Up to Wildcat E then D for a break.  Not sure why the letter names.  Five Wildcats.  Yep A to E.  over those pretty good then stopped at CarterNotch hut for soup and own lunch.   Slim Jim, Two chairs and Trail Mix there. Caught up w news from them.  Carter dome next.  Second wind helped with  that and on over south middle and north carter.  Needed water and a couple day hikers gave me some when I asked how far to next water.   Nice of them. About the steepest down have done after north carter.  Threw poles down slope many times and used hands to get down.  Finally leveled out.  Hard way to finish day.
Date: 2017-08-27
From: Imp shelter. 

To: Gorham NH. Rattle river hostel
Miles today: 8.0

AT Mile.  1891.5.  298.3 to Katahdin Climbed to Moriah Mtn this morning first thing.  Beautiful views on very clear and cold morning.  Coldest morning since the spring.  Was comfortable overnight in tent.  Had to do a few things different with clothes getting packed but OK.  Sounds like warming up next few days and have been dry so that is good.  Steep down for a couple miles but nothing like late yesterday coming off North Carter.   Crossed Rattle river and then nice hike on down it for several miles to highway.  Stopped once for early lunch.  Hot Sauce and ZipLock passed me then.  They came to camp area late last night. I did not see them then.  Really like them.  Have known since mid VA.  Got to talk to Amy again today. We talked yesterday for first time in several days.  Really missing her.  Hard to be apart this long.  She is trying to make plans to meet me at end, but I can't yet provide firm dates.  Frustrating for us both not to be able to plan.  When I got to highway today there was great trail magic!  A 2009 hiker named Why Not was cooking burgers with chips cookies soda etc.  what a great way to end hike today.  About a dozen hikers came and went while there.  Some I had never met.  All Nobo thru hikers.  Came to hostel and checked in.  Seems ok.  Quite a few rules which I'm ok with.  Shower and laundry and nap.  Went for some resupply and then pizza.  Good rest of day.
Date: 2017-08-28
From: Gorham NH. Rattle river hostel

To: Gentian Pond shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

AT Mile  1903.3.  Had good waffles and a breakfast casserole this morning with coffee.  Talked with hikers at table.  Some sobo people now that flipped to Katahdin and hiking south after starting in GA.  They are doing this usually because they got behind and would not be able to finish at Katahdin before it got too cold.  I would have been the same if had not skipped ahead when returning to trail in July. Got a ride to post office and picked up package from Amy.  Coffee, contact lenses, umbrella and some kolacky pastries that I ate at first break today.  Crushed up but still very good.  Umbrella is a contraption I ordered from Amazon.  Has head band and strap around chin.  Will send pic with it on in future.  Got on trail a little after 9:00.  Weather excellent again.  Today were several ponds and lakes, including the one I camped near.  Expect to be seeing more like this.  Usually just a few acres with beaver dams etc.  had to get water from pond tonight.  Fine to drink after filtering.  Just a little color and taste.  Went down and sat by pond after supper.  Hoping for moose but settled for a busy beaver working across pond.  Gave up as it got dark.  Frozen is another thru hiker here tonight, along a mother and two school age kids in the shelter.  They came up a side trail for the night.  Boy's name is Henry.  I'm on a platform again.  Works well.  Today's hiking was slightly easier than previous week.  Hope it stays that way.  Not many other hikers seen today.  Met a group going south and two other sobo.  I'm sure there were other nobo but they did not stop here.
Date: 2017-08-29
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Full goose shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: broken clouds

AT Mile.  1912.9Headed up Mt Success this morning.  Good climb in fair weather.  Got cloudy as day went on but no rain.  Then what I have been waiting for--the border into Maine!  Took pics and ate snacks.  Next the Goose Eye peaks.  Some pretty hairy rocks to climb. Welcome to Maine.  There was a west east and finally north peak before getting to Goose shelter. Big shelter and camp site.  I'm on a platform again. Was here early. Quite a few people here. Tomorrow will be Mahoosuc Notch in morning.  Known as the hardest and most fun mile of the trail.  Lots of boulders to negotiate.   More on that tomorrow.
Date: 2017-08-30
From: Full goose shelter

To: Grafton Notch / The Cabin Hostel
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

AT Mile. 1922.6Lost my shorts this morning.  What a start.  How did I do that?   I thought maybe an animal drug them away.  I know no other hiker would want them.  So I looked and fretted but did not find.  Thankfully I have some long hiker pants otherwise would have been my long underwear. Stay tuned for the conclusion to this trail mystery.  After a couple miles came to the exciting Mahoosuc Notch.  What fun coupled with death defying climbs and descents.  I was able to keep my pack on all the way through.   Others had to remove to crawl through slots.  My strategy was to go up and over but with greater danger.  Took almost two hours.  Took time and enjoyed.  Check out the other pictures in the picture section of my journal.  Next was the climb up Mahoosuc Arm.   That might have been the most unfun section of the trail.  Just steep and long.  Maybe more tired coming in.  Finally made it to top.  Discussed options and called The Cabin to see if could get pickup at Grafton.  Yes!  Plan is to slack pack and maybe zero out of the Cabin.  Have heard great things about the place.  So will be there 4 nights and slack about 35 miles in 3 days hiking.  Hiked on to Grafton Notch.  Long downhill.  Knees aching.  Picked up by hostel about four.  Stopped at convience store.  Shower and a wonderful family meal with about ten hikers and hostel family.  Great!   Bed comfortable in bunk room with four others.  Really staying tired and aches every day.  Hope these slack pack days help.  Motivated to finish this journey though.  Maine is staying just as difficult as NH.  Ten mile days will be the norm for a while.  Am eating more it seems.  Always hungry and always eating.   This family style meals for a few days will be good.  Ok.  Shorts mystery solved.  When I unstuffed sleep bag there they were! No long underwear hiking for me.
Date: 2017-08-31
From: Grafton Notch / The Cabin Hostel

To: Andover NH. The Cabin Hostel
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm teeing off on the 14th hole of the AT golf course.  This hole is named Maine.  It's an elevated tee box and the green is blind because of the clouds in the valley below.  Right now I am carding a 2 over par score.  Have had pars in many of the states with a birdie in NJ.  But VA was a double bogey (injury) and a bogey in NY (heat and rain).  That's my AT golf story with states.  Don't ask about the rest of the holes.  Missing my golf and golf buddies this year among other things and people.  Had a great breakfast.  Bacon eggs blueberry pancakes potatoes melon biscuits gravy melon banana juice and ....baked beans?   Couldn't ask for more.  Took a few left over pancakes for lunch.  Today slack packed sobo.  Weather cool and some light rain. Wore rain coat some for cover and warmth.  Did not get to try out new umbrella,too light of precipitation.  It was a much easier hike with light pack and better terrain.  Saw quite a few nobo hikers I knew. Hot Sauce and ZipLock,  Bambam and Little Bad Ass, Mud and Antique among others.  Hiked with other hostel people some.  Blue Ray from San Antonio quite a while.  Got back pretty early.  Feeling good.  Tonight we went to town for Mexican buffet at diner.  Good too.  I'm eating so much right now.  Maybe that will pep me up.  Slack pack again tomorrow so hope goes as good.  Need the miles but also the break on my body.
Date: 2017-09-01
From: Andover NH. The Cabin Hostel

To: Andover NH. The Cabin Hostel
Miles today: 10.3

Amy is gone for weekend.  I will be doing the posting from my phone which has its limits.  Especially with pictures.  Went back to Grafton Notch and did the section to Andover first road. I had skipped ahead yesterday for shuttle convenience. This was after another great breakfast at hostel. They really know how to feed hikers.  Cold windy cloudy morning. Got colder and windy as I climbed. Wanted to stop at Baldpate shelter for a rest and out of wind after a couple hours but missed the side trail to it. Realized this when I arrived at top of Baldpate west peak. Got out of wind in some trees and put on puffy coat pants stocking hat and gloves. Headed down saddle and to the bare approach to higher Baldpate east peak. Wind really picked up here and all way across the bald Mtn. Probably 50mph. Had to use hands to maintain solid on the rock. Really something. More than I had on top of Moosalacke a couple weeks ago. This time not in clouds at least. Had that feeling of impaired breathing sometimes. Like on a ride or in an open vehicle or back of a truck with face into the air blast. Made it over top. Going down was less into the wind and then below the alpine zone got back into tall tree forest and lower wind.  Met up with Venture on climb but he moved ahead faster to get out of wind. Xena not with him. She had slowed down and is a day behind. Stopped at Frey Shelter for lunch. Darren and scuba Steve and Venture there. I had brought a new log book and roll of toilet paper from hostel owner Bear. He likes to do these things as good will for hikers. Also picked up a few minor trash items and brought them out. Easy to do these things when slack packing.  Picked up by bear and back to hostel for another dinner to brag about. Shepard's Pie sweet corn salad and dessert.  At hostel tonight are also sobo hikers Jabba and his dad Buck. Did my laundry, cleaned water filter and to bed.
Date: 2017-09-02
From: Andover. The Cabin Hostel

To: Andover. The Cabin Hostel
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Last day of slack packing for me. After signature hostel breakfast, long drive north to where AT crosses ME17. Was a nice drive as others have been around here. Lots of little towns and old homesteads. And rivers streams lakes among the forest. Cool again. Fall colors just starting to hint they are coming. As I move north and days go by should be seeing more color. On trail by 9:00. Highway was on side of mountain with nice views. Hiking sobo today. Trail went down sharply at first and then up to first Bemis and second Bemis peaks. Beautiful weather by mid morning. Hiking comfortable. Stopped at shelter after 4.5. Actually they are now called lean-to's in Maine. Then down and back up Old Blue Mtn. Finally a 2.8 mile descent to road and pickup. I had a fall that could have been bad had I not been able to grab a tree after first bounce. Saw Lankey today. Had not seen him since CT or Mass. Also was with the 5 hikers from 2 days ago off and on. And saw Venture again today. Still without Xena. Several other nobo's.  Quick change of clothes and then to town for Italian Buffet at same diner. Ran into Orv that I hiked with off and on from way back until central VA. He had been hiking with daughter Trish but now they are separated by about hundred miles and she is with another group.  Hope I can meet up with him again. I am 2 days ahead right.  Paid Bear and wife Honey for my stay. They are mid 70's and the greatest people. Also have Hopper who seems to be full time help here for the hiker season. She is another of the type of people who 'live the trail'. Don't really have a permanent base just move up and down trail helping hikers. She is a great resource on trail conditions etc.
Date: 2017-09-03
From: Andover, Maine . The Cabin Hostel

To: Andover, Maine . The Cabin Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Rain coming in. Forecast for steady through overnight. Tapering off Monday morning. So you guessed it, I am zeroing today at the cabin hostel. Nice place to be for that.  After the hearty breakfast went to church with Honey. Hiker Buck also went. Nice small country church. Happy I went. Have wanted to attend somewhere so this worked out. Picked up a can of chicken noodle soup on way back for lunch. Hostel kitchen has what needed for prep. Hiker PeeO arrived. He's From Stevens Point originally. Helped install a new dryer that Son of Bear delivered later. Talked hiker talk with others and napped and planned next sections of hike. Another supper with group. BBQ chicken, potato salad, lettuce salad, rolls, sweet corn, dessert. Can't get over the great meals. Hate to leave that. So end of a zero day. Good for body and mind. Hope I do not need or am forced by weather to take another. Now ready for the final push to Katahdin. Still looking like about 20 more days to finish.
Date: 2017-09-04
From: Andover, Maine . The Cabin Hostel

To: Piazza Rock Lean To
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: few clouds

AT Mile  1971.2A final breakfast at the Cabin hostel.  Paid bill for last day.  I had paid yesterday thinking was leaving then before the rain came in.  Said goodbye to Bear and Honey and father/son hikers Buc and Jabba.  Got shuttle to Rt17 trailhead with Hopper and not on trail until after nine.  Cloudy not too cool to start things off.  Everything wet from big rain and lots of mud all day.  Cleared up by early afternoon and fairly warm but damp in the forest.  Fairly steady up for a couple hours but never steep.  Stopped at Sabbath Lake Lean To for quick break.  A sobo hiker there named Twin.  He thought he was the last true full sobo of the season.  Makes sense since he still has almost 2000 miles to Springer in GA.  Late season finish for him.  Then on to Little  Swift River Pond campsite for lunch about 1:30.  Several ponds along way.  Easier hiking all day except for mud.  At lunch Wild Flower and another girl, can't remember name, came in.  Have seen them the last few days, first at hostel, and then on trail.  Other than them only saw a couple other hikers today.  Crossed Rt4 which goes into Rangeley.  Did not stop as have enough food to get me to next resupply at Stratton in 3 days.  On just a couple more miles to Piazza Rock Lean To.  Nice place with small stream running right camp.  Good day doing 15 miles for first time in a while.  Nothing too steep.  Hope I can continue with higher mileage days.
Date: 2017-09-05
To: Spaulding Mtn Lean To
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

AT Mile. 1988.1Rained a little overnight.  Just enough to pack up rain fly wet.  First thing was long climb up Saddleback Mtn.  Part way up Roo decided to turn back.  This was final test of her knee hurting and the prospect if this mountain and next 2 or three days did not look good.  Could go back just a few miles and get transportation back to cabin.  Hope to meet up later like at Katahdin.  Weather threatening but good most of day.  Saddleback just steep and windy.  Lots of false summits above treeline.  I talked to Amy on way up.  Thought I was near top but ended up being. Long way to go.  Finally made top.  Not much of a view but still impressive spot.  Talked to a couple sobo' and also Redhot from KY.  That's right, flaming red hair and beard.  Next was The Horn. Coming down off it was awful.  Wet and steep.  I fell 2 times in first few drops.  I learned my lesson and did not attempt sloped rock faces with just my foot grip.  My falls were just landing on my butt/pack and sliding several feet to a stop in brush or just bottom of rock.  Stopped at a Lean To and talked to Redhot and Bottle.  We all are pressing on to Spaulding shelter. All hope to beat rain, etc.  Last 6 miles went quick.  6 hikers in shelter.  Including Barefoot Somo who I passed in afternoon. Moving slow but making it.  The got settled in for night. Just have to get the drill down.