morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2023-08-10
From: Hikers Welcome Hostel

To: Kinsman Notch (Notch Hostel)
Miles today: 9.7

Sitting on the porch of an old Victorian in Woodstock New Hampshire after a 10 mile sunny day, you forget all the the trail hardships... until the next day. I don¢t think it gets any better on the AT than going over Mt. Moosilauke on a clear calm day. My shoes and socks even stayed dry all day, and my feet are as good as they were this morning.The trail today goes up at 1,100 feet per mile and then drops down over rugged jagged rocks at almost 1,300 feet per mile. It was designed to follow a cascade/ waterfall down the mountain, and luckily they installed wooden block steps at a few of the steepest sections. The mountaintop is at 4,800 feet with my starting elevation of 1,800 feet. I got one minor scrape from a wayward tree stump. Tomorrow is supposed to be a real hard 16 mile day that I¢m going to slack pack between Kinsman Notch and Franconia notch.The hostel is very nice and clean, and they have a lot of rules and procedures, compared to yesterday which was a ¢yeah whatever¢ hostel. Both worked for me. The weather is suppose to turn a bit sour tomorrow. We are getting sprinkles this evening.
Date: 2023-08-11
From: Kinsman Notch (Notch Hostel)

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 16.7

I had another big hiking day although the miles don¢t show it. I started at 1800 feet elevation and climbed up to the South Kinsmen at 4,333 feet elevation with grades of 1,300 feet per mile. After that, we went down before going back up to North Kinsmen, then down some crazy steep grades and granite slabs. My knees are barking. The weather was good all things considered. Afternoon had sunlight, morning had a light sprinkle but no rain. The trail was wet as usual. At the top of Kinsmen we saw a tow airplane release a glider that then flew right over us. I hiked with Arete today, a 65 year old urologist from Texas. It was his first day on the trail. He¢d left the trail last year due to injury and was coming back on. He is doing Moosilauke tomorrow, who knows, maybe we will meet again. We did this stretch in 9 hours 45 minutes. Pretty good for old timers. We even had to do three large creek crossings that we figured out how to rock hop without having to ford the stream just by going a couple of hundred feet upstream.When we got to the pickup spot, which was 1 mile south of the AT, the shuttle driver drove right past us. Luckily, another hostel shuttle driver saw us running in the parking lot and took us back to our hostel. Thanks Jeff from Old Colony (recommended). At the end of the day, I saw Arete, and he has decided to go home. Too hard, too soon. Tomorrow I start a new leg, 4 days of food and heavy pack, minimum 5,200 ft of climbing to first shelter.
Date: 2023-08-12
From: Franconia Notch

To: Garfield Shelter
Miles today: 11.3

It was a glorious day walking along Franconia Ridge along with hundreds of other people. Apparently it was the first nice weekend (Saturday) in awhile, and there were mobs of day hikers and runners all going up on the ridge. It is also a thing here to summit all New Hampshire peaks over 4,000 feet, and there are a few such peaks here.The day started off with a 4,200 foot climb after getting shuttled from the hostel to the Flume Visitor Center. I went up and over Little Haystack Mountain, Mt, Lincoln, North Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Lafayette, and Mt. Garfield. I ate my lunch of tortillas and Gruy re cheese on Mt. Lafayette. After Mt. Lafayette, it was hard constantly climbing up and down rocks and boulders.Garfield shelter is packed with hikers, not all AT hikers. The forecast is for rain tonight and tomorrow, in addition, it is getting cold.
Date: 2023-08-13
From: Garfield Shelter

To: Ethan Pond Shelter
Miles today: 14.6

After a night of thunderstorms, the first thing I did on the trail this morning was to climb down a couple hundred foot cascade. It threaten to rain in the morning, but by afternoon the sun peaked out. My first stop was Galehead hut to see if I could buy some extra food, but staff was no where to be found. The hut is very remote and overlooks wilderness area.I cruised on to the next hut, Zealand hut. This is a nice hut located next to a waterfall. I bought a large cookie and muffin there and had my lunch. The next five miles was mostly flat and easy, and I think was an old railroad grade. The shelter tonight is small and smells of kerosene. We are located next to a large pond. The shelter and tent sites are full tonight. Last night my inflatable pillow went flat, so since I¢m next to a pond, I took my pillow apart and tested the plastic inner inflatable in the pond and found a leak. I have some bike tube patches with me, so I used one to seal the leak and then covered it with tenacious tape. It looks like it holds air.Tomorrow I should have a short day because you can¢t camp in the alpine zone near Mt Washington. I¢ll stop short at Mizpah Hut. Then the plan is to make a fast 14 mile run if the weather is good. I do have a plan B to go down the mountain at Lake of the Clouds in poor weather.
Date: 2023-08-14
From: Ethan Pond Shelter

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 14.0

My pillow patch worked last night, but I awoke to my first shelter super snorer in the early morning. So I was on the trail by 6:20 am going down the mountain before having a big hike up passing the Webster cliffs. I went over Mt. Webster and Mt. Jackson before arriving at Mizpah Hut at noon. They had left over breakfast of cold pancakes and eggs, so I ate that for lunch. The weather forecast for today was as good as it gets, no rain, winds below 60 mph at the mountain tops, but worsening conditions for tomorrow. So, on I went instead of staying at the Mizpah tent site.I went over Mt. Pierce, past Mt. Eisenhower and Monroe, and over Mt Franklin, to the Lake of the Clouds hut. When I got there at 2:30 pm, I was the first to ask about "work-for-stay"  but had to wait until 4 pm to make it official. Right at 4 pm Mo Dang showed up, so we were both drafted into dishwashing duty. After an hour of dishwashing, we were done until after dinner. The staff was very friendly to us and appreciated our work.As Mo Dang and I we¢re waiting by the front door, in walk Cornbread and Engineer Bill (who I met a couple of days ago), and they where able to sign up for work-for-stay too. This hut lets four hikers do the stay instead of the normal two because the hut is bigger. However, we had to wait until the guests were done with dinner, then sweep and clean tables before we could eat. We had a great dinner of chicken, quinoa, and vegetables. My favorite dish was the corn chowder with corn bread and butter.We had to wait until ¢lights out¢ around 9 pm before we could sleep on the dinning room floor. I managed to snag a bench to sleep on, but the bathroom traffic all night long kept waking me up.
Date: 2023-08-15
From: Lake of the Clouds Hut

To: Pinkham Notch Visitor Center (Gorham)
Miles today: 14.9

I woke up to the dawn breaking and looked out the window to see Mt. Washington was not in the clouds. I quickly got ready along with the other three hikers. As soon as we got going, it started to rain. Onward we went up 1,500 feet to the summit, where the highest ground level wind speed ever recorded was 231 mph. Three days ago the hut recorded 90 mph wind gusts. Luckily for us, wind speeds were low, low enough for me to use my umbrella. We got to the summit before any shops were open. But I remembered taking the cog steam locomotive with Donna, Lori and Tom on a fall leaf peeping trip. A lot of construction is currently going on, I think to replace water and wastewater tanks. The trail goes over the cog railroad tracks where it is apparently a thing for hikers to moon the train as it goes by. Oh well, too early for any trains today.I hiked past Mt. Clay and Mt. Jefferson, over Adams Five, by Quincy Adams, and over the top of Mt. Madison. Coming down Mt. Madison was a crazy steep rocky descent. I stopped at Madison Spring hut and bought a piece of chocolate cake. Mo Dang came in, and we both used our AMC card coupon for a bowl of soup. It was seven bean. It warmed me up. The rain had stopped by then, and I had a 1,000 foot climb.Overall I did 3900 feet of ascent and 6300 feet of descent. I don¢t think I¢ve done that much downhill ever in one day and my knees are feeling it. A couple of beers in town should help ease the pain before tomorrow when I start in on the Wildcats. It will be another big up day. Rain with chance of thunderstorms is forecasted, so what else is new.Meanwhile, while descending Mt. Madison I stopped to get reservations at the Barn Hostel in Gorham. I hustled to try to catch a 4 pm bus out of Pinkham Notch, but I missed it by about 10 minutes. So I hung around the parking lot of the visitor center until I was able to hustle a ride to Gorham. I¢ve already met an interesting cast of characters at the hostel, which has a large open dormitory of beds on the second floor. We shall see how I sleep tonight. I managed to do my laundry and take a shower before walking 20 minutes to a Dollar General only to find out it closed at 6 pm. Now my resupply will have to come from a gas station mini mart.On the way back, I stopped at a pub/restaurant for dinner. I had a huge amazing prosciutto melon salad. The venue has only been open one month, but it is happening.
Date: 2023-08-16
From: Pinkham Notch Visitor Center (Gorham)

To: Imp Shelter
Miles today: 13.4

I had a very peaceful evening in a bed at the Barn Hostel. Paul, the owner, enforces a 9 pm lights out policy in the dormitory.Paul also shuttled us this morning in a vintage Cadillac to the trailhead at Pinkham Visitor center. Stay classy Gorham. But the Wildcats are wild. On the initial climb out of the valley, I had to put my poles in my pack and free climb a trail section, no joke. You had to use hand holds and pull yourself up. By noon, I got to the Carter Notch hut which I think is the last of the AMC huts. The hut is very remote and very small. But I got out of the mist and drizzle, and used my coupon for a piece of cornbread that I ate with my lunch inside the small dining room. By the time I left, the drizzle had stopped, but I was in clouds or fog all day. There was no real rain, and my shoes stayed fairly dry (since it was very rocky). I was able to call the Barn Hostel on top of Carter Dome and made a two night reservation. I¢ve been pushing hard, and I feel I need a zero day. Plus, I need new shoes as my Altra Olympus sidewall fabric is shredding from all of the rocks and sliding  which is also starting to punch holes in my socks.Not to be out done, the last major descend of the day to get to the shelter also needed to be down climbed. Some areas are 20 feet of near vertical slabs of granite, one slip and you will be injured.The shelter is a nice newly constructed two level shelter with a small porch. Very nice but 0.3 miles off trail. I paid my 5 dollars to the caretaker for the night. Just at sunset the clouds lifted, and we saw a view from the shelter. Tomorrow it¢s a hike to Route 2 and back to the hostel.
Date: 2023-08-17
From: Imp Shelter

To: Route 2 Androscoggin River (Gorham)
Miles today: 8.3

It was a fairly easy day of walking, especially the last 2 miles, which were on a regular trail along the Rattle River. It only rained briefly at sunset last night, but the trees were dripping in the early morning. I found a single Croc on the trail that I brought down.While I was waiting for a ride into town from the hostel owner, Paul, a guy at the trailhead gave me a large cookie as trail magic. He had done the AT in 2018, and now he was doing all of the NH 4,000 footers in three weeks. So he was headed up the trail.When I got to town, my first stop was to the small outfitter/hardware store to buy new shoes (Merrell Moab) as my Altras' side fabric had ripped open. The store only had the Merrells and only Darn Tough socks. When I got back to the hostel, I found out another hiker (Tumbleweed) was paying to shuttle to an REI for new shoes with another hiker who needed a tent (he lost his tent on the trail). So I asked Tumbleweed if she could buy me some Smart Wool socks. The Darn Tough socks seem to rub my feet and cause rashes.I went to the Dollar General for a resupply. Along the way I did a bit of sightseeing:  I saw a line of railroad cars and engines on display, the City Hall, and a Farmers Market. When I got back, Tumbleweed gave me a new pair of socks.BOB (Beast of Burden) went to Farmers Market and the store and bought ingredients to make chili with cheese and fresh bread. So I joined him in helping make dinner and had a good home cooked meal tonight. The hostel is full tonight although no one is tenting.
Date: 2023-08-18
From: Route 2 Androscoggin River (Gorham)

To: Gorham
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I was going to Kathmandu, but instead I¢m going to Katahdin and to see a Bob Seger tribute band here at the Gorham Opera House. On my zero day, I didn¢t do much. I walked around town this morning before the rains started and saw the billboard for a show tonight at the old opera house. Me and BOB bought tickets on line. It¢s dry now at 6:30 pm, and I walked over to the Opera house and was able to meet some of the band and the manager. Very nice group of people.The show starts at 7:30, and I plan to leave by 9 pm because I have an early morning shuttle ride to get back on the trail tomorrow. The second day out on trail is suppose to be the hardest mile on the AT.
Date: 2023-08-19
From: Route 2 Androscoggin River (Gorham)

To: Gentian Pond Shelter
Miles today: 12.0

My new Merrels hiking shoes were fine on my feet, no blisters. But the new soles, or maybe the material formulation, was treacherous in the rain and wet trail conditions. I kept sliding especially on the wet slick granite slabs. I took one significant slip but only had a minor scrape. It concerns me because the next two days are suppose to be rocky.The rain today was short lived, about an hour this morning, and by the time I got to the shelter at 2:30 the sun came peaking out. I wanted to go farther but comments from a couple of SOBOs discouraged me. I probably would not have gotten to the next shelter 5.5 miles away until 6 pm and would have had another 2,000 feet of climbing for an over 6,000 climb day. Also, there were no reported good camp sites at the top of the next big climb if I wanted to go halfway to the next shelter.The shelter I¢m at is very nicely constructed and clean, especially after I swept out both upper and lower decks. The bear box though has trash in it. The shelter has a nice view of mountains across the valley and also has quick access to a picturesque pond and cliffs. One of the nicer shelter settings I¢ve been at this year.I saw three snakes today including one right next to the shelter. Time to dry my gear from the morning rain between afternoon rain showers.
Date: 2023-08-20
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Mahoosuc Notch Camp
Miles today: 12.4

Today I did what hikers claim is the hardest mile on the AT. I think it took me about two hours at the end of the day to do the one mile, and I am beat. It is a rock and boulder jumble that you need to figure out how to climb over or under (sliding through tunnels) and sometimes free climbing or jumping from rock to rock with 15 foot free falls. I have a nice tent spot and I was just joined by four hikers that I¢ve seen a few times before; Captain, Navigator, Flik, and Three TAC. I am also now a Mainer having left New Hampshire and the White Mountains behind.We started the day with a high overcast and high winds. The overcast cleared by mid-afternoon, and I had some sunny moments over high points. I went over six mountain tops. The clouds have come in, and it might rain tonight. There were a number of plank boardwalks today, including trick broken ones that if you didn¢t recognize they were broken you¢d step into a bog up to your crotch (I saw a hiker yesterday covered in mud). I found a spork today that I ended up giving to Navigator so she could scrape her pot better.Tomorrow morning I start on one of the steepest ascents on the AT at 1,200 feet per mile, the Mahoosuc Arm. This will also be a pack your pole and rock climb ascent.
Date: 2023-08-21
From: Mahoosuc Notch Camp

To: Frye Notch Lean-to
Miles today: 12.8

Today was a well paced day. Last night there were a couple of light rain showers, but with the wind, my rain fly was dry. The other four hikers were up and gone before me, but I passed them in the morning.I started off with a big climb along the Mahoosuc Arm into the clouds and was soon caught by Mo Dang, who had camped at a shelter just north of the arm. We walked together for a while before splitting up on the long descent to Grafton Notch. The descent was hard on the knees but nice with a number of cascades. When we got to the bottom at Grafton Notch, Sherpa had Trail Magic set up with a number of hikers milling about. It was noon, so I was able to enhance my calories.We then had a long climb up to the top of Bald Peak Mountain, which had nice long dry granite slabs to walk on similar to the Sierras. There were also great views of all the surrounding mountains. Mo Dang and I walked together off and on, ending up at Frye Lean-to where we both decided to tent since the forecast tonight is for no rain.On the climb out of Grafton Notch, I found a sit pad and flag on the trail that I had seen on one of the hikers at the trail Magic parking lot. Half way up the mountainside, I caught up to the hiker and was able to give him his items. Finder strikes again.Hopefully no rain tonight and an early start tomorrow. I have one more day of food.
Date: 2023-08-22
From: Frye Notch Lean-to

To: South Arm Rd ( Andover)
Miles today: 14.6

The morning started bright and clear, and we had a more normal trail. We did the usual ups and downs, but often times, there were rock steps. At the top of the first mountain, I made a call to reserve a bunk at the Cabin in Andover.This is a notable hostel as the owner, Honey, is 91 years old and knew Earl Shaffter, the first AT thru hiker in one season in 1948. Earl even signed the underside of the dining room table as the Crazy One in 1998. I had dinner with the host and other hikers, and then signed the underside too. One day the table is suppose to go to the Smithsonian. I got shuttled there by Don, Honey¢s son. I did a resupply and will have a heavy four day load tomorrow morning.
Date: 2023-08-23
From: South Arm Rd ( Andover)

To: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 17.0

Last night was fun listening to Machete play guitar. He plays at brew pubs in San Diego and is very good. I forgot to mention that we had BBQ chicken, famous potato salad, coleslaw, corn, and ice cream for dinner last night. This morning we had blueberry pancakes, sausage, and pan fried potatoes made by the cook, Kitchen Sink.After a hearty breakfast, seven hikers got in a six seat van and went to the trail head. We started by doing a 2,260 foot climb up Old Blue Mountain. The views under blue skies today were wonderful. We saw lots of ponds and lakes, the largest being Rangeley Lake. The trail at first was a little muddy and bouldery but soon had a lot of nice dry granite slab walks amongst tons of blueberries. I would just grab a handful walking along the trail. Overall, we had 5,200 feet of ascent and 4,400 feet of descent.When we got close to Bemus Stream, we had to cross an old railroad grade turned gravel road. There we came across a set up with the most amazing Trail Magic ever with a lot of very nice friendly locals that cooked and talked with you. I had a bacon cheeseburger, a Maine Red Dog (first time), and a Moxie (a Maine soft drink that taste to me like a combination Coke, Dr Pepper and Root Beer). Blink was there with his banjo (yes he is carrying a banjo on the AT) strumming out songs for ambiance. There were a lot of homemade baked goods that I brought with me for dinner tonight. No need to fire up the camp stove. After the special trail magic, we had a 1,000 foot climb to a Maine Highway and vista point where there was more roadside Trail Magic, I drank an ice tea. After some more smaller ups and downs, I got to the lean-to which is next to a small lake. I¢m tenting next to Mo Dang.Great day, but the weather is changing. The Mainers said that this summer has been the wettest in decades.
Date: 2023-08-24
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to

To: Saddleback Mtn (Rangeley)
Miles today: 15.3

I think Mohammed Ali once said, "everyone has a plan, and then they get punched in the face." I had a plan, and everything was going well with a 20 mile, 5,000 foot day to get to a shelter before a big storm tonight and tomorrow. I was climbing Saddleback Mtn nearly at the top over granite slabs when I felt a twinge in my right leg above the knee. As I walked, it got tighter and tighter and when I tried to start my descent over steep boulders, I found I had no strength in my right leg and was in a lot of pain.So I turned around and hiked/limped back to the mountain top and beyond where there was a trail junction that took you down 1.7 miles to the Saddleback Mtn ski resort lodge. I called for a motel room at the Saddleback Inn in Rangerley, Maine at the mountain top. I could barely walk downhill but soon got to the top of a ski lift where there was a worker. I asked about a way down and if he was by chance getting ready to go down. Ultimately, I walk slowly down the cat track while Josh went down the mountain in his two wheeler and then came back up with a larger two passenger ATV. I don¢t know what I would have done or know how long it would have taken me to walk down the mountain if Josh hadn¢t picked me up. At the lodge, Josh got me some ice for my leg. I also took a lot of Vitamin I.While outside at the lodge, I met the head of marketing, trail name Clover, who had walked the AT and volunteered to drive me to Rangeley. Once at the motel, the manager, Paula, ordered me a pizza and drove to the store to pick it up and then to another store for a beer, for me. Once laying down with the Ibuprofen and beer I felt better, but we will see. Clover is leaving for Bangor tomorrow, a potential return home, or I have two nights and a zero in Rangeley. I will see in the morning, hopefully it is just overuse since the pain is widespread and mid thigh.Earlier in the day at Piazza Rock Lean-to, Mathew and another guy had a cook out for hikers. I had Moose chop suey (moose meat, macaroni, and butter) and homemade cookies. It was delicious and hot and gave me energy for the 2,200 foot climb up Saddleback.The clouds are thick right now, oh the twists and turns.
Date: 2023-08-25
From: Saddleback Mtn (Rangeley)

To: Rangeley
Miles today: 0.0

It felt strange taking a zero today. It rained off and on throughout the day, so it was as bad a weather day as possible for a zero. I walked to the store and to downtown to see how my leg was doing. I took Ibuprofen and sat in the tub with hot water, which seemed to help a lot. I can walk but can I hike over boulders and down steep steps all day is the question. I¢ll find out tomorrow as I¢m paying for a shuttle to take me at 6 am back up to Saddleback Ski Resort where I¢ll reclimb Saddleback mountain top. I¢m still very sore above the knee.As I walked around town, it was sad to see the AT hikers coming into town all wet and muddy. They looked very miserable. I must have seen a dozen hikers. Also, a second story hotel guest left the shower full on, and it flooded a first floor room. Lots of construction activity as the ceiling was totally ripped out. I think one hiker is doing the demo work as work-for-stay.An old sign announces Rangeley as half way between the North Pole and the equator, who knew. The town seems more like a fishing and ski town.