morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-08-13
From: Goram, NH

To: Zeta Pass
Miles today: 8.5

This morning we were up at around 8:30am and headed down to eat breakfast but it turned out that the breakfast was not included in the price for the room so we went down to the gas station and just got breakfast sandwiches and doughnuts. We headed back to the room, packed up our gear and closed out the room. We got a piece of cardboard and made a sign that said Pinkham Notch and went out to the road to try and get a hitch back to the trail. We went about a block down the road and a lady pulled over and said she could give us a ride into town.We got dropped off at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and started up the Wildcat Range, we are now out of the Presidentials. The trail went up very steeply to the top of Wildcat Mountain Peak E, the mountain has multiple peaks A,C,D and E...I am not sure what happened to Peak B. The trail then went down slightly then back up to Peak D and at the top there was a gondola that was taking tourists up and down the mountain...cheaters. From Peak D the trail went down about 400 feet then back up to Peak C then slowly up to Peak A. At the top there was a SOBO hiker and we talked for awhile then started down a steep downhill to the next and last hut in the Whites, the Carter Notch Hut. Surprisingly the trail going down was well maintained and it was the first easy 1000 foot downhill we did in weeks. Before we knew it we were down and at the hut. We took a break there and planned where we were going to stay the night, we could not stay at the hut because it was only 2:00pm so we decided to move on and stealth camp at Zeta Pass. The only problem with that is there is no water there so we would have to carry extra water the three miles up and over Carter Dome Mountain.We stayed and relaxed and did not leave the hut till 3:15pm, we filled all our water bottles and our water bladders and headed up the mountain. The climb up was very steep and it stayed that way all 1100 feet. We were going very slow with all the extra water weight. It seemed to go on forever but we finally got to the top and took a break to let Hill Hiker catch up, he was only about five minutes behind and we all continued on after a ten minute break. From the top the trail stayed up on the ridgeline then went down steeply to Zeta Pass. We got there and found that there was water there, so we didn¢t need to carry all that water after all grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. We found a good place to set up camp and called it a night after the usual chores...night all.
Date: 2012-08-14
From: Zeta Pass

To: Goram, NH
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: light rain

This morning we were up and on the trail by 7:30am and heading north. First thing this morning we had to climb up to the peak of South Carter Mt, then Center Carter Mt and North Carter Mountain. The trail stayed up on the ridge line the whole time so it was not too hard. Once we got to the top of North Carter Mt. the trail went down 3700 feet for the next 9 miles. It started out steep but it got less and less steep the further down we went. All day long Hill Hiker was out ahead of us and every time we would pass a day hiker we would ask them if they saw him and he was always five minutes ahead of us. We kept going down and down and finally got to an old logging road that the trail followed and we started making really good time.   We finally got to the next shelter and when we got there Hill Hiker was just sitting down, he was surprised that we did not catch him all day and was starting to wonder about us. We took a short break there and continued on to finish the last two miles before we got to the road. While we were hiking it started to drizzle so we picked up our pace and did the two miles in just under half an hour. We got to the road and started hitching for a ride back into Goram NH, we tried to hitch for about half an hour then finally a young hiking couple stopped and took us into town...thanks. Once we were in town we went to the motel that we made reservations at and called it a day. Tomorrow we are taking a zero to rest up after finishing the Whites, they were really hard and wore us all out so we need a zero. It is to rain all day tomorrow so we will stay dry all day for once. Now that we are out of the Whites we have one more day to hike in NH then it¢s into our last state.. Maine!!! I need my rest because I hear that southern Maine is harder than the Whites...night all.
Date: 2012-08-16
From: Goram, NH

To: Dream Lake
Miles today: 9.6

Early this morning we were all wakened up by a bad thunder storm. We only had 9.6 miles planned for today so there was no rush, we watched the weather and saw that it was going to clear up later in the day and then decided to leave at 10:00am. We got all packed up, closed out the room then started hitching while walking down the road. We once again made a sign that said where we wanted to go but no one stopped. Finally a car beeped at us then pulled over after we walked a mile down the road, it had a PA license plate and I glad to see that. Two hikers got out and here they were two thru hikers who rented the car. They took us back up to the trail and we were heading north by around 11:00am. The trail followed some roads for about a mile then headed into the woods. We could definitely tell we were no longer in the Whites because there were no pine trees and the climb up to the mountain ridge was slow and gradual. We decided to take a break half way up the mountain. Our packs have five days of food in them so they are heavy and are wearing us out. While we were taking a break Connect Four came up the trail, we have not seen her since the Shennys I think. We talked for a while then she continued on up the trail. We made it up to the top of the first mountain which was only at a measly 2500 feet in elevation and once we started down it started to rain. It continued to rain till we got down to the bottom of the mountain, we then took another short break which turned into another long break because a northbound hiker caught up to us and we talked for a while before moving on. The trail went up steep and all the rocks were very slippery from the rain but it got easier and we were soon up on the ridge of the next mountain where it once again started to rain. It rained on us till we got to the bottom of the mountain then it started to clear up. We got to a spring and we stopped to take another break and to fill our water bottles. Soon the sun was out and the skies were blue and we started to dry out but the trail was still very muddy, swampy and sometimes just a flowing stream. It was starting to get a little late so we decided to stop and look for possible tent sites at the next four water sources which were all within the next two miles. We got to the next stream but could not find any tenting areas, we continued on to a pond which was a perfect place to stay, the sun was out, there was a nice cool breeze but once again we could not find any good tenting areas so we continued on. We got to the next stream and same thing no good sites but when we got to Dream Lake we found the dream tenting area. There were enough flat spots to fit our tents right along the lake shore, there was a stream right beside us for water and someone even made benches to sit on. We did not get there till around 6:30pm so we had to quickly set up our tents before it got dark, once we were all set up we quickly ate supper then called it a night. Tonight is our last night in NH and tomorrow we head into Maine our last state but now it is time for bed...night all.
Date: 2012-08-17
From: Dream Lake

To: Carlo Col Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: clear sky

This morning we did not get going till 8:00am, it took us awhile to get the motivation to put on our cold wet clothes and boots. The sun was out this morning and it was to be a nice day for hiking so we were going to try and go 11.8 miles today. At the start the trail was very muddy and slippery and it continued to be that way all day long. We were going very slowly at around one mph, if it was dry we would have been able to go much faster. We caught up to Hill Hiker about an hour into the hike. We joined him in a break then we continued on up the muddy trail. We soon got to the first mountain of the day and we figured that the trail would dry up but we were wrong. The trail was just as muddy on the uphill as it was down in the flatter areas but now we had long steep exposed rocks to climb up and they were like ice. We slowly made our way up to the top and took another break there in the warm sun. We started down the other side and it was just as steep and slippery going down the other side but it was harder because we were no longer facing the rocks. It took us forever but we finally made it down and started up the other side. Right away we got to a rock scramble. It was like New Hampshires version of the Mahoosuc Notch in Maine. We slowly made our way over, under and through the rock scramble and continued up the mountain. Half way up the mountain was the border of NH and ME, our last border to cross! We took a break there at the border to eat a late lunch.. While we were there Snorting Ox caught up and stopped as well. We continued on to the next shelter which was a half a mile up the trail. We got to the top of the next climb and started down. Soon we got to a really rough section. There were a lot of big slanted boulders with deep crevasses in between them. We had to really be careful in this section because if we slipped or took a bad step it could get ugly. We finally made it down of off the steep ledges to the shelter side trail. It was about 3:15pm and a little early to be stopping, but the next shelter was 4.4 miles up the trail and at the rate we are going today we would not get there till as late at 7:30pm. We decided to just play it safe and stay there and tent behind the shelter. Later on Snorting Ox showed up and he decided to call it quits here as well. We started making supper and it started to get dark and soon started to rain so we quick all went inside the shelter. Later on after we were done eating Einstein, Foster and Coffee To Go showed up we have not seen them since CN, then Float showed up. I have not seen him since PA, it was like a hiker reunion. Soon after that six other thru hikers showed up. We have not seen this many thru hikers in one place since VA...I guess the big bubble behind us is catching up. Most of the hikers decided to stay in the shelter and some used their hammocks. We all called it a night at around 8:30pm. It stopped raining and I can see stars now so hopefully it is done raining for tonight...night all.
Date: 2012-08-20
From: Andover ME

To: Andover ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning we were up and ready to go by 6:30am, we were dropped off back in Grafton Notch and headed north. The trail went up the East and West peaks of Baldpate Mountain, they were both long steep climbs but without our packs we were up and over them in no time. From Baldpate mountain the trail went down to the road into Andover and we continued on up to the top of Wyman Mountain. Half way up we got to Surplus Pond and we took a break there before we finished the climb up to the top. The climb from the road to the top of Wyman Maountain was very easy, it went up very gradual and the trail was the best maintained trail since Vermont. We made it up to the top then started down the other side to the next shelter. We took another short break at the shelter then started down towards Sawyer Notch. The trail went down very steeply to the Sawyer Brook, we took another break there because we had one more mountain to climb up and down Moody Mountain. The trail went steeply up then back down the other side to the road that we were getting picked up at. When we got there the owner of the hostel was waiting there and he greeted us cold lemon aid...very unexpected and awesome. We went back to the Hostel and found that it was full with different hikers, there was Samhecan, Snorting Ox, two southbounders and more. We took our showers and did our laundry then hung out on the front porch with the rest of the hikers till dark. I then went into our room and turned on the Eagles vs. Patriots game and did my journal and now its time for bed i cant stay awake any more...night all.
Date: 2012-08-21
From: Andover ME

To: Bemis Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning we could not get taken up to the trail till 9:00am and did not start heading north till 9:30am. Right off the bat we had a steep 1000 foot climb up and once again the trail was very well maintained. I am very happy to be out of the AMC(Appalachian Mountain Club) maintained trail an in the MATC(Maine Appalachian Trail Club) maintained trail. Once we got up the first steep 1000 feet the trail continued up but at a good grade till we got to the top of Old Blue Mountain. We took our first brake there for half an hour then started down the other side. It was not a steep downhill and once we got down the trail leveled out and was very nice to hike on. We were making good time and we took a break at the next spring and waited for Hill Hiker to catch up. When he caught up we talked about how confusing the trail was today and we decided that the guide book was slightly off but it did not affect us at all. We decided to go another mile and a half to the next shelter and get water there. Well that's when things started to go wrong. The guide book continued to be wrong and the shelter ended up being closer to 3 miles from the spring. We just kept going and going, it got to the point that i was convinced that we somehow passed the shelter. We got to a small spring and i decided that Big Sky and I should stop and wait for Hill Hiker. We guessed that he stopped at the shelter like we planned ans we passed it so we just waited for him to catch up. About 30 minutes later he showed up and was also very confused, he also thought that he passed the shelter, we decided that there was no way all three of us missed the shelter so we just continued on and hoped it was still ahead. Well about 100 yards further up the trail from where we stopped we saw the sign for the shelter...stupid me. We decided to just stay here the night rather than move on and stealth camp because we were wore out and mad about the guide book. We decided to tent behind the shelter rather than stay in the shelter, we were the only ones there till later on when a few more hikers showed up and stayed in the shelter. Tomorrow we are going to do a bigger day to make up for what we did not do today so its time for bed...night all
Date: 2012-08-28
From: Bemis Mountain Shelter 

To: Hundred Mile Wifderness
Miles today: 0.0

Hello everyone, i am doing one journal entry for the last seven days, my phone died and i was not able to do them on the trail and i cant remember what happened each day other than hiking. So i decided no to do one for each day just this one saying that i made it into Monson Me and only have 114.5 miles to go till the finish. I am also heading into the 100 mile wilderness which is a stretch of trail that is very desolate and does not cross a paved road in over 100 miles. I once again expect there to be no service there either so i will most likely not be able to update my journal once again for another week...i will see you on the other side
Date: 2012-08-29
From: Hundred Mile Wifderness

To: Big Wilson Stream
Miles today: 9.7

This morning Big Sky, Hill Hiker, Dirty Girl and I were taken back up the road to the trail head by the owner of the hostel at around 8:00am. it was a cool and windy morning so we wanted to keep moving to keep warm. right off the bat no more than a quarter mile from the road we had to ford a stream coming out of Spectacle Pond. The guide book said that there was to be a foot bridge over it but there was not a bridge in sight. the pond was very full and the stream was deep and flowing fast, we did not want to stop to take off our boots that early so we decided to make our own bridge. Hill Hiker and I found some big rocks and we threw them into the stream so that we could rock hop across the stream and keep our feet dry.After doing trail maintenance for half an hour we crossed over and continued on. From the stream the trail was flatter but muddy and rooty and we were not making as good as time as we thought we would. we passed by Bell Pond then Lilly Pond then arrived at the Leeman Brook Lean-to at around noon. when we got there there were two section hikers heading southbound and Yosemite showed up. After a short break we continued on and soon passed Dirty Girl, Dame Quixote and Deep Purple. The trail continued to be flat for the remainder of the day and started to dry out from the wind and sun. We hiked past North Pond and crossed over the outlet stream on a beaver dam and continued on to Little Wilson Falls. We got to the falls and took a break to let Hill Hiker catch up, the Little Wilson Stream is the second stream we are supposed to ford but i found a good place to rock hop across down stream so once again our feet stayed dry. We continued back up out of the deep gorge that the stream was in and went up and over a small mountain/hill and decided to stop at the next good flat spot with water. we ended up passing three water sources but the trail went parallel on the side of the mountain so there was no were to pitch our tents. we got to an old logging road that was flat and grassy and we found a small spring near by and we decided to stop there for the night. we got set up and started eating supper at around 7:45pm, soon after Dirty Girl showed up and decided to join us for the night on the road. It was getting cool out so we decide to head into our tents at around 8:30pm and not long after that Dane Quixote and Deep Purple showed up and set up for the night as well. Tomorrow we are going to try and do a bigger day but if the trail continues as it did to day with the mud and root we will not be able to go as far as we want, we will see how it goes...night all.
Date: 2012-08-30
From: Big Wilson Stream

To: West Branch Pleasant River 
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: clear sky

We got up early and we heading north by 7:30am and found that the nest two streams that we had to ford were low enough to rock hop across them. We continued on and as we went along the trail got better so we picked up our pace and soon was at the first shelter. we took a short break there, while we were there Shorts and Aqua Blaze showed up, we had not seen them since New York, they continued on and we followed soon after. We hiked on and soon crossed over the Canadian Pacific Rail Road, we then arrived that the next shelter. After that shelter the trail went up and down Barren Mountain so we decide to stop and eat lunch there. We left the shelter after lunch and started up the mountain, it was not a very big one and we up and down the other side in no time. On the other side there was the next shelter an we just passed by without stopping, from there we had four more mountain to climb and each one is about 600 feet up then 600 feet down so it will take us a little while. we made it up and down fourth and third mountain with no major complications and decided to stop to get water between third and Columbus Mountain. We continued on up Columbus Mountain after we filled up on water and soon we were down the other side and arrived at the next shelter. we got to the shelter at around 3:00pm which was too early to stop there so we took a break and continued on up Chairback Mountain the next mountain. we were planning on staying at the campsite after the shelter but when we got there there was a bunch of section hikers staying there so we decided to move on the the West Branch of the Pleasant river another mile and a half. It was all down hill to the river so we made it there in no time, but right before the river we crossed over Kathahdin Iron Works Logging Road which is where our food buckets were dropped off by the Lake Shore House. we found the buckets stashed in the brush beside the road and swapped our trash for the food and continued to the campsite where Shorts, Aqua Blaze and Yosemite were already set up.
Date: 2012-08-31
From: West Branch Pleasant River 

To: Logan Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: broken clouds

Last night the wind blew all night long and this morning it was really blowing, it was shaking my tent and the trees were really swaying so we all decide to get up at 6:00am and get going so the trees don't fall on us. While we were packing up No Trace and Unbreakable passed by and we soon ran into them while they were taking off their boots to cross the river. Both Big Sky and I just wore our crocs to the river so we just walked right in and crossed the river. the river was about 150 yards wide, knee deep and it was a slow currant so we had no trouble crossing. once we got on the other side we all sat a little to dry off our feet before we put our boots on and then continued on.   From the river the trail slowly went up 1100 feet over 5.5 miles to the next shelter. the trail followed an old logging road for the first mile or so then turned off and followed a stream all the way to the shelter. when we got there Shorts and Aqua Blaze were there eating lunch and we joined them. From the shelter we had a few mountains to climb up and down and once again like yesterday they were all about 600 feet up and down. We started up the first climb, Gulf Hagas Mountain and went down the other side and went right up West Peak then down again then up Hay Mountain, then down and up White Cap Mountain. The top of White Cap Mountain was above tree line and from the top we could see Katahdin but we could not figure out which one it was so we just continued on down the other side. Going down the trail got really nice, it went down steep but it looks like the trail maintainers just finished putting is really nice steps almost the whole way down mountain. it was rough on our knees so we took our time down the mountain and soon we were at the next shelter. it was about 4:00pm and a little early to quit but we decide to stop there to rest our legs and knees from all the climbs and downhills, plus we want to do a bigger day tomorrow. We set up our tents a little further down the trail from the shelter and called it an early night again because it was getting cool and we were all very tired...night all.